An entertaining summer of Test match cricket came to a close at the Oval — The English cricketing summer is all but over, and the last day of Test cricket is complete. England’s victory over South Africa wrapped up a summer that, in hindsight, can be viewed as a huge success. From the first Test of the summer against New Zealand at Trent Bridge to…

The death of Queen Elizabeth II could lead to a cultural change in the monarchy — and raise questions over how it needs to change — The death of Queen Elizabeth II has sent shock waves across the country and around the world. The death of someone is never nice, and I for one feel the personal gloating at her passing is several steps too far, for I’ve got nothing against her as a person but…

The Sheffield band are back — and creating divisive music once again. Many hardcore fans, however, seem to have more love than hate for it — The release of a new track last week ended a four year wait for fresh Arctic Monkeys music. Not since Tranquillity Base Hotel and Casino have the band from Sheffield given us new tunes, and it’s fair to say it felt like it was long overdue. ‘There’d better be a…

Thunder, lightning and rain fails to dampen intense clash in County Durham — Shotton Colliery slipped to a narrow 2–1 home defeat to Darlington Town on what turned out to be a wet and stormy night in East Durham. Heading into this one, both sides were in the top six after making positive starts to the season, and the match lived up to…

The Surrey side keeps their cool in the intense Cardiff afternoon heat — Football in the UK is now at peak pre-season with warm-up matches coming thick and fast for sides up and down the league pyramid. On what was a roasting Saturday afternoon, just a day before much of the country was to be issued an extreme heat warning, I made my…

Boris Johnson has moved slightly closer to leaving number 10, but a moving out day still feels like a long way off — Resignations from UK Prime Ministers is something that voters have become semi-accustomed to in the last decade. Two Prime Ministers have stepped down from their post in recent times, reaching a point which they considered to be of no return. Had they overseen even half of the crisis that Number…

The North Yorkshire town is a place you will really want to get your teeth stuck into… — The North East coast of England is lined with communities which have nestled amongst the fields and hills for centuries. Embedded into the history of the region, these communities have changed in purpose and appearance across the years whilst the landscape remained unaltered. One town that fits firmly in this…

On this day in 1916, the First World War experienced one of its bloodiest days — July 1 is a day which is synonymous in the history of the First World War. In a four year conflict which had a series of infamous dates, this is the one which arguably conjures the biggest sense of dread. More specifically, July 1 1916 is a day which typified…

The new, attacking approach to Test cricket saw the new England regime romp to a 3–0 series win — The ink on the scorecard from Headingley is barely dry, but the memories of the last five days are already imprinted in the minds of England fans everywhere. The conclusion of the Third Test in Leeds brings to an end a tour that the New Zealand camp might not be…