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      in Soccer

      Meet first female Premier League referee Rebecca Welch, who worked for the NHS before becoming a full-time official

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      ON December 23, history will be made.Rebecca Welch will become the first female referee to officiate a Premier League fixture.
      Referee Rebecca Welch is set to make history on December 23Credit: Getty
      Welch will officiate the Premier League match between Fulham and BurnleyCredit: PA
      The 40-year-old from Washington, Tyne and Wear will take charge of Fulham and Burnley at Craven Cottage.
      Just a few days later, Sam Allison will assume control over Sheffield United and Luton Town and become the first black official since Uriah Rennie 15 years ago.
      It’s a groundbreaking moment in England’s top flight, which was applauded by Newcastle manager Eddie Howe.
      “I think it’s a great moment,” he said. 
      Read more football news
      “For me, it’s got to be based on ability, not gender, ability to referee and I fully support it.”
      While PGMOL head of referees Howard Webb told Sky Sports: “They are both part of the PGMOL development group which fast-tracks talented officials through the pathway.
      “We have already seen three officials from the group take charge of their first Premier League games and now we have number four and five and it shows the value of that work.
      “We have not seen a female take charge of a Premier League game before so it’s significant, and Sam being the first black official with a whistle in the Premier League since Uriah Rennie.
      Most read in Football
      “It demonstrates people can make it through the pathway from groups that are not traditionally well represented.”
      But Rebecca’s path to the top was far from traditional.
      She admittedly fell into refereeing by mistake, before being the woman in the middle for the League Two fixture between Harrogate Town and Port Vale in 2019.
      Up until then she worked as an administrator for the NHS.
      Grateful to the NHS
      “The NHS are a crucial piece of the jigsaw to how I am here, with the flexibility they gave me,” Welch revealed.
      “I worked full-time but if I needed time off to go to games, if I needed to leave early or if I needed to go on any Uefa trips, they were always very accommodating. Never once did I have to say ‘I can’t attend a game because I have to go to work’ – their support was brilliant.
      Welch worked in the NHS’s business services authority for 17 years.
      She said: “I decided a couple of years ago to take a career break [from the NHS], just because I wanted to give football everything and I wanted to be in a position to, when I retire, sit back and say I gave it 100% and this was what I achieved.
      “Hopefully when I retire from refereeing I will return to the NHS and they’ll have me back.”
      Welch stepped away from a job with the NHS to work in footballCredit: Rex
      Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag complains to WelchCredit: Rex
      Welch first officiated an EFL game in 2019
      read more sport features
      ‘I didn’t want to ref’
      It wasn’t Welch’s plan to become a referee.
      She actually fell into it by mistake, after sharing a joke with Uefa B ref, Lindsey Robinson, and soon began juggling her NHS job with Sunday league games in County Durham.
      “Lindsey used to ref some of our games when I played local football,” Welch told The Telegraph.
      “I used to say how refereeing is ‘so easy’ and how referees always get it wrong and she said ‘well if you think it’s that easy, go and do it’ and that was it.
      “Still with no real ambition to referee a game, I just thought I’d go and do the course and learn a bit more about the laws of the game. Then I picked up the whistle, did my first five games and I stopped playing to start being a referee.
      “It’s a role people look at and think ‘why would you want to be a referee?’ but actually the rewards you get out of it, it’s completely changed me as a person, it’s completely changed my life, for the better. It’s kind of gone in a whirlwind. I’ve really enjoyed it.”
      Respect
      This season, especially, the Premier League has seen a staggering rise of abuse for officials from players, managers, and taunting from the crowd.
      Welch, herself, faced alleged misogynistic chanting towards her during a Birmingham City game that saw two 17-year-old boys arrested.
      She feels respected by the players, and believes there is a difference between abuse and disagreeing with decisions.
      Welch believes she has earned the respect from the prosCredit: Getty
      Welch believes there is a difference between someone who is abusing you and someone who is disagreeing with your decisionCredit: Alamy
      “A lot of people think that as a referee I go out on a Saturday and for 90 minutes I get a torrent of abuse – that’s actually not true,” she said.
      “There’s a difference between somebody who is abusing you and somebody who is disagreeing with your decisions. I do feel respected by the players.
      Read more on The Sun
      “I think the abuse side of it is a different avenue and that’s something that fortunately I haven’t been privy to, in my 11 years. I’ve never had somebody come in and give me abuse just because I’m a female referee or abuse because I’m a referee.
      “I’ve had people disagree with me because of the nature of the job I do, but there are some people who have come under that [abuse] so we definitely need to do more work in that area to stop that happening as we move forward.” More

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      in Soccer

      I flopped at Man Utd and would fly to Portugal on days off… I was treated like a king but did so many things wrong

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      MANCHESTER UNITED flop Bebe believes he would have been a success at Old Trafford if his attitude was different.The winger was signed for around £8.5million in 2010 – just a year after turning professional.
      Bebe believes he would be a success at Manchester United if he had his time backCredit: Getty
      The winger made just seven appearances for the Red Devils before being shipped outCredit: Getty
      But he played just seven times for United, scoring twice, before joining Besiktas on loan and eventually Benfica on a permanent deal.
      However Bebe puts his lack of success in Manchester down to his bad attitude, rather than a lack of talent.
      He admits he could have been more professional and blames a lack of guidance, suggesting he got a bit “lost” following his move to Old Trafford.
      Bebé told ESPN: “If I knew then what I know now, I’d have been [at United] for many more years.
      READ MORE ON MAN UTD
      “I’d sleep more. I wouldn’t do so many crazy things. When I had a day off, I used to take a plane to Portugal.
      “[Today] I’d look after myself more as a professional, look after my body, focus on football. I was there [at United], but in my head, I was on holiday with my friends.
      “But I don’t regret it. You have to think, I went from having nothing, in an orphanage, to a place with the biggest stars in the world. They were the best team around at that moment.
      “I think it’s normal that a 20-year-old kid gets a bit lost. I didn’t have a father. I didn’t have my mother or my grandmother to say ‘No, don’t do that.’ It was me, and I did whatever I wanted.
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      “Wherever I went, I was treated like a king. People gave me things. I could buy whatever I wanted. So I felt like a king… A father can tell you ‘You can’t do that’ or punish you. You need that sometimes. If I’d been living with my grandmother [in Manchester], it might have been different.”
      Bebe, 33, also revealed how his grandma “tricked” him into spending 10 years in an orphanage.
      The Rayo Vallecano star was told he was going to a holiday home aged just nine-years-old, but ended up in an orphanage home to 150 children.
      He detailed his story, saying: “She [grandma] tricked me. She took advantage of the fact that I was the youngest, and she put me in an orphanage.
      “At first, she told me I was going to a holiday home. She said I’d be there Friday, Saturday and Sunday. And I was there for 10 years.
      “Imagine. Nine-years-old. I was just nine-years-old when I got there.
      “All kinds of things happened there. Serious things, things a child shouldn’t see or hear … but [the people there] were also my friends. My best friends are five or six people who lived there with me. They were my family.
      “Everything that I have today, I learnt there, from my friends, the people who were there who helped me.” More

    • 238 Shares109 Views

      in Boxing

      Inside George Foreman’s amazing car collection up for auction, including a priceless Ford GT and a massive tour bus

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      GEORGE FOREMAN’s amazing car collection is up for grabs.Over the years, the boxing legend, 74, has amassed a stunning array of motors from every decade.
      George Foreman amassed an amazing array of motors
      Foreman’s 52-car collection is up for auctionCredit: Instagram / @hagertymarketplace
      A vintage Chevy Impala is available as part of the collection
      There is a very old-fashioned 1932 Ford Model 18, as well as a kitted out tour bus.
      For the more sporty, there’s even a 2005-edition Ford GT supercar in bright red.
      The stunning cars have been made available by auctioneers Hagerty Marketplace.
      Foreman admitted: “I have been a car collector and enthusiast most of my life, but the time has come for me to share my cars with other like-minded enthusiasts.
      Read more boxing news
      “Being able to offer them to the more than million-strong Hagerty audience is the best way to ensure they get the attention they deserve.”
      SunSport let’s you take a peak through some of what is on offer.
      1959 Chevrolet Impala Tri-Power Convertible
      With an apparent 60,000 miles on the clock, George’s classic Chevy is picking up plenty of admirers.
      Like most of the collection, there’s no reserve price – with current bidding at around the £120,000 mark.
      Most read in Boxing
      It is finished in black over red vinyl upholstery with tri-tone cloth seat inserts.
      The 14 inch steel wheels wearing spinner covers and mounted with Coker Classic wide whitewall tires are a thing a of beauty.
      1932 Ford Model 18 Deluxe Coupe
      George’s collection begins with classic motors from the 1930s.
      The pick of them is the staggering Ford Model 18, that’s already drawn bids at around £52,000.
      It is a car famously ingrained in American pop culture as one of the original hot rods.
      It’s a collector’s item, not to be driven, which explains why it has only travelled 819 miles.
      The Ford Model 18 is a classic car in American pop cultureCheck out these amazing collections

      1960 Bentley S2 Long Wheelbase Park Ward Saloon
      Bentleys are the ultimate in luxury, no matter what the year.
      And this 60s version was what the brand was built on.
      George’s is in fairly good nick, with just 47,000 miles on the clock.
      Slight imperfections on the worn horn button and warped rear lights haven’t put off bidders.
      Currently, the bid stands at around £17,000.
      A classic Bentley from the 1960s was kept in pristine condition by George Forema
      read more sport features
      1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray “Split-Window” Fuelie Coupe
      Corvettes are a staple of Hollywood films from yesteryear.
      The Sting Ray is as classic and classy as it gets, often referred to as the “Father of the Corvette.”
      It’s no wonder the bidding stands at around £100,000.
      This motor is powered by a 327 cu-in, 360 horsepower V8 engine with Rochester Ramjet mechanical fuel injection.
      The Corvette Sting Ray is one of the ultimate in muscle cars
      1987 Ferrari Testarossa
      In the 1980s, the Testarossa was the best Ferrari you could own.
      It helped that it was driven by the coolest detectives of the era, Crockett and Tubbs in cult TV favourite Miami Vice.
      It was one of just 1,008 Testarossa’s produced in 1987.
      George bought it in 1992, and it has done just 3,400 miles.
      The iconic 80s Testarossa was made famous in Miami Vice
      Miami Vice made the Ferrari Testarossa cool
      1999 Prevost Vantare H3-45 VIP Premium Touring Coach
      When you’re a legendary boxer, entrepreneur, minister and author – you get invited all over the country.
      What’s the best and most comfortable way to travel? In your own coach, of course.
      Incredibly, George owned his own top-of-the-range tour bus that boasted it’s own king-size bed.
      Needless to say, bidders are queuing up for this, with it currently around the £90,000 mark.
      George Foreman enjoyed travelling in his own tour bus
      The tour bus boasts its own bed
      2002 Ferrari 360 Spider Six-Speed
      How George squeezed his giant frame into a Ferrari, is a mystery.
      Bearing in mind, his 360 Spider only has 1,600 miles on the clock – the answer there might be not that many times.
      It is powered by a 3.6 litre V8 engine, and capable of reaching a top speed of 180 mph.
      The bidding is at £112,000.
      George Foreman’s Ferrari 360 Spider from 2002 has only 1,600 miles on the clock
      2005 Ford GT
      The most wanted, most cherished, and highest bidded on star in George’s collection. It stands at £260,000.
      This is one for all car enthusiasts, with such a rich history behind it – the GT famously winning four Le Mans races in a row in the 1960s has been glamourised on the big screen.
      Read more on The Sun
      It boasts a 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine.
      Incredibly, it has only driven 792 miles.
      The Ford GT is the most expensive car available for auction More

    • 175 Shares199 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside incredible stadium built on top of a SHOPPING CENTRE hosting big European tournament

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      THERE are few stadiums where you can nip to McDonald’s and H&M at half-time and make it back for the second half.But at this unique ground you might just manage it.
      The pitch is on the roof of a shopping centre
      The Vozdovac Stadium is also known as the Stadion Shopping CentreCredit: AFP
      The Voždovac Stadium stands on the roof of a SHOPPING CENTRE but can still sit 5,175 fans.
      The Vozdovac Stadium is also officially known as Stadion Shopping Center.
      And it has a McDonald’s and H&M within it.
      There’s an Intersport as well if fans fancy buying a replica shirt on the way out.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      The Vozdovac stadium opened in 2013 and is approved by Uefa to host Champions League and Europa League games if required.
      It is one of the few rooftop stadiums in the world.
      Similar to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley, the stadium utilises escalators to helps fans get to their seats.
      Week in, week out, the stadium is home to Belgrade side Vozdovac, a minnow who have made their way to Serbia’s first division this season.
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      But to aid the club with revenue, it’s loaned out to Red Star’s youth side for their Uefa Youth League games due to its Uefa approved status.
      That’s led to Manchester City taking on Red Star Belgrade there this week in the Champions League.
      City’s youth team managed to do the business at the Stadion Shopping Centre, with a 2-2 draw enough to see them advance to the knockout stages of the Uefa Youth League.
      The stadium seats 5,175 fansCredit: TNT SPORTS
      And was host to Manchester City in the Europa League todayCredit: TNT Sports More

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      in Soccer

      Inside ex-Premier League star’s amazing £400-a-night hotel with spectacular pool bar just yards from the beach

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      IN 2018, the same year Dejan Lovren lifted the Champions League, he became a hotelier.It came soon after his clothing label, Russell Brown launched, although that didn’t have as much success and is now defunct.
      The 4-star Joel Hotel in Croatia pulls in visitors all-year round
      Joel Hotels boasts an infinity pool and incredible sea viewsCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
      Former Liverpool player Dejan Lovren is the hotel’s ownerCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
      But, his four-star Joel Hotel in a beautiful part of Croatia is very much here to stay, and is certainly THE place to stay.
      Lovren, now 34 and playing for French club Lyon, had the property built from scratch in Novalja on the island of Pag.
      The project reportedly cost him somewhere around £3million.
      And since it opened its doors, it has continued to provide a relaxing place to stay for tourists from all over the world.
      Read more football news
      What has it got?
      A two-minute stroll from the spectacular Plaza Strasko beach, the Joel Hotel, reportedly named after his two children Josip and Elena, has a boutique feel to it.
      There are just 16 rooms, and each has its own designer kitchen.
      They are split up into 11 one-bedroom apartments, 2 studio apartments, 1 deluxe apartment and 2 annexes.
      Each apartment includes a living room, as well as a spacious private balcony.
      Most read in Football
      Prices vary, with an apartment with a sea view costing around £215-per-night during high season.
      While a superior deluxe apartment is as much as £401-per-night.
      Pool, restaurant and bar
      Amenities haven’t been skimped on by Lovren.
      The outdoor infinity pool measures at 12 x 6 metres and is heated all-year round.
      Spectacularly, it offers a breathtaking view of Novalja and the surrounding mountains.
      There is also a state-of-the-art outdoor gym, for those who want to stay in shape on their holiday.
      But for others who just want to unwind and let it all go, there is an amazing restaurant and bar.
      On the menu is Mediterranean cuisine from meaty pasta dishes to a Tuna steak with sauteed vegetables.
      Rooms can cost up to £400-per-night during high seasonCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
      Living rooms and kitchens feature in the superior apartmentsCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
      Clean, pristine bathrooms offer plenty of spaceCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
      Relaxing by the pool has never looked better at the Joel HotelCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
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      The bar serves classic cocktails, as well as a variety of other alcoholic beverages.
      Visitors also have the option to rent a boat.
      The reviews are in
      The Joel Hotel is a favourite for guests who have reviewed their stay on TripAdvisor.
      In fact, it has recorded an impressive five star rating from 23 reviews.
      One visitor wrote: “Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the best stay on Pag. Close to Novalja and close to Zrće.
      “The accommodation, amenities, the staff and the intimacy of the stay was brilliant. We stayed for five nights and had a great time. No more than eight people by the pool. Your own private oasis of comfort.”
      Another posted: “A breathtaking luxury building. Very friendly staff and approachable. The service is unmatched. The food is delicious – fresh ingredients, great served.
      Guests can rent a boat for the dayCredit: instagram @joelhotel_novalja
      The Joel Hotel restaurant gets good reviews online
      Guests can enjoy tuna steak
      Pasta dishes are also on offer
      “Do yourself a favour and visit this amazing hotel in Novalja.”
      While a third shared: “First of all, the hotel location is the perfect spot in Novalja. The view from the pool is just wow. Accomodation – very clean and nicely decorated. Friendly staff.
      “And best part is definitely food and drink. Enjoyed every meal and cocktail… best moscow mule I had.”
      A kind act
      Back in December, 2020 Croatia was hit by an earthquake with a reported magnitude of 6.4 that destroyed homes and buildings in Petrinja.
      Generous Lovren, who played 78 times for his country before retiring in early 2023, offered his help.
      Read more on The Sun
      The Adriatic Sea is in view of the hotel
      The hotel attracts high-flying clientele
      Dejan Lovren famously offered his hotel to families affected by a 2020 earthquake in his homeland
      He kindly gave 16 endangered families free accommodation at the hotel and urged them to get in touch with a personal message on Instagram.
      Not only a brilliant footballer, Lovren clearly has a heart of gold. More

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      in Soccer

      Mary Earps is England’s TikTok queen with 1m followers thanks to her hilarious and heart-warming videos

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      SOCIAL media can be a powerful tool for a sports, when it is done right.Lionesses hero Mary Earps is ticking all the boxes on that front.
      England shotstopper Mary Earps has become of the game’s iconic figuresCredit: Getty
      Off the pitch, Earps cuts a glam figureCredit: Instagram @1maryearps
      The Sports Personality of the Year award nominee, 30, has had a remarkable year on the pitch.
      Following up her displays at the Euros in 2022, she starred in England’s World Cup campaign – memorably saving a penalty in the final with Spain before firing her teammates up with a series of expletives caught on camera.
      But it’s off the pitch where Man Utd star Mary is at her most endearing.
      She is known as the ‘TikTok Queen’ among her peers, drawing more than 1million followers to her account thanks to her hilarious and heartwarming videos.
      Read more Lionesses news
      Sometimes, the hilarity is at the expense of her teammates…
      The fall girl
      Often, Earps ropes in pal Millie Bright for her TikToks.
      Most recently, the goalie deputised for the Chelsea defender as captain.
      Put a camera in front of them, and they are a comedy duo to be reckoned with.
      Most read in Football
      Several of Mary’s clips include the centre back.
      Some of the most memorable include various dance routines the pair pull off in unison.
      The one that gets us, though, is a game where you have to guess the song and sing along.
      If you don’t, the other player – standing behind you – will clatter you with a pillow.
      Both Mary and Millie take considerable pleasure in whacking each other if they don’t know the song.
      It, strangely, makes for compelling viewing.
      Mary Earps usually ropes in Mille Bright for some TikTok funCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
      A guess the song game always provides hilarity between Earps and BrightCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
      Clowning around
      Mary is a model professional.
      She has to work hard to become a permanent fixture for her country, when she was dropped by former England coach Phil Neville she fought hard to win her place back.
      It was a moment that saw her consider retirement.
      Thankfully, she didn’t. And she is now one of the first names on the teamsheet.
      Clearly, she also provides plenty of light relief in training – and isn’t afraid to clown around.
      Case in point, a recent training session with Utd saw her showing off her skills.
      After pulling off a save, she runs to the camera to show off her face covered in bits of grass.
      She captioned the clip: “When you’re a goalkeeper and the groundsman has just cut the grass.”
      read more sport features
      A training session on a freshly cut pitch saw Earps covered in grassCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
      Beauty regime
      One thing TikTok is famous for is beauty tips.
      You can’t move on the platform for make-up advice, skin care tips and the like.
      Mary is, obviously, well aware of this.
      So, in the only way she knows how, the football star filmed her own beauty regime.
      First, she comically applied a face mask, then scrubbed her teeth with purple whitening toothpaste.
      Earps then applies a cleanser, a booster, and an eye cream to get rid of dark circles, followed by a moisturiser.
      All of this is brilliantly narrated by England star Jess Carter.
      Earps comically applies a face maskCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
      Purple whitening toothpaste is part of Earps’ beauty regime
      Success story
      No doubt her biggest success in the game came in the summer of 2022.
      England lifted the Euros, in front of home support at Wembley, against old rivals Germany.
      It was a nail-biting game, with Mary proving resilient to the end.
      After the game, as you can imagine, celebrations ran wild.
      Leading the chorus of songs was Earps, with a medal around her neck, dancing in the changing room.
      Various teammates join her in harmony during the momentous moment.
      Of course, that clip is pinned and has been played a whopping 4.4million times by TikTok users.
      Earps celebrates England’s famous Euro 2022 winCredit: TikTok @1maryearps
      Alessia’s worst fears
      Coming up an uncompromising centre half doesn’t scare England forward Alessia Russo.
      If anything, the Arsenal star is ready to mix it with the most physical of players.
      However, she does have one fear that was exposed by Mary… turkeys.
      During a recent England camp, the pair were taking a walk around their base when they stumbled upon a turkey in their path.
      Frozen in fear, Alessia wouldn’t go anywhere near it, prompting Mary to film the moment and narrate over the top of the clip: “Alessia is afraid of turkeys, everyone.”
      Read more on The Sun
      Alessia argued the case that it charged at them, but Mary wasn’t having any of it.
      It’s just another reason why Mary is the ‘TikTok Queen’.
      Alessia Russo’s scary moment with a turkey was captured by Earps
      The turkey, itself, was seemingly going about its own business More

    • 263 Shares149 Views

      in Motorsport

      I lived a double life as a rally driver and drug smuggler – I had champagne and coke-fuelled parties before races

      by

      RANDY LANIER was a motor racing champion who won Rookie of the Year at the 1986 Indy500.But just a year later he was sentenced to life in prison without parole for drug smuggling.
      Randy Lanier lived a double life as a race driver and a drug smugglerCredit: NETFLIX
      He founded Blue Thunder and became IMSA GT champion in 1984Credit: NETFLIX
      Lanier fulfilled his dream of racing the Indy500 in 1986Credit: NETFLIX
      Born in rural Virginia, Lanier dreamed of becoming a race driver from the first time he heard a live broadcast of the Indy500 on the radio.
      The 69-year-old fulfilled his dream in 1986 following a rather unconventional path into the world of motorsport.
      It began when he moved to Florida in the 1960s when his love for cannabis turned into a money-making scheme.
      Lanier and his close associates began to smuggle in the drug from the Bahamas and his operation grew and grew.
      READ MORE IN SPORT
      After overcoming a setback in which Lanier was robbed at gunpoint in his home, the soon-to-be-racer was importing cannabis from South America, and with it he built an impressive fortune.
      Going straight to the suppliers meant Lanier began smuggling hundreds of thousands of pounds of cannabis worth millions of dollars.
      His scheme involved hiding the contraband in hollowed-out ballast tanks of barges, and the more he shipped in, the better his race car became.
      Lanier was already an amateur racer by the time he became a drug kingpin but his career never took off.
      Most read in Motorsport
      He blamed that fact on not owning and running his own team, so once he had the money he set up Blue Thunder and worked his way onto the IMSA racing scene.
      As Lanier put it himself: “To really be an up-front runner in racing, it takes not only a team, but a team with quite a bit of funds.”
      His own wife Pam described him as not the most “elegant” driver with Lanier following the Jeremy Clarkson handbook of power first, ask questions later.
      But it was a recipe for success and Lanier became one of the best young drivers on the circuit, thanks in part to the wisdom he no doubt learned from one-time Le Mans star Bill Whittington, his co-driver.
      Together the pair beat Indy500 legend Bobby Rahal to win the IMSA GT Championship in 1984, and with that brought further racing opportunities.
      Lanier then had the chance to walk away from his drugs empire for good when two representatives from Ford, who he had believed to be FBI agents, visited him at a race to offer him the chance to join their factory team.
      But he turned them down for one simple reason – friendship.
      Lanier stated: “My mind was already made up. I wanted to keep Blue Thunder together. That’s what friends do.”
      Lanier threw champagne and coke-fuelled parties before racesCredit: NETFLIX
      His secret life caught up with him and he was sentenced to life in prison in 1987Credit: NETFLIX
      Naturally, a self-funded racing champion with no discernable income raised eyebrows, but that did not prevent Lanier from expanding his operation – on and off the track.
      He began paying off the mob for access to ports with one job costing him £500,000 alone, and another involving one ship being diverted from landing in Louisiana to San Francisco – some 1,500 nautical miles.
      Lanier ploughed most of his money into his race cars but there was plenty of excess which was spent on speedboats as well as champagne and cocaine-fuelled parties before races.
      He then took things up a notch when he set his sights competing at the Indy500 by racing alongside professional daredevils like Rahal, Mario Andretti and AJ Foyt.
      Lanier fulfilled his childhood dream of racing the Indy500 in 1986 where he placed ninth – the highest ranking rookie in the race.
      But authorities were closing in and when his bookkeeper Charles Podesta was arrested, the game was up.
      Check out what these sport stars drive…
      Podesta confessed to his part in the smuggling racket and gave details on how the operation was ran by Lanier and his associates.
      In 1987 Lanier was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole but he was released after 27 years thanks to a presidential pardon from Barack Obama.
      He turned to yoga and despite claiming the US prison system was set up for recidivism rather than self-reflection, Lanier became a yoga instructor and a suicide watch volunteer – trained to sit and talk with people who tried to take their life – in prison.
      Following his release in 2014 he established Freedom Grow – a charity designed to help those sent to prison for cannabis-related charges regain their freedom.
      He remains passionate about cannabis, which he views as “just a plant”, and wants people to be given their lives back.
      Read more on The Sun
      Lanier said on the subject: “These people should not be currently incarcerated when there are 38 states, and all these corporations, making millions of dollars selling thousands of pounds of cannabis, legally, every week.
      “These people need to come home.” More

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      in Soccer

      Forgotten one-cap England star who retired aged 28 now runs property company with one-goal Premier League cult icon

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      SETH JOHNSON’S body broke down so much that it forced him to retire aged just 28.But now he is building himself back up in his new career running a property company with a former cult hero.
      Seth Johnson made one appearance for England and 15 U21 capsCredit: Getty
      Johnson, 44, burst on to the scene as a youngster with Crewe, making his debut aged 17 and racking up more than 100 appearances before a £3million move to Derby in 1999 when he was 20.
      But before moving to Pride Park, he stayed put with Crewe to help them avoid relegation.
      His stellar performances for the Rams earned him his solitary England cap in 2000 under Peter Taylor.
      The midfielder came on for Gareth Barry in a 1-0 friendly defeat away in Italy in what was David Beckham’s first match as captain. 
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Eleven months later, Johnson left Derby for Leeds in a £7m move that is remembered for an infamous tale about his Elland Road wages.
      The story goes that he went into negotiations with Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale hoping to increase his money from £5,000 per week to £13,000.
      But Ridsdale reportedly made an opening offer of £30,000 – which prompted stunned silence before the chairman immediately bumped it up to £37,000.
      But Johnson, who scored five goals in 121 Premier League games, clarified: “People don’t know the story. When they talk about negotiations for the contract, I wasn’t even there. The contract had nothing to do with me.
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      “I remember being at home when it got sorted. I’d agreed to go, but my agent rung me up and told me about the deal.
      “It wasn’t motivated by money for me. I’d had a good couple of years at Derby and just signed a new deal so I was on decent money anyway, but Derby were bottom of the league at the time, Leeds were near the top, I knew a lot of the lads there, and Derby decided to sell me because they wanted the money.”
      The move did not work as planned as Johnson was plagued by a host of injuries that required seven surgeries in his four years at Leeds, limiting him to just 59 appearances.
      A failed medical saw a move to Middlesbrough collapse before he became frozen out – with Leeds knowing one more appearance would trigger another payment to Derby.
      In the end, Johnson – who made the first of his 15 England Under-21 caps as a sub for Frank Lampard – was released in 2005 and returned to Derby for two more years.
      His last game in professional football saw his side win the Championship play-off final at Wembley.
      But another knee injury sustained in that match spelt the end of his career aged just 28, forcing him to hang up his boots. 
      However, determined to keep himself active, he moved into business – linking up with former Hartlepool, Luton, Derby and Leicester striker Steve Howard, who scored one of his 209 club career goals in the Premier League following the Rams’ promotion.
      Both men are listed as active directors at Greygoose Property Investments Ltd on Companies House since September 2010.
      Johnson made a name for himself at CreweCredit: Times Newspapers Ltd
      The contract negotiations with Peter Ridsdale did not quite go as reportedCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Johnson’s injury woes and a contract clause limited him to 59 Leeds appearancesCredit: PA:Press Association
      His solo senior England cap came against Italy in 2000Credit: Getty
      The firm focuses on buying and selling real estate in the north-east, while Howard is also heavily involved with another residential and commercial management agency. 
      Johnson added to Planet Football in 2017: “The surgeon said I should retire and that my knee was in a bad way. In the back of my mind I wanted to give it another go, but I didn’t want to go to another team injured and keep breaking down.
      “Speak to anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you I’ve always been football-mad. 
      “Early on, I really struggled with not being a footballer because to go from something you’d done all your life pretty much every day to suddenly not doing that was difficult.
      “Even now, I want to do something, but I still don’t know what. I’d rather do something that I enjoy doing, and I never really fancied the coaching side of things.
      “I’ve got a property company up in Newcastle with Stevie Howard, who I used to play with at Derby, but apart from that I don’t do much. I play a bit of golf, I play the odd charity game and golf events, but apart from that not much.
      “I played football as a kid in Devon, they don’t produce many footballers down there really. I’m proud of what I achieved and what I did.”
      Johnson, meanwhile, remains a member of Ingenious Film Partners 3 LLP alongside one-time England team-mate Jamie Carragher.
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      The company has a long list of illustrious former members from the football world, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Steven Gerrard, Gary Lineker, Joey Barton, Tim Cahill, Emile Heskey, Robbie Keane and John Arne Riise.
      Ingenious’ capital has helped back a number of huge films including Avatar, Life of Pi and Shaun of the Dead.
      Johnson in action against Manchester United’s Darren FletcherCredit: Reuters
      The final match of his career was the 2007 Championship play-off finalCredit: PA:Empics Sport More