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      Meet non-league star with longest throw in football who plans to put it to good use as club target FA Cup giant-killing

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      HE IS the Rory Delap of the National League — and can hurl a football further than most can kick it.Tom Tonks intends to put ­Huddersfield through hell with his long-throws in the FA Cup at The Lamb tonight.Tom Tonks hopes his long throw will fire Tamworth to FA Cup glory over HuddersfieldCredit: X/ tamworthfcTonks’ long throws are just like the ones used back in the day by Rory DelapCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdTamworth’s not-so-secret weapon has also earned a reputation for scoring spectacular long-range goals which have made him a huge hit on social media.So Terriers’ Aussie goalkeeper Jacob Chapman is sure to be tested whenever Tonks picks up the ball.Former Stoke midfielder Delap made long-throws fashionable under boss Tony Pulis during their promotion to the Premier League in 2008 and their run to the FA Cup final in 2011.Tonks, 33, said: “I’ve been hurling in throw-ins since primary school.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“My headteacher at primary school said to me: ‘You never threw that in,’ because he had his back to me and assumed I’d kicked it.“So I asked him if he wanted me to do it again and he couldn’t believe the distance.“I’ve had a lot of joy with it since and get called the Rory Delap of the National League but I wouldn’t mind his wages from a few years ago! I’ve never actually measured how far I can throw the ball, I just launch it as far as I can.“The lads sometimes ask me to take something off it and keep it between the goalposts, because I can deliver it well beyond the back post if I want.Most read in FA CupFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“I can see it in the faces of opposing defenders and goalies — they absolutely hate it.”Teams are obviously now planning for Tonks’ arrival and Huddersfield will no doubt be well aware of it on the artifical surface at The Lamb. I broke FA Cup record against Man Utd in final.. 20 years later I’m playing for non-league side in qualifying roundTonks’ long throws have become the stuff of legendCredit: YOUTUBE / Vanarama National LeagueAnd since a 7-0 defeat at Barnet in August, the National League North champions have shown they have what it takes to compete at a higher level.Tonks added: “When we played Barnet, we got a bit of a turning over.“But they are full-time and spent a day of analysis on us.“Their players were actually told NOT to give away any throw-ins in their half. Fair play to them I don’t think I took one in the 90 minutes!”While Jurgen Klopp famously employed a throw-in coach at Liverpool, Tonks has never been taught how to perfect his technique.He said: “It’s just natural to me. I just do the same weights as the other lads.“I’m not chucking medicine balls around the gym or anything like that.“I’d probably get banned for putting the ball through the wall if I did!JACK OF ALL TRADES“It’s more to do with timing. Someone asked me the other day how many assists I’ve had but I’ve never kept count.”As one of the few part-time teams in the National League, 5am gym sessions before work are not uncommon for Tonks and his team-mates.But, as well as the throws, Tonks is more than useful with his feet.A David Beckham-esque goal from the halfway line he scored for Stourbridge against Peterborough Sports in the FA Cup went viral.He revealed: “That got a million views in a week and my phone didn’t stop ringing for two weeks.“You can hear team-mate Luke Benbow’s mum screaming on the audio. That’s a funny listen on Youtube, well worth 20 seconds of anyone’s time!”Tonks also scored a screamer for Tamworth earlier this season to seal a stoppage-time win at Braintree.He charged into a tackle on the right touchline and, when his opponent pulled out of the challenge, Tonks sent the ball sailing over the goalie’s head from 40 yards and found the top corner.Hopefully big Dave is looking down and I can get another goal for him on Friday nightTom TonksTonks added: “My phone blew up after that as well!“I had a tweet from some Italian sports news station and someone in Kuwait too. Mad.“I’ve watched it a few times since and I’m still asking myself how it actually went in!“It was also special because it was my first goal after my grandad passed away.“He used to love coming to watch me. He’s been to so many cold parks in step six of non-league and used to be instantly noticeable in his white vest!“Hopefully big Dave is looking down and I can get another goal for him on Friday night.”Tonks is a Wolves fan and has a score to settle with Huddersfield.He went to a Premier League game at Molineux when Town’s Aaron Mooy put two free-kicks past Rui Patricio in 2018.READ MORE SUN STORIESPart-time Tonks, who also sells sandwiches and sausage rolls from a food truck, added: “I’ll never forget that so I owe them one.“It’s going to be very tough but we’ve had some good results at home and fancy ourselves against anyone at The Lamb.” More

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      Premier League legend in shock career move as he heads to Scotland after 24 years and 450 games in English top-flight

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      FORMER Premier League referee Martin Atkinson is set to take over as VAR manager at the Scottish FA.The 53-year-old will say goodbye to the English game after 24 years.Martin Atkinson is set to take over as VAR manager at the Scottish FACredit: PAThe SFA moved quickly to steal Atkinson after Jon Moss left his VAR manager role after just 52 days of startin it.SunSport understands Moss will be taking up a top job with the Australian FA.Now, Atkinson will begin work as Scottish head ref Willie Collum’s No 2 in early December.Collum, 45, said: “I am delighted to appoint someone of Martin’s calibre.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS”I did not expect to be recruiting for that position again so quickly, but Jon received a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and went with our best wishes.”I am pleased Martin has agreed to continue the considerable work undertaken to date in optimising our VAR operation.”And I’m sure our VAR officials and match officials generally will look forward to working with someone of Martin’s experience.”Atkinson was a Prem official for 20 years and refereed the 2015 Europa League final, won by Aston Villa manager Unai Emery during his time with LaLiga outfit Sevilla.Most read in FootballJon Moss left the SFA after little more than a month in postCredit: GettyFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAtkinson oversaw 463 games in the English top-flight before turning to manage PGMOL’s Select Group. The Select Group meet twice per month for training sessions and analysis of match videos and data to help improve refereeing performances.Football analyst bizarrely blames ref Anthony Taylor for ‘hindering Man Utd’s play’ in humiliating loss to LiverpoolHe leaves the Select Group after joining in 2022 following his last Prem match – where Crystal Palace beat Manchester United 1-0 at Selhurst Park.Incidentally, that was the ground where he made his debut 17 years prior.Atkinson is only behind Mike Dean (521) for most Prem games refereed. PGMOL said: “Everyone would like to thank Martin and wish him every success for the future.”Atkinson refereed games at Euro 2016 and became a regular Champions League official.He also took charge of the FA Cup Final in 2011 and the 2014 League Cup final. More

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      Pep Guardiola admits Man City were ‘HUNGOVER’ for FA Cup final loss against Man Utd following Premier League title bash

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      PEP GUARDIOLA has admitted that his Manchester City stars were “hungover” during their FA Cup final defeat last season.The City boss, 53, was speaking after his side were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Tottenham last night.Pep Guardiola spoke after his side’s 2-1 defeat to Tottenham last nightCredit: GettyMan City won the Prem title on the final day of last seasonCredit: GettyJack Grealish and Co subsequently went out to celebrateCredit: SplashMan Utd beat Man City in the FA Cup final the following weekendCredit: APThe 2-1 defeat was City’s first loss of the season, which was pointed out to Guardiola after the game.Their last defeat had come at Wembley in last season’s FA Cup final, in which they were beaten 2-1 by Manchester United.Referencing that match last night, Guardiola said: “This is the news, not that we lose, but how long it has been since we lose.”Of course, with the FA Cup final we were a little bit hungover, but it is good news.”READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThe Wembley showpiece had come just a week after City had clinched the Premier League title on the final day of the season.City stars let their hair down after pipping Arsenal to the post, with the likes of Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland leading the celebrations.After lifting the Premier League trophy, City stars and their partners headed to plush Manchester bar and restaurant Fenix to continue their revelry.The following weekend at Wembley they looked sluggish, with goals by Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo giving Man Utd a 2-0 half-time lead.Most read in FA CupBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSGuardiola comforts Phil Foden after the FA Cup finalCredit: ReutersCity stars were left disappointed at WembleyCredit: ReutersJeremy Doku did pull one back for City late on, but Guardiola’s men were unable to conjure an equaliser.The cup final win largely contributed to Erik ten Hag clinging on to his job as Man Utd boss at the time.Jack Grealish is helped out of bar at 5am as Man City’s wild celebrations continue into the night after record titleHe had appeared all but certain to get the sack after his side finished a dismal eighth.But following the cup final victory the Dutchman was given a reprieve by United’s Ineos chiefs.After another summer at the helm, Ten Hag was unable to change United’s league fortunes.He was finally sacked on Monday following last weekend’s 2-1 defeat at West Ham, with United 14th in the table after nine games.Ruud van Nistelrooy has been placed in caretaker charge, with Portuguese coach Ruben Amorim primed to take over.City, meanwhile, are facing an injury crisis – having lost Manuel Akanji in last night’s warm-up and Savinho during the match.After the game, Guardiola confessed: “We have 13 players, we are in real difficulties.”The guys that play, they finish most of them with problems and we’ll see how they recover.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I think we are in trouble, because in nine years we’ve never been in the situation with so many injuries.”The players make a step forward, more together than ever, and we will try to do this week in this short time of recovery.” More

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      Fans spot spooky omen that proves Erik ten Hag was always doomed to face the sack by Man Utd this season

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      ERIK TEN HAG was always doomed for the sack this year thanks to a spooky omen.The Dutchman was finally relieved of his duties after being given a stay of execution for the start of the season.Erik ten Hag was hit with a Man Utd FA Cup curseCredit: ReutersUnited chiefs considered firing Ten Hag in the summer before giving him a two-year deal which guarantees him a pay off worth £15million.The Red Devils suffered their worst Premier League finish last term in eighth but Ten Hag saved his job by winning the FA Cup.However the 2-1 win over rivals Manchester City meant Ten Hag was perhaps always destined for the sack this year, thanks to a strange omen.The last United manager to win the FA Cup, Louis van Gaal, was also sacked after winning the FA Cup final 2-1.READ MORE ON MAN UTDBizarrely, Tommy Docherty met the same fate after winning the 1977 FA Cup final by the same scoreline.Fans picked up on the peculiar coincidence, with one saying: “Spooky fact. It’s almost as if they decided against sacking him in the summer so they could deploy it this week 🎃”Stats prove the writing may have been on the wall long before the FA Cup final, as Ten Hag’s win rate at Old Trafford plummeted following the 7-0 loss to Liverpool in March 2023.Prior to the defeat at Anfield, Ten Hag’s United had boasted a 73 per cent win rate, losing just six games over the course of the manager’s first 41 matches in all competitions.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSBut things started to look bleak after their 7-0 embarrassment with the win percentage plummeting to just 46 per cent from that game onwards.Including the 7-0 defeat, United lost 29 games in 87 fixtures from March 2023 until last weekend.Erik Ten Hag SACKED by Man United – here are the SIX candidates to replace him More

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      Ten Hag ‘had to be talked out of kamikaze FA Cup final tactic by Darren Fletcher’ which helped extend Man Utd stay

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      ERIK TEN HAG’S final glory at Manchester United might have NEVER have happened if he had persisted with his original tactical plan in the FA Cup final.The Dutchman was sacked from his post as Man Utd manager on Monday following a controversial 2-1 defeat to West Ham.Erik ten Hag won the FA Cup with Man Utd in MayCredit: GettyBut the tactical tweaks made before the game came after hours of debate led by Darren FletcherCredit: GettyIt left Man Utd down in 14th place in the Premier League after their worst-ever start to the season.Ten Hag, 54, had looked like a dead man walking at Old Trafford after finish a record low of eighth in the Prem last season.But he earned himself an unlikely lifeline by shocking Manchester City to win the FA Cup final in May, courtesy of goals from Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.However, the result of that game could have turned out very different.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThat’s because, according to The Independent, Ten Hag had to be talked out of his planned tactics for the Wembley showdown by concerned Darren Fletcher.It is claimed Ten Hag wanted to go “toe-to-toe” against the league champions in a kamikaze plan.And it was only after hours of debate led by then-technical director Fletcher that Ten Hag relented.The tactical tweaks he eventually did make prior to the game worked as a treat, as the 4-4-2 shape helped United defend against Pep Guardiola’s side and gave United the ability to be dangerous on the counter.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSReports at the time suggested that Ten Hag had also listened to the advice from new club chief Jason Wilcox to use Bruno Fernandes as a False 9 for the final, which yielded the captain an assist for the winner.Man Utd have tried going match up with teams this season, and come up embarrassingly short against Liverpool and Tottenham in 3-0 defeats at Old Trafford.Man Utd want Ruben AmorimBehind the scenes, one senior member of the Ineos hierarchy is reported to have said: “I told you this would happen,” in key meetings, where the main dividing factor was who could come next.However, after getting their first transfer window out of the way Ineos now appear to have made swift progress on appointing a potential successor.According to reports, Sporting manager Ruben Amorim has agreed to become the new Red Devils boss.United will have to pay his £8.5million buy-out fee, but the 39-year-old has impressive credentials behind him with two league titles ending a 19-year league drought at the club.The “Special One 2.0” has been heavily linked with replacing Pep Guardiola at Man City, while was also linked with Liverpool, West Ham, Bayern Munich and Barcelona.Amorim has a distinct style with his 3-4-3 system and will have a five-point checklist of things to do upon arriving.The former midfielder has already broken his silence on the prospect of taking the job, admitting: “I was already expecting this question [about Man Utd] and obviously I’m not going to talk about the future, because otherwise I’ll always have to comment.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I’m very proud to be Sporting coach, that’s all.”The Portuguese tactician actually already has a tenuous link to Man Utd, having faced them three times in his career, including one player who he is now set to coach. More

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      Failed Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag handed £15m payoff after his sacking from Prem giants as he flees UK on private jet

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      SACKED Erik ten Hag boards a private jet to the Netherlands after being axed as Manchester United manager yesterday with an expected £15million golden goodbye.The Dutchman, 54, got his marching orders at 11am.Erik ten Hag boards a private jet to Amsterdam just hours after being sacked as Man Utd’s managerCredit: Eamonn and James ClarkeThe 54-year-old Dutchman was whisked from his Cheshire home to Manchester AirportCredit: ZenpixThe Dutchman is in line for a £15million payday despite his turbulent spell as managerCredit: AlamyHe was seen smiling at 2.15pm before a Cessna light aircraft flew him home from Manchester to Amsterdam.Less than two hours after the announcement — at 1.30pm — sheepish Ten Hag was seen crouching down in the back of a black ­chauffeur-driven Mercedes S Class.The 54-year-old Dutchman was whisked from his Cheshire home to Manchester Airport — where he was pictured in the gilet and with a rucksack — before his private jet left for Amsterdam at 2.15pm.He is in line for a £15million payoff after a turbulent 2½-year spell and is the fifth manager sacked since Sir Alex Ferguson stepped down after 27 years in 2013.READ MORE ON ERIK TEN HAGUnited chiefs had extended Ten Hag’s £6.5million-a-year deal until June 2026 just 166 days ago.Fellow Dutchman and ex-United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 48, who was his assistant, has taken over as interim boss.A club insider said: “The dressing room has been like a morgue recently — and it is no wonder Ten Hag has gone.“The owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has told people he acted with his heart not his head when he gave him the extension in the summer. Now he is acting with his head.”Most read in FootballUnited are currently 14th in the Premier League with 11 points from nine games. Andy Mitten, from fanzine United We Stand, said: “I would never celebrate United sacking a manager but this season has been a nightmare and finishing eighth last year is not good enough.“It is a very expensive move after what happened in the summer – and that is the last thing the club needs at the moment and when we’ve made huge pay-offs to managers in the past.”’Something seriously wrong!’ Ex-Prem ref reacts to huge Man Utd call which saw Erik Ten Hag sackedClub owner Ineos handed Ten Hag the extension after a shock FA Cup Final win over rivals Manchester City in May.A separate United source said of the sacking: “This is long overdue and no one could be that shocked the hierarchy have finally acted.“But the way it has been done is chaotic and shows the club is in a mess from top to bottom.“The worst thing the club did was extend Ten Hag’s contract after the FA Cup win. While that was a great achievement, it was so obvious that it glossed over a dreadful season. And it has now cost the owners potentially over £10million.“While there may be room for negotiation, Erik is not going to go without a hefty pay-off.“It is not the first time it has happened recently either with former managers like Jose Mourinho getting huge payouts as well.“It is a symptom of the chaos that has gripped the club since Sir Alex Ferguson left.”Announcing the sacking, United said: “Erik ten Hag has left his role as Manchester United men’s first-team manager.“Erik was appointed in April 2022 and led the club to two domestic trophies, winning the Carabao Cup in 2023 and the FA Cup in 2024.“We are grateful to Erik for everything he has done during his time with us and wish him well for the future. Ruud van Nistelrooy will take charge of the team as interim head coach, supported by the current coaching team, whilst a permanent head coach is recruited.”Ex-United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy, 48, who was Ten Hag’s assistant, has taken over as interim bossCredit: AlamyTen Hag has faced criticism over his management of players such as Cristiano RonaldoCredit: GettySporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim is the current favourite to take over as managerCredit: GettyNames in the frame to take over include Sporting Lisbon’s Ruben Amorim, ex-Barcelona manager Xavi and Germany’s national team boss Julian Nagelsmann.Ex-England boss Gareth Southgate, who recently hired Jimmy Worrall, a close associate of Sir Jim Ratcliffe as his agent — and Brentford’s Thomas Frank are also contenders for the Old Trafford job.In 2019, United paid £19.6million in compensation after axing Jose Mourinho and backroom staff.Two weeks ago it was revealed Sir Alex is leaving his £2million-a-year role as a United ambassador at the end of the season.That decision was branded scandalous by club legend Eric Cantona and came amid an Ineos-led ­economy drive and after 250 staff lost their jobs in the summer.Ten Hag has faced criticism over his management of players such as Cristiano Ronaldo, who criticised him after leaving in 2022.Management slammedMany of his recruits came from the Dutch league or played under him at previous clubs.Some signings like £85million Brazilian winger Antony have under-performed.RUUD PIC REMOVEDRUUD van Nistelrooy deleted an old social media post of him in black make-up hours after his appointment as interim boss.The 11-year-old image, inset, of him dressed in jewelled headdress and robe as King Balthazar at a charity event in Marbella, Spain, had been re-shared ­thousands of times.Van Nistelrooy had visited a hospital to mark the Spanish Parade of the Three Kings. In a caption with the picture, he wrote: “In hospital with presents for the young and old.”The source added: “There has definitely been a divided dressing room recently. A lot of players did not like Ten Hag and quite a few will be happy with this news.“His man-management has not been great, and the way he has handled stars has got to be called into question.“No one doubts Erik was a likeable and honourable man who worked extremely hard and loved the club. But he could be dogmatic and inflexible — and that is one of the things that caused friction. The players who are happy he has gone are pleased because they didn’t think his tactics would work.“It is not because they didn’t like him as a person.“There is a new energy now Ruud is in charge, and a growing feeling that – if he does well – he will get the job permanently.United captain Bruno Fernandes, 30, said of the news: “Thanks for everything, boss. I appreciate the trust and moments we share together, I wish you all the best in the future.”Pundit and former United defender Rio Ferdinand said: “Erik ten Hag recruited a large part of this squad.READ MORE SUN STORIES“But some of these players have been here for one, two, three managers and we’ve still had the same results.“Someone’s got to come in and change that now.”Ten Hag’s five worst defeatsERIK TEN HAG has suffered some heavy defeats during his tenure as Manchester United manager.5. Copenhagen 4-3 Man Utd, November 2023The damaging defeat saw the Red Devils dumped out of the Champions League.4. Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth, December 2023It was the first time the Cherries had ever won at Old Trafford with the players being booed off.3. Brentford 4-0 Man Utd, August 2022Perhaps a sign of things to come, in Ten Hag’s second Premier League game, his side was dismantled by the Bees.2. Crystal Palace 4-0 Man Utd, May 2024The heavy defeat to the Eagles saw the Dutchman edge ever closer to the sack.1. Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd, March 2023Man Utd were embarrassed at the hands of their bitter rivals as they crumbled at Anfield as it was the club’s worst defeat in 92 years. More

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      I went from non-league to FA Cup Final with Sunderland and won promotion at Oxford… now I’m helping kids with autism

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      MARTIN GRAY went from naughty schoolboy to a promotion winner at both Sunderland and Oxford – now he is helping other youngsters in need.The 53-year-old was a self-confessed bad boy as a kid and he never dreamed that he would make it as a footballer when he was released by Middlesbrough aged 15.Martin Gray is now making a big impact off the pitch by helping kids in the North EastCredit: GettyThe former midfielder went from non-league to being a Sunderland heroCredit: PAThree years later he was handed a lifeline by Denis Smith and Malcolm Crosby at Sunderland, and that led to him working under the pair for the best part of ten years.“I remember leaving the Northern League, where I was playing for Ferryhill, and Denis Smith signed me for Sunderland,” Gray told Sun Sport. “Seven years later he and Malcolm Crosby signed me for Oxford United. I probably had ten years playing under them.“Malcolm was an inspiration and like a father figure to me if I’m honest. I was a late developer and wasn’t at the level of the other players when I first went to Sunderland but I don’t think they signed me based just on my skills.“I think they got me for my work ethic, hunger and toughness etc. I found it really difficult at first as I knew I didn’t have the qualities of the lads that were there but Dennis and Malcolm, mainly, what they did to try and help me as a person and player was amazing.READ MORE ON FOOTBALL“Malcolm was the best person that I worked with in football and had the biggest impact. He’s a great person.”Smith was sacked by Sunderland in December 1991 with assistant Crosby taking over, and Gray would go on to make his debut and was even part of the travelling squad that went to Wembley in the 1992 FA Cup Final where they lost 2-0 to Liverpool.He said: “That was special. I played against Blackburn the week before as he had rested Paul Bracewell and a few others. I was involved in the last couple of matches leading up to the final and managed to get in the travelling squad.“I never, and didn’t deserve to, make the bench but that whole occasion of wearing the suits and being part of it was unbelievable.”Most read in ChampionshipFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSGray was part of Peter Reid’s squad that won promotion to the Premier League – and that was a campaign he enjoyed double joy after departing the North East for a reunion with his mentors at Oxford.He said: “I signed on deadline day and we were celebrating promotion a few weeks later. That was amazing.Sunderland fans in hysterics as captain Luke O’Nien ‘auditions for WWE’ in post-match brawl at Luton “I played the last ten or 12 games of that season and it was good to contribute to help get over the line and reach the Championship.“I was eventually made club captain down there and I had an amazing time there. I had four special years at Oxford.“We were the small club in the big league going up against the likes of Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Man City, Sunderland, many thought that we would just be the whipping boys.“We had Joey Beauchamp and some other really good players that went on to become Premier League regulars like Matty Elliott, Phil Gilchrist, Darren Purse and Dean Windass, who I still speak with almost every day.“Dennis created a great working ethic within the club and we were a very close team with no superstars and if anybody got above themselves then they were soon brought back into line.”Oxford, whose draws with West Brom and Derby over the past week have left them 11th, are now back in the Championship and travel to the Stadium of Light to face table-topping Sunderland tomorrow.Gray, who moved to Darlington in 1999 before hanging up his boots, said: “It’s great to see them back after coming close a few times.Martin Gray pictured in action for Oxford United against Man CityCredit: PA“They are still a small fish in a big pond but they are holding their own. It goes to show that by putting trust in young managers and allowing people to develop can really pay off.“They are in the top half and got a good result last weekend against a tough opponent. “They’ve done great and then you look at Sunderland and wonder where all this has come from.“I didn’t know much about Regis Le Bris but I heard after pre-season some really good feedback about what he was doing. And what he is doing is working and they’ve got off to a start that most of us never expected.“I’ve been to the Derby and Leeds matches recently and from where they were two or three years ago to now is something I didn’t foresee to be honest.”Gray is set to attend the clash between his two former teams, but unlike his tigerish displays on the pitch, he is holding back when it comes to making a prediction.“I’m sitting on the fence and going for a draw aren’t I,” he says with a huge grin when pressed for a prediction.“Both clubs have had a great start to the season and I want them to each do well. So I’ll be supporting both teams massively as they both played a massive part in my career.”The midfielder enjoyed promotion with Oxford in 1996Credit: PAAway from the pro game and his coaching career, including leading Darlington to numerous promotions, Gray has also made a huge impact in the North East with his work in education – especially in providing alternative provision for children and young people.In 2018 Future Pathways began in Darlington, a provision which set out to offer support and education to young people. The young people accessing the service have a range of complex needs, and felt mainstream schooling was unable to meet them, but are now thriving in the small bespoke environment.Gray added: “Whether you are dealing with a young child that has difficulties due to trauma that they have unfortunately come across to a footballer that is not getting a new contract or being released, then you have to deal with people in a caring way.“It’s amazing. It used to be kids just getting kicked out of school and being labelled as naughty, and I’ll be honest, that was me.“But there was no alternative education around then, you were just labelled and got excluded.“Our provision is based around a sporting theme from boxing, biking, football… They do their education around the sport and the education is built around that and developing life skills, it feels so rewarding and it’s just great to help the kids we have.”Still keen to stick to his sporting roots, Gray still runs a sporting academy in partnership with a local college, where he hopes to inspire the next generation of players and offer high quality coaching. Staff from Gray’s Future Pathways Alternative Provision company are about to embark on a sponsored 30-mile walk from Sunderland Royal Hospital to Darlington Memorial Hospital.READ MORE SUN STORIESThe money earned from this fundraiser will go towards delivering Christmas Presents to children in both of these hospitals in December.If you would like to sponsor them please visit: Fundraiser for Anthony Verity by Tyler Hutchinson : Future Pathways Staff Walk from Sunderland to DarlingtonWho are these famous footballers? 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      ‘That’s a cracking football.. lovely memories’, say fans as retro Mitre ball for FA Cup released

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      THIS season’s official FA Cup ball has taken fans on a trip down memory lane.The FA revealed a nostalgic Mitre football to be used throughout the 2024/25 edition of the world’s oldest football competition. Mitre have unveiled the new Ultimax Pro to be used in FA Cup games this seasonCredit: https://x.com/MitreSportsThe new balls have transported nostalgic fans of a certain age back to their childhoodsCredit: https://x.com/MitreSportsMitre unveiled the Ultimax Pro 3 on Thursday ahead of the FA Cup first round proper next month. The company have supplied official match balls for the tournament since 2018, taking over from Nike. And the latest, featuring an iconic V-shape and dashes of silver, has fans of a certain age remembering the classic Mitre Delta and Mouldmaster. Both of the balls were used throughout English football in the 1990s and early 200s, with the Mouldmaster a staple in playgrounds across the country. READ MORE ON FOOTBALLThe Mitre official X account wrote: “Introducing the @emiratesfacup Official 24/25 Match Ball. “Inspired by the magic of the cup, and what it means to the fans. “Flashes of silver, etched and scratched to reflect tin foil trophies. Power, precision, perfection.”One nostalgic fan wrote on X: “That is a cracking football. Came along way since the mouldmaster. Lovely memories of that skelping my leg in a gale force wind.”#Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSAnother said: “Great to mitre balls being used in top games again.”While a third added: “Absolutely love these!Non-league club labelled ‘absolute class’ as they rock up to FA Cup tie in bizarre pina colada kitBut a baffled non-league fan commented: “Why now? We’ve already had 6 rounds!”The first round of this season’s FA Cup will be held between Friday, November 1 and Monday, November 4.The original Mitre Ultimax was used over 20 years ago in the Premier LeagueCredit: News Group Newspapers LtdWhy FA Cup changes are GOOD NEWSBy Martin LiptonTHE FA and Premier League should have done the deal to scrap FA Cup replays years ago.No doubt traditionalists will moan but it is right that the competition has finally been brought into the 21st century.Ending replays will bring extra sharpness and excitement to the ties, with the knowledge that there will be a winner, whether in 90 minutes, extra-time or penalties.If big guns have a bad day, they are more likely to pay the price. Replays after draws give them a fall-back they do not deserve.Giving the FA Cup total and absolute priority over four weekends – and ensuring there is no competing match on the day of the Final – will enhance the profile of a competition that was in danger of falling out of the spotlight.And as long as the FA ensures a better split of the prize money fund, weighting it more towards the earlier rounds, and potentially a similar move with  TV match money, there should be few losers.Read more on the FA Cup.Tamworth’s clash against League One outfit Huddersfield Town will begin a bumper weekend of TV coverage.Other ties set for broadcast include Northampton’s match-up against Kettering Town and Birmingham City’s clash with Sutton United. More