Joshua Buatsi v Dan Azeez: Olympian described as “diva and cry baby” by friend-turned-opponent Azeez

Dan Azeez described friend-turned-opponent Joshua Buatsi as a “diva and a cry baby” before Saturday’s all-British light-heavyweight contest. The two Londoners will collide at Wembley’s OVO Arena in an eliminator for the WBA world title. Buatsi, 30, has previously questioned the legitimacy of Azeez’s back injury which postponed their October bout. “Why would I fake […]

ECB inviting counties to run top-tier women’s sides from 2025

Up to £5m of extra yearly funding will be pumped into women’s cricket as part of an overhaul of the domestic game. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) wants three tiers in the sport from 2025 onwards. It has now invited applications to run professional sides, in a departure from the regional model introduced […]

Wrexham: Cup run may be over but Hollywood dreams live on

When Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney first took charge at Wrexham, their mission statement made no reference of success in the FA Cup. The aim was always about growing the team, the club, the stadium and the feel-good factor around the community – with promotions along the way. And so Blackburn’s comfortable fourth round victory […]

Matz Sels: Nottingham Forest sign goalkeeper form Strasbourg

Nottingham Forest have signed Belgium goalkeeper Matz Sels from French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg for a fee of around £5m. The 31-year-old has joined on a three-and-a-half year deal. The move seals a return to England for Sels, who previously played Newcastle from 2016 until 2018. Sels is Nottingham Forest’s second signing on transfer deadline […]

Richard Gleeson: Warwickshire sign England T20 paceman for Blast

Warwickshire have signed England T20 paceman Richard Gleeson following his end-of-season release by Lancashire. Gleeson, 36, has signed a contract to play all the group games in the T20 Blast for the Birmingham Bears – as well as Finals Day, if they make it. “It adds another quality, proven bowler to our T20 squad,” said […]

Michael Neser: Hampshire sign Australia all-rounder for T20 Blast

Hampshire have signed Australian international Michael Neser for this summer’s T20 Blast. The 33-year-old bowling all-rounder has spent the past three years with Glamorgan. He is available for the first eight Blast matches across May and June – including a return to Cardiff – and potentially a County Championship game. “I am very excited to […]

Zimbabwe v Ireland: Tourists make it four wins from four in five-match T20 series

Ireland made it four wins from four in their T20 series against Zimbabwe by securing a nine-wicket win in a rain-delayed match in Harare on Thursday. The match was curtailed to eight overs per side but when play got underway two and a half hours later than planned, the hosts made 65-5 in their innings. […]

Frank Soo: England’s pioneer who died with a tale untold

The voice of BBC commentator Raymond Glendenning crackles out of the radio. “And this time a neat backpass by Soo finds Matthews…” The date is 20 October 1945. World War Two has only been over for a month. As people across England crowd around their radios, they can hear 54,000 fans roaring on their team […]

Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho and the game that changed everything

A decision in time sends history down two very different tracks. In 1998, a Hollywood film starring Gwyneth Paltrow catapulted the term ‘Sliding Doors’ into popular lexicon. Ten years later, football had its own Sliding Doors moment. In the summer of 2008, Barcelona – managed by Frank Rijkaard – were a club stalled and set […]