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    Gerry Ryan dead at 68: Former Brighton star who played in 1983 FA Cup final dies as club pay heartbreaking tribute

    FORMER Brighton star Gerry Ryan has passed away aged 68.The former forward played in the 1983 FA Cup final for the Seagulls against Manchester United.
    Tributes have poured in for Gerry Ryan following his deathCredit: PA
    Ryan made 199 appearances for Brighton and played in the 1983 FA Cup finalCredit: PA
    He also represented the Republic of Ireland 18 times, playing alongside Arsenal legend Liam Brady who he later worked with at Brighton.
    Brady appointed Ryan assistant manager while in charge of Brighton and he has paid tribute to his friend and former team-mate.
    He said: “Gerry was a wonderful team-mate. He was a very quick winger, very brave, and he took people on.
    “Off the pitch Gerry was just a really nice guy. He was affable, unassuming and got on with everyone he came in contact with. He’ll be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.”
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    Several tributes have been paid to Ryan including from Brighton, where he made 199 appearances between 1978 and 1985.
    The club said in a statement: “Everyone at Brighton & Hove Albion is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of former Albion striker, Gerry Ryan at the age of 68.
    “Our thoughts are with Gerry’s family and friends at this sad time.
    “199 appearances and 39 goals in one of the most successful periods in our history.
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    “Rest in peace, Gerry. šŸ™”
    Ryan helped Brighton achieve promotion to the top flight in 1979 following spells at Derby and Bohemians.
    A broken leg forced him to retire in 1985 with the Irishman buying a pub after hanging up his boots, which he ran with wife Simeon until suffering a stroke in 2007.
    Fans have honoured Ryan with kind words with one saying: “RIP Gerry. Something special to watch when in full flight ball at his feet.”
    Another added: “Sad news. One of my favourites. RIP.”
    A third wrote: “So sorry to hear that what a legend šŸ™” More

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    Fans in stitches as manager gives ā€˜best post-match interview of all timeā€™ after FA Cup defeat to 7th tier minnows

    DORKING WANDERERS boss Marc White went viral with an absolutely epic post-match meltdown.Football has seen a series of unforgettable post-match rants throughout the years.
    Dorking Wanderers boss Marc White lashed out on his post-match interviewCredit: Youtube @DWTV
    Who can forget Harry Redknapp’s F bomb? Or Jose Mourinho, who had “nothing to say”? How about Kevin Keegan’s declaration of “love”? Antonio Conte’s blast from last season, anyone?
    Well, White’s managerial skills can’t be compared with any of the aforementioned.
    But his most recent tirade can definitely go up there among the absolute best blasts captured on camera.
    Dorking lost 2-0 to seventh-tier minnows Horsham in the FA Cup’s fourth qualifying round following goals by Daniel Ajakaije and Shamir Fenelon.
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    And the 50-year-old, who is also the National League club’s chairman, owner and founder, didn’t hold back when criticising his players….
    White told DWTV: “At the end of the day, they [Horsham] fully deserve to be in the draw and I really hope they get something amazing and life-changing.
    “So my f*****g s**t players can learn a f*****g lesson because they were so poor.
    “And I will tell you one thing: I will always put my hand up, it’s not about availability, injuries, who was returning, who wasn’t – it wasn’t about that at all.
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    “It was about the fact that that team let the fans down 100 per cent, wholeheartedly.
    “Sometimes I get the management team that take the blame part, part blame, some blame, whatever…
    “Today was wholeheartedly a bunch of players that were absolutely s**t.”
    Football fans were left in absolute stitches with what some consider the “best post-match interview of all time”.
    One supporter tweeted: “This is the best post-match manager reaction I’ve ever seen.”
    Another commented: “Love your honesty. Managers too often take the can for players’ poor performances.”
    A third wrote: “This could be the best yet.”
    This fan said: “Need more like Marc. Says it like it is, honest and doesnā€™t care if he offends. Heart well and truly on sleeve.”
    And that one noted: “Marc White is brilliant.” More

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    FA Cup draw: League One leaders Portsmouth face tough trip to non-league side as Wrexham travel to League Two rivals

    NON-LEAGUE Chesterfield will host League One leaders Portsmouth in the first round of the FA Cup.The draw for the first round was made on Sunday afternoon as EFL clubs and non-league sides learned who stands between them and the next stage of the competition.
    The draw for the first round of the FA Cup was made on Sunday afternoonCredit: Getty
    The draw was broadcast live on ITV1Credit: ITV
    One of the standout ties saw Chesterfield – who beat Kettering 5-0 in the fourth qualifying round on Saturday – drawn at home to Championship-chasing Pompey.
    Meanwhile, League Two outfit Wrexham will travel to fellow fourth-tier side Mansfield.
    And in a classically romantic FA Cup tie, eighth-tier Cray Valley will travel to The Valley to face League One side Charlton.
    Oxford United are the second-highest ranked team behind Portsmouth as they sit just one point behind the South Coast side in League One.
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    They have been drawn at home to Maidenhead United – third-bottom in the National League.
    Other big clubs hosting non-league opposition include Bolton taking on Solihull Moors and Barnsley hosting Horsham.
    A total of 40 games were drawn, with 32 non-league sides still in the competition.
    The ties will take place between Friday, November 3 and Monday, November 6.
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    Premier League teams do not enter the competition until the third round in January.
    Last year’s best FA Cup performance from a side in the third tier or below came from Grimsby as they reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Brighton.
    Full draw:

    Curzon Ashton vs Avely or Barnet
    Alfreton Town vs Worthing
    Chesterfield vs Portsmouth
    Bolton Wanderers vs Solihull Moors
    Exeter City vs Wigan Athletic
    Leyton Orient vs Carlisle United
    Kidderminster vs Fleetwood Town
    Hereford vs Gillingham
    Ebsfleet United or Slough Town vs Grimsby Town
    Charlton Athletic vs Cray Valley
    Oxford vs Maidenhead United
    Newport County vs Oldham Athletic
    Swindon Town vs Aldershot Town
    Crewe Alexandra vs Derby County
    Mansfield Town vs Wrexham
    Marine vs Harrowgate Town
    Barnsley vs Horsham
    Port Vale vs Burton Albion
    Peterborough United vs Salford City
    Eastleigh vs Boreham Wood
    Bradford City vs Wycombe Wanderers
    Billericay Town or Sheppey United vs Walsall
    Shrewsbury Town vs Colchester United
    Bristol Rovers vs Chelmsford City or Whitby Town
    Lincoln City vs Morecambe
    Sutton United vs AFC Fylde
    Reading vs MK Dons
    Doncaster Rovers vs Accrington Stanley
    Chester vs York City or Needham Market
    Scarborough Athletic or Oxford City vs Forest Green Rovers
    Notts County vs Crawley Town
    Stockport County vs Worksop Town
    Yeovil Town vs Gateshead
    Stevenage vs Tranmere Rovers
    Braintree Town or Chesham United vs Maidstone
    Bromley vs Blackpool
    AFC Wimbledon vs Cheltenham Town
    Cambridge United vs Bracknell
    Northampton Town vs Barrow
    Ramsgate vs Hemel Hempstead or Woking More

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    FA Cup first round draw LIVE: Wrexham handed tricky away tie while Portsmouth travel to Chesterfield ā€“ reaction

    THE FA Cup first round draw has concluded and there are some tasty ties to look forward to.Hollywood-owned Wrexham will make the tricky trip to Nigel Clough’s MansfieldĀ Town.
    While League One leaders and 2008 FA Cup winners Portsmouth will travel to non-league Chesterfield.
    Fixtures for the first round proper will take place on the weekend of November 4/5, with games also likely to be scheduled for Friday, November 3rd.
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    Follow our live blog below…
    Notable ties
    There are some juicy ties in this round.
    There are 32 non-league sides still in the competition hunting for a magical cup run.
    Eighth-tier Cray Valley will travel to The Valley to face League One side Charlton.
    Non-league opposition include Bolton taking on Solihull Moors and Barnsley hosting Horsham.
    The draw in full
    Here is the FA Cup first round proper draw in full:

    Curzon Ashton vs Avely or Barnet
    Alfreton Town vs Worthing
    Chesterfield vs Portsmouth
    Bolton Wanderers vs Solihull Moors
    Exeter City vs Wigan Athletic
    Leyton Orient vs Carlisle United
    Kidderminster vs Fleetwood Town
    Hereford vs Gillingham
    Ebsfleet United or Slough Town vs Grimsby Town
    Charlton Athletic vs Cray Valley
    Oxford vs Maidenhead United
    Newport County vs Oldham Athletic
    Swindon Town vs Aldershot Town
    Crewe Alexandra vs Derby County
    Mansfield Town vs Wrexham
    Marine vs Harrowgate Town
    Barnsley vs Horsham
    Port Vale vs Burton Albion
    Peterborough United vs Salford City
    Eastleigh vs Boreham Wood
    Bradford City vs Wycombe Wanderers
    Billericay Town or Sheppey United vs Walsall
    Shrewsbury Town vs Colchester United
    Bristol Rovers vs Chelmsford City or Whitby Town
    Lincoln City vs Morecambe
    Sutton United vs AFC Fylde
    Reading vs MK Dons
    Doncaster Rovers vs Accrington Stanley
    Chester vs York City or Needham Market
    Scarborough Athletic or Oxford City vs Forest Green Rovers
    Notts County vs Crawley Town
    Stockport County vs Worksop Town
    Yeovil Town vs Gateshead
    Stevenage vs Tranmere Rovers
    Braintree Town or Chesham United vs Maidstone
    Bromley vs Blackpool
    AFC Wimbledon vs Cheltenham Town
    Cambridge United vs Bracknell
    Northampton Town vs Barrow
    Ramsgate vs Hemel Hempstead or Woking

    Date reminder
    The first round draw proper will commence between November 3-6.
    Ramsgate v Hemel Hempstead or Working
    Northampton v Barrow
    Cambridge v Bracknell
    AFC Wimbledon v Cheltenham
    Bromley v Blackpool
    Braintree or Chesham v Maidstone
    Stevenage v Tranmere
    Yeovil v Gateshead
    Stockport v Worksop Town
    Notts County v Crawley
    Scarborough or Oxford City v Forest Green Rovers
    Chester v York City or Needham Market
    Doncaster v Accrington
    Reading v MK Dons
    Sutton United v AFC Fylde
    Lincoln v Morecambe
    Bristol Rovers v Chelmsford City or Whitby Town
    Shrewsbury v Colchester
    Billericay or Sheppey United v Walsall
    Bradford v Wycombe
    Eastleigh v Boreham Wood
    Peterborough v Salford More

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    I used to be a rapper with Beyonce using my music in her videos but now Iā€™m chasing FA Cup glory with non-league minnows

    MEDY ELITO once had his rap music used by Beyonce in a video.However, the midfielder has now tasted FA Cup glory with non-league minnows Ramsgate.
    Medy Elito has caught the eye as a rapper using the alias Don ECredit: INSTAGRAM
    Beyonce used Elito’s music in a video montage on InstagramCredit: Getty
    Alongside his football career, Elito has also shown off his musical talents using the alias Don E.
    The rapper’s most notable track was his 2017 single “You Alright Yeah?”
    Following its release, the song caught the attention of Beyonce, who used it in a video montage on Instagram.
    Recalling the surreal experience, Elito told the Daily Star: “When she first put it up it was crazy because it was on my birthday.
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    “Some friends and I went out to eat and we were on our way to a club when the video got put in the group chat.
    “Itā€™s my birthday, so all Iā€™m focusing on is having a good time. But then I see the group chat going crazy and I think ‘what the hell is happening here?’ Everyone is saying ‘press the video,’ so I did but Iā€™m thinking anyone can put this together.
    “I went on her Instagram and my jaw dropped. I thought it was crazy.
    “I couldnā€™t even enjoy myself that evening because I just kept refreshing it! It was just a song that I did in my friendā€™s bedroom and it ended up being recognised by Beyonce.”
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    The former Barnet midfielder is chasing FA Cup glory with Ramsgate this weekendCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
    The exposure has led to a number of opportunities in Elito’s music career and he has since performed as Don E at Wembley Arena and Wireless Festival.
    It is his football that is making the headlines this weekend, though.
    Elito and eighth tier Ramsgate beat AFC Totton on Saturday to reach the first round of this season’s FA Cup.
    Starting on the bench, the midfielder came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute to help his side clinch a famous 1-0 victory against their opponents from a league above.
    Ramsgate now go into Sunday’s first round draw with the prospect of facing a club from the Football League.
    Elito only signed for the Rams in the summer, with his career including spells with several Football League clubs after graduating from Colchester’s academy. More

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    Premier League legend set for stunning comeback to football with non-league Ebbsfleet United in FA Cup clash

    FORMER Premier League star Jordon Ibe is making his comeback to football with non-league Ebbsfleet United.The 27-year-old winger has been named on the bench for their FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash versus Slough Town this afternoon.
    Jordon Ibe is back playing football at Ebbsfleet UnitedCredit: Getty Images – Getty
    Ibe used to play for Liverpool and Bournemouth in the Premier LeagueCredit: Reuters
    It comes seven years after he completed a Ā£15m transfer from Liverpool to Bournemouth.
    He has been a free agent since leaving Turkish side Adanaspor in 2022, having failed to make an appearance.
    Ibe initially burst on to the scene at Wycombe as he became the club’s youngest ever goalscorer in the football league.
    He was then snapped up by Liverpool and went on to make 58 appearances for the Reds and he earned four England Under-21 caps.
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    Brendan Rodgers once described him as “a really talented player with a bright footballing brain”.
    The winger was subsequently loaned out to Birmingham and Derby before getting his big-money move to Bournemouth.
    But Ibe struggled to perform consistently under Eddie Howe and never fulfilled his potential as he battled injuries.
    His Cherries career ended with him being released in 2020.
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    He then re-joined Derby but played just once before mutually terminating his contract as he battled with depression and admitted he was in a “dark place”.
    On his return to football with Ebbsfleet, who sit 16th in the National League, Ibe said: “I just want to get back out there, show people what I can do again and play football.
    “Iā€™ve worked hard to be in a position where I am able to focus on football and believe in myself and my ability to contribute on the pitch.
    “Being back out there is where I love to be and where Iā€™m most happy but I needed to be healthy and prepared to give myself that chance.
    “The way Ebbsfleet have helped me and put a process in place so I can be ready has been really supportive.
    “I came in and have had to back myself and prove Iā€™m here to succeed to earn my chance.” More

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    FA pushing for major VAR change in huge boost to fans at matches after Tottenham vs Liverpool blunder

    THE FA is pushing to allow VAR communications to be broadcast in stadiums.Wembley bosses feel that letting fans in grounds and at home to hear what VARs are saying to referees will give more clarity to supporters.
    The PGMOL came under fire for making a huge error during Tottenham’s clash with LiverpoolCredit: Sky Sports
    Luis Diaz was deemed to be offside when he wasn’tCredit: Premier League
    Officials are now pushing for VAR communications to be broadcast in stadiumsCredit: Getty
    It was only three days after Liverpoolā€™s Luiz Diazā€™ goal at Spurs was wrongly disallowed by a major VAR blunder that the chaos surrounding Darren Englandā€™s mistake was aired.
    Current International FA Board rules mean it is forbidden to broadcast the conversations live.
    But FA chief executive Mark Bullingham will urge a rethink and change of policy at head monthā€™s Ifab ā€œbusiness meetingā€ which will set the agenda for the formal Law-deciding AGM in March.
    Bullingham said: ā€œThe fans is in the stadium should never know less than the fans watching on TV.
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    ā€œLive broadcasting of the conversations is something we have talked about in multiple IFABS.Ā 
    ā€œGenerally there is a split in the room, often it between the marketing-and-commercial people and the referees.Ā 
    ā€œOur point of view would normally be that transparency is a really good thing.
    ā€œWe want fans to have the maximum experience.
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    ā€œMore transparency shows how difficult the refereeā€™s job is and it has worked in other sport.
    ā€œBut there is an understandable nervousness from others that the refereeā€™s job is hard enough as it is.ā€
    Bullingham, though, may have to do a lot of persuading.
    Patrick Nelson, chief executive of the Belfast-based Irish FA, said: ā€œWe just need to see more evidence on this at the moment.Ā 
    ā€œIt’s interesting when we look at recent examples but we still need to remember that VAR as an entire concept is relatively in its infancy compared to the game of football and compared to IFAB. There is still more that we can learn.ā€
    Fifa now allows micā€™d up referees to announce why they have changed an on-field decision after VAR intervention, although giving no details, with Bullingham feeling that is ā€œa step forwardā€.
    Refsā€™ chief Howard Webb suggested on Tuesday night that he wanted a change in the Ifab VAR protocols that prevented England from telling ref Simon Hooper to stop play and award Liverpool a goal after the game had restarted.
    Bullingham intends to gauge the views of the Ifab board – half of which is composed of the four Home Nations with Fifa supplying the other four votes – over whether that is a possible move.
    So far, though, Ifab has been resistant, suggesting a single error by officials in one country should not necessarily force a rewriting of the regulations.
    But Bullingham will strongly resist calls for MORE powers for VARs to interfere outside the current realm of ā€œmatch-changing decisionsā€ such as goals, penalties and red cards..
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    The idea of extending the scope to allow VAR overturns for free-kick decisions, bookings, corners and throw-ins is due to be discussed at next monthā€™s meeting.
    But Bullingham vowed: ā€œWe would be really reluctant to have a game that was stopped a lot more than it currently is. That will be a proper discussion.ā€ More

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    Ex-England Under-21s star charged by FA for ā€˜racially abusingā€™ OWN team-mate before Cardiff contract torn up

    JACK SIMPSON has been charged by the FA for racially abusing a team-mate during pre-season.Simpson had his Cardiff contract ripped up in August with the club issuing a blunt 16-word statement.
    Jack Simpson had his Cardiff contract ripped up only last monthCredit: Getty
    Simpson has been charged by the FA for alleged racial abuse towards a team-mateCredit: Getty
    The Bluebirds announced on their official website: “We can confirm that Jack Simpson has today left Cardiff City Football Club by mutual consent.”
    But the FA has now stated that the centre-back has been charged with an “aggravated breach” of rules relating to misconduct and abusive language towards “race and/or colour”.
    The ex-England Under-21 international was allegedly involved in an incident that took place in July during Cardiff’s pre-season tour in Portugal.
    The 26-year-old is alleged to have used “abusive and/or insulting and/or improper” language towards a team-mate.
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    The ex-Rangers player has until Tuesday, 10 October to issue a response.
    The FA issued the following statement on Twitter: “Jack Simpson, a former Cardiff City player, has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3 for misconduct that took place on their pre-season tour to Portugal in July 2023.
    “It’s alleged that the defender’s language towards a teammate was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
    “It’s further alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to race and/or colour.
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    “Jack Simpson has until Tuesday 10 October 2023 to provide a response.”
    Simpson joined Cardiff last year following a brief spell at Rangers and amassed a total of 23 appearances.
    The defender only played once on international level for England’s Under-21 side in a friendly against Denmark back in 2018. More