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.
Dominik Szoboszlai is considered to be Liverpool captain material, as the potential heir to Virgil van Dijk at Anfield, but Reds legend Ray Houghton has highlighted to GOAL the selection mistake that Andoni Iraola and Co must avoid when it comes to the all-action Hungarian. Szoboszlai has seen his versatility put to good use across three seasons on Merseyside.
Harry Maguire is being backed to remain at Manchester United beyond the 2026-27 campaign, with Danny Simpson telling GOAL that the long-serving centre-half could “stay on to coach” at Old Trafford. The latest contract signed by the England international is only one-year in length, but it does include the option for a further 12 months that will take him beyond celebrations of a 35th birthday.
Emi Martinez is seemingly eager to form part of the mass exodus at Aston Villa, but the World Cup-winning goalkeeper has avoided criticism for that transfer push from former Villans star Ray Houghton - who has been speaking exclusively to GOAL. The Argentina international has been seeking a move for over 12 months now, as he attempts to “make a lot of money” before hanging up his gloves.
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is “way better” than Yan Diomande at present, Steve McManaman has admitted to GOAL, but Real Madrid’s €140 million (£120m/$162m) new boy has been urged to embrace inevitable comparisons with his fellow 19-year-old. Two talented teenagers will be looking to illuminate La Liga in 2026-27 while operating on opposing sides of the fierce Clasico divide.
Adam Wharton is generating transfer talk again, with ex-Liverpool star Ray Houghton revealing to GOAL that fellow Reds legend Jan Molby is a “big fan” of the Crystal Palace midfielder. Anfield has been mooted as a potential landing spot for the England international, with interest building ahead of the summer deadline in 2026 - with formal bids seemingly in the pipeline.
Jose Mourinho once helped to make Frank Lampard the best goalscoring midfielder in world football, but can he repeat the trick with Jude Bellingham? Blancos legend Steve McManaman has explained to GOAL why one England international superstar faces challenges posed by team-mates Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior when it comes to emulating another Three Lions icon.
Rio Ngumoha may be first in line to take on the challenge of filling Mohamed Salah’s boots at Liverpool, but ex-Reds star Emile Heskey has told GOAL what the teenage wonderkid “needs to change” in order to thrive in that role. Somebody is required to follow in the footsteps of Anfield’s ‘Egyptian King’, with it possible that a 17-year-old sensation will be charged with that task.
Former Real Madrid star Steve McManaman has explained to GOAL why Kylian Mbappe faces “strange” criticism despite matching the goal numbers posted by Cristiano Ronaldo through his opening two seasons at Santiago Bernabeu. The French forward has been a revelation for the Blancos, but he operates under a “win or disaster” microscope and tangible success has been in short supply.
Reigan Heskey has left Manchester City for a new challenge in Germany, with the 18-year-old’s father - ex-Liverpool and England striker Emile - telling GOAL why that transfer call was made. The highly-rated forward, who has starred for his country at U18 level, has decided to follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham by heading to the Bundesliga.
Real Madrid have gone two seasons without a major trophy, so does Jose Mourinho merely have to win by any means possible following his return to Santiago Bernabeu? Blancos legend Steve McManaman has, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, explained what the ‘Special One’s’ remit will be as La Liga heavyweights wrestle with a substance versus style quandary.
Troy Parrott has been a prolific presence for Eredivisie side AZ and the Republic of Ireland national team, so why has a Premier League team not taken a “£25-30 million” punt on the Tottenham academy graduate? Ray Houghton has asked that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as Parrott is backed to net “12-14 goals” in the English top-flight.
Leicester legend Emile Heskey has aired his surprise, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, at seeing the Foxes make no effort to bring Jamie Vardy back to the King Power Stadium. The Premier League title winner left the East Midlands as a free agent in 2025, spending last season at Cremonese in Italy, and Heskey admits that he would re-sign the 39-year-old striker “ in a heartbeat”.
Alexander Isak has been told where “he’s got to be” in his second season at Liverpool, with ex-Reds striker Emile Heskey setting a “goals and assists” target for the Swede during an exclusive interview with GOAL. Isak is, following his record-breaking £125 million ($169m) move to Anfield during the summer of 2025, under pressure to recapture the form that he previously showed at Newcastle.
Andy Robertson is fully deserving of the “remarkable achievement” that sees him poised to overtake Kenny Dalglish as the most-capped Scotland international of all-time, Colin Hendry has told GOAL. The former Liverpool defender, who is now on the books at Tottenham, is five appearances away from matching a fellow countryman that remains a legend at Anfield.
Rio Ngumoha has been told what the “next step” is for him, with Liverpool legend John Barnes looking for more experience and end product from a teenage wonderkid that does not need to worry about “beating five players”. At 17 years of age, the England hopeful is looking to build on a breakthrough campaign at Anfield that delivered 29 appearances and two goals.
Frank Lampard should avoid a “very harsh” call at Coventry, Colin Hendry has told GOAL, with the Chelsea legend ready for another shot at Premier League management. A new contract has been signed, on the back of Championship title glory, with a return to the big time being enjoyed in the West Midlands following a 25-year absence.
It is “so important” for Bukayo Saka to get back among the goals for Arsenal on a regular basis in 2026-27, Gunners legend Alan Smith has told GOAL. The England international winger savoured Premier League title glory last season, filling the captain’s armband at times, but only found the target on 11 occasions across all competitions - his lowest return in five years.
Manchester United have been offered “best” transfer advice by Patrice Evra, with the former Red Devils star telling GOAL that Victor Osimhen should be brought to Old Trafford. The prolific Nigeria international remains on the books of Turkish giants Galatasaray, but has seen a Premier League move mooted for some time and 2026 could be the year in which a deal is done.
Scott McTominay has starred for Napoli since leaving Manchester United for Serie A in 2024 and former Scotland international Colin Hendry has, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, tipped “somebody in England” to try and take the all-action midfielder back to the Premier League. Such a deal may not happen any time soon as a new contract in Italy is being mooted.
Jude Bellingham is “not Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo” and cannot “win games by himself”, John Barnes has told GOAL, with the England and Real Madrid superstar considered to be more of a Bryan Robson-esque No.8 than a creative No.10. The all-action midfielder has often been pushed into a more advanced role, but his ability is maximised when operating in a deeper-lying berth.
