Cookies are small text files a website stores in your browser. This page lists which ones we use, why, and how to switch them off.
The categories we use
Essential cookies
These keep the site working. They remember your light/dark mode preference, your consent choices, your logged-in state if you have an account, and some security tokens. They cannot be disabled because the site cannot function without them.
Analytics cookies
We use Google Analytics 4 with IP anonymisation to understand which articles are read, how readers reach them, and where the site is slow. Analytics data is aggregated and not used to identify individual readers. You can opt out of analytics in the cookie banner or through your browser’s privacy controls.
Advertising cookies
Ads on the site can use cookies to limit how often you see the same ad and to measure ad performance. Where personalised advertising is on, those cookies match an interest profile against the ad request. You can opt out from the cookie banner at any time; the site will still work, you will just see less relevant ads.
Embedded content
Some articles embed third-party content — YouTube trailers, X posts, Instagram clips, league fixture widgets. Those embeds set their own cookies under the third party’s policy. Where consent is required, the embed will not load until you click through to accept.
How to manage cookies
The simplest way is the cookie banner that appears the first time you visit. You can re-open it at any time from the cookie icon in the footer. You can also control cookies at the browser level — every major browser has an option to block third-party cookies entirely, and to clear cookies on close.
“Do Not Track” and Global Privacy Control
We respect Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals where your browser sends them. A GPC signal is treated as a request to disable advertising and analytics cookies on this site for the duration of your visit.
Updates
When we add or remove a cookie, this page is updated and the date below is bumped. Material changes are also flagged in the cookie banner on your next visit.
Questions
For anything cookie-related, email [email protected]. Our broader Privacy Policy covers data more generally.
Questions about this page?
Email us at [email protected] and a member of the editorial team will get back to you, typically within one business day.