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.
José Mourinho has joked, during an exclusive appearance on the Beast Mode On Podcast, that he considers an ‘Invincibles’ campaign with Benfica in 2025-26 to be his ninth league title. No silverware was secured in Lisbon at the end of an unbeaten season, but the newly-appointed Real Madrid manager is rightly proud of an achievement that few clubs at the highest level can claim to have emulated.
Harry Kane has been backed to achieve something that no other Englishman has managed, with ex-Three Lions captain Terry Butcher telling GOAL why the record-setting striker can make more history. The evergreen frontman is considered to be Cristiano Ronaldo-esque when it comes to career longevity, meaning that a fourth World Cup finals could be graced.
José Mourinho has, while speaking exclusively on the Beast Mode On Podcast, identified the one game from his coaching career that he would like to be replayed. Unsurprisingly, the contest in question saw major silverware come up for grabs, with the Portuguese reluctant to forgive and forget when it comes to his Europa League final beef with English referee Anthony Taylor.
Newly-appointed Real Madrid boss José Mourinho has revealed, while speaking exclusively on the Beast Mode On Podcast, that he once took a pain-killing injection in a bid to prove a point to one of his own injured players. That resulted in the mystery player telling the ex-Chelsea head coach that he was "crazy" as he still refused to go ahead with the jab.
José Mourinho has opened up on his shock sacking by Tottenham a matter of days before the 2021 League Cup final, with the Portuguese revealing in an exclusive interview on the Beast Mode On Podcast that his threat to bench Heung-min Son immediately prior to a showpiece occasion at Wembley may have played some part in the decision to let him go.
Speaking exclusively on the Beast Mode On Podcast, José Mourinho has backed Cristiano Ronaldo and his native Portugal to stake a serious claim for World Cup glory, while ranking England among the favourites. Having recently returned to Real Madrid for a second spell in charge at the Bernabeu, Mourinho has also explained why he is hoping to see Madrid's star names suffer early exits from FIFA's flagship event in North America.
Celtic have handed Martin O’Neill a permanent contract, on the back of their Scottish Premiership and Cup double, with Kenny Miller telling GOAL why the evergreen 74-year-old remains the perfect candidate to fill the most demanding of roles. The former Hoops striker has explained the crucial qualities that remain at Parkhead after a shrewd decision on the coaching front was made.
West Ham were once known as the “Academy of Football”, but former Hammers boss Harry Redknapp has told GOAL why “something has to be done” about the lack of exciting youngsters breaking through at top Premier League clubs. Chelsea and Liverpool are considered to form part of that problem, with Arsenal wonderkid Max Dowman proving to be a break from the norm at present.
Elliot Anderson may be Manchester City-bound this summer, with Gary Pallister telling GOAL that Sandro Tonali is “more of a Manchester United” player as the Red Devils mull over splashing out £100 million ($132m) on a new midfielder. Reinforcements in that area of the field are required, with transfer raids being considered on Premier League rivals such as Nottingham Forest and Newcastle.
Liverpool legend John Barnes has told GOAL what the summer transfer window needs to bring for new Reds boss Andoni Iraola, with Darwin Nunez seeing a shock return to Anfield speculated on. The mercurial Uruguayan striker will be allowed to leave Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal as a free agent, but is his chaos factor what is required in a new era on Merseyside?
Frenkie de Jong has bitten back at critics of his game, but does the Barcelona midfielder occupy the same talent pool as Declan Rice and Vitinha? Former Netherlands international Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink has answered that question for GOAL, with a man that can divide opinion among supporters and pundits being told where he needs to improve in order to become truly elite.
Harry Kane has become the talismanic captain of England, but what type of leader is he? Former Three Lions star Gary Pallister has delivered his assessment to GOAL, with the record-shattering striker considered to inspire those around him through actions - rather than words, like Chelsea and Manchester United legends John Terry and Roy Keane used to do.
In his first season at the Chicago Fire, Mbekezeli Mbokazi has become an All-Star in the United States - polling more votes than Argentine GOAT Lionel Messi. Fellow countryman and MLS trailblazer Doctor Khumalo has told GOAL why the talented 20-year-old defender - who is now on 2026 World Cup duty - has become a global “ambassador for South African football” and remains on course to be “one of the greatest players” on the planet.
Kevin De Bruyne has issued a stark warning to his Belgium team-mates, admitting the squad has failed to meet expectations during a stuttering World Cup campaign. The Red Devils face the very real prospect of a group-stage exit after failing to win either of their opening two fixtures in North America.
England have been blessed with some great goalkeepers down the years - from Gordon Banks to David Seaman - but where does current No.1 Jordan Pickford sit among those? Another iconic shot-stopper, the Three Lions’ record appearance-maker Peter Shilton, has taken on the challenge of answering that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
Peter Shilton remains England’s record appearance maker for now, on 125 caps, but appears destined to hand that piece of history over to Harry Kane. The legendary Three Lions goalkeeper has told GOAL why the perfect candidate is ready to overtake him, while comparing a history-making goalscorer of the present to fabled No.9s of the past such as Jimmy Greaves and Gary Lineker.
Harry Kane lives for scoring goals, but will England’s record-shattering captain be keeping an eye on how the likes of Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland are faring at the 2026 World Cup? Three Lions legend John Barnes has addressed that Golden Boot battle during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as individual ambition is blended with the collective pursuit of global glory.
Scott McTominay has become a talismanic presence for Scotland and Napoli, but will the former Manchester United midfielder fancy another shot at life in the Premier League? Kenny Miller has explained to GOAL why the revitalised 29-year-old has no need to consider a retracing of steps at club level after finding professional and personal dreams to live in Italy.
Harry Redknapp has boldly predicted to GOAL that Tottenham will “finish in the top six” next season, despite wasting money on “average” players and spending two years locked in Premier League relegation battles. Roberto De Zerbi is now calling managerial shots in north London, and one of his predecessors believes that an immediate reversal in fortune can be enjoyed.
The “biggest issue” facing Bukayo Saka has been highlighted by England legend John Barnes, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as the Arsenal winger is told that “goal output” is not important at the 2026 World Cup. Fresh from a memorable Premier League title triumph at club level, a star turn at Emirates Stadium is facing plenty of challenges on the grandest of international stages.
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