From a prodigy at Nottingham Forest, Patrick Bamford became part of Chelsea’s infamous loan army in his late teens.

He played across the country on temporary deals before finding a permanent home with Middlesbrough and then Leeds. Bamford was integral in Leeds’ return to Premier League betting odds, and even earned a first England cap for his efforts.

He has fallen from the betting picture since a stellar debut campaign in the topflight, however, with injuries derailing his career.

It’s been rare the Grantham native has been in the headlines in recent years, as he’s vanished from mainstream football discussion.

Net Worth

Patrick Bamford had a privileged upbringing compared to most professional footballers.

His net worth is in the millions (likely somewhere between £2 million and £10 million according to various estimates), but he has taken a different path to the top, starting at a fee-paying school in Nottingham.

Bamford, a versatile and talented musician, can speak French, Spanish and German to a good standard and turned down a place at Harvard University to pursue a career in football.

His well-spoken nature and intelligence comes across in interviews, but it is his goal scoring ability which has seen the stacks of cash accumulate.

Contract

Initially penning a four-year deal with Leeds in 2018, Patrick Bamford agreed to a five-year contract extension in 2021. Spotrac reports Bamford’s weekly salary was just £35,000, which placed joint-63rd among Premier League forwards at the time.

His new contract took him to £70,000 per week, according to Capology.

Leeds were hoping he wasn't a one-season wonder. This was a big investment, considering where they ranked among Premier League payrolls.

Following the announcement of the extension, Bamford spoke about what the future holds for himself and the club.

"It was something that was spoken about at the end of last season, I wanted to try and get it sorted as soon as possible before this season started.

"It dragged on a bit because of the Euros, everyone was busy. It took a bit of time but I'm really happy to finally have tied down my long-term future.

"As a person, I'm always wanting to improve and am always chasing something else. It's almost like we're growing at the same rate.

"The club wants to get back to where it was, hopefully reaching Europe at some point, but that's my ambition as well. So while they are matching, it is obviously perfectly suited."

He also cited a desire to earn an England call-up, which followed later that year.

Unfortunate to miss out on the squad for the Euros, Bamford was included in the squad for the World Cup qualifiers in September 2021. He made his Three Lions debut in a 4-0 win over Andorra. 

Since then, his career has been heading in the wrong direction. Leeds have been stuck with this long-term contract, with no chance of recouping a big transfer fee.

Wife

Patrick Bamford is married to Michaela Ireland. The couple tied the knot in 2024 after a long engagement and had their first child together in 2022.

Ireland is a model and pastry chef, and it has been reported that the couple first met while Bamford was playing for Middlesbrough in 2018. 

Politics

Patrick Bamford has often been outspoken on social issues, including following the killing of George Floyd.

Bamford, like many athletes, was met with the ‘stick to sport’ rhetoric, and took the opportunity to make a point by screenshotting some of the direct messages he was receiving.

Along with the screenshots, Bamford said, "Mindless idiots like this are the people who need educating the most. Happy to ignore it as long as it doesn’t affect him. I wonder how he would act if the shoe were on the other foot."

In the discussion with a furious fan, Bamford explained his stance.

"I'm not far left or anything close to interested in politics. I just think that if people like you were to open your mind and consider the struggles others go through then it would help solve the problem.

"Imagine you were constantly picked on because of a trait/characteristic you didn't choose. I'm sure then you'd have a problem with it."

Bamford has also made a point of using a ‘bolt’ celebration, which he provided some background on in 2021.

This is the bolt. It’s a symbol for (the) planet, a force of nature and the symbol of @hyloathletics mission using sport to inspire positive change for our planet.

"Sport, and particularly football, in this country has enormous power for good.

"Celebrating with the bolt is my way of standing up for our earth. Climate change is a threat to sport and if we don’t act, it’s going to get worse.

"I’m passionate about leaving our Planet in a better place we found it."

The Leeds striker was praised by former manager Marcelo Bielsa for taking a public stand against racism. 

Over a year after his public spat in his Twitter direct messages, Bamford was again defending the right of people in sport to voice their opinions in an interview with JOE.

"It annoys me. I saw it on Twitter yesterday, someone had a go at Gary Lineker for talking about politics, saying he should talk about football only because ‘that’s what you’re good at’ and ‘you shouldn’t have an opinion on this’.

"That’s nonsense because, if everyone just spoke about the industry they were in, one, life would be boring, and two, we’d just never get anywhere, so I totally disagree with that."

Career Statistics

• Nottingham Forest 2011-12 – two appearances, no goals
• Chelsea 2012-17 – no appearances
• MK Dons 2012-14 (loan) – 44 appearances, 21 goals
• Derby County 2014 (loan) – 23 appearances, eight goals
• Middlesbrough 2014-15 (loan) – 44 appearances, 19 goals
• Crystal Palace 2015 (loan) – nine appearances, no goals
• Norwich 2016 (loan) – seven appearances, no goals
• Burnley 2016-17 (loan) – six appearances, no goals
• Middlesbrough 2017-18 – 53 appearances, 14 goals
• Leeds 2018-present – 205 appearances, 60 goals
• England 2021-present – one appearance, no goals

The loudest Premier League fans aren’t always the teams competing for UCL prize money or those heavily favoured week-to-week in the football betting markets.

It can be a particular manager captivating the fans, or simply a packed, partizan crowd.

10) Brentford

The Gtech Community Stadium is the archetypal tough place to go for top-flight opponents, with a boisterous crowd and well-organised team.

Capable of beating anyone on their day, Brentford are physical, combative, and unafraid of even the league’s biggest stars. 

Bees fans have seen some big-time scalps at home and been treated to a lot of entertaining matches, all of which have been accompanied by a respectable raucous.

9) Aston Villa

Combine a gargantuan Holte End with the vastly improved football served up under Unai Emery and what you have is a famous old ground that has been reignited in recent times.

Villa Park has never been a place for the faint-hearted but too often in the past the acoustics have been made up of groans at a misplaced pass, or moans as another chance goes begging.

Success in the Premier League betting markets has led to plenty of PL prize money, which has helped to maintain a high-quality product for the Villa faithful.

This corner of the Midlands is positively buzzing on matchdays. 

8) Nottingham Forest

Since securing promotion in 2022, the City Ground has been bouncing with their loyal fanbase revelling in their return to the big time.

It naturally follows therefore that a clear disparity exists between Forest’s home form and their away record.

7) Everton

It’s too early to make a call on the atmosphere at Everton’s new home, but their track record at the rickety Goodison Park warrants a spot in this top 10.

On any given day Goodison Park was a hostile environment, its old wooden seats creaking under the weight of Scousers who aren’t shy in telling the referee he’s having a stinker in between vociferously encouraging Everton midfielders to get their foot in and commit.

Add in a club-wide resentment at Premier League charges – since reduced on appeal – and this fabulous historic ground has become particularly animated of late, shaken to its foundations.

The return of David Moyes again brought hope to a fan base which has so often been disgruntled in recent years.

6) Crystal Palace

Despite Palace’s relatively low attendance, Selhurst Park can be thunderously loud.

The ground feeds off the sheer passion and colour of the Homesdale Stand where the club’s ultras reside.

Known as the Homesdale Fanatics, the atmosphere they generate evokes Dortmund’s ‘Yellow Wall’, bedecked as it is with flags and banners.

5) Arsenal

Don’t take our word for it. Ask Wolves striker Hwang Hee-chan who claimed Gooners were the noisiest fans in the top-flight.

And the South Korean star is not far wrong either, despite the old jibe about the Emirates being a library enduring in some quarters.

With the Gunners very much on an upcurve under Mikel Arteta and challenging for silverware again, the emergence of the ‘Ashburton Army’ and a new anthem in the form of ‘North London Forever’ has seen the ground come alive like never before.

4) Manchester United

The fear factor may have left Old Trafford post-Ferguson, while the only people who call it the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ these days are former players reminiscing on a bygone era. Heck, even the roof leaks.

But even so, let’s have it right. When United are in full flow, showing the attacking adventure they used to be associated with, its 74,000 inhabitants still make a tremendous, tumultuous din.

Even when things are bad, Old Trafford produces a racket, although that's not a positive for the underachieving home stars.

3) Liverpool

Many a time an away supporter at Anfield feels the hairs on the back of their neck spring up involuntarily.

They grimace as a rousing rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone is heartily sung. They scowl as their team concedes, a goal that prompts the kind of noise dogs are kept in for on Bonfire Night.

And yet still they feel it and admire it. They can’t help it.

Long considered one of the best atmospheres in world football, Anfield’s adoration of Jurgen Klopp has been smoothly passed on to Arne Slot.

2) Tottenham Hotspur

An awful lot of thought and research went into making Tottenham’s new stadium one of the most atmospheric around.

Its South Stand is one of the largest of its kind, creating, in the words of the ground’s lead architect, a “17,500 seat megaphone”. Elsewhere, two enormous blocks of general admission seating ensures that two typically quiet sections are never less than lively.

Moreover, its bowl-like structure was specifically designed with acoustics in mind. When all of this comes together, and Spurs are on the front foot, it can be deafening.

1) Newcastle United

A one-club city, Newcastle has always been blessed with a fiercely loyal and passionate fan-base and with St James Park their cathedral the congregation head there every fortnight to make the almightiest racket.

With their fortunes dramatically improved post-takeover, and the Magpies now competing at the top half of the table, not the bottom, the volume has been turned up to 11.

Check All Football Betting Odds Here!

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Cheltenham Racecourse is one of the most popular sporting venues in the country, welcoming over 400,000 racegoers a year.

Not only do they host the world famous Cheltenham Festival, but they also put on six other BHA endorsed fixtures throughout the National Hunt season.

THE SHOWCASE (24-25 OCTOBER 2025)

The Showcase Meeting raises the curtain to the 2025/26 Cheltenham season, with eager participants and excited fans returning to the Home of Jump Racing.

The meeting is somewhat of a cobweb blower, with many people getting excited about the start of the “Road To Cheltenham” in spite of the Festival being many months away. I guess you can’t beat enthusiasm?

THE NOVEMBER MEETING (14-16 NOVEMBER 2025)

The “three day-er” starts with Countryside Day, celebrating rural life and top-class racing, before moving onto Super Saturday, which features the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

The weekend concludes with Carnival Sunday, when the highlight on the racecard is the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle.

THE CHRISTMAS MEETING (12-13 DECEMBER 2025)

The name was changed from the International Meeting in 2023 following the decision to move the International Hurdle to Festival Trials Day.

Friday is a slow burner with the main race being the The Crystal Cup European Cross Country Challenge, while Saturday bursts into life with the focal point being the December Gold Cup.

NEW YEAR'S DAY (1 JANUARY 2026)

The regular card was changed up a bit in 2024 due to some directives given by the Jumps Pattern Committee.

This resulted in the removal of the Grade 2 Dipper Novices’ Chase, as well as the Listed Novices’ Hurdle that was usually the first race. These were replaced by a Maiden Hurdle to open up proceedings, plus a Novices Limited Handicap Chase.

The meeting still includes, and rightly so, the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle, the New Year’s Day Premier Handicap and the Listed bumper that traditionally closes the card.

FESTIVAL TRIAL'S DAY (24 JANUARY 2026)

Trial’s Day is the final opportunity to see the sports protagonists strut their stuff on the racecourse, before the Cheltenham Festival itself. Also a time to get your Cheltenham sports betting fancies placed.

The last Saturday of January plays host to a day that gives punters and trainers alike, clues to which horses are going to be returning with live chances two months later.

For many of the horses, it will be the last time they have a competitive run before their big targets in March.

CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL (10-13 MARCH 2026)

Right through from opening day thrills of Champion Day, to the elegance of Ladies Day, every day at Cheltenham is electric. St Patrick's Thursday brings a splash of Ireland to the racecourse, while Gold Cup Day brings the Festival to a close on an afternoon of unforgettable drama and glory.

There’s little question that the entire Festival builds up to a crescendo before the running of the Gold Cup. Friday is by far and away the most popular day of the Festival and is always a sell-out.

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the main horse racing betting events of the year.

THE APRIL MEETING (15-16 APRIL 2026)

Jump racing fans who prefer a more relaxed pace tend to really enjoy The April Meeting while still watching a host of competitive racing involving the most successful jockeys at the Cheltenham Festival.

While The April Meeting crowds are significantly less the Festival, there are still plenty of thrilling races and it’s a wonderful opportunity to get even closer to the action, by taking a wander down to the rails.

*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Adobe*

As the culmination of the QIPCO British Champions Series, this year’s edition of the event will take place on Saturday 18th October 2025.

The day is rightly described as the grand finale of the flat racing season in Britain and  it always attracts some of the world’s finest horses.

One of the main highlights on Champions Day is the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. It is Europe’s richest mile race and generally attracts a star-studded line-up.

How much Is The Prize Money On Champions Day?

QIPCO British Champions Day will be run for £4.35m in prize money this year, with the country’s richest raceday extending to seven races for the first time. The day will feature five Group 1 races – following the upgrade of the QIPCO Long Distance Cup – together with a new 2YO conditions race over six furlongs, worth £250,000.

Which races are run on Champions Day?

• 12.55 - 2YO Conditions Race (Irish EBF Auction Series Final) 7 furlongs.

The day will kick off with a new £250,000 race for two-year-olds. The six-furlong conditions race is open to all two-year-olds, and is to be run without penalties.

• 1.20 - British Champions Long Distance Cup (Group 1) 2 miles.

The Long Distance Cup is the first of the Group 1 races, with the best stayers competing over just short of two miles. The race is now worth £500,000 after its upgrade.

• 2.05 - British Champions Sprint Stakes (Group 1) 6 furlongs.

The sprinters go hell-for-leather over six furlongs in one of the fastest races of the day.

• 2.45 - British Champions Fillies & Mares Stakes (Group 1) 1m4f.

A race for elite fillies and mares over a demanding mile and a half, and is often contested by horses who have run in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe and the Yorkshire Oaks.

• 3.25 - Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (Group 1) 1 mile.

The richest mile race in European racing, pitching in the best older milers with the classic three-year-olds. It’s a generational, season ending masterpiece to savour.  

• 4.05 - Champion Stakes (Group 1) 1m2f.

The headline act on Champions Day, and a race with over £1.3 million to the winner. The 1m2f affair is generally packed with international champions galore.  

• 4.40 - Balmoral Handicap (Finale Handicap) 1 mile.

79 entries were received on September 16th for the £200,000 Balmoral Handicap (Sponsored by QIPCO), the final race on QIPCO British Champions Day.

This year’s hotly contested sports betting handicap race, will once again draw proceedings to a close on Britain’s richest raceday.

You can find all our Champions Day horse racing betting here. 

 *Odds subject to change - prices accurate at the time of writing*

*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Adobe*

Many football clubs around the world are just as famous for nicknames as the official club team name – with the likes of Manchester United known as the ‘Red Devils’ and Arsenal referred to as the ‘Gunners’.

Every team across the Football League has an official club nickname, though punters looking at football odds are likely to revert to the full title rather than the team’s nickname.

Most English club nicknames are reasonably easy to recognise, with some paying homage to the club’s crest, mascot or trademark kit colours.

In fact, the most popular football nicknames often relate to jersey colours – the ‘Reds’, the ‘Blues’ and ‘Whites’ are all fairly common in English football and sports betting.

European football club nicknames often link back to etymology but we’ll touch on those a little later. For now, let’s get stuck into the Premier League club nicknames.

Premier League Nicknames

Some of the biggest clubs in the sport play in the Premier League, with the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City ranking as three of the top teams on the planet.

Some of the best nicknames are for clubs regularly fighting for UCL prize money. Here are all 20 EPL nicknames:

• Arsenal - The Gunners 
• Aston Villa - The Villains 
• Bournemouth - The Cherries 
• Brentford - The Bees 
• Brighton - The Seagulls 
• Burnley - The Clarets 
• Chelsea - The Blues 
• Crystal Palace - The Eagles 
• Everton - The Toffees 
• Leeds United - The Whites/ The Peacocks 
• Liverpool - The Reds 
• Man City - The Citizens / The Sky Blues 
• Man United - The Red Devils 
• Newcastle Utd - The Magpies 
• Nottingham Forest – Forest 
• Sunderland - The Black Cats 
• Tottenham - Spurs / The Lilywhites 
• West Ham - The Hammers / The Irons 
• Wolverhampton Wanderers - Wolves

Championship Nicknames

• Birmingham City - The Blues 
• Blackburn Rovers - Rovers / The Blue and Whites / The Riversiders 
• Bristol City - The Robins 
• Charlton Athletic - The Addicks / Red Robins / The Valiants 
• Coventry City - The Sky Blues 
• Derby County - The Rams 
• Hull City - The Tigers 
• Ipswich Town - Blues / Tractor Boys / "Pride of East Anglia" 
• Leicester City - The Foxes 
• Middlesbrough - Boro / The Smoggies 
• Millwall - The Lions 
• Norwich City - The Canaries 
• Oxford United - The U's / The Yellows 
• Portsmouth - Pompey  
• Preston North End - The Lilywhites / PNE / The Whites 
• Queens Park Rangers - The Hoops / The Rs / QPR 
• Sheffield United - The Blades / Red and White Wizards 
• Sheffield Wednesday - The Owls 
• Southampton - The Saints 
• Stoke City - The Potters 
• Swansea City - The Swans 
• Watford - The Hornets 
• West Bromwich Albion - The Baggies / Albion 
• Wrexham – The Robins

League 1 Nicknames

• AFC Wimbledon - The Dons / The Wombles 
• Barnsley - The Tykes / The Reds 
• Blackpool - The Seasiders / The Tangerines 
• Bolton Wanderers - The Trotters / The Wanderers 
• Bradford City - The Bantams / The Paraders / The Citizens 
• Burton Albion - The Brewers 
• Cardiff City - The Bluebirds 
• Doncaster Rovers - Rovers 
• Exeter City - The Grecians 
• Huddersfield Town - The Terriers 
• Leyton Orient - The O's 
• Lincoln City - The Imps 
• Luton Town - The Hatters 
• Mansfield Town - The Stags 
• Northampton Town - The Cobblers / Shoe Army 
• Peterborough United - The Posh  
• Plymouth Argyle - Argyle / The Pilgrims 
• Port Vale - The Valiants / The Vale / The Valeites 
• Reading - The Royals 
• Rotherham United - The Millers 
• Stevenage - The Boro 
• Stockport County - County / The Hatters 
• Wigan Athletic - The Latics 
• Wycombe Wanderers - The Chairboys / The Blues

League 2 Nicknames

• Accrington Stanley - The 'Owd Reds 
• Barnet – The Bees
• Barrow - The Bluebirds 
• Bristol Rovers - Rovers / The Pirates / The Gas 
• Bromley – The Ravens 
• Cambridge United - United / The U's 
• Cheltenham Town - The Robins 
• Chesterfield – Spireites  
• Colchester United - The U's 
• Crawley - The Red Devils 
• Crewe Alexandra - The Railwaymen / The Alex 
• Fleetwood Town - The Cod Army 
• Gillingham - The Gills 
• Grimsby Town - The Mariners 
• Harrogate Town - Town / The Sulphurites 
• MK Dons - The Dons  
• Newport County - The Exiles / The Ironsides / The Port / The County 
• Notts County - The Magpies 
• Oldham Athletic – The Latics 
• Salford City FC - The Ammies 
• Shrewsbury Town - Salop / The Blues / The Town / The Shrews 
• Swindon Town - The Robins 
• Tranmere Rovers - Super White Army / Rovers 
• Walsall - The Saddlers

Serie A Nicknames

Whether you’re into in play betting on Italian football or simply enjoy following the sport on TV, Serie A is one of the biggest domestic leagues around.

The Serie A club nicknames can be found below – both with their local nickname and an English translation. So what are you waiting for? Find out Serie A football nicknames here.

• Atalanta - I Nerazzurri (The Black and Blues) 
• Bologna - I Rossoblu / I Veltri (The Red and Blues / The Greyhounds) 
• Cagliari - Gli Isolani (The Islanders) 
• Como - I Lariana / I Voltiana (Those from Lake Como / The Voltaics) 
• Cremonese - I Grigiorossi (The Gray and Reds)  
• Fiorentina - La Viola (The Purple One) 
• Genoa - I Rossoblu / l Grifone (The Red and Blues / The Griffin) 
• Hellas Verona - I Gialloblu (The Yellow and Blues) 
• Inter - I Nerazzurri (The Black and Blues) 
• Juventus - I Bianconeri / La Vecchia Signora (The Black and Whites / The Old Lady) 
• Lazio - I Biancocelesti (The White and Sky Blues) 
• Lecce - I Giallorossi (The Yellow and Reds) 
• Milan - I Rossoneri (The Red and Blacks) 
• Napoli - Gli Azzurri (The Blues) 
• Parma - I Gialloblu / I Crociati (The Yellow and Blues / The Crusaders) 
• Pisa - I Nerazzurri (The Black and Blues) 
• Roma - I Giallorossi (The Yellow and Reds) 
• Sassuolo - I Neroverdi (The Black and Greens) 
• Torino - il Toro / I Granata (The Bull / The Maroons) 
• Udinese - I Bianconeri (The White and Blacks) 
• Venezia - I Leoni alati (The Winged Lions)

Bundesliga Nicknames

• Augsburg - Die Fuggerstadter (Residents of the Fugger City) 
• Bayer Leverkusen - Die Werkself (The Company XI) 
• Bayern - Die Roten (The Reds) 
• Borussia Dortmund - Die Schwarzgelben (The Black and Yellow) 
• Borussia Monchengladbach - Die Fohlen (The Foals) 
• Eintracht Frankfurt - Die Adler (The Eagles) 
• Freiburg - Breisgau-Brasilianer (Brazilians of Breisgau) 
• Hamburger SV - Die Rothosen (The Red Shorts) 
• Heidenheim - N/A 
• Hoffenheim - Die Kraichgauer (From Kraichgau region) 
• Koln - Die Geißböcke (The Billy Goats) 
• Leipzig - Die Roten Bullen (The Red Bulls) 
• Mainz - Die Nullfunfer (The O-Fives)  
• St. Pauli - Freibeuter der Liga (League Buccaneers) 
• Stuttgart - Die Roten (The Reds) 
• Union Berlin - Die Eisernen (The Iron Ones) 
• Werder Bremen - Die Grun-Weissen (The Green-Whites) 
• Wolfsburg - Die Wolfe (The Wolves)

La Liga Nicknames

Some of the greatest team names are based on Spanish clubs, with players from Barcelona, Real Madrid and Valencia attracting plenty of attention.

The best La Liga team nicknames can help neutrals to pick a side when watching a Spanish football match. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the top La Liga soccer names.

• Alaves - El Glorioso (The Glorious One) 
• Athletic Club - Los Leones / Los Rojiblancos (The Lions / The Red and Whites) 
• Atletico Madrid - Los Colchoneros / Los Rojiblancos (The Mattress Makers / The Red and Whites) 
• Barcelona - La Blaugrana 
• Celta Vigo - Os Celestes (The Sky Blues) 
• Elche - Los Franjiverdes / Els frangiverds (The Green-striped ones) 
• Espanyol - Periquitos (Parakeets) 
• Getafe - Los Azulones (The Deep Blues) 
• Girona - Blanquivermells (White and Reds) 
• Levante - Granotes (The Frogs) 
• Mallorca - Los Bermellones (The Vermilions) 
• Osasuna - Los Rojillos (The Reds) 
• Oviedo – Los Godos (The Goths) 
• Rayo Vallecano - Los Franjirrojos (The Red Sashes) 
• Real Betis - Betis / Los Verderones (Lilywhites / The Big Greens) 
• Real Madrid - Los Blancos / Meringues (The Whites / The Meringues) 
• Real Sociedad - Txuri-urdinak (The Whites and Blues) 
• Sevilla - Los Rojiblancos / Los Hispalenses (The White and Reds / The Ones from Hispalis) 
• Valencia - Los Che ('Hey!') 
• Villarreal - El Submarino Amarillo (The Yellow Submarine) 

In 1780, Lord Derby and his friend Sir Charles Bunbury supposedly flipped a coin to decide the title of a new race. Lord Derby had the race named after him, but Sir Charles’ horse, Diomed, won the first race, run over one mile.

There were just nine runners that day with Diomed being sent off the 6-4 favourite. The Derby, held at Epsom Downs Racecourse each year, was then extended to a mile and a half from 1784.

After its first 50 years (1780-1829), the Derby became firmly established as the premier event in the racing year.

The dramatic events of the 1913 Derby produced the most talked about chapter of the Derby’s history when suffragette Emily Davison brought down the King’s horse by running onto the course at Tattenham Corner.

The Epsom Derby has seen legendary champions etch their names into the horse racing betting annuls, with great thoroughbreds like Shergar, Nijinsky, and Galileo have left their mark on the event, achieving multiple victories and adding to the allure of this “Blue Riband” race.

The top three quickest run Derby’s over the last 20 years:

• 2010 - Workforce (2:31.33)
• 2015 - Golden Horn (2:32.32)
• 2017 - Wings Of Eagles (2:33.02)

Epsom Derby Winners Since 2000:

• 2025 - Lambourn - Wayne Lordan - Aidan O'Brien - 13/2
• 2024 - City Of Troy - Ryan Moore - Aidan O'Brien - 3/1F
• 2023 - Auguste Rodin - Ryan Moore - Aidan O'Brien - 9/2
• 2022 - Desert Crown - Richard Kingscote - Sir Michael Stoute - 5/2F
• 2021 - Adayar - Adam Kiby - Charlie Appleby - 16/1
• 2020 - Serpentine - Emmet McNamara - Aidan O'Brien - 25/1
• 2019 - Anthony Van Dyk - Seamie Heffernan - Aidan O'Brien -13/2
• 2018 - Masar - William Buick - Charlie Appleby - 16/1
• 2017 - Wings Of Eagles - Padraig Beggy - Aidan O'Brien - 40/1
• 2016 - Harzand - Pat Smullen - Dermot Weld - 13/2
• 2015 - Golden Horn - Frankie Dettori - John Gosden - 13/8F
• 2014 - Australia - Joseph O'Brien - Aidan O'Brien - 11/8F
• 2013 - Ruler Of The World - Ryan Moore - Aidan O'Brien - 7/1
• 2012 - Camelot - Joseph O'Brien - Aidan O'Brien - 8/13F
• 2011 - Pour Moi - Mickael Barzalona - Andre Fabre - 4/1
• 2010 - Workforce - Ryan Moore - Sir Michael Stoute - 6/1
• 2009 - Sea The Stars - Michael Kinane - John Oxx - 11/4
• 2008 - New Approach - Kevin Manning - Jim Bolger - 5/1
• 2007 - Authorized - Frankie Dettori - Peter Chapple-Hyam - 5/4F
• 2006 - Sir Percy - Martin Dwyer - Marcus Tregoning - 6/1
• 2005 - Motivator - Johnny Murtagh - Michael Bell - 3/1F
• 2004 - North Light - Kieren Fallon - Sir Michael Stoute - 7/2JF 
• 2003 - Kris Kin - Kieren Fallon - Sir Michael Stoute - 6/1
• 2002 - High Chaparral - Johnny Murtagh - Aidan O'Brien - 7/2
• 2001 - Galileo - Michael Kinane - Aidan O'Brien - 11/4JF
• 2000 - Sinndar - Johnny Murtagh - John Oxx - 7/1

Most Successful Derby Trainer

Lambourn's success in 2025 meant that Aidan O’Brien extended his record as the most successful trainer in the history of The Derby, with the Ballydoyle maestro winning the race on 11 occasions. He'll be a red-hot fancy to add to that tally in 2026 in the Epsom Derby odds.

The most intriguing fact to come from O’Brien’s turn of the millennium dominance is that Galileo, who gave O’Brien his first victory in the Derby in 2001, has now gone on to sire four of the 10 winners from the yard.

O’Brien’s list of Derby winners reads as follows: Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Camelot (2012), Ruler of the World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019), Serpentine (2020), Auguste Rodin (2023), City Of Troy (2024), Lambourn (2025). 

Most Successful Derby Jockey

Lester Piggott is the most successful Derby jockey of all time, winning the race an incredible nine times between 1954 and 1983. He is one of the greatest jockeys in the sport’s history.

Piggott’s Derby victories were always popular races with the horse racing commentators at the time they happened, as viewers and listeners will testify to.

In fact, Piggott’s Derby record is second to none with his nine wins and four second places from 36 attempts. He first rode in the race as a 15-year-old and finished second the following year, three-quarters of a length behind the winner.

At the age of 18, he won his first Derby on Never Say Die in 1954. In 1983, Piggott was aged 47 when he won his last Derby aboard Teenoso.

Lester’s Derby roll of honour reads as follows:

1954: Never Say Die (33-1), 1957: Crepello (6-4 fav), 1960: St Paddy (7-1), 1968: Sir Ivor (4-5 fav) 1970: Nijinsky (11-8 fav), 1972: Roberto (3-1 fav), 1976: Empery (10-1), 1977: The Minstrel (5-1), 1983: Teenoso (9-2 fav).

Leading Epsom Derby Owners

Sue Magnier and Michael Tabor are the most successful owners in the history of the Derby, having been involved together with 10 winners.

The pair co-owned Galileo (2001), High Chaparral (2002), Pour Moi (2011), Camelot (2012), Ruler Of The World (2013), Australia (2014), Wings of Eagles (2017), Anthony Van Dyck (2019) and Serpentine (2020), as well as co-owning Auguste Rodin (2023), City Of Troy (2024) and Lambourn (2025).

Derrick Smith was also the co-owner of Pour Moi, Camelot, Ruler Of The World and Australia. Magnier, Tabor and Smith were the first owners to enjoy four consecutive winners.

The trio have done really well in the English Classics over the years.

Epsom Derby Winners Trends

• Age: Only three-year-olds are eligible to run.
• Price: 3/10 winners were favourite/joint favourite, 6/10 came from the top three in the betting.
• Draw: 8 of the last 10 winners were drawn in stall 7 or higher.
• Previous Run: 10/10 winners ran in the last 35 days or less, 7/10 winners won on their last start before The Derby, 10/10 winners at least placed on their last run before The Derby
• 4/10 winners ran in the 2000 Guineas on their last run, 1 of the 3 won, 2 placed.
• 2/10 winners ran in the Dante Stakes on their last run, 1 of the 2 won, 1 placed.
• 2/10 winners ran in the Chester Vase on their last run, 1 of the 2 won, 1 placed.
• 2/12 winners ran in the Derby Trial Stakes on their last run, 1 of the 2 won, 1 placed.
• Course Form: None of the last 10 winners had run or won at Epsom before.
• Distance Form: 8/10 winners had at least one previous start over 10-12 furlongs, 6/10 winners had at least one previous win over 10-12 furlongs.
• Rating: 10/10 winners were rated 109 or higher.
• Group Wins: 8/10 winners had at least one win in a Group 1-3 race.
• Season Form: 10/10 winners had at least one run that season, 8/10 had at least one win that season.

Epsom Derby Facts

• The fastest winning time was by Workforce (2010) in 2m 31.33s.
• The biggest winning margin was 10 lengths, Shergar (1981).
• Longest odds winners – Jeddah (1898), Signorinetta (1908) & Aboyeur (1913) all came in at 100/1 in the horse racing odds.
• The shortest odds winner was Ladas in 1894 at a miserly 2/9.
• The most runners to run in the Derby was 34 in 1862.
• The fewest runners the Derby has ever seen was in 1794 when just 4 competitors went to post.
• French-trained challengers have been successful 10 times, with Pour Moi (2011) the last French raider to score.
• The most recent Yorkshire-trained winner of the Derby was Dante in 1945. The Matt Peacock- trained colt won a war-time Derby staged at Newmarket.
• No woman has ever trained the winner of the Derby and Elaine Burke became only the seventh woman ever to have a runner in the Classic in 2013.
• These are the stallions whose offspring have produced multiple winners of the Epsom Derby: Galileo (5 Wins) Montjeu (4 Wins) Cape Cross (2 Wins) Sadlers Wells (2 Wins).

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

Over 20 years on from THAT Premier League campaign, the Arsenal Invincibles are still widely regarded as one of the best teams in Premier League history.

The Gunners lifted the Premier League title for the third time in 2003/04, having avoided defeat for the entire league season. You'd have got good Premier League odds on that at the start of the campaign.

Arsenal recorded 26 wins, 12 draws and no defeats to become only the second side to go an entire top-flight English league campaign without defeat. As of September 2025, the Invincibles' success is the last time that Arsenal lifted the Premier League.

Liverpool threatened to eclipse the Arsenal Invincibles in 2019/20 – an era when Premier League prize money was much higher -- but Jurgen Klopp’s side fell short after 44 Premier League matches unbeaten.

Hesgoal is one of the first websites to spring to mind when talking about watching live football streams for free.

With major leagues from around the world covered, it is one of the go-to websites for football betting fans.

Football is the most popular sport on the planet and many fans will have watched football online in the past.

Hesgoal UK is a famous website dedicated to broadcasting football streams and other sporting events.

A pioneer website in broadcasting free online football streams, Hesgoals are still operating today. It has made football accessible to people who might not have been able to tune in through other means. 

What Is Hesgoal?

One of the biggest online sports streaming platforms around, Hesgoal is widely regarded as an industry leader when it comes to watching football for free.

The interface is simple and easy on the eye while accessibility is easy. The layout of the Hes Goal website is one of its main strengths – it is so quick to find an online football stream.

Members can access the Hesgoal chat function, which allows users to talk about the latest football news while watching the match.

Millions of football fans around the world use the free online streams on the Hesgoals site, with the page covering the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and more.

A strong network connection is essential when watching the Hesgoal free online streaming service, particularly if trying to watch one of the HD sports streams.

Many fans follow their favourite teams and watch online football streams for free with Hesgoal. You’d be hard pressed to find a major sports competition that is not covered!

Hes Goal and Football Streaming Websites

Now a multi-million-dollar internet business, broadcasting football over the internet via a live online stream is more popular than ever before.

Advances in technology have contributed to the growth of the free football streams industry and football prediction fans now have a range of websites to choose from.

With so many places to watch football for free, competition is fierce but Hesgoal is one of the biggest websites around, following in the footsteps of Sportlemon, Rojadirecta, and other pioneer streaming pages.

Many football streaming websites offer a mobile live stream service now, with a large portion users now preferring to watch football for free on the move rather than accessing a desktop stream.

On some occasions, it is just not possible to watch a major sports betting event via the more traditional means of television and watching online sport on the internet is the only option.

Many football streaming websites, including Totalsportek and Ronaldo7, will ask for users to register or pay a monthly subscription service. Others are free, providing the website can function through advertising.

Some social networks have also stared to get involved with the online football streaming industry, with the chance to watch live sport through Facebook and Twitter.

One of the main problems encountered when watching live sport online is location, with many events limited to certain regions.

Hesgoal History

There is little information on the history of Hesgoal, with the website suggesting that the current domain was created in 2021.

However, many online football streaming websites have faced issues regarding copyright in the past – and it is hardly surprising with millions of fans using streams each week.

With a few variations on the Hesgoal domain, Hes Goal can attract a large base of regular users on the website and it is one of the biggest football streaming apps around.

It looks like Hesgoal.tv have learned from the mistakes of other free streaming sites, stating that they do not host or upload any video or media files.

Essentially, Hes Goal quite clearly go out of their way to attempt to collect links but they are not responsible for the legality of any football streaming content, as is the case with the likes of VIPLeague and other free streaming sites.

So if you visit Hesgoal UK to watch football for free online, chances are you will be accessing a stream that is readily available through sites such as Twitch and Ustream.

Hesgoal Stream

The Hes Goal website can be accessed 24 hours per day, seven days a week and it is one of the most reliable free online football streaming websites around.

While the name can often vary, with Hesgoal, Hesgoals and even Hes Goal often attracting viewers from around the world, this sports streaming platform is frequently in use.

In fact, estimates show that millions of passionate sports fans watch a Hesgoal free online stream each week – whether that’s to watch the Champions League or an international friendly.

Free HD football streams are the new priority for both services and users – and this is where Hesgoal UK has the edge over several rival websites, such as Arenavision channels.

The website has been so successful that some competitors have tried to emulate the Hes Goal platform, though none have managed to crack the online sports streaming universe just yet.

Hesgoal can offer football fans access to matches that may not be available in their local area, hence increasing the reach of certain competitions across the globe.

Subscription television channels do not always cover every match and websites such as Hes Goal can ensure free football streams viewers can expand their knowledge of the sport.

Unlike many online football streaming websites, Hesgoal allows users access without the need to sign up and register an account.

You can sign up to access private features though, with the Hesgoal chat appealing to many fans who enjoy discussing their favourite bet of the day with other users.

If you want to watch football online for free, Hesgoals website is easy to use, there is no need to create an account and almost every major league is covered.

While Twitter football streams are useful, the Hes Goal online streams site offers more for fans of the beautiful game and it ticks many boxes for soccer supporters around the world.

Hesgoal News

The Hesgoal news section of the website is interesting, particularly for those who want to read the latest updates while watching football online for free.

A quick scan of the Hes Goal news page shows that the website is regularly updated, just as you would expect from a well-oiled, organised business model.

If Hesgoal continue to invest in their sports news section, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see the website grow even further and they could branch out into the live betting industry.

Hes Goal

The Hesgoals website has been a huge hit for football fans wanting to watch sport online for free over the years but many have tried to copy their business model.

Domain changes and tweaks to the appearance may be required in time, particularly after rival websites attempt to ‘cash in’ on the Hes Goal brand. This was the case with several other streaming sites, including Jokerlivestream.

Simply from searching the Hesgoal website on Google, you can see several websites that have similar URL domains. In addition, some use variations of the original name in a bid to con users into visiting their website.

Our first piece of advice would be to always use official streaming platforms when watching football online. TNT Sport, Sky Sports & Eurosport.TV are just a few examples of official sports streams websites that football fans can use.

Hesgoals

Typo squatting is a strategy adopted by many in a bid to lessen the impact of competitors – so in this instance rival websites may buy Hesgoal related domains.

Many powerful free football streaming websites, such as Footybite, Cricfree and Rojadirecta, are used to seeing their platforms cloned, especially as those market leaders have managed to attract traffic from those wanting to watch football online for free for years.

Now one of the most popular options for millions of fans who want to watch sport online, Hesgoal is a favourite for soccer supporters.

Criticism and pressure on the free sports streaming websites could force Hesgoal out of the industry and there is always a chance that traditional broadcasters catch up with the online platforms.

We recommend only opting for legal options when watching online football streams, and you can even access legal streams for free via many bookmakers.

If you are looking to watch football for free online, simply check your bookmakers website, place a bet and settle down for 90 minutes of the beautiful game.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to AP Photo*

Think football rivalries and thoughts immediately go to Manchester United’s deep-seated hostility towards Liverpool, an animosity that is returned in kind. That, or the ancient enmity between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Then there’s the ‘derbies’, famous feuds ground in geography, from Newcastle’s reluctant sharing of the North-East with Sunderland to Arsenal and Spurs duking it out to be the top dogs of North London.

Dig a little deeper though and we find that bad blood runs through the entire anatomy of the beautiful game, right down to its toes.

In the lower divisions insults on social media are just as barbed. Certain matchdays get police and stewards hot under the collar.

These warring factions may not receive the same level of media scrutiny as the Old Firm in Glasgow or the Superclásico in South America but the ill-feeling is very real and very intense, nonetheless.

In the Championship and beyond there are rivalries that make the Game of Thrones look like The Waltons.

The examples given below however are not supposed to be the fiercest of these. We all know that Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United can’t stand the sight of one another. The clue is in their names.

Instead, they are intended to illustrate the different reasons behind the rancour, whether that be historical, geographical or newer rivalries born from random circumstances.

The West Lancs Derby

Ask a Blackpool supporter who they have a genuine antipathy towards and chances are they will plump for Fleetwood Town. That’s a ‘Fylde Coast’ thing, the two clubs separated by a mere eight miles of picturesque coastline.

In recent years, Fleetwood’s rise through the divisions has resulted in 15 meetings between the neighbours, all of them fizzing with friction.

Ask a Tangerines fan of a certain vintage though and they won’t skip a beat. It’s Preston, all day long.

A long tract of the M55 may lie between the clubs but such is their shared, esteemed heritage – both founded in the 1890s and respective giants of English football way back when – they have competed against one another for several generations.

More, as their journeys have taken them to heights and crisis the pair have met in all four divisions, prior to the forming of the Premier League.

AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons

We are all aware of the back-story here. The FA Cup winners of 1988 relocated and rebranded against their will to another city entirely, leaving the original club a husk, dissolving soon after. The long, slow rebuild as a phoenix club. The fight for identity.

This is a story of the old vs the new or, to be frank, the reborn vs a Frankenstein’s monster, Naturally, then, when they meet, the rest of football looks on, intrigued, taking sides.

So heightened is the grudge, ITV screened their first clash in 2002 live, despite it only being a FA Cup 2nd round affair. Subsequently, they have collided a further 17 times, usually in League One.

When they cohabit a division what’s the betting this is the first date each fanbase looks for when the fixtures are released.

Carlisle v Bradford

The Cumbrians and Bantams have met on umpteen occasions – 62 all told – but it’s only in recent years when a sincere animosity has built up.

A plethora of lively encounters lies at the crux of it, featuring red cards and poor refereeing, and regrettably the extreme reactions these decisions provoked typically spilled outside the ground, to violence.

Adding further fuel to the fire, there have been several contentious transfers, with players leaving on bad terms to leave for the other.

Potteries Derby

You have to give Port Vale their props. When it comes to rivalries, the Valiants have their fair share and more.

Any visit of Swindon Town to Vale Park is sure to get the residents in as tizz, following a fractious Play-Off semi-final many moons ago.

Crewe meanwhile are a traditional enemy, a fixture that is sure to prompt the police to bump it up a category.

It is Stoke City though who remain their biggest nemesis, a club that has long considered themselves to be the superior entity in the Potteries. A grand total of 60 seasons in the English top-flight, to Vale’s none, does tend to corroborate that claim.

This pair first met in a Staffordshire Senior Cup clash way back in 1882, a ‘spirited game’ according to the local paper. It has not been anything less than spirited since.

Swansea v Cardiff v Wrexham

The temptation here is to focus on Swansea v Cardiff, a 110-year-old South Wales derby that never fails to ignite.

That however would be overlooking a north/south divide that has split the country economically, politically and culturally through the generations, adding an extra layer of spice when the Dragons head beyond the Brecon Beacons or visa versa. On such occasions, football becomes merely a conduit for all manner of incendiary emotions.

This is worth remembering this term, with Wrexham and Swansea set to meet for the first time in two decades, while League One Cardiff are doing their best to join them next year, currently topping the third tier.

The Championship won’t know what’s hit it.

Cheltenham v Forest Green Rovers

Presently a division separates this Gloucestershire pair but as recently as 2023 they collided, games that required a heavy police presence.

Known locally as ‘El Glosico’, pyrotechnics and passion are always in plentiful supply as grievances – as ferocious as anywhere else – are aired amidst one of England’s most desirable backwaters. 

Rovers are second favourites in the football betting to go up next May. El Glosico is alive and kicking.

The Devon Derby

Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City have been at loggerheads since 1920, their rivalry beginning in Division Three (South) before becoming a staple of the fourth tier for many a year.

In modern times the Pilgrims have risen to prominence, competing in the Championship across seven campaigns, but the rivalry continues to thrive, both clubs inhabiting a vast tract of England that only one other – Torquay – shares.

The prestigious Ballon d’Or award has shape-shifted several times since first coming into being in 1956.

Originally conceived by two sports writers working for France Football, a leading magazine of the time, it aimed to honour and celebrate the best performing footballer of the preceding twelve months.

The focus however was only on players plying their brilliance in Europe and for this reason it was widely known as the European Footballer of the Year merit.

That changed in the mid-Nineties, their scope widening to the global stage, while around this time too the voting system altered. Whereas previously only a selection of esteemed journalists could put forward a name, now national team coaches and captains had their say as well.

In 2010 a seismic development saw the Ballon d’Or merge with FIFA’s World Player of the Year award and this heralded another change to the voting procedure, with members of the general public allowed their twopenneth.

For six years this arrangement worked harmoniously until the awards broke up, divvied up their belongings, and went their own separate ways.

In 2022 there was yet another change to the voting. Now one journalist apiece from FIFA’s top 100 ranked nations can cast a choice. No longer are the opinions of national team managers of interest.

That year too, the timescale under review was modified. Instead of the achievements of the last calendar year being in play, only the most recently completed season matters.

All of which brings us up to the present, and it has to be said that the Ballon d’Or honour goes from strength to strength, its stature and importance ever greater.

Currently, Manchester City’s midfield metronome Rodri is the proud recipient, an outcome that led to Real Madrid boycotting the ceremony. They believed Vinicius Jr was a more worthy winner.

That boycott harvested column inches from around the world while photographs of a beaming Rodri was shown here, there and everywhere.

Yet, while the Ballon d’Or garners widespread publicity little is known of it beyond its final declaration each year.

Do winners receive prize money? Where is the ceremony held?

For a thorough breakdown of the highest individual honour a footballer can be bequeathed read on….

Is there prize money?

There is no prize money allocated to the winner of a Ballon d’Or though intriguingly lifting the coveted award can be hugely profitable.

In the modern era it is not uncommon for players to have bonus clauses inserted in their contracts stipulating that winning the award leads to a bumper one-off pay-out. Even being among the 30 nominated players can trigger such a bonus, though presumably less of an amount.

There are also endorsements to consider, a player’s earning power understandably skyrocketing when crowned the best footballer on the planet.

Regarding this, there is an irony to consider. Already established superstars in their own right, and rated among the very best around, do Ballon d’Or contenders need the validation of a win in order to boost their burgeoning bank balance?

They do not, but that extra half a million to stay loyal to a certain brand of boot or leisurewear is duly pocketed anyway.

All about the trophy

Standing 31cm tall and featuring a ball made up of five kilograms of 18-carat gold atop a pyrite base, the Ballon d’Or trophy was designed by Francois Mellerio, an artistic director of Mellerio dits Mellor, a Paris-based jewellery firm that has existed since 1613.

One of the classiest of its kind around, the trophy would look mightily impressive on a winner’s mantelpiece. Alas, in most cases it is swiftly handed to the player’s club, to be housed in their museum.

After 12 months it is replaced by a replica version.

When is this year’s Ceremony?

The nominations for the 2025 winners have already been unveiled and this year’s ceremony is set to take place at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on September 22nd.

The event will be screened live on TNT Sports and, as always, each award will be interspersed by on-stage chat, video clips and musical performances.

In addition to the men’s Ballon d’Or merit there is also the women’s version, with Spain’s Aitana Bonmati heavily fancied in the betting to claim a third trophy in a row. 

Moreover, there are ten other awards to hand out. These are:

• The Men's Kopa Trophy (best young player) 
• The Women's Kopa Trophy (best young player) 
• The Men's Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper) 
• The Women's Yashin Trophy (best goalkeeper) 
• The Men's Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in club/national team) 
• The Women's Gerd Müller Trophy (top scorer in club/national team) 
• The Men's Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team) 
• The Women's Johan Cruyff Trophy (best coach in club/national team) 
• The Men's Club of the Year Trophy 
• The Women's Club of the Year Trophy

Who is favourite for 2025?

The 30 nominees for this year’s men’s award are a who’s who of household names, nine of whom feature in the Premier League in 2025/26.

These are Virgil Van Dijk, Mo Salah, Erling Haaland, Cole Palmer, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alexis Mac Allister, Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Florian Wirtz. 

The hot favourite however in the football betting to succeed Rodri is PSG forward Ousmane Dembele, the French star firing his club to Ligue 1 and Champions League success last term via 35 goals and 36 assists across all competitions. 

Previous winners 

The first recipient of the honour was Sir Stanley Matthews in 1956, the ‘Wizard of Dribble’ followed by Real Madrid royalty in Alfredo Di Stefano and Raymond Kopa. Soon after, Barcelona got onto the scene with Luis Suarez taking the plaudits and indeed Spanish clubs lead the way in being represented the most at the ceremony.

This, of course, is chiefly due to Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo pretty much carving out the honour between them from 2008 to 2023.

Other multiple winners include Johan Cruyff, Marco Van Basten and Michel Platini who each were crowned on three occasions.

*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Adobe*