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.
In the latest instalment of GOAL’s ‘Brits Abroad’ series, a man that represented FC United of Manchester, passed through the USA and Tasmania before ending up in Southeast Asia talks rubbing shoulders with royalty, spicy food and what to do in Brunei
England will require a suitable heir to Harry Kane’s goalscoring crown to step up at some point, so could Liam Delap be that man? Nottingham Forest legend Des Walker has told GOAL why a 10-goal debut campaign at the City Ground could help the burly frontman to stake his claim to a first senior call-up and put him next in line for the most iconic of No.9 shirts.
Ex-Brazil international Anderson has told GOAL why the likes of Vinicius Junior may have earned “superstar” status prematurely, with any player that has “five good games” suddenly worth “200 million” in modern football. The former Manchester United midfielder continues to use Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the blueprint for what success really looks like.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has told GOAL why Leeds were right to take a calculated transfer “risk” on Dominic Calvert-Lewin and explained when the Whites will be able to start dreaming about European qualification. For now, their talismanic No.9 remains on international duty with England - as he fills back-up duties behind record-shattering captain Harry Kane.
Trent Alexander-Arnold is “not a really poor defender”, fellow Merseyside native and ex-England B international Alan Stubbs has told GOAL, with the Real Madrid right-back’s critics being accused of ignoring obvious “strengths”. The former Liverpool defender has been welcomed back from the international wilderness, but is yet to convince everybody of his worth.
Emile Heskey has explained to GOAL what success looks like for his son Reigan after swapping Manchester City for a new challenge in Germany with Koln. At 18 years of age, the talented forward has stepped out of his comfort zone. There are plenty of professional and personal hurdles to be cleared in the Bundesliga, but “the sky’s the limit for him”.
Lamine Yamal is “different”, fellow Golden Boy award winner Anderson has told GOAL, with there “no one” close to the Barcelona wonderkid when it comes to the hottest prospects in world football. The Spain international winger, who now has a World Cup win on his ever-expanding roll of honour, is considered to be a serious contender for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Thomas Tuchel “got it wrong” with his centre-half selections at the 2026 World Cup and is yet to resolve that issue, Alan Stubbs has told GOAL, with the England manager being advised to bump Everton star Jarrad Branthwaite up the pecking order. The Toffees defender has been largely restricted to bench duty during the latest window of international fixtures.
Cristiano Ronaldo is facing some uncomfortable questions of his current value, at 41 years of age, but former Manchester United team-mate Anderson has explained to GOAL when the Portuguese GOAT was at his best. CR7 rewrote the history books at Real Madrid, but is considered to have “killed” teams towards the end of his first stint as a superstar at Old Trafford.
In the latest instalment of GOAL’s ‘Brits Abroad’ series, a man that swapped the English capital for the south coast before eventually ending up in Eastern Europe talks being scouted at a birthday party, getting a taste for coffee and living by the sea
Is Harry Maguire destined to remain stuck on 66 caps as his England career is brought to a close? Former Three Lions defender Des Walker has told GOAL that may be the case, with others rising above the Manchester United centre-half in the international pecking order. Thomas Tuchel has favoured alternative options across much of his stint as England manager.
Hugh Jackman joining Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady in the Championship’s A-list stakeholder group will help to make the Football League even “more entertaining”, ex-Birmingham winger Jermaine Pennant has told GOAL. The Wolverine actor, who is good friends with the ownership team at Wrexham, has revealed that he is in talks with Norwich regarding potential investment opportunities.
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.
