We have looked previously at what the business and political landscape looked like at the time, but it is quite fun and perhaps even more startling to do the same with our main sport, football, and in particular the English and Italian leagues.

 

At the time I was writing the first ever notes, Blackburn Rovers (5th) , Bolton Wanderers (7th) , Wigan Athletic (8th) and Charlton Athletic (11th) were all well established in the Premier League and, as incredible as it sounds, at least three of those teams felt that their manager was underachieving! Be careful what you wish for!

 

Brentford, Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest were all in League 1 and Brighton were shortly to join them, being bottom of the Championship.

 

As crazy as that all sounds, playing Serie A football in Italy were Treviso, Messina, Siena, Reggina, Ascoli, Livorno and Chievo all now consigned to third or (mostly) fourth tier football. Juventus were about to be relegated (Calciopoli scandal) and Milan, Fiorentina and Lazio survived despite each being deducted 30 points! Atalanta, Torino and Bologna were in Serie B and Napoli in Serie C!

 

Good luck!