Sport

League One set for an all-Greater Manchester playoff final as Bolton book trip to Wembley

Derby day again.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 15th May 2026

It’s official: we’re all set for a fully Greater Manchester League One playoff final as Bolton Wanderers are the latest to secure a return to Wembley against Stockport County.

The resurgent old Lancashire club clinched their spot in the knockout conclusion of the third division with a single strike in the second leg of the semis, and it wasn’t a bad finish, either.

Beating Bradford City 2-0 on aggregate, Bolton will now play familiar regional rivals Stockport, with Wanderers set to clash with County in a decisive derby once again.

Here’s the goal that sealed it:

Bolton‘s instinctive volley from Chelsea youth product and former Hull City man, Xavier Simons, resulted in some very satisfying limbs at Valley Parade.

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The home fans did have plenty to cheer on the night, with efforts from Metcalfe, Power and Wright all either hitting the woodwork or being deflected just past it.

They thought they were level in the tie at one point after Kayden Jackson put the ball in the back of the net, but it was ultimately ruled out.

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Agonising stuff for the Bradford supporters to burst into bedlam before the flag was raised for offside.

Many supporters will argue that the key moment came somewhat against the run of play, but The Trotters won’t care one bit as they book another trip down to the capital.

You can watch the rest of the highlights, including those scenes in the away end, down below.

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Speaking even before the game, head coach Steven Schumacher told Sky Sports: “It’s a club we believe is bigger than this division, but this division is not easy to get out of.

“The expectation and the demand to get to the Championship is there, and once you’re in the building and you feel the mood when you win games, when you lose games, you can sense that this is a club that is desperate to get out and get to the next level.

“When you look at the size of both Bolton and Bradford and how well they are supported, both clubs are probably too big to be in League One. But that’s where both clubs find themselves, and one of us has got to find our way out of it if we can.”

You’d dare say he can practically smell promotion via the playoffs now; the local side has come quite a way since the lows of administration in 2019 and the bottom tier of the EFL – not without some heartbreaks in previous playoff finals – but could he be the one to get them back where they belong?

In case you missed the action from the other game, you can see more HERE, and to hear Schumacher’s thoughts after the decisive result, look no further…

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Featured Images — Sky Sports (screenshot via YouTube)/Stop in Stockport (via FB)

Sport

Injury-stricken Stockport County book place in another playoff final at Wembley

Danny Jones Danny Jones Stockport County league one playoff final 2026

A somewhat makeshift Stockport County squad have booked themselves yet another trip to Wembley in the League One playoff final following a comfortable second leg win over Stevenage FC.

They did it with two fine finishes, as well.

Beating Stevenage 3-0 overall on aggregate, the Hatters secured a third visit to the capital under manager Dave Challinor, who continues to boast an impressive record of either promotion or reaching the knockout stages in almost every single year of his career as a coach.

With three-time Aston Villa loanee Louie Barry opening the scoring with a fine finish and top scorer-turned centre-half, Kyle Wootton, getting back on the scoresheet, even from defence, it was a night to remember for supporters in SK3.

Two great goals indeed.

With Barry having not only come back to the club for yet another loan spell but having quickly returned to form after scoring yet another big and important goal for County, not to mention a first senior career hat-trick in a 3-1 against Peterborough back in April, he was one of the stars on the night.

Meanwhile, Wootton – who was leading the race in terms of goalscoring before numerous defensive injuries saw him moved to centre-back (now several games into his run at the heart of the backline) – still proved to be a threat in the opposition box via set-pieces as he has done all season.

Barring a slightly fortunate deflection, some fans may have argued it was an even better take than the opener from the 22-year-old. He received praise from fellow former striker and veteran EFL player, Troy Deeney, after the match.

Speaking from an ex-pro and now manager’s perspective, he applauded the 29-year-old’s “ego check” and willingness to effectively give up the race for the golden boot, telling CBS Sports: “I don’t know a striker that I’ve ever met that would do that.”

But here’s what it means…

As for Challinor, the gaffer praised the Edgeley Park crowd, crediting them for keeping the energy up in and around some lulls in the game and resisting the slip into complacency.

Thanking them in a video on social media following the full-time whistle, Barry acknowledged them as “the 12th man”, with Wootton urging them to get behind the boys for “one more” game as they aim to “get the job done.”

Stockport County will face either Bradford City or local Greater Manchester rivals Bolton Wanderers in the third-tier conclusion, with the other semi-final kicking off at 8pm tonight. Who do you think is going to go all the way?

You can see the highlights from the decisive game down below.

Do you think they’ll make it over the line?

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Featured Images — CBS Sports (screenshot)/Stop in Stockport (via X)

Sport

Manchester City reveal new state-of-the-art women’s football facility

Danny Jones Danny Jones Man City open new women's facility and training ground

Manchester City Football Club has finally unveiled its brand-new women’s football facility as their home base moves across to another section of the ever-growing Etihad Campus.

Costing more than £10m in total redevelopment costs, the new training ground and all-round squad hub aims to set a new industry standard.

First announced back in January 2024, the state-of-the-art complex was revealed in full this Wednesday, 13 May, being met with a strong reception from the senior women’s squad and Man City supporters in general.

To help celebrate the opening, City Football Group (CFG) Chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak travelled into the city to be one of the first through the doors.

Spanning well over 170,000 feet, the multi-million-pound facility marks one of the most significant investments in female football history.

With sector-leading technology installed in virtually every corner of the space, club captain and Euros-winning Lioness Alex Greenwood told Sky Sports, “It’s incredible […[ We’re very lucky that we get to call this home. The building is absolutely brilliant and has everything that we need.”

Going on to express her excitement over this being her new place of work, she mentioned that all City Women stars had input over things to include in the plans and how they wanted it to look, as did members of the wider staff.

Not just now an ‘elite level performance centre’, but where these talented young sportswomen will be spending so much of their time, she and her teammates believe they got it spot on, declaring that “this is taking it to a whole new level.”

She also noted that at least one of the rooms is the one where the squad watched the Arsenal vs Brighton draw, which sealed their first league title in a decade, so there’s already been some great memories made there.

Here’s a quick fly-through of the impressive achievement…

The new digs are also much more than just a training ground; according to the club, besides player preparation and recovery and minimising injuries, with a world-class gym as well as other strength and conditioning facilities, it includes dedicated medical, rehab and physio spaces.

Hydrotherapy and advanced recovery areas have also been built, with MCWFC’s circular dressing room at the heart of the whole building.

Writing on the club website, Man City Women Managing Director, Charlotte O’Neill, said: “After years of planning, designing and constructing, we are proud to open our new world-class space that we believe offers some of the very best facilities in women’s sport in the UK.

“This building is about so much more than bricks and mortar; it is about creating an environment where our players can thrive, where standards are set at the very highest level, and where the current squad has everything it needs to continue to compete for and win silverware.

You can see more images below.

She went on to say, “It is also a clear statement of our ambition to continue to develop and attract the very best talent in world football.” It’s also worth noting that this will further free up other EDS (elite development squad) and youth academy outfits to make use of existing buildings.

Khaldoon echoed a similar sentiment, adding that this new addition to the wider Etihad Campus “reflects the scale of our ambition for Manchester City Women and our long-term belief in the future of the women’s game.”

It looks to be a pretty staggering upgrade; there’s no doubt about that.

As for the rest of the campus, along with the soon-to-open on-site hotel, we also now have more details regarding the accompanying Medlock Square that is also set to launch in tandem.

Medlock Square: Manchester’s new £300 million entertainment destination on the Etihad Campus
Medlock will be a tourist attraction all of its own.

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Featured Images — Publicity pictures (via Manchester City Football Club)

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