There is always something that gets my goat.

My latest source of annoyance is the current trend for footballers not to wear shinguards or, if they do wear a pair they are about the size of a credit card.

According to Law 4 of the FA rulebook there are some items of clothing/equipment that are compulsory.

The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:

• a shirt with sleeves
• shorts
• socks – tape or any material applied or worn externally must be the same colour as that part of the sock it is applied to or covers
• shinguards – these must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks. Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shin guards
• footwear

I am not saying that we should return to the good old days where players wore hobnail boots and shin pads that were “substantial”, these mini shin pads are taking things too far.