THIS weekend is a special one. Not just because there is a raft of exciting football scheduled for all levels of the pyramid.
From the mouth-watering clashes Arsenal vs Manchester United and Liverpool vs Aston Villa on Sunday, following on from Brighton vs Newcastle and Manchester City vs Fulham on Saturday, to name but four matches in the Premier League. To the Championship where you have the fixture between top of the table Leicester, who host Hull, as well as Sunderland vs Southampton, not to mention Watford’s trip to Coventry.
Further down you have League Two sleeping giants Bradford City’s trip to Mansfield, while further still you have North Ferriby of the Northern Premier League Division One East, making the trip to Prescot Cables in the First Round Qualifying of the FA Cup.
From pirate statues to surplus Wembley seats, The Dripping Pan offers a reminder that the game’s soul survives beyond the Premier League glare, writes LAYTH YOUSIF
Two inspring books — that’s your New Year’s musing from me on January 2 2026



