News

Whitwell moves up after the People signs Moxley

Neil Moxley is the new chief sports writer and columnist for the Sunday People.

Laurie Whitwell: product of Mail's graduate recruitment scheme, takes over as Midlands football reporter
Laurie Whitwell: takes over as Midlands football reporter

Moxley left the Daily Mail last week after 13 years as Midlands football reporter. At the People, Moxley replaces Dave Kidd, who has moved to sister paper the Sunday Mirror as football correspondent while also doing a column for the Daily Mirror.

“To follow somebody like Dave Kidd, who is one of the unsung columnists, is a big challenge,” Moxley said.

“I’m also looking forward to working with sports editor James Brown, one of the industry’s good guys, and I’m not saying that just because I’m sitting next to him.”

Moxley, who also had spells with the Daily Star in the Midlands and north-east, comes from Birmingham and had been the Aston Villa reporter for the Birmingham Evening Mail and Sunday Mercury.

He joined the Daily Mail on contract in 2001 and the staff three years later, replacing the late Ray Matts as Midlands football reporter. Moxley also covered the Wales national team.

Laurie Whitwell, who has come through the paper’s training scheme, moves from London to replace Moxley.

Whitwell, an English graduate from Leeds University, joined the Mail in August 2010 as a trainee and was seconded to the Yorkshire Post for six months.

He arrived on the sports desk in February 2011, spent a month on news before moving to the newspaper’s new online office in New York.

Whitwell returned to sport and London in February 2012 tasked with Olympic and Paralympic duties before focusing on football. His main responsiblities were covering West Ham and Norwich.

Whitwell thanks Lee Clayton, the head of sport, and sports editor Les Snowdon “for having faith in me”. He said: “I feel this progression shows the value of the Mail’s graduate scheme.

“Neil Moxley has already been a great support in my adjustment. It goes without saying how high a bar he has set.”


Make sure you don’t miss out on the gala celebration of the best of British sports journalism by booking your ticket – or even a table – for the SJA British Sports Journalism Awards on Monday March 24 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London’s Covent Garden.

The event begins at 6pm, with a champagne reception and opportunity to view an exhibition of many of the leading entries in the photography categories, prior to a three-course dinner and the presentation of the awards.

There are special ticket discounts available to paid-up SJA members. But hurry – tickets are already selling fast.


UPCOMING SJA EVENTS

Mon Mar 24: SJA British Sports Journalism Awards, Grand Connaught Rooms, London
Mon Apr 14: SJA Spring Golf Day: Croham Hurst GC, Surrey. Booking details to be announced