Stephen Darwin profile image

Stephen Darwin

Senior Editor

📝 Bio: I'm an editor with over 15 years of experience and joined GOAL in 2009 after having received a BA (Honours) degree in Sports Journalism from the University of Huddersfield. After realising the dream of becoming a professional footballer wasn't going to become a reality, I've been privileged to be able to settle for the next best thing - creating content about the sport I love. I'd consider myself a Premier League and European football expert and have been lucky enough to report on matches in England's top flight, attend two Champions League finals and cover England at international level.

My Football Story: I remember my trips to Old Trafford as a starry-eyed young lad watching Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United dominate English football, choosing them as my team despite my brother's best efforts to convert me to Arsenal. There was obligatory England heartache as well, with a vivid memory being that looping Ronaldinho free-kick that knocked us out of the 2002 World Cup. Gutting. That same year I was a ball boy at the Champions League final in Glasgow but regrettably missed Zinedine Zidane's iconic volley as I was in the changing room getting ready for the second half. It still haunts me to this day.

🎯 Areas of Expertise:

  • Expert football opinion & analysis
  • Social media content creation
  • Premier League, Champions League & European football insight
  • Comment & analysis on the England national team
  • Writing & editing the football stories that matter to fans

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: Seeing Manchester United miraculously come from behind to win the Champions League and complete a treble in 1999 takes some beating. There was also a special moment in 2021, when I was lucky enough to be one of few fans allowed inside Wembley to see England play Croatia at EURO 2020. This was at the time when fans were starting to be let back into stadiums amid the Coronavirus pandemic, and being able to celebrate a win with the close friends you had got used to seeing exclusively on Zoom quizzes provided a particularly fond memory.

Articles by Stephen Darwin
  1. Watch highlights from Arne Slot's press conference after 4-1 loss

    Arne Slot has expressed his complete shock at Liverpool's recent struggles, culminating in a devastating 4-1 loss at the hands of PSV in the Champions League on Wednesday night. Watch the above video as the Dutchman explains that conceding an early goal hampered his side, given morale was already low after the 3-0 defeat to Nottingham Forest, and says it's "normal" that questions are being asked about his future ⬆️

  2. Isak goes missing as Reds lose to Forest, adding pressure on Slot

    Liverpool's nightmare defence of their Premier League title took a turn for the worse on Saturday as Nottingham Forest ripped the Reds apart at Anfield. In a game that saw more than one moment of VAR controversy, Forest struck three times, courtesy of efforts from Murillo, Nicolo Savona and Morgan Gibbs-White, to leave a shellshocked Arne Slot potentially fearing for his job.

  3. Toone & Park stifled as Terland has a shocker in derby demolition

    Marc Skinner's side shipped three first-half goals to effectively put the game to bed as the Red Devils toiled in the Manchester derby and saw their rivals pull seven points clear of them in the WSL table. It'll surely take something spectacular for United to get themselves back in contention now, even after only nine games, as they struggled to contain the likes of Lauren Hemp, Vivianne Miedema and Bunny Shaw and were comfortably beaten 3-0.

  4. Cunha opens up on 'very painful' Brazil experience

    Manchester United forward Matheus Cunha has discussed how he's grown as a player and a person since being overlooked for Brazil's squad for the 2022 World Cup. The likes of Antony, Gabriel Jesus and Pedro were selected ahead of the 26-year-old by then-Selecao manager Tite, although Cunha is back in favour under Carlo Ancelotti and has a strong chance of making the cut this time around. Click the play button above to hear what the former Wolves attacker had to say about dealing with the "very painful" experience of being snubbed three years ago ⬆️

  5. 'What an inspiration' - Arteta reacts to Guardiola reaching 1000 games

    Mikel Arteta has lauded Pep Guardiola and recognised that the Manchester City boss will go down in football history as he prepares to take charge of the 1000th game of his managerial career. The former Barcelona head coach will reach the milestone on Sunday, when his City side face Liverpool in the Premier League, with Arteta saluting the "incredible achievement". Click the play button above to hear what Arteta had to say about the milestone ⬆️

  6. Pennant on prison & vodka-fuelled night of partying before Arsenal game

    Former Arsenal and Liverpool winger Jermaine Pennant has explained how he thought his life was effectively over after being sentenced to three months in prison back in 2005. Speaking on episode nine of the Beast Mode On Podcast, Pennant reveals how he broke down after the shock of being incarcerated had sunk in, while he also discusses how he spent the night partying before his first Premier League start for the Gunners, as well as much, much more.

  7. 'Your ears are going to bleed!' - Potter speaks in Swedish after landing new job

    Graham Potter delivered the start of his first press conference since landing the Sweden international manager's job in Swedish as he spoke of the "great honour" at taking charge of the Nordic nation. The former West Ham and Chelsea boss, who has signed a five-month contract, will have his work cut out, with his side currently rock bottom of their World Cup qualifying group and with just two matches remaining.

  8. Shock as ex-Tottenham captain reveals he almost joined Arsenal

    Former Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas has explained how he almost ended up joining Spurs' fierce north London rivals Arsenal. Speaking on episode eight of the Beast Mode On Podcast with Adebayo Akinfenwa, Jenas recalls how he would've loved the chance to play under Arsene Wenger, leading to the former England international needing to prove his loyalties to disgruntled Spurs fans.

  9. 🎥 | Quansah explains why he had to leave Liverpool

    Former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah has given his reasons for leaving Arne Slot's side in favour of a move to Bundesliga outfit Bayer Leverkusen. The 22-year-old, who has been included in Thomas Tuchel's England squad for the fixtures against Wales and Latvia, explained how he needed to be playing more regularly, and that was not guaranteed if he'd decided to stay in the Premier League.

  1. Gordon reacts to Bellingham & Grealish failing to make England squad

    Anthony Gordon has suggested that some of the star names that have been overlooked for Thomas Tuchel's latest England squad, including Jude Bellingham, Jack Grealish and Phil Foden, shouldn't take their omission personally. The Newcastle United forward went on to insist that it needs to be a team effort if the Three Lions are going to win major international tournaments, and is under no illusions that his place in the team is guaranteed.

  2. Iman Beney that is huge: Swiss star strikes to send City second

    Iman Beney's first goal for Manchester City secured a dramatic late victory for Andree Jeglertz's side, moments after it had appeared they'd thrown away all three points. Arsenal had twice pegged the hosts back in a lively second-half but as the clock ticked towards the 90-minute mark, up stepped the summer signing from BSC YB Frauen to smash home and make it 3-2, keeping the pressure up on Chelsea at the top of the WSL table.

  3. Mark Clattenburg drops EIGHT F-bombs in Klopp rant

    Mark Clattenburg has lifted the lid on a spat he had with Jurgen Klopp that led to the former Premier League referee telling the German to 'f*ck off'. Joining Adebayo Akinfenwa for episode seven of the Beast Mode On Podcast, Clattenburg explained how Klopp had sought to blame the match official for a 3-0 defeat to Real Madrid, leading to a fiery response from the referee.

  4. Mbappe shines once again as Madrid stay perfect in La Liga

    Real Madrid made light work of Espanyol as they claimed a 2-0 win to maintain their perfect start to the Liga season. Eder Militao got things started as he hammered home an absolute piledriver from 30 yards out before Kylian Mbappe made it two soon after the half-time break, firing home a snapshot that caught out Marko Dmitrovic in the visitors' goal.