Best of 2021: Why did Exeter start the Premiership Rugby season without a main sponsor? December 25, 2021 When this Premiership Rugby season began in September, Exeter’s opening match saw them face Leicester Tigers without a main sponsor. Here Matt Hardy took at look as to why that could have been using industry commentators and experts. Since the article’s original publish date, on September 25, Exeter Chiefs have found a main sponsor – [...]
Best of 2021: Lewes FC, the football club of the future? December 25, 2021 In this article from March 2021, Frank Dalleres speaks to Maggie Murphy, general manager and now CEO of Lewes FC about the club’s pioneering stance on equal pay, how a purpose-led approach can attract commercial partners, and bold plans for the future. They take pride in doing things differently at Lewes FC, the small football [...]
Best of 2021: Sprinter Darren Campbell’s brush with death December 24, 2021 In this interview from January 2021, former Olympic champion sprinter Darren Campbell recounts fearing for his life after a sudden and serious illness, his rise from poverty to athletics stardom and why he decided it was time to write a book. Darren Campbell was in no hurry to write a book until May 2018. A [...]
EP: 104 Kempton, Chepstow, Wetherby & Irish Christmas Meetings December 24, 2021 The King George has produced many special winners over the years and this Christmas should be another enthralling renewal of the great race during the two-day Winter Racing Festival. Owner Chris Giles joins us to discuss his trio of weekend runners at Kempton and Lucinda Russell tells us all about Ahoy Seńor who runs on [...]
Best of 2021: ‘Nigel Wray deserves credit after building Saracens’ dynasty’ December 24, 2021 In October, Nigel Wray relinquished his majority control of Saracens after 25 years at the club. Here Matt Hardy looked back on a controversial but highly influential period for the City grandee. Originally published on October 5. Empires fall and dynasties cease, but one thing remains when you’ve done something right or simply left your [...]
Best of 2021: How Drive to Survive and esports helped save Formula 1 December 24, 2021 In this article, originally published in March 2021 to mark the start of what would prove to be a landmark season, Frank Dalleres looks at how Formula 1’s owner Liberty Media helped shake off its male, pale and stale image and won a whole new generation of fans, including in some crucial territories. It feels [...]
Man Utd boss Ralf Rangnick suggests scrapping Carabao Cup December 23, 2021 Manchester United manager Ralf Rangnick has suggested that English football should scrap the Carabao Cup to ease the burden on players. Concerns about player welfare have been heightened by a raft of Covid-19 postponements, which will mean fixture congestion – and an intensified workload – in the coming weeks. “England is the only league in [...]
Watch: Anti-vaxxers attempt to ‘serve papers’ on football hero Alan Shearer, only to end up at wrong house December 23, 2021 A group of anti-vaccination activists tried to “serve papers” on footballer Alan Shearer today, but ended up dropping the files off at the wrong house. The former England captain and Newcastle United hero last week urged people to get the booster in a video promoted by the Premier League. In the clip, Shearer said: “We [...]
Andy Murray handed wild card for Australian Open December 23, 2021 Andy Murray has been granted a wild card for next month’s Australian Open, as the former world No1 bids to challenge for Grand Slam titles again. Murray is a five-time finalist in Melbourne and indicated he had been willing to enter qualifying in order to compete again in January 2022. But organisers have spared the [...]
Premier League calls off Watford and Leeds Boxing Day games December 23, 2021 The Premier League has postponed two Boxing Day fixtures – Wolves v Watford, and Liverpool v Leeds United – due to Covid-19 outbreaks. Watford and Leeds requested their games be called off after being left short of players by Covid-19 cases and injuries. The Premier League said it hoped its early decision would minimise disruption [...]