| There remains some amusing notoriety about Brian Marwood's England career, thanks to the sheer shortness of it. After a slowburning progression through life as a free-scoring winger with Hull City and Sheffield Wednesday, he was purchased in 1988 by George Graham for an Arsenal team (he is pictured above playing for the Gunners a few months prior to his England call) ready to challenge for League glory again and was noticed by Bobby Robson at the late age of 28 as the Gunners began to dominate the top division. Marwood, a superb crosser of the ball who was also a fine finisher when wandering into the centre, was called up as an experiment by Robson for a friendly in Saudi Arabia in November 1988 and got nine precious minutes in Riyadh as a sub for Chris Waddle, which earned Robson some ridicule. Marwood delivered a couple of meaty crosses during his short spell on the pitch, but the 1-1 draw and infamous "Go, In The Name Of Allah" headlines which followed led to his mild contribution being entirely overshadowed, except as a further stick to beat Robson with. The England manager had his favoured widemen in any event, and Marwood - who was older than both Waddle and John Barnes - was never likely to be one of them. He later won his title medal, then saw his career halted by injury, and remains something of a folklore figure in England's history for the international career that only just happened. (Matthew Rudd) |