Meet The Team - Sports Mole

Sports Mole is brought to you by a team of dedicated experts from across the world of sports. Read on to find out more about our reporters!

Barney Corkhill - Editor-in-chief

A journalism graduate from the University of Sheffield, Barney firmly believes that there is no such thing as a bad sport. As a lifelong Liverpool fan, he still regularly replays the 2005 Champions League final and lists a host of players from the Anfield club amongst his favourite sportsmen.

On the field himself, Barney has forged a reputation as a goalscoring defender with a fearsome left foot that earned him a (self-proclaimed) nickname of John (b)Arne(y) Riise (nothing to do with the ginger hair). Follow Barney on Twitter @BarneyCorkhill.

Lewis Blain - Editor

Lewis joined as News and Features Editor in July 2025, having previously held senior roles at Snack Media and GRV Media. A passionate follower of sport, in particular football and golf, as well as a proud Aldershot Town supporter, he brings over six years of experience in the digital sports publishing space. Follow Lewis on Twitter @lewisblainsport.

Matt Law - Football Editor

A true Sports Mole veteran, Matt has been with the website since 2011 and currently holds the role of Football Editor. An avid Manchester United fan, Matt is confident that the glory days will return in the not-too-distant future.

Matt is a keen footballer, playing at a decent level before the ankles started to deteriorate, and a former national finals table tennis champion, but his latest sport is pickleball, and he believes that he has one of the most consistent backhands in the entire UK. Follow Matt on Twitter @MLAW290.

Darren Plant - Senior Reporter

Darren graduated from Staffordshire University with a Sports Journalism degree in 2009 and has previously worked for news website InTheNews as well as local newspapers The Cannock Mercury and The Chase Post. Darren is a Chelsea fan but also follows Conference North side Hednesford Town.

He has a big interest in darts, and plays for two different pub sides. He names his favourite sportsmen as Fernando Torres, Andy Murray and Wayne Mardle. Follow Darren on Twitter @Dazman5.

Ben Knapton - Senior Reporter

Ben graduated from the University of Brighton with a Sports Journalism degree in 2019, and has experience working with newspapers, broadcasters and reporting live from the press box. Ben is an avid Arsenal fan and was at the Emirates to see THAT Jack Wilshere goal against Norwich City.

A former British champion in gymnastics, he has since taken his acrobatic traits to the football pitch, playing as a goalkeeper in his spare time. Follow Ben on Twitter @BenKnapton.

Oliver Thomas - Senior Reporter

Oliver graduated from UCFB Wembley with a First Class Honours degree in Multimedia Sports Journalism in 2019, and has experience working for the media teams at Wycombe Wanderers and Hampton and Richmond Borough as well as working for the National League Under-19's Alliance and The National Student.

Oliver is an avid Manchester City supporter and is currently aiming to visit all 92 football league grounds. Follow Oliver on Twitter @O1iThomas.

Jonathan O'Shea - Reporter

Jonathan is a Sports Journalism graduate from the University of Huddersfield who also works in education. Having written for several football websites in the past, particularly about the much-maligned Europa League, the unfailing drama and intrigue of Italy's Serie A is where his interests now lie.

A part-time Aston Villa and Republic of Ireland supporter; full-time football chatterer, Jonathan also holds a candle for guitar music, surreal comedies and a variety of other sports. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @strangeloaf

Sam Varley - Reporter

Sam is a Sheffield United season ticket holder, while also running the social media content of non-league club Yorkshire Amateur AFC in Leeds. When he's not writing, watching or playing football, Sam enjoys watching cricket, golf and boxing, and is currently studying Business and Marketing at the University of Manchester.

Marvellous Adepoju - Reporter

Trading in blueprints for bylines, Marvellous is an engineering graduate who has found his true calling in sports writing. A firm believer of the notion that there is no 'right way' to play football as many would cite possession football as.

Joshua Ojele - Reporter

Currently an undergraduate student of Petroleum Engineering in Nigeria's premier university, Joshua is an ardent Chelsea fan who enjoys writing and debating about football.

A fox in the box himself, he terrorises opposing defenders whenever on the field of play and strongly believes that when compared to Manchester United's treble-winning team, Chelsea's 2003-2004 side, Manchester City's centurion or Liverpool's 2019-20 title-winning side, Arsenal's invincibles are a tad bit overrated. Follow Joshua on Twitter @JoshuaOjele.

Joel Lefevre - Reporter

Joel is known to most people as a former houseguest on Big Brother Canada, competing on season four of the television show. He is a broadcast journalism graduate from WABC in Canada with over a decade of experience as a news and sports writer, host and reporter.

As a dual French and Canadian citizen, he is a massive football fan and former goalkeeper who fell in love with the Beautiful Game at an early age. He has been a lifelong supporter of AS Monaco and the French national team with tons of footballing knowledge covering football leagues around the world and reporting on numerous club and international tournaments. Follow Joel on Twitter @JoelBBCAN.

Carter White - Reporter

Carter recently graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Bachelor's degree in Economics and is now pursuing his passion of football journalism and sports content creation.

A season ticket holder at Birmingham City who is desperately holding on to their League Cup win and subsequent Europa League campaign during the early 2010s. Created Bluenose Alliance on Instagram in 2020 to give Birmingham fans a place to discuss the annual relegation battles.

Ellis Stevens - Reporter

Ellis graduated from the University of Brighton with a Sports Journalism degree in 2023. A passionate football enthusiast, with a particular love for Manchester United, Ellis enjoys writing and discussing the beautiful game at every opportunity. While football is his main sport, Ellis has an interest in Tennis, Formula 1, and Boxing. Follow Ellis on Twitter @EllisSt07.

Lewis Nolan - Reporter

An avid writer and sports fan, Lewis studied English as an undergraduate at King's College London before undertaking his Digital Culture and Society Masters degree at the same institution. Keen to combine his two great interests, Lewis continues to produce work on his personal blog site, as well as on Sports Mole as a freelance reporter.

Lewis is a lifelong Liverpool fan and has contributed for fan websites. His first ever Anfield game was a 2-0 victory against Spurs, a memory he will remember forever and one that has fuelled his desire to further write about the Merseyside club. Follow Lewis on Twitter @LewisFN00.

Byron David - Reporter

Byron David is a sports broadcaster and writer from Johannesburg, South Africa. He has more than 17 years of experience in the industry and has written for domestic publications before. Byron is hugely passionate about football, cricket, rugby and follows are major sports as well. He has had the privilege of interviewing a plethora of sports stars and is a massive Arsenal fan.

Ademola Adediji - Reporter

Ademola is a dedicated sports writer with years of experience covering football and other sports, as well as sports betting verticals. A graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University and University of Ibadan, his work cuts across match previews, news and features on global football.

Besides his love for writing about football, he is an ardent Arsenal fan who once had hopes of representing the Super Eagles. Follow Ademola on Twitter @Demosha_.

Ben Sully - Reporter

Ben is a freelance sports writer with years of experience in the industry. He is an avid Portsmouth fan but also loves all things European football, with a particular keen interest in LaLiga. He has many treasured memories of attending games as a fan, including some memorable trips to Wembley Stadium for Pompey’s FA Cup semi-final win in 2010, their EFL Trophy success in 2019, and England’s triumph in the Women’s European Championships in 2022.

Away from football, Ben is passionate about cricket and Formula 1, and regards Lewis Hamilton as his sporting hero. Follow Ben on Twitter @SullyBen.

Saikat Mandal - Reporter

Saikat completed his master's at the University of Bedfordshire in 2010 and has over 10 years of experience covering football (and other sports) for publications including GRV Media, Rocket Sports Network, and Breaking Media, before joining Sports Mole.

A die-hard Liverpool fan, Saikat also has a keen interest in F1, cricket, and tennis, and has conducted face-to-face interviews with footballers such as Emile Heskey and Robbie Fowler. Follow Saikat on Twitter @saikatm87.

Joshua Cole - Reporter

Joshua Cole is an experienced sports writer, bringing close to a decade of industry expertise to his coverage of football across Europe and beyond. Known for his clear analysis and engaging match previews, Joshua specialises in breaking down tactical trends, form guides, and betting angles, with accuracy and balance.

Over the years, he has built a strong reputation for delivering well-researched content under tight deadlines, contributing consistently to pre-match previews, news stories, and features. His work reflects a deep understanding of the modern game, supported by data-driven insights and a sharp editorial voice. Joshua’s writing style prioritises clarity and credibility, making complex information accessible to a broad audience of football fans.

Interested in joining our team?

If you are interested in joining our team, you can find details on how to submit an application by clicking here.