Malachi Fagan-Walcott leaps from National League to Champions League qualifier

"

Plus: worst-ever penalty shoot outs, poachers turned gamekeepers … and footballers donating antiques?! Mail us with your all of your questions and answers “Malachi Fagan-Walcott’s final game of last season was for York City against Rochdale in the National League. His first competitive game of 2026-27 season was for Hearts against Sturm Graz in a Champions League qualifier. Has a player ever made a bigger leap in competitive levels between consecutive club games?” asks Tom Reed. Does a jump from the Welsh League to the FA Cup count as a bigger leap? Probably not, but this was an FA Cup semi-final, rather than a Champions League qualifier, and it’s a cracking yarn regardless. “I’ll nominate Gary Plumley,” writes Russell Connor. “Gary made almost 200 appearances for Newport County in four separate spells over the course of a decade but by 1987 he had effectively retired and was running a wine bar while making occasional appearances for Ebbw Vale in the Welsh League. Steve Baines, the only referee in the English professional leagues to have had significant experience as a player. Dick Jol, who refereed the 2001 Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Valencia. Ben Haverkort, who as a player received 73 yellow cards and six reds, many for verbally abusing referees. Continue reading...