"IT'S a journey through football" says Jimmy Armfield of his new autobiography, Right Back to the Beginning: "I don't think anybody else has come down the road I have."

With a varied career as a manager, journalist and, of course, an unforgettable 18 years in a Blackpool shirt, Armfield has a unique perspective on the changes that have turned football from a game where a small-town club like the Seasiders could boast some of the world's best players to a multi-million pound global industry.

Most recently, he has worked with the PFA and the FA and, twice in the 1990s, he was given the task of finding a man for one of the toughest posts in football -- the England manager's job.

"I think the biggest changes are in the way football is packaged," he adds: "When I started out there was a maximum wage for players. Originally, it was £16, then it went up to £20. The clubs did not have the financial worries that they have today.

"There was no advertising around the ground, only a few adverts in the programme, no club shops -- the only things you could buy in a ground were a programme, a pie or a cup of tea.

"There were no floodlights, so cup replays in the winter had to be played on a Wednesday afternoon. No football on television -- all of these things are now an integral part of football."

But, while it's fashionable to hark back to the past, Armfield believes that many aspects of the game are better than ever before.

"Most things improve in life. The presentation of the game is better, I think. Obviously, like all sports, football is faster, players are trained better and there is better treatment of injuries, better diet and nutrition."

But there is a downside: "I don't think the game is as tough. You see more top of the ground, one touch football. I hate to see players diving -- there is a lot of diving today. It is very difficult for referees."

More recently, he identifies the emergence of the Premiership, Sky TV's funding and the Bosman ruling, giving players complete freedom of contract.

It's a far cry from the days when Armfield was at the top of his game, voted best right back at the 1962 world cup in Chile.

"Chile in those days was the end of the world -- it's not far off that now, in those days it was a long journey. It was a great experience, though we lost in the quarter final to Brazil.

"I was in the squad again for 1966, but didn't play in the final. I lost my place, largely due to injury."

And Seasiders fans will be pleased, but not surprised, to hear that, despite his experience as boss at Bolton and Leeds, Blackpool is still the first result Armfield looks for. But did he ever come close to taking the Bloomfield Road hotseat?

"No. Nobody ever asked me. When I retired as a player I had only ever played for Blackpool. It never came into my mind, or anybody else's mind. I decided after eight years as a manager I'd had enough."

But, despite the recent traumas at Bloomfield Road, Armfield is positive about the club's future: "At the moment, we've got half a stadium. I think it will look better when they get the third side up, and I think that is what the chairman is trying to do at the moment.

"A third side will make the ground more atmospheric."

Jimmy Armfield will be signing copies of his new book, Right Back to the Beginning, at Waterstone's in Blackpool this Saturday from 10.30am.