This off-side rule - as I understand it:
Just suppose I am a striker for Team Speicher. The other team, Team Potsy, has just attempted to score a goal, but missed. Someone or two or three players get the ball down to "my" end of the pitch, ie the one I want to kick the ball into. I ran ever so fast so I am now near the circle.
When I
receive the ball, there must be two players, including the opposition's goalkeeper, between me and the goal.

or is it two players and the goalkeeper.
Is that it? I was reminded of this, because on "The News Quiz" at lunchtime today, they were talking about what Off-side is. A bright spark

said it was when a Linesman put up a flag.
They also said that understanding the off-side rule is one thing, and explaining it is another. It is to be noted that I used to play football, admittedly five a side, and also acted as Translator in Chief when the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food in Gloucester sent a team to play in the European Civil Service Football Cup in er um .. 1992.
