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    Jack Wilshere suffers disappointing Bournemouth debut in loss as ex-Arsenal ace Bielik suffers bloody head injury

    JACK WILSHERE made his Bournemouth debut during the 1-0 defeat to Derby on Tuesday.
    The 29-year-old struggled to make his mark after he was introduced in the 78th minute.

    Jack Wilshere has joined Bournemouth until the end of the seasonCredit: Rex Features

    Ex-Arsenal star Wilshere joined the Cherries on a free transfer in a bid to reignite his career.
    Just one day after the move was confirmed, he was named on the bench for Jason Tindall’s side.
    He replaced team-mate David Brooks with just 12 minutes of the game left to go.
    Wilshere was unable to inspire his new team to glory and the game ended 1-0 to Derby.

    The 29-year-old has been training with the Cherries for the past three weeks after being left without a club.
    It was announced in October that Wilshere had agreed to terminate his West Ham contract.
    He spent two years at the London Stadium, but injuries limited him to just 19 appearances.
    Krystian Bielik bagged the only goal of the game on Tuesday after he suffered a nasty cut above his eye.

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    Krystian Bielik needed medical treatment after a collision with Jefferson LermaCredit: Rex Features

    The former Arsenal ace hit the deck after an accidental collision with Jefferson Lerma.
    He received treatment from Derby’s medical team as blood poured down his face.
    But the Polish hardman decided to play on before he found the net in the 32nd minute.
    After the match, Bielik said: “We dug in until the final minute today.
    “It wasn’t easy but we showed quality, togetherness, energy and we deserved three points.
    “We think about the next game now.”
    Derby are 21st in the Championship following Wayne Rooney’s first win as permanent manager.

    Jack Wilshere has been training with Bournemouth for the past three weeksCredit: PA:Press Association

    Krystian Bielik scored the only goal of the game on TuesdayCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Wayne Rooney says he can help Derby move forward as new manager More

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    Middlesbrough physio embarks on 240km rowing mission to raise vital funds for seriously ill nephew’s cancer treatment

    MIDDLESBROUGH’s head physio Chris Moseley is rowing 240km to raise crucial funds for charity and help his seriously ill nephew.
    Despite Boro’s action-packed Championship schedule, he is putting down his magic sponge to row 8k a day throughout January.

    Boro physio Chris Moseley is rowing 240km to raise crucial funds to help his seriously ill nephew

    Moseley is attempting to clock up the distance between Teesside and the Crewe home of his nephew Georgy, who is suffering from a rare form of bone cancer.
    And he has set a target of £4,000 to help pay for the specialist Cancer treatment the eight-year-old needs.
    He has already received plenty of support and has passed the £3,500 mark, but he hopes to increase that amount before the end of month.
    Georgy’s mum, Moseley’s sister Helen, explained: “On Easter Sunday 2018 our Georgy, aged just 8, fell over in a friend’s back garden and after taking him to A&E we were given the devastating news that he had a highly malignant and very rare bone cancer called Ewing’s Sarcoma.

    “The following 12 months passed in a whirlwind of hospital stays where he had high dose of aggressive chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He was unable to eat and lost a lot of weight.
    “As a result of this treatment, the majority of his right arm was taken away and replaced with a titanium prosthesis. 
    “Georgy went into remission in March 2019 and life started to become normal(ish) again! Georgy went back to school and we started to see our gorgeous boy become the funny and happy person that he’s always been.
    “In April this year, we were dealt the devastating blow that the cancer had returned but this time in his left sinus, just under his eye socket and in the back of his nose.

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    “Scans showed that this horrible and aggressive cancer had already destroyed some of his cheekbone and was growing into the base of his skull.
    “Georgy was rushed back into hospital to start preparations for his treatment whilst we waited to hear if he would have a stroke or lose his eyesight immediately.
    “Luckily, our brave boy came out as strong as he went in.”
    The youngster has undergone four rounds of chemotherapy and is currently having radiotherapy.
    However, his mother said: “After researching all avenues, we know that his rare and specific condition cannot be treated with targeted drugs for Georgy on the NHS at this present time, despite the amazing work of his medical team.
    “Patients with relapsed Ewing’s have a very poor prognosis and as his parents, we are determined to try and raise as much as we can so our gorgeous boy can live a carefree life, something he has not had for three years now.

    Moseley is head physio at the Championship club
    “After lengthy discussions with a stem cell transplant hospital in a top medical treatment centre in Asia, we are thrilled that they are willing to accept Georgy! 
    “The transplant will involve removing the faulty mother cell and harvesting new purified cells from a donated umbilical cord into his body to stop the cancer from returning, these procedures have very high success rates.”
    She added: “Throughout all of Georgy’s treatment we have been absolutely amazed with our NHS, he wouldn’t be here now without them but the cost of this treatment is going to be around the region of £240,000 which simply cannot be funded by our NHS and we really do understand this.
    “Georgy has always taken his illness in his stride, he is a well-mannered and courageous young man and has the best sense of humour ever!
    “When we told him about the possibility of having this procedure his reply was ‘will I still have my memory?’”
    You can sponsor Moseley by clicking here.

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    Premier League, FA and football authorities hold first serious all-party meeting to combat wave of vile online abuse

    FOOTBALL authorities have held their first serious all-party meeting with social media giants to combat online hate as Anton Ferdinand demanded they be held to account.
    Anti-racism leaders Kick It Out convened the gathering of the game’s senior organisations.

    Kick It Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari has described the ‘culture of impunity’ behind online hateCredit: PA:Press Association

    Former Premier League defender Anton Ferdinand addressed today’s meetingCredit: PA:Press Association

    Facebook and Twitter were invited to the talk alongside the Premier League, PFA, FA, EFL and LMA.
    Former West Ham defender Ferdinand told the meeting: “As footballers we are held accountable for our actions all the time – why aren’t the people that are sending abuse, and the social media platforms, held to account too?
    “I had no escape from being racially abused, whether that was on the streets or social media.
    “The ripple effect the abuse had on me and my family, I wouldn’t want anyone else to experience that.”

    The social media companies agreed to take steps to ensure a zero tolerance policy on online hate and abuse.
    As part of a set of “common principles” the parties confirmed that “discrimination, hate and abuse towards those who play, support or work in the game is totally unacceptable”.
    That includes “real-world consequences” for those who use online platforms to spread abuse with the determination to make perpetrators be “accountable for their actions”.
    Outside bodies involved were UK Football Policing Unit, Women in Football, Crown Prosecution Service, Home Office and Sky, with further meetings to be held every two months.

    Online discriminatory abuse is unacceptable and tackling this issue must be a priority for football and social media companies.
    Richard MastersPremier League Chief Exec

    Kick it Out chairman Sanjay Bhandari said: “Online hate thrives because there is a culture of impunity.
    “People feel free to say what they want because they are confident there will be no consequences. That must change.”
    Prem chief executive Richard Masters added: “Online discriminatory abuse is unacceptable and tackling this issue must be a priority for football and social media companies.
    “Sadly, there are too many instances of footballers and their families receiving horrific discriminatory messages and nobody should have to deal with this.
    “The Premier League welcomes this initiative as a means of persuading social media companies to remove offensive material swiftly and help the Premier League and law enforcement bodies identify perpetrators.”
    Twitter and Facebook appear to recognise their responsibilities.

    Between June and September last year were able to find 95% of the hate speech content and removed it before anyone reported it.
    Jerry NewmanFacebook

    Facebook’s Jerry Newman said: “We don’t want racism or any type of hate speech on Facebook or Instagram.
    “Over the last few years, we’ve tripled the size of our safety and security team and between June and September last year were able to find 95 per cent of the hate speech content and removed it before anyone reported it. We won’t stop there.”
    Katy Minshall of Twitter added: “Racist behaviour has no place on Twitter and we strongly condemn it.
    “We continue to collaborate closely with our partners in football to identify ways to tackle this issue collectively.”

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    Aston Villa star Conor Hourihane set to join Swansea on loan transfer with medical delayed until later in week

    CONOR HOURIHANE has agreed to join Swansea on loan from Aston Villa.
    The Ireland midfielder, 29, told Dean Smith he was desperate to play first team football.

    Conor Hourihane will join Swansea on loan for the rest of the seasonCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    And high-flying Championship side Swansea have a deal in place for Hourihane to join them for the rest of the season.
    The temporary switch could be announced by Steve Cooper’s side as early as Wednesday.
    But, because of Swansea’s postponed league game at Blackburn due to a waterlogged pitch, a medical is not expected in the next 24 hours with staff already in the north-west.
    Hourihane has only made five appearances for Villa this season.

    His game time has been limited due to the stand out displays of Douglas Luiz and John McGinn in central midfield.
    Elsewhere, Villa are in the race to sign Marseille midfielder Morgan Sanson.
    Arsenal and West Ham are also said to be keen.
    The central midfielder has 18 months remaining on his contract and manager Andre Villas-Boas has confirmed the interest from Premier League clubs.

    Villas-Boas told reporters: “We’ll see. The transfer window is open, Sanson is a player who is highly rated.
    “Officially, we have not received any offers, unless it happened during the match.
    “He is a boy who interests English teams because of his characteristics, and it is possible that something could happen.”
    French television programme Telefoot have also reported that Sanson is engaged in transfer talks with an unspecified English club over a January switch.

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    Stoke keeper Joe Bursik named after grandad Josef, Czechoslovakian war hero who beat Nazis then escaped from Soviet jail

    JOE BURSIK is well aware of the true meaning of valour.
    So, while he is rightly pleased with himself for holding the fort at Stoke, he knows his efforts are nothing compared to the incredible exploits of his grandad.

    Joe Bursik was named after his grandad Josef, a World War II heroCredit: Phil Greig 2020

    The Czechoslovakian icon fought alongside the Russian army to help defeat the Nazis before escaping prison

    The goalkeeper was named after Josef Bursik, a Second World War hero and Czechoslovakian icon.
    Joe Jr was brought up on stories of the highly decorated tank commander who fought alongside the Russian army against the Nazis.
    Yet the reward for the major general’s great bravery was jail after he was denounced as an anti-communist.
    He was found guilty of what the Soviet Union deemed to be high treason in 1949 for asking to be demobbed and was originally sentenced to ten years.

    The term in the feared Czech maximum security Mirov prison was increased by four years after he failed in an appeal against the verdict.
    Having also contracted tuberculosis, that added up to what could easily have been a death sentence.
    Yet he figured in his own version of The Great Escape after being transferred to Olomouc Hospital for treatment of his illness in 1950.
    He even used a motorbike for his getaway after doctors helped him to dupe guards by giving him an injection that brought on a fever.

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    But unlike the Hollywood movie’s hero played by Steve McQueen, he made it to freedom by crossing the border to Germany.
    His grandson cannot hide the pride he feels for the veteran, who sadly passed away two years after Joe Jr was born.
    Bursik, 20, said: “There was never any question in my dad’s mind of what my Christian name would be.
    “I’m so glad I have it and that I can further the name of Josef Bursik.
    “Of course, I was so young when he died I didn’t know him, but his memory and what he did and stood for burns bright in our family.
    “My dad and me often go to Prague for breaks in the summer and I remember when we would first make those trips together.
    “We would be booking into a hotel and my father would be asked for his surname.
    “Whenever the name Bursik came up there was always a feeling of awe from the people when we were checking in or if we were making a hotel reservation.

    Bursik was on loan at Doncaster before being recalled by StokeCredit: Phil Greig 2020

    The Stoke keeper once again impressed against Blackburn on SaturdayCredit: Rex Features
    “The Bursik name has a real buzz still in the Czech Republic — people and family don’t forget over there.”
    The youngster is making quite a fist of upholding the name of the man who Stalin made a Hero of the Soviet Union for helping liberate Kiev.
    He was called back from a loan at Doncaster after Stoke boss Michael O’Neill suffered a goalkeeping crisis that saw his seniors fall like ninepins through injury.
    Things started badly as Bursik conceded three goals in a 4–3 win against Huddersfield, followed by a 3–2 loss to Norwich.
    But he did not fall away and now has seven clean sheets.
    O’Neill said: “Joe’s very sharp around his penalty box. He has everything you’d look for in a modern goalkeeper.
    “He’s good with the ball at his feet. He’s a confident boy and it’s good to see a young goalkeeper produce the level of performance that he’s had.”
    Bursik makes his 15th appearance since that emergency recall against Rotherham tonight, having first underlined his ability by helping England win the Under-17s World Cup.

    Every time I take the pitch I know what I’m carrying for my family — the honour of a great war hero who was so brave. Every time I play my grandad is an inspiration.
    Joe Bursik

    There is an Under-21 cap to be proud of too. And the Lambeth-born lad, who started out at Wimbledon, wants to follow in the footsteps of his other great hero, Petr Cech.
    Bursik was actually a winger at the Dons before being asked to don the goalie gloves.
    He said: “I grew up as a Chelsea fan and idolised Cech.
    “We were — and still are — season-ticket holders at Stamford Bridge and I always got there early just to watch him warm up.
    “I’d love to meet him one day because he has been such a big influence on me.
    “If I could ever get near what he’s achieved in the game then I would know I’d made it.”
    Bursik knows that his grandad would be proud too.
    He also received the Czech War Cross for bravery, as well as the Order of the Red Star at Sokolovo.

    Petr Cech was Bursik’s hero growing up as a Chelsea season ticket holderCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    After he reached Germany with his wife they moved to England in 1955, when his record was expunged from Czech history.
    But following the fall of communism his honours were restored and upon his death in 2002 he was given the Order of the White Lion, the highest honour available in the Czech Republic.
    Joe added: “Every time I take the pitch I know what I’m carrying for my family — the honour of a great war hero who was so brave.
    “Every time I play my grandad is an inspiration.
    “No matter what I achieve he always will be — and I would never have it any other way.”

    He started out with AFC Wimbledon as a winger before taking the glovesCredit: Rex Features

    Potters boss Michael O’Neill has been impressed with the goalkeeper’s performancesCredit: Rex Features More

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    Man City fuming with Derby after BLOCKING Scott Carson transfer move as Rams need £500k loan money to pay wages

    MANCHESTER CITY are reportedly fuming with Derby County for blocking Scott Carson’s transfer to the Etihad.
    The goalkeeper, 35, is already on loan with the Citizens for the second season running.

    Derby are blocking Scott Carson from signing a permanent deal at Manchester CityCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    But according to the Daily Mail, Pep Guardiola is keen to make the switch permanent.
    City want to hand an 18-month contract to their third-choice stopper.
    However, the report adds the Rams are holding any deal up because they are desperate for the £500,000 loan instalment due this month.
    The loan agreement sees City pay Derby twice per season to cover Carson’s loan fee and wages.

    And the Championship side need the cash to help cover players’ wages.
    The Rams squad were not paid in full in December as the club’s proposed takeover has still not gone through.
    Even new boss Wayne Rooney as well as coaches Liam Rosenior and Shay Given – all given promotions – are still on their old pay packets.
    Carson is thought to be frustrated with Derby’s reluctance to let him leave, fearing he will miss out on the chance to stay with the Premier League giants for another year which could end his playing career.

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    The veteran stopper joined the Etihad to bring added experience and an additional homegrown player into the squad.
    Despite not featuring for a single minute of first-team football since his arrival in summer 2019, he is well-liked around the club and gets on well with fellow goalkeepers Ederson and Zack Steffen, who want Carson to stay.
    The four-cap England international came through at Leeds and had spells with Liverpool, West Brom, Bursaspor and Wigan before moving to Pride Park in 2015.

    Manchester City have signed Scott Carson from Derby County on a year-long loan deal More

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    Cardiff ace Josh Murphy at centre of transfer tug-of-war with Nottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby keen

    JOSH MURPHY is at the centre of a three-way transfer battle fromNottingham Forest, Sheffield Wednesday and Derby.
    The Cardiff winger, 25, is out of favour under Bluebirds boss Neil Harris.

    Josh Murphy is at the centre of a three-way transfer battleCredit: Getty Images

    Murphy has not started for the Welsh side in the Championship since the 1-0 league defeat by Coventry last November.
    And the trio of Cardiff’s rivals in the second tier have expressed an interest in taking the wide man on loan this month.
    Forest and Wednesday could be ahead of Wayne Rooney’s Derby in the chase as the Rams are currently struggling to pay the wages of their players although an imminent takeover of the club could change that.
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    Murphy, whose twin brother Jacob plays for Newcastle, cost Cardiff £11million from Norwich back in the summer of 2018.
    He has made 15 appearances in all competitions this season but mainly as a substitute.
    Cardiff are 16th in the Championship and closer to the relegation places than play-off spots.

    Harris’ side have lost four games in a row since Christmas – including an FA Cup third round defeat at Nottingham Forest.

    They face relegation-threatened QPR in their next Championship clash on Wednesday. More

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    Cardiff’s new £1m man Max Watters is Crawley boss John Yems’ latest triumph following Callum Wilson and Matt Ritchie joy

    WHEN Max Watters completed his £1million move to Cardiff from Crawley at the weekend it was another triumph for John Yems.
    The Crawley boss knows a good player when he sees one – having recruited Callum Wilson from Coventry and Matt Ritchie from Swindon while in charge of recruitment at Bournemouth.

    Max Watters is the latest player off the John Yems production line

    And Yems is certain his latest big find will soon be in the Premier League.
    Watters, 21, was released by Doncaster in the summer and training at Maidstone hoping he might earn a contract at the National League South club.
    But Yems was so impressed with the striker during a pre-season friendly that he invited him in for a trial and swiftly told Crawley to snap him up.
    He said: “Max is definitely good enough. He’s mature, his game is adaptable to the Premier League and he has that instinct where the back of the net is. I’m not going over the top on this.

    “He needs work like everyone does but he has a great heart and desire, has a good family behind him and he wants to do it.
    “Max wants to test himself at the highest level. I’ve no doubt he’s going to be a great player.”
    Yems was treated badly by the Cherries when they made him redundant in 2018 and their loss has certainly turned out to be Crawley’s gain.
    It was written in the FA Cup stars that the two would be drawn together in the fourth round after the Sussex club stunned Leeds.

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    The Cherries claimed they could not AFFORD his £45,000-a-year wages – despite the fact he made the club at least a whopping £30MILLION in transfer profits.
    Yems had joined when they were in League One and in his time there played a big part in bringing Eddie Howe and Jason Tindall back from Burnley.
    He also persuaded them to sign Wilson for £3m, Ritchie for £400,000 and Euan O’Kane from Torquay for £200,000.
    Wilson was sold to Newcastle for £20m in September, Ritchie also went to St James’ Park for £12m while O’Kane was sold for an undisclosed profit to Leeds.
    After suffering a mental breakdown and bouts of depression, Yems got himself back into the game with Crawley – becoming an EFL manager for the first time at the age of SIXTY.

    John Yems has a good eye for talent with Max Watters his latest find

    John Yems persuaded the Cherries to sign Callum Wilson for just £3m
    He said: “I like players who are hard working and good characters. They’ve got to want to improve and to do it for themselves.
    “They used to have that at Bournemouth – people like Tommy Elphicke, who got them promoted to the Premier League in my opinion. He’s the best captain I’ve seen.”
    His assistant and former Bournemouth boss Lee Bradbury – who was in charge in between Howe’s two managerial spells – was responsible for signing Steve Cook, Charlie Daniels, Adam Smith and Dan Gosling.
    Yems said: “They used to be good days at Bournemouth in the lower leagues but once we got into the Premier League it wasn’t the same.”
    But with Crawley punching above their weight in the League Two play-off picture with the FA Cup, Yems is enjoying football once again.
    And Crawley – with a million in the bank – are smiling too.

    Hilton looking to Shake it all up with Bury

    GOOD luck to David Hilton who has a deal in place to rescue Bury FC.

    The Shakers – expelled from the EFL in September 2019 – are still alive, still own Gigg Lane and have a chance to be placed in the National League North next season if they can get their act together.Nottingham-based businessman Hilton, 43, who has been an investor at eighth-tier club Ilkeston, had agreed a deal with current owner Steve Dale – which is now being thrashed out by lawyers.Bury FC, who are currently in administration, must make an application to the FA to be placed into a league by February 1 – and, because the Shakers have not been liquidated and were members of the EFL, football’s governing body can place them into the National League as they are not a phoenix club.But I understand from FA sources that the sixth-tier National North would be the most likely division for Bury to re-enter.Hilton has agreed to pay off all football creditors and satisfy a CVA once approved.Because of the financial impact caused by Covid to football, the Shakers will be well placed to pick up out-of-work players in the Manchester area.Re-entering football at National League North level would allow the club to build new foundations.Bury fans have had so many false dawns and I’m sure everyone who loves football will be keeping their fingers crossed for them in the coming weeks and months.What a great story it would be to see Bury FC back next season at Gigg Lane.

    KICKSTART
    MACKLIN DOHERTY was out of work, claiming Universal Credit and disillusioned.
    That was until football came to the rescue.
    Once again EFL clubs have stepped to the plate during this grimmest of winters to shine a light on their importance to local communities.
    This time 65 clubs have given 500 young people jobs as part of the government’s Kickstart scheme.

    Macklin Doherty is one of the 500 youngsters recruited as part of the government’s Kickstart scheme
    Open to 16 to 24-year-olds who are claiming Universal Credit, it provides up to 25-hours-a-week fully-funded subsidised minimum wage employment for six months.
    So many young people have lost their jobs because of coronavirus or found opportunities non-existent with companies shying away from recruiting.
    Macklin, 23, has just been taken on by Championship club Luton Town to work for their community trust, honing his skills as a graphic designer.
    The youngster – who graduated from university in 2019 – was growing disillusioned after a string of set-backs.
    He was set to be recruited as a graduate graphic designer last year – designing sports kits for schools and universities.
    But they all closed due to the pandemic and the company puts the brakes on recruitment.
    So Macklin went on to Universal Credit and decided to go for training opportunities so he could at least develop his skills while the jobs market was virtually dead.
    He told me: “From last May to December, I sent off 17 applications and didn’t receive any feedback from a single one so it was getting disheartening.
    “But Luton got back to me within 15 days and I had positive conversations with head of the trust Kevin Thoburn and business manager Adam Woulds, they offered me a job.
    “It’s great to wake up in the morning knowing I’ve got work and this scheme is awesome in getting people on the jobs ladder.”
    After six months, clubs can offer those who impress jobs – but, at the very least, young people will have gained much-needed experience ahead of going for future opportunities.

    It’s great to wake up in the morning knowing I’ve got work and this scheme is awesome in getting people on the jobs ladder.”
    MACKLIN DOHERTY

    League One club Portsmouth have just offered someone a job in their media department – with another set to also join shortly.
    Chief executive Mark Catlin said: “The more football clubs can do to give people opportunities – with the funding from the government – it’s a win, win for everybody.
    “This is perfect for those trying to get a foothold into the football industry and gives us an opportunity to look at young talent. We get inundated with requests from youngsters to do voluntary work for us but this is a paid position targeted at those on low incomes.”
    Football has received a battering as various stages of the pandemic – most recently because of some high-profile footballers breaking Covid rules or celebrating goals together, despite the fact they have all tested negative for the disease and are in bubbles.

    Pompey chief executive Mark Catlin is right behind the scheme
    And Catlin said: “There have been a lot of cheap shots aimed at footballers – whether it be for the salaries earned or for breaking Covid rules.
    “If you look at the pandemic more generally, these are people who have failings like anyone else.
    “The number of people who break rules is a minority – just like it is across all other walks of life.
    “It’s not representative of people I know in football who are not on huge sums of money and are decent people trying to do the right thing.
    “Guess what Portsmouth players were doing during the height of the first lockdown? Delivering food for the most vulnerable and helping our community.”

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