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      in Soccer

      How FA chiefs refuse to recognise Lionesses’ 1971 World Cup campaign – and why they punished stars when they returned

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      STEPPING out into the sweltering Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Carol Wilson felt the ground shake as 97,000 fans went wild at the arrival of the two football teams.Aged just 19, she was the youngest player ever to captain an England team — and she was doing so with a broken foot.Manager Harry Batt with the 1971 England squad that played in the Mexico Women’s World Cup – but were shunned and punished by the Football AssociationCredit: © New Black Films ltd / MirrorpixFormer England captain Carol Wilson received a six-month suspension for taking part in the tournamentCredit: SuppliedAt the 1971 tournament Paula Raynor, above, became England’s youngest goal scorer when she netted against Argentina aged 15Credit: AlamyYet until now Carol’s heroics at the 1971 Women’s World Cup have been forgotten and the Football Association still won’t reward any of the side with a cap, the usual recognition for players who represent their country in an international match.At the same tournament Paula Raynor became England’s youngest goal scorer when she netted against Argentina aged 15.But their names are unlikely to appear in any pub quiz, as those records are very much unofficial.In Mexico we weren’t interested in the politics, all we wanted to do was play footballCarol WilsonAnd rather than being feted for representing England, the whole team which went to Mexico were BANNED from playing for between three and six months.Their crime was to have dared to stand up to the sport’s male rulers, who didn’t want women to take part in the beautiful game.But now, thanks to documentary film Copa 71, produced by tennis stars Serena and Venus Williams, their dedication to women’s football is finally being properly celebrated.Carol, 72, from Shipdham, Norfolk, tells The Sun: “I was elated to represent my country.“In Mexico we weren’t interested in the politics, all we wanted to do was play football.Most read in Football“I got injured against Argentina, but there was no way I was going to miss the game against Mexico.‘Pretty girls’“It was painful playing with a broken foot, but at times the adrenalin was so high I didn’t notice it. It was only when I came off when I went ‘Ouch’.”Paula Raynor became England’s youngest goal scorer aged 15 in the 1971 Women’s World CupWomen’s football was popular at the start of the 20th century, with fans filling stadiums. But in 1921 the game’s ruling body banned women from playing in affiliated grounds.That restriction remained in place for another half a century.At home it would only be a few friends and family watching us on the recreational pitches. We weren’t allowed in the stadiums in England Paula RaynorIt meant that neither Carol nor Paula could join a school team and had to pursue their sporting passion on park pitches in front of “one man and his dog”.Then some enterprising Mexican businessmen made plans which would change all that. They realised they could make good use of the stadiums built for the 1970 men’s World Cup in the country by holding a women’s competition the following summer.Here, Luton bus conductor Harry Batt petitioned the Women’s FA, which had only been formed in 1969, to allow him to put together a team to take to the tournament.But rather than helping, the association is said to have told female footballers they faced being black-listed if they did go to Mexico.Paula says: “The WFA restricted Harry on which players he could take. I have heard that some players were warned off going to Mexico.”But with the help of his wife June, Harry managed to convince drinks giant Martini & Rossi to sponsor the trip and found 14 women to go.Both Paula, who ran out for Chiltern Valley Ladies, and Carol, an RAF fitness instructor, had played for England at an unofficial World Cup held in Italy the previous year.Achievement ignoredThat gave them some experience of playing in proper stadiums, and Paula recalls: “We played in Milan and in Juventus (Turin).“At home it would only be a few friends and family watching us on the recreational pitches. We weren’t allowed in the stadiums in England.”The team finished third in Italy but because the tournament had been organised by the breakaway Federation of Independent European Female Football, the men’s ruling body refused to recognise the achievement.Harry’s team entered the 1971 World Cup as the British Independents to get around the FA’s rules, yet the team was listed as England by the tournament organisers and they wore the traditional all-white kit.On their arrival in Mexico the players were greeted by camera flashes as they got off the plane, with crowds outside the airport and locals throwing presents at their bus.Nearly 400 children watched their training session and the local Press wrote about England’s “pretty girls”.But nothing could have prepared them for entering Mexico City’s towering Azteca Stadium for their first match against Argentina.Paula says: “The first thing that hits you is the heat, then the noise, and then the size of the pitch. You think, ‘Oh my God’. It’s a very big pitch. It takes you by surprise, then, once the whistle goes, it blocks out.”Until Paula watched the new documentary, she could not remember scoring her equaliser.She says: “Because of how the WFA treated us, a lot of stuff was blocked because I didn’t talk about it.“I knew I scored a goal but it was not until I watched the premiere of Copa 71 that I knew I headed it in.”Carol broke her foot going for a 50-50 ball and England lost 4-1 to the South Americans.The next match against the hosts Mexico proved to be even bigger. Carol says: “I remember standing in the tunnel for Mexico and it didn’t affect me until then — my legs turned to jelly.”The 97,000-strong crowd is the biggest for an England women’s game, but sadly they lost 4-0. Yet despite the disappointment, Carol says she was not too downhearted.She recalls: “I know all the girls had tried 110 per cent and to think we had come from six people and a dog on a Sunday, I thought at the time women’s football was going to be massive.”Although they had been knocked out, England were invited to stay in Mexico until the tournament ended.They were treated as celebrities, appearing in newspapers and magazines and opening shops.The final, in which Denmark beat Mexico 3-0, had a crowd of 110,000, proving there certainly was an appetite for the women’s game.My achievements were never announced at school and because we arrived back from Mexico a week after the school term had started I got into trouble with the headmistressPaula RaynorThe tournament also showed that women could be just as hot-blooded about this physical sport as the men, because in the semi-final between Mexico and Italy play was stopped ten minutes early due to an on-field brawl. After the tournament was over, the joy for Harry’s team turned out to be short-lived.There was no one to meet them at the airport back in England and only one journalist turned up to ask them about the tournament.The WFA banned Harry from football for life, Carol received a six-month suspension and the rest of the players three months.Carol’s treatment on her return from Mexico took away the joy from playing the game she adored.The Lionesses of 1971 training in the familiar England strip – but the team’s achievements were ignored by the FACredit: MirrorpixEngland players training with coach Pat Dunn in MexicoCredit: MirrorpixWhen she attended an event at Newcastle United, the team she had supported since childhood, a compere ridiculed her on stage in front of her father.And her newlywed husband told her to give up football.Ticking off at schoolCarol recalls: “He didn’t approve. We had just been married and he didn’t think women should play football anyway and he whinged about me having to go away.”Paula, meanwhile, received a ticking off at school.She says: “My achievements were never announced at school and because we arrived back from Mexico a week after the term had started I got into trouble with the headmistress.”After leaving school she joined the RAF and kept playing until her first pregnancy at 25. Without them, and many others, the women’s game would not be where it is todayFA spokesman, 2024Today, the authorities are finally recognising these sporting pioneers.Last year a blue plaque was unveiled in Luton to honour the team and its founders Harry and June Batt.And the FA acknowledges that the players who went to Mexico changed the face of the game.A spokesman told The Sun: “The talented and courageous women who travelled to Mexico in 1971 significantly contributed to the formation of the England women’s team in 1972 and without them, and many others, the women’s game would not be where it is today.”But they still only issue caps to England’s women players who were given permission to play by the FA from November 1972 onwards.Mother-of-three Paula, 67, from Southport, Merseyside, is pleased by how much has changed for women’s football in the past few years.England’s Lionesses winning the Euros in 2022 and reaching the World Cup final last year has made modern players such as captain Leah Williamson household names.READ MORE SUN STORIESPaula says: “The women’s game is so different now, it’s fantastic. The recent growth, since the Euros, it’s phenomenal.”
      Copa 71 is in cinemas from March 8.
      Carol and team mate Yvonne Bradley arrive home from Mexico in plasterDenmark’s Inger Pedersen lifts the trophy in an echo of England’s Bobby Moore in 1966Credit: TopFotoCELEBRATE THESE COPA HEROINESBy Sandra Brobbey, Women’s Football Reporter
      IT’S a travesty that Carol Wilson, Paula Raynor and their team-mates were treated so shabbily for daring to play in a tournament worthy of more recognition than it currently gets.
      And it’s bizarre that those who chose to represent England at this unofficial women’s world cup come home to face bans and suspensions.
      While there is much to do to help the sport continue to grow, the women’s game has thankfully come a long way since England went toe-to-toe with Mexico in the Azteca stadium.
      On these shores a record crowd of more than 87,000 flocked to Wembley to watch the Lionesses win the Euros two years ago.
      The success of the 1971 tournament helped pave the way for such moments and for the women’ game to become what it is today.
      The efforts of Wilson, Raynor and all the women who competed in this contest should be more widely celebrated.
      Hopefully the release of Copa 71 will lead to that. More

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      in Motorsport

      Inside Christian and Geri Horner’s £50m fortune – including prize-winning side-hustle & jaw-dropping Spice Girls payday

      by

      THE future of Christian Horner’s Formula One career continues to hang in the balance amid bombshell allegations about his workplace conduct.The Red Bull Racing chief, 50, is awaiting the verdict of bosses after being accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague and sending “sexually suggestive” texts. 
      Christian and Geri Horner are worth tens of millionsCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Horner’s future with Red Bull Racing were reportedly be decided in 10 daysCredit: PA
      Racing boss Christian earned a staggering £8m in 2022Credit: Getty
      Christian, who has categorically denied all claims, was put through an eight-hour grilling as part of an independent investigation and his fate will reportedly be decided within 10 days.
      It risks ending his 19-year career with Red Bull Racing, where he’s paid in excess of £8million a year, and putting a sizeable dent in the fortune earned by him and his ex-Spice Girl wife Geri. 
      The couple have netted tens of millions of pounds over the years, with a fortune of at least £50million, which has afforded them an enviable and comfortable country lifestyle.
      From £2.4million in rental properties to a horseracing firm and royalties, we look into Geri and Christian Horner’s finances. 
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      £8M Red Bull salary
      Red Bull boss Christian is believed to be the highest-paid team principal in F1 and began working for them in 2005 . 
      Company accounts reports, which span between 2011 and 2022, show the F1 boss has been paid a staggering £40.2million over that 11-year period. 
      His 2022 pay from Red Bull was listed at £8,044,000, which was almost £3million higher than the £5,085,000 salary he bagged a year earlier.
      It’s an impressive hike from his £1,343,000 salary back in 2011.
      Most read in Motorsport
      Popstar fortune
      Geri amassed a staggering fortune from her time as both a solo artist and a member of the Spice Girls, who remain the best-selling female group in history.
      Red Bull debuts design with Mercedes-style element reportedly dubbed ‘illegal’ by Christian Horner
      Her popstar earnings were paid in Wonderful Productions Limited, which was set up in 1997 – one year before the singer left the band. 
      During the company’s first three years of trading, it reported a £13.1million turnover and that she paid herself £8.9million. 
      No pay disclosures were reported by her in accounts between 2001 and 2018. Figures suggest the firm entered a non-trading phase between 2009 and 2012. 
      Geri bagged £2.2million in pay following the return of the Spice Girls – minus Victoria Beckham – in 2019, reportedly for just six gigs. 
      The Spice Girls remain the best-selling female group in music historyCredit: PA:Press Association
      A 2019 Spice Girls reunion, minus Victoria, saw Geri bag £2.2millionCredit: PA:Press Association
      The bombshell claims that have rocked F1F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that Christian Horner had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.
      This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
      Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
      The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims last week.
      Most recently however, more allegations have come out as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent sex messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.
      Messages were said to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external ­barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.
      Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and is thought to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.
      An F1 source told The Sun last week that “Christian has not been sacked or asked to resign and he is not going to resign”.
      The investigation raises the question of who could take over the helm of the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen.
      His wife Geri Halliwell is also said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
      The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, fears the drama will drag on for years, a source has claimed. 
      But Geri, 51, is understood to be standing by her husband.
      She has told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
      Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world ­constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.
      Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.
      Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List

      The Daily Mail reported that the firm was worth £3million the following year and she paid herself £1million from the company.
      The paper also claims Wonderful Productions made £152,000 profit in 2022 and Geri paid herself £762,240 that year. 
      Last year’s accounts showed losses of £77,994 but held reserves of nearly £1.4million. 
      Geri also has the firm Falcon Queen Limited, which was set up in May 2021 to provide “business support activities”. All shares are owned by Wonderful Productions.
      According to the Mail, Falcon Queen Limited made losses of £75,521 last year and plunged £276,000 into the red. 
      Geri is still believed to receive earnings for Spice Girls Limited – a joint venture between her, Victoria, Mel B, Mel C and Emma Bunton. 
      Media ventures
      Geri has released seven books for children and two autobiographiesCredit: Alamy
      Alongside music, the singer has had successful stints as an author.
      Geri released two autobiographies – If Only, which became a best-seller in 1999 and sold more than a million copies in the UK alone, and Just For The Record three years later.  
      In 2008, she released a six-part children’s series called Ugenia Lavender, which sold 250,000 copies in its first five months.
      Last year, Geri released her latest children’s book Rosie Frost And The Falcon Queen. 
      Her earnings have been topped up over the years by other media work including a stint as a judge on The X Factor in 2011 and 2012 and Australia’s Got Talent in 2013.
      She also made cameos in TV shows including Sex And The City, US show Extra and appeared in the films Spice World, Crank: High Voltage and Gran Turismo. 
      Geri was a judge on The X Factor for two years until 2012Credit: ITV
      Last year, she made an appearance in the film Gran TurismoCredit: Alamy
      Horseracing empire
      The Horners have a number of race horses, all of whom are named after Geri’s songs and covers including It’s Raining Men, Look At Mee, Lift Me Up and Mi Chico Latino.
      Among the most successful is Lift Me Up, an eight-year-old male who was born in 2016 and cost £28,000. 
      The horse, real name Hector, was lined up as a potential Cheltenham Festival hopeful but hasn’t run since last May. 
      Lift Me Up, who has raced at least twice, earned the couple £2,361.18 in prize money for winning a race in front of 70,000 punters, according to the British Horseracing Authority.
      Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

      Last month, Geri revealed Hope – named Look At Mee after the singer’s 1999 solo hit – had her first race and finished fifth.
      The couple owns a horseracing company called OMBI, which was set up in 2021, and lists the nature of its business as “activities of racehorse owners”.
      The couple built a 14-horse stable at their Oxfordshire mansionCredit: Instagram/gerihalliwellhorner
      As well as stables, they also have farm animals including donkeysCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Its latest accounts, for the year ended 30 June 2022, showed they held £113,378 in “biological assets” – believed to refer to the horses – and £400,000 worth of goods.
      The company retained £68,852 in funds after bills were deducted. 
      Last year, work finished on a 14-horse stable, including two foaling stalls, at their Oxfordshire home and ex-jockey Maxine Filby was hired to run the yard.
      Christian told The Telegraph his passion for horses was “just a bit of fun” and “escapism away from the madness of F1”. 
      He said: “We don’t really know what we’re doing but it’s exciting. It’s something Geri and I both get a kick out of and something we enjoy as a family.” 
      Rental properties
      Away from the equine world, the couple also have a buy-to-let business named Estelle Ward, which was set up in 2021.
      It’s listed as the owner of a £2.1million flat in Highgate, North London, according to Land Registry. 
      The latest accounts for Estelle Ward lists property assets of £2.4million with a £1.6million ‘loan facility’, which the couple pays interest on at 1 per cent above the Bank of England base rate. 
      Geri inside the couple’s indoor pool, which is in a converted barn on their Oxfordshire estateCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Christian preparing a large feast on a plush barbeque unit at their Oxfordshire mansionCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      As of November 2022, the firm reported a £6,455 deficit – as a result of the loan and other bills. 
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The couple also owns two stunning mansions, in Hertfordshire and Banbury, Oxfordshire, which boast swimming pools, a boating lake and a farm.
      The latter is a luxury estate that has an indoor pool inside a converted barn, stables for their horses as well as pens for their other farm animals and sprawling country grounds.  More

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      in Soccer

      The photo of footballer that launched 50-year career of Sun snapper Arthur Edwards – and got its subject into trouble

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      IT is the picture that launched a legend.Fifty years ago next week, a young Arthur Edwards worked his first shift as a photographer for the “Soaraway Sun”.
      Reunited Arther Edwards and John Richards as they look in 2024 at Wolves’ Molyneux stadiumCredit: Paul Edwards
      Arthur persuaded Wolves’ star striker John Richards to pose with curvy actress Vikki Richards — no relation — from the cast of the farce No Sex Please, We’re BritishCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      How Arthur’s first photo, of John and Vikki, looked in The Sun in 1974
      He was sent to get a picture of Wolverhampton Wanderers footballers as they arrived at a West End show ahead of the League Cup final.
      And he managed to persuade Wolves’ star striker John Richards to pose with curvy actress Vikki Richards — no relation — from the cast of the farce No Sex Please, We’re British.
      Arthur’s photo of the football star and the showgirl appeared on the back page of The Sun on the day Wolves played Manchester City at Wembley, and won a cup final for the first time in 14 years.
      And the shot made history that day — because it began the stellar career of a Fleet Street legend.
      READ MORE ON ARTHUR EDWARDS
      It was a lucky omen for John too, as he scored the winner in Wolves’ shock 2-1 victory.
      As The Sun’s royal photographer, Arthur has since travelled to 100 countries, photographing every member of the Royal Family, plus the King’s Coronation last year, as well as famous faces from popes to presidents.
      Remarkably, at the age of 83, he is still taking photos and getting the same buzz today from seeing them published as he did half a century ago.
      To celebrate this landmark in Arthur’s incredible career, we contacted John, now 73, who still lives in Wolverhampton.
      Most read in Football
      We also tracked down actress Vikki at her home near Port of Spain, in Trinidad, where she became a TV presenter.
      Wembley was amazing
      As a result, Arthur was reunited with John at Wolves’ Molineux stadium, and he photographed Vikki when she recently flew to London.
      Behind the scenes as a Royal photographer covering King Charles for 45 years
      John revealed to Arthur that on the Sunday before that 1974 cup final, Wolves manager Bill McGarry had whisked his team away to the seaside.
      The players checked into a hotel at Worthing on the Sussex coast to escape media attention but also to hide the fact that first-choice goalkeeper Phil Parkes had a broken ankle and would not play at Wembley.
      Dad-of-two John added: “We had a great team, with some really good players, and in those days the League Cup was a big thing.
      “On the Thursday we moved from Worthing to a hotel in St Albans in Hertfordshire and that afternoon we went to Wembley, which was amazing.
      “We walked through the famous tunnel and had a wander round. If it made any difference I don’t know, but psychologically it was something the manager felt was important for us.
      “And then, to keep us distracted, the club had arranged for us to go to see the show in the West End.
      “They didn’t tell us too much in advance. Until we actually got there we didn’t know there was going to be any planned photographs.”
       Vikki, then 24, was waiting in the foyer of the Strand Theatre to welcome the players and pose for photos.
      When my team-mates saw your photo they took the p**s. They kept saying, ‘Ooh, your eyes are looking down, aren’t they?John Richards
      She joked to Arthur: “In those days I used to get quite a lot of publicity. I think Michael Crawford, who was the star of the show, got a bit jealous.” Racing against time before the players were shown to their seats, Arthur asked John to pose for a photo with Vikki.
      On the morning of the match itself, Saturday March 2, 1974, Arthur’s picture of John and Vikki appeared on the back page of The Sun, accompanied by three short paragraphs under the headline No Sex Please — We’re Wolves.
      The story read: “John Richards tried to keep his mind on today’s League Cup final but his namesake Vikki Richards got him interested in other things.
      “The Wolves striker and some of his team-mates met Vikki when they went to the Strand Theatre to see the show No Sex Please, We’re British. Vikki is one of the stars of the show.
      Picture: Arthur Edwards”
      It was a proud moment for Arthur, son of a Cockney lorry driver, and the first time his name — byline — ever appeared in The Sun.
      But 50 years later John recalled: “You got me into a bit of trouble, Arthur.
      When John’s wife Pam picked up that morning’s Sun and saw the photo of her husband apparently peering at Vikki’s boobs, it did not go down wellCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
      John with victorious team-mates Andy Gray and Willie Carr
      Arthur in his staff portrait from 1974Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      “When my team-mates saw your photo they took the p**s. They kept saying, ‘Ooh, your eyes are looking down, aren’t they?’”
      And it got worse.
      When John’s wife Pam, who was then seven months pregnant, picked up that morning’s Sun and saw the photo of her husband apparently peering at Vikki’s boobs, it did not go down well.
      I scored the winning goal with about seven or eight minutes to go. We got a £1,000 bonus for winning, which was a lot of money back thenJohn Richards
      John said: “She was not impressed. She wasn’t going to blame the photographer but she did blame me. Thankfully I didn’t see her until after the match, when we went to the Hilton hotel for a banquet.
      “That was when my wife said, ‘Somebody showed me this picture in The Sun’. But the fact we’d won the League Cup saved my bacon.
      Most memorable period in my footballing career
      “I scored the winning goal with about seven or eight minutes to go. We got a £1,000 bonus for winning, which was a lot of money back then.
      “We had just moved into a newly-built house in Wolverhampton, which cost £9,999. And I said, ‘Pam, the money I’m getting out of this will put central heating in the house’.”
      During the match Pam had had more to worry about than a photo in The Sun as she watched John, standing near the Manchester penalty spot, hammer a deflection off City striker Rodney Marsh’s boot past keeper Keith MacRae to score his match-winning goal.
      John said: “That was when all hell was let loose. My wife nearly had a premature birth. Could have been all sorts of problems.
      “My mum and in-laws were there as well. It was a fantastic occasion. To me it is the most memorable period in my footballing career.”
      As Wolves’ top striker, John was earning £100 a week — three times more than his dad, also John, who worked in a cardboard factory — but the First Division club did not splash out on extras for their players.
      Our back page on the day Arthur’s photo was published revealed how Manchester City’s players would each have been paid a £2,500 — more than £32,000 in today’s money — bonus for lifting the trophy, compared with a grand a man for Wolves — the equivalent of £13,000 today.
      And back then, teams did not kit out their players with matching suits for big occasions — which is why, as John explained, the smart suit he wore to the theatre was his own.
      He added: “The only thing that they gave us for the ’74 final were tracksuits. We thought we were the bees’ knees but when we came out of the tunnel we looked like Rod Hull’s Emu, with bright yellow legs.
      “They were supposed to be gold (to match the famous Wolves kit) but they were bright yellow and looked absolutely horrendous, with a black top. I look back at it now and think how awful that was.”
      John was at Wolves for 14 years before ending his playing career with a two-year spell at Maritimo, in Madeira, in the mid-1980s.
      Little did I know that first assignment all those years ago would lead to an amazing careerArthur Edwards
      In 1997 he was back at Wolves as managing director but after three years on the board he quit to run a website for training groundsmen and greenkeepers.
      Now retired, John — who has been married to Pam for more than 50 years — is still involved with his old club as chairman of the former Wolves players’ association.
      Vikki went on to appear in TV dramas including The Gentle Touch, Howards’ Way and Return Of The Saint, before moving to Trinidad, where for five years she presented her own television series, Building Your Dream Home.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      As for our very own Arthur Edwards, he is still living his dream as Britain’s most famous royal photographer.
      He said: “Little did I know that first assignment all those years ago would lead to an amazing career.”
      John and wife Pam today
      How actress Vikki looks today, 50 years on from Arthur’s first photo for The SunCredit: Arthur Edwards / The Sun
      John in action for Wolves in the 1970sCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      Why football stars are scoring more penalties.. and the goalkeeper’s cheat code that could turn the tide

      by

      VAR was supposed to end the controversy surrounding poor refereeing decisions in football. Instead, we have seen football slowed down with a myriad of replays and debates rage on the quality of officiating in the division.
      Penalties are being converted at record levelsCredit: The Times
      So how can goalkeepers tip the balance in their favour againCredit: Alamy
      How the Premier League five-year rolling average penalty conversion rate has increased
      The introduction of VAR has also led to a notable increase in the award of penalty kicks.
      According to Opta Analyst, the second season VAR was introduced saw 125 penalties awarded, or one every three games.
      This season has seen the figure stands at its fourth-highest in history, with one spot kick awarded every 3.5 games.
      With the increase in penalties being awarded, however, we have also seen penalties converted with record quality from 12 yards – an unprecedented 90 per cent.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      Even from last season the five-season rolling average for penalty kicks being converted has increased to a staggering 81.1 per cent, up from 74.8 per cent in the 1996/97 season.
      Goalkeepers have been further handicapped by video technology with the new rule that they cannot move off their line until the penalty is struck.
      This, combined with outfield players seemingly continuing to take leaps in terms of technical ability and ball striking has seen more penalties being scored.
      Despite this there must be something goalkeepers can do to tip the scales back into their favour when facing penalties. Well, yes, there is. The key for goalkeepers though might be to do nothing at all…
      Most read in Football
      Why do goalkeepers dive?
      In penalty shootouts at major competitions we often hear commentators say that all of the pressure is on the penalty taker with none on the goalkeeper.
      At the top level you expect players to be able to convert from the spot and as such the goalkeepers are not expected to save the shot.
      Jason Cummings channels Thierry Henry as he blunders famous spot-kick routine
      This means that goalkeepers will typically not be blamed by fans, coaches or team-mates for failing to stop the penalty but they will be highly praised should they manage to save one, or more than one.
      So, why do goalkeepers dive?
      We have seen a huge increase in outfield players adding a delay into their run before they strike the penalty.
      They will deliberately stutter or hop as they approach the ball before striking.
      Bukayo Saka stutters his run up as a tactic to throw off the goalkeeper
      This is intended to force the goalkeeper to move early and if the goalkeeper goes to one side then the player striking the penalty will go the opposite way.
      Despite not having the pressure on them, goalkeepers will still dive to their left or right as opposed to staying still in the centre of their goals. 
      Here Matheus Cunha stuttered and provoked Chelsea’s Djorde Petrovic into moving before he slotted the ball the opposite way
      If they stand still and the penalty goes to the left or the right then there will be an assumption from those watching that the goalkeeper did not do enough.
      Though the real reason behind the move is incomplete information.
      In this example Andre Onana sells himself early despite there being no run up from Pablo Sarabia
      Everton and England goalie Jordan Pickford went viral as cameras caught him looking at info on opposition penalty takers on crib sheets taped to his water bottles.
      Analysts at clubs will now spend time breaking down the penalty tendencies of players at their next opposition and goalkeepers will be given that information.
      This means that if a goalkeeper knows that their opponent goes to the goalkeepers left a high proportion of the time then diving in that direction is the smart thing to do.
      For goalkeepers to start saving more penalties we may well see them make a change to their approach to saving penalties, despite what fans might think.
      Should goalkeepers stand still?
      Although standing still in the centre of their goal may be against all of their instincts there is an argument that this would increase the chances of goalkeepers making a save from a penalty.
      In recent seasons we have seen a notable increase in the amount of players who include stutters or stops in their run as they wait for the goalkeeper to commit.
      This season has seen 15 spot kicks aimed down the middle of the goal, 14 of which have been scored.
      The conversion rate for these efforts sits at 93.3 per cent, while it the rate drops to 89.1 per cent for the corners.
      Last season the rate down the middle stood at 95 per cent while it was 69.6 per cent in the corners, with a total of 35 penalties being taken in the last two seasons.
      If goalkeepers can maintain their discipline and not move from the centre of the goal then this will start to put doubt in the head of the player who is taking the penalty.
      Here the goalkeeper commits to his right the ball before James Ward Prowse hits his penalty high to the middle
      They are essentially trying to wait until the last second before deciding whether to put the penalty to the left or to the right as opposed to making up their mind before they start their run up.
      The longer that the goalkeeper takes to move the greater the chance that the taker will start to panic and doubt themselves.
      Joao Pedro uses delays to wrong foot the goalkeeper before slotting the ball the other side of the net
      Waiting and staying in the centre of the goal would also be more effective for goalkeepers because of the technique and striking of players taking the kick.
      If the player in question catches the inside of the post, or even the side netting, with an accurate and well struck shot then there is very little chance that the goalkeeper could have made the save anyway.
      Here Ederson holds his central position for a Michael Olise penalty but loses his footing before the taker scores
      Increasingly, however, we are seeing penalties that are just played casually into the goal without getting anywhere near the corner of the goal.
      If goalkeepers were to remain in a central position then they would have more of a chance to react and save those penalties that are clipped just to either side but not right into the corner of the net.
      If the goalkeeper has the composure and conviction to stay in the centre of their goal then they will force the player taking the kick to amend their approach and perhaps overthink what they are going to do with the shot.
      Conclusion
      There is always a sense that the player taking the penalty has the advantage over the goalkeeper.
      And to be fair this should be the case as the defending team has been punished for a foul in their penalty area.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Goalkeepers, however, need to find a way to level the playing field and to put some more doubt into the minds of the players taking the penalty.
      We believe that we are going to see more goalkeepers taking the decision to stand and make themselves big in the centre of the goal in order to put doubt back into the minds of the penalty takers. More

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      Inside Red Bull’s Christian Horner & F1 rival Toto Wolff’s toxic feud… & how wives Geri & Susie battle to keep the peace

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      IT’S a rivalry as fierce as that between the drivers on the track – and as the new Formula One season approaches it’s set to crank up a gear yet again.But Red Bull boss Christian Horner and Mercedes chief Toto Wolff’s feud dates back to long before Max Verstappen clinched that controversial world title back in 2021.
      Rivals Toto Wolff and Christian Horner have been involved in ‘mud slinging’ matchesCredit: PA
      Toto and his wife, Susie Wolff, are one of F1’s top power couplesCredit: Getty
      Christian and Geri Horner have been rocked by allegations about his behaviour
      This week Wolff couldn’t resist a dig at his rival – who is under investigation over allegations of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female colleague, which he denies.
      The Austrian, 52, called for “transparency” amid the probe, adding that it has repercussions for F1 as a whole.
      He said: “I think for Red Bull it started as an independent investigation, if this is done in the right way with transparency and with the rigour, I think that’s something that we need to look at whatever the outcomes are.”
      Wolff and Horner are renowned for trading insults – often shown on the Netflix hit Drive to Survive, the new series of which drops today – and at times their wives Susie Wolff and Geri Horner have stepped in to help simmer tensions.
      READ MORE ON F1
      As both men try to focus on pre-season testing in Bahrain, we reveal how their feud has played out over the years – and looks to continue firing on all cylinders.
      Red Bull’s beef with Mercedes can be traced back to 2014, when rule changes saw them emerge as the most dominant team on the grid.
      Wolff was at the helm when the team – having made a triumphant return to F1 in 2010 – clinched its first world title with Lewis Hamilton.
      Mercedes won the Constructors’ title with a 296 point lead over Red Bull Racing.
      Most read in Motorsport
      At the time Horner was pushing for changes to the rules which would allow teams to keep developing their cars throughout the season, with no limits.
      Rules stated teams could only change 92 per cent of their designs.
      F1 fans in meltdown over ‘that Lewis Hamilton bit’ as trailer for Netflix series Drive to Survive released
      Horner’s pleas angered Wolff, who raged: “Nobody can really be in favour of an all-out engine war from 2016.
      “No serious company would allow that to happen and none of the current engine suppliers could allow that to happen because costs would escalate totally out of control.”
      A year later Horner was still banging the drum, claiming people would lose interest in F1 if the FIA made no changes to halt Mercedes, to which Wolff hit back: “Just get your f*****g head down, work hard and try to sort it out.”
      ‘Meddling’ with Max
      Team principal Horner celebrates with driver Max Verstappen in 2021
      Red Bull have knocked Toto and Lewis Hamilton off their perch in recent seasonsCredit: Getty
      Tensions have boiled as the Mercedes team has fallen awayCredit: Rex
      Things came to a head in 2016 when Wolff phoned Vertstappen’s dad Joss to discuss Max’s aggressive driving following his crash with Nico Rosberg.
      Horner was furious, stating: “It’s totally wrong. They’ve got their own business. To be meddling in other teams’… maybe he does that with Ferrari, but he shouldn’t do it.
      “He’s got no right to tell Max how he should drive and conduct himself.”
      Things really boiled over in 2021, with Wolff branding Horner a “windbag who just wants to be on camera” during a row over Red Bull’s so-called ‘bendy wing’.
      He added: “It’s about being punchy – it’s easy to be punchy when you’re on top of the timesheet, but he should be a little bit more modest I think.”
      It’s totally wrong. They’ve got their own business. To be meddling in other teams’… maybe he does that with Ferrari, but he shouldn’t do itChristian Horner on Toto Wolff
      It came after Horner warned Wolff to “keep his mouth shut” and “be careful what you wish for” after hinting Red Bull could decide to protest Mercedes’ flexi front wings, alleging they looked “a bit worse than ours”.
      During the close-run season, Wolff seemed rattled, at one point telling Hamilton over the team radio following a sprint race: “F**k them all.”
      Horner added fuel to the fire, adding: “We worked hard to get into this position. It’s the first time they [Mercedes] have been challenged. It’s interesting to see how people react when they are under pressure, when they are challenged.”
      When Hamilton and Verstappen collided at the British Grand Prix, both bosses rigorously defended their drivers.
      It led to a “heated exchange” between the two principals, according to Horner.
      Tensions then reached fever pitch when Verstappen snatched the world title from Hamilton on the final lap in Abu Dhabi thanks to a controversial safety car decision.
      The moment Verstappen snatches the world title from Lewis Hamilton in 2021
      Horner and Wolff rarely see eye to eyeCredit: Getty
      Horner told Tom Clarkson on the F1: Beyond the Grid podcast: “It really permeated at Silverstone where suddenly there was an awful lot of dialogue from Toto to [then race director] Michael [Masi].
      “Then he’s (Wolff) sending him an email, and then he’s coming up. And I thought: ‘Right, okay, I’m not having that, I’m going up.’
      “I felt it was incredibly one sided that a team principal should not be able to lobby and influence the race director and with hindsight, Toto and I had a fairly heated exchange in Race Control.
      “At that event, where Toto was obviously arguing his corner that his driver shouldn’t be penalised, and I’ve got a driver in hospital and the car taken out of the race and was obviously feeling pretty aggrieved by it.”

      🏁 Complete F1 2024 race calendar – details on every Grand Prix and start time this year 🏁 
      Horner claimed he was surprised by his main rival’s behaviour during the season, telling The Telegraph: “You could see that it boiled over in the garage next door on a few occasions.”
      He admitted he enjoys winding up Wolff, telling the Guardian in October 2021: “The more Toto gets wound up, the more fun it becomes.”
      Former Benetton driver Johnny Herbert called out the two bosses for their squabbling a month later, telling the Sunday Mirror: “I think many want to tell him ‘grow up’.
      “They look like two eight-year-olds arguing in the schoolyard. One points to the other and says, ‘Look what he’s doing’.”
      Cheating claims
      The following year Red Bull was accused of cheating after it was found guilty of breaching the budget cap in 2021.
      Wolff made it clear he didn’t feel the team’s £5.5m fine and 10 per cent reduction on aerodynamic development time was a harsh enough punishment.
      He quipped: “I think they [Red Bull] have done a very good job last year in having a car out there that was half a second or more quicker than anyone else.”
      Meanwhile Horner was seen on camera telling his drivers: “[It’s]fun and games with Mercedes over all this cost cap s***. I mean it’s unbelievable how much s*** Toto says.”
      Susie Wolff keeps her husband Toto smilingCredit: Instagram/susie_wolff
      The Horners are often seen in Netflix series Drive to Survive enjoying an idyllic country lifeCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      Geri and Christian got hitched 10 years agoCredit: Splash News
      The Horners at home with the familyCredit: Instagram @therealgerihalliwell
      F1’s Horner poses on the steps of the home with daughter Olivia from his previous relationshipCredit: Instagram @christianhorner
      At times the team principals’ respective wives, Susie Wolf and Geri Halliwell, have stepped in, in an effort to keep the peace.
      The Mercedes principal admitted he “really regrets” how things got so heated between him and his rival, and recalled being accosted by Susie for his “regretful” behaviour during the 2021 season.
      He told Formula 1 magazine: “Susie pointed that out to me very clearly.
      “She said, ‘Why are you having these kinds of discussions? You’re trying to win, respect that. Even if someone goes in that direction, you don’t have to’.
      “That’s called female social intelligence. We sometimes have too much hormones.”
      In March 2022 it seemed like the pair had put their differences aside when Horner praised Wolff for opening up about his mental health battle.
      He told Sky Sports: “All credit to Toto for having the confidence to talk out about his own personal issues.”
      Cheeky bum slap
      Geri gives Toto a big hugCredit: Getty
      Susie and Lewis take a stroll in the pit laneCredit: Instagram/susie_wolff
      In November last year, a picture emerged of former Spice Girl Geri offering Wolff a comforting hug as her husband watched on.
      Everyone appeared to be grinning in the snap, suggesting the women had potentially managed to broker a peace deal.
      Damon Hill, a Sky F1 consultant, said on social media: “Its heartening to see a bit of a moment of mirth as Geri Horner gives Toto a consolation cuddle.
      “Easy to laugh when you’ve just wiped the floor with the opposition. Harder to do when you’ve been royally thrashed.”
      It was later revealed the jovial mood came about because Geri had actually slapped Wolff’s bottom.
      Horner later told Sky Sports: “It was an amusing moment because I think my wife had just smacked his bum so hard, I think it took him a bit by surprise.
      “You probably can’t even see my clenched fist, it’s out of shot there.
      “It’s been a long season and there has to be competition on track but there still has to be respect.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      With Red Bull shrouded in scandal and Mercedes losing its number one driver to Ferrari next season, it will be fascinating to see how 2024 plays out.
      Formula 1: Drive to Survive Season 6 can be streamed on Netflix now.
      Mercedes’ Toto Wolff and Red Bull’s Christian Horner have been bitter rivals since 2014Credit: Getty
      Former Spice Girl Geri holds her husband’s hand as Toto lingersCredit: Getty
      Geri is strongly standing by Horner’s side, sources sayCredit: Getty
      Formula 1: Drive to Survive season 6 airs today More

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      Inside abandoned English stadium covered in barbed wire with eerie new stand that has never hosted a match

      by

      GHOST goals. Haunted houses. Ghost ships. How about a ghost stadium?Well, that is exactly what the Millmoor Ground, or Millmoor, the “spiritual home” of Championship side Rotherham, is nowadays.
      Rotherham’s old ground has been left standingCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      The Millmoor ground is still plastered with the advertising of C.F. BoothCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      The stadium has stood dormant since 2008Credit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      It was Rotherham United’s home from 1925Credit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      The stadium, located near the middle of town, was Rotherham’s home for 83 years.
      It dates all the way back to the 1890s when it was used by the Rotherham Church Institute in the Sheffield Association League, before passing to Rotherham County and then Rotherham United.
      It has overseen seven promotions, eight relegations and played host to their ever League Cup final in 1961 when Rotherham beat Aston Villa 2-0 in the first leg before the Villans won 3-0 in the second leg.
      But it has now become decrepit and being left desolate since 2008 after Rotherham were forced to move to their current 12,000 capacity AESSEAL New York Stadium following a row over rent.
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      Millmoor – located just a few hundred yards away from the club’s new home – held some 8,300 fans but held a record attendance of 25,170 when local rivals Sheffield United came to visit back in 1952.
      It understandably holds plenty of sentimental value to the Millers faithful given it had been their ground since Rotherham’s inception in 1925.
      However, the ground is now an empty shell which promised so much.
      Covered in barbed wire and overgrown plants and surrounded by fences, you might be mistaken for thinking the Millmoor would fit into a science fiction film set in a dystopian future.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      But no, it is far from fiction. It is real life.
      Rotherham left Millmoor while in the middle of constructing a new main stand.
      We live INSIDE Luton Town’s famous entrance – footballs smash our windows but there are some surprising perks
      You can still see the half-built stand, but it will never be finished.
      Would-be trespassers into the ground are warned of the dangers with a few huge “keep out” signs.
      There are also posters of CF Booth all over after former Rotherham owner Ken Booth – who owned the scrap metal yard next to the ground – took over and saved the club from administration in 1987.
      Reflecting on the ground, the club’s current owner and chairman Tony Stewart told The Athletic last year: “Millmoor is decaying. It’s falling apart.”
      As for why Millmoor has stood dormant for the best part of two decades, Stewart is perplexed, adding: “It’s a mystery to Rotherham. It’s a mystery to the man on the street.”
      Booth had done his best to keep the club afloat following the collapse of ITV’s Digital TV deal which ravaged the lower leagues.
      Millmoor has become decrepit since being abandonedCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      Having been left largely intact, much of what would have been seen on matchdays remainsCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      Rotherham had to leave the ground in 2008 over a rent rowCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      Millmoor held more than 8,000 fansCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      A fan consortium took over the club for £1 after a favourable deal was struck with the Booth family – which involved the club’s only tangible assets Millmoor and the club’s training ground — being left in the family’s possession.
      Another group then came in before Stewart took over.
      The common story is that the club left Millmoor because the Booth’s were charging high rent.
      But Stewart remembers it slightly differently, explaining how the Booths wanted them to keep the stadium the exact same during a five-year lease while Rotherham wanted to look into a new stadium.
      Stewart said: “There were 18 items [demanded by the Booths] I didn’t agree with.
      “It would’ve meant that if there was a scratch to a cabinet, I would’ve had to replace all that. I just felt it wasn’t right.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Rotherham’s final game at Millmoor was a 1-0 win over Barnet, but with negotiations ongoing over the ground’s future there was no big farewell for it.
      The club’s new ground is far more suited to a team in England’s second tier with its modern facilities, but Millmoor still stands as a tapestry to Rotherham’s history.
      Millmoor hosted the first-ever League Cup final in 1961Credit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      Rotherham owner Tony Stewart said it was a mystery why nothing had been done to the groundCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      The record attendance at Millmoor came in 1952 for a match seen by 25,170 against local rivals Sheffield UnitedCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun
      It remains the ‘spiritual home’ of RotherhamCredit: Mark Robinson – The Sun More

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      Geri Horner’s inner circle as she fears ‘life unravelling’ over Christian’s Red Bull probe… from Spice Girls to F1 boss

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      SHE’S said to be “terrified her life will unravel” amid her husband Christian Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” investigation.Thankfully, Geri Horner has a strong group of friends who she can turn to for support, including her ex-Spice Girl bandmate Victoria Beckham.
      Geri Horner is supporting her husband Christian Horner through his investigationCredit: AFP
      It’s likely Geri’s pals, like Victoria Beckham, will rally to support herCredit: Getty
      Red Bull boss Christian was grilled for eight hours last week over allegations made by a female colleague, and is currently awaiting the outcome – but insiders reckon it could take months.
      Geri, 51, is understood to be standing by 50-year-old Christian – who strongly denies all the claims – but it’s taking its toll on her.
      A close source said earlier this month: “Geri has been in floods of tears all weekend while looking after her kids. She is insisting Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      The allegations are said to centre on concerns about a strict work regime and do not include sexual impropriety.
      READ MORE SHOWBIZ FEATURES
      While Geri’s called Christian her “best friend” in the past, it’s likely she’ll be turning to her inner circle for support in these turbulent times.
      The Beckhams
      Geri has reportedly been leaning heavily on former bandmate Victoria, 49.
      The two have been close ever since their Spice Girls days, with a source telling OK!: “They always got on well and have been there for each other through the difficult times.
      “When Geri was having a bit of a stormy relationship with some of the other Spice Girls, Victoria supported her and helped her through.
      Most read in Motorsport
      “It’s the same now – Victoria wants to support Geri any way she can.”
      It helps that they live nearby – both have luxurious family homes in the Cotswolds.
      Christian Horner SPOTTED at top secret Red Bull test run as he awaits decision in ‘inappropriate behaviour’ probe
      Geri was also a pillar of support to Victoria when her husband David was accused of having an affair back in 2003.
      She was also a shoulder to cry on when David was handed a red card during the 1998 World Cup – which the footballer has called “the most difficult time” in his career.
      The insider added: “Victoria and David have had some really low points together as a couple and Geri was there for her.
      “She’s never forgotten how good Geri was with… the horrible treatment of David after the World Cup.
      “Now she knows it’s her time to be there for Geri, and she wants to look after her and help her.”
      Melanie C
      Geri has called Melanie C her “wonderful Spice sister”Credit: PA:Press Association
      Victoria isn’t the only Spice Girl who Geri has stayed close to.
      She previously confessed she shares an unbreakable bond with Melanie C and Emma Bunton because of the experiences they shared together.
      Appearing on the Frosted Tips podcast, she said: “It’s a unique experience. I think it’s like having university friends or school friends, you have a specific time together and go on an adventure together that is unique.”
      Geri has previously gushed about her friendship with Sporty Spice, 50 – who attended her 50th birthday bash.
      Marking her pal’s 47th birthday, Geri posted a collection of photos of them together, calling her a “wonderful spice sister”.
      She added: “So proud of you. Wishing you so much joy, love & success.”
      Emma Bunton
      Emma Bunton was at Christian’s surprise 50th birthday dinnerCredit: Tim Stewart
      Geri has kept in constant contact with Emma, who attended her wedding to Christian.
      Emma and her husband Jade Jones were also at Christian’s surprise 50th birthday dinner in December, which saw the two women head to a grand piano for an impromptu singalong with none other than Gary Barlow and Rod Stewart.
      Last year Geri confessed Emma’s “kind heart” was the inspiration for a character in her book, Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen.
      Speaking to Emma on her Heart radio show, she said: “Charlie is my fave. One of my favourite characters, he’s gorgeous, but he’s got your kind heart, he’s like, one of the good guys in life… He’s got that essence of Emma.”
      Baroness Carole Bamford
      Baroness Carole Bamford is one of Geri’s Cotswold friendsCredit: Getty
      Living in the Cotswolds with a multi-millionaire husband, Geri inevitably mixes with members of high society – including Baroness Carole Bamford, who founded the Daylesford Organic empire.
      Carole lives on a 1,500-acre estate near Chipping Norton with her billionaire industrialist husband Anthony, Lord Bamford, whose family own construction giant JCB.
      When Geri was photographed for the cover of Perfect magazine by David Bailey last month, Carole was one of the first to congratulate her on the fancy shoot.
      Bernie and Fabiana Ecclestone 
      Bernie Ecclestone has allegedly advised Christian to step down from Red BullCredit: Getty
      Geri and Christian have former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone to thank for their getting together, as he introduced them back in 2009.
      The couple have stayed close friends with him since, as well as his wife Fabiana Flosi, who he married in 2012.
      The four have regularly been pictured together on luxurious double dates around the world, in places like Croatia and the Swiss Alps.
      Billionaire Bernie, 93, has allegedly advised Christian to step down as Red Bull team principal.
      Sources told F1 Insider he warned his long-term friend that resigning would save him and his family from further damage caused by the fallout of the scandal.
      Penny Lancaster
      Penny Lancaster was at Christian’s dinner
      Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have been friends with Geri and Christian for years, and attended both of their 50th birthday parties.
      Penny even went out of her way to support Geri at her book launch in October last year, while on crutches after suffering a knee injury.
      Despite having a “torn meniscus on her right knee,” Loose Women panellist Penny seemed upbeat, posing for a picture with pal Geri.
      Rylan Clark
      Geri and Rylan Clark became close pals after presenting This Morning togetherCredit: Instagram
      Rylan and Geri hit it off when they hosted This Morning together, and have been pals ever since.
      The Spice Girls superfan confessed he felt “like a competition winner” when he got to party with Geri, Mel C, Victoria and Emma at Geri’s 50th in 2022.
      It’s likely Rylan will be a tower of support to Geri at the moment, given she was there for him not long after his six-year marriage to Dan Neal ended in 2021.
      The pair were pictured cuddling up together, wearing matching cream outfits, after Geri invited him over to her plush country estate the same year.
      The two music lovers spent the day having an impromptu jamming session, with Geri on the drums and Rylan on the electric guitar, which certainly seemed to lift the BBC Radio 2 presenter’s spirits.
      Mary Fitzgerald  
      Geri Horner and Selling Sunset’s Mary FitzgeraldCredit: Instagram
      In 2021, just a week after Geri had been left devastated by the sudden death of her older brother, Mary Fitzgerald from Selling Sunset revealed they were pals, and had recently met up.
      Sharing a snap of the two together on Instagram, Los Angeles-based Mary wrote: “London is one of my favourite places in the world. 
      “It’s brought us so many memories and so many new friends!”
      Although they live thousands of miles apart, Mary is just a FaceTime away for Geri.
      Dame Judi Dench
      Geri has called Dame Judi Dench her inspirationCredit: Getty
      One surprising friendship Geri has is with Dame Judi Dench, who she met at the No Time To Die premiere in 2021.
      Spice Girl Geri has described the Philomena actress as her inspiration.
      She told The Times: “I met her at the James Bond premiere. She had such a beautiful energy. 
      “Recently I had dinner with her and we did some Shakespeare together. 
      “We were quoting The Merchant of Venice — ‘the quality of mercy is not strained’, and I was like, ‘oh my God, I’m doing Shakespeare with Dame Judi Dench, my life is, my cup is full!’ 
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      “That’s pretty amazing.”
      Last year, Geri took to the stage with Judi at the Christmas with Judi Dench and Gyles Brandreth event at Royal Albert Hall, as part of a night dedicated to Judi’s career in the acting industry. More

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      Scandals that rocked F1 as Christian Horner’s Red Bull future hangs in balance… from pit romps to driver TOLD to crash

      by

      THE world of Formula One has been sent into a spin after shocking allegations were levied against Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner. The 50-year-old, who is married to ex-Spice Girl Geri Horner, has been accused of “inappropriate” and “incredibly controlling behaviour” by a female former employee.
      Red Bull Racing chief Christian Horner’s career is said to be hanging in the balanceCredit: Getty
      Driver Max Verstappen with the Red Bull Racing boss Horner at the Abu Dhabi Grand PrixCredit: Getty
      Details of the allegations are yet to surface but Horner, who’s been with Red Bull Racing since 2005, has flatly denied claims and vowed to “clear his name”.
      Earlier this week, the energy drinks firm launched an independent investigation and said they would “take these matters extremely seriously”.
      Horner’s career hung in the balance on Friday as he sat down for a D-Day grilling with a senior trial lawyer, hired by Red Bull GmbH, to defend himself in an unknown central London location.
      Sources said the investigation would centre on the employee’s concerns about Horner’s strict work regime and does not relate to any sexual impropriety.
      READ MORE ON CHRISTIAN HORNER
      Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen – and now loyalists claim insiders are trying to oust him.
      It’s the latest of a long line of scandals to afflict the motorsport world. From cheating claims to serial womanising, here, we report some of the most shocking. 
      Spygate
      Nigel Stepney leaked confidential Ferrari documentsCredit: AP:Associated Press
      In 2007, the F1 world was shaken in the wake of the now-infamous ‘Spygate’ saga.
      It resulted in McLaren receiving an unprecedented and eye-watering $100million fine and being thrown out of the 2007 constructors’ championship. 
      Most read in The Sun
      The scandal followed Ferrari chief mechanic Nigel Stepney stealing nearly 800 pages of confidential technical information from the company and giving them to his friend Mike Coughlan, who was the Chief Designer at McLaren.
      Stepney was exposed after asking his wife to copy the secret documents at a local photocopy shop, in Woking, and a worker informed Ferrari.
      It cost both men their jobs and led to Ferrari taking legal action against Coughlan, who reached an agreement with the racing giant. 
      Following the uproar, an investigation from McLaren found none of the documents “had been passed to any other members of the team or incorporated into our cars”.

      However, when new evidence was produced, McClaren was disqualified from the championship and served the record-breaking fine. 
      That year, the battle between Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton led to Kimi Raikkonen sweeping in and claiming the 2007 title.
      Crashgate 
      Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed his car to help his teammateCredit: YouTube
      Piquet Jr initially denied any foul play before confessing a year laterCredit: EPA

      Just one year later, another sporting scandal emerged when Renault driver Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed to give his teammate an advantage.
      On lap 14 of the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, Piquet Jr drove into the circuit wall at turn 17 leading to the safety car being deployed.
      It allowed his fellow Renault driver Alonso, who made an early pitstop, to take the lead while other motors pitted under safety car conditions. 
      The move allowed Alonso, who started 15th on the grid, to win the race. 
      At the time, Piquet Jr claimed his crash was a “simple mistake”, However, after being dropped by Renault in 2009, he revealed bosses Flavio Briatore and Pat Symonds had instructed him to do it. 
      Briatore was handed a lifetime ban from holding any position within an F1 team and Symonds, who confessed, was banned for five years. It was later branded ‘Crashgate’.
      Sex drive
      Renowned womaniser James Hunt reportedly bedded more than 5,000 womanCredit: Getty
      The F1 racer died of a heart attack aged 45Credit: Getty – Contributor
      During his racing days, James Hunt was known as F1’s biggest playboy and was photographed with an army of glamorous women. 
      Among the slew of salacious claims is that the Surrey-born racer bedded 33 flight attendants in a fortnight and was greeted by “a fresh supply of females” every morning.
      His then-McLaren teammate Alastair Caldwell recalled: “James would bounce up to them in his shorts and bare feet, say, ‘Hello, I’m James Hunt,’ and take them straight upstairs for a party. This happened every day for a fortnight.”
      James would bounce up to them in his shorts and bare feet, say, ‘Hello, I’m James Hunt,’ and take them straight upstairs for a party. This happened every day for a fortnightEx-F1 racer Alastair Caldwell
      Ahead of the 1976 Japanese Grand Prix, he was caught romping with a woman in the pit garage just minutes before the race began. 
      James – who had “Sex, Breakfast of Champions” embroidered on his overalls – finished third in the race but won the title that year.
      The racer, who died from a heart attack aged 45 in 1993, spent six years in F1 until 1979 and reportedly bedded 5,000 women.
      ‘Deliberate’ crashes
      Michael Schumacher was among F1’s most talented driversCredit: EPA
      Schumacher’s car went airbourne after trying to cut up rival Hill in 1994Credit: YouTube
      He crashed and Hill’s car was pitted and retired from the raceCredit: YouTube
      Michael Schumacher is known for being one of F1’s greatest ever drivers – but he was also tarred with claims of cheating. 
      Among them are ‘deliberate’ crashes including during the 1994 Australian Grand Prix, when rival Damon Hill, for Williams, was one point behind him. 
      During the race, Schumacher went off the track and hit a wall side-on.
      When Hill began to gain on him at the next corner and was set to pass him, it’s claimed the German racer cut him off.
      Christian Horner’s life and careerCHRISTIAN Horner is among the most well-known names in Formula One having helped build Red Bull into one of the biggest teams in the sport.
      1973 – Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
      1991 – Wins a Formula Renault scholarship after impressing in karting races
      1993-1997 – Competed in a host of competitions including British Formula Three, British Formula Two, and Formula 3000
      1997 – Founded and developed the F3000 team Arden
      1999 – Retired from driving and continued developing the Arden team
      2005 – Appointed head of Red Bull team, becoming the youngest ever team principal at that time
      2009 – Wins his first races as team principal with Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber
      2010 – Wins the Constructors’ Championship and Drivers’ Championship with Vettel – the first of four doubles in a row
      2013 – Has a daughter with ex-wife Beverly Allen shortly before the couple split
      2014 – Gets engaged to Spice Girls member Geri Halliwell
      2015 – Marries Halliwell in Woburn, Bedfordshire
      2017 – Horner and Halliwell welcome their son
      2021 – Wins another Drivers’ Championship with Max Verstappen, pipping Lewis Hamilton on the final lap of the season
      2022-23 – Red Bull win the Drivers’ Championship and Constructors’ Championship two years in a row

      Both vehicles collided, sending Schumacher airborne before hitting a wall. Hill tried to continue the race but was pitted and retired after irreparable damage to the vehicle’s front left suspension wishbone.
      Due to neither driver scoring, Schumacher took the title – much to the fury of fans. 
      Schumacher denied deliberate foul play and an investigation ruled it was a racing incident and took no further action. 
      Hill deliberately avoided becoming embroiled in the outcry but in later years accused Schumacher of deliberately driving into him.
      In a F1 Racing magazine interview, technical director Patrick Head said: “We at Williams were already 100 per cent certain that Michael was guilty of foul play.” 
      However, he said the team decided not to take action due to dealing with the death of Ayrton Senna that same year.
      Another incident during the final race of the 1997 European Grand Prix followed.
      Schumacher was found to have rammed William-Renault rival Jacques Villeneuve as he tried to overtake him on the inside. 
      Schumacher colliding with Villenueve’s car in 1997Credit: YouTube
      Schumacher ended up stalled in the gravel after ramming VilleneuveCredit: EPA
      However, it caused Schumacher to drift off into the gravel where his vehicle came to a halt and Villeneuve – who was just one point behind his opponent – managed to cross the finishing line in third place. 
      An FIA investigation found Schumacher was at fault for the crash and stripped him of his second-place finish in the championship.
      Schumacher was also accused of dirty tactics while trying to fend off Fernando Alonso during the 2006 Monaco Grand Prix qualifiers.
      The German racer had set the fastest time but during the closing stages stopped his car in the Rascasse corner, blocking part of the track. 
      Schumacher was found to have stopped at Rascasse corner to stop his rival getting a better timeCredit: YouTube
      It prevented Renault racer Alonso from attempting to improve his time. Schumacher insisted it was an innocent mistake and his vehicle had stalled. 
      Furious Renault boss Flavio Briatore referred to the so-called mistake as “f***ing disgusting!”
      He added: “How can a seven-times world champion make a simple mistake like that? Of course it wasn’t a mistake!”
      Three-time Monaco winner Sir Jackie Stewart said the move was “not an accident” and was “too obvious”. He noted there was “plenty of time to sort things out”.
      Later, stewards discovered Schumacher’s vehicle ‘lock-up’ happened while he was driving under 10mph. He was penalised by being sent to the back of the starting grid and Alonso promoted to pole position.
      Watergate
      Strict rules around weight have long been in place in F1, but in 1982, companies including Brabham, Williams and McLaren hatched a clever plan to get under the minimum allowance.
      Their cars were fitted with large water tanks to ‘hold water coolant’ – it would transpire that the liquid was being jettisoned early into races to make them lighter.
      Dumping all of the water allowed some vehicles to race as much as 50kg underweight, which gave them a clear advantage.
      Before the vehicles’ post-race inspection, they would be topped up with coolant again – returning them to the mandated weight. 
      At that year’s Brazilian Grand Prix, Brabham’s Nelson Piquet and Williams Keke Roseberg claimed first and second place.
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      It was deemed to have contravened the ‘spirit’ of FIA regulations and both of the drivers were disqualified.
      It led to Prost being awarded the win and was later referred to as ‘Brakesgate’. More