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When I think of amateur football in England, my mind always harkens back to the classic photo of Hackney Marshes in London, its grassy landscape divided into a myriad of soccer fields (88 to be exact). The country never seems to have a shortage of pitches — something that is far from true in the United States.

The U.S. lacks the dedicated footballing infrastructure the UK has, and it is the main reason soccer in the States lags beyond the rest of the world.

Relegation can create the most horrible feeling in sports. It can also create the most beautiful moments. 

It doesn’t get much better than watching a club, playing at home, secure survival against all odds. On Saturday, we saw Stuttgart stay in the Bundesliga thanks to a 92nd-minute goal on the final day of the season. On Thursday, it was Everton’s turn. 

After an arduous but entertaining eight-month season, the 2021-22 Premier League campaign has come down to a span of four days for a battle between three clubs to see which two sides will remain in the Premier League next year. 

Just a single point separates 18th from 17th and 17th from 16th, and with games in hand, the permutations become innumerable. Here's how the table looks at the moment, with Everton, Leeds and Burnley occupying 16 through 18th, respectively:

When we think of injuries in soccer and of their repercussions, we often think of big names at big clubs. But oftentimes it is the absence of important players at mid-sized clubs that has the biggest impact on performance.

Larger clubs have the depth to replace even the most talented of players; most teams do not. This list of most impactful injuries this season will include one or two big names, but it also features several footballers that sometimes go unnoticed.

For those who follow American handegg, Peyton and Eli Manning’s “ManningCast” of Monday Night Football was a huge hit last year, offering fans a different way to watch the NFL. ESPN simultaneously broadcast a traditional broadcast with announcers talking about the game, but for those tired of the usual commentating tropes or less invested in the action, the ManningCast on ESPN2 provided an excellent alternative focused more on entertainment than pure football.