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.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac have been urged to make Jamie Vardy the next star of ‘Welcome to Wrexham’, with Robert Huth telling GOAL that his former Leicester team-mate “certainly is Hollywood”. The former England international striker remains a free agent after leaving Italian side Cremonese, but the Red Dragons in North Wales have been warned that any deal will not come cheap.
Jamal Musiala has been told to “get healthy” before worrying about his form for Bayern Munich and Germany, with Dietmar Hamann explaining to GOAL how football will “take care of itself” as the 23-year-old manages a “neurological dysfunction” condition. He suffered two on-field collapses during pre-season and will be given all the support he requires at the Allianz Arena before a return to competitive action is made.
Elliot Anderson has a £116 million ($157m) price tag hanging around his neck at Manchester City. How does he go about justifying such an elaborate outlay? Dietmar Hamann has attempted to answer that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL. A Rodri-themed challenge has been presented to City’s latest England international addition.
Chelsea have been warned that “no successful teams” follows the tactical blueprint that has been adopted at Stamford Bridge, with Ruud Gullit - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - questioning how much influence Xabi Alonso has on transfer business. The Spanish tactician has seen big money spent in another transfer window, but is he being dictated to in some respects?
Nick Woltemade poses a transfer “problem” for Newcastle, with Dietmar Hamann explaining to GOAL what the “best solution” for the German striker could be ahead of the summer deadline passing. The towering frontman has only spent 12 months at St James’ Park, following a big-money move, but could soon bid farewell to Tyneside and the Premier League.
Manchester United won the last of their 13 Premier League titles in 2013 as Sir Alex Ferguson walked away. A 13-year barren run has been endured, but are the Red Devils closing in on top spot once more? Former captain Steve Bruce has answered that question for GOAL, with Michael Carrick’s side being warned that they are a “long way short of Arsenal” at present.
Florian Wirtz briefly became the most expensive player in British football when joining Liverpool for £116 million ($157m) in 2025, but could he be sold without ever producing his best in the Premier League? The 23-year-old’s fellow German, and former Reds midfielder Dietmar Hamann, has told GOAL when transfer speculation an Anfield will be ramped up.
In Cole Palmer, Morgan Rogers and Joao Pedro, do Chelsea boast the Premier League’s best attacking unit? Blues legend Ruud Gullit has answered that question for GOAL. Following another summer of big spending at Stamford Bridge, and further change in the dugout, the west London heavyweights are certainly not short on fearsome firepower.
Dietmar Hamann has told GOAL how Phil Foden can rediscover his spark at Manchester City following a “very draining” spell under Pep Guardiola. The England international is considered to be an “exceptional” player and is being backed to take his “big chance” under new boss Enzo Maresca - with a clean slate having been presented to the 26-year-old playmaker.
Brighton have raised more than £600 million ($814m) from sales in recent years, but Mark McGhee has explained to GOAL why the Seagulls are not a selling club - at least not through choice. The likes of Moises Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Leandro Trossard, Yves Bissouma, Alexis Mac Allister and Carlos Baleba have all departed the Amex Stadium.
Former Birmingham player and manager Steve Bruce has told GOAL that the Blues will not rush into a repeat of their Wayne Rooney mistake, with there no plans on the part of Tom Brady and the club’s board to seek another “name” in the dugout. Chris Davies remains at the St Andrew’s helm for now, with collective sights being locked on the Premier League.
John Halls worked with Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira and the ‘Invincibles’ at Arsenal, with the Gunners academy graduate telling GOAL of the “mindset” required to succeed in north London. The Premier League heavyweights are famed for their production of home-grown stars, with those coming through the system needing to adopt a “better than you” mentality.
Steve Bruce admits that Emi Martinez’s desperation to leave Aston Villa is strange, with the former Villans boss reacting to transfer talk during an exclusive interview with GOAL - as the World Cup-winning goalkeeper sees a move to Chelsea mooted. The Argentina international has spent 12 months shuffling his way towards exit doors in the West Midlands.
Marcus Rashford has been absorbed back into the fold at Manchester United. Does he have a long-term future at Old Trafford or are the Red Devils delaying the inevitable - with transfer rumours set to resurface in 2027? Steve Bruce has attempted that question during an exclusive interview with GOAL, as the Premier League title winner assesses a “fabulous footballer”.
Fabian Hurzeler is younger than some Premier League players, with Mark McGhee telling GOAL why the “ageless” 33-year-old is “only going to get better” as he follows in illustrious footsteps at Brighton. The Seagulls have seen the likes of Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi pass through their dugout before going on to land prestigious Premier League posts.
Jack Grealish could “play for any club in the world”, Steve Bruce has told GOAL, with a man that worked with the England international at Aston Villa explaining why the Manchester City forward is “too good” not to find regular football somewhere late in the summer transfer window. The enigmatic 30-year-old, who spent time at Everton last season, has emerged as a target for Sunderland.
Brighton are flying at the Amex, with the Seagulls soaring into Europe, but Mark McGhee has - during an exclusive interview with GOAL - lifted the lid on life before Premier League fairytales came true. He has, following the opening of a new gallery celebrating the club’s colourful history, explained what it was like to work at the divisive Withdean Stadium.
The Arsenal ‘Invincibles’ of 2003-04 will forever hold a special place in football folklore, with the likes of Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira rewriting the Premier League history books. Arsene Wenger’s squad was loaded with talent at that time, and Highbury academy graduate John Halls - who has gone on to become a male model - has namechecked two iconic Gunners that would have been “super superstars” at any other club during an exclusive interview with GOAL.
Bruno Fernandes will never be a Roy Keane, Paul Ince or Bryan Robson-esque leader, but legendary Manchester United captain Steve Bruce has explained to GOAL why the occasionally “petulant” Portuguese remains the best skipper option at Old Trafford. The Red Devils rely heavily on their "outstanding" and record-breaking playmaker to provide moments of inspiration.
Neymar continues to see a move to Inter Miami speculated on, which would see him link up with ex-Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, but Giuseppe Rossi has explained to GOAL why a ‘MSN’ reunion in South Florida could be a “mistake” for MLS. With ambitious plans being drawn up in the United States, “snail’s pace” progress warnings have been sounded.
