Michael Walker

6 days ago | irishtimes.com | Michael Walker

Before this season’s League Cup final between Newcastle United and Liverpool, the Times (London) interviewed Malcolm Macdonald, the former buccaneering Newcastle centre forward. Macdonald played for Newcastle in the 1974 FA Cup final and brought up the name of Keith Burkinshaw, who was a coach at St James’ Park at the time. Burkinshaw moved to Tottenham Hotspur, where he became manager and won the 1984 Uefa Cup – Tottenham’s last European trophy until 10 days ago.

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

Away from the watering eyes of their jubilant public, in the bowels of Wembley Stadium as Saturday afternoon became Saturday night, the victorious players of Sunderland walked back and forth in a state of bliss, shook hands, patted backs and roared approval. The latest of late semi-final goals from Dan Ballard that had brought Sunderland here had been replicated thrillingly, dramatically - devastatingly for Sheffield United - by Tommy Watson five minutes into added time.

1 week ago | irishtimes.com | Michael Walker

Just how bad are Manchester United? That was the thought. And it would not shift. Just how bad can they be? Really, how bad? And when will it end? That was another thought. At least the last question had an answer: very soon. The season will be over. Then people can think about other things for a few weeks, not have to endure this version of United getting worse and worse and worse. You walked down the steps at Old Trafford and out. The final whistle was about to blow. It was May 2019, not May 2025.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker |Philip Buckingham

It was heading towards midnight as a packed Tyne & Wear Metro train pulled away from the station at the Stadium of Light. The smiling faces crammed in were soon staring at mobile phone footage of the moment they had all just witnessed live: the stooping header from Dan Ballard in the last seconds of extra-time in the Championship play-off semi-final against Coventry City that takes Sunderland to Wembley on Saturday.

3 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Michael Walker

Ange Postecoglou looked very happy; Ange Postecoglou didn’t look very happy. Ange Postecoglou sounded satisfied; Ange Postecoglou sounded peeved. Thursday night in the Arctic Circle and Tottenham Hotspur had just reached the Europa League final in faraway Bilbao against Manchester United. The significance of the achievement will multiply by millions – literally – should Spurs win in the Basque country.