GB News’ ‘Alternative Match of the Day’ was so bad we’re convinced it was a parody
It didn't show any of the actual football, there were technical issue and since they couldn't actually analyse anything, the presenters just kept calling people 'woke'.
In a bit of guerilla broadcasting that absolutely nobody asked for, GB News decided to run their own ‘Alternative Match of the Day‘ programme on Saturday, just without showing any of the football…
That’s right, after the fallout from the BBC asking Gary Lineker to ‘step away’ from his duties on the football analysis show and UK TV institution, with his fellow pundits and presenters all standing in solidarity and boycotting the latest episodes, alternative media outlet GB News decided to step in.
However, since it is mainly BBC, Sky and BT that have the rights to the weekend’s action, their coverage could only go so far as showing a few still images of the games and a big graphic which read the title of the show while they listed the various scores.
Unbelievably, that wasn’t even the worst bit. Since they had no footage to watch back or actual sporting people to break down and analyse the matches with any real insight, they just resorted to repeating buzzwords from the ‘anti-woke’ thesaurus. Brace for cringe.
While we won’t purport to have sat through this tripe, it seems as though the majority of the broadcast went on and on like this without anyone asking the question, “shall we talk about the football now?”, “whose idea was this again?” or “can you make it stop?”.
As one person remarked on Twitter, it was “kind of GB News to remind everyone how brilliant MOTD usually is”, but there was also some seriously problematic stuff on show too, with LGBTQ+ newsletter Out and Out Football noting that “while it’s fun to mock the fragile masculinity on show, the comment about Brighton being ‘full of rainbow flags’ is pure homophobia.”
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Fortunately, as this brave soldier wrote in his caption, he “watched this sh*t so you wouldn’t have to”.
A lowlight compilation of GB News’s ‘Alternative Match of the Day’. I watched this shit so you wouldn’t have to. pic.twitter.com/9S2XRKpyhb
We don’t mind putting impartiality to the side on the odd occasion and sharing our unadulterated opinion on this one: we sincerely hope this is the last time GB News ever feels like they need to provide the UK’s footy fans and TV viewership an alternative Match of the Day. We assure you, we can do without it.
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That being said, the latest development in the BBC boycott situation is that Gary Lineker is expected to return to presenting sport sometime soon with an apology from the corporation also being rumoured.
BREAKING: Gary Lineker is due to return to hosting sport for the BBC, SSN understands pic.twitter.com/MW9Ie0qSBi
Former Manchester City player Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife
Danny Jones
Ex-footballer Joey Barton has officially been found guilty of assaulting his wife following his two-day trial in the capital this week.
Barton, who played for Manchester City, Newcastle United, Queens Park Rangers and a number of other clubs, was convicted at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 25 March, following an incident back in June 2021.
The former midfielder left his wife, 37-year-old Georgia Barton (McNeil), with a bleeding nose and a bruise on her forehead following a drunken row at their home in London.
Barton is said to have grabbed and pushed her to the floor before kicking her in the head. Married in 2019, the two have four children and are thought to still be together.
The 42-year-old was still employed in professional football as the manager of Bristol Rovers at the time, but he was ultimately sacked in October 2023.
His wife called 999 at the time, telling police that he had hit her, but later retracted her statement.
Born in Huyton, Merseyside, the chief magistrate Paul Goldspring recognised that the one-time England has a history of violence.
He was given a 12-week suspended prison sentence, meaning he won’t serve time unless he commits another offence and has been ordered to pay £2,138.
Since dropping out of mainstream football, in particular, Barton has come under heavy criticism for allegations of racism, sexism and controversial right-wing politics; he even started an ‘anti-woke’ podcast called Common Sense with Joey Barton.
Back in June of last year, he was ordered to pay £35,000 in damages to settle a libel claim with presenter Jeremy Vine after a series of inflammatory comments made online.
The Radio 2 presenter sued Mr Barton earlier this year, after the former footballer wrote a series of posts suggesting Mr Vine had a sexual interest in children.
He also accused of threatening fellow former pro, Eni Aluko, after a torrent of abuse regarding her punditry online – the ex-England international even went so far as to say she no longer felt safe staying in the country.
The Hundred is calling for up-and-coming presenters to co-host this year’s tournament
Danny Jones
The Hundred 2025 is fast approaching and cricket’s fastest-growing tournament is once again asking for aspiring presenters to join their roster of co-hosts and help cover the action.
The fast-paced 100-ball format is entering its fifth year and next to T20, you find a more accessible and thrilling form of cricket, so it’s no wonder the competition is gaining a greater audience each year.
With that in mind, the need for a top-notch broadcast team is more crucial than ever but just like those who backed The Hundred in its infancy, they’re looking to invest in future creatives and on-screen talent.
Are you someone looking to get into presenting or know someone who is? Keep reading.
For the fifth year in a row, we want you to be part of #TheHundredRising! 🎤
So how does it work? Well, it’s pretty straightforward: The Hundred is looking for eight up-and-coming presenters to join their team of main venue hosts up and down the country.
Tasked with guiding and talking fans through an action-packed five weeks across all host cities, successful applicants will be responsible for building excitement and atmosphere inside the seven cricket grounds on each match day.
From player and pundit interviews to crowd engagement and interactive other activations with partnered brands, not to mention members of this year’s live music lineup, you’ll be a key part of putting out the top-quality sports and entertainment product they promise every year.
The best part of all is that no prior hosting experience is necessary – this is all about platforming you and The Hundred as a whole.
Successful applicants will be mentored by the main hosts at their respective venues and will attend a two-day workshop with special guests to get them ready to hit the stage this summer.
The ‘Rising Hosts’ scheme has been set up in tandem with their dedicated event production agency, Progress Productions, which will be in charge throughout the application and selection process.
Shortlisted applicants will then have their details shared with the ECB (English Cricket Board) who will be involved when it comes to making their final decisions.
It goes without saying that even if you just love sports or just want to find a way into the industry, this is an opportunity that is not to be missed.
Danny Jones -
13th March 2023 
