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.
Rangers are a “bigger club than Tottenham”, Colin Hendry has told GOAL, but the Old Firm giants face transfer frustration when it comes to bringing Mikey Moore back to Ibrox for a second spell. The teenage wonderkid impressed many in Glasgow last season, but Spurs are seemingly set to send him elsewhere before the summer deadline of 2026 passes.
Jason Wilcox holds plenty of power at Old Trafford, but what is Manchester United’s director of football really like? Premier League title-winning team-mate Colin Hendry has answered that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL. The former England international has trodden a post-playing career path that few could have predicted - having once been a “comedian” in the dressing room.
Liverpool legend John Barnes has told GOAL that Florian Wirtz is his “favourite player” at Anfield, with the German playmaker being backed to “do what Bruno Fernandes does” while donning a different red shirt. Wirtz endured a testing debut campaign in English football, but the talented 23-year-old can still justify the £116 million ($156m) worth of faith that has been shown in him.
Manchester United are said to be keen on Lewis Hall, but can the Newcastle left-back become “the new Patrice Evra” at Old Trafford? The man himself has attempted to answer that question, with the legendary Red Devils defender assessing potential transfer business with GOAL. More movement is expected before the summer window of 2026 swings shut.
Colin Hendry has attempted to explain how he would deal with Erling Haaland, during an exclusive interview with GOAL, but the former Manchester City defender admits that the prolific frontman poses questions that are almost impossible to answer. The Norway international forms part of the global elite, with few opponents able to contain his obvious threat.
Newcastle were never going to be in a position to land a Fabian Hurzeler or Andoni Iraola once Eddie Howe took the decision to walk away, former Magpies star John Barnes has told GOAL. In a summer of change at St James’ Park, on and off the field, managerial reins in the North East have been passed to Premier League rookie Matthias Jaissle.
Enzo Fernandez would tick a box for Manchester City that the Blues have been missing, Colin Hendry has told GOAL, with the World Cup winner tipped to be a “big plus” for Enzo Maresca if he can be lured away from Chelsea. The Argentina international will come with a huge price tag, said to stand at £120 million ($162m), but could prove to be money well spent.
Mohamed Salah deserves “respect” for not choosing the “easy option”, John Barnes has told GOAL, with the Liverpool legend insisting that the Egyptian King’s successor at Anfield will not be under “pressure” to emulate a modern day great. Nobody has stepped into those shoes as yet, with a Reds icon preparing to open a new chapter in his career at Trabzonspor.
Ben White has been told that he should be “knocking on the door” at Emirates Stadium and requesting a transfer away from Arsenal, with Lee Dixon explaining to GOAL why a “difficult” decision needs to be made. Premier League title success has been savoured in north London, but the versatile 28-year-old finds himself stuck down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta.
Robbie Keane is a managerial free agent, having cut his coaching teeth outside of British football, and Graham Stack has - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - stated his surprise that no club has “picked the phone up and begged” the former Tottenham and Liverpool striker to take their reins. For now, the ex-Republic of Ireland international is waiting on enticing offers to be tabled.
The qualities that make Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya special have been explained to GOAL by ‘Invincibles’ squad member Graham Stack. The World Cup and Premier League title-winning shot-stopper is considered to share some characteristics with England No.1 Jordan Pickford, but goes about his business in an altogether different kind of manner.
Harry Kane has been told that emulating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi by gracing the World Cup finals in the twilight of his playing career will be a “big ask”. Ex-Bayern Munich star Dietmar Hamann - who has been speaking to GOAL - is not convinced that the two-time Bundesliga title winner will, at 36 years of age, form part of England’s major tournament plans in the summer of 2030.
Manchester United have been offered advice on how best to manage teenage wonderkid JJ Gabriel, with Lee Sharpe telling GOAL why a youngster that has been dubbed ‘Kid Messi’ may have to wait another year before making his competitive debut. At 15 years of age, the highly-rated forward has figured for the Red Devils in pre-season and is knocking on the first-team door.
Real Madrid still love a ‘Galactico’, but ex-Blancos star Michael Owen has told GOAL that there is little chance of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland forming part of a fearsome frontline at Santiago Bernabeu. Instead, it is likely to remain a case of “one or the other” when it comes to superstar forwards that now operate in the same central striking position.
Jurgen Klopp has been warned that he will get no special treatment as head coach of Germany, with Dietmar Hamann telling GOAL that the former Liverpool manager’s “honeymoon period” will last “one game”. The enigmatic 59-year-old has returned to the dugout for the first time since bidding an emotional farewell to Anfield in the summer of 2024.
Swansea legend Lee Trundle has told GOAL why Luka Modric and Snoop Dogg could have cause for celebration at the end of the 2026-27 campaign, with collective sights in South Wales being locked on the Premier League. With A-list investors watching on from afar, the Swans are considered to be heading down a similar path to geographical rivals Wrexham.
Jack Grealish endured a “soul-destroying” injury last season, but the Manchester City-owned winger’s fellow West Midlands native Lee Sharpe has told GOAL why a “game-changing” talent can get his career back on track and potentially earn an England recall. For now, the 30-year-old forward faces a big decision on what his immediate future holds at club level.
Liverpool have been told that they missed a transfer trick in not identifying West Ham star Jarrod Bowen as the ideal successor to Mohamed Salah, with Michael Owen assessing links to Bradley Barcola during an exclusive interview with GOAL. The Paris Saint-Germain forward is said to have become available, but the France international will come with a “massive price” around his neck.
Lee Trundle was king of the showboat in his heyday, but who would he welcome aboard that vessel from the Premier League class of 2026? The former Swansea and Wrexham ace has answered that question for GOAL. Rayan Cherki, who is something of a “throwback”, earns said honour while starring at Manchester City, while Arsenal playmaker Eberechi Eze is another creative magician.
Arsenal are Premier League champions again, for the first time in 22 years, but which members of their 2026-27 title-winning class would make the fabled ‘Invincibles’ squad of 2003-04? Ex-Gunners goalkeeper Graham Stack, who formed part of Arsene Wenger’s ranks back then, has attempted to answer that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
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