Dominic Fifield
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domfifield.bsky.social
Dominic Fifield
@domfifield.bsky.social
3.6K followers 220 following 88 posts
Senior writer turned commissioning editor at The Athletic. Previously spent 20 years at the Guardian and Observer newspapers

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/author/dominic-fifield/
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domfifield.bsky.social
Dominic Fifield @domfifield.bsky.social · Nov 19
Pinning this because, well, it means Vince Hilaire is at the top of my feed...

🎶Billy Corkhill, Vince Hilaire
Freddie Flintstone and Fred Astaire🎵

An interview with Jon Marsh of The Beloved on Hello and how a #CPFC icon ended up in a cult hit song

www.nytimes.com/athletic/270...
How Crystal Palace’s Vince Hilaire ended up in a cult hit song
Vince Hilaire got a shock when he appeared in a song by The Beloved. So how did he end up there?
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
tburrows16.bsky.social
'I was in a constant state of sedation'

Football has a hidden problem with sleeping pills

I spoke to a number of players who developed an addiction to them - and explored why footballers may be especially vulnerable

www.nytimes.com/athletic/698...
Football’s sleeping pills problem: ‘My usage was ridiculous – I was in La La Land’
The Athletic spoke to people involved in football about the problems with sleeping pills
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 7:26 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
Another frantic, compelling afternoon at Tynecastle. Hearts' lead is down to four points, as the doubters will note. But they go into February top of the Scottish Premiership and can still do it. Even if they don't, Hearts have made us look again. www.nytimes.com/athletic/699...
Heart of Midlothian, Scottish football’s unlikely disrupters
Some cannot get their heads around Hearts being Scottish champions come May. But it can happen.
www.nytimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 8:31 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
sebsb.bsky.social
Derby Days: Hamburg.

Ahead of tonight’s Stadtderby at the Millerntor, a piece on the rivalry between St.Pauli and HSV from a few years ago.

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/443...
January 23, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
socobhampod.bsky.social
𝗧𝗛𝗨𝗥𝗦𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗗! 🚨

@mattdaviesadams.bsky.social, @reallycerys.bsky.social & @liamtwomey.bsky.social discussing...

🇨🇾 Pafos (only just) dealt with
🦅 Palace's plight w/ @domfifield.bsky.social
🏆 #CFCW bloody love a cup final
🔟 Shocking 'top 10' recall

#CFC

pod.fo/e/37e6a0
Straight Outta Cobham: A show about Chelsea: Chelsea into UCL top eight after Pafos toil with trip to crisis club Palace up next
In the race for eighth place...Matt Davies-Adams has got The Athletic's Liam Twomey and Cerys Jones alongside him for a recap of the extremely dull but extremely necessary 1-0 victory over Pafos on...
pod.fo
January 22, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
Tottenham and West Ham are not what they were, nor, in terms of potential, what they could be. The Way the clubs played seems like a relic of history, yet a sense of it is still entwined in the current fanbase disaffection and disconnection. www.nytimes.com/athletic/692...
West Ham and Tottenham have lost their Way
The two clubs have huge histories but a modern malaise - unhappy fans, owner issues, unpopular managers, and recruitment failings
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:52 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathletic.com
“Eventually, they will get you.

“Sustained excellence, repeated over and over again. Pat Cummins is a freak and Nathan Lyon is a genius. You can swap those around as well if you really want.”

Cameron Ponsonby, Paul Newman & Tim Spiers dissect the talking points from Adelaide Oval ⤵️

bit.ly/4akZGqu
Nathan Lyon.
December 20, 2025 at 9:37 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathletic.com
The second day at the Gabba saw Brydon Carse carted to all parts.

By the time England hobbled off for tea with Australia 228-3 and only 108 runs adrift, Carse had conceded the third fastest half century by an England bowler in Test history.

It was a bruising second session.
December 5, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
Sunderland's December 2025 is daunting, but it's not December 2020. Spoke to three key decision-makers – Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Kristjaan Speakman & Florent Ghisolfi – about where the club has been, is today and hopes to be next season and beyond. www.nytimes.com/athletic/685...
Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Sunderland’s five-year rise: ‘The challenge for us is to break the cycle’
The Athletic speaks with three key decision-makers at the club, including chairman Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, to chart their journey on Wearside
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 7:58 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
Not an exact comparison, but there is some stylistically and Robert Pires' career at Arsenal showed the benefit of patience, spectacularly so. Florian Wirtz deserves the same at Liverpool. www.nytimes.com/athletic/684...
Watching Florian Wirtz and thinking of Robert Pires
Wirtz will need to be effective in sterner tests than the one provided by West Ham. Like Pires, Wirtz will need time and space and faith
www.nytimes.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
mattwoosie.bsky.social
It hasn't gone to plan for Christantus Uche at Palace since joining in the summer.

Oliver Glasner clearly unimpressed with the No 10 and had a long pause before deflecting on whether he was at the level expected in training

An uncertain future now looms #CPFC

www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
Christantus Uche: What is going on with Crystal Palace’s summer signing?
The €20million summer signing can barely get on the pitch and his manager seems less than impressed
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
mwalkerfoot.bsky.social
George Best died 20 years ago. His presence endures. He represented Manchester United in a way last night's team did not. www.nytimes.com/athletic/683...
George Best, Manchester United and a mystique that endures
It is 20 years since the Manchester United great passed away, yet the man known as the Fifth Beatle remains a presence even now
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathletic.com
It turns out Bazball is infectious. Even in Australia.

The opening day of the Ashes in Perth was riddled with it.

🔗 theathletic.com/6819497/?sou...
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
willjeanes.bsky.social
It was a privilege to be involved in the production of this book and to have written one of the entries:

www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
The Soccer 100: A celebration of the greatest players in the sport’s history
The Athletic is delighted to announce the release of The Soccer 100, profiling players from Pele to Puskas, Maradona to Messi
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:32 PM
domfifield.bsky.social
Steve Smith, Monty Panesar, Mastermind. Weird

✍️ @nickmiller79.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/682...
Steve Smith, Monty Panesar and a weird pre-Ashes Mastermind jibe
The stand-in Australia captain gave a remarkably well-prepared answer to an ostensibly random question on the eve of the Ashes series
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:44 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
michaeljbailey.bsky.social
Came up with this idea while still in England. So much fun digging into how you go from rugby & AFL, to a cricket oval at a glorious new stadium — all while trying to recreate an iconic pitch from the opposite bank of the Swan River... #Ashes @theathletic.com

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Preparing Perth Stadium for Ashes cricket: A drop-in wicket, a 40-tonne transporter and sleepless nights
The ground is hosting its first Ashes Test but will replicate the pace and bounce that made the WACA, across the Swan River, so feared
www.nytimes.com
November 19, 2025 at 9:58 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
tburrows16.bsky.social
‘It gives me an even louder voice, so that’s my main delight with winning it’

I spoke to Will Vaulks, who won the FIFPRO Player Voice Award for his work in suicide prevention

The cause is close to Vaulks’ heart - he lost both of his grandfathers to suicide

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Will Vaulks wins FIFPRO award for work around mental health in football
“It gives me an even louder voice, so that’s my main delight with winning it," Vaulks told The Athletic.
www.nytimes.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathletic.com
𝙏𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙨

Our writers have picked out the most memorable series from down the years to chart the history of one of sport's deepest rivalries.

▪️ The death of English cricket
▪️ Bodyline & The Don, the best the world has ever seen
▪️ Botham's Ashes & how Allan Border wrestled back control
Tales from the Ashes: A rivalry between England and Australia that has endured since 1882
The Athletic revisits some of the most memorable Ashes series to chart the history of one of the deepest sporting rivalries on the planet
theathletic.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
paddyboyland.bsky.social
EXCL - Thierno Barry on his tough start, overcoming adversity & that ovation from Everton fans

"I’ve not had the career of the average player. Everything has happened really quickly & I've learnt from that adversity. It does inspire me"

@theathleticfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/680...
Thierno Barry, the art of adaptation and a wake-up call in Zanzibar: ‘It renewed my joy for the game’
The France Under-21 striker has had an itinerant career to date but, after a slow start, is determined to make his mark at Everton
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:45 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathletic.com
Nasser Hussain has joined The Athletic as a columnist as part of our coverage of the Ashes, which begin on Friday in Perth.

“This series usually defines England captains and coaches, and this one will.”

Hussain will return to provide analysis for The Athletic after each Test.
Nasser Hussain interview: ‘The Ashes defines England captains and coaches’
The former England captain is joining The Athletic's Ashes coverage - he can't wait for the talking to stop and the cricket to start
theathletic.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathletic.com
A huge blow for Australia with less than a week to go before the Ashes.

Josh Hazlewood has been ruled out of the first Test in Perth with a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, England have received a positive update on Mark Wood.

More from @michaeljbailey.bsky.social ⤵️
Josh Hazlewood ruled out of first Ashes Test, Mark Wood hamstring scan clear
Hazlewood joins Pat Cummins and Sean Abbott on the sidelines, with Michael Neser called up and uncapped Brendan Doggett in line for debut
theathletic.com
November 15, 2025 at 8:13 AM
domfifield.bsky.social
“He was the greatest player I ever saw. It was not just his skill — he was a magician.”

Ahead of a home Ashes without him, @paulfnewman66.bsky.social talks to Mark Waugh, Mike Hussey, Jason Gillespie, Rob Key and others about the brilliance of Shane Warne

www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Remembering Shane Warne: ‘The biggest cricketing superstar of the lot’
Shane Keith Warne transcended his sport like few other cricketers – he will be mourned during the first Ashes Down Under since his passing
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 7:21 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathleticfc.bsky.social
EXCL: @david-ornstein.bsky.social meets Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton to discuss England and the World Cup, how he's so self-critical and why Oliver Glasner has told him to stop asking questions...
David Ornstein meets Adam Wharton: England and the World Cup, self-criticism and finding space
Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton speaks to David Ornstein about his England call-up, being told to keep quiet by Oliver Glasner and much more
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 8:03 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
michaeljbailey.bsky.social
Norfolk cricket hits @theathletic.com! (Not something I imagined writing a few yrs ago.)

Lovely stuff from @nickmiller79.bsky.social on Jake Weatherald — and a pocket of yellow & green in England hoping for at least a slither of Australian magic during the Ashes ...

www.nytimes.com/athletic/678...
Jake Weatherald: The Ashes rookie who went from an English village to Australia’s Test squad
Australia's rookie opening batsman was playing amateur cricket two years ago, but is now ready to shine on cricket's biggest stage
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Reposted by Dominic Fifield
theathleticfc.bsky.social
🔺 The positivity being stoked at Sunderland
🔺 The afternoon he was booed from the field at the Emirates
🔺 The chaos Mikel Arteta confronted at Arsenal

Ahead of the visit of his former club Arsenal, Granit Xhaka talks exclusively to @mwalkerfoot.bsky.social.

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/677...
November 6, 2025 at 9:13 AM