Ben Mapp Journalism

In the dying embers of Wednesday afternoon’s Club World Cup clash between Manchester City and Wydad Casablanca, full-back Rico Lewis launched into a 50-50 challenge. He won the ball cleanly, but the studs-up follow-through caught Samuel Obeng in the face, and Lewis was shown a straight red card. It was the sort of tackle that once brought crowds to their feet. Now, it earns a dismissal. Lewis looked visibly stunned, and a wave of outrage followed online. Social media was full of fans stating a familiar complaint: “He won the ball.” To fans steeped in old-school football culture, it was a perfect, hard challenge – robust, brave, committed. A red card? Ludicrous. But to others, viewing through the lens of modern player welfare and officiating standards, the verdict was clear: the challenge was reckless, the follow-through dangerous, and the red card entirely justified. This wasn’t just a one-off incident; it was another flashpoint in a two-decade-long cultural clash between eras....

Tottenham Hotspur have sacked Ange Postecoglou. And in doing so, Daniel Levy has torched the club’s most hopeful chapter in years. A fractured fanbase. Protests inside and outside the ground. A disillusioned dressing room. Levy deserves everything coming his way. This is the most self-destructive move of his reign, and that’s saying something. There’s an almost comical irony to it all. Postecoglou is sacked the same week Beyoncé is selling out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. If anything epitomises the priorities of this chairman, it’s that. Two weeks ago, Postecoglou brought Spurs their first trophy in 17 years, securing a return to the Champions League. He did it all in the face of relentless injuries, media pressure, and after losing arguably the greatest player in the club’s history a day before his first game. On May 23rd, 220,000 fans filled the streets of north London for a historic trophy parade. The most united the club had felt since the Pochettino era. Sixteen days later, he’s bee...

The women’s football pyramid has taken shape ahead of the 2025/26 season, with 12 clubs across Essex discovering their league allocations. Among the headline news is Billericay Town’s reprieve at Step 3, ensuring a fourth consecutive campaign at that level for The Blues. While there will be no Essex representation at Step 4 this season, movement elsewhere in the pyramid includes promotions for Hutton, Brentwood Town, Colchester United, Hashtag United Reserves and She Can Play Panthers, who all rise into the league structure at Step 5 or 6. Step 3 - Women's National League Southern Premier Division Essex will once again be represented by Hashtag United and Billericay Town in the third tier of women’s football, with both clubs heading into 2025/26 under new management. Billericay Town have been handed a reprieve after finishing 11 th in the FAWNL Southern Premier Division last time out. The FA confirmed the decision under Regulation 6.4, citing Blackburn Rovers’ allocation t...

Football is no stranger to reform. Whether it’s the back-pass rule, goal-line technology, or even VAR, the game has continuously evolved to meet the demands of modernity. But there is one aspect of the VAR era that is long overdue for revision - the delayed offside flag. After yesterday's horrific news that Nottingham Forest striker Taiwo Awoniyi has been placed in an induced coma following a serious collision with a goalpost, the time has finally come to abolish the controversial, and frankly dangerous rule. Brought in to ensure legal goal-scoring opportunities won’t be prevented by human error, the rule requires assistant referees to delay raising the offside flag in borderline offside situations until the attacking phase of play concludes. In theory, it protects attacks that may have been wrongly stopped, but in practice, it’s a hazard. Since its introduction in the Premier League during the 2020–21 season, the rule has sparked frustration among fans, particularly those at...

With promotion, heartache, and history etched into another dramatic Isthmian Premier Division campaign, the time has come to spotlight the standout performers who defined the 2024/25 season. From Horsham’s unforgettable title win to Chichester’s unlikely maiden Step 3 season, this was a year marked by consistency, class, and no shortage of unforgettable individual displays. Featuring seasoned leaders, breakout stars, and moments of brilliance across all positions, this piece is one celebrating those who not only delivered for their clubs but shaped the narrative of a compelling campaign. ISTHMIAN PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE SEASON GOALKEEPER – LEWIS CAREY (Horsham) An ever-present figure in Horsham’s title-winning campaign. Carey played every single minute of the season, a feat that ultimately outlines his importance to Dom Di Paola’s side. The 31-year-old finished the season with a league-high 18 clean sheets, anchoring the best defence in the division. While others impressed individ...

After 37 weeks of twists, turns, ups, downs, and everything in between, the title race reaches a breathtaking conclusion this Saturday. Billericay Town, Horsham, and Dartford head into the final day locked on 84 points, separated only by the smallest of goal difference margins. Three clubs competing for one title, and just 90 minutes to decide it. With goal difference, goals scored, and perhaps even games won all coming into play, fans across the south-east are bracing for a nail-biting afternoon of twists, turns, and heartbreak. If any readers have seen the movie Cars , they’ll know that sometimes a race comes down to a three-way tie – except this one is all too real. The Story of the Season This season’s title race has been nothing short of epic, with momentum shifting multiple times and no one team dominating the division from August to April. Dover Athletic flew out of the blocks with an 8-0 demolition of Potters Bar Town on the opening weekend, and Hastings United brie...

KELMAN THE DIFFERENCE AS ORIENT EDGE PAST STEVENAGE Charlie Kelman’s 12 th minute header was enough to move Leyton Orient within two points of the League One playoffs as The O’s recorded their first win over Stevenage at Brisbane Road since 2016. Manager Richie Wellens watched from the stands as his side mustered just three attempts on goal, but it proved enough as Orient secured a vital win following the international break. Orient started brightly, with top scorer Charlie Kelman forcing an early error from Stevenage goalkeeper Murphy Cooper inside the opening 90 seconds, though the visitors managed to scramble clear. A flurry of Orient corners followed as Dan Agyei’s curling effort was deflected wide by Charlie Goode, and moments later, Agyei turned provider for Jordan Brown, whose low strike clipped Goode’s heel and crept wide. It was from the latter that Orient deservedly broke the deadlock 12 minutes in. Sean Clare did well to recycle a corner and his first time cross was...