Headshot

Calum Preston Kelly

News writer

📝 Bio: I'm a news writer who joined up with the team at GOAL as of May 2025. This came shortly after I had completed my NCTJ journalism diploma at PA Media Academy, where I specialised in sports journalism. I previously received a BA (Honours) degree at King's College London, where I studied French and Spanish and was lucky enough to spend a year studying abroad. My experience in journalism dates back to 2017, when I got to report on Chelsea Women home matches for local newspapers and won awards two years running in the Newsquest Young Reporter Scheme. Even earlier that that, I began publishing a football blog the year that Leicester City won the Premier League. I also recently spent a season volunteering on the media team at National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough and have expertise in football across all levels of the pyramid and abroad.

My Football Story: I first fell in love with football as a seven-year-old watching the 2010 World Cup. Recording matches on my old-fashioned VHS player, I watched the recordings back time and again and learnt about all the players and teams. There the obsession began. The following season in 2010-11, my club QPR had the best campaign they have had in my lifetime, winning the Championship title and gaining promotion back to the Premier League, inspired by Moroccan magician Adel Taarabt. There have been moments of heartbreak too, though - namely England's gut-wrenching eliminations from the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020.

🎯 Areas of expertise:

  • Insight on English football from the Premier League and Championship down to non-league
  • European football and the tactical nous deployed across different spheres of the game
  • The use of social media to engage fans
  • Comment and analysis on transfer news and the player stories which matter most
  • Always looking to provide a unique viewpoint in tune with my own experiences

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: As a QPR fan, the play-off final in 2014 will be difficult to beat. Getting to be at Wembley to see Bobby Zamora's 90th-minute winner go in was a memory you can never forget. The fact my younger self had been somewhat afraid to go to the game, as I was sure Derby County would win - which they almost did - made it all the more special.

Articles by Calum Preston Kelly
  1. Frank reveals Spurs attempts to sign Semenyo

    Tottenham Hotspur head coach Thomas Frank has revealed all on Spurs' January transfer window, admitting the Lilywhites failed in their pursuit of Antoine Semenyo and that the window 'isn't like Football Manager' as the club continue to seek new arrivals. Frank has come under intense pressure in north London after his side's dismal run of form in the Premier League and will hope to have the chance to turn things around on the pitch.

  2. 📽️ | Harry Kane backed to fire England to World Cup glory

    Former England defender Phil Jones has shown his backing of the Three Lions and captain Harry Kane ahead the World Cup, calling for the Bayern Munich striker to win the Golden Boot in North America this summer and lead England to winning the trophy for the first time since 1966. Speaking exclusively with GOAL, Jones was asked to predict his winners and losers of the tournament and said he believes Germany will 'crash and burn'.

  3. Al-Nassr close the gap! Ronaldo and Felix star in dominant SPL win

    Cristiano Ronaldo got on the scoresheet and Joao Felix was the star of the show as Al-Nassr earnt a fourth straight Saudi Pro League victory in a 3-0 win at Al-Kholood. The win puts Jorge Jesus' side just three points off leaders Al-Hilal and saw Portuguese duo Ronaldo and Felix at the centre of things, as the 40-year-old opened the scoring from close range before Mohamed Simakan headed home a Felix corner and Kingsley Coman struck from the spot to make the result safe.

  4. Wrexham legend departs! Mullin joins Bradford amid Red Dragons PL bid

    Wrexham have announced the departure on loan of striker Paul Mullin to Bradford City for the remainder of the season. The 31-year-old spent the first half of the term on loan at League One side Wigan and will now spend the remainder of the campaign with fellow third-tier side Bradford. Championship play-off chasers Wrexham strengthened in attacking areas over the summer and are seeing the members of their promotion-winning sides slowly depart the club.

  5. Mateta 'not in the right place' to play against Forest

    Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner has confirmed that striker Jean-Philippe Mateta will not be in the squad to face Nottingham Forest this weekend, as the Frenchman continues to seek an exit from Selhurst Park. Palace have reportedly received offers from both Forest and AC Milan for the 28-year-old, who informed the club earlier this month that he intends to depart in January.

  6. Guardiola misses Man City press conference after pro-Palestine speech

    Pep Guardiola was absent from his Manchester City press conference on Friday lunchtime after delivering a passionate speech on the Gaza conflict at a pro-Palestinian rally in his native Barcelona. The event took place on Thursday evening with City assistant manager Pep Lijnders stepping in for Friday's conference and confirming that Guardiola was absent due to a "personal matter" but will be back to lead his side this weekend.

  7. Tuchel over Glasner?! Palace boss not a Man Utd frontrunner

    Oliver Glasner will depart Crystal Palace at the end of the season, the Eagles boss confirmed in his press conference on Friday. But that may not have increased his chances of becoming the next permanent manager at Manchester United, amidst the belief that current England boss Thomas Tuchel is ahead of the Austrian in the running - despite the fact that United would need to wait until after the World Cup in order to secure his services.

  8. Liverpool icon hits out at Salah for 'not prove his worth' comments

    Former Liverpool midfielder Didi Hamann has hit out at Mohamed Salah after the Reds star suggested he had nothing left to prove in an explosive interview following Liverpool's 3-3 draw with Leeds United in December. The 33-year-old has spent the past month away at AFCON and Hamann says it might be best for player and club to part ways, slamming the Egyptian's comments that he doesn't want to 'fight every day' for his position at Anfield.

  9. Carrick slams door shut on Maguire exit despite PL interest

    Manchester United's interim head coach Michael Carrick has slammed the door on a January exit for Harry Maguire, with reports stating that the Red Devils have rejected 'several approaches' for the England defender this month. AC Milan and multiple Premier League clubs are said to have shown an interest but United will reject all approaches for the 32-year-old this month, with his current contract expiring at the end of the season.

  10. Thomas Tuchel

    Man Utd urged to snub Enrique & appoint Tuchel as new manager

    Didi Hamann has urged Manchester United to pursue Thomas Tuchel as their next manager, with the Old Trafford club set to decide on a long-term successor to Michael Carrick at the end of the season. England boss Tuchel will be busy leading the Three Lions into the World Cup over the summer, but Hamann believes United should make him their prime candidate despite links with PSG's Champions League-winning head coach Luis Enrique.

  1. Mbappe refuses to play despite return to Madrid squad

    Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe is reportedly insisting that he does not want to return to action until fully fit following a knee injury, meaning the France international could be absent for Los Blancos’ match at home to Levante in La Liga this Sunday. The 27-year-old returned early to make his first appearance of 2026 as a substitute as Real lost in the final of the Supercopa de Espana 3-2 to Barcelona, but does not want to 'take any risks' on his fitness moving forward.

  2. Explained: How Casemiro can automatically earn new Man Utd contract

    Manchester United midfielder Casemiro can automatically trigger a one-year extension onto his contract at Old Trafford if he starts a certain number of games this season, it has been revealed. The 33-year-old would see his Red Devils contract extended until 2027 at his current salary, if he reaches the target. This could be a challenge due to United's lack of European football and poor form in the cup competitions, with just the Premier League left to play in.

  3. Man Utd's new target revealed as Wilcox slams 'disappointing' season

    Manchester United director of football Jason Wilcox has told the squad a new target for the season following the recent sacking of head coach Ruben Amorim. The Red Devils currently sit seventh in the Premier League table but are now without a permanent manager, with Darren Fletcher acting as interim boss. Wilcox reportedly clashed with Amorim at the end of his reign and has now detailed a new primary aim for the remainder of 2025-26.

  4. Baltimore brace leads Chelsea to easy WSL win

    Sandy Baltimore scored the pick of the goals and grabbed a second from the penalty spot as Chelsea swept aside West Ham 5-0 on Sunday to keep up the pace on Manchester City at the top of the Women's Super League table. The Blues led after just 46 seconds at Kingsmeadow and did not look back as they launched wave after wave of attack on their visitors, with Lauren James and Alyssa Thompson also grabbing first-half goals in a rampant display.

  5. 📽️ | Zidane's son at centre of wild AFCON brawl

    Zinedine Zidane's son Luca was involved in a brawl at full-time after his Algeria side were defeated in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Saturday. The 27-year-old Granada goalkeeper clashed with Nigeria ace Fisayo Dele-Bashiru following a 2-0 victory for the Super Eagles, who will meet hosts Morocco in the last four. But the incident after the full-time whistle saw a sour end to proceedings as Zidane's side were eliminated.

  6. Spurs reject Dragusin loan bid

    Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly rejected a loan bid from Roma for centre-back Radu Dragusin, who recently returned from nearly a year out with an ACL injury and had been targeted for a return to Serie A. The 23-year-old has been included in Thomas Frank's last six matchday squads despite coming off the bench just once, and the club may decide to keep him around this January after knocking back Roma's approach.

  7. Amorim is back home! Man Utd boss returns to Portugal

    Ruben Amorim returned to his native Portugal on Saturday just five days after his sacking as Manchester United head coach, with the 40-year-old spotted grinning after touching down in his homeland. United parted ways with the former Sporting CP boss on Monday after 14 months in charge at Old Trafford, with Darren Fletcher taking over as interim head coach and Amorim's future path very much undecided.

  8. Fernandes to QUIT Man Utd?! Squad convinced captain will leave

    Bruno Fernandes' Manchester United team-mates 'fear' the Portuguese has had enough of the turmoil going on at Old Trafford and will quit the Red Devils for pastures new after the World Cup this summer. The 31-year-old previously claimed he was "hurt" and "sad" that the club were willing to sell him last year and team-mates reportedly would not blame him if he were to move on at the end of the season.

  9. Yamal plays down CR7 comparisons after winning latest award

    Lamine Yamal has expressed his desire to build and follow his own unique path as his young career develops. Speaking after winning the Best Forward award at the Globe Soccer Awards, the 18-year-old played down comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo and stated that since the great Portuguese earnt his name in football by being unlike anyone else, he hopes to do the same thing as he comes ever closer to reaching the very top of the game.

  10. Ousmane Dembele

    Dembele rounds off incredible 2025 with 'Best Male Player' at GSA

    An almost perfect 2025 for Ousmane Dembele was completed on Sunday, as the Paris Saint-Germain forward was crowned 'Best Male Player' at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai. This was the latest in a series of personal accolades for the Ballon d'Or winner, who inspired PSG to winning the Champions League for the first time ever last season. Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal also picked up a pair of awards on the night.