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      in Soccer

      Inside lavish world of Man U suitor Jim Ratcliffe who made billions from chemicals but was once fired for a crazy reason

      by

      HE may no longer be Britain’s Richest Man but Sir Jim Ratcliffe is still the world’s wealthiest Mancunian.And with a personal fortune of around £11BILLION he can certainly afford to buy Manchester United.
      Mancunian Jim Ratcliffe has a personal fortune of around £11BILLIONCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      Jim with wife Alicia at French footie club NiceCredit: Getty
      Ratcliffe was honoured with a knighthood by Prince William in 2018Credit: PA:Press Association
      Jim with sons Sam and GeorgeCredit: Getty
      This week he let it be known he would jump at the chance to buy into the Premier League football colossus, owned by the American Glazer family.
      Eventually Sir Jim hopes to take over the entire club, said by the club’s current owners to be worth £5billion.
      He is so wealthy he would not need to borrow a penny to buy Man United, invest heavily in new players and modernise Old Trafford.
      And the money men certainly think he is serious.
      Read More on Jim Ratcliffe
      United’s shares on New York’s stock exchange had yesterday jumped 15 per cent to more than £11 each.
      Sir Jim offered £4billion to buy Chelsea in May but admitted he only made the — the team he has followed since boyhood — wasn’t available.
      As he approaches his 70th birthday, the joiner’s son who grew up on a Manchester council estate, could land the present he has always dreamed of — owning Old Trafford and the Red Devils.
      Sport-mad Sir Jim has come a long way from Dunkerly Avenue, Failsworth, where he lived until he was ten and went almost every other week to watch Sir Matt Busby’s team in action.
      Most read in Football
      In 1999 he was in Barcelona at the Nou Camp stadium when United came back at the death to beat Bayern Munich 2-1 to win the Champions League.
      Sir Jim described it as “three minutes you never forget in your lifetime”.
      So some things are priceless, even for a man whose mega-fortune comes from a 60 per cent stake in a privately owned chemical giant he always claims is “the world’s biggest company you have never heard of”.
      In total 26,000 people work for Ineos at more than 194 sites in 29 countries.
      The 60million tons of chemicals it makes each year go into almost everything we use, from antibiotics, toothpaste and clean water to insulation and food packaging.
      All this means Sir Jim can afford a luxury home in Monaco, a £6million waterside mansion in Hampshire and a house in Chelsea, West London, near the Grenadier pub, where he came up with the idea for building a 4×4 to replace the Land Rover Defender.
      He also owns a mega-house on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, near F1 star Michael Schumacher’s home, and a 260ft super-yacht, Hampshire II.
      If Sir Jim does eventually buy Man United from the American Glazer family he won’t be step-ping into the unknown because he already owns two football clubs.
      In 2017 he bought Swiss side FC Lausanne-Sport — they were relegated last season into Swizerland’s second tier.
      And in 2019 Sir Jim snapped up Nice, who play in France’s Ligue 1 for just under £100million.
      He also spent £40million buying Sky’s Tour de France-winning cycling team and he regularly goes on training rides with stars of the Ineos Grenadiers.
      He has shares in Mercedes’ Formula 1 operation and backs Sir Ben Ainslie’s bid for sailing’s America’s Cup, which Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge is part of.
      I was fired for having mild eczema. I was told ‘You can’t work here, not with eczema. We can’t spend the money on training you for five years and then find you’ve got an allergy, so you’re on your bike.’Jim Ratcliffe
      Amazingly, Sir Jim only made his eye-watering fortune in the past 25 years.
      Until then his life had been unremarkable.
      He struggled at school because of his obsession with football, got into university with some of the worst A-level results of his college peers and got sacked from his first job.
      His success came as a complete surprise to him too.
      Sir Jim says: “You should see a picture of the council house where I started out. I just played football, really. That’s all I was interested in.”
      His dad, who started out as a carpenter, worked his way up to run a factory making furniture for science labs.
      His mum worked as a secretary.
      The family moved to Beverly, East Yorks, when his dad landed a new job and Jim got into the local grammar school. In the sixth form he organised tours of local factories.
      He says: “I suppose I did have this inkling that I wanted to be successful — that I wanted to be a millionaire one day. So those things were in my head at 18. But I was just dreaming, really.”
      He chose to study chemical engineering at the University of Birmingham.
      But he arrived at the chemistry department to find a group of students clustered around a noticeboard, reading a list of the 99 students on his course, ranked according to their A-level results.
      Ratcliffe was embarrassed to find himself near the bottom.
      Northern soul Jim as a youngster in Manchester
      Jim came up with the idea for building a 4×4 to replace the Land Rover DefenderCredit: Jon Bond – The Sun
      Ratcliffe with Chris Froome and Team INEOS Principal Sir Dave BrailsfordCredit: PA:Press Association
      He says: “It lacked a bit of sensitivity. But you could say it was fair. There were a lot of guys who had worked very hard at school while I was out playing football.”
      Working for BP during the summer holiday he was offered a permanent job only to be sacked within three days.
      He says: “I was called in by my boss who had been reading my medical report — they’d not bothered until then. I was fired for having mild eczema. I was told ‘You can’t work here, not with eczema. We can’t spend the money on training you for five years and then find you’ve got an allergy, so you’re on your bike.’”
      Jim failed to persuade BP to take him on as a trainee accountant so he moved to fabric and chemicals firm Courtaulds, where he stayed until he was in his thirties.
      Lured by the perk of a much better car, a white BMW 535i, he switched to becoming a dealmaker with the venture capital company Advent International.
      He says: “They tripled my salary and offered me a fancy car. I did like that car — it was better than the one the chairman of Courtaulds had.
      “The venture capital world is very simple. If you do bad deals, you get fired. If you don’t do any deals, you get fired. I took that job because it would present a lot of opportunities. I always had a feeling that a really good one would come along.”
      In 1992, he bought BP’s specialist chemicals operation for about £40million, floating it on the stock market two years later.
      But Jim quit the company in 1998.
      By then his ten-year marriage to first wife Amanda Townson, with whom he has two sons, George and Samuel, had ended in divorce.
      He has a daughter with second wife, Alicia. He is now believed to be with current partner Catherine Polli.
      His fortunes changed for the better when he bought an Antwerp-based chemicals business which became the start of Ineos.
      I suppose I did have this inkling that I wanted to be successful — that I wanted to be a millionaire one day. So those things were in my head at 18. But I was just dreaming, really.Jim Ratcliffe
      Jim and his new business partners, Andy Currie and John Reece, became masters at spotting untapped potential in flagging plants and factories.
      Sir Jim says: “We’d look at businesses that were unfashionable or unsexy, facilities owned by large corporations. We’d run them a bit better, make them busy and very profitable.”
      The deals got bigger and bigger and by 2018 Jim’s share of the business made him Britain’s richest man with a fortune of £21billion.
      A supporter of Brexit and fracking, he wants Britain to manufacture more.
      He says: “You can’t have an economy of 70million people where you don’t make any products. If you do, every time you want to buy a product you first have to buy some foreign exchange and find a country to sell it to you. That’s dumb — you end up with a fragile economy.”
      While United’s fans are praying Sir Jim will come to the club’s rescue — they are at rock bottom after two games that both ended in defeat — business experts were warning them not to get too hopeful.
      Read More on The Sun
      While the Glazers say United is worth £5billion, the stock market values the club at much less.
      Sky TV Business Presenter Ian King says: “Sir Jim Ratcliffe has never knowingly overpaid for anything in his career.”
      F1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas celebrate with JimCredit: AFP
      Ratcliffe with the Mercedes F1 TeamCredit: Getty
      Ratcliffe meets staff at the Grangemouth plant as the first ship carrying shale gas from the US arrives in the Firth of ForthCredit: Getty
      Ratcliffe’s childhood home on Dunkerly Avenue, Failsworth, Lancs
      Aerial view of Lake Geneva where Ratcliffe owns a mega-houseCredit: Getty
      Ratcliffe’s 260ft super-yacht Hampshire IICredit: Alamy
      The Sun reported on Sir Jim’s interest in buying Man Utd More

    • 250 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside the bizarre Qatar World Cup where England fans face £13 pints, swearing ban and nights sleeping in ‘caravan city’

      by

      AFTER savouring every last drop of my £13 lager at Qatar’s Champions Bar, it was game time.With less than 100 days to go until the World Cup kicks off, I was heading for the air-conditioned Khalifa International Stadium, where England will face Iran in their opening match of the competition on November 21.
      Oliver Harvey inside the Khalifa International stadium in Doha, Qatar where England will play Iran on November 21Credit: Louis Wood
      Oliver reveals that with less than 100 days before the kick-off, ‘Cultural differences with the West come into sharp focus’, pictured: the World Cup TrophyCredit: Getty

      Taking the plush Doha underground to the 45,416-seat arena, cultural differences with the West come into sharp focus.
      A local ushered me away from a central carriage from which he explained single men are banned.
      The Metro here has three classes — Standard: Family, for women, children and accompanying men; and the lavishly-upholstered Gold.
      Boozing in public is banned — apart from at top-end hotels and restaurants — so supping tinnies on the way to a match is out. This is also a land where vapes are outlawed and swearing and obscene gestures can land you behind bars.
      Fatma Al-Nuaimi, — from the World Cup’s Supreme Committee, told me: “We just ask people to respect the local culture.”
      READ MORE ON WORLD CUP
      So how will this tiny desert kingdom, the size of Yorkshire, cope with as many as 1.3million fervent football fans arriving in three months?
      To find out, I’ve spent this week in Qatar, road-testing facilities and grilling organisers in a nation whose poor human rights record is under the microscope.
      Walking through treacle
      My dummy run to the Khalifa — where local teams Umm Salal and Al Sadd were playing out a 1-1 draw — suggests the transport and stadiums will surpass many previous World Cups.
      Entering the Metro in downtown Doha, security workers in white shirts and dark trousers huddled around giant air-conditioning units to beat the August heat.
      Most read in The Sun
      Outside it was a claustrophobic 42C (temperatures in November should fall to the mid to upper 20s) with cloying humidity making each footstep like walking through treacle.
      Inside the ground it was a pleasant 26C as 500 nozzles pumped out cold air.
      Earlier I had visited a Nasa-like World Cup nerve centre, where banks of cyber workers remotely monitor all eight World Cup stadiums.
      Chief Technology Officer Niyas Abdulrahim explained that the temperature inside the stadiums can be adjusted depending on the size of the crowd.
      And he revealed that supporters will be monitored Big Brother-style, with 15,000 cameras inside the stadiums and more in fan zones. Standing before a bank of computers and monitors, Niyas said anyone misbehaving can be identified.
      We have high-resolution special cameras to zoom in on a particular seat and clearly see the spectator. Chief Technology Officer Niyas Abdulrahim
      He revealed: “We have high-resolution special cameras to zoom in on a particular seat and clearly see the spectator. It’s being recorded, so that will help us in any post-event investigation.”
      Boozing in public is banned, here Oliver is drinking £13 pint of beer at Champions barCredit: Louis Wood
      Oliver, traveling in Gold class on the new Doha metro system, says ‘The Metro here has three classes — Standard and the lavishly-upholstered Gold’Credit: Louis Wood
      As he visits tourist attractions in the Qatar desert, England fans can experience camel rides and holding a falconCredit: Louis Wood
      No decision on Covid rules for the World Cup have been announced. Currently masks are worn in public and UK travellers require a negative pre-flight PCR test.
      And Qatar has yet to confirm its plans for alcohol consumption, with the Supreme Committee’s Fatma Al-Nuaimi saying booze will be available “in designated areas”.
      She added that events such as the Club World Cup in the country in 2019 — won by Liverpool — proved a successful trial run. “We have welcomed Liverpool fans in a fan zone that was serving alcohol before and after the match,” she said.
      The eye-watering alcohol prices in Qatar’s licensed hotel bars and restaurants won’t be replicated in the fan zones. A source at the organising committee assured me supporters will be able to sup pints for around £5.
      Gleaming Doha — a city of steel and glass rising out of the desert — will hold a giant World Cup party at its four-mile waterfront Corniche promenade.
      England’s wags are rumoured to be staying on a luxury cruise liner moored in the warm Gulf waters, where they will be able to enjoy a glass of bubbly.
      Their other halves will check into the dry five-star Souq Al Wakra beach resort, ten miles up the coast. When I visited this week, attentive staff provided a golf buggy ride from reception to the hotel’s decent restaurant to beat the searing heat.
      Lamb couscous cooked in a clay pot is £15 while signature drinks include the tomato juice-based How Bazaar, a steal at £7.
      England boss Gareth Southgate has chosen a location which will immerse his players in local life.
      Two camels
      While downtown Doha resembles London’s Canary Wharf in a sandstorm, the honey-coloured warren of low-rise streets at Al Wakra has a Middle Eastern charm.
      Next door to the hotel a mosque’s minaret rises and there is a children’s park, complete with two camels which may prove irresistible for an England photocall. On the other side of the hotel a beachside pathway leads to a tangle of shops and cafes in the souq, or street market.
      The rear of the hotel opens directly on to golden sands and the lapping waves of the Persian Gulf.
      Wales will stay in Doha’s brand new five-star Delta City Centre hotel, which is due to open in October. Fans can experience their own Arabian nights, sleeping in beachside camps.
      I took a hair-raising 4×4 sand dune-bashing tour south of Doha, where bedouin are waiting to offer camel rides and falconry displays. At the Regency Sealine Camp, luxury glamping tents hug the shoreline. Weekday prices start from around £190.
      Later I met Omar al-Jaber, whose job it is to find accommodation for more than a million visiting World Cup fans. He revealed a “caravan city” — costing from around £120 a night per mobile home — is being constructed in central Doha to help take the strain.
      Omar insists plenty of accommodation is still available to British fans yet to make a booking, the cheapest being flats near Al Janoub Stadium for under £70 a night.
      Other options include £170-a-night Portakabin-style buildings and two luxury cruise ships — the MSC Poesia and the MSC World Europa — which will be moored at Doha’s Grand Terminal.
      The liners boast swimming pools, spas and an array of restaurants, with prices starting at around £150 a night. England superfan Brian Wright and four friends have booked 22 nights on a cruise ship.
      Brian, 51, who has been to more than 370 Three Lions games and is heading for his eighth World Cup, said: “We booked before the draw and are paying just £60 a night.”
      We booked before the draw and are paying just £60 a night.England superfan Brian Wright
      UK fans will need to acquaint themselves with local customs and laws in a conservative Islamic nation.
      Coventry City fan Brian added: “Whatever country I visit, I respect their laws and abide by them. It won’t stop me having a bloody good time.”
      Scanners at Doha Airport detect anyone trying to sneak booze or drugs into the country.
      Qatar really isn’t a place where you want to fall foul of the law. The US State Department said there were 375 cases of court-ordered floggings, for various offences, in 2019.
      The last known Brit to receive the punishment was Gavin Sherrard-Smith, from Cheltenham, Gloucs. He was lashed 50 times with a bamboo cane in 1993 after he was found guilty of selling alcohol to a Muslim.
      Gavin, who denied the charges, said: “The last ten strokes were agony, bloody agony. I thought I was going to pass out.”
      Qatari organisers assured me that everyone is welcome to the tournament — yet the LGBTQ+ Travel Safety Index ranks the nation at 190th in the world.
      Homosexuality is illegal here and punishable by up to three years in prison.
      Some of the Wales team’s staff, as well as members of the Rainbow Wall — its official LGBTQ+ supporters’ group — will boycott the tournament over the country’s stance on gay rights.
      Built on sweat and blood
      The organising committee’s Nasser Al-Khori told me: “When it comes to LGBT everyone is welcome as long as there are limitations around PDA (public displays of affection).
      “There are things that are accepted culturally and things that are not. Everybody is welcome to the World Cup.”
      Public intimacy between any couple, regardless of gender, can lead to arrest.
      The gleaming stadiums and other infrastructure that have risen from the sand have been built on the sweat — and sometimes blood — of an army of occasionally mistreated migrant workers.
      The Qataris say they responded by improving health and safety and overhauling migrant employment laws.
      Spokeswoman Fatma Al-Nuaimi said the changes “will be the true social legacy that the World Cup will leave”.
      Read More on The Sun
      As the sun dips below the horizon, Doha twinkles in a kaleidoscope of lights and chrome.
      The World Cup in the desert will certainly be a tournament like no other.
      England fans can stay in portacabins in Doha whilst the World Cup is onCredit: Louis Wood
      Oliver gained access into the changing room England will get ready in before the gameCredit: Louis Wood More

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      in Boxing

      Inside Tyson Fury’s £1.7million Morecambe mansion – with gold curtains and radiators and a red marble kitchen

      by

      IT is a home fit for the Gypsy King.Back in 2020, Tyson Fury upgraded from his £550,000 abode to a stunning £1.7million home in Morecambe.
      Tyson and Paris Fury live in a £1.7m home in Morecambe
      The elaborate property cost the boxer a reported £1.7m
      And the heavyweight champ, 33, known for his love of flashy cars, has given glam wife Paris free rein to decorate.
      Clearly crafted with an open cheque book, the mansion has gold curtains and radiators throughout.
      There are huge chandeliers dangling from the ceilings, and the kitchen is decked out in red marble.
      It’s no wonder Fury, who has amassed a net worth believed to be over £100million, says he’s retiring and wants to put his feet up in his huge house.
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      Sneak peek
      It’s missus Paris, 32, who often gives us a glimpse into her fab property.
      On Instagram, she regularly shares snaps in different rooms – dressed head-to-toe in designer clobber.
      One photo showed the blonde clutching a Chanel handbag while stood in front of a set of ornate gold curtains.
      .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Boxing.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
      In another, the beauty is surrounded by family in her kitchen – sipping a coffee and laughing.
      Behind her, red-topped marble decorates the surfaces. And there’s also a silver chandelier, fit for a queen, hanging from the ceiling.
      In the hallway, Paris – wearing a patterned blouse – leans on a gold radiator that’s clearly a statement piece. Next to her is an outstanding floor to ceiling mirror.
      For the musical, underneath the wood staircase is a grand black piano that sits on marble flooring.
      Height of luxury
      The Furys don’t skimp when it comes to high-end luxury.
      Tyson practically lives in a set of £390 Versace gowns, while Paris is a huge fan of the Italian fashion brand.
      Paris told us her favourite part of the house was her walk-in wardrobe.
      Paris Fury regularly shares images of the home on social media
      Sweeping gold curtains adorn the property
      A lavish gold radiator and and grand piano can be seen in the hallway
      “Having this walk-in wardrobe was a big dream of mine. I got it and I do appreciate it,” she said.
      Incredibly, it houses her mega shoe collection that’s worth an estimated £50,000.
      And they are certainly proud of their digs – keeping on top of housekeeping in-between looking after their six children.
      Paris once described Tyson as ‘a bit of a clean freak’, so you can bet you won’t find a spec of dust anywhere.
      Plot twist
      According to land registry records, Fury bought the property for £1.695million in December 2020.
      It was paid for by their firm Tyson Fury Ltd, and is mortage-free.
      The kitchen boasts hanging chandeliers and red-topped marble kitchen counters
      One of the kids’ rooms has a pink and blue themeCredit: instagram
      The Furys have six children
      They used to live in a £550,000 house that overlooked Morecambe Bay, before moving to a new plot that was once home to a static caravan-style.
      However, the previous owner had it demolished and replaced it with a stone-clad palace – complete with a water fountain on the driveway.
      In terms of security, the property has a castellated front wall, and a wrought-iron black and gold fence. Of course, that boasts its own lavish decor – with lion motifs and four eagle sculptures on the gate posts.
      Unwanted burglars are warned off by signs that reveal the home is guarded by CCTV.
      Tyson Fury has previously boasted about having an expensive property portfolio.
      He once revealed he had bought a mansion in Marbella for £6million, although that was never confirmed.
      While last year, he claimed to have splashed the cash on a home in Las Vegas, which again was never substantiated.
      But Fury’s love affair with Morecambe knows no bounds.
      He recently agreed to sponsor League One side Morecambe FC. And he appeared at the nearby Sultan of Lancaster Experience restaurant where he cut the red ribbon to open the establishment.
      Glam Paris is the height of fashion and the decor in her home reflects that
      For Fury there’s no place like home More

    • 200 Shares199 Views

      in Boxing

      Inside Tyson Fury’s £1.7million Morecambe mansion with gold curtains and radiators and a red marble kitchen

      by

      IT is a home fit for the Gypsy King.Back in 2020, Tyson Fury upgraded from his £550,000 abode to a stunning £1.7million home in Morecambe.
      Tyson and Paris Fury live in a £1.7m home in Morecambe
      The elaborate property cost the boxer a reported £1.7m
      And the heavyweight champ, 33, known for his love of flashy cars, has given glam wife Paris free rein to decorate.
      Clearly crafted with an open cheque book, the mansion has gold curtains and radiators throughout.
      There are huge chandeliers dangling from the ceilings, and the kitchen is decked out in red marble.
      It’s no wonder Fury, who has amassed a net worth believed to be over £100million, says he’s retiring and wants to put his feet up in his huge house.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}FAST & FURY-OUS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Tyson Fury’s car collection includes two new £384k Rolls & £20k Vauxhall
      Sneak peek
      It’s missus Paris, 32, who often gives us a glimpse into her fab property.
      On Instagram, she regularly shares snaps in different rooms – dressed head-to-toe in designer clobber.
      One photo showed the blonde clutching a Chanel handbag while stood in front of a set of ornate gold curtains.
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      In another, the beauty is surrounded by family in her kitchen – sipping a coffee and laughing.
      Behind her, red-topped marble decorates the surfaces. And there’s also a silver chandelier, fit for a queen, hanging from the ceiling.
      In the hallway, Paris – wearing a patterned blouse – leans on a gold radiator that’s clearly a statement piece. Next to her is an outstanding floor to ceiling mirror.
      For the musical, underneath the wood staircase is a grand black piano that sits on marble flooring.
      Height of luxury
      The Furys don’t skimp when it comes to high-end luxury.
      Tyson practically lives in a set of £390 Versace gowns, while Paris is a huge fan of the Italian fashion brand.
      Paris told us her favourite part of the house was her walk-in wardrobe.
      Paris Fury regularly shares images of the home on social media
      Sweeping gold curtains adorn the property
      A lavish gold radiator and and grand piano can be seen in the hallway
      “Having this walk-in wardrobe was a big dream of mine. I got it and I do appreciate it,” she said.
      Incredibly, it houses her mega shoe collection that’s worth an estimated £50,000.
      And they are certainly proud of their digs – keeping on top of housekeeping in-between looking after their six children.
      Paris once described Tyson as ‘a bit of a clean freak’, so you can bet you won’t find a spec of dust anywhere.
      Plot twist
      According to land registry records, Fury bought the property for £1.695million in December 2020.
      It was paid for by their firm Tyson Fury Ltd, and is mortage-free.
      The kitchen boasts hanging chandeliers and red-topped marble kitchen counters
      One of the kids’ rooms has a pink and blue themeCredit: instagram
      The Furys have six children
      They used to live in a £550,000 house that overlooked Morecambe Bay, before moving to a new plot that was once home to a static caravan-style.
      However, the previous owner had it demolished and replaced it with a stone-clad palace – complete with a water fountain on the driveway.
      In terms of security, the property has a castellated front wall, and a wrought-iron black and gold fence. Of course, that boasts its own lavish decor – with lion motifs and four eagle sculptures on the gate posts.
      Unwanted burglars are warned off by signs that reveal the home is guarded by CCTV.
      Tyson Fury has previously boasted about having an expensive property portfolio.
      He once revealed he had bought a mansion in Marbella for £6million, although that was never confirmed.
      While last year, he claimed to have splashed the cash on a home in Las Vegas, which again was never substantiated.
      But Fury’s love affair with Morecambe knows no bounds.
      He recently agreed to sponsor League One side Morecambe FC. And he appeared at the nearby Sultan of Lancaster Experience restaurant where he cut the red ribbon to open the establishment.
      Glam Paris is the height of fashion and the decor in her home reflects that
      For Fury there’s no place like home More

    • 213 Shares109 Views

      in Boxing

      Inside Tyson Fury’s £1.7million Morecambe mansion that boasts gold radiators and curtains and a red marble kitchen

      by

      IT’S a home fit for the Gypsy King.Back in 2020, Tyson Fury upgraded from his £550,000 abode to a stunning £1.7million home in Morecambe.
      Tyson and Paris Fury live in a £1.7m home in Morecambe
      The elaborate property cost the boxer a reported £1.7m
      And the heavyweight champ, 33, known for his love of flashy cars, has given glam wife Paris free rein to decorate.
      Clearly crafted with an open cheque book, the mansion has gold curtains and radiators throughout.
      There are huge chandeliers dangling from the ceilings, and the kitchen is decked out in red marble.
      It’s no wonder Fury, who has amassed a net worth believed to be over £100million, says he’s retiring and wants to put his feet up in his huge house.
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a:not(.nk-card-link){z-index:2;position:relative;}.css-1uyse24{-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;border:none;}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,114,238,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-kicker{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24 .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(34,37,38,1);}.css-1uyse24:hover:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,86,180,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:active:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(0,62,129,1);-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;}.css-1uyse24:visited:not(:disabled) .nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-xpuujo{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-tqcu81{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(149,199,208,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-bq4915{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,97,108,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-bq4915:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}FAST & FURY-OUS .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Tyson Fury’s car collection includes two new £384k Rolls & £20k Vauxhall
      Sneak peek
      It’s missus Paris, 32, who often gives us a glimpse into her fab property.
      On Instagram, she regularly shares snaps in different rooms – dressed head-to-toe in designer clobber.
      One photo showed the blonde clutching a Chanel handbag while stood in front of a set of ornate gold curtains.
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      In another, the beauty is surrounded by family in her kitchen – sipping a coffee and laughing.
      Behind her, red-topped marble decorates the surfaces. And there’s also a silver chandelier, fit for a queen, hanging from the ceiling.
      In the hallway, Paris – wearing a patterned blouse – leans on a gold radiator that’s clearly a statement piece. Next to her is an outstanding floor to ceiling mirror.
      For the musical, underneath the wood staircase is a grand black piano that sits on marble flooring.
      Height of luxury
      The Furys don’t skimp when it comes to high-end luxury.
      Tyson practically lives in a set of £390 Versace gowns, while Paris is a huge fan of the Italian fashion brand.
      Paris told us her favourite part of the house was her walk-in wardrobe.
      Paris Fury regularly shares images of the home on social media
      Sweeping gold curtains adorn the property
      A lavish gold radiator and and grand piano can be seen in the hallway
      “Having this walk-in wardrobe was a big dream of mine. I got it and I do appreciate it,” she said.
      Incredibly, it houses her mega shoe collection that’s worth an estimated £50,000.
      And they are certainly proud of their digs – keeping on top of housekeeping in-between looking after their six children.
      Paris once described Tyson as ‘a bit of a clean freak’, so you can bet you won’t find a spec of dust anywhere.
      Plot twist
      According to land registry records, Fury bought the property for £1.695million in December 2020.
      It was paid for by their firm Tyson Fury Ltd, and is mortage-free.
      The kitchen boasts hanging chandeliers and red-topped marble kitchen counters
      One of the kids’ rooms has a pink and blue themeCredit: instagram
      The Furys have six children
      They used to live in a £550,000 house that overlooked Morecambe Bay, before moving to a new plot that was once home to a static caravan-style.
      However, the previous owner had it demolished and replaced it with a stone-clad palace – complete with a water fountain on the driveway.
      In terms of security, the property has a castellated front wall, and a wrought-iron black and gold fence. Of course, that boasts its own lavish decor – with lion motifs and four eagle sculptures on the gate posts.
      Unwanted burglars are warned off by signs that reveal the home is guarded by CCTV.
      Tyson Fury has previously boasted about having an expensive property portfolio.
      He once revealed he had bought a mansion in Marbella for £6million, although that was never confirmed.
      While last year, he claimed to have splashed the cash on a home in Las Vegas, which again was never substantiated.
      But Fury’s love affair with Morecambe knows no bounds.
      He recently agreed to sponsor League One side Morecambe FC. And he appeared at the nearby Sultan of Lancaster Experience restaurant where he cut the red ribbon to open the establishment.
      Glam Paris is the height of fashion and the decor in her home reflects that
      For Fury there’s no place like home More

    • 225 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      The 1972 match that put the Lionesses on the road to Wembley (and ended 50 years of hurt)

      by

      JUST 400 people paid 20p each to file through the turnstiles at a kids’ foot­ball ground near Glasgow to see history being made.Exactly 50 years ago, England’s women footballers played their first ever international with the official backing of the game’s governing body.
      Exactly 50 years ago, England’s women footballers played their first ever international with the official backing of the game’s governing bodyCredit: Mirrorpix
      That match set the Lionesses off on the long road that has led them to Sunday’s Euro 2022 final at WembleyCredit: Getty
      In that debut game against Scotland at the Ravenscraig Stadium in Greenock, England won 3-2 and set off on the long road that has led the Lionesses to Sunday’s Euros final at Wembley.
      Although striker Pat Davies scored twice to wipe out Scotland’s 2-1 lead, the final score was almost irrelevant.
      What DID matter that Saturday afternoon in November 1972 was that this game signalled the end of half a century of hurt for women who had been BANNED from playing football.
      A hundred years ago, most UK towns and cities had women’s football teams and many of those female players were international superstars.
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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}LET THEM ROAR! .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Calls for England’s Lionesses to get their OWN Euros emoji
      On Boxing Day morning of 1920 a capacity crowd of 53,000 crammed into Goodison Park, Liverpool, to watch two of the country’s most exciting women’s teams play a charity match to raise money for wounded war veterans.
      ‘ABSOLUTE OUTCRY’
      That record-breaking crowd was far bigger than Liverpool or Everton men’s teams were getting — and the Football Association was worried.
      Former women’s footballer Gail Newsham, 69, of Preston, Lancs, says: “That match sent shock waves through the football establishment.
      “Despite being factory workers, one of those women’s teams — Dick, Kerr Ladies from Preston — played 67 games of football in a year and almost 900,000 people came to watch them.
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new Brazilian girlfriend, 35, days after divorce
      “Back then women players were the superstars of the day because they played exciting football.
      “Fans wanted to be pictured with them and get their autographs, the selfies of that time.”
      Then, almost a year after that famous Boxing Day match, the game’s ruling body, the FA, banned women from playing on any grounds operated by the Football League.
      Gail says: “Imagine saying to today’s incredible Lionesses after Sunday’s game at Wembley, ‘right that’s it you’re not playing anymore. You’re banned’.
      “Whatever you’d done, it didn’t matter. Nobody was going to care or remember. That’s what happened to those famous female footballers.
      “If the same thing happened today there would be an absolute outcry. But back in 1921 life was very different for women. What drives me mad is the injustice of it.”
      It had all been so different, when four years earlier the matron of a military hospital asked women workers at William Dick and John Kerr’s munitions factory in Preston to raise money for veterans with a Christmas concert.
      The factory girls had a better idea — a charity football match against women from a nearby foundry.
      Incredibly 10,000 fans turned up at Preston North End’s Deepdale ground to see Dick, Kerr Ladies beat Arundel Coulthard Foundry and raise the equivalent of £50,000 for wounded soldiers. It was the start of an amazing run of 200 games without defeat, as the women footballers took not only Britain but the world by storm — they even became the unofficial England team.
      Gail tracked down former players and fans for her book about the Dick, Kerr Ladies Team, In A League Of Their Own.
      Imagine saying to today’s incredible Lionesses after Sunday’s game at Wembley, ‘right that’s it you’re not playing anymore. You’re banned’.Gail Newsham
      She says: “I met two elderly gentlemen who had seen the Dick, Kerr Ladies play — one during the general strike and the other remembers seeing a night match by search light in 1920.
      “They both told me it wasn’t about women running around in shorts or anything like that. They just wanted to see a good game of football.
      “The most outstanding player was the team’s first captain, Alice Kell, who was a defender in the Bobby Moore mould and a great figurehead for the team. The women looked up to her.
      “All those years later, that old man still remembered Alice Kell’s name.
      “Florrie Redford was the centre forward and she was naturally gifted, could kick with either foot. She scored 170 goals in 1921.
      “She was probably the most famous woman footballer of her generation.
      “Everybody talks about Lily Parr but before her came Jenny Harris, a very small girl but a fantastic player. She could dribble from one end of the pitch to the other and score goals.
      “Those women players would be absolute superstars today.”
      But the Boxing Day game at Goodison Park sealed their fate.
      The FA’s council ruled that football was “quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged.”
      Despite women playing soccer for years doctors on the FA’s payroll decided: “Football is a rough game and is more harmful for women than men.”
      The most outstanding player was the team’s first captain, Alice Kell, who was a defender in the Bobby Moore mould and a great figurehead for the team. The women looked up to her.Gail Newsham
      Dr Elizabeth Sloan Chesser even said: “Women may receive injuries from which they may never recover.”
      Banned from playing at league stadiums, women’s teams were reduced to doing so in parks and rugby grounds.
      Gail says: “Rugby grounds opened their doors to them and they would play on pitches that the FA had no jurisdiction over. But the FA still kept rearing their ugly heads throughout the history — they would try to prevent games from going ahead.”
      Dick, Kerr Ladies team owned their own ground and managed to continue playing until 1965. They even travelled to America to play and they won tournaments in Europe.
      WASHED IN A POND
      Watching Dick, Kerr Ladies in the early Sixties, legendary manager Sir Matt Busby described Val Walsh as one of the best players he had ever seen. He would have signed Val to play for Manchester United if she had been a man.
      Other clubs like Heys from Bradford, Huddersfield Atlanta and Manchester Corinthians Ladies Foot­ball Club defied the ban on women’s football on FA-affiliated grounds.
      Percy Ashley, a Bolton Wanderers scout, set up the Corinthians in 1949 so his deaf daughter, Doris, a gifted player, could play and socialise with other women.
      Conditions were so primitive at their home ground in Fog Lane Park, Didsbury, that women players washed in a nearby duck pond because there was no running water in the unheated changing rooms.
      But by touring Europe the team won more than 50 trophies by 1970, and raised £275,000 for charity.
      Gail grew up playing football with boys in the street but was not allowed to play in matches until the FA lifted their ban in 1971.
      She says: “When I first started, we used to play at a pitch where the changing room was an old chicken hut and there were panels missing so the wind and rain came in and the toilet was a rusty oil drum.
      “But we didn’t mind. We’d play anywhere. We really did it for the love of the game.”
      The year after Dick, Kerr Ladies team finally quit, England’s men won the World Cup in 1966, inspiring more women than ever to play.
      In 1967, BBC worker Patricia Gregory was watching Spurs parade the FA Cup at Tottenham Town Hall and wondered why she had never seen girls playing football.
      Unaware of the FA ruling on women playing football she founded the Women’s Football Association and five years later the ban was lifted – allowing that first ever official female international to happen.
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      Gail says: “Here we are 50 years on and I believe the Lionesses can do it on Sunday. I can’t put into words how wonderful it will be.
      “It’s like, we are picking up now where the Dick, Kerr Ladies left off in the 1920s.”
      Dick, Kerr Ladies from Preston played 67 games of football in a year and almost 900,000 people came to watch themCredit: Getty
      Jeannie Allott scored the first goal of the 1972 Scotland game at just 16 years of ageCredit: Mirrorpix
      Florrie Redford was the centre forward for Dick, Kerr Ladies and she was naturally gifted, being pictured here on Joan Whalley’s leftCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      I played for Inter Milan and was Cristiano Ronaldo’s body double, now I’m slugging it out in non-league

      by

      PROMISING talent Ben Greenhalgh had the world at his feet.After seeing off 2,000 players to win Sky One reality TV show Football’s Next Star, the-then 17-year-old secured a six-month contract with Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan.
      Football’s Next Star winner Ben Greenhalgh secured a contract with Inter Milan in 2009
      Greenhalgh also worked as a body double for Cristiano RonaldoCredit: Sky One
      The left-winger, who bares an uncanny resemblance to Cristiano Ronaldo, also worked as the Portugal legend’s body double in adverts – and was offered a two-year contract at Tottenham, thanks to mentor Jamie Redknapp.
      Today, aged 30, Greenhalgh turns out for non-league Margate – a far cry from the dizzy heights of the San Siro.
      But, he looks back fondly at his experience.
      TV darling
      Football’s Next Star saw nine footballers whittled down from around 2,000 hopefuls trying to impress Inter youth coach Marco Monti.
      “We were chucked in a mansion, cameras everywhere, a bunch of boys who’d never met each other before. Realistically we were living the dream,” he told the Daily Mail.
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      The show’s climax, in true X-Factor style, featured a segment called the ‘danger zone’ where the contestants would find out their fate.
      Greenhalgh explained: “The danger-zone was three minutes of footage, but it took about two hours to film.
      “You did a different angle, you stood up, sat back down again and by that point you knew you were in the danger-zone.
      “It was definitely nerve-racking. Sometimes when I watch these shows now, people play up to the cameras but we didn’t do that.
      .css-qu9fel{border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-b9nmbi{margin-bottom:16px;border-top:1px solid #dcdddd;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-q8gelu{margin-bottom:24px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Most read in Football.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-zdjvqv{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:space-around;-ms-flex-pack:space-around;-webkit-justify-content:space-around;justify-content:space-around;margin-top:calc(-12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(-12px/2);}.css-zdjvqv:before,.css-zdjvqv:after{content:”;display:block;}.css-1meuhfk{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-top:calc(12px/2);margin-bottom:calc(12px/2);}
      “Early on, we were watching the first-team train when they needed another body. I got the call over, and I remember receiving the ball from [Ricardo] Quaresma.
      “I started running at Lucio and my legs turned to jelly. I looked up and realised who I was trying to dribble past.”
      Inter you
      After winning Football’s Next Star, Greenhalgh trained with Inter’s first team stars in 2009-10.
      It was a successful team that won the treble, including the Champions League to record the most successful season in Italian football history.
      Greenhalgh even received a Champions League medal.
      “To this day, those memories you can’t compete with,” he remembered.
      “I was quite level-headed when training with the first-team, I knew where I was and where they were. Everyone was so respectful of Mourinho. Those he didn’t like, he’d freeze out.”
      For six months, Greenhalgh trained with Jose Mourinho’s InterCredit: Italy Photo Press
      Ex-Arsenal star Patrick Vieira tracks Greenhalgh’s run during a training session
      The modest teenager couldn’t make the breakthrough at Inter, but did enjoy a successful loan at third division Como, where he could have signed permanently if it not for match-fixing and the club then falling in to financial ruin.
      He returned to his hometown in Kent after his Italian adventure. Intriguingly, if he hadn’t won the show he could have been offered a deal with Spurs, as per his mentor Jamie Redknapp who hosted Football’s Next Star.
      “Jamie said if I hadn’t won, I could’ve had a two-year deal at Tottenham. I never look back on it. Football can take you on so many different journeys,” Greenhalgh revealed.
      Doubling for Ronaldo
      Before his Inter Milan experience, Greenhalgh used his good looks and playing style to be a body-double for Cristiano Ronaldo.
      He worked as a model for Select Sports Artists and met CR7 on a shoot.
      “I did a couple of adverts when I was 16 for my coach Mike Delaney, who was a football choreographer,” he revealed.
      “As I was growing up, I moved more like Ronaldo. I was a winger, who liked to do skills. Admittedly I based myself on him and ended up looking a little bit like him!
      “Back then at Manchester United, he was probably more willing than he is now. He hung about for three hours, did keepy-ups with me, showing skills, that’s what he was like.”
      Amusingly, Greenhalgh also worked as a body double for Diego Costa, who he shared a funny tale about.
      Greenhalgh scored work as a Cristiano Ronaldo body-double because they shared a similar playing style
      He said: “They got me to double for Diego Costa which I wasn’t too happy about! Anyway, as they tried to film he kept slide tackling the camera!
      “I’ve never seen anything like it, he was like a little kid in a man’s body. I think that’s why Chelsea got rid of him simply because [Antonio] Conte couldn’t handle him!”
      Sliding doors
      Greenhalgh bounced around the clubs – with spells at Ebbsfleet United, Maidstone United, Concord Rangers, and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, where he was coached by England legend Terry Butcher, and Tonbridge Angels in Dartford.
      “If anyone asks me what my best time in football was, I’d say it was Inverness,” he said.
      “We were in the middle of nowhere, we saw each other every day and the best thing was Terry Butcher bought into the culture of the changing room. 
      “The changing room matters. Terry was one of the most honest, most truthful men. You did not want to do wrong by him or let him down.”
      Last, following a stint coaching Tonbridge’s youth academy, Greenhalgh moved to Margate in the Isthmian League Premier Division
      Greenhalgh in action for non-league Tonbridge AngelsCredit: Alamy
      Greenhalgh coached the club’s academy and sees his future in managementCredit: Ian Tuttle 07929 793436
      .css-16e4f55{margin:16px 0;}.css-1546w7m{background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);margin:16px 0;}.css-1tapza8{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1bk4jdt{padding:20px 15px;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-16djrfc{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-1skzs3j{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}Read More on The Sun.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}PAM IT UP .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}I spent £43k to look like my idol Pamela Anderson – blokes always say same thing
      His plans to play until he’s 40, and is preparing take his UEFA B Badge next yea
      Having worked under Mourinho, perhaps Greenhalgh might be able to emulate the Special One too. More

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      in Soccer

      How England’s Lionesses are tantalisingly close to ending 56 years of hurt in epic semi-final clash with Sweden

      by

      ENGLAND’S Lionesses aim to get the nation roaring tomorrow.Striker Fran Kirby said: “Hopefully we are giving the country something to smile about and to be proud of.”
      England’s Lionesses are tantalisingly close to ending 56 years of hurt in epic semi-final clash with SwedenCredit: Getty
      Their Euros semi-final against Sweden, being screened on BBC One, is set to be watched by TEN MILLION people as support for the Lionesses reaches fever pitch.
      It shows how momentum is buiding, as 7.6million watched their thrilling eleventh-hour 2-1 victory over Spain last Wednesday.
      With the final tantalisingly in sight, this could be England’s chance to ease the pain of last year’s men’s final defeat to Italy on penalties.
      Fans are getting behind the Lionesses in a major way – 2,000 extra tickets for the clash at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane sold out in just ten minutes last week.
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15px;}.css-1qsre5o{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:flex-start;-webkit-box-align:flex-start;-ms-flex-align:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;-webkit-align-content:flex-start;-ms-flex-line-pack:flex-start;align-content:flex-start;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;}.css-16djrfc{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-1skzs3j{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:1;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;padding-top:2px;}.css-7ysxcx{padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-7ysxcx:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:100%;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:justify;-webkit-justify-content:space-between;justify-content:space-between;padding:0;text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-jkwlot:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}.css-1x7hydu{font-family:The Sun;font-size:24px;line-height:1.1666666666666667;font-weight:400;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:semi-condensed;padding:1px 0px;}.css-1x7hydu::before{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-bottom:calc(-0.24520833333333342em + -0.5px);}.css-1x7hydu::after{content:”;display:block;height:0;width:0;margin-top:-0.2333333333333334em;}.css-1lobn43{display:inline;font:inherit;margin:0;color:rgba(0,0,0,1);}.css-1lobn43 svg{fill:rgba(0,0,0,1);}READ MORE ON LIONESSES.css-1gojmfd{margin-bottom:16px;}.css-gmec1d{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;height:auto;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;-webkit-align-content:center;-ms-flex-line-pack:center;align-content:center;-webkit-box-flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-wrap:nowrap;-ms-flex-wrap:nowrap;flex-wrap:nowrap;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:flex-start;justify-content:flex-start;margin-left:calc(-20px/2);margin-right:calc(-20px/2);}.css-fh9577{display:-webkit-inline-box;display:-webkit-inline-flex;display:-ms-inline-flexbox;display:inline-flex;margin-left:calc(20px/2);margin-right:calc(20px/2);}.css-65fvqt{max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-1exhbll{box-sizing:border-box;overflow:hidden;background-color:rgba(237,245,242,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;position:relative;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:column;-ms-flex-direction:column;flex-direction:column;max-width:302px;max-height:294px;}.css-bk55po{box-sizing:border-box;display:block;position:relative;margin-bottom:0;}.css-1shocxe{box-sizing:border-box;}.css-1a2irou{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0;}.css-1a2irou 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.nk-headline-heading{color:rgba(71,30,121,1);}.css-1uyse24:before{content:”;top:0;right:0;bottom:0;left:0;overflow:hidden;position:absolute;z-index:1;}.css-n392go{border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-1p5s3t0{padding:0;border-width:0 1px 1px 1px;border-style:solid;border-color:rgba(155,201,183,1);padding:12px;max-height:104px;min-height:98px;}.css-124tga5{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-5jzxpx{overflow:hidden;-webkit-line-clamp:3;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;display:-webkit-box;word-wrap:break-word;line-height:1;}.css-i1acvs{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,99,73,1);text-transform:uppercase;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-i1acvs:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}FRAN MASTERPLAN .css-8h3gc3{margin:0;padding:0;color:rgba(34,37,38,1);-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;font-family:The Sun;font-size:18px;line-height:1.333;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0%;font-stretch:normal;display:inline;}.css-8h3gc3:hover:not(:disabled){-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}Kirby insists England ready to end their semis hoodoo by beating Sweden
      And we will be sinking 11.2million pints as we cheer them on tomorrow, according to Voucher Codes.co.uk — that’s on top of the 4.7million said to have been guzzled as they powered past Spain.
      For the first time in women’s football history, up to 5,000 fans will flock to London’s Trafalgar Square to watch the semi-final on big screens.
      The event is free, with lucky fans able to bag tickets on a first-come-first-served basis at london.gov.uk/womenseuro2022.
      Announcing the event, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “With Euros fever gripping the country, I am delighted that thousands of Londoners and visitors will be able to come together and cheer the team on to glory.”
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      As the excitement builds to fever pitch the team, managed by the Dutchwoman Sarina Wiegman, are keeping their feet on the ground.
      Some are still smarting after being bumped into fourth place by tomorrow’s opponents in the 2019 World Cup.
      But a fresh start comes with a new captain — Arsenal defender Leah Williamson, 25.
      She said: “I set myself a path to play for Arsenal, then England.
      “Maybe I didn’t know exactly who I was but I knew where I was going.”
      Manchester City’s Ellen White, 33 — known for her “goggles” goal celebration — is just one strike behind Wayne Rooney’s 53-goal record for his country and will be looking to equal or beat it tomorrow.
      For some of the Lionesses the semi-final will be a time of divided loyalties.
      Chelsea’s Millie Bright, 28, will be facing off against her Swedish team-mates, club captain Magdalena Eriksson and potentially keeper Zecira Mušovic.
      Leah Williamson and Beth Mead, 27 — the top scorer in the tournament so far with five goals – are up against their Arsenal team-mate Stina Blackstenius.
      Success against the Swedes will be no mean feat. Unlike England, they can boast at least one Euros win, even if it was in 1984.
      ‘FEVER GRIPPING COUNTRY’
      But there are plenty of people who believe our girls can go all the way..
      Match Of The Day host and ex-Three Lions ace Gary Linker was among a handful of high-profile names who took to social media to praise England’s comeback against Spain, tweeting: “Wonderful victory for @Lionesses. Well played.”
      Prince William also congratulated them, writing: “Great performance and comeback @Lionesses, brilliant team effort! On to the #WEURO2020 semis.”
      And the public are right behind the girls as Lioness fever has taken hold — which has not gone unnoticed by the team.
      Fran Kirby added: “As the tournament has grown people have been going, ‘Well done, girls — we’re supporting you!’
      “If we get the through to the final it will be incredible for people to have something to celebrate and enjoy.”
      Fingers crossed the team make it to Wembley to face either France or Germany — the latter giving us a prospect as exciting as England’s 1966 World Cup final.
      Football’s not coming home quite yet, but it’s tantalisingly close.
      Below, we introduce you to the Lionesses, share pictures of them when they were youngsters dreaming of footie stardom and tell you sun facts about them.
      Plus The Sun’s Head Of Sport gives his view.
      LEAH WILLIAMSON
      Arsenal Centre Back
      Leah 25, is from Milton Keynes, Bucks She is studying part time to become an accountantCredit: Rex
      Leah was scouted for the top Rushden & Diamonds Centre of Excellence aged just sixCredit: Instagram
      GEORGIA STANWAY
      Bayern Munich Midfield
      Now 23, at 16 Georgia moved and from her home town of Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to follow her dreams to become a footballerCredit: Getty
      Georgia’s favourite cake is a Cartmel Sticky Toffee puddingCredit: Instagram
      MARY EARPS
      Man Utd Goalkeeper
      Comeback queen Mary returned to the squad last year after being axed by Phil Neville in 2019Credit: Getty
      Mary, from Nottingham, attempted to learn German through podcasts while playing for VfL Wolfsburg
      MILLIE BRIGHT
      Chelsea Defender
      Millie, 28, is one of the toughest players on the pitch but as a kid growing up in Chesterfield, Derbys, she was obsessed with horse ridingCredit: Getty
      Millie dumped horse riding for footie after being scouted by Sheffield United. As a teen, she idolised Olympic hero Jessica Ennis-HillCredit: Instagram
      BETH MEAD
      Arsenal Forward
      The Euros’ top scorer so far with five goals, Beth was a sports all-rounder as a child in Hinderwell, YorksCredit: Getty
      Beth 27, excelled at netball, cricket, hockey and cross-country before bopting to pursue football. So she could afford her pairs of boots, she worked at a local pubCredit: Instagram
      LUCY BRONZE
      Barcelona Fullback
      Lucy, 30, from Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, is the team’s most experienced playerCredit: Getty
      Lucy is bilingual thanks to her Portuguese dad. She worked part-time in a pizza shop when she signed for Everton.Credit: Instagram
      RACHEL DALY
      Houston Dash Forward/Fullback
      Rachel, 30, is from Harrogate North Yorks. As a child, some mistook her for a boy due to her short hair when she played for a lads’ teamCredit: Getty
      St John Ambulance dedicated a staff member every year to count how many yellow cards Rachel got as a teen player and warned her when she was getting close to a suspensionCredit: Instagram
      FRAN KIRBY
      Chelsea Forward
      Fran is 29 and from Reading. Her mum once wrote in a birthday card that Fran would play in the World Cup. Tragically she died suddenly when Fran was 14.Credit: Getty
      Tragically Fran’s mum died suddenly when Fran was 14Credit: Instagram / @frankirby
      KEIRA WALSH
      Man City Midfield
      Seen as one of the world’s most talented midfielders, Keira, 25, from Rochdale, was obsessed with Man City from early onCredit: Getty
      As a kid Keira named her goldfish Shaun Goater and Nicolas Anelka after two former club strikersCredit: Instagram
      LAUREN HEMP
      Man City Forward
      Hailing from North Walsham in Norfolk, 21-year-old Lauren’s early passion was dancingCredit: Getty
      Lauren only took up football after watching her older sister play in their garden at homeCredit: Twitter
      ELLEN WHITE
      Man City Forward
      Last year Ellen became the women’s top scorer of all time when she slotted home the 55th career goalCredit: Getty
      Now 33, she was eight and being trained by her dad Jon when she was spotted by an Arsenal scoutCredit: Supplied
      By SHAUN CUSTIS Head of Sun Sport
      THIS Euros has proved that the women’s game can stand on its own two feet.
      Which is why we should stop comparing it with men’s football.
      Last week it was being said that if Ellen White nets another two she will go past Wayne Rooney’s England goal-scoring record of 53.
      No she won’t, she will extend her own incredible record in women’s football.
      After all if Harry Kane, currently on 50 goals, gets to 55 we wouldn’t say he’s beaten Ellen White, so why do it the other way round?
      Of course, should The Lionesses win the tournament at Wembley on Sunday, there will be the inevitable digs at the men about the females triumphing where they failed last year.
      And they will deserve all the plaudits that come their way.
      But for the women’s game to seriously progress in the years to come it needs to develop in its own space.
      Hopefully that means this Euros will encourage girls’ football teams in every primary school, rather than the best players being in the boys’ teams.
      Once that becomes the norm, then women’s football will really be on the march. More