The Sporting Hack

Fulham 0-1 Bolton Ivan Klasnic sent Bolton Wanderers through to the quarter finals of the FA Cup with a well timed volley after 19 minutes at Craven Cottage. The Croatian netted the only goal of the game in an exciting all Premier League encounter. Bolton are rarely pretty, and today was no exception. Once criticised for their physicality in seasons under Sam Allardyce, they’ve recently played attractive football under the stewardship of Owen Coyle. However, the Trotters reverted to their old selves in order to bludgeon Fulham out of the game. Fulham struggled to find time or space and rarely tested Wanderers ‘keeper Adam Bogdan. The Cottagers lack of composure in the final third was mirrored in the back line too. Chung-Yong Lee drove into the box and delivered a crisp cross which the home side failed to clear and the grateful Klasnic slammed home past the beleaguered Mark Schwarzer to put the visitors ahead. Controversial referee Stuart Attwell brought a frenetic first half...

Tonight two set of supporters from Manchester will travel up the M6. One group will bypass the signs and bright lights of the tower and carry on to the gateway to the Lake District for the Evostik Premier Division meeting between Kendal Town and FC United of Manchester – the club formed as a revolt against the owners of Manchester United. The Glazers have unquestionably endured a turbulent time at Old Trafford in their six year tenure. An £800M buy out of the club has been followed by three Premier League titles and two European Cup final appearances, one a victory, but that has still not been enough to please all of the fans. The Red Devils, owned by the controversial American family, recently denied meetings with an investment group owned by the Qatari royal family who are potentially willing to offer up to £1.5bn for the club. It is believed that United’s owners value the club at closer to £2bn, a remarkable figure for a sports team and one that could probably buy the town o...

We all know that Premier League players earn a hefty wage week in week out, and they are even viewed by some as celebrities with an almost ‘pop star’ like public image. But which bands do the clubs they represent resemble most? Arsenal – Escala – Young, energetic and talented. Despite their classiness, it hasn’t brought them the success that many predicted. Aston Villa – Dizzee Rascal – A focus on youth here too. Their appointment of Gerard Houllier was arguably as baffling and complex as a Rascal verse. Birmingham City – Arctic Monkeys – Early stuff was great, yet their new stuff isn’t as attractive or productive and they’re on the slide. Blackburn Rovers – Kerry Katona – Find themselves in the headlines for controversial reasons. As well as being quite unattractive. Blackpool – Elton John – “Still standing!” but only just. They are colourful, entertaining and charismatic. Usually seen in a fluorescent orange outfit that the Watford chairman would be proud of. B...

left - fulham end. left - myself and jonny As the son of someone who saw Rovers host Newport County in front of 800, I was never allowed the apparent luxury of being a ‘glory hunter’. You don’t choose your team, your team (or dad) chooses you and you stick by it. 14 consecutive season tickets later I’m still going, though now it’s a pleasure of course. However, one day my typically stubborn father, who resisted his mates cries of “don’t make him suffer too”, was persuaded by a work colleague to let me watch his side. Not just that, but for them to win promotion too. The date was 14 th April 2000 and I missed Rovers home draw with Hayes in favour of watching Fulham gain promotion to the Premier League by winning 2-1 at Huddersfield. It felt good, but I was tinged with guilt. Despite no goals at Belle Vue, deep down I missed not being the 1170 th person watching the mid-table Conference stalemate. Nonetheless, little did I know I was stood in the same end as Luke, a Fulham fa...

Despite being just short of her 20 th birthday, Caster Semenya will remain a figure of controversy for the rest of her life. It doesn’t matter how many tests she undergoes, there will always be someone somewhere in the world of athletics that is sceptical of her feats. Her feats include winning 800M gold at the 2009 World Championships by over two seconds which raised infamous questions over her gender. The IAAF made it public knowledge that they were to investigate yet dealt with the whole process in a shambolic and embarrassing way. In a retrospective statement they claimed it was to examine whether she had a rare medical condition that gave her an unfair advantage. Whether or not she did possess this condition, no one deserves to be shamed in such a way by an internationally recognised body that regulates competition and looks to have athlete’s best interests at heart. The South African teenager who possesses a raw talent and ‘easy on the eye’ stride when on the track has for...