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

Six Nations review: England 23 Ireland 22

Well, that was a pleasant surprise! A full-bloodied, dynamic performance by the England matchday squad as they went toe-to-toe with Ireland at RFU Twickenham yesterday on this year’s penultimate Six Nations weekend. These days rugby union is a something of a game in crisis as it struggles to come [...]

March 10, 2024 // 0 Comments

The welcome rise of Ipswich Town

The cliche ‘back where they belong’ is too often bandied about, but no club has a divine right to the top table. However, I am so pleased that Ipswich – promoted from Division One – are now challenging for automatic promotion to the Premiership. They have had a torrid time in [...]

March 6, 2024 // 0 Comments

Mike Procter

Most of us Rust contributors are of an age that we remember those that departed in their prime. Their passing is a salutary reminder that none of us are immortal. So I was saddened to learn of the passing of Mike Procter aged 77. He was one of the best all rounders I ever saw and he satisfied the [...]

February 22, 2024 // 0 Comments

Thoughts on the Six Nations

There has been an engrossing discussion on the sports pages of The Times between their two main rugby correspondents Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes. Jones argues that fans want wins, Barnes disagrees, citing entertainment. If Jones is correct why are the RFU ‘ bigging up’ the Twickenham [...]

February 12, 2024 // 0 Comments

Wonderful days of TV sport

A good friend of mine has had painful side effects after a knee procedure but thankfully is a keen sport lover. So he can put his knee up and enjoy some wondrous TV sport, chiefly the Six Nations and the second England v India cricket Test match. Maybe Friday night’s match between France and [...]

February 5, 2024 // 0 Comments

The decline & demise of José Mourinho

Last week José Mourinho was sacked from AS Roma. After his time at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and Manchester United he moved down a level to Tottenham Hotspur and Roma. Now where? He has not managed PSG nor Barcelona, nor AC Milan, but more likely he will take over the Portuguese national [...]

January 24, 2024 // 0 Comments

Smith v Farrell

There was an interesting debate in The Sunday Times at the weekend between Stephen Jones and Stuart Barnes on Marcus Smith. Jones is no fan and doubts whether Smith should ever be selected for England, whilst Barnes is. It’s no longer such an live issue as, with Farrell reportedly in negotiations [...]

January 9, 2024 // 0 Comments

Rugby Union in England – heading for a crisis?

Based upon history and indeed ongoing current evidence, it might be thought by some sports lovers that somehow “it comes with the territory” that – to one degree or another – every field of endeavour, activity or game with serious pretensions to being a truly global sport [...]

December 22, 2023 // 0 Comments

Football and Rugby Union – some random thoughts

Throughout its time the Rust’s sports coverage has consistently followed the progress of the sports of football and rugby union. It occurred to me recently that there are certain ironies and issues running through both these sports – some shared and some not. Recently England’s football [...]

December 7, 2023 // 0 Comments

Terry Venables

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Terry Venables . He was more than an acquaintance less than a friend. As in lifetime, opinion is divided on his merits and achievements. For some he was a progressive football man managing at the highest international and club level. For others he did not [...]

November 28, 2023 // 0 Comments

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ITV COVERAGE OF CHELTENHAM

March 14, 2026 // 0 Comments

I am in the camp of watching on tv rather than attending for the 3 Cs: cost , convenience and comfort. With the cost of travelling and attending Cheltenham and last [...]
Max Schmelling/ The Good German

March 4, 2026 // 0 Comments

In the unlikely event that I would be asked to nominate a Great Life on Matthew Parris ‘ show my choice would be the Black Uhlan Max Schmelling. In the 1930s thee [...]
The Tanner Report : Fulham 2 spurs 1

March 3, 2026 // 0 Comments

Prior to Fulham ‘s comfortable win over Spurs (2-1) I watched the big match Revisited featuring Chelsea 1 Arsenal 2 i guess in the early 70s It would be foolish to [...]
The Six Nations

February 24, 2026 // 0 Comments

The Six Nations continues to throw up surprises. England could not bounce back against Ireland , a resurgent Wales gave Scotland à close game with the Millennium Stadium [...]
Brentford 0 Brighton 2

February 23, 2026 // 0 Comments

The heat is off Fabian Hürzeler with Brighton ‘s 1st win in 13 games. Club owner Tony Bloom was not at the G Tech stadium due to a long planned family engagement but had [...]