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      How daughter’s sad words saved Kellie Maloney from suicide – as she calls out ‘shameful’ Olympic bosses over gender row

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      SHE turned the boxing world upside down when she revealed she was transgender and spoke out about the inner turmoil her gender battle had caused her.Now, a decade on, Kellie Maloney has slammed Olympic bosses over the current gender row – saying they should “hang their head in shame.”Kellie Maloney managed British boxing champion Lennox Lewis at the height of his careerCredit: AP:Associated PressKellie speaks out in biographical docu-film Knock Out Blonde, which is out nowCredit: IconAlgeria’s Imane Khelif celebrates after defeating Hungary’s Anna HamoriCredit: APAlgeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting have been allowed in the ring in the women’s boxing, despite both being disqualified from the World Championships last year after failing the International Boxing Association gender eligibility tests.The IBA declared they both had “XY chromosomes” – which indicated a person is biologically male – although Imane has fiercely denied claims of cheating, insisting she is a woman.Ahead of a new documentary, Knock Out Blonde, former boxing manager Kellie – born Frank – tells The Sun: “I think the Olympic committee should hang its head in shame for allowing this fight to happen… What were they playing at?“This will only bring boxing into more disrepute and may get it banned from the Olympics in the future or may see more women refuse to take part.READ MORE FROM FEATURES“Under no circumstances should a transgender woman or women with high-level testosterone be allowed to compete in female boxing. “Boxing is too dangerous as a sport to give anyone such an advantage and eventually could cause serious health and damage to the opponent.” Kellie – who has had gender reassignment surgery – say the subject of transwomen participating in women’s sport is “a toxic issue”. However, there’s no doubt in her mind when it comes to boxing. She adds: “Definitely no to any form of combat sport, like the world I come from. Most read in Boxing”There are certain sports where it’s not a problem – darts, snooker, show-jumping or horse-rising – but I refer to the sporting bodies for guidance.”Kellie, now 71, also opens up about the heartbreaking moment in 2010 when she broke down and told wife Tracey, “I’m a woman” as well as the multiple suicide attempts and the poignant plea from daughter Emma that turned her around. ‘Jack the Lad’Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story TrailerThe boxing manager told everything to ex-wife Tracey in 2010, who offered to ‘live a lie’ to keep their family togetherCredit: Daily MirrorIt was a shock for many when Frank, who led Lennox Lewis to become the first British undisputed heavyweight champion in a century, told the world that she had been born in the wrong body back in 2014 – a decade ago this month – and would be known as Kellie.Throughout her career, she had carved a reputation as a fierce force to be reckoned and a ‘Jack the Lad’ character with a penchant for flashy and flamboyant suits. In an exclusive interview with The Sun, ahead of her biographical documentary Knock Out Blonde which is available to stream today, Kellie says living two lives nearly killed her.Now 71, she tells us: “It felt like these two sides of me were pulling me apart. I had fought so hard all of my life not to give in. Living two lives was killing me. “It was this constant battle. Frank would say, ‘You’re the manager of the world heavyweight champion, you’ve got a family, children, and responsibilities. You can’t do this.’“Then Kellie would say, ‘You are a female. You’ve got to be true to yourself because you’re destroying everything.’”The promoter spent more than £100,000 altering her appearance including multiple facial feminising ops, a nose job, and having 400g breast implants to give her B or C-cup breasts. But it wasn’t until having gender reassignment surgery in March 2015, that she finally felt like the woman she always knew she was.Kellie said: “The most important part was the actual vagina” adding that when she looked at herself in a mirror “I cried tears of happiness.  I was finally seeing the real me in the mirror. It felt amazing. “I always said, ‘Managing Lennox Lewis was like winning the lottery’ but this was like winning three lotteries.”Kellie, who was raised in an Irish Catholic family in Peckham, was three years old when she recognised she was “very different from all the other boys” around her.She preferred female company, longed to go shopping instead of playing sports and noticed her dreams were very different from her two brothers. Kellie told the documentary: “When my parents asked, ‘What did you dream about?’ I would go, ‘I’ve not really dreamt anything’. How could I tell my parents that in all of my dreams I was a girl?”Kellie after one facial feminising operation in 2014Credit: Sunday MirrorShe gave the impression that she was a ‘womaniser’ while living as FrankCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdBut Kellie, seen with her dad above, knew from the age of three that she was differentCredit: IconShe came out to the world as transgender in 2014 and soon after went on Celebrity Big BrotherCredit: Rex FeaturesRaised by a ‘tough’ traditional father, she buried her feelings to fit in and married young, tying the knot with first wife Jackie at 21 and having a daughter, Emma, soon after. She “fell in love” with boxing after seeing Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier’s 1971 Madison Square Garden clash – and starting fighting classmates when she was picked on due to her small stature.At 5ft 2in tall, Kellie knew her chances of going professional were slim, so opted to become a trainer to get as close to the ring as possible.In 1989, Kellie signed Lennox Lewis, then a promising young British-Canadian, who had already scooped a gold medal at the Olympics and won 85 bouts as an amateur.She said: “That’s when it all changed for me. I would have been totally bankrupt and that’s the truth, to the tune of £80,000 in debt.“I wanted to be a big player in boxing and succeed because I failed as an actual boxer and to walk down that same walk that Joe Frazier and Mohamed Ali did.“I wanted to climb into the ring and walk away with three belts and with the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. It was every boy’s dream.”Olympic committe should ‘hang its head in shame’ over gender row, says Kellie MaloneyA ROW over two fighters being eligible to partake in women’s boxing has overshadowed the Paris 2024 Olympics.Algeria’s Imane Khelif and Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting are guaranteed to get medals despite questions being raised about their participation.It follows them both being disqualified from the World Championships last year due to the International Boxing Association declaring both boxers failed gender eligibility tests. The IBA, which was stripped of its status as the sports in 2023, declared they both had “XY chromosomes” – which indicated a person is biologically male. There are rare instances where women can have a Y chromosome, such as when they are ‘intersex’ , medically known as DSDs – differences in sexual development. This means a person could have female genitalia but a male chromosome. Others have claimed it could be a sign of a transgender woman entering the women’s category.Imane has fiercely fought back against claims of cheating, insisting she is a woman, and refuted complaints about her being ineligible to participate.But many in the sporting field have criticised the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for allowing Khelif and Yu-ting to participate. KellieMaloney, a former boxing manager who is transgender, tells The Sun: “I think the Olympic committee should hang its head in shame for allowing this fight to happen… What were they playing at?“This will only bring boxing into more disrepute and may get it banned from the Olympics in the future or may see more women refuse to take part.“Under no circumstances should a transgender woman or women with high-level testosterone be allowed to compete in female boxing. “Boxing is too dangerous as a sport to give anyone such an advantage and eventually could cause serious health and damage to the opponent.” Kellie says the subject of transwomen participating in women’s sport is “a toxic issue”. However, there’s no doubt in her mind when it comes to boxing. She adds: “Definitely no to any form of combat sport, like the world I come from. “There are certain sports where it’s not a problem – darts, snooker, show-jumping or horse-rising – but I refer to the sporting bodies for guidance.”Kellie, who believes Khelif and Yu-ting should be banned, adds: “Women should boycott the rest of the games. That would make the Olympic committee sit up and act wisely and sensibly.”’Womaniser’ guiseDuring her career, Kellie had become a master of disguise. She buried her longing to be a woman behind copious amounts of booze, work and two marriages. Two years after signing Lennox, Kellie and Jackie had split up. By 1997, she married Tracey, with whom she had two more daughters, Sophie and Libby. Kellie hid her true self from everyone as she forged a career in boxing – a sport known for it’s hypermasculinity.She tells us: “The guys would pay for me to have lap dances but whenever I got inside I would just say to the woman, ‘You don’t have to dance, just chat with me for five minutes. The counsellors told me, the day you take off the lid of Pandora’s box and let Kellie out, you will never be able to put that lid back onKellie Maloney“I gave the impression of being a man about town and a bit of ladies’ man but I never really was like that. I just found it easy to talk to women.”In secret, Kellie was researching more about being transgender and bought ‘fetish magazines’ about people who were transitioning.She didn’t speak to anyone about her gender dysphoria, fearing she would never be accepted as a woman – especially by her peers. During a boxing convention in Thailand, Kellie recalls: “We were chatting about the beautiful woman an American promoter had taken home.“But he said, ‘I put my hand down her knickers and she had a bigger pair than me… so I kicked the f*** out of her.’Kellie recalls being ‘stressed’ constantly while living as FrankCredit: Les Gallagher – The Sun GlasgowLennox became the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world under Kellie’s tutelageCredit: IconHer ex-wife Tracey says she was willing to ‘live a lie’ to protect Kellie’s secret in the docCredit: Icon“I realised how could I ever tell these people how I felt inside when this was what they thought of transgender people?”  By 1999, Kellie had consulted gender doctors and was beginning to experiment. In New York, she attended a trans-friendly bar where she could dress as a woman away from prying eyes. She said: “I went there and a couple of gay guys dressed me and did my make-up and took me upstairs, where these guys were sat. “It was quite seedy. One started touching me, saying ‘You’re very beautiful, do you want to get to know me? There are plenty of rooms.’ I freaked out and left.”I don’t understand what you are going through but I would prefer to have my dad in a dress than in a wooden boxEmma, Kellie’s daughterOn her way home, she realised she had forgotten her wife’s birthday and a commitment to host a press dinner for Lennox ahead of his first of two fights against Evander Holyfield, the second of which led him to be crowned world champion.Opening Pandora’s boxKellie resigned from Lennox’s team in 2001 shortly after the boxer’s defeat to Hasim Rahman. She went on to manage others, including Darren Sutherland, who took his own life in 2009. The trauma of finding the Irish boxer’s body at his home after a concerning phone call, caused Kellie to have a heart attack. That year, she continued to struggle. She found herself drinking heavily, battling insomnia and speaking to numerous counsellors.  She explained: “The counsellors told me, the day you take off the lid of Pandora’s box and let Kellie out, you will never be able to put that lid back on.”Kellie recalls the heartbreaking moment in 2010 when broke down and confessed all to her wife, Tracey, who was deeply concerned that “nothing seemed to make him happy”.Kellie with daughters Emma (left), Libby (middle) and SophieCredit: IconThe boxing manager was married to Tracey from 1997 until 2012Credit: Dan Charity – The SunNow Kellie lives a quieter life, split between Portugal and the UKCredit: IconKellie recalls: “She put her arms around me. I looked at her and went, ‘I don’t know how to say this, I’m like you. I’m a woman.’ I saw the change in her eyes and from that moment onwards, I knew my marriage was over.” Despite the admission, Tracey says she was “willing to live a lie” and “keep the secret forever” to keep their family together, but Kellie knew that wasn’t an option and started to live as a woman in private. In 2014, Kellie came out to the world and that same year entered Celebrity Big Brother, for which she was reportedly paid £400,000 – the highest fee offered at the time. “It was the wrong decision, I wasn’t ready but I was very hot property at the time. Everybody wanted me and I was being offered quite a bit of money,” she says. “I wish I’d waited a year. I was a very weak person when I first transitioned, I was so afraid of rejection, failure and ridicule. “Frank helped me get through all of that. Now I’m much stronger. If I went on Celebrity Big Brother today I’d probably win it.”I remember exact words to me, she said, ‘This is some f***ing joke, isn’t it?’ It was frightening and horribleKellieHousemates inside the Big Brother house are cut-off from the outside world but Kellie says she was allowed to telephone her counsellors and had “a session most days”. Suicide attemptsReaching the point where she came out was no easy journey, with Kellie admitting she attempted to end her life four times – before and after transitioning. She says: “I tried to end my life multiple times, I felt that I had lost everything and really wanted to die at first.”After one suicide attempt, daughter Emma told her: “I don’t understand what you are going through but I would prefer to have my dad in a dress than in a wooden box.” The last suicide attempt followed getting “mixed up with the wrong people” when she started seeing a woman, whose family wanted her to be Frank.“This person said to me if only I could bring back Frank we could have a really lovely relationship and it really freaked me out… it got to the point where my head was so confused and mixed up,” Kellie says. Kellie hasn’t spoken to Lennox since parting company in 2001Credit: GettyThe boxing promoter with her dogs shortly after coming out in 2014Credit: Kevin Dunnett – The SunKellie with daughters Libby and SophieCredit: WENNShe was drinking heavily and, on the night of the attempt, recorded messages for each of her children before taking “every pill that I could find”.Thankfully, Kellie – who was staying in Portugal – was found by her friend and counsellor Jan, who quickly rushed her to hospital.Later, when she tried to take her life again, Emma pleaded: “What are you doing dad? We need you in our life?” Emma gave her a note to read in hard times about focusing on the future instead of present-day struggles. Kellie still reads it regularly. ‘Frank’s not dead’Kellie admits telling her youngest daughter Libby was “the hardest” thing for her because “she was 11 years old and I was destroying her life”.She recalls: “I remember exact words to me, she said, ‘This is some f***ing joke, isn’t it?’ It was frightening and horrible.”I learned a lot from Frank, I never died, I just changed my outside covering.KellieSimilarly, Kellie’s brother Eugene didn’t initially approve, telling the documentary: “When it first came out, if I had seen Kellie I’d have killed her.” But over time, their opinions shifted as they realised she was still the person they knew and loved, just with a “changed outside covering” as Kellie says.She’s bonded with her daughters over choosing outfits and learning make-up skills and Eugene eventually said: “She’s a lot happier as Kellie than she was as Frank. I just wish she hadn’t taken 60 f***ing years to do it.”Kellie, who splits her time between the UK and Portugal, says she enjoys a quieter life and is the happiest she has been in many years.“I’m not hiding from anybody now. I don’t have to put on this persona,” she tells us. “I don’t have to be this Jack the Lad or this tough, little South London Cockney character that drank champagne and said what he wanted without even thinking. Kellie at a boxing match in 2016Credit: GettyKellie believes having lived as Frank and a woman has helped her to become a better personCredit: Dan Charity – The SunShe says her daughters Libby (left) and Sophie initially struggled to accept her transition but now they are extremely closeCredit: RexWhile Kellie likes to help others, she insists she is “no trans activist” as she believes the “transgender umbrella is far too big” She says: “We know we are not biological women and accept we are medically constructed women, our bodies have been modified to match our brains. “The term transgender covers about 71 or more types of people. You can’t pull us all under the same thing, for example gender neutral will never have an operation or go what we went through.”She also believes women’s spaces “must be protected” and only transgender women, who have undergone gender reassignment should be able to use them“Let’s put it bluntly, if you have a penis, you should not be able to go in and strip off,” Kellie says. “Once you have had surgery you are not a threat to any other woman.”Despite having publicly lived as a woman for 10 years now, Kellie says there are occasions when she’s referred to “as Frank” – but it doesn’t bother her. She says: “I don’t find that disrespectful because to me he is not dead. Frank is a part of Kellie, as much as Kellie is a part of Frank. “People have known me by that name for 60 years and life’s too short to worry about things like that so long as it’s not malicious or nasty.“Some transgender people believe their male side no longer exists after transitioning but that’s not true for me I believe combining the two made me a much better person.READ MORE SUN STORIES“I learned a lot from Frank, I never died, I just changed my outside covering.”Knock Out Blonde: The Kellie Maloney Story is available on the Icon Film Channel today and airs in select cinemas from September 9. More

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      in Soccer

      Lauryn Goodman announces Kyle Walker’s baby daughter’s ‘real name’ as she says chance was ‘taken from her’

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      LAURYN Goodman has announced Kyle Walker’s baby daughter’s real name, explaining that the chance was ‘taken from her.’The 33-year-old took to Instagram to share the news despite her previous efforts to keep it private.Lauryn Goodman has revealed that her daughter’s name is KinaraCredit: GettyThe name announcement followed an unexpected leakCredit: Instagram/lauryngoodman91Kinara was previously referred to as KW in Lauryn’s Istagram bio, with her name being withheld from the public.In an Instagram snap, Lauryn confirmed that her daughter’s name is Kinara.Her caption read: “Another special moment taken away from me. “I’d like to officially announce my daughters name – Kinara. ‘A goal without a plan is only a dream and after every storm comes a rainbow’. You are exactly that my beautiful girl.”More on Lauryn GoodmanThe star shared a photo of Kinara’s name ornamented with flowers.Lauryn had a brief fling with footballer Kyle in 2019 and the pair then had a son called Kairo in April 2020.They conceived the youngster during their fling when Kyle was estranged from his wife Annie Kilner.Lauryn and Kyle reunited for another brief fling before Lauryn fell pregnant with baby Kinara.Most read in FootballShe gave birth to her daughter in August 2023, with pals exclusively revealing to The Sun how “overjoyed” the star was about her growing family.The model kept tight-lipped about her daughter’s paternity before it was revealed to be Kyle.Kyle Walker tried to meet Lauryn Goodman in a hotel room DAYS before saying their relationship was a mistakeKyle married his wife Annie in 2022 and aside from his two children with Lauryn, he shares four with Annie.Speaking to The Sun in January, the footballer said he made “idiot choices and idiot decisions” over his affair with Lauryn.He added that he ­bitterly regrets betraying Annie.He said: “What I’ve done is horrible and I take full responsibility.“I can’t begin to think or imagine what Annie is going through. I’ve tried to ask her but there’s pain and hurt.“The man that’s meant to love, care and be there for her, did this.”Also speaking to The Sun in January, Lauryn claimed the Man City ace “tried to control me” in an effort to keep his secret family hidden from wife Annie.Fighting back tears, Lauryn said she kept asking the footballer to come clean with his wife but he was “too weak to do it”.Left with no other choice and desperate to move forward “like adults”, she broke the news to Annie on December 27, 2024.She explained: “She kept asking for proof so I showed her the DNA test but even then she doubted it was real until I pointed out my daughter’s name on the paperwork.”READ MORE SUN STORIESLauryn first shot to fame when her little sister Chloe became a reality star on MTV’s Ex On The Beach.Since then she’s been criticised over her relationship with the Manchester City star.Kinara’s name was announced despite Lauryn’s attempts to keep it privateCredit: GettyLauryn shares two children with footballer Kyle WalkerCredit: GettyHer daughter was initially known as KW before the name was revealedCredit: Splash More

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      in Soccer

      Kyle Walker ‘tried to bed’ Lauryn Goodman days before saying their relationship was a mistake

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      LAURYN Goodman says ex lover Kyle Walker wanted to bed her on a date in a London hotel room — days before he said publicly he regretted their “mistake” of a relationship.She said the ­millionaire footballer told her he had never “for a ­second” been sorry they had got together and wanted to “have my cake and eat it”.Lauryn Goodman says Kyle Walker ‘wanted a secret double life playing happy families’ with their two kidsCredit: SplashKyle with wife Annie Kilner on the beach in Wales along with their new babyCredit: SplashWife Annie on the family beach break in WalesCredit: SplashEngland ace Walker stays on the ball during a family holidayCredit: SplashThe influencer added that the Man City star, who is married with four children, “wanted a secret double life playing happy families” with their two kids.In an exclusive interview with The Sun on Sunday, Lauryn said he told her: “We can keep this between you and me.”Lauryn, 33, who has a son Kairo, four, and daughter Kinara, one, with Kyle, spoke out after a judge in a child maintenance battle accused her of treating the star “like an open-ended cheque book”.The influencer said the England ace, married to Annie Kilner, 32, had “played the ­family man card while trying to make out I’m just some horrid gold-digger after his money”.READ MORE ON KYLE WALKERLauryn said: “In January he publicly said in The Sun that he had made mistakes, stupid choices and regretted our relationship — but just days earlier he clearly didn’t see it that way as he was suggesting we could have met up in secret.“It was December 17 — ten days after we had had a family dispute hearing in London and he messaged me saying it was a shame we hadn’t met up afterwards because he had a room at the Rosewood Hotel.“He told me I could have bedded him there.“Does that sound like a man regretting a relationship?Most read in Football“The only thing that man regrets is being caught.“I’m certainly no angel in all this, and I have never, ever said I was. But Kyle Walker has lied to me . . . to his wife.”Kyle Walker’s neighbour reveals the bombshell text messages sent by Lauryn Goodman urging her to spy on him over the garden fenceShe added: “All I am doing is fighting for our two children to get what they deserve from a man who strung me a load of lies.“He was present in Kairo and Kinara’s life and then just turned his back on them when he ­promised he never would. What mother wouldn’t fight for that little ­abandoned boy and his sister?“One day they will know what their father did — and what their mother did for them.”Lauryn became pregnant while £160,000-a-week Kyle, 34, was on a break from Annie in 2019. Kairo was born in 2020.Kyle and Annie rekindled their relationship and married in 2021 but he and Lauryn kept in touch.They began meeting to take Kairo on days out and grew close again.Their daughter was conceived in October 2022 while he was in London for groin injury treatment.In December Lauryn told Annie — then pregnant with her fourth child — the news about her baby girl with Kyle because she was sick of her daughter being treated like another “secret”.Kyle later admitted that he had lied to both women.Annie announced she was separating from Kyle who moved out of the home they shared with their three sons in Prestbury, Cheshire, to a rented property nearby.Annie had their fourth son in April with Kyle at her side. The boy’s arrival was announced the day before Kairo’s fourth birthday.I never planned to speak out but after Kyle’s statement and the way I have been portrayed really what choice do I have?Lauryn GoodmanLauryn was accused last week of cashing in on Kyle’s betrayal of his wife following the legal battle over maintenance for baby Kinara. The family court was told she made several financial demands on Kyle, some of which he described as “disproportionate”.After the hearing, his representative said the judgment “speaks for itself in laying bare Lauryn ­Goodman’s insatiable greed and relentless pursuit of money”.She hit back: “I never planned to speak out but after Kyle’s statement and the way I have been portrayed, really what choice do I have?“Even though I am entitled to a carer’s allowance I didn’t ask for one. All the money I asked for was for my children. I have a job. I am an influencer.“I appear on TV shows and have just filmed Celebs Go Dating. I pay a mortgage. This was never about money for me.”The family court was told she made several financial demands on Kyle, some of which he described as ‘disproportionate’Credit: Darren FletcherSince the hearing, internet trolls have turned on Lauryn, accusing her of demanding luxury cars, hot tubs, multi-million-pound houses and staff from the star.The judge in her case, who ­dismissed many of her demands, was critical of her shopping list.Mr Justice Hess scoffed at her request for bespoke baby gates and Astroturf for Kinara to play football on. He said he found Kyle to be “sensible, honest, and reliable” despite the fact he had cheated on his wife and had already admitted he had lied to Lauryn.Fighting back tears, she said: “This has turned into a circus because Kyle has wanted to try and ridicule me hence the focus on things like the Astroturf, air conditioning and the cost of wardrobes.“That’s great for him because it has distracted from what the crux of this is: a mother of two young children fighting for those kids and trying to get a man who has decided he doesn’t want to be a proper father to do the right thing. Kyle has strung me along and lied to me. Nobody could look at what he’s done and say he’s done the right thingLauryn Goodman”I’m fighting to get the best for them. Any mum would do the same. He should’ve done the right thing by our children. I shouldn’t have had to fight for that.”She added: “Kyle has strung me along and lied to me. Nobody could look at what he’s done and say he’s done the right thing.“He promised to put all the children first but he hasn’t.“The house I live in with his two children doesn’t even belong to us — it belongs to him. It is an investment for him and one day I will leave it. He’s going to be the ­winner in the long run but he’s stupid he can’t see that.Strained relationshipBy Thomas GodfreyFOOTIE ace Kyle Walker does keepy-uppies on holiday with wife Annie Kilner – as readers try to keepy-up with his love-rat antics.The Man City and England defender, 34, and Annie, 32, were all smiles on a beach in Wales for a summer break with their youngest son, who was born in April.Kyle, who will be back in Premier League action in a fortnight, was wearing black shorts and a white T-shirt as he juggled a football.Wife Annie wore a black bikini top and shorts.The pair, who have four kids and still live together, have been working to repair their strained relationship.It comes after Kyle was revealed to be the father of a second child — now one — with Lauryn Goodman.“This case was about the responsibility of the father, making sure he provides for all his children.”She accused Kyle of being ­“sexist” because he pays into a ­savings account for his son, who has a ten per cent share of the house, but has not done the same for his daughter Kinara.Lauryn, of Hove, East Sussex, added: “I do grow tired of all the criticism sometimes, but I don’t regret fighting to financially protect my children from an errant father. “I hope one day my children will be proud. I love them so much and I have done all I can to protect their future. I am the only parent in their lives. I have to do that.“I have stood up to a Premiership footballer — a multi-millionaire — to get what I want for my children.READ MORE SUN STORIES“And I have won. Yes there is talk about Astroturf, air conditioning and the like but the judge ruled in my favour on the main points.“I have battled so that Kyle does the right thing. I really don’t care what anybody else thinks because I know the full truth.”Plea to ‘move on’By Thomas GodfreyMAN City ace Kyle Walker’s team last night hit back at the latest claims by ex-lover Lauryn Goodman.A spokeswoman said the player has “no desire to contribute further”.She added: “He has already stated in a past interview that Lauryn held a detonator and, metaphorically, when she asked him to jump, his response would be, ‘How high?’.”“Lauryn has since thanked the judge for his considered approach and expressed her desire to move forward with her children. Unfortunately, this is yet to happen.”She said that Kyle and wife Annie want to “move forward as mature adults, leaving this drama behind”, as well as protecting their kids.A source said: “Kyle had no intention of meeting Lauryn. There’s never been a relationship with her, even the judge said that. He will always provide for the children.” More

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      Lauryn Goodman breaks her silence after ‘difficult and stressful’ Kyle Walker court case

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      LAURYN Goodman has broken her silence after losing her ‘difficult and stressful’ court case against Kyle Walker.Lauryn, 33, made a list of extravagant financial demands after giving birth to two of Kyle’s children behind his wife Annie Kilner’s back.Lauryn Goodman has broken her silence after losing her ‘difficult and stressful’ court case against Kyle WalkerCredit: SplashKyle seen arriving at courtCredit: JASON Shillingford – Commissioned by The SunShe dragged the footballer, 34, to family court but a judge sensationally ruled against most of her cash pleas.Among her demands were £48,000 for fitted wardrobes and a media screen; £9115 for 14 CCTV cameras; £5,650 for an alarm; £52,164 for curtains and blinds.The reality star also wanted a £30,000 car for a nanny, additional childcare payments of £3,900pcm until 2027 and a lump sum of £212,000 to buy premium bonds and a child ISA.But she was slammed for her frivolous spending, which included forking out £15,396 on two sofas and £1,400 a month on gas bottles for garden lights.read more on LAURYN GoodmanSpeaking after the verdict, she said: “I’d like to thank the judge for his careful consideration, with my children’s needs at the heart of his decision.“These have been difficult and stressful proceedings, which I had hoped would not be necessary. This has only ever been about the children and providing for their futures.“I am a dedicated single mother and whilst my children will never have what their half siblings have, I have tried my best for my children and always will, no matter what.“Thanks to my legal team and the judge’s decision, my children’s childhood is secure and I will now focus on building a solid future for them so as to provide for the time when the children’s home reverts back to their father.Most read in Football“More than anything, I look forward to enjoying every moment with my children and the three of us being able get on with our lives.”Kyle dramatically lashed out at his ex-mistress as they came face-to-face in court, claiming “I’m not an open cheque book”. Kyle Walker arrives for court showdown with ex-Lauryn Goodman just days after Three Lions heartbreakThe Man City defender, 34, stood his ground during the behind-closed-doors case.He told the court he had already paid more than £1million to his ex-mistress, adding: “Lauryn wants to make it a showhome rather than a family home.”Manage your money better.”LAURYN’S SHOPPING LIST IN FULL£30,000 Air conditioning£31,200 Astroturf pitch£20,000 Furnishing fund£70,000 Car allowance every three years£14,750 per month/£150,000 a year in child maintenance for both children£3,900 per month childcare costs for Kinara of 30 hours per week at £30 an hour£30,000 Car for the nanny, to be replaced every three yearsA bespoke wood and glass baby gateA gardener at a cost of £28 per hour – “The lawn mower is heavy”£171.81 per month for two mobile phones – one for family, one for friendsAn iron – “I do have a steamer but it leaks”£800 Water filtersSPENDING SPREE£2,000+ Garden furniture£1,499 Garden chairs and table£6,250 Wardrobes£2,149 Outdoor lighting£9,000 Blinds£1,619 Oven£996 Bar stools£15,396 sofas£3,925 Sofa bedsWHAT HE’S PAID FOR ALREADY£1,059,717 for his and Lauryn’s legal fees£2.4 million house in Sussex for Lauryn£9,188 per month child maintenance for Kairo£7,000 per month child maintenance for Kinara£245,000 Lauryn’s legal fees for financial hearing relating to Kinara 2024£48,000 new wardrobes at Lauryn’s home£52,164 new blinds and curtains£9,115 CCTV cameras£5,651 burglar alarm£30,000 ‘Wish list’ for Kinara£27,000 ‘Maternity’ nanny for Kinara£16,678 to secure the nanny£5,590 per month for childcare costs£10,000 property management fund£75,000 furnishing fund£28,000 replacement gates for the house£10,000 Kairo’s fourth birthday party£73,000 Premium bonds and an ISA for Kairo£40,840 To clear some of Lauryn’s debtsHe continued: “She’s receiving a hell of a lot of money. The money I’m giving them quite happily. “It’s a contribution for me not being there physically, but I think some of the things you are asking for are disproportionate.”In a dramatic showdown, the defender also lashed out at Goodman’s demands for £30,000 air con, telling the star: “Go to Curry’s and get a fan”.Lauryn Goodman issued warning by Celebs Go Dating over Kyle Walker drama as she breaks down in floods of tears on the show He also slammed his ex for asking £30,000 for the nanny’s car every three years – telling her to hire one who is already equipped with a vehicle.Kyle added: “I don’t know how many people you would like me to pay for. The nanny? Lauryn? I will pay for my children. Does she want a chef?”Let’s not be like because I earn the amount I earn, which I have done off my own back from football, that you can just spend my money and have an open cheque book.”If I was a painter or decorator I can guarantee this would not have gone this far. It couldn’t have gone this far, I wouldn’t be able to afford it.”Kyle also claimed he had paid Lauryn somewhere in the region of £1million already.He added: “I feel like in all of this I have been more than generous. “I feel that the house that Lauryn has got is far too much but that was something that she wanted.”The sums of money that she spent on certain things, maybe she should have decided that a little better and gone about it a different way.”In another bizarre exchange, Goodman also moaned she couldn’t mow her own lawn as she demanded Walker pay for a £28-an-hour gardener to work 17 hours a week.When challenged about the request, she moaned: “The lawn mower is heavy.”She also wanted an Amazon budget as well as her £171.81 a month phone bill covered.The court was told Kyle had been desperate to keep the paternity of Lauryn’s second baby secret.She gave Kyle three ultimatums which included the purchase of a house, regular financial payments and an agreement not to have another child with Annie, it was said.Nikki Saxton KC, for Kyle, told Lauryn: “You had Kyle over a barrel. You asked for a five fold increase in maintenance.”You asked for £3,200 a month additional costs of running the house.”Dad-of-six Kyle had started every single one of England’s matches at the Euros.But he was dogged by the off-field drama throughout as his betrayed wife, Annie Kilner, travelled to Germany with their kids.She was left devastated when Lauryn contacted her on December 27 to reveal that her second child – a daughter born last Summer – was also Kyle’s.They share a son, Kairo, four, who was born in April 2020.INSIDE THE CELEB COURT BATTLE OF THE YEARBy Ed Southgate, News ReporterA FOOTBALLER, a wannabe influencer and the fallout from a cheating scandal which resulted in two children. Kyle Walker’s showdown with Lauryn Goodman was the celebrity court battle of the year. There was certainly no love lost between the pair, who share a son and a daughter at the heart of this case, as they traded insults when giving evidence. Lauryn, clearly troubled by the extraordinary situation, was first up as she demanded eye-watering sums of money, including £70,000 for a Mercedes GLE.She claimed (without much evidence) that Kyle “doesn’t do as he says”, said “the whole thing is just horrendous”, and insisted she has “always tried to work with him”, despite two scathing court judgments suggesting the opposite.She also told the court: “I do feel like I’m controlled in a lot of aspects of my life. I want to live my life.”But she was spectacularly torn apart for threatening to tell the world Kyle was the dad, or even to move closer to him, if he failed to meet her huge financial demands. At one point, she was in tears.Kyle complained of being treated as an “open cheque book”, said Lauryn was “very interested in money” and insisted: “She should manage her money better”. He said he wanted to provide for the children, adding: “In all of this, I have been more than generous.”This case was heard just two days after England’s heartbreaking 2-1 loss in the Euros final against Spain, and we can reveal that Kyle only found out the shock news of Gareth Southgate’s resignation at the same time as everyone else – midway through the first day. He told me how his head was “scrambled” and began processing the news in the car back that afternoon.The right-back was clearly relieved when it was over, and said he was looking forward to going back to his home with wife Annie. It remains to be seen how Lauryn will deal with this latest blow – she is currently filming for C4’s Celebs Go Dating, which will earn her around £15,000. But Kyle will surely be hoping to be able to put these rocky few years behind him and enjoy his final few years in top-flight football.Kyle was kicked out of the family home as Annie – pregnant with their fourth child at the time – vowed to divorce him.He was forced to begin renting a mansion close to the family home in Prestbury, Cheshire, as he battled to save the marriage.In an exclusive interview with The Sun, Kyle spoke of his sorrow and described Annie as his “soulmate”.He said: “I’ve caused a lot of pain to a lot of people. READ MORE SUN STORIES”What I’ve done is horrible and I take full responsibility. I made idiot choices and idiot decisions.”The only person to blame is me.”Lauryn was seen treating her children to some toys in Brighton todayCredit: SplashShe looked in high spiritsCredit: Splash More

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      Derek Chisora’s nephew, 22, won’t let tragedy stop him making boxing debut alongside uncle on Joe Joyce undercard

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      DEREK CHISORA and his nephew witnessed British boxing’s latest tragedy from ringside but will still fight together on Saturday night. In May, at the Harrow leisure centre, 29-year-old Sherif Lawal lost his life after suffering a brutal knockout in his professional debut.Derek Chisora has been in brilliant and bloody battles to secure better lives for his little girlsCredit: Richard Pelham / The SunSherif Lawal sadly died after losing his professional boxing debut in Harrow, LondonCredit: Philip SharkeyHampstead warhorse Chisora, 40, was ringside with 22-year-old Jermaine Dhliwayo when the tragedy struck, as the prospect and Lawal shared their St Pancras amateur gym.And on Saturday night Dhliwayo – an electrical apprentice – will make his own professional bow after a frank talk with his uncle, a no-nonsense veteran of 47 punishing pro fights.“I haven’t talked to him about it,” Chisora tried to tell SunSport ahead of his Saturday shootout with Joe Joyce. “I am nobody’s therapist!“I went to the hospital and I spoke to the British Boxing Board of Control, I went to visit the boy’s family and spoke to his mother.Read more in Boxing“I spoke to my nephew about it briefly, I asked him if he still wanted to fight, after seeing that.“He said he did so I told him ‘cool, go and do your thing’.“Formula 1 drivers go 200mph, they crash and they blow up.“We just love the game, it’s hard but we love it. I won’t lie to you, we love the game.”Most read in BoxingCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSAnyone who loves the game will love Chisora, he has taken on almost every dangerous giant of his era.After foreign robberies against the likes of Robert Helenius and Kubrat Pulev – and violent stoppage losses against David Haye, Dillian Whyte and Tyson Fury – fight fans are rightfully worried about the fearless veteran.Moment Derek Chisora HEADBUTTS Deliveroo rider as row erupts outside restaurantThe Zimbabwe-born wildman – who used to kiss, slap, spit on and throw tables at rivals – is now a dedicated father of two daughters.And we are all starting to fear for his health and safety, especially in later life when he should be enjoying his retirement with Angelina and Harare.But the showman – who has bravely taken world champions Vitali Klitschko and Fury the distance in valiant losses – tells us NOT to worry about the price he has paid but more the lifestyle he has earned for his family.“Do not worry about me,” he said in an emotional chat. “Nobody anywhere needs to worry about me.“I am the last person in the world anyone needs to worry about.“Trust me, I am fine.“I know what I am doing, I know what I have done, I know where I will end up.“I prefer to keep my eye on everyone else.“I have put my girls through private schools, I have given them the best lives I could have wished for.”And what else is there to do after boxing? “You see all the great guys who finish boxing – maybe a bit too early – they end up depressed and they try to heal their depression with drink and drugs. “You have to be ready to walk away, you have to have a plan for afterwards and I am not ready yet. When I am ready you will know it.”Deliveroo headbuttChisora hit the headlines two weeks out from his Joyce battle for appearing to headbutt a Deliveroo driver in the street after an argument.Footage shared on social media suggests he acted in self defence after the fast-food rider threw the first punches.And SunSport understands Del Boy was angered that the electric bike was trying to zoom past children and pet dogs enjoying lunch on a narrow pedestrianised walkway.It was a rare reminder of his old days as the bad boy of British boxing and he insists having two little girls – who witnessed the fracas – to provide for and protect has helped to tame him.He explained: “I try to behave very well around my daughters at home, so they learn to behave that way outside of the home.“My daughters have grown up to become very kind, really kind. But they are vicious as well!”They have taken their kindness from their mum, they’re understanding and sharing and very calm. “They don’t have any violence in their lives. They are very good girls.“Having girls made me softer. But the beast in me is still there, when that switch goes, it goes.”Last danceChisora claims he will hang up his gloves after his 50th bout. After Joyce there will be a final trip to Manchester and his last dance will hopefully be back in Zimbabwe.It’s probably a few fights too late for Chisora to go out on a high but he will be sorely missed after giving everything to the sport.And despite his occasional madness, controversial comments, Nigel Farage friendship and trademark red MAGA hat, Chisora doesn’t seem to be leaving the hurt business with a single serious enemy.“I love everybody,” he said sincerely. “We are all somebody’s son. I don’t need aggro with anyone.READ MORE SUN STORIES“After a fight we go to see each other, we hug, we meet our families and that’s it.“Everyone is my friend, I have no beef with anybody. But, when it is fight time, I go.”Veteran fighter Chisora had an altercation with a fast food courier in HamsteadCredit: YouTube/CityBanterDel Boy struck up an unlikely friendship with politician Nigel FarageCredit: ReutersChisora also likes to wear a bright red hat with Donald Trump’s favourite mantra on the front More

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      in Soccer

      Jack Grealish’s pregnant girlfriend Sasha Attwood shows off her growing baby bump as she poses in bikini top

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      JACK Grealish’s pregnant girlfriend Sasha Attwood showed off her growing baby bump as she struck a pose in a bikini top.The 28 year-old model and mum to be looked amazing as she shared a snap of her blooming tum on social media.Sasha Attwood looked glowing as she showed off her baby bumpCredit: InstagramThe model cupped her growing belly in another snapCredit: InstagramSasha and Jack Grealish have been together for yearsCredit: Instagram @sasha__rebeccaThe couple announced their pregnancy earlier this monthCredit: InstagramLooking relaxed and happy, Sasha sported a gingham red bikini top, paired with a bucket hat.She completed the look with a pair of white linen trousers, putting her hands in her pockets for the effortless, laid-back snap.In another snap she sat on a chair and cupped her belly with her hands while looking at the camera.Sasha captioned the shots “summer” and was soon flooded with compliments in the comments section.read ore on Sasha AttwoodLove Island legend Zara McDermott posted a string of heart eye emojis, followed by several hearts.”Stunning,” added Real Housewives of Cheshire star Darby Ward.”Bump suits you so much,” weighed in another admirer.Sasha and Jack announced they were expecting earlier this month.Most read in FootballSasha shared a picture of her baby bump and the caption: “Half of me, half of you – beyond blessedAnd Grealish added: “Life’s biggest blessing.”The childhood sweethearts first started dating when they were teenagers at school together in Solihull.LETS LOOSE Jack Grealish dons hilarious shoulder-length blonde WIG as he lets his hair down after England exile (1)Sasha has been with Grealish throughout his professional football career – supporting him at Aston Villa before the big-money move from their hometown of Birmingham to Manchester in 2021.Earlier this summer, Jack missed out on the final 26-man England squad for Euro 2024, leaving him “stunned and upset”.But the break from the game has given him chance to spend quality time with his girl while she is expecting.Since being with Jack, Sasha has seen her own star soar.Sasha was the victim of vile trolling after her relationship with Jack became public in 2021Credit: instagram/@sasha__rebecca’Sasha has managed to build a fanbase in her own rightCredit: Instagram/@sasha__rebeccaShe’s got more than 264,000 followers on Instagram – where she regularly shares sultry selfies – and over 2.8 million likes on her TikTok videos.READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd after initially receiving hordes of death threats when it first emerged she was dating Jack, she is now hugely popular with his fans.PR expert Ed Hopkins told The Sun recently: “She has established herself as a powerful personal brand, independent of Jack’s football achievements.” Inside Sasha Attwood and Jack Grealish’s relationshipSasha Attwood and Jack Grealish are set to become parents for the first time, but their relationship started well over a decade ago…The pair met as teens in Solihull, West Midlands at secondary school, with Sasha previously saying they have been together since she was 15. Jack was already on his way to becoming a professional footballer when he met Sasha.Despite the long-term nature of their relationship, she remained on the sidelines when his career took off.However, intense interest in Jack’s private life came to a head in 2021 when England reached the final of Euro 2020, delayed a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Because of their romance, Sasha was cruelly targeted by trolls on TikTok and Instagram, receiving 200 death threats a day from “young girls”. The pair were spotted on holiday together following the tournament and slowly began showing more of their relationship on social media when the vile trolling died down. In 2022, they celebrated their 10-year anniversary and purchased a seven-bed mansion set in 24 acres worth £5.6 million.They moved in to the home in late 2023, but Sasha and members of Jack’s family were subject to a terrifying robbery while cheering on the Manchester City star during a televised match just after Christmas. Their latest milestone is Sasha’s pregnancy, which they announced on social media on July 7. More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Gareth Southgate’s marriage to wife Alison who he wooed in Tesco car park… before she gave him a bold ultimatum

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      GARETH Southgate’s career has been marked by incredible highs and disappointing lows. However, one thing that has remained constant is his wife Alison’s unwavering support.Gareth Southgate has been married to his wife for over 30 yearsCredit: RexThe loved-up pair first met in the 90s when he was a trainee player with Crystal PalaceCredit: AFPThey have three kids together and live in a mansion near HarrogateCredit: Tim StewartThe couple, who have two kids together, have been together for 30 years and are still going strong. She was no doubt in his corner when he decided to quit as England’s manager after eight years in the role.In a statement, he said the position meant “everything” to him and spoke about how he joined the FA to make a change. He also thanked fans for their support.Before making his next move, Gareth, 53, is now settling back into a quiet life with Alison and their kids, who have been by his side throughout his triumphs and tribulations.READ MORE FEATURES She has been credited with helping him relax after intense matches, offering a shoulder to lean on when times get too tough.Here, we look at how their love story developed thanks to a Tesco car park – and a bold ultimatum that could have ended the relationship before it had even blossomed.An awkward startWhen Gareth first met Alson in his early 20s, he played with Crystal Palace as a trainee. She was working in a clothes shop in nearby Croydon.Although he knew he wanted to pursue a relationship with her, he couldn’t pluck up the courage to talk to her at the time as he was not confident about his looks. Most read in Euro 2024In 2020, he explained his struggles in an interview with The Guardian. He said: “It felt like a disaster before I’d even started.”All my peers seemed to so much more streetwise and I was just this kid from the suburbs with goofy teeth. Nothing about me was cool, and I felt like I’d never fit in.”When Gareth first met Alison, he was not confident enough to approach her as he was insecure about his looksCredit: ReutersFor years, Gareth was teased over his appearance, which affected his confidenceThey had to have their first dates in a Tesco car park to ensure her ex wouldn’t find outCredit: Times Newspapers LtdHe had also been teased about his nose for years, contributing to his low confidence.In Gareth’s book Woody & Nord: A Football Friendship, he detailed how he would hang around the shop Alison was working in, pretending to look for clothes. He even enlisted the help of the owner of an Italian restaurant he and Alison both frequented. He acted as the middle man between the pair.After two years, Gareth finally plucked the courage to ask her out. To his disappointment, she was in a relationship and was living with her boyfriend at the time.But when he heard that Alison had broken up with her partner, Gareth swooped in and gave her his number. Fortunately for him, she called that night.During the early stages of their romance, the pair had their dates in the car park of their local Tesco supermarket.This was reporetedly to ensure Alison’s ex wouldn’t catch wind of her blossoming relationship.Southgate’s England legacy should be celebrated, not torn downBy Tom BarclayGareth Southgate claimed that only winning Sunday’s final would earn England the respect of the footballing world.Spain proved a last-gasp comeback too far in Berlin, but defeat did not change the fact that Southgate’s eight-year transformation put respect back into the world of England football.Critics will pick apart his cautious tactics, his selection choices and his record in the most high-pressurised games – with some legitimacy.Yet what is quickly forgotten is the laughing stock our national side had become before he took over in 2016.A shambolic Euros exit to Iceland that summer had been followed up by Sam Allardyce quitting just one game into his tenure thanks to his pint of wine with undercover reporters.Then came Southgate, with his decency, his humility, his understated eloquence and his vision for a better, different future.He had analysed why England had so often failed in the past, from lack of preparation at penalty shoot-outs to players being bored out of their minds during major tournaments.Southgate took those findings and implemented a culture where players wanted to play for their country again – and it led to back-to-back finals for the first time in our history.Instead of going to war with the media, he opened his doors to them and discovered, shock, horror, that it was met, generally, with support. It did not stop him from being criticised when required – we are no cheerleaders, here – but the vitriol of yesteryear – or today on social media – was largely gone.No manager is perfect and neither was Southgate. We cannot pretend his teams played like those of Pep Guardiola or Jurgen Klopp.But in the fullness of time, his feats will likely be revered because the results speak for themselves.Hopefully his successor can go one step further and bring football home. To do that, they must show respect to what Southgate has created and build on it, rather than rip it down.To read more from Tom Barclay click HERE. Dramatic ultimatumThey married in a low-key ceremony at his parents’ church in Crawley, West SussexCredit: GettyBefore they wed, Alison issued an ultimatum when he was transferred to Aston VillaCredit: RexWhen Gareth was transferred to Aston Villa, Alison supported the move but was not thrilled about the idea of a long-distance relationship.As a result, she issued an ultimatum that could have altered the course of their relationship. She insisted that she move to Birmingham with him or the relationship ends.He agreed, but not everyone was thrilled with the idea. His parents were skeptical about it since they had only met Alison once.Gareth explained: “[They] found it hard to believe that a son who had been so methodical, logical, and weighed up everything would behave so capriciously.”But she was able to prove to them that she was invested in the relationship for the long haul.The pair tied the knot in a small ceremony in Crawley, West Sussex. They married at Gareth’s parents’ local church, a ceremony devoid of the usual hype surrounding high-profile footballers’ weddings.The wedding had to be planned carefully as it was scheduled between the World Cup and the European Championship.Southgate’s England recordHere is a look at Gareth Southgate’s record as England manager.Overall recordGames: 102Wins: 61Draws: 24Losses: 17Goals scored: 213Goals conceded: 72Plush £3.7m padGareth says his family help him deal with the disappointing results on the pitchCredit: instagram/miasouthgateGareth and Alison have two kids – Mia, 24, and Flynn, 20. Their family home is Swinsty Hall, a huge Grade I-listed Elizabethan mansion in Middlesbrough that cost £3.75million. The family have been a huge hit with neighbours who have praised their down-to-earth and relatable demeanour. Alison has consistently supported Gareth’s football career. She has been seen in the stands cheering on his team – despite the fact that she’s not even particularly a football fan.In an interview with the Mail, Gareth’s father said: “Actually, I don’t think Alison likes football very much. Obviously, she has to take an interest because it’s Gareth’s job, and she is always very supportive.”She will sometimes go to Wembley for an international game – but not during the school term because she always puts the children first.”Gareth also credits his family for helping him overcome disappointments on the pitch. He said: “On Saturday evening, our children are not too bothered whether Dad’s team have won or lost. “Neither does Alison fret too much about football, and this is how I like it. Regardless of the result, it is up to me to ensure that no one’s evening is ruined because of things that happened on a football field. “The agonising waits until Alison and the kids are asleep.”Odds on next England bossHere are the latest odds from Ladbrokes:Here are the latest odds from Ladbrokes:Graham Potter – 11/10Eddie Howe – 2/1Mauricio Pochettino – 4/1Jurgen Klopp – 10/1Lee Carsley – 10/1Pep Guardiola – 14/1Ange Postecoglou – 16/1Michael Carrick – 20/1Steven Gerrard – 20/1Thomas Tuchel – 20/1In an with the Evening Standard, he spoke about how his family’s support keeps him grounded.”Over the last couple of weeks I’ve just had a nice time spending it with the family though, and for me that’s important because my kids are 18 and 14, and their development is as important for me as anything else in my life”, he said. “You do have to try to find a balance because my focus inevitably gets drawn towards making this team as successful as we can and driving them to be the best team in the world, but I’m also a dad and a husband.”Rebekah Vardy, who is married to England player Jamie Vardy, praised Gareth for promoting family values within the England squad. She said: “He’s got the right idea of the team mentality. He’s really relaxed with the players and he makes an effort with all of the families. “He really encourages family days after games, which relaxes the players. It brings a bit of normality in.”And it appears that when Alison does not have her hands full with her family and campaigning for human rights, she doubles as Gareth’s stylist.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn May, while talking to GQ about his hair, he said: “I’ll have one more hair cut before we go [to Germany for the Euros], I think, because my hair gets a little bit curly, which I don’t like.”Plus my wife says I haven’t got the features to have it really short.”He has been praised for encouraging the England team to spend more time with their familiesCredit: Paul Edwards – The SunAlison has often been seen in an embrace with Gareth after intense gamesCredit: Rex Features More

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      in Soccer

      Schools allow kids to turn up LATE on Monday if they stay up to watch Euros final – will your youngsters get a lie-in?

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      SCHOOLS across their country are ready to give pupils a lie-in on Monday morning after England’s Euro 2024 final.England take on Spain at 8pm on Sunday, with the titanic clash set to end later than many young football fans’ bedtimes.Some lucky children will be able to start school late on Monday because of the Euro 2024 finalCredit: AlamyThe Three Lions set up the showpiece game against Spain on Sunday after Ollie Watkins scored a sensational 90th-minute winner.Gary Spracklen, who is in his seventh year as head teacher at the Prince of Wales school in Dorchester, Dorset, said the start time was “quite late” for his pupils aged between three and nine years old.He said he “didn’t want the excuse of being tired” to affect their schoolwork on Monday, so the school will start at 11am rather than the usual time of 8.45am.“It just made sense to us, we wanted to join the whole nation in getting behind our national team,” Mr Spracklen added.Read More in FootballThe head teacher said his pupils have been supporting the team during the competition in Germany.He said: “There was universal praise for the idea and we’ve been supporting England right through the tournament, through qualifying, and we made films to support them.“We made a Vindaloo video with the children and the parents at home, we’ve got all the nations’ flags at the front of the school.”He said the “only negative” was that not all parents had been given the same time off by their bosses.Most read in Euro 2024The hopeful head teacher added: “So I think they were going to take my letter into their places of work and see if they could get a lie-in as well.“I think a few schools in the area are doing it, I think it’s spreading and I think as that excitement builds others will probably reflect and hopefully join us in making that offer to their young people”“People are embracing the moment.”Sven-Göran Eriksson’s Rallying Cry for EnglandSam Kaye, head teacher at Wooburn Green Primary School in Buckinghamshire, is also offering children a “soft start” where pupils can come in until around 10.30am instead of the usual 8.30am.“The children were obviously very excited – a lot of the children have been following the Euros,” he said.“We’ve done sweepstakes in some of our classes.”Mr Kaye said the reaction from parents had been “positive all round”.However, students at Digby the Tedder County Primary School in Lincolnshire, who wrote a letter to their head teacher asking for a later start on Monday, were not as lucky.Alison Crawshaw said: “The children wrote amazing letters and their persuasive techniques were wonderful.“However, I did explain to the children that even though it is an incredibly exciting time and we would want to celebrate and be proud, whatever the outcome, I wouldn’t be able to authorise late starts for other sporting events and this wouldn’t be fair and inclusive.”It comes as Three Lions fans are hoping for a bank holiday if England end their trophy drought by winning the Euros on Sunday.However, there has been no official plans by the Government that there will be a national bank holiday.READ MORE SUN STORIESFans across the country have been campaigning that one should be put in place.In one viral video posted online by Georgeana Burkett, a man claimed that ‘not one person in England’ will be going to work the following day if Southgate’s side win Sunday’s final.England vs Spain recordEngland have played Spain 27 times in total – here is a look at every result…May 1929, Spain 4-3 England – International Friendly (L)December 1931, England 7-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)July 1950, Spain 1-0 England – World Cup (L)May 1955, Spain 1-1 England – International Friendly (D)November 1955, England 4-1 Spain – International Friendly (W)May 1960, Spain 3-0 England – International Friendly (L)October 1960, England 4-2 Spain – International Friendly (W)December 1965, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)May 1967, England 2-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)April 1968, England 1-0 Spain – European Championship (W)May 1968, Spain 1-2 England – European Championship (W)March 1980, Spain 0-2 England – International Friendly (W)June 1980, England 2-1 Spain – European Championship (W)March 1981, England 1-2 Spain – International Friendly (L)July 1982, Spain 0-0 England – World Cup (D)February 1987, Spain 2-4 England – International Friendly (W)September 1992, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)June 1996, England 0(4)-(2)0 Spain – European Championship (W)February 2001, England 3-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2004, Spain 1-0 England – International Friendly (L)February 2007, England 0-1 Spain – International Friendly (L)February 2009, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2011, England 1-0 Spain – International Friendly (W)November 2015, Spain 2-0 England – International Friendly (L)November 2016, England 2-2 Spain – International Friendly (D)September 2018, England 1-2 Spain – Nations League (L)October 2018, Spain 2-3 England – Nations League (W)Overall, England have won 14, drawn three and lost 10 matches against Spain. 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