A new midweek brings yet more intriguing matchups from across Yorkshire and slightly further afield this time out, with a look at the Three Lions.

Whether taking a vested interest or a passing watch, there is plenty on offer to quench the sporting itch.

Tuesday 24th March, Enterprise National League: Gateshead FC v York City, 19:45

York City have the chance to go top of a notoriously difficult-to-escape National League this week, as they take the trip up north to face a Gateshead side looking to avoid escaping the league through relegation.

Free-scoring York have been talked about a lot recently due to having already scored over 100 goals in 39 matches. That unbelievable scoring rate is made even more bewildering by the fact that they are still two points off Rochdale in top spot.

With a 68-goal difference, York are head and shoulders above anyone else. But in a league with just one automatic promotion spot, being top of anything other than points earned is not good enough.

The Minstermen know all too well about the perils of being runner-up; it was them who took second place last season, losing to eventual playoff winners Oldham in the semifinal.

Stuart Maynard was tasked with taking York one better than last year, and so far he is looking to hopefully do just that with a win this week and an advantage in what is a two-horse race for the top spot, with York 14 points clear of Carlisle in third.

They will first need to beat a Gateshead side that had a stellar run of form that ended recently after a 3-0 away loss to Boreham Wood.

Prior to that loss, the Tynesiders were unbeaten in five and have only been bested twice in their last ten games. It is still not enough to take them out of the relegation zone, in which they now sit with a worse goal difference than Brackley in 20th.

There is much on the line for both in this one; a home win could signal not only a miraculous result but also a big step forward in escaping the drop. For the away side it is similarly an opportunity to push the fight closer for another week with Rochdale, who also look shy of stopping.

Date: 24/03/2026

Time: 19:45

Venue: Gateshead International Stadium, Gateshead

The match will be shown on DAZN.

 
 

Thursday 26th March Betfred Super League: Castleford Tigers v Bradford Bulls 20:00

The Super League Thursday main event is an all-Yorkshire affair as a bolstered Bradford makes the short trip to Wheldon Road to face a Cas side looking for a positive result.

The Bulls are having a fruitful return to life in the Super League so far and are picking up positive results that have led them to fifth spot in the table.

Three wins and two losses in their opening five matches is a tremendous return for a side expected to struggle from the off, but the Bulls have shown their pedigree once more in the top flight.

Most recently it was another Yorkshire side, the Huddersfield Giants, that fell victim to the sleeping giant of the Bulls. The Odsall was treated to a dramatic affair in which the home side eventually ran out 26-14 winners.

Whilst Bradford look like they never left Super League, Castleford have on occasion looked out of their depth. Just a solitary win over the Giants is all to shout about in an early season run-in that has done nothing to breed confidence.

The weekend was The Tigers' lowest point; facing a Warrington Wolves side admittedly in great form, it was still surprising when they put Cas to the sword and smashed them in a 72-6 result that has shocked all.

With just that single victory and coming off the back of a demolition, it is hard to see the Tigers bouncing back. But, nothing is certain in the Super League, and even though it is a long shot, there is still hope for Cas. For Bradford, this will feel like the best time to play Castleford and move ever closer into the playoff spots and even into the top two.

Date: 26/03/2026

Time: 20:00

Venue: Wheldon Road, Castleford

The match will be shown on Sky Go.

 

Friday 27th March International Friendly: England v Uruguay 19:45

The Three Lions return for their first fixture of 2026 this week, with former Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa taking his Uruguay side to Wembley.

As the World Cup approaches in June, Thomas Tuchel has limited opportunities to finalise a settled squad for the tournament. Seemingly, the German coach has eyes on a lot of options, as his most recent squad selection showed with an expanded 35-man group for the upcoming two friendlies.

There have already been countless conversations about the shock inclusions and exclusions, including Calvert-Lewin, Jason Steele and Fikayo Tomori’s addition as well as the leaving out of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Ollie Watkins.

Some are concerned that the time is practically over for those who missed out on this squad to be on the plane to America. However, it will be intriguing to observe how frequently the new faces are showcased and whether they can step up, vying for a starting position or a spot on the bench in June.

With ten games under Tuchel’s belt so far, the German has only lost a single game to Senegal in June last year, and since then the Three Lions haven’t conceded a single goal in the intervening six matches.

The visit of Uruguay will be another test for England, with Bielsa being known for a fast-paced and attacking style that will take no prisoners and will not rest in going forward under the Wembley arch.

Hopefully the test will not be too much for England, who need to be on a good footing of performance and togetherness going into another tournament in which the Three Lions are tipped amongst the favourites.

Date: 27/03/2026

Time: 19:45

Venue: Wembley Stadium, London

The match will be shown on ITV 1.