The Run of Play is a blog about
the wonder and terror of soccer.

We left the window open during a match in October 2007 and a strange wind blew into the room.

Now we walk the forgotten byways of football with a lonely tread, searching for the beautiful, the bewildering, the haunting, and the absurd.

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The Duke of Anfield and the Family Kewells

Punch cures the gout.

The papers today are ganging up on poor injury-riddled Harry Kewell, who is about to leave Liverpool having played in just 18 games over the last two seasons. Diligent economists at the Telegraph calculate that he cost the club £157,554 per game, while the Daily Mail, rounding up on principle, says £160,000.

Lay off Harry Kewell, I say. He’s a good player who’s had some bad luck. It’s not like he knew he was going to come down with the gout!