A Funny Old Game
@sidlambert.bsky.social
80s/90s/00s footy nostalgia. On a YouTube odyssey for glorious goals & gaffes. Retro football writer.
Today the Champ Man universe celebrates the birth of the Greatest Footballer You Never Saw.
Before Messi. Before Cristiano. There was a legend of your laptop. A prince of your PC.
Three words that changed your life forever.
Tonton. Zola. Moukoko.
Before Messi. Before Cristiano. There was a legend of your laptop. A prince of your PC.
Three words that changed your life forever.
Tonton. Zola. Moukoko.
December 22, 2025 at 7:14 AM
Today the Champ Man universe celebrates the birth of the Greatest Footballer You Never Saw.
Before Messi. Before Cristiano. There was a legend of your laptop. A prince of your PC.
Three words that changed your life forever.
Tonton. Zola. Moukoko.
Before Messi. Before Cristiano. There was a legend of your laptop. A prince of your PC.
Three words that changed your life forever.
Tonton. Zola. Moukoko.
21 years ago today:
A sensational shitwhistler from Leighton Baines at Portman Road.
You don’t stop those.
A sensational shitwhistler from Leighton Baines at Portman Road.
You don’t stop those.
December 21, 2025 at 9:16 AM
21 years ago today:
A sensational shitwhistler from Leighton Baines at Portman Road.
You don’t stop those.
A sensational shitwhistler from Leighton Baines at Portman Road.
You don’t stop those.
It’s been 26 years since a young Antonio Cassano scored his first Serie A goal.
Goodness me, look at that utter scoundrel of a first touch.
Sanitise hands after viewing.
Goodness me, look at that utter scoundrel of a first touch.
Sanitise hands after viewing.
December 18, 2025 at 7:35 AM
It’s been 26 years since a young Antonio Cassano scored his first Serie A goal.
Goodness me, look at that utter scoundrel of a first touch.
Sanitise hands after viewing.
Goodness me, look at that utter scoundrel of a first touch.
Sanitise hands after viewing.
It’s 35 years since a young Paul Gascoigne got the ball at Maine Road… and did this.
Fast and fearless. A frenzy of potential. This was Gazza with the world at his feet.
Fast and fearless. A frenzy of potential. This was Gazza with the world at his feet.
December 15, 2025 at 7:31 AM
It’s 35 years since a young Paul Gascoigne got the ball at Maine Road… and did this.
Fast and fearless. A frenzy of potential. This was Gazza with the world at his feet.
Fast and fearless. A frenzy of potential. This was Gazza with the world at his feet.
Every now and again I remember this Les Ferdinand outfit at a mid-90s Newcastle fashion show.
What days they were.
What days they were.
December 14, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Every now and again I remember this Les Ferdinand outfit at a mid-90s Newcastle fashion show.
What days they were.
What days they were.
It’s Chris Waddle’s birthday. So here he is scoring The Greatest 6-a-side Goal of All Time.
Sweet mercy. That is sensational.
Sweet mercy. That is sensational.
December 14, 2025 at 9:48 AM
It’s Chris Waddle’s birthday. So here he is scoring The Greatest 6-a-side Goal of All Time.
Sweet mercy. That is sensational.
Sweet mercy. That is sensational.
It’s Eoin Jess’ birthday today, so here he is activating the launch codes… and detonating.
What a fucking hit, son.
What a fucking hit, son.
December 13, 2025 at 9:31 AM
It’s Eoin Jess’ birthday today, so here he is activating the launch codes… and detonating.
What a fucking hit, son.
What a fucking hit, son.
This week in 2008:
Football journalism has never been better.
Football journalism has never been better.
December 12, 2025 at 7:32 AM
This week in 2008:
Football journalism has never been better.
Football journalism has never been better.
It’s the 30th anniversary of the debut of the Premier League’s greatest ever keeper.
Outfield players going in goal, wearing ill-fitting jerseys, is a sight we may never behold again.
Outfield players going in goal, wearing ill-fitting jerseys, is a sight we may never behold again.
December 11, 2025 at 7:35 AM
It’s the 30th anniversary of the debut of the Premier League’s greatest ever keeper.
Outfield players going in goal, wearing ill-fitting jerseys, is a sight we may never behold again.
Outfield players going in goal, wearing ill-fitting jerseys, is a sight we may never behold again.
Happy Birthday to the original Championship Manager wonderkid.
In 93/94 snapping up this wizard of the dribble guaranteed you goals and glory.
A prince of our PCs. Thank you, Nii Lamptey.
In 93/94 snapping up this wizard of the dribble guaranteed you goals and glory.
A prince of our PCs. Thank you, Nii Lamptey.
December 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Happy Birthday to the original Championship Manager wonderkid.
In 93/94 snapping up this wizard of the dribble guaranteed you goals and glory.
A prince of our PCs. Thank you, Nii Lamptey.
In 93/94 snapping up this wizard of the dribble guaranteed you goals and glory.
A prince of our PCs. Thank you, Nii Lamptey.
It’s Ludo Miklosko’s birthday today, so here he is receiving a telly as a MOTM award in the early 90s.
Tremendous.
Tremendous.
December 9, 2025 at 7:29 AM
It’s Ludo Miklosko’s birthday today, so here he is receiving a telly as a MOTM award in the early 90s.
Tremendous.
Tremendous.
David Hirst + Puma Kings = goals galore
December 8, 2025 at 1:24 PM
David Hirst + Puma Kings = goals galore
It’s Les Ferdinand’s birthday today, so here he is slapping in a set-piece at Boundary Park in 1994.
No complaints about that surface. Like playing on a bowling green.
No complaints about that surface. Like playing on a bowling green.
December 8, 2025 at 7:12 AM
It’s Les Ferdinand’s birthday today, so here he is slapping in a set-piece at Boundary Park in 1994.
No complaints about that surface. Like playing on a bowling green.
No complaints about that surface. Like playing on a bowling green.
It’s David Hirst’s birthday, so here he is scoring a sensational shitpinger at St James’ Park in 1989.
STANCHION.
STANCHION.
December 7, 2025 at 8:35 AM
It’s David Hirst’s birthday, so here he is scoring a sensational shitpinger at St James’ Park in 1989.
STANCHION.
STANCHION.
It’s 33 years to the day since one of the great goals of the 90s.
Paul Gascoigne vs the entire Pescara defence.
A genius at work.
Paul Gascoigne vs the entire Pescara defence.
A genius at work.
December 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
It’s 33 years to the day since one of the great goals of the 90s.
Paul Gascoigne vs the entire Pescara defence.
A genius at work.
Paul Gascoigne vs the entire Pescara defence.
A genius at work.
A real rascal of a goal from Peter Beardsley this week in 1989.
First there’s the instant control of a ball dropping from the outer limits of Earth’s stratosphere.
Then the nonchalant nutmeg of Colin Hendry.
And finally, a clinical finish.
First there’s the instant control of a ball dropping from the outer limits of Earth’s stratosphere.
Then the nonchalant nutmeg of Colin Hendry.
And finally, a clinical finish.
December 5, 2025 at 7:31 AM
A real rascal of a goal from Peter Beardsley this week in 1989.
First there’s the instant control of a ball dropping from the outer limits of Earth’s stratosphere.
Then the nonchalant nutmeg of Colin Hendry.
And finally, a clinical finish.
First there’s the instant control of a ball dropping from the outer limits of Earth’s stratosphere.
Then the nonchalant nutmeg of Colin Hendry.
And finally, a clinical finish.
On Paul McGrath’s birthday, a reminder of one of the great defensive performances of all time.
Italy. Giants Stadium. 1994.
Unfit, but utterly unbeatable
Italy. Giants Stadium. 1994.
Unfit, but utterly unbeatable
December 4, 2025 at 7:36 AM
On Paul McGrath’s birthday, a reminder of one of the great defensive performances of all time.
Italy. Giants Stadium. 1994.
Unfit, but utterly unbeatable
Italy. Giants Stadium. 1994.
Unfit, but utterly unbeatable
30 years ago today Milan and Lazio are locked at 0-0 in the 87th minute.
Then George Weah gets the ball, rinses the whole defence and wins the game.
Just another Serie A Sunday for one of the best in the business.
Then George Weah gets the ball, rinses the whole defence and wins the game.
Just another Serie A Sunday for one of the best in the business.
December 3, 2025 at 7:45 AM
30 years ago today Milan and Lazio are locked at 0-0 in the 87th minute.
Then George Weah gets the ball, rinses the whole defence and wins the game.
Just another Serie A Sunday for one of the best in the business.
Then George Weah gets the ball, rinses the whole defence and wins the game.
Just another Serie A Sunday for one of the best in the business.
It’s Antonin Panenka’s birthday today.
And to mark the occasion, here’s Julian Dicks giving it some proper fucking welly from the penalty spot…
And to mark the occasion, here’s Julian Dicks giving it some proper fucking welly from the penalty spot…
December 2, 2025 at 7:32 AM
It’s Antonin Panenka’s birthday today.
And to mark the occasion, here’s Julian Dicks giving it some proper fucking welly from the penalty spot…
And to mark the occasion, here’s Julian Dicks giving it some proper fucking welly from the penalty spot…
It’s the late Toto Schillaci’s birthday today. You remember him.
Sicilian striker. Italia 90 icon.
And scorer of this spectacular Serie A Scissorbastard…
Sicilian striker. Italia 90 icon.
And scorer of this spectacular Serie A Scissorbastard…
December 1, 2025 at 7:17 PM
It’s the late Toto Schillaci’s birthday today. You remember him.
Sicilian striker. Italia 90 icon.
And scorer of this spectacular Serie A Scissorbastard…
Sicilian striker. Italia 90 icon.
And scorer of this spectacular Serie A Scissorbastard…
Once Upon a Time in Florence…
December 1, 2025 at 7:37 AM
Once Upon a Time in Florence…
It’s 23 years since Royal Antwerp fans unwisely invaded the pitch at Beveren...
... and were welcomed by a straightener from Graham Stack.
HAVE IT.
... and were welcomed by a straightener from Graham Stack.
HAVE IT.
November 30, 2025 at 9:07 AM
It’s 23 years since Royal Antwerp fans unwisely invaded the pitch at Beveren...
... and were welcomed by a straightener from Graham Stack.
HAVE IT.
... and were welcomed by a straightener from Graham Stack.
HAVE IT.
33 years ago today Gazza became a Lazio legend by scoring a last-gasp equaliser in the Rome derby.
It was his first goal for the club.
Timing.
It was his first goal for the club.
Timing.
November 29, 2025 at 8:46 AM
33 years ago today Gazza became a Lazio legend by scoring a last-gasp equaliser in the Rome derby.
It was his first goal for the club.
Timing.
It was his first goal for the club.
Timing.
Del Piero in the snow. Barely leaving a footprint, of course…
November 28, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Del Piero in the snow. Barely leaving a footprint, of course…
It’s Roberto Mancini’s birthday. You remember him.
Suave, sophisticated, scarf-wearing Italian manager.
And scorer of the sauciest volley you’ll ever see.
You dirty, rotten scoundrel.
Suave, sophisticated, scarf-wearing Italian manager.
And scorer of the sauciest volley you’ll ever see.
You dirty, rotten scoundrel.
November 27, 2025 at 7:12 AM
It’s Roberto Mancini’s birthday. You remember him.
Suave, sophisticated, scarf-wearing Italian manager.
And scorer of the sauciest volley you’ll ever see.
You dirty, rotten scoundrel.
Suave, sophisticated, scarf-wearing Italian manager.
And scorer of the sauciest volley you’ll ever see.
You dirty, rotten scoundrel.