Articles by Tom Hollingworth

About Tom Hollingworth

Tom Hollingsworth is a former deputy sports editor of the Daily Express. For many years he worked in a sports agency, representing mainly football players and motor racing drivers. Tom holds a private pilot’s licence and flying is his principal recreation. More Posts

Thoughts on the autumn internationals

I watched both games yesterday – Ireland beating the All Blacks and England overcoming Australia. The first game was covered on Channel 4. The commentator was Miles Harrison but I missed his normal sidekick Stuart Barnes. The All Blacks were ring-rusty and short of the high standards that one [...]

November 14, 2021 // 0 Comments

My TV sporting weekend

Once again I found Premiership rugby produced the most enjoying sporting spectacle. My anticipation of Harlequins v Saracens was tempered by the absence on international duty of many of the stars. No Farrell v Smith, Dombrandt v Vinipola – nor the aggression of Joe Marler scrumming against [...]

November 1, 2021 // 0 Comments

Fans are back …

… But much has changed. When the first lockdown came in March 2020 football continued but behind closed doors. Atmosphere was generated by simulated crowd noises and large banners of support covering empty seats. It was eerie. Yet, when fans returned, it was to a more politicised game, notably [...]

October 30, 2021 // 0 Comments

Sunday Sport

There was an eclectic choice this Sunday which I started with the American football showpiece at the New Tottenham Hotspur stadium between Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins. The Jags won this 23-20 with two late field goals. The problem particularly for the BBC that broadcast it is that the [...]

October 18, 2021 // 0 Comments

Harlequins 54 Bristol Bears 24

I trespass on club rugby with some trepidation as I do not follow this with the degree of knowledge of Sandra McConell and Derek Williams. But with no televised club football available, needs must and the choice between Czech Republic and Wales and this match was not challenging. I was rewarded by [...]

October 9, 2021 // 0 Comments

The entrepreneur & sport

With Derby getting a massive point deduction under owner Mel Morris, Nigel Wray selling most of his stake in Saracens, Bernard Tapie dying and a podcast I listened to on disgraced financier Allan Stanford, today’s post is on the entrepreneur and sport. These are less common with sovereign wealth [...]

October 5, 2021 // 0 Comments

Leg over… 30 years on

Can it really be 30 years ago that Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew ‘lost it’ on air in a fit of giggles after the description of Ian Botham losing his wicket as ‘he could not quite get his leg over’? Well it was and one of the most famous events in broadcasting was celebrated in the [...]

September 6, 2021 // 0 Comments

The treading of a dangerous line

One of the downsides of being a senior citizen – besides straightforward “invisibility” as far as other generations are concerned – is that often one can see “the bleedin’ obvious” when others cannot and yet nobody will believe or take any notice of you when you point out this benefit [...]

August 31, 2021 // 0 Comments

Sport and health

Over the past thirty years the issues associated with the long-term effects of an elite sporting career – particularly those of head injuries – have gradually assumed an increasing importance. It is stating the bleedin’ obvious to record that life itself is potentially dangerous – [...]

August 20, 2021 // 0 Comments

Second day of the Test

I suspect that most of the media coverage will lead with Jimmy Anderson’s fifer. However – in true Rust left-field style – I would like to lead off with two people who did not make a mistake all day- umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth. To call a LBW correctly, as they did [...]

August 14, 2021 // 0 Comments

1 2 3 … 38 »

My art week

December 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

I have just finished Art of the Extreme 1905-1915 by Philip Hook the ex-Director of Impressionism and Modern Art at Sothebys. His background is sales. He writes well. He is [...]
Not just a matter of self-identification

December 3, 2021 // 0 Comments

Many of those who contribute to this organ take pride in the Rust‘s long and healthy record of pointing out both the oddities and absurdities of modern 21st Century [...]
West Ham 1 Brighton 1

December 2, 2021 // 0 Comments

The Seagulls maintained their unbeaten record against the Hammers in their second consecutive draw. They left it rather late – and had only 10 players on the pitch [...]
It’s all about a load of hot air …

December 2, 2021 // 0 Comments

Now some two months into my new life living on the south coast of England, I have been learning much – in my terminally technologically illiterate way – about the [...]
Duck into the bouncer, Doug!

December 1, 2021 // 0 Comments

In 1993 I was on the beach at Bridgetown Barbados facing a skinny 11 year old with a mean bouncer. At the other end was my friend Wayne Daniel who advised me to “duck into [...]