Ray Barlow was a footballing artist, the sweet-passing midfield fulcrum of Vic Buckingham's delightfully free-flowing West Bromwich Albion side of the mid-1950s, and it was not only Baggies loyalists who scratched their heads in perplexity that the stylish wing-half was awarded only a single England cap. Certainly there was no shortage of shrewd observers within the game who reckoned the tall, rangy Wiltshireman preferable to Jimmy Dickinson, the splendidly consistent and defensively ultra-solid Portsmouth stalwart who kept Barlow out during his prime, Dickinson wearing his country's colours 48 times in the process.

Macclesfield have appointed Brian Horton as their manager until the end of the season. The Silkmen, who are outside the League Two relegation zone on goal difference, sacked Gary Simpson on Sunday.

Macclesfield have appointed Brian Horton as their new manager until the end of the season.

After his refusal to warm up in Munich, his 12-week vacation in Argentina, millions of pounds in fines and the months of blame and counter-claim, Carlos Tevez finally made a return to action for Manchester City yesterday.

Brighton and Hove Albion arrested their drop down the Championship table yesterday, ending their nine-game winless streak with a 2-0 home victory over Barnsley.

The Brian Viner Interview: former City striker, who grew up in East Germany, has overcome lymphoma and made a bright start as manager of Brentford – but has ambitions to return to Manchester

The Football League Column

A bullish Sam Allardyce tells Sam Wallace he just needs his West Ham team to buy into his methods and promotion awaits

Fate of Preston shows danger of chasing Premier League riches

The Football League Column

We specialise in doing the unexpected and we can poop United's party to stay in the top flight

When the Manchester United manager Matt Busby was seeking a long-term replacement for centre-forward Jack "The Gunner" Rowley, as that prolific powerhouse of the Old Trafford attack began to show signs of ageing during the 1952-53 season in which the Red Devils saw their championship crown slip away to Arsenal, there was a brief but enthralling interlude when the teenager Eddie Lewis looked capable of stepping up to the mark.

Another pulsating Championship campaign has reached the final curtain in spectacular fashion, culminating in QPR being crowned as champions; once again proving the division’s ferocity with another blockbuster season.

Social Studies: In our nervous, safety-first cultural climate, young writers have learnt to regard sex, like humour, as a risky area best avoided