The caption reads: It was at this point that Melchior and Caspar began

The caption reads: “It was at this point that Melchior and Caspar began to wonder just how wise Balthazar really was.”WITH WEMBLEY due to be knocked down next year, there are 10 current league clubs still to play there. The picture has a typical nativity-esque town in the background and a signpost, with two pointers, to the fore. The arrow on the right reads “Bethlehem” while the other indicates “Carrow Road”. One is in sharp relief in the middle, and the other two flank it in soft focus Naff is too kind a description. Tottenham have George Graham dressed as Santa (tres classy), while Chelsea’s card has a cartoon of Zola on a snow-clad training pitch. The diminutive maestro is curling a free-kick round four snowmen. Lazio’s chic card, meanwhile, bears only the words Vola un augurio nel cielo or “Yonder flys the augury in the sky” Molto bene.
The Sweeper’s favourite is Norwich City’s.

CHRISTMAS CARDS can tell you a lot about their senders, so what do this year’s football greetings say about the clubs that dispatched them? Manchester United’s is a self-congratulatory affair, emblazoned with a one-word pun, “Goel”, below three identical photos of the treble- winners’ trophies. For more details contact Cofs or visit the website.
Football Supporters’ Association: PO Box 11, Liverpool, L26 1XP Tel: 0151 737 2385. Web: www.fsa .ukCoalition of Football Supporters: Tel: 0113 237 4545 Web: www.cofs.co.uk. 120 x 25 pence trebles with Stanley: Watford to draw with Everton (9-4); West Ham to draw with Manchester United (9-4); Crystal Palace to draw with Fulham (12-5); QPR to draw with Charlton (9-4); Cambridge United to draw with Oldham (12-5); Stoke to draw with Bristol Rovers (9-4); Chester to draw with Halifax (9-4); Exeter to draw with Hartlepool (9-4); Motherwell to draw with Rangers (13-5); Queen Of South to draw with Arbroath (13-5)

BALANCE: -pounds 150.30.
TODAY’S BET: pounds 30 STAKED.. YESTERDAY’S NEWS that Sky is buying an interest in a fourth club is worrying. That Sky admits that it is only interested in completing the transaction if Sunderland stay up is evidence that the broadcaster has rights’ exploitation as its raison d’etre for moving into club ownership. The Coalition of Football Supporters is increasingly worried about this development and its major campaign in the new year will be to make sure fans do not lose out.

who would drive David Beckham to work (the next time he is banned but the penalty isn’t subsequently rescinded).Dennis Wise in a taxi.Posh in a Spice Wagon.Diego Simeone, around the bend, into a petulant fit.Thanks to David Pardo and Gordon Winder. For next time, The Sweeper invites you to imagine New Year’s resolutions for a player of your choice Addresses as above.. THE GOVERNMENT’S Task Force will not now have its final report ready by Monday as expected, which, given the history of the process, is not a surprise. The release date will now be next Wednesday, 22 December, and it is expected that the report will effectively be in two parts (the fans’ views and the authorities views), prefaced by a piece from David Mellor, who is expected to write something largely conciliatory to make it appear that the two sides are not so far apart in their opinions.

The Football Supporters’ Association is confident it has enough support within the Task Force to have its view properly heard, but will have to wait to see whether the Sports Minister, Kate Hoey, will actually act and do something for ordinary fans Watch this space. The prize, as usual, is entry to the season’s-end draw (open to all published contributors) for a priceless double-volume 1,500- page, original copy of England’s 2006 World Cup bid prospectus.Just Imagine…… Congratulations to Mary Ramruttun of Wiltshire, who was the first of many last week to identify Man City’s Steve Daley and Tommy Hutchison. www.sportspages.co.uk. From The Sweeper’s autograph collection from the late 1970s and early 80s. Who are they?

THIS LUPINE pair both went on to be administrative big cheeses in their organisations.
Answers next week. If you don’t care for the man, you won’t much care for his lack of humility, but this compelling account succeeds in revealing Souness’s singular obsession with the game.Courtesy of Sportspages bookshops, 94-96 Charing Cross Road, London (0171 240 9604); & St Ann’s Square, Manchester (0161 832 8530).