Michael Walker

1 week ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

Former Luton Town head coach Rob Edwards is in advanced discussions to become the next Middlesbrough manager. There is increasing expectation on Teesside that the 42-year-old will be named as Michael Carrick’s successor at the Riverside Stadium. Edwards, who left Luton in January, will be expected to re-energise the team and mount a Premier League promotion challenge.

2 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker |Michael Cox

One hundred years ago today, at a meeting at 22 Rue de Londres, Paris, association football - soccer - changed forever. The International Football Association Board voted that Law 11 of the game, the offside law, would be altered from season 1925-26 so that two players would need to be between an attacker and the goal line to remain onside, not three as it had been previously. This was arguably the most significant rule change since football was professionalised in the mid-1880s.

4 weeks 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 month 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 month 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.