Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
Venezuela
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Starboy Saka, West Ham and Man City making history among 2023 highlights

talksport.com, 24 December 2023, 16:00
As the host of talkSPORT's live football coverage, Adrian Durham has attended hundreds of games this year.

Premier League, Champions League, EFL, FA Cup, Carabao Cup and international football... Adrian has been fully across the best of the action in 2023.

Here he reveals his own highlights from the games he has attended over these past 12 months...

5 - Plymouth win promotion to the Championship (April)

Way down in Devon, 35 miles or so from the Cornish border, it's easy for the sheer size of Plymouth Argyle Football Club to pass everyone by.

It's a club that's out of the way - you don't tend to pass through Plymouth. But part of my excitement for this job is getting around the country and hosting the show from different places: in the two-and-a-half years I've been the Chief Live Football Presenter I've hosted shows from Barrow, Ipswich, Brighton, Middlesbrough and I've got one coming up from Cardiff over Christmas.

I went to Plymouth twice last season to host talkSPORT shows from Home Park, the first time was early season in the August sunshine when it was such a beautiful day our Chief Football Correspondent Alex Crook and me went for a pre-match swim in the sea.

The second time was for the game against Burton Albion that secured Plymouth's promotion. Argyle striker Niall Ennis finished off a lovely move for the only goal of the game, and the Green Army were on the march to the Championship.

There were over 16,500 fans there, the noise levels were fantastic, the fans friendly, and it was just one of those lovely happy days in football when you witness, as a neutral, the pure joy of promotion for a club like Plymouth.

4 - Bukayo Saka scores hat-trick for England (June)

If you don't enjoy watching Bukayo Saka play for England, there's either something wrong with you, or you're Scottish. Or you're from North Macedonia.

His hat-trick in the summer was very special. The goals were terrific - the first lashed into the roof of the net was unsaveable.

Most read in Football

Bellingham is every Sunderland fan as star's reaction to horror miss caught on camera

Maddison closing in on return as Tottenham aim to maintain top-four spot against Brighton

Saka offers apology to Liverpool man after their clash led to broken collarbone

Cristiano Ronaldo and Conor McGregor locked in conversation ringside during Saudi clash

The second was art - a first time looping pass from his own half from the excellent Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Saka smashed it past the keeper from the edge of the box.

The third, he's bamboozled his full back with a run from outside to in, Harry Kane, having dropped into midfield, plays the perfect through ball, and Saka is now a centre forward, one-on-one with the keeper, and buries it.

Just look at the smile on his face. England fans, we are lucky to have Bukayo Saka.

3 - Jarrod Bowen fires West Ham to European glory (June)

Prague was a sea of claret and blue for the Europa League Conference final as West Ham looked to end their 43-year wait for a major trophy, and it felt like there was no way the Hammers would lose it.

Fiorentina may claim they were the better side and the match stats may even back that up. But frankly, who cares?

With the game in the balance at 1-1 and 89 minutes on the clock, a bit of magic from Lucas Paqueta was needed, and he delivered. He poked a perfect pass through to Jarrod Bowen who had timed his run superbly, and Bowen held off a strong challenge from an recovering centre half to fire home the winning goal.

The party started and lasted - until Declan Rice decided to go to Arsenal anyway.

A great moment for West Ham United and the fans, but how brilliant to see an English forward deliver a winning goal in the heat of a pressure moment to deliver a trophy for his team.

Now if he gets a similar opportunity in Berlin on July 14, 2024 let's hope Bowen repeats the feat...

2 - Man City win Champions League and complete historic treble (June)

There's a video on social media that I get asked about quite a lot. It's of the talkSPORT team in the commentary box in Istanbul just as the final whistle blows and Manchester City have completed the treble.

The excellent Jim Proudfoot is commentating, calling the moment expertly as he always does. Former City captain and manager Stuart Pearce is focused, watching the players on the pitch, thinking deeply about the words he wants to use to sum up this iconic moment. And I'm punching the air in celebration.

I've had to explain countless times to people that I'm not a City fan. But it's a great moment for English football, so of course I'm happy!

The game itself wasn't brilliant - although Manuel Akanji's pass leading to Rodri's winner was a touch of class though - but it was City winning the treble, an iconic moment.

City's 4-0 win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the semi-final was a much better performance - a footballing masterclass. But a treble should be admired, no matter which club you support.

1 - Tom Lockyer surviving two horrible health scares (May and December)

I was at Wembley for the Championship play-off final when Luton achieved promotion to the Premier League, beating Coventry on penalties.

But the main thing I remember from the game is the relief I felt when I heard the news that Tom Lockyer, the Luton captain, was alert and responding. He'd been taken to hospital after collapsing to the turf during the game.

I was also at Bournemouth recently when, again, Tom collapsed to the ground with horrified looks from players close by. We all feared the worst, the game couldn't continue, and we waited for news.

Once we knew he was alert and responding the relief was everywhere.

I don't know Tom Lockyer, but I do care about people. In that moment, as much as we all love football, we were all quite happy to pack up and go home, happy in the knowledge that Tom was going to be OK.

I was working alongside Perry Groves and Ian Abrahams that day on the south coast and we shared a group hug in the car park before heading home. It was genuinely emotional.

Read More on talkSPORT

Man United unmoved on Greenwood, two clubs wait on Gallagher decision, Arsenal blow

Harry Kane on course to beat Robert Lewandowski record that took 49 years to break

Health and happiness to Tom Lockyer and all of you for this Christmas and the New Year!

Adrian Durham will bring you all the goals as they go in on Boxing Day as presenter of GameDay Live. And you won't miss any of the Premier League or EFL action this Christmas, with talkSPORT the ONLY place on national radio to hear live football commentaries from across the English leagues on the 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th of December.

Top News

25 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur left-back Sergio Reguilon is reportedly prepared to terminate his Lilywhites contract in order to secure an exit from North London in January. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly ready to make an approach to sign Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton in the January transfer window as Pep Guardiola seeks to solve the champions' full-blown crisis. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Ruud van Nistelrooy has reportedly been earmarked for a top managerial role - just two weeks after departing Manchester United. 24 November 2024 talksport.com As Manchester United's new head coach walked across to salute the away section here at Portman Road, a young fan held up a card reading "Good luck, Ruben Amorim, make our team great again". 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in hiring Graham Potter following the sacking of Steve Cooper. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid head coach Carlo Ancelotti has suggested that Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni and Lucas Vazquez could all be fit for his side's Champions League clash with Liverpool on Wednesday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich director of sport Max Eberl has branded Leon Goretzka "an important part of the team", with the German giants working to keep hold of the central midfielder. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Closing out this gameweek 12's Premier League action, Newcastle United and West Ham United vie for three precious points at St James' Park on Monday evening. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has insisted that it will take time for the club's players to adapt to his new system following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Ipswich Town in the Premier League. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid returned to second spot in the La Liga table and moved to within four points of the leaders Barcelona courtesy of a 3-0 victory over Leganes in Sunday night's clash at Estadio Municipal de Butarque. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leeds have reached the Championship summit after winning 4-3 away to Swansea in an enthralling encounter. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start - before it ended in familiar fashion at Ipswich. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is a major doubt for Liverpool's blockbuster Champions League clash against Real Madrid this week. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Manchester United's new era under Ruben Amorim got off to the perfect start with a goal inside two minutes against Ipswich. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has joined an exclusive Premier League managers' club thanks to the Reds' thrilling 3-2 fightback win over Southampton at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion striker Evan Ferguson in January. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Southampton have topped the standings in an unwelcome statistic after sloppily conceding at home to Liverpool. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Leicester City have announced they have parted company with manager Steve Cooper. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Arne Slot has continued his flying start to life in Liverpool after beating Southampton 3-2 at St Mary's Stadium. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Estevao Willian further extended his record-breaking season in the Brasileiro as Palmeiras defeated Atletico Goianiense on Saturday night. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool passed one of the most difficult examinations of their Premier League title credentials yet as they fought back from a goal down to triumph 3-2 over a spirited Southampton side at St Mary's. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City have announced the departure of manager Steve Cooper, with the 44-year-old being sacked off the back of Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly stepping up their attempts to sign Lille attacker Angel Gomes, with the North London club potentially getting a deal done during the January transfer window. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United and Manchester City will reportedly go head-to-head for the signature of Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres during next summer's transfer window. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Wayne Rooney is preparing a move for a young Liverpool striker who is the son of an ex-Birmingham City star. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk From dark horses to genuine contenders for the Serie A crown, Atalanta BC now hope to enhance their Champions League credentials on Tuesday, when they visit BSC Young Boys. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona are once again expected to be without the services of Lamine Yamal for Tuesday's Champions League contest with Brest, as the 17-year-old continues to battle an ankle problem. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aberdeen, looking to bounce back from their first league defeat of the 2024-25 Scottish Premiership season, will travel to the Easter Road Stadium on Tuesday to take on basement dwellers Hibernian. 24 November 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will be aiming to record their fourth Champions League victory of the campaign when they welcome French outfit Brest to Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Tuesday night. 24 November 2024 talksport.com Malang Sarr's time at Chelsea was largely forgettable.
Thu 28 Nov, 17:45
EL
Qarabag Qarabag
-
sch
Lyon Lyon
Thu 28 Nov, 20:00
EL
Nice Nice
-
sch
Rangers Rangers