PATRICK COLLINS: Blackpool's chairman revealed his true nature for all to see in the text messages he sent to a fan, yet he still retains his place at Blackpool and the Football League.

PATRICK COLLINS: The cry rang out on January 1; a warmly familiar sound, like the chimes of Big Ben or the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

PATRICK COLLINS: In a week of sound and fury, of passionate conviction and vigorous dissent, the voice of Steve Bruce soared out above the din to give his contribution to the Ched Evans saga.

PATRICK COLLINS: Manchester United against Cambridge is what the FA Cup is all about. ‘The magic of the Cup’ may be a desperate cliche but, in truth, there are times when only a cliche will do

The most depressing words of this young sporting year were spoken by Jimmy Anderson. One of the more discordant sounds of an English summer is the distant drone of him sledging.

PATRICK COLLINS: The Mail on Sunday's Chief Sports Writer is retiring after 50 years on Fleet Street. To mark his departure, he has picked 10 great events from his memories.

PATRICK COLLINS: Sport at its cleanest and brightest generates a sense of wonder, a feeling that peaks are being scaled and limits are being breached.

PATRICK COLLINS: Charlton are owned by a chap who is apparently the 18th richest man in Belgium, however the Championship outfit are just his bit on the side.

PATRICK COLLINS: Bolt, Ali, Woods, Pele, Bradman and a precious few others — Jack Nicklaus, certainly, and, in time, Lionel Messi — constitute an elite on whom the term ‘genius’ sits lightly.

PATRICK COLLINS: When his massive contribution has been adequately assessed, Jimmy Hill will be seen as one of the most significant figures in the modern history of British football.

PATRICK COLLINS: Fifty-two years have passed since that February dawn, yet still the cry comes ringing down the decades: ‘Ah shook up the world! Ah shook up the world!’

Muhammad Ali could be cruel, arrogant, and merciless, then he would turn a wicked phrase or smile a roguish smile, and the world would forgive him his trespasses, writes PATRICK COLLINS.

PATRICK COLLINS: It should be remembered that the FA's initial instinct was to approach Arsene Wenger, a worthy if futile attempt to hire the very best. But then, absurdly, they changed tack.

PATRICK COLLINS: When youngsters wanted to know just what made Glenn Hoddle so very special, their fathers would search out a 20-second film clip. Tottenham versus Watford.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: To think Jordan Henderson's first official season as Liverpool captain ended with the club finishing eighth in the Premier League is quite remarkable.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: This has been Leicester's first real wobble. But their manager Brendan Rodgers will have been looking forward to this one - Liverpool at the King Power Stadium.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: With Carlo Ancelotti as a manager and Duncan Ferguson as a mentor, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is getting the best of both worlds. He can become a true No 9.

I say get rid of this shoulder and armpit nonsense and judge offside by the players' feet. Draw the line and see whether the attacker's foot is closer to the goal then that of the last defender.

JAMIE REDKNAPP - INSIGHT: Late October 2017, Liverpool went to Tottenham. Harry Kane destroyed Dejan Lovren, who was hooked after 31 minutes, and Jurgen Klopp's side lost 4-1.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: I remember Crystal Palace losing 9-0 to Liverpool in the old First Division in 1989. Then later that season, the Eagles exacted their revenge in the FA Cup semi-final.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: It seems as if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is trying to keep hold of his job by being everyone's friend, and you cannot do that as manager of this Manchester United side.

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Frank Lampard, dripping with sweat, has just returned from his daily 45-minute post-training run around Chelsea's complex at Cobham with his assistants.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: Sadio Mane's reaction to being told he had just scored his 100th goal in the English game said it all. There are no egos in this Liverpool team.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: If Mourinho needs a striker, then he could do worse than look at Troy Parrott. He's been training with the first team, learning from the master Kane and has been capped by Ireland.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: We look at VAR as if it's the oracle but in reality it's one man, sat behind a bank of screens at Stockley Park, offering his opinion. It's not matter of fact - it's subjective.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: There is something about away games that Gabriel Jesus loves. Since arriving in the Premier League, he has scored more goals and racked up more assists on the road than at home.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: This was not a day to analyse Liverpool's downfalls to death but rather to celebrate Watford for what was a complete team performance.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: I remember times my brother, Mark, got angry or upset if someone was having a go at me in the stands. He'd want to say something. Now we have seen this with Eric Dier.

JAMIE REDKNAPP - Word is Jordan Henderson could be fit to face Atletico Madrid in Wednesday's second leg at Anfield and do not underestimate the impact that would have for this team. 

COMMENT: Perhaps, the one plus side to this summer's European Championship being moved to 2021 is that it offers Kane time. The team figurehead will not have to rush to get back.

JAMIE REDKNAPP: Harry Kane is at home, in self-isolation, with a series of Tottenham Hotspur shirts on the wall behind him and Sportsmail's Jamie Redknapp on the screen in front.

EXCLUSIVE: The defender who earns his living by not giving opponents an inch is contemplating the fact he now has to steer two metres clear for the foreseeable future.

Nike versus Adidas: Who wins the battle of the brands at Euro 2016? With data provided by Repucom's new European Football Report, Sportsmail assesses the various key categories.

Alvaro Morata is ready to lead Spain's attack at Euro 2016 if called upon after declaring himself fully fit on Thursday. He missed the 1-0 home defeat by Georgia on Tuesday with a thigh injury.

Spain manager Vicente del Bosque has admitted that if he doesn't know if goalkeeper David de Gea will be mentally ready to face the Czech Republic in Toulouse on Monday in their Euro 2016 opener.

Andres Iniesta has no concerns over Spain's form as they prepare to begin their Euro 2016 campaign against the Czech Republic.

Czech Republic captain Tomas Rosicky is fit and ready to play in his country's European Championship opener against defending champion Spain on Monday.

Spain may be the holders of the European Championship but after their display at the World Cup, Vicente del Bosque's side will need to prove they still belong among the elite in France.

Day four of this summer's European Championship sees holders Spain in action against the Czech Republic. Belgium's clash with Italy will also be a tasty affair while Ireland are in action.

Tomas Rosicky may have left Arsenal this summer after 10 years at the club but there is still life in the old dog yet as he takes to Euro 2016 with the Czech Republic.

Reigning European champions Spain begin their quest to retain their crown with a Group D opener against Czech Republic in Toulouse. Follow the action with MATT MALTBY.

IAN LADYMAN AT THE STADIUM MUNICIPAL: The defining moment looked simple but it wasn't. The cross from Andres Iniesta had to be almost perfect and it was, dropping on Pique's head

Spain left it late against Czech Republic but the reigning European champions made it a match-winning start to their campaign in Toulouse.  Here, Sportsmail looks at the five things we learned.

It was around 7.15pm on Monday night when Gerard Pique finally made his way out of the Stadium Municipal in Toulouse and onto the Spain team bus.  But nobody cared - the big man had saved the day.

The former Arsenal veteran believes his country should be positive after their narrow defeat to Spain but has called on his side's youngsters to step up on the big stage.

Croatia captain Darijo Srna says he is ready to play against the Czech Republic at Euro 2016 on Friday following the death of his father. Srna's father passed away during Croatia's opening game.

While Group A, B and C may be taking shape, attention turns to Group D and E on Friday. Italy stormed to a 2-0 victory over Belgium and will want more success against Sweden.

A moment of magic from Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric helped Croatia kick-start their summer in France with a 1-0 win over Turkey in Paris.

Czech Republic snatched a crucial draw against Croatia in Saint-Etienne after it looked as though they were all-but out of Euro 2016, but fan violence marred Group D clash.

CHRIS HATHERALL IN SAINT-ETIENNE: Croatia fans threw flares on the pitch and fought in the stands as their team threw away a 2-0 lead against the Czech Republic to draw 2-2.