Published in December 2025, Issue Fifty Nine and its five sections contains 19 articles including how a female football coach in Syria became an icon of resistance; the story of Paul Grüninger, the former Swiss winger who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews; football and state control of public discourse in Hungary; how playing the Libyan league in Milan made it possible, but not palatable.
THE POLITICAL GAME
Exile – Damiano Benzoni and Roberto Brambilla
Playing the Libyan league in Milan made it possible, but not palatable
The Power of Propaganda – Tomasz Mortimer
Viktor Orbán, football and state control of public discourse in Hungary
Legacy – Simon Kuper
South Africa’s World Cup and the after-effects of apartheid
Maha Janoud’s Journey – John Duerden
How a female football coach in Syria became an icon of resistance
Lifesaver – Benjamin Bagley
Paul Grüninger, the former Swiss winger who saved the lives of hundreds of Jews
DEVELOPMENT
Grassroots – Ben Gilbert
The attempts to improve behaviour and generate a culture of respect
Suffer the Little Children… – Alex Keble
Is it right for any player, no matter how talented, to play league football at 15?
The Sadness of Johnny Ketchup – Hugo Verkley
The story of a Ghanaian boy, who joined Ajax at 15 before the fates intervened
LIGHT AND SHADE
King of Orient – Paul Simpson
Alec Stock and Jimmy Bloomfield were a pair of great managers of the old school
The Little Bird – Peter Speetjens
Garrincha was extravagantly gifted but struggled to cope with his celebrity
Roberto Baggio 2000-01 – John Blair
As he turned 33, Roberto Baggio was at Brescia and remained inspirational as ever
ORIGINALS
The Brothers from Church– Margaret Brecknell
Nat and Spen Whittaker had a huge influence over the early game
Timeless Melody – Richard Purden
The La’s, the Beatles, Football and Liverpool
The Aberdeen Manager Called… – Felix White
How a Play by Mail management game kindled a lifelong love of the game
The Man Who Lived Twice – Christopher Evans
Tim Coleman was named as killed in action in December 1915 – but it wasn’t true
Seasons in the Sun – Stuart Roy Clarke
Westmoreland League photo essay
GREATEST GAMES
Norway 2-1 England – Øyvind Colbjørnsen
World Cup qualifier, Ullevål, Oslo, 9 September 1981
FICTION
The Other Side of the Road – John Wheatcroft
Arne Ekdal leaves his Swedish club to join Napoli and finds life transformed
Bob Pateman – Eddie Clarke
When West Ham’s World Cup-winning full-back threw a game in Albania
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