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 articlesHibs Draw Malisheva in Conference League Qualifying
Hibernian will travel to Kosovo for the first leg on 23 July before hosting Malisheva at Easter Road on 30 July in Conference League second-round qualifying.
By Marcus Hopkins · 15 Jul 2026InternationalsAnyone But England? How Scots Are Split Over the World Cup Semi-Final
With England two games from glory at the 2026 World Cup, Scottish fans are wrestling with a familiar dilemma: back the neighbours or reach for the Argentina shirt?
By Marcus Hopkins · 15 Jul 2026InternationalsWill Scots Back England Against Argentina or Stay True to 'Anyone But'?
With England two games from World Cup glory, Scottish fans are wrestling with a familiar dilemma: cheer the Auld Enemy or reach for an Argentina shirt?
By Marcus Hopkins · 15 Jul 2026Premier LeagueEngels, Maeda & McGregor: What Losing Celtic's Key Men Would Mean
Martin O'Neill appears resigned to exits at Celtic Park this summer, but just how damaging would losing Engels, Maeda and McGregor actually be?
By Marcus Hopkins · 13 Jul 2026TransfersEngels, Maeda and McGregor: What Celtic stand to lose this summer
Martin O'Neill has hinted he may lose three key Celtic players this summer — but just how much would Engels, Maeda and McGregor cost the Scottish champions?
By Marcus Hopkins · 13 Jul 2026World CupBellingham and Haaland: Why Football's Best Bromance Matters
As England face Norway at the 2026 World Cup, the long-standing friendship between Jude Bellingham and Erling Haaland has captured the internet — and for good reason.
By Marcus Hopkins · 11 Jul 2026OpinionRoss County, East Kilbride & Scottish League Two Chaos Previewed
With the Scottish lower-league season on the horizon, Ross County's promotion push, East Kilbride's debut SPFL campaign and a packed League Two are all under the spotlight.
By Marcus Hopkins · 10 Jul 2026TransfersWorthing to make National League debut at Brunton Park on 8 August
Newly-promoted Worthing begin their first ever National League campaign with a 720-mile round trip to Carlisle United on the opening day of the 2026-27 season.
By Marcus Hopkins · 10 Jul 2026TransfersRangers Target Fosso and Dragojevic as Raskin Exit Looms
Rangers are reportedly leading the chase for Sturm Graz midfielder Ryan Fosso while also stepping up interest in Partizan Belgrade captain Vanja Dragojevic.
By Marcus Hopkins · 10 Jul 2026World CupFrance March Into World Cup Semi-Finals: Can Anyone Stop Them?
France are through to the World Cup semi-finals after another dominant display, but questions remain over Kylian Mbappé's penalty miss against Morocco.
By Marcus Hopkins · 10 Jul 2026InternationalsScotland to Strengthen Football Banning Orders Over Pyro and Pitch Invasions
The Scottish government is set to hand courts tougher powers to issue football banning orders, targeting pyrotechnics, pitch invasions and missile throwing.
By Marcus Hopkins · 9 Jul 2026World CupOlise Yellow Card Stands as Morocco Lose Saibari for France Quarter-Final
France's appeal to overturn Michael Olise's yellow card has been rejected by FIFA, while Morocco face their quarter-final without the injured Ismael Saibari.
By Marcus Hopkins · 9 Jul 2026Women's FootballMaddy Cusack Inquest: Coach Tells Court He Was 'Really Happy' to Have Her
Jonathan Morgan told Chesterfield Coroner's Court he had made Maddy Cusack his vice-captain and offered her a full-time contract at Sheffield United.
By Marcus Hopkins · 7 Jul 2026ChampionshipScottish Championship 2026-27: Who Can Claim the One Promotion Spot?
Livingston, Ayr United and Partick Thistle are among the clubs being tipped to mount a serious push in what looks like a wide-open Scottish Championship campaign.
By Marcus Hopkins · 6 Jul 2026Premier LeagueScottish League Cup: Key Group Stage Ties to Watch This Weekend
Four Scottish Premiership sides kick off their Premier Sports Cup campaigns on Saturday, with holders St Mirren among those in action across a packed opening weekend.
By Marcus Hopkins · 6 Jul 2026Premier LeagueScottish League Cup: What to Watch as Group Stage Gets Under Way
Four Scottish Premiership sides kick off their League Cup campaigns on Saturday, with holders St Mirren, Dundee, Dundee United and Falkirk all in action.
By Marcus Hopkins · 6 Jul 2026OpinionScottish League Cup: Four Premiership Sides Begin Their Campaigns
St Mirren, Dundee, Dundee United and Falkirk all open their Scottish League Cup group-stage campaigns this Saturday as competitive football returns to Scotland.
By Marcus Hopkins · 6 Jul 2026World CupArgentina scrape past Cape Verde 3-2 in extra-time at World Cup 2026
Argentina were pushed all the way before Cristian Romero's deflected header in extra time sealed a 3-2 victory over Cape Verde to reach the last 16.
By Marcus Hopkins · 4 Jul 2026World CupArgentina scrape past Cape Verde 3-2 in extra-time thriller
The world champions needed extra time and a deflected Cristian Romero header to see off a spirited Cape Verde side and reach the World Cup last 16.
By Marcus Hopkins · 4 Jul 2026TransfersBournemouth in Talks to Sign Elche Striker Alvaro Rodriguez
Bournemouth are in talks to bring Elche forward Alvaro Rodriguez to the Vitality Stadium for an initial fee of around £18m, rising to £25m with add-ons.
By Marcus Hopkins · 2 Jul 2026World CupBalogun Scores Then Sees Red in USA's World Cup Clash
Folarin Balogun had the full range of emotions at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, netting for USA before being dismissed against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
By Marcus Hopkins · 2 Jul 2026Women's FootballAston Villa Sign Denmark Striker Amalie Vangsgaard from Juventus
Aston Villa have bolstered their WSL attacking options by signing Denmark international Amalie Vangsgaard from Italian side Juventus for an undisclosed fee.
By Marcus Hopkins · 1 Jul 2026World CupMorocco Through to Last 16 After Shootout Heartbreak for Netherlands
Morocco edged a chaotic penalty shootout at Monterrey Stadium to eliminate the Netherlands and set up a World Cup last-16 tie against Canada.
By Marcus Hopkins · 30 Jun 2026InternationalsClarke leaves Scotland with a legacy worth remembering
Steve Clarke's seven-year tenure ends abruptly in Charlotte, leaving a mixed but ultimately meaningful legacy for Scottish football and the Tartan Army.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Jun 2026InternationalsSFA Must Think Beyond Scotland's Borders to Replace Steve Clarke
Steve Clarke's sudden resignation after Scotland's wretched World Cup exit leaves the SFA facing a familiar dilemma — and the same parochial instincts that got them here.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Jun 2026World CupMartinez: 'Childish' to Compare Ronaldo Rest Needs With Messi
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez has defended playing Cristiano Ronaldo for all 270 group-stage minutes at the 2026 World Cup, dismissing comparisons with rested rivals.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Jun 2026TransfersCeltic's slow summer raises questions ahead of O'Neill's first full season
Martin O'Neill has called last season a wake-up call, yet Celtic remain one of only two Scottish Premiership clubs yet to make a single summer signing.
By Marcus Hopkins · 27 Jun 2026InternationalsFAW Chief Expects Craig Bellamy to Stay as Wales Head Coach
Football Association of Wales chief executive Noel Mooney says Craig Bellamy is 'absolutely committed' to Wales after the collapse of his proposed move to Burnley.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Jun 2026TransfersElliot Anderson: From League Two Loan to £116m Man City Deal
Elliot Anderson's move to Manchester City for £116m makes him the most expensive British player ever, capping a journey that began at Bristol Rovers.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Jun 2026World CupIvory Coast Boss Fae: Schweinsteiger Comments 'Could Be Called Racist'
Emerse Fae has hit back at Bastian Schweinsteiger's remarks about Ivory Coast's 'wild' style after his side made history by reaching the World Cup knockouts.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Jun 2026
