Michael Walker
@mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
📤 1452
📥 289
📝 162
Freelance football reporter at The Athletic and Irish Times. NUJ. FWA.
Amazing result in Dublin. Portugal’s bench would, or should, beat most teams.
1 day ago
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Michael Walker
The Athletic
2 days ago
Shane Warne took 708 wickets in 145 Tests for Australia and reinvigorated what had become the dying art of leg-spin bowling. But Shane Keith Warne was so much more than statistics. 🔗
theathletic.com/6787575/?sou...
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Michael Walker
Jacob Tanswell
3 days ago
Exclusive interview with Ross Barkley: ▪️Becoming teetotal ▪️Therapy ▪️A challenging upbringing ▪️Mental pressures and criticism ▪️Leaving Everton, Chelsea and frustrations ▪️Unai Emery’s “No bull***t” ➕More
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
#AVFC
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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Ross Barkley interview: ‘I haven’t drunk since the summer. It created situations I don’t want anymore’
In a wide-ranging interview, Ross Barkley discusses the up and downs of his career from Everton to Villa and all in between
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6794019/2025/11/12/ross-barkley-interview-everton-chelsea-villa
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Michael Walker
Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal and some history ancient and modern.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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Arsenal’s last clean-sheet record ended in 1903 – meet the Glossop tripe-dresser who Dan Ballard emulated
Arsenal's clean-sheet record came to an end on Saturday, and there are some surprising links to a similar run in 1903…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6791516/2025/11/10
5 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Dom Shaw
6 days ago
✍️ This is Middlesbrough
www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/256074...
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This is Middlesbrough and this is what Rob Edwards will be missing
Analysis of Middlesbrough's 2-1 win over Birmingham City at the Riverside
https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/25607480.middlesbrough-rob-edwards-will-missing/
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Michael Walker
Amy Lawrence
5 days ago
What a lovely, original, piece of football writing here from
@mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
. The threads of history lend meaning to a modern match.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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Arsenal’s last clean-sheet record ended in 1903 – meet the Glossop tripe-dresser who Dan Ballard emulated
Arsenal's clean-sheet record came to an end on Saturday, and there are some surprising links to a similar run in 1903…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6791516/2025/11/10/arsenal-defensive-record-glossop
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Michael Walker
Des
5 days ago
Morning all. Photograph by David Hurn. Sheep shelter from the rain, on an artillery range Mynydd Epynt, Wales 1973.
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Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal and some history ancient and modern.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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Arsenal’s last clean-sheet record ended in 1903 – meet the Glossop tripe-dresser who Dan Ballard emulated
Arsenal's clean-sheet record came to an end on Saturday, and there are some surprising links to a similar run in 1903…
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6791516/2025/11/10
5 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
David Ornstein
6 days ago
🚨 Wolves set to confirm appointment of Rob Edwards early next week. Expected to sign 3.5yr contract + arrive at club on Monday; talks over coaching staff continue. Compensation agreed with
#Boro
~£2m &
#WWFC
plan to back 42yo in Jan window 🚨
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/679...
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Rob Edwards set to be appointed Wolves head coach, Middlesbrough agree £2m compensation fee
There is club-to-club agreement over a compensation fee in the region of £2million for the 42-year-old, who previously coached at Wolves.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6791453/2025/11/09/rob-edwards-wolves-manager-middlesbrough
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FT Sunderland 2-2 Arsenal. Scene at the final whistle of a dramatic, engrossing 106 minutes. Sunderland are third, Arsenal top but the clean sheet record is over. Some occasion.
7 days ago
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www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Middlesbrough give Wolves permission to speak with head coach Rob Edwards
The former Watford and Luton Town head coach was stood down from managerial duties for Middlesbrough's game with Birmingham on Saturday.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6776081/2025/11/08
7 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football
9 days ago
🔺 The positivity being stoked at Sunderland 🔺 The afternoon he was booed from the field at the Emirates 🔺 The chaos Mikel Arteta confronted at Arsenal Ahead of the visit of his former club Arsenal, Granit Xhaka talks exclusively to
@mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
. 🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Rob Edwards did not take training today. As of now he remains Middlesbrough manager. Implausible he will be in dugout for tomorrow’s match though.
add a skeleton here at some point
8 days ago
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Michael Walker
Sunderland. Arsenal. Xhaka. An interview as they all come together.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Sunderland. Arsenal. Xhaka. ‘It was the worst day of my life. It was the best day of my life’
The Sunderland captain talks leadership, Arteta, Arsenal, the day he was booed off at the Emirates and his new side's aspirations
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6776323/2025/11/06
9 days ago
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Middlesbrough have refused Wolves permission to speak to Rob Edwards. Boro are keen to keep him.
add a skeleton here at some point
9 days ago
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Took training this morning and compensation will be required, but surprise now would be if Rob Edwards is in Middlesbrough dugout on Saturday.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
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Middlesbrough’s Rob Edwards subject of Wolves approach
Edwards took over at Middlesbrough in June, with the Teeside club third in the Championship after 14 games.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6783950/2025/11/06
9 days ago
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Sunderland. Arsenal. Xhaka. An interview as they all come together.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Sunderland. Arsenal. Xhaka. ‘It was the worst day of my life. It was the best day of my life’
The Sunderland captain talks leadership, Arteta, Arsenal, the day he was booed off at the Emirates and his new side's aspirations
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6776323/2025/11/06
9 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Ian Fraser
10 days ago
Oldest surviving victim of Post Office Horizon scandal finally receives compensation payout. “I don't want to put my feet up,” said Betty Brown, 92. “I just want the other sub-postmasters to have what I have been given. That's all I want – justice for every one of them.”
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Oldest victim of Post Office scandal, 92, receives final payout
"I can settle up my affairs. I can turn the heating up full blast, and that will be wonderful," 92-year-old Betty Brown told the BBC.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c74jvd0drvvo
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Seb Stafford-Bloor
10 days ago
St.Pauli have been dealing with the revelation that one of their most popular club songs was written by a Nazi propagandist. I went to meet the researcher who made that discovery.
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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A left-wing German football club’s anthem and an ‘uncomfortable’ Nazi connection
Research into the origins of a song St. Pauli fans have loved for decades led to some difficult findings
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6776203/2025/11/05/st-pauli-anthem-nazis/?source=emp_shared_article
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Michael Walker
Oliver Kay
10 days ago
Liverpool clearly look stronger and more balanced with Dominik Szoboszlai at No 10. That raises obvious questions about Florian Wirtz, who has had a tough start to life at
#LFC
. But he performed really well on the left against Real Madrid last night. Problem solved?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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By moving Florian Wirtz to the left, Liverpool look to have found a home for a rare talent
Arsene Wenger said the champions had “destroyed their midfield” by playing the £116m summer buy as a No 10, now they have found balance
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6779526/2025/11/05/florian-wirtz-arsene-wenger/?source=emp_shared_article
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Michael Walker
Chris Weatherspoon
12 days ago
In 2021, FC Barcelona posted a €555m loss, the worst (known) financial result of a football club. Ever. The road back has been winding - and ongoing. Today our BookKeeper series casts its eye over the dizzying off-field world of Barca:
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
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The BookKeeper: Exploring the dizzying world of Barcelona’s finances, levers and debts
Step inside the fascinating story of Barcelona's money problems, told like never before in the latest edition of The BookKeeper
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6754098/2025/11/03/barcelona-finances-analysis-laporta-camp-nou
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Celtic have victory and a final. Rangers have a performance with ten men. Hearts have a nine-point lead. It's been a wild start to the season in Scotland, where drama and intrigue go hand-in-hand with concerns about standards.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
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Are there ‘signs of life’ for Celtic, Rangers and Scottish football?
It's been a terrible season for the Old Firm – and Scottish football in general – but did the Scottish Cup semi-final show all is not lost?
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6771495/2025/11/03
12 days ago
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Michael Walker
The Irish Times
14 days ago
Maroon is the colour as Hearts bloom in Scotland
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Maroon is the colour as Hearts bloom in Scotland
With a canny scouting system made available by their Brighton-owning backer, Derek McInnes’s team are breathing fresh life into the Scottish title race
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/2025/11/01/maroon-is-the-colour-as-hearts-bloom-in-scotland/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky
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Michael Walker
Andy Mitten
14 days ago
EXCL: A year since MUFC announced Ruben Amorim. Here's a detailed article about secret meetings in Seville & Lisbon beforehand. Also explains De Zerbi & Tuchel, plus Amorim not featuring in first search. And the other rated coach. For
@theathleticfc.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/676...
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The secret meetings behind Ruben Amorim's Manchester United appointment, one year on
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6764537/2025/11/01/ruben-amorim-manchester-united-secret-meetings/
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Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football
18 days ago
Brendan Rodgers resigned from his job at Celtic on Monday. This was followed by an unrestrained and public attack by Dermot Desmond. Amid criticism of Rodgers, the board, recruitment and more, Celtic have turned ‘toxic’.
@mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
🔗
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
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Hearts 3-1 Celtic. The end of Brendan Rodgers last match as Celtic manager. Came in after and gave a measured press conference, but this has been a deteriorating relationship. A surprise but not a surprise.
19 days ago
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FT Hearts 3-1 Celtic. Daylight. Maybe . . . Hearts go eight points clear.
add a skeleton here at some point
20 days ago
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It’s dreich, really dreich, but this could be a day when Hearts throw a different light on Scottish football.
20 days ago
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www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
By
@cerysjoneswriter.bsky.social
and
@anantaajith.bsky.social
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Are Sunderland good?
The win away to Chelsea was far from a fluke; it was a culmination of all Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland have built
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6750099
20 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Richard Sutcliffe
21 days ago
A first league fixture against Middlesbrough shows how far Wrexham have come since hosting FC Halifax Town 3 years to the day. A battling 1-1 draw also offered a few pointers as to how far
#WxmAFC
still have to go to be genuine top two contenders like
#Boro
⬇️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
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Wrexham proved their progress at Middlesbrough - now they must push for more
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6746254/2025/10/25/wrexham-middlesbrough-result-analysis/
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FT Middlesbrough 1-1 Wrexham. Visitors smart, organised, good following. Boro pedestrian 1st half, better with Browne, Conway on. Hackney industrious, headed equaliser Att: 30,046.
21 days ago
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Michael Walker
Dominic Fifield
21 days ago
Ian Wright at
#CPFC
… that education in the Second Division, the goal against Brighton, Blackburn bedlam, Wembley, that shot from the halfway line at Plough Lane, third in the league, the partnership with Brighty… …and then the departure
@mattwoosie.bsky.social
✍️
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
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The day Ian Wright left Crystal Palace for Arsenal: ‘It was like hearing Lady Di had died’
Eberechi Eze was not the first Palace player to be tempted away by Arsenal – the scars of Wright's exit in 1991 still smart
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6730112/2025/10/25/crystal-palace-ian-wright-arsenal-oral-history/?source=emp_shared_article
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Sheffield Wednesday as they were once. In the last season of the old First Division.
22 days ago
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Michael Walker
Chris Weatherspoon
22 days ago
Sheffield Wednesday are in administration Without structural reform this stuff will keep happening - it is yet another sign English football needs to get its house in order and move clubs away from owner reliance Analysis w/Phil Buckingham and
@mjslater.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/athletic/674...
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Sheffield Wednesday placed in administration, set for 12-point deduction
Wednesday will now fall to minus six points after 11 games of the Championship season.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6746323/2025/10/24/sheffield-wednesday-administration-chansiri/
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Christopher Webb
23 days ago
They don’t GAF about the Constitution, and they’ll do whatever it takes to keep Trump breathing long enough to seize a third term. So when you start thinking your vote doesn’t matter, remember this: they know it does. That’s why they’re trying to take it from you. This isn’t going to end well.
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Michael Walker
Gerard Alexander
about 1 month ago
Brilliant piece on the seemingly prescient Norman Ebbutt who, despite The Times editorial naivety, reported the nascent horror of Nazi Germany by accurately reporting their violent entry into national politics and their violent and duplicitous Government. Diary
www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...
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Patrick Cockburn · Diary: Interviewing Hitler
The impact Norman Ebbutt had had became clear soon after his departure from Berlin. Goebbels gave him a back-handed...
https://www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v47/n18/patrick-cockburn/diary
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Mark Follman
23 days ago
“Pity the nation whose leaders are liars / Whose sages are silenced and whose bigots haunt the airwaves…” City Lights on the imminent Trump admin assault on San Francisco
www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/a...
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SF institution hangs protest banners as federal agents are sent to Bay Area
"Pity the nation whose leaders are liars."
https://www.sfgate.com/sf-culture/article/sf-business-hangs-protest-banners-fed-agents-sent-21114905.php
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Mario Ledwith
26 days ago
If podcasts aren't your thing, I've written a long-form article about the investigation for The Times, beautifully put together by our team:
lnkd.in/eXYk_VAi
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The Poppy Day Bomb | Times Investigates
A bombing kills 11 people attending the Remembrance Sunday commemorations in the small town of Enniskillen, Northern Ireland.No one has ever been charged.A lifetime later, The Times’s reporter Mario L...
https://podfollow.com/poppy-day-bomb
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Michael Walker
Sunderland had a moment on Saturday.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
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Sunderland seize the moment to bridge the chasm to Premier League status
Victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers hoisted Regis Le Bris' side into seventh and further away from the condemned near the foot
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6730064/2025/10/20
26 days ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
The Irish Times
26 days ago
Ed Moloney: journalist and author dies aged 77
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Ed Moloney: journalist and author dies aged 77
Former Northern editor of The Irish Times was known for his coverage of the Troubles
https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2025/10/20/journalist-ed-moloney-dies-aged-77/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=bluesky&utm_campaign=HP-SubDesc
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Sunderland had a moment on Saturday.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/673...
loading . . .
Sunderland seize the moment to bridge the chasm to Premier League status
Victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers hoisted Regis Le Bris' side into seventh and further away from the condemned near the foot
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6730064/2025/10/20
26 days ago
1
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reposted by
Michael Walker
www.nytimes.com/athletic/669...
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Sir Bobby Charlton picked his World XI in 1960. We found it – and here it is
On what would have been his 88th birthday, we revisit Charlton's selection of the best players in the world from his 1960 Book of Soccer
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6696482/2025/10/11/bobby-charlton-trautmann-santos-kopa-julinho/
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football
27 days ago
Sunday’s derby between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was cancelled due to “public disorder and violent riots”, Israeli police announced.
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Tel Aviv derby called off due to ‘public disorder and violent riots’, as police say three officers injured
The cancellation comes in the same week police in Birmingham requested Maccabi Tel Aviv fans be denied tickets to their game at Aston Villa.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6731476/?source=bsky_uk
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Michael Walker
Chris Waugh
about 1 month ago
⚫ "The seeds of our work are coming - I wish I could fast-forward 3 years" 🌱 ⚪ Lewis Miley room 💫 ⚫ £750k new pitches 💷 ⚪ 173 youngsters ⚽ ⚫ Pilots ✈️ & pride 😊 👀 Taking you inside
#NUFC's
academy - very special long read, w/
@georgecaulkin.bsky.social
:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
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‘Today is your opportunity’: Behind the scenes at a Premier League academy
Newcastle United's academy is a place designed to produce good people as well as good players. What they do goes way beyond football
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6716163/2025/10/16/today-is-your-opportunity-behind-the-scenes-at-a-premier-league-academy
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reposted by
Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football
about 1 month ago
Cape Verde celebrate their World Cup qualification on their bus 🇨🇻 🎥
@nickmiller79.bsky.social
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Nick Woltemade's all-round performance last night was better than his goal. Some lovely first-time touches, physicality and eager defending. Scrappy match actually suited Germany probably more than N Ireland, who have ball-players despite what Julian Nagelsman says.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/671...
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Newcastle’s Nick Woltemade basks in ‘very significant’ goal after opening Germany account
The Newcastle striker provided a scrappy winner off his shoulder in the 1-0 success against Northern Ireland in Belfast.
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6715642/2025/10/14/
about 1 month ago
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Deflating night for Northern Ireland but realism required: Michael O’Neill’s striker options are from Stevenage and Exeter City; Germany’s front four are Wirtz-Gnabry-Adeyemi-Woltemade.
add a skeleton here at some point
about 1 month ago
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No-one ever followed Darlington for glory but case to be made it’s the most unrewarding club to support in England’s pyramid in 21st century: 18th in Nat League North but buzz around club today in FA Cup, over 2000 there, lose 6-0.
about 1 month ago
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reposted by
Michael Walker
Megan Feringa
about 1 month ago
“You don’t have a period but that’s fine. You’re an athlete.” A caveat accompanying countless medical results, despite inevitable danger, lines being drawn between sacrifices periods + sporting success. A piece for my sister + those challenging the system.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/658...
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In women’s sports, athletes losing their periods was long considered normal. Not anymore
A byproduct of wider issues, periods continue to be missed, ignored or misunderstood in elite sports
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6582086/2025/10/10/women-sports-period-athletes-menstrual-health
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