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. Rooney keen on joining Carrick's Man Utd staff

    Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has admitted he would be interested in returning to the club as an assistant coach, working under former teammate Michael Carrick. The retired midfielder is expected to be named interim manager imminently and Rooney, who hasn't held a coaching position since being fired as Plymouth Argyle manager, would love to join him.

  2. FA Cup fourth round draw: Macclesfield in dreamland!

    Macclesfield FC will welcome the Premier League's Brentford to their Moss Rose home in the next round of the 2025-26 FA Cup after the fourth round draw handed the non-league side another glamorous tie against top flight opposition. The Silkmen sensationally beat holders Crystal Palace in the third round to complete one of the greatest FA Cup shocks of all-time.

  3. Man Utd reach decision on interim manager

    Manchester United are tipped to name Michael Carrick as the club's new interim manager by Wednesday, having spent recent days weighing up who to appoint to lead the team until the end of the season in the wake of Ruben Amorim's sacking. Fellow ex-players Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Darren Fletcher were also under consideration but now seem to have missed out.

  4. Solskjaer 'under consideration' for sensational Man Utd return

    Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is reportedly "under consideration" as Manchester United search for a caretaker or interim manager to take over from Ruben Amorim, just over four years after he himself was sacked by the Red Devils. Darren Fletcher will lead the team in the immediate short-term, but the club is expected to name someone else in charge for the coming months, before a final permanent appointment is ultimately made ahead of next season.

  5. Man City plunged into defensive crisis after Gvardiol diagnosis

    Manchester City are potentially at risk of being without key defender Josko Gvardiol for the rest of the season following the injury he sustained in Sunday's 1-1 draw against Chelsea. The Croatian defender had to be helped off the pitch in the second half, in the same game as chief centre-back partner Ruben Dias was also unable to continue, while John Stones is still sidelined.

  6. Celtic re-appoint O'Neill!

    Martin O'Neill is already back at Celtic on an interim basis until the end of the season, replacing Wilfried Nancy at the helm after the French manager was dismissed just eight games into a two-and-a-half year contract. O'Neill had preceded Nancy at Parkhead, initially holding the fort for an eight-game run when Brendan Rodgers was dismissed in October.

  7. Rooney: Why Rosenior 'won't disappoint' at Chelsea

    With Liam Rosenior on course to become Chelsea's new manager, following the shock New Year's Day departure of Enzo Maresca, Premier League legend Wayne Rooney has given a resounding endorsement. The retired ex-Manchester United captain knows the Strasbourg boss pretty well already, having been assisted by him during an 18-month spell at Derby County in 2021 and 2022.

  8. Celtic fire Nancy after just EIGHT games!

    Celtic have wasted little time in sacking manager Wilfried Nancy, just eight games into his time in Glasgow, having been hired in December 2025 as the permanent successor to Brendan Rodgers. Martin O'Neill had served as interim boss following Rodgers' dismissal and was remarkably at the helm for longer than Nancy. The last nail in the Frenchman's coffin was a 3-1 Old Firm defeat to Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday.

  9. Messi pays moving tribute to late AFA icon Souto

    Lionel Messi has lifted the lid on the impact that Omar Souto, the long-serving general manager of Argentina's national teams within the country's football association, had on his career. The 73-year-old passed away this week, sending Argentina's football community into mourning, with flags at the nation's two footballing hubs to fly at half mast in tribute.

  1. Kane breaks silence on Barcelona transfer links

    Harry Kane has directly responded to reports linking him with a transfer to Barcelona. The England captain has also revealed that talks over a new Bayern Munich contract are yet to begin, at least raising the possibility that his career could take another step, but he insists there is no reason for fans in Bavaria to be worried about an imminent departure.

  2. Antony apologises to Betis fans for red card after botched overhead kick

    Antony has publicly apologised to Real Betis fans after being sent off towards the end of the weekend's La Liga draw against Girona. The former Manchester United winger accidentally struck an opponent in the face with his boot while trying to keep the ball alive with an overhead kick in the Girona penalty area. It’s one of the rare blots on his record since moving to the Andalucian club, initially on loan, last January.

  3. 'Annoying even for me' - Farke admits 'polarising' Aaronson is too 'hectic'

    Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has again come in to bat for divisive attacker Brenden Aaronson, who has been the subject of more abuse from his own fans, albeit while admitting that the USMNT star is an "annoying" player. It comes as Leeds are struggling to tread water on their return to the Premier League, sitting just inside the relegation zone on goal difference, with the pressure also mounting on Farke himself.

  4. Gueye speaks out after swipe at Everton team-mate

    Everton midfielder Idrissa Gueye has quickly addressed the shocking red card he was shown in the first half of his team's eventual win over Manchester United on Monday night, received for raising his hand to collegaue Michael Keane after an altercation between the pair on the pitch. Both Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Toffees boss David Moyes have also given their reaction.

  5. Martinez passionately defends Ronaldo's place in Portugal team

    Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo still justifies his place in the national team ahead of the 2026 World Cup, highlighting not only his recent goalscoring form at international level but also the "hunger" that drives the 40-year-old five-time Ballon d'Or winner. Ronaldo is set to play at his sixth World Cup tournament, which is likely to be his last.

  6. 📽️ | McTominay channels CR7 with outrageous overhead kick

    On a historic night for Scottish football that ended what will be come next summer a 28-year absence from the World Cup, Scott McTominay scored the best goal of his career by launching himself into the air to set the tone for a crunch qualifier against Denmark in Glasgow. The Napoli midfielder and reigning Serie A Player of the Year is having the time of his life for both club and country right now.

  7. Estevao Lucas Paqueta Brazil

    Estevao can't stop scoring but Paqueta skies decisive pen

    Brazil will have to do better next summer if they are to end a wait of 24 years for a World Cup trophy after they were held to a 1-1 draw by a disciplined Tunisia in Lille on Tuesday night. A first half goal from Hazem Mastouri threatened to put the Eagles of Carthage on course for a famous win, albeit in a friendly, but Chelsea prodigy Estevao Willian levelled things up not long before the interval.

  8. Arsenal learn worrying extent of Gabriel injury

    Arsenal look set to go through an extended period without key centre-back and squad leader Gabriel. The Brazilian defender has become a crucial part of the success Mikel Arteta's team has enjoyed in recent seasons, both as a defensive force and a threat at attacking set-pieces. But in the same way that a William Saliba injury derailed their 2022-23 Premier League title challenge, losing Gabriel is a huge blow.