Alex Connor

Football Journalist

What do I offer?

Enthusiastic football journalist with a passion for engaging storytelling and reporting. I have experience crafting compelling live blogs, reports, articles, and features across digital and print publications, magazines, and clubs.

Standout Digital Work

The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Spain masterclass knocks out France

The result means that Spain are the first team in the competition’s history to keep six clean sheets at a single World Cup, while the 0.3 xG France accumulated against them is the lowest tally for a nation in a semi-final in the tournament since Sweden versus Brazil in 1994 (0.1). Oyarzabal doesn’t necessarily garner the headlines by default, given he isn’t the most skilful, powerful or eye-catching forward but you simply cannot argue with his output, and he will undoubtedly be one of the first...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Mbappé breaks Morocco's resistance

Kylian Mbappé’s uncharacteristic penalty miss in the first half - only his second failure from 16 spot kicks he’s taken for France - offered Morocco a lifeline. Still, the Real Madrid frontman wouldn’t afford Mohamed Ouahbi’s men the same mercy after the break, curling in a sumptuous effort right into the corner on the hour mark to deservedly give France the lead, moving him level with Lionel Messi on eight goals in the 2026 Golden Boot race.Just six minutes later, the result was put beyond any...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

England claim famous Azteca win and Norway beat the boys from Brazil

Neymar was in tears after the full-time whistle on what was his 15th and final World Cup appearance for Brazil, while Haaland led Norway’s already iconic Viking Row by banging the drum to dictate the celebration. Safe to say, it’s the greatest result in Norwegian football history, and with their formidable goal-scoring machine up top, anything is possible for the Scandinavians.Jarrel Quansah’s red card left England fans fearing the worst, but Harry Kane’s clinical penalty – his sixth goal of the...
The Assist: FotMob's World Cup Newsletter •

Argentina scrape through, Egypt and Colombia keep their dreams alive

Nevertheless, the Blue Sharks handed the reigning world champions their toughest test of the tournament so far in an epic battle as Argentina needed an 111th-minute own goal from Diney Borges to progress into the last 16.Once again, the minnows found another equaliser as Sidny Cabral curled in one of the goals of the tournament into the top corner. But Argentina’s blushes were spared when Cristian Romero’s header deflected off Borges, with the South Americans just about clinging onto the victory...
The Telegraph •

Spurs relegation fears deepen on night bitterest rivals celebrate winning league

Defeat again, the 17th of the season from hell, while 16 places above Arsenal claimed their seventh league title since Spurs won their last in 1961. The unbearable weight of all that history will have to be set aside for now because there is still a strong possibility that Spurs will be playing in the Football League next season. Their Premier League lives rest on them taking a point against Everton on Sunday – at their home stadium where they have won just twice all season.Afterwards, their new...
The Telegraph •

Hearts condemn ‘shameful scenes’ after captain ‘assaulted’ in Celtic pitch invasion

Hearts have condemned the “shameful scenes” at the end of their Scottish Premiership title decider at Celtic Park, after captain Lawrence Shankland was allegedly assaulted during a pitch invasion.Celtic fans poured onto the pitch following Callum Osmand’s injury-time goal which confirmed they had leapfrogged Hearts to the top of the table on a hugely controversial day in Glasgow.In a strongly-worded statement, the club said that they had no choice but to leave the scene immediately and board the...
The Telegraph •

Arsenal have one hand on Premier League trophy after lucky win over West Ham

This was the biggest VAR call since the controversial technology was introduced into the Premier League in 2019. The biggest in its chequered history. And it might have decided not just who wins the title but who is relegated. Yes, it was that big, that consequential, that dramatic. Certainly if Arsenal are champions they can thank VAR.It is hard to think of a single incident that had such a potentially profound effect. And not least because it also came deep into injury-time.We always want just...
FotMob •

FC Supra du Quebec ready for historic Canadian Premier League debut

In September 2025, it was announced that Québec would welcome its first-ever CPL club ahead of the 2026 season. Supra was born, and they’ll make their much-awaited debut on Saturday 11th April, when they play Pacific FC in British Columbia. Supra have ripped up the script in North America and adopted LaLiga side Athletic Club’s ‘Cantera’ policy, a non-negotiable practice where only players born or trained in the Basque Country can be selected. Supra will apply this...
The Telegraph •

Dissected: The humiliating Newcastle blunders that gifted Barcelona victory

Newcastle United’s European adventure ended in humiliation at the hands of Barcelona and there is no guarantee they will be back in the Champions League any time soon.This was a catastrophic defensive display; an embarrassment. Newcastle’s blunders gifted Barcelona five of their seven goals. Kieran Trippier’s foul on Raphinha, with less than 30 seconds to play until half-time, turned the tide after Anthony Elanga’s double had twice pegged Barcelona back.Lamine Yamal converted the penalty and New...
FotMob •

Premier League: West Ham United 1-1 Manchester City

What a result for West Ham, who defended determinedly and valiantly to record a hard-fought 1-1 draw with Man City at the London Stadium. This result means that the Hammers move up to 17th, above Nottingham Forest, and are out of the relegation zone for the first time since the start of December. Meanwhile, City have lost critical ground in the title race and, with a game in hand, have dropped nine points behind Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. City struck first in the 31st minute through Silva’s opener, before West Ham swiftly equalised via Mavropanos’ header. The visitors threw everything at the hosts in the second half, with Haaland having an effort saved, Reijnders hitting the bar from a free kick, and Guehi smashing over from close range. Ultimately, City, who registered 2.06 xG and 24 shots, couldn’t break Nuno’s men down, and the points are shared. West Ham recorded 0.54 xG and just one shot, their joint fewest in a Premier League match Opta has on record – they also had one against Chelsea in January 2014. West Ham travel to Aston Villa for another huge Premier League clash next Sunday. Meanwhile, City will host Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League knockout tie on Tuesday, before a trip to Wembley at the weekend to face Arsenal in the EFL Cup final. We hope you’ve enjoyed this live text commentary. Thank you for joining us!
FotMob •

Hajduk Split’s journey against the odds

Disappointment and agonisingly fine margins have become a familiar tale for Hajduk. A previously successful force has become Croatia’s perennial bridesmaid. Since their previous league title win, Hajduk have finished either HNL runners-up or in third place a combined 14 times. In the last three campaigns, they’ve placed second once and third twice. In the 2023/24 season, Hajduk were top at the winter break, but lost four consecutive games in the spring, inclu...
FotMob •

Kenan Yildiz: Juventus’ creative heartbeat, who is taking Italian football by storm

The silky playmaker was denied two first-half assists. Firstly, he teed up Khéphren Thuram, who crashed an effort against the post, before dribbling at the Napoli backline, attracting the attention of multiple defenders, and slipping in Francisco Conceição. Still, his teammate’s goal-bound effort was cleared off the line by Alessandro Buongiorno. 


Nevertheless, Yıldız would eventually receive his crowning moment. Deep into the second half, he doubled Juventus’ lead,...
Stratford Observer •

Stratford Town heritage book to be released after cub’s wartime origins unearthed

Notably, Connor discovered the fascinating wartime origins of the Bards and found the club acted as a means of escapism for soldiers returning home on leave and foreign prisoners of war.

Some of the people interviewed for the book include the children of club founder Paul Bartlett and 96-year-old Don Payne who played in matches for Stratford against Italian prisoners of war in Ettington.

And Connor revealed the idea to write the book initially came from a request for work experience.

Connor s...
Goalkeeper.com •

Linus Kandolin: the importance of adaptability as a GK coach

Adaptability, selflessness, and the hunger to learn are the formula for Linus Kandolin’s rise to a Premier League coaching job. The 34-year-old has been a goalkeeper coach for the last decade at Ostersunds FK, IF Elfsborg, and West Ham United.

Speaking exclusively to Goalkeeper.com, the Swede’s “biggest advice” to youngsters sums up the mindset that has underpinned his success so far: “be humble and curious about finding new ways of helping goalkeepers improve. Work hard, because you can always...
Goalkeeper.com •

Rafael Cabral interview: Brazil to Berkshire, and beyond

Rafael Cabral has enjoyed an illustrious playing career, spanning over 20 years, seeing the goalkeeper feature at the highest levels in Brazil, Italy, England, and the United States. Since January 2025, Rafael has been with MLS side Real Salt Lake. In September, the Claret and Cobalt announced that his contract had been extended to 2027, with an option to take it until 2028.
The 35-year-old is relishing his time in America. “Playing in the MLS was always...
Goalkeeper.com •

Maths Elfvendal and Michael Gspurning: How To Effectively Structure A Goalkeeper Pre-Season

Pre-season is a much less documented part of the football calendar. Welcome back videos will often be posted on the club’s social media, portraying a jovial ‘back-to-school’ atmosphere as everyone returns from their sun-soaked holidays. Hefty concentration is placed upon fitness as players recover from their well-deserved breaks, but what does the rest of the pre-season process involve for goalkeepers?

Michael Gspurning is Union Berlin’s Head of Goalkeeping and Goalkeeper Coach, playing an inst...
Glory •

EE Disability FA Cup

This match was one of six finals taking place at the EE Disability FA Cup across 28th and 29th June 2025 at St. George’s Park. It's the ninth edition of this event, hosting finals for the following formats: Amputee, Blind, Cerebral Palsy, Deaf, Partially Sighted and Powerchair football.
With EE confirmed as the official title partner for the next four years, this ensures that impairment-specific football has a national FA competition with a stable future. 
The 2025 edition of this remarkable eve...
Goalkeeper.com •

Frederik Gössling: Inside RB Leipzig's GK Department

Hunger to succeed and the ambition to develop: these are the motives that embody Frederik Gössling’s working life and RB Leipzig’s monumental progression. Founded in 2009, Leipzig’s meteoric rise into Europe’s elite has included four promotions in seven years to reach the Bundesliga, two DFB-Pokal trophies and a Champions League semi-final. Gössling has been at the heart of this glorious journey.

Gössling has operated as the club’s goalkeeper coach for ten years. In October 2024, his contract i...
Goalkeeper.com •

Sam Walker: The 'academic' GK backing Bradford's charge

“I didn’t want to stand still.” This is the mantra that Sam Walker has adopted in his football career and everyday mentality. Walker is a goalkeeper who constantly seeks improvement. An intense focus upon development has overseen a brilliant career on the pitch and has extended into his endeavours off it.

The Bradford City goalkeeper is ambitious and hungry. He possesses a BA degree in Business Management and Administration and is on course to finish his Global Sport Football Directorship Diplo...
Goalkeeper.com •

Dean Thornton: Ramsdale, Russell Martin, Reflection, & More

Dean Thornton has worked across the football pyramid as a goalkeeper coach, previously at Queens Park Rangers, Milton Keynes Dons, Swindon Town and Swansea City, and currently at Southampton. “17 years later and I’m still coaching,” he says, speaking exclusively to Goalkeeper.com. “I started this journey so young. I made the right decision to go down this route.”

Thornton’s fantastic coaching journey stemmed from a lower profile playing career. As a young...
Goalkeeper.com •

Darryl Flahavan: From Facing Ronaldo To Beating Slot's Reds

Since he first laid eyes on a football, Darryl Flahavan has been surrounded by various waves of goalkeeping brilliance that have shaped a tremendous playing and coaching career. His older brother Aaron was a professional goalkeeper at Portsmouth and paved the way for Darryl’s introduction to football. “When I was nine, I watched my brother at the Portsmouth Academy and School of Excellence,” he says, speaking exclusively to Goalkeeper.com.

“I would stand on the side of the pitch, catching balls...
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