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Newcastle is no stranger to a re-brand. It started life under Roman rule as Pons Aelius in 122 AD, given the same name as the bridge (which took its moniker from the family name of Emperor Hadrian, whose eponymous wall ran through land occupied by the current city) that spanned the Tyne around the site of the modern-day Swing Bridge. There is little evidence of continued settlement following the end of Roman occupation, with the area eventually gaining the name of Monkchester

So, you did it again. You didn’t learn from that old cliché about who’s to blame the second time you get fooled. By the time that particular adage floats into your mind, it’s already too late. You’re there and not only are you there, but you also remember you paid extra for a ‘premium’ ticket this time round in the vain hope that it might yield an improved experience. Standing in what looks like a drab, lifeless conference room while you queue for beer, you realise money can

To some extent, attending live sport, whether you’re following a particular team or just an enthusiast attending whatever is available, can feel like chasing the highs of seeing extremely unlikely victories and triumphs over adversity. That pursuit is usually both fruitless and expensive. Sometimes, though, your persistence is rewarded with something truly spectacular. This happened to me on December 13 th at Glasgow’s Champions Cup group stage contest against Toulouse at Sc

In the 120 years since Scotland first squared off against New Zealand on a rugby field, Scottish hopes of a victory have rarely been so high. In the build-up to the match, pundits and columnists have spoken of the strength of the current side and the relatively lacklustre recent form of the All Blacks as signs that today, at long last, might just be the day that long-awaited victory is seized. And yet, amongst fans, that optimism is tempered with a resignation bordering on fa

Perhaps it’s the onset of autumn; the sun hanging low over the top of the temporary stands and shadows lengthening earlier than they did just a few short weeks ago at the height of summer, the first hint of brown on the leaves of the stately trees that surround the ground. Or, perhaps, it’s the fatigue of the England players marching onto the field one last time after a madcap summer of international fixtures; or the frustration of the Irish team playing the last of a much mo

Finals Day in the era of The Hundred has been a curious proposition. Thanks to that usurper’s seizure of the month of August, the...

Scarborough is one of the last few out grounds to hold a place in County Championship fans’ imaginations. Many will tell you of the...

Sometimes it’s good to engage with things you don’t agree with. For example, it can be healthy to get some of your news from sources with...

The thing about remembering your Halcyon days is that you need to have a few that aren’t filled with glory and excitement to compare them...

The County Championship is frequently mythologised, cast as a totem of an idealised English summer where days are long and sun-drenched....

It’s amazing how things change when the sun comes out. A mere 48 hours ago, I sat here under thick cloud and felt like I was an unwilling...

Look, I could do this the easy way. I could churn out another milquetoast ramble about a routine afternoon at the cricket, about the appeal of the game in its hinterlands or whether second tier competition has the quality or the following to exist much further into the 21 st  century. I could tell you that, founded in 1848, Clydesdale Cricket Club is the oldest surviving sporting institution in Scotland. But what would be the point of that, besides furnishing you with a piece

The World Test Championship is much maligned. Its many detractors argue that it is an irrelevance followed by very few, and understood by...

I expected it to be quiet. For the gulls and the occasional oystercatcher floating on the breeze overhead to outnumber the spectators. I...

Watching a major final as a neutral is an interesting experience. It provides an opportunity to soak in the full spectacle, the pre-game...

Reunions are to be a theme over two days spent at Trent Bridge. The night before the Test, I sit outside at The Castle as the sun sets...

You wake feeling hopeful. Your team is playing its biggest-ever home game. Rugby is returning to Scotland’s national football stadium for...

Dr Hamron Zafar dons his replica kit, drapes himself with a flag, gathers his impressive collection of banners and makes his way to see...

Quite a number of years ago, I was sat on a train stuck at Peterborough station. We were held up on our journey because of the hordes of...