NEIL COTTON reflects on the rise of small-sided football…

THURSDAY evening at an outdoor 5-aside centre and a crowd has gathered around two sides of the corner pitch.
The object of attention for those peering in through the protective mesh fencing is one Matt Le Tissier.
Playing at his customary pace, the splendidly languid Southampton legend receives the ball and resists the attentions of a younger, fitter opponent by gently nudging it behind his standing leg.
His opponent succeeds in getting something on the ball, but it’s not enough.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Le Tissier...