Showing 1 - 10 of 43
There's plenty to fight for as Championship nears climax
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 18/04/2026
» You can usually rely on the Championship to provide drama at this stage of the season and this year is proving to be no exception. While Coventry City only need a point from last night's game at Blackburn Rovers to clinch a return to the Premier League after 25 years, there is a major scrap going on for the second automatic promotion place.
Liverpool look to be in the driving seat
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 16/08/2025
» After being bombarded by transfer news for weeks, it is something of a relief that the 2025-26 Premier League season is finally getting underway this weekend. One game has already been played, with defending champions Liverpool hosting Bournemouth at Anfield last night. It would be nice if they could all start the season on the same day.
'3 B's' give hope to the smaller clubs
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 14/12/2024
» Back in the 1960s as a teenager I would regularly visit Elm Park to watch my home town team Reading in the old Third Division. Among the visiting sides were Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford. Just like Reading, these clubs looked destined to stay in the lower divisions forever although by some miracle Reading made it to the Premier League in 2006 for an all-too-brief stay.
New boss Tuchel has a tough task ahead
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 19/10/2024
» The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England coach has been met with mixed reactions. While it has generally been well received by fans, some of the tabloids are unhappy the job hasn't gone to an Englishman. They are particularly upset at Tuchel being German, digging up fallacious archaic arguments going back to World War II.
From the Ammies to the Posh
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 12/10/2024
» While most football fans know the nicknames of clubs in the Premier League and Championship they are probably less familiar with those in the lower divisions. Some simply reflect a team's colours or a variation on the club name. But many provide an insight into the cultural and economic environment of towns and regions where the clubs first developed.
Club anthems play inspirational role
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 28/09/2024
» When the Leicester team came out onto the pitch at the King Power Stadium last Saturday it was good to hear they are still greeted by the stirring strains of the Post-Horn Gallop. It must be the most traditional piece of music to grace a football stadium in the English League and quite appropriate for a team nicknamed the Foxes.
The calm, cool, and collected Swede who caused a stir in England
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 31/08/2024
» Tributes have been pouring in for Sven-Goran Eriksson who passed away on Monday at the age of 76. The fact that there have been so many headlines containing the word "gentleman" is a reflection of the respect the football world held for the Swede who was the first foreign coach of England's national team.
Tartan Army in good voice, light up Euros
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 22/06/2024
» While Scotland are unlikely to progress too far in Euro 24 they are certainly worth following while they remain in the tournament if only for the wonderful support they get from their travelling fans, the Tartan Army. Adding to the appeal Scotland also have arguably the most tuneful anthem of the tournament in Flower of Scotland.
Tough times for clubs in the ‘Steel City’
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 13/04/2024
» Football fans in Sheffield can be forgiven if they are currently feeling a strong sense of déjà vu. Three seasons ago in March 2021 the opening paragraph in this column read: “It has not been a good year for football fans in the city of Sheffield, with United almost certain to drop out of the Premier League and Sheffield Wednesday clinging on by their fingernails in the Championship relegation battle.”
Feathers will be flying in Battle of the Birds at Amex stadium
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 03/02/2024
» There are plenty of tasty Premier League matches this weekend but it is unlikely that any will match the intensity of the clash between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the Amex stadium on the south coast today.