Sport has also been a customer to the technological advancements over years. E-tickets, subscriptions, adverts and team sheets have all adapted too.

Although this has become annoying or convenient for some, it has also created a wider look on sport. Comedy.

The internet has been a place for jokes and comedy to be expressed through memes, and over the last couple of years I have noticed it has flooded into sport.

This begs the question have memes in sport always been about? and are they good for us?

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The OG Meme Accounts:

Memes seem something of the present, however it was in 1976 Richard Dawkins introduced the word. Used when explaining the spread of ideas or Cultural impact, the word “Meme” has been around for a while.

However, unlike the past, nowadays a meme could simply be a picture with some text on, something Newspapers hit the nail on the head with. Lets have a look at some that stuck out to me:

Tabloids have built a legacy off play on words. some could suggest they are the original “meme accounts” that gave you your daily dose of laughter. Whether it’s turning Graham Taylor into a turnip after a 2-1 loss to Sweden or sexual innuendo’s on Tiger Wood’s life, Tabloid newspapers brought humour and conversations to light.

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Modern Day:

Due to its accessibility, Social media has become a place where we look for information, entertainment and moments. This has allowed social media to become a breeding hub for sport and provide us as consumers with whatever we want.

However, over the last couple of years, facts have been put to the side and comedy has risen through the ranks. Whether it’s cultural references, Inbetweeners clips or hate watching, social media has become flooded with memes.

If you are a fan of football you have probably heard the name Thatsguysjokes before. An Instagram account that releases captioned clips revolving around sports news or moments of the weekend. Using clips from the past to create new sensations and traction online is what he’s best at.

A new account to reach the peaks of sporting memes is Hater Central on X (Twitter). The account was quick to slander poor performances or mock players/mangers for their comments. The account became so popular that fans of the account even began to make memes about the account itself.

Fortunately or Unfortunately dpeending on how you see it, the account has now been suspended from X, leaving a whole in slander content. It was a short run, but provided extra content to make a hate watch 10x better.

Everyday Usage:

In my life, Emojis have taken over texting, commentating and reacting. Nowadays, its meme templates. When reacting to a post or responding in a group chat, I rush to my camera roll and find the most appropriate meme. Here are some that I use regularly, demonstrating how sport is all memes:

Martin Scorsese’s “Absolute Cinema” could be one of the most used memes in recent times. The meme became so popular people re-imagined to their own tasting. As you can see here my pick is of Oliver Glasner. An example of using this was following Palace 2-1 Liverpool at the beginning of last season when Ediie Nketiah scored in the 97th minute.

Shannon Sharpe is a very “clippable” person. The former American Football player always gives us clips that can be used whatever context you like (make of that what you will). In this case, one of his most famous memes is him posing in the suit. Simple but effective.

This moment has been created several times and quoted by numerous people, even Chris Richards in last seasons Conference League run. When something is needed to be done, this always pops up. Even now I think of it when writing articles.

Are They Good For Us?

At the end of the day, I don’t think memes are harmful to consumers. They create funny moments and references for us to make jokes with. Being able to make sport something comedic rather than serious sometimes is good for us. People can get so wound up in emotions that sometimes a little joke can make a 2-0 loss 1% less painful.

However, slander posts can be seen different. When using memes to mock players, fans and clubs, it can take a turn for the worse. Promoting negativity into sport is never good as it always leaves a sour taste afterwards.

So do I think they are good?

To an extent. When used in a light hearted manner, it is great, but in a constant negative tone, not so much. Unfortunately, negativity is something we cannot eradicate in sport. Therefore, how would we stop memes from being negative?

Overall, I think memes will be around for a long time, and it won’t be long until mainstream media use within their content. They create the clicks online and get people talking. Soon, they will be EVERYWHERE.

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At the end of last season, I reflected on some of my favourite Purple patch players. If you haven’t seen that already go check it out.

This season, we could see the same again. Players appearing out of the blue, and turning purple. Will they haunt your team? Will they become your star player?

In order to get us excited, lets have a look at some more Purple patch players of recent times.

Todd Cantwell:

Todd Cantwell was one of those players that excited us. In a promoted Daniel Farke Norwich team, the 21 year old player emerged into the team as a promising talent.

During the 19/20 season, Cantwell created a name for himself. From a promising youngster, he became a player Norwich looked for as one of their best. In his debut Premier League season, he picked up 6 goals and 2 assists in 37 games.

This doesn’t sound extroadinary however, Cantwell’s movement off ball allowed his team to excel when they were given the opportunity. Drifting inside, Cantwell would find unmarked space to create in the build up or even score.

Todd Cantwell’s positioning opened up spaces for Norwich. Top scorers Teemu Pukki benifitted the most of this, scoring 11 goals in the Premier League season.

“He can be difficult to track when he pops up in unexpected areas and is always asking questions of his opponents.

All six of his Premier League goals have come from moments where he ghosted into the box unmarked.” - Adrien Clarke

Although Cantwell showcased a great campaign for himself, Norwich City finished bottom and relegated back to the Championship. This was the last of the Cantwell conversations, due to him struggling with his role at Norwich. Cantwell eventually went on loan to Bournemouth before returning and being sold to Rangers in January 2023.

Jean-Phillipe Mateta:

When Jean-Phillipe Mateta arrived at Crystal Palace it took a LONG time before he provided the goals Crystal Palace were promised. Before Oliver Glasner arrived at Selhurst Park, the French striker had only scored 10 goals in 3 seasons for the Eagles.

However, when Glasner took over, he provided Mateta with new shooting boots. In the first 13 games under Oliver Glasner, Jean Phillipe Mateta scored 13 goals including a hat-trick on the final day of the season against Aston Villa.

During the second half of 23/24 season, Mateta was unstoppable. His partnership with Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze, felt like an outer body experience. From what was originally a duo in Eze and Olise, Mateta scored his way through, becoming the final piece of their scoring puzzle.

Under Glasner, Mateta completely redefined himself. From a striker, who looked unaware and lacking confidence, he became clinical and player Crystal Palace could rely on.

Over the last 3 seasons, Jean-Phillipe Mateta has a total of 64 goal contributions in 135 games for Crystal Palace. Some could suggest this is not the profile of a “Purple Patch” player, however, with a new manager arriving at Crystal Palace in Pierre Sage. This begs the question; can Mateta keep it up or was it just a player excelling in a tactical system?

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Chris Wood:

The 23/24 and 24/25 season were strange for Premier League strikers. In a race for golden boot, the machine Erling Haaland was not only up against Jean-Phillipe Mateta but also Chris Wood of Nottingham Forest.

Chris Wood had bounced all over England, From Leicester to Leeds and Newcastle to Ipswich, the New Zealander has played everywhere. At some clubs he was a star, for example in the 16/17 season he scored 30 goals in 48 games for Leeds.

However, when Newcastle bought him off Burnley for £25 million, they bought a player opposite of what they thought they were getting. In 39 games across two seasons, Chris Wood only scored 5 goals.

The New Zealander was quickly moved on to Nottingham Forest in January 2023 due to poor performances. This is where it all changed.

Across the next two seasons Chris Wood became a lethal weapon, scoring against whoever and whenever he wanted. During those two seasons he 35 goals in 75 games, including a hat-trick on Boxing day 2023 against his former club Newcastle.

Last season however, Chris Wood was just a shadow of his previous victories in Nottingham. At the end of 2025 Chris Wood had undergone knee surgery, writing him out for parts of the season. The striker has now returned in pre-season, but will he be back to his best or will it just be another purple patch to add to his collection?

Conclusion:

These three players have all had different patches of excellence. Some shorter than others, however when they perform, it was simply like no other.

Last season we saw the likes of Igor Thiago breakout in the Brentford squad. In 40 games he scored 25 goals, coming second in the golden boot race. Could this be a one off “purple patch” or will he continue into this upcoming season?

With that being said, I am going to make my predictions for players to see a purple patch this season. This could go horribly wrong.

• Habib Diarra - Sunderland

• Rodrigo Muniz - Fulham

• George Hirst

Let me know what you think, and who your pick is for to be a Purple Patch player this season

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Who will win the league?

What team will surprise us the most?

Who will cement their legacy?

In terms of legacy, this is what this article today is about. A local boy, who reached professional level and became the face of his local area and most importantly his boyhood club.

WILFRIED ZAHA.

Many people have their thoughts and theories on Zaha, but as a Crystal Palace supporter he is one of a kind and a true sports revolutionary. So with that being said, lets have a look at his career and impact.

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Zaha’s Journey:

Wilfried Zaha was born in Ivory Coast in 1992 and moved to England in 1996 just aged four. Zaha’s family arrived in Croydon South London. Growing up in Thornton Heath, Wilfried Zaha grew up only a stones throw away from the club he would eventually call home.

During school, unsurprisingly he was “the star of the football team”. At age 12, Zaha joined Crystal Palace’s academy. Alongside fellow academy product Jonny Williams (or Joniesta depending who you ask), Wilfried Zaha climbed through the ranks of Palace’s academy until he was given his professional debut against Cardiff on 27th March 2010 aged 17 years old.

In the academy, Wilfried Zaha built a reputation of being a skillful, filled with pace and a forward, who brought flair and agility to South London.

Crystal Palace Academy Director, Gary Issot spoke to Goal magazine in 2020 regarding Zaha’s time in the academy.

“They said how many problems he caused them, what a handful he was on the day and how difficult he was to play against.

It’s only every now and again that people comment on special players in your team." - Gary Issot on what he was told by opponents about playing Wilfried Zaha

What Wilfried Zaha achieved in the academy was just the beginning. The local boy had already achieved everything a boy could dream but for Zaha, he wanted more. He packed his talent into a bag, and prepared himself for the men’s professional team.

The Eagles Face Administration:

Three months before Wilfried Zaha debuted for Crystal Palace, the club entered Administration for the second time in its history. On the 26th January 2010, the club’s debts surpassed £30 million, triggering a financial related point deduction.

The were now facing relegation and desperate for survival. Star teenager Victor Moses was sold to raise funds, and Crystal Palace were doing whatever they could to survive extinction. During this time Wilfried Zaha was making brief appearance, but not enough to make the impact he would later down the line.

On the final day of the season (09-10 season), Crystal Palace retained their position in the Championship in a tense 2-2 draw against Sheffield Wednesday. In the process Palace was saved and their opponents were relegated.

Heading into the 2010-11 season, Crystal Palace were rebuilding under new ownership. with little funds Wilfried Zaha was given the opportunity to see regular minutes. In the opening game of the season, the then 17 year old graduate, Wilfried Zaha scored the winning goal to beat Leicester in a 3-2 win.

From then on, Zaha cemented his position in the squad. The club was still heading closer to relegation, but Wilfried Zaha’s talent grew.

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“Wilfried Zaha might have just had the biggest say of his Crystal Palace Career!!!”

Palace saw the depths of the Championship that they wished to run away from post administration. The South London Eagles saw 20th place in the 2010/11 season and 17th the following.

Over these next two seasons, managers Dougie Freedman and Ian Holloway built a team that cost practically nothing to survive. Zaha played a key role in this alongside Yannick Bolasie (250,000), Mile Jedinak (free transfer), Glenn Murray(free transfer), Kevin Phillips (Loan)and Jonny Williams from the academy.

Crystal Palace was rebuilt and in the 12/13 season everything changed for Crystal Palace and Zaha. The Eagles reached the play-offs, where they faced their rivals, Brighton and Holve Albion.

The first game was nervy. The game finished 0-0 at Selhurst park and headed to Brighton for the second leg. Once again, the rivals battled off for hopes of reaching Wembley.

With 21 minutes left, Bolasie crosses the ball into the box and connects with Wilfried Zaha’s head, who redirects the ball into the roof of the net.

Wilfried Zaha leaves Brighton as a Crystal Palace legend only aged 20. The Ivorian winger scored both goals that night and changed Crystal Palace’s future forever.

Crystal Palace had reached the Play-off final, where they faced Watford.

“They moved him four times to try and get him away from Wilf. They put him left-back, they put him right-back, they put him sweeper, and I just said: ‘Stay there.’ My lads knew. We just keep feeding Wilf and what happened?” - Ian Holloway on Crystal Palace’s play-off final win

Wilfried Zaha dominated the play-off final. Winning a penalty for Palace, Kevin Phillips stepped up and slotted past his former club, sending Crystal Palace into the Premier League for the first time since 2005.

The One Man Club:

Following the success at Wembley, Crystal Palace were heading to the Premier League. Wilfried Zaha was also heading in the same direction, but as a Manchester United player. Zaha was bought as one of Sir Alex Ferguson’s final transfers in January 2013, however was loaned back to help his boyhood club reach their goals.

When Zaha finally arrived at Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson had retired and the Red Devils were under new management of David Moyes. Unfortunately Zaha struggled to get into the team, only making 4 appearances and being loaned out to Cardiff City.

In August 2014, Zaha was loaned back out to his former club to build his confidence up. In Feburary 2015, Wilfried Zaha returned to Palace on a permanent deal worth £3 million and returned home to Selhurst Park.

Once returning, Zaha returned to his old self. Taking on players, showing his finesse and flair, but most importantly, fearing no one. As the seasons went on Zaha grew more into the team and gave everything he could to help Palace win.

Wilfried Zaha’s best season in front of goal came in the 21/22 season under Patrick Vieira where he recorded 17 G/A however, I would argue his seasons before were arguably better.

During those years, everything went through Zaha. When players were struggling, go to Zaha. When teams were struggling against Palace, attack Zaha. When Palace scored, it was most likely involving Zaha. The winger was Crystal Palace’s crown jewel, and they refused to let anyone bid for him.

Wilfried Zaha saw the likes of Arsenal targeting him during these years, but it never led to anything. Every year, Zaha remained in South London, where he could play football how he wanted to play.

During this time, Crystal Palace became known as Zaha’s club rather than its own entity. This was due to his sheer excellence and performances he put in week in week out for the club. Coming from Thornton Heath, Zaha knew everything about Crystal Palace. He was not going to let the club down.

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Wilf’s Legacy:

If you were going to ask any Palace fan; Who is the greatest Palace player ever? It would be Wilfried Zaha.

As a fan, there is nothing better than seeing an academy graduate succeed at your own club. For Zaha, he got his spot in the first team and made the team his own. An unforgettable partnership with Bolasie in the Championship, winning the Play-offs in 2013 and pulling the team out of tricky scenarios with his skills.

However, the most important thing about Zaha’s time with Crystal Palace is the time he gave the club. Without Zaha’s excellence the club could’ve seen relegation and struggled to attract players to South London. Thankfully for Palace, Zaha gave the fans hope but also the Board time to prepare.

As Zaha’s time at Palace got longer, the team around him got better. The likes of Michael Olise, Ebere Eze and Marc Guehi were all able to be bought thanks to Wilfried Zaha’s on pitch performances.

Although Wilfried Zaha wasn’t apart of the club in the 24/25 season, his efforts on the pitch paved the way for the club to win the FA Cup. The likes of Eze, Guehi, Wharton, Sarr and Munoz were all bought thanks to Zaha’s passion on the pitch.

What Wilfried Zaha built at Palace was as far as he could go, but what he did was cement his Crystal Palace legacy forever.

After winning the FA Cup, Joel Ward, a former teammate of Zaha’s stated:

“All the players before us reached their ceiling and our ceiling is your floor”.

Joel Ward did not specifically reference Wilfried Zaha here, but due to his longevity and importance to the club, there is no doubt it is not about him. I believe, if it was not for Zaha’s workrate, the club would not be in a Europa League campaign this season.

Therefore, Wilfried Zaha is not only a local lad, who had the opportunity to play for his boyhood club, but a Crystal Palace legend. He stood with the club when times were hard and gave everything to South London in order to provide for Crystal Palace’s dreams.

Wilfried Zaha. Local Hero. Crystal Palace Legend. A Sport Revolutionary.

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Michael Olise is one of the most creative, exciting players currently in football. He takes pride in providing goals for others, scoring himself and even getting you on your feet in the comfort of your own home. One way to describe Michael Olise is he makes you want to get up and start playing football too.

It is as clear as day that Michael Olise is a superstar today, but why did it take so long for people to catch on. The Bayern Munich winger has been a threat all season, and now terrorises the world stage alongside Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, but the question is: how did he get to this point?

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Reading to Crystal Palace:

After rejections from Manchester City and Chelsea, Michael Olise landed a spot in the Reading academy in 2016. Starting at U-15 level, over the years he quickly made a name for himself and by 2019, he was making his first senior appearance.

At Reading, there was already a feeling in the air. Described as a freak of nature, Michael Olise’s talent was instantly recognised by peers, coaches and fans of the club.

After 67 appearances at Reading, Olise recorded 20 goal contributions for the club. Michael Olise was starting to make a name for himself, and this led to his Premier League move.

On the 8th July 2021, Michael Olise signed for Crystal Palace and was one of the first signings of new manager Patrick Vieira. Alongisde Olise, Vieira also brought in the likes of Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi to strengthen the South London squad.

Excelling in The Shadows:

It sounds weird to say now, but when Michael Olise was at Crystal Palace, it took a long time before anyone realised his excellence outside the club. With the likes of Eberechi Eze and club Legend Wilfried Zaha still being at the club, outsiders still saw Crystal Palace as “Zaha FC”.

On April 1 2023, Sky Sports Premier League released a video “Ranking the 10 BEST WONDERKIDS in the Premier League”. During the video Michael Olise is ranked the lowest out of all 10 players. The ranking saw Stefan Bajčetić, Brennan Johnson and Benoît Badiashile all above the Frenchman.

At the time, the only other player other than Olise with “10 or more assists under the age of 21 is Bukayo Saka”. However, Rory Jennings states in the arguement:

“Do you ever see him playing in the Champions League” - Rory Jennings - Timestamp: 7:42

At the time I found this hard to believe as a Crystal Palace fan, but today, it’s even worse.

Over three seasons, Michael Olise played 90 games for Crystal Palace scoring a total of 16 goals and 25 asissts. His final season at the club is where he excelled and proved why hje is now in the conversations we put him in.

The 23/24 season was a roller coaster reason for Crystal Palace due to a tough start with Roy Hodgson before Oliver Glasner stepped in and redefined the club.

In that season the dynamic duo of Eze and Olise were injured for majority of the games, leaving Palace with no attacking threat. However in the last couple of months of the season, Olise changed everything.

Playing only 19 games and having 14 starts, Michael Olise had 10 goals and 6 assists in the Premier League 23/24 season. From ripping apart Man United in a 4-0 win, to a 3-1 win against Brentford. Michael Olise had arrived, and was proving it at the highest level.

Crystal Palace 4-0 Manchester United

Crystal Palace 3-1 Brentford

Bayern’s Bargain:

After a fantastic end to the season in South London, Michael Olise moved to Germany on a new adventure. In July 2024, Bayern Munich bought the Frenchman for £50.8 million on a five year contract.

Since then, not only has Olise become the player every Palace fan thought he would become, but he has got better and has earned the respect of every football enthusiast.

In two seasons Michael Olise has done the following whilst wearing the Bayern shirt:

• 107 appearances

• 42 goals

• 46 assists

• Bundesliga 24/25, 25/26

• Franz Beckenbauer Supercup 20256

• Bundesliga Player of the Season 25/26

During the 25/26 season, Michael Olise has already cemented his legacy as one of the most exciting players in this decade. Partnering up with England’s captain Harry Kaneand former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz, Olise finished the season with 19 assists and 15 goals in the Bundesliga. The trio combined broke the Bundesliga record by collecting 100 goal contributions between them which no one had ever done in the Bundesliga before.

Current Day:

France have just made it to the Semi-finals of the World Cup for the 3rd time in a row, and there is no doubt that they are favourites to win it all. Michael Olise has played every game so far and although he has struggled to get on the score sheet, he has provided 5 assists, making him 1 off Pele’s record in 1970.

Michael Olise has brought his skills, passion and creativity to the biggest stage of them all and hasn’t looked a touch out of place. drifting inside or out, the French team orchestrate their plays through Olise.

Whilst his left foot glues itself to the ball, he brings elegance to the field with his smooth play style. According to Sporting News, Michael Olise currently has a 6/1 chance of winning the Ballon D’or this year.

From being rejected from the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal, Olise has worked his way through the ranks in silence and created his own name without the help of the limelight.

In sport we sometimes see players given the grand stage too soon, but with Michael Olise he has worked his way up and arrived just on time. The Frenchman is currently having the season of his life and could end it with a record breaking World Cup winning campaign, however I think this is just the beginning.

From witnessing his mastery at The Den against Millwall in 2022, there is no surprise Olise has reached this level, but there is just only a matter of time before he takes the stage for his own.

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Over the years, multiple directors have created sports film that take us on a journey, which feels like reality. Following a “athlete” for two hours take those steps to be great, just like Rocky in Philadelphia.

Sports films have been iconic and left us with messages no other film could create. Whether you see yourself in the character or the team you love, these films become relatable.

So with that being said, lets have a look at some of the greatest sports films in my opinion:

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Your Favourites:

- Raging Bull - A biopic about the “Bronx Bull” also known as Joe LaMotta (played by Robert De Niro), directed by Martin Scorsese. The film follows LaMotta’s successful career, as well as the consequences of obsession, masculinity and rage.

- Miracle - A true story based off of the impossible. Herb Brooks, the player turned coach, leads the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to take on the Soviet squad that was deemed invincible.

- Moneyball - Where tradition is met with innovation. The film follows the story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt) and his attempts to assemble a baseball team with little budget and using computer analysis.

- Rocky - A small time boxer from Philadelphia gets an opportunity to fight the world heavyweight champion in a once in a lifetime opportunity. The film represents self-respect, perseverance and follows Rocky Balboa’s journey of believing.

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Honourable Mentions

In the last year, two sporting films that caught my eye were The Smashing Machine and G.O.A.T.. Both very different however, they both stuck with me in different ways.

The Smashing Machine - This is a film based of Mark Kerr, one of the most dominant mixed martial arts fighters in the world during the late 90s, early 00’s. Played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson it was not only about winning, but the struggles and events Mark Kerr went through during his career.

This film caught my eye as it was completely different to what Dwayne Johnson does. A film where he puts his heart on his sleeve and forgets the “The Rock” persona. The film can be dark and filled with dependence, showing the struggle and upset sport can bring to athletes.

G.O.A.T - A film very different to the previously mentioned. G.O.A.T is an animated film that follows the story of Will Harris, played by Caleb McLaughlin, and his dreams of becoming a Roarball player.

Produced by four time NBA champion Stephen Curry, the film symbolises self belief and determination. Will earns a place on his favourite side, where he is doubted by everyone. The film shows true resilience, passion and there is no limit to your own success.

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My Favourite’s:

The greatest is always up to debate, so I am not saying these are the greatest ever, but certainly my favourites. Some serious, some funny and some nostalgic. Let me know what you think!

Iron Claw:

Iron Claw featuring Zac Efron, Lily James, Jeremy Allen White and Harris Dickinson, is a bio pic film about the Von Erich family. The Von Erich’s were a professional wrestling family, who were groomed to be wrestlers by their father in the late 20th century. Despite seeing success in the ring, the family were struck by tragedies and death.

Zac Efron plays Kevin Von Erich, the oldest brother in the film, and follows his life through grief, neglect and brotherhood. The film perfectly depicts toxic masculinity and how the brothers were brainwashed by their father to show no emotion. Because of this the film follows Zac Efron’s gradual breakdown over time due to losing his brothers, who were always beside him in the ring.

As a fan of wrestling and aware of the family, this film was perfect. Showing the realities of the Von Erich’s success, through their grief and torment of feeling cursed.

Dodgeball:

Slightly different to Iron Claw, Dodgeball is a comedic sports film directed by Ben Stiller, who also features in the film as the villain, White Goodman. The story is stupid, and silly at times but at university it was my ultimate comfort film.

The film follows Vince Vaughn’s character (Pete LeFleur) trying to make money to keep his gym open. The gym regular’s and LeFleur struggle to make any type of substantial money, until they come across an annual Dodgeball tournament. Despite never playing, LeFleur and the rest of the team enter and battle it out with the rest and take on their arch rival White Goodman.

If you ever want a easy watch to make you laugh, this is the one. A very simple and stupid story, that will make you chuckle and quote randomly. A classic 2000’s comedy that may not be appropriate in today’s age, but still makes you enjoy Dodgeball.

Coach Carter:

Coach Carter is a true sports film. Samuel L. Jackson, who plays Coach Ken Carter, takes over a under performing Californian basketball team and redefines their whole identity.

Through strict discipline, leadership and accountability, Coach Carter flips the team upside leading some members annoyed and confused. However, with the team performing and improving, the team begin to build belief in themselves and Carter. The film is about basketball, but at the root of the plot, it is about respect and building young people for the future in the right way.

If I had to relate one fictional character to Sir Alex Ferguson, Coach Carter would be the one. A ruthless, stern character, who had the power to build a super team, and show players their true potential.

Space Jam:

Space Jam is a childhood classic. When Aliens attempt to kidnap the Looney Tunes for their amusement park, Bugs Bunny calls for backup. Bugs snatches a retired Michael Jordan, in hopes he will help beat the aliens in a game of basketball.

Michael Jordan ends up teaming with the “Toon Squad” to take down the Monstars, who had stolen powers of the likes of Patrick Ewing and Charles Barkeley.

The film is nostalgic and cozy, whilst the likes of Daffy duck and Bugs bunny create a comedic duo. This film is personally one of my favourites of all time, due to the nostalgia it brings.

Films and sport should continue to bond in culture, as they are not only entertaining, but motivational and leave a deeper message. The plots are driven by resilience, passion and self respect.

Because of this, they become relatable, regardless of how silly or serious they are as a product. Therefore, as consumers, we relate and become sympathetic as we see a little bit of ourselves within each character.

Let me know what you enjoy most about sports films, and if there is any you agree or disagree with.

Thanks for reading!

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As fans of the the beautiful game we have been spoilt for entertainment. Not only have we seen sensational goals and footwork, but the kit manufacturers presenting us with some of their greatest work.

Some of my favourites we have seen already are; Germany, Curaçao, Croatia, Brazil and Japan.

All these kits have been made by either Nike or Adidas, who have both made fantastic shirts for this year’s global tournament. The two dominant sports brands sponsor 26 of the 48 teams, with Adidas sponsoring 14 to Nike’s 12.

Both have added flair to the World Cup this year but who takes the crown?

The Front Runners:

The last couple of seasons, Adidas have stepped into a league of their own. Already sponsoring some of the biggest teams in the world such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and Manchester United, they have revolutionised the art of kit manufacturing.

At the beginning of the 25/26 season, I discussed how Adidas are set to dominate for year’s to come. In the Premier League alone, eight of the 20 teams were sponsored by the German three stripes during the 25/26 season.

As well as kits, Adidas have the stars. In 2025 the brand revealed their new signature logo in collaboration with rising star Lamine Yamal. This wasn’t the first time either, as Adidas have also created a signature line for Real Madrid star, Jude Bellingham.

Fortunately for us, this was just the start of their 25/26 campaign. As the clocks ticked down to the World Cup, country’s kits gt released and the promotional videos increased.

The “Backyard Legends”:

As the World Cup became closer, Adidas went up another level. Adidas released their “Backyard Legends” cinema styled advert. The promotion follows actor Timothee Chalamet as he recruits his own team to take on the local crew holding the “win or go home title”.

Chalamet assembles a team of some of Adidas’ front faces including: Jude Bellingham, Lamine Yamal, Lionel Messi and artist Bad Bunny. Alongside the current stars, the advert had appearances from Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Alessandro Del Piero.

The advert was made to create excitement for the World Cup, celebrating the beautiful game in a grassroots way, highlighting back streets cages and alleys where players love grew for the game.

On several platforms, users raced to find easter eggs first and which footballer they found before anyone else. Adidas knew exactly what they were doing, allowing them to build the excitement of the World Cup in an organic way.

Surprising fans with a teaser trailer before the full release, keeping audiences on their toes, speculating. This sense of creativity is what has allowed Adidas to thrive in football and take the top spot.

Return of the Nike:

For some time, Nike have felt distant from football. Teams have been offered kits with the same blueprint, and promotional content was absent. Nike also saw some of their biggest stars step away from the brand including Harry Kane departing to join Sketchers.

However, with the World Cup round the corner, Nike pulled their socks up and went to work.

Nike released their own advert for the World Cup called “rip the script”. Like Adidas it was filled with A-list celebrities and stars of the game. This included names like: Cristiano Ronaldo, Kim Kardashian and Lebron James.

The advert was more like a short film and acted as a showcase of the world of Nike. From music, acting, lifestyle and sport, the advert represented everything about Nike.

The title “rip the script” almost acts as a statement of what Nike are all about, perhaps even their actions recently in football. I have described Nike as absent, however this short film styled advert is an “I’m Back” moment from Nike.

Unlike Adidas making a story of the joys of playing football in your backyard, Nike have embodied the whole culture. With easter eggs and nostalgia, Nike have produced a creative piece of work that jumps them straight back into the main frame of football.

This begs the question, can they keep this expression of football up following the tournament?

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Head To Head:

Nike and Adidas hold the majority of kit sponsors in the 2026 World Cup, with both creating some eye catching kits. Adidas sponsoring the likes of: Argentina, Germany and Spain. Nike on the other hand manufactured kits for: host nation USA, France and England. Both brands have some of the main faces of the tournament, but who has the best kits?

Nike have taken the classy modern look with their kits. Paying homage to previous kits with a new slick look.

Adidas however have taken a nostalgic approach, bringing back their signature trefoil logo. Their kits look like something off the past, yet timeless and impossible to take your eyes off.

The Verdict:

Nike have really stepped up their game for this tournament. the adverts, the kits and even the bright pink boots, However, can they keep it up?

Adidas have been on quite a run for some time, and with the kits they have made for the World Cup, I have no doubt their stocks are going to continue to improve. Honing in on the nostalgic look, whilst bring something new and authentic is what has led Adidas to be the top runner.

Unlike Nike, Adidas have continued to create and put time into their athletes and the sport, which is something I feel Nike aren’t doing.

However, with Nike’s Rip the Script short film, there is hope that Nike will return to football. Nike holds a strong grip on culture, so with the advertising and limelight found at the World Cup. Is this just the beginning of their get back?

Let me know what you think?

I’m personally riding the Adidas train but can see Nike making a grand return.

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Earth has already stopped spinning in order to watch the tournament. Whether it’s a evening game or setting alarm to watch at 4am, the games are never disappointing.

The tournament has been so exciting to watch, but soon it will come a time where I will drop my neutrality and be rooting for England. However, this tournament doesn’t quite have that spark like previously.

England has always had an opinionated reaction to anything, and with this World Cup it has been conveyed.

“Why has this player been called up”

“We aren’t going to make it out the group!”

These are all things I’ve heard recently and I can see why, but is there a reason for this? Is it Tuchel? Do we miss Southgate?

In recent times, England’s team has felt exciting and inclusive. Despite not winning, there was hope. I believe this was down to Southgate and his want to avenge his past. So lets look back on Southgate’s time as manager.

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The Redemption Tour:

Before his time as manager, Sir Gareth Southgate’s the story starts 20 years prior at Euro 96. England faced Germany in the Semi-final’s and ended taking the game to penalties.

Unfortunately, Gareth Southgate missed a decisive penalty, which could’ve helped England chances of winning the tournament. Distraught and destroyed, Southgate hid himself from taking future penalties and always allowed the image of him missing overcast his life.

Fast forward to Gareth Southgates post career, he became the under 21 coach for England. This spanned from 2013-16 until he was appointed as interim manager, following Sam Allardyce's departure.

Southgate managed four games, picking up two wins and two draws before making his contract with the three lions permanent in November 2016.

Initially, Southgate was seen as a risk, but following the Summer of 2018, Southgate had united a nation and shown what England could achieve.

In eight years, Gareth Southgate redefined England. although he did not win anything in his time, he showed it was possible. A World Cup semi-final in 2018, A quarter-final in 2022 and most importantly his two finals appearance at the Euros in 2021 and 2024.

Flipping The Story:

Before Southgate’s takeover, England had failed to beat Iceland in the round of 16. The nation was anti England and the national team had lost all hope.

As a child, England were also seen as cool in hindsight, but never flourished into the team I thought they would be. During the 2000’s England had one of the best teams on paper, but the squad stamped as the “Golden Generation”, severely under performed.

Built of cliques and hatred towards each others teams in the League, what was deemed as a “golden” team, was a squad that never managed to pass the quarter finals of any tournament.

However, when Southgate arrived he flipped the narrative.

When Gareth Southgate arrived at his first major tournament as England manager in 2018, there was already something different in the air. Straight away, there was a sense of unity within the camp. Everyone was seen shoulder to shoulder rather than opponents.

And this was seen in the results. England reached the World Cup semi-final under Gareth Southgate for the first time since Euro 96. Alongside this, England won a penalty shootout against Columbia.

The 2018 World Cup saw progression and Southgate had already redeemed his past. England was completely different to what it was in the last decade.

England was a Team, and that was thanks to Gareth Southgate.

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Uniting The Nation:

Every tournament under Southgate was exciting. Whether it was being at school or University, there was always a sense of energy when a tournament was round the corner.

One of the best things about international tournaments is the unity of nations and bringing all walks of life together. This was one of Southgate’s biggest trait.

Tournament after tournament, England felt more united than ever before, and the team could feel it. Southgate’s biggest tactic was cultural rather than technical.

from the terraces to the pitch, England was united as one and strived for greatness. once a team burdened by pressure and stars, Southgate had created a group of players a team rather than individuals.

Southgate’s England encouraged young players to be themselves, forget club rivalries and to discuss difficult issues. The new England became relatable and players were shown as modest and “ordinary”. We as a nation became one and every game mattered because of these morals.

By doing this, it allowed England to strive for greatness. Removing all negatives, Southgate’s England reached the following:

• 2018 World Cup Semi-Final

• 2020 (2021) Euro Final

• 2022 World Cup Quarter-Final

• 2024 Euro Final

Sir Gareth Southgate redefined England as a whole. He may of never got his hands on the trophies he fought for, but he showed it was possible.

I asked Substack for their opinions on Southgate and here are some that stuck out to me:

- “I know England didn’t win anything, but he turned them from arch pretenders to genuine contenders”.

- “To me he had more than football, which I loved. Not only was he avenging hhis own penalty miss, but he was also trying to demonstrate you can be a strong, successful leader without being a d*ckhead”.

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The Flipside:

In my eyes, I will always love Sir Gareth Southgate for his time as England manager, but in others eyes, its very different.

In 2024, England’s team became the talk of the town, and most of it was down to Southgate. Fans became agitated at his play style, squad selection and refusal of tactic change. the living room coach’s became furious and fled to social media to attack Gareth Southgate.

“My God, the world and his dog could see the issues with the team, playing a right back at left back, playing a 10 on the left wing, Walker under performing.. Southgate’s refusal to resolve these problems means he must go no matter what” - Scouse Chris

Fans became very vocal and against Southgate’s decisions. Some believed the team was showing no effort to win and at times I agreed too. At Euro 2024, there were times I felt the team were making it difficult for themselves and struggling against sides that should be easily swept over, but I still believed.

Southgate still took us to the Euro Finals in 2024, and showed that his team could reach those heights. But for others that wasn’t enough. From what was previously a united nation, that towered over its ‘golden generation’, it was now seen as Southgate holding England back. The team was described as the new ‘golden generation’ and this time it was the team but the manager itself who was letting the country down.

A New Era:

Following the defeat at Euro 2024, Gareth Southgate stepped down as England manager. The manager stated it was “Time for change, and for a new chapter”.

Two years on, Thomas Tuchel leads the three lions into battle at the World Cup. The former Chelsea, PSG and Borussia Dortmund manager is held in high regards at club level for his accolades won, including a Champions League at Chelsea in 2021.

Going into the World Cup, Tuchel currently has won 13 of his 14 matches as England Manager only feating a loss against Senegal. With a great record so far, fans should feel excited and hopeful about the position filled by Tuchel. However, this time round it feels different.

England’s 26-man squad has seen serious questioning by fans in England, suggesting certain players should not be called up. This is typical English nature, but this time it feels different.

I am one to always be filled with excitement when a tournament arrives on our doorstep, however, this time there is very little towards the England team. Is this because there’s no Southgate?

Do We Miss Him?

I think it is hard to tell how much Southgate is missed. What he did for England was fantastic and changed completely how people thought of the team. However, fans began to believe it was time to move on and find another way getting over final line.

In my opinion, I do miss Southgate and his ability to unite the nation. His key tactic was built of patriotism and inclusiveness. Southgate threw tactics out the window and showed us that being a team is far better than star studded individuals.

This may of caused of to not achieve what we could have if tactics were in place, however, it changed how we feel about a tournament. This is the least I’ve been excited for a tournament since 2016, and I think that’s due to the absence of Southgate.

Southgate brought the country together, making us believe anything was possible. From “good on paper” to actually being good, he changed the narrative.

I believe once our first game is over it will be different and Tuchel will have full support and backing, but right now it feels like that unity Southgate Brought is missing.

Hopefully tomorrow sees England get their first competitive victory under Thomas Tuchel, and that excitement is brought back.

But for now, I cannot think about England without Sir Gareth Southgate. Avenging his miss in 96, and redefining England’s identity. A true patriot.

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Who will prevail? Which team will shock us? Who has the viral moment?

The World Cup is something everyone looks forward to, but recently every story on the matter comes with doom and gloom. A tournament which once brought joy to the eyes of spectators around the world, has now been tarnished by corporations prioritising their greed.

I have spoken about the devilish prices fans are facing in recent times and even thought about how politics are going to ruin this World Cup, however, we have faced these troubles before.

So how do we enjoy the tournament to its true potential, and forget the glooming shadow that outlaws the beautiful game?

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Moments We Never Forget:

There is no doubt that the World Cup is one of the biggest if not biggest sporting event on Earth. The world stops to witness athletes, who have been touched by an angel, create some of the most poetic moments we could ever lay our eyes on. If I asked you right now to name some of your favourite footballing memories, I guarantee at least one would refer to a World Cup.

When I think of the World Cup my mind transports itself to 2014. The goals that were scored at this tournament were truly like no other.

James Rodríguez scored one of the most memorable of the tournament, which later led to a FIFA Puskás award. Receiving the ball outside the box, he cushions it down with his chest and in one fluid motion turns and strikes the ball to perfection. The ball rifles itself into the underside of the crossbar and bounces into the net. A goal that could only be scored by the best to grace the sport, and on the grandest stage, it stays forever ingrained into our minds.

Rodríguez was not the only player to set the world alight. Robin Van Persie also claimed his jaw dropping moment at the 2014 World Cup. Gaining the name ‘The Flying Dutchman’, Van Persie scored a sensational header against champions Spain.

Daley Blind launches a ball into the box, where instead of using his convential foot, Van Persie launches into the air and lobs Iker Casillas with a header. A moment that felt time stopped for a second. The Dutch striker perfectly level with the ball, with his head slightly raised as if he was a swimmer in a pool. Something only a magician could do.

These moments stick in our head forever. Football is named the Beautiful Game for a reason, and the World Cup demonstrates it on every level. Everyone remember where they were for that piece of history. Whether your a fan of the sport or not, you know whats happening, and recollect the memories we never forget.

Unite The World:

On Earth, there is approximately 7,000 different languages spoken, but when the World Cup is on, we all speak the same language. The beautiful game involves everyone from all aspects of life, and unites the world to enjoy the same moments.From babies to retired, Football has the ability to draw in people, who are not normally associated, and create a community bridging lifestyles together.

During the footballing season, London can be divided into 17 different football teams, but when England play, the capital puts on their native colours red and white. National pride becomes the main priority for a month, and club football, fades away as a distant memory for the time being.

Pubs, bars, parks, schools, streets and living rooms all merge in unison, all celebrating the biggest tournament in the sport. Going intyo school discussing what had happened last night, everyone on the same page, no disagreements, just pure passion for football.

My favourite memories of school were the days we stopped our lessons to watch England. Being huddled into the school hall for everyone to watch England V Wales in 2016, celebrating with everyone. Also in 2021, The Euros where England lost, every one came in upset, but no one was attacking each other.

Typically everyone praises their own team as a sacred temple, but when your nation is playing, every one has a prayer together.

The unification of Football is truly like no other. Due to club attachments, fans support other nations too (unless they are against their own). The feeling is impossible to describe, but what I will say it’s one of the only things to truly unite countries and mute the external factors.

Storytelling At Its Finest:

We see stories appear in sport all the time, Currently we have Knicks v Spurs in the NBA Finals, Serena Williams returning to tennis, and PSG going back to back in the UEFA Champions League after getting rid of some of the biggest names ever in football.

But in all honesty, the World Cup does it best. Tshabalala scoring for South Africa in 2010, uniting and celebrating Africa as a whole. Lionel Messi finally getting his hands on the most prized trophy in football. Every tournament there is a major story to headline it all.

So what can we expect this tournament?

For some this is the Last Dance. Neymar, Modric, De Bruyne, and Salah could all be heading to their final World Cup as a player. A moment for them to all achieve something great for their individual countries, and create a story told to kids of the future.

And of course the last hurrah for Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. A rivalry that has dominated football for the last 20 years is finally coming to the end. Will Messi get another victory? Will Ronaldo Get his hands on the beautiful games most known treasure? all will be revealed this summer.

The World Cup also has some new faces appearing. Curaçao are heading to their first ever World Cup, as the smallest country ever. Haiti are also making their return, after a 52 year wait for the country.

Lamine Yamal is also heading to his first World Cup, as Spain’s star player. Learning to play football before learning to walk, the teenager hopes to achieve glory again on the international stage, after the then 17 year old won the 2024 Euros against England.

The Tournament is always filled with surprises, upsets, and stories that we discuss for eternity. So there is no doubt we will see this again.

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Its is expected that 1.5 billion people will watch the World Cup final. Regardless of status, nationality, politics and interests, everyone enjoys the World Cup.

The tournament represents the world’s biggest love interest,football. Uniting the nations, people from all walks of life, follow the journey of their countries biggest stars, forgetting the reality of the real world.

For over a month we will have the chance to witness history once again, and create memories that will stick with us forever. Family, moments, memories.

The World Cup is built for us to remember.

Let me know who you will be supporting this summer!

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One of my favourite part about international tournaments is the debut of new jerseys. On the brightest stage, nations get to show of their talent in the most elegant looking kits.

Taking inspiration from , here are the top 10 best international kits in my opinion in no particular order.

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Japan 2022 World Cup - Home:

Japan always have an eye catching kits when they arrive on the global stage, and in 2022, they did it again. Selling out almost instantly, the Blue Samarai’s kit embodies a Origami styled pattern with the Japanese flag found on the back of the collar. The kit somehow seems simple, yet is gravitating with its bright colour and boldness.

I would describe 2022 as the start of Adidas’ reign in football, and this shirt definitely represents it.

England 2013 Anniversary Kit:

Sometimes simple is the most effective. It was the first England kit not made by Umbro since 1983, but Nike certainly it the nail on the head. Keeping it simple with the classic English white, and focusing heavily on the badge. The kit has a Golden outlined crest, commemorating the 150th anniversary of the English FA, alongside the star awarded for winning the World Cup.

The style is suave, as if it’s James Bond inspired. A smart look that you could see Daniel Craig wearing through its seamless design.

West Germany World Cup 1990- Home:

This kit is not only eye appealing but revolutionary for Germany as a whole. Adidas wanted to create a kit that would reunite a country with a modern look. The black red and gold stripped across the was loved so much at Euro 88’, that it was used once again in 1990.

West Germany won 1-0 against Argentina in 1990 wearing this kit, making it one of the most symbolic of all time. The kit is not only stunning, but a symbol of a new Germany.

France World Cup 1998 - Home:

The French national kit is always something I admire, but this one takes the crown. The V-neck the traditional blue and the complementing white shorts. France won the 1998 World Cup forever cementing this kit as one of the greats.

The kit looked the part and France had the players to show it off. 90’s football kits are something teams still try to be replicate, and I think this kit shows off why.

Brazil 1998 World Cup - Home:

Probably one of the most famous kits of all time. The classic Yellow and Green colours of Brazil compliment each other personally. The round neck and navy shorts, a strong competitor on and off the pitch to the French National Team.

Brazilian legends such as Ronaldo, Cafu, Rivaldo and Roberto Carlos were apart of the World Cup 98’ when this kit was worn.

Netherlands 2014 World Cup - Away:

Robin Van Persie scored one of the most iconic goals in the 2014 World Cup wearing the away kit made by Nike. The dark blue fading print, with the bright orange font is certainly eye catching.

My rankings may be improved by the moment that pairs with it, but you cannot deny its appealing design.

Columbia Centenary Kit 2024:

Although this kit was not worn as any major competition, we cannot knock its elegance. An off white kit with the Columbian flag across the middle, celebrating The Federación Colombiana de Fútbol (The Columbian Football Federation’s) 100th year anniversary.

The kit takes inspiration from a 1945 kit, and with the Adidas trefoil logo alongside the ribbed collar, it gives off a serious vintage look.

Belgium Euro 2024 - Away:

In 2024, Belgium’s national team released their away kit for the Summer Euros. The kit takes direct inspiration from the country’s most famous character, Tintin.

The light blue colour way and a white colour is something you could get away wearing normally down the street. The shirt is homage to the country’s greatest cartoon, and does it without looking out of place.

England Euro 96 - Home:

A shirt that embodies England. An Umbro designed kit with a centre crest and a navycollar. Probably the most recognisable England shirt due to its heavy relation to “It’s Coming Home”, however it is iconic in every way.

As an owner of this shirt, this will be worn throughout this Summer’s tournament.

Netherlands Euro 88’ - Home:

It wouldn’t be a proper shirt ranking without this kit involved. The Netherlands 1988 home shirt is abstract and futuristic for its time, and is certainly one of the most eye catching to look at. Legends such as Van Basten, Gullit and Koeman all known to feature in the shirt, Won Netherlands their first and only European trophy.

The kit has created legacy that will last forever, and doing so in the most attractive way. The 1988 Netherlands can be noted as legendary and a dream to any shirt collector around the world.

Let me know what are your favourite shirts are to appear on the global stage.

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In the space of a year, Crystal Palace have accomplished the following:

• FA Cup Winners, beating Manchester City

• Community Shield Winners, beating Liverpool in Penalties

• UEFA Conference League Winners, beating Rayo Vallecano

This is all thanks to Oliver Glasner.

The Austrian Arrives in London:

2024 Crystal Palace had a promising team, but with injuries leaving star players out of the squad, the club were left with Roy Hodgson to figure out several problems.

Hodgson had returned to the club in 2023, following the sacking of Patrick Vieira, and seemed to have returned in flying colours. However, with the absence of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, Hodgson’s tactics of what felt like a “go out there and play” had quickly worn out.

On February 19 2024, Roy Hodgson stepped down after falling ill in a training session. The long servant and fan of the club chose to step aside in order to see the club progress and move on. This led to the appointment of Oliver Glasner.

Previously winning the Europa League in 2022 with Eintracht Frankfurt, Oliver Glasner was seen as a great successor, with a promising background. However, when joining the club Palace sat 15th and suffered 10 defeats in their last 17 games.

His first game came against Burnley at home where he hit the ground running. Winning 3-0 in his first game showed a promising start and already rejuvenated the fans.

Glasner then struggled following his debut game, only picking up 2 points from an available 15. However, the blueprint was there. Every game you could see Glasner’s vision and how he wanted the team to play.

On April 14 2024, Crystal Palace headed to Anfield to face Liverpool, and this is where everything changed. With Michael Olise returning to the starting lineup and Glasner’s vision engrained into the players heads, the team were a well oiled machine. Winning 1-0 with a well worked goal had everyone in awe, even Jürgen Klopp being spotted amazed by the goal.

From then on Oliver Glasner and his team went on to set the league alight. Mateta becoming a serious threat scoring a hattrick against a Aston Villa in a 5-0 win, and Olise dominating Man United winning 4-0. Crystal Palace ended their 23/24 season with 7 games unbeaten and looks polar opposite to Hodgson’s Palace, all thanks to Oliver Glasner.

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Trusting The Process:

Going into the next season, Crystal Palace were seen to be a promising side. Despite losing key players like Michael Olise and Joachim Andersen, new arrivals of Ismaila Sarr and Maxence Lacroix filled their positions, seeming like a glove fit.

Daichi Kamada also arrived on a free transfer, who had previously won the Europa League with Glasner at Frankfurt. Not to mention, Daniel Munoz and Adam Wharton would be going into their first full season with the club, after previously joining in January 2024.

In reality, the lights dimmed quickly. Lacroix was great from the get go, but Sarr and Kamada struggled to find their footing. The players switched in and out of the starting lineup, even with other new signing Eddie Nketiah added into it.

However, by December 3 2024, Crystal Palace had only won one game in the Premier League all season. They headed to Portman Road to face Ipswich, where both teams were looking for some hope. Both side were lingering around the relegation zone, and Oliver Glasner’s side still seemed unsettled.

I made the trip to this game from University and was excited yet nervous this could be the turning point. Luckily Palace won 1-0 thanks to Jean-Phillipe Mateta. And this is where the greatest season of my life began.

We then went on to draw against Man City at home, and beat Brighton at the Amex. Ismaila Sarr scored two and was electric, proving to all us fans he is ready to go.

This was the beginning of the Oliver Glasner era.

Built From Glass, Etched in Silver:

Without Oliver Glasner this life changing memory would’ve never happened. Regardless of a tough start to the season, Glasner made it known he was going to take all cup games seriously.

Oliver Glasner made a team that was described as a “filler team” for the Premier League, a team that was feared. Beating teams with ease and reaching the FA Cup Final.

I have already posted about the FA Cup, and Crystal Palace winning, however, I’m still not over it.

Crystal Palace not only beat Man City at Wembley, but also showed the footballing world anything is possible, like Kevin Garnett once said. Glasner and his team inspired fellow mid table clubs but also ignited something in players that they didn’t quite realise they had inside them.

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19 Games Unbeaten:

Following on from the FA Cup win, the magic continued. From April 19 to October 5, Crystal Palace maintained a 19 game unbeaten streak, breaking their previous streak record. In that time the Eagles did the following; FA Cup, Community Shield and won their first game in Europe.

Over a 6 month period, the club had completely re-invented itself. From a team struggling to make progression in cups, and have a ceiling of 12th place, the team orchestrated by Glasner, had achieved the first of everything in the club’s history.

Even with the struggles of being removed from the UEFA Europa League due to MCO rules, the club and fanbase did not let it ruin their momentum. Oliver Glasner strived for more, and did not let it phase the players.

Until…

“We are being abandoned”:

The new year took a turn for the worse, and what seemed like an unbeatable squad, quickly turned sour. An exit from club captain Marc Guehi, and the biggest upset in FA Cup history against Macclesfield, Glasner had to become vocal.

After a 2-1 loss against Sunderland he described the team as being “abandoned” and that the board have no financial backing for him. Fans began to raise questions as Glasner was not accepting the poor performance, but was taking direct attacks at the board of the club.

This being a problem before, fans supported Glasner initially for his support for the club deserving better until news broke of his departing plans.

On January 16, news broke that Oliver Glasner would be leaving the club once he had completed the season. The Austrian manager would not be renewing his contracts and his time at Palace would come to an end.

However, the bigger story was this had been planned months prior, leaving fans back stabbed and betrayed.

"A decision has already been taken, months ago. I had a meeting with Steve [Parish] in October, the international break," Glasner said.

From what felt like the manager sticking up for Palace fans, it quickly changed to an array of emotions. A decision had been months prior to the announcement, yet Glasner was calling out the club for having no backing. Even know they knew he was leaving?

This sent the fans into uproar and saw things go from bad to worse. Star striker Jean Phillipe Mateta wanted out of the club, and the Eagles form in the Premier League was nothing like the beginning of the season.

An Interview with Palace Journalist, Bobby Manzi also led the fans to be enraged. Oliver Glasner decided to call out previous managers, and continue the bulldozing statements about the club.

Because of this, fans began to boo the Austrian Manager demanding him to leave online.

With things going from bad to worse, the only hope left was that Oliver Glasner stood to his promise.

“We want to play the best season in Crystal Palace history”

The Redemption:

Four months left on his contract, and the crowd now against him, Oliver Glasner’s only way up was to succeed in the Conference League. Palace struggled to find a strong form in the Premier League, and new record signings Brennan Johnson and Jørgen Strand Larsen were looking poor, but in Europe there was still hope.

Defeating Zrinjski Mostar and Larnaca, who would seem easy, became Palace’s toughest opponents. Both teams executed a perfect low block, leaving Palace struggling when in Posession.

Moving into the quarter finals, Oliver Glasner’s Eagles faced Fiorentina. The Italian team had previously reached the Conference finals in 2023, but lost to a Jarod Bowen last moment goal.

This seamed like the first “proper” team Palace were faced with, and with Leipzig now in reaching distance, fans began to forget Glasners previous statements and back the team entirely.

Crystal Palace won 3-0 in their first leg at home, with goals coming from Mateta, Mitchell and Sarr. Palace had one foot in the door, and were ready to continue their journey in the tournament. The away fixture saw Palace lose, but on an aggregate of 4-1, Crystal Palace were heading to the semi-finals against Shaktar Donetsk.

The Semi-finals saw the quickest goal ever scored in Conference League history, when Ismaila Sarr scored in 21 seconds against Shaktar. The first leg finished 3-1 with new signing Strand Larsen scoring a beautifully time goal, sending Shaktar’s defenders into no mans land.

With Palace once again up in the first leg, fans were in full support and ready to take on the Ukranian team at Selhurst Park. The stadium was rocking, and when Sarr scored in the second half securing Palace’s trip to Leipzig, the stadium went from electric to Nuclear.

Crystal Palace were on their way to Leipzig.

on May 27 2026, Crystal Palace played Rayo Vallecano for the UEFA Conference League. Both teams were filled with nerves as each team missed the final pass leading to goal. However in the 51st minute, Adam wharton strikes the ball towards goal where it is parried out into the feet of Mateta. He scores.

CRYSTAL PALACE ARE 1-0 UP IN A EUROPEAN FINAL.

As the full time whistle blew, celebrations echoed through Leipzig, and Crystal Palace had won their first European trophy. Within 12 months, Crystal Palace had won their first of everything. Oliver Glasner had once again done the unthinkable.

Happy Ever After:

Once the whistle blew, it came to me that this was the end. Not in a sad way, but thankful for what Oliver Glasner has done for Crystal Palace. The Austrian manager spent 2 full seasons at the club and had completely re-identified the image of Crystal Palace.

A team that were never going to win silverware and forever be stuck in mid table limbo, and got its hands on silverware. Not once. Not twice. Three times.

Oliver Glasner has given the South London and opportunity to be proud of something. A team that was respected for its fans can now be respected for reaching the highest moments in football and achieving childhood dreams.

This has been the best 12 months to support Crystal Palace and would not be possible without Oliver Glasner. Although there was times of doubt and concern, he always prevailed.

To say Crystal Palace are European champions before Arsenal is something I never thought would be said. If Selhurst ever gets its redevelopment, I have no doubt in saying that Oliver Glasner will get a statue or a piece to remember him for what he has done.

Oliver Glasner, the greatest I’ve seen. Thank you.

After competing with Pep Guardiola’s Man City for years, they had finally won. They hadn’t won a competitive trophy since the FA Cup in 2020, but off the pitch, there is a different story.

Today’s piece takes a look at how North London’s Arsenal have dominated a cultural scene for years, and is idolised by others.

The Support:

Arsenal is known to be one of the biggest clubs in England and certainly the world. This is no surprise looking back at their legacy and the trophy room. But why do so many people support them?

The North London team has fans everywhere from Islington to Beijing, the club’s global scale is huge, so lets start with England first.

In 2023, Statista recorded what was the most followed football club in England. Manchester United held 29% of the England’s respondents, which was the most, but Arsenal was not far behind with 23%.

Arsenal are also considered to be the most popular team in London. On a Reddit forum, the question was discussed and the high consensus was Arsenal are the most popular. Using “the wrong location” as a signal of popularity, many chimed in to state Arsenal tops are seen everywhere and not just in North London.

“Within London it's absolutely Arsenal, the number of shirts you see out and about in the summer regardless of the area you're in is insane.”

You probably at this point asking “why are they so popular though?” and the simple answer is style.

In the late 90’s early 2000’s Arsenal were one of the most attractive teams in the league. From Dennis Bergkamp to arguably the best Premier League player of all time, Thierry Henry. During this time, Arsenal were the most eye catching team to watch and had everyone glued to Wenger’s team. My friend is a Spurs fans but has always said;

“If I didn’t hate them so much I’d buy an Henry shirt in a heartbeat.”

Arsenal had such attractive players, everyone wanted to watch and support them. A lot of people ask why do they have so many African fans, and majority of it is due to their attractiveness.

“Arsenals popularity in Africa is due to the rise in TV broadcasting in the late 90s, coinciding with Arsene’s exciting brand of football. Back then most TV channels showed the biggest teams games and so it was mostly Arsenal, United, Newcastle, Liverpool and Arsenal definitely played the most exciting brand.” - Reddit User on R/Gunner

Not to mention Arsenal have had stars that are relatable. Ian Wright came from Crystal Palace, but before this he was a laborer playing for a non-league team. Fans like these stories as they can relate to someone and see themselves within the stars.

Later in the 2010’s Arsenal had a young team and still do thanks to their flourishing homegrown academy. This yet again becomes relatable to fans as most of their players are from borough in London that fans live in. Bukayo Saka from Ealing and Eberechi Eze from Greenwich.

Arsenal have always been known to be relatable and attractive to fans and is a big factor to why they are so popular.

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The Branding:

In 2019, Arsenal have been partners with Adidas as their match kit sponsor, and since then it has been nothing but elegant and timeless. the pair were initially together back in the 80’s and 90’s but took a break before connecting back together.

Since then, their quality of shirts, pre-match and travel gear has been sensational. From what felt like branding that could only been worn when playing football, Arsenal have re-imagined themselves.

The North Londoner’s have created an identity through their kit that empowering their culture.

In 2022, Arsenal created the ‘No More Red’ campaign, which took their classic red shirt and white washed it. This was to highlight a serious problem in England with knife crime. The shirt was not made for commercial sale but was made to support communities and organisations fighting against knife crime.

As well as standing up in a fight against knife crime, they have also created shirts that represent their area, something that teams in England have only just started doing.

In the 2021/22 season, Arsenal joined with TFL (Transport for London) to create their training shirt. the shirt took inspiration from the seating that is found on TFL trains and replicated it onto their training shirt.

A season later, Arsenal released their 23/24 away shirt that paid homage to their local area. the shirt contained an abstract pattern on a bright yellow kit, but if you looked deeper, it was actually a map of the local borough Islington. The video reveal revealed the idea behind the shirt was to “broadcast” Islington to the world, using music as a way to show Arsenal’s global impact.

Arsenal have excelled this season too, and it has something to do with Adidas’ branding. Their use of retro styles and taking more care into what a shirt looks off the pitch certainly makes a club more attractive.

The Blueprint:

Arsenal’s kits have been phenomenal as I have previously mentioned, but they also look cool doing it. The Gunners have left their mark on fashion as a whole, even collaborating with other companies.

In October 2025, Arsenal collaborated with fashion brand A Cold Wall*. The collab between the brands, saw styles from the fashion company intertwine Arsenal’s image. Using the tagline “A North London Exhibition”, the clothing was kept minimalistic with the clubs iconic Canon found embroidered onto the pieces.

This was not a new idea either, as previously they had done a collaboration with Adidas and NTS RADIO. The kit was black with the radio’s logo on front in a bright yellow font. NTS radio, is a station dedicated to the heart of London and was made to boost upcoming artists and genres emerging from the capital. Therefore, Arsenal getting involved with their younger talent and reach, it was the perfect fit.

Last season, Arsenal’s third kit was even a collaboration. Labrum London, a modern British English fashion company, who excel in celebrating African culture through clothes, worked with Arsenal on the kit.

The Kit is black with hand drawn black and white zig-zags on the arms. These patterns are commonly found in African heritage and were done to honour African supporters and communities around the world.

“I’m so proud to represent my club and my heritage through this design from Labrum London. It’s such a nice shirt. I love how the patterns and colours represent our connection to players of African descent”. - Arsenal and Nigeria legend, Nwankwo Kanu.

The Gunners continue to strive off the pitch, and with them winning the league, there is no doubt this will be boosted. The club have recently released their 26/27 kit, but a Champion League final coming up and being the League winners, I’m sure there will be more exciting things to come out of North London.

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I don’t usually do pieces like this however, this is one of if not my favourite footballing memory to date. And it will probably stay like that forever. So lets get into it.

After a tough start to the season with Palace sitting in the bottom half, things were starting to look okay. The team had a good run in the Carabao Cup before exiting in the quarter final against Arsenal, and were starting to find their feet.

Crystal Palace entered the new year set to face Stockport County in the third round of the FA Cup. The defence were beginning to become a tight knit group and the attack was starting to flourish. And of course Ebere Eze was about to take the tournament by storm.

Palace beat Stockport 1-0 at home then went to Doncaster away, winning 2-0 thanks to Justin Devenney and Daniel Munoz. The team was looking good, and in all honesty, the confidence and ego was growing. After years of Hodgson ignoring cups, Oliver Glasner was gunning for everything.

The Pride of South London:

Next round was Millwall at home. A South London derby. Real Rivals. Selhurst was rocking. Coming home from University to watch with my dad, this was the beginning of that FA Cup fever dream.

The game started lively and straight away, the 12th man was right behind the team. In the eight minute, Jean-Phillipe Mateta is struck with an awful challenge from the Millwall goalkeeper. Liam Roberts, Millwall’s keeper charged out the goal and karate kicks JP Mateta’s head in attempt to clear the ball.

Mateta ended up coming off, leaving fans in the unknown how bad the injury was. However, this did not phase the players and left them more motivated. With the Goalkeeper sent off, Palace were in all attack dominating a 10 men Millwall.

Ten minutes before half-time, Millwall Defender scores an own goal, followed by Munoz scoring in the 40th minute. Eddie Nketiah finished the game in the 82nd scoring another to finish the game 3-1.

The hope and confidence was getting bigger and bigger, and Palace were one game away from a trip to Wembley. I had to be there.

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Are We Actually Going to Win??

This next game. This was the turning point.

Crystal Palace, booked themselves a ticket to the quarter finals following a derby win against Millwall. The eagles traveled to west London to take on Fulham.

Now I have awful history with Fulham. Every time I watch us play them, they destroy us. Specifically a 3-0 win on Boxing day with us only having nine men on the pitch due to red cards. Awful luck with Fulham. But that day, I took the chances. I turnt on the TV, and I watched Ebere Eze take centre stage.

Coming off his first International goal for England, Eze was filled with confidence and this game showed it. Receiving the ball off Mitchell, he takes the ball on the half turn, runs parallel to the goal and finesses the ball into the far right corner. Sensational.

Four minutes later, Eze gets the ball again and places the ball right on top of Sarr’s head to make it two goals to nil.

I’m in complete shock. Is this actually happening? Are we going to Wembley? All I could hear out my TV was Palace fans roaring.

“Your defence is terrifying, Eze’s on fire..”

“We’ve got super Oli Glasner..”

Craven Cottage was rocking, but it was all Crystal Palace fans. And Just like last round, Eddie Nketiah finishes the job. 3-0 Crystal Palace.

From having flashbacks of previous meetings with Fulham, the Palace team completely flipped my emotions and yet again left me speechless.

Palace were five games unbeaten, winning all five games, and we were off to Wembley. Something that felt impossible after a tough start to the season, was becoming a possibility. Could thee Crystal Palace do it?

The Beauty of Football:

April 26th, Semi-final day. I woke up that day with a weird feeling. Knowing I was going to the game and being excited, but looking back on the last four fixtures. We hadn’t one a game in four games and two of them were:

• 5-0 loss to Newcastle

• 5-2 loss to Man City (more on this later)

Palace had not one a game since beating our rivals Brighton earlier in the month, but that weird feeling gave me slight hope. Palace were up against Aston Villa, who we always seemed to win against, even Mateta scoring a hat trick against them the season before. So all these emotions, I was in limbo of what was going to happen. Magic of the cup I kept saying.

I Arrived at Wembley by myself with the usual pre match feelings, but as soon as I entered the fan zone, there was no fear. Happy families, chants and pride that we had got to Wembley.

Eventually I ended up at my seat, and found myself with someone similar age also by him self. A quick English “y’right” and we stayed silent, until the game kicked off.

As the players entered the pitch, Balloons, flares and banners all appeared and we were rocking. What can you expect, we don’t get these opportunities often.

The game started, and straight away both teams were going for it. Kamara shot, Rogers going for goal but nothing could break down Palace. Then not long after it was Palace’s turn. Mateta gets through on goal and scores but is ruled out for a foul committed on Konsa.

This didn’t stop us though as in the 31st minute, Ebere Eze gets from Sarr and strikes the ball first time with the ball smashing the roof of the net. 1-0 Palace.

I couldn’t believe it. Me and the person next to me were going mental. We had our foot in the door. Palace could be going to a FA Cup final.

The second half starts and we are all rocking. That day I forgot there was other fans in Wembley that weren’t Palace fans. Mateta missed a penalty in the 53rd minute, but it did not phase us as fans, or Ismaila Sarr.

five minutes later Sarr scores, smashing the ball from far outside the box passing Villa’s keeper on the way. 2-0 Palace.

We are actually going to the final. Surely?!?!?

The fans were jumping, I couldn’t hear anything but Palace fans, and then Sarr gets the ball again in the final minutes of the game. Sarr slots the ball into the left corner and runs instantly to the fans. THREE NIL.

It was unbelievable. Crystal Palace had beaten Aston Villa to head to Wembley for the second time in a season. Ismaila Sarr took the game by storm, being involved in all three goals, and sealed our spot at Wembley.

Surely it can’t get better than this?

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The Greatest Day in Football:

Crystal Palace were on their way to Wembley for the FA Cup final against Manchester City. A team filled with giants, but that did not fear Palace. I said previously that we lost 5-2 to Man City, which is awful, but it seemed like Oliver Glasner had a plan.

“If we meet again you can’t play in this system because we will solve it”

This was Glasner in reference to the 5-2 loss, and he was ready to face again in the biggest day of Crystal Palace’s history.

I watched the game back recently and I don’t actually remember a lot of it, but the goal and the whole build up, it’s ingrained into my head.

Starting the game, Palace looked like they were struggling. Couldn’t pick a pass, and City were in complete control.

Until Chris Richards clears the ball up to Mateta and flicks it Daichi Kamada, then back to Mateta before reaching Munoz on the right side. We had seen this play before. All throughout the season, Munoz was our vocal point down the right side, so there was no other way we were going to score.

Everyone in my living room is leaning forward. Munoz whips the ball into the box and finds Eze. He hits the ball first time and the stadium erupts. My living room erupts. Crystal Palace were 1-0 up to the current Premier League Holders Manchester City.

We had our fingertips on the trophy, and Man City were not fans of that. They kept attacking but nothing could break down our defence. from Dean Henderson to Tyrick Mitchell, everyone was stopping what ever came our way.

Then, “its Crystal Palace” kicked in. Haaland was through on goal and is denied by keeper Dean Henderson, who touched the ball outside of the box with his hand. BUT HE DIDN’T GET A RED!

Palace had the footballing gods on their side, but then Man City got a penalty. The doubt kicked in again.

DEAN HENDERSON SAVES THE PENALTY!!!

Whatever our team ate for breakfast, it felt like no one could stop us from getting our hands on the FA CUP. The crowd at the game were electric. Every fault City made or possession gain for Palace, the fans erupted, and so did I sitting at home.

The second half starts and the during the break I had come to realisation what was happening. I could not believe it. Then Munoz seals the deal. In the 57th minute Daniel Munoz scores from a deflected save from the City keeper.

Unfortunately the goal was ruled out for offside. The hope died briefly as I thought our luck ran out. Approaching injury time, the commentators discussed the thought of 10 minutes injury time.

I don’t think I could sit there for ten more minutes?

But Man City just could not break us down. I remember in the final minute Doku takes a shot that goes wide. The crowd explodes. All the fans were witnessing history. Dean Henderson kicks the ball out and the whistle is blown.

CRYSTAL PALACE HAD WON THE FA CUP!!!

I sat there in awe, not knowing what to do with myself. After weeks of going “we are winning it”, joking around, we had actually done it. ‘Glad all over’ echoed through my whole house, thanks to the fans celebrating the most important day in Palace’s history.

Maxence Lacroix said before the game “Wembley will shake, and it will be beautiful”. He was wrong. Wembley did shake but it wasn’t beautiful. it was bigger than that. Words could not describe what was going on, what had actually happened. We were FA Cup champions.

During the game, our captain Marc Guehi was taken off for an eye injury, and Adam Wharton played with a concussion before being taken off, but it did not stop Crystal Palace.

After, screaming, dancing and whatever other ways I took to celebrate in my house, I went out with my mates. As I walk into a pub, I see a family wearing red and blue. Crystal Palace fans. I Instantly run over to them and hug them. The dad was in his 70’s and could not smiling at me. His lifelong dream had come true, and we could not stop hugging each other.

A year on, I still can’t believe what the team achieved. Starting the season with such poor form, we finished with a trophy and qualifying for Europe. The unimaginable. The ceiling became the floor, and the group of players cemented their legacy as Crystal Palace legends.

May 17 will always be remembered for the greatest day in football. Crystal Palace won their first trophy, the FA Cup.

Eagles!

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This year the event takes place in North America, which is surely going to make headlines. To new fans you may ask why, but to returning fans of the World Cup it want be a surprise. Over the past few years we have seen teenagers score in finals, underdogs make shocking victories or even Messi winning the most recent World Cup in 2022.

With the tournament around a month away, it led me to think what are my favourite moments and memories of the World Cup. Not the best, not the greatest ever, but moments that have stuck with me good or bad.

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5. Kieran Trippier Free Kick vs Croatia - 2018

Now this may come as a surprise but hear me out. This tournament was Gareth Southgate’s first tournament an was so refreshing after previous competitions. I’ll be honest I can’t even remember the England matches in between Lampard’s “ghost” goal and 2018. So this may be why.

This tournament showed England had potential. A 6-1 Win over Panama in the group stages and Winning penalties in the knockouts against Columbia. For once they felt enjoyable to watch. England then went on to beat Sweden 2-0 to then be drawn against Croatia in the Semi-Finals.

Now as you know, England “it’s coming home” chant is a play on for how miserable the team can sometimes be. But when things go right the egos come out. And that is why I cherish this Trippier Goal.

I watched the Semi-finals around my Aunts house and I can remember everyone glued to the screen. The smiles on our faces and the hope England could win. Within 5 minutes England were 1-0 up.

Kieran Trippier. Wow.

The goal was sensational but the memory of everyone running about like headless chickens, it won’t be forgotten. And as it was a hot day, we could hear everyone celebrating outside too. The atmosphere was electric, and for once I felt I was seeing England as “good”.

This was just the start of Gareth Southgate’s reign, and more exciting things have happened since, but that goal, forever ingrained into my head for the memories with it.

4. Siphiwe Tshabalala's Goal V Mexico - 2010

If you don’t know this goal, then stop reading this and go watch it immediately.

The 2010 World Cup was hosted in South Africa and was the first time the tournament had touched African soil. With each tournament, the hosts are set to open the tournament with their first match in the group stage.

South Africa took on Mexico and presented the world with their culture and pride. In the first half Mexico scored a disallowed goal, but in the 2nd half everything changed and the moment was made.

In the 54th minute Tshabalala is played a ball through the defence and left to attack the goal with no help. The attacker enters the box and strikes the ball with such perfection it rockets into the far right corner. South Africa score the first goal as hosts and ignite the World Cup.

But it didn’t end there. When celebrating Tshabalala alongside his team hit the iconic dancing celebration, which is still referenced today. The goal was impactful, but the celebration was the icing on the cake. Symbolising South African culture but also representing their entire continent on a global stage.

Both the goal and celebration have forever stuck with me and I have even done the celebration from time to time. Following the goal every fifa for the next couple of years me and my brother bought him on Ultimate team, Tshabalala was an icon to us.

The goal has even been mentions in FIFA’s greatest World Cup moments and that doesn’t surprise me. The goal, the celebration and the meaning. Truly remarkable.

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3. Brazil v Germany - 2014

Probably one of the most humiliating and historical stories to come out the World Cup in the 21st century. After Brazil had a chaotic quarter final win against Columbia, the hosts headed to the semi final to play Germany.

Going into the game, Brazil were filled with all types of emotions. The quarter-final saw a sensational free kick from David Luiz, but also their captain Thiago Silva suspended after being booked. But most importantly their star player Neymar suffering a severe injury. However, the hosts were amped up and ready to take on Germany.

Unfortunately the chaos continued into the semi-final and a whole countries dreams were shattered. Germany score 5 in 30 minutes including Miroslav Klose breaking the tournaments goal record. Brazil had been torn apart.

Going into the second half, fans thought it couldn’t get any worse, as a neutral and a child, I wanted more. Luckily, Andre Schurrle delivered. Coming on in the second half, the former Chelsea player scored two more for Germany, making the score 7-0 in the 79th minute.

Brazil did end up scoring one in the 90th minute, but unfortunately that wasn’t going to help their brutal defeat. As a kid though, this was phenomenal. I remember feeling like a goal was scored every second and seeing Germany as super humans. This will always stick out as it is one of the first times I can remember watching a complete thrashing. And at that level, there’s no better place to do it.

2. England v Iran - 2022

Yet again another England memory. After a difficult defeat at the victory line in EURO 2020(2021), this game was England’s opener for the their next tournament. It was easy to suggest England would win, but by how many and the nature I watched the game in, it sticks out to me.

England against Iran was the first match of the tournament I watched and it couldn’t of been done better. At the time I was at University, so I watched it in a student union pub among hundreds of other people my age, who were also probably drunk at midday on a Monday.

The game itself has it’s own action too, with Jude Bellingham kicking off the game in the 35th minute. After that, it felt like the goals were being drip fed to us. Every couple of minutes another went in. Bukayo Saka, Raheem Sterling, and Saka again.

Because of this, the atmosphere was electric. A bunch of reckless 18-21 year old’s going mental over England. For the first time we were watching without family but with friends and new people we had never met. However, we were all sharing the same love and excitement, which is why I believe the World Cup is so important.

The game finished 6-2 and was a great opener for England. After defeat in the Euro final, it felt England were back and ready to go again. And to top that the atmosphere I watched made the game 10x more exciting.

I don’t know if it was just me, but this tournament as a whole sticks out to me and I could write about for days. Maybe it was because I was at university, maybe it was the games felt like they were on every second of the day or maybe it was just a good tournament.

1. Argentina V France - 2022

I mean, it had to be. Maybe a bit of recency bias plays into this, but the meaning, the goal and the legacy cementing moment for Lionel Messi.

As I said earlier, this tournament is one of my favourites and I think this final had a lot to do with it. The best way to describe it was it felt very slow then everything just clicked.

Lionel Messi scores a penalty in the 23rd minute and ten minutes later Angel Di Maria adds another to the scoreboard. Argentina are on fire, filled with confidence and then Kylian Mbappe arrives.

in the 78th minute, Kolo Muani wins a penalty, which Mbappe slots away in the left corner. A couple minutes later, Mbappe is gifted a ball on the left side and almost bicycle kicks the ball into the far right corner. Game on.

In a matter of minutes, Kylian Mbappe had stopped an entire nation’s and every Messi fan’s dreams.

Going into extra time, the atmosphere was electric and everyone was glued to the TV in my house. Messi goes to score in the 107th but it’s not over. Mbappe again finds himself with the ball on the edge of the box and gains a penalty by handball. A hat trick in a World Cup final. It was cinema.

We then see the craziest of saves from Emi Martinez in the final minute of the game against Kolo Muani, and the game goes to penalties.

Argentina win the penalties, with an excellent display from the Argentinian goalkeeper. After the game, I remember feeling speechless. The game was filled with nonstop action and felt never ending. And of course Messi had won the most prized possession in football.

As someone who got into the sport from watching his highlights as a child, it was an absolute pleasure to watch him get his hands on the trophy after failing in previous years. I think most people will also put this in their favourite memories too, because of how legendary and highly regarded Lionel Messi is.

Just to clarify, these are my most memorable moments of the beloved tournament. Others stick out to me, like Van Persie’s iconic header but it was hard to select my top five.

If you have any others that would make your list let me know. Thanks for reading.

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First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone for the support and comments about my work, I appreciate it a lot. The series has already seen great feedback so I hope to bring more for the future.

And there is no other way to continue the series than discuss arguably the most famous Athlete of all time. One of the greatest of all time at their sport and of sport itself, Michael Jordan. I don’t think he needs much more of an introduction.

Accolades:

As I said, Jordan doesn’t need an introduction, but we cannot scrape over the fact he accomplished everything in Basketball. The impact he made off the pitch is unmatched and is why he is described as the G.O.A.T. Over 15 seasons in the NBA, Michael Jordan accomplished:

• 1984 3rd Overall Draft Pick

• 6x NBA Champion

• 6x NBA Finals MVP

• 5x NBA Most Valuable Player

• 14x NBA All-Star

• 10x All NBA First Team

• 1x NBA Defensive Player of the Year

• 1x Rookie of the Year

The list goes on but this is only some of his highest accomplishments. Buzzer beater winning shots, the Dunk Contest where he jumped from the free throw line. The list could go on for days. Despite this, I believe Jordan’s impact is greater than just his on court performance. And that is why he is a true sport revolutionary.

Air Jordan:

When joining the NBA, Michael Jordan was walking into a sneaker shootout. During his time at college in North Carolina, he wore Converse due to his coach being paid $10,000 to get his players in the shoes. But unfortunately Jordan’s eyes were set on the German Three Stripes, Adidas.

Nike at the time were also hunting for his signature, which they eventually got, but it wasn’t easy.

Jordan attended meetings with Converse out of respect for his college coach, and also attended meetings with Adidas, but the company was currently in a transition due to company founder Adi Dassler died in 1978. Because of this, his Wife took over but had their children running separate divisions of the brand. This led to disagreements and mixed emotions leaving Jordan Disappointed.

This led the underdog Nike to move in. In October 1984, Michael Jordan Signed for Nike for a six-year deal worth $2.5 million. This was a record signing as it was three times more than the most expensive shoe deal at the time in the NBA. The deal was also major for Jordan, as not only was it the most shoe deal at the time, but created a whole line around him.

In the meetings they presented him with a custom shoes designed just for him, the Air Jordan 1. Nike’s goal was to make $3 million in their first three years together, they made $126 million in one.

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The Culture:

When the 1984-85 season started Jordan debuted his new signature shoe. A problem quickly arose when Nike had to pay a $5,000 fine every game due to the shoes not reaching NBA standards. Nike saw the fine as a pure marketing cost, so when it came to release the shoe to the public, everyone was eager to buy the Air Jordan 1.

However, with 28 points per game on average and a Rookie of the Year trophy, everyone wanted to “be like Mike”. This was just the start of how Jordan shifted an entire culture.

Over the next couple of years, several Ad campaigns were made. Gatorade’s “Be like Mike”, and in 1991, Spike Lee’s “Its Gotta be the shoes”.

Michael Jordan was not only becoming a sports icon, but a cultural icon shifting society with every shoe release (which he still does today!).

Air Jordan became a cultural shift, and it was all in the shoes. From what started as a risk, it created a whole new outlook. Previously, I had wrote about music and sport are intertwined, and half of that connection is because of Michael Jordan

Rapper, Lil Wayne said; "There's only two words for the reason I love basketball, Michael Jordan."

it is estimated that Michael Jordan has been mentions hundreds of times in songs that have charted over the years. Not just his shoes, but his mannerisms, swagger and confidence on the court are all to be referenced.

Complex ranked their top 40 best Jordan references in rap songs celebrating 40 years since Michael Jordan entered the NBA. Although it’s not on the list Big Sean’s “Bounce Back” Jordan reference always sticks out to me

“If I lose 1, I bounce back like 2, 3 did with 4, 5” referencing Michael Jordan’s temporary number switch from 23 to 45.

The Air Jordan’s were constantly popping up in pop culture, from Fresh Prince and Will smith, to Spike Lee’s films throughout the 90’s. “He Got Game” with Denzel Washington or even “Do The Right Thing”, which has the famous scene where Giancarlo Esposito “bugs out” over his Jordan’s getting scuffed.

Jordan’s Peers:

Unstoppable, aggressive, a killer and a ruthless competitor are words that come to mind when describing Michael Jordan’s presence on the hardwood.

Jerry west when discussing Jordan’s ability; “I don’t think there’s any flaws in his game”.

Jordan has been described as the greatest of all time by his peers, even 40 years on from his debut season. Some of your favourite athletes idolised Michael Jordan and continue who’s legacy to this day.

CBS described Kobe Bryant to be “Infatuated” by Jordan. Bryant studied his movement, mannerism and even exclusively focused on Jordan’s game where honing is own game. Later in Kobe Bryant’s career he continued Jordan’s legacy by becoming a mentor for younger players entering the league.

Lebron James is argued to be the greatest of all time alongside Jordan, but gives heavy props to Michael Jordan. Wearing the number 23 in homage of Jordan, a quote from Jared Weiss states:

Lebron James: “I wear the number because of Mike. I love the game because of Mike. When you’re a kid seeing Michael Jordan, he was a god.”

Since Jordan’s time he has had a never ending impact and influence on players. Whether its old time greats acknowledging how good he was, or players describing how they idolised him, there is no doubt Jordan influenced a whole sport.

His Legacy:

It is undeniable that Jordan has had a outstanding impact on society as a whole. His shoes line is set to release its 40th signature shoe since he first joined Nike in the 80’s. Air Jordan’s have become almost a cult classic from music to street wear. Rappers such as Travis Scott have had several collabs with Jordan alongside Off-White and Levi’s.

Alongside this, he has become apart of culture with him featuring in films or his shoes referenced in entertainment. Miles Morales in “Into the Spiderverse” is seen wearing Jordans, WWE wrestler such as Roman Reigns wearing on the biggest stage or even Jordan Featuring in his own film, Space Jam.

Michael Jordan will be mentioned for decades for his impact on the court, but his legacy stretches further than that. Jordan has created an entire brand that is still one of the most hyped sought after logo’s in the world. And because of that this makes him a true sport revolutionary. Perhaps the greatest sports Revolutionary.

Let me know what you think, and who you would describe as a Sports Revolutionary?

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The Premier League has seen several “Purple Patch” players, specifically during the Covid seasons and after. But what does this term mean? And who are some of my favourites in the last 5 years.

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The Purple Patch:

When researching, the term “purple patch” derives from Roman times. According to Phrase finder the term originates from ‘purple passage’ or ‘purple prose’, which was used in reference to describe something eccentric, and used for dramatic effect. The use of a literal purple patch was also used for Roman Emperor’s or people in high power.

In football, the same term can be applied, only this time it is to describe a players run of form. Collins dictionary describes the word as:

If someone, especially a sports player or team, goes through a purple patch, they are very successful or lucky for a period.

Honourable Mentions:

Lock down was a crazy time for everyone, but for some reason it brought out the best of players. Maybe the absence of fans came into play, or players were just happy to be back and filled with fire. Since then, there has been players that have popped up and shown off their true ability. Here are some of my honourable mentions:

• Anthony Martial: When the football league returned back to England in the 19/20 season, Martial took no time to adjust. In the nine remaining games left of the season, the French striker scored six goals and three assist, including a Hat Trick against Sheffield United.

• Calvert Lewin: Following the season that was interrupted by Covid-19, the 20/21 season kicked off with Everton Flying. Part of this was due to Calvert Lewin starting the season with 10 Goals in 9 games, a true striking performance.

• Joe Willock: During the 20/21 January window, Arsenal Loaned out one of their academy graduates to Newcastle. Starting the loan spell with little involvement it quickly turned around when Willock 7 goals in 7 games. Only playing a total of 389 minutes.

The Favourites:

Those performances mentioned should not be shunned and underestimated, however, In my opinion there are three other players I enjoyed the most. In the last five years, these three were the talk of the town during their purple patch and I still think about them often.

• Miguel Almiron (Newcastle 22/23)

• Conor Gallagher (Crystal Palace 21/22)

• Jesse Lingard (West Ham 20/21)

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Miguel Almirón - Magpie Magic

In January 2019, Newcastle signed Miguel Almirón for a reported £21 million breaking their previous club record. When first joining, Almiron struggled to score but showed glimpses of excitement with his pace. After 40 attempts on goal, he finally scored after 11 months at the club.

Prior to Eddie Howe, Almirón was played in various places, up front, as a winger, or as a 10, but struggled to find any form that he had during his time at Atlanta United in the MLS.

However, when Eddie Howe arrived, the first thing he did was changed the whole style of Newcastle. One factor was moving Almirón off to the right, where he excelled.

Starting off the 2022/23 campaign, Newcastle had started a full season with their new owners Saudi Arabia owners, Public Investment fund. With that being sad, St. James Park was filled with ambition and drive once again. And so were the players.

In a nine game span, Miguel Almirón lit the league on fire. Once, a struggling forward, he quickly became the Magpie’s star player and was a glimpse of what the new ownership meant.

The nine game span saw Almirón score 11 goals and even secure the Premier League Player of the Month. His energetic style and pace, led him to become one of the favourites in the city and that was not the end of it.

Almirón work ethic attacking and defending became a key component to the team’s success and even saw Newcastle return to the UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years due to his vital performances early in the season.

Despite a great season winning POTM in October, Almirón’s performances did’nt continue like previously. Eventually he was sold for PSR issues, but his purple patch was monumental in the success of Newcastle. The purple patch allowed the Magpie’s to return to their old ways of playing at the highest level and jump start their new ownership.

Conor Gallagher - A bulldozing loan move

In summer 2021, Patrick Vieira took charge of Crystal Palace. His first moves were to rebuild an ageing squad, buying Michael Olise, Joachim Andersen and Marc Guehi to name a few. As well as these purchases, Crystal Palace were loaned out Chelsea graduate, Conor Gallagher for the season. And he did not disappoint.

From what was a slow, mindful midfield, it quickly became explosive and aggressive thanks to Gallagher. He became a key part of Vieira’s success at Palace, almost becoming the Eagles’ biggest threat.

During his time at Palace, he ended the season being ranked one of the highest in tackles and pressing opponents. Gallagher became a constant threat both defensively and attacking, leading him to become Vieira’s key weapon.

Gallagher’s efforts on the pitch allowed Vieira to create his own style of play without worrying about his control of the game. The loanee may of not had the most touches on the ball per game, but his constant efforts getting back on defense and linking up with the likes of Zaha and Olise, he became the ideal candidate for Vieira’s system.

Over the course of the season, he picked up eight goals and three assists in 33 appearances. The midfielder also picked up several awards at palace including; Goal of the month, Player of the season at the Crystal Palace and even young player of the season at the London Football awards.

However, following his loan at Palace, Conor Gallagher has struggled to find the same form. He returned back to Chelsea but in more of a defensive role but was later sold to Athletico Madrid. Now playing at Spurs, there has been glimpses of this purple patch season, but never the same as he was in the 2021/22 season.

Jesse Lingard - A Hammer at High Impact

Jesse Lingard’s time at Manchester United was a mess to say the least. Once projected as one of their ‘star boy’ academy graduates, he quickly fell down the pecking order and became dormant on the bench. However, in January 2021, West Ham received Jesse Lingard on Loan, which saw Lingard’s career revived instantly.

After not making a Premier League start in 13 months, Jesse Lingard started the first game he was available for West Ham against Aston Villa. Straight away Lingard made an instant effect on the pitch scoring two goals and running 12 kilometres. The talent was there, it just needed the confidence.

Over the last 16 games of the season Lingard ended with nine goals and four assists. From someone who was outcasted in Manchester, he was adored in East London.

His success with West Ham was a delight to watch. Lingard’s style of play can be simply described as a “vibe”, as he brought elegance and excitement to East London. His stats embodied this and were even a strong reason for the Iron’s success.

After finishing the season at West Ham, Jesse Lingard left the club with a Premier League Player of the Month award, nearly average a goal contribution a game, a call up to Gareth Southgates Provisional Euro 2020 squad, and what Lingard himself described as a “lifeline” .

Following the season, It looked like Jesse Lingard would return to Old Trafford with a new look in his eyes, but after a couple of starts, he was quickly phased out of the squad again. Now playing in Brazil for Corinthians, We can suggest Lingard won’t reach that peak again, But what a time it was.

Purple Patches are what make football exciting. Players pop up out of nowhere with a new look and energy that setts the world a light. It may last 6 games, it may last one season, but what we can say is it’s one of the most exciting things when it does happen.

If there are any players I missed let me know and I may do a Part 2!

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Now back to the revolution.

Sport has adapted and evolved over hundreds of years, and each decade we see someone else change the game forever. Today we are going to take it all the way to San Diego, and discuss the revolutionary, Tony Hawk.

If you don’t know who Tony Hawk is, he is a professional skateboarder, entrepreneur and owner of his own skateboarding brand, Birdhouse. But the most important thing is his influence. How he changed skateboarding forever, spotlighting his hobby and moving it into mainstream media.

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Early Beginnings:

Tony Hawk was born and raised in San Diego, California and was always described as a restless, hyperactive child. However, Hawk’s teacher saw him as a highly intelligent student and encouraged him to take part in more advanced learning.

Despite this, when Tony’s older brother gave him his used skateboard at age nine, there was no going back. Skateboarding had taken over his life. He used to go skating in the streets with his friends and eventually went to a Skate park.

In an interview with The Talks, Tony Hawk says his first injury was when he was around 11 or 12 and was asked how his family felt. Did they support him? Did they encourage him?

“My dad made me get a new helmet.”

His family were in full support for Tony’s love for skate boarding.

Also around this time, skateboarding was beginning to take off and reach further heights. Originally, skateboarding was only a California/ Hawaii thing, but quickly got bigger and bigger. Some of the biggest moments during Tony Hawk’s early years were:

• 1978: Alan Gelfand invented the Ollie - A jumping a maneuver on the board

• 1981: Thrasher magazine was created

• Münster Monster Mastership: one of the biggest international skateboarding competitions in the 1980’s

It was only a matter of time before Tony Hawk arrived and made his own impact on the sport

Impact on The Ramp:

Tony Hawk can almost be described as a “wonder kid” as when he was 14 he became a professional skateboarder and by 16, he was sponsored by Powell Peralta, Tracker, Sundek, Vans, and SIO.

In the 80’s skateboarding was thriving, which even saw a 17 year old Tony earn more than his teachers thanks to sponsors, But all of a sudden the sport died after peaking too quickly. This did not stop Tony’s love for the sport and he pursued his love rather than moving on like his peers.

However, despite “dying”, skateboarding got a resurgence in the late 90’s and Tony Hawk was the catalyst and face of the sport. His brand Birdhouse, which was originally making no money, became one of the best known companies in the skating community, leading to more endorsements for Tony Hawk.

On June 27 1999, Tony Hawk changed the sport completely. During the X Games V, Tony Hawk attempted and landed the first ever 900 (two and a half spins) on a skateboard. The trick alone saw a crowd erupt not only at the event, but world wide. A trick where speed, momentum, balance and maintaining a level head all comes into play. after eight attempts, Tony Hawk landed it, and changed history.

Off the Board:

Alongside his 900, Tony Hawk also teamed up with Activision in 1999 to create his own video game “Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater”. According to Tony Hawk’s website, the franchise has now sold $2 billion in sales across 12 main titles and various other several spin offs.

Making a game advertised the sport and its culture to wider audiences and influenced how the sport was perceived by younger generations. Myself personally, one of the first games I played was a Tony Hawk game on the PS2 with my brother and has always stuck out in my head.

Tony Hawk’s game was not the only influence he had off the board. In 2002, the ‘Tony Hawk Foundation’ was made to help the skating community have more access to parks and equipment.

Now known as the ‘Skatepark Project’, the foundation set up by Tony Hawk has helped over 700 skate parks across the USA, in order to help underdeveloped areas. Empowering their mission to help generations express themselves on the board in safe environments and continue outdoor recreation, which is dying in times of technology.

The Influence:

As well as all the accolades on the ramps, Tony Hawk has accolades off the board too. From Make-A-Wish’s Favorite Male Athlete to Nickelodeon’s Kid’s Choice Awards’ Favorite Male Athlete, beating the likes Shaquille O’Neal and Tiger Woods. Tony Hawk’s impact is undeniable and has completely revolutionised the sport.

In times where no one wanted to skate, Tony stood by the sport and was a true Phoenix. And when people returned, he was there to influence the sport to greatness. From tricks on the ramp, building his own company, charity work or even his series on YouTube where he asked the simple question “Do a Kickflip”, Tony Hawk has been monumental in skateboarding.

Without Tony Hawk, skateboarding may not have reached the peak it has where we see it in the Olympics, or 12 year olds doing insane tricks on TikTok. Tony Hawk is a True Revolutionary and should get all the flowers for his commitment to the sport of skateboarding.

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During this time, we have obviously seen some variation and adaption to the games we love most, and a part of that is the athletes who love our game most. This new series is going to highlight some of sports greatest revolutionaries and how they have evolved their own game and left a forever imprint.

Starting off with one of my childhood favourites, Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, or as he’s more well known as; Neymar.

The Beginning:

Since I fell in love with football, my eyes always gravitated to the most flashiest, creative players. Football compilations of ‘best tricks and skills’ or ‘how to do a rainbow flick’ flooded my YouTube feed as a kid, and the reason for that was Neymar Jr. unfortunately for me I was just too young to see “prime” Ronaldinho and Brazil’s Ronaldo, but fortunately I was born just in time to see the journey of Neymar Jr.

Neymar was born in Mogi das Cruzes, São Paulo, Brazil and grew up in a time where Brazillian football was at the top of world football. Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos just to name a few. He was then scouted by Santos one of the biggest clubs in Brazil, aged 11 and started his youth career in 2003.

Neymar instantly began to gain attention in Brazil and once he made his professional debut for Santos FC in 2009, there was no stopping him. The world was amazed by his, pace, creativity, footwork and goal scoring ability. It was almost like Brazil had created a physical body of their whole footballing identity.

By 2011, Neymar was not only a household name in Brazil, but the talk of the town in every part of the world. His highlights had trended worldwide with his famous bleached mowhawk dominating every football front cover. 42 G/A in 31 games for Santos, A Puskas award for goal of the year against Flamengo and even a top 10 listing in the Ballon D’or race. At just age 19, Neymar was becoming the new face of Brazil, and had the footballing world in the palm of his hands.

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Visca Barça:

In June 2013, Neymar officially signed for FC Barcelona in Spain for an estimated £47 million from Santos his boyhood club. From then on, Neymar was destined for greatness. An upcoming World Cup in summer 2014, and signing for one of the biggest clubs in the world. Joining Lionel Messi, and Luis Suarez upfront, MSN was formed.

During his time at Barcelona, several achievements were made, and part of that was due to MSN. Adding Neymar to their frontline, added flair, skills and precision that was a missing link to what Suarez and Messi had before. over the space of three seasons together the front three scored 360 goals between them and revolutionised how a front three play club football.

To this day it is described as one of the best trio’s not because of their accomplishments but because of their style, technique and what each player brought to the table. And in this time, Neymar become one of the greatest in the world with the aid of Barcelona.

When researching for Neymar, the first things that come up are compilations of his time at the Barcelona. Some of his greatest moments were at Barcelona with even his standout performance in the “La Remontada”.

In the 16/17 Barcelona faced PSG in the Champions League. The first leg ended horribly for Neymar and Barcelona as they lost 4-0 away from home. However, in the second leg something was in the air, and Neymar was determined to do whatever it took.

Despite the Likes of Messi, Suarez and Iniesta getting involved on the score sheet it was all about Neymar. The Brazilian gained a Penalty, scored two goals and during injury time delivered the most beautiful cross into Sergi Roberto’s feet to score. La Remontada.

Neymar had his fingers all over the game and ended up winning the game for Barcelona 6-1 knocking out his future team PSG. This night alone solidified Neymar’s legacy. On the biggest occasions he took everything into his own hands (or feet) and got over the line.

Accomplishments (Is He One of The Greatest?)

After playing Europe for 10 years with Barcelona and PSG and a brief stint with Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia, Neymar has now returned back to his boyhood club of Santos. However, he did not return empty handed. During his time away from Brazil he won the following:

• 14/15 Champions League winner

• 2x La Liga champion

• 5x Ligue 1 champion

• 2016 club world cup champion

• 3x French Cup champion

• 3x Spanish Cup champion

• 2x French League Cup champion

• 1x Spanish Super Cup champion

• 2016 Olympic Gold Medal

• 4x French Super Cup champion

However, despite being one of the most decorated players of the 21st century, Neymar never won the Ballon D’or. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominated the 2010’s leaving Neymar to be shadowed (part of the reason he left Barcelona). Neymar’s highest ranking was 3rd twice. This was during 2015 and 2017.

The Brazilian however, did break Pele’s all time goal record for Brazil in 2023 during a 5-1 victory against Bolivia. Although Neymar stated “I am not better player than Pele”, you can only imagine how happy Pele was for him. in an interview, Pele only spoke highly of Neymar, describing him as if he was his son.

"We have talked about it several times together, despite everything he remains one of the best players in the world. A father does not criticise, a father educates his son.”

The Influence:

There is no doubt that Neymar is not one of the best players to play football, but his influence is like no other. His ability with a football is truly out of this world and had embedded him into football history.

Neymar’s influence on current superstars is off the charts and is the reason his is mentioned as one of the greats. Rodrygo, Vini Jr, Jamal Musiala and even the latest Barcelona starboy, Lamine Yamal.

The Brazilian all time top goal scorer had such a way with a football, it made everyone want to play like him. He took the beaches of Brazil to the center stage of all footballing.

In an interview with Lamine Yamal he expressed his love for Neymar stating;

“Neymar is my idol. I will always be grateful to him. I want to thank him for everything he has given football.”

Neymar’s influence on the younger generation of footballers is undeniable, and this is all due to his technique, ability and eye test. The Brazilian can do things with a football that no other can do, always leaving you glued to the screen when watching him.

When searching “Neymar highlights” on Youtube the stats are off the charts. Due to his engaging aesthetic on the ball, videos of his skills and goals are reaching millions of views. One video from seven years ago has gained over 37 million views. Feel free to check it out and have your eyes amazed.

Overall, Neymar’s influence on football is second to none. In my eyes Neymar is what makes football the beautiful game. Not only did his bring life back to Brazilian football, he showed off at the highest stage. The Brazilian from Mogi das Cruzes embodied his own culture and presented the world with his elegance and character in the purest way. Some saw it as showboating, I would describe it as stunning.

Neymar Jr, a true magician.

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Sport creates atmospheres, cultures and identities around the world, some on smaller scales and others on the biggest stage. Every Superbowl half time performance is a cultural shift in society and creates legendary moments for us as fans to remember.

However, I feel there is a shift, and it’s not because of a lack of impactful moments being created in arenas. It’s a price problem. As a fan of sport, I have noticed as well as the stages getting bigger, so are the ticket prices. It has become a problem for quite some time, but has seeped into all aspects of sporting events.

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Recent Headlines:

This summer is the upcoming 2026 World Cup taking place between USA, Canada and Mexico. However it has caused a numerous amounts of controversy with the latest being the change in travel fares.

The World Cup final is set to take place on July 19, at the MetLife Stadium. The typical price for this trip from Penn Station in Manhattan to the venue $12.90 (£9.50) for a return fare. But a new announcement has stated that the normal fee will be increased up to $150 (£111) according to the BBC.

A train journey that takes 30 minutes has now been taken advantage of to gain more money off fans travelling to the game. There is no concession tickets and children will also have to pay the same fee as adults. This not the only place doing this as just outside Boston, supporters will be met with an increased fee too.

Boston Stadium, normally increases ticket prices to attend their stadium by train by $5, however for the World Cup, the price has increased from $8.75 (£6.50) to $80 (£60). This stadium is set to host England and Scotland games and will see thousand of fans make the trip. But, Scottish Football Supporters Association Co-owner, Paul Goodwin, called the price increase "totally out of order".

This weekend, WWE took part in their biggest event of the year, Wrestlemania. The show is performed annually and is what most wrestling fans get the most excitement out of. However, this year was different. They struggled to sell out the stadium. Last year at Wrestlemania 41, the attendance for both night one and two combined was around 125,000 people. This year, it only reached 105,000 for both nights and even saw an initial struggle to sell the tickets.

Despite being the biggest weekend for WWE in a calendar year, they struggled to sell tickets. The get-in price for both nights was $850 and fans weren’t willing. So much so, a week before the event, they announced on a live showing of Friday Night Smackdown, tickets will be discounted by 25% for night one.

Some suggest the reason for lack of sales was because of a poor showcard, however, with the cheapest ticket being $138, it’s not surprising it did not sell out instantly.

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The World Cup Problem:

The World Cup is by far the biggest tournament globally, with 1.4 billion watching the 2022 World Cup final against Argentina and France. But now, the biggest story is the pricing.

I mentioned previously about travel fares being increased to take advantage of commuting fans, but this is not the only problem fans are being faced with. According to Sky Sports, the cheapest ticket for the World Cup final is over £3,000. It is stated that this is 500% increase since the Qatar Final in 2022.

For reference the Euro 2024 final, saw the cheapest ticket be sold for £83. FIFA have yet to comment on it but has seen serious backlash with even the Football Supporters Association call it “Scandalous”.

Viral England supporter, Andy Milne is proof of fans being outpriced for this World Cup, as it is stated by the BBC he has had to “sell his house to fund his World Cup trip”. The super fan is now a retired teacher living in Thailand, however has now had to sell his house in Cheshire, England to fund his travels. This is proof of fans regardless of living standards being priced out by FIFA’s outlandish prices and has caused supporters to rethink their livelihood.

Upcoming Olympics:

In 2028, The United States is set to host the Summer Olympics, the first time in 30 years since the 1996 Summer Olympics. the states are not only hosting the World Cup on the biggest stage, but also one of the most watched sporting events in the world which dates back to Ancient Greece.

Yet again, there seems to be a problem rising with ticket costs. Although there has been drip feeds of $28 tickets which Reynold Hoover, LA28 Chief Executive has described as more “accessible”, there has been a set price tag of $5,000 to watch the opening ceremony. Tickets for the women’s artistic gymnastics finals have also shocked fans with the tickets being around $2,500 according to the LATIMES. These high prices have already set the standard and already led to fans turning their heads to one of the world’s most loved events.

Unlike other events, such as the World Cup, there is efforts to keep costs low for fans wanting to attend. The official hosts LA28, have stated 50% of the ticket prices will be under $200 including finals under $400. These efforts do suggest their is a hope for sport as event holders are aiming to keep cheaper costs for fans including the one million $28 tickets that have been released.

Is It Theft or Inflation?

As stated previously, the Summer Olympic was last hosted in the United States 30 years ago. Since then we have seen financial crisis, inflation and various other problems affect the world. This makes me think is it the event holders fault or is it simply to abide by the state of currencies worth.

A news article published in 1996 by the Tampa Bay Times, and later uploaded to the internet in 2005, stated that the average ticket price was $39.72. This is ten dollars cheaper than the one million “accessible” tickets that are released for the upcoming 2028 Olympics. At the time, Billy Payne, chief of the Atlanta Committee said 95 percent of all tickets will be priced below $75.

This article demonstrates how cheap things were looking back, but was this cheap back then or the same rate as our $200 tickets.

In 1996, the minimum wage in America was $4.75 according to the Us Department of Labor. Today, the Federal state minimum is $7.25 an hour but in the hosting state it is $16.90. Therefore, it has seen an increase of $12 an hour in the last 30 years.

Since the last Summer Olympics the hourly rate has risen by 400%, but is that the same for the ticket prices?

According the the Journal of Olympic History, the average price for the opening ceremony ticket was $562 and sold 68,000 tickets overall. When researching for the the upcoming Olympics, I found a reddit forum discussing the prices. For a Category A Open Ceremony ticket, the cost will set you back $5,519. Using these statistics this is almost a 900% increase in prices.

This being said, using Minimum wage and the costs of the ticket, there has been no equal level in increasing. If the percentage increase was the same it would feel a fair value, however, it’s not. This therefore shows that these prices are still too much for people to pay and not an “accessible price” like previously mentioned

My Thoughts:

As someone who had the privilege of going to the 2012 Summer Olympics, I think this pricing is outrageous. An event that I hold with strong memories not only as attending, but shaping my childhood and the idea of what it means to be British and support your country. However, with these constant price increases it seems impossible to support you nation live at the Olympics.

This is not only an Olympic problem but a sporting problem as a whole and needs to be changed. Fans are selling houses, or struggling to support their team, players or country, something that seemed accessible back in the day.

Sport is what makes the world and unites everyone to certain events. I said before and I’ll say again but its what makes our society and build the culture we live, so if take away live sporting events, we take away our culture. Hopefully there will be action and this upcoming World Cup does not promote more outlandish ticket prices.

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The French national team is also seen as one of the best dressed team with Jules Koundé described as one of the best dressed ballers alongside Eduardo Camavinga, who has taken part in fashion shows.

But who started this trend?

To simply put it. It’s Héctor Bellerín.

Héctor Bellerín, a Spanish right back, who will be remembered for his time at Arsenal and now Real Betis, was the original “finsta” footballer. The defender rocked the world with his outfits in the 2010’s and should be recognised for his ability to “be himself”, when footballers were more private.

The Spanish right-back entered the fashion scene as a footballer, but has now grown to become a style icon for all sport with the idea of embracing self expression and responsibility.

However, Bellerín’s actions off the pitch are not just about looking cool. The defender continues to make impacts in fashion’s sustainability and has seen success with this. He believes sustainabilty and environmental issues are bigger than people realise and aims to tackle these problems with fashion and his presence in football.

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Bellerín’s Roots: “Its Who I Am”

The Spanish right back has featured on runways and created his own clothing brand Gospel Estudios, However, in a interview with Arsenal Media in 2019, Bellerín states that his family have a long relationship with the clothing industry, showing that this was not simply because he had publicity to reel fans into a product.

When growing up in Spain, he was surrounded by his family, who were involved in fashion. His Grandmother owned a fashion factory and his Mother having a degree in fashion. Because of this, Héctor was immersed into fashion, fabrics and clothing. He goes on to say that when he was younger he was either “playing football or around a sewing machine.” His early upbringings shaped his thinking on fashion and has given him a deeper understanding of what fashion is.

“It’s not just a T-shirt, there’s a lot of art and craft around it”.

The pioneer of fashion in football is no stranger to fashion shows either. Héctor Bellerín has been seen frequently at London Fashion Week, especially during his time at Arsenal. The player is always seen in bold, eye catching looks that most people would fear.

In 2019, Bellerín switched the grass pitch to the runway as he was selected to walk for Louis Vuitton at Paris Fashion Week. Prior to this, he has been asked to do other shows in previous years but had declined. However, when the late Virgil Abloh called for him to walk he said: “it was a no brainer”, when interviewed by Vogue.

Using Your Status:

In October 2025, Héctor Bellerín was interviewed by the BBC regarding sustainability. During the interview he discusses how he now cycles to training. This being unusual for some footballers which even Bellerín stated; “I know, I’m privileged, but we need greener cities”.

When moving to Real Betis, Bellerín stated that a lot of the morals and campaigns the club based in Seville took part in, were reasons to join. Not only was it a team his family supported but also had sustainable ideologies like himself.

In 2018, Real Betis launched the Forever Green Foundation in a conscious effort to tackle climate change. Héctor Bellerín was a huge supporter of this campaign and said during his BBC interview it was what made the transfer “click”.

Since joining, Bellerín has even helped create Betis shirt made of recycled goods including, Algae, wood pulp and recycled plastic. As well as helping the club continue their effort with climate change, he also endorses the idea with his fashion.

Héctor Bellerín has been a strong advocate for some time regarding second hand clothing. Whether it is pulling out an old vintage football shirt and wearing in public (which he made trendy) or wearing the same outfit more than once, Bellerín has done it. The Spaniard said that he has been consuming second hand clothing for some time, and has not let fame and money get to his head. During the interview he even said, he parked by a pair of shoes and it took him six months to decide whether he needed or not.

Follow In His Footsteps:

Over the years, new faces have arrived and dominated positions and tactics in football, and some have left the mark that leaves them forever engraved into the game. Myself, I will always remember Héctor Bellerín as the pacey right back that frustrated me when watching live or playing FIFA. However, the right back should be remembered for more.

Héctor Bellerín has cemented himself as the fashion icon of football that everyone should look up to. The swagger, proportions and aesthetic he brings to your Instagram feed. But also his efforts to tackle climate change and use his voice and presence to promote sustainability in football. Footballers have become known for their fashion thanks to the Spaniard, but Héctor Bellerín will be immortalised for his work and efforts off the pitch.

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Regardless of how you want to define these two players, their true description is G.O.A.Ts. Both excelled in every competition, league or cup game, with every match played like it was a final.

During Messi’s playing career, the Argentinian has won 46 major trophies (not including pre-season trophies), whilst Ronaldo has won only 35 major Trophies.

We all know the story between these two very well as football fans so won’t go into too much detail, but since Cristiano Ronaldo won the Balon D’or in 2008, only four other people have won the ‘Best player of the year’ trophy other than the two G.O.A.Ts. Messi winning eight, Ronaldo five.

This shows how dominant the pair have been in the 21st Century, Combing for over 1800 goals between them, they have truly blessed us with some of the most magical entertaining football we will ever witness.

But who is next?

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Kylian Mbappe V Erling Haaland:

When it seemed Messi and Ronaldo were coming to the end of their peaks back in 2018 (They definitely weren’t), reporters and fans began to look for the new upcoming stars of the beautiful game.

Luckily, it didn’t take long to find the successors. In the summer of 2018, France won the world cup for the first time since 1998, beating Croatia 4-2. Not only was it a massive moment for France but also a glimpse of their future.

In the 65th minute a 19-year-old striker scored for France making the score 4-1. It was no other than Kylian Mbappe, the second teenager to score in a world cup final since Pele in 1958.

Since then, Mbappe has been on the main stage, even competing against his idol Cristiano Ronaldo. The player moved from Monaco to PSG and now resides in the Santiago Bernabeau with Real Madrid.

However rumbling away making noise on a smaller scale was Erling Haaland. Between 2018-19 Haaland played 27 matches for RB Salzburg in Germany. In that time he scored 29 goals and got seven assists.

The impact Haaland was making upfront was quickly noticed by German giants, Borussia Dortmund, as they bought him for a reported 20 million euros on December 29 2019.

Eventually, the Premier League noticed, where he was bought by Manchester City picked up the Norwegian striker for £52 million. In his debut season, Haaland won the treble (Premier League, Champions league and FA Cup), broke the most goals in a singular Premier League season (36) and most by a Premier league player in all competitions (52).

With both reaching peaks early on, it created the next “G.O.A.T” debate. however, it was different to before. Both Haaland and Mbappe were having superstar seasons, outshining everyone, but they couldn’t quite win the top awards. Unlike Messi and Ronaldo, neither have won the Balon D’or once despite some of their top accolades.

• Mbappe’s Hatrick in the 2022 World Cup Final

• Haaland’s record breaking debut season

Both have not dipped in any sense of form, yet it doesn’t feel the same. Is it because they don’t play against eachother in the same league like Messi and Ronaldo once did? Is it that they play differently to how we want them to? or is it just we take everything for granted?

It’s tough to digest, as both players are arguably some of the best in the world, however, it feels they both drop short in big achievements. This feels weird to say as Mbappe already has 23 titles, a World cup trophy, and 420 goals at the age of 27. Similarly, Haaland has 12 titles, 343 goals at the age of 25.

These two have proved they have the dominance and consistency just like Messi and Ronaldo once did, yet the idea of them taking over the G.O.A.T debate is unthinkable.

Is this because of their playing style?

Some games it feels Haaland is just a pure goalscorer and rarely involved in the game, which gives his little time to show his talent. With Mbappe, it feels he is trying to prove he is something, which even led to saying he was “overthinking” when first joining Real Madrid (via TNT).

The New Debate:

However, as of this week, a new debate has started on social media.

Michael Olise V Lamine Yamal

Since the 2024 Euro’s, Lamine Yamal has set the Nou Camp on fire. The day after his 17th Birthday, he became the youngest player ever to start a European final and win the tournament. Not only was it a huge accolade, it was his playstyle and look on the pitch that made him so exciting.

A teenager, who had the willingness to take on any player, at any time, and nine times out of ten, beat them. Yamal played that tournament as if it was playing in his back garden, not the biggest competition in Europe.

Following this, the Spanish teenager has accumulated 149 appearances for Barcelona and contributed to 99 goals and assists. Now 18, he has already had an insane career.

However last week, a new face was brought up again and again. Michael Olise. In a quarter finals matchup between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Olise and Bayern won 2-0 away from home. The performance even had Former Liverpool defender, now pundit and analyst, Jamie Carragher say “Thats one of the best performances this season by any player” on CBS sport.

Online talk:

After the match between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, Olise saw an exceptional amount of praise. This led to comments instantly comparing to Lamine Yamal.

People online quickly began to state that Michael Olise was far better than Yamal, and “don’t let Yamal fool you” in reference to the debate. Stats were brought up, game play and the success of the team when both players are on the pitch. However I think the debate is down the excitement they bring.

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The Eye Test:

As a Crystal Palace fan, I have watched a lot of Michael Olise. Whether it was him tearing up Millwall in a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup, or running rings around the whole Man United team, winning 4-0 in one of his final games for us, the talent has always been recognised.

Michael Olise has the ability to take on any player, going either direction and decide in the last second if he’s going to get the assist or score a screamer. He can dictate a whole pass of play and at times feels the ball is glued to his feet.

When moving to Bayern Munich, it was never in doubt he would take time to adapt. Currently in his second season he has 30 G/A contributions in 27 Bundesliga matches and is undoubtedly on fire.

Similarly, Lamine Yamal has very similar traits. Both preferring the left foot, Yamal is able to penetrate through any defence and cut inside to create space for his fellow strikers or score the goal himself.

As I said previously, the Barcelona Academy product is only 18, and he has already taken the world by storm. His success with Barcelona has already made him their franchise face with an estimated £138 million transfer value.

Both players have phenomenal campaigns this season, with both in hopes to win their domestic league, but it is more than just trophies and stats that has ignited this debate.

Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal both have the “wow” factor. Whenever I find myself watching one of them it gravitates me to the screen.

The classic saying “Get you off your feet”.

That’s exactly what these two players do. As fans, the unpredictability of their control technicality amazes us. In today’s football, it has become almost robotic and too tactical some has stated, but these two have a mission of reversing that.

The Solution:

Both Michael Olise and Lamine Yamal have become some of the most talked about players in football recently, which is completely understandable. To be honest I believe it is what football needs.

Two players performing at the highest level, showing why football adopted the name “The Beautiful Game”. Yamal and Olise, express themselves with tricks, efficiency, creativity and productivity. They don’t care for the idea of keeping the ball and waiting for the game to come to them, they attack it.

This is not saying they are going to be the next G.O.A.Ts of football and should be compared to Messi and Ronaldo, but its the debate that football needed. Mbappe and Haaland are completely different in every aspect, but these two, they play football with similar details.

I believe they are two of the most exciting players in the world right now and have the ability to get a crowd moving or even you jumping up and down in your living room. They excel in their own rights but also show you what it means to play football and express yourself. Something that felt lost for some time. However, I believe these two are bringing back the “Beautiful Game” and are the solution to what it has been missing.

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