Editorial — long reads
Season reviews, match deep-dives, profiles and era pieces. Freelance writing commissioned through DragonFC and edited to sit alongside the structured data on Dragon Football.
The Academy Beat: 2026 World Cup Has Shown Success of EPPP But ‘Fall-Out’ Rate Remains Brutal
The path to football's elite level is long and difficult. Few make it to the top, and even fewer stay there. Discover just how brutal the…
Phoenix Clubs: The Fall and Rebirth of AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon's story is one of the most remarkable tales in football. Discover their rise from the ashes and rebirth, told from the heart of the…
Boardroom Beat: How Tony Bloom Built Football’s Quiet Multi-Club Empire
Tony Bloom is one of football's leading examples of how to run a multi-club ownership model. Here's how he built his empire.
The Grounds Guide: All you need to know about the Peninsula Stadium
Everything you need to know about the Peninsula Stadium, home of League Two side Salford City
The Grounds Guide: All you need to know about Stadium MK
Everything you need to know about Stadium MK, home of League One side MK Dons
Women’s Pyramid: How newly-appointed head coaches are getting to know their squads ahead of pre-season
How are the newly-appointed head coaches across the women's football pyramid getting to know their squads ahead of pre-season?
Football, Explained: What is the role of a False 9?
The false 9 is one of football's most under appreciated revelations, but what does the position actually mean?
The Going Rate: 2025/26 Premier League Table Ranked By Value
Arsenal ended their 22-year wait for a Premier League title, but which club got the best value from their squad based on their wage bill?
The Price of Football: Which Premier League team offers fans the best value for money?
Premier League fans are charged a small fortune to follow their teams across the season, but which club provides the best value for money?
Loan Watch: 2025/2026 Season Review
The Premier League has one of the most advanced loan networks in the world, but which stars thrived away from their parent clubs during the 2025/26…
About this work
Every piece on this page is paid freelance work commissioned through DragonFC, our internal platform. Writers pitch ideas, we pay on acceptance, and the editorial team fact-checks against the underlying data.
The point of commissioning long-reads is to add the colour the structured data can't carry: what it felt like to be there, why one signing changed the season, how a manager's tactical shift played out match by match.