Gavan Reilly's Portfolio writings, ramblings, mumblings

Pieces published in Back Page Football

Published on
20 October, 2010

Published in
Back Page Football, Radio

Back Page Football podcast – Wayne Rooney’s future

An excerpt from Back Page Football’s ‘Hold The Back Page’ podcast, discussing an article I had written about whether Wayne Rooney should have left Manchester United or not. Back Page Football – October 20, 2010 – Wayne Rooney’s Future by gavreilly


Published on
19 October, 2010

Published in
Back Page Football

Why Alex Ferguson needs to bite his lip, and save Wayne Rooney

Manchester United fan and editor in absentia Gav Reilly takes his life into his hands and argues that Sir Alex Ferguson might have finally gone a step too far in disowning Wayne Rooney so publicly… Amid his press conference today – at which he unceremoniously laid the boot into Wayne Rooney and essentially said the striker was […]


Published on
23 June, 2010

Published in
Back Page Football

Racism still threatens the Rainbow Nation’s triumph

In the latest of a shamefully sporadic series of opinion posts, Gav Reilly examines how racism in football is now a shamefully First World problem. One of the recurring motifs of the first World Cup to be held in Africa is the fact that despite the host continent being the world’s poorest, and the home nation being […]


Published on
8 March, 2010

Published in
Back Page Football

Opinion: Can a fans’ trust work?

In a long overdue return to BPF, Gav Reilly ponders whether the Red Knights model of ownership can really work in England… As a Manchester United fan it’s been difficult of late to read any kind of club news without encountering inevitable bumf about the Glazers, the Red Knights, green and gold scarves, potential boycotts, […]


Published on
31 October, 2009

Published in
Back Page Football

Bottoms Up: Can the Carling Cup survive?

Gav Reilly argues for reform of the League Cup before it becomes an unworkable, worthless shambles – but what do you think? The draw for the quarter-finals of the Carling Cup was released this morning; the world kept turning. A quick history lesson: the League Cup was instituted in 1960-61 as a tournament specifically created […]


Published on
16 October, 2009

Published in
Back Page Football

Opinion: the Italian Blob

Returning from a professional sabbatical and into actual sunlight for the first time in what feels like several years, Gav Reilly thinks that Football might finally, in 2010, come home… First of all, apologies for my radio silence of late; I’ve been wrapped up in a windowless office of doom for the past couple of […]


Published on
18 August, 2009

Published in
Back Page Football

Fulham complete Duff signing

London side Fulham have signed Irish international Damien Duff from Newcastle United for a fee believed to be about £4m. The 30-year-old joins the Cottagers on a deal believed to match his Newcastle wages of £60,000 per week. He began his career with Blackburn Rovers, where his new boss Roy Hodgson handed him his first […]


Published on
18 August, 2009

Published in
Back Page Football

Opinion: The Great 3pm Blackout

The singular beauty of football, the reason it’s known worldwide as The Beautiful Game, is the sheer simplicity of the sport. Gary Lineker once famously quipped that football “is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win.” While the ultimate outcome might not be quite […]


Published on
5 August, 2009

Published in
Back Page Football

Opinion: The Salary Cap Can’t Come Soon Enough

In his first piece for BPF, Gav Reilly explains why football will die if a salary cap isn’t introduced soon. The year is 2020. The UEFA Super Champions Europa League Cup final (second leg) is just about to kickoff, and fans all over the world are breathing a weary sigh as Roy Keane’s Ipswich Town […]