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 articlesTrabzonspor Reject Tekke Resignation Ahead of Hearts Conference League Tie
Trabzonspor have turned down head coach Fatih Tekke's resignation after a heavy Europa League exit, keeping him in charge for their Conference League campaign that includes Hearts.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026InternationalsJim Goodwin in hospital ahead of Dundee United trip to Kilmarnock
Dundee United manager Jim Goodwin has been admitted to hospital after falling ill on Thursday, casting doubt over his presence at Rugby Park on Saturday.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026Women's FootballCasey Howe Finding Her Feet at Celtic After Years of Sacrifice
Northern Ireland winger Casey Howe has spoken about her 'surreal' journey from County Fermanagh to Celtic, where she scored on just her second appearance.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026Europa LeagueLarne Exit Conference League in Heartbreak as Red Imps Complete Comeback
Gary Haveron's Larne side were eliminated from the UEFA Conference League after Lincoln Red Imps scored three times in the final stages to overturn a 2-0 aggregate lead.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026TransfersCeltic and Rangers Handed Behind-Closed-Doors Bans After Old Firm Disorder
Both Celtic and Rangers must play their next home Scottish Cup matches without supporters after last season's quarter-final was marred by serious fan disorder at Ibrox.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026TransfersCeltic and Rangers ordered to play Scottish Cup ties behind closed doors
Both Old Firm clubs must host their next Scottish Cup home fixtures without fans and pay £100,000 to opponents after last season's quarter-final disorder at Ibrox.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026ChampionshipEFL Weekend Preview: Pressure Mounts at Stoke, West Ham and Norwich
Three weeks into the new EFL season and the heat is already building at Stoke, Norwich and West Ham as Saturday's fixtures offer little room for error.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026ChampionshipRaith Rovers Stay Grounded Despite Flying Championship Start
Dougie Imrie's Raith Rovers sit second in the Scottish Championship after seven points from three games, but the manager urges caution ahead of Friday's Fife derby.
By Marcus Hopkins · 28 Aug 2026League OneRussell Martin's Reputation on the Line as Leicester Slide Continues
Russell Martin faces a genuine crisis at Leicester City after a draw and a defeat to open their League One campaign, with the club in turmoil on and off the pitch.
By Marcus Hopkins · 27 Aug 2026ChampionshipSheffield United's ownership crisis puts IFR to the test
Sheffield United face potential EFL sanctions and scrutiny from the new Independent Football Regulator after their parent company was wound up with a £35m unpaid debt.
By Marcus Hopkins · 27 Aug 2026Premier LeagueMoyes and Everton's Owners Not Singing From Same Hymn Sheet
David Moyes admitted surprise at the Friedkin Group labelling last season a 'failure', raising real questions about whether club and manager share the same ambition.
By Marcus Hopkins · 27 Aug 2026Premier LeagueMoyes and Everton's Owners: Are They Pulling in the Same Direction?
David Moyes says he was never told Europe was a target last season, yet the Friedkin Group have called falling short a 'failure' — so who's right, and what happens next?
By Marcus Hopkins · 27 Aug 2026Champions LeagueViking reach Champions League for first time after stunning Dinamo Zagreb
Norwegian side Viking have made history by qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time, beating Dinamo Zagreb 3-1 in the play-off second leg to advance 5-3 on aggregate.
By Marcus Hopkins · 27 Aug 2026League OneEFL Podcast: Leicester Struggles, Millwall Lead & a Defender in Goal
The 72+ EFL Podcast examines Leicester's League One woes, Millwall's flying start in the Championship, and Tranmere's Darrell Clarke on fielding an outfield player between the sticks.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Aug 2026ChampionshipLeicester Struggling in League One as EFL Season Takes Shape
The 72+ EFL Podcast's latest episode tackles Leicester's troubled League One start, early Championship pace-setters, and a defender pressed into goal for Tranmere.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Aug 2026TransfersPostecoglou hooks Ronaldo at half-time to spark Al-Nassr comeback
Ange Postecoglou substituted Cristiano Ronaldo at the break with Al-Nassr 2-0 down and a man short — and his side still found a way to win.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Aug 2026Champions LeagueCeltic's Champions League Exit: What It Means for Scottish Football
Celtic have failed to reach the Champions League for the second successive year after a damaging loss to LASK, raising serious questions about recruitment, finances, and Scotland's UEFA coefficient.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Aug 2026Champions LeagueCeltic Collapse Against LASK to Miss Champions League Again
Celtic squandered a four-goal aggregate lead to lose 5-1 in Linz, crashing out of Champions League qualifying and into the Europa League.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Aug 2026Champions LeagueHow Celtic Threw Away a Four-Goal Aggregate Lead to LASK
Celtic squandered a seemingly impregnable 4-0 aggregate advantage to crash out of Champions League qualification 5-4 on aggregate after extra time in Austria.
By Marcus Hopkins · 26 Aug 2026OpinionHow EFL Cup Prize Money Actually Works in 2026-27
The Carabao Cup's prize money structure is unlike any other major competition — here's how clubs really make money from the League Cup.
By Marcus Hopkins · 25 Aug 2026Women's FootballWSL Academy Sides to Enter Tier Three from 2027-28 Season
The FA has approved a plan for four WSL academy teams to compete in the Women's National League from 2027-28, in a move designed to boost development minutes for young English players.
By Marcus Hopkins · 25 Aug 2026Women's FootballFA Approves WSL Academy Sides in Women's National League From 2027-28
The FA has given the green light for four WSL professional game academy sides to compete in tier three of the women's pyramid from 2027-28, despite fierce opposition from WNL clubs.
By Marcus Hopkins · 25 Aug 2026Women's FootballBrighton Women 2026-27 WSL Preview: Cup Finalists Eye Top Six
After a historic first FA Cup final appearance, Brighton Women head into the 2026-27 WSL season with new faces, fresh belief, and a nagging striker problem still to solve.
By Marcus Hopkins · 25 Aug 2026TransfersBarcelona Condemn 'Disproportionate' Police Force at Elche
Barcelona have officially condemned what they describe as disproportionate police force used against their fans before Sunday's 5-0 La Liga win at Elche.
By Marcus Hopkins · 24 Aug 2026Premier LeagueBarcelona Condemn 'Disproportionate' Police Force on Fans at Elche
Barcelona have issued a formal statement condemning what they describe as disproportionate use of force by police against their supporters before Sunday's 5-0 win at Elche.
By Marcus Hopkins · 24 Aug 2026ChampionshipEFL and SPFL Eye Legal Action Over Illegal Russian Broadcasts
The EFL and Scottish Professional Football League are investigating Football TV after the Russian streaming service aired matches illegally since the new season began.
By Marcus Hopkins · 24 Aug 2026OpinionFireworks Injure SC Cambuur Fans in Eredivisie Disorder
Five SC Cambuur supporters were left with burns, hearing damage and eye injuries after Feyenoord fans threw fireworks during Sunday's Eredivisie fixture in Leeuwarden.
By Marcus Hopkins · 24 Aug 2026OpinionStenhousemuir, Hamilton & Clyde Flying High in SPFL
Stenhousemuir, Hamilton Academical and Clyde all picked up positive results across the weekend's SPFL action in the lower divisions of Scottish football.
By Marcus Hopkins · 24 Aug 2026OpinionThe US Open Cup: America's FA Cup Moment Has Finally Arrived
With World Cup fever still coursing through North America, MLS commissioner Larry Berg is chasing jeopardy — and the US Open Cup has been providing it since 1913.
By Marcus Hopkins · 22 Aug 2026Premier LeagueHull City back in the Premier League and ready to prove the doubters wrong
Sergej Jakirovic's Hull City return to the Premier League against Manchester United at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, defying the odds after a remarkable Championship playoff triumph.
By Marcus Hopkins · 21 Aug 2026
