Michael Walker

Nord-Pas-de-Calais

Freelance Football Reporter at The Athletic

Freelance Football Reporter at Irish Times

Freelance football reporter @TheAthleticFC & @IrishTimesSport NUJ

Articles

Brighton confirm signing of Sunderland's Tommy Watson

3 weeks ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker |Andy Naylor

Sunderland have agreed a fee with Brighton for their 18-year-old winger Tommy Watson. The fee is not being made public but sources with knowledge of the deal have told The Athletic it is in the region of £10million ($12m). Watson, who turns 19 next week, has signed a contract with Brighton until June 2029. He had one year left on his deal at Sunderland. Brighton appeared to have clinched Watson's signature in January, but a deal fell through.
Man City aim to salvage silverware as rising middle class refreshes FA Cup

3 weeks ago | irishtimes.com | Michael Walker

Manchester City are favourites to win the FA Cup. This will not come as a surprise – after all, City are the only club in the last eight of this season’s competition to have won the trophy this century, in fact for half a century and then some. City’s players and coach have the awareness of what it takes. Clubs such as Fulham, Brighton and Crystal Palace have never won the FA Cup, while Preston North End versus Aston Villa sounds like a quarter-final from 1897, which it was.
Is something happening with Irish boys?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker
'I'm over the moon for Kevin Keegan'

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

It was 18.19 in the Hotspur pub on Percy Street, Newcastle, a big Dan Burn header away from St James' Park and a bar always laden with Newcastle United fans. It was 18.19 when the giant screen showed eight minutes were to be added 270 miles south at Wembley stadium. "Eight!" said everyone with an exclamation mark. "Eight!"A shiver of nerves shook itself around the packed pub. It was 18.19 on a Sunday in March 2025; it was also 18.19 in May 1955 and everyone knew it.
Evan Ferguson’s progress may have stalled, but he still has almost a full career ahead of him

1 month ago | irishtimes.com | Michael Walker

Just over two years ago Evan Ferguson was a recently turned 18-year-old playing for Brighton and Hove Albion in an FA Cup-tie at Middlesbrough. Sitting in the stands at the Riverside Stadium that afternoon almost required sitting on your hands, such was the temptation to handclap every movement and pass from the Irish teenager. Ferguson was so impressive. At that stage he had completed one full 90 minutes of senior club football, a League Cup tie at Forest Green Rovers. He scored.
A history of Old Trafford

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

The scene is a weekday morning, some time around 1954. It is Old Trafford, Manchester, and as locals make their way to work, perhaps on the nearby docks, even though it is early, a young blonde-haired boy is belting a ball against the stadium's red brick walls. He does so repetitively, left foot, right foot, as he seeks accuracy, power and control. Occasionally, he steps back, to strike from ever greater distances. One day this boy wants to be a red star inside those red walls.
Why do clubs from the north east not win major trophies?

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

One day in September 2000, Jose Mourinho recalled, his phone rang as he sat at home in Portugal. On the other end was Bobby Robson. Robson had a proposal: would Mourinho like to join him at Newcastle United, first as assistant, then after 12 to 24 months, as his successor? Mourinho had been with Robson at Barcelona. He knew Robson's relationship with football was addictive. So Mourinho did not believe him; not in terms of the job offer - but that Robson would, even could, step away.
After a title under lockdown, winning the Premier League with some noise will mean more to Liverpool

1 month ago | irishtimes.com | Michael Walker

It was Liverpool 4-0 Crystal Palace and what the players in red remember was the noise, and the absence of noise. June 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was engulfing us all, when “PPE” and “lockdown” and “red zone” were part of everyday vocabulary and when “Project Restart” saw live professional football return to empty stadia. June 2020, when Liverpool put four past Palace at Anfield to move 23 points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth. Frankenstein

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

Thursday afternoon at the aptly-named Vitality stadium and Andoni Iraola is smiling, laughing and talking about the importance of creativity and animation, chemistry and happiness, in football and beyond. "I don't have complaints," he says. "I think we have a very good changing room, a healthy one. It's something that will give you a lot of points at the end of the season. When problems come, you know the people you want next to you. I've no complaints.
Michael Carrick and his 'bittersweet' season at Middlesbrough

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Michael Walker

Friday afternoon, Middlesbrough's training ground and a notably upbeat Michael Carrick gently reminds all in the room - and the fanbase beyond - that they are sixth in the Championship, in the play-off places.