Thomas Burrows

England, London

Football Writer at The Athletic

Football writer @TheAthleticFC | Sports fan | Music lover

Articles

Brandon Williams and a case that highlights football's laughing gas issue

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows |Greg O'Keeffe

Amid the rush of panic she felt as the speeding Audi raced up behind her car, the motorist noticed something odd. She would later recall how the young man and woman in the erratically driven vehicle had yellow balloons hanging from their mouths. Minutes later, Brandon Williams had hit another car, causing it to spin out of control. His own hit the central reservation after a dangerous overtaking manoeuvre.
Think the Premier League season is over? These are the games you still need to watch

1 month ago | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

The Premier League title and relegation places may have been wrapped up in April but there is still plenty to play for. There are crunch games in the tight tussle for a Champions League spot next season, with third-placed Newcastle United playing Chelsea, who are two places below them. Nottingham Forest, the division's surprise package, host Chelsea on the final day of the season (May 25).
Lyon sacking, working with Textor and Cherki's talent

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

Pierre Sage pops onto the Zoom screen from a ski lodge in France's Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, close to the border with Italy. He has been enjoying some quality family time after he was dismissed from his position as Lyon head coach at the end of January. It was the 45-year-old's first managerial role in senior football, and his first sacking in what is a notoriously brutal industry, but the experience has only left him hungry for more.
What it's like to be fired as a manager

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

When Gus Poyet arrived to work as a BBC Sport pundit for a 2013 Confederations Cup match between Spain and Nigeria, he was still the manager of Brighton & Hove Albion. The Uruguayan had been suspended by the club the previous month following their Championship play-off semi-final defeat by Crystal Palace but there had been no further news about his position.
Who are Victor Musa, JJ Gabriel and the other stars of Man Utd U18's 13-1 win over Leeds?

2 months ago | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

Manchester United's under-18s humiliated Leeds United's youngsters on Saturday, winning 13-1 as highly rated 14-year-old JJ Gabriel scored twice on his age-level debut. It was a resounding victory for United at Carrington and followed the disappointment of Aston Villa knocking them out of the FA Youth Cup semi-final on Monday night.
EFL official charged with 16 child sex offences, to stand trial in September

Mar 28, 2025 | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

An assistant referee who officiated in the EFL has been charged with 16 child sex offences. Gareth Viccars, 46, has been charged with 12 counts of sexual activity with a child, two counts of engaging in sexual communication with a child, one count of meeting a child following sexual grooming and one count of engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child, the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed to The Athletic.
This is the story of Craig Johnston

Mar 27, 2025 | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

Many footballers like to market themselves as one-offs; few truly are. Craig Johnston, however, is the exception. The Australian won five English league titles and a European Cup at Liverpool in the 1980s but his football achievements are perhaps the least remarkable thing about him. He is an engineer and a businessman; a chart-topping musician; the creator of a television gameshow and the inventor of a hotel mini bar security system.
Former footballer Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife

Mar 25, 2025 | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

Former footballer Joey Barton has today (Tuesday) been found guilty of assaulting his wife. The court was told how Barton pushed his wife, Georgia, 38, to the ground before kicking her in the head at their home in Kew, south west London. The assault happened on June 2, 2021, when Barton was manager of Bristol Rovers. The argument began when Barton threatened to fight his wife's brother and father.
What other projects tell us

Mar 23, 2025 | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

When Manchester United unveiled their grand plans for a new 100,000-capacity stadium, they offered a first glimpse of what the ambitious £2billion ($2.6bn) project could look like. "When you go to Paris, you visit the Eiffel Tower. Everybody who is interested in Manchester United - and football - will want to come and visit this stadium," Sir Jim Ratcliffe, United's co-owner, declared.
UK Athletics, former World Championships chief plead not guilty over Paralympian's death

Mar 18, 2025 | nytimes.com | Thomas Burrows

UK Athletics and the former head of sport for the World Paralympic Athletics Championships have pleaded not guilty to all charges relating to the death of Paralympian Abdullah Hayayei. Hayayei, who competed at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, was killed when a throwing cage fell on him during a training session at Newham Leisure Centre in London on July 11 2017. The 36-year-old was practising his shot putting ahead of the World Paralympic Athletics Championships at the time.