5) @FootyScran
A simple idea, very well executed, @FootyScran has quickly grown in prominence, gaining over half a million followers in just four years of existence as it celebrates and ridicules in equal measure the grub we’re served up at games.
From the humble sausage roll, to unusual pies, to an anaemic slice of pizza for a whopping nine quid, photos are put up daily showcasing said food, along with naming the club responsible and the price.
Often a poll accompanies the tweet, asking followers to vote ‘scran’ or ‘no scran’. A scroll down their timeline is guaranteed to incite hunger.
4) @scoutedftbl
Covering every area of the game, from non-league to South America, Scouted offer up a knowledgeable take on youngsters breaking through and their attributes.
Refreshingly free of hyperbole and wild claims that a Bristol City prospect is going to be the next Messi, it instead digs down into each player’s skill-set, explaining why their future is bright.
A recent interview with promising Blackburn midfielder Ben Wharton for their website reveal they’re going from strength to strength.
3) Copa90 on Instagram
The Copa90 brand is huge, with multiple millions of followers across every one of their platforms.
While we’re here, let’s give a deserved shout-out to their Stories series on YouTube, all of which are a terrific watch.
But it’s their ‘Gram that is a particular favourite, a copious number of photos and clips that celebrate every nook and cranny of the beautiful game.
Delving into history and covering every continent it can perhaps stray into hipster territory on occasion, but ultimately this is an account run by people who share your obsession with football, who want to share their obsession with you.
There are no angles, no trace of tribalism, and certainly no juvenile banter. What’s not to like?
2) @FabrizioRomano
When the 30-year-old Italian journalist reveals a transfer link every newspaper across the globe prints it as gospel.
When he discloses a transfer is going through by signing off a tweet with a trademarked ‘Here we go!’ his 19.6 million followers on Twitter know it’s a done deal.
When he divulges that Club X is close to securing a much sought-after prolific striker their odds in the football betting are adjusted accordingly.
This is a journalist with his own Wikipedia page. This is a journalist who eats, drinks and sleeps transfer stories. This is a journalist who works in the rumours business who is trusted implicitly.
Are we biased because he writes for 888Sport? Yes, a bit, but mostly no. Fabrizio is a phenomenon.
1) @OptaJoe
There are a thousand different stat sites and pages online, but why go to the rest when you can depend on the original and the best?
Opta, the sports analytics company, has played a pivotal role in statistics becoming a fundamental part of the game as we know it today and as an official provider of such numbers to the Premier League can be faithfully relied upon.
Their in-game stats are informative, sometimes quirky and always useful, particularly as regards to the live betting market.
*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
