Memories of football legend Fred Pentland, an England star and a hero to fans in one corner of Spain

Fans transfixed by the silk smooth, sophisticated football of Spain in the Euros will be taken aback to learn those superstars’ sublime skills are down to one man – from Wolverhampton.

Yes, take a Bilbao, Fred Pentland, a soccer supremo who ruled before false 9s, holding midfielders and wing-backs. Back then, top player were too “sick as a parrot” to post about social injustice.