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      in Soccer

      Meet the ‘BAPs’ cheering on England’s Lionesses as World Cup kicks off – including German keeper who beat cancer twice

      by

      ENGLAND’S Lionesses kick off their World Cup bid on Saturday with an opening match against Haiti.The European champions will be looking to do the double and take home football’s biggest prize.
      England players Hannah Hampton, Georgia Stanway, Katie Zelem, Lotte Wubben-Moy, Bethany England, Lucy Bronze and Lauren Hem pose for a photo during a training session in Brisbane this weekCredit: Getty
      Some big names are missing from the team – notably captain Leah Williamson, who was ruled out of the tournament in April after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament.
      Her Arsenal team-mate Beth Mead has the same injury, while Chelsea midfielder Fran Kirby underwent knee surgery.
      But it’s paved the way for some new faces – and their loved ones will be spurring them on along with the rest of the nation.
      Here we take a look at the BAPs – that’s boyfriends and partners – cheering on Sarina Wiegman’s squad as the competition in Brisbane, Australia gets underway.
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      Chloe Kelly
      Chloe Kelly is dating Scott MooreCredit: Instagram/@chloekelly
      Chloe, 25, from Hanwell, west London was hailed a hero when she scored the winning goal in the 110th minute in the Euros final against Germany, after coming off the bench.
      The Manchester City forward – who recently posed in her underwear for a stunning Calvin Klein ad – is dating Scott Moore, a greenkeeper at a golf club.
      The couple – often seen in loved-up snaps on Instagram – have been together for four years and share a cute cockapoo called Otis.
      After England’s Euros victory Scott was seen wearing an England shirt with his girlfriend’s name emblazoned on the back.
      Most read in Football
      Ella Toone
      Ella and her boyfriend Joe Bunney are both footballersCredit: Instagram/@joebunney
      Awkwardly for Man Utd player Ella, 23, her proud boyfriend Joe Bunney, 29, is a devoted City fan.
      But he’s his girlfriend’s “biggest cheerleader”, with a source previously telling The Sun: “Ella and Joe are very much in love and have been together for a while now.
      “They are both from Manchester and have mutual friends who introduced them. Those who know them think they are the perfect pairing.”
      Joe, who has two children from a previous relationship, is also a footballer, having played for EFL clubs including Bolton, Northampton Town and then-League side Rochdale. He currently plays for Stalybridge Celtic.
      Millie Bright
      Millie and Levi have been together for over three yearsCredit: Instagram
      Chelsea defender and England captain Millie, 29, is currently dating American performance-enhancing coach Levi Crew.
      The couple went ‘Instagram official’ with their relationship in October 2020, with Millie calling Levi her “rock and best buddy”.
      She upgraded him to her “king” in a message marking his 30th birthday in 2021.
      It’s not known how they met, but Millie often shares romantic snaps of them holidaying together – and recently posted an Instagram tribute praising his coaching skills.
      Alex Greenwood
      Alex is dating childhood sweetheart Jack O’ConnellCredit: @jackoconnell22
      Man City fullback Alex, 29, is known as the glamour puss of the Lionesses, who’s “very big into her heels, her dresses and her eyelashes” according to teammate Jordan Nobbs.
      She is dating fellow footballer Jack O’Connell, 32, who plays for Sheffield united.  
      The couple both grew up in Merseyside and are childhood sweethearts, having met at Savio Salesian College in Bootle.
      Bethany England
      Beth England and girlfriend Stephanie Williams, with their poochesCredit: Instagram/@bethanyengland4
      As classic example of nominative determinism, Beth England, 29, worked night shifts in a chippy while playing semi-pro before hitting the big time with Chelsea and getting a call up to the national squad.
      She now plays as a forward for Tottenham Hotspur and is in a relationship with footballer Stephanie Williams, 30.
      The pair are believed to have met through the beautiful game and recently enjoyed a luxurious cruise holiday together.
      Though Stephanie does have to share Beth with their beloved pair of Golden Retrievers – Buddy and Dilys.
      Jess Carter
      Jess Carter is dating German goalkeeper Ann-Katrin BergerCredit: Getty
      Chelsea player Jess, 25, has been in a relationship with her teammate Ann-Katrin Berger since 2017, after meeting when she joined Birmingham City in 2016.
      When they met for the first time, Ann-Katrin, 32 – the national goalkeeper for Germany – admitted: “I thought she was arrogant, but as I got to know her, I became drawn into her character.”
      The glam pair, who live together in London, recently posed on the green carpet together at the FIFA Football Awards.
      Ann-Katrin – who beat cancer twice – is also heading to the World Cup, meaning the two women could face each other.
      But it’s likely to cause no drama between them, with Jess telling The Guardian last year: “There wasn’t really any direct competition [during the Euros] because we are both really chilled people.”
      Georgia Stanway
      Georgia is believed to be dating a rugby player, Olly Ashall-BottCredit: Instagram
      Georgia, a midfielder for Bayern Munich, is believed to be in a long-term relationship with rugby league player Olly Ashall-Bott.
      With Olly, 25, playing in France for Toulouse Olympique, the couple are used to long-distance – but he was there to cheer her on at Wembley when England lifted the Euros trophy.
      He wore an England shirt with her name on the back and said afterwards: “I’m just so glad that I got the chance to go see her.
      “I hadn’t caught an England game before because our fixtures didn’t align… I was buzzing and so happy for her and the team.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It sounds weird but it feels like I played in it myself. Because we’re so close, I think I got the same feeling as her – maybe not quite as much but I still feel like I won as well. And sharing moments like that with her is just incredible for me.”
      The couple, who have a house in Widnes, Cheshire, both enjoy fishing in their spare time and share a chocolate brown cockapoo. More

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      in Soccer

      Kalvin Phillips reveals why having a dad in and out of prison drove him on to Premier League glory with Man City

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      FOOTBALLER KALVIN Phillips has just had the most important year of his career, with a £46million move to Manchester City, playing for England in the World Cup and a treble-winning season.But he knows the odds were stacked against him becoming a superstar due to a poverty-stricken childhood with his dad in prison.
      Kalvin Phillips tells how his upbringing has driven him to strive for successCredit: Getty
      Kalvin’s dad Mark has been in and out of prison throughout his life and is currently serving a 12-year sentenceCredit: Prime Video / NEO Studios
      A new Amazon Prime documentary will see Kalvin talk about growing up on a deprived council estateCredit: Instagram
      Mark Phillips, who has been in and out of jail throughout Kalvin’s life for offences involving violence and drugs, is currently serving a 12-year sentence.
      He has missed his son’s meteoric rise from teen academy player to Premier League and England glory.
      Now the former Leeds midfielder has revealed in new Amazon Prime documentary Kalvin Phillips: The Road To City how life on a deprived estate as the eldest of four kids made him determined to succeed.
      Kalvin, 27, says: “My drive is probably from not having a father figure there.
      READ MORE ON MAN CITY
      “I’ve always wanted to make my mum proud.
      “Dad was in and out of prison.
      “It affected our relationship because we didn’t see him all the time.
      ‘I want to have a better relationship with him’
      “When he went away we knew he wasn’t coming back for a while, which was the worst thing.”
      Most read in Football
      Kalvin was born a triplet, although one of the two girls died.
      A 40ft mural of Kalvin appeared in Leeds city centre in 2020Credit: PA
      After his transfer to Man City, Kalvin moved into a plush penthouse apartment with childhood sweetheart Ashleigh BehanCredit: Instagram
      Kalvin speaks about how his dad missed his meteoric rise to Premier League and England gloryCredit: Getty
      Mum Lindsay Crosby, who went on to have another daughter and a younger son, held down two jobs to make ends meet.
      She worked in a cash-and-carry from 9am to 3pm, going home to cook dinner for the four children, then putting in a shift at a pizza takeaway from 7pm to midnight.
      Lindsay also did her best to protect the children from the truth about their dad.
      In the documentary, she explains: “I tried to hide a lot of things from the kids because I didn’t want them to think that this was OK.
      “I used to say he’d gone to work because I didn’t want them to think it was normal to behave like that.”
      The footballer visits the house in Armley, Leeds, where he lived until he was 21, and the pitch where he played for his first team, Wortley, from the age of eight until he was signed to Leeds Academy at 14.
      Best pal Liam Duggan recalls Kalvin’s dad supporting his team between stretches inside.
      He says: “He’d be on the touchline, smoking weed and shouting different things.
      “Kalvin respected his dad a lot.
      “He was the alpha figure and when he wasn’t there, Kalvin took that kind of role.”
      Kalvin rose through the academy ranks and was signed to Leeds United at 19, making his professional debut in 2015 and going on to become one of the club’s most accomplished players.
      In 2020, a 40ft mural of the player, painted by street artist Akse P19, appeared in Leeds city centre.
      “It’s emotional seeing that big mural of his face as you drive through town,” says sister Jade Charlton.
      “It’s crazy. It fills me with pride.”
      While in jail, Mark followed his son’s career with pride and the pair spoke over the phone every couple of weeks.
      Kalvin recalled in an interview with The Times in 2020: “He rang me a couple of weeks after we’d been promoted and said, ‘Listen to this’.
      “All the people who were waiting for a phone call in prison were there, all singing (Leeds anthem) Marching On Together, banging on the walls. It was mad.”
      But as Kalvin honed his footballing skills, he did not reveal to his team-mates that his dad was locked up in Wealstun Prison, just yards from the Leeds training ground.
      Revealing he hasn’t seen his father for seven years, he said: “It was strange, because every time I drove past it I would think about him.
      “When I was young I didn’t want to talk about it but now it’s like, ‘Yeah, my dad’s in prison’. It’s not that big a deal.”
      After his transfer to Manchester City, Kalvin moved in to a plush penthouse apartment overlooking the club’s Etihad Stadium with childhood sweetheart Ashleigh Behan.
      He says in the documentary: “I never thought I’d be so lucky as to live in a house like this, especially if you compare them to where I lived when I was younger.”
      But the programme shows how he dislocates his shoulder 30 minutes into his first game for City — and during his seven-week recovery, thoughts turn to his dad.
      He says: “He’s been in for so long.
      “I don’t want him to think he’s got nowt when he comes out, when obviously we’ve done so well and I’ve done so well.
      “When my dad comes out I just want to try and have a better relationship with him so he doesn’t feel like he’s missed out.”
      Kalvin reveals his guilt at not visiting Mark in prison for seven years.
      He says: “I could have done more to see my dad but I’m very busy and, to be fair, he has said he doesn’t like us to visit him because he doesn’t like us to see him in prison and he doesn’t want us to be in the environment.
      ‘My nan is the only reason why I’m here’
      “Obviously he’s made some wrong decisions but I don’t judge him for them because I’ve heard about the upbringing he had, and it was tough.
      “When he was younger my dad was racially abused all the time — he’s told me that himself.”
      Kalvin also talks about his beloved ‘Granny Val’ who helped raise him and his three siblingsCredit: Instagram
      The £8million-a-year Manchester City star also visits the grave of his beloved “Granny Val”, who helped raise him and his three siblings.
      She died two years ago from Covid and the family were not allowed to visit her in hospital in person because of lockdown, though they made video calls.
      Kalvin says: “I miss my nan every day.
      “I owe Granny Val probably everything that I’ve got right now.
      “I remember her being in hospital and struggling to breathe and we were saying, ‘we love you’.
      “Everyone was very emotional on that call.
      “We knew that was the last time we’d see our gran’s face.
      “If I could give away all my money to spend another hour with her, I would do that.
      “She’s the only reason why I’m here.”
      Throughout the hour-long special, filmed over a year, Kalvin comes across as down-to-earth as he chats to fans and poses with them for selfies outside the Etihad Stadium.
      He says: “I was a very shy kid but if I asked anyone for an autograph, even if they said no, I was starstruck.
      “So if anyone asks me I will go out of my way to sign an autograph or pose for a photo because I remember what it was like to be that kid.”
      In a telling moment, Kalvin returns to his home turf of Elland Road in Leeds, shortly after being labelled “overweight” by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and left out of December’s Carabao Cup game against Liverpool.
      He is taunted by fans chanting: “You’re too fat to play for Leeds.”
      But while many Premier League players might have reacted badly to the slur, cheeky Kalvin smiles and applauds the crowd for their jibes.
      Childhood friend Liam insists fame and fortune have not turned his head.
      He says: “Kalvin’s got amazing talent and he’s come from nothing.
      “He’s worked for what he’s got and he’s never changed.
      “That’s a great example for kids that are wanting to follow in his footsteps.”
      After a rocky start at City, rumours are rife that he could be moving on again before next season, possibly to replace Declan Rice following his move from West Ham to Arsenal.
      Yet wherever he is playing in two years’ time, he’ll be looking out for a very special spectator in the crowd.
      The documentary culminates with Kalvin visiting his dad in prison for the first time in seven years — and he is keen to make up for lost time when Mark is released.
      Kalvin says: “He’s only got two more years in the prison and he’s told me exactly what he wants to do when he gets out, which is to come and watch football, and that’s one thing I can help him do.
      Read More on The Sun
      “It will be nice because I’ve not had him there for such a long time.”

      Kalvin Phillips: The Road To City is available on Amazon Prime from tomorrow More

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      in Soccer

      Lionesses winning Euros last summer was wonderful – here’s three reasons why we should roar them on again at World Cup

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      IF I tell you I have a hunch about a sporting event, then have a hunch of your own that the opposite will happen. I have a terrible track record with these things.But last year I got something right.
      Alessia Russo’s stunning surprise backheel against Sweden in the semi-finalCredit: Getty
      Ace Chloe Kelly celebrates her winnerCredit: PA
      The Lionesses gatecrash the press conference and partyCredit: Getty
      I wrote in The Sun that England’s women would win the Euros.
      And they did. Thrillingly, miraculously, brilliantly, inspiringly . . . they only went and did it.
      There were a trio of Three Lionesses moments which are right up there with anything our men have done. Moments which changed everything.
      Oh the joy of Russo’s backheel in the semi-final.
      Read More on Football
      Very occasionally a player will do something which no one sees coming. They sell a dummy which everyone buys.
      Their teammates, their opponents, the commentators, the cameras, the crowd and the TV audience all look for the ball to go one way, but it goes ­somewhere else.
      No matter how many times you watch it back, Alessia Russo’s backheel takes you by surprise.
      This was the moment even the most cynical, not-for-me women’s football refusenik went “Oof! Wow! OK.”
      Most read in Football
      Then there was Chloe Kelly’s winner in the final. By then we were so into it.
      Earlier, as we became true believers, it dawned on us that while everything was different, it could all yet turn out the same.
      Same old England, sure to lose in the end, to Germany, inevitably.
      But no! Into the net went the ball and over her head came Chloe’s shirt. Iconic.
      This was the moment we knew the Lionesses were different.
      They were winners. And we all felt like winners too.
      And then there was the invasion of the press ­conference.
      The all-singing, all-dancing, conga of ­mischief and joy.
      This was the moment we were reminded that, at its great beating heart, football is actually about, you know, having fun.
      Total ­uninhibited happiness.
      Great, great times.
      And this week we go again.
      Conga of ­mischief and joy
      It’s going to be harder this time.
      Not just because it’s the World Cup, nor because it’s happening a world away in a land down under.
      No, it’s because now England expects.
      Success creates its own pressure.
      And this means they need us to get behind them more than ever before.
      They gave us something wonderful last summer and now, in a sense, we need to give them something back.
      Someone once said that success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan.
      True that. We need to demonstrate that we’ve not been fairweather friends to our Lionesses.
      We need to be with them all the way.
      We can’t bide our time and wait for a moment of glory to be within our grasp.
      They need us right behind them from the off. They need us now.
      Shirt-shedding
      And it’s not just about the World Cup either.
      Last week Karen Carney, former Lioness midfielder and chair of a major review into the women’s game, published her report.
      It’s not a back-patting, look-how-far-we’ve-come exercise.
      It’s much more important than that.
      Her call is for the top two tiers of women’s football to be made fully professional; for a new regular broadcast slot on television; for better investment, better facilities, higher standards all around.
      This isn’t romantic stuff about backheels, shirt-shedding or crazy congas.
      This is the gritty, tricky, challenging stuff needing to be done to get more girls playing, and more women winning, in the environments they’ve earned the right to enjoy.
      There’s 126 pages to this report, and it’s well worth a read, but Karen sums it up rather neatly for us in just a few words.
      “Nothing can take away from our great achievements,” she says.
      “But it is like Instagram vs reality, and the latter is worrying and we need to address it.”
      She’s right. The Instagram posts tell a story of shiny new success with money to match.
      The reality is huge areas of the women’s game underfunded and underloved. The poor relation.
      The seeds of failure are often sown in times of success.
      Power is in our hands
      It would be all too easy for us to say, “Oh yeah, women’s football. Love it! I get it! We’re brilliant! Job done!”
      Never mind the facilities, let’s just admire that backheel again.
      Even if the Lionesses win the World Cup and conga all the way home with the trophy, the gap between Instagram and reality won’t be closed.
      If anything, it will be wider. The ­Instagrams will look even glossier, and the reality will change barely a jot.
      A massive opportunity could go ­begging, and that would be a dreadful thing.
      So what, you might ask, can we, the fans, do to close Karen’s Instagram vs reality gap?
      Well, much of it, to do with finance and administration and business planning, we have no direct control of.
      But the power is still in our hands.
      Because if we carry on seeing the power and potential of the women’s game, and stick with it, and demand ­better, all the good stuff will follow.
      Read More on The Sun
      More than ever before, at this World Cup and way beyond, everyone from the Lionesses to the little girl in the park wanting a kickabout, need our backing.
      Let’s do this. More

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      in Soccer

      I live next to world’s oldest football stadium – there are crazy benefits but I often get soaked when I sit in my garden

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      IT is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world.And residents living next to Mansfield Town’s One Call Stadium are having a ball – even if it means one occasionally lands in their garden.
      Mandy Colley, 49, whose house is next to the away supporters stand of Mansfield Town’s football groundCredit: Raymonds Press
      One Call Stadium – known by fans as the Field Mill – is thought to be the oldest professional football ground in the world
      In the heart of the Nottinghamshire town’s former mining community, the historic ground – formerly known as the Field Mill and dating back as far as 1850 – is slapped bang in the middle of tightly-packed Victorian housing.
      It means that on match days, locals can hear 6,000 fans celebrating a goal from their back yard – and face the double threat of rogue balls and water from the pitch sprinklers ruining sunbathing sessions.

      But there are also unique benefits, including free match tickets in seasons past and the annual spectacle of a dazzling fireworks display.
      As part of our summer series, Life’s a Pitch, which looks at life next to Britain’s weirdest and most wonderful stadiums, we took a trip down to the League Two side’s home turf.
      Read More in Sport
      Tracey Anne Pepper, 56, lives on Lord Street, where houses back on to one side of the One Call.
      The resident of 30 years says: “I absolutely love living here. We are quite lucky because although we are right next to the ground, we don’t get big crowds of people walking up here.
      “But on most match days you will get a handful of away fans wandering around looking a bit lost as they think they will be able to get in.
      “It’s also fun when balls come over during a match. They bounce down the road and people have been known to grab them before anyone comes around to collect them then pretend they didn’t see anything.
      Most read in Football
      Tracey Anne Pepper, 56, says you used to get a free match ticket if a ball landed in your gardenCredit: Raymonds Press
      The 6,000 seater ground overlooks Victorian terracesCredit: Raymonds Press
      “In the past you used to get a free match ticket if you handed back a match ball, but that ended a while ago.
      “But the best thing is probably the atmosphere. If you are a Mansfield fan like me it’s great when you hear a goal go in. The roar is so loud and it really lifts you. You don’t even need to check on your phone or the radio if there has been a goal.”
      Last season Mansfield Town finished eighth in League Two, narrowly missing the play-offs, which would have given them the chance of getting promoted.
      The Stags’ only cup win came when they lifted the English Football League trophy back in 1987, but their loyal fanbase has stuck with them through thick and thin, with a record 5,000 season tickets sold ahead of the upcoming season.
      ‘Like it’s raining’
      Mandy Connolly, 49, lives right next to the ground, and her back garden is just 30 yards from the away stand, with just a fence separating them.
      She’s so close that the pitch sprinklers reach her garden – ruining sunbathing sessions.
      Mandy said: “If you’re not into football, I can see that it might be a bit annoying. But I like it – although I am a Leicester City fan, not Mansfield – so I find living here really interesting.
      “There are loads of funny little things you get when your house is next to a football ground. I can sit in my garden and see the fans in the away end leaping up and down if they score.
      “I have been here six years and had four balls in my garden in that time. Any that aren’t collected I give to local kids, which absolutely delights them.
      “When they water the pitch with the sprinklers it comes into my garden – sometimes it’s like it’s raining, and I have to get my washing in off the line.
      “The pitch is also used as a helipad at times, which must be the owner flying in and out. It’s fascinating to watch the helicopters as they land and take off.
      “And we get a free firework display every bonfire night as the club always hosts a really spectacular one.”
      The cul-de-sac means fans don’t crowd the roads on match days, although you still see the floodlightsCredit: Raymonds Press
      An annual fireworks display divides residentsCredit: mansfieldtownfc/twitter
      While parking can be an issue for those living close to other stadiums on match days, Mansfield locals insist it’s not a problem.
      Lord Street is a cul-de-sac, meaning there is no entrance to the stadium, and since it is so close to the town centre, the council has imposed a residents-only permit system.
      Hotel worker Lesleigh Butler, 36, said: “I’ve been here seven years and have never had a problem.
      When they water the pitch with the sprinklers it comes into my garden – sometimes it’s like it’s raining, and I have to get my washing in off the lineMandy Connolly, local resident
      “The only thing I actually don’t like is the firework display, because the street is left covered in firework casings.
      “Other than that the atmosphere is good and if Mansfield are doing well in the league or cup there is a good feeling on the street because you all feel part of it, living so close.
      “So really we have a lot of the benefits of living next to a stadium, without the negatives like traffic, crowds or litter.
      “A few years ago they were talking about buying up all the houses at the top end of the street so they could redevelop the Bishop Street Stand – but that seems to have gone quiet.
      “A lot of them are owned by people who have been here for years though – which shows it is a nice place to live.”
      Mandy Tolley, 52, works in the Sandy Pate sports bar at the ground.
      Read More on The Sun
      She said: “It’s perfect for me because I can roll out of bed and get straight to work.
      “I’m not a Mansfield fan – you have supporters of all different teams living on this street. But everyone gets on, and overall it’s a pretty happy place.” More

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      in Soccer

      Inside Man City legend Jack Grealish’s epic month long boozy bender from Champions League triumph to Ibiza partying

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      SINCE Jack Grealish belted out a version of Everywhere by Fleetwood Mac to celebrate Man City winning the Champions League, he has stayed true to his word.The £100million winger, 27, has been all over the world in party mood after a treble- winning season.
      Jack Grealish, pictured with girlfriend Sasha Attwood, has been all over the world in party mood after a treble- winning season
      On his tour of holiday hotspots, Jack, whose girlfriend Sasha Attwood is on a break in Italy, has taken his bucket hat and spade to Ibiza twice.
      He has also had a ball in Las Vegas, the South of France, Malta and Manchester after the heady Champions League final celebrations in Turkey last month.
      GRANT ROLLINGS imagines the party boy’s postcards from his ultimate bender.
      Istanbul, June 10
      WHAT a night! I’m still buzzing from that win over Inter Milan.
      read more on jack grealish
      It all started with a few cans of Heineken as we passed the European Cup around.
      Jack Grealish after Man City won the European trophy
      Did I really sing Don’t Look Back In Anger with the lads in the dressing room?
      It should really have been Champagne Supernova.
      Not sure why I took so much luggage with me.
      Most read in Football
      I didn’t need all those designer shirts after all.
      I was still in my City top at six o’clock the next morning, living it up with the big man, Haaly.
      Desperately needed fresh air.
      Took a nice nap with the trophy on the plane.
      Ibiza, June 11
      ONLY nine hours in Ibiza, going to have to hit it hard.
      Fuel up with some grub at Tatel, a nice little diner by the beach, before heading to Pacha to party with Fodey.
      Jack partied hard in Ibiza in MayCredit: Splash
      Four hours in the club.
      Kyley (Walker that is, not Minogue) gave me a shoulder to lean on when we left the hotel the next morning.
      Some cheeky so- and-so even offered me a wheelchair at the airport.
      Good job I had some shades to hide the red eyes.
      Manchester, June 12
      HONESTLY, like, what time is it? Got my Dolce & Gabbana jim-jams on and it’s dark out.
      Been at a nightclub, again. Up on the stage singing to the crowd.
      Jack on the open-top bus during the Manchester City trophy paradeCredit: Getty
      Only a few hours ago I was in the centre of Manchester on a bus.
      Makes a change from the Lamborghini.
      This coach didn’t have a proper roof on it, but there was lots of booze.
      Lads drenched me in bubbly, so I had to take my shirt off. Just for a change.
      Malta, June 15
      REALLY needed some r&r, so it was nice to chill out for a few days at a training camp with the England boys.
      Then I jumped on a plane in Birmingham and it was off to Malta for the Euro qualifier.
      Jack boarding the plane as the England team travel to MaltaCredit: Getty
      Gareth didn’t play me.
      Something about my ability to down shots not being a relevant criteria in the fitness test.
      Still, it was wicked to cheer on the boys from the stands – and add another stamp to my passport.
      Las Vegas, June 20-26
      WHAT happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, right?
      Six days in the party capital of the world, showing off my moves at Zouk nightclub.
      Jack poses with air hostess Yasmine
      Had my photo taken with a lovely air hostess called Yasmine.
      Off to see the missus next in France.
      South of France, end of June
      THIS spot is right swanky – it’s all chandeliers and silk.
      The marble is almost as well sculpted as my six pack, which I’ve been told not to show off so much at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc.
      Jack in the South of France at the end of JuneCredit: Instagram @jackgrealish
      Food portions are a bit stingy – even less calories than Pep lets us eat.
      Great to be back with Sasha for a few days. The Press call it an on/off relationship.
      I’m not sure that’s fair, just because I’m off to Ibiza next without her.
      Ibiza again, July 5
      IT’S hot, hot, hot and the air hostesses here are super-friendly.
      I had a bit of a dance with one called Dolly.
      Jack was back in Ibiza at the beginning of JulyCredit: The Mega Agency
      Jack was seen partying with different girls in IbizaCredit: The Mega Agency
      But I doubt anyone noticed me as I popped on a baseball cap and some cool, white circular shades and enjoyed chatting to some girls.
      Best to keep things low key I reckon.
      I also bumped into Wayno – no, not Rooney.
      I mean Wayne Lineker. We might have had more shots than his brother Gary.
      Some people say I shouldn’t hit the deck so much.
      Read More on The Sun
      But they obviously haven’t heard me DJing!
      Jack also met up with Wayne LinekerCredit: Instagram
      Next stop…Far East
      PEP’s fixed a nice little trip to Japan and South Korea…I might even play some football. More

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      I’m an F1 expert – I know exactly why stars Like Cara Delevingne and Tom Cruise are making the starting grid a hot spot

      by

      MOVE over Cannes, take a running jump Ascot . . . the new place for any self-respecting celebrity to be seen at is Formula 1.The hallowed grid, where drivers prepare for the race, is a hotspot like no other, with incredible access to the sport’s top drivers such as Lewis Hamilton and Max Verstappen.
      Shakira was one of the many celebs seen at the Formula 1 grid this yearCredit: NICOLAS GERARDIN
      Tom Cruise was seen with Shakira at the 2023 Miami Formula One Grand PrixCredit: AFP
      And the 2023 season has seen it flooded with A-listers, from Tom Cruise, Kylie Minogue and Paris Hilton to Cara Delevingne, Shakira and Brad Pitt.
      Last weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone was packed with celebs and, in a bizarre moment, even had Homeland actor Damian Lewis singing the national anthem.
      But while the stars add an even glitzier veneer to the world’s most dangerous sport, not all are willing to play the game.
      Cara’s cringeworthy refusal to speak to F1’s legendary roving reporter and former driver Martin Brundle was blasted “rude”.
      read more on f1
      Here, two people who know all about it – our Formula 1 correspondent Ben Hunt and former grid girl Lizzie Cundy – explain why the high-octane sport is No1 for showbiz royalty.
      ACCESS to the grid before a Formula 1 race is rather like walking out on the pitch before the Champions League Final.
      It marks one of the most exclusive areas on the planet. A rare opportunity for the worlds of F1 drivers to collide with Hollywood A-listers, sport stars and politicians.
      You are only allowed on to the grid if you are invited.
      Most read in Motorsport
      You cannot buy the passes that gain you entry, that’s not how it works.
      Brad Pitt filmed scenes for a new movie at the British Grand Prix in SilverstoneCredit: Splash
      And I’ve had the privilege to do it for the past 11 years as The Sun’s F1 correspondent.
      I’ve seen them all, from Pele to Pamela Anderson, Arnold Schwarzenegger to Sir Elton John — and many better examples.
      But in recent years, under the ownership of Liberty Media and fresh off the wave of popularity created by Netflix’s Drive To Survive show, the list of A-listers is growing.
      Last Sunday’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone was a peculiar mix of The Speaker of the House of Commons and Eurovision singer Sam Ryder.
      The idea is that celebrities are allowed on to the grid to see the cars and the drivers before they set off on their two-hour race.
      It is good for them to get the experience, it is good for F1 to have them associated with the sport, with the images beamed across the world.
      Usually, the guests are invited by the F1 teams to the races and then F1 chiefs will in turn offer them access to the grid.
      They are ushered on a few minutes before the national anthem while a team of mechanics put the finishing touches to their race cars.
      It is an assault on the senses. It is hectic.
      The mechanics and engineers are running through their checks while the engines are fired into life, prompting people to press their hands over their ears to deaden the noise.
      Then there are the additional engines powering air-blowers used to cool the cars’ radiators.
      There’s smell of fuel and usually the heat coming off the cars and from the asphalt below your feet.
      Sometimes it is all too much and I bail out, such is the crush of mechanics going about their business and the TV crews seeking out their interviews.
      The grid interviews have long been a part of Formula 1.
      The broadcasters had traditionally focused on the drivers. But now, the celebrities are fair game, too.
      It reached a point in 2021 when Megan Thee Stallion had an awkward exchange with Sky F1’s Martin Brundle.
      Cara Delevingne’s reluctance to be interviewed on Sunday was another toe-curling moment of live TV.
      The reality is, these celebrities should be made aware of the enormity of the experience of being allowed on the grid.
      F1 says it makes it clear to their guests TV interviewers will seek an opportunity to speak to them and encourage the celebrities to agree to their requests.
      But the fact is, for the best part, it is a brilliant experience.
      I just can’t wait to see who is on the grid for the inaugural Las Vegas Grand Prix later in the year, which promises to be the biggest show on Earth.
      ‘ONLY ELITE GET IN’
      LIZZIE CUNDY, 55, worked as a grid girl at Silverstone from 1988 to 1996.
      Here, she reveals just how glamorous being at a Formula 1 race has always been . . . 
      Lizzie Cundy worked as a grid girl at Silverstone from 1988 to 1996Credit: Getty
      “AS a former Wag, I’ve been to every big, glamorous sporting event you could go to.
      But I’ve never known anything quite like Formula 1.
      These drivers are risking their lives and it’s so fast, so scary. And the noise . . .  there’s just something so special about it all.
      With the likes of Brad Pitt and Cara Delevingne attending this year’s event, you can see how glamorous and super-wealthy you have to be to get in.
      Only the elite get to go.
      I was lucky enough to work as a grid girl and experience the lifestyle with my own eyes, every year for eight years.
      As well as the talented racing drivers, including Ayrton Senna, we would see loads of cricketers and footballers, as well as Hollywood actors, all coming to watch the race.
      Read More on The Sun
      We’d also work at the celebrity races too, and there would always be a big party in the evening in this huge marquee, which was loads of fun.
      There would always be so many famous faces. Anyone who was anyone was there, and it just made you feel so special.”
      Cara Delevingne had a cringeworthy moment when she refused to speak to F1’s roving reporter Martin BrundleCredit: Getty
      Kylie Minogue at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas at the Formula 1 Monaco Grand PrixCredit: BackGrid More

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      Rudest ever Formula 1 celebs as Cara Delevingne is slammed – including Hollywood legend’s excruciating gaffe at Miami GP

      by

      DRIVING an F1 car might look like the hardest job on the track.But try being the guy desperately chasing moody celebs around it before lights out.
      Martin Brundle got the cold shoulder from Cara Delevingne this weekendCredit: Sky Sports F1
      Presenter Martin Brundle has become the master of the awkward grid walk, with his run-in with Cara Delevingne over the weekend going viral.
      The Formula One legend, 64, was brutally snubbed by the supermodel and her team when he tried to stop her for a chat, leading him to quip: “I’m sure it would have been extremely interesting.”
      Cara was then slammed by fans for her “garbage behaviour” and forced to clarify on social media that she had been told not to talk.
      At least she can take comfort from the fact that she’s far from the only prickly star to give poor Martin a hard time.

      Grovelling apology
      During the Miami Grand Prix last year, Martin was keen to chat with Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt, who was conducting some research for his upcoming film about the sport.
      When Martin approached him to ask about the project, Brad, 59, appeared to be in a rush to get away from him, saying the film was top secret.
      As the broadcaster attempted to get more out of him, Brad just ignored him with a brief “Thank you, man” and breezed past him.
      Needless to say this didn’t go down well with Formula 1 fans who slammed Brad, saying he should have known who Martin was.
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      Brad Pitt snubbed Martin but has since made efforts to apologise
      The actor was at Silverstone yesterday for his upcoming Formula One movieCredit: Getty
      It was later revealed that the Oscar-nominated actor had sent a note to Martin explaining why he was unable to stop for a chat.
      He has since gone even further, offering Martin a cameo in the film and sitting down for a gushing interview ahead of the British Grand Prix this week.
      Grovelling much, Brad?
      Double fault
      Serena Williams indicated to Martin that she couldn’t stop for a chatCredit: Getty
      Serena Williams boasts quick feet on the tennis court – and it seems on the tarmac, too.
      When Martin spotted the tennis legend at the US Grand Prix in 2021, he said: “Venus (Williams) wasn’t that keen to talk to me five years ago, I don’t know if I’ll get a double fault or an ace.”
      After waiting for her to finish a conversation, he asked her: “Serena, are you good for a chat? Martin Brundle, British TV.”
      But the 41-year-old coolly indicated she had to be somewhere else, prompting Martin to remark: “It’s a double fault, it’s a double fault.”
      After his encounter with Serena, Martin chose to avoid her altogether at the Miami Grand Prix earlier this year when he breezed past her.
      Mission impossible
      Martin had a quick chat to Tom Cruise at last year’s British Grand PrixCredit: Sky
      Tom Cruise gave very brief answers to Martin’s questionsCredit: Reuters
      Martin had an awkward run-in with Tom Cruise at last year’s British Grand Prix.
      It wasn’t the warmest reception from the Hollywood superstar, who appeared to be keen to get away and gave the briefest of answers to Martin’s questions.
      When Martin congratulated him on the success of his latest Top Gun movie and asked who he was rooting for, Tom replied: “Lewis [Hamilton] always. I love to watch him racing and he’s a good friend of mine. Hopefully, he has a great day.”
      While the actor smiled and clapped Martin on the arm with every answer, he was later criticised for not stopping to give more of his time.
      After the quick chat Martin quipped: “Got pushed around a bit. But he was lovely. Would have liked to have talked to him for a bit longer.”
      Earlier this year Martin revealed he was banned from speaking to Tom on the grid at the Miami GP.
      Awkward burn
      Red Bull boss Christian Horner made a cheeky gag at MartinCredit: YouTube/ Kaushalya KauBoy Prabuddha
      Christian Horner is known for being one of the more outspoken Formula 1 bosses, never afraid to speak his mind.
      But at the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix he got a taste of his own medicine when he tried to throw shade at Martin during an interview.
      Hyping up the incredible Marina Bay track, Christian told him: “It’s a shame you’re too old to have driven here really. You would have liked it.”
      Sharp-tongued Martin hit back: “I am too old, shame you weren’t fast enough to get to Formula 1.” Ouch.
      ‘Learn some manners’
      A member of Megan Thee Stallion’s team barged Martin away when he tried to talk to herCredit: Getty
      At the 2021 US Grand Prix, Martin had yet another clash with a celebrity – this time Grammy Award-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion.
      It all kicked off when Martin asked Megan whether she had a rap about the occasion, to which she responded bluntly “no”.
      When he tried to ask more questions, a member of her security team rudely barged him out of the way – leaving F1 fans fuming.
      Martin later took to Twitter, writing: “I have felt under pressure on the grid before but by people called Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Mansell, Piquet, and so on.
      “Bodyguards visiting the grid for the first time don’t bother me, everyone’s got a job to do, but they could maybe learn some manners and respect on our patch.”
      Star rejection
      Owen Wilson rejected Martin at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012Credit: Sky
      Owen n wasn’t up for much of a chat with MartinCredit: Getty
      One of Martin’s most memorable celebrity snubs happened at the Malaysian Grand Prix in 2012, when Owen Wilson clearly wasn’t in the mood for a chat.
      The Night At The Museum star rejected Martin twice, even turning his back on him at one point, before he managed to get a word in.
      When Martin finally managed to get his attention, and asked whether he had been to a race before, Owen gave the deadpan reply: “I went to one in Spain last year,” before walking off.
      Clearly miffed, Martin said: “Owen Wilson at his second Grand Prix, always interesting to know.”
      ‘No comprende’
      Footie star Roberto Carlos told Martin he doesn’t speak EnglishCredit: Sky
      At the 2003 Spanish Grand Prix, Martin was excited when he spotted then-Real Madrid star Roberto Carlos on the grid.
      Asking if he’d be able to have a quick chat for British TV, Roberto, 50, responded in a high-pitched voice: “I don’t understand English.”
      But that didn’t stop Martin probing for gossip on the rumours that David Beckham was set to move to Real Madrid from Manchester United.
      Although Carlos didn’t utter a word, the look on his face spoke volumes and Martin walked away with a smile, joking: “That’s good, ‘no comprende’.” 
      Confusing stars
      Martin thought he was interviewing Patrick Mahomes at the Miami Grand Prix in 2022Credit: Sky
      At the Miami Grand Prix in 2022, Martin suffered an epic blunder when he confused Paolo Banchero, one of the NBA’s hottest stars, for Patrick Mahomes.
      It made for a pretty awkward interview but thankfully, Paolo saw the funny side.
      Read More on The Sun
      Paolo and Patrick later had a good laugh about the encounter on Twitter at Martin’s expense.
      The two men are noticeably different in stature – Paolo is 6ft 10in, while Patrick is 6ft 3in – and both play completely different sports, as Patrick is an NFL star. More

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      I live by Silverstone – F1 fans always knock on our door for annoying reason… it led to funny encounter with Katie Price

      by

      IAN and Sharon Horwood hoped for a quiet life away from the hustle and bustle when they settled in a quaint village in Buckinghamshire.  The last thing they expected was glamour model Katie Price banging down their door and asking to use the toilet.
      The village of Silverstone, near the infamous race track, will be abuzz this weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      Preparations for this Sunday’s British Grand Prix were well underway when The Sun visited this weekCredit: Dan Jones
      But the bizarre incident was just one of the strange encounters they have faced while living next to the Silverstone racetrack, where the Formula One British Grand Prix is held every year.
      Katie – then known by her model name Jordan – was caught short in the 1990s while stuck in the gridlocked traffic that used to snake past their cul-de-sac.  
      She had earlier been straddling a race car wearing a yellow swimsuit.
      Shaking his head at the memory, father-of-three Ian, 60, recalls: “Typical me, I was asleep on the couch when it happened.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      “I woke up to hear someone saying, ‘Jordan is using our toilet’.
      “I couldn’t believe my ears. The kids had been out on the street waving at the passing cars and asking for flags.
      “Jordan called out to them, saying she needed to use the loo.
      “The traffic was terrible at the time and it would be blocked for hours in both directions as there were so many cars.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Local residents say the noise from the track does carry depending on the wind directionCredit: Dan Jones
      Ian and Sharon Horwood say fans often knock on their door asking to use the toiletCredit: Dan Jones
      “She must have been desperate. The kids let her into the house and the rest is history.
      “I will forever be able to tell people, ‘Katie Price sat on my toilet’.”
      The incident took place when reality star Katie, now 45, worked as a Formula 1 grid girl, famously straddling one of Irish businessman Eddie Jordan’s yellow race cars as a publicity stunt.
      In 1998 she posed for a similar shot at the Silverstone Circuit with fellow glamour girls Melinda Messenger and Emma Noble.
      Eddie, who ran the race team Jordan GP team between 1991 and 2005, credited the ploy with creating a boom in motorsport.
      In 2017, he said: “The idea was it should be fun. Motor racing is a very serious business, very commercial and it needs to have a very respectable return on the investment.
      “But at the same time, it also needed to show flair, excitement and all of the other razzmatazz that goes with racing.
      “We had all the major models at the time, they were so keen to get into the yellow swimsuits. Katie Price, she was the catalyst.”
      Katie Price (centre) is among the people who have stopped at the Horwoods’ house asking to use their toiletCredit: PA:Press Association
      The traffic in neighbouring villages becomes grid-locked during the F1 weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      For the Horwoods, the increased interest has hugely affected life in the village of Dadford, which sits right on the perimeter, and where they have lived for the past 38 years.
      Sharon explained: “People knock on the door and ask to use the toilet all the time when there is a big race on.
      “For the most part we don’t mind. Some people staying overnight on the campsite next door will even ask for essentials like milk or tea or whatever.
      “But there are certain annoyances.
      I will forever be able to tell people, ‘Katie Price sat on my toilet’Ian Horwood, Silverstone resident
      “The campsite can turn into a big party at night with people drinking and playing music.
      “The traffic used to be a nightmare and it would be impossible to get anywhere on event days, but it’s much better since they introduced the dual carriageway down the road.”
      Maintenance supervisor Ian added: “Overall, we don’t mind living next to Silverstone. The noise from the track isn’t too bad as long as the wind isn’t blowing in this direction.
      “But we do wish they weren’t such stingy b*****s when it comes to giving out free tickets to local residents.
      “We only get them for the Classics, never for the Grand Prix.”
      Thousands of fans will descend on Silverstone this weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      Locals in the village say festival goers bring a lot of business their wayCredit: Dan Jones
      When the Sun visited Silverstone on Wednesday, the long weekend motorsport festival was already getting underway ahead of the race on Sunday.
      F1 fans were ordering pints at The White Horse pub well before midday and a jolly atmosphere was building on the sun-dappled streets.
      One local said: “For the most part, the festival goers are alright and they do bring a lot of business to the village.
      “But we do have a problem with traffic and people parking in places they aren’t supposed to.
      For the most part, the festival goers are alright and they do bring a lot of business to the village. But we do have a problem with trafficSilverstone local resident
      “You occasionally see vehicles three deep in the middle of the street because their owners have given up looking for a parking spot.”
      Bed and Breakfast owner Mark Henry, 70, and his partner Leslie Chaplin, 66, have found an innovative solution to coping with the influx.
      They run the ‘Chaos Arms’ pub in their back garden on race days, with an Elvis tribute act performing and last orders not until 11.30pm.
      Mark has become known as ‘Captain Chaos’ since starting the charity night 10 years ago.
      Mark Henry and Leslie Chaplin set up a ‘pub’ in their back garden during the F1 weekendCredit: Dan Jones
      The couple have run the ‘Chaos Arms’ pub charity event for 10 yearsCredit: Dan Jones
      He said: “It started off small but now we get up to 100 people here some nights.
      “I’m called Captain Chaos because it’s always chaotic and I leave everything to the last minute.
      “But my attitude is, we are stuck here and we have got to live with Silverstone being on our doorstep, we might as well have a party.
      “I know other residents have started making money by renting out their drives – I think for £50 for the weekend, which is half the cost of official parking.
      “But there are downsides to living here. The traffic can be terrible and this year they are closing the road next to my B&B, so I don’t know if we are going to be able to get in and out.
      My attitude is, we are stuck here and we have got to live with Silverstone being on our doorstep, we might as well have a partyMark Henry aka ‘Captain Chaos’, Silverstone resident
      “But we always have a laugh running the pub – people really look forward to it.”
      Construction worker Colin Stanbrook, 66, and his wife Lyn, 67, are two residents that are lucky enough to get free tickets to the GP.
      That is because Lyn works on the parish council that regularly has meetings with the race organisers.
      Colin said: “We’ve got tickets in the VIP ‘Legends’ section this year, which cost about £500 each.
      “Me and my son went last year and you’re sitting directly above the track and get free food and drink but it’s hard to impossible to meet the drivers. 
      Colin Stanbrook and his wife Lyn are two residents that are lucky enough to get free tickets to the GPCredit: Dan Jones
      Most residents say they wish organisers would give out free tickets to the F1 weekend to localsCredit: Dan Jones
      “Lewis Hamilton actually got booed last year and the reason was that while the other drivers waved as they went past, he didn’t even stop and people had waited hours to see him.”
      Author Gordon Blackwell, 80, also lives next to the sprawling Silverstone Circuit, which straddles the Northamptonshire and Buckinghamshire border and is accessed from the nearby A43. 
      He and his wife Doreen, 78, are old enough to remember the first British GP held there in 1948.
      Gordon has written three books on Silverstone and counted legendary race driver Sir Stirling Moss as a friend until he passed away in 2020.
      Lewis Hamilton is a good driver but it’s just not like the good old daysGordon Blackwell, long-time Silverstone resident
      He said: “I actually went to the second Grand Prix when I was about seven. I can just about remember it.
      “Later, when I grew up, I worked for the circuit for about 30 years. I worked on the gate and later in the archive room until I retired.
      “It used to be that you could stroll around the paddocks and watch the drivers working and ask for their autographs.
      “Stirling Moss was a friend. I met him at the British Racing Drivers Club. He would pop into the village and speak to people and there was much more of a community feeling back then.
      “It’s not like that now and I’ve lost interest in racing, to be honest.  
      Read More On The Sun
      “Lewis Hamilton is a good driver but it’s just not like the good old days. Drivers like him never have the time to meet with people like us.”
      Gordon Blackwell, pictured with his wife Doreen, worked at the Silverstone circuit for 30 yearsCredit: Dan Jones
      Some residents complained about the noise from a nearby campsite used by festival goersCredit: Dan Jones
      Road closures are a nuisance for Silverstone residentsCredit: Dan Jones More