How to Write a Brilliant Football Report - From author and The Times reporter Rick Broadbent

By Rick Broadbent | Activities, Author, Interview

Rick Broadbent is an important person in the sports world. After interviewing the biggest and best names, Rick breaks it down and explains how to write an amazing sports report.

It's the Euros! In days gone by this would mean everyone would get very excited and then England would lose on penalties, but this time hopes are high. A young team full of exciting talent like Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham and Mason Mount could even make the final for the first time. Well, maybe. And Scotland and Wales are playing too so it will be great for the home nations.  

I’m a sports journalist for The Times and my job is to write reports on football, athletics, tennis, golf, motorsport, boxing, rugby, gymnastics and on one occasion pigeon-racing. I also get to interview the sports stars. I have included some of these in my news book, Sports Legends, which shows how even people like Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi, Serena Williams and Tom Daley have had to face the same fears and struggles with confidence and setbacks as we all do. 

Anyway, as it’s the Euros, I thought I would give you three tips to write a brilliant report on a Euros football match. 

 1) MAKE NOTES

Let’s say we’re doing a match between England and Scotland. Get a notepad and pen. Draw a line down the middle of the page. One side is for your notes on England, the other for your notes on Scotland. When something important happens – like a great save, a yellow card, a goal or a dog on the pitch (yes, it's happened!) write a note. 

 2) WHAT’S THE STORY?

Lets’ say (sorry Scotland) that England win 3-1 and Harry Kane scores a hat-trick. Your job as a journalist is to pick a theme. It might just be England winning but you could focus on one player if they have done something brilliant. So if Harry Kane has scored three goals it’s probably best to focus on him. You want your report to be balanced too so think about what you are going to say about Scotland too.

3) NAIL YOUR INTRO

You need a great start (or introduction as journalists call it) to your story so people reading it will want to carry on and won’t get bored. Start with the most important facts. Often young writers might start a story like this

Last night England beat Scotland 3-1.

It would be better to get some drama, excitement and Harry Kane in there. Something like....

Captain fantastic Harry Kane sent England fans wild as he scored a superb hat-trick to leave Scotland’s Euro dream in tatters at Wembley last night.     

Think about the 4 Ws and 1 H  – Who (HarryKane/England), what (scored a hat-trick/beat Scotland), where (at Wembley), when (last night) and how (describe how they did it).

Rick is the author of SPORTS LEGENDS: 50 INSPIRING PEOPLE TO HELP YOU REACH THE TOP OF YOUR GAME (Walker Books)