By: Sam Cunningham

Sam Cunningham is a freelance sports journalist who writes the weekly Between The Lines column for City AM. Sam has previously been published in The Times, Guardian, Observer, Daily Mail and i Paper.

All 23 Articles

Nottingham Forest facing backlash as City Ground expansion set to hit residents in pocket

Sport Business

Nottingham Forest are facing a backlash from local residents who could be left out of pocket by the club’s £790m expansion of the City Ground. As part of the planning permission granted to increase the capacity of their 31,000-seater stadium to 52,000, Forest have agreed to contribute £4.17m towards improving surrounding travel and transport infrastructure. [...]
Hull City’s ‘strange’ £55m loan beat Independent Football Regulator deadline

Sport Business

Hull City took a loan from an American billionaire whose previous hedge fund was fined $1.8bn for fraud and insider trading shortly before mandatory Independent Football Regulator scrutiny of such deals kicked in. Following their promotion to the Premier League, Hull City secured a £55m loan against the club’s stadium from Point72 Lending Ltd, a [...]
Erling Haaland: Manchester City star credited with carrot sales boom in native Norway

Sport Business

Erling Haaland’s brand power shifted into a new stratosphere at the World Cup – and the proof is in Norway’s carrot sales. Haaland has long appeared in internet clips and memes with carrots dangling from his mouth – while signing autographs for fans or driving his car – and this summer appeared in an advert [...]

Manchester United’s new stadium could be delayed until 2035 as timeline slips

September 16, 2026

Manchester United’s new stadium may not open until 2035, according to official planning documentation. The timeline for the £2bn-plus project has repeatedly slipped ever since minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe announced in March 2025 that United would build a new stadium rather than renovate Old Trafford. At the time, the billionaire said it could be [...]
Bournemouth in spotlight after female fan complains to Kick It Out about searches

September 9, 2026

Bournemouth are ready to review their stewarding arrangements after a female matchgoer made a complaint to anti-discrimination group Kick It Out about being searched by a male member of staff. The issue is thought to stem from the new perimeter fencing and entry gates installed around the Vitality Stadium as part of Bournemouth’s £90m expansion, [...]
Revealed: BBC bid just £900k for £5m Commonwealth Games TV rights

September 2, 2026

Commonwealth Games chiefs took flak for agreeing a broadcast deal with TNT Sports that put it behind a paywall for the first time in 72 years – but City AM can reveal the BBC offered less than £1m for the rights. The BBC’s bid of around £900,000 represented a 91 per cent decrease on the [...]
Chelsea fans stunned as ticket sharing equated with sexual misconduct

August 12, 2026

Chelsea have stunned supporters by equating unauthorised ticket sharing with sexual misconduct in their sanctioning guidelines for the new season. Premier League clubs are cracking down on ticket misuse but long-standing season ticket holders, who have long shared log-ins and built networks to help each other buy tickets, feel unfairly targeted. Bots and touts remain [...]
Gary Lineker forks out £10k to save England World Cup dream

August 5, 2026

Gary Lineker and a group of private backers have come to the rescue of the England men’s amputee team while the Football Association refuses to fund them. The governing body stopped its financial support in 2006 and, despite now backing seven para teams, still excludes the amputee side. The England team, Nations League winners in [...]
Manchester United accused of banning loyal fans to make space for big-spending tourists

July 22, 2026

Manchester United supporters have accused the club of attempting to force out season ticket holders in order to generate more revenue from tourists and corporates. Season ticket holders of several decades started receiving emails – seen by City AM – informing them their accounts had been restricted after the club identified activity “that may indicate” [...]
Infantino facing IOC probe after complaint lodged over Trump’s Balogun intervention

July 14, 2026

Fifa boss Gianni Infantino is facing an International Olympic Committee investigation after an official complaint was filed following US President Donald Trump’s intervention to block Folarin Balogun’s ban. The decision to suspend Balogun’s ban – enabling the USA’s best player to continue playing in the World Cup after he was sent off against Bosnia and [...]

Bank of England targeted in inflation installation stunt

Prem Rugby: Attendances down but Newcastle Red Bulls see ticket surge

London’s new front door for growth opens in the Square Mile.

By: Sam Cunningham

All 23 Articles

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