(LIN)FIELD OF DREAMS Which football club is the best in the world? Come on, let’s get this straightened out, once and for all. A good place to start would be the current club world champions, Real Madrid – who can also point to 15 European Cups, 36 league titles and a world-beating 400 million subscribers … Read more
Over the weekend the National Women’s Soccer League started its 13th regular season, marking the 19th year of top-flight women’s soccer in the US (together with the WPS and WUSA that came before it). As is typical for an ever-expanding, aspirational league that still sees itself as a “scrappy startup”, the new year set off … Read more
The Professional Tennis Players’ Association came into existence on the eve of the 2020 US Open and at the height of pandemic restrictions. After an inauspicious start, the association co-founded by Novak Djokovic has spent time building its professional structures, finances and player support while trying to gain influence in the sport. The PTPA ostensibly … Read more
Phil Foden remains England’s enigma. The Manchester City attacker has often been inspired for his club and insipid for his country. He was the best offensive player in the Premier League last season, scoring 27 goals in all competitions, but he flattered to deceive during England’s baffling run to the final of Euro 2024. A … Read more
The France hooker Peato Mauvaka has been cited for foul play after an off-the-ball incident with Scotland’s Ben White in their final Six Nations match. Mauvaka received a yellow card for throwing himself head first into the grounded scrum-half during France’s title-clinching win in Paris on Saturday. The incident was referred for a bunker review … Read more
Tracy Morgan says food poisoning was to blame after he vomited copiously during Monday’s Knicks-Heat game. The actor-comedian posted an update on Instagram Tuesday morning, along with a photo of him smiling from a hospital bed, thanking fans for their concern. He also joked the incident spelled good luck for the Knicks. “I’m doing ok … Read more
Eilish McColgan says she is “numb” to comments on social media about her body shape and warned of the dangers of associating her with eating disorders. The British long-distance runner highlighted the abuse she received this month after posting a video of her on a treadmill in preparation for her first London Marathon. Some comments … Read more
English football was facing a period of introspection during April 1989. As the world tried to digest the full horror of the Hillsborough disaster, the future of the national game seemed at a crossroads. Surely this was the tragic tipping point for the sport, a time for English football to get its house in order. … Read more
In addition to photographing the fans who flocked to Wembley for the Carabao Cup final, Orlando Gili interviewed writer, playwright and Newcastle fan Michael Chaplin about what it means to follow the Magpies. What is a typical Newcastle side? It’s built into the culture to play attractive football. It hasn’t always been the case, but … Read more
On the weekend, a friend and I went walking. As we strolled along the River Goyt, a sweet smell hit us like a packet of Love Hearts, which, as it turns out, is pretty much what it was. We had inadvertently walked past the Swizzels factory – producer of Parma Violets, Rainbow Drops and more … Read more