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. Yamal set to buy Pique's €14m mansion

    Even at 18 years of age, Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is one of football’s biggest stars and, accordingly, also one of the sport's best-paid and most marketable assets. The teenager is reportedly expected to throw down millions to buy a new house that was formerly the home of Blaugrana legend Gerard Pique and his ex-wife, Shakira, who listed the complex for sale shortly after separating.

  2. Is Ted Lasso an Arsenal fan? Sudeikis at the Emirates again

    Cameras picked up Ted Lasso actor Jason Sudeikis in attendance at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night as Arsenal hosted Atletico Madrid in the Champions League. The American entertainer is known to be a huge sports fan and his presence at the game, given his alter ego's place within modern football culture, was an amusing side-note for fans of the world famous show.

  3. Amorim backed to lead Man Utd title challenge this season

    Manchester United could surprise everyone by mounting a Premier League title challenge this season, according to Rene Meulensteen, who was part of Sir Alex Ferguson's staff during six dominant years between 2007 and 2013. Ruben Amorim's side have put together back-to-back league wins for the first time under the Portuguese and have enjoyed statement victories over Chelsea and Liverpool in recent weeks.

  4. Record-breaker CR7 & Portugal denied by late Szoboszlai show

    Portugal failed to wrap up 2026 World Cup qualification after conceding a late Hungary equaliser to draw 2-2 in Lisbon. Roberto Martinez's side had initially come from behind to get in front, courtesy of two Cristiano Ronaldo goals that set a new all-time World Cup qualifying record, and were on the brink of booking their ticket to North America thanks to Armenia's defeat to Ireland providing the extra nudge required. But Liverpool's Dominik Szoboszlai intervened at the death and it means Ronaldo and co. must now wait until November for their next chance instead.

  5. Champions League format change set to mimic U.S. model

    The Champions League has only just undergone a major shakeup with the introduction of the 'league phase' in 2024, but UEFA wants to keep evolving the competition and the next set of format changes coming into force the season after next are expected to make even more of the action accessible to fans. A big part of that is copying a season-opening tradition used in American sports.

  1. 'Spineless nonsense' - UEFA blasted over Barca in Miami decision

    UEFA has approved requests to play two La Liga and Serie A matches overseas, on different continents, despite European football's governing body insisting it is against domestic fixtures being hosted abroad. Supporters infuriated by the news, that includes Barcelona playing an official competitive game in Miami, have now rounded on UEFA to make their feelings known.

  2. 'Torn apart' - Salah's work ethic vs Chelsea savaged by Rooney

    As Liverpool lost a third successive game across all competitions, Premier League legend Wayne Rooney accused Reds talisman Mohamed Salah of "watching" Conor Bradley get torn apart by Chelsea behind him and doing very little to help. Last season, Salah openly praised Liverpool boss Arne Slot for taking away the defensive responsibility that Jurgen Klopp had previously insisted on.

  3. Neto reveals 'pride' at playing against Mourinho

    Jose Mourinho’s reunion with Chelsea, the club where he enjoyed so much success across two spells at Stamford Bridge, is one of the headline fixtures in this season’s Champions League as he takes new employer Benfica back to his former stomping ground. Blues winger Pedro Neto is relishing the chance to come up against his fellow Portuguese thanks to his incredible legacy.