It means a lot to be on this list with some very good books. Thanks to the @BookiePrize for their constant support of sports books....it helps so many writers.

It was fascinating talking to Ben Youngs as he explained the guilt that meant he was always looked down in shame when being praised as English rugby's most capped player. He was just as honest addressing the coaching limitations of Borthwick, Lancaster and Gatland www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again. Ignore the haters, London is the 🐐

Thanks Martin O'Neill for being so honest and interesting as he spoke about being sacked from his final job at Forest, Marinakis, Nuno, being interviewed for England, the "nonsense" of expected goals and sporting directors and why he still loves football... www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Only the memories of Mike Tyson at his most destructive in sparring can rival the vivid images I carry of the young Ricky Hatton training in an old hat factory. He was utterly lost in boxing. It all felt so pure. Ricky was unforgettable then – and remains so now www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

When we decided to try and predict a winner between Canelo and Crawford, Bryan Graham and I could both easily have gone the other way and swapped choices. But here we have a stab at picking who might win tonight www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/s...

Thanks to Georgia Stanway for such an interesting interview about winning the Euros for a second time, overcoming adversity on and off the pitch, injury battles, the absurd taboo around gay footballers in the men's game, giving back to others and tattoos... www.theguardian.com/football/202...

I enjoyed talking to Holger Rune about his hopes and aims of winning grand slams and becoming World No1, his good record against Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the need to become more consistent, working with Andre Agassi and dealing with regular death threats www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

I enjoyed talking to Zoe Aldcroft, the England rugby captain, about the World Cup, being laser-focused on the pitch and kooky off it, her Jonny Wilkinson obsession, her husband wearing shorts to their wedding and how she loves making bad feet feel good... www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Ahead of the return of the #PremierLeague tonight, I wrote this about Arsenal. Three second-place finishes and #AFC fan hysteria had made me hesitant to get swept up by excitement. But, as ever, I have succumbed to the horrible state of anguish: hope. jackimmcrae.com/2025/08/15/s...

Thanks Neil Warnock for our interview in which he remembered how data analytics stopped him from signing Virgil van Djik, while he also reflected on his bromance with Pep Guardiola, mutual respect with Arsène Wenger and falling out bitterly with Alex Ferguson www.theguardian.com/football/202...

It was late and he was tired but his stunning defeat of Daniel Dubois needed to be explained. So, in a second language, Oleksandr Usyk revealed the truth of his savage alchemy in a few simple words: "No, bro. Motivation is good but discipline is better.” www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Oleksandr Usyk was far too skilled, too smart, too seasoned for Daniel Dubois. He is the most impressive man in boxing, a savage scientist and a symbol of searing defiance in Ukraine. I felt lucky to be ringside to see another burst of Usyk’s undisputed majesty www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Boxing stories are like nothing else. Don Charles was a child soldier in Biafra, a toilet cleaner, a road sweeper, a florist and a bouncer. Keiran Farrell lost 30% of his brain as a boxer. Together, using psychology and diplomacy, they have unlocked Daniel Dubois www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

A little preview of tomorrow night as Oleksandr Usyk closes in on history and retirement with Daniel Dubois test www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Felix Baumgartner died yesterday after his paraglider crashed. I met him in 2012, soon after his space jump when he fell to earth faster than the speed of sound. He said: "You and I know Fearless Felix doesn't exist." He was a very human self-publicist www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/n...

The Dubois-Usyk press conference was routine but Canelo, who placed a $500,000 bet on Usyk to win, might have liked the face-off. These things don't mean much but Canelo, who is also a poker player, will have been pleased this little game of bluff was won by Usyk www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Oleksandr Usyk faces a dangerous challenge against Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday but he looks ready to become the undisputed world champion again. But his most important task, as a symbol of defiance and hope in Ukraine, seems as endless as it is vast. www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Thanks Daniel Dubois for our interview before he fights Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title - while he wonders why he does not get the attention he feels he deserves.We spoke about his relationship with his dad, his trainers, facing Usyk & overcoming adversity www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

I'm biased but I think this is a really strong and moving interview by @jackimmcrae.bsky.social with the journeymen Johnny Greaves

Jamie Smith came in to bat this morning with England 84/5. He's just hit a brilliant, blistering hundred: 80 balls, 14 fours, three sixes. It’s the joint third-fastest for England in Tests. I was also really impressed interviewing him in May. He really is sorted www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/m...

This is brilliant by @isabellamcrae.bsky.social

Three days before Perth Glory's final game, Wales boss Rhian Wilkinson asked Megan Wynne about her summer plans. 30 minutes into that game, Wynne injured her #ACL. She talks to me about the injury, its mental challenges and her missed #WEURO2025 chance. jackimmcrae.com/2025/06/30/p...

Thanks Damon Hill for such a moving interview about the death of his father, Senna and Schumacher, and becoming a world champion despite the machinations of Formula One www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/30/i-was-angry-at-the-world-damon-hill-on-pain-of-his-fathers-death-and-how-it-fuelled-his-rise

‘It was like having a nuclear bomb and I dropped it on my mum.’ Damon Hill talks to @donmcrae.bsky.social about grief, racing with legends and his rise to becoming world champion

I enjoyed talking to Madison Keys about how working on her mind, with therapy, helped her win her first grand slam - as did her husband becoming her coach. We also spoke about Wimbledon, trying to switch off from Donald Trump and the need for kindness... www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

I interviewed Lauren James twice in an attempt to get a little closer to the heart of her story. She is a prodigious talent, with a remarkable background, but there has been unjustified adversity. We spoke about the highs and lows, the Euros, ambition and family www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Thanks Taylor Fritz for our two interviews over the past week as he discussed his grand slam ambitions, fatherhood, what it's like to play Alcaraz and Sinner, the ups and downs of life on tour, Wimbledon and always being "delusionally optimistic"... www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Thanks Nick Kyrgios for talking so openly about his highs and lows, Wimbledon and mental health, the great wins and hard losses, always going against the grain and his live "Good Trouble" podcast next week where there is an open invitation to the hecklers... www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Thanks Hollie Doyle for our interview about her obsession with winning, hoping to be champion jockey one day, why her 1000th winner meant more to her than becoming the most successful female jockey in history, tough love, marriage and why she rarely has a day off www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

This is a fascinating story and helps explains what happens when two professional boxers, Amy Andrew and Numan Hussain, get married.....and juggle their lives, careers and marriage in and out of the ring. This is my son Jack's first piece for Boxing Scene. I'm biased but I think it's pretty good

Issue 6 of our #boxing #fanzine The Spit Bucket is now in the world. Pick up copies from us in person, or download a free PDF here: writersonboxing.com/the-spit-buc... Contributors include: @donmcrae.bsky.social @retired-eric.bsky.social @cov-art.bsky.social @sheetboxing-en.bsky.social

Thanks Pat Cummins for our interview as we reflected on his career so far - from a glorious debut to hard times, achievement and controversy - and looked ahead to this week's World Test Championship against South Africa as well the future for him and Test cricket www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

Thanks Temba Bavuma, South Africa's cricket captain, for talking so openly about his story which stretches from the township of Langa to Lord's and next week's World Test Championship against Australia. So much here: life, cricket and being inspired by captaincy www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...

The stories I heard from Palestinians yesterday - some of whom had phoned in from Gaza - were gut wrenching. They told me it feels like they are speaking into the void. Please read their stories. www.bigissue.com/news/politic...

I enjoyed talking to Fin Smith about his remarkable year, the Champions Cup final today, the Lions, finding calm, his volatile tennis past, Draper & Djokovic, Henry Pollock watching Conor McGregor videos while Fin writes his university thesis on gender pay gaps www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/m...

This is an extraordinary story. Tyresö FF, a Swedish club including world class stars like Marta and Christen Press, reached the 2014 Champions League final. It was a great final but the Tyresö players weren't being paid and the club went bust. Expertly researched & told by @jackimmcrae.bsky.social

Tomorrow sees the last ever game for Everton's men's team at Goodison Park, that ramshackle marvel of heat and noise. @tomjenkinspix.bsky.social, with words and photos, videos and poets, offers a beautiful tribute. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Thanks Jamie Smith for our interview about his outstanding first year as an England cricketer, not getting carried away, batting and keeping, heroes and mentors, becoming a dad, the meaning of the Ashes and trying to become a great player who makes a difference www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/m...

Thanks to Rob Lownie for his review of The Last Bell in this month's Literary Review literaryreview.co.uk/going-down-s... via @Lit_Review

Thanks to Diana Leca for her review in the TLS of The Last Bell and Anna Whitwham's Soft Tissue Damage www.the-tls.co.uk/culture/spor...

My Master Builder review by @isabellamcrae.bsky.social – it's the women who shine in Ewan McGregor's West End return www.bigissue.com/culture/thea...

In the early hours of yesterday morning, amid fevered rematch talk, Conor Benn spoke some sense about how he needs to improve and what he now thinks of Chris Eubank Jr...who doesn't have a broken jaw but needed to be monitored in hospital after winning www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Hype and danger, bullshit and intrigue, salesmen and damage, opinions and previews, weight-cuts and rehydration clauses, accreditation issues and investigative journalism. A few thoughts on the endless chaos surrounding the contrived Eubank Jr-Benn scrap www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

There was more pantomime tonight as Chris Eubank Jr shouted down and silenced Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith before taunting Conor Benn about positive drug tests. Benn promised to "take his head off." We still wait for the charade to produce some meaningful drama... www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

"It was nothing to do with selflessness" I spoke to the extraordinary Sally Becker, who has rescued hundreds of children from war zones including Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Gaza www.bigissue.com/news/social-...

Chris Eubank Jr produces both intelligent insights and boxing bombast. In our interview we have eggs, daredevils, positive drug tests, Conor Benn, manufactured scraps, rehydration clauses and health risks, his brother's death and the painful break with his dad www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Thanks Alex Yee for talking in such interesting detail about the psychological and physical challenges of running his first London marathon on Sunday. He reflects on suffering, going to dark places and his incredible Olympic win in the triathlon last summer. www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

Thanks Kyren Wilson for an incredibly open interview about his remarkable backstory to becoming snooker world champion last year. What he and his family went through was so testing and potentially catastrophic...but he came out as the new world champion www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...

I interviewed Michael Watson while writing Dark Trade. Last week we met Peter Hamlyn the inspirational brain surgeon who saved him. Peter told me how, after he lost his son at 25, Michael helped him. This is a beautiful friendship that transcends loss and grief www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/a...