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      in Soccer

      I’m UK’s oldest football fan – if Grimsby Town reach FA Cup final on my 101th birthday it’ll be the best present ever

      by

      MOST pensioners look forward to a telegram from the King and a birthday cake when they turn 100.But Jack Hinchliffe had bigger fish to fry.
      Jack with son Graham and his honorary Grimsby Town shirt from the clubCredit: Richard Walker
      Come rain or shine, Jack has seen around 2,000 Grimsby Town matchesCredit: Richard Walker
      He got the “best present” ever when his beloved Grimsby Town were promoted on the same day.
      Now Jack is hoping his 101st will be just as lucky if the second division Lincolnshire underdogs can overcome Premier League high-flyers Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday in the quarter finals of the FA Cup.
      Two more wins by Town on their remarkable run and it would be a Wembley FA Cup final on June 3 – the same weekend as Jack’s big day.
      Jack joked: “I’ll be living in hope or dying in despair!
      Read More on FA Cup
      “I don’t drink but I might even open a bottle if we win.”
      Oldest footie fan
      The loyal Mariners’ supporter is Grimsby’s – and possibly Britain’s oldest – footie fan and his passion for his club knows no bounds.
      He has watched around 2,000 matches since he started following Grimsby in 1948 when he left the army after the Second World War.
      Come rain or shine Jack has waved his scarf at every game until he finally quit travelling the country to go to away matches at the age of 93.
      Most read in FA Cup
      He’s too frail to travel to Brighton for Sunday’s cup clash where Town take on a team 76 places above them in the leagues, and will watch on TV instead.
      The former fish salesman said: “I think we can do it.  Why not? We’ve come this far.
      “If we make it to Wembley the whole town will empty – and I’ll definitely want to go.”
      Jack at Wembley with grandson Jayden in 2016Credit: Richard Walker
      Grimsby only regained their full league status last year by winning the national playoffs after a potentially disastrous drop into the semi-professional National League.
      But this season the bounceback has continued with a remarkable and record-breaking run of five FA Cup games when they have defeated teams higher up the leagues. 
      The last time they flew so high was in the FA Cup quarter-finals in 1939 when they were a First Division side, losing 5-0 to Wolves in the semi-finals.
      Thousands of fans will be taking their iconic Harry the Haddock inflatable fish to Brighton’s American Express Community Stadium.
      The Mariners fans include comedian Lloyd Griffith, ex-kids entertainer Timmy Mallett and, occasionally, ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson whose Grimsby Town bobble hat often makes an appearance.
      And the current PM Rishi Sunak has even thrown his weight behind the team after a fifth round victory over his team Southampton.
      He said: “I now have a new team to support in the cup.”
      But local celeb Jack is by far the fan’s favourite and he was last year guest of honour at a ‘legends’ night where he was thrilled to meet ex-goalie Nigel Batch, who played for Grimsby between 1976 and 1787.
      The team also made Jack an honorary player with his own ‘Hinchliffe 100’ shift which he keeps on a peg in his living room.
      Jack’s most exciting game yet was at Wembley in 2016 when his team beat Forest Green Rovers to return to the EFL.
      A picture of him at the match with grandson Jayden, now 17, hangs proudly on his wall.
      Even Boris has been spotted in a Grimsby hat while out running with his dogCredit: Splash
      Jack, aged around 50, when he worked as a fish salesman in GrimsbyCredit: Richard Walker
      He said: “That was a great day. 
      “There was nobody left on the streets of Grimsby because everyone was at the match.”
      The father-of-two, grandfather of nine and great-grandad of eleven became obsessed with Grimsby when he went to see them at Blundell Park, the 124-year-old stadium in Cleethorpes where Town still play. 
      Sprightly Jack makes sure he goes for a short walk on the crescent outside his house every day to make sure he’s fit enough to watch his team on the weekends.
      “I don’t go to the mid-week games because you have to pay extra and I already pay between £300 and £400 for my season ticket,” he says.
      And on the subject of money, he reckons today’s footballers earn far too much.
      “They are greedy,” he says. “You used to get paid by the match and that was fair enough.
      “But I guess as Greavsie once said ‘it’s a funny old game’”
      Jack’s obsession with Grimsby started in 1939 when he left the Royal Engineers at the end of the war after taking part in tough campaigns in France, Norway, Egypt and the Middle East.
      He said: “I started going because it was somewhere to go. There wasn’t much to do after the war – it was job done.
      “I was quite sociable so a group of us started going.”
      Jack, who had played football growing up in Filey, was in Grimsby to lay cables for the post office and ended up staying after falling in love with first wife Joyce.
      He said: “Joyce used to visit the landlady me and another lad were staying with.
      “I  went to the Ritz cinema in Cleethorpes with a group of five, including Joyce, and when we got to the door there was only four allowed in.
      Jack with first wife Joyce, left, and second wife Kathleen
      Jack, far left, took his own team Haven Hotspurs to victory in 1953Credit: Richard Walker
      “We tossed for it and I took Joyce in. Afterwards we walked all the way back to Grimsby fish market, about three miles, and talked all the way.
      “When I walked her home her mum answered the door and said ‘bring the lad in then’. I thought ‘ey, what’s going on here then,’ but she came out with a washing up bowl full of beetroot from her garden for me. I still love a beetroot sandwich.”
      When Jack, then 19, and 18-year-old Joyce tied the knot they started going to games together and when baby Robert, now 71, came along, he went too.
      Sadly, Joyce died of liver failure aged 58.
      He went on to marry Kathleen, who died in 2004 aged 81, and had two children, taxi driver Graham, 57, and Sandra, 62, who were also ‘persuaded’ to support the Mariners.
      Sandra said: “To be honest I don’t really like football but it keeps dad going and gives him something to talk about with other people.”
      Granddaughter Seren Lucas, nine, has followed in her granddad’s footsteps and joined a junior team.
      Jack once ran his own football team Haven Hotspur FC who won the third division championship in 1953
      Despite being a massive Grimsby fan, Jack isn’t that interested in other clubs.
      And he is charmingly blunt when talking about the world’s most famous players.
      His favourites were Brazil sticker Pele, who died in December last year, and Hungarian Ferenc Puskas.
      He says: “I liked George Best but then he took to the drink and ruined the girls.”
      He saves a special mention for Raich Carter, a Hull City player, who he helped watch defeat Grimsby in 1949.
      Granddaughter Seren has made granddad proud playing for GrimsbyCredit: Richard Walker
      Pele and Puskas are Jack’s all-time favourite players
      Carter, who had captained his home town team Sunderland to a League Championship in 1936, was, says Jack, “the best player I’d ever seen at that time.”
      Jack, who has lived through five monarchs, has four carers to help but is still sharp for his age and with a twinkle in his eye says: “The oldest person in Britain is 108 and I’m going to beat them.”
      Son Graham puts his dad’s longevity down to his attitude.
      Read More on The Sun
      “You can come in and tell dad the worst news and he just goes ‘ah, well’. He’s always been that way.”
      While Jack might not make tomorrow’s match Grimsby Town knows their lucky mascot is right behind them. More

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      in Motorsport

      Formula One team bosses rich list revealed ahead of Saudi Arabia GP – including Spice Girls hubby’s countryside manors

      by

      IT’S a nail-biting job, but being a team principal in the world’s most expensive sport certainly comes with some incredible perks. Just ask Formula 1 bosses Toto Wolff and Christian Horner, who have millions in their bank accounts and enjoy the finer things in life. 
      The team principals manage affairs and are responsible for the success of their driversCredit: EPA
      Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff celebrates with driver Lewis HamiltonCredit: Getty
      Principals are the face of their teams and the decision makers who come up with strategies to ensure the success of their drivers.
      And ahead of the Saudi Arabia GP, the pressure is on Toto and Mercedes as they look to claw back points, after reigning champ Max Verstappen crossed the line first in Bahrain.
      This season a few new principals joined the familiar faces around the paddock.
      Ahead of Jeddah, we take a look at the richest people at the helm of F1 teams. 
      MORE ON F1
      Toto Wolff – 478m 
      Toto Wolff is by far the wealthiest team principal on the grid todayCredit: Rex
      With a staggering estimated £478million in his coffers, the Mercedes – AMG Petronas boss is currently the richest team principal on the grid.
      He’s also the second-highest paid, taking home £7.6million a year.
      The Austrian, 51, who started off as a racing driver himself, owns a 33 per cent stake in the Mercedes team, as well as being its managing director and executive director. 
      Many critics and fans have attributed much of Mercedes’ success to him – under his watch, the team has notched up 114 wins. 
      Most read in Motorsport
      He’s also been instrumental in the career of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, considered two of the greatest drivers of all time. 
      Off the grid, Toto is married to Susie, a Scottish former racing driver, and they share two kids.
      Christian Horner – £41.4m
      Christian Horner has been the team principal at Red Bull since 2005 and is married to Spice Girl GeriCredit: Getty
      The couple share a stunning country home in OxfordshireCredit: Instagram
      As team principal of Red Bull since 2005, Christian Horner is the highest-paid team boss and has a salary of around £8.2million a year. 
      He’s got the trophies to show for it, as he’s successfully led the team to nine world titles. 
      Like Toto, he started off as a driver and had some success in the late 90s – even founding his own team, but ended his driving career in 1998 at just 25.
      Christian worked in team management before joining Red Bull in 2004 and ascending to the top within a year. He’s now worth an estimated £41.4m.
      Away from the grid, the Englishman is married to Spice Girl Geri and they share two homes, in Oxfordshire and Hertfordshire. 
      Their Oxfordshire property is breathtaking, boasting an indoor swimming pool, a pond for boating and huge grounds where they go horse riding. 
      Otmar Szafnauer – £4.1m 
      Otmar Szafnauer has been in the sport for decades and is worth £4.1millionCredit: Rex
      Although he’s the most experienced team principal, having been in the sport since 1989, Otmar’s salary is considerably less than Toto and Christian’s. 
      As the boss of Alpine, a position he has held since 2002, he is paid around £822,500, and worth an estimated £4.1m.
      Like many other principals on the grid, he also had a short stint as a driver back in the early 90s. 
      But it was his work away from the driver’s seat that brought him into the limelight.
      After working as Operations Director at British American Racing, he joined Force India in 2009, which later rebranded as Aston Martin. 
      Franz Tost – £4.1m 
      Franz Tost has been overseeing AlphaTauri since 2005 and takes home £822,500 a yearCredit: Rex
      Franz Tost also has a ton of experience under his belt – he’s been the team principal at AlphaTauri since 2005. 
      The 67-year-old was appointed after Red Bull took over Minardi, and is the oldest team principal on the grid today. 
      Before that, he was a driver and even won the Formula Ford 1600 title in 1983. 
      He quit a few years later and worked his way up the ranks of team management.
      Franz was first signed by Williams and remained there for five years before leaving for Red Bull. 
      As one of the longest-tenured team principals on the grid, he is paid £822,500 a year, and worth around £4.1m.

      James Vowles – £4.1m 
      James Vowles has a £4.1million fortune and is the new team principal at WilliamsCredit: Rex
      This is Englishman James’ first season as Williams’ team principal after serving as Mercedes’ motorsport strategy director. 
      He made his Formula 1 debut as an engineer for the Honda racing team before moving on as a strategist for Brawn GP. 
      James joined Williams at the end of 2022 and at the age of 44, is one of the youngest team principals on the grid, with an estimated £4.1million fortune.
      James has a motorsport degree from Cranfield University – a qualification which is uncommon for bosses at F1.
      He also likes to dabble in driving, making an appearance at last year’s Asian Le Mans Series.
      Guenther Steiner – £4.1m
      Guenther built the Haas team from the ground up and has a £4.1million net worthCredit: Rex
      Guenther, 57, is one of the most colourful team principals Formula 1 has ever seen, as evidenced by his appearance in Netflix’s Drive to Survive.
      He has been at the helm of Haas since 2014 after previously serving as managing director of Jaguar and technical operations director at Red Bull.
      The Italian American began his career as a mechanic in Belgium for the Mazda Rally Championships.
      While at Red Bull, he was contacted to build the Haas team from scratch, which has helped him build up an impressive £4.1million fortune, approximately.
      He is paid £822,500 a year for his work as the team’s leader.
      Alessandro Alunni Bravi – £4.1m
      Italian Alessandro is also a lawyer and has been serving as the Team Representative of Alfa Romeo since last yearCredit: Getty
      Last year Alfa Romeo decided to move away from the team principal formula and introduced a management structure to oversee the team.
      One of the members of the management team includes Alessandro Alunni Bravi, who is worth an estimated £4.1million.
      The 49-year-old Italian, who is also a qualified lawyer, has the new position of Team Representative and will perform most of the roles of a principal when dealing with F1 bosses and sponsors.
      He was previously the team principal of the trident GP2 team and has served as a board member of Sauber since 2017.
      Frederic Vasseur – £2.5m
      Frederic Vasseur took over from Mattia Binotto this seasonCredit: Rex
      The new Ferrari boss has built up a wealth of experience as the principal of teams like Renault, Alfa Romeo and Sauber.
      The 54-year-old Frenchman studied aeronautics and founded his own team in 1996 which went on to win several trophies in the junior formulae.
      Frederic is credited for overseeing Lewis Hamilton’s success in the Formula 3 Euroseries and helping him to win GP2 titles in the mid-2000s.
      Last year it was announced he would be replacing Mattia Binotto as the boss of Ferrari.
      Although he’s now worth an estimated £2.5million, it’s probably only a matter of time before this figure shoots up as he will be paid £5.2million in his new role.
      Andrea Stella – £1.2m
      Andrea Stella replaced Andreas Seidl as the team principal of McLaren last yearCredit: Rex
      Andrea Stella will most likely see a boost to his estimated £1.2million net worth thanks to his lucrative £5.2million-a-year role at McLaren.
      The 52-year-old Italian was announced as Andreas Seidl’s replacement following his decision to leave the team after a four-season run.
      Andrea’s appointment is an internal promotion as he previously served as the team’s executive director.
      He’s got an impressive history to back up his eye-watering salary – he has worked with some of the greatest drivers including Michael Schumacher, Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso.
      Mike Krack – £800k
      Mike Krack’s net worth is likely to shoot up with a reported salary of £822,500Credit: Getty
      Mike Krack has overseen the Aston Martin team since 2002 and is reportedly worth over £800,000.
      He replaced Otmar Szafnauer in the team and is set to take home around £822,500 a year, which will surely boost his bank balance.
      The 50-year-old engineer from Luxembourg previously worked with Sebastian Vettel for a year from 2006, when the racer began his career.
      Read More on The Sun
      He’s also worked in Formula 3 and has moved between teams like BMW and Porsche.
      Mike recently defended driver Lance Stroll – son of the Aston Martin owner Lawrence Stroll – claiming he is “strongly undervalued”. More

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      in Soccer

      We live near Premier League ground & it’s awful… rowdy fans use our gardens as toilets but it’s not the biggest problem

      by

      IT’S been a fixture in Chelsea for almost 200 years, but the future of Stamford Bridge has been thrown into doubt. Club co-owner Todd Boehly wants to ditch the old arena and move the team to a new state-of-the-art ground – possibly in a different location.
      Stamford Bridge is slap-bang in the middle of a residential areaCredit: Getty
      Stamford Bridge can hold around 40,000 fansCredit: Olivia West
      The current venue can hold around 40,000 fans – far less capacity than other top Premier League clubs, but still enough to cause chaos on game days in the affluent south west London neighbourhood.
      And the thought of double the amount of supporters traipsing along the streets of Fulham fills residents with dread.
      Following the Blues’ Tuesday night victory against Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, The Sun headed down the next morning to chat to locals about the realities of living next to the famous ground.
      Liz Miller, 66, has been a resident there for decades and revealed her surprising bugbear on match days.
      UK FEATURES
      “When Chelsea are playing at home you can’t buy a bottle of wine in any of the shops around here,” she tells us.
      “It’s really irritating, especially if you don’t follow football.”
      She adds: “The fans are a lot better behaved than they used to be.”
      Liz, who walks her dog Sherlock every day near the ground, says she loves the crowds the stadium draws – but isn’t thrilled when the roads end up gridlocked.
      Most read in Football
      Resident Liz Miller says it drives her nuts on match days because she can’t buy a bottle of wine anywhereCredit: Olivia West
      A large canister of hippy crack had been dumped on a wall near the stadiumCredit: Olivia West
      “They’re hot on clearing the rubbish from fans, but it’s not the same when it comes to the poo from police horses,” she adds.
      “That’s always left all over the place. It’s a bit grim.”

      Pee patrol
      By 7am the majority of the rubbish dropped on the route to the London Underground station by drunken fans had been cleared up – but some remained scattered down side roads.
      We saw half-empty beer cans, bottles and food wrappers, and even a large canister of laughing gas, dubbed Hippy Crack, dumped on a resident’s garden wall.
      While residents we spoke to praised the authorities for keeping litter dumped by fans to a minimum, some highlighted other problems that need attention.
      Council worker Tajudeen Afolabi says many residents are upset by the behaviour of football hooligans.
      While most rubbish had been cleared away, some lingered on the streetCredit: Olivia West
      We saw half-empty beer cans, bottles and food wrappersCredit: Olivia West
      “Residents often get in touch with us to report bad behaviour after a match has been played at the stadium,” he says.
      “After the latest one, one resident got in touch to say someone had defecated in their garden.
      “Almost all want solutions to public urination as it is really dirty and gets on people’s nerves.”
      One man, who asked not to be named, tells us: “It’s great that they clear up the rubbish, but the more important thing to deal with is people weeing all over the place.
      “Sometimes if you’ve got to go, you just have to go, but why aren’t there more toilets for fans to use outside the stadium?”
      Sometimes if you’ve got to go, you just have to go, but why aren’t there more toilets for fans to use outside the stadium?Chelsea resident
      Another points out: “I don’t see why we can’t have those standing urinals put in. That would solve a big part of the problem with people weeing anywhere they can find.”
      Residents showed us a popular corner next to Waterford Road, near Fulham Broadway station, where fans regularly stop to urinate before the long journey home.
      Chelsea fan Wayne says: “They used to go there all the time but I think residents complained.
      “Now they have a police officer there on match days to stop it from happening.
      “It’s just one of those things. If there were proper places to go, people would use them.
      “Other than that, I love living here and hearing the crowd go wild at matches. It’s a big part of the atmosphere of the area.”
      Gridlocked traffic
      Taxi driver Tesfayi says he often gets stuck in long queues of traffic on match daysCredit: Olivia West
      The future of Chelsea’s stadium has been thrown into doubtCredit: Getty
      Almost all the residents we spoke to highlighted the impact match days have on traffic in the area, with which often bring roads to a standstill.
      Someone who knows only too well how bad it can get is taxi driver Tesfayi, 51.
      “I love the club, but on match days it is hard to get back home after my shift,” he says.
      “The traffic around the stadium is problematic… but it’s only ever on match days so I don’t mind it too much.
      “I’m a big Chelsea fan so I like living near the stadium. It’s worth it.”
      Mining engineer Alex says his only frustration with the stadium is the bad trafficCredit: Olivia West
      This was highlighted as a residential area where fans have defecated after a gameCredit: Olivia West
      Alex, a mining engineer, admits the traffic is “annoying”, but he likes the “buzz” the stadium brings to the area.
      He adds: “It’s only for one evening so I don’t mind it really. Plus we get more regular Tubes which is great.”
      In an attempt to make things easier for fans travelling to and from Stamford Bridge, TFL put on extra services.
      Read More on The Sun
      But one dad we spoke to says he avoids the packed Tubes like the plague.
      The parent, who asked not to be named, tells us: “Extra Tubes are great, but when I have to take my 12-year-old on the Underground she often ends up in tears thanks to rowdy football fans hitting everything. It’s not great.”
      Discarded packaging from a Chelsea supporters’ scarfCredit: Olivia West
      An old pizza box is found strewn on someone’s doorstepCredit: Olivia West More

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      in Soccer

      Inside married sports stars’ biggest scandals as Kyle Walker’s caught out again … from wife swap to houseboat sex party

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      THEY’RE at the top of their game with glamorous wives and bulging bank balances – but some sportsmen can’t resist playing away from home.This week England ace Kyle Walker was caught exposing himself and pawing and snogging a woman in a bar in Manchester.
      Walker was filmed on a drunken night out exposing himself and kissing a womanCredit: The Sun
      The woman in the video was not his wife, Annie KilnerCredit: BackGrid
      The Man City ace, 32, was seen grinding against a female pal while boozing with male pals on Sunday evening – with wife Annie Kilner nowhere to be seen.
      It’s not the first time he’s been caught out – and he’s not the only footballer to score an own goal. Here we reveal the sportsmens’ league of shame…
      Joe Westerman
      In February, Super League rugby rat Joe Westerman, 33, was filmed romping in an alley behind Greggs with a pal’s missus.
      The Castleford Tigers loose forward was caught performing a sex act on the woman – and his horrified wife Lauren, 33, swiftly booted him out of the family home.
      READ MORE SPORT FEATURES
      Cheating rugby league ace Joe Westerman was caught performing a sex act in footage which went viral
      His wife Lauren called time on their marriage after the incidentCredit: Twitter
      The mum-of-three told The Sun: “I’ve relived that footage over and over again.
      “It’s something I’ll never be able to get out of my mind, no matter how hard I try.”
      Westerman has apologised and vowed to work on his “decision-making around alcohol”.
      John Terry
      Former Chelsea and England team-mates John Terry and Wayne Bridge had an epic falling out over allegations married Terry had an affair with Bridge’s then-partner Vanessa Perroncel back in 2009.
      Most read in Football
      Wayne Bridge refused to shake former team mate John Terry’s hand before a match after it was rumoured he’d had an affair with his now ex VanessaCredit: AFP
      Wayne Bridge and Vanessa Perroncel split in 2009 and share one sonCredit: Rex
      Bridge infamously refused to shake Terry’s hand prior to a clash between Chelsea and Manchester City, despite lingerie model Vanessa always denying the allegations.
      Bridge and Vanessa dated for four years after first meeting in 2005, and share a son.
      The Terry rumours surfaced soon after they split in 2009; friends claimed he had seduced Vanessa as he comforted her over the break-up.
      In January 2010 she became the subject of a super-injunction imposed by a High Court judge which prevented the press reporting the allegations – but it was lifted a week later.
      Tiger Woods
      Dozens of women claimed they’d had sexual relationships with Tiger Woods, which ended his marriage to Elin NordegrenCredit: Getty
      Jamie Jungers claimed she was Woods’ mistressCredit: Rex Features
      Pro-golfer Tiger Woods’ reputation took a battering in 2009 when one of the biggest scandals in golfing history emerged.
      Ranked World Number One at the time, dozens of women came forward alleging they had sexual relationships with the-then married golfer.
      Former madam Michelle Braun alleged that “every couple of months he requested to have multiple girls”.
      “It could be up to 10 girls at a time,” she claimed. “He had a particular type, he liked young college cutie, girl next door types, preferably blonde.”
      Former stripper Jamie Jungers claimed she had an 18-month affair with the golfer – rumoured to have slept with more than 120 women.
      Woods’ wife and mother of his two kids, Elin Nordegren, divorced him for a whopping $100million, according to reports.
      Ryan Giggs
      Ryan Giggs, pictured here with ex-wife Stacey, had an affair with his brother’s wife, and Big Brother star Imogen ThomasCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Natasha Giggs was married to Rhodri Giggs and had an eight-year affair with her brother-in-lawCredit: Collect
      Ryan Giggs landed himself in hot water in 2011 when it emerged he’d been having an eight-year affair with his brother Rhodri’s wife Natasha.
      At the same time it emerged he was also having a fling with Big Brother star Imogen Thomas.
      Giggs took out a gagging order but was named as the footballer in question in May 2011 by a Scottish newspaper.
      After he was named, Imogen said: “I called it off a million times but he kept coming back. He knew it was wrong as well, he said as much, but he was pursuing me.”
      Ryan settled his £40million divorce from wife Stacey in 2017.
      Mike Kekich and Fritz Peterson
      New York Yankee pitchers Fritz Peterson, front, and Mike Kekich with their wives, Marilyn Peterson and Susanne KekichCredit: AP
      Yankees players Fritz Peterson and Mike Kekich famously traded partners in 1972 – and caused one of baseball’s biggest romance scandals in the process.
      It’s said Peterson became drawn to former cheerleader Susanne Kekich, while quieter Kekich became close to Marilyn Peterson.
      Kekich, then 27, said at the time: “Don’t say this was wife-swapping, because it wasn’t. We didn’t swap wives, we swapped lives.”
      Andy Carroll
      Andy Carroll was in the dog house when a picture of him passed out in bed with a blonde woman went viral
      Luckily the couple’s wedding still went ahead and they are still happily married todayCredit: INSTAGRAM
      It was especially bad timing for footie star Andy Carroll when photos emerged of him passed out in bed with a blonde after a day of partying — just two weeks before his wedding to reality TV’s Billi Mucklow.
      The ex-England striker, 33, partied with Taylor Jane Wilkey after flying to Dubai to gatecrash his fiancée’s hen party and had gone on a 17-hour drinking session.
      But both parties denied anything untoward had taken place, with Taylor, 27, telling The Sun: “It was all just a bit of entirely innocent fun.”
      Thankfully Andy and Billi’s wedding still went ahead, and the pair are still happily married today.
      Oliver Giroud
      Olivier Giroud later issued a grovelling apology to his wife JenniferCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Celia Kay was the model who allegedly had a fling with footballer Olivier GiroudCredit: Twitter
      In 2014 French striker Olivier Giroud, who was playing for Arsenal at the time, was caught quite literally with his pants down.
      A photo emerged of Giroud in nothing but boxers in a Four Seasons hotel room with model, Celia Kay.
      The striker later issued a grovelling apology on social media, apologising to his wife Jennifer – the mother of his four children – and his club.
      She forgave his indiscretions however, and they are still together today, having now been together over 11 years.
      Wayne Rooney
      Coleen and Wayne have been together since teenagers, but the football star has been involved in a few scandals along the wayCredit: Getty
      Helen Wood had a threesome with RooneyCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      He’s been with childhood sweetheat Coleen since they were 16, but there have been many reports surrounding Wayne Rooney over the years.
      In 2004 the Sunday Mirror reported that teenage Rooney had paid £140 for sex with prostitute Charlotte Glover, then 21.
      Around the same time he was said to have slept with Gina McCarrick, then 37, at a £45 brothel in Liverpool.
      It was at this same brothel that he was said to have slept with grandmother Patricia Tierney, then 48, known as the ‘Auld Slapper’.
      Rooney went on to cheat again, sleeping with £1,000-a-night prostitute Jenny Thompson, then 21, in July 2009 along with Helen Wood – while Coleen was pregnant with his son Kai.
      But Coleen has forgiven him and the couple are still going strong.
      Hulk Hogan
      Hulk Hogan filed a lawsuit against Bubba the Love Sponge and his former wife, Heather ClemCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Terry Bollea, aka Hulk Hogan, pictured in court during his trial against Gawker MediaCredit: Reuters
      In 2012, a sex tape featuring Hogan and Heather Clem, the estranged wife of his best friend Bubba the Love Sponge, emerged online.
      A few months later American site Gawker, which has since folded, published a small snippet of the tape online.
      Hogan filed a lawsuit against Heather and Bubba for invasion of privacy, winning a settlement.
      Linda Hogan, who split from her husband in 2007 – the same year the sex tape filmed – later slammed the film as “sickening”.
      “I knew something was going on behind my back, I just didn’t know it was so close to home,” she told Radar.
      Minnesota Vikings
      Players from NFL team the Minnesota Vikings landed themselves in hot water in 2005.
      They allegedly threw a massive sex boat party with around 100 prostitutes rumoured to have been in attendance.
      Read More on The Sun
      17 members of the team were allegedly involved in the sex party, which was said to have been held on board a pair of houseboats.
      Women reportedly flew in from the surrounding areas for the soiree, with some of the players allegedly involved in sex acts in front of the crew. More

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      in Boxing

      I was suicidal after being accused of taking banned drugs before big fight, Conor Benn tells Piers Morgan

      by

      BOXER Conor Benn has revealed he wanted to kill himself after being accused of taking a banned testosterone-boosting drug.The welterweight champ — son of ring legend Nigel Benn — confessed to Piers Morgan that he contemplated suicide after testing positive.
      Conor Benn revealed he wanted to kill himself after being accused of taking a banned testosterone-boosting drugCredit: Getty
      Conor told Piers Morgan: ‘It’s hurt me. I didn’t think I was going to make it through this period’Credit: TALK TV
      Conor faces off with Chris Eubank Jr, left, and promoter Eddie Hearn before there 2022 bout was cancelledCredit: Reuters
      With tears in his eyes, he revealed he also suffered night terrors and panic attacks in the wake of the drugs tests last autumn, while his son was subjected to vile racist abuse.
      But Conor, 26, comes out fighting in his first televised interview since the scandal, to be shown on TalkTV at 8pm tomorrow night.
      He strongly denied any wrongdoing and vowed to clear his name.
      And in Piers Morgan Uncensored, Benn also reveals he wants to sue British boxing’s governing body for loss of earnings and damage to his reputation.
      Read More on Conor Benn
      Piers asked him: “To be branded a cheat in the court of public opinion, what has that done to you?”
      Conor said: “It’s hurt me. I didn’t think I was going to make it through this period.
      “It’s hard because I feel like I was on death row for something I hadn’t even done.
      “If I had done something wrong, you know, I am human. I would raise my hands to it, ‘I made a mistake’.
      Most read in Boxing
      ‘I was sobbing most nights’
      “Whatever it is, my personal life, I raise my hands. Never this.
      “I felt like seven years of hard work and sacrifice and leaving my family, and the image I maintained, was just ruined at someone else’s incompetence. It’s been hard for the family.”
      Piers asked: “When you say you didn’t think you would make it, what did you mean?”
      Conor said: “I was taking it day by day. I didn’t think I would see another day.”
      Asked if he was feeling suicidal, Benn replied: “Yeah, I would say so.
      “And it upsets me now because I don’t know how I got so bad. I got in a really bad way.
      “If you think I’m innocent or if you don’t think I am innocent — I am innocent.”
      Conor’s nightmare began as he was about to fight Chris Eubank Jnr — the son of another boxing legend — at London’s O2 Arena last October.
      Although I had done nothing wrong, I was having night terrors, panic attacks. I was really struggling. I was in a really bad way.Conor Benn
      But the British Boxing Board of Control — BBBofC — suddenly cancelled the much-hyped bout after two tests appeared to show that undefeated welterweight Benn had traces of testosterone-altering drug clomifene in his system.
      Becoming emotional, he said: “I would never do this to my family. I would never do this to my supporters.
      “Do you think I would do this to my dad? Do you think I would do this to my son, who’s now got to grow up and look at this?
      “It’s not who I am and it killed me because I was transparent with the public my whole career from 19 years old.
      “I’m a grown man now who has worked hard over the years.”
      Since being accused, Conor and his family — including young son, Eli — have been subjected to vile abuse on social media.
      Piers asked him what had been the worst things he had read about himself in the last four months.
      Conor said: “There’s been too many. Kill yourself. Racist comments to my son, with my family.
      “Nothing in person. It’s cowardly. I don’t even think it was social media that bothers me.
      “It was more so of the shame I felt leaving the house, although I had done nothing wrong. I was having night terrors, panic attacks.
      “I was really struggling and I was coping terribly with it. I was in a really bad way.”
      Later, the boxer said: “I was sobbing most nights. I didn’t want to go to sleep because I knew what I had to wake up to.
      “You’ve got to remember this was a nightmare for me.
      “How has this happened? How have I got in this situation? My faith let me down.
      Proud Conor in church with his wife Victoria and baby son Eli in 2021Credit: INSTAGRAM/CONOR BENN
      Son Conor is hoisted by dad, boxing legend Nigel, after his 2018 Welterweight title winCredit: PA
      Conor told Piers: ‘It’s been brutal. It does feel like a witch-hunt’Credit: TALK TV
      “I felt like I didn’t understand why this had happened when I’ve done nothing but work diligently hard. I was in a dark way.”
      Benn returned adverse findings for clomifene in two samples ahead of his bout with Eubank.
      According to the World Boxing Council, there is no conclusive evidence Conor intentionally took the banned substance, which can boost testosterone levels by 50 per cent.
      But he is now awaiting the verdict of a separate investigation by BBBofC and the UK Anti-Doping Agency which will decide whether Benn will receive a ban from boxing.
      Conor told Piers: “It’s been brutal. It does feel like a witch-hunt.
      “I’ve never seen anything quite like this before in any other athlete, whether they’ve raised their hands to it or they’ve just taken a small ban.
      “I was willing to fight and prove my innocence — although there was an easy way out at the beginning in lying and saying, ‘I may have accidentally done this, I may have done this by accident’ and taken a small six month ban.
      “Instead I chose to fight this because my integrity mattered more to me.
      “I would never ever, ever raise my hands to something I ain’t done.
      “This is the first time I’ve been able to speak on this.”
      I would never do this to my family. I would never do this to my supporters. Do you think I would do this to my dad?Conor Benn
      Conor refuses to believe there were any traces of the drug in his body and told Piers the test results could have been caused by “contamination” due to mistakes in the lab.
      He said: “I’m not saying that anyone in their labs deliberately did this. I’m not saying that at all, but it may be an accident, it may be an error.
      “Why are people saying I may have needed a testosterone boost? I’m 26 years old!
      “I didn’t even know what this thing was at the time.
      “I don’t accept it was in my body, not at all. Based on independent scientists looking at the reports, based on my own scientists looking at the reports and what we found.
      “People say you may have paid for the best legal team. Damn right I paid for the best legal team, damn right I paid for the best scientists — my career is on the line.
      “My image is on the line. My name is on the line and I can’t be known for this.”
      Conor’s team of experts submitted a 270-page dossier, which he says clears his name, to the WBC.
      Last month the WBC ruled that eating too many eggs could have produced the positive drug tests — but Conor has dismissed that theory.
      He is not giving his legal team’s file to the BBBofC, which has filed seven misconduct charges against him and has the power to ban him from fighting in the UK.
      ‘My name is on the line. I can’t be known for this’
      Conor said: “My dad tore up his British boxing licence on TV in the 80s.
      “I don’t have to be licensed by the board. I don’t plan on fighting in Britain any time soon.”
      And when Piers asked what was stopping him from handing over the dossier to the UK boxing authorities, the fighter said: “My pride, the way they have dealt with this.
      Conor, who believes cheats in contact sports should be banned for life, said: “I want this to be finished and I want to resume with my career.”
      He has has asked his promoter Eddie Hearn to find him the biggest fight possible.
      The boxer would love to take on Chris Eubank Jnr next — but before he does that, that he has to clear his name.
      As he told Piers: “I was born fighting, it’s in my blood.
      Read More on The Sun
      “But this is the hardest fight I’ve ever had to face.”

      Watch Piers Morgan Uncensored weekdays on TalkTV at 8pm. Available on Sky 522, Sky Glass 508, Virgin Media 606, Freeview 237 and Freesat 217 as well as on DAB, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Samsung TV Plus, YouTube, the Talk.TV website and TalkTV iOS and Android apps.

      You’re Not AloneEVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.
      It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
      It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
      And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
      Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
      That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
      The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
      Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
      If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

      CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
      Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
      Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
      Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
      Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
      Movember, www.uk.movember.com
      Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm More

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      in Motorsport

      Formula One drivers rich list revealed ahead of Bahrain GP – including racer linked to eye-watering £2.4billion fortune

      by

      IT’S the most expensive sport in the world – so it’s no surprise top Formula 1 drivers boast an eye-watering bank balance.The likes of Lewis Hamilton, Lance Stroll and Sergio Perez certainly enjoy life in the fast lane – with supercar collections, huge mansions and luxury holidays.
      Forumula 1 returns this weekend with 20 drivers vying for supremacy on the gridCredit: Getty
      This weekend sees the 2023 Formula 1 rev into gear, with 20 drivers set to battle it out for supremacy on the grid.
      Ahead of the Bahrain Grand Prix, we reveal the 10 drivers at the top of the rich list.
      Lewis Hamilton – £270.9m
      Perhaps unsurprisingly, Lewis is currently F1’s highest-paid driver – his contract with Mercedes nets him £41.6million each year, and he’s estimated to be worth £270.9m.
      Lewis Hamilton is the richest F1 racer on the grid right nowCredit: PA
      The seven-time champion is worth £270.9m and owns several propertiesCredit: Instagram
      The seven-time world champion has numerous endorsement deals with the likes of Puma, Sony, Police, and Tommy Hilfiger.
      SPORT FEATURES
      Hertfordshire-born Lewis is said to be raking in an additional £16.6million from these sponsorship deals.
      Planet F1 reports he has an impressive private collection of supercars worth over £13million, including a Pagani Zonda, a Mercedes-AMG Project One, and a Ferrari LaFerrari, among others.
      Lewis also owns a £49.1million penthouse in New York, according to GQ, and a £19.1million six-bedroom home in London.
      Fernando Alonso – £216m
      Fernando Alonso has competing since 2001 and shows no signs of slowing downCredit: EPA
      The 41-year-old owns homes in Oxford and SwitzerlandCredit: Instagram
      Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, 41, has shown no signs of slowing down since his debut back in 2001.
      Most read in Motorsport
      This season the Spanish star has signed a new deal with Aston Martin believed to be worth around £17.8million.
      He also has several sponsorship deals and owns the clothing brand Kimoa.
      Savvy Alonso has also invested in private companies, said to reap him incredible rewards.
      Unsurprisingly, Alonso likes his cars – he owns over 300 that have been put on display in the Fernando Alonso Sports Complex in Spain, reports the Express.
      The racer owns homes in Oxford and Switzerland, as well as an apartment in a 52-storey building in Dubai.
      Max Verstappen – £75m
      Max signed a new deal with Red Bull last year, bringing his salary up to $50m a yearCredit: Reuters
      He is said to have bought a private jet from Sir Richard BransonCredit: Instagram
      Reigning champion Max Verstappen has been competing in Formula 1 since 2015 and signed a new five-year contract with Red Bull last year, reportedly worth £41.6million.
      This makes him the joint-highest paid racer on the grid alongside Hamilton.
      Max also benefits from lucrative deals from the likes of G-Star RAW, Red Bull, and EA Sports.
      As he’s only 25, industry experts predict his estimated £75m fortune will soar in the coming years.
      Max is said to have bought a private jet from Sir Richard Branson worth £11million, which costs over £830,000 to maintain.
      Sergio Perez – £62.4m
      Sergio is worth over £62.4 and owns a huge property in MexicoCredit: Getty
      He lives a luxurious lifestyle of private jets and lavish holidaysCredit: Instagram
      Sergio, 33, may not be the highest-paid driver on the grid, but he’s been amassing an impressive fortune since his debut in 2011.
      His estimated £62.4million net worth, which includes an £8.3million salary from Red Bull, makes him one of the richest athletes in the world.
      The Mexican also has investments and an incredible list of endorsement deals, including Ticel, Telmox, and Claro.
      Checo reportedly owns a multi-million dollar 15,000-square-foot mansion in Mexico and supercars including a Bugatti Chiron, which cost around £2million.
      Daniel Ricciardo – £41.6m
      In 2020, Daniel was among the world’s highest-paid athletes, according to ForbesCredit: REUTERS
      He has no problem showing off his impressive wealth on social mediaCredit: Instagram
      He may only be a reserve driver for Red Bull this year, but Australian Daniel has eight Grand Prix wins and 32 podiums under his belt, and an estimated £41.6m fortune.
      After being tied to Red Bull for five years, he signed a lucrative deal with Renault in 2020, which bagged him a mention on Forbes’ top 50 highest sports people that year.
      This season he’s been replaced at McLaren by Oscar Piastri.
      The 33-year-old doesn’t shy away from showing off his incredible wealth – he reportedly owns three properties across three continents.
      Daniel also owns supercars including a Porsche 918 Spyder and an Aston Martin Valkyrie, said to have cost a staggering £3million.
      Lance Stroll – £41.6m
      Lance’s career in F1 has netted him a fortune of £41.6mCredit: PA:Press Association
      The Canadian’s father is worth a whopping £2.4billionCredit: Instagram
      Lance, 24 would sit at the top of the list if his family’s wealth was taken into consideration – his dad Lawrence, who owns Aston Martin, has an estimated net worth of over £2.4billion.
      The driver isn’t doing too badly for himself either, as he takes home a whopping £8.3million each year from the team.
      When he’s not busy racing, Lance enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and surfing. He is dating Italian model Sara Pagliaroli.
      Pierre Gasly – £27.4m
      Pierre Gasly races for AlpineCredit: Getty
      Pierre, 27, who made his debut in 2017, drives for Alpine and comes from a family heavily involved in motorsports.
      His salary is reported to be £1.6million, which excludes performance bonuses and sponsorship deals that bring his estimated net worth up to £27.4m.
      Pierre’s brand partnerships include headphone brand Blomm and Berger, The Grid, Destination Grand Prix, and Crypto Gaming. He also features on the Netflix documentary Drive to Survive.
      He is said to be dating Italian Caterina Masetti Zannini, who shares many of her lavish trips with Pierre on Instagram.
      Valtteri Bottas – £25m
      Valtteri takes home £8.6m a year from his deal with Alfa RomeoCredit: Getty
      He was previously Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes and took home a quarter of his salaryCredit: Instagram
      Although he spent much of his career as Lewis Hamilton’s teammate at Mercedes, Valtteri Bottas, 33, was only making a quarter of the English driver’s salary.
      He now races for Alfa Romeo, making up to £8.6million a year, and is one of the competition’s most popular stars.
      He recently announced his partnership with Finnish sporting company Polar, and is sponsored by locking solutions company Abloy and a private jet company called Insijets.
      Valtteri is currently dating Australian road cyclist Tiffany Cromwell, and has an estimated net worth of £25m.
      Kevin Magnussen – £20.8m
      Kevin returned to Haas last season when Russian driver Nikita Mazepin was dropped
      K-Mag made his return to Formula 1 last year after Russian driver Nikita Mazepin’s contract was terminated by Haas just a few days before the 2022 season.
      Although he impressed with his debut in 2014, his form dipped in subsequent years – though he put in a solid performance for Haas last season.
      The 30-year-old will be keen to prove why he’s been able to amass a reported net worth of £20.8million.
      His £5million salary at Haas is topped up by endorsement deals believed to be worth over £800,000.
      Esteban Ocon – £14.9m
      Ocon has been racing at F1 since 2016 and takes home £4.1m from Alpine
      Despite being only 26, Esteban Ocon has impressed fans since his debut in 2016.
      He has raced for Force India, Racing Point, Alpine, and was a test driver for Mercedes back in 2019.
      Read More on The Sun
      Although he earns a £4.1million salary at Alpine, his long tenure in Formula One and endorsement deals with the likes of Microsoft, Bell and Castrol have given him a hefty estimated net worth of £14.9millon.
      The Frenchman reportedly owns a Mercedes AMG GTR, a Mercedes AMG C63 Edition 1, and an Alpine A110S. More

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      in Boxing

      How Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae have become America’s favourite new reality TV couple – and will make MILLIONS stateside

      by

      MOST couples leaving Love Island find the only thing shorter than their new careers is their romance.Tommy Fury and Molly-Mae Hague are the exception to the rule and are now set to break America, earning millions in the process as they cement their place as the Posh and Becks for the Instagram generation.
      Molly-Mae Hague and Tommy Fury are poised to become a global power coupleCredit: Social Media
      Tommy poses with his belt after defeating Jake Paul in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      Molly-Mae with new arrival, baby BambiCredit: Instagram
      Power couple Molly-Mae and Tommy’s earnings
      The power couple, both 23 years old, met on the ITV2 show in 2019 and were reportedly worth £7million before Tommy took to the boxing ring against Jake Paul on Sunday night.
      Now, thanks to his victory against the American YouTuber in Saudi Arabia earning him a fanbase beyond the UK, PR experts believe Tommy will only see his earning power grow, with the help of super-influencer Molly-Mae.

      The Manchester-born boxer is reportedly set to receive a £1.6million purse from his victory against Jake – as well as 35 per cent of the pay-per-view money, taking his earnings up to at least £3.7million for the fight.
      Experts have predicted he’ll earn £10million by 2025, and that both Molly-Mae and Tommy will use this exposure in the States to break America.
      Read More on Tommy Fury
      PR Expert Jack Cooper, from Ed Hopkins PR, told us: “In terms of Tommy’s career, this was a huge step for him not only in terms of boxing but overall exposure for his brand.
      “He could certainly now be commanding up to six figures for a multi platform campaign, depending on the brand.”
      Meanwhile, Molly-Mae is already the highest paid Love Island star of all time, earning £4.8m a year for her role as creative director for Pretty Little Thing as well as £2million more from sponsored posts and her fake tan Filter brand.
      And with the birth of their first child Bambi last month, she is already eyeing a move into the lucrative “mumfluencer” sphere.
      Most read in Boxing
      Of all the couples to meet on Love Island, it is these two who have managed to monetise their profiles so effectively.
      Savvy Molly-Mae, from Hitchin, Hertfordshire, candidly described her decision to appear on the show as a “business move.”
      Already an established influencer before she entered the villa, she claimed that she wasn’t “bothered” if she found love or not.
      While she did end up falling for Tommy, and establishing one of the most enduring relationships to come out of the show, the couple only finished second.
      But her plan to boost her profile worked, and brands were queuing up to partner with her.
      The blonde star has spoken of how she shunned a £2million offer from a well-known high street brand because she didn’t wear their clothing, choosing to instead partner with Pretty Little Thing, the fast fashion giant.
      Two years later, they rewarded her loyalty by making her creative director.
      Ben Jeffries, CEO of Influencer, explained: “Influencer marketing is built on trust and authenticity, and it is incredibly transparent to followers when a brand partnership isn’t authentic.”
      Molly-Mae hammers home her “authenticity” with her enormously popular YouTube vlogs, in which she shares the details of her life, from driving to pick up Starbucks to going to the cinema with Tommy.
      Her most recent vlog, about the birth of baby Bambi, in which Molly-Mae reveals she pooed while giving birth, had 2.2million views.
      Tommy, who makes frequent appearences on Molly-Mae’s social channels, was a boxer before going into Love Island, although very much in the shadow of his heavyweight champion brother Tyson Fury.
      While brand work also poured in for him, Tommy chose to remain focused on sport but it has enabled him to reach an audience beyond the confines of UK reality TV.
      ‘Sexy, engaging couple’
      Culture expert Nick Ede agrees: “I think that Molly-Mae could really do well in the USA with Tommy by her side.
      “Her fabulous life is great fun and her social media is engaging.
      “Breaking the USA will always be hard for anyone.
      “But Molly-Mae and Tommy are a sexy, engaging couple.”
      Key to their success is that the couple see nearly everything in their life as content that can be monetised.
      Despite a terrifying break in at their Manchester apartment in 2021, in which thieves made off with £800,000 worth of items Molly had flaunted online, she wasn’t put off sharing the details of the Cheshire mansion she and Tommy bought last year.
      Her Instagram account Molly Maison documents the interior design and renovation of the £4million six-bedroom home, with the likes of England footballers Marcus Rashford, 25, and Jordan Pickford, 28, as neighbours.
      Announcing the beginning of her “new chapter” to her Instagram followers, she wrote: “I know a lot of you won’t have been expecting me to do a home account as I have become a lot more private about what I post of our home life.
      “However, having a home account is something that I have always dreamed of doing.”
      The account has 1.2million followers and opened up a new revenue stream from partnerships with home brands.
      And it seems the couple may have their eye on using daughter Bambi to earn even more dosh, too.
      The Sun has seen new documents filed to Companies House indicating she is undergoing a total overhaul of her portfolio, which will allow her to consider new brand opportunities.
      A source said: “Molly has top level advisers around her and is able to draw on their expertise.
      “She’s streamlining her businesses under the one name which will allow her to explore other avenues without setting up new firms.
      “It makes total sense as she begins to explore options around her new ‘mumpreneur’ image since she had Bambi.”
      Tommy and Molly met on ITV’s Love Island in 2019Credit: Rex
      Molly-Mae shows off her curves in a bikini in IbizaCredit: Instagram
      Tommy and Jake fight on Sunday nightCredit: Getty
      Champ and brother Tyson cheers Tommy’s winCredit: Enterprise
      Nick Ede believes the couple may have chosen their daughter’s unique name for strong branding.
      He said: “Her daughter’s name Bambi is brilliant and can be used from a brand point of view.
      “It’s fun and unique and also has a place in everyone’s childhood memories from the Disney film.”
      Nick predicts that Molly-Mae will follow in the footsteps of Towie’s Billie Faiers and Ferne McCann, as well as Loose Women panellist Stacey Solomon, by designing baby clothes for PrettyLittleThing.
      He said: “I can see Molly-Mae jumping on this bandwagon and appealing to her millions of fans by creating a baby-wear line.”
      Tommy faced online criticism throughout Molly-Mae’s pregnancy, as well as since Bambi was born, due to the fact he left his partner and new child in favour of training for his fight against Jake.
      In fact, he was so focused on beating Logan Paul’s brother that he moved out of their mansion and into a “hellhole” apartment.
      Before the fight, he told Sky Sports: “I’m in a training camp. I’m in bed nine o’clock every single night, I’m up 4.30/5am running. Solely focussed on this man.
      “One man is flying around the globe, coming here to do media stuff going here, there and everywhere and you’ve got one man that’s living in a hellhole.
      “I’ve moved out of my own house, I’m living in a little apartment, I’ve gone back to the dog mindset.”
      However, he proved his love for his daughter by wearing a jacket and shorts emblazoned with ‘Bambi’ when he entered the ring, while Molly-Mae sent supportive messages from home.
      Jack Cooper says the next move for Tommy should be to work with a “top-tier athletic brand” like Gymshark or MyProtein, and release a gymwear range for men.
      Breaking the USA will always be hard — they are more about talent there — but Molly-Mae and Tommy are a sexy, engaging couple.Nick Ede, culture expert
      He adds: “I’m sure the likes of Nike, Adidas are very much having internal talks.
      “I think this could be a huge move for him and could be a multi million pound deal.”
      But whatever happens for the couple, there’s no doubt they’re on their way to the big leagues, as they build Brand Hague-Fury.
      Read More on The Sun
      He finishes: “Together, as a couple, the opportunities are endless, from male and female clothing ranges, a homeware brand, to now even a baby brand.
      “With the status of online presence and combined following as well as winning over the nation and not making any wrong moves since leaving the villa, this power couple are definitely on their way to the rich list.” More

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      in Soccer

      I was UK’s first Wag & blew money like toilet paper – now I’m £500k in debt, says ex-glamour model Suzi Walker

      by

      AS Britain’s first Wag, she once enjoyed a lavish life of champagne, Gucci dresses and nights out with Victoria Beckham.Former model Suzi Walker admits she and her fellow England wives and girlfriends blew money like they were “getting through toilet paper”.
      Suzi Walker says she is now half a million in debt and has had to sell her possessionsCredit: Channel 4
      Suzi says her life changed when Ian Walker was called up into the England squad – the pair pictured at home in 1997Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      But today she tells how she has been forced to pawn thousands of pounds of cherished jewellery after ending up with £500,000 of debt.
      Suzi, 52 — former wife of Spurs goalie Ian Walker and ex-partner of former Crystal ­Palace boss Simon Jordan — told The Sun on Sunday: “Ending up around half a million in debt and not having the money I once had has changed me as a human being.
      “I now know more than ever what’s important in life.”
      The former Page 3 girl says a costly court case and chronic health ­problems have left her having to sell off belongings.
      READ MORE ON WAGS
      Suzi, who married businessman Mark Pitman in 2018, and now lives in Ashtead, Surrey, ­continued: “I pawned and sold everything I could just to keep going.
      “Last year it was the engagement ring Mark gave me, which broke my heart, and some diamond earrings and a ring that were gifts from him.
      And I also pawned a diamond tennis bracelet worth thousands that Simon gave me.
      Cristal champagne
      “They were sold for something ridiculous, a couple of thousand, but were worth so much more.
      Most read in Football
      “I can see people might think when I’ve had such wealthy partners that I’d always have money but I’ve never wanted to lean on anyone. I’ve never married for money.”
      Suzi, who divorced Ian in 2007 after he bedded a Las Vegas lap dancer, was threatened with repossession of her £950,000 house just last week because she owes £20,000.
      It is money she now doesn’t have.
      The debts racked up after she and financier Mark had to shell out more than £600,000 in legal fees two years ago, trying to recoup ­millions that he claimed a company owed him in work fees.
      She says they won the case in 2021 but have still not recouped the money.
      Suzi, the inspiration for the character Chardonnay in Noughties ITV drama Footballers’ Wives, also spent £60,000 on health bills fighting a chronic illness that went un- diagnosed for years and which she is still convinced will one day kill her.
      She said: “I knew I was dying, but I couldn’t get a ­diagnosis from my local hospital. I paid to get private tests.
      “I’ve been so ill that I’ve barely been able to look at the post.
      “I was ignoring calls from the mortgage company, and the house is in my name.
      “It’s about a year’s worth of ­payments — I owe over £20,000 — but I’ve been able to show them GP notes as proof of my ill health and now I have a little more time to find the money.
      “It’s amazing my electricity and other things haven’t been cut off.”
      Suzi married her current husband Mark Pitman in 2018Credit: Oliver Dixon
      Wags used to swap expensive watches and drank only the finest Cristal champagneCredit: Oliver Dixon
      It’s all a far cry from her Wag years in the 1990s and 2000s.
      She became pals with Coleen Rooney, Alex Gerrard and Victoria Beckham as they saw their husbands Wayne, Steven and David play for England.
      She said: “We enjoyed the finest of everything when it was Euro 96.
      “We had some amazing times and Coleen, Victoria and Alex were lovely. It was the Wag fairytale.
      “But we used to blow money like we were getting through toilet paper.
      “We’d spend thousands at Gucci and Prada, drank only the finest Cristal champagne.
      “Coleen, Alex and I loved swapping Jacob and Co watches for other styles or Cartier diamond-encrusted ones.
      “I can’t remember the prices but they were worth thousands and thousands.”
      When Suzi got engaged to Ian in 1994 he was playing for Tottenham and she was an aspiring model.
      They went on to have daughter Sophie, now 24.
      Suzi said: “We weren’t rich then. I bought the engagement ring for about 20 quid from the department store Allders.
      “We rented our TV. Our ­relationship was not about money.
      “But when Ian got into the England team it became a different life.
      “He bought me a beautiful, pear-shaped diamond — God knows how much that cost.
      “I didn’t think about money. I’d get blow-dries to my hair every week. I had Botox. I would spend thousands every month on clothes.
      “I had fake tan, I had my boobs made bigger, smaller, then bigger again — I can’t even remember how many I had but I think they cost about £8,000 each time.
      “We flew first-class. I’d spend thousands having floral arrangements in our house at Christmas.
      “Ian gave me these amazing Cartier love bangle bracelets which were worth at least £10,000. I had a tennis diamond ankle chain.
      “I’d have a personal shopper at Selfridges. It seems crazy but it is just the life you got used to.
      “A pal joked we’d change cars more times than he’d change his underwear.”
      Suzi describes Ian as a “wonderful” dad and is adamant she would never turn to him for cash, despite the situation she is in.
      She said: “When I divorced him I got about £800,000. I put that towards a new home and getting my daughter into the best school.
      “I never went after him financially for more because I’m just not one of those greedy money people.”
      Suzi fell for then Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan and share a daughter togetherCredit: Oliver Dixon
      Not long afterwards, in 2007, Suzi fell for an even wealthier man in Simon Jordan.
      She said: “Simon would spend £50,000 on fine wines.
      He had a limo driver who would take me to Dior. It was on a different level.
      “One night at the Grosvenor House Hotel he got me a vodka and tonic.
      Set in the ice in the drink was a diamond necklace. I was blown away.
      We were so in love and I knew he wanted a child.
      So my gift back to him was to present him with my contraceptive coil to say: ‘I am happy to try’.
      “Another time there was a new Range Rover waiting for me outside the Grosvenor.
      “One night we went for dinner and he really wanted me to have a starter. When it arrived there was a diamond bracelet on the plate.”
      ‘I think I’m going to die’
      The couple split in 2008 and Simon is paying maintenance for their daughter Cameron, now 15.
      Suzi has been plagued by ill health for years and nearly died giving birth to Sophie.
      Then she was diagnosed with ME, which she now believes was a misdiagnosis.
      Suzi has struggled with ill health in recent years and been in and out of hospitalCredit: Oliver Dixon
      She said: “I’ve had decades of ill health but I think the stress of the 2021 court case made it worse.
      “Last October my face swelled up so I was unrecognisable. I kept falling unconscious.
      “I was getting lesions and bruises all over my legs and knuckles. I called dozen of ­ambulances because I felt so ill.
      “They’d say it was mental heath problems. Even Mark didn’t believe I was physically ill at one point, which really hurt.
      “There was a point last year I said to my mum, ‘I think I’m going to die’. And I just didn’t want to live any more.”
      Finally, earlier this year at the private Levitas Clinic in Guildford, Surrey, tests revealed Suzi has a rare and chronic variant of Lyme disease — the bacterial infection caused by ticks — called babesiosis.
      She said: “Getting a diagnosis was such a relief and I am speaking out to try to help others who may feel in the same situation. It has been absolutely dreadful.”
      The condition has led to Suzi suffering a host of other illnesses, including meningitis, brain inflammation and discharge behind her eyes.
      She says: “The clinic has literally saved my life because I was put straight on to some very strong drugs to help reduce the inflammation in my brain and body, and I was on IV drips daily. I’ve no idea how it got this chronic.
      “I don’t remember being bitten by a tick but it may have been decades ago.
      “Lately I’ve felt worse and there is no cure. I feel so ill I said to my mum recently, ‘I’ll be amazed if I’m alive by the end of this year’.
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      “I still feel unwell and the money worries don’t help. But if this has taught me anything, it’s that money isn’t the most important thing.
      “I don’t know what the future holds. I just want my health back.”
      Suzi has been forced to sell off her jewellery to attempt to pay off her debtsCredit: Oliver Dixon More