The Blizzard

International football is ceasing to be treated as a reenactment of Europe's horrible past. Is the age of football as a substitute for war coming to an end? "A World Cup without Germany would be like Star Wars without Darth Vader," remarked David Winner, and Germany were the perfect villain: the bad guy who killed the beautiful teams, like Hungary in 1954, Holland in 1974, France in 1982. But the new, reunified Germany has ceased to be Darth Vader, and just don't provoke the same hatred anymore. In Episode Four of the Blizzard Podcast we look back at Simon Kuper's 'Where's Darth Vader Gone?' from Issue Five, published in June 2012. We're keen to hear your feedback and suggestions on these new podcasts - email podcast@theblizzard.co.uk, or find us on Twitter @blzzrd. Simon Kuper is author of Football Against the Enemy, a winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, and Ajax, The Dutch, The War. His latest book, The Football Men, was published by Simon & Schuster in May 2011. He is a colum

In 1982 the French international Jean-Pierre Adams went to hospital and was given anaesthetic that should have knocked him out for a few hours. 33 years later, he has still not woken up. In Episode Three of the Blizzard Podcast we look back at Robin Bairner's 'Sleeping Giant' from Issue Twelve, published in March 2014. We're keen to hear your feedback and suggestions on these new podcasts - email podcast@theblizzard.co.uk, or find us on Twitter @blzzrd. Robin Bairner is a French football writer primarily found working for Goal. He also holds a keen interest in the Scottish game. Twitter: @RBairner. Issue Twelve, like all issues of the Blizzard, is available on a pay-what-you-like basis from www.theblizzard.co.uk. Digital downloads cost as little as a 1p each (RRP £3), while print versions are available from £6 + postage (RRP £12). You can also find us on the Kindle and Google Play stores.

“His memory was gone, ravaged by Alzheimer’s, but when I told him, I saw a flicker in his eyes. ’Do you remember Clough?’ I asked, talking, to be honest, for the sake of talking; he couldn’t have told me, by then, what day it was or what he’d had for lunch. ‘Of course I do,’ he snapped, and went to describe a hat-trick Clough had scored against Grimsby. Although I continued to visit every day, that was probably the last ‘proper’ conversation we had.” In Episode Two of the Blizzard Podcast we look back at one of the articles for which we have received the most feedback - Jonathan Wilson's editorial from Issue Three, in which he talks about the death of his father, and what fandom means to him. We also spoke to Jonathan after our live event in Manchester to find out a little more about the article and how it came about, whether he's getting any better at judging which pieces will generate the most reaction while he's editing each issue, and ask him for some of his highlights from Issue Eighteen. We're k

The Blizzard Q&A recorded live at the National Football Museum as part of the Manchester Football Writing Festival, on the evening of 1st September. With a panel of Blizzard contributors - David Conn, Andy Brassell and editor Jonathan Wilson - hosted by the Football Ramble's Marcus Speller. A heavyweight first half features discussion on the key takeaways from this summer's transfer window, the effect of the new Premier League TV deal, a mention for the Chinese stock market and some talk about financial fair play and the corrupt nest of debauchery that is Fifa. In the second half the panel looked at footballers' diva moments, answer a fan's query as to WTF is going on at Man United, ponder the lifespan of a manager and the tactical dunce that is Laurent Blanc. There's also some chat on the role of the full-back, and recollections of difficult/awful interviews, which throws up the unlikely triumvirate of Darius Vassell, Dave Whelan and Colin Kazim Richards. As ever with our live events we do the b

"He may be Britain's most popular comic footballer, but Roy of the Rovers embodies everything that's wrong about the English game" Episode One of the Blizzard Podcast, a new venture where we'll be bringing you some audio editions of our favourite articles from the Blizzard archives. To kick things off, where else to start but with an article from our pilot edition, Issue Zero, and Scott Murray's 'How Roy Race Ruined English Football'. As this is a new venture from us, we're keen to get your feedback - email info@theblizzard.co.uk, find us on Facebook or head to Twitter - @blzzrd. Scott Murray writes for the Guardian. He is co-author of And Gazza Misses The Final, a history of the World Cup through the medium of minute-by-minute match reports. He also co-wrote The Anatomy of Liverpool and Phantom of the Open: Maurice Flitcroft, the World's Worst Golfer. Issue Zero, like all issues of the Blizzard, is available on a pay-what-you-like basis from www.theblizzard.co.uk. Digital downloads cost as little