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      in Motorsport

      BBC broadcaster Jennie Gow gives health update after suffering stroke and says without husband ‘I might not be here now’

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      BBC broadcaster Jennie Gow has provided an update on her health after she suffered a stroke.And the much-loved star revealed “I might not be here now” if it was not for her husband.
      Jennie Gow has provided an update on her health after suffering a strokeCredit: Getty
      Her husband, Jamie Coley, has helped her provide a health update on TwitterCredit: Twitter
      The 45-year-old has become a huge favourite after playing prominent roles in both Netflix’s F1 series Drive to Survive and her commentaries on Extreme E.
      But her career was cast in doubt after she revealed the medical emergency has affected her communication skills when revealing she had suffered a stroke this month.
      Releasing a statement on social media, Gow wrote earlier:””Hi everyone, been quiet the last few weeks, this is because I suffered a serious stroke two weeks ago.
      “My husband is helping me type this, as I’m finding it hard to write and my speech is most affected. I’m desperate to make a full recovery and return to work but it might take some time.
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      “Thank you to the medical teams at Frimley and St George’s and my family and friends who’ve got me through the last fortnight X.”
      Gow continued: “A month ago today I collapsed with a stroke.
      “With a lot of help from the NHS, friends and family we are finding our feet in this post Stroke world.
      “I am having rehab every day (with lots of homework) and we are seeing progress but I can’t tell you how exhausting it is!”
      Most read in Motorsport
      Gow then paid tribute to her husband Jamie Coley and her daughter, adding: “A final mention to my daughter and most importantly the husband, @jamiecoley396.
      “Without him, I might not be here now. (Excuse any mistakes – learning the write again is tough) Thanks for your support!!”
      A host of well-wishes quickly arrived in the replies to her update.
      Fellow BBC broadcaster Sonali Shah wrote: “Oh Jenny – sending you love and strength for your recovery.”
      Presenter Nicola Hume: “One day at a time. Sending you lots of love xx.”
      While racing driver Alice Powell wrote: “Keep strong hun, you can do this.”
      Many stroke victims suffer from Aphasia and it affects their ability to speak and sometimes their ability to understand what others are saying.
      However, it is possible to recover through the help of speech and language therapy.
      Read More on The Sun
      Gow, who celebrated a decade of working in F1 last year, has become one of the most popular voices over recent years.
      Prior to her exploits covering F1, she led BBC’s MotoGP coverage and filled in for Natalie Pinkham on Radio 5 Live. More

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      in Soccer

      Doctors told me I may lose my leg after horror training ground collapse… now I’m facing Leicester in the FA Cup

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      LIAM GORDON cannot forget his first training session with Walsall — because it almost became his LAST!Like most new signings, the 23-year-old’s biggest concern before his first pre-season run was the odd butterfly in his stomach as he looked to make a favourable first impression on his new Saddlers team-mates.
      Liam Gordon hopes to give Leicester a run for their money after an injury that could have cost him a leg or even his lifeCredit: Walsall F.C
      This is the scar that Londoner Gordon must now live with
      Half an hour later Gordon was in the back of an ambulance gasping for breath inside an oxygen mask, trying to alleviate the excruciating pain coursing through his body, as he was raced  to hospital.
      What followed was a nightmare ordeal which could have cost him his life and led to one chilling conversation with a surgeon who warned his left leg might have to be AMPUTATED.
      However, Gordon battled through THREE major operations on his leg in FIVE DAYS  to salvage a career which had literally been hanging by a thread.
      Incredibly, 3½ months later the Croydon-born full-back made his Saddlers’ debut at Cheltenham.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      And today, Walsall’s warrior defender faces Leicester’s James Maddison, Jamie Vardy and Youri Tielemans, in one of the most uplifting FA Cup fairytales.
      Gordon said: “It will be a surreal moment. After all I’ve been through, the most important part is that I’m playing football at all.
      “I’m pinching myself at being able to play against a Premier League side like Leicester, who won the trophy so recently.”
      Gordon  recalled the freak events of that summer’s day as he reported for his first pre-season session following his move from Bolton.
      Most read in FA Cup
      He explained: “It was just a routine 2km run at the training ground and my blood circulation completely went in my legs. As I finished the race I collapsed.
      “At first everyone thought I was joking but then they realised that there was a serious problem.
      “I had just signed for the club and I’m lying there on the ground with all these thoughts flying through my head.
      “I’m the new guy and this is everyone’s first view of me.  I worried the perception people would have of me was I wasn’t fit enough to handle my first training run!
      “What followed obviously proved that wasn’t the case.
      “The surgeon and specialists later explained the problem would have existed in my shin prior to the run.
      Ex-Bolton star Gordon is now buoyant after getting his Walsall career off to the worst possible startCredit: Getty
      “It’s a condition called compound compartment syndrome, often put down to shin splints, which would have built up over time.
      “The club physio told me such injuries usually result from car crashes or a similar, sudden trauma and there’s usually a compound break. But that wasn’t the case with me — I was just running!”
      As his anxious team-mates watched on, Gordon fought back the excruciating pain which is a symptom of the condition.
      He said: “I was given oxygen immediately, then gas and air in the ambulance when I told them I needed something more for the pain.
      “I probably used up the entire tank in the ambulance yet the pain was still unbearable — off the scale. On a scale of 1-10 it was 100! It was brutal.
      “If I go on to have kids and my partner tells me there is no greater pain than childbirth, I’ve earned the right to say: ‘Really? Try this one!’
      “They say what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Well I must be pretty strong to bounce back from that.”
      Others without the backing of a club with a highly-trained medical team, could have DIED from the condition.
      The Guyana international added: “When I was discharged from hospital initially they said I had a sprained shin and to rest for three weeks.
      “If I had followed that advice and  the club hadn’t intervened, I’d have been done for.
      “I constantly felt sick. I was so nauseous. I just felt faint and hot and cold.
      “I developed a massive infection which caused me to have no movement in my toes at all and I still suffer from numbness, even now. Thankfully Walsall insisted on me having an MRI scan and quickly got to the heart of the matter.
      “We wouldn’t be having this conversation now if they hadn’t. The club didn’t just save my career — they saved my life.
      “I was readmitted to hospital and the surgeons and specialists told me I should have had surgery six hours after it happened — I had mine SIX DAYS later.
      “That’s what caused the infection which almost cost me my career because I was told there is a point where the only option would have been to amputate the leg.”
      Mercifully, three operations in five days saved Gordon’s career, coupled with hour upon lonely hour of hard rehabilitation.
      All new signings are told not to worry, no one could possibly get off to a worse start than I did, with the 2K run which almost killed me!Liam Gordon
      He said: “I have been left with a scar from my knee to my ankle which shows the full extent of the damage.
      “I’ve still got numbness in my toes and I can’t feel the big toe or my second toe at all. I’ve also got constant numbness in my shin.
      “I have to wear inner soles in my shoes and football boots to lessen the pressure on my shins.
      “To this day, I do more weight work on my calves to make them stronger because they removed a lot of muscle for my left leg.
      “As a result my right leg started to overcompensate, which led to pain in my ‘good’ leg.
      So I needed to build up the strength again on my left.
      “Some players can sometimes cheat with training. I just can’t afford to do that!
      “The gaffer, Michael Flynn, was great and kept it quiet at the start, which helped me get through my rehab without pressure or fans constantly messaging me, or worrying about me.
      “He just said it was a freak accident in training, then when I returned against Cheltenham he explained to everyone what had actually happened.
      “The fans backed me all the way and provided massive motivation for me throughout.
      Read More on The Sun
      “I am a Christian and this ordeal has enhanced my faith in God because I couldn’t have got through this without him — or my club physios Ellie Hargreaves and Ewan Turnbull.”
      He added: “All new signings are told not to worry, no one could possibly get off to a worse start than I did, with the 2K run which almost killed me!” More

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      in Boxing

      Ricky Hatton undergoes serious operation on hand after contracting rare disease that forced him to stop training

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      RICKY HATTON has undergone a serious operation on his hand after the British boxing legend contracted a rare disease. Hatton, who has been away in Thailand, posted a picture of his right hand all stitched up and covered in cuts and bruises.
      Ricky Hatton underwent a serious operation on his handCredit: Instagram / @rickyhatton
      Ricky Hatton suffered from Dupuytren’s diseaseCredit: Instagram / @rickyhatton
      And the two-weight world champion has revealed the gruesome result of his surgery having suffered from Dupuytren’s disease. 
      Hatton, 44, posted: “Had a great time away but can’t wait to get back in the gym with me boxers.
      “Had a serious operation when I got Dupuytrens disease. I’ve not been able to punch or do pads for about 3 months.
      “At least my boxers all had finished their fights for the year before I had the operation.
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      “Having said that it’s been a frustrating & worrying time for me as you can see from my first photo.
      “The amount of work it is in such a small & complicated area in your hand & around your fingers.
      “But ready to start back now which has been a relief. Baby steps though.”
      Dupuytren contracture is described as “a painless condition that causes one or more fingers to bend toward the palm of the hand.”
      Most read in BoxingWhat is Dupuytren’s disease? Dupuytren’s disease is a fairly common condition.

      It tends to affect more men than women, and often occurs in later life.
      It can affect up to 20% of men above 60, and 20% of women who are over 80 years old.
      Not every patient develops a contracture and needs treatment, the disease can become dormant at any stage.

      The affected fingers are not able to straighten completely and form knots of tissue under the skin.
      They eventually create a thick cord that pulls the fingers into a bent position.
      The disease is not that rare in itself – but is uncommon for someone of Hatton’s age
      Hatton began training boxers in his Manchester gym after retiring professionally in 2012.
      But last November he made a shock comeback to face Mexican great Marco Antonio Barrera, 49, in an exhibition bout in Manchester.
      Hatton has opened the door to another spectacle fight for fun and even called out Floyd Mayweather, 45, to a rematch following his 2007 loss.
      Marco Antonio Barrera and Ricky Hatton before their exhibitionCredit: PA More

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      in Soccer

      Northampton Town aim to show life CAN begin at 40 with health checks for the public.. leaving our man facing harsh facts

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      SO it’s official. I’m getting older, overweight and need to start changing my lifestyle and eating habits.Yup, it’s time to finally accept I’m a forty-something who has to stop living like I’m in my twenties.
      SunSport’s Justin Allen has an “over-40s” health check with Northampton Town boss Jon Brady at the club’s training ground
      Ex-player Brady tells Justin how he has had to kick his beloved croissants from his breakfast routine to stay healthy
      Northampton Town gently broke the news after they invited me to undergo a health-check designed for people aged 40 and above, alongside their manager Jon Brady.So what happened to that well-worn belief that life begins at 40?
      The Cobblers have been going into their community visiting local businesses to give employees in that age category hassle-free tests.
      Akshay Mistry, the club’s community sports participation officer, is the man entrusted to deliver those checks.
      The roughly 20-30 minute procedure includes measuring body mass index (BMI) by taking height, weight and waist measurements — and then checking blood pressure and heart rate, cholesterol levels and, if necessary, a diabetes test.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      Usually such check-ups are performed at a local GP surgery but getting a doctor’s appointment nowadays seems impossible.
      Akshay has performed more than 300 tests since the club started conducting them — and the Cobblers have almost certainly saved two people’s lives after discovering their health statistics were at dangerous levels.
      He told me: “We want to get people between the ages of 40 and 74 checked. It’s an easy procedure but GP surgeries have their hands full so this takes the pressure off the NHS while making these tests more accessible.
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      “Anything that can get flagged now will work better later as this can prevent future problems.
      Most read in EFL
      “If you have high blood pressure and are overweight to the point it’s dangerous that could be the end of you. 
      “But if you can discover this now, you can do something about it — either by changing or moderating your lifestyle and diet or, if at dangerous levels, being referred to a doctor to put you on medication as well as making a plan.
      “I’ve come across two who I referred to a GP — and it’s a good job because had they not had the check they almost certainly could’ve one day suddenly dropped dead.”
      The checks are done in coordination with Public Health England and the results uploaded to the NHS database to give your GP access.
      And even people who appear to live a healthy lifestyle can find that sometimes all is not as well as they think.
      Take Cobblers boss Brady, who is 48, for instance. He has lived his life in football — playing either in the EFL or at the top of non-league and working as a coach.
      He likes running, regularly walks his dog and is surrounded by healthy food and drink at the club’s training ground. 
      Jon Brady gets his height measurement taken by Akshay Mistry
      Northampton boss Brady has his blood taken to test his cholesterol
      Ex-Cambridge United wideman Brady is ready for his blood pressure test
      But, not so long ago, he did a check through the League Managers Association and was stunned to find there was a health issue that needed addressing.
      He told me: “The test flagged up my cholesterol levels needed to drop. 
      “They were concerned and did a lot of testing. I even had to wear the blood pressure measuring device for 48 hours.
      “And it came out that I need to look after my cholesterol. I’ve certain enzymes that aren’t working properly.
      “I always thought I was fit and healthy but that wasn’t the case. I now watch what I eat. I love a croissant in the morning and my wife goes mad at me — so I don’t have them anymore.
      “It’s non-dairy tasteless yoghurts with blueberries for me!”
      So on to my own check. My height is just shy of 6ft, waist is 39 inches and weight is 98.4kg. This means I have a BMI of 30 and, for the first time in my life, am officially obese! Although I think Akshay needs to double check his dodgy tape measure and scales!
      Like Brady, I enjoyed running — often going for 5k or 10k runs — but since the pandemic have lost that enthusiasm.
      Our man Justin gets his finger pricked in a cholesterol test
      Akshay takes Justin’s waist measurement
      I drink beer and wine, love food, enjoy socialising and have a job which takes me away from my home regularly, making it difficult to get into a healthy routine.
      Then came the blood pressure and heart rate test. Two readings were taken .. the systolic pressure (when your heart pushes blood out) and diastolic pressure (when your heart rests between beats).
      Mine came in at 139 (sp) and 93 (dp) … healthy levels are below 140 and 90. So my systolic pressure is creeping towards an unhealthy high while the diastolic pressure is now over the healthy threshold.
      However, the good news is I’m not at the worrying 160/100 level that would require me to be referred to a GP. 
      My heart-rate came in at 99 beats per minute. However, that was probably because it was pounding in fear that Akshay was about to tell me I’d no longer be able to scoff delicious pizzas, Chinese takeaways or kebabs.
      My Apple Watch says my average resting heart rate for the last week has been 78 — which is within the average level of 60-100. 
      And finally my cholesterol levels were recorded after having some blood pricked from one of my fingers.
      SunSport’s Justin Allen undergoes a Health Check at the Northampton Town FC training groundCredit: Alan Walter
      Brady works in the stressful environment of football management
      While The Sun’s Justin Allen has a busy schedule as a football writer
      My overall total came in at 3.74, which is a healthy level. Anything between five to six would mean you seriously need to eat healthier — but anything above that would require an urgent doctor’s appointment.
      My “good cholesterol level” only came in at 0.71 though. A healthy person would expect to have that at least 1.0.
      So I asked Akshay for some health tips.
      He said: “Your BMI isn’t exactly where you want it. For your height, you should lose about 10kg. That will automatically bring your waist down too.
      “Your blood pressure isn’t too bad but you do need to bring it down slightly. Losing weight should help that.
      “You also need to add more healthy cholesterol to your blood. So good food is the answer — oily fish such as tuna, salmon and mackerel will help. Also things such as raw nuts, avocados, blueberries and non-dairy yoghurt and supplements of fish oils or multi-vitamins are all great.
      “And you need to get your resting heart rate down a bit. You don’t need to lift weights but I’d recommend doing more aerobic exercise. That should do the trick.”
      I’m going to get on it but, sorry, not ready to give up a steak and ale pie and a pint at the football. That is a non-negotiable. Gotta run — must meet my mates down the pub .. er, sorry, I mean health club!
      Read More on The Sun

      THE EFL’S 72 clubs have been running community events as part of the league’s Week of Action.

      A report — produced by research experts Substance — showed that EFL clubs created more than £865MILLION of social value across England and Wales between 2019 and 2022. More than £101m has been generated for community investment. More

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      in Soccer

      Premier League trial of temporary concussion substitutes AXED leaving PFA chiefs fuming

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      PFA chiefs slammed football’s Lawmakers after they blocked plans to trial temporary concussion substitutes in the Prem.Prem bosses along with France’s Ligue 1 and the MLS wanted the green light to give doctors a 10-minute assessment window rather than being forced to use permanent substitutes for suspected concussion cases and were backed by players’ unions.
      Temporary concussions sub trials will not be taking place any time soonCredit: Getty
      But with a Wembley meeting of the International FA Board finding “no consensus” in favour of the idea – with the discussion taking up the biggest portion of the five-hour session – the trial cannot take place.
      PFA head of brain health Dr Adam White said the decision to avoid a “common-sense measure” was “extremely disappointing”.
      He added: “There is a fundamental issue if players’ unions and leagues feel Lawmakers are holding them back from doing what they collectively agree is best to protect the safety of players.
      The brain injury charity Headway condemned the “flawed logic” of the decision although FA chief executive Mark Bullingham – who urged a take-up of the idea – revealed a study of team doctors found 71 per cent felt permanent substitutes were preferable.
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      Bullingham said: “The expert group that advised us said permanent concussions were safer. 
      “We think that in some cases players have continued to play when there’s been more than a suspicion of concussion.
      “They should have come off and we feel the risk of false negatives is lower with permanent concussion subs.”
      Concussion substitutes have become more commonplace in recent years as football tackles the problem of head injuries.
      Most read in Football
      Fifa introduced a new concussion protocols ahead of the 2022 World Cup.
      This allowed players to be permanently subbed off if they suffer head injuries, but it did not affect the allocation of five changes.
      The opposing team is granted an additional substitution with each APCS to avoid any advantage.
      The Premier League, FA and EFL have since adopted the rule permanently. More

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      in Soccer

      Bristol Rovers players and boss Joey Barton shave heads in support of team-mate Nick Anderton who has cancer

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      BRISTOL ROVERS players have shaven their heads in support of team-mate Nick Anderson, who has an aggressive form of bone cancer.The 26-year-old was diagnosed in July and underwent a successful operation to remove a tumour in October.
      The Bristol Rovers squad show off their new hair cutsCredit: @Official_BRFC
      But Bristol Rovers confirmed before Christmas that following the surgery, the biopsy revealed the tumour was more aggressive than first thought, meaning Anderton is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
      The treatment is expected to last several months.
      Now the squad and manager Joey Barton have rallied around the player by deciding to go bald in a sweet act of solidarity.
      The club’s official Twitter account posted a photo of the squad with their new haircuts.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      The caption said: “📸 Bristol Razors 2022/23. #BristolRovers.”
      Captain Paul Coutts added: “We’ve always been as one in support of Nick.
      “In the blink of an eye, his world’s been turned upside down and this is another way that we can help raise awareness of his condition and raise valuable funds for him and his young family at the same time.”
      Back in December, Anderton admitted: “The support that I’ve received on social media, I’ve had mail sent to my house, emails from past clubs I’ve been at, their supporters’ groups and clubs from the Premier League down to League Two have sent me signed shirts.
      Most read in Football
      “It’s just been amazing.
      “When that many people are thinking of you, it gives you another boost.”
      A GoFundMe page was set up by Bristol Rovers last week with more than £30,000 raised in less than two weeks. More

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      in Soccer

      Tennis legend Martina Navratilova opens up on cancer battle and reveals she has had two surgeries and four biopsies

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      MARTINA NAVRATILOVA was in good spirits as she opened up on her battle with cancer.The tennis legend, 66, was revealed to be suffering with breast and throat cancer earlier this month.

      Martina Navratilova says she is ready for her next stage of cancer treatmentCredit: Reuters
      The tennis legend has been diagnosed with breast and throat cancerCredit: Getty
      Navratilova battled breast cancer 13 years agoCredit: Reuters
      Navratilova won Wimbledon nine timesCredit: Reuters
      The Czech-American won 18 Grand Slam titles in a glitzy careerCredit: Getty
      But she vowed to fight on after previously battling breast cancer 13 years ago before being given the all-clear.
      Navratilova has now reaffirmed that standpoint by stating she is ready for the next stage of treatment.
      She has already undergone two surgeries and faces more radiation treatment, but that has not prevented her from planning a return to the court.
      In an interview with Tennis Channel Navratilova said: “Ya I’m ready to go. Ready to get on with the treatment.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      “I’ve had two surgeries and four biopsies and radiation and chemo, I’m waiting. But I’m ready to go.
      “And I’m ready to go in other ways as well. Once I get to play again, I’ve got my squeezy thingy here.
      “I just found these Wimbledon resistance bands in my grocery bag – I don’t know how they got there. And I have my water bottle as usual. So, I’m ready to go.”
      Following her diagnosis, Navratilova will not travel to Melbourne for punditry work at the Australian Open.
      Most read in Football
      However the 18-time Grand Slam champion will occasionally provide analysis for Tennis Channel and she was asked who she thinks will end the year with the most Grand Slams – Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic.
      The Czech-American backed Djokovic to win three out of four majors, tipping Nadal to win the French Open title for an incredible 15th time.
      Navratilova’s incredible tennis career spanned 32 years from 1974 to 2006.
      She won a remarkable 59 Grand Slam titles across singles and doubles.
      And she has claimed more Wimbledon singles titles than any other player in history – winning the tournament nine times between 1978 and 1990.
      Navratilova is also one of just three players – alongside Margaret Court and Doris Hart – to secure a career Grand Slam in singles, doubles and mixed doubles.
      Breast Cancer
      Guidance from the NHS states that breast cancer can have several symptoms, with the first usually being a lump or a thickened area of breast tissue.
      You should contact your GP if you notice any of the below:
      1) A change in the size or shape of one or both breasts2) Discharge from either of your nipples, which may be streaked with blood3) A lump or swelling in either of your armpits4) Dimpling on the skin of your breasts5) A rash on or around your nipple6) A change in the appearance of your nipple, such as becoming sunken into your breast.
      Data from Breast Cancer Now states that the illness is the most common cancer in the UK.

      Throat cancer
      Head and neck cancers are responsible for over 4,000 deaths a year in the UK, figures from Cancer Research UK states.
      There are different types, including mouth, voice box and those affecting the thyroid gland.
      Throat cancer is a head and neck cancer and the charity states that most of the time, symptoms of the illness are similar to much less serious conditions.
      However, there are over 12,000 cases a year, so it’s important to know the signs of the disease.
      The charity said that there are eight symptoms you need to be aware of.
      These are:
      1) Ear pain2) Asore throat3) A lump in the neck4) Difficulty swallowing5) Unexplained weight loss6) A cough7) Shortness of breath8) A feeling of something stuck in the throat More

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      in Soccer

      Darlington defender Paddy Almond rushed to hospital after suffering bleed on the brain in FA Trophy clash with Southend

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      DARLINGTON ace Paddy Almond was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain after being rushed to hospital during a match against Southend.The Quakers visited Roots Hall on Saturday and lost 2-1 in an FA Trophy encounter.
      Darlington ace Paddy Almond was rushed to hospital against SouthendCredit: FOCUS IMAGES
      Almond suffered a bleed on the brainCredit: Focus Images
      Almond, 20, was substituted in the second half when he sustained a head injury and was taken to Southend Hospital due to a suspected concussion.
      A brain scan later showed a bleed on the brain, and he has subsequently been transferred to a specialist unit in London.
      Darlington’s medical specialist Danny O’Connor accompanied the centre-back.
      Darlington issued the following statement: “Darlington defender Paddy Almond came off in the second half of our game at Southend today, and was rushed to hospital with suspected concussion.
      Read More on Football
      “After a brain scan at Southend Hospital, Paddy has been diagnosed with a bleed on the brain, and is currently being transferred (Danny is with him) to a specialist London hospital for further treatment.
      “Paddy is in our thoughts, and we continue to wish him a speedy recovery.”
      Almond started out at Sunderland’s youth set up before moving to Shildon in November.
      The defender then quickly joined Darlington only a month later.
      Most read in Football
      The youngster has amassed two league appearances with Alun Armstrong’s side so far.
      Darlington are currently second in the National League North table with only one point separating them from table toppers Kings Lynn Town. More