International Women’s Day Countdown #2: Guro Reiten. Guro’s four goals in an 8-0 marmalisation of Bristol City, following Arsenal’s late win over City, gave Chelsea fresh hope for the 2024 title. Two assists on the final day helped seal the deal. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #3: Catarina Macario. Cat scored in the 2022 UWCL Final, to help Lyon beat Barcelona. Her first goal for Chelsea came six minutes into her debut, having finally recovered from an ACL injury. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #4: Naomi Girma. Naomi was reportedly the first female player to attract a $1m transfer fee. Her first goal for Chelsea was an extra-time winner in the FA Cup, last weekend. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #5: Wieke Kaptein, who signed her first pro contract at 15 with Twente. Now 20, she has won the Dutch league twice, the WSL once, and has 27 senior caps for the Netherlands. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #6: Alyssa Thompson, whose first home and away goals for Chelsea were at Stamford Bridge and the Arsenal Stadium, respectively, so she’s not fazed by the big stage. By the way, Paul would like to remind you it’s the first of the month. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #7: Magdalena Eriksson. When asked what their ‘party piece’ might be, in an ad for KFC, Magda’s partner Pernille Harder says, “Well, yours is getting drunk and throwing up.” They are still together. True love. 💙 #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #8: Sandy Baltimore. Sandy scored two goals and assisted a third for Chelsea’s 3-0 win over Manchester United, in last season’s FA Cup Final. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #9: Aggie Beever-Jones. 2025 saw Aggie win a domestic treble, the Euros (on her 22nd birthday), and score a hat-trick for England at Wembley. 🏆🏆🏆🏆🎩

International Women’s Day Countdown #10: Kadeisha Buchanan, who has won the Champions’ League five times with Lyon, is an Olympic gold medallist for Canada, and has just returned from an ACL injury sustained in November 2024. Welcome back.

International Women’s Day Countdown #11: Maika Hamano, who is currently on loan at Spurs, but scored the winner against them, in between the previously mentioned demolitions of Bristol City and United, that kept Chelsea on track for the 2024 title. Sunshine in human form. #IWD

International Women’s Day Countdown #12: Erin Cuthbert. The engine and soul of Chelsea Women since 2017; just the most reassuring presence on any team sheet. I love her. 💙

Happy International Women’s Day. Reaching the end of our countdown, here is Ji So-yun, arguably the WSL 🐐, who seemed to make time stop around her. Scored the goal that won Chelsea Women’s first FA Cup; a privilege to have been able to watch her every week. #IWD

Wyngarde and Nighy in the same episode of Crown Court; what a treat.

Spent the evening at the pictures with Danny Dyer; just him on the screen, just me in the audience. He was on his phone the whole time. #Rude

It's April Fools Day. Our Board have decided that today is the one day of the year when we will sensibly and seriously dissect the global game, with no jokes or japes provided. As of April 2026, associate cricket nations, currently constituting the 98 ICC members outside the

Veerle Buurman scores late to grab her first in Chelsea blue! 👏 📺 Watch live on Channel 4 Sport, Football on TNT Sports and @Sportsonmax

Sitting on a bench facing this view, when a lady on a combined bike ride / dog walk paused to put a bag of the stinkiest dog poo into the bin beside me. It had me gagging, so I had to leave. Why are people?

An observation test for your inner 8-year-old. Can you spot 12 deliberate mistakes? From Treasure magazine, 1965 Official answers coming soon (Even if you don’t reply, could you please ‘like’ or share this one?)

Pelican Books are a record of what the British middle class thinks about...