Feel like there is not enough football now the domestic European season is over? Fear not, the Copa America is set to begin Thursday June 20th creating a situation where the UEFA Euros games feed into Copa America scheduling meaning you can sit from 2pm to 2am during the group stages enjoying the best of what the world's most successful footballing continents have to offer. 

Another International football tournament can only mean one thing, I try and analyse who has the best outside chance of doing well, risking looking very silly, riding a wave of predicting Morocco to go far in the 2022 World Cup on the ‘Sporty Scoop’ podcast, I am going to try and do that again without mentioning the obvious favourites and likely finalists; England and France.

If you are anyway interested in sport and ventured onto social media around Christmas 2023 you would not have been able to escape the name Luke Littler, he captured the hearts and minds of darts and non darts fans alike due to the simple fact he was entering and dominating the World Darts Championships at Alexandra Palace at only 16 years old…

After completing four English Premier League titles in a row and six championships in seven years it is clear that Manchester City are the best team within England and with multiple other trophies outside of these league crowns including the lauded ‘Treble’ of the English Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League they have become a dynasty within the world of football…however, most fans in the English Premier League preferred they lifted the championship trophy this season over their closest competitor Arsenal who have not won the league since 2003/04. This begs the question: do people care if Manchester City are successful?

In 2023 I authored an article for The Scoop spotlighting a few Irish Professional Wrestlers who do not get spoken about in this neck of the woods despite them occupying space as our most respected and celebrated athletes in a global context, since that article was published there has been a substantial boom in the popularity of Pro Wrestling and Irish performers are at the forefront of this boom. 

The 2023/24 NIFL Premiership has now been and gone, Larne have retained the title they won for the first time last season being pushed into the last games of the championship group split by Linfield. Further down the table Loughgall FC managed to comfortably remain in the top division in their first season…

Following their third World Cup triumph in four tournaments Brazil embarked on a world tour taking on anyone who dared step up and play them. The Brazilian National Team went to the likes of the newly formed UAE and also played Plymouth Argyle at Home Park in front of 40,000 people. The most interesting of all these games however, took place at Lansdowne Road in Dublin.

On Wednesday February 28th 2024 I attended my first ever game at the SSE Arena Belfast to watch the Belfast Giants take to the ice against fellow Elite Ice Hockey League team Dundee Stars. Despite being sport editor here at The Scoop my knowledge of Ice Hockey is minimal so this won't be a play by play analysis of the action from the men in teal but a comment on the action generally and the atmosphere. 

ACL injuries are something all footballers fear, however for female footballers the fear comes with every reaching tackle and slide in a game or training session.

Injuries like these have quickly gained more media attention as events such as the women’s Euro’s and World Cup had significantly more coverage than in previous years, so more people are seeing the rate at which this injury is occurring.

Recently I have had the opportunity to sit down with two members of LKY SUNZ (pronounced Lucky Suns) Motorsport. LKY SUNZ are a project that are going to be based in South East Asia and aim to disrupt the status quo of international motor racing with their new approach of focusing on Asia and Africa for creative and technical talent which differs from traditional teams who remain Eurocentric in their approach. I got to speak with LKY SUNZ Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Pyrah and Chief Brand Officer Steve Price. Here we spoke about many topics such as their mission within motorsport, what series they are looking at and which venues they would like to see Formula One visit alongside much more.

Had enough sport yet? Of course not, after a congested Christmas period of football, rugby, Horse racing and Darts we are entering the period where we get to enjoy the more niche elements of competitive international football. Before the UEFA European Championships this summer we are graced with its African and Asian counterparts in January, and I have found a team competing in each tournament that you must keep an eye on if you have an interest in watching the tournaments.

Sion Swifts Ladies are a shining light for football in the north west of Ireland, they hold the honour of being one of the two teams from County Tyrone playing in the top divisions of football within the Northern Irish game, which is dominated by clubs east of the River Bann. Since their inception they have played their home games at the Melvin sports complex in Strabane…. However, with new Club Licensing rules coming into effect for the 2024 season Sion will have to leave Strabane in search for a suitable venue for home games approved by the IFA. 

In the penultimate round of the 2023 Formula One campaign we have been able to see in action a recurring flaw within the current climate of F1. Money. 

Another League of Ireland campaign is coming to a close and Derry City have once again come up short to a relentless Shamrock Rovers squad...Where does this leave Derry City?

Released this week, the documentary surrounding the life, career and well, brand, of David (and Victoria it should be stressed), Beckham is an absorbing watch.

Last week saw the UK and Ireland win the bid to host the Men’s European Football Championship in 2028. It has been proposed that the event be held in stadiums across the countries but where would that be in Belfast?

As we speed into the thrilling, three-week spell of “this is what you trained 4 years for lads”, elite international knockout rugby, it's worth hitting pause, rewinding, and enjoying some of the Rugby World Cup’s most memorable moments from the pool stages.

The Qatar race saw the temperature reach a scorching 30 degrees celsius which hit 50 degrees on track alongside high humidity which affected the drivers extremely putting them in danger.

‘The Féile and Conlan Boxing achieved what they set out to do; celebrate local talent in an accessible way and at a global level.

“For years a crop of Irish talent has been consistently at the top of their game in the biggest wrestling promotion in the world, but it is radio silence from Irish media.”

‘We Race As One’ as a campaign would be better replaced with a campaign slogan that actually represents the FIA’s values and priorities, something along the lines of ‘We Race For Money’. 

“I do want to be a part of helping the league grow now, I want to be part of the next step and be a voice for change here.”

“The vast number of changes in the off-season means that this campaign is near impossible to predict as everyone tries to bed into their new surroundings.”

“The NIFL Premiership in 2023 is quietly shaping up to having one of the most exciting title races in European football. There are six teams who can viably be considered to be in the picture to lift the Gibson Cup.”

“The mass overhaul of players in such a short space of time may have derailed the club’s best chance in several years to make it to the big time.”

“They find themselves in 3rd place after achieving seven wins in 12 games. Only Ballymacash Rangers and Steel and Son’s Cup winners Bangor sit above them.”

“For years Sion have shown that teams from the west of the country, who are under-represented in Northern Irish football, can compete at the top level. “

“As we usher in 2023 it seems a reasonable time to reflect on another remarkable sporting year. Our team of Sport Writers at the Scoop have picked their favourite sporting moments from 2022 and outlined their reasons why.”