Jamie Spencer

Jamie Spencer

News editor & writer

📝 Bio: I have been part of the football media landscape for more than a decade, working with GOAL as freelance writer, and also now an editor, since 2023. Over the years I have contributed written, audio and video football content to a variety of major platforms, including FourFourTwo, FotMob, the Guardian, PFA, BBC, Sports Illustrated and Manchester United, with a particular a focus on the women’s team for the latter. I can often be found in the press box at Leigh Sports Village or Old Trafford, and I'm an FWA and SJA member.

⚽ My Football Story: As an emerging football fan growing up in a ‘red’ Manchester family in the 1990s, I quickly became obsessed with United and particularly the Class of ’92. I adored David Beckham, firmly cemented from the moment he scored from the halfway line away at Wimbledon in 1996, and while Jamie Carragher infamously said that “no one wants to grow up to be a Gary Neville”, for a time I actually did. My own football career has been limited to say the least and poor knees have left me in a state of semi-retirement purgatory from weeknight 7-a-side. But Glenn Hoddle once watched me play and concluded that I had good technique, if a bit too slow.

🎯 Areas of Expertise:

  • Premier League, Champions League
  • Insight on Manchester United men & women
  • Expert on the WSL & wider women’s football
  • Deep knowledge & appreciation of football history

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: I didn’t know it at the time, no one did because the unexpected announcement came later and shocked the sporting world, but I was at Old Trafford for Eric Cantona’s last ever game in professional football in May 1997, a routine final-day victory over West Ham, after which the Premier League trophy was handed over. Many years later, in 2024, I was lucky enough to be invited to Denmark by hummel for a peek behind the scenes at their headquarters in Aarhus, followed by a stop in Copenhagen to watch the national team take on reigning European champions Spain in a spine-tingling Parken Stadium.

Articles by Jamie Spencer
  1. Chelsea have words with Fofana over ninth driving offence

    Chelsea have decided to intervene after centre-back Wesley Fofana pleaded guilty to driving offences last week, taking the time to speak to the player after he was convicted over a dangerous driving incident near the club’s Cobham training ground. The Blues will not generally police players over non-football matters, but the repeat nature of Fofana’s issues behind the wheel prompted action.

  2. Who needs Gyokeres?! Merino makes his mark in UCL cruise

    Arsenal's 3-0 victory over Slavia Prague on Tuesday made it four wins from four in the Champions League for the high-flying Gunners so far in 2025-26. Bukayo Saka, captain for the night, got the ball rolling from the penalty spot, before Mikel Merino took over as the Spain international, playing in place of Viktor Gyokeres, scored twice in a clinical performance in the Czech capital.

  3. Ronaldo admits he plans to retire 'soon'

    Cristiano Ronaldo has revealed in a new interview with Piers Morgan that he doesn't expect to extend his history-making football career for that much longer, also admitting that his interests in retirement will ultimately lie outside the sport he has dedicated his life to. It comes after the Portuguese icon had been billed as "perfect" for a role upstairs at former club Manchester United.

  4. England suffer nightmare start at Under-17 World Cup

    England have been left licking their wounds after opening the 2025 Under-17 World Cup in Qatar with a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Venezuela. A previous generation of Young Lions including Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho lifted the trophy in 2017, but this team lacked a ruthless edge as two quickfire Venezuela goals from captain Roman Davis and Dioner Fuentes near the end of the first half killed England, before a late third from substitute Eider Barrios.

  5. Lionesses legend pulls apart 'baffling' Earps comments

    England's record cap holder, Fara Williams, has weighed in with her opinion on Mary Earps, after the former Lionesses No.1 made comments claiming successor Hannah Hampton was rewarded for "bad behaviour" when Sarina Wiegman restored her to the squad. The former midfielder accused Earps, who retired just before Euro 2025, of lacking respect towards her team-mate and manager.

  6. Agyemang suffers devastating knee injury in Lionesses win

    Michelle Agyemang worryingly left the pitch on a stretcher as England beat Australia 3-0 at Pride Park in Derby on Tuesday night. The up and coming teenage forward has made a huge impact since bursting onto the international scene for the Lionesses earlier this year, going on to play a decisive role at Euro 2025, but could now be set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

  7. Wrexham out of Carabao Cup after goal from ex-Man Utd star

    In the battle of North Wales versus South Wales, Wrexham fell to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cardiff City in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night, with the latter advancing to the quarter-finals. A 71st-minute strike from former Manchester United defender Will Fish made the difference in the end, after Red Dragons substitute Kieffer Moore had earlier cancelled out Yousef Salech's opener for the Bluebirds.

  1. Earps unable to accept Lionesses' offer of Wembley tribute

    Former England goalkeeper Mary Earps has been unable to accept a Lionesses send-off at Wembley next month after calling time on her international career in the weeks leading up to Euro 2025 in the summer. The Paris Saint-Germain stopper, who has become a superstar of the women's game in recent years and even transcends her sport, remains in talks about what a tribute might look like.

  2. Guardiola backs Trafford to become England's No.1

    James Trafford found himself in the bizarre situation where he was both bought and replaced by Manchester City during the same transfer window this past summer, starting the 2025-26 season as the main man between the sticks but promptly dropped. Pep Guardiola is still an admirer, though, ultimately tipping the goalkeeper for a big role with England in the future.

  3. Saudi Arabia to build World Cup stadium on top of skyscraper

    Saudi Arabia's efforts to make waves in the sporting world look set to continue when the wealthy Gulf nation hosts the 2034 World Cup. But a football stadium 350 metres off the ground seems ambitious even for them following the viral emergence of concept designs for a brand new venue dubbed the NEOM Stadium. A list of 15 host stadia complete with concept art was first revealed in the summer of 2024.

  4. Rooney calls out Salah & Van Dijk over Liverpool slump

    Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney has accused senior Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk of lacking leadership and displaying different body language since both signed lucrative new contracts with the club earlier this year. The Premier League champions lost for a fifth time in their last six outings across all competitions over the weekend.

  5. Rashford's stance on his Man Utd future revealed

    Marcus Rashford is reported to have made his mind up where he wants to play next season, albeit he is still only in the early stages of a loan with Barcelona and his long-term future is far from certain due to the Catalan club's delicate financial situation. The England international fell out of favour with Ruben Amorim last season at Manchester United and any sort of reunion there seems unlikely.