INTERNATIONAL breaks – who'd have 'em? Well, most of football, it seems, because today marks the start of another barren weekend for the top-class game as Premier League and Championship football makes way for a round of qualifying matches in the UEFA European Championships.
I'm old enough to remember when clubs who had players selected for international matches just had to make other arrangements for their Football League game on the same day.
I don't mean that it was rearranged. Instead, the manager looked to his reserve team to fill gaps left by the call to play for one's country. It seemed a little unfair but clubs got on with it.
As an example, when Derby County's Jack Lee made his England debut, against Northern Ireland at Windsor Park, Belfast, on an October Saturday in 1950 – and scored – the Rams just had to do without him for their home First Division game against West Bromwich Albion the same day.
They couldn't postpone the fixture, so they called up a 19-year-old local lad called Jack Parry for only his second senior appearance.
The Rams drew 1-1 with a Jack Stamps goal, and, according to the Derby Telegraph, young Parry "showed plenty of bustle and willingness to fight hard for the ball".
Parry played four more times that season, so it was a modest start. But by the time he retired in 1967 he'd appeared in a Rams' first-team shirt no less than 517 times (only once as a substitute), which was a club record until Kevin Hector broke it.
Add in 110 goals and the Rams have never had a better servant than Jack Parry.
It is to the eternal regret of his former teammates and those who were fortunate enough to see him play that Jack has always chosen not to involve himself with any former players' reunions. He would be assured of a rapturous welcome. I hope he's reading this.
YOU know that feeling when you're wandering across a park and some children are playing football and you're willing the ball to come bouncing your way, just so that you can kick it back?
Well, the itch can now be satisfied, thanks to walking football.
The other week, I rather annoyed reader Alan Smith of Mickleover because, rather than focus on the benefits of walking football, I'd chosen instead to highlight the injuries sustained by pals playing the game down at Willows Sports Centre in Derby.
Alan said: "Spending an hour on a five-a-side pitch, alternating between strolling, walking briskly – often very briskly – is generally advocated by doctors as being beneficial … most players report feeling fitter and many have lost weight.
"Since the group was formed by Derbyshire County FA and Derby County Community Trust about a year ago, there have only been two serious injuries.
"Yes, we do get a few pulled muscles and strains etc, but given that most of us are in our 50s, 60s and 70s, that's hardly surprising. Walking football is great fun."
Of course, when I wrote the original piece, it was with my tongue stuck firmly in my cheek. So, earlier this week I called in to Willows to take a proper look. I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw.
Lauren Mellor, the DFA's Football Development Officer (Adult Participation), tells me that today the Derby group, along with the Chesterfield group, is taking part in a tournament at Eastwood Sports Centre.
The Derby group is also going to play in an exhibition game on the pitch at the iPro Stadium during half-time in the Rams' Championship match against Wolves on November 8.
Anyone interested should call at Willows on Monday mornings at 9.45, or visit www.derbyshirefa.com/players/walking-football.
I'm happy to recommend it to anyone who still has that craving to kick a football, no matter how old they are.
