Laura Lawrence

Here’s to England captain Williamson not only for her services to sport but also women’s health issues

December 31, 2022

Football authorities can’t afford to ignore female athletes’ health concerns like they did with dementia and heading the ball after the influential skipper [...]

2022 will be remembered as the Year of the Sportswoman – now that really is something to celebrate!

December 24, 2022

As the Christmas festivities get underway, our columnist Laura Lawrence is also raising a glass… or two (but who’s counting?) to Beth Mead, England Women and [...]

It’ll all end in beers: England fans’ performative Boxpark goal celebrations are leaving me cold

December 10, 2022

Instinctive reactions have been swapped for cosplaying that’s filmed and shared on social media, but the real travesty is wasting £7 pints, writes Laura Lawrence. [...]

Dependable England are the fleece-lined walking trousers of the World Cup. Nothing fancy but they get results

December 4, 2022

If clothes maketh the man, then, just like a pair of trusty slacks, you can rely on the Three Lions to get the job done. But let’s stop shouting about Phil Foden so we [...]

Spineless English and Welsh FAs could learn from Germany and Iran’s protests during World Cup

November 26, 2022

Other nations are standing up for what they believe in, despite what it will cost them, but England and Wales quickly reneged on their promise to send a powerful message of [...]

Fyre Festival 2.0: how will fan experience shape up at the Qatar World Cup?

November 19, 2022

As well as issues around LGBTQ+ rights and the treatment of migrant workers, early glimpses at the fan infrastructure at the Qatar World Cup show a place woefully [...]

Our Qatar 2022 stance will be clouded by England success at World Cup in the ultimate victory for sportswashing

November 4, 2022

To what degree we protest will depend on how far the Home Nation teams progress, says Laura Lawrence, but are we in any position to question another country’s ethics on [...]

Manchester United are haunted by the ghosts of champions past… It’s time to let Ronaldo and Fergie go

October 27, 2022

The moody Portuguese star is set to return to Europa League action against Sheriff Tiraspol tonight after being dropped at the weekend for storming down the tunnel before the [...]

Technology helps protect elite officials from physical and verbal abuse – now body cameras can do the same for grassroots refs

October 15, 2022

The introduction of bodycams at adult grassroots level next year will act as a deterrent against growing number of assaults on match officials, writes Laura Lawrence. Body [...]

From Going to the Match to going once, going twice… sold! This icon of working-class sporting art needs to stay on view for the public in Salford

October 7, 2022

Manchester United, Manchester City and Salford City should be campaigning to keep LS Lowry’s masterpiece of football art history where it belongs, writes Laura [...]