@UDOFootyJourno student. Editor and writer for @LowerTiers. Senior @ManUtdWomen Writer at @Since71blog. @dcfcofficial correspondent for @VitalFootballUK
Articles by Holly Wright
5 EFL storylines from the weekend: managerial debuts, unbeaten runs and derby drama
The EFL weekend delivered plenty of talking points across the Championship, League One and League Two, with managerial changes, impressive unbeaten runs and important results shaping the early-season picture. From Robbie Savage making an immediate impact at Peterborough United to Burnley finally ending their lengthy wait for a league victory, there was no shortage of drama. Here are five of the biggest storylines from the EFL weekend.
Burton’s Rise, Bradford’s Manager Departure and THREE Other EFL Fixtures to Watch This Weekend
The extended international break has left the EFL with a rather unusual weekend, with no Championship action and just three League One fixtures surviving the disruption. League Two has a fuller programme, with eight matches going ahead after three postponements, ensuring there is still plenty of football to follow despite the break.
Five EFL Games With Everything On The Line This Weekend
The latest round of EFL fixtures has plenty to get supporters excited, with pressure already building at some clubs while others look to turn promising starts into something more meaningful. Across the Championship, League One and League Two, there are teams desperate for points at the bottom of the table, sides hoping to strengthen their promotion ambitions and clubs dealing with significant developments away from the pitch.
Five EFL Fixtures to Watch: Unexpected Promotion Pushes & Peterborough’s Manager Hunt
The international break has brought the Championship to a temporary standstill this weekend, but there is still plenty of EFL action to keep an eye on across League One and Two. With no second-tier fixtures taking place, attention turns to the divisions below, where the early-season promotion picture is already beginning to take shape.
Derby Day Drama, Late Goals & Managers Under Pressure: Five EFL Talking Points
Another weekend of EFL action has delivered plenty of drama across the Championship, League One and League Two, with local rivalries, late goals and shifting fortunes giving supporters plenty to debate during the international break. There was derby joy for Wolves as they edged past West Brom, while both Millwall and Burton Albion surrendered two-goal leads to settle for draws against their local rivals.
5 Rising Young Stars Creating a Selection Headache for Their Managers
Email address Get an email when Holly publishes. Confirm via the link we send. The Carabao Cup is often where young players get their chance. For some, it is simply about getting a few minutes and gaining valuable experience. For others, it can be the night that changes everything.
Burnley, West Ham and Huddersfield Feature in Five EFL Games to Watch
Another packed EFL weekend is upon us, with local rivalries, unbeaten records, managers under pressure and dangerous attacking players all providing plenty of storylines to keep an eye on. Burnley are searching for their first Championship win of the season, while a London derby returns to The Den. Elsewhere, unbeaten Huddersfield Town travel to Bromley, two of League One’s most dangerous attacks meet at Hillsborough, and five unbeaten League Two sides are all in action.
Five EFL Talking Points From the Weekend: Derby Drama, Red-Hot Stars and a Home Fortress Original
Another fascinating weekend of EFL action has provided plenty for supporters to talk about, from dramatic local derbies and individual brilliance to bizarre moments that are likely to dominate the headlines for days to come. With the new campaign beginning to take shape, there are already signs of storylines that could develop into something much bigger as the season progresses. Some players are finding form at exactly the right time, while others are making their mark with spectacular goals.
Manchester United Braced for Record Departure as Chelsea Near Major Deal
Chelsea are closing in on what is expected to become Manchester United‘s record sale, with France international Melvine Malard understood to be in the final stages of agreeing a move worth around £850,000 after turning down a new contract at Leigh Sports Village. Chelsea Closing In on Club-Record Deal Manchester United are on the verge of agreeing a club-record sale after Chelsea moved into the final stages of negotiations to sign France international Melvine Malard.
FA Women’s National League Teams of the Season 2025/6
We are excited to bring back our popular FA Women’s National League (WNL) Teams of the Season! The idea was originally inspired by the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conference All-Star teams; we initially thought it would be fun to create our own WNL North and South All-Star lineups. This evolved to include a team for each division from the fourth tier.
The Case For Professional Game Academy Teams Entering The Women’s Nationals League
It has been a few weeks since Tom Garry of The Guardian revealed that The Football Association (FA) is considering proposals that would allow four Women’s Super League (WSL) Professional Game Academy (PGA) teams to join the FA Women’s National League (WNL) Premier Divisions, the third tier of the women’s football pyramid, from 2027. The PGAs would be selected on the strength of their academies and their contribution to developing English talent.
What’s At Stake? How England And The Home Nations Can Still Reach The World Cup
The final round of FIFA World Cup qualifying matches arrives with everything still to play for across Europe, and for the United Kingdom’s nations in particular, the picture is a mix of pressure, opportunity, and uncertainty. Some can still finish the job outright. Others are already calculating the longer route, but for the others, reality is simply about survival in the competition.
England Look To Respond After Spain Setback Ahead Of Ukraine qualifier
Following a bruising defeat to Spain on Friday night, England head into their crucial World Cup qualifier against Ukraine determined to deliver a response, with head coach Serena Wiegman and forward Lauren Hemp both stressing resilience, togetherness, and the importance of learning from adversity in their pre-match press conference on Monday, The Lionesses were comprehensively beaten in their previous outing, a result that has increased the pressure heading into Tuesday’s fixture.
Outplayed And Outclassed: Where It Went Wrong For England Against Spain
England’s 4-0 defeat to Spain was not just a setback. It was a sobering reminder that the result was not about a gap in quality, but about the sheer level at the top of the international game where any lapse is punished, and flaws are exposed if you are not at it on the night. This was not a narrow loss or a contest decided by moments.
Photo Dairy: Belgium 6-0 Luxembourg
The Red Flames meant business. They needed to score 10 goals, or the A league and an easier path to the World Cup next summer would only exist in their dreams. For a moment, they all believed it when Eurlings scored in the 10th minute and, nine minutes later, Tessa Wullaert, the player who had been handed her sixth Golden Shoe before the match scored as well. But then Luxembourg defended their goal well, while the Flames missed opportunity after opportunity, until the whistle for half-time.
Photo Diary Fulham 2-1 Tottenham Academy
Fulham booked their place in the final of the Capital Women’s Cup after overcoming a spirited Tottenham Academy side in an entertaining semi-final. The Whites made the perfect start, taking the lead just two minutes into the match through Kayleigh Stead. The forward is developing a habit of striking early, having also scored in the second minute of Fulham’s recent game against Luton. Her quick opener ensured Fulham went into the break with a 1–0 advantage.
Photo Diary: England 1-0 Spain
England beat world champions Spain 1-0 at Wembley in a hard-fought Group A3 qualifier, with Lauren Hemp scoring inside three minutes from a corner after a chaotic goalmouth scramble. From there, Spain dominated possession for long spells, but England’s compact defensive shape and discipline kept them largely at bay. The game swung into a tense, end-to-end contest in the second half, with both sides missing big chances.
Photo Diary: Fulham Women 3-0 Luton Women
The newly crowned champions of the FA WNL Division One Southeast, Fulham triumphed 3-0 over a Luton side that never truly made their mark on the game. This win took their invincible streak of no losses in the league past the 2-year mark. Luton gave Fulham a guard of honour before the game, and the Champions showed why they deserved it with two goals in the first six minutes of the game at Craven Cottage from Kayleigh Stead and Anna Gray.
England 1-0 Spain: Lionesses Show Resilience and Discipline in Statement Wembley Win
Early Breakthrough Sets The Tone England struck almost immediately from a set piece. Alex Greenwood’s corner caused chaos inside the Spain box, with Alessia Russo helping keep the ball alive before Lauren Hemp reacted quickest to finish from close range. Goal-line technology confirmed the goal after initial uncertainty. It was a scrappy but crucial early goal that allowed England to settle into their compact defensive structure and execute their game plan.
Photo Diary: Manchester United 0-3 Manchester City
Vivianne Miedema scored twice in quick succession to guide Manchester City to a commanding derby victory over Manchester United, moving them closer to the Women’s Super League title. City now require just two more wins to secure their first league crown in a decade, and their supporters left Old Trafford in celebratory mood after another dominant display. The Netherlands international struck twice within a matter of minutes in the first half, both headers highlighting City’s ruthless start.
Photo Diary: Dulwitch Hamlet 1 – 0 AFC Sudbury
MK Dons’ Decline To Deepen After Years Of Neglect From The Top
Sarina Wiegman Hands 17-Year-Old Erica Meg Parkinson First England Call-Up for April World Cup Qualifiers
Sarina Wiegman has named a 23-player England squad for April’s FIFA World Cup 2027 qualifiers, as the Lionesses prepare for two crucial fixtures: hosting world champions Spain at Wembley before travelling to Iceland in Reykjavik. England head into the international window in strong form, having won both of their opening qualifiers.
Photo Diary: Manchester United 2 – 3 Bayern Munich
Manchester United’s Champions League quarter-final first leg ended in a narrow 3–2 defeat to Bayern Munich at Old Trafford, in a game defined by fine margins and clinical finishing. Pernille Harder, a United fan growing up, struck twice for the visitors, both times exploiting space in behind, whilst Maya Le Tissier levelled from the penalty spot after an early setback. United showed resilience again when Hanna Lundkvist headed home a second equaliser shortly after Harder’s brace.
Marc Skinner: United Must “Maximise The Moment”
Marc Skinner has challenged his Manchester United side to embrace the magnitude of the occasion and “maximise the moment” as they prepare to face Bayern Munich in a landmark Champions League quarter-final at Old Trafford. United’s European journey has already exceeded expectations, but Skinner made it clear his players are not approaching this tie as underdogs happy to be involved — instead, they are intent on pushing further into uncharted territory.
Women’s Football Enters a New Era of Professionalisation
The Women’s Super League (WSL) is undergoing a rapid transformation. Once seen as a developing competition, it is now becoming a commercially viable and globally recognised product. The intense rivalry between Chelsea and Manchester City reflects this shift. Title races are no longer predictable, and the league is gaining attention for both its competitiveness and commercial growth.
Heartbreak for Australia as Japan Snatch Asian Cup Crown
Japan has once again proven why they are Asia’s powerhouse in women’s football, securing a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Australia at Stadium Australia in Sydney to claim their third Women’s Asian Cup title in four editions. The decisive moment came early, when 21-year-old Maika Hamano, on loan at Tottenham Hotspur from Chelsea, curled a superb strike into the bottom corner in the 17th minute, after receiving the ball on the left and turning sharply to shoot from distance.
Match Report: Portsmouth 0-1 Sunderland
Sunderland secured a vital 1-0 victory over Portsmouth at Fratton Park, leaving the hosts rooted to the bottom of the Barclays Women’s Super League 2 table. An early header from Eleanor Dale proved to be the difference in a contest where both goalkeepers took centre stage. Despite a spirited late surge from the Blues, the Lasses held firm to take all three points back to Tyne and Wear.
Bunny Shaw: Redefining Excellence in the WSL
When the whistle blew on Saturday afternoon, Bunny Shaw had already etched her name into WSL history. In a dazzling 13-minute whirlwind against Tottenham Hotspur, the Manchester City striker scored the fastest hat-trick the league has ever seen. By the time fans were still catching their breath, Shaw had done what only a true elite forward can: turned a routine fixture into a showcase of speed, skill, and sheer finishing brilliance. It was more than a hat-trick. It was a statement.
Photo Diary: AFC Fylde 4-2 Wythenshawe
AFC Fylde were crowned Lancashire FA Senior County Cup champions after securing a 4–2 victory over Wythenshawe. A hat-trick from Lois Moore, along with a stunning strike by Hollie Kelsh-Ridge, made the difference as Fylde delivered an outstanding performance to claim their first silverware of the season and defeat a tier-four side. Goals from Ciara Boylan and Kate O’Gara were not enough for the FA Women’s National League team, as their lower-league opponents ran out comfortable winners.
FIFA Rules Women’s Teams Must Have Female Coaches: Tackling a Long-Overlooked Issue
FIFA have taken a landmark step by introducing regulations requiring every team participating in its women’s football tournaments to include at least one female head coach or assistant. The rules also mandated that at least one medical staff member and two officials on the team bench be female.
Ian Wright Tackles Barriers to Girls’ Football
At the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson School, Ian Wright swapped the football pitch for the classroom to speak with pupils and staff about the societal barriers that continue to prevent many girls from fully participating in sport. The visit marked the formal launch of Made for This Game: Breaking Barriers, a national campaign from The Football Association in partnership with Barclays.
FA Unveils Changes For Women’s Football
With just two months remaining until the 2025/26 season ends, attention is already shifting toward what promises to be another transformative year for women’s football. Title races are intensifying, transfer activity is ramping up, and now the Football Association (FA) has unveiled a series of major changes designed to reshape the game. These updates span league expansion, licensing regulations, financial sustainability, and player welfare, each aimed at strengthening the sport’s long-term future.
Photo Diary: West Ham United 0-0 Manchester United
A determined and disciplined West Ham United side earned a goalless draw against third-placed Manchester United in the Barclays Women’s Super League on Wednesday night. The point could be crucial in the Hammers’ fight to stay up, while it deals a setback to United’s hopes of securing Champions League qualification. We were fortunate enough to have Caitlin McKissock on hand to capture the action. Photo: Cailtin McKissock
England Squad Named for March World Cup Qualifiers
England head coach Sarina Wiegman has named her 25-player squad for the opening fixtures of the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign against Ukraine and Iceland next month. These fixtures mark the start of a crucial year for the Lionesses as they aim to secure a spot in Brazil next summer and continue building on their recent European success. After the Euro 2025 triumph, Wiegman has faced a challenging start to the year due to injuries affecting key players.
FA WNL Teams of the Season 2024/25
We are excited to bring back our popular FA Women’s National League (FA WNL) Teams of the Season! Originally inspired by the NBA’s Eastern and Western Conference All-Star teams, we initially thought it would be fun to create our own FA WNL North and South All-Star lineups. This evolved to include a team for each division from the fourth tier. It was a hit last time, and we received lots of positive feedback, so we have revived the idea.
Post Match Reflections: Brilliant Belgium stun European Champions
The red flames handed England a Halloween nightmare at the King Power at Den Dreef Stadium on Tuesday night putting Team GB’s Olympic qualification in huge doubt. A frustrating couple of days for the Lionesses as players were forced to miss the Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris on Monday Night due to preparing for their crucial UEFA Women’s Nations League match.
Match Report & Post-Match Reflections: England 1-0 Belgium
England went into Friday night’s game at the King Power Stadium knowing that back-to-back wins over Belgium in the next five days would secure their Olympic qualification despite defeat to previous European champions the Netherlands in their last game. Sarina Weigman’s side were yet to discover their free-flowing goal-scoring form from the World Cup, experimenting with formations and personnel in the first-ever Women’s Nations League campaign.
Liam Gilbert On Creating An Identity And An Entertaining Brand Of Football
Excited about their first home game of the season new Reading head coach Liam Gilbert is more focused on the style of football they are playing and creating their own identity than results right now, especially after the huge overhaul of players and staff over the summer. “The important thing for me is that the fans want to come and see what I hope is an entertaining brand of football. One that will get people behind us and hopefully bring everything closer together as a club.
Lionesses Go Into The World Cup Confident Of Further Success
The 2023 Women’s World Cup is taking place in Australia and New Zealand between the 20th of July and the 20th of August. Current European champions England take on previous runners up China, Denmark who didn’t qualify for last year’s Euros and World Cup debutants Haiti in Group D. Here is my preview of the Lionesses’ chances at the World Cup along with who to watch out for as they look to make it two major tournaments in two years.
Match Report: England 0–0 Portugal
England Lionesses failed to score for the second consecutive game as Portugal frustrated the European Champions. Team selection was eagerly anticipated with many fans unsure how the Lionesses would line up with their opening match of the World Cup 21 days away.
Match Report: Manchester United 2-1 Manchester City
Lucia Garcia was the stoppage-time hero as she had been on several occasions this season giving United their first ever WSL victory over their Manchester rivals in front of a record 7,864 at Leigh Sports Village ensuring the title would be decided on the last day of the season.
Match Report: Nottingham Forest 0-1 Watford
Wales all-time leading goalscorer and Watford club captain Helen Ward ended her stellar career on a high after announcing earlier in the season she was hanging up her boots at the end of the 2022/23 campaign. It was judgement day for the two sides who had already met earlier in the season with Watford seeking revenge after narrowly missing out on the League Cup this time with a place in the second tier of Women’s football at stake.
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