From the age of 19, James Lawton traveled the UK and Europe with the great teams of English football, the Manchester United of Sir Matt Busby, the Liverpool of Bill Shankly, and the rising power, Don Revie's Leeds United. In 2000 he became Chief Sports Writer of The Independent and his column has become amongst the most admired of sports writing in the last decade bringing him not only a large and loyal readership but also awards. This is a selection of his best writing.