One going-for-broke piece of skill and one brain fart decides a classic European Cup final in dramatic fashion… The European Cup in rugby union, whether it be the Heineken Cup that lasted from 1996 to 2014, or the similarly titled and slightly different Heineken Champions Cup that exists today, offers fans of the sport theContinue reading “Great Matches: London Wasps vs Toulouse, Heineken Cup Final, 23rd May 2004”
Author Archives: Fergus Jeffs
Great Matches: Northampton Saints vs Leinster, Heineken Cup Final, 21st May 2011
Six tries, 55 points, one virtuoso fly-half performance and an unforeseen comeback contribute to one of the best rugby matches of the 2010s… The European Cup in rugby union, whether it be the Heineken Cup that lasted from 1996 to 2014, or the similarly titled and slightly different Heineken Champions Cup that exists today, offersContinue reading “Great Matches: Northampton Saints vs Leinster, Heineken Cup Final, 21st May 2011”
Great Matches: Stade Francais vs Leicester Tigers, Heineken Cup Final, 19th May 2001
Dean Richards’ Leicester Tigers dynasty take on a team helmed by the great Diego Dominguez… The European Cup in rugby union, whether it be the Heineken Cup that lasted from 1996 to 2014, or the similarly titled and slightly different Heineken Champions Cup that exists today, offers fans of the sport the chance to seeContinue reading “Great Matches: Stade Francais vs Leicester Tigers, Heineken Cup Final, 19th May 2001”
European Nights: The Chelsea-Liverpool Quartet (2005-09)
Four Champions League knockout meetings in five seasons… In 2021, the Champions League quarter-final draw would pair Liverpool with Real Madrid and Chelsea with FC Porto. Due to specific logistical reasons, the draws for the quarter-finals and semi-finals would take place simultaneously, meaning that the final eight teams in the tournament would know the twoContinue reading “European Nights: The Chelsea-Liverpool Quartet (2005-09)”
Richard Dunne: A Career In Own Goals
This Republic of Ireland defender had a habit of scoring into the wrong goal… To preface the following article, Richard Dunne was a great defender during his playing days. You have to possess a certain level of talent to make 431 Premier League appearances (29th-highest overall) for Everton, Manchester City, Aston Villa and Queens ParkContinue reading “Richard Dunne: A Career In Own Goals”
Saar- Germany’s One-Time Olympic Exiles
36 competitors, 9 sports, 0 medals… The fifteenth Summer Olympic Games took place between 19th July and 3rd August 1952. Helsinki, the capital of Finland, would be the hosts for the second Olympics held post-WW2. Over 16 days of competition, 4,955 athletes from 69 nations would compete in 149 events held across 17 sports. OfContinue reading “Saar- Germany’s One-Time Olympic Exiles”
European Nights: Red Star Belgrade v Marseille, 1991 Champions League Final
The last time an Eastern European side won the biggest prize in European football… Over the past few years, it has been pretty easy to predict who will win the Champions League. Since the European Cup became the Champions League in 1992, 13 teams have won the following 27 editions of the Champions League. SpainContinue reading “European Nights: Red Star Belgrade v Marseille, 1991 Champions League Final”
Great Matches: Newcastle vs Arsenal, Barclays Premier League, 5th February 2011
Some Newcastle fans started to leave the stadium after just 26 minutes of play… On 5th June 2017, the football world was shocked and saddened to hear of the death of Ivory Coast midfielder Cheick Tioté at the age of 30. Tioté had suffered a heart attack while training with his club Beijing Enterprises ofContinue reading “Great Matches: Newcastle vs Arsenal, Barclays Premier League, 5th February 2011”
Wayne Rooney: A Career in Records
In his 19-year footballing career, the boy from Croxteth sure broke a fair few records along the way… On 15th January 2021, multiple news sources reported that Derby County had announced Wayne Rooney as their new full-time manager. Rooney had moved from Major League Soccer outfit Toronto FC to join Derby as a player-coach inContinue reading “Wayne Rooney: A Career in Records”
The Rise and Fall of Nottingham Forest 1993-1999: Introduction
From promotion to Europe to relegation to promotion to relegation in six seasons… Six seasons. Five different managers. 41 players signed. £36.6 million spent. 248 league matches played across two divisions. 101 wins. 73 draws. 74 defeats. This was Nottingham Forest between the years 1993 and 1999. During the period, Forest would be twice promotedContinue reading “The Rise and Fall of Nottingham Forest 1993-1999: Introduction”
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