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Calum Preston Kelly

News writer

📝 Bio: I'm a news writer who joined up with the team at GOAL as of May 2025. This came shortly after I had completed my NCTJ journalism diploma at PA Media Academy, where I specialised in sports journalism. I previously received a BA (Honours) degree at King's College London, where I studied French and Spanish and was lucky enough to spend a year studying abroad. My experience in journalism dates back to 2017, when I got to report on Chelsea Women home matches for local newspapers and won awards two years running in the Newsquest Young Reporter Scheme. Even earlier that that, I began publishing a football blog the year that Leicester City won the Premier League. I also recently spent a season volunteering on the media team at National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough and have expertise in football across all levels of the pyramid and abroad.

My Football Story: I first fell in love with football as a seven-year-old watching the 2010 World Cup. Recording matches on my old-fashioned VHS player, I watched the recordings back time and again and learnt about all the players and teams. There the obsession began. The following season in 2010-11, my club QPR had the best campaign they have had in my lifetime, winning the Championship title and gaining promotion back to the Premier League, inspired by Moroccan magician Adel Taarabt. There have been moments of heartbreak too, though - namely England's gut-wrenching eliminations from the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.

🎯 Areas of expertise:

  • Insight on English football from the Premier League and Championship down to non-league
  • European football and the tactical nous deployed across different spheres of the game
  • The use of social media to engage fans
  • Comment and analysis on transfer news and the player stories which matter most
  • Always looking to provide a unique viewpoint in tune with my own experiences

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: As a QPR fan, the play-off final in 2014 will be difficult to beat. Getting to be at Wembley to see Bobby Zamora's 90th-minute winner go in was a memory you can never forget. The fact my younger self had been somewhat afraid to go to the game, as I was sure Derby County would win - which they almost did - made it all the more special.

Articles by Calum Preston Kelly
  1. Tuchel over Glasner?! Palace boss not a Man Utd frontrunner

    Oliver Glasner will depart Crystal Palace at the end of the season, the Eagles boss confirmed in his press conference on Friday. But that may not have increased his chances of becoming the next permanent manager at Manchester United, amidst the belief that current England boss Thomas Tuchel is ahead of the Austrian in the running - despite the fact that United would need to wait until after the World Cup in order to secure his services.

  2. Liverpool icon hits out at Salah for 'not prove his worth' comments

    Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has hit out at Mohamed Salah after the Reds star suggested he had nothing left to prove in an explosive interview following Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United in December. The 33-year-old has spent the past month away at AFCON and Hamann says it might be best for player and club to part ways, slamming the Egyptian's comments that he doesn't want to 'fight every day' for his position at Anfield.

  3. Carrick slams door shut on Maguire exit despite PL interest

    Manchester United's interim head coach Michael Carrick has slammed the door on a January exit for Harry Maguire, with reports stating that the Red Devils have rejected 'several approaches' for the England defender this month. AC Milan and multiple Premier League clubs are said to have shown an interest but United will reject all approaches for the 32-year-old this month, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season.

  4. Thomas Tuchel

    Man Utd urged to snub Enrique & appoint Tuchel as new manager

    Didi Hamann has urged Manchester United to pursue Thomas Tuchel as their next manager, with the Old Trafford club set to decide on a long-term successor to Michael Carrick at the end of the season. England boss Tuchel will be busy leading the Three Lions into the World Cup over the summer, but Hamann believes United should make him their prime candidate despite links with PSG's Champions League-winning head coach Luis Enrique.

  5. Mbappe refuses to play despite return to Madrid squad

    Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is reportedly insisting that he does not want to return to action until fully fit following a knee injury, meaning the France international could be absent for Los Blancos’ match at home to Levante in La Liga this Sunday. The 27-year-old returned early to make his first appearance of 2026 as a substitute as Real lost in the final of the Supercopa de Espana 3-2 to Barcelona, but does not want to 'take any risks' on his fitness moving forward.

  6. Explained: How Casemiro can automatically earn new Man Utd contract

    Manchester United midfielder Casemiro can automatically trigger a one-year extension onto his contract at Old Trafford if he starts a certain number of games this season, it has been revealed. The 33-year-old would see his Red Devils contract extended until 2027 at his current salary, if he reaches the target. This could be a challenge due to United's lack of European football and poor form in the cup competitions, with just the Premier League left to play in.

  7. Man Utd's new target revealed as Wilcox slams 'disappointing' season

    Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox has told the squad a new target for the season following the recent sacking of head coach Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils currently sit seventh in the Premier League table but are now without a permanent manager, with Darren Fletcher acting as interim boss. Wilcox reportedly clashed with Amorim at the end of his reign and has now detailed a new primary aim for the remainder of 2025-26.

  8. Baltimore brace leads Chelsea to easy WSL win

    Sandy Baltimore scored the pick of the goals and grabbed a second from the penalty spot as Chelsea swept aside West Ham 5-0 on Sunday to keep up the pace on Manchester City at the top of the Women's Super League table. The Blues led after just 46 seconds at Kingsmeadow and did not look back as they launched wave after wave of attack on their visitors, with Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson also grabbing first-half goals in a rampant display.

  9. 📽️ | Zidane's son at centre of wild AFCON brawl

    Zinedine Zidane's son Luca was involved in a brawl at full-time after his Algeria side were defeated in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Saturday. The 27-year-old Granada goalkeeper clashed with Nigeria ace Fisayo Dele-Bashiru following a 2-0 victory for the Super Eagles, who will meet hosts Morocco in the last four. But the incident after the full-time whistle saw a sour end to proceedings as Zidane's side were eliminated.

  10. Spurs reject Dragusin loan bid

    Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly rejected a loan bid from Roma for centre-back Radu Dragusin, who recently returned from nearly a year out with an ACL injury and had been targeted for a return to Serie A. The 23-year-old has been included in Thomas Frank's last six matchday squads despite coming off the bench just once, and the club may decide to keep him around this January after knocking back Roma's approach.

  1. Amorim is back home! Man Utd boss returns to Portugal

    Ruben Amorim returned to his native Portugal on Saturday just five days after his sacking as Manchester United head coach, with the 40-year-old spotted grinning after touching down in his homeland. United parted ways with the former Sporting CP boss on Monday after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford, with Darren Fletcher taking over as interim head coach and Amorim's future path very much undecided.

  2. Fernandes to QUIT Man Utd?! Squad convinced captain will leave

    Bruno Fernandes' Manchester United team-mates 'fear' the Portuguese has had enough of the turmoil going on at Old Trafford and will quit the Red Devils for pastures new after the World Cup this summer. The 31-year-old previously claimed he was "hurt" and "sad" that the club were willing to sell him last year and team-mates reportedly would not blame him if he were to move on at the end of the season.

  3. Yamal plays down CR7 comparisons after winning latest award

    Lamine Yamal has expressed his desire to build and follow his own unique path as his young career develops. Speaking after winning the Best Forward award at the Globe Soccer Awards, the 18-year-old played down comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo and stated that since the great Portuguese earnt his name in football by being unlike anyone else, he hopes to do the same thing as he comes ever closer to reaching the very top of the game.

  4. Ousmane Dembele

    Dembele rounds off incredible 2025 with 'Best Male Player' at GSA

    An almost perfect 2025 for Ousmane Dembele was completed on Sunday, as the Paris Saint-Germain forward was crowned 'Best Male Player' at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. This was the latest in a series of personal accolades for the Ballon d'Or winner, who inspired PSG to winning the Champions League for the first time ever last season. Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal also picked up a pair of awards on the night.

  5. 'More to come' - Van Dijk backs Wirtz to step into Liverpool star role

    Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has suggested that it is only the start for Florian Wirtz at Anfield, after the German scored his first Premier League goal against Wolves on Saturday. Wirtz has had a challenging adaptation period since his £116million ($156.5m) summer arrival and Van Dijk emphasised he is "very happy" for his team-mate, citing his hard work for the team and stating that there is hopefully much more to come from Wirtz in a Reds shirt.

  6. Pulisic Sydney Sweeney

    Pulisic breaks silence on Sydney Sweeney dating rumours

    Christian Pulisic has broken his silence on if there is any truth behind dating rumours linking the AC Milan and USMNT star with American actress Sydney Sweeney. News broke earlier this week that the former Chelsea winger and Sweeney had struck up a romantic relationship and had been dating for some time, with 27-year-old Pulisic coming forward to give his take on the rumours after helping fire Milan to the top of Serie A on Sunday.

  7. 'Not sustainable' - Rooney voices Man Utd concerns after Newcastle

    Wayne Rooney has expressed his concerns over former club Manchester United ahead of the January transfer window, as the Red Devils continue to pick up positive results in the Premier League without being fully convincing, according to their all-time top goalscorer Rooney. United returned to a top-six place after beating Newcastle United on Boxing Day but might need to add to their squad in January, claims the pundit.

  8. 'Tired' Real Madrid reject THREE players for January transfer window

    Real Madrid have reportedly 'rejected' the signing of three big-name stars ahead of the January transfer window, as Los Blancos plan for their future amidst the intense recent pressure placed upon head coach Xabi Alonso. The three players in question all see their contracts expire on June 30, 2026, and so will be free to negotiate with foreign clubs from January 1. Real have often used this tactic to secure top signings, but have reportedly been offered and rejected the trio.

  9. 'Thanks to PSG!' - Hakimi set for sensational injury return at AFCON

    Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has thanked Paris Saint-Germain and president Nasser Al-Khelaifi for their role in helping Achraf Hakimi return to fitness, as the Atlas Lions captain nears a return for his national side at AFCON after the best part of two months on the sidelines. Hakimi is expected to feature in hosts Morocco's final group game against Zambia on Monday, and Regragui praised 'gentleman' Al-Khelaifi for allowing Hakimi to join up with his national side early to aid his recovery.

  10. 'Not quite yet' - Carragher walks back brutal Casemiro criticism

    Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher has somewhat taken back his criticism of Casemiro following the Brazilian's renaissance under Ruben Amorim at Old Trafford. Carragher famously said of Casemiro that "the football has left him" in May 2024, but has now slightly gone away from those remarks and stated that the 33-year-old's ability at the highest level has not entirely diminished.