LEE PAYNE

An aspiring writer on sport, music, history and more

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about

I am a graduate journalist. I’ve enjoyed writing for as long as I can remember. I’m a huge Norwich fan, and I am also interested in cricket, history, architecture, the media and London.

Tag: england

  • A sporting break – my July 2022 trip to Manchester

    I’ve been back from my holiday for a week now, but as these things often do, it feels like a lot longer! I usually go away around my mum’s birthday (19th July) and this year was no different. In 2021, we stayed in Salford to make it easy to get to Old Trafford for a…

  • England seal a superb series whitewash

    England vs New Zealand3rd Test (of 3)Headingley, Leeds23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th June 2022Result: England (360 & 296-3) beat New Zealand (329 & 326) by 7 wicketsEngland win the series 3-0 It was only innate English pessimism that put any doubt in the ability of our re-energised Test team to knock off the 113 runs…

  • Cricket is better than football

    England vs New Zealand2nd Test (of 3)Trent Bridge, Nottingham10th, 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th June 2022Result: England (539 & 299-5) beat New Zealand (553 & 284) by 5 wickets Sport is my strongest passion. My life is essentially a continuous festival of sport, and football and cricket are the headline acts. I love them both, but…

  • A winning start: what I learned from the Lord’s Test

    England vs New Zealand1st Test (of 3)Lord’s, London2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th June 2022Result: England (141 & 279-5) beat New Zealand (132 & 285) by 5 wickets I’ve looked it up. There were 281 days between England’s men completing an innings victory over India at Headingley on 28th August last year and scoring the winning runs…

  • A draw – but for England, it will almost feel like a win

    This article was originally submitted to another website on Saturday 12th March but not published. Cricket being the glorious game it is, after five long days in Antigua the first Test between the West Indies and England ended in a draw and both sides move on to Barbados with the series level at 0-0. England…

  • I went to a sporting event for the first time since the pandemic began

    I don’t mind big crowds. They afford a certain anonymity, and I like that. I would prefer to be in a crowd than in a room with one other person. I’m used to them, too – I’ve had a season ticket at Norwich City for 13 years, I’ve seen the England cricket team a few…

  • It went to Rome.

    No one is going to be the slightest bit interested in reading about the Euro 2020 final, so I’m not going to write about it. Here’s the BBC match report if you insist. Italy, it’s been great having you back on the major tournament stage. You were missed when you didn’t qualify for the 2018…

  • This week in the Euros #4 – Home or Rome?

    I’ve enjoyed Euro 2020. Major tournaments can often feel like they drag on but this one has been a good one. I’m sorry it’s nearly over. All that’s left is the final. Denmark continue to ride their wave of emotion My last round up ended with two of the semi-finalists sorted – Spain and Italy…

  • This week in the Euros #2… and #3

    For some reason, I failed to write about the second week of Euro 2020. Having made this great declaration of rounding up each week of the tournament, skipping one when it only lasts for four is poor form. Apologies. Let’s get back on track. Here’s what happened in the second week Since my last post,…

  • This week in the Euros #1

    We are now one week into Euro 2020 – and, yes, it is still called Euro 2020 despite being delayed a year by the pandemic. Probably because UEFA had spent millions on the branding for it. Anyway, with the intention of writing a weekly round up of what’s been going on at the summer festival…