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Jack McRae

@jackimmcrae.bsky.social

Mainly write about sport and Arsenal jackimmcrae.com

96 Posts79 Follower98 Folgt
Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 2mo ago

As Mexico and South Africa prepare to kick off another World Cup, I went back over my history dissertation from 2022. I looked at how the tournament in 2010 helped fuel xenophobia in the country and the failures of FIFA. 16 years on, little has changed. jackimmcrae.com/2026/06/11/h...

How the vuvuzelas drowned out South Africa’s xenophobia and FIFA’s greed

Photograph: Wikimedia Commons / Marcello Casal Jr/ABr “It’s a really good ball. It’s Tshabalala! Goal Bafana Bafana! Goal for South Africa! Goal for all of Africa! Jabulile, rejoice&#82…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I wrote this in the early hours of Monday morning in an empty Oslo airport. I reflected on an intense weekend of highs and lows in Budapest. I was distraught when #AFC lost the #UCL final, but the joyous reality remains: Arsenal are champions of England. jackimmcrae.com/2026/06/03/t...

TWIW: Falling and flying with Arsenal in Budapest

“Heard about the guy who fell off a skyscraper? On his way down past each floor, he kept saying to reassure himself: ‘So far so good… so far so good… so far so good.’ How you fall doesn…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This week I watched cricket. Ben Aitchison and Wayne Madsen shared a record-breaking partnership at Lord's to lead Derbyshire to victory over Middlesex. It was a great display and demonstrated how good long-form cricket is, even if it is being neglected. jackimmcrae.com/2026/05/22/t...

TWIW: Cricket needs to uproot the culture, not the game

This week I watched cricket. The pavilion at Lord’s stands proud and defiant. Like a lonely lighthouse in a storm, the home of cricket is weathered by the ever-changing landscape around it. I…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This week I watched table tennis. Marty Supreme may have been the sport’s main talking point earlier this year, but China’s men’s defeat to Sweden on Sunday was a shock. Elsewhere, China’s women were flawless and there was disappointment for England. jackimmcrae.com/2026/05/05/t...

TWIW: Sweden shock China to usher in Marty Supreme era of table tennis

This week I watched table tennis. “I know it’s hard to believe but I’m telling you, this game, it fills stadiums overseas and it’s only a matter of time before I’m staring a…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 4mo ago

This week I watched Aussie Rules. Australians may seem as if they are taking over London, but they have been playing sport in the capital for almost four decades. The North London Lions have built a special community and play a sport that is a joy to watch. jackimmcrae.com/2026/04/21/t...

TWIW: Aussie Rules has a home in London and is looking to grow

Photograph: Provided by North London Lions. This week I watched Australian Rules Football. As I walked around the pitch at the Oliver Tambo Recreation Ground on Saturday, it might have been easy to…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 4mo ago

This week I watched netball. Strong defences and clinical attacks have been hard to come by at the Olympic Park, but @Pulse_Netball and West Ham provided just that on Friday. Pulse were dominant and earned a good eight-point victory over @LDNMavericks. jackimmcrae.com/2026/04/14/t...

TWIW: Free-flowing attacks and solid defences at London Pulse and the London Stadium

This week I watched netball. The Mildmay line train from Highbury & Islington to Stratford pulled up just after 6.30pm. The overground was busy again – commuters, pub-goers and football fans lo…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 4mo ago

This week I watched squash. I saw one of the openings rounds of the Optasia Squash Championships, which reaches its conclusion today. The screech of trainers and the knockings of the rubber ball whizzing around the glass walls have echoed in my head all week. jackimmcrae.com/2026/03/29/t...

TWIW: Sweaty palms, weak knees and heavy arms at the Squash

This week I watched squash. The hot, humid air in the Wimbledon Club enveloped me when I stepped out of the cold, windy night and through the sliding doors of the small building in SW19. The back o…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 5mo ago

I was at the Emirates for that Reiss Nelson goal and for those Declan Rice free-kicks – special moments that ultimately led to nothing. I was there again on Saturday when Max Dowman scored another magic goal, but maybe this time it is different. #AFC jackimmcrae.com/2026/03/17/n...

Nelson, Rice, Dowman: Maybe, finally, this is the moment

Standing on the Clock End at the Emirates Stadium last Saturday evening I turned to my Dad, put my head on his shoulder and told him that I was exhausted. We had suffered through an agonising 96 mi…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 5mo ago

This week I watched Formula One. Noise around the major changes to rules and stipulations has dominated discourse amid Mercedes’ fast start to the new season. But #F1 has been undergoing a massive transformation in recent years – on and off the track. jackimmcrae.com/2026/03/11/t...

TWIW: Formula One has changed and so has the way we consume it

Mercedes driver George Russell (right) won the first race of the new Formula One season. Photograph: Heute.at Creative Commons. This week I watched Formula One. No one really likes change, but the …

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 5mo ago

Lamine Yamal hit a sensational first-ever hat-trick for Barcelona as La Liga's leaders beat Villarreal 4-1. The winger was superb, with his second goal a moment of pure inspiration, as #FCB move four clear of Real Madrid. Match ratings for Goal here: www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...

Barcelona player ratings vs Villarreal: Lamine Yamal scores first ever hat-trick as Spanish wonderkid takes Blaugrana four points clear in La Liga title race | Goal.com UK

A hat-trick from Lamine Yamal ensured that Barcelona stretched their lead at the top of La Liga to four points with an impressive 4-1 win over Villarreal. The winger was sensational as he helped himse...

goal.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 5mo ago

This week I watched hurling. South Ruislip was transformed as Westmeath travelled to take on London. Other sports have seen money and fame warp its sense of purpose, lost in a greedy pursuit of revenues. Hurling makes a nice change. jackimmcrae.com/2026/02/25/t...

TWIW: Hurling transforms Ruislip into Irish hub

This week I watched hurling. There was not an awful lot going on around South Ruislip Underground when I stepped out of the station third from last on the Central Line. With just a scattering of co…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 5mo ago

This season, Arsenal have often been accused of being dull, safe and reliant on set-pieces – a far cry from beautiful football seen under Wenger. Ahead of the #NLD, I rewatched my first ever live #AFC game from 2006 to see what football was really like. jackimmcrae.com/2026/02/22/2...

20 years after Arsène Wenger’s anniversary, how different are Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal?

Arsene Wenger had been Arsenal boss for 10 years. Photograph:Wikimedia Commons / Ronnie Macdonald “When Arsène Wenger eventually does leave, he will leave it in immeasurably better hands than when …

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 6mo ago

This week I watched American Football. It is almost a decade since Colin Kaepernick refused to stand for the US national anthem and his words still ring true. With the FIFA World Cup around the corner, Superbowl LX gave a glimpse into what could happen. jackimmcrae.com/2026/02/10/t...

TWIW: Ten years on from Kaepernick, the Superbowl cannot hide Trump’s ugly America

Colin Kaepernick’s refusal to stand for the national anthem sparked widespread political debate. Photograph: Heute.at Creative Commons. This week I watched American Football. Except, the 60th…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Kim Little and Mariona Caldentey ran Manchester City ragged as the league leaders were handed their second WSL defeat of the season. Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw struggled to get into the game and #AWFC ran out deserved winners. Match ratings here: www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...

Man City women's player ratings vs Arsenal: Vivianne Miedema and Khadija Shaw frustrated as WSL champions-elect have 13-match winning run ended at the Emirates | Goal.com UK

Manchester City were handed just their second defeat of the Women’s Super League season as they were outplayed in Sunday's 1-0 loss to Arsenal

goal.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike stepped up for Arne Slot as the big-money summer signings helped fire Liverpool to a comeback victory against Newcastle. Ibrahima Konate also impressed and got on the scoresheet in the 4-1 victory. #LFC ratings here: www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...

Liverpool player ratings vs Newcastle: The Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz show! Summer signings fire Reds past Newcastle after Anthony Gordon opener | Goal.com UK

Wirtz and Ekitike stepped up for Arne Slot as the big-money summer signings helped fire Liverpool to a comeback victory against Newcastle. When the Magpies took a deserved lead, the French forward too...

goal.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 6mo ago

Bayern Munich dropped points in the Bundesliga for the second consecutive game as they struggled to a 2-2 draw against Hamburg. Goals from Fabio Vieira and Vuskovic ensured the hosts snatched a valuable point after Kane and Diaz had put Bayern ahead. www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...

Harry Kane and Luis Diaz on target for Bayern but Vincent Kompany's side need goal-line clearance from Alphonso Davies to preserve point against Hamburg | Goal.com UK

Bayern Munich dropped points in the Bundesliga for the second consecutive game as they struggled to a 2-2 draw against Hamburg in north Germany. Harry Kane and Luis Diaz had put the league leaders ahe...

goal.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 6mo ago

This week I watched ice hockey. The Haringey Huskies won 6-5 against the Chelmsford Warriors. The hosts had former #AFC and #CFC goalkeeper Petr Cech to thank for his efforts in goal as a strong home crowd cheered the Huskies on to victory. jackimmcrae.com/2026/01/27/t...

TWIW: There is more beneath the Americanised surface of ice hockey and Petr Cech is proof

This week I watched ice hockey. The stand that runs alongside the rink at the Alexandra Palace was completely filled and there was little room as hundreds squeezed around the Perspex perimeter sepa…

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Guardian Sport@sport.theguardian.com · 7mo ago

Laura Holden: ‘I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else’

Laura Holden: ‘I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else’

The former Aberdeen midfielder, now with Swindon, opens up about the debilitating effect of suffering an ACL injury during her time in Scotland “People need to know what happened,” Laura Holden says as she reflects on her difficult two years at Aberdeen when injury changed the course of her life. “It’s not all sunshine and roses. There are demons that just get brushed under the carpet without having the light shone on them.” It has taken the Swindon Town midfielder time and a change of club to process everything that happened in Scotland. Holden joined the Dons in August 2023, determined to establish herself as a key player at one of the biggest clubs in the Scottish Women’s Premier League. But just six matches and 31 minutes into the first season, she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament away at Hibernian. This is an extract from our free email about women’s football, Moving the Goalposts. To get the full edition, visit this page and follow the instructions. Moving the Goalposts is delivered to your inboxes every Tuesday and Thursday. Continue reading...

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 7mo ago

After injuring her ACL, Laura Holden says she was neglected by Aberdeen. She tells me her mental health was ‘destroyed’ and worries that others in women’s football may be facing similar. For @sport.theguardian.com, Holden reflects on a difficult two years. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

Laura Holden: ‘I don’t want what happened to me to happen to anyone else’

The former Aberdeen midfielder, now with Swindon, opens up about the debilitating effect of suffering an ACL injury during her time in Scotland

theguardian.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 7mo ago

This week I watched basketball. London Lions and Niners Chermitz entertained at the Copper Box arena, but it was far from a sell-out crowd. The Lions are the capital’s only side and should be attracting far more support, even if it isn’t quite the NBA. jackimmcrae.com/2026/01/14/t...

TWIW: Seats, not pockets, need to be filled first if British basketball is to explode

This week I watched basketball. A shudder rippled down my spine as I entered the Copper Box Arena in Stratford for the Eurocup game between London Lions and Niners Chemnitz. Seeing the kaleidoscope…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 7mo ago

Phallon Tullis-Joyce frustrates and shuts out #AWFC as ten-player Red Devils survive Jayde Riviere red card. USWNT goalkeeper earned a valuable WSL point for United who were dominated by wasteful Gunners. Match ratings here: www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...

Man Utd women's player ratings vs Arsenal: Phallon Tullis-Joyce shuts out the Gunners! Ten-player Red Devils survive Jayde Riviere red card as USWNT goalkeeper earns valuable WSL point | Goal.com UK

Manchester United women’s player ratings as goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce is the hero as the Red Devils clung on to steal a 0-0 draw away at Arsenal in the first WSL game of the new year

goal.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 7mo ago

This week I watched darts. Gian van Veen has grown from boy to man to reach the world championship final. Few sports can have such transformative impact in such a short space of time as darts. And GvV’s opponent Luke Littler knows that more than most. jackimmcrae.com/2026/01/03/t...

TWIW: Van Veen grows from boy to man as darts continues to produce special moments and characters

This week I watched darts. Yet the story begins ten years ago, when an awe-struck 13-year-old boy from the small Dutch village of Poederoijen watched his sporting hero, a 45-year-old former pub lan…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 8mo ago

This week I watched Baller League, where the fun never stops. Even when it should. After six hours of forced entertainment, shoddy football and countless adverts, the thousands of empty seats do little to suggest this is truly a 'new era of football'. jackimmcrae.com/2025/12/20/t...

TWIW: Baller League, where the fun never stops. Even when it should.

This week I watched Baller League. At 10.30pm on a Monday night I am in a weird sporting purgatory. There are at most a couple hundred spectators left in the Copper Box Arena. The raucous music bla…

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Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 8mo ago

Harry Kane rescues a point for Bayern Munich against bottom-of-the-table Mainz. Lennart Karl impressed again, but Vincent Kompany's rotated side were almost made to rue missed chances in 2-2 draw as Daniel Batz had the game of his life in the Mainz net. www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/...

Late Harry Kane penalty bails out blundering Bayern Munich against bottom-of-the-table Mainz as 17-year-old sensation Lennart Karl shines again | Goal.com UK

Rock bottom Mainz were mightily close to shocking Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena before a late Harry Kane penalty rescued a fortunate point for the Bavarian giants. Vincent Kompany’s side were uni...

goal.com

Jack McRae@jackimmcrae.bsky.social · 8mo ago

This week I watched chess. It was strange to go to the Emirates and not watch #AFC, but the sport played in silence was captivating. Not able to truly understand the moves of elite players in the London Chess Classic, watching their emotions became my fascination. jackimmcrae.com/2025/12/04/t...

TWIW: Fascinating tension grips the Emirates at London Chess Classic

This week I watched chess. It is unusual to walk across the Ken Friar Bridge to a sporting event at the Emirates Stadium and not be among a sea of red, chanting in unison. On a blustery day in nort…

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