Longtail

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares109 Views

      in Motorsport

      Inside Christian Horner’s 3-week fight for his career from 8hr grilling to Geri Halliwell’s agony…& why saga may go on

      by

      F1 BOSS Christian Horner has been cleared of sending improper messages to a female employee – but the saga could be far from over.The Red Bull team principal must now attempt to rebuild his crisis-hit team after a tumultuous three weeks spent fighting for his career.Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner at the Bahrain International Circuit Sakhir ahead of the start of the F1 seasonCredit: AlamyHorner and Red Bull world champ Max Verstappen celebrate on the podium during the F1 Grand Prix of Japan in SeptemberCredit: 2023 Getty ImagesHorner, 50, was revealed on February 5 to be the subject of a formal complaint by a female colleague alleging controlling and coercive behaviour, with the probe later said to involve him allegedly sending improper messages to a woman.He vehemently denied the bombshell claims.Following a gruelling three-week internal investigation, he was yesterday cleared of any wrongdoing and it was confirmed he would keep his £8million-a-year job.A source told The Sun last night: “Christian’s career, his marriage and his reputation were attacked but there are now no question marks over his character.Read more on Christian Horner”There is no shadow. But questions are being asked about how this happened, why it happened, and who was responsible.”The former racing driver returned to the trackside for the first time today – all smiles and with a big task ahead of him.He must now repair the damage and provide assurances that his relationship with Red Bull world champ Max Verstappen, 26, remains strong enough to deliver a fourth consecutive drivers’ title.Some insiders believe Horner and Verstappen’s relationship is sufficiently healthy, The Times reports, despite the young driver choosing not to publicly support his boss yesterday.Most read in MotorsportWhen asked during a press conference if he was completely behind Horner, Verstappen said: “Well, I’m trusting the process, that’s what’s happening right now. I do not want to get into that.”Because it’s not my case anyway and I don’t want to be involved. But as a team, yeah, we do trust that process and we just have to be patient, because there’s no need to start saying things, start screaming things out loud. You have to be patient.”Christian Horner cleared following investigation into ‘inappropriate behaviour’Verstappen’s father, Jos, a former racing driver, is reportedly a friend of the female complainant, who worked at Red Bull’s headquarters in Milton Keynes as recently as Monday.Horner flew to Bahrain yesterday – accompanied by a senior adviser to the team, Helmut Marko – ahead of the F1 season’s opening race on Saturday, where Verstappen is hoped to lead the team to glory.The Red Bull boss told Sky Sports in Bahrain this morning: “I’m just pleased that the process is over.”I’m here very much now to focus on the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titles.He added that unity in the team “has never been stronger”.There is confidence in the Red Bull camp that Horner’s position is secure, even if the female complainant appeals the decision – which she has the right to do.A spokesman for Red Bull GmbH said: “The ­independent investigation into the allegations made against Mr Horner is complete and Red Bull can confirm that the grievance has been dismissed.”Red Bull is confident the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned.”Horner is today seen talking on the phone in BahrainCredit: GettyThe team principal is all smiles as he arrives at the Bahrain International CircuitCredit: AFPHorner talks with Jos Verstappen ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of BahrainCredit: GettyThe report by the King’s Counsel, within which the grievance was dismissed, is understood be about 150 pages and was based on 60 hours of interviews with Horner and other staff members.Horner himself endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 51, was said to be “relieved and elated” last night when her F1 boss husband was cleared of wrongdoing.She had stood solidly by Horner, who she married in 2015, from the moment the claims against him were made public.A source said: “This has been weeks of hell for Christian and his family.”As he has said all along, these claims are ‘nuts’.”An exhaustive investigation has been carried out and the allegations have proven to be nonsense.”Geri has been rock solid behind Christian – and his whole family is relieved and elated that it’s over. Those feelings are there but no one close to Christian feels like celebrating much after what he’s been through.”For the time being his focus is back fully on winning races.”The former popstar was reportedly left “in floods of tears” when the scandal broke earlier this month and was supported by pals including her fellow Spice Girls.I’m just pleased that the process is over. I’m here very much now to focus on the season ahead and trying to defend both of our titlesChristian HornerRed Bull Racing team principalShe may join her husband in Bahrain this weekend.What lies ahead for Horner’s career remains unclear, with some reportedly displeased by a lack of transparency in the investigation and others relieved to hear he was exonerated.The team principal’s position has been more precarious since his ally and Red Bull co-founder Dietrich Mateschitz died in October 2022.Horner has reportedly managed to retain support from Chalerm Yoovidhya, who controls 51 per cent of Red Bull and is the eldest son of Chaleo, the Thai businessman who co-created Red Bull in 1984.READ MORE SUN STORIESBut not everyone feels warmly toward him and there have been talks, instigated by Red Bull Austria, of a possible reshuffle in the future.The possibility of such was dismissed – at least in the short term – by sources last night who insisted Horner would remain both team principal and chief executive of the all-conquering F1 team.Christian Horner and Geri Halliwell pose after the F1 Grand Prix of Italy in 2014Credit: GettyHorner looks on on the grid prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi in 2022Credit: GettyThe saga may not be over yet for Christian HornerCredit: PAThe Red Bull Racing team boss, pictured on May 27, 1992Credit: GettyHorner pictured with an Austin 100 HP Grand Prix Racer in 1994Credit: GettyWhat was claimed?F1 was rocked earlier this month by the sudden news that the sport’s longest-standing team principal had been placed under investigation by Red Bull’s Austria-based parent company.

      This was thought to be over a “dossier of incriminating material” regarding “inappropriate and controlling behaviour” towards one female, The Telegraph reported.
      Red Bull’s Austrian parent company flew an independent lawyer to the UK to question the multi-millionaire race ace and his accuser.
      The former racing driver, who runs world champion Max Verstappen’s all-conquering Red Bull team, endured an eight-hour grilling over the claims.
      Most recently, however, more allegations came as the De Telegraaf reported that Horner allegedly sent improper messages to his employee “over an extended period of time”.
      Messages were claimed to have been saved and presented as evidence to the external ­barrister running the inquiry after the woman made a complaint last December.
      Mr Horner categorically denied the new allegations and is thought to be taking legal action against De Telegraaf.
      The investigation raised the question of who could take over the helm of the all-conquering racing team of world champion Max Verstappen.
      His wife Geri Halliwell was also said to be “terrified her life would unravel” amid Horner’s “inappropriate behaviour” probe.
      The ex-Spice Girl, who was “in floods of tears” when the Red Bull boss was hit with the bombshell allegations, feared the drama will drag on for years, a source claimed. 
      But Geri, 51, stood by her husband.
      She told pals: “Christian has done nothing wrong.”
      Horner has overseen a huge period of success for the racing team – winning multiple F1 championships with Sebastian Vettel and Verstappen.
      Red Bull has won seven Formula One world drivers’ championships and six world ­constructors’ titles under Horner’s leadership.
      Last season, the team won 21 of the 22 races on the global F1 tour, and Verstappen, 26, won the drivers’ crown.
      Horner was awarded a CBE for services to motorsport in the 2024 New Year’s Honours List. More

    • 188 Shares129 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside Arsenal legend Sol Campbell’s incredible eight-bedroom mansion as ex-England captain slashes £10MILLION off price

      by

      SOL Campbell’s has slashed £10million off the price of his incredible eight-bedroom mansion.The ex-Arsenal and England star, 49, placed the Grade II-listed townhouse in Chelsea, West London, on the market for £25m in 2021.
      Sol Campbell has slashed the price of his Chelsea townhouseCredit: Getty
      The six-storey mansion boasts eight bedroomsCredit: Strutt & Parker (Estate Agents)
      The house also contains its own cinema and libraryCredit: Strutt & Parker (Estate Agents)
      Sol Campbell and Fiona Barratt at the Sporting Equals awards in October last yearCredit: Getty
      He first reduced the price of the six-storey house in September 2022 after reportedly being cheated out of £1.5m in rent.
      Sol was forced to go to court to obtain an eviction notice after a tenant failed to pay rent.
      He is thought to have owned the property since 2004, with then interior designer wife Fiona Barrett later extensively redesigning the home.
      But with the mansion still up for sale three years after it was place on the market, Sol has now reduced the asking price to £15m.
      Read more sport
      The stunning property contains six bedrooms in the main house along with a separate two-bed mews house accessed via an underground passageway.
      It also boasts an incredible drawing room, cinema, library, kitchen, and lift to go along with its views across the River Thames and Albert Bridge.
      On the market with Knight Frank, the property description adds: “A Grade II listed townhouse, overlooking the river, that has been extensively refurbished and excellently interior designed to create an elegant and substantial London home.
      “With secure gated access from the front, a walled garden and further protection provided by the mews house at the rear, this is a private and secure house that offers discretion and a sense of tranquillity throughout.”
      Most read in Football
      The townhouse is located in the exclusive street of Cheyne Walk, previously home to the likes of George Best, Keith Richard and Mick Jagger, The Mirror reports.
      But the footballer, who also played for Tottenham Hotspur and captained Portsmouth to FA Cup glory in 2008, has a mixed history with his former home.
      Sol was left seething following a rent dispute with a tenant two years ago.
      He claimed to have received a deposit and three months’ rent from a businessman who had just sold his insurance company for £1bn, but received no further payments.
      Since his retirement as a player, Sol has embarked on managerial spells at Macclesfield and Southend.
      But he also boasts a stunning property empire worth a whopping £50m, and his own furniture business with wife Fiona.
      Along with the Chelsea townhouse, he is said to own the nine-bedroom Grade II-listed Hallington Hall in Northumberland, as well as a luxury penthouse flat in West London.
      Representatives of the ex-footballer have been approached for comment.
      The townhouse boasts views over the River ThamesCredit: Strutt & Parker (Estate Agents)
      Sol has a mixed history with the propertyCredit: Getty More

    • 275 Shares109 Views

      in Soccer

      I played for England and went to a World Cup, but I should have done more, it makes me feel physically sick

      by

      JERMAINE JENAS says he feels physically sick when he looks back at his football career.The now 41-year-old burst on to the scene with his hometown team Nottingham Forest aged 17 back in 2001.
      Jermaine Jenas has revealed his regret at his football careerCredit: PA
      The star won 21 caps for England and went to the 2006 World Cup with the Three LionsCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Just a year later he got his big move to the Premier League with Newcastle United, where he went on to win the PFA Young Player of the Year award in his first season there.
      Jenas’ performances were also recognised on the international stage as Sven-Goran Eriksson handed him an England debut in February 2003.
      Tottenham swooped to sign Jenas in 2005 and he helped them to League Cup success before he began to suffer a number of injury issues.
      He had loan spells at both Aston Villa and back at Forest before he joined QPR in 2013, however, the midfielder was forced to retire the following year through a knee injury.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Jenas, who won 21 England caps during his career and went to the 2006 World Cup, has since enjoyed an impressive career on TV.
      He has worked on both BT Sport and BBC’s Match of the Day while also earning a regular slot as host of The One Show.
      However, despite that success in his second career, he revealed his anguish and disappointment when he looks back at his footballing days during an interview with the Big Issue.
      He said: “It’s not spoken about enough in sport – we see all the success stories but there’s more people that live with regrets.
      Most read in Football
      “I played for England, played Champions League football, went to a World Cup, won a major trophy, and played in every great stadium there is. But I think if I was to tell my younger self, he would have said that’s good, but you should have done more.
      “It’s something I’ve found very hard to make peace with. Even saying it now physically makes me feel sick.
      Jermaine Jenas threatens to WALK OFF TNT Sports set live on TV after Laura Woods’ brutal comment-
      “So I have to tell myself well done, you achieved things in the game. But from a sporting perspective, my younger self would ask me a few questions.”
      But there is one moment in particular that he would love to go back to as he revealed: “If I could relive a day from my career it would be when I was PFA Young Player of the Year.
      “I was 19 years old, sitting with Sir Bobby Robson who had bought me for a lot of money the year before, and it felt like I had paid him back. The gamble was justified.
      “Alan Shearer, Kieron Dyer and the Newcastle chairman were there and to get up in front of the PFA and for them to have voted for me was huge.
      “I underestimated it a bit at a time. But there’s no greater feeling than being honoured by your fellow professionals.
      “I wouldn’t mind living that day again because it was a long journey to get there.” More

    • 200 Shares149 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside the ‘secret World Cup’ where England squad were blacklisted and ‘no one wanted to know’

      by

      COPA 71 is the story of women’s football miles away from the one we know today.The rise of the WSL and Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses have seen the likes of Chloe Kelly, Leah Williamson and Mary Earps become household names.
      Manager Harry Batt received a lifetime ban from football for bringing the Lionesses to a World Cup in 1971Credit: Mirrorpix
      The team became celebrities during their time in MexicoCredit: Mirrorpix
      They were mobbed wherever they travelled in MexicoCredit: Mirrorpix
      But back in 1971, with women’s football banned by the FA, England’s Lionesses were forced to compete in a women’s World Cup in secret.
      For years, nothing was known about the event in Mexico, with the FA moving to ban all the women involved in the tournament from football and the press not being interested in covering it.
      But the story of the tournament is about to have a spotlight shone on it thanks to a new documentary produced by Venus and Serena Williams called Copa 71.
      In it, we find out how a 60-year-old bus conductor from Luton named Harry Batt assembled an England team to compete in the secret tournament.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Batt found players by scouting playing fields and parks, and managed to cobble together 14 talented female players to fly to the tournament in Mexico.
      While there was zilch about it in the UK press at the time, the women who played in the tournament spoke about the experience to the Sunday Times.
      Trudy McAffrey, 69, Carol Wilson, 72, and Chris Lockwood, 67, said they were treated like celebrities in Mexico – with paparazzi following their every move and the team being invited to lavish parties at foreign embassies.
      Lockwood spoke of how the tournament energised Mexico and described “all the young kids wanting autographs.”
      Most read in Football
      McAffrey considered throwing away all her souvenirs from the tournament – including this photograph due to the shame of the banCredit: Mirrorpix
      The team were invited to embassies in Mexico during the tournamentCredit: Mirrorpix
      It was the first time many of the squad members had travelled outside of EnglandCredit: Mirrorpix
      Although England were knocked out at the group stage it did not put a dampener on the squad’s experience, with Lockwood saying: “At the end, two children came with a plaque drawn in crayons that said, ‘You might have lost the game, but you’ve won the heart of Mexico.”
      Rather than fly home, the Lionesses were invited to stay in Mexico until the final “We were invited to a cocktail party in the British Embassy — it was a grand affair,” says Wilson, who was 19 and able to drink. “I remember seeing Leah [Caleb, the youngest member of the squad] reaching for the drinks tray — she was only 13!”
      But the story takes a sad turn when McAffrey described the squad “coming home to a nothingness” when they returned to England.
      Mary Earps, Lauren Hemp and Millie Bright given gongs as sport & music stars celebrated in New Year’s Honours list
      “Only a few weeks before, we had been playing football at a packed-out stadium,” she said. “No one wanted to know. It was bizarre.”
      The FA blacklisted manager Harry Batt for life and all the women were handed bans ranging between three months and 12 from playing football.
      The shame of being shunned by the FA led to the squad losing touch. “I think because it was banned, it made it feel like we did something wrong,” McCaffery says. “Not that long ago, I came close to just chucking my stuff [souvenirs from the tournament] away. I thought, who’s interested in this? It doesn’t mean anything to anybody.”
      It wasn’t until 47 years later that the squad were reunited after Lockwood, McCaffery and Wilson went on BBC Radio 4 and The One Show to launch a call-out to reunite the squad.
      The documentary also sees women from the Danish, Mexican and Italian teams interviewed, with many of them needing a lot of convincing to talk on the record.
      Co-director of Copa 71, Rachel Ramsay said: “The women are traumatised. The shame that they were made to feel was so intense. Many of them hadn’t even told their families they’d taken part.”
      The players were asked for autographs wherever they went in MexicoCredit: Mirrorpix
      But described coming back to ‘nothingness’ in EnglandCredit: Mirrorpix
      Jan Emms spoke of her pride at seeing the Lionesses reach the women’s World Cup final last yearCredit: Arfa Griffiths – The Sun
      As well as shining a light on the England team, the documentary highlights just how much the development of women’s football was stilted by bans on women playing football across multiple countries.
      With national teams becoming celebrities in Mexico, the final at the Azteca was a sell-out, attended by 112,500 spectators.
      Despite this being the highest ever attendance recorded for a women’s football game, FIFA only recently officially acknowledged this due to the tournament not being officially sanctioned.
      One of the members of the England squad, Jan Emms, the mother of badminton star Gail told the Sun last year that she was full of joy to see England’s Lionesses make the final of the women’s World Cup, this time in one sanctioned by FIFA.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      She said: “This World Cup final is the ultimate vindication of what we did.”
      “All 14 of us are still alive and able to see this happen. We never in our wildest dreams thought that an England women’s team would get to a World Cup final.” More

    • 250 Shares139 Views

      in Soccer

      My cousins have played over 1,000 Premier League games between them – now I’m making my own way in non-league

      by

      KANE FERDINAND is cousins with three players who made over 1000 Premier League appearances between them.The Maidenhead United footballer has an illustrious family tree and is the cousin of Rio, Anton and Les Ferdinand.
      Kane Ferdinand plays for Maidenhead UnitedCredit: Rex
      He is the cousin of Rio and Anton FerdinandCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Anton, Rio and Les were Premier League stalwarts that made 1,073 Premier League appearances in total.
      And Rio, 45, was the most successful of them all – winning six Premier League titles during his time at Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United.
      Unlike Rio and Anton, who were both centre-backs, and “Sir Les” who played as a forward, Kane, 31, came through at Southend United as a midfielder.
      His game as a midfielder is more attacking than combative, and he dons the number 10 shirt for Maidenhead owing to his flair and eye for a pass.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Born in London in 1992, Kane opted to represent Ireland at youth level owing to his mother’s Irish heritage.
      He represented Ireland at the U18, U19 and U21 levels but never received a call up to the Republic of Ireland’s first team.
      His career has seen him play at League One and League Two level for the majority, where he represented the likes of Southend, Peterborough, Northampton, Cheltenham and Dagenham and Redbridge.
      His National League career kicked off with a move to Woking in 2015, where he spent five years with the club.
      Most read in Football
      He is also the cousin of Les FerdinandCredit: AFP
      He then made the switch to Maidenhead, where he has made 105 appearances and captains the side.
      Maidenhead are currently 15th in the National League, and looking to stay in the division after a topsy turvy season.
      Rio Ferdinand shows off hair and beard transplant as Man Utd legend jets to Turkey to ‘fill in a couple of patches’
      They are six points off the drop zone after a 3-1 win over Altrincham yesterday.
      The victory ended a run of four consecutive defeats in the league. More

    • 250 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

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

      by

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

    • 288 Shares119 Views

      in Motorsport

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

      by

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

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

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      I’m ex-Premier League star who may be forced to retire aged 29… I may never recover from mystery injury, says Deulofeu

      by

      FORMER Barcelona and Everton star Gerard Deulofeu has admitted to fearing may never play again after his latest knee injury.Deulofeu, 29, is currently playing for Serie A side Udinese but has been out since January last year.
      Deulofeu has admitted to fearing his career may be overCredit: Getty
      The player has undergone three knee surgeries in an attempt to save his careerCredit: Instagram @gerardeulofeu
      Thirteen months on from a gruelling operation, the winger has admitted to already planning for life after football amid doubts that he can return to the game.
      Speaking on the Jijantes Twitch channel via Calciomercato.com Deulofeu said: “For several months I’ve known that I might not play again.
      “I can’t do what I love for a long time, I haven’t played for over a year. I can’t say much, but I’m going through an ordeal.
      “You can’t imagine what I’m going through. I’m trying to recover in every way, but I’ve accepted the idea that I may never recover.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      “I had an injury in 2020, my knee was very traumatized, but I managed to recover. I then suffered another injury, for a third time and there were complications.
      “I can’t say much because I have an agreement with my club, but I’ll just say that it’s a real ordeal, you can’t imagine what’s happening to me.
      “However, I’m trying to recover in every way. But I’m also preparing for what could be a post-playing career.”
      Deulofeu is still contracted at Udinese until June 2026 and Calciomercato claim that he could be offered a role in the club’s backroom staff should he be forced into retirement.
      Most read in Football
      HOW TO GET FREE BETS ON FOOTBALL
      Deulofeu was a fan favourite at EvertonCredit: PA:Press Association
      The player was reportedly close to linking up with Antonio Conte at Spurs prior to the injury in January last year, now 13 months later he is looking at retirement.
      He went on to open up about planning for a career change after football and said: “Luckily I was able to make a big change on a personal level. I am happy with my change, for those who have been by my side and for what I have created in my life.
      Where are they now: The unusual careers of former footballers
      “This is saving me, because when you don’t have an organised life on a personal level, after such a hard blow, with so many operations on my leg… I probably would have fallen into depression.”
      The winger did not expand exactly on what his plans would be if his latest operation is to force him to walk away from the game.
      Deulofeu joined Everton on loan from Barcelona ahead of the 2013-14 season before joining the Toffees permanently in 2015.
      He then left Everton to join AC Milan in 2017 before returning to Barcelona, so he’s had quite the CV.
      Deulofeu joined Watford in 2018 and was a key part of the team that made the 2019 FA Cup final.
      Both Everton and Watford have shown their support for Deulofeu on X after he went public with his struggles.
      The winger responded to both clubs by writing “Love you.”
      The Spaniard had two spells at BarcelonaCredit: Reuters More