Tom Ritchie Bio

Tom Ritchie

News writer

📝 Bio: I'm a freelance sports journalist and feature writer working in football and American football. After moving to Berlin on a whim four years ago, I have been writing about the culture of the German game for my self-published newsletter and numerous outlets. From covering grassroots games to visiting some of the Bundesliga's biggest stadiums, learning more about German football has reignited my passion for writing about football. My work has been published by GOAL, When Saturday Comes and MUNDIAL. 

My Football Story: It all started at The Valley. My dad took me to see my first game in the last few weeks of the 1997-98 season; a campaign that finished with Charlton beating Sunderland in the best playoff-final of all-time. I was there, and from that moment on, I was hooked. A season ticket holder during the club's glory years, weekly trips to The Valley primed me for years of active football fandom. After finishing university, me and a group of mates spent a month in Rio de Janeiro during the 2014 World Cup. Since moving to Berlin, I've become a member at Union Berlin. Again, I got in at the right time, watching this small community-based club punch well above its weight in the Europa League and Champions League. After a decade of writing about business for trade publications and national newspapers, I decided to follow my life's passion to pursue a career in sports writing. 

🎯 Areas of Expertise: 

  • Feature writing 
  • German football and its associated history/culture
  • Expert football opinion and analysis 
  • News writing

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: Standing on the Copacabana Beach with some of my best mates, waiting for England to take on Italy in the opening game of the 2014 World Cup. It felt like we were a part of something truly special. When Raheem Sterling scored that 'ghost goal', the ensuing dog pile of England supporters celebrating was one of the biggest outpourings of joy I have ever been a part of. It took us a solid three minutes to realise the ball actually had not found the back of the Italian net because we were celebrating so much.

Articles by Tom Ritchie
  1. Training after dark! Howe's plans to get Newcastle scoring again

    Eddie Howe is putting his Newcastle players through post-game training sessions to bolster their attacking output, as the Magpies seek to replace the goalscoring prowess of Alexander Isak. With record-signing Nick Woltemade bagging just once in his first three appearances, and Yoanne Wissa out through injury, Newcastle's manager is hoping to get his whole team firing to kickstart their season.

  2. Man Utd to scrap new stadium's controversial canopy design

    Manchester United have drawn up alternative plans of the 'new' Old Trafford, due to problems in purchasing the required land for the controversial re-design. Those plans, originally released in March, would see a three-pronged canopy envelop the stadium. However, reports suggest the purchase of land required for the stadium's increased footprint could be eight times more expensive than expected.

  3. Haaland makes history as quickest to reach 50 UCL goals

    Erling Haaland has become the quickest player to reach 50 Champions League goals, after he scored the opener in Manchester City's 2-0 win over Napoli. The Norwegian reached the tally in just 49 games, easily surpassing Ruud van Nistelrooy's previous record. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid marksman reached his half-century in his first 62 appearances in the competition.

  4. Foden & Doku dazzle as Haaland scores AGAIN

    Manchester City opened their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 win over 10-man Napoli on Thursday. Despite dominating the ball in the early stages, the visitors quickly became content to sit in a low block, soaking up City pressure before looking to hit on the counter. After a long range effort from Tijani Reijnders stung the gloves of Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, Gianluigi Donnarumma was called into action to stop a Sam Beukema header from a Napoli corner.

  5. Premier League stadium to DOUBLE in capacity

    Bournemouth's renovation of the Vitality Stadium will start before the end of the 2025/26 season, with plans to to almost double their home ground's capacity waiting for final planning permission. The proposed work will see a complete renovation of the South Stand and the filling in of all four corners of the stadium, adding 9,000 extra seats to the 11,379 capacity venue.

  6. Schmeichel 'disappointed' Man Utd opted for Lammens over Martinez

    Peter Schmeichel has shared his disappointment at Manchester United's recent acquisition of Senne Lammens. The legendary shot stopper has said he believes the Red Devils should have gone after Aston Villa's Emi Martinez or recent Manchester City signing Gianluigi Donnarumma, rather than the inexperienced Belgian. Schmeichel went as far as to say he had "never heard" of Lammens before the deal.

  7. Lord Sugar threatens Jamie Redknapp & Sky with legal action

    Lord Alan Sugar has accused Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp of being a "double barrel idiot". The Apprentice star took umbrage with the former Spurs midfielder's suggestion that the club under Lord sugar's leadership was in a "right mess". Redknapp made the comments while discussing Daniel Levy's exit from Tottenham ahead of the club's 3-0 victory over West Ham.

  1. Palmer & Caicedo heroics not enough in derby draw

    Chelsea looked to have stolen all three points over local rivals Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium, before a last-minute tap-in by Fabio Carvalho earned the Bees a 2-2 draw. The Blues had taken the lead thanks to second half goals by Cole Palmer and Moises Caicedo. The Blues had fallen behind to Kevin Schade's opener in the 29th minute.

  2. Luis Enrique sports new look after surgery on shoulder

    Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique showed off a new shaved look ahead of Les Parisiens' Ligue 1 clash with Lens on Sunday. The Spaniard was seen with his arm in a sling after undergoing surgery for a broken clavicle he sustained in a bike accident during the international break. It had previously been reported the manager could miss the game as he recovers, but he said he is "ready".