Ben Mapp Journalism

Few drivers in Formula One history have achieved the level of dominance that Max Verstappen now possesses. As he clinches his fourth consecutive World Championship, the Dutchman continues to cement his place among the all-time greats. Yet, a common critique lingers over his success: is Verstappen’s dominance a product of Red Bull Racing’s engineering genius under the guidance of Adrian Newey? While the RB18 and RB19 were revolutionary machines, the 2024 season offers a new narrative, challenging the stereotype that Verstappen’s dominance is solely reliant on having a dominant car. Formula One is as much about the machinery as it is about the driver, as teams spend millions of dollars every season to perfect every aerodynamic surface and extract every millisecond of performance. Dominant drivers often benefit from superior cars, as seen with Michael Schumacher’s F2004, Lewis Hamilton’s W11, and Sebastian Vettel’s RB9. Verstappen’s recent championship victories in the RB18 and RB19 con...

The FA Cup is frequently dubbed the greatest cup competition in the world, often characterised by classic matches and unlikely upsets. Here, we look at the ten greatest and most famous cupsets in the competitions’ rich and prestigious history. 1) Manchester City 0-1 Wigan Athletic – 2012/13 FA Cup Final Ben Watson’s last-minute winner secured Wigan Athletic’s first ever major trophy as they beat the Premier League runners-up at Wembley. The star-studded City side couldn’t break down Roberto Martinez’s resolute defence, and Watson stepped up to head home a corner at the death to spark jubilation among Latics’ supporters. However, the joy was short-lived as Wigan suffered relegation from the Premier League just days later, becoming the first team in history to win the FA Cup and get relegated in the same season. 2) Hereford United 2-1 Newcastle United – 1971/72 FA Cup Third Round Replay After a 2-2 draw at St. James’ Park, Southern League side Hereford United were already overj...

Despite England’s extensive cricketing history, their overseas Test record uncovers a pattern of consistent underperformance on foreign soil. A combination of challenging conditions, squad composition, and approach to the game has seen England struggle to perform abroad. As the team prepares for the 2025-26 Ashes, England face mounting pressure to avoid yet another defeat. Since 2000, England have won just 38.4% of their overseas Tests and secured only seven wins from 24 away series since 2010 – statistics that only emphasise the growing issue of England underperformance away from home. England’s troubles often start with adapting to foreign pitches, particularly the pace and bounce of Australian wickets and the spin-friendly surfaces in Asia. At home, England’s bowlers thrive in seaming, overcast conditions, as seen in the performance disparities of legendary seamers James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Anderson’s impressive home average of 23.84 contrasts sharply with his away aver...

HINCKS RETURNS TO FIRE WIMBLEDON TO VICTORY IN CONTROVERSIAL ESSEX CLASH Ashlee Hincks returned from suspension to round off a commanding win for AFC Wimbledon under drizzly Essex skies this afternoon. In a clash riddled with controversy, The Dons took control either side of half time, as strikes from Emily Donovan and Kau’inoshea Solomon-Taylor gave Kevin Foster’s side complete control, before Hincks completed the scoring 20 minutes from time. With both teams eager to bounce back from FA Cup penalty heartbreak a week earlier, Billericay entered the clash just a point behind their visitors, boasting the division’s second-best home record despite only securing one clean sheet thus far. Newly promoted AFC Wimbledon arrived in Essex with one of the league’s best defensive records, conceding just six goals and earning four clean sheets in eight matches. The Blues made three changes from the side that exited the FA Cup last weekend, with Ylenia Priest, Maddie Biggs, and Ella Houghto...

Speaking to club media, Billericay Town boss Gary McCann shared insights into his side’s new additions, current injury situation, and frustrations over two consecutive draws against Whitehawk and Chatham Town. The Blues have bolstered their ranks this week with the introduction of young forward Jonas Mukuna and midfielder Arjanit Krasniqi, who returns on loan for a second stint at the Essex club. However, McCann’s side still faces significant challenges with player availability ahead of a challenging schedule. Mukuna, a 19-year-old talent, arrives with experience from EFL academies, having spent time at Leyton Orient, QPR, and later with League Two’s Walsall. After brief stints with Farnborough and Havant & Waterlooville last term, Mukuna arrives at New Lodge at a crucial time. As McCann stated, “the timing is perfect for reinforcements.” Revealing that Mukuna had recently trained with Colchester United, McCann admitted that Mukuna “wanted a little higher than us”, however, with ...

2020 – a year dominated by the global pandemic and political turbulence. During these times, one footballer stood out, not just for his talent on the pitch, but also for his unexpected venture into British politics. Manchester United and England forward Marcus Rashford’s story is not just about a footballer looking for change, but also about the growing role of athletes in politics, a field often dominated by activists or policymakers. Rashford challenged the perception that sport and politics should be left as separate entities, and soon emerged as a prominent figure in the fight against child food poverty in the UK, pushing the government in ways athletes have avoided in the past. The beginning of this campaign came in June 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rashford began to use his platform to address a major societal issue – child food poverty. The Conservative British government had decided to end a scheme providing meal vouchers to families during school holi...