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      Ex-West Ham star and son of Newcastle legend forced to retire aged 31 after shocking medical diagnosis

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      A FORMER West Ham player has been forced into early retirement after suffering from arthritis.Olly Lee, son of Newcastle legend Rob, has announced he has hung up his boots aged just 31.
      Olly Lee has decided to retire after suffering with arthritisCredit: Getty
      The former midfielder has been suffering from Psoriatic Arthritis and Raynaud’s condition and the strain on his body has prevented him from continuing playing.
      Lee came through the youth ranks at West Ham but he failed to make a senior appearance for the Hammers.
      A permanent move to Barnet followed before spells at Birmingham and Luton, where he made 124 appearances.
      Lee then went to Scotland where he played for Hearts but soon returned to the EFL on loan at Gillingham.
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      He signed permanently for the Gills in 2021 and made 10 appearances this season but feels he is no longer physically capable of playing at a professional level.
      In a message to the Gillingham website, Lee wrote: “I can’t believe I am actually writing this, but having been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and Raynaud’s condition over a year ago, I am now having to face the fact I can no longer continue my professional football career.
      “I can no longer perform to the levels I know I am capable of, my body no longer allows it.
      “This has been an extremely painful journey both mentally and physically.
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      “I have tried many medications over the last year, and many comebacks, but to no avail.
      “I am thankful for the moments I have been fortunate enough to experience, and can now finally look back on my career with pride at what I did manage to achieve.
      “I am thankful for all the support from the fans at the clubs I was lucky enough to represent, particularly Luton and Hearts, two clubs that are now extremely close to my heart and I will always follow.
      “There are still tough days ahead but I am very lucky to have found my passion in coaching, and helping people which I am excited to dive into now.
      “Although playing at the level is no longer part of my journey, it is now the fuel that drives me to help the next generation of players on their journey.” More

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      Colin Dobson dead aged 82: Tributes pour in as ex-Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday legend passes away

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      FORMER footballer Colin Dobson has died aged 82.The inside-forward had spells with Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield and Brighton, before joining Bristol Rovers as a player-coach.
      Colin Dobson has died aged 82
      Dobson poses in his Sheffield Wednesday kitCredit: Rex
      He also played twice for England U23’s.
      After hanging up his boots Dobson ventured into coaching and managed in Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman.
      Known for his pace and skill, Dobson was a popular figure at all of his clubs during the 1960s and 70s.
      Upon learning of his passing, Bristol Rovers wrote: “We were saddened to learn of the passing of former Rovers player and coach Colin Dobson.”
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      Huddersfield posted on their Twitter account: “All at #htafc are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Colin Dobson, who played for the Club between 1966-1972.
      “Our thoughts our with his family, friends and loved ones at this time.
      “Once a Terrier, always a Terrier.”
      Fans also took to social media to pay their respects.
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      Dobson excited fans during the 1960s and 70sCredit: Rex
      One wrote: “One of my favourite players. RIP Colin.”
      A second reminisced: “RIP Colin Dobson. Saw him play for Huddersfield at Fratton Park mid 60s.
      “Skilful and hard as nails. Remember some old lady giving him the verbals. Very amusing to us kids at the time.”
      A third tweeted: “RIP Colin Dobson remember Colin so well as a boy going to Bristol Rovers brilliant winger.”
      And another added: “RIP the great Colin Dobson.”
      Turning professional at Sheffield Wednesday in 1957, the Eston-born attacker made 177 league appearances for the Owls, scoring 49 times.
      He moved to Huddersfield for £25,000 in 1966, going on to play 155 times for the Terriers, scoring 50 goals.
      Dobson helped Town win the Second Division title in 1970, having been their top scorer in the prior two seasons.
      He played four games on loan at Brighton in 1972, although his time with the Seagulls was cruelly curtailed by a broken leg.
      His former Wednesday team-mate Don Megson made Dobson his first signing as Bristol Rovers manager later that year.
      He would return from his broken leg injury to debut that November, going on to excel for the club.
      Dobson helped Rovers to promotion in the 1973-74 season – also featuring in an 8-2 victory over former club Brighton along the way.
      He retired in 1976 before launching a managerial career in the 1980s.
      Dobson took charge of Bahraini side West Riffa in 1984 and 1985, before being appointed Al Rayyan boss in Qatar.
      He managed them between 1985 and 1987, later going on to lead Kuwaiti side Al Arabi in 1994-95.
      The coach then took charge of Oman’s Under-17s in 1997.
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      In addition to his coaching work, Dobson also worked extensively as a scout.
      During his time as chief scout at Stoke City, he was credited with unearthing future England keeper Ben Foster, who had been playing for non-league Racing Club Warwick. More

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      Charlie Austin leaves Swindon crowd in stitches with hilarious comeback after confronting angry fan after Doncaster loss

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      CHARLIE AUSTIN left the Swindon crowd in stitches after a hilarious comeback to an angry fan.Swindon were on the end of a 2-0 loss to Doncaster to leave Town with just one win in their last four games.

      Charlie Austin confronted a fan after Swindon’s 2-0 loss to DoncasterCredit: Twitter
      The fan was giving Austin stickCredit: Twitter
      But the former Premier League ace produced a brilliant comebackCredit: Twitter
      Following the match, former Premier League striker Austin went over to the fans after being beckoned over.
      The fan in question then proceeded to give Austin, who has scored three goals since arriving at the County Ground in January, some stick.
      However, not one to mince his words, Austin had a brilliant response for the fan.
      He said: “What you gonna do mate, is go home and in half an hour have a pint and a Chinese.”
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      The 33-year-old then walked off to cheers of: “Charlie, Charlie Austin.”
      Fans online were also backing Austin’s corner.
      One fan wrote: “Fair play to him, deserves to defend himself. Not every game can we dominate. Lots of unsteadiness with changing players and coaches.
      “Have a good evening @chazaustin10. Just shows you give two win or lose.”
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      A second said: “I saw this from the Don Rogers. @chazaustin10 stuck up for the squad, fair play to him.
      “Yes, we didn’t get a result, but our own fan base shouldn’t be turning on our team. Support through and through, good times and the bad.”
      A third commented: “Fair play to Charlie, i’d be calling out my team mates too if i were him. Too many didn’t look interested today, it looked an effort just to go through the motions.”
      Another added: “Well done Charlie for putting the fan in his place x.” More

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      Huddersfield want interim manager to replace Mark Fotheringham while owner Dean Hoyle looks to complete sale of club

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      STRUGGLING Huddersfield want a short-term manager while owner Dean Hoyle tries to sell the club.The Championship side have told candidates the post is only for the rest of the season — as Hoyle hopes to do a deal with a US group.
      Huddersfield are keen to appoint an interim boss to replace Mark FotheringhamCredit: Getty
      Huddersfield sit 23rd in the second tier after just seven wins from 30 matches.
      Fotheringham was dismissed after just five months in the job following a 2-2 draw with Blackpool earlier this month – a game in which they conceded a 90th-minute equaliser.
      And the managerless Terriers were then beaten 1-0 by fellow relegation candidates Wigan on Saturday as their troubles worsened at the foot of the table.
      Fotheringham’s sacking came after he launched an astonishing rant against his players in the wake of the Blackpool draw.
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      He said: “We are absolutely gutted and devastated in there. There has been a lot of angry, harsh words that have been said and rightly so.
      “Because we got ourselves in a situation where we [were] in pole position and surrendered three points [which] was unacceptable. I am lost for words.
      “There is a real collective anger in there and a lot of harsh words said collectively as a group and we have let the club down there.
      “We started really well and there was real character there and we faced the challenge head on.
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      “We knew Blackpool were very direct and we played on the front foot and caused them problems, especially in the first half-hour and we were in a comfortable position and then the red card came.
      “But with the second half, we made clear that Blackpool would throw everything at it.
      “They are a very determined side under Mick [McCarthy]. But it was an unacceptable performance.
      “We should not have come away with anything other than three points.”
      Huddersfield are in danger of slipping down to League One for the first time since 2012, just four years after relegation from the Premier League. More

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      EFL set for streaming revolution as Swedish giant ViaPlay set to end Sky Sports monopoly with more games on offer

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      SWEDISH streaming giant Viaplay is emerging as the leading player in the next EFL TV deal.The company boasts major cash to take some of the many packages going.
      EFL football could be set to appear on streaming servicesCredit: PA
      There is growing talk that future coverage — starting in the 2024-25 season — will be split between several TV stations and opens the door to streaming.
      Sky enjoyed the lion’s share of coverage for years but it is now under threat in the bidding process.
      And lower-division clubs are open to the idea of a separate deal for them, meaning more live games.
      The EFL’s commercial team will present some of the options at a meeting later this month.
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      But Viaplay is the new name on the lips of those doing the deals.
      And the Viaplay group has been picking up sports contracts all the time.
      It snapped up the UK-based Premier Sports for more than £30million last year.
      Viaplay also plans to launch in America soon and a football package would help its cause.
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      Back in October, SunSport revealed Sky Sports had been hit by poor Championship viewing figures and reported they may axe games in their new broadcast deal.
      Insiders said that numbers were low in the first part of the season, with the highest coming in the opening match between Huddersfield and Vincent Kompany’s Burnley.
      The exact audience sizes are kept quiet but sources claim the largest was only around 600,000. More

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      Referee is hit in face by bottle thrown from stands during Charlton’s defeat to Fleetwood as Addicks face punishment

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      CHARLTON could face punishment after referee Carl Boyeson was hit by a missile aimed from the stands at The Valley.He was hit in the face by a plastic drinks bottle as he left the pitch at the end of the home side’s 2-1 defeat by Fleetwood Town.
      Charlton could face a hefty punishmentCredit: Getty
      The official did not appear to be badly harmed and immediately headed down the stadium’s extendable tunnel. 
      But Addicks’ boss Dean Holden condemned the incident and expects it to be included in Boyeson’s post-match report to the FA.
      The home fans seemed to be angered by the 79th-minute straight red card dismissal of Charlton defender Ryan Inniss  – although it was his third sending off of the season.
      Holden said: “It’s disappointing.
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      “Obviously, as a football club, we can not condone this kind of behaviour at all.
      “It doesn’t matter what has gone on out on the pitch. This should never happen.
      “I assume it will be in the referee’s report.”
      Boyeson is a long-serving 53-year-old official from East Yorkshire who refereed the 2019-20 EFL Trophy final between Portsmouth and Salford.
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      Defender Inniss could now face a five-match ban after his third dismissal of the campaign.
      Charlton boss Holden added: “I will not condemn referees because it’s a tough job.
      “But it was never a sending off. It wasn’t a goalscoring opportunity.”
      Dean Holden was unhappy with the red card decisionCredit: PA More

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      Stevenage fan runs on pitch to confront Bradford striker Andy Cook causing League Two match to be delayed

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      A STEVENAGE fan stormed the pitch to confront Bradford striker Andy Cook during their League Two clash on Saturday.Striker Cook, 32, scored Bradford’s second goal of the game as they led 3-2 heading into the final stages at the Lamex Stadium.
      Stevenage’s Alex Gilbey, centre, dragged the supporter away after he stormed the pitchCredit: PA

      The Bradford players were left furious after the intruder went for Andy CookCredit: PA
      Gilbey blocked off the fan before he was taken away by stewardsCredit: PA
      Cook scored a penalty in Bradford’s win over StevenageCredit: PA
      And one home supporter failed to take the defeat in a civilised manner as he sprinted onto the field in the 89th minute.
      He attempted to get at Cook before Stevenage player Alex Gilbey came over to defuse the situation.
      Bradford players were also quick to swarm around the fan as he was eventually ushered off the pitch by stewards.
      There was a brief delay to the game as the perpetrator was taken away.
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      And Bradford tweeted: “89′ | Delay in getting play restarted as a home supporter runs onto the field and looks to give Andy Cook a bit, only to be stopped by Stevenage’s Michael Bostwick. 🦌 2-3 🐓”.
      The match eventually resumed as Bradford attempted to prevent a late Stevenage equaliser.
      And they were successful in doing so as Jamie Walker’s 86th-minute strike proved to be the winning goal.
      The result sees Bradford move up to eighth in the League Two table, two points adrift of the play-off places.
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      Meanwhile, Stevenage’s defeat sees them remain in second as they fall eight points behind runaway league leaders Leyton Orient.
      They have a four-point buffer over Carlisle and two games in hand.
      But just one win in four league games leaves Steve Evans’ side in danger of dropping out of the automatic promotion places. More

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      ‘Best grub to ever appear on Footy Scran’ – Fans drooling over Grimsby Town’s mouthwatering brisket sandwich and waffles

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      GRIMSBY fans have left fans drooling after a special item popped up on their food menu.The Mariners upset the odds by beating Luton in a replay to progress to the FA Cup fifth round.
      Grimsby offer a beef brisket sandwich with a scotch eggs and waffle friesCredit: Twitter / @FootyScran
      And while they are impressing on the pitch, some of their fans may be just as excited by the offerings around the ground.
      Fans online are certainly raving about the club thanks to their soy & honey beef brisket size seven sandwich.
      The name of the item is partly inspired by the fact it is the length of a size seven shoe.
      And it comes with a scotch egg and waffle fries – all for a modest £8.50.
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      Footy fans are in awe of the sandwich, with some claiming it is the best food they have seen on Footy Scran, a Twitter page dedicated to sharing the best and worst food offerings at football grounds.
      One said: “No offence to Grimsby Town FC but that’s gonna be better than the football. Incredible stuff.”
      Another added: “Might be the best grub to ever appear on here.”
      And a third wrote: “This is a shoe-in to win best footy scran of 2023 already.”
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      Another commented: “This looks absolutely scrumptious.”
      Grimsby regularly impress with their catering, though their fish finger and mushy peas hot dog left some confused. More