Bio: If you can’t make a living from playing the game, then make one writing about it. I did my best to tick the first of those boxes, but it was not to be. I have been working hard at the latter for the best part of two decades and joined the collection of international stars that make up team GOAL in 2016. I am now Senior Staff Writer, which means my days are spent covering everything that the sometimes weird and often wonderful world of football has to offer. I have always been a fan of mercurial talents and love an underdog story, which goes some way to explaining why - alongside my East Midlands roots - Nottingham Forest are (for better or worse) my team of choice.
My Football Story: From the local playing field with friends, all through school, representing teams at various levels and facing a number of future professionals, to endless hours spent at the City Ground, a university degree and professional employment that has taken me to iconic venues across the country, football has always been the thread that ties my past, present and future together. I wouldn’t have it any other way and consider myself fortunate that I have been able to pass my passion for the game down to my son, who now finds himself heading down a similar path.
Areas of Expertise:
Nottingham Forest Football Club - with there always a lot going on there
News sourcing and writing - identifying what real fans want to talk about
Interviews - don’t believe those that say you shouldn’t interact with your heroes
Analysis & insight - not just explaining what happened, but how and why
Favourite Footballing Memory: I was too young to have witnessed Nottingham Forest’s European glory years and not yet old enough to have seen them add a third star to that famous Garibaldi shirt, being at Wembley as a 23-year wait for Premier League football came to a close will always be a special experience. I don’t remember much about the game itself, given the nerve-shredding nature of play-off finals, but the celebrations afterwards made enough memories to last several lifetimes.
Alejandro Garnacho has been told that the overhead kick brilliance which once made him a player of such promise at Manchester United is still there, with Carlton Cole suggesting to GOAL that the Aston Villa loanee may have become caught up in his own hype. The Argentina international is considered to have wandered into the Premier League’s last-chance saloon.
Harry Kane is the “best of the best” and continues to eclipse former England captain Alan Shearer in the evergreen striker stakes, Emile Heskey has told GOAL. The Bayern Munich frontman and Three Lions skipper is showing no sign of slowing down at 33 years of age. He plundered 73 goals for club and country last season, bringing him into contention for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has explained to GOAL the “only way” that fellow Dutchman Brian Brobbey ends up at Manchester United. The Netherlands international striker continues to impress in the Premier League for Sunderland and has seen a big-money transfer to Old Trafford mooted. The Red Devils are still crying out for a reliable No.9 to lead the line for them.
Dele Alli serves as a warning to Jadon Sancho of what can happen when a promising career goes off the rails, former Aston Villa star Ray Houghton has told GOAL. Having struggled for a spark at Manchester United, Chelsea and Villa, England international Sancho is now a free agent. Fellow former Three Lions star Dele finds himself in a similar position, and has done so for over 12 months.
JJ Gabriel has been advised to not “do something silly” as he forces his way towards the exits at Manchester United. The 15-year-old wonderkid is ready to sever ties with the Red Devils while waiting on his competitive senior debut. He has been linked with leading sides across Europe, with Emile Heskey reacting to that saga during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
Xabi Alonso has boldly claimed that Chelsea striker Joao Pedro can be likened to one-time Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ Karim Benzema. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink agrees with that assessment, and the former Blues star has explained - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - four qualities that the Brazil international shares with the legendary French goalscorer.
Cole Palmer does not “play games” and will be nursing an injury, Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL, with the Blues star facing England withdrawal questions. Having been snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for 2026 World Cup duty, the Stamford Bridge talisman has ruled himself out of action after earning a UEFA Nations League recall.
Manchester United boast a “fantastic attack”, Michael Owen has told GOAL, but more transfer “surgery” may be required as head coach Michael Carrick continues his experiment with a ‘false nine’ approach. Matheus Cunha, who is more of a deep-lying forward, has been leading the line this season ahead of established central striker Benjamin Sesko.
Trent Alexander-Arnold deserves plenty of “praise” for earning an England recall, Emile Heskey has told GOAL, with the Real Madrid defender choosing to remain quiet when being snubbed by Thomas Tuchel for 2026 World Cup duty. The German tactician is not the first international coach to overlook Alexander-Arnold, but the former Liverpool star has mastered the art of biting his tongue.
Reece James and Emi Martinez have been set a leadership challenge at Chelsea, with Frank Lebouef telling GOAL that the Blues have become “too nice” as a collective. He wants to see senior figures, especially those donning the captain’s armband, ask questions of those around them when individual standards are allowed to slip - with clean sheets proving hard to come by at present.
In an era where superstar No.10s are all the rage - with Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer and Rayan Cherki among those strutting their stuff in the Premier League - are Liverpool lacking “magic” in that department? Ray Houghton has answered that question for GOAL, with the Reds legend addressing the ongoing struggles being endured by £116 million ($154m) playmaker Florian Wirtz.
Emile Heskey has, in an exclusive interview with GOAL, named Celtic boss Martin O’Neill and Liverpool icon Gerard Houllier as the best managers that he worked under. The ex- England international, who spent time with Leicester and at Anfield in his playing days, is now helping to find potential Premier League coaches of the future as part of an inspiring new enterprise.
An in-house goal “competition” at Chelsea between Cole Palmer and Morgan Rogers is inevitable, Carlton Cole has told GOAL, with there benefits to be found in the “banter” that two close friends are indulging in. Having been reunited at Stamford Bridge, the ex-Manchester City colleagues are determined to outperform one another in 2026-27.
Joao Pedro has become one of the Premier League’s best strikers, in the eyes of Carlton Cole, with the former Chelsea frontman explaining to GOAL why the man filling the fabled No.9 shirt at Stamford Bridge can get into “high double figures” on the goal front. The Brazilian forward has already found the target on three occasions in the 2026-27 campaign.
Kylian Mbappe has been told he should “never talk about the Ballon d’Or”, with fellow World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf telling GOAL why the Real Madrid ‘Galactico’ is coming across as selfish when compared to in-form Barcelona star Raphinha. Mbappe has been talking up his claims to the most prestigious of Golden Balls, but is expected to miss out again in 2026.
Morgan Gibbs-White does not need to leave Nottingham Forest in order to become an England regular, Reds legend Des Walker has told GOAL. The talented playmaker has been drafted into the latest Three Lions squad following the injury-enforced withdrawal of Cole Palmer. He was overlooked for 2026 World Cup duty, leading to inevitable questions being asked of where his long-term future should lie.
Josh King’s star continues to rise at Fulham, but will the teenage wonderkid go on to be as good as fellow creative influences Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Morgan Gibbs-White? That trio all have senior England caps to their name, with King eager to tread a similar path. Former Cottagers midfielder Ray Houghton has told GOAL why a future transfer may help to unlock full potential.
Jurgen Klopp has been set the simple challenge of being “less sh*t” as he prepares to embark on a new challenge as manager of the Germany national team. Robert Huth has told GOAL that the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool boss will bring “heavy metal football” to the international arena while chasing down European Championship and World Cup crowns.
England would be “very lucky” to have Jude and Jobe Bellingham in their senior squad at some stage, Bobby Zamora has told GOAL, with the potential for sibling rivalry in the Three Lions camp exciting many fans watching on from afar. That situation has not played out as yet, but Thomas Tuchel is said to be keeping a close eye on how two talented brothers are faring.
Jeremy Jacquet fits the fabric of classy Liverpool centre-halves, Ray Houghton has admitted to GOAL, with the French defender considered to be cut from similar cloth to Reds heroes Virgil van Dijk and Alan Hansen. Having moved to Merseyside in the summer of 2026, Jacquet has been showcasing his physicality, reading of the game and clever distribution.
