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Royal Oak FC founder Steve Bracknall to make Meadowhall appearance in kit deal with Sports Direct
“Grassroots football is the backbone of our national game”
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Trump crook claims, Musiala seizures, Rodri’s Barcelona switch and Bake Off star’s diagnosis
A set of developments spanning US politics, football and television emerged on 18-19 August. At a campaign event in Georgia, Democratic senator Jon Ossoff described President Donald Trump as a “draft-dodging, crook president” while appearing with Senator Mark Kelly. The remark was political criticism, not a new legal finding, and followed an earlier dispute over…
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New-look Villa turn to Scandinavia as they rebuild squad
Aston Villa have signed four Scandinavian players this summer as part of a wider squad overhaul following a disappointing ninth-place finish in the Women’s Super League last season. The arrivals – three Norwegians and one Dane – form part of eight senior signings and mark a notable shift for a club that previously had no…
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WSL’s ‘big two’: Arsenal and Chelsea record more revenue than rest of league combined | Tom Garry
An analysis of eight seasons of Women’s Super League club accounts reveals that the commonly used term “big four” for Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United is misleading financially, as it is really Arsenal and Chelsea who dominate off the pitch. The two London clubs together generated more revenue in 2024-25 than the rest…
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I won FPL last season – here are my five best tips
Erik Ibsen, a 23-year-old Danish medical student and Everton fan, won Fantasy Premier League (FPL) outright last season after finishing top of 11 million players in his first ever season playing the game. He has shared his strategy with BBC Sport ahead of the new campaign, arguing that his inexperience and refusal to follow paid…
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NI keeper Burns on plans for life after football
Northern Ireland goalkeeper Jackie Burns, who has just signed for Women’s Super League 2 club Burnley, says she is already preparing for life after football despite still being her country’s first-choice keeper. The 29-year-old, who has 15 years of professional experience across leagues in Iceland, Canada and Sweden, says she wants to move into a…
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‘This isn’t normal in football’: Xisco, Malaysia and the new Invincibles
Johor Darul Ta’zim, the Malaysian Super League club owned by the country’s royal family, are on the brink of breaking the world record for the longest unbeaten run in league football. Their opening match of the new season, against Kuching on Friday, will decide whether they surpass the 108-game streak set by Ivorian side Asec…
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March, May and more: footballers scoring in months that match their names | The Knowledge
This is an instalment of the Guardian’s football trivia column, The Knowledge, answering a reader’s question about footballers who have scored goals in the calendar month matching their surname (inspired by Birmingham City’s August Priske scoring on 8 August). Readers submitted examples spanning almost every month of the year, drawing on players from English and…
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Sabalenka breezes through as Medvedev loses cool in defeat
World number one Aryna Sabalenka eased into the fourth round of the Cincinnati Open with a dominant 6-1 6-3 win over China’s Wang Xinyu in just 54 minutes, her most comfortable victory in some time after recent early exits at Wimbledon and in Canada. In sharp contrast, fourth seed Daniil Medvedev’s frustration boiled over after…
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How Carrick’s Man Utd are shaping up for Premier League season
Manchester United’s new head coach Michael Carrick has spent pre-season shaping a playing style that leans back into the club’s attacking traditions, after previous managers struggled to bed in a slower, possession-based approach. Carrick has said he wants his side to win while also being “exciting”, echoing former manager Sir Alex Ferguson’s belief that the…