Day: 27 April 2026
More than a match: The financial stakes behind FC United’s play-off semi-final
Hyde United’s all important goal at Broadhurst Park last Saturday did more than just condemn FC United of Manchester to defeat. It effectively ended their title hopes – which denied them automatic promotion – and left the fan-owned club facing some high-pressure play-off games as their only remaining route out of Step 3 in the […]
Can Harrogate Town pull off a fairytale story of survival in League Two, after last-gasp winner against Colchester United?
Harrogate Town welcomed Colchester United to The Exercise Stadium on Saturday afternoon, where full-back Jacob Slater scored in the dying moments to topple the visitors 1-0. The Sulphurites kicked off the day rock bottom of League Two, in 24th place, three points off fellow relegation candidate Barrow AFC. The North Yorkshire outfit now find themselves […]
“The bottleneck of the English Football pyramid”: The 3UP Campaign and The Need for Instant Implementation
Imagine the scene. Your team has just scored a goal in the 95th minute to go top of the league in the last game of the season. Playing your title rivals, you go on to concede seven minutes later and miss out on automatic promotion, despite recording 106 points. This was the reality for Rochdale […]
A Two-Tier Crisis: Why the Hundred Could Be the Death Knell for County Cricket
Matthew Parkinson walked into the Kent Cricket Club media day, expecting it to be filled with journalists from up and down the country, something that he had become accustomed to seeing at first-class counties, only to be greeted by an empty room of a couple local reporters. This is becoming the harsh reality for many […]
Badminton’s global imbalance: Why elite level is harder to reach in Europe than Asia?
Badminton is seen as a relatively accessible and enjoyable sport to play on a community level, but when the competitiveness increases, cracks begin to form for elite entrance. The shuttlecock-based game has been played competitively for over 125 years, but dominance of popularity and resources has been centred around one continent, Asia. The high cultural […]
Serving Change: How the Lawn Tennis Association’s ‘Free Parks Tennis’ is redefining the sport
On a chilly Saturday morning in Blackpool’s Stanley Park, the sound of tennis balls richocheting across refurbished hard courts cuts through the air. Local residents have headed down to their local court where there is no membership fee or previous experience required, but rather a desire to play. In a town like Blackpool, where rising […]
Eastside United: From nothing to the football pyramid in 365 days
Have you ever tried to build a football club from scratch on FIFA or Football Manager? In a matter of hours, you can sign players, organise fixtures and climb through the divisions. In reality, it is far more complicated. Eight months after launching with no ground, no funding and no place in the English football pyramid, Eastside United are […]
British Taekwondo International Open Returns to Manchester as Youth Participation Soars
The British Taekwondo International open returned to the National Cycling centre in Manchester over the weekend. The weekend welcomed young taekwondo athletes to compete in the G1 division, giving young and emerging athletes the chance to climb up the ranks. Coaches present at the event emphasised that early exposure and support in the competitive environment can […]
Paralympic champion Kadeena Cox looking to ‘press on’ with kilo world record ambition
Kadeena Cox isn’t finished writing her story. If anything, her latest chapter suggests the legend of para sport is accelerating into a new phase and looking to rewrite history once again. Like many athletes in the final stage of their career, the future isn’t defined by past success, but rather what lies within reach. With […]
“Hopefully one day you’ll be in our jerseys”: Manchester Storm Women eye expansion following successful first season
The year 2024 was transformative for women’s ice hockey. Not only did it stage the inaugural season of the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) in North America, but on a more local scale, it saw the birth of a passion project that is Manchester Storm Women.