Matthew Chandler

Matthew is a freelance sports journalist from Warrington, England. He is a regular contributor to SQaF, as well as FourFourTwo, Click Liverpool and Royal Blue Mersey. See Matthew's MuckRack profile

Has Anyone Ever Died in UFC?

Given it’s one of the most no-holds-barred sporting divisions in the world, some might assume that the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) could ultimately some fighters’ lives in jeopardy. So, how many UFC fighters have died in the Octagon? Have there been any mixed martial arts (MMA) deaths outside of the UFC? And how does boxing, a similarly savage sport, compare in this regard? Has Anyone Ever Died in a UFC Fight? No. There have never been any UFC deaths in the Octagon itself, which perhaps owes partly to how well-regulated …

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Why are Barnsley Called ‘The Tykes’?

We’ve learnt by now why Sheffield Wednesday are nicknamed ‘The Owls,’ why West Brom are called ‘The Baggies,’ why Fulham go by ‘The Cottagers‘, and plenty more. Now, it’s time to look at the story of Barnsley FC – also known as ‘The Tykes.’ Where does their nickname originate from? And who are Barnsley’s biggest rivals? We’ll aim to answer both of these questions below: READ MORE Why Are England Called ‘Three Lions’? Why Are Portsmouth Called ‘Pompey’ and ‘Skates’? Why are Everton FC called ‘Everton’? Why Are Leicester City …

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How Much Do International Players Get Paid?

One of the most commonly-held opinions about modern football, rightly or wrongly, is that top-level footballers get paid an absurd amount for doing an ultimately inessential job. And when you consider that the average Premier League footballer earns roughly £60,000 a week (£3 million a year), they probably have a point. But do those lucky enough to represent their country also get paid for the privilege? And if so, how much do football players get paid for international games? Let’s take a look: Do International Players Get Paid? Yes. International …

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Why Are England Called ‘Three Lions’?

It’s as synonymous with the England national football team as the brass band at every (pre-COVID) match and inevitable tournament disappointment. To paraphrase Baddiel and Skinner, there are, of course, ‘three lions on a shirt’. But why is England called ‘The Three Lions’? Where does this particular nickname stem from? Let’s find out: Why is There Three Lions on the England Badge? In short, because they are representatives of the Football Association (FA), who have also always had three lions on their logo. The FA formed in 1863, nine years …

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Why are Sheffield Wednesday Called ‘Wednesday’ and ‘The Owls’?

Regular readers of SQaF may have already learned why Leicester City are called ‘The Foxes’, West Brom ‘The Baggies’ and Fulham ‘The Cottagers’ (check out our more extensive list of football team name suffixes here, too). Now it’s time to find out about the origins behind the names of one of England’s oldest football clubs. Why are ‘Sheffield Wednesday’ so called? Where do Sheffield Wednesday get their name from? What is Sheffield Wednesday’s nickname, and the meaning behind it? And what’s with the ‘pigs’ tag they seem to have earned …

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Most Red Cards in Premier League History [Team + Player Records]

Most footballers come with a certain reputation. Some will be known for being law-abiding do-gooders, others garner a reputation for diving, but plenty more become synonymous with receiving cards, namely of the red variety. Here, we’ve drawn up a few tables to give some insight into top-flight sending-offs. Which Premier League club has had most red cards? Which player has been sent off most in Premier League history? What are the most red cards in the Premier League in one season shown to an individual player and team? We’ll explore …

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