Home Authors Stuart Rayner

Stuart Rayner

Stuart Rayner

Cats go back to the bad old days

JUDGING by some of the new strips in this season’s Premier League, retro is all the rage. But Sunderland’s performance at the weekend was an unwanted throwback.Read

Yorke’s got more to offer – Keane

ROY Keane stressed Dwight Yorke still has a future at the Stadium of Light despite the Irishman accusing his players of not having learned from their past experience of the Premier League.Read

Defenders to return for Darlington

DARLINGTON expect to be back to full strength defensively for today’s League Two trip to Accrington Stanley after lacking four of their back five midweek.Read

Wilson’s headache

DANNY Wilson faces a difficult decision over his goalkeeper for today’s League One clash against Doncaster Rovers, but he has only himself to blame.Read

Paul’s out to claim Pietersen prize

His ‘golden arm’ has already accounted for some of world cricket’s biggest names, but Paul Collingwood is hoping to add Kevin Pietersen to his collection today. Stuart Rayner reportsRead

Chopra can’t wait to face old friend

MICHAEL Chopra is relishing the chance of going head-to-head with former team-mate Titus Bramble today.Read

Keane’s winners don’t know when they are beaten

Moving to the Premier League has done nothing to alter Sunderland’s habit of scoring late goals– and as far as Roy Keane is concerned, the more people who know about it the better. Stuart Rayner reportsRead

Roy Keane

Keane warned to forget Jones bid

SUNDERLAND have been warned off bidding for Southampton striker Kenwyne Jones. As Roy Keane admitted an injury to Carlos Edwards may force him to add a midfielder to his shopping list, Saints boss George Burley warned he has no intention of selling the Trinidad and Tobago international.Read

Michael Chopra

Our tough regime is paying off

MICHAEL Chopra says Sunderland are reaping the rewards of the toughest training schedule he has ever experienced.Read

Under-21 call-up for Wheater

MIDDLESBROUGH defender David Wheater has been rewarded for his impressive start to the season with a first call-up to the England Under-21 squad.Read

Roy farms out stars to Foxes

SUNDERLAND have continued the clear-out of their squad by loaning Clive Clarke and Márton Fülöp to Championship side Leicester City.Read

Cook aims to banish bad Lord's memory

IN THE run-up to one of the great days of his career it seems almost churlish to mention, but Geoff Cook is no stranger to disappointment.Read

Roy's got a good feeling

ROY Keane claimed he had a feeling Stern John would score for Sunderland last night – and the former Birmingham City striker did so in the most dramatic of circumstances to claim a 2-2 draw for Sunderland.Read

Overseas stars are helping youth prosper

IT IS one of the less-heralded chapters of the Durham success story that so many overseas recruits have embraced the culture of their summer homes.Read

Keane can keep us all on our toes

IF you fancy doing something really difficult tonight, try second guessing Sunderland’s team. Roy Keane might be many things, but predictable he certainly is not.Read

Aussie Rules: Aussie set to rewrite the rules

IN so many senses, Novocastrians Rugby Club in Newcastle could scarcely be further from huge Australian venues likes the Adelaide Oval and the MCG, but Rick Shrowder hopes it can be the base from which his country’s unique sport establishes a foothold in the North-East of England.Read

Vipers will go for the goals

NORTH-EAST ice hockey fans have been promised the most attacking Vipers team ever by coach Rob Wilson. The Canadian has unveiled defenceman Ben Storey as his latest recruit, but Wilson claims the emphasis will be on scoring rather than stopping games in the coming campaign.Read

Cats still want to bring in new blood

SUNDERLAND appear to have lost out on the chance to sign Tottenham Hotspur forward Mido but Roy Keane is pressing ahead with plans to bring two or three new players to the Stadium of Light.Read

Middlesbrough 1, Blackburn 2

AS an advert for Mido, Middlesbrough produced something the Egyptian striker’s agent would struggle to better.Read

Barron groomed for role in mangement

MICKY Barron is likely to sit out Hartlepool United’s opening game of the new League One season at Luton Town this afternoon but the 32-year-old is seen as a crucial part of their long-term plans as he is groomed as a future manager.Read

Author Profile

Stuart Rayner is a sports writer who covers a wide range of sports in the North East. Before heading to the region in February 2005, he worked for the Liverpool Echo.