That’s actually one of the references I knew. Rather proud of myself. 😆 I did have to look up the reference in 18d to confirm though. Tougher puzzle for us Yanks.
In your defence, Malone, the Times is a London-based paper, and the theme of the puzzle was defiantly UK-centric. Dean, Lineker, Anfield, Millwall, The Valley, etc. I don’t think it was too much of a stretch that Southgate might be thematic too!
Quisling, thanks - I'd forgotten how UK-centric this puzzle was. I think too there might have been many, many non-Brits who find the theme far more interesting than I do!