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FORMER Prime Minister Harold Wilson famously once said that "a week is a long time in politics".

He was right. But in British football a year is an eternity. And this year it has been all change in our national sport. I have written before in the Glaswegian about Scottish football and so today I wanted to write a wee bit more about football down South.

And what a year its been. But it is how the game has been played out in the boardrooms and back rooms more than on the football field that has made the headlines. Perhaps it is because results - barring the stunning Cup final upsets - were predictable several weeks ago.

The one thing that has been surprising but is perhaps now just part of the sport is the way in which managers are instantly dispensable. Tune into any radio phone-in and the talk is all about the manager and his tactics. Today personalities seem to dominate football more than ever before.

EVERYONE in Glasgow, across Scotland, throughout the UK and the world will have been enjoying a brilliant Olympic Games.

Whether it was Murray, Farah or Ennis, we all have lifelong memories. And the action isn't over yet.

There is, however, another more subtle issue that many may have considered, and that is the strength of women's football in Britain.

I DON'T know who's going to win Euro 2012 and I'm not going to reveal who I'm supporting, but I might be making a small bet.

But more can be lost at this tournament than won as the reputation of football is at stake.

I know that everyone here in Glasgow will have been shocked that the families of English players Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott have said they are not going to travel to Poland and Ukraine just as all would have been horrified that some Dutch players were targeted by the Krakow crowd in training.

If I hear the vile chants on my telly this will be the first major tournament I will turn my back on.

IT WAS the great Bill Shankly who said: "Some people believe football is a matter of life and death, I am very disappointed with that attitude. I can assure you it is much, much more important than that."

After the events of the past few days, it is clear again that the Ayrshire footballing genius called it wrong.

Last weekend, four football teams had nothing other than victory on their minds. The teams in question were Spurs, Celtic, Bolton and Kilmarnock.

But by Sunday night, their priorities had been re-ordered.

THIS week is a big one for football in Glasgow - and for a change the biggest game doesn't involve the Old Firm.

The top match isn't taking place at Ibrox or Celtic Park, but at Hampden. It's the semi-final of the League Cup between Kilmarnock and Ayr United.

I know there is a second semi the next day between Falkirk and Celtic but it's Saturday's game that should really capture the imagination.

These best of footballing enemies rarely meet competitively and so this may be the biggest clash in the history of the two Ayrshire clubs.

EVERYBODY remembers the first football match they were taken to.

Be it in the 1950s or just last week, there is no greater excitement than when you are taken to watch your team play for the first time.

For me, it was the 1995 Scottish Cup fourth-round tie between Celtic and Raith Rovers.