An independent statistician using data to understand our world and to predict the future
Mark Selby has become only the 4th player in Snooker history to win 10 Triple Crowns after prevailing over Judd Trump in the 2025 UK Championship. Only Ronnie O’Sullivan (23), Stephen Hendry (18) & Steve Davis (15) have won more Triple Crown tournaments. Mark’s GOAThood is already confirmed as I wrote about last year but is he as dominant as the other GOATs (Greatest Of All Time)?
[Read more…] about Trophy Winners #4 – The GOATs in World Snooker (Mens) – 1969 to 2025
South Africa have won back to back Rugby Championships for the first time ever. That marks the last trophy to be won in the 2025 calendar year for men’s rugby worldwide and coincides with the start of the 2025/26 season in Europe. This makes it a propitious time to update my list of all trophy winners in men’s rugby worldwide since 1984,
[Read more…] about Trophy Winners #3 – Rugby Union (Men) 1984 to 2025
The 2024/25 football season is over and it is 76 days since my team Newcastle Utd last won a trophy! For the first time in my life, I am able to record Newcastle United in a winners column in my spreadsheet listing all English trophy winners (Men’s) since 1889. For the first time ever, Crystal Palace appear as a trophy winner.
[Read more…] about Trophy Winners #1 – England Men’s Club Football 1889 to 2025
The 2024/25 Women’s Super League (WSL) ended with Chelsea winning their 2nd ever Domestic Treble after their 1st in 2021 and Arsenal winning the Champions League for the 2nd time ever after their 1st in 2007.
If you are new to the women’s game in England (especially following the Lionesses winning the European Championship in 2022), why not download my spreadsheet listing all trophy winners since 1992 to find out which teams are the GOATs of English women’s football?
[Read more…] about Trophy Winners #2 – England Women’s Club Football 1992 to 2025
The 2024 Six Nations (Men’s) ended with Ireland just missing out on a 2nd successive Grand Slam due to a last minute drop goal. Italy recorded their best ever 6 Nations and left Wales with the wooden spoon for the 2nd time ever. France, England and Scotland recorded plusses and minuses during their campaigns and all 3 nations will be seeking to go one better in 2025.
[Read more…] about 6 Nations History #4 – The men’s story so far in 2024
Sir Donald Bradman is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) of sporting GOATs. All cricket lovers accept the great Australian is the greatest batsman of all time but how many are aware he was 9 standard deviations better than the next best 166 batsmen of all time? I can’t think any other sports person who comes close to this standard which is why I say this 9 Sigma GOAT is the greatest sports person of all time.
[Read more…] about Cricket #1 – Sir Donald Bradman, the 9 Sigma GOAT
Manchester City have won the Champions League at long last after beating Inter Milan 1-0 in Istanbul. They become the 6th English club to reach the summit of the European club landscape and it their 17th trophy in 13 years. Does that mean we can now call Man City a Dynasty comparable to the two undisputed dynasties of Liverpool in the 70s & 80s and Manchester United in the 90s & 00s? I am sure Man City fans will say yes but I say not yet.
[Read more…] about Sporting GOATs #2 – Are Man City now a Dynasty?
The 2023 Six Nations (Men’s) ended with Ireland beating England to win their 3rd 6 Nations Grand Slam in the last 15 years. France ran them close and Scotland recorded their 1st top 3 placing since 2018. England & Wales disappointed their fans whilst Italy have some grounds for optimism despite their wooden spoon.
[Read more…] about 6 Nations History #3 – The men’s story so far in 2023
The 2022 Six Nations (Men’s) ended with France beating England to win their 1st Grand Slam and 6 Nations title since 2010. Ireland ran them close scoring 24 tries in all (joint 2nd highest on record) and Italy won their 1st game in 36 matches in dramatic fashion in Cardiff. England, Wales and Scotland all disappointed their fans and have questions to answer.
[Read more…] about 6 Nations History #2 – The men’s story so far in 2022
Will there be any football this Christmas? The Omicron variant of COVID19 is wreaking havoc with football and rugby schedules and the traditional Boxing Day lineup is in danger of being cancelled. So what will football fans do instead? The good news is I am giving a Christmas present to all football supporter that is almost as good as the real thing. All you need are 2 packs of playing cards, a pen and paper or a spreadsheet and you can play a simple football simulation game which guarantees fun and excitement for all.
