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      in Soccer

      The Sun launches Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit by the cost-of-living crisis

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      THE Sun is today launching a landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to hand out £150,000 worth of grants to grass roots youth football clubs struggling with funds.
      The Sun is launching our landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Oliver Dixon
      Harry Redknapp has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Louis Wood
      Gary Lineker has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The cash can be used in any way that encourages more children to take up the sport or improves access to the game.
      Perhaps you are a local team that wants to offer parents help with membership fees.
      Maybe you need new kits or more pitch space to play on.
      Grants can also be used to help with transport or general running costs.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Earlier this year we launched our Footie For All campaign to shine a light on how financial struggles were forcing kids to give up football.
      Figures showed that 94 per cent of grass roots clubs were concerned about the impact soaring costs were having on their membership, according to charity Sported.
      In the wake of our probe we have been inundated with stories of local youth sides — who make a huge difference to their communities — struggling to cover their costs.
      Clubs across the country also told us how some kids are being forced to drop out altogether as families can not pay their membership subs or for kit and transport.
      Most read in Football
      So today we urge grass roots clubs to apply for one of our fantastic £1,000 Footie For All support grants.
      Launched in conjunction with Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign — which funds healthy food and activities for children — we will dish out 150 grants in total to clubs across the country.
      Christine Heffernan, Tesco group communications director, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant programme provides £5million of funding to get more children and their families access to healthy and nutritious food and physical activities.
      “We thought that The Footie For All programme would be a great extension to that to help kids to thrive.
      “Any child should be able to do physical activity they enjoy if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit for example.”
      Our campaign is being backed by big names in the game.
      Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker said: “I think grass roots is vital.
      “That’s where everyone starts. Some of us finish at the top, some don’t, but we all enjoy it.”
      Sun columnist Harry Redknapp added: “Grass roots football is important, and we need to ensure there are facilities for kids.”
      Reality star Joey Essex is also keen to see kids keep playing.
      He said: “Football provides an escape for so many kids from whatever else is going on. The Sun is offering families a lifeline.”
      To apply for one of our grants, see tescostrongerstarts. org.uk/footiefund.
      Grants will be awarded by The Sun with charity Groundwork, which runs Tesco’s grant-giving programmes, on a rolling basis.
      Applications must be made by October 29.
      SOMERTON TOWN
      YOUTH football club Somerton Town, Somerset, kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
      But organisers had to raise them from £95 to £120 this season after rises of up to 30 per cent in costs.
      Somerton Town kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Chris Balcombe
      Since it was founded in 2001, Somerton have played a unique social role for its 187 players, across 11 teams.
      Chairman Justin Davies, 40, says: “We have a huge catchment area that contains areas with large-scale social and economic deprivation.
      “Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play.
      “Little things like shaking hands before and after a match to show respect to the other team is important.
      “When we put the prices up, 21 players left, with 20 not going on to join another club. It was a financial decision.”
      Justin Davis said: ‘Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play’Credit: Chris Balcombe
      HACKNEY WICK FC
      AFTER leaving prison in 2019, Bobby Kasanga started Hackney Wick FC, in East London, to stop other children falling into a life of crime.
      It now has more than 180 children on its books and a waiting list of even more who want to be part of its teams.
      For many families, the club is a way to keep their children on the right path – and Bobby, 37, who spent eight years inside for armed robbery, never turns anyone away.
      He says: “We try to do as much as we can to alleviate financial stress and often let kids play without paying or offer discounts if a family has multiple kids with us.
      “We’ve seen it getting worse recently, but we know turning anyone away could see them get taken in by gangs.
      “If we can’t have them, the gangs certainly will.”
      To play a year at Hackney costs around £250.
      But Bobby and his team are writing off around £5,000 of unpaid subs because they know families can’t afford it.
      He says: “We rely on our sponsors and they’ve been amazing.
      Last year, one covered the cost of 20 kids for a year. But it’s hard to keep our heads above water.”
      The club’s relationships with local businesses provide more than just financial help.
      Bobby says: “We’ve had four of our players taken on by one of our sponsors.
      “It means they have a stable income and a potential career for life.
      “That’s so important for helping them stay out of danger.
      “But even if they end up going down a bad path, the club relationships across the whole of East London may help diffuse violent situations.
      “They may stop an attack because they know the other gang member from football.”
      Bobby adds: “I never want anyone to go through what I went through growing up.
      “We are a family and I won’t take football away from them over money.”
      BLACKBURN EAGLES
      LIKE other clubs, Blackburn Eagles have also seen more kids struggling to pay – but it never turns anyone away.
      The club, which is the biggest in its area with 650 players on its books, feels it is vital for all kids to have access to the beautiful game and tries to keep its fees low.
      Blackburn Eagles feels it is vital for all kids to have access to football and tries to keep its fees lowCredit: BLACKBURN EAGLES
      In fact, the academy’s vice-chairman, Chris Hughes, 39, says prices have not been put up in around eight years.
      He adds: “We don’t turn anyone away.
      “We just take more children, create new groups, create new training sessions and create new teams.”
      But the club has recently had to take teams out of the Junior Premier League due to the cost of the four-hour round trips to play other teams across the North West.
      Chris says: “Football gives kids a good focus and can be a massive part of certain children’s lives.
      “It might be the one thing they’ll look forward to all week, and sometimes it gets them out of situations where maybe they don’t want to be at home all the time.”
      HOW TO APPLY
      WE want to hear the story of your club and the huge 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.
      Perhaps your club needs help with pitch fees or wants to sponsor funded places for children who can not afford membership.
      To apply and for full T&Cs, see tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund.

      WHAT THE STARS SAY

      A young Phil FodenCredit: Instagram @philfoden
      Phil says football ‘brings happiness for so many people’Credit: Getty
      “GRASSROOTS football is where it began for all of us.
      “It brings happiness for so many people and it’s so important nothing gets in the way of everyone having that opportunity.”

      A young Harry MaguireCredit: Instagram
      Harry says ‘playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline’Credit: Getty
      “I SPENT my childhood with a ball at my feet.
      “Playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline and to make friends with people they might not have met.”

      A young Raheem Sterling
      Raheem said that as a kid he ‘fell in love’ with football and ‘made friends for life’Credit: Getty
      “MY mentor got me in to football to correct my behaviour.
      “I found something I wanted to put my energy in to.
      “I fell in love with it – and I made friends for life.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES

      A young Jarrod Bowen
      Jarrod said ‘football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way’Credit: Getty
      “WE can’t let kids see their dream die simply because Mum or Dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel.
      “Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.” More

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      in Soccer

      Footie stars biggest fashion own goals from Haaland’s pyjama suit to Pogba’s cape – who do you think looks the worst?

      by

      HE’S a self-styled king of fashion with a £10m Gucci deal but Jack Grealish has been labelled Man City’s worst dressed player.It appears the winger scored an own goal after last year rating his teammates’ fashion sense on the club’s YouTube channel – and now they’ve got their revenge.
      Manchester City winger Jack Grealish was labelled the worst dressed footballer in the squad by his teammatesCredit: Eroteme
      He gave himself an A for style while downgrading Ruben Dias to a D and giving Kevin De Bruyne a C.
      Now Spanish midfielder Rodri – whose style Grealish described as “awful, awful” – has kicked the winger’s ego into touch in an interview accusing Grealish of actually being the worst dressed.
      The stunned winger, who has a six figure deal with BoohooMAN as well as Gucci, posted the clip on his Instagram page with a shocked face emoji.
      With sportsmen scoring big as fashion idols, bagging deals worth millions with brands such as Burberry, Dior and Superdry, there’s everything to play for when it comes to power dressing.
      READ MORE JACK GREALISH
      But there have been plenty of footie fashion faux pas over the years… and Grealish isn’t alone.
      Would he make the worst dressed XI All Stars team?
      Here are the stars who would be kicked into touch by the fashion police.
      Raheem Sterling
      Chelsea and England winger Raheem Sterling may need some longer trousersCredit: sterling7/instagram
      A JACKET that hangs off the shoulders may become tyre-some for Raheem – whose puffed-up outfit could be a nod to the Michelin Man.
      Most read in Football
      And we won’t even ask about those breeches, which make him look like a jockey.
      Surely he’ll not keep this look up furlong!
      Tom Davies
      Sheffield United’s Tom Davies wearing a dressing gownCredit: Getty
      DRESSING down or dressing GOWN?
      Former Everton ace Tom loves to make a statement with his clothing, and this get-up is no exception.
      He may have been going for a casual vibe, but looks more like he’s in his pyjamas ready for bed.
      You snooze, you lose, Tom.
      Dani Alves
      Former Barcelona defender Dani Alves is one of the best of his generation, on the pitchCredit: PA
      BRAZILIAN defender Dani could give Hugh Jackman a run for his money in this Greatest Showman-style suit, which he wore to a party in Paris back in 2019.
      Erling Haaland
      Record setting Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is not afraid to stand outCredit: BackGrid
      MANCHESTER City player Haaland is a ray of sunshine in this bright yellow shirt and trouser set.
      They could be posh PJs – or even 1970s- inspired party gear.
      James Maddison
      Spurs midfielder James Maddison has been on fire so far this seasonCredit:
      THE Tottenham icon is perhaps hoping to get a-head in the fashion stakes in this bucket hat, shorts and t-shirt combo.
      He’d fit right in at Glastonbury festival.
      Paul Pogba
      Paul Pogba may have been trying to keep a low profile with this unusual outfitCredit: BackGrid
      FRENCH footballer Pogba is a hero on the pitch – and off it, too, so it seems.
      The Juventus star channelled his inner superhero in this wacky hooded cape.
      Hector Bellerin
      Former Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is as well known for his wacky style as he is for his performancesCredit: Getty
      THERE’s nowhere to hide for the Spanish right-back in this striking black leather coat.
      His laidback look, complete with shades, echoes Keanu Reeves’ in The Matrix.
      Oli McBurnie
      Striker Oli McBurnie’s odd tracksuit looks like it belongs a few decades ago
      SHEFFIELD United icon McBurnie goes for man of the match in this red and brown tracksuit co-ord.
      Wonder if the knee-highs are for added socks appeal?
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Dominic Calvert-Lewin
      This outfit is actually a tame one compared to some of the outlandish styles Dominic Calvert-Lewin has tried outCredit: Getty
      Everton player Dominic channels the Man from Del Monte in this number at last year’s Emporio Armani fashion show.
      He’s quite partial to a pastel and has also been spotted in a pink suit. More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside jetset life of F1’s hottest new racer Jessica Hawkins – from TV star girlfriend to ‘nearly killing’ James Blunt

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      BRITISH racing driver Jessica Hawkins is quite literally living life in the fast lane after becoming the first woman in five years to test a Formula One car.The 28-year-old Aston Martin ambassador made history last week when she drove 26 laps of the Hungaroring in Budapest in the AMR21.
      Jessica Hawkins became the first female in almost five years to drive a modern Formula One car during a recent test in BudapestCredit: PA
      The 28-year-old is an Aston Martin ambassadorCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      As Jessica breaks down barriers, we take a look at her jetset life on and off the track – from a James Bond role to the time she “nearly killed” James Blunt…
      The former karting champion made her professional motorsport debut in British Formula Ford at Silverstone in 2014 in a one-off event, claiming two top 10 finishes.
      She joined the Aston Martin F1 team in an ambassadorial role in 2021, and is a regular face around the paddock.
      Prior to that she worked as a stunt driver, spending much of 2017 on Fast and Furious Live –  a global live-action show based on the film franchise, featuring super cars and acrobatic stunts from the movies – all performed live.
      READ MORE F1 STORIES
      Jessica landed a plum role as a stunt driver in James Bond movie No Time to Die in 2021.
      Sharing a string of behind-the-scenes snaps on Instagram, where she was seen driving a classic Aston Martin, she wrote: “The best experience with the best people in the world. An unforgettable experience!”
      Her stunt driver career happened by chance, after a friend tagged her in a Facebook post advertising for a female driver with “good car control”.
      “I stopped racing a good few years before W Series purely because I’d run out of budget to continue on my motorsport journey,” Jessica told the Mirror.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Jessica on the red carpet at the No Time to Die premiereCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      Jessica driving the James Bond car in the No Time to Die movieCredit: 1jessicahawkins/instagram
      “Bond was actually my first movie. There was quite a lot of pressure, but I was confident in my ability and I had an incredible team around me.
      “I’m super proud of what I’ve done.”
      Rubbing shoulders with famous faces
      Last year Jessica took part in a test drive for the new Range Rover Sport with Anthony Joshua.
      In a clip the professional boxer was seen behind the wheel as Jessica sat in the passenger seat.
      As part of the launch, Jessica completed a dramatic world-first climb up a flooded dam in Iceland in the motor.
      She said: “Driving into it, knowing that a 90-metre drop was waiting for me at the bottom of the slope if things went wrong, made this the most challenging drive I’ve ever undertaken.”
      Jessica also featured in James Blunt’s music video for his 2021 single Love Under Pressure, starring as a driver attempting to kill the singer.
      Posting a picture with the musician, she joked: “Not every day you find yourself trying to kill @jamesblunt for his new music video!”
      Jessica was also part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Pageant, behind the wheel of a Land Rover to drive down the Mall.
      Jessica took part in a test drive for the new Range Rover Sport with Anthony Joshua last yearCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      She featured in a James Blunt music video in 2021Credit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      Jessica captioned this snap of her driving at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations ‘a special car for a special event’Credit: 1jessicahawkins/instagram
      Glam TV star girlfriend
      Jessica is in a relationship with Abbie Eaton, who is also a British racing driver.
      Abbie is also a TV star, having starred as the test driver for the second and third series of Amazon’s The Grand Tour.
      James May revealed that “she was the fastest and the best” driver that had been tested.
      In 2015 she appeared on ITV’s Drive, coaching rapper Professor Green in a string of racing car challenges.
      Jessica and Abbie, who both race in the W Series, have been together for over three-and-a-half years after meeting through the sport.
      Abbie, 31, said: “I met Jess before the W Series. Motorsport is a small world, especially for the female drivers.
      “I remember crossing paths with her at Goodwood and seeing what she was up to but when I came to W Series we got to know each other a bit more.”
      When it comes to competition between them both, Abbie explained: “We’re always competitive – we’d be rubbish racing drivers if we weren’t.
      “But if one of us is having a difficult time or our confidence is tested, we’re always there to support each other.
      “Ultimately, we both want each other to do well. The dream is to be at the front together.”
      Jessica’s girlfriend Abbie is also a TV starCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      Jessica is in a relationship with Abbie Eaton, who is also a British racing driverCredit: instagram/1jessicahawkins
      Lavish trips
      Jessica’s career has taken her around the world – and she often documents her work trips on Instagram.
      Over the past few years she’s jetted off to the likes of Miami, Iceland, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
      She was also photographed at the Monaco GP earlier this year, posing with fellow racer and Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff.
      Jessica enjoys travelling during her time off, too. Last summer, she spent some time on the Greek island of Rhodes with Abbie.
      The couple also made a trip to Wembley last summer to cheer on England’s Lionesses as they beat Norway 8-0 during the Euros.
      Jessica with fellow racer and Sky Sports F1 presenter Naomi Schiff at the Monaco GPCredit: naomischiff/instagram
      Jessica and Abbie cheered on England’s Ladies in the EurosCredit: abbieeaton44/instagram
      Jessica often documents her work trips on InstagramCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      ‘Wild journey’
      Jessica got into motorsport from a young age, telling Glamour that she “begged” her dad to let her have a go at karting after spotting a kart track while playing golf.
      She explained: “Luckily for him, I was too small at the time. He wasn’t thrilled with the idea of me going karting.
      “But then we went back a few months later, and they’d moved the height restriction down, much to my dad’s despair. I had a go and absolutely fell in love with it.”
      She continued: “And I’ve never, ever intended, or it was never supposed to happen, that I’d still be here 20 years later having made or making a career from it.
      “I’m not quite where I want to be just yet, but I’m very proud of where I have come.
      “And a highlight of my career was obviously signing for Aston Martin Formula One team a couple of years ago. So yeah, it’s been a wild journey.”
      Jessica with Aston Martin F1 driver Fernando Alonso
      Jessica, pictured with Haas driver Nico Hulkenberg, is a regular sight around the F1 paddock
      Jessica’s performance at Silverstone in 2014 saw her picked up by Falcon Motorsport to compete in the 2015 MSA Formula Championship.
      In 2016 she moved into single-make racing and competed in the Volkswagen Racing Cup series.
      Jessica crossed over to the Mini Challenge in 2017 before returning to the VW Cup in 2018.
      She moved to the W Series in 2019 and a year later, she made her debut in the 2020 British Touring Car Championship.  
      This week Jessica followed in the footsteps of Colombia’s Tatiana Calderon, who drove with with Sauber – now Alfa Romeo – in Mexico City in 2018, by taking the Aston Martin AMR21 for a spin.
      Susie Wolff, the wife of Mercedes team principal Toto, was the last woman to compete in a practice session in 2015 – however a female driver has not started an F1 race since Italian Lella Lombardi in 1976.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Jessica admitted that it’s taken “blood, sweat and tears to get here”, but that it has been a “dream come true”.
      She added: “I’ll keep pushing for more and, in the process, I want to inspire other women and let them know they should follow their dream no matter what it is.”
      Jessica got into the sport from a young ageCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      She enjoyed a holiday to Greece last yearCredit: Instagram / @1jessicahawkins
      Jessica living it up in MexicoCredit: 1jessicahawkins/instagram More

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      in Soccer

      Has Brazil icon Ronaldo finally mellowed after rocky marriages, parties with ‘buses of girls’ & ‘3 prostitutes’ scandal?

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      BRAZIL legend Ronaldo Nazario is planning a huge wedding Ibiza party on Friday with 400 guests – but it should be more sedate than what the football wildman got up to in the past.The 47-year-old World Cup winner was known as the “president of the parties” and once took three prostitutes back to a hotel room – only for it to become a global scandal.
      Brazil legend Ronaldo announced his engagement to model Celina Locks earlier this yearCredit: Instagram @celinalocks
      Ronaldo, though, insists he has settled down since meeting model and businesswoman Celina Locks, 33, seven years ago.
      Celina became his second wife when they tied the knot on the Spanish island in an intimate ceremony this week.
      It was a very traditional ceremony, with the bride and and groom dressed in white and being showered by petals as they left the church. 
      They are reportedly going to follow it with a star-studded celebration at his holiday villa in Ibiza.
      Read More in The Sun
      Before his proposal Ronaldo joked: “I was also the president of the parties. I organised most of the parties.
      “My girlfriend now is very happy that I have also retired from the parties – and I miss it so much.”
      Ronaldo, who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid in Spain, had a reputation for living it up even when he was a professional footballer.
      Former teammate Ivan Helguera claimed that “buses of girls” would turn up to enjoy Ronaldo’s hospitality.
      Most read in Football
      The couple enjoying a holiday on a luxury yachtCredit: BackGrid
      Ronaldo, pictured with former girlfriend Suzana Werner, was famous for loving a partyCredit: AP:Associated Press
      Brazilian legends Ronaldinho and Ronaldo chill out in their hotel in 2005Credit: AFP
      He said: “I remember a birthday party at Ronaldo’s house, which he later sold to Sergio Ramos, where buses full of girls began to arrive. 
      “I was with my wife and we decided to leave, as did Figo.”
      Rocky romances
      Ronaldo’s sexual appetite has proven to be problematic.
      His first marriage to women’s footballer Milene Domingues, 44, lasted four years and produced one son, Ronald, 23.
      Two years after they split, he walked down the aisle with model Daniella Cicarelli in February 2005, in a glamorous wedding where Fat Boy Slim DJed at the reception.
      But it was reportedly not legally binding because neither of the couple’s divorces had been officially signed off.
      Three months later the relationship was over, with Daniella alleging that her fiance had been unfaithful.
      A paternity test later revealed that a Brazilian waitress called Michele Umezu had given birth to Ronaldo’s son Alexander in April 2005.
      He had met Michelle in Tokyo three years earlier.
      The next potential Mrs Ronaldo was engineering student Maria Beatriz Antony.
      But the footballer dramatically upended their engagement by taking three prostitutes back to his hotel room in Rio de Janeiro in the spring of 2008.
      Prostitute scandal
      Ronaldo was shocked to discover that they were in fact men and alleged that they tried to get the millionaire player to hand over £15,000.
      The police superintendent in charge of the case said: “Ronaldo admits the facts. He said he just wanted to amuse himself, that’s not a crime.
      “To pay to have sexual relations isn’t illegal. There’s a strong chance that Ronaldo has been the victim of extortion.”
      Maria, who was pregnant at the time of the scandal, left her husband-to-be before changing her mind and going back to him.
      They had two daughters – Maria Sofia, 14, and Maria Alice, 13 – during their seven-year relationship.
      Ronaldo and his first wife Milene DominguesCredit: Reuters
      He moved on with Brazilian model Daniella CicarelliCredit: EPA
      Ronaldo has a reputation for his generous spirit, offering to pay for huge meals in restaurants and looking after friends.
      But hiding behind that huge smile was an anxious star.
      Ronaldo, who suffered from several injuries during his career before retiring in 2011, revealed last year: “Today I am in therapy. I have been in therapy for two and a half years and I understand myself much better than before.”
      Like David Beckham, the wealthy ex-player sees value in owning football clubs.
      He became the biggest share owner of Spanish side Real Valladolid in September 2018 and three years later took control of his boyhood club Cruzeiro in Brazil.
      But neither team is doing well and fans have protested.
      Settled down
      The rotund star, who battled with weight problems as a player, appears to be ready for a more settled life with Celina.
      She told Vogue magazine about how confident he was when they met seven years ago.
      Celina recalled: “He said I would fall in love in two months. I burst out laughing, but it happened.”
      He popped the question during a romantic trip to the Caribbean, announcing their engagement this January.
      Celina said: “It was very special for him to look at me not only as the love of his life, but to exalt me as a woman.”
      Two months later fans thought that Celina was pregnant when she posted a photograph of herself with her hand on the stomach next to the words: “A new phase of my life is beginning and with it a great responsibility.”
      It turned out, though, that she wasn’t due to become a mother.
      Whatever happens, it is clear that the couple are going to celebrate their nuptials in style.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Celina wrote on Instagram this week before her wedding: “Today we bring our families together for an intimate religious celebration.
      “And thus marks the beginning of a week of many celebrations.” More

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      in Soccer

      Megabucks life of ‘world’s sexiest footballer’ Alisha Lehmann as she builds fortune with Prime deal & sizzling calendar

      by

      SHE’S the Swiss sports star who has been branded the “world’s sexiest footballer”.And it’s not just on the pitch where Aston Villa star Alisha Lehmann is achieving her goals – thanks to a whopping 15.2million Instagram followers that have made her one of the most valuable stars in the women’s game.
      Alisha Lehmann has been branded the ‘world’s sexiest footballer’Credit: alisha-lehamann.com
      She reportedly earns £160,000 playing for Aston Villa but makes way more on the sideCredit: PA
      The 24-year-old is bagging extremely lucrative deals away from her sporting career, including partnerships with Boohoo, EA Sports and Adidas.
      Recently, Alisha was unveiled as the first female ambassador for sports drink Prime in a deal that PR expert Carla Speight could be worth up to £1million.
      And now she has just unveiled a sizzling 2024 calendar – selling signed limited-edition copies for £149.99 and normal ones for nearly £50.
      Carla tells us: “Alisha is the David Beckham of the women’s football world. She’s snapping up sponsorships with the likes of drinks, fashion and sportswear. 
      READ MORE ON WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
      “Like David Beckham, Alisha has realised football won’t last forever and she has to develop a lucrative career outside of it to secure her future.”
      Alisha’s latest deal is one of many money-spinning ventures that’s helping her to transcend football and live a lavish lifestyle – all while earning a tidy sum in the process.
      On her Instagram, there are scores of photos of the star soaking up the sun in exotic locations – on one occasion seemingly travelling by quadbike.
      Alisha regularly shares bikini snaps from her holidays abroadCredit: instagram/alishalehmann7
      The footballer is often pictured in fancy hotels and barsCredit: instagram/alishalehmann7
      Last year, she shared snaps from a break in Miami, Florida, where she swamp with dolphins.  
      Most read in Football
      Alisha also took a trip to Brazil in 2022, where she visited animal sanctuaries, and high-end nightclubs, went fishing and played golf. 
      During these trips, she has been seen sporting branded merchandise from hotel chains including Waldorf Hilton London and Melia Hotel Resorts.
      Additionally, she regularly gives shout-outs to car rental companies while posing alongside flashy Lamborghinis. 
      Sizzling side hustles
      It’s reported that Alisha earns £160,000 a year playing for Aston Villa but it seems the star could be topping up her earnings with her side hustles. 
      PR expert Carla points out that if just one per cent of her 15.2million Instagram followers buy her cheapest calendar, it could earn her nearly £7.6million. 
      The footballer also shares photos and talks to followers on the subscription site FanTime, where she charges £67 ($84) for a year’s membership and just over £8 ($10) per month. 
      Carla adds: “If only one per cent of her followers subscribe at the lowest rate, she will be bringing in £1.2 million per month.
      Alisha has launched a 2024 calendar and is charged nearly £150 for limited edition copiesCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      She also has a Fantime account where she shares photos and talks to her fanbaseCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      “Given that we know her engagement rate is around seven per cent, she could bring in even more than that amount in calendars, subscriptions – and she can do that for brands too.”
      Alisha was audaciously approached to produce saucier content last year, when she was offered an £83,000 ($100k) signing-on fee from the adult site My.Club.
      Mike Ford, the company’s vice president, told SportBible that she could earn a fortune posting “training photos, thirst traps and personally field questions from fans”. Sadly for the executive, she did not take up the offer.
      According to sources, it was Alisha’s decision to showcase her “sexy side” that contributed to her break-up with Aston Villa men’s team star Douglas Luiz.
      Last year, we were told: “When asked to do a calendar, she jumped at the chance to show off her sexy side but he was not happy.
      “He didn’t think it was something she should be doing. They rowed a lot and in the end, Alisha simply had enough.”
      Alisha also has a range of products, including hot pink cushions for £29.99, journals for £20, water bottles for £30 and even mousemats for £10.99.
      Before her deal with Prime, Alisha collaborated with a number of companies including Adidas, Bootbag and EA Sports, who create the video game Fifa.
      She has appeared in multiple videos for the football game including one alongside the musician Big Zuu and another unveiling her own “Be Brave” kit.
      PR expert Jack Cooper, from Ed Hopkins PR, told us: “Collaborations with brands like Adidas, EA Sports, and Bootbag further highlight her appeal to diverse industries, from sportswear to gaming. 
      Alisha has worked with a variety of companies ranging from Coca-Cola to EA SportsCredit: Instagram @alishalehmann7
      “Her diverse content – from football training videos to lifestyle and fashion showcases – means she can attract a broader range of brand partnerships.”
      Alisha has also worked with other companies including CocaCola Switzerland, Bootbag and Gisada.
      Carla says: “For longer-term deals, such as sportswear, lingerie, fashion and even fragrances, she could command six figures and receive commissions too.” 
      ‘Breaking the mould’
      Alisha is women’s football’s most followed star on Instagram and her fanbase is increasing regularly thanks to her daily posts.
      From July to September alone, she gained nearly two million followers and regularly gets more than one million likes on her posts.
      PR expert Jack says: “Alisha is breaking the mould, proving that today’s athletes are more than just players.
      Alisha has recently bagged a deal with Prime, which our expert claims could be worth £1mCredit: Instagram
      “With a robust following on Instagram, she’s more than just a footballer; she’s a digital influencer and brand in her own right.
      “Her collaboration with Prime, one of the largest streaming platforms globally, is indicative of the powerful confluence of sports, entertainment, and influencer marketing.”
      Pundit potential
      While Alisha has cultivated an engaged following on social media, she insists her focus is on football.
      Earlier this year, she told Sky Sports: “Obviously I have a lot of followers, but I never dreamed to have it. I just played and shared my life. It just became like this.
      “I don’t see myself as someone with loads of followers on social media, obviously I’m proud of it – alongside my football – but it doesn’t change anything.”
      Our experts predict she’s likely to capitalise on her knowledge of the game by providing match analysis, which could also earn her huge sums. 
      Carla says: “Alisha also has a fun and bubbly personality, which means she has the potential to take up a career in sports presenting. 
      “Sports programmes would snap up the chance to hire her as she has the potential to bring her 15.2 million followers and convert them into viewers for each programme she’s on. 
      “That’s a huge number for any show to get, so I expect she will be paid very well.”
      Alisha was part of Switzerland’s 2023 World Cup squadCredit: Getty
      Humble beginnings
      While Alisha lives a life many could only dream of today, her upbringing in Tägertschi, Switzerland, was very different.
      There she used to play “street football” daily from the age of five alongside her brother and cousins and credits them as “the main reason I play today”.
      Alisha started her career at Swiss club BSC YB Frauen, where she scored 25 goals in 52 appearances. 
      In 2018, she moved to the Women’s Super League after being signed by West Ham United and helped the squad reach the FA Cup final a year later.
      Alisha went to Everton on loan in 2021 before being signed by Aston Villa, where she has scored seven goals.
      She has also scored a combined total of 22 goals from 82 appearances for Switzerland’s youth and adult national teams.
      It’s clear there are big things in the 24-year-old’s future both on and off the pitch – but her main focus is staying humble and focused on her footballing career.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Last year, she told Sky Sports: “I don’t think that I’m better than anyone else, I come from humble beginnings with how I grew up with my family in Switzerland.
      “The people who know me always see the footballer. Every time I’m with my friends and family, I just speak about football.” More

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      in Soccer

      I’m David Ginola’s secret lovechild – we met for first time in 28 years, he said I was ‘a real Ginola’ then cut me out

      by

      FOOTIE legend  David Ginola’s lovechild has revealed she met him for the first time after 28 years and he said “Yes, you are a real Ginola” — then cut her adrift again.Joy Pinquier wept as the former France international finally admitted he is her dad and hugged her during an emotional meeting in her home town of Marseille.
      Joy Pinquier wept as former France international footballer David Ginola embraced her after nearly three decades apartCredit: Louis Wood
      Joy now says dad David has cut her adrift ever since their emotional meetingCredit: Rex
      David had met mum Joelle Pinquier in France where he was playing his football at the time
      But now devastated Joy claims she feels abandoned all over again  as following their hour-long meeting he severed any further contact.
      In an exclusive interview Joy said: “He looked me up and down and said, ‘Yes, you are a real Ginola.’ I replied, ‘Why did you ever doubt it?’
      “He took me in his arms and embraced me and it was a very special moment.
      “I had tears in my eyes because it was the hug I had always dreamed of having with my dad.
      READ MORE DAVID GINOLA
      “We talked for about an hour and it felt like we were connecting.
      “He kept saying we would go to a restaurant to get to know each other better but, 18 months later, I still haven’t seen him.”
      Ginola, 56, agreed to meet Joy after appearing on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2021.
      Joy, now 30, said: “Two years ago I wrote to him through his Instagram account and, much to my surprise, he replied.
      Most read in Football
      “I gave him my phone number and he called. We must have spoken on the phone for about two hours and after that we started exchanging messages on WhatsApp.
      “One day I saw he was going to Marseille, where I live, to play boules with his friends. I decided to head over to meet him.
      “I sent a text to let him know I was there and, as I walked over, I saw he had a big smile on his face. Now I realise that he never had any interest in being my father, he was just being polite.
      “It’s a horrible thing to say, but I feel like I have been abandoned a second time.”
      David with ex-wife Coraline, who is mum to his son Andrea and daughter CarlaCredit: Getty
      The meeting came despite Ginola refusing to have contact with her for the first 28 years of her life.
      He was married and already had his first son Andrea, now 31, with model wife Coraline, 54 — also mum to his 28-year-old daughter Carla — when Joy was conceived during a fling with Joy’s mum in 1991.
      A French court ordered Ginola to take a DNA test confirming paternity three times but he always refused.
      Under French law, he was then automatically declared the father.
      Ginola was ordered to pay €450 (£345) a month in child support until Joy turned 18.
      Her mum Joelle Pinquier, 56, was working as a secretary in Brest, where Ginola was playing for the local club, when they met.
      He went on to play for Paris Saint-Germain, Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and Everton.
      He was also capped 17 times by France before retiring in 2002.
      Ginola continues to work as a commentator in England and France and was one of the biggest stars of the 21st series of I’m a Celebrity, where he finished fourth.
      Joy said: “Mum had no idea he was married — he must have hidden his wedding ring in his pocket. I found out that he was my dad when I was six years old.
      “I remember we were playing a child’s game with a sticker album and when I came to his photo, I drew a heart on it.
      “That’s when my mother said to me: ‘I have a secret to tell you about that man, but I will tell you about it when you are old enough to understand.’
      “I said, ‘Tell me now’ and kept insisting. Eventually, she admitted he was my father.
      “It was difficult to comprehend. I loved watching football and he was a magnificent player and such a big star in France.
      “I would watch him on television all the time and I was in awe of him. Not having him around, it felt like a huge hole in my life.
      “I couldn’t understand why he didn’t want to be my dad.
      “A father plays such a hugely important role for a little girl.
      “Anyone that misses that is going to have a hard time and my childhood was tough. I stayed with my grandparents in Paris a lot as my mother struggled to raise me alone and we didn’t have much money.
      “I missed my dad and I needed his love and his guidance, but he did not want to take responsibility or own up to his mistake.
      “He was told to have a DNA test by the court — the first time was when I was ten or 11 years old — but he refused.
      “He started paying child support when I turned 13, but still he refused to see me and I felt his absence more and more as I got older.”
      Joy laid eyes on her dad for the first time when she turned 15.
      She said: “He asked to meet me at a lawyer’s office in Marseille, to see if we looked alike, but at the last minute he changed his mind.
      “When I got to the lawyer’s office, he was already leaving.
      “We saw each other across a spiral staircase and he looked at me and smiled.
      “To me, it looked like a smirk. It was horrible. By the time I got home I was in floods of tears.”
      Joy’s next close encounter with her dad came in May 2016, when she was 22. Ginola, who had recently separated from Coraline, collapsed during a charity football game in the south of France that month.
      He had suffered a cardiac arrest and was clinically dead for eight minutes but survived because his friend and fellow footballer Frederic Mendy performed CPR.
      Ginola was airlifted to hospital in Monaco where surgeons performed a six-hour quadruple bypass.
      Joy drove 136 miles to the hospital from Marseille as soon as she heard the news.
      She said: “I didn’t want the first day I met my dad to be when he was dead.
      “I got as far as his room. The staff outside asked to see my ID then refused to let me in.
      “Later that year, I was watching one of the games at the Euros in France when David appeared as a commentator on the big screen. I immediately burst into tears.”
      It would be another five years before their next contact.
      Joy said: “After we first spoke on the phone, he would write to me on WhatsApp and say ‘Happy birthday’ and things like that.
      “It gave me hope, but he never ended his messages ‘Dad’, he always ended them ‘David’.
      “Also, he refused to apologise. He told me he was not sorry because he had told my mother that he did not want to have a child — he was very harsh about the situation. I now realise that I can’t force him to be my father.
      “I am not interested in his money and I never wanted to attack him publicly. I always felt it my responsibility to defend his reputation.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “But it’s got to a point where I feel a terrible anger and resentment towards my dad.
      “More than anything, I want to finally look him in the eye and ask why he treated me like he did.”
      Ginola enjoyed a successful career in the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and EvertonCredit: Getty
      He appeared on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! in 2021 and later agreed to meet JoyCredit: PA More

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      in Motorsport

      We’re brothers with 10 MotoGP world champion titles, countless crashes and broken bones between us – but we won’t retire

      by

      OVER the years, tennis fans have witnessed some of the biggest sibling rivalries of all time, including Serena and Venus Williams as well as Andy and Jamie Murray.And the MotoGP world has one of the most exciting brotherly battles too.
      Alex and Marc Marquez have spoken exclusively to The Sun about their sibling rivalryCredit: Getty
      8-time world champ Marc has become known as the “Senna of the MotoGP world”Credit: Estrella Galicia
      8-time world champion Marc Marquez, 30, has been called the “Senna of the MotoGP world” and became the youngest ever rider to win the MotoGP title in 2013, at the age of 20.
      He went on to win the world championship every year following, until 2020, when he came crashing into the air at around 100mph, suffering a fractured humerus, leading to surgery.
      Marc returned the following year, only gaining 7th place, followed by 13th in 2022.
      And, as he prepares for the 12th competition in San Morino this Sunday, he’s placing at 19th.
      MORE SPORT FEATURES
      Meanwhile, his younger brother, Alex Marquez, 27, won the Moto2 Motorcycling World Championship in 2019 with Team Estrella Galicia, and has been coming up behind him, hot on his (w)heels.
      ‘Jealous’ of older brother
      For the first time in the boys’ careers, throughout this year’s world championship, Alex has been much higher up the league table than Marc, currently in 9th place in the GP.
      And, as we sit down with him at Estrella Galicia’s bar at Silverstone, Alex admits his success is down to the competition he’s had with his brother.
      “I look up to him quite a lot, I’m quite jealous of him,” he tells us. “I’ve achieved much more than what I imagined when I was young, and I think it’s because I’ve been fighting him. 
      Most read in Motorsport
      “When I was younger, I was comparing myself to him quite a lot.
      “Later, I started to actually follow him.”
      Marc and Alex were both in Honda until this year, as Alex has moved to Ducati – and he feels much more relaxed racing against him now.
      He says: “Competing against each other is really nice, but it’s something that, if you can avoid it, it’s better, because when you see your brother crashing or something like that, it’s hard to not take it with you. 
      “But I love being in a different team to him. I feel more relaxed. 
      “In the same team, we’re on the same bike, we’re fighting, it’s something that in the first moment is nice, but later on, it gets hard.”
      And Marc has loved having his brother around him as they’ve travelled the world together every year for each Grand Prix.
      “Having my brother there is one of the coolest things I have in my career and in my life because it’s become a lifestyle,” he says. 
      “To spend your profession with your brother, race the same racetracks, it’s something very special and very nice. And yeah, we’re travelling around the world together. 
      “We are competing against each other, but also I try to help him, and he tries to help me. So this is very nice.”
      Horror crash
      Marc had a horror crash in 2020 and then had many more in the following yearsCredit: Estrella Galicia
      Since Marc’s 2020 crash, he’s suffered complications with the metal plate in his arm, and has been back for surgery twice more, and he’s no longer able to extend his right arm out fully, meaning he finds controlling the bike on corners more difficult.
      A later crash in 2022, during a warm-up session for the Indonesian GP, saw Marc flung from his bike while travelling at 115mph after his rear tyre gave way.
      He suffered concussion and damaged a nerve in his eye after being flung 15 feet in the air, leading him to be diagnosed with diplopia, meaning he was seeing double.
      At the time, BT Sport commentator Gavin Emmett said: “That’s a shocking crash for Marc Marquez. That’s one of the biggest high-sides I’ve seen in 25 years covering this sport.
      “He must have been 12 to 15 feet in the air, the Repsol Honda man.”
      Thought about retiring
      Marc did think about retiring after losing confidence in his abilitiesCredit: Instagram/@marcmarquez93
      And when we spoke to him, he confessed he was starting to lose confidence prior to this year’s GP, and he did think about retiring.
      He says: “I never feel scared but it’s true that sometimes you lose confidence and, in the last races, I crashed many times and then I started to lose more and more confidence, and then, when you lose confidence, you are slower and even more unsafe.
      “These last three years, with the four different injuries, four different situations on the arm, with a lot of injuries, I was thinking about stopping, and saying ‘okay, why am I doing this?’ 
      “But it’s my passion, and I can not imagine, right now, a life without riding a bike, without riding in MotoGP. 
      “So at the moment, it’s my passion and I still feel competitive.”
      Marc and Alex have been sponsored by Estrella Galicia, since 2012, and both tell us how important the relationship with the Spanish, family-run beer brand is to them.
      Marc says: “It’s been such a long relationship, so it’s been very nice to see us grow together. 
      We’ve got bigger and bigger, step by step, and we’ve helped each other a lot.
      “It looks like a very big company, but it’s a family company, and you can feel it.”
      Alex adds: “We’ve had many years together, and they’ve invested in me.
      “It’s really important, especially when you start, in smaller championships, and have less visibility to have help, because you need the money and to pay, because it costs a lot. 
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “So to have them on your side is important.”
      Estrella Galicia 0,0 is the Global Official Beer Partner of MotoGP™.
      Alex and Marc have been sponsored by Estrella Galicia since 2012Credit: Estrella Galicia More

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      in Soccer

      Finally disgraceful Luis Rubiales has resigned but he’s not a ‘good guy’ & it’s not up to him to decide if he assaulted

      by

      FINALLY, Luis Rubiales has jumped. He says he did it because he was becoming a distraction, when in actual fact he became a disgrace.
      Ulrika Jonsson shares her thoughts on Luis Rubiales resigning after he shockingly planted a kiss on Jenni HermosoCredit: Getty
      Most of us had worked that out nearly three weeks ago.
      It’s not that I’m all for sacking people with immediate effect as soon as there is a hint of wrongful behaviour.
      We all make mistakes.
      But Rubiales’ suggestion that he is innocent and “a good guy” just doesn’t cut it, I’m afraid.
      READ MORE ON THE CONTROVERSY
      Of course, he would say that now, wouldn’t he?
      The kiss he planted on Jenni Hermoso’s lips made me audibly wince at the time and sent a shiver down my spine.
      It’s one thing getting caught up in the euphoria of the moment but quite another to actually forcibly land a smacker right on someone’s mouth.
      It was such an invasion of personal space – the grabbing hold of her – just moments after he’d ­grabbed his crotch while sitting alongside the Queen of Spain and her 16-year-old daughter.
      Most read in Football
      What Rubiales has failed to comprehend throughout this drawn-out tale is that it is not for him to decide whether there was any aggression – sexual or otherwise – associated with his actions.
      That is the job of the person on the receiving end.
      Perpetrators do not have the right to say what is and isn’t acceptable.
      Of course, we know football has a problem with women and needs a culture change to get rid of the sexism and misogyny.
      It needs a root-and-branch overhaul.
      Rubiales going is merely a snip at a bough.
      Wrong, but keep it in perspective
      By Laura Dodsworth
      I SYMPATHISE with Jenni Hermoso.
      When I was 21 my first male boss pinned me to a wall at a work do and tried to stick his tongue in my mouth.
      In the words of Hermoso, I did not enjoy it.
      Rubiales’ behaviour was inappropriate, even if it was a genuine expression of Latin exuberance.
      With the cameras rolling and in the face of his high spirits, Hermoso might have felt she had to go along with a kiss she would not have ordinarily consented to.
      But to get some perspective, it was just a second or two, happening after a hug and before a slap on the back.
      Kissing is more typical in some countries (such as Spain) and it is also a jubilant response to success.
      Do you remember Maradona and team-mate Claudio Caniggia sharing a kiss after a goal?
      Gary Neville even gave Paul Scholes a smacker.
      None of these celebratory kisses caused a scandal.
      While they didn’t share the same power imbalance, they could have caused a backlash of a different sort. But they didn’t.
      Rubiales should have reflected more humbly on the impact of this kiss and given an unequivocal apology.
      Yet he steadfastly refused to resign.
      And instead of being seen as a football heroine, Hermoso has been cast as a victim.
      Read More on The Sun
      One problem with the #MeToo scandals in the US was grouping together too wide a spectrum of sexual misbehaviour.
      This kiss has launched Spain’s #MeToo moment, but it shouldn’t ignite a Spanish Inquisition. More