For #FloodlightFriday today we travel back to August 1991 and issue 50 of the Stoke City classic The Oatcake. Our heroes fancy a bit of international football to round out the season.

Having shunned Cameroon (minus Roger Milla who refused to play in a disagreement over his appearance fee) for a visit to see Southend at Roots Hall a visit to see the “England Challenge Cup” beckons but before that it is a trip to the Bescot to see England B vs Switzerland B. Good lord.

Great title for the article “Call on me…” Did you know Fuzzbox were from Birmingham so this is another great little musical nod from a fanzine . Though the song was clearly inspired by Thunderbirds, the video for the “hit” (peaked at no 11) was inspired by Barbarella (and the rocket from Tin-Tin) and the band playing through the Barbarella story also showed them against Space: 1999 clips….Gerry Anderson was clearly a bit precious about IP at the time but soon after this the more discerning of you will remember Anthea Turner (and Tracy Island) causing a sensation on Blue Peter…

Anyway, I digress, the Bescot is currently catchily known as the “Pallet-Track Bescot Stadium” and hosts Aston Villa Women as well as Walsall. The picture from the match is pretty standard fare in terms of graininess but does capture the extravagance of the Bescot with FOUR pylons per stand down the side but none at the ends

The article lists a long line of footballers who would have a big impact in the 90s.. and David Hirst. I suspect the author will not look back with any satisfaction at the line “Hirst could be the player who eventually replaces Gary Lineker”. Allegedly Alex Ferguson made multiple attempts to sign Hirst for Man United at one point offering the Owls £3million for Hirst, but the offer was rejected and United signed Eric Cantona instead…the rest is history.

Talking of history, B internationals have been “inactive” since 2007 which means that the magnificently named Bedford Jezzard remains England’s B international top scorer with 6 goals in 3 games during 1954-55, tremendous stuff.