Dominic Fifield

Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth. Frankenstein The Bournemouth head coach talks philosophy, 'organised spontaneity' and his adopted town's unlikely association with Mary Shelley's monster

Andoni Iraola. Bournemouth. Frankenstein

By @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social

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How Crystal Palace fans began their European party with songs, solidarity… and lots of beer The London club had waited its whole history for a first game in the main draw of a European competition. It was never going to be quiet

"19 games 19 games undefeated"

A fantastic evening for Palace in Lublin. Great atmosphere & did the job on the pitch with a solid performance

For many this European journey means so much & they're determined to live in the moment to enjoy it #CPFC

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England’s Charlie Dean: ‘It’s fantastic we’re criticised. It means people care about what we’re doing’ The England off-spinner talks captaincy, life under Charlotte Edwards and Nat Sciver-Brunt, and the team's World Cup prospects in India

“It’s fantastic we’re criticised. It means people care about what we’re doing. Five years ago, if someone drops a catch, they drop a catch. Now it’s, ‘They should be better than that’”

Charlie Dean talks England, off-spin and monopoly with @samdalling.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/665...

Bill McCracken: the greatest Irish and Newcastle United player of them all? Probably. Delighted to get a copy of Paul Joannou’s new biography of the forgotten brilliant thinker, a man The Guardian called “the Irish Mephistopheles”.

The sad decline of West Indian Test cricket: ‘We seem to have given up’ West Indies travel to India with their Test team at its lowest ebb and memories fading of their world dominance from the 1970s and '80s

“West Indies used to be the envy of the world but we expected our dominance to last forever and stopped doing what we were so good at. Now we seem to have given up.”

Andy Roberts, and others, spoke to @paulfnewman66.bsky.social on the state of West Indian cricket

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Rob Steen passes away aged 67 The Cricket Media Club was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Rob Steen last week at the age of just 67. Please take a few minutes to read this touching obituary by Matthew Engel in memory of a...

Really sad news. A sharp and sound cricket writer and a comprehensively nice bloke
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A history of Croke Park, the NFL’s latest venue across the Pond The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings will bring NFL to Dublin's iconic arena, a stadium that has been at the heart of Irish history

For NFL folk attending or watching Steelers-Vikings, some history ancient & modern of Croke Park in Dublin. www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

A history of Croke Park, the NFL’s latest venue across the Pond The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings will bring NFL to Dublin's iconic arena, a stadium that has been at the heart of Irish history

Ahead of the NFL’s visit to Dublin, here’s @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social with a history of Croke Park

www.nytimes.com/athletic/654...

Chelsea’s Emanuel Emegha deal plunges fellow BlueCo club Strasbourg deeper into civil war The Club World Cup winners, also owned by BlueCo, riled some supporters by publishing a photograph of the Dutchman posing in a Chelsea shirt

Strasbourg are fifth in Ligue 1, in Europe for the first time in 20 years and enjoying the fruits of a €160m stadium renovation. And some of their fans are livid. Piece for @theathleticfc.bsky.social on the fall-out from Emanuel Emegha’s decision to sign for Chelsea www.nytimes.com/athletic/664...

The night Newcastle and Faustino Asprilla beat Barcelona: ‘I swear I’ve never heard noise like that’ The Barcelona Game in the autumn of 1997 was a landmark in Newcastle’s history, and an occasion decorated by the club's Colombian maverick

Remembering Newcastle United 3-2 Barcelona on this day in 1997. Featuring among others Faustino Asprilla, Shay Given, Louis van Gaal, Durham City, Oasis and the sheer noise of it all. www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...

The striker who swapped Newcastle for Liverpool and ended up on a Beatles album cover

The #NUFC striker who moved to Liverpool for a huge fee, won the title and the admiration of The Beatles: in some ways Albert Stubbins was an early version of the Alexander Isak situation. In others, not.
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Dukes, cows, and the ‘grimy’ craftsmanship behind the cricket ball Dukes, now based in a factory in east London, have been manufacturing cricket balls used in Test cricket in England since the 1760s

The Dukes cricket ball dates back to 1760.

Dilip Jajodia bought the business in the 1980s and, now in his early 80s, is still running the company alongside his son.

So how did they react to the furore around their ball during the England vs India series?

And how many balls does one cow produce?

Premier League Predictions: Liverpool vs Bournemouth, Man Utd vs Arsenal and the rest of Matchday 1 Welcome to the new game where subscribers pit their wits against one of our writers, a predictive model and a very informed small child

New Premier League season, new predictions feature on The Athletic FC
Each week I’ll take on an Athletic subscriber, a data algorithm and… a six-year-old in predicting scores, exposing my stupidity as well as — importantly — my agenda against YOUR club #PremierLeague
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Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack: The bible of the sport and a collectible that charts societal change The world's longest-running sports book is a collector's favourite, its cricketing stats and stories leading readers down rabbit holes

Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack — the world’s longest-running sports book — has been published every year from 1864; through war, disease and several enforced cancellations of cricket itself.

Here's my look at its place in the sporting and collectibles' worlds:

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Joe Root.

Joe Root is now the second highest runscorer in Tests thanks to another flawless century.

He is the Peter Pan of cricket who just gets better and better.

He is now closing on Sachin Tendulkar - surpass him and the record will surely be his forever.

🔗 theathletic.com/6515751/?sou...

Rishabh Pant of India celebrates reaching his century with a somersault during Day Two of the 1st Rothesay Test Match between England and India at Headingley on June 21, 2025 in Leeds, England.

Rishabh Pant passed 50 for the fifth time on the tour today - effectively batting on one leg.

In 2022 his life and career was very different after a car accident left him with serious injuries.

This is the story of his comeback.

@anantaajith.bsky.social | bit.ly/44Pt6di

Is Zak Crawley untouchable opening the batting for England, or a man legitimately under pressure?

The much-maligned England opener has struggled against India, with the clamour from the outside for him to be replaced growing ever louder.

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Lord’s has never provided a level playing field for Test cricket, and England and India will have to contend with an unusual characteristic at the world’s most famous cricket ground.

A slope. And not just any old slope.

✍️ Paul Newman

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England vs India discussed: Gill’s glorious batting, series predictions – and can Archer bounce back? The England v India series is two matches in and has packed plenty of drama in already – The Athletic debate the action and what is to come

🇮🇳 "Just when I thought India were in disarray, they completely outplay England at Edgbaston. Without Bumrah."

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 "If Archer's ready, which England clearly believe he is, he has to play."

England vs India is beautifully poised at 1-1.

Our writers offer their thoughts ahead of a pivotal third Test.

India bowler Akash Deep in bowling action during day five of the Second Test Match between England and India at Edgbaston on July 06, 2025 in Birmingham, England.

India are level in the five-match series thanks to captain Shubman Gill and fast bowler Akash Deep.

Deep had the final word when Brydon Carse attempted a slog and only skied the ball to — who else — Gill.

Jasprit who?

📝 Paul Newman

🔗 theathletic.com/6476622/?sou...

Gill’s class with the bat was established, but this was the day he came of age as India’s captain The skipper scored a career best 269 at Edgbaston as the visitors ran up an imposing total before making early in-roads into England's reply

Shubman Gill's 269 was one of the great innings by an Indian batter in England.

He oozed class throughout. His cover drives were glorious.

But arguably as encouraging was the way he led his team in the field in the last session of day two.

This was the day Gill came of age as India captain.

Crunch time for Bazball: Is it now or never for England’s cricketing revolution? England's positive-first approach to Test cricket has been transformative, but they await a defining series win over India or Australia

Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes were thrown together in 2022 and have since transformed an England team that had become passive and dull.

But, three years on, 'Bazball' has still not inspired a series win against either India or Australia.

Is it now or never for England’s cricketing revolution?

India rule the cricketing world, but is their dominance good for the sport? India generate an estimated 80 per cent of the game’s global revenue, leaving almost every other cricketing nation reliant upon them

We are now covering cricket @theathletic.bsky.social

To kick us off, here's Paul Newman on the cricketing powerhouse that is India ahead of the start of their Test series in England later this week

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The reinvention of Edin Terzic: ‘Life is painful sometimes – but pain doesn’t have to be negative’ The ex-Borussia Dortmund head coach lifts the lid on the period of both reflection and preparation that followed his Westfalenstadion exit

What did Edin Terzic do after leaving Borussia Dortmund?

I caught up with him, for @theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/641...

Going to watch that BBC montage one more time... for now

What it’s like to watch your son win the FA Cup – by Chris Richards’ parents The Crystal Palace and USMNT defender's parents, Carrie and Ken, were at Wembley to witness the historic victory last weekend

“It was very moving to see how much it meant to the people of south London — for him to be a part of something historic”

What's it like watching your son win the FA Cup?

@adamcrafton.bsky.social talks to Carrie and Ken Richards, parents of #CPFC's Chris Richards

www.nytimes.com/athletic/637...

How Crystal Palace won the FA Cup: A tearjerking tifo, lucky cufflinks and Glasner’s masterplan The most glorious day in Crystal Palace's history was a long time coming – and a result of meticulous planning

Palace's FA Cup win owes itself to Oliver Glasner, to consistency and familiarity, to the fans

How they did it, conceding once in the competition & the celebrations #CPFC

• Same hotel as SF
• Lucky cufflinks
• Superstition
• Matthews' premonition
• Ward's speech

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😂

The Totally Football Show with James Richardson: Palace win the FA Cup, while Forest set up final day decider with Chelsea Matt Davies-Adams is joined by Daniel Storey, Sasha Goryunov and Adrian Clarke after an emotional weekend of football.Crystal Palace stun Man City to win the FA Cup, their first ever major trophy. ...

🚨MONDAY POD!🚨

It’s @mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @danielstorey85.bsky.social, @slasherrrr.bsky.social & @adrianjclarke.bsky.social:

🦅Palace win the FA Cup with @domfifield.bsky.social
🌳Forest set up final day decider with @nottmtails.bsky.social
👋Goodbye Goodison and Jamie Vardy

pod.fo/e/2d7146

Have Crystal Palace brought modern fandom to the Premier League? Palace's fanbase are the antidote to the sanitisation of English football fandom - they bring something real and unfiltered

Wembley will shake... and it will be beautiful

✍️ Tim Spiers

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