Footballing world meet Jason Collins. On 29th April 2013, the 34-year old, 12 year professional basketball player became the openly gay active athlete in the four major sports (Baseball, American Football, Ice Hockey and Basketball) in the USA. Collins took the leap by writing his own article in Sports Illustrated giving him a chance to tell his story. He was over-loaded with support from fans, celebrities and professionals alike with only a few negative comments being given the chance to gain a few ratings for networks. Consensus seems to be …

I’m ashamed. I’m ashamed because as much as I love football, homophobic attitudes within the game go unchecked, with authorities unconscionably reluctant to intervene. Sepp Blatter’s comment that gay fans travelling to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup “should refrain from any sexual activities” typifies how out of touch FIFA is, but the problems go deeper. Brighton and Hove Albion supporters are routinely abused by other fans because of their city’s large LGBT population, and the FA hasn’t moved a muscle to stop it.
This shouldn’t be an issue. Homophobia in …

After Rafael Benítez’ inevitable departure at the end of the season, Roman Abramovich will have seen four Champions League winning managers leave his club, only one of whom has succeeded in leading Chelsea to a Champions League final. Despite high-profile managers coming and going on a regular basis, Chelsea’s two Champions League final appearances have come during periods of transient management following a sacking of a high profile manager: Avram Grantin 2008 who replaced Jose Mourinho and Roberto Di Matteo in 2012 who took charge following André Villas-Boas’ departure.  Roberto …

At 12:45 on Saturday afternoon, a game kicked off that I didn’t think I would see much of any more. Two teams went head to head not just to play football but to win a battle. Everton faced off against Man City in what was a definite 6 pointer for two top clubs instead of the usual bottom. From the off both teams got stuck into each other and made a real game of it.
In the end it was decided by to two extremely well taken goals, the first from …

Chelsea currently have 23 players out on loan to other clubs, this figure may seem very high compared to Manchester United‘s 10 loanees and Arsenal‘s 12. Especially when Chelsea Interim Manager Rafa Benitez has previously claimed that his current team is too small and that is why points have been dropped. However, of the contingent that are out on loan 12 have risen through the Chelsea ranks and have been given a professional contract. So these players do need to go out on loan and get experience but why is …

The past week has seen Wayne Rooney come under a lot of stick and led to many believing that he should be sold by Man United. Much of the stick has come under the claim that he isn’t “world class” and never will be.
Rooney shouldn’t leave United and he is wrongly being a labelled a scapegoat for their problems. The real problem at United is not Rooney. The past couple of years has seen Rooney switching from a number 9 type striker to a now number 10 creative player. Rooney …

After Man United’s courageous exit from the Champions League at the hands of Real Madrid, and Arsenal‘s imminent bow to Bayern Munich, this Champions League looks like it is going to be the first in 17 years to not feature a single English side in the Quarter-Finals. You would have to go back to the 1995/1996 season, when Blackburn, the only English team, finished bottom in the group stage.
For years, English teams had dominated the Champions League, producing at least 1 Champions League finalist every year between 2005 and 2009, …

Jack Wilshere played his best game in an England shirt, after being named ‘Man of the Match’ against five time World Cup Champions, Brazil. It’s quite some feat to be named ‘man of the match’ against Brazil especially for a player which so much has been written and said about in the game. Wilshere, was elegant in the way he graced the pitch in the middle of midfield with the reassurance of a player who believes in his own talent and ability.

What was most impressive, about the young players performance …

Well what is there to say about the Albion at the start of 2013. I wrote earlier this month about the great start we have achieved so far and it has not disappointed either. There are so many positives out of this month, I’m about as excited as a 5 year-old at Christmas. The return of Vicente; our FA Cup run; undefeated in the league this year; planning permission for a state-of-the-art academy; lost to Arsenal in a terrific game and, of course, we’ve FINALLY signed a target man, Leonardo Ulloa.
Ulloa …

The all-inclusive format of the FA Cup means that football’s oldest surviving tournament has seen countless giant-killings in its history, as lower-ranked Davids slay the Goliaths above them. Non-league Hereford United’s victory over Newcastle in 1972, prompted by the now famous long-range effort from Ronnie Radford, is woven into the competition’s folklore, along with John Motson’s fevered reaction. More recently, Wrexham, who in 1991 had finished bottom of the football league, beat English champions Arsenal 2-1 the next season, and Third Division Shrewsbury defeated Everton in 2003. No team is …