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Michael Walker

@mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
1.7K followers 359 following 381 posts

Freelance football reporter at The Athletic and Irish Times. NUJ. FWA.

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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 18h
Nine years of wrongdoing - as laid out in the independent commission's damning judgment - disfigured English football www.nytimes.com/athletic/764...
nytimes.com
Manchester City have become ‘Sham FC’. They deserve the heaviest punishment
Nine years of wrongdoing - as laid out in the independent commission's damning judgment - disfigured English football
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
His supporters say he is a hero, a moral crusader who was brave enough to shine a light upon football's shadowy hinterlands www.nytimes.com/athletic/609...
nytimes.com
Rui Pinto, the whistleblower whose leaks prompted investigations into Man City
His supporters say he is a hero, a moral crusader who was brave enough to shine a light upon football's shadowy hinterlands
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
The game went ahead, Ireland won - but that doesn't even start to tell the history and controversy of Sunday's match www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...
nytimes.com
The story behind Israel vs Ireland: Bowed heads, black armbands and a one-man boycott
The game went ahead, Ireland won - but that doesn't even start to tell the history and controversy of Sunday's match
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Oliver Kay @oliverkay.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"Of course. We can do what we want.” That's the line, in the hacked emails published by Der Spiegel in 2018, that sums up the sense of entitlement that fuelled Manchester City's cheating under this ownership. Column for @theathleticfc.bsky.social #MCFC www.nytimes.com/athletic/763...
nytimes.com
The damage of the Manchester City verdict runs deep. An era of Premier League history is tainted (Gift Article)
This may look like a victory for the Premier League but it has come at a cost that cannot be fully calculated
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 26/09/2026
Ken Early: Why the discomfort over Israel fixtures? Because we know our position is a fudge
irishtimes.com
Ken Early: Why the discomfort over Israel fixtures? Because we know our position is a fudge
Ireland are anxious to get through these games without creating any unnecessary trouble. Israel are long past caring about that
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Chris Weatherspoon @cweatherspoon.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Man City’s next game being Liverpool away is quite the fixture.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
FT Georgia 0-1 Northern Ireland. Excellent from NI. Awful refereeing display but Shea Charles scores and brother Pierce saves penalty. Ceadach O’Neill wins significant third cap and looks sharp. Big win.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
On top of Brian Brobbey, looks like Dan Ballard has just done a hamstring for NI v Georgia. Bad news for Sunderland.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 25/09/2026
Parades Commission to allow Orange Order march down Garvaghy Road
irishtimes.com
Parades Commission to allow Orange Order march down Garvaghy Road
Local residents have pledged to ‘mobilise’ if parade approved
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Reposted by Michael Walker
David Ornstein @david-ornstein.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Manchester City found guilty on virtually all charges relating to breaches of Premier League financial regulations. #MCFC expected to appeal against verdict issued by independent commission. Sanctions undecided, process ongoing @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/704...
nytimes.com
Manchester City found guilty on almost all Premier League charges relating to financial breaches
City were charged by the Premier League in February 2023.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The French striker opens up on his journey from the child who idolised Zidane and Ronaldo to becoming one of the sport's greatest www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
nytimes.com
Kylian Mbappe interview: Making history, the Ballon d’Or, mid-air Liverpool talks and why he will not be silenced
The French striker opens up on his journey from the child who idolised Zidane and Ronaldo to becoming one of the sport's greatest
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Lee Clark resigns after Hartlepool’s latest National League defeat and, not far away at Gateshead, Lee Cattermole may follow. Gateshead 6-0 down at home to Southend - at halftime.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 19/09/2026
Roberto De Zerbi in dire need of a net gain on Tottenham’s big summer spending
irishtimes.com
Roberto De Zerbi in dire need of a net gain on Tottenham’s big summer spending
Spurs manager looks to discover attacking threat as goal drought threatens to derail campaign
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Chris Weatherspoon @cweatherspoon.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Brentford v Chelsea. How to run a club v how not to
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Nutmeg Magazine @nutmegmagazine.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
It's a decade since issue one of Nutmeg arrived. To celebrate, we’re publishing some of our favourite articles across that time. This is the tale of Neil Forsyth's friendship with Tannadice legend Ralph Milne from our first issue 📖➡️ tinyurl.com/yk7atabb
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Chris Weatherspoon @cweatherspoon.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
𝐒𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞: 𝐀 𝐟𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 A moment in time, preserved in history Special report for @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/760...
nytimes.com
Sunderland in Europe: A football club reborn in record time (Gift Article)
An Enzo Le Fee penalty gave Sunderland a winning start in the Europa League but just being there was what mattered
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
FT Sunderland 1-0 AZ Alkmaar. A first European match in 53 years ends 1-0 for Sunderland, Enzo Le Fee scoring a penalty into the same corner as Arsenal on Saturday. Memorable atmosphere, draining game. AZ good, technical, Meerdink decent. Home players looked shattered at end. But a win, a start.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Sam McBride @sjamcbride.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
When the Belfast Telegraph was bombed by the IRA in 1976, the 800 staff took refuge in St Anne's Cathedral. At midday on Saturday - the day our printer Joseph Paton died from his injuries - there will be a memorial service for him in St Anne's. All are welcome.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Middlesbrough and the meaning of football in troubled times www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
nytimes.com
Middlesbrough and the meaning of football in troubled times (Gift Article)
It has not been an easy fortnight for Teesside, an area which has long experience of being talked down. But the football club offers hope
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Going to be a tight, fascinating end to the League of Ireland season.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
LeaLyster @lealyster.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
"The problem in our country isn't with books being banned, but with people no longer reading. You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them." - Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 Holly Farrell Paperbacks acrylic and oils on board 2022
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Chris Weatherspoon @cweatherspoon.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Now very unlikely Visit Ghana will be adorning Sunderland shirts this season. Leaves #SAFC as only Premier League club w/o FOS sponsor. Club remain confident a separate partnership will be inked in coming weeks - without a £££ haircut @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
nytimes.com
Sunderland not expecting sponsorship deal with Visit Ghana to proceed (Gift Article)
The club cited the "lack of approval and clarity" from the Ghanaian government in delaying the proposed deal.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Middlesbrough and the meaning of football in troubled times www.nytimes.com/athletic/759...
nytimes.com
Middlesbrough and the meaning of football in troubled times (Gift Article)
It has not been an easy fortnight for Teesside, an area which has long experience of being talked down. But the football club offers hope
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Thomas Meunier is 35 today and faces Arsenal with his new club, Sunderland. Birthday interview with a right-back, who is much more than that. Goals, art, politics, Meunier is a serious presence. www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
‘I find a bit of myself in Sunderland’: Thomas Meunier on his new life in England, a striking past and Balogun
The Belgium full-back talks surrealism, playing under Tuchel and Emery and alongside Mbappe and Neymar, and what lured him to the north east
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
FT Sunderland 0-2 Arsenal. Start of Sunderland’s biggest week for half a century - and a hard one. Arsenal formidable, Odegaard excellent, Raya vital, work ethic from whole team huge. Le Fee pen may have changed things. Onto AZ Alkmaar and the Europa League for Wearside.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
FT Middlesbrough 4-3 Norwich City. The end of an open, chaotic, entertaining match. Boro 3-1 up at ht concede two. At 3-3 Ash Phillips wins it for Boro in injury time. Riverside bouncing.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Athletic | Football @theathleticfc.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
The Belgium full-back talks surrealism, playing under Tuchel and Emery and alongside Mbappe and Neymar, and what lured him to the north east www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
‘I find a bit of myself in Sunderland’: Thomas Meunier on his new life in England, a striking past and Balogun
The Belgium full-back talks surrealism, playing under Tuchel and Emery and alongside Mbappe and Neymar, and what lured him to the north east
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Athletic @theathletic.com · 11/09/2026
In their first interview since Billy's death, Keith and Camilla Vigar speak about their son, their hurt and their anger towards the FA www.nytimes.com/athletic/758...
nytimes.com
Billy Vigar lost his life playing football. His parents want justice
In their first interview since Billy's death, Keith and Camilla Vigar speak about their son, their hurt and their anger towards the FA
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Thomas Meunier is 35 today and faces Arsenal with his new club, Sunderland. Birthday interview with a right-back, who is much more than that. Goals, art, politics, Meunier is a serious presence. www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
‘I find a bit of myself in Sunderland’: Thomas Meunier on his new life in England, a striking past and Balogun
The Belgium full-back talks surrealism, playing under Tuchel and Emery and alongside Mbappe and Neymar, and what lured him to the north east
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Iain Hepburn @iainhepburn.me · 10/09/2026
Rattled through this in a day. Big fan of @danielgraywriter.bsky.social’s writing anyway, but this is a fantastic read - an excellent charting of both football’s evolution in the 80s and 90s and the broader ways fan culture overlaps and brings groups together.
A copy of Daniel Gray’s new book Fanzine: The story of football’s alternative press, featuring an 80s b/w photo of some young football bands outside the entrance to a ground.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
conifergirl.bsky.social @conifergirl.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Big Oil Record Profits Exxon Mobil reported a second quarter profit of $14.5 billion for April through June, more than double the same three months a year ago and its best quarter since 2022. Chevron reported $12.07 billion, up from $2.49 billion, nearly five
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Seb Stafford-Bloor @sebsb.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Harry Kane: My Game in My Words. What a privilege to be able to speak to a player of that calibre in such depth. Free to read @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/754...
nytimes.com
Harry Kane: My game in my words (Gift Article)
The Bayern Munich and England star breaks down the finishing, passing and all-round play that has made him a serious Ballon d'Or contender
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Florent Ghisolfi clarifies some of the deadline-day noise around the signing of Malick Fofana. www.nytimes.com/athletic/757...
nytimes.com
Sunderland have ‘no issue’ with Malick Fofana’s fitness after previous ankle injury
The winger joined from Lyon on transfer deadline day with Sunderland eventually convincing Fofana to move to them ahead of Crystal Palace.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Observer @theobserveruk.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Impunity for murder: Property tycoon Yorgen Fenech has been acquitted of involvement in the murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, throwing the island state into turmoil and leading to wider concerns of high-level corruption at the heart of Europe By Stephen Grey
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Greenpeace International 🌍 @greenpeace.org · 28/08/2026
Across the world, oceans are being pushed to the brink by pollution, destructive industrial fishing and overfishing, the looming threat of deep sea mining and fossil-fuelled climate change. Tell governments to act swiftly and turn the Global Ocean Treaty into action because the ocean can’t wait.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Well done, Hearts. Some much-needed relief and enjoyment for them and Scottish football.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Rokas Pukstas expected to become Middlesbrough's fourth United States player shortly. Club's tenth first-team summer signing. www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...
nytimes.com
Middlesbrough expected to confirm signing of American midfielder Rokas Pukstas
The 22-year-old midfielder would join Aidan Morris, Seb Berhalter and Max Arfsten as Americans at the English Championship club.
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Jonathan Foyle @jonathanfoyle.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The world's roof is melting. And we're building energy-guzzling data centres and drilling for oil.
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David Squires @davidsquires.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Here’s this week’s cartoon for @sport.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com/football/pic...
theguardian.com
David Squires on … boos, barcodes and buzzcuts as the Premier League returns
Our cartoonist looks back at the big storylines and fresh looks as the English top flight swung back into action
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George Caulkin @georgecaulkin.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Our League … Four games in four days to kick off the Premier League season & a new series of pieces for @theathleticfc.bsky.social. Being there: tasting love, spite & a sense of living at Arsenal, Hull, Newcastle & Fulham. It’s free to read! www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...
nytimes.com
Our League: Tasting love, spite and a sense of living on Premier League opening weekend (Gift Article)
The Premier League: There’s plenty to dislike about it and there’s nothing like it. Here we are, coming back for more
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Reposted by Michael Walker
The Irish Times @irishtimes.com · 24/08/2026
Keith Andrews lauds ‘magnificent’ Damien Duff for instant impact at Brentford
irishtimes.com
Keith Andrews lauds ‘magnificent’ Damien Duff for instant impact at Brentford
‘He’s my number two,’ said the Bees boss, clearing up any confusion over his fellow Irishman’s role
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
By Phil Buckingham @theathleticfc.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/athletic/753...
nytimes.com
Watching Hull with owner Acun Ilicali: ‘Our boys were dying to win. I didn’t see Man United in this mood’
Hull City's owner speaks openly about what he sees and believes as he watches his side stage one of the great opening round wins
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Great window display at the Back Page sports bookshop down from St. James’ Park, where fans are queuing for a match programme with Kevin Keegan on the cover.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Kevin Keegan changed two football clubs on the pitch, Liverpool and Newcastle United. He also altered Tyneside's perception of itself. On Sunday – Newcastle v Liverpool – he will be honoured at St. James' Park, a stadium constructed on his ambition. Get there early. www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...
nytimes.com
Liverpool, Newcastle and Kevin Keegan the catalyst
Keegan's impact at Newcastle United and Liverpool cannot be underestimated and helped shape those clubs into what they are today
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Reposted by Michael Walker
Jacob Whitehead @jacobwhitehead.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
Cycling had its warnings and none were heeded. Finlay Tarling's death was shameful, senseless, and avoidable. The sport has proven incapable of investigating itself. How many more riders must die before its stakeholders bear responsibility? Column ⬇️
nytimes.com
Cycling’s stakeholders must reflect on failings that led to Fin Tarling’s death. The sport has to learn (Gift Article)
By not being afforded the basics of protection in a racing situation, the teenager became the latest cyclist to pay with his life
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Understandably there’ll be loads of ‘lads, it’s Tottenham’ etc comment, but Brentford were excellent, an efficient, fluid unit put together with intelligence and patience. Impressive.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Hull City excellent, but Man United desperate, ponderous, blunt. Hard to believe a team can lack urgency on the season’s opening day.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Man United: one corner in 45 minutes against the favourites to be relegated. And 2-0 down. Not great.
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Michael Walker @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Kevin Keegan changed two football clubs on the pitch, Liverpool and Newcastle United. He also altered Tyneside's perception of itself. On Sunday – Newcastle v Liverpool – he will be honoured at St. James' Park, a stadium constructed on his ambition. Get there early. www.nytimes.com/athletic/752...
nytimes.com
Liverpool, Newcastle and Kevin Keegan the catalyst
Keegan's impact at Newcastle United and Liverpool cannot be underestimated and helped shape those clubs into what they are today
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