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      Iconic old stadium where Arsenal were thumped is now private hospital and home to 87 flats after £12m sale

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      ARSENAL were handed a 3-0 beating by Oxford United at the iconic Manor Ground in 1986.The two clubs feel worlds away now, but in those days the Gunners had to make the trip to the Manor Ground for Division One matches.
      Oxford United played at the Manor Ground between 1925 and 2001Credit: Getty
      John Aldridge, left, Dave Langan, middle, and Billy Hamilton, right, celebrate in the Manor Ground dressing roomCredit: PA
      Oxford paraded the League Cup ahead of their 1986 clash with ArsenalCredit: Getty
      Oxford had recruited Tottenham legend Steve Perryman to assist in their survival bid during the 1985-86 season.
      Having made a record 866 appearances for Spurs, Perryman added the experience and know-how to help Oxford far exceed their goals for the season.
      Not only did the U’s thump Arsenal 3-0 on the final day to survive in Division One.
      But 15 days earlier they had also won the League Cup.
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      Ray Houghton, John Aldridge and Billy Hamilton scored against the Gunners in front of 13,651 fans crammed into the Manor Ground – witnessing their side turning over a team that featured the likes of Tony Adams and Charlie Nicholas.
      Oxford’s old home featured a mish-mash of stands oozing with character – unlike many of the modern symmetrical domes you see today.
      By this point the U’s had already been at the Manor Ground for over 60 years, having moved there in 1925.
      It saw some great times during those decades, but the 1990s would be brutal.
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      Oxford played their final match at the Manor Ground in 2001Credit: Getty
      The old school stadium featured a mish-mash of standsCredit: Getty
      Having been in the top flight for three years during the previous decade, Oxford suffered three relegations in the 90s.
      Their iconic old home also began to fall apart, prompting the need for a new ground.
      The Manor Ground’s terracing began to crumble, with safety concerns increasing towards the turn of the millenium.
      Only the fact that their move to the Kassam Stadium was imminent prevented league chiefs from taking action.
      Converting the Manor Ground into an all-seater stadium would have cost millions, all the while reducing the capacity to just 2,803.
      Oxford owner Firoz Kassam bought the Manor Ground for £6million with his own company, before building a state-of-the-hospital and 87 flats in its place.
      Kassam then flogged the hospital to Nuffield Nursing Trust for £12m.
      It now features 64 private bedrooms, six modern surgical theatres, a pharmacy and two minor procedural units.
      The U’s, meanwhile, moved to the three-sided, 12,500 capacity Kassam Stadium.
      And it has never had the same charm.
      Speaking to the BBC in 2014, Oxford fan Matthew Cavill said: “(The Manor Ground’s) atmosphere was superb.
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      “Because it was a small, tiny ground, you felt like with a packed crowd you were about on top of the players and it had a slope which I never appreciated until I got older and played there for my school as a full back.
      “The (Kassam Stadium) capacity is over 12,000 and our ground average is about 5,500. It’s got an open end, the car park end behind the goal… The noise gets lost.”
      Oxford’s Manor Ground home was converted into 87 flatsCredit: Google Earth
      The Manor Hospital was also built on Oxford’s former homeCredit: Nuffield Hospital
      The state of the art build is now a private hospitalCredit: Nuffield Hospital More

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      Nottingham Forest could be charged by the FA after two away fans were arrested over ‘Chelsea Rent Boy’ chants

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      NOTTINGHAM Forest could be charged by the FA after two away fans were arrested over “Chelsea Rent Boy” chants.New regulations introduced earlier this year mean clubs whose fans use the offensive term can be punished.
      Two Nottingham Forest supporters were arrested at Stamford BridgeCredit: Rex
      The unsavoury chants saw two Forest supporters arrested at Stamford Bridge Saturday afternoon.
      They were ejected from the Chelsea ground before being taken away by officers from Nottinghamshire Police, according to MailOnline.
      The FA introduced new regulations earlier this year enabling them to charge clubs whose fans use the offensive term “rent boy”.
      It comes as the CPS decided to classify use of the phrase – which is a breach of FA rule E21 – as a hate crime.
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      The Crown Prosecution Service have previously said those who use the words are liable to face prosecution.
      Chelsea fans are also understood to have complained to security staff about other incidents. 
      FA charges do not automatically follow in such cases, which can be left to the clubs involved and police to resolve.
      However, the previous use of the term by Forest fans at a match against Chelsea on New Year’s Day may count against them.
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      Wolves became the first club to be punished by the FA for homophobic chanting in July when they were given a £100,000 fine.
      The Prem outfit were hit by the fine after their “inadequate response” to rent boy chants during their Premier League game against Cheslea in April. 
      The FA will wait until they have received reports from cops before deciding whether to take formal disciplinary action against Forest.
      Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly has overseen a £1billion splurge on new players since taking over the club last May.
      But the Blues were downed by Elanga who scored his first goal for Forest since making a £15million move from Manchester United in July.
      Chants were aimed at Chelsea players at multiple grounds last season – both in the Premier League and FA Cup. More

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      Stormzy mobbed by fans as superstar rapper spotted watching his non-league side AFC Croydon compete in FA Cup

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      STORMZY was mobbed by fans while watching his club AFC Croydon play in the FA Cup.The superstar rapper cheered on The Rams as they took on Sutton Athletic in the extra preliminary round.
      Stormzy attended AFC Croydon Athletic’s win over Sutton AthleticCredit: Supplied
      He was mobbed by fans during the FA Cup clashCredit: Supplied
      Stormzy shared an update from the match on his social mediaCredit: Instagram
      Stormzy co-owns the club with Wilfried ZahaCredit: Getty
      Stormzy and Zaha appeared on the cover of the matchday programmeCredit: Instagram
      He would have been delighted with the brilliant start his side made as Nahum Green opened the scoring in the 13th minute.
      Stormzy was treated to a raucous reception as fans gathered to greet the grime artist.
      Earlier this summer the 30-year-old teamed up with former Crystal Palace star Wilfried Zaha to buy the ninth tier non-league club.
      Zaha and Stormzy have been joined by former Crystal Palace head of player care Danny Young.
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      AFC Croydon Athletic are the pair’s childhood hometown club and they compete at the 3,000 capacity Mayfield Stadium.
      The club was founded in 2012 following the winding up of Croydon Atheltic.
      Stormzy and Zaha want to take the local community on a journey with the latter keen to build on the work done by his WZ Foundation.
      They have been friends for a few years and worked together on a photoshoot for Elle UK in 2019.
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      Speaking on their friendship, Zaha said: “He is just a friend from the area, really. I’ve watched his growth from just putting videos out on YouTube, no one paying attention.
      “I’ve grown up in Thornton Heath, he’s grown up in Thornton Heath and we’ve got so many mutual friends.
      “We’re both heavily into giving back and we both believe in God, so it’s like God has blessed us with the opportunity and we each like to help out.” More

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      I reached the FA Cup final and made my money as a Premier League manager – now I have a new job as a financial advisor

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      FORMER Premier League boss Dave Jones who reached the FA Cup final now has a new job as a financial advisor.Jones managed both Southampton and Wolves in the top flight during his career in the dug-out.
      Dave Jones is a former Premier League managerCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      Jones now has a new job as a financial advisorCredit: Q Financial Services
      However, Jones now has a completely different role after joining Telford-based firm Q Financial Services in March.
      After becoming a financial advisor, he told their website: “I’m very excited to be offered the opportunity to be joining the team at Q Financial Services.
      “They’re a forward thinking, passionate and experienced group of financial advisors that I can’t wait to work with.”
      Jones played for Everton, Coventry City and Preston North End before going into coaching.
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      He began his managerial journey in 1995 with Stockport County, who he guided to the second tier and the semi-finals of the League Cup.
      His Edgeley Park achievements saw him earn a first Premier League job with Southampton in 1997.
      During his time on the south coast, Jones was falsely accused of child abuse, with the case thrown out of court in the first week of the trial.
      Jones was completely exonerated by the judge, who said there was “no smoke, no fire” – which the ex-defender would later title his autobiography.
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      A key alleged victim was also later found to have fabricated their claims in an attempt to win compensation.
      Speaking to the Independent in 2011, Jones explained: “Of all the things you could accuse me of, this was the worst. I would rather have been accused of murder.”
      Having left Southampton before his exoneration, Jones went on to rebuild his career with Wolves.
      He guided the club to the Premier League via the play-offs in 2003 but was unable to keep them up.
      Jones later managed Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday, reaching the FA Cup final with the Welsh club in 2008 before losing to Portsmouth.
      His last managerial role saw him spend three months in charge of Hartlepool United in League Two in 2017.
      Overall, Jones won 36 of his 131 Prem matches as a manager.
      Jones guided Wolverhampton Wanderers to the Premier League in 2003Credit: PA:Press Association
      He also reached an FA Cup final with Cardiff CityCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd More

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      When is the FA Cup third round?

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      The third round of the FA Cup will take place later this year- as teams eagerly await their opponents. As the football season fast approaches the infamous annual competition does too, with third-round qualifiers happening in late September.
      Manchester City lifts the trophy after FA Cup final beating Manchester United 2-1 at Wembley Stadium last month.
      Then the first round proper gets going on the weekend of November 4, before second round proper on the first weekend of December.
      Then the minnows of the English football pyramid can start to dream about doing what Manchester City did by lifting the trophy.
      When is the FA Cup third round 2023-24?
      The successful teams will then take on the third round next year Saturday, January, 6th 2024.
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      This year’s FA Cup winners Manchester City will be centre stage after completing the Treble after clinching the Premier League and Champions League titles.
      What TV channel is it on and can live stream it FREE?
      You can watch the third round for FREE on BBC and ITV.
      Fans will also be able to watch it live on BBC iPlayer.
      What teams will be involved in the FA Cup third round?
      As automatic qualifiers for the round, all Premier League teams will be playing.
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      When is the FA Cup third-round draw?
      We don’t know yet. It is expected to happen by the final week of November.
      When is the FA Cup fourth-round draw?
      The draw is likely to be at halftime on the Sunday of the big game of the third round. More

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      Fans rage ‘bring back the Super League’ as they fume at proposed FA Cup shake-up that would ABOLISH replays

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      FANS have raged “bring back the Super League” as they fumed at the proposed FA Cup shake-ups.The new plans for the competition from the start of the 2024/25 season include replays being abolished.
      Fans have fumed at the proposed changes to the FA CupCredit: PA
      According to the Daily Mail, the world’s oldest cup competition is set to undergo the biggest shake-up in its history.
      The report claims that the FA are to hand control of the competition to the Premier League.
      It is a move that would mean top flight clubs have control of the entire domestic calendar.
      FA chief executive Mark Bullingham is set to accept an offer from the Premier League that includes the abolition of replays.
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      There is also the chance that the early rounds of the competition will be played in midweek.
      The final would no longer be played on its own weekend and would instead take place on a weekend with Premier League fixtures.
      This is likely to be the penultimate Saturday of the season, allowing the final day to still take place on a Sunday.
      Additional changes include a 10-year deal to sell foreign television rights for all overseas markets as well as the domestic rights, which are currently held by the BBC and ITV.
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      The Premier League will also make an increased payment to the FA to fund grassroots football.
      However, fans are not impressed by the proposed changes, with one tweeting: “Bring back the Super League. Let the top 6/7 p*** off and focus on money, rest of the pyramid can go back to how it was before.”
      Another fumed: “Replays scrapped which made shit loads of money for lower league sides. Brilliant lads nice one again .”
      The proposed changes to the FA Cup would come into effect from the 2024/25 seasonCredit: PA
      A third fan added: “Midweek games and the final being played on a normal game week. Grim, doing everything they can to ruin the game.”
      One more also commented: “Bending over backwards for ‘elite’ clubs once again.”
      The FA have not yet commented on the reports. More

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      I scored a last-minute screamer to relegate Coventry just so I could go on my brother’s stag do, says Paul Merson

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      IN 2001, Paul Merson scored the goal that relegated one of his club’s rivals.But the joy of the goal was far from the first thing on his mind when Aston Villa took on Coventry.
      Paul Merson revealed his manager warned him he wouldn’t be allowed to go on his brother’s stag-do if Aston Villa lostCredit: Getty
      Merson duly scored the winner to relegate CoventryCredit: Getty
      Arsenal legend Merse told Sky Sports in 2020: “It was the year where the FA Cup final was played before the final day of the season, and my brother had a stag the weekend of the FA Cup final, I’d organised it in Orlando.
      “We were playing Coventry on the penultimate game week of the season.
      “I went to Villa manager John Gregory, asked him if I could go to Orlando after the game and he said: ‘Not a problem, you can go, we haven’t got a game!’
      “We came in 2-0 down at half-time at Villa Park. Our season was over anyway.
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      “But Gregory said to me: ‘You’re not going to Orlando tomorrow if this game doesn’t get turned around.’
      “And then, low and behold, I scored the winner with the last kick of the game, and Coventry went down. The next day, I went to Orlando!
      “You can imagine what I said to Gregory when I got back in.
      “I was putting my suntan cream on when he was having his post-match chat!
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      “People say that goal sent Coventry down, I don’t believe that and I hope it didn’t. It’s a long season, and don’t just blame it on one goal.”
      Merson spent 12 years at Arsenal, winning two league titles, an FA Cup, a League Cup and a Cup Winners’ Cup.
      But he is also fondly remembered for his four years at Villa where the team qualified for Europe and reached the FA Cup final.
      And now he entertains viewers on Saturday afternoons on legendary Sky Sports show Soccer Saturday.
      Merson is now a regular Sky Sports pundit on Soccer SaturdayCredit: Getty More

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      Shirtless Jack Grealish leads Man City bus parade as Erling Haaland mixes with jubilant fans cerebrating Treble win

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      MANCHESTER CITY fans braved rain and lightning to watch their Treble-winning team’s open-top bus parade on Monday evening.The parade was delayed by more than an hour due to the horrific conditions, but that did not deter the thousands of supporters that gathered to catch a glimpse of their squad.
      Jack Grealish with the Champions League trophyCredit: Getty
      Grealish was front and centre in all of the celebrationsCredit: Getty
      Striker Haaland mixes with jubilant fans
      Phil Foden celebrating amid mountains of confettiCredit: PA
      Manchester City held their trophies aloft as they celebrated the TrebleCredit: PA
      Pep Guardiola smoked a cigar during the celebrationsCredit: Reuters
      The head coach gave a thumbs up to the crowdCredit: AFP
      Guardiola posed with some of his backroom staffCredit: Getty
      A topless Grealish made his way to the parade on the tramCredit: Getty
      He has been in a party mood ever since Man City’s Champions League triumphCredit: Getty
      Aymeric Laporte, left, Erling Haaland, centre, and Ruben Dias, right, were also on the tramCredit: Getty
      John Stones was snapped on public transport with his team-matesCredit: Getty
      (L-R) Stefano Ortega, Ilkay Gundogan, Stones and Nathan Ake on the tramCredit: Getty
      Dias was pictured with the Premier League trophyCredit: Getty
      The open-top bus parade was met with swarms of sky blueCredit: Getty
      It was an incredible scene on the streets of ManchesterCredit: PA
      Fans came out in their droves to welcome the squadCredit: Getty
      The stage was set for Man City’s historic homecomingCredit: PA
      Foden was snapped firing a confetti cannonCredit: Getty
      Jack Grealish was wearing a high-vis jacket on stageCredit: Reuters
      He was loving every minute of the celebrationsCredit: PA
      Some of the Man City players squirted a drink into Grealish’s mouth on stageCredit: Reuters
      Haaland came onto the stage topless with a Man City shirt over his headCredit: Getty
      The Norwegian was buzzing throughout the celebrationsCredit: Getty
      Guardiola got the crowd going when he came on stageCredit: PA
      Haaland celebrated up close and personal with the fansCredit: Getty
      Fireworks brought the house down on an incredible nightCredit: Getty
      And many of the squad may their way to the parade via the tram, with Jack Grealish pictured topless on the public transport.
      Erling Haaland, John Stones, Ilkay Gundogan, Ruben Dias, Aymeric Laporte, Nathan Ake and Stefano Ortega were also snapped on the tram.
      And Haaland was dubbed a “menace” for pouring Champagne on Grealish during the chaotic scenes.
      Pep Guardiola, who was seen smoking a cigar during the celebrations, and his stable of superstars enjoyed a sensational homecoming after becoming just the second English team in history to win the Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League in the same campaign.
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      The Man City players seemed to be loving the celebrations through the streetsCredit: PA
      Sky blue flares lit up the streets of ManchesterCredit: PA
      Fans braved the rain and lightning to be a part of the occasionCredit: Alamy
      Haaland holding up the Champions League trophyCredit: AFP
      Supporters hung from traffic lights to get the perfect viewCredit: Reuters
      Kyle Walker and Manuel Akanji with the Champions League and Premier League trophiesCredit: Getty
      Gundogan and Dias enjoying the bus in the rainCredit: Getty

      Fans waved flags and sang to the heavens as City made their way through town an open-top bus.
      Key men such as Haaland, Kevin De Bruyne and Grealish basked in the adoration as they made their way through the streets of Manchester.
      And when they eventually made it to the stage, Grealish, dressed in a high-vis jacket, said “I don’t think I’ve slept”.
      The party is sure to continue into the night, with players living the high life ever since Saturday’s final whistle in Istanbul.
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      City landed the Premier League first, overturning an eight-point deficit to leapfrog Arsenal and win their third-straight title by five points.
      A second domestic trophy soon followed, with Guardiola’s men beating rivals Man Utd in the FA Cup final.
      And City solidified their position as one of the greatest sides in history by lifting their first Champions League with a 1-0 win over Inter Milan on Saturday.
      The club have been enjoying themselves ever since, with Grealish leading the way with a brilliant rap song from INSIDE City’s team bus.
      Stars then reportedly jetted to party island Ibiza for a major celebration after landing in Manchester on Sunday.

      But three players stayed home for a chilled-out dinner, with De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Stefan Ortega the only aces turning up to a hired-out restaurant.
      Meanwhile, the Ibiza party crew only landed back in Manchester on Monday afternoon, hours before the start of the parade.
      Yet they all managed to look their best for the historic celebration with their fans.
      City won the Premier League title first after chasing down ArsenalCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
      The FA Cup then followed with victory over Man UtdCredit: Getty
      The Treble was completed by the Champions League final win against Inter MilanCredit: Getty More