Matt Dickinson, chief football correspondent for The Times, combines investigative rigor with narrative flair across sports and royal reporting. Based in the UK, his career spans landmark interviews, award-winning biographies, and incisive commentary on football culture.
Recent recognition includes a 2024 nomination for the British Sports Journalism Awards’ Feature Writer category. Avoid lifestyle pitches or speculative tech trends—Dickinson’s work remains anchored in documented realities.
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Matt Dickinson’s journey into journalism began at the Cambridge Evening News, where he honed his reporting skills before joining the Daily Express in 1991. His early work focused on sports, blending sharp analysis with a knack for uncovering human-interest angles. By 1997, Dickinson’s talent earned him a role at The Times, where he quickly rose to prominence as football correspondent. His 1999 interview with England manager Glenn Hoddle, which led to Hoddle’s resignation over controversial remarks about disability, cemented Dickinson’s reputation for holding power to account[1].
“Dickinson’s interrogation of Hoddle’s beliefs wasn’t just about scoring headlines—it reshaped the conversation about accountability in sports leadership.”
As chief football correspondent since 2002, Dickinson has covered World Cups, Champions League finals, and Premier League dramas. His 2014 biography Bobby Moore: The Man in Full delved into the complexities of England’s World Cup-winning captain, praised for its psychological depth[1]. While sports remain his primary beat, Dickinson’s occasional forays into royal reporting—such as his 2025 analysis of the Sussexes’ media strategy—demonstrate versatility[3].
Dickinson’s 1993 Young Sports Writer of the Year award recognized his early promise, while his 2000 Sports Writer of the Year honor celebrated groundbreaking work like the Hoddle exposé[1]. These accolades underscore his dual strengths: tenacious reporting and literary craftsmanship.
