Andy Winter

Journalist, BBC Sport at BBC

BBC Sport journalist. Father of two. Husband of one. Liverpool supporter. Views my own etc

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Articles

How meeting the right person can change your life

1 day ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

It is said that when a childhood is disrupted and traumatic, it takes just one significant adult to believe in that child to massively increase their life chances and of them achieving their ambitions. For Ashley, that person was Yolandi Taylor-Banks who she met at the YMCA Downslink Group. “It was through dance,” says Ashley, “that allowed me to express myself. Yolandi believed in me and encouraged me. I even went to Gambia on a work project aimed at helping local people with their education.
A local newspaper is the cornerstone of democracy

1 month ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

What are Brighton’s greatest assets? The seafront? Absolutely. The Royal Pavilion? Perhaps. The Undercliff Walk? I think so. Our beautiful parks? Mostly. The Argus? Without a doubt. Nobody should underestimate the esteem in which I hold local newspapers and the huge affection I have for The Argus itself which in recent days has celebrated its 145th anniversary.
The Undercliff Walk was a great gift to Brighton

1 month ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

The construction of the Undercliff Walk in Brighton (Image: na) In Brighton and Hove we are blessed by having on our doorstep such wonderful natural beauty, be it the South Downs National Park, Devil’s Dyke, the Hove seafront and, my personal favourite, the Undercliff Walk between the Marina and Saltdean, constructed between 1931 and 1935.
Do you remember these fabulous old cafes and restaurants that have now closed?

1 month ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

3 1/1 I like my food but I’m not into fancy restaurants with their pretentious, overhyped and overpriced menus. You won’t find me at The Salt Rooms, The Ivy in the Lanes or Terre à Terre. Give me a good transport cafe any day. My first meal on the day I arrived in England in 1979 was at the transport cafe at the bottom of Southover Street. I think it was called the A1 Cafe but is, sadly, no more. I had chips with baked beans and a mug of boiling hot tea.
Brighton's Jubilee Library is one of the most popular in the country

2 months ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

Brighton Jubilee Library (Image: na) The peace campaigner, Monsignor Bruce Kent, once said that a sign of a civilised society is a fully integrated systems of public conveniences. I do agree but I would add the provision of libraries is equally important as a sign of a properly rounded society. However, between 2010 and 2023, the austerity agenda saw the number of libraries in the U.K. fall by 17%, from 4,482 to 3,718.
The winner from Starmer’s unpopularity will be Nigel Farage - by Andy Winter

2 months ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

I drafted this article before the shocking scenes in the Oval Office when Trump showed himself to be a Poundshop classroom bully. He was anything but a gracious host to Zelenskyy. Until then Keir Starmer had sucked up to Trump including the obscenity of inviting Trump on an unprecedented second State Visit to the U.K. Starmer has done Trump’s bidding, including cutting the international aid budget in order to increase the budget to wage war.
I love numbers and election statistics - Andy Winter

2 months ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

I’ve always liked numbers. Perhaps it is due to a maths teacher I had when I was ten-years-old who taught us tricks with numbers. I delighted in learning that all numbers divisible by 3, when added together, make 3, 6 or 9, and numbers divisible by nine, when added together, always equal nine. He built my confidence in adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing.
50 years on, we see the 'appalling' legacy of Thatcher

2 months ago | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

Last week saw the 50th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher becoming leader of the Conservative Party. Her election as Prime Minister in May 1979 followed the Winter of Discontent that had seen mass strikes and bins not being emptied for months. In Brighton, the Level had become a smelly rubbish dump. It was what greeted me when I arrived in England and Brighton 46 years ago today. Thatcher’s election heralded in a new era of politics. Gone was the bi-partisan consensus on many social issues.
Mutilation or beautiful body art - Opinion by Andy Winter

Feb 12, 2025 | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

When walking my dog, Molly, I regularly bump into the same people with their dogs. There’s James Bond (a ridiculously pretty poodle), Kenny (the most obedient dog in the world), and Moose (the friendliest of dogs with the friendliest of owners). Until recently I didn’t know the names of Moose’s humans are Sam and Nikki. When Nikki told me that she is a tattoo artist, all my prejudices came rushing to the fore. And I have many prejudices regarding tattoos.
Brighton and Hove Albion can look bereft of ideas

Feb 5, 2025 | theargus.co.uk | Andy Winter

“Boring, boring Arsenal” was a football chant that dates back to 1993 when the Gunners rarely scored more than a single goal in a game while having the best defence in the league. Goalless draws were a safe bet on the Football Pools. Those days are gone and the ‘boring boring’ title should now be passed to Brighton and Hove Albion. I’m not a season ticket holder at The Amex, and regular readers of this column will know my loyalties lie with both Stoke City and, locally, Lewes Women.