Episode 1044: Old First Division Memories, The Breakaway, The Evolution Of Coverage, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Christmas, Kid Pundit

Sky won’t like you saying it, but there was football before 1992, even if people weirdly used to think the Cup was more important, until quite recently.

Scott Murray’s new book The Title is a history of the old First Division from its beginnings in 1888 until the Premier League breakaway in 1992. We talk to Scott about the origins of league football, and the evolution of media coverage of the game. As for the breakaway – why did it happen, and should it have? Has more been gained, or more been lost?

Meanwhile, it’s been a testing build-up to Christmas for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is having to win over a lot of doubters in his new home town…

“You’re Coutinho, you’re Firmino, [looking at Ox] I don’t know who you are” pic.twitter.com/4oKHJQ3i1q

— Matt Gibson (@mattgibson27) December 21, 2017

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Here’s our heartwarming tribute to sport in 2017 pic.twitter.com/ZAaBmRrNzP

— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) December 21, 2017