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      Premier League star became a viral sensation at 12 at Arsenal then was signed by Charlton after playing in a car park

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      OMARI HUTCHINSON was an internet sensation at the age of 12 — but only now is he on the stage he really craved.Hutchinson, 21, has been on a high since scoring his first Premier League goal as Ipswich drew 1-1 with Manchester United last week.More than 4million viewers saw Omari Hutchinson’s special skillsCredit: YOUTUBE/ F2Freestylers – Ultimate Soccer Skills ChannelFootball fans went head over heels for his exhibition stuffCredit: YOUTUBE/ F2Freestylers – Ultimate Soccer Skills ChannelHutchinson’s career took many twists on the way to facing Man UtdCredit: RexNow Nottingham Forest are in his sights as the Tractor Boys battle to prove they are good enough to mix it with game’s established stars.And that is a feeling Hutchinson knows only too well despite having his super skills praised by Pele when he was a schoolboy.Chelsea released Hutchinson twice and gave him just two first-team outings before Ipswich paid a club-record £22.5million fee for the youngster in the summer.Inbetween was a spell at Arsenal that made him famous — but not on the pitch.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLThen there were the unsuccessful trials at Tottenham and Brentford.Plus a couple of seasons at Charlton, who only signed the Londoner because they saw him playing in their car park.It has not been a conventional route to the top by any means for Hutchinson, even though his talent was always there to see.A collaboration with the F2 Freestylers when he was 12 saw more than four million viewers log on to watch his skills.Most read in FootballAdvice from Arsenal and Chelsea aces kept Hutchinson on the upCredit: YOUTUBE/ F2Freestylers – Ultimate Soccer Skills ChannelFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe said: “It had its pros and cons.“I got quite popular at a young age but at the time I wasn’t really playing much football.Arsenal player ratings vs Sporting“I wasn’t really a starter at Arsenal at that time and you want to be playing every minute of every game at a young age.“I would play football with my dad after a game and do extras.”One constant, however, was the refusal to give up on his dream.Hutchinson added: “One hundred per cent. As a young player you need that self-confidence and self-belief that you are going to make it and be one of the best in the league — or the world. That’s what I have been doing.“I have been at two of the best clubs in the world and trained with the first team in both of them.“I have seen what it takes to get to that stage and a lot of senior players have spoken to me saying, ‘You’re a very talented player, make sure you focus on this and that and you will make it’.“They also told me not to get distracted and I have taken it on board. I have gone a different route and shown myself from there.”Hutchinson is far too young to remember Pele, the world’s greatest player in the 1960s, but the Brazil legend still had a part to play on his journey. The three-time World Cup winner — who died in December 2022 — witnessed Hutchinson’s skills on a visit to London and let the youngster know he was impressed.Hutchinson said: “It was at a Brentford tournament when I was with the Under-12s at Arsenal.“He was there, he came towards the end, and we did some freestyling skills.“All the teams gathered round in a circle and a player from each team had to show some skills — I got forced to go up!“He saw it and he liked it. When we took a picture of him he told me to come up and rest on his knee.I saw that the Lottery is easier to win than becoming a professional footballer in the Premier League.Omari Hutchinson“I was doing kick-ups-round-the-world and putting the ball on my neck.“When I was young my grandma always used to say, ‘You’re going to be like Pele when you’re older’. She gave me a lot of books and cards and stuff like that.”It was no surprise that Hutchinson joined Ipswich on their return to the top tier after 22 years away, although there were other offers.The attacking midfielder, who can play wide or No 10, had helped them to promotion when on loan from Chelsea last season.And Tractor Boys manager Kieran McKenna promised Hutchinson the chance of the regular football he craved.He said: “I spoke to Kieran in the summer and it was a no-brainer to come here.“I knew I was going to play in the Premier League, which is a rare occasion.“I saw that the Lottery is easier to win than becoming a professional footballer in the Premier League.”Hutchinson still has one big decision to make however — to choose England, where he is in the Under-21s, or go back to Jamaica, for whom he has played a couple of friendlies and qualifies through his dad.READ MORE SUN STORIESNo Town player has represented the Three Lions at senior level since Richard Wright in 2001 — and only 12 have in total.That might change soon but Hutchinson insisted: “I have very high ambition but I’m not focused on that right now.”Hutchinson has gone on to play for England U-21s and JamaicaCredit: YOUTUBE/ F2Freestylers – Ultimate Soccer Skills ChannelNine years on from this, he’s up to his young tricks again – but in the PremCredit: YOUTUBE/ F2Freestylers – Ultimate Soccer Skills Channel More

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      I won Gladiators and faced Gareth Southgate as a player – now I’m looking to cause FA Cup upset with minnows

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      HARBOROUGH TOWN’S contender is ready . . . Dave Staff, assistant boss of the seventh-tier club, is a former winner of the TV show Gladiators.Dave Staff pulled off a red win on Gladiators, now he’s hoping to sink ReadingHarborough assistant boss Staff is ‘proud’ of his 2009 Gladiators titlesStaff was in action when Nuneaton Borough famously took then-Prem side Middlesbrough to an FA Cup replay replay 18 years agoCredit: Getty Images – GettyStaff will now be looking to cause an upset in BerkshireCredit: HarboroughBut being part of his home-town club’s journey to a second-round tie at League One Reading feels bigger even than reaching the top of the Travelator first.Staff was a non-league player when he became the 2009 male champion — and then champion of champions — in the Sky One reboot of Gladiators.Staff, 45, said: “About 10,000 people applied for the series. I’m really proud of it.“My best event was probably Powerball. I could carry my own bodyweight well and move pretty quick. I also remember coming up against a Gladiator called Doom in a thing called Earthquake.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL“You’re on a Perspex plate 50ft in the air or something. You have a wrestle and try to push each other off — and he broke my nose. But the video referee said I won.“I got £25,000 for winning the main series.“The missus spent most of it on a kitchen in a house that we ended up moving out of about six months later.”Gladiators is not Staff’s only brush with fame.Most read in FA CupEx-Gladiators winner Staff has an unusual claim to fameFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSHe was in the Nuneaton Borough side that faced Premier League Middlesbrough and their team of stars in the FA Cup third round in 2006.Gaizka Mendieta put Boro ahead with a wonderful free-kick. But Gareth Southgate’s handball led to a penalty — that Gez Murphy scored to earn a replay.Top 10 highest paid footballersStaff said: “There’s a picture of Mendieta curling the free-kick over my head and in.“Unfortunately, I came off injured after 18 minutes so I missed the replay.“After the 90 minutes in the game at Nuneaton, Mark Viduka said to one of our lads, ‘What happens now?’.“‘We’re going back to your place!’“‘OK, cheers, fella’. He didn’t even know!“We went out in Nuneaton that night. I hobbled around the pubs and watched Match of the Day — Lee Dixon called me ‘Davy’ Staff for some reason! “We got the papers in the morning after staying in a hotel and the lad I shared a room with, Matty Collins, was on the back pages. It was a great experience.”As a coach, Staff was part of Brackley Town’s FA Trophy triumph at Wembley in 2018.But nothing matches the feeling of success with the club from the Leicestershire town where he was born and bred.I’m walking around town with my dog and there is such a buzz. It’s the biggest game in the club’s history by far.Dave StaffStaff joined Harborough 18 months ago as assistant to boss Mitch Austin and last season they won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division Central — the highest level in the club’s history.In this campaign, Harborough beat Tonbridge Angels in their first-ever FA Cup first-round tie to earn the clash with Reading.Staff said: “I’ve always lived in the town.“I knew so many people behind the goal when we scored those goals at Tonbridge, I kinda wished I was there instead of the dugout.“I’m walking around town with my dog and there is such a buzz. It’s the biggest game in the club’s history by far.READ MORE SUN STORIES“As a local boy, it’s a bit of a dream and we’re all hoping it can go on as long as possible.”And if you have already defeated Doom, why not Reading?Gareth Southgate conceded a penalty when Staff played for NuneatonCredit: Getty More

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      in Soccer

      I went from the Prem to prison ‘hell’ filled with shower stabbings and cockroaches but now I’m eyeing an FA Cup shock

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      NILE RANGER sat in prison with his gut churning after eating half-cooked chicken and watching cockroaches crawling through cracks in the walls of his cell.The ex-Newcastle striker, 33, was banged up at Pentonville in north London in 2017 after pleading guilty of committing online banking fraud.Nile Ranger spoke exclusively to SunSportCredit: Jon BondHe was a promising Premier League starCredit: GettyHe helped Newcastle win promotion from the Championship in 2010 and went on to play in the Premier LeagueCredit: AFPBut things spiralled out of control and saw Nile end up in prisonCredit: Jon BondHe had conspired to swindle more than £2,000 from a woman two years earlier.It completed a fall from grace for a highly-promising player who made 26 Premier League appearances for the Geordies before nose diving down the leagues.Ranger swapped training and playing alongside stars such as Michael Owen, Fabricio Coloccini and Andy Carroll for mixing with criminals who boasted about such things as tossing an unfortunate soul into a car boot after cutting their fingers off!But on Sunday he will be back on a football field with Southern Premier Kettering hoping to create some FA Cup magic as they host League Two Doncaster — having scored the winner in the previous round to topple League One Northampton.READ MORE FOOTBALLTo say Ranger is the ultimate model for any young professional NOT to follow is an understatement.He told SunSport: “It was bad in prison, full of wrong ’uns, and no place to be if you’ve got your head screwed on.“I had mine on compared to those people. I had just been silly, unruly and lacked discipline.“There was this guy who told me he had put someone in a car boot and chopped off their fingers.Most read in FA Cup“I heard people planning murders and armed robberies when they got out.“There were prisoners getting stabbed in the showers and drones flying in drugs and mobile phones. It was hell.”Bizarre moment man dressed as Elsa from Frozen sings Let It Go karaoke on pitch ahead of FA Cup first-round clashAlthough sentenced at Wood Green Crown Court to serve eight months inside one of Britain’s most notorious jails, Ranger was released after 10 weeks for good behaviour — although he had to wear an electronic tag to make sure he was not up to no good.Ranger said: “There were cockroaches coming through the gaps of the cell walls and door.“We had to block those with towels and if you killed a cockroach others would appear from eggs they laid. There were mice running about as well. It was disgusting.“The food was appalling. The chicken I’m certain wasn’t properly cooked.“I was locked up 23 hours a day — using the hour outside my cell to exercise and shower.“Some of the guards were arrogant — trying to make me feel small. They were jealous because I was a footballer. But I didn’t rise to it.”I focused on getting out and thought, ‘I’m only going to be here for two or three months and playing football again.’“I was at Southend and they were still paying my wages while in prison so that was always on my mind when the guards were belittling me.“I felt the sentence was unfair. People have done far-worse and only got suspended sentences.“I reckon the judge had already decided while having dinner with his wife the previous evening he was going to lock me up.”Kept messing upRanger concedes he screwed up and wasted his incredible talent. Had he applied himself he could have had a good Premier League career.But he kept messing up — despite countless chances.Just shortly after signing for Southampton from Crystal Palace as a kid, he was banged up for 11 weeks in a young offenders institute for being involved in an armed robbery.The Saints stuck by him then but lost patience after he stole his entire academy team’s kit and a box of chocolates from the kit lady.He explained: “I don’t know why I took the chocolates but we had been told we could have some of the kit. The season had finished and Southampton were getting us new ones.“I had friends at home in North London who loved football so I took everything, all the kit and boots. I was caught on camera and Southampton terminated my contract.”Ranger helped fire Kettering into the FA Cup second roundCredit: PAYet Ranger landed on his feet when Newcastle snapped him up and despite breaking into the first team and helping them win promotion from the Championship in 2010 and going on to play in the Premier League, he pressed the self-destruct button with a series of disciplinary problems.He also had such a gambling addiction that the club got him banned from every casino in Newcastle. He was constantly late for training or did not show at all.Kevin Keegan got so fed up with him when he started training with the first team, he told Ranger: “I’m going to pull out and sell your gold tooth if you’re late again because your wages will not be enough to cover the fine.”Chris Hughton, who had a summit meeting with Ranger and his mum, and Alan Pardew, who banished him to train with the academy team until he sorted out his time-keeping, both tried in vain to save his career before the latter decided to let him go.Swindon, Blackpool and Southend (twice) all took punts but to no avail — and after a spell with National League club Boreham Wood he crashed out of the game for 20 months before joining Kettering in September.When he was a promising 18-year-old at Newcastle he was earning almost £10,000-a-week — and admits he would be penniless today if it was not for his beloved mum Karen.He said: “When I was making the money I was, I didn’t appreciate it and was spunking it.“My mum sorted out some property investments. I should’ve done way more. Had she not done that, I’d have nothing now.“I’ve a bit of money to live on but cannot live a lavish lifestyle.”Mum has always looked out for me and out of everyone I’ve upset with my actions she’s the one I regret hurting the most — along with all my family.”Celebration promiseRanger believes he has matured since becoming a dad. He has a three-year-old son Aziel and while he has since split from the mother, insists he prioritises being a good dad.And while the striker knows seventh-tier Kettering is a world away from the level he reached, he still believes he can play in League One or Two.But right now he wants to help the Poppies win promotion this season and help youngsters not make the same mistakes he has as well as inspire criminals serving time to mend their ways.He said: “Prison is supposed to be a place where they rehabilitate you. I didn’t see any of that happening. In fact, jail can make people worse.“I accept I’m not a good football role model — but I am a role model, one who made lots of mistakes, but who can teach people what NOT to do.“I’ve already done a talk to some youngsters at an academy. I’ve been invited to schools and prisons. I’d like to use my experience to help others.“But right now my focus is on enjoying the last part of my career and hopefully creating another FA Cup shock.”READ MORE SUN STORIESAnd Ranger has promised to do one thing on live TV if he scores against Doncaster.He said: “I have a tattoo on my lower lip of a smiley emoji. I am going to run to a TV camera and show my happy lip!”He’s vowed to show off his tattoo if he scores this weekendCredit: Jon BondTV viewers will get a close up view of his ‘happy’ lip tattooCredit: Jon Bond More

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      in Boxing

      Tyson Fury receives ominous body transformation warning from ex-world champ as do-or-die Usyk rematch nears

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      TYSON FURY has been warned his drastic body transformation for his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk could work against him.Photos emerging from Fury’s training camp appear to suggest he’s carrying more weight for next month’s do-or-die Saudi showdown.Tyson Fury renews his rivalry with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21Credit: PAThe Gypsy King looks to be carrying more weight for the boutCredit: INSTAGRAM@KEVINLERENABut former Brit world champ Duke McKenzie has warned Fury carrying too much size could work against himCredit: GETTYThe Gypsy King may have decided to come in heavier in order to rough Usyk up in their Riyadh rumble.But former Brit world champion Duke McKenzie reckons the added size could end up working against the Wythenshawe warrior.He told GiveMeSport: “If he puts on more weight and thinks to himself ‘I’m going to bully Usyk this time, I’m going to go in and walk him down, I’ll be able to take his shots because I’m that much bigger’, it’s not going to work for him.”He’s going to be slower, he’s going to be more predictable, he’s going to get hit more and a lot sooner…READ MORE ON FURY VS USYK 2″Usyk wins the rematch all day long, I can’t see how Tyson Fury beats him.”Fury’s lifestyle outside of the ring is also a concern for former three-weight world champ McKenzie: “He [Fury] doesn’t live, eat, walk and talk the sport.”But you’re supposed to, in-between fights is where fights are won and lost.BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS”We know Fury blows up, puts on a load of weight between fights and then he has got to get rid of all that weight again.Most read in Boxing”Now, they’re trying to tell us that Fury is going to be bigger and better. Bigger and better isn’t going to beat Usyk. It’s really not.”Usyk Vs Fury 2 Launch Event entrancesMcKenzie reckons Fury doesn’t stand a chance of knocking slick southpaw Usyk out, adding: “This guy is unbeaten, so you have to look for chinks in his armour.”Has this guy got a bad engine? Does he get cut? Does he go down?”Does he have to get up off the floor to win fights? “Usyk doesn’t have to do any of them, he’s never shown any vulnerability.”Fury, 36, suffered a split decision defeat to Usyk in their first desert dust-up in May, in which he was knocked down in the ninth round.And he’s adamant he won’t let the Ukrainian hear the final bell, saying: “I’m going to roll the dice and it’s going to be you or me.Tyson Fury has vowed to be killed or be killed in his rematch with Oleksandr UsykCredit: GETTY”Best foot forward and swing away.”I’ve never been afraid to get knocked spark out. I’ve always put it on the line every time.”He continued: “There’s no secret! I’m going in there to knock you out. Because I don’t think I’m going to get a decision no matter what I do.”I don’t think I’m going to get a boxing decision.READ MORE SUN STORIES”So I’m going to have to take it out of the judges’ hands like I did in America that time [against Deontay Wilder].”And I’ve got to get him out of there. Hand on heart, I have to get him out of there to see victory.” More

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      in Soccer

      I’m a Ballon d’Or winner who had the world at my feet but I lost control of my career after bold transfer

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      MICHAEL OWEN believes he “lost control” of his career the moment he left Liverpool for Real Madrid.The former England international swapped Merseyside for Madrid in the summer of 2004 after eight goal-filled seasons with the Reds.Michael Owen joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2004 after eight seasons with LiverpoolCredit: PA:Empics SportSome of the Anfield faithful turned on the former academy star after his departureCredit: GETTYOwen believes his departure from the club was the moment he ‘lost control’ of his careerCredit: NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LTDThe stunning move to the Bernabeu, however, didn’t go to plan as he failed to win a trophy in his sole season with the Galacticos, in which he scored 16 goals in 45 appearances.He returned to England the following summer for a four-season stint with Newcastle before a shock move to Liverpool’s bitter rivals Manchester United in July 2009.Some of the Kop faithful still resent Owen for joining the Red Devils, although the 44-year-old believes their resentment originally stemmed from him leaving Anfield in the first place.He told The Telegraph: “The moment I chose to go to Real Madrid I lost control of my career and what the perceptions of it are.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS“I don’t love going to Anfield now because I know I am not loved back.”I tend to only go when I am working. It’s not that I dread going, but for a long time I used to bury my head when driving back to the academy to see friends.”I have told myself since, ‘I should not have been feeling like that.'”People say now, ‘It was because he signed for Manchester United.’ Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERSMichael Owen’s career statsLiverpool: 297 appearances – 158 goals & 49 assistsReal Madrid: 45 appearances – 16 goals & four assistsNewcastle United: 79 appearances – 30 goals & 2 assistsManchester United: 52 appearances – 17 goals & three assistsStoke City: Nine appearances – One goalClub Total: 483 appearances – 223 goals & 58 assistsEngland: 89 appearances: 40 goals & 12 assists”But the whole world knows there has been some history rewritten there.”There was resentment directed at me before then when I played for Newcastle, even though I had a clause in my Newcastle contract that I could re-sign for Liverpool every summer.Michael Owen heartbreakingly admits he prays every single night for cure for rare disease that has blinded his son James“The Manchester United aspect is now an easier stick to beat me with.”But when I came back to Anfield for the first time as a Newcastle player, there were a few hundred, possibly a thousand supporters, booing me.”I can’t forget how I, my parents, and my former Liverpool team-mates felt.”Everyone who understood and appreciated the reality of the situation was disappointed on my behalf.”Owen never had any ambitions of leaving Liverpool, let alone playing abroad, when he was at the peak of his powers.But he would have kicked himself had he not taken the opportunity to play for the European giants.The 2001 Ballon d’Or winner admitted: “I never had big ambitions to play abroad. “Really, but I fit the bill as the type of player they pursued.”If you are scoring goals, are a creative midfielder, or an amazing, unique type of right-back like Trent, you are seen as a marquee signing.“They wanted me with [Luís] Figo, [Zinedine] Zidane, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos.READ MORE SUN STORIES”I looked at that and thought it would have been harder not to score.”I thought long and hard about leaving Liverpool, but in the end something inside told me I would regret it if I didn’t give it a go.”Michael Owen doesn’t ‘love going to Anfield’ any moreCredit: GETTY More

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      in Soccer

      Gainsborough’s own Jamie Vardy swapped Hollywood for non-league and hopes to land dream FA Cup tie with DONCASTER ROVERS

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      GAINSBOROUGH TRINITY’S very own Jamie Vardy may have swapped Hollywood for non-league but is still desperate to see his name up in lights on the big screen tonight.Only it is Doncaster Rovers rather than Manchester United or Arsenal that striker Declan Howe, 26, is dreaming about facing in the FA Cup third round.Dec Howe is hoping to shine on the big screen against HarrogateCredit: Heather King PhotographyPitchingIn Northern Premier League Trinity, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition, are into the second round for the first time in 72 years and head to Harrogate Town.And they go into their clash with the League Two outfit full of confidence – particularly hotshot Howe.The ace, a sales consultant by day, moved to the Kal Group Stadium last September with the club down the bottom.However, his 21 goals helped them to finish eighth and secured him the golden boot and he is already on 18 this term.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLBut his scoring exploits are a far cry from his days swanning about alongside movie stars after moving to live with his brother, who is now a manager of team operations at LA Galaxy II, in California to coach football.He told SunSport: “I went over there just as I was turning 21 and spent a couple of years in California coaching.“You’d see a few famous people about and if you went over to Hollywood then you’d see some faces.“I remember seeing Adam Sandler at an LA Lakers basketball game, which was a bit surreal.Most read in FA CupFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS“I had to come back every year to renew my visa, but in 2020 the embassy was shut because of Covid when I came home and that was the main reason I never went back out.“Then I got back into football and rediscovered my love for it again, started scoring goals and it’s taken off from there.”Ex-PE teacher deemed ‘too small’ eyeing legendary third promotion at Harrogate Town after help from former England bossHowe was on the books of both Scunthorpe United and Doncaster, where he grew up, as a YTS before being released and dipping his toe into non-league and then heading Stateside.Despite leaving the glitz and glamour of Tinsel Town, Howe has now become a star in his own right at Trinity following spells at Staveley MW, Darlington, Cleethorpes Town, Alfreton and Ilkeston.And while he knows not even Hollywood’s boldest writers could get away with a story that ended in Trinity going all the way to Wembley, he still could.Eliminated Ashford United’s Gary Lockyer, on ten, tops the race for the Mitre Golden Ball as top scorer in the FA Cup.But Howe, currently on eight, knows a hat-trick on Friday would see him surpass that tally and put him in pole position to collect his award and land a VIP day out at the final in May.He said: “That would be lovely. I’ve spoken to a couple of people related to the Mitre Golden Ball award and they mentioned how last year a trip to Wembley was involved. So it’s definitely an aim for me to try and be at the top of those goalscoring charts.“We all wanted the TV fixture for the great exposure. There’ll be a lot of people watching with it being on a Friday night and family and friends who weren’t able to get a ticket will be able to tune in.“We can’t let any of that get to us, it’s just got to be a normal day at the office and go out to try and get out there.The hotshot is dreaming of a Doncaster FA Cup tie in the third roundCredit: Heather King Photography“It’s been a long time since we reached the third round and it’s a great opportunity to put our names in the history books of the club.”However, rather than one of the giants, Howe would be just as happy to land Doncaster, the team he used to watch from the stands, in the next round if they get past Harrogate. He said: “I was surprised we didn’t get them in this round with both names still being in the hat. All my friends are Doncaster supporters and they were convinced that it was destined to happen.“Obviously if you get through you want a Premier League team, but if it isn’t then Doncaster would be a nice one.”And it is not just his goals that have made him a huge hit with supporters. His tireless running and work-rate has also seen him being compared by fans to Vardy.The Leicester legend, 37, went from non-league to Premier League and FA Cup winner in his own fairytale story.And Howe admits he has still not given up on his dream of turning pro – and he knows there is no better stage than to show what he’s capable of than in front of the cameras later.He added: “At the start of the season I said to my girlfriend that promotion was obviously the target but the one thing I’d always wanted to have was a nice FA Cup run and here we are.“Growing up it was every kid’s dream to be pro and I think that it is maybe getting a bit more reachable to myself now.I’ve definitely been thinking over the past couple of years that is where I want to end up and you never know.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Jamie Vardy himself didn’t breakthrough as a pro until late and he’s had an incredible career since and that is still a huge ambition of mine.“The Hollywood script ending for me and the club would be a dream. You just never know what’s in store.”Who are these famous footballers? More

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      in Boxing

      The bittersweet story of Larry Gains, one of boxing’s greatest heavyweights who was shamefully denied world title chance

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      IN A ceremony in Essex on December 12 a blue plaque will be unveiled in memory of Larry Gains, who died 41 years ago.The name Gains will mean little to fight fans — yet he was one of the greatest and most popular heavyweights ever to grace British rings.Larry Gains will receive a blue plaque in a ceremony in Essex in DecemberGains was one of the most popular heavyweights ever to grace British ringsGains’ exceptional story is a bitter-sweet saga.Born in Toronto in 1900, the black Canadian spent six weeks on a cattle ship sailing to England seeking fame and fortune back in 1923.After making his pro debut in London — the start of his exceptional 146-fight career — he based himself in Paris and became a close friend of the American writer Ernest Hemingway, then a newspaper reporter.He fought all over Europe, forging a huge reputation — including a two-round KO of future world champion Max Schmeling.READ MORE IN BOXINGIn 1930, he settled in Leicester. He was idolised by the locals who treated him as one of their own.A crowd of 30,000 packed Leicester’s Welford Road rugby ground to see him KO Phil Scott and win the British Empire title in 1931.He fought in front of huge crowds in London — there was 70,000 at the White City Stadium to see him outpoint Primo Carnera before the Italian became world champ.Whenever Gains returned to Leicester after winning a big fight he would be met off the train by vast numbers led by the mayor and paraded through the streets.Most read in BoxingGains beat the beat Primo Carnera on points in 1932But Gains was in his prime in the most deplorably dishonourable 22 years in boxing’s long history.Shamefully Gains was never allowed to challenge for the world heavyweight championship, though more than capable of winning.He was the victim of the iniquitous colour bar at the time which prevented black boxers from competing for the richest prize in sport.That poisonous doctrine lasted from the moment Jack Johnson was defeated by Jess Willard in 1915 to when the ‘Brown Bomber’ Joe Louis began his illustrious professional reign in 1937.Gains would have beaten Schmeling and Carnera a second time, along with Jack Sharkey, Max Baer and James J. Braddock, the other world champs in the 1930s.But the racial prejudice of that era was deep-rooted.In a letter Gains wrote to Hemingway in 1925 — which inexplicably ended up in Boston’s JFK museum — he offered to spar with world champion Jack Dempsey. Racism prevented Gains from a shot at a world title – which he would’ve wonBut the Manassa Mauler turned him down as — in his words — he refused to train with “coloured men”.Gains consoled himself with being Canadian champion and twice being crowned the “coloured world heavyweight champion”.His last fight was in 1942 as he later joined the Army and spent the Second World War as a Sergeant Major and physical training instructor.I met him several times when he was President of the London Ex-Boxers Association. Always immaculately dressed in a suit, he was a man of great dignity.What impressed me the most — despite the humiliation he suffered — was that Gains didn’t bear grudges.Before he died of a heart attack aged 82 in 1983 he said: “For me the world title was always the impossible dream, the unreachable star.“The politics of the day was against it but I have no bitterness or regrets.”Gains’ descendants will gather at the Shoeburyness Hotel — his training camp was in the Essex seaside town — for the unveiling of the plaque in honour of him.His great-great grandson Michael Gains, who got the OK for the initiative, said: “I felt his amazing life deserved permanent recognition.”READ MORE SUN STORIESJimmy Cannon, a leading New York sportswriter once said of Joe Louis: “He was a credit to his race — the human race”.That judgement equally applies to Larry Gains.Larry Gains v Salvatore Ruggirello at Royal Albert Hall More

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      in Soccer

      I’m the longest-serving manager in England’s top four divisions and my dad is my boss

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      HARROGATE TOWN manager Simon Weaver is the longest-serving manager in the top four divisions of English football.But he’s answerable to his chairman dad Irving – who owns the North Yorkshire club in League Two.Simon Weaver is the longest-serving manager in England’s top four divisionsSimon Weaver and dad Irving have worked together at Harrogate Town since 2011Weaver Sr, 75, vowed to “put Harrogate further up the football pyramid” when he took over in 2011.Together with Simon, they are the father-and-son team that have lifted Harrogate from the National League North to League Two.But his son had already been manager for two years when dad stepped in, making it 15 years and 191 days in the Town dugout.The Sulphurites were drifting in the sixth tier of English football and surviving on crowds of around 200 just 11 years ago.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSFast forward 13 years, and Harrogate are enjoying their fifth season in League Two.And all with one of the smallest budgets in the division – finishing comfortably in 13th last term.Harrogate, it seems, have not yet realised that after 91 years in non-league, it boasts a team among the elite.Simon has led the club through two promotions in 2017-18 and 2019-20 and the FA Trophy success in the latter too.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSFormer PE teacher George Thomson, 32, has played a significant part in the Town’s rise from the non-league, making more than 300 appearances.Winger Thomson scored at Wembley in their National League play-off final victory over Notts County to help seal a spot in the Football League back in 2020.EFL club owner gives update on new £2bn ‘spaceship’ stadium included in mega plans for state-of-the-art complex And he exclusively revealed to SunSport how he is eyeing a third promotion to add to his fairytale rise from non-league hopeful to Harrogate icon.He said: “It’s been an incredible journey and I’m hoping that there are a few more years left for me.”There were a group of us who have been here long-term that said straight after that Wembley win that we want one more.”More than a decade ago, Harrogate were spared relegation from the National League North only because of financial irregularities elsewhere.Harrogate beat Notts County in the National League Play Off final in 2020George Thomson is eyeing an incredible third promotion with Harrogate TownSimon, 45, who used to play for Sheffield Wednesday, took over with the club in turmoil.The former defender told the BBC: “We lost 3-0 away to Corby Town. I had a playing budget of £1,600. “I had to count on a few friends and some played for free as a favour.”We didn’t have anywhere to train and when we did train, I got in trouble with the club because we were damaging the pitch.”We eventually got an hour a week in the gym and and a half on the AstroTurf, which caused injuries because it was rock hard.”Watford have made more than 20 managerial changes since Simon took the reigns after answering an advert placed in the Non-League Paper.Simon will be looking to deliver his dad a financial boost when Harrogate host non-league Gainsborough Trinity in the FA Cup on Friday.Harrogate beat Wrexham in the FA Cup first round earlier this monthCredit: RexThey knocked out League One side Wrexham in the first round.The cup tie will be his 766th game in charge of the club.Victory will secure them a place in the third round for only the second time in their 105-year history – and a potential money-spinning tie against a Prem club.Pep Guardiola, who took over at Manchester City in 2016, is the longest-serving current manager in the Premier League.The Spaniard has enjoyed eight years and five months at the Etihad, while Thomas Frank has spent six years and one month at Brentford. Simon added: “I’m proud of it. Sometimes I think ‘gosh, how has he been in and out in such a short space of time’ when I hear about a manger losing their job.”Multi-millionaire Irving made his money as a property magnate and is not afraid to make tough business decisions when needed.So, has he ever come close to sacking his son?Irving told the Beeb: “We’ve never had to go that far. Arguments are a waste of time. READ MORE SUN STORIES”There’s a concern when we’re on a losing run. We’ve just been down to 20th in the table. “There’s a serious discussion about where the problems lie. But it’s a discussion – not an argument.”Can you name the famous fathers? More