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      in Soccer

      Meet the ‘BAPs’ cheering on England’s Lionesses as World Cup kicks off – including German keeper who beat cancer twice

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      ENGLAND’S Lionesses kick off their World Cup bid on Saturday with an opening match against Haiti.The European champions will be looking to do the double and take home football’s biggest prize.
      England players Hannah Hampton, Georgia Stanway, Katie Zelem, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Bethany England, Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hem pose for a photo during a training session in Brisbane this weekCredit: Getty
      Some big names are missing from the team – notably captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out of the tournament in April after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
      Her Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead has the same injury, while Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby underwent knee surgery.
      But it’s paved the way for some new faces – and their loved ones will be spurring them on along with the rest of the nation.
      Here we take a look at the BAPs – that’s boyfriends and partners – cheering on Sarina Wiegman’s squad as the competition in Brisbane, Australia gets underway.
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      Chloe Kelly
      Chloe Kelly is dating Scott MooreCredit: Instagram/@chloekelly
      Chloe, 25, from Hanwell, west London was hailed a hero when she scored the winning goal in the 110th minute in the Euros final against Germany, after coming off the bench.
      The Manchester City forward – who recently posed in her underwear for a stunning Calvin Klein ad – is dating Scott Moore, a greenkeeper at a golf club.
      The couple – often seen in loved-up snaps on Instagram – have been together for four years and share a cute cockapoo called Otis.
      After England’s Euros victory Scott was seen wearing an England shirt with his girlfriend’s name emblazoned on the back.
      Most read in Football
      Ella Toone
      Ella and her boyfriend Joe Bunney are both footballersCredit: Instagram/@joebunney
      Awkwardly for Man Utd player Ella, 23, her proud boyfriend Joe Bunney, 29, is a devoted City fan.
      But he’s his girlfriend’s “biggest cheerleader”, with a source previously telling The Sun: “Ella and Joe are very much in love and have been together for a while now.
      “They are both from Manchester and have mutual friends who introduced them. Those who know them think they are the perfect pairing.”
      Joe, who has two children from a previous relationship, is also a footballer, having played for EFL clubs including Bolton, Northampton Town and then-League side Rochdale. He currently plays for Stalybridge Celtic.
      Millie Bright
      Millie and Levi have been together for over three yearsCredit: Instagram
      Chelsea defender and England captain Millie, 29, is currently dating American performance-enhancing coach Levi Crew.
      The couple went ‘Instagram official’ with their relationship in October 2020, with Millie calling Levi her “rock and best buddy”.
      She upgraded him to her “king” in a message marking his 30th birthday in 2021.
      It’s not known how they met, but Millie often shares romantic snaps of them holidaying together – and recently posted an Instagram tribute praising his coaching skills.
      Alex Greenwood
      Alex is dating childhood sweetheart Jack O’ConnellCredit: @jackoconnell22
      Man City fullback Alex, 29, is known as the glamour puss of the Lionesses, who’s “very big into her heels, her dresses and her eyelashes” according to teammate Jordan Nobbs.
      She is dating fellow footballer Jack O’Connell, 32, who plays for Sheffield united.  
      The couple both grew up in Merseyside and are childhood sweethearts, having met at Savio Salesian College in Bootle.
      Bethany England
      Beth England and girlfriend Stephanie Williams, with their poochesCredit: Instagram/@bethanyengland4
      As classic example of nominative determinism, Beth England, 29, worked night shifts in a chippy while playing semi-pro before hitting the big time with Chelsea and getting a call up to the national squad.
      She now plays as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur and is in a relationship with footballer Stephanie Williams, 30.
      The pair are believed to have met through the beautiful game and recently enjoyed a luxurious cruise holiday together.
      Though Stephanie does have to share Beth with their beloved pair of Golden Retrievers – Buddy and Dilys.
      Jess Carter
      Jess Carter is dating German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin BergerCredit: Getty
      Chelsea player Jess, 25, has been in a relationship with her teammate Ann-Katrin Berger since 2017, after meeting when she joined Birmingham City in 2016.
      When they met for the first time, Ann-Katrin, 32 – the national goalkeeper for Germany – admitted: “I thought she was arrogant, but as I got to know her, I became drawn into her character.”
      The glam pair, who live together in London, recently posed on the green carpet together at the FIFA Football Awards.
      Ann-Katrin – who beat cancer twice – is also heading to the World Cup, meaning the two women could face each other.
      But it’s likely to cause no drama between them, with Jess telling The Guardian last year: “There wasn’t really any direct competition [during the Euros] because we are both really chilled people.”
      Georgia Stanway
      Georgia is believed to be dating a rugby player, Olly Ashall-BottCredit: Instagram
      Georgia, a midfielder for Bayern Munich, is believed to be in a long-term relationship with rugby league player Olly Ashall-Bott.
      With Olly, 25, playing in France for Toulouse Olympique, the couple are used to long-distance – but he was there to cheer her on at Wembley when England lifted the Euros trophy.
      He wore an England shirt with her name on the back and said afterwards: “I’m just so glad that I got the chance to go see her.
      “I hadn’t caught an England game before because our fixtures didn’t align… I was buzzing and so happy for her and the team.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It sounds weird but it feels like I played in it myself. Because we’re so close, I think I got the same feeling as her – maybe not quite as much but I still feel like I won as well. And sharing moments like that with her is just incredible for me.”
      The couple, who have a house in Widnes, Cheshire, both enjoy fishing in their spare time and share a chocolate brown cockapoo. More

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      in Soccer

      I live next to world’s oldest football stadium – there are crazy benefits but I often get soaked when I sit in my garden

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      IT is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world.And residents living next to Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium are having a ball – even if it means one occasionally lands in their garden.
      Mandy Colley, 49, whose house is next to the away supporters stand of Mansfield Town’s football groundCredit: Raymonds Press
      One Call Stadium – known by fans as the Field Mill – is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world
      In the heart of the Nottinghamshire town’s former mining community, the historic ground – formerly known as the Field Mill and dating back as far as 1850 – is slapped bang in the middle of tightly-packed Victorian housing.
      It means that on match days, locals can hear 6,000 fans celebrating a goal from their back yard – and face the double threat of rogue balls and water from the pitch sprinklers ruining sunbathing sessions.

      But there are also unique benefits, including free match tickets in seasons past and the annual spectacle of a dazzling fireworks display.
      As part of our summer series, Life’s a Pitch, which looks at life next to Britain’s weirdest and most wonderful stadiums, we took a trip down to the League Two side’s home turf.
      Read More in Sport
      Tracey Anne Pepper, 56, lives on Lord Street, where houses back on to one side of the One Call.
      The resident of 30 years says: “I absolutely love living here. We are quite lucky because although we are right next to the ground, we don’t get big crowds of people walking up here.
      “But on most match days you will get a handful of away fans wandering around looking a bit lost as they think they will be able to get in.
      “It’s also fun when balls come over during a match. They bounce down the road and people have been known to grab them before anyone comes around to collect them then pretend they didn’t see anything.
      Most read in Football
      Tracey Anne Pepper, 56, says you used to get a free match ticket if a ball landed in your gardenCredit: Raymonds Press
      The 6,000 seater ground overlooks Victorian terracesCredit: Raymonds Press
      “In the past you used to get a free match ticket if you handed back a match ball, but that ended a while ago.
      “But the best thing is probably the atmosphere. If you are a Mansfield fan like me it’s great when you hear a goal go in. The roar is so loud and it really lifts you. You don’t even need to check on your phone or the radio if there has been a goal.”
      Last season Mansfield Town finished eighth in League Two, narrowly missing the play-offs, which would have given them the chance of getting promoted.
      The Stags’ only cup win came when they lifted the English Football League trophy back in 1987, but their loyal fanbase has stuck with them through thick and thin, with a record 5,000 season tickets sold ahead of the upcoming season.
      ‘Like it’s raining’
      Mandy Connolly, 49, lives right next to the ground, and her back garden is just 30 yards from the away stand, with just a fence separating them.
      She’s so close that the pitch sprinklers reach her garden – ruining sunbathing sessions.
      Mandy said: “If you’re not into football, I can see that it might be a bit annoying. But I like it – although I am a Leicester City fan, not Mansfield – so I find living here really interesting.
      “There are loads of funny little things you get when your house is next to a football ground. I can sit in my garden and see the fans in the away end leaping up and down if they score.
      “I have been here six years and had four balls in my garden in that time. Any that aren’t collected I give to local kids, which absolutely delights them.
      “When they water the pitch with the sprinklers it comes into my garden – sometimes it’s like it’s raining, and I have to get my washing in off the line.
      “The pitch is also used as a helipad at times, which must be the owner flying in and out. It’s fascinating to watch the helicopters as they land and take off.
      “And we get a free firework display every bonfire night as the club always hosts a really spectacular one.”
      The cul-de-sac means fans don’t crowd the roads on match days, although you still see the floodlightsCredit: Raymonds Press
      An annual fireworks display divides residentsCredit: mansfieldtownfc/twitter
      While parking can be an issue for those living close to other stadiums on match days, Mansfield locals insist it’s not a problem.
      Lord Street is a cul-de-sac, meaning there is no entrance to the stadium, and since it is so close to the town centre, the council has imposed a residents-only permit system.
      Hotel worker Lesleigh Butler, 36, said: “I’ve been here seven years and have never had a problem.
      When they water the pitch with the sprinklers it comes into my garden – sometimes it’s like it’s raining, and I have to get my washing in off the lineMandy Connolly, local resident
      “The only thing I actually don’t like is the firework display, because the street is left covered in firework casings.
      “Other than that the atmosphere is good and if Mansfield are doing well in the league or cup there is a good feeling on the street because you all feel part of it, living so close.
      “So really we have a lot of the benefits of living next to a stadium, without the negatives like traffic, crowds or litter.
      “A few years ago they were talking about buying up all the houses at the top end of the street so they could redevelop the Bishop Street Stand – but that seems to have gone quiet.
      “A lot of them are owned by people who have been here for years though – which shows it is a nice place to live.”
      Mandy Tolley, 52, works in the Sandy Pate sports bar at the ground.
      Read More on The Sun
      She said: “It’s perfect for me because I can roll out of bed and get straight to work.
      “I’m not a Mansfield fan – you have supporters of all different teams living on this street. But everyone gets on, and overall it’s a pretty happy place.” More

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      in Motorsport

      Rudest ever Formula 1 celebs as Cara Delevingne is slammed – including Hollywood legend’s excruciating gaffe at Miami GP

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      DRIVING an F1 car might look like the hardest job on the track.But try being the guy desperately chasing moody celebs around it before lights out.
      Martin Brundle got the cold shoulder from Cara Delevingne this weekendCredit: Sky Sports F1
      Presenter Martin Brundle has become the master of the awkward grid walk, with his run-in with Cara Delevingne over the weekend going viral.
      The Formula One legend, 64, was brutally snubbed by the supermodel and her team when he tried to stop her for a chat, leading him to quip: “I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting.”
      Cara was then slammed by fans for her “garbage behaviour” and forced to clarify on social media that she had been told not to talk.
      At least she can take comfort from the fact that she’s far from the only prickly star to give poor Martin a hard time.

      Grovelling apology
      During the Miami Grand Prix last year, Martin was keen to chat with Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt, who was conducting some research for his upcoming film about the sport.
      When Martin approached him to ask about the project, Brad, 59, appeared to be in a rush to get away from him, saying the film was top secret.
      As the broadcaster attempted to get more out of him, Brad just ignored him with a brief “Thank you, man” and breezed past him.
      Needless to say this didn’t go down well with Formula 1 fans who slammed Brad, saying he should have known who Martin was.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Brad Pitt snubbed Martin but has since made efforts to apologise
      The actor was at Silverstone yesterday for his upcoming Formula One movieCredit: Getty
      It was later revealed that the Oscar-nominated actor had sent a note to Martin explaining why he was unable to stop for a chat.
      He has since gone even further, offering Martin a cameo in the film and sitting down for a gushing interview ahead of the British Grand Prix this week.
      Grovelling much, Brad?
      Double fault
      Serena Williams indicated to Martin that she couldn’t stop for a chatCredit: Getty
      Serena Williams boasts quick feet on the tennis court – and it seems on the tarmac, too.
      When Martin spotted the tennis legend at the US Grand Prix in 2021, he said: “Venus (Williams) wasn’t that keen to talk to me five years ago, I don’t know if I’ll get a double fault or an ace.”
      After waiting for her to finish a conversation, he asked her: “Serena, are you good for a chat? Martin Brundle, British TV.”
      But the 41-year-old coolly indicated she had to be somewhere else, prompting Martin to remark: “It’s a double fault, it’s a double fault.”
      After his encounter with Serena, Martin chose to avoid her altogether at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this year when he breezed past her.
      Mission impossible
      Martin had a quick chat to Tom Cruise at last year’s British Grand PrixCredit: Sky
      Tom Cruise gave very brief answers to Martin’s questionsCredit: Reuters
      Martin had an awkward run-in with Tom Cruise at last year’s British Grand Prix.
      It wasn’t the warmest reception from the Hollywood superstar, who appeared to be keen to get away and gave the briefest of answers to Martin’s questions.
      When Martin congratulated him on the success of his latest Top Gun movie and asked who he was rooting for, Tom replied: “Lewis [Hamilton] always. I love to watch him racing and he’s a good friend of mine. Hopefully, he has a great day.”
      While the actor smiled and clapped Martin on the arm with every answer, he was later criticised for not stopping to give more of his time.
      After the quick chat Martin quipped: “Got pushed around a bit. But he was lovely. Would have liked to have talked to him for a bit longer.”
      Earlier this year Martin revealed he was banned from speaking to Tom on the grid at the Miami GP.
      Awkward burn
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner made a cheeky gag at MartinCredit: YouTube/ Kaushalya KauBoy Prabuddha
      Christian Horner is known for being one of the more outspoken Formula 1 bosses, never afraid to speak his mind.
      But at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix he got a taste of his own medicine when he tried to throw shade at Martin during an interview.
      Hyping up the incredible Marina Bay track, Christian told him: “It’s a shame you’re too old to have driven here really. You would have liked it.”
      Sharp-tongued Martin hit back: “I am too old, shame you weren’t fast enough to get to Formula 1.” Ouch.
      ‘Learn some manners’
      A member of Megan Thee Stallion’s team barged Martin away when he tried to talk to herCredit: Getty
      At the 2021 US Grand Prix, Martin had yet another clash with a celebrity – this time Grammy Award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
      It all kicked off when Martin asked Megan whether she had a rap about the occasion, to which she responded bluntly “no”.
      When he tried to ask more questions, a member of her security team rudely barged him out of the way – leaving F1 fans fuming.
      Martin later took to Twitter, writing: “I have felt under pressure on the grid before but by people called Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Mansell, Piquet, and so on.
      “Bodyguards visiting the grid for the first time don’t bother me, everyone’s got a job to do, but they could maybe learn some manners and respect on our patch.”
      Star rejection
      Owen Wilson rejected Martin at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012Credit: Sky
      Owen n wasn’t up for much of a chat with MartinCredit: Getty
      One of Martin’s most memorable celebrity snubs happened at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012, when Owen Wilson clearly wasn’t in the mood for a chat.
      The Night At The Museum star rejected Martin twice, even turning his back on him at one point, before he managed to get a word in.
      When Martin finally managed to get his attention, and asked whether he had been to a race before, Owen gave the deadpan reply: “I went to one in Spain last year,” before walking off.
      Clearly miffed, Martin said: “Owen Wilson at his second Grand Prix, always interesting to know.”
      ‘No comprende’
      Footie star Roberto Carlos told Martin he doesn’t speak EnglishCredit: Sky
      At the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix, Martin was excited when he spotted then-Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos on the grid.
      Asking if he’d be able to have a quick chat for British TV, Roberto, 50, responded in a high-pitched voice: “I don’t understand English.”
      But that didn’t stop Martin probing for gossip on the rumours that David Beckham was set to move to Real Madrid from Manchester United.
      Although Carlos didn’t utter a word, the look on his face spoke volumes and Martin walked away with a smile, joking: “That’s good, ‘no comprende’.” 
      Confusing stars
      Martin thought he was interviewing Patrick Mahomes at the Miami Grand Prix in 2022Credit: Sky
      At the Miami Grand Prix in 2022, Martin suffered an epic blunder when he confused Paolo Banchero, one of the NBA’s hottest stars, for Patrick Mahomes.
      It made for a pretty awkward interview but thankfully, Paolo saw the funny side.
      Read More on The Sun
      Paolo and Patrick later had a good laugh about the encounter on Twitter at Martin’s expense.
      The two men are noticeably different in stature – Paolo is 6ft 10in, while Patrick is 6ft 3in – and both play completely different sports, as Patrick is an NFL star. More

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      in Motorsport

      I live by Silverstone – F1 fans always knock on our door for annoying reason… it led to funny encounter with Katie Price

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      IAN and Sharon Horwood hoped for a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle when they settled in a quaint village in Buckinghamshire.  The last thing they expected was glamour model Katie Price banging down their door and asking to use the toilet.
      The village of Silverstone, near the infamous race track, will be abuzz this weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      Preparations for this Sunday’s British Grand Prix were well underway when The Sun visited this weekCredit: Dan Jones
      But the bizarre incident was just one of the strange encounters they have faced while living next to the Silverstone racetrack, where the Formula One British Grand Prix is held every year.
      Katie – then known by her model name Jordan – was caught short in the 1990s while stuck in the gridlocked traffic that used to snake past their cul-de-sac.  
      She had earlier been straddling a race car wearing a yellow swimsuit.
      Shaking his head at the memory, father-of-three Ian, 60, recalls: “Typical me, I was asleep on the couch when it happened.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      “I woke up to hear someone saying, ‘Jordan is using our toilet’.
      “I couldn’t believe my ears. The kids had been out on the street waving at the passing cars and asking for flags.
      “Jordan called out to them, saying she needed to use the loo.
      “The traffic was terrible at the time and it would be blocked for hours in both directions as there were so many cars.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Local residents say the noise from the track does carry depending on the wind directionCredit: Dan Jones
      Ian and Sharon Horwood say fans often knock on their door asking to use the toiletCredit: Dan Jones
      “She must have been desperate. The kids let her into the house and the rest is history.
      “I will forever be able to tell people, ‘Katie Price sat on my toilet’.”
      The incident took place when reality star Katie, now 45, worked as a Formula 1 grid girl, famously straddling one of Irish businessman Eddie Jordan’s yellow race cars as a publicity stunt.
      In 1998 she posed for a similar shot at the Silverstone Circuit with fellow glamour girls Melinda Messenger and Emma Noble.
      Eddie, who ran the race team Jordan GP team between 1991 and 2005, credited the ploy with creating a boom in motorsport.
      In 2017, he said: “The idea was it should be fun. Motor racing is a very serious business, very commercial and it needs to have a very respectable return on the investment.
      “But at the same time, it also needed to show flair, excitement and all of the other razzmatazz that goes with racing.
      “We had all the major models at the time, they were so keen to get into the yellow swimsuits. Katie Price, she was the catalyst.”
      Katie Price (centre) is among the people who have stopped at the Horwoods’ house asking to use their toiletCredit: PA:Press Association
      The traffic in neighbouring villages becomes grid-locked during the F1 weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      For the Horwoods, the increased interest has hugely affected life in the village of Dadford, which sits right on the perimeter, and where they have lived for the past 38 years.
      Sharon explained: “People knock on the door and ask to use the toilet all the time when there is a big race on.
      “For the most part we don’t mind. Some people staying overnight on the campsite next door will even ask for essentials like milk or tea or whatever.
      “But there are certain annoyances.
      I will forever be able to tell people, ‘Katie Price sat on my toilet’Ian Horwood, Silverstone resident
      “The campsite can turn into a big party at night with people drinking and playing music.
      “The traffic used to be a nightmare and it would be impossible to get anywhere on event days, but it’s much better since they introduced the dual carriageway down the road.”
      Maintenance supervisor Ian added: “Overall, we don’t mind living next to Silverstone. The noise from the track isn’t too bad as long as the wind isn’t blowing in this direction.
      “But we do wish they weren’t such stingy b*****s when it comes to giving out free tickets to local residents.
      “We only get them for the Classics, never for the Grand Prix.”
      Thousands of fans will descend on Silverstone this weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      Locals in the village say festival goers bring a lot of business their wayCredit: Dan Jones
      When the Sun visited Silverstone on Wednesday, the long weekend motorsport festival was already getting underway ahead of the race on Sunday.
      F1 fans were ordering pints at The White Horse pub well before midday and a jolly atmosphere was building on the sun-dappled streets.
      One local said: “For the most part, the festival goers are alright and they do bring a lot of business to the village.
      “But we do have a problem with traffic and people parking in places they aren’t supposed to.
      For the most part, the festival goers are alright and they do bring a lot of business to the village. But we do have a problem with trafficSilverstone local resident
      “You occasionally see vehicles three deep in the middle of the street because their owners have given up looking for a parking spot.”
      Bed and Breakfast owner Mark Henry, 70, and his partner Leslie Chaplin, 66, have found an innovative solution to coping with the influx.
      They run the ‘Chaos Arms’ pub in their back garden on race days, with an Elvis tribute act performing and last orders not until 11.30pm.
      Mark has become known as ‘Captain Chaos’ since starting the charity night 10 years ago.
      Mark Henry and Leslie Chaplin set up a ‘pub’ in their back garden during the F1 weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      The couple have run the ‘Chaos Arms’ pub charity event for 10 yearsCredit: Dan Jones
      He said: “It started off small but now we get up to 100 people here some nights.
      “I’m called Captain Chaos because it’s always chaotic and I leave everything to the last minute.
      “But my attitude is, we are stuck here and we have got to live with Silverstone being on our doorstep, we might as well have a party.
      “I know other residents have started making money by renting out their drives – I think for £50 for the weekend, which is half the cost of official parking.
      “But there are downsides to living here. The traffic can be terrible and this year they are closing the road next to my B&B, so I don’t know if we are going to be able to get in and out.
      My attitude is, we are stuck here and we have got to live with Silverstone being on our doorstep, we might as well have a partyMark Henry aka ‘Captain Chaos’, Silverstone resident
      “But we always have a laugh running the pub – people really look forward to it.”
      Construction worker Colin Stanbrook, 66, and his wife Lyn, 67, are two residents that are lucky enough to get free tickets to the GP.
      That is because Lyn works on the parish council that regularly has meetings with the race organisers.
      Colin said: “We’ve got tickets in the VIP ‘Legends’ section this year, which cost about £500 each.
      “Me and my son went last year and you’re sitting directly above the track and get free food and drink but it’s hard to impossible to meet the drivers. 
      Colin Stanbrook and his wife Lyn are two residents that are lucky enough to get free tickets to the GPCredit: Dan Jones
      Most residents say they wish organisers would give out free tickets to the F1 weekend to localsCredit: Dan Jones
      “Lewis Hamilton actually got booed last year and the reason was that while the other drivers waved as they went past, he didn’t even stop and people had waited hours to see him.”
      Author Gordon Blackwell, 80, also lives next to the sprawling Silverstone Circuit, which straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border and is accessed from the nearby A43. 
      He and his wife Doreen, 78, are old enough to remember the first British GP held there in 1948.
      Gordon has written three books on Silverstone and counted legendary race driver Sir Stirling Moss as a friend until he passed away in 2020.
      Lewis Hamilton is a good driver but it’s just not like the good old daysGordon Blackwell, long-time Silverstone resident
      He said: “I actually went to the second Grand Prix when I was about seven. I can just about remember it.
      “Later, when I grew up, I worked for the circuit for about 30 years. I worked on the gate and later in the archive room until I retired.
      “It used to be that you could stroll around the paddocks and watch the drivers working and ask for their autographs.
      “Stirling Moss was a friend. I met him at the British Racing Drivers Club. He would pop into the village and speak to people and there was much more of a community feeling back then.
      “It’s not like that now and I’ve lost interest in racing, to be honest.  
      Read More On The Sun
      “Lewis Hamilton is a good driver but it’s just not like the good old days. Drivers like him never have the time to meet with people like us.”
      Gordon Blackwell, pictured with his wife Doreen, worked at the Silverstone circuit for 30 yearsCredit: Dan Jones
      Some residents complained about the noise from a nearby campsite used by festival goersCredit: Dan Jones
      Road closures are a nuisance for Silverstone residentsCredit: Dan Jones More

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      in Soccer

      Ultimate footballers’ daughters rich list – Love Islander ‘raking in £1.5m a year’ to Man United WAG and OnlyFans star

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      THEY’VE watched their dads earn millions for kicking a ball around.And now, it seems the stunning daughters of these football legends are finding novel ways to make serious cash of their own.
      Amber Wise is currently in the Love Island villaCredit: Rex
      She’s the daughter of Chelsea FC’s Dennis WiseCredit: Getty
      Ex-Chelsea star Dennis Wise’s daughter Amber strutted into Love Island’s Casa Amor this week, seemingly trying to cash in on her surname – just like Gemma Owen, daughter of Michael, did last year.
      Here, brand and culture expert Nick Ede reveals just how much the kids of footie icons could earn in a year, purely by showing off their lavish lifestyles on social media.

      Amber Wise – £500k
      Father: Dennis Wise
      At only 19 years old, and surprisingly with no current social media presence, Nick says Love Island will be “the perfect way to raise Amber’s profile and make money”.
      However, she’ll need to get back on Instagram if she wants to make millions.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      “I can see her successfully getting a fashion and beauty deal,” he adds.
      “And, depending on how long she lasts on Love Island, bagging a hot boyfriend too, which would do wonders for business.”
      Gemma Owen – £1.5m
      Father: Michael Owen
      Michael Owen’s daughter Gemma Owen could earn £1.5 million a year after Love Island
      Since appearing on Love Island last year, and coming second with now ex-boyfriend Luca Bish, Gemma, 20, has proven she’s a savvy businesswoman, with a whopping 1.9 million Instagram followers.
      Even before she went into the villa, she had her own bikini company, OG Beachwear, which she was often seen sunbathing in on the show, and now she’s an ambassador for PrettyLittleThing too.
      Most read in Football
      Thanks to her clothing ranges, Nick believes she could be earning £1.5million a year.
      He also thinks dressage rider Gemma could follow in the footsteps of Love Island star-turned-ITV Racing host Chris Hughes, and land lucrative TV presenting jobs too.
      Hollie Shearer – £2m
      Father: Alan Shearer 
      Singer-songwriter Hollie Shearer could earn £2 million a year
      Alan Shearer’s daughter Hollie, 28, is a singer-songwriter with a fabulous figure, great sense of style and over 70,000 Instagram followers, and Nick believes she could earn £2million a year.
      He says: “With the Shearer surname, she’s bound to get a record deal and also model too, as she always tags brands in her social posts.”
      To top that off, Hollie has been dating England rugby player Joe Marchant, 26, since April 2022, which Nick says makes her the “perfect package”.
      Taylor Ward – £2m
      Father: Ashley Ward 
      Taylor Ward is now a WAG in her own right, having married Riyad Mahrez
      With 2.6 million followers on Instagram, Taylor Ward, 25, is hot property, and can easily rake in the dosh with brand deals.
      Nick says it doesn’t do her any harm being a WAG in her own right either, married to Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez, 32, and mum to their daughter Mila, who turns one this month.
      The daughter of Real Housewives of Cheshire’s Dawn Ward and footballer Ashley Ward also owns a very successful jewellery brand, ASTALIA, and could be earning £2 million a year.
      Matilde Mourinho – £3m
      Father: Jose Mourinho
      Jose Mourinho’s daughter Matilde has an extremely successful jewellery brand
      It seems Jose Mourinho isn’t the only Special One in the family, as his daughter Matilde, 27, has been making waves with her jewellery brand, Matilde Jewellery.
      The company charges up to £1,850 for pieces for both men and women.
      It scooped the Emerging Brand of the Year gong at the Professional Jeweller Awards, and is worn by Stormzy in his new video Mel Made Me Do It.
      Thanks to her extremely successful business, Nick says she can earn a whopping £3million a year.
      Estelle Bergkamp – £2m
      Father: Dennis Bergkamp
      Dennis Bergkamp’s content creator daughter Estelle is a ‘new breed of WAG’
      Dennis Bergkamp’s content creator Estelle Bergkamp, 27, can “command thousands per post,” and as much as £2million a year.
      Thanks to her relationship with Man United player Donny van de Beek, and her constant posting of their one-year-old daughter, Lomee, Nick says she’s a “new breed of WAG”.
      “There’ll be no stopping brands wanting to do deals,” he adds.
      It seems football runs in the family here!
      Alicia Scholes – £1m
      Father: Paul Scholes
      Paul Scholes passed down the sporty genes to his netball star daughter Alicia Scholes
      Former Man United player Paul Scholes has passed down his sporty genes to his 22-year-old daughter, Alicia, as she’s a netball player with a big future in the game.
      After being selected for the Future Roses for the first time last year, Alicia now has her sights set on the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
      With 111,000 Instagram followers “and sports brands queuing up to sponsor her, Nick believes she can earn £1 million a year.
      Maria Guardiola – £2m
      Father: Pep Guardiola
      Maria Guardiola is a successful model and influencer, earning £2m a year
      With a whopping 700,000 followers on Instagram, there’s no stopping 22-year-old Maria Guardiola.
      Nick says: “She’s a successful model and influencer who has worldwide appeal, and could easily earn £2 million in just one year.” 
      Bianca Gascoigne – £1.5m
      Father: Paul Gascoigne
      Gazza’s daughter Bianca Gascoigne has been a glamour model since the Noughties
      Gazza’s daughter Bianca Gascoigne, 36, started out as a glamour model in 2006.
      And she has been a reality TV star for many years, having been on everything from Celebrity Big Brother to Celebrity Coach Trip.
      Most recently, she appeared on Dancing With The Stars Italia – finishing as a runner-up.
      But Nick still believes, even with over 344,000 followers on Instagram, she could only earn £1.5 million.
      Dalma Maradona – £2m
      Father: Diego Maradona
      Diego Maradona’s daughter Dalma is a successful Argentine actress
      Dalma Maradona, 36, is a successful Argentine actress, having started her career at the age of nine, in the children’s television series Cebollitas.
      The star, who has a whopping 1.8 million followers on Instagram, has since appeared on stage and in film many times.
      Her most recent role was in short film Los Inquilinos.
      Chelsea Pearce – £1m
      Father: Stuart Pearce
      Stuart Pearce’s daughter Chelsea is a successful event rider
      While she’s only got just over 7,600 followers on Instagram, Stuart Pearce’s daughter Chelsea, 23, is a very successful event rider, having won the European Silver medal for Great Britain.
      Nick thinks she could earn a million a year, from horseriding alone.
      “She is passionate about her sport,” he says. “And she has the knowledge and professional accomplishments to make her a TV expert and have equestrians throwing cash at her. 
      “She’s also very likely to go on to compete in worldwide competitions like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games.”
      Jade Leboeuf – £2m
      Father: Frank Leboeuf 
      Jade LeBoeuf has starred in films and is a successful model too
      Former Chelsea star Frank Leboeuf went into acting after hanging up his football boots, and his daughter Jade LeBoeuf, 32, has followed in his footsteps.
      She’s a successful model and actress, having starred in 2016 film Everlasting.
      And she’s “commanding the big bucks as an influencer on social media” with 171,000 followers.
      Danielle Favatto – £2m
      Father: Romario Favatto
      Romario Favatto’s daughter Danielle Favatto has joined OnlyFans
      Since becoming a mum to Maria, with footballer Fabio Henrique, in January this year, Romario’s daughter Danielle Favatto, 25, has cashed in on her mumfluencer fame.
      She’s even created an OnlyFans account.
      “As an Insta famous star who has been a brand ambassador for a betting group in Brazil for a long time, she can command thousands for one post, and can earn £2 million a year,” Nick says.
      Sophia Peschisolido – £1m
      Mother: Baroness Karren Brady
      West Ham CEO Baroness Karren Brady’s daughter could earn £1m a year
      Apprentice star Baroness Karren Brady has a fortune that eclipses most footballers – and she’s one of the sport’s most powerful figures as the CEO of West Ham United.
      Her daughter, Sophia Peschisolido, turned down the chance to appear in Love Island, but that hasn’t stopped her raking in the dough.
      Read More On The Sun
      Nick says she could earn £1 million a year, thanks to brand partnerships with brands including Jack Wills, Boux Avenue, Lounge Underwear and Boohoo.
      He adds: “Shes not using her mothers name for fame but she’s using her business acumen for sure.” More

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      in Soccer

      Inside footballer Dennis Wise’s wild life as ‘Crazy Gang’ hardman – from £3m punch to setting teammates’ clothes on fire

      by

      HE’S the lovable rogue who was never far from trouble during his 20-year playing career.But these days football legend Dennis Wise is a reformed character and proud dad-of-three.
      Dennis Wise was often in the headlines for his behaviour on and off the pitchCredit: Fotosports International
      His daughter Amber has now joined Love Island as one of the Casa Amor bombshellsCredit: Instagram
      And he’s become the second Premier League dad whose daughter is turning heads on Love Island.
      Amber Wise, 19, entered as a Casa Amor bombshell last weekend – following on from Michael Owen’s eldest Gemma appearing on the ITV2 show last year.
      During his football years central midfielder Wise was embroiled in numerous scandals and controversies, and even found himself in trouble with the law.
      Here, we look back at the 56-year-old’s wild life, from setting his teammates’ belongings on fire to the punch that cost him £3million.
      READ MORE CELEBRITY FEATURES
      Blue Peter scandal
      In 1983 Blue Peter was rocked by controversy when BBC staff discovered vandals had broken into the show’s garden at the rear of BBC Television Centre.
      Fuel oil had been poured into the pond, which killed several goldfish, while a 100-year-old urn donated by a pensioner had been smashed up.
      A plaque made by a disabled child was also destroyed, sparking public outrage.
      Although the identities of the vandals were never discovered, it was rumoured that Wise and fellow footie star Les Ferdinand had something to do with it.
      Most read in Football
      Blue Peter’s garden was completely trashed, sparking public outrageCredit: BBC
      Les Ferdinand was asked whether Dennis had anything to do with the incidentCredit: Rex
      In a BBC interview in 2000, Les, 56, addressed the rumours, saying: “What I will say is I helped a few people over the wall.
      “We were just kids. I didn’t do anything other than help a few people over a wall. It was just a bit of fun.”
      When asked if his mate was involved, he said: “I’m not at liberty to say whether Dennis Wise was one of them.”
      But speaking in 2017, Les appeared to backtrack on his comments, claiming the interview had been a joke taken out of context.
      ‘Crazy Gang’ years
      Wise joined Wimbledon FC, nicknamed the Crazy Gang in 1985Credit: Getty
      In his teens, Dennis kicked off his football career as an apprentice at Southampton, but that was cut short when he fell out with manager Lawrie McMenemy.
      In 1985, aged 18, he signed with Wimbledon FC, which had earned the nickname The Crazy Gang due to their aggressive style of play, macho behaviour on and off the pitch, and the expensive practical jokes they played on each other and their managers.
      The rowdy bunch had a reputation for their lack of discipline, with pundits calling out their unprofessional approach to the game.
      Wise became a prominent member of the team and admitted in 2014: “We did get up to mischief. We did some strange things and funny things and those things you can get away with in those times.
      “We did things like letting fireworks off in hotels, put Vaseline on people’s car windows, let down tyres and burning Eric Young’s Brighton bag.
      “He constantly brought it in after joining from Brighton and it got on our nerves after a while, so we burnt it… you would never see these type of things happening now.”
      Dodged jail
      Wise joined Chelsea in 1990 for a then-record fee and had on-pitch bust-ups with rivals including Ashley ColeCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Wise appeared in court after attacking a taxi driver and was ordered to pay compensationCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      After a successful stint at Wimbledon, Wise’s breakthrough came in 1990 when he joined Premier League side Chelsea for a then-record fee of £1.6million.
      Despite his wild reputation he was made captain, but cracks started to show during the 1994-1995 season, when he was sent off for swearing while playing Leeds United.
      In March 1995 he was found guilty of smashing through the glass partition of a cab and punching its 65-year-old driver.
      He was ordered to pay £1,234 in compensation, including £100 for damage to the driver’s glasses, and was stripped of the captaincy.
      Although he was handed a three-month prison sentence, it was overturned on appeal.
      That [holding] cell was the loneliest place on Earth. It was cold. It was desolate. I was tearful. I was scared. I am not ashamed to admit itDennis Wise
      In 2017, Wise recalled: “That [holding] cell was the loneliest place on Earth. It was cold. It was desolate. I was tearful. I was scared. I am not ashamed to admit it.
      “It dawns on you how lucky you are outside. I realised that I could lose everything through five minutes of madness.”
      That wasn’t the end of his troubles; during the 1998-1999 season Wise missed 15 matches for bad behaviour. He received three red cards and was charged (but later cleared) for biting the arm of Real Mallorca star Elena Marcelino.
      He also had spats with Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole, Olivier Dacourt and Patrick Vieira.
      ‘£3million punch’
      Wise punched his teammate Callum Davidson and shattered his nose and jaw in 2002 -incident not captured hereCredit: Karl Winter
      After 11 years at Chelsea he was sold to Leicester City for £1.6m in 2001.
      On July 18 the following year Wise had a bust-up with his teammate Callum Davidson where he punched him, breaking his nose and jaw.
      After a two-week investigation Leicester made the decision to terminate his contract, costing Wise £3million.
      While he later won an appeal to have the decision thrown out, the dismissal was eventually reinstated.
      In a chat with The Sun at the time he said: “My sacking was a disgrace. Did you see West Ham players vote to sack John Hartson when he kicked team-mate Eyal Berkovic in the face and it was shown on national TV? No.”
      ‘Calmed down’
      Wise married his wife Claire in 2004 – the couple share three children togetherCredit: Rex
      He often shares adorable snaps of him and his wife on InstagramCredit: Rex
      Wise’s best pal Vinnie Jones was the best man at the weddingCredit: Alamy
      Following a stint with Millwall Wise put his wild past behind him when he married wife Claire in 2004, after eight years together.
      Fellow hardman and former Wimbledon and Chelsea teammate Vinnie Jones was his best man at the bash in Stoke Poges, Bucks.
      Wise prefers to keep his personal life under wraps and little is known about Claire, however he regularly posts adorable snaps of them together, including some on holiday in luxury spots like Dubai.
      The couple share three children together – Henry, Amber and George.
      Reflecting on family life, Wise said: “It’s lovely having kids. I stay in a lot more now and enjoy time with them. They have calmed me down.”
      The proud dad is said to be supportive of their daughter’s Love Island appearance, and has even signed her up to ex-Love Islander Gemma Owen’s agents.
      Wise is no stranger to reality TV, having appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2017 – where hosts Ant and Dec constantly joked about him being a “very small man”.
      At the time he said the biggest “special occasions” he’d be missing by going on the show were “kids’ sporting fixtures and friends’ big birthdays”.
      Read More On The Sun
      Henry, 23, has followed his father’s footsteps; he was a substitute for Watford in the FA Cup three years ago – almost two decades after celebrating alongside his dad at Wembley.
      In recent years Wise has successfully invested in property – including a golf course – and runs a non-profit organisation that raises money for people with disabilities, which is believed to have raised over £1m.
      Amber appeared as a bombshell during the show’s Casa Amor stageCredit: Rex
      Henry followed in his father’s footsteps and is also a footballerCredit: Reuters
      Wise is now a football legend but he was once one of its most controversial playersCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      I was living the dream as a professional footballer – now I work on a scrap yard… and I’ve never been happier

      by

      ALEXANDER Easdale was living every young man’s dream – playing professional football.But he sensationally quit the game and for the last 10 months has been working in a scrap yard – and he has never been happier.
      Alexander Easdale played professional football for Scottish Championship side Greenock MortonCredit: Kenny Ramsay
      Alexander now works at his dad’s scrapyardCredit: Supplied
      The disillusioned striker with Scottish Championship side Greenock Morton has swapped football boots for steel toe caps.
      Instead of enjoying a couple of hours a day pre-season training, he is up at the crack of dawn and working till dusk sorting through scrap metal.
      He has swapped coaching sessions for swotting up to pass his HGV licence to drive skip lorries to deliver metal to the company’s three junk yards.
      Alexander, 23, who was on Morton’s books for nine years and attracted the attention of a handful of English clubs, says: “I’m a lot happier. I’m really enjoying every day.
      READ MORE REAL LIFE STORIES
      “Football is fairly well paid. The lifestyle is good. You train in the morning and then you have got time off in the afternoon to do whatever you want and recover.
      “I was full time for almost 10 years in football. I started full-time when I was about 15 or 16 but I just thought, I have achieved what I could at football.
      “One day I thought maybe I could go into the scrap business and start at the bottom where my dad and uncle started.”
      Alexander’s dad is tycoon Sandy Easdale, who with his brother James, started in the family scrapyard business as boys, going there every night after school.
      Most read in Football
      Alex says he doesn’t miss the pressure of being a pro footballerCredit: The Sun
      Alexander with his dad SandyCredit: Supplied
      Sandy and brother James Easdale are worth over £1billionCredit: Supplied
      Today, in their fifties, the duo are worth £1.4billion after making their fortune in buses, taxis and window manufacturing.
      Sandy says: “Scrap is in your blood, you either like it or hate it.”
      He and James once travelled to London to buy a Bentley GT first edition from Jack Barclay’s Mayfair showroom, which was in the middle of a renovation.
      Sandy, 53, says: “There was a skip outside with some copper in it. I said to James, ‘There’s £30 worth of copper in there, put it in the boot.’
      “To the amusement of Jack Barclay’s senior manager we put thirty quid of copper in a two hundred grand car.
      “We will walk round London and everybody is looking at the super cars but we’ll be looking at a skip!
      “I’d rather have a skip lorry than a Ferrari – they’re the same price.” 
      Hard graft
      Alex has taken to the new job quicklyCredit: Supplied
      Last October Alexander told his dad he was quitting Morton to become a scrap man working in the family junk yard in Greenock and Renfrew, near Glasgow.
      Sandy says: “It’s difficult to go from a Championship club to do a hard day’s graft.
      “He left the football club on the Monday and started at the scrap yard the next day.
      “At football you get your breakfast, then have a massage followed by a workout, then you get your dinner and watch a movie to recover.
      It’s difficult to go from a Championship club to do a hard day’s graftSandy Easdale
      “Compare that to driving about collecting rubbish. I thought the experience would either make him or break him. But it has obviously made him.
      “I told him, ‘Remember the future in football is an easy life compared to the scrapyard, you’re not going to sit in the boardroom,’ and he was fine with that.
      “It’s dead easy to say wear a suit and sit in the boardroom and get 100 grand a year and a company car, but he didn’t want that.
      “So he’s at the bottom rung of the whole empire. He’s a dogsbody, has no rank through his name.”
      ‘Down to earth’
      As part of his car collection, Sandy has Lamborghinis, Porches and Rolls-RoycesCredit: Supplied
      Alexander is learning the business quickly, having already passed his truck and bus test, and has a material handling licence.
      “That comes from the football training, having to focus on something and do it well,” Sandy explains.
      “He has been there nine months. He loves it. I am proud he has adapted so well.
      “He doesn’t miss football at all and has not kicked a ball since.
      “In the last ten years, I probably spoke to Alexander for five minutes a day. Conversation over and then he’d go to his room.
      “Now he sits, has his dinner and we talk for ages. ‘I did this, I spoke to this person. How do you do this? How do you do that?’ 
      Alexander doesn’t miss football at all and has not kicked a ball sinceSandy Easdale
      “He’s in the office dealing with customers and dealing with prices. He’s learned in the last nine months where to buy stuff, how much to sell for, what the profit margins are.
      “He has the mental arithmetic that me and James have got. 
      “It surprises me how he’s adapted. He seems to have picked it up and run with it better than I’d ever have thought.”
      Sandy says his son is also helping to modernise the operation, expanding into precious metals and trading in catalytic converters for cars.
      “Talking of cars, I have the biggest car collection ever, so Alexander has access to Lamborghinis, Porches and Rolls-Royces,” Sandy says.
      “But he’s happy driving a little white VW Caddy van that he goes to work in.
      “He’s the most unbelievably down-to-earth boy you’d ever meet in your life.
      “On the day he told me, ‘Dad, I’ve had enough,’ I said to him ‘You’re 22, I don’t want you telling me in five years’ time you finished my football career for me.’”
      But Alexander has no regrets about turning his back on the world of football.
      He says: “There was a lot more pressure in football than in my working life because you are being watched every Saturday.
      Read More On The Sun
      “Here I’m just a worker, doing the job, 8-5, going out in the lorry picking up scrap, working the skips and the machinery in the yard.
      “I feel a lot happier now and I am really enjoying it every day.”
      Alexander says he’s never been happierCredit: Supplied
      Sandy and James are delighted to have Alexander on boardCredit: Supplied More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Richard Keys’ age-gap romance with pal of daughter Jemma as they wed – and how wife Julia discovered shock affair

      by

      AS football pundit Richard Keys lay sleeping, his wife Julia tentatively opened the text messages on his phone.What she saw made her heart stop.
      Richard Keys married Lucie Rose, a friend of his daughter Jemma, at a ceremony in Kingswear, Devon, over the weekend
      Richard and ex-wife Julia were together for 36 yearsCredit: Rex
      There, in black and white, were a series of exchanges between the presenter and a young lawyer called Lucie Rose – a woman more than half his age and his daughter Jemma’s best friend.
      Julia, who checked Keys’ phone on ‘female intuition’, woke her husband and demanded to know what was going on.
      Still recovering from thyroid cancer, she was devastated at the thought he could be cheating after 36 years together.
      But the brazen star, working for Al Jazeera TV at the time, brushed off her concerns, insisting Lucie needed help with a problem and that he was a mentor to her and her friends.
      Read More in Football
      Richard was snapped in smart clothes for his big dayCredit: Wayne Perry
      Lucie Rose is 36 years younger than the disgraced former Sky Sports punditCredit: Social Media
      He even claimed that the group referred to him as their ‘Doha dad’.
      But it was all a lie which would unravel 18 months later, in 2016, when Julia found more incriminating texts and posed as Richard to get to the truth.
      The cruel betrayal left Julia, 62, son Joshua, 34, an assistant producer in America, and Jemma, 38, a former Hollyoaks actress, devastated.
      Julia had stood by him when he quit Sky Sports in 2011 after being caught making derogatory comments about women – including official Sian Massey.
      Most read in Football
      £20k wedding
      At the weekend Keys, 66, married Lucie, 35, in a low-key £20,000 ceremony in Devon. 
      Unsurprisingly, daughter Jemma was not among the guests.
      Keys told The Sun ahead of the nuptials: “I’m a very lucky man, although feeling a bit nervous. 
      “We’re heading off to Canada for our honeymoon which is a bit different. Then it’s back to work for both of us in August and the start of the football season for me.
      “People might think I’m a bit long in the tooth now but I don’t care.”
      Richard with his daughter Jemma and ex JuliaCredit: Alpha Press
      Certainly, psychologist Julia has accused him of not giving a fig about his behaviour – claiming today he only told her about the wedding in a text two hours before getting hitched.
      She previously called Keys “controlling” and “manipulative” after discovering the affair during a family holiday in Cornwall.
      In a 2017 interview Julia revealed the moment she tricked Richard’s lover to get to the bottom of the fling.
      Richard and Jemma were sleeping after the long journey to St Ives when Julia saw a picture of Lucie pop up on Richard’s phone along with the message: “You okay?”
      She said: “That’s when I pretended to be Richard.
      “I texted back: ‘No, I’m not’. Ping, Lucie replies: ‘I didn’t think you were. You sounded so sad. I just wish I could give you a cuddle.
      “I ping back ‘so do I’, then she pings over a picture of herself.
      “I say a few more things like, ‘ it will be great when we can see each other again’.
      “She sends emoji hearts and cuddles. Then I got so incensed I couldn’t be bothered carrying it on any more.”
      Sexism storm
      Keys met up with Lucie, who worked as a lawyer at a Qatar investment company, when he took a job for Al Jeezera with old pal and fellow sports presenter Andy Gray.
      The pair left Sky in the midst of a sexism storm.
      Keys quit in 2011 after he asked pundit Jamie Redknapp if he had slept with an ex by asking him, “Did you smash it?”.
      He and Gray also thought they were off-air when they made comments about linesman Massey questioning the ability of women to do the job.
      A video then emerged of Gray crudely referring to Massey’s appearance and a third clip showed him making inappropriate comments to presenter Charlotte Jackson.
      Andy Gray and Richard left Sky Sports following a sexism stormCredit: PA:Press Association
      When Keys was caught red-handed with Lucie following the texts, Julia says he was “on his knees begging me not to leave him and saying how sorry he was”.
      She added: “Then when things eventually calmed down – and this is where it really hurts – Richard said: ‘What’s the problem? Everybody does it. Anyway, she’s leaving the country so it’s never going to last.”
      Richard promised his fling was over but Julia, who was still in recovery from thyroid cancer, said he carried on seeing Lucie behind her back.
      When he was diagnosed with a thoracic aortic aneurysm in Doha in 2017 he returned to Britain to see a consultant and his wife went with him.
      He needed an operation to fix the aorta in his heart and Julia looked after him.
      But she claims Keys was even cheating on her then.
      She said: “Richard told me a mutual friend was going to take him to hospital, instead of Josh (their son) and me. 
      “But it was Lucie and Richard’s sister. 
      “Richard had a meal the night before his life-saving operation with his sister and girlfriend, not me who’d been married to him for 36 years. And that was after he’d been begging me to have him back.’ 
      Daughter’s pain
      Daughter Jemma said the two-year nightmare plunged her into the depths of a long battle with alcoholism.
      She was charged with harassment after sending a string of abusive texts to Lucie which referred to her as ‘the filthiest sl** and a ‘Qatar w****’. But the charges were later dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service. 
      She said in 2018: “All I can say is that it was 18 months down the line from finding out about the affair – which was the most awful betrayal – and I’d hit the lowest, darkest point of my addiction.
      “The revelation had come so completely out of the blue. I was under the illusion Lucie was the complete opposite of the person she’s turned out to be – there was never any inkling she’d do something like this.
      “Dad had been my idol all my life and, although I still love him, I don’t know who he is anymore. I have nothing to say to him.”
      Richard later denied he left his wife while she was recovering from cancer.
      He told the Athletic: “I’ll mention the unmentionable for you. Did I leave my wife fighting cancer? No. I don’t know what happened.
      “I don’t know why our marriage ended the way it did, but my wife was fighting cancer for seven years before I left her and she had been in remission for seven years.
      “I know how hard it was for her when things went wrong. I wasn’t going to start engaging in a tit-for-tat, he-said, she-said, respond to everything that was said about me.
      “If people believe that I walked away with my wife fighting cancer with a friend of my daughter’s, I can’t change that now. Tell a lie twice and it becomes the truth. Tell it on social media and it haunts you forever.”
      He also claimed his marriage to Julia collapsed amid his daughter’s alcohol problems. In a blog post he also denied that Lucie and Jemma were ever friends.
      He wrote in 2018: “Sadly my daughter’s problems have haunted our family for 15 years or more.
      Read More On The Sun
      “Those that know us well would tell you that we have tried everything to help her. We’ve spent in excess of £250,000 on rehab. I have never come up short on any family matters.
      “Jemma’s issues are at the core of my marriage break-up. My wife and I disagree on her treatment. Quite simply – I refuse to enable her with her problems any further. Those with addictions will understand what I mean.” More