Football’s big money, and so are statistics. Matthew Bretherton asks where the obsession came from – and how do we do get rid of it?

Once upon a time, before the explosion of media coverage and money which accompanied the gentrification of the game, football was played and watched by working class lads (and lasses). It was a simpler time, when there was a genuine bond between players and supporters. We all came from the same place, if not geographically, then socially and culturally.
For supporters it was pure escapism after a week of hard graft for next to no reward &ndash...