Marcus Hopkins
Marcus covers the leagues most football coverage forgets about — the Championship promotion race, League One on a Tuesday night, League Two on the road, the FA Cup giant-killings, the SPFL when it crosses with England. He'll name the away end before the centre-forward, and his sentences run a touch longer than a Big Six story would because the lower-league story usually needs the breathing room.
By Marcus
30 articlesOff the Ball: Scottish Football's Best Worst Radio Show Returns
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball remains the most gleefully irreverent football programme on the airwaves, blending sharp wit with genuine Scottish football knowledge.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026OpinionOff the Ball: Scottish Football's Beloved Petty Radio Institution
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball has built a cult following by doing Scottish football its own irreverent way — and a new episode is available now on BBC Sounds.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026
Women's FootballWhitehouse saves four penalties as Charlton earn WSL promotion
Sophie Whitehouse's extraordinary shootout heroics sent Charlton back into the Women's Super League after a 19-year absence, condemning Leicester to relegation.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026
Women's FootballCharlton earn historic WSL promotion after Whitehouse shootout heroics
Charlton Athletic have won promotion to the Women's Super League for the first time, beating Leicester City on penalties as Sophie Whitehouse delivered a goalkeeping masterclass.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026TransfersCeltic Win Scottish Cup to Complete the Double Under Martin O'Neill
Celtic eased past Championship side Dunfermline at Hampden Park to seal a domestic double, with Kelechi Iheanacho starring in a comfortable final.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026
ChampionshipMcBurnie's Late Strike Sends Hull City Back to the Premier League
Oli McBurnie's stoppage-time rebound gave Hull City a 1-0 victory over Middlesbrough in the Championship play-off final at Wembley, ending nine years away from the top flight.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026OpinionOff the Ball: Scotland's Gloriously Petty Radio Institution
BBC Radio Scotland's Off the Ball has built a loyal following by being proudly 'petty and ill-informed' — and Scottish football is all the richer for it.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026ChampionshipChampionship Play-Off Final 2026: Middlesbrough v Hull at Wembley
Middlesbrough face Hull City at Wembley in one of the most extraordinary Championship play-off finals in memory, after Southampton's Spygate scandal saw them expelled from the competition.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026
Premier LeagueSPFL opens disciplinary probes into five fixtures including two Celtic games
The SPFL has launched disciplinary investigations into five matches, including Celtic's title-clinching wins over Motherwell and Hearts, amid pitch invasions and pyrotechnic concerns.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026Premier LeagueSPFL Opens Investigations Into Five Fixtures Including Two Celtic Games
The SPFL is investigating five matches for crowd disorder, while the SFA's KMI panel rules a late penalty awarded to Celtic against Motherwell was incorrect.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026Premier LeagueSPFL Probe Celtic Fixtures as KMI Panel Disputes Motherwell Penalty
The SPFL has opened investigations into five matches including two Celtic games, while the SFA's KMI panel rules the penalty awarded against Motherwell was incorrectly given.
By Marcus Hopkins · 23 May 2026
Women's FootballWSL Academy Sides Approved for Third Tier Despite Protests
The FA Women's National League board has backed a plan to allow four WSL academy sides into the third tier from 2027, dividing opinion across the women's game.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026OpinionScottish Cup Final 2025: Celtic v Dunfermline Preview
Celtic chase an unlikely double under Martin O'Neill while Championship Dunfermline aim to end a 58-year wait for Scottish Cup glory at Hampden.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
InternationalsSFA Back Referee Robertson Over Celtic Park Title-Day Drama
The Scottish FA has released audio from the final-day Premiership decider and said Don Robertson was right to end Celtic v Hearts when fans invaded the pitch.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
ChampionshipHull City's 2016 Play-Off Final: A Decade On From Wembley Glory
It is ten years since Hull City beat Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 at Wembley to reach the Premier League under Steve Bruce — a day worth revisiting properly.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026ChampionshipChampionship Play-Off Final Winners: 40 Years of Wembley Drama
As the Football League play-offs mark their 40th season, we look back at the sides who have climbed the Wembley steps to reach the Premier League.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
OpinionLennon: 'Underdogs bite' – Dunfermline warn Celtic before Scottish Cup final
Neil Lennon insists Dunfermline Athletic are no day-trippers as his Championship side prepare to face Celtic in Saturday's Scottish Cup final at Hampden.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
OpinionLennon's Dunfermline Aim Scottish Cup Shock Against Celtic
Neil Lennon insists Dunfermline are no day-trippers at Hampden, warning Celtic that underdogs bite as his Championship side target a famous Scottish Cup upset.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
InternationalsPartick Thistle and St Mirren Draw First Leg of Play-Off Final
The Scottish Premiership play-off final first leg ends all square as Partick Thistle and St Mirren serve up a tense Firhill encounter with Premiership survival at stake.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 May 2026
ChampionshipMillwall and Wrexham weigh legal options in Southampton spying fallout
Both clubs are exploring potential compensation claims after Southampton's expulsion from the Championship playoff final sparked one of English football's most chaotic weeks in recent memory.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026Europa LeagueAston Villa Win Europa League to End 30-Year Trophy Drought
Aston Villa defeated Freiburg in the Europa League final on Wednesday, claiming their first major trophy in 30 years in a historic night for the club.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026Europa LeagueWhy Prince William Supports Aston Villa — And Was in Istanbul
Prince William was among the 20,000 Villa supporters at Besiktas Park as Aston Villa ended a 30-year trophy drought with Europa League glory.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026
InternationalsHearts Slam 'Irresponsible' Remarks Over Celtic Park Pitch Invasion
Hearts have issued a strongly worded statement condemning comments defending the Celtic Park pitch invasion, as Police Scotland continue their investigation into the incident.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026
InternationalsHearts Condemn 'Irresponsible' Remarks Over Celtic Park Pitch Invasion
Hearts have called out comments by Celtic manager Martin O'Neill as 'highly irresponsible' following the Celtic Park pitch invasion that marred the Scottish Premiership title celebration.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026TransfersScottish Premiership Play-Off Final: Thistle v St Mirren Guide
Partick Thistle host St Mirren in the first leg of the Scottish Premiership play-off final on Thursday, with top-flight survival and promotion both on the line.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026Europa LeagueMartinez Broke His Finger in Warm-Up Then Helped Villa Win Europa League
Emiliano Martinez played the entire Europa League final against Freiburg with a broken finger sustained moments before kick-off in Istanbul, as Villa won 3-0.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 May 2026
InternationalsHearts blast 'irresponsible' remarks as Celtic Park row deepens
Hearts have formally condemned comments defending the Celtic Park pitch invasion, calling them dangerous, as Police Scotland continue their investigation into the incident.
By Marcus Hopkins · 20 May 2026InternationalsHearts Condemn 'Irresponsible' Remarks Over Celtic Park Pitch Invasion
Hearts have issued a strongly worded statement calling out 'highly irresponsible' comments that sought to downplay the Celtic Park pitch invasion after the Scottish Premiership title decider.
By Marcus Hopkins · 20 May 2026
ChampionshipWindass Wants Wrexham in Playoffs After Southampton Expulsion
Josh Windass has called for the Championship playoffs to be restarted with Wrexham replacing expelled Southampton, calling the scandal 'one of the maddest stories I've seen'.
By Marcus Hopkins · 20 May 2026
ChampionshipWrexham monitor spygate fallout as Windass demands play-off restart
Josh Windass has called for the Championship play-offs to be restarted after Southampton's expulsion, while Wrexham consider their legal options.
By Marcus Hopkins · 20 May 2026
