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Bog Standard

Toilet humor has traditionally served as the comfort zone in everyday journalism, and we are always mindful regarding memorable lavatory incidents and historic moments, particularly within football. It was quite amusing to learn that a prominent writer a famous broadcaster possesses a urinal decorated with West Brom motifs within his residence. Consider the situation about the Tykes follower who interpreted the restroom somewhat too seriously, and was rescued from the vacant Barnsley ground following dozing off in the toilet during halftime of a 2015 loss against Fleetwood Town. “He was barefoot and misplaced his cellphone and his headwear,” explained an official from the local fire department. And who can forget during his peak popularity playing for City, the Italian striker entered a community college to use the facilities back in 2012. “He left his Bentley parked outside, before entering and requesting the location of the toilets, subsequently he entered the faculty room,” a pupil informed the Manchester Evening News. “Subsequently he wandered through the school as if he owned it.”

The Restroom Quitting

Tuesday marks 25 years from when Kevin Keegan quit as England manager after a brief chat within a restroom stall alongside FA executive David Davies in the bowels of Wembley, after the notorious 1-0 loss versus Germany during 2000 – the national team's concluding fixture at the historic stadium. As Davies remembers in his diary, his private Football Association notes, he entered the drenched troubled England locker room immediately after the match, discovering David Beckham crying and Tony Adams “fired up”, the two stars urging for the suit to bring Keegan to his senses. Following Dietmar Hamann’s free-kick, Keegan had trudged down the tunnel with a blank expression, and Davies discovered him collapsed – similar to his Anfield posture in 1996 – in the dressing room corner, muttering: “I’m off. I’m not for this.” Stopping Keegan, Davies tried desperately to rescue the scenario.

“Where on earth could we find for a private conversation?” remembered Davies. “The passageway? Swarming with media. The changing area? Crowded with emotional footballers. The shower area? I was unable to have a crucial talk with the national coach while athletes jumped in the pool. Merely one possibility emerged. The lavatory booths. A crucial incident in the Three Lions' storied past took place in the vintage restrooms of a venue scheduled for destruction. The approaching dismantling was nearly palpable. Dragging Kevin into a cubicle, I shut the door behind us. We stayed there, eye to eye. ‘You cannot persuade me,’ Kevin stated. ‘I’m out of here. I’m not up to it. I’m going out to the press to tell them I’m not up to it. I'm unable to energize the team. I can't extract the additional effort from these athletes that's required.’”

The Aftermath

Therefore, Keegan stepped down, later admitting that he had found his period as Three Lions boss “without spirit”. The two-time European Footballer of the Year stated: “I had difficulty passing the hours. I began working with the visually impaired team, the deaf team, working with the ladies team. It’s a very difficult job.” Football in England has advanced considerably during the last 25 years. Whether for good or bad, those Wembley toilets and those two towers have long disappeared, although a German now works in the coaching zone Keegan formerly inhabited. Thomas Tuchel’s side are among the favourites for next year's international tournament: National team followers, value this time. This specific commemoration from one of England's worst moments is a reminder that things were not always so comfortable.

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Daily Quotation

“There we stood in a long row, wearing only our undergarments. We represented Europe's top officials, premier athletes, inspirations, grown-ups, parents, determined individuals with great integrity … but no one said anything. We hardly glanced at one another, our gazes flickered a bit nervously as we were summoned forward in pairs. There Collina examined us thoroughly with a chilly look. Mute and attentive” – ex-international official Jonas Eriksson shares the degrading procedures officials were once put through by previous European football refereeing head Pierluigi Collina.

Soccer Mailbag

“What’s in a name? There’s a poem by Dr Seuss titled ‘Too Many Daves’. Has Blackpool experienced Excessive Steves? Steve Bruce, plus assistants Steve Agnew and Steve Clemence have been dismissed through the exit. Is this the termination of the Steve fascination? Not completely! Steve Banks and Steve Dobbie continue to take care of the first team. Total Steve progression!” – John Myles

“Since you've opened the budget and provided some branded items, I've chosen to type and offer a concise remark. Postecoglou mentions he initiated altercations in the school playground with kids he expected would overpower him. This masochistic tendency must account for his option to move to Nottingham Forest. As an enduring Tottenham follower I will always be grateful for the second-season trophy however the sole second-year prize I envision him securing by the Trent, if he lasts that long, is the second division and that would be quite a challenge {under the present owner” – Stewart McGuinness.|