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      in Boxing

      Mike Tyson called me the world’s toughest white guy but my boxing dream died…I was broke & almost killed by machete gang

      by

      STEPPING into the ring, 17-year-old Joe Egan stood his ground as blow after blow rained down on him from his ‘ferocious’ sparring partner Mike Tyson.It was the start of a lifelong friendship – and a promising boxing career – with the heavyweight champ, who dubbed the Irish fighter “the toughest white man on the planet” .
      Big Joe Egan was a champion amateur fighter dubbed the ‘toughest white man on the planet’Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The Irish fighter is a close pal of Mike Tyson and was his sparring partner
      But after 80 wins in US Golden Gloves bouts and seven Irish titles, Joe’s dreams were cut short by a horrific car accident, sending him into a downward spiral that saw him shot twice in a gang attack, accused of attempted murder and jailed for shipping stolen cars abroad.
      Now ‘Big’ Joe, who made his boxing comeback at the age of 38 and went on to star in a Hollywood movie, tells The Sun about his incredible life – from being bullied at school to losing his girlfriend to Michael Flatley.
      While few would mess with the 6ft 1in hardman now, Joe – the eldest of seven kids – was mercilessly bullied by older kids in the Ringsend suburb of Dublin and in the UK, where his dad moved to find work.
      “When I was seven or eight, I made my Holy Communion, and two of the bully boys, who were 15 or 16, tried to take away my Communion medal,” he says.
      Read More in Features
      “I held on to it and I got my two front teeth knocked out. 
      “When I got bullied it was physical, and when you got an arm broken or a nose broken the doctors would say ‘It’ll heal in a week’.
      “In all my years in boxing I only ever had one tooth knocked out. The boxing ring literally was a safe place for me, compared to the years of bullying.”
      Joe’s dad encouraged him into the ring as a young boy and in his first fight, at 12, he was pitted against future middleweight champ Steve Collins, who he says “pounded me to a pulp, absolutely hammered me. I lost on points but I went the distance.”
      Most read in Boxing
      Tyson even visited Joe’s late mother several timesCredit: YouTube
      At 17, he travelled to the US to train with the Irish Boxing Team and met heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson who asked him to stay on in the States as a sparring partner for a new heavyweight hope, Mike Tyson.
      The pair – who remain close friends 40 years on – bonded over their experiences of being bullied, sharing the ring for over two years and living together in New York’s Catskill Gym. 
      Tyson gave him his flattering “toughest man” title after their first sparring session, when he was the fourth fighter in the ring and the only one to stay standing after three minutes.
      “If you are going to get battered you might as well get battered by the best,” Joe says. “I got battered by Mike Tyson and I got battered by Lennox Lewis when I fought him in 1985. 
      “It was a privilege to share the ring with both of them and it is an honour to say Mike Tyson has been my close friend for 40 years now. He visited my mother at home in Ireland four times.”
      Shot by machete-wielding gang 
      As well as going the distance with champion Lewis, and wearing the green vest of the Irish boxing team 11 times, Joe’s proudest achievement was a win against World Heavyweight Champion Bruce Seldon in 1988.
      But after going pro in 1990, his promising career was cut short by injuries sustained in a car accident and his life began to “spiral out of control”.
      Joe ploughed his money into the Lyndhurst pub in Erdington, Birmingham, where he says he upped takings from £1,000 a week to £16,000 a week.
      But it was here the brawler faced his most terrifying opponents yet, in the summer of 1998.
      “I had a demand for £500 a week protection money from a racketeering gang in Birmingham,” he says. “I bow down to royalty only out of respect but no man out of fear. After telling them no, the following week, on July 26, 1998, they attacked my pub. 
      “There were 37 of them armed with handguns, shotguns, machetes. It was a horrific day. 
      “It was savage. I got shot twice while trying to help a man who had fought in World War II, only to get shot at in a pub in a Birmingham housing estate by scum. It was a nasty 25-minute experience.”
      Joe took over the Lyndhurst in BirminghamCredit: Frank Peters
      The war veteran was shot in the hip and Joe was shot in the arm and nose, but says he was “lucky nobody died”.
      He adds: “The gang that attacked me had burned down some pubs before in the Birmingham area. They even burned down the pub  belonging to my old boss, Harry.
      “Then afterwards I got charged with attempted murder. I was defending myself.” 
      Dumped for dance millionaire
      Faced with jail, Joe ran up huge legal bills as he fought the charge, and his business went under. He was eventually tried for attempted murder and found not guilty.
      At the same time, his relationship with fiancee Lisa Murphy fell apart in bizarre fashion.
      “When Lisa saw that I was a sinking ship, she jumped ship to Michael Flatley,” he says. 
      “He was the biggest star of Irish dancing in the world, earning a million pounds a week. 
      “It doesn’t bother me now but at the time it was very upsetting. 
      “Mike Tyson called me ‘the toughest white man on the planet’, but even my heart has been broken by a woman. 
      “There was a lot of anger there at the time, but it wasn’t always an angry relationship. There was a lot of love at one time. I thought we’d be together forever.
      “But I don’t hold a grudge against Michael or Lisa anymore.”
      After a six-year romance, Lisa split from the Lord of the Dance star who is now battling cancer, and Joe says: “I sincerely hope he wins this fight.”
      Joe with former fiancee LisaCredit: Newsteam
      She went on to a high profile romance with Michael FlatleyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Jail time
      With problems piling up, Joe says he got “involved in criminality” and in 2001, he was jailed for two and half years for his part in an international car-ringing gang.
      “My business was failing and I ran out of money so I got involved with crime to pay for my legal fees,” he says. 
      “I got grassed on and sent to prison. It shouldn’t have happened. I hadn’t been in trouble with the law before but all these things happened in my life. 
      “I don’t believe crime pays. Tragically, I was forced to go down that road but I regret it. 
      “The only time I saw my dad cry was because I was going to prison. The shame I had, the disgust I had for myself, the hurt and pain I had caused him, I was so ashamed of myself. 
      The only time I saw my dad cry was because I was going to prisonBig Joe Egan
      “I told him I’ll never get into trouble again. 
      “It’s not nice being locked up, you’re confined for 23 hours a day. I wouldn’t recommend it. But what doesn’t kill us makes us stronger.”
      While in prison, Joe trained in the gym and on his release he announced his comeback, at the age of 38, after a 12-year absence.
      He won in the fifth round, against a pal in Dublin, and says: “It was good to be back as Joe the boxer and not Joe the criminal.” But he went back into retirement after the lone fight.
      New life
      His days in the ring finally over, Joe turned to acting after meeting Brit star Tamer Hassan and signing up with his agent, who sent him to audition for the 2009 Guy Ritchie hit Sherlock Holmes.
      Cast as a boxer who fights Robert Downey Jr’s fictional detective, Ritchie told him, “I’ve been trying to get you in one of my films for a long time,” adding that Downey Jr had also suggested him because of his “fearsome reputation”. 
      “I couldn’t believe that these people even knew me, but they knew me because of my close friendship with Mike Tyson,” he says.  
      “When he told me the amount I was getting paid, it was more than any of my professional fights. 
      “I said, ‘Guy, for that money, Robert Downey Jnr can really hit me if he wants to. I’ve been beaten up for a lot less.”
      Although the fight scene was dropped, the boxer instead filmed a specially-written prison scene as a character named Big Joe. 
      He went on to appear in Prize Fighter with Russell Crowe and has since made guest appearances in numerous TV shows, including Brassic in 2019. 
      Big Joe squares up to Sherlock in the 2009 movieCredit: Warner Bros
      The former boxer (far left) in the 2019 film Once Upon a Time in LondonCredit: Alamy
      Joe with A-lister Robert Downey JrCredit: Twitter
      Joe’s colourful life has earned him some high-profile pals including Ricky Hatton and heavyweight champ Tony Bellew, who is set to enter the I’m A Celebrity camp this week as a late arrival.
      More controversially, he has also been associates with notorious gangsters, including Daniel Kinahan, from the infamous Irish organised crime family, and Gerry Hutch, who was the prime suspect in the 2016 murder of David Byrne at a boxing weigh-in at the Dublin Regency Hotel, which sparked a tit for tat feud amongst rival gangs that left dozens dead.
      He previously told the Irish Mirror the horrific attack was “wrong on every level”.
      He added: “David Byrne was my friend and I know his dad Jaws Byrne since I was a little boy.
      “That room was full of boxing fans and boxers, so to go in and spray a machine-gun in a room full of people that weren’t involved in any criminal activity, that’s so wrong on so many levels.”
      While his career in the ring was short, he had no regrets.
      “I had nothing else to prove to anybody, nothing left to prove to myself,” he says. “I’ve been hit in the chin by some of the best punches in the world but they never once knocked me down – something I can be proud of.” More

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      in Soccer

      How Shakira has poured scorn on ex Pique as pop legend exacts bitter revenge with diss tracks & not-so-subtle digs

      by

      HELL hath no fury like a woman scorned – just ask Gerard Pique, who has been wading through a bitter split from popstar Shakira. The pair were once one of the world’s most glamorous showbiz couples, but are now arch rivals who only speak for the sake of their sons.
      Shakira’s career and personal life have been going from strength to strengthCredit: Getty
      But she still finds time to make some thinly veiled jabs at her ex Gerard PiqueCredit: Getty
      The popstar stuck a creepy witch doll on her balcony facing Pique’s parent’s house in JanuaryCredit: Splash
      Shakira has admitted she “believed in ’till death do us part'”, until she caught wind of Pique’s alleged infidelity with Clara Chia Marti, 24.
      It marked the end of their 12-year romance and the start of a vicious feud – and there is still no sign of a truce.
      Diss tracks, witch dolls, empty jam jars and sponsorship deals have been at the centre of the ongoing war between the former lovers.
      While the star’s love life has been in turmoil, the singer has also been battling a court case that was set to leave her reputation in tatters.
      READ MORE ON SHAKIRA
      The singer was summoned to a Barcelona courthouse as she faced spending eight years behind bars for allegedly defrauding Spanish tax officials of £12.7million.
      But after a bombshell plea deal was agreed on the first day of her trial, she managed to dodge jail while agreeing to pay a hefty £7million.
      Former Barcelona ace Pique has publicly reaped the wrath of Shakira since the couple announced their split in June last year.
      But he has also done his fair share of poking the bear while flaunting his new relationship with Clara to the world.
      Most read in Football
      We have taken a look at all the messiest moments of their over 14-month feud, which fans of the pair have had a front-row seat to.
      It all began back in 2010 when Shakira was filming the video for her World Cup anthem, Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
      Pique made an appearance in the clip alongside other famous footballers and managed to catch the eye of the She Wolf singer.
      They officially announced their relationship in 2011 and the smitten pair were soon on each other’s arm for red carpets and sharing on-stage smooches.
      The first of the couple’s two sons, Milan, nine, was born in 2012, prompting Shakira to pack up her life in the US for Barcelona.
      She settled in the Spanish city while Pique impressed on the football field, asserting themselves as a power couple in the industry.
      The family grew larger in 2015 when their second son Sasha, seven, came along and joined their love bubble.
      It was the same year that Shakira defended their decision not to get hitched, saying she already knew that Pique was “the one” for her.
      She also gushed about him being “very territorial” over her and instructing her not to shoot any sexy music videos with men.
      The Colombian beauty ironically later revealed that she feared becoming Pique’s wife would make him lose interest.
      TROUBLE BREWING
      “Marriage scares the sh*t out of me,” she said. “I don’t want him to see me as the wife. I’d rather him see me as his girlfriend, his lover.
      “It’s like a little forbidden fruit. I want to keep him on his toes.”
      The pair seemed to continue to go from strength to strength and routinely declared their love for one another while publicly applauding their partner’s achievements.
      But cracks began to show shortly after Shakira faced allega­tions that she had dodged £12million in tax owed to the Spanish authorities.
      During an interview in January the following year, the songstress revealed their conflicting schedules were often the cause of tension.
      Shakira told the Planet Weirdo with Holly H podcast: “He’s very strict, very punctual. He’s been brought up in a football team where he’s a team player and he has to be [punctual]. It’s like the army.
      “His mind is structured like that and mine. I’m a little, you know – and so I’ve become a lot more punctual since I met him.
      “But the times that we actually fight is because I’m late and he’s waiting up.”
      Rumours then began to surface that Pique may have been playing away in June 2022, just days before the couple shocked fans with a joint statement announcing their split.
      SHAKIRA’S ‘DARKEST HOUR’
      Spanish media outlets reported that the pair had been living apart for weeks, after Shakira kicked Pique out of the family home.
      She later revealed that she learned of the former footballer’s “betrayal” while her dad was fighting for his life in hospital.
      The mum-of-two described the period as the “darkest hours of her life” and thought she “wasn’t going to survive” her personal turmoil.
      Three months after announcing their breakup, Pique went public with his new love Clara – who was welcomed with open arms by his parents.
      It was yet another sting in the tail for the popstar, which also sparked a toxic tit-for-tat battle with her former in-laws.
      But in true Shakira style, she sought solace in the studio and opted to cash in on her heartbreak, rather than wallowing in sadness.
      In October 2022, she released her song Monotonia which was laden with not-so-subtle digs towards her ex.
      She sings: “Suddenly you were no longer the same. You left me because of your narcissism. You forgot what we once were.”
      The video shows the singer being shot in the chest, then her heart pulled out and stamped on.
      Unconfirmed reports that Pique had met Clara at the Davis Cup in 2019 then emerged, fuelling further headlines in Spain.
      MUSICAL THERAPY
      He finally reached a custody agreement with Shakira in November, where it was agreed that the kids would move to Miami with their mother.
      When the New Year rolled in, it seemed that the singer had a new lease of life – and a lot of material to release.
      She dropped her epic diss track, BZRP Music Session #53″, on January 12, which boasts a staggering 620 million views on YouTube.
      It was brimming with swipes at Pique, Clara and her former mother-in-law, as well as a healthy dose of self-confidence.
      She joked that her ex had “traded a Ferrari for a Twingo” and a “Rolex for a Casio” – which led to Pique earning sponsorship deals with Toyota and the budget watch brand.
      Another lyric advised the former Manchester United star to “work his brain a little bit too” rather than just focusing on the gym.
      Shakira sings: “Sorry baby, I should have thrown you out a while ago. A she-wolf like me is not for rookies.
      “A she-wolf like me is not for guys like you. I’m too good for you, and that’s why you’re with someone just like you.
      “No hard feelings baby, I wish you the best with my supposed replacement.”
      Referring to her tax fraud case and her proximity to Gerard’s family home, she added: “You left me my mother-in-law as my neighbour, press at my door and in debt with the treasury.”
      THE JAM JAR
      Pique responded to the song by turning up to work in an £8,000 Renault Twingo and boasting his new seven-a-side project the King’s League had landed a sponsorship deal with Casio – adding that the cheaper watch would “last a lifetime”.
      But he has since had to endure his teammates belting out the track as well as it being blared in nightclubs upon his arrival.
      In wake of the bombshell diss track, it was reported that Shakira had discovered the 36-year-old cheating thanks to a half-eaten jam jar.
      She allegedly returned from a trip to find the condiment had been opened – despite Pique and her children not being fans of it.
      The A-lister reportedly turned detective and hired a private investigator to trail Pique to confirm her suspicions.
      Again capitalising on her misfortune, Shakira seemed to allude to the jam saga in her music video with Rauw Alejandro for Te Felicito.
      During one scene, her fellow musician’s head is seen inside a fridge – with a jar of jam on the shelf.
      In another twist, Shakira then put a terrifying life-size witch doll on her balcony, facing her mother-in-law’s house in the same street.
      Neighbours reported she also blasted out her diss track on repeat so Gerard’s mum, Montserrat Bernabéu, could hear.
      As her first Valentine’s Day in over a decade as a single woman rolled around, Shakira saw it as the perfect opportunity for another dig.
      RISING FROM THE ASHES
      The 46-year-old shared a clip lip-syncing to SZA’s hit song, Kill Bill, which features the line: “I might kill my ex, not the best idea. His new girlfriend’s next, how’d I get here?”
      In April, Pique said diss tracks like Shakira’s and online jibes have the potential to cause someone to commit suicide.
      He told an interviewer: “What has to happen? Maybe someone commits suicide and we say, ‘Oh, we’ve gone too far?’ I’m very disappointed with what society is.”
      But his grumbles have done little to stop the feud from snowballing, seeing the pair continue to go back and forth.
      Although the world has watched Shakira exact revenge on her ex, it hasn’t detered A-list hunks who have been falling at her feet.
      The likes of Lewis Hamilton, Tom Cruise and NBA ace Jimmy Butler have all been desperate for a date with the singer.
      She has routinely set pulses racing with sexy social media posts too, including her steamy video of her lip syncing to Copa Vacia.
      Fans spotted that the title of the translates from Spanish to empty cup – leading fans to believe it was a swipe at her former beau.
      The single, featuring Manuel Turizo, talks about wanting more in a relationship that feels like drinking out of an empty cup.
      She then put on a incredible show at the MTV Video Music Awards on September 12, making sure Pique knew what he was missing.
      THE BOSS
      The Hips Don’t Lie singer revealed to The Sun on the pink carpet that her latest single is called The Boss.
      It is an apparent nod to the alleged nickname she was given by Pique’s pals after they said she failed to hang out with them during their 11-year relationship.
      Shakira allegedly never hit it off with the footballer’s friends, who gave her the nickname due to her “bad character” – dubbing her “La Patron” or “The Boss”.
      But fans noticed she had seemingly changed her tune just days later, as she posed for a picture wth staff from Pique’s former club.
      She was seen smiling as she held up a Barcelona shirt while she launched her educational centre in her native Barranquilla, Colombia.
      Clearly on a mission to be the bigger person, she then made another savage move that was sure to get under Pique’s skin.
      The superstar hired the nanny who the footballer allegedly fired without pay for reportedly exposing his infidelity to Shakira.
      Lili Melgar made a shock appearance in the music video for The Boss, staring directly into the camera before frowning.
      In the background Shakira sings: “This song is for you, since you weren’t paid severance/Another fart, as always.”
      It appears that the lyrics and clip of Melgar, the longtime nanny of the pair’s children Milan and Sasha, were references to pay scandal.
      Whatever happens next in the savage tit for tat, you can expect the She-Wolf to bite back.
      The former couple have traded public digs since they split in June 2022Credit: Getty
      Shakira proudly rocked the pink carpet with her sons before her electrifying VMA’s performanceCredit: Getty
      The former footballer is now in a relationship with alleged mistress Clara Chia MartiCredit: INSTAGRAM/GERARD PIQUE More

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      in Soccer

      I wouldn’t be a Prem star without grassroots footie – The Sun’s campaign is vital, says Jarrod Bowen

      by

      ENGLAND footballer Jarrod Bowen is used to fearsome opponents, but he faced his toughest challenge yet when he had to charm Spurs fans at a local grassroots club.The West Ham United ace, 26, joined Brent Cross Football Academy at a training session to celebrate the youth club bagging one of our incredible £1,000 grants.
      England footballer Jarrod Bowen faced his biggest challenge yet when he had to charm Spurs fans at a local grassroots clubCredit: Paul Edwards – Commissioned by The Sun
      The Prem star is supporting The Sun’s Footie For All campaign to support kids in the cost of living crisisCredit: Getty
      The forward showed off his keepie-uppie skills and then took a go in goal to see if he could fend off the ferocious kicks of the North London youngsters.
      Jarrod, 26, said: “I’ve had a couple of Tottenham Hotspur fans try to get in my way or sneak a kick, but it’s all good fun.
      “Being here has brought back really good memories for me of being their age and having a chance to play with my friends.
      “I remember the chaos on the pitch with everyone running for the ball and wanting to score, just like these guys.
      READ MORE FOOTIE FOR ALL
      “It’s amazing to see the smiles on their faces and how much they just love to be here.”
      It took just a few minutes for the seven to ten-year-olds to combat their shyness and bombard the ace with questions about his career.
      Jarrod revealed he would love West Ham to buy Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappé, if money was no object, and Lucas Paquetá is his favourite teammate.
      Growing up in Herefordshire, Jarrod played for Leominster Town FC on its minors team before being scouted for professional football.
      Most read in Football
      But the striker hasn’t forgotten his roots and regularly donates kit, equipment and more to his childhood club.
      Jarrod was one of the first players to back our Footie For All campaign, launched earlier this year following shocking statistics that the cost-of-living crisis was forcing many young children to drop out of sports clubs.
      We then launched our groundbreaking Footie For All Fund in partnership with Tesco Stronger Starts campaign, which provides healthy food and activities for children.
      We invited grassroots football clubs that work with kids under the age of 18 to apply for one of the 150 £1,000 grants.
      Jarrod, who has six-month-old twin daughters with his reality star girlfriend Dani Dyer, 27, said: “Without grassroots, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
      “We can’t let kids see that dream die simply because Mum or Dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit, and travel.
      “Football is for everyone, it’s massively important it stays that way.
      “It’s more than just kicking a ball about, it’s building lifelong friendships, getting to do something you love and a chance to learn about healthy competition.”
      Brent Cross Football Academy has put its £1,000 grant straight to work.
      The team will fund free places to kids from disadvantaged backgrounds to ensure they don’t miss out on top-flight football training.
      Head coach Jamie Kavanagh, 27, had noticed more parents were struggling to afford the cost of their child’s football fees.
      He put out a call and other parents with spare cash donated to the academy.
      He said: “The parents of the kids who get to play for free are hugely grateful.
      “It allows them to focus on other things without the worry of their kids missing out on activities they enjoy and keep them active.
      “In North London, there is a divide between the families when it comes to money.
      “Having kids from different backgrounds is one of the biggest strengths of our club.
      “The grant that The Sun and Tesco have given us means we can keep making sure there are free places available and give them kits to train in, so they don’t miss out.”
      Nineteen children were picked by the club to have a special session with the England striker — and they wasted no time in showing him what they could do.
      Korede Adewale, 9, showed off his goal scoring abilities with his rock-solid left foot and later joked that Jarrod looked 32 — six years older — leaving the striker in hysterics.
      ‘Fun and exciting’
      With the other youths also desperate to show off their skills, Jarrod bravely offered to go in goal.
      As multiple balls whizzed past his head and around his legs, he joked: “Well I regret this.”
      When the ace, who played for Hull City for six years until 2020, was relieved of goalie duties, he added: “They are all good at striking the ball and hitting it hard. They’re all top at this.”
      Tottenham Hotspurs fan Hugo Russell was impressed by Jarrod, admitting it was “fun and exciting” to play with a West Ham star.
      The seven-year-old says the best part about the Brent Cross Football Academy is “seeing my friends”.
      Nine-year-old twins Esra and Edie Parkinson reckon Jarrod toned down his skills on the pitch to give them an advantage.
      Esra said: “I think he wanted it to be fun for us and didn’t want to show us up with his skills.
      Edie contended: “I’d love to play Jarrod again. We would still win.”
      While observing the girls hold their own against the boys on the pitch, Jarrod complimented Esra for her fancy footwork.
      He could have a future career as a scout as the twins are currently at Arsenal’s Emerging Talent Centre, thanks in part to the encouragement from the academy’s head coaches Jamie and Antony Wardrop.
      Read More on The Sun
      At the end of the training session, Jarrod signed a football for each of the kids to keep as a memento.
      But one cheeky child couldn’t resist asking if he would “sign my bum” — which the ace politely declined.
      The kids picked by the club wasted no time showing the England striker what they could doCredit: Paul Edwards – Commissioned by The Sun
      Several of the young footballers left him in hystericsCredit: Paul Edwards – Commissioned by The Sun
      And here’s how you can get involved with our campaignCredit: SuppliedHOW TO APPLY

      WE want to hear the story of YOUR club and the big difference you are making to kids and your community.
      If you are a not-for-profit grassroots football club in England, Wales or Scotland working with youngsters under the age of 18, you could be eligible for one of our 150 grants.
      Funds can be used for anything that encourages more children to take part in the sport – such as pitch fees or to sponsor funded places for children who can’t afford membership.
      Applications must be made by October 29.
      To apply and for full T&Cs, see the website below . . . 
      www.tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund More

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      in Boxing

      Roman Fury went from 20st jobless ‘mess’ to follow brother Tyson’s footsteps with boxing record that can rival siblings

      by

      ONE brother is a Love Island star and the other a champion boxer.Now Roman Fury is stepping out of Tyson and Tommy’s shadow and is well on his way to becoming a household name.
      Roman is following in Tyson’s footsteps after winning his latest boutCredit: Getty
      The 26-year-old, who has little amateur experience, KO’d Bradley Davies in his third pro-fight – and sibling Tyson has given him the seal of approval, calling him a champ of the future.
      He is the ninth member of the Fury family to enter the ring – and a PR expert has now tipped him for stardom outside the ring.
      Roman was destined to be a rugby league player but switched to boxing after training with Tommy helped him out of a rut when he lost his job during lockdown.
      He said: “I used to be six stone heavier than what I am now. I was 20 stone, a real mess.
      Read more Roman Fury
      “Lockdown happened, I had no work, I was eating crap, playing on the Xbox, and I had no life whatsoever.
      “Tommy invited me down to train with him, I had a couple of sessions and I started getting into it.
      “I trained more and more until it went from training twice a week to six times a week and the weight came off, the confidence grew.
      “It’s not just a physical thing, it’s a mental thing as well. It’s turned my life around completely.”
      Most read in Boxing
      Roman takes his inspiration from big brother TysonCredit: Instagram / @romanfuryy
      He has dropped even more weight in training and is now 14st 2lb.
      And if he ever gives up boxing, Roman could still rake in the cash by following in brother Tommy’s footsteps on reality TV.
      He shares the same good looks as Tommy, who is three years younger, but is shaping up to have the boxing prowess of brother Tyson, 35.
      Tommy is estimated to be worth £3.2million, according to Sportskeeda, and lives in a £4m Cheshire mansion with fiancee Molly-Mae Hague after they famously met on Love Island.
      Roman is no stranger to the villa, having visited Tommy with mum Chantal during the 2019 series.
      Talent agent and PR expert Carla Speight told The Sun: “Roman has a lot of work to do to catch up to his brothers, but if he plays his cards right, he could end up having a lucrative career outside boxing.
      Roman is no stranger to the Love Island villa having visited with mum ChantalCredit: Rex
      “Knocking someone out has changed his career path. He’s gone from being not just another Fury fighter to significant. 
      “His sponsorship opportunities will increase, especially if Tommy and Tyson stand with him.
      “Watching videos of him, he doesn’t look at the camera much and seems quite shy, but if he can show more of his personality he will absolutely fly.
      “He could easily follow Tommy into reality TV and would be a great choice for something like Big Brother or I’m a Celebrity.”
      Roman is the full brother of Tommy, both born to dad John and mum Chantal, while half-brother Tyson was raised by mum Amber.
      Roman was just 13 and brother Tommy 11 when John went to prison for trying to gouge out a man’s eye in a brawl at a car auction in 2010.
      He was given 11 years for the attack on victim Oathie Sykes, who was left half blind, but was out after four years.
      Tommy and Roman are close, having grown up togetherCredit: instagram/jakelee28
      John said he asked his brother Peter to help bring up the boys while he was inside.
      He wrote in his autobiography When Fury Takes Over: “I needed somebody to guide them for the rest of their formative years and I turned to my younger brother Peter to bring them up as his own.
      “And that’s exactly what he did. He shaped them into decent fighters and took care of them outside the ring. For that I am forever grateful.”
      John says that he “often worried” about Roman, who like Tyson suffered from depression.
      He wrote: “I often worried about him when he was growing up… once again boxing came to the rescue.
      “When Tyson won the heavyweight world title again, this time from Wilder, Roman was hugely inspired. He said, ‘If Tyson can do it, then so can I.’ He shaved his weight down to 14 stone. 
      “He’s now turned professional and has already won some impressive matches. I’m really proud of how he now has a positive outlook and has settled into life.”
      Brother Tyson said of Roman: “He’s an inspiring cruiserweight champion of the future.”
      Nervous start
      Roman is proving he’s got what it take to follow Tyson – but could end up on Love Island like brother TommyCredit: Instagram
      Roman’s first fight came in October 2022 in Doncaster when he beat Ryan Hibbert over four rounds.
      He had no amateur experience prior to the bout other than “messing around on the pads”.
      He admitted being nervous saying: “The past four weeks since I’ve known about the fight I’ve been nothing but a bag of nerves – I was terrified. 
      “I had bad dreams and no sleep, but as soon as I got in there, fate took over, I’ve never been as calm in my life. I felt sharp, good and I’m so happy, thanks to God, thank you very much.”
      After his win, brother Tyson said: “I’m very, very impressed. Roman’s never had a fight before, amateur or professional, and from what I’ve seen tonight I really like what I’ve seen.”
      Roman’s second fight was at York Hall in June when he beat Erik Nazaryan on points.
      And at the weekend he showed signs of greatness, KO’ing Bradley Davies in the third round.
      Roman told VIP boxing that he “didn’t have much experience”.
      Roman punches Bradley Davies during the Cruiserweight fightCredit: Getty
      Roman has shed an impressive amount of weight since piling on the pounds in lockdownCredit: Instagram / @romanfuryy
      He said: “If it’s nothing else it’s a story.
      “How many people do you know that jump into it right at the deep end, no experience or nothing, and do well for themselves? But that’s the challenge and I like a challenge.
      “I’ve always been messing around on the pads with my dad and my brothers from a young age, but actually sparring and fighting, I don’t have that much experience.”
      Roman later said he had “put everything on hold” for his boxing career adding: “It’s like an experiment, I wanna see how far I can go…it’s all about self-belief and I do have a lot of that.”
      But despite his success, Roman says he doesn’t want to trade on his family name.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I don’t want to box on big bills just because I carry the ‘Fury’ name,” he said.
      While he might not want to deliberately cash in on his famous brothers, there’s no doubt it will open doors and his future is bright.
      Roman with proud dad JohnCredit: Instagram
      Roman with Tommy and Chantal on Love IslandCredit: Rex More

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      in Boxing

      Anthony Joshua opens up on Bella Hadid & Cara Delevingne romance rumours – & reveals the type of woman he goes for

      by

      HE has millions in the bank and an incredible physique – yet despite women flocking around Anthony Joshua, the two-time world heavyweight champion insists he isn’t after a supermodel girlfriend.The boxer insists he wants to live a normal life with a lady he’d bump into in the street.
      Anthony Joshua insists that he isn’t after a supermodel, and would rather go out with a girlfriend he could take to Pizza HutCredit: BBC
      And he denies rumours that linked him to catwalk queen Bella HadidCredit: Getty
      He also shut down talk about him dating Brit model Cara DelevingneCredit: Getty
      Which is why he is quick to dismiss any of the rumours that he has dated the likes of catwalk queens Cara Delevingne or Bella Hadid.
      Anthony, 34, said: “I haven’t actually been with any of those girls, by the way.
      “I’ve had girlfriends, but you could be in the local supermarket or in the local petrol station when we meet.
      “It could be anywhere and you decide where we go.
      READ MORE ON ANTHONY JOSHUA
      “I love a Pizza Hut. How easy is that? I’m easy-going.
      “The feels is good, it must mean we have an emotional connection. Then when they catch feels, that’s when it’s like, scoot!
      “I don’t want that stress — I ain’t got no missus.”
      ‘I used to get into fights’
      The Watford-born fighter was talking to Louis Theroux in the new series of the documentary maker’s celebrity interviews, which starts next week on BBC2 and also includes chats with Dame Joan Collins and hellraising singer Pete Doherty.
      Most read in Boxing
      During their conversation, the boxer explains there is another challenge for any woman hoping to become his wife — she has to live with him AND his mother.
      He talks to Louis Theroux about his life in the new series of the documentary maker’s celebrity interviews on BBC2Credit: BBC
      He also says that any girl he dates would also have to live with his mum Yeta, as it’s traditional in his family’s Nigerian cultureCredit: Instagram / @anthony_joshua
      That’s because Anthony still lives with his mum, social worker Yeta.
      Anthony, whose family is originally from Nigeria, said: “In our culture, it’s like you grow up in the family home, and for a long time we support our parents.
      “Am I going to move out and leave my mum by herself for some girl? Hell no. No way.
      “When a man marries, she becomes a child of the mum.
      “Family is the most important thing. When a girl marries me she ain’t just marrying me — she’s marrying my family.”
      Other than Anthony’s mother, there is one other woman who plays a substantial part in his life — the mother of his seven-year-old son Joseph Joshua, known as JJ.
      Her name is Nicole Osbourne and although he doesn’t live with her, he can’t shower her with enough praise.
      Anthony says: “She’s an amazing woman, you know.
      “We got together in 2005, we were about 15 or 16 years old. I have so much respect for her.”
      In the interview with Louis, the two men meet in Anthony’s local gym to discuss his career, his private life and the background that made him the person he is today.
      He recalls ending up in Reading jail for fighting, and wearing an electronic tag after he was released.
      Anthony said: “I’m not a troublesome person but I used to get in fights a lot.
      “I went to get chicken one evening and I ended up fighting six guys on my own.
      “That was just massive — a really good scrap — and I’m here to tell the tale today.”
      Throughout his youth he admits he smoked huge amounts of cannabis — which he eventually realised was holding him back from fulfilling his ambitions.
      He said: “As a young lad I was on the gange, and if you can’t get these distractions out of your life you can’t put your full focus and attention on improving as an athlete.
      “So for me, when I was able to stop smoking, I was able to progress. I was smoking maybe like six spliffs a day — wake and bake, baby!
      “My mum’s not going to be happy about this, but I’d probably be about 13 when I started. If you’re listening to me, kids, don’t do it. It’s not good.”
      Anthony had a “sliding doors moment” in 2011 when he was kicked off Team GB after the police caught him carrying eight ounces of cannabis.
      When officers asked him to pull over, he was wearing Britain’s official tracksuit and wasn’t exactly humble when they confronted him.
      Anthony — who was on course to represent his country at the Olympics— recalls telling one of the cops: “Excuse me, sir, I represent YOU.”
      He added: “I never signed up to be a role model, I just wanted to fight to better my life.”
      He was sentenced to a 12-month community order and 100 hours’ unpaid work after pleading guilty at crown court.
      But he was allowed back into Team GB — and in London 2012, aged just 22, he won a gold medal in the super heavyweight category and turned pro a year later.
      He went on to become world heavyweight champ twice, beating Charles Martin in 2016 then, after losing to Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019, regaining the title later that year in a rematch.
      Yet despite his achievements, Anthony hasn’t escaped criticism.
      Some say he is afraid to get punched, which he responds to in the documentary.
      ‘Understand the passion’
      He said: “I would advise most boxers, ‘Please, think of your career after (boxing)’.
      “There’s no MRI scan that can show concussive bruising to the brain.
      “You don’t know until it’s too late — dementia, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, erratic behaviour, depression.
      “There’s this stigma that AJ is afraid to get hit — from my critics who are sometimes the loudest in the room.
      “But my goal is to not get knocked out. My goal is to knock out my opponents.
      “I’ll never shut my brain down for the love of this sport. No way. ’Cos I know the sport don’t love you back.”
      Anthony discusses the scrutiny that comes with being a high-profile boxer making vast sums of money — and how it affects him.
      He said: “I love boxing, but not all bull***t that comes with it.
      “You put so much pressure on yourself to be this big star and be perfect and, I tell you now, the higher you are, the bigger the drop.
      “That big status pulls you away from your core values. I just want to be normal.”
      By 2021 Anthony had lost his titles to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, and in the rematch a year later he threw the champions’ belts out of the ring before taking to the microphone.
      He told the stunned crowds: “Sorry, guys. Look, if you knew my story you’d understand the passion.
      “I ain’t no amateur boxer from youth. I was looking at jail.
      “I’m stealing this Usyk, I’m sorry, but it’s because of the f***ing passion. I’m not a 12-round fighter, I’m a new breed of heavyweight.”
      Louis asked Anthony about the intense event — which created a moment of friction between the interviewer and the boxer.
      Anthony said: “My ego and pride made me drop the belts ’cos they didn’t mean anything anyway.
      “I brought this heavyweight division back — that’s like, that was in me, right or wrong.”
      Louis interjects: “Probably wrong. I don’t think anybody thinks it was the right thing to have done.”
      Anthony said: “You asked me a question so I’m answering it.
      “I’ve thrown them because that’s what I felt like. I grabbed the mic and addressed the crowd. Could I have done it better? Of course.
      “But I’d just finished a 12-round fight and I felt frustrated. I knew I was out of the title race.
      “Then all the questions started. ‘What is he like? where’s his head at?’ All this. Can he be three-times champion of the world?
      “People now create this narrative and put this pressure on me. It’s too much.
      “Gone are the days when it was just for the fun, when you were just doing it for the passion, your prospects.”
      But there’s one man he still passionately wants to fight — and that’s his long-time nemesis Tyson Fury who, he reckons, sounds like a man “who’s swallowed a frog”.
      Anthony said: “I think I could beat him.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It wouldn’t be easy, but that’s good. It’s a challenge I’d be up for.”

      The second series of Louis Theroux Interviews is on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two from November 7 at 9pm.

      AJ has played a big role in the past at The Sun’s Who Cares Wins AwardsCredit: Alpha Press More

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      in Soccer

      Ultimate Ballon d’Or rich list – from Ronaldo’s eye-watering net worth to star who splashed £435k on a watch

      by

      IT’S football’s most prestigious award given to the best player in the world.And with this year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony taking place on Monday October 30, Erling Haaland and Lionel Messi are the hot favourites to take it home.
      Along with Erling Haaland, Lionel Messi has been tipped to win this year’s Ballon d’OrCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Cristiano Ronaldo has won the Ballon d’Or an impressive five times and tops the rich listCredit: Instagram / @cristiano
      Argentinian superstar Messi has been tipped to win for the eighth time, while Haaland is also in the running after scoring 52 goals in his first season with Manchester City.
      Since it first began almost 70 years ago, 64 players have won the prize – and with it has come, mostly, great fortune.
      Here, we reveal the biggest earners in our Ballon d’Or rich list.
      Cristiano Ronaldo – £363million
      As well as being the most popular athlete – with over 876million social media followers – Cristiano Ronaldo is also the best paid sportsman in the world.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      The Portuguese star, who has won the Ballon d’Or an impressive five times, has an estimated net worth of a whopping £363million.
      In December 2022, Ronaldo signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Saudi Arabian side Al-Nassr, earning £62million a year.
      And thanks to the various commercial opportunities involved within the deal, it’s thought that he could earn as much as £173million for every year he is with the team.
      The 38-year-old also has a lifetime contract with Nike, which began in 2003, worth an eye-watering £1billion.
      Most read in Football
      As well as lending his name to other brands, Ronaldo has his own business empire. It includes two hotels, underwear, CR7 blankets, facial fitness devices and shampoo.
      Lionel Messi – £105million
      Lionel Messi, who has won the award seven times, is considered one of the greatest footballers of all timeCredit: AP:Associated Press
      His business ventures include a hotel empireCredit: Instagram @leomessi
      He’s considered one of greatest footballers of all time, so it’s no surprise that Lionel Messi is tipped to win the Ballon d’Or – after already bagging the award a record seven times.
      The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player moved to David Beckham’s Inter Miami in June after signing an initial deal for two and a half years. He’s believed to be earning around £35-£47million per year.
      Messi’s net worth at the start of 2023 was estimated to be £105million, according to Forbes. It has no doubt increased since his move to Inter Miami.
      Along with his football salary, the 36-year-old has a range of sponsorship and brand deals that help boost his earnings.
      He signed a lifetime contract with Adidas in 2017, worth £20.4million a year, and is also a global ambassador for Pepsi.
      When it comes to his personal ventures, Messi released his luxury clothing label with Tommy Hilfiger’s sister Ginny Hilfiger in 2019.
      He also became a hotelier in 2017 after buying the MiM Sitges in a coastal resort near Barcelona for £26million.
      MiM has since opened other establishments in Ibiza, Mallorca, Baqueira and Sotogrande.
      Kaka – £74million
      AC Milan and Brazil playmaker Kaka holds the 2007 Ballon d’Or trophy in Paris
      He helped Milan overcome Liverpool in the Champions League final that same yearCredit: Getty
      Before Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi hogged the trophy for over a decade, the last player to beat them to it was Brazilian legend Kaka.
      The playmaking superstar, 41, won the award in 2007, the same year he set up the winning goal for Milan in the Champions League final against Liverpool.
      Two years earlier, he had tormented the English giants once again in Istanbul, only for them to turn it around in one of the most dramatic games of all time.
      After retiring in 2017, Kaka is still reported to be worth £74million, thanks in part to his huge social media following.
      He was the first athlete to gain over 10million followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, and has 22.7million fans on Instagram.
      The savvy star has struck up lucrative deals with Global smart technology company OPPO, American Tourister and Playstation, whom he recently starred in a promo for alongside Gareth Bale.
      Karim Benzema – £62.5million
      Karim Benzema won the prestigious award last yearCredit: Reuters
      He isn’t afraid of flaunting his wealth on social mediaCredit: Instagram / @karimbenzema
      Former Real Madrid player Karim Benzema won the Ballon d’Or in 2022 and is worth around £62million, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
      The French national reportedly earned £275,000 a week playing for the Spanish team, before leaving the club in June after 14 years.
      He signed a megabucks deal to join Saudi Pro League club Al-Ittihad, and now earns £3.3million per week.
      He clearly likes to flash the cash, rocking up to last year’s awards bash wearing a Richard Mille watch worth a staggering £435,000.
      In his victory speech, Benzema, 35, said: “To see this prize in front of me makes me really proud. It was a childhood dream for me and all the work I have done, I never gave up.”
      Michael Owen – £54.4million
      Michael Owen took home the award in 2001Credit: Presse Sports
      The TV pundit has invested his fortune in racehorsesCredit: themichaelowen/instagram
      Michael Owen, who took home the award in 2001, has a reported £54.4million fortune.
      The 43-year-old former striker played for the likes of Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Manchester United and Stoke City during his glittering career before retiring in 2013.
      Since then, he has gone on to work as a pundit for BT Sport.
      He’s also involved in breeding race horses and founded Manor House Stables, a racehorse training facility in Cheshire, with his wife Louise.
      Zinedine Zidane – £52million
      Zinedine Zidane’s net worth is reportedly £52millionCredit: AFP
      The French legend knows how to live in styleCredit: zidane/instagram
      French star Zinedine Zidane inspired his side to their World Cup victory in 1998, the same year he won the Ballon d’Or.
      Following his successful football career as a player, he went into management, first with Real Madrid Castilla and then the senior squad.
      He announced his retirement in 2018, before returning 10 months later. But he left for a second time in the summer of 2021.
      Zidane, 51, earned £2.3million a year as Real Madrid’s manager, which doubled when he revived the team at the end of the 2015/2016 season.
      While he’s currently without a job, his net worth is reportedly £52million.
      Endorsement deals with brands such as Adidas, Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior have contributed to his income.
      Luís Figo – £41million
      Portugal and Real Madrid star Luis Figo with his prestigious 2000 Ballon d’OrCredit: AFP
      The 50-year-old is married to model Helene SvedinCredit: luis__figo/instagram
      Portugese player Luís Figo’s controversial transfer from Barcelona to rival Real Madrid in 2000 – the year he bagged the Ballon d’Or – set the world record fee of £50million.
      He enjoyed a great success at the club, where he earned £3.74million a year, with 45 goals and 58 assists in 249 appearances throughout a five-year stint.  
      The 50-year-old, now worth around £41million according to Idol Net Worth, joined UEFA in 2017 as he took on an advisory role, promoting its competitions across the world.
      “Luís Figo was a fantastic player who was exemplary in the way he conducted himself both on and off the pitch,” the UEFA president said.
      “He is a highly respected figure within the game and I am very pleased he is joining our team. His tremendous football experience will be a very valuable asset to UEFA.”
      Fabio Cannavaro – £36million
      Fabio Cannavaro is now a professional football coachCredit: L’Equipe
      Fabio is now a coach and earned millions in the Chinese Super LeagueCredit: fabiocannavaroofficial/instagram
      Former Italy captain Fabio Cannavaro, who won both the World Cup and Ballon d’Or in 2006, is said to be worth £36million.
      The 50-year old was regarded as one of the best defenders of all time before retiring in 2011.
      He’s now a professional football coach and has coached teams in the Middle East and China.
      He was briefly appointed as manager of the China national team in 2019 and more recently, he was the head coach of Serie B club Benevento.
      It was previously reported that he was the highest paid manager in the Chinese Super League, where he managed for five seasons, and the fourth highest paid in the world, earning £10.6million a year.
      Ronaldinho – Unclear
      Ronaldinho was reported to have just £5 in his back account in 2018Credit: Reuters
      He was the face of football in the early NoughtiesCredit: ronaldinho/instagram
      Brazilian World Cup winner Ronaldinho has previously had a net worth reported up to £80million, but has lose thousands to crushing debts.
      He was reported to have just £5 in his back account in 2018 – the same year he announced his retirement from football – while owing up to £1.75million.
      The 43-year-old was heavily fined for illegal construction in a protected area in his home country.
      After remortgaging his property, he was still unable to cover the debts due to the high interest rate and a judge ordered for his passport to be seized.
      In 2020, he was detained in a prison in Paraguay for allegedly attempting to enter the country with forged documents.
      Read More on The Sun
      Ronaldinho, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2005, has had endorsements with companies including Nike, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, EA Sports and Danone.
      He currently works for sponsorship and development firm Nooke, and he’s also the co-founder of Footsider, which is described as an “application that facilitates and digitizes recruitment in the world of football”. More

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      in Soccer

      These kids football clubs have all been handed £1k with the Sun’s grant – and you could too

      by

      THESE kids’ football clubs scored a win by getting their hands on cash from our fab Footie For All Fund.They are the first delighted recipients of £1,000 grants to help keep their squads going.
      Our Footie For All Fund has given out £150,000 in grants to deserving clubsCredit: NNP
      We teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme
      Former England star John Terry backed our campaignCredit: Getty
      Last month we teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to give out £150,000 in grants to deserving clubs.
      And we have been inundated with stories of teams making a difference in their communities.
      From buying new boots and kit to allowing more kids to play for free, grants will help them make more of an impact.
      And there is still time for you to enter as the new deadline for applications is now noon on November 13.
      read more on football
      Former England star John Terry backed our campaign to keep kids playing despite the cost-of-living crisis making it difficult for parents to fund their children’s training.
      John said: “I’ve seen first-hand how football can change someone’s life.
      “It doesn’t matter if it becomes a career or just something you continue playing for fun.
      “For anyone to lose the chance to play footie would be a tragedy, but we all know times are tough for everyone thanks to rising prices.
      Most read in Football
      “I loved my time playing at grassroots level when I was little, and I want everyone to have that feeling of joy.
      “It’s great that The Sun’s Footie For All Fund is helping clubs out, thanks to Tesco’s generous donation.”
      Christine Heffernan, Tesco Group communications director, said: “From the range of applications that have come in so far and the stories we have heard, it’s clear to see that football clubs up and down the country need the support more than ever and that we’re reaching hundreds more children as a result of this funding.
      “It’s encouraging to know that the Tesco Stronger Starts and Footie for All partnership will be getting children into doing what they love, playing more footie more often.”
      Here we show how our deserving recipients are putting the money to work so far.
      BEAMISH FC, STANLEY, COUNTY DURHAM
      THIS grassroots team near Gateshead gives more than 450 kids a chance to play football in a safe space throughout the week.
      The club is using its £1,000 grant to purchase full kits for its new reception-aged group to ensure no child feels out of place.
      It means the tots, aged four to five, will get a Beamish FC shirt, shorts and jumper as well as a pair of sports socks.
      Team fundraising manager, Deborah Maddison, told The Sun: “We operate in quite a deprived area which means that the cost of living is hitting families hard.
      “As a club, we work really hard to make sure it is as accessible as possible for parents to send their kids here.
      “Everything we do costs, which means we rely on grants like this to keep the club up and running.”
      HEMINGTON HAMMERS FC, DERBY
      THE Derbyshire club used to only have adult teams but decided last year to open up an under-tens squad aimed at deprived kids.
      The move came after they heard from parents that many children in inner-city Derby weren’t able to play the beautiful game due to financial barriers.
      Hemington Hammers opened up last year to give deprived kids a chance to play footieCredit: Paul Tonge
      Club vice chairman Andrew Bennett said: “We’ve seen their confidence grow as they’ve got better and better.
      “They started the season losing most of their games and now they’re starting to win some.”
      Hemington Hammers is using the £1,000 grant to accelerate their plans to take more kids on, purchase kit, pay for the training of new coaches for additional teams and cover admin costs such as first aid kits.
      Andrew added: “We have seen that there is a demand for low-cost football, as we filled the first team in a matter of weeks.
      “Now we hope to get more kids involved.
      “The simple thing is, the more funding we get to put on the sessions, the cheaper we will make it for the kids, so they always have somewhere to play.”
      PELICAN PARK COMMUNITY TRUST, HULL
      PELICAN Park Community Trust in Hull does more than helping kids stay fit – it provides a chance for them to socialise and get away from potentially tough situations at home.
      Now, thanks to The Sun and Tesco’s Footie For All grants, 50 more children are able to attend.
      Pelican Park Community Trust in Hull provides a chance for kids to socialise and get away from potentially tough situations at homeCredit: Glen Minikin
      Jannette Hornby, charity manager, said: “We don’t want anyone to miss out on proper football training because of personal circumstances.
      For many, it is a chance to run around and play in a safe environment, and that is vital for kids of all ages.”
      Hull is one of the most underprivileged areas in the country, and a quarter of children in the city live with low income families.
      The charity has been subsidising households who can no longer afford the training fees due to financial struggles.
      They also offer a boot swap and provide kit free of charge, so no one is left out.
      Read More on The Sun
      Within just a few sessions, coaches and staff see a huge difference in the children who come.
      Jannette added: “It’s a gateway for everyone into feeling better.”
      THERE’S STILL TIME TO NET £1,000 FOR YOUR CLUBDOES your child’s football club need a cash injection to keep it on the pitch?
      Our Footie For All Fund is offering £1,000 grants to under-18s sides who are struggling in the financial crisis.
      We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to give out £150,000 in grants and want to hear about your local club and what it does for the community.
      We launched our fund after teams across the country told us how some kids are dropping out as families struggle financially.
      Perhaps your side wants to offer parents help with fees, or needs new kit or space to play on.
      See tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund to apply.
      Applications close on November 13.
      Grants are given on a rolling basis so it could start helping your club within weeks. More

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      in Soccer

      How Everton chairman Bill Kenwright rose from Corrie to chairman of hometown club via some of West End’s biggest hits

      by

      IN a long and distinguished career, Bill Kenwright was many things to many people.To theatre-goers he was the impresario behind West End hits Blood Brothers and Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
      Bill Kenwright lived with his long-term partner, actress Jenny SeagroveCredit: Rex
      Bill as Gordon, left, on Corrie in 1969Credit: Rex Features
      Bill directed West End hit Blood Brothers in 1983Credit: Donald Cooper
      To football fans he was chairman of his beloved Everton FC for 19 years — and to soap fans Coronation Street’s Gordon Clegg, who appeared from 1968 to 1969 then popped up again until 2012.
      But to all who knew him, his death on Monday, aged 78, from liver cancer was a bitter blow.
      Bill lived with his long-term partner, actress Jenny Seagrove, 66, and had a daughter, Lucy, from a previous relationship.
      Despite his fame he was an intensely private man and hated being interviewed.
      Read More on Bill Kenwright
      He said: “People don’t understand this about me because I shout my productions to the rooftops and love talking about Everton.”
      He added: “I am very private, but can only talk in one way — though I don’t want to come across as a passionate buffoon.”
      Liverpool born and bred, Bill got the acting bug after childhood trips to the city’s cinemas with is gran.
      While he lived most of his adult life in London, he maintained a lifelong attachment to his home city and said “my past was what moulded me”.
      Most read in Football
      He added: “I don’t think I had an easy childhood. I was very shy, nervous and timid and we weren’t rich. In Everton player Dave Hickson I found a sort of guide — he taught me how to dare.
      “From my family I had protection and comfort and, in Mum, a spirit that said I could do anything I wanted. I wanted to be Errol Flynn and I loved Alan Ladd in (1953 Western) Shane. I didn’t just want to be an actor, I wanted to be a film star.”
      Already treading the boards at the Liverpool Playhouse at age 12, he left home at 17 to join a London youth theatre and in 1968 made his Corrie debut as teenager Gordon, who lived above the paper shop with his aunt and uncle.
      But Bill shocked producers by leaving after just a year. His time in the soapland spotlight had led to him wanting to work behind the scenes.
      Recalling the late Corrie veteran Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie Tanner, he said: “I remember Pat telling me on day one, ‘You’re a good-looking lad from Liverpool — and you’ve got no idea what will happen to you when you appear on that screen’.
      Everton chairman Bill and owner Farhad Moshir unveil boss Frank Lampard in January 2022Credit: Getty
      Bill as a star guest on pop show Lift Off, 1970Credit: Rex
      “I was shocked. My character was the first teenager written into a soap to attract teenage viewers. It was an extraordinary situation and I really didn’t like it. That’s one of the reasons I left.”
      Bill’s love of the West End drew him to producing and directing and his company, Bill Kenwright Ltd, is the world’s most prolific theatre production company in the world, bringing hundreds of productions to theatres across the planet.
      A close collaborator of West End kings Sir Tim Rice and Lord Lloyd- Webber, Bill directed their hits Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar.
      He was nominated for a London Theatre Critics’ Award for his work on West Side Story and a Tony Award for a Broadway run of Blood Brothers.
      He also produced numerous films.
      These included 2009 romcom Cheri, starring Michelle Pfeiffer, 2021 hit Heathers: The Musical, and this year’s comedy thriller The Kill Room, starring Uma Thurman and Samuel L. Jackson, plus Gemma Arterton crime drama The Critic.
      In 2001 he won a CBE for services to film and theatre.
      I was a timid child but I could go on my own to Goodison Park because I felt safe there. When Dave Hickson and that team ran out on to the pitch, I was in heaven with my gods.Bill Kenwright
      But it was perhaps his first love, football, that inspired him most.
      A director at Everton from 1989, he became club chairman in 2004 and remained so until his death.
      The club shone a light into his lonely childhood.
      He said: “I was more timid than shy but I could go on my own to Goodison as a kid because I felt safe there.
      “When Dave Hickson and that team ran out on to the pitch I was in heaven with my gods. It gave me a feeling of absolute safety.”
      He married Anouska Hempel, the actress turned society hotelier and interior designer, in 1978, only to divorce after less than a year.
      There followed a long relationship with actress Virginia Stride, now 87, which produced daughter Lucy, now 45 and a successful TV producer with two children.
      But his true love and partner for his last three decades was actress Jenny Seagrove who he met at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1993 when she was starring in Noel Coward play Present Laughter.
      She said in 2017: “Bill’s a force of nature, larger than life.
      “It’s a privilege to live with him. He’s got the biggest heart of anybody I’ve ever met. He’s made me a better person.”
      She added: “I’ve made him feel safe, given him the confidence to dive off that high board.”
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      A self-confessed workaholic, Bill was worth an estimated £33million — but lived for passion, rather than money and its trappings.
      He said: “I never see myself retiring, not at all.”
      Bill married and divorced Anouska Hempel – an actress turned society hotelierCredit: Rex
      Bill said: ‘I was a timid child but I could go on my own to Goodison Park because I felt safe there’Credit: Handout More