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      Yobs who taunted Sunderland fans with pic of Bradley Lowery are brothers – as mum slams ‘low lifes’ and cops open probe

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      THE vile football yobs who taunted Sunderland fans with a picture of Bradley Lowery are brothers, it has been revealed.Little Bradley captured the nation’s heart during his battle with cancer, but tragically died aged just six in 2017.
      Vile fans held up a photo of late Sunderland fan Bradley Lowery last nightCredit: Twitter/@sheffield wednesday
      His mum has now shared her heartbreak on FacebookCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Dale’s (pictured) former employer JRI Orthopaedics condemned his actionsCredit: Facebook
      The two yobs were brothers Dale and Drew Houghton (pictured)Credit: Facebook
      He was a mascot for his beloved Sunderland and, in the months before his death, led England out at Wembley alongside his hero – former Black Cats striker Jermain Defoe.
      Pictures circulated on X, formerly Twitter, showing two men laughing at the Sheffield Wednesday v Sunderland match at Hillsborough on Friday, with one of them holding up a picture of Bradley to the camera.
      It has now emerged the two yobs were brothers Dale and Drew Houghton.
      Dale’s former employer JRI Orthopaedics condemned his actions and claimed he “has not been employed” there for “some time”.
      Read more Sport News
      A full statement read: “JRI want to make clear that we do not condone the posts and images that has caused so much upset to so many people.
      “We wish to confirm that Dale Houghton is an ex-employee of JRI Orthopaedics and has not been employed by the business for some time.”
      In a post on Facebook, the Bradley Lowery Foundation, a charity set up by the boy’s mother Gemma, said: “This is so sad for me to see – whatever happened to ‘cancer has no colours’, let alone respect for a family that lost their baby to cancer?”
      A statement from the family read: “Today has not been the Saturday I was expecting, after receiving multiple calls and messages regarding a photo circulating on social media.
      Most read in Football
      “I have received a visit from the Durham Police to check that I am ok, and they have notified myself and Carl that Yorkshire police are now dealing with the situation and taking it very serious.
      “Understandably people are angry, if I wasn’t so upset I’d be angry to.
      “Bradley was and still is well loved in the football community, which I’m enternaly [sic] grateful for, but i must ask that everyone lets the police do their job, and deal with the low lives.
      “I want to thank Sheffield Wednesday, for their quick condemnation, and the support their fans have shown.
      “Like we always say, CANCER HAS NO COLOURS, and as we all know it can affect anyone at any time.
      “Thank you all for your kind words, it has really helped and let’s do what we do best at the Bradley Lowery Foundation and turn this negative into a positive. Let’s share this beautiful iconic photo.”
      A spokesperson for Sheffield Wednesday described their actions as “outrageous and deplorable” on X, while South Yorkshire Police said it was working with the club to identify the men.
      A spokesman for the force said: “We are working to investigate public order offences following the Sheffield Wednesday V Sunderland fixture yesterday.
      “We will be working with the club to identity those responsible.
      “Anyone with information is asked to get in touch online or by calling 101.”
      Sheffield Wednesday said in a statement: “We are aware of the images circulating and have launched an immediate investigation together with South Yorkshire Police.
      “We roundly condemn this outrageous and utterly deplorable behaviour.
      “We can only apologise for the undoubted distress caused to Bradley’s family and friends.”
      Young Bradley was a regular Sunderland mascot, holding the hand of his idol Defoe.
      In June 2017, he penned an emotional tribute to his “best pal” Bradley – saying his favourite part of playing for Sunderland was walking onto the pitch with the brave youngster.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Defoe said he was heartbroken when he discovered the brave child could only have weeks to live.
      In the wake of Bradley’s death social media became flooded with messages filled with blue heart emojis in a show of support for him.
      Bradley struck up a friendship with Jermain Defoe when he played for the clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      JRI claimed he ‘has not been employed’ there for ‘some time’Credit: Facebook/JRI Orthopaedics
      Fans have now called for the vile pair to be banned
      The football-mad six-year-old captured the hearts of BritsCredit: Twiter / @Sheffield wednesday More

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      in Boxing

      The surprising item which Tyson Fury has ‘fetish’ for and loves ‘as much as his Ferrari’ – and even hides from his kids

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      TYSON FURY’S wife Paris revealed her legendary boxing husband has a “coffee fetish”.So much so that Tyson bought a coffee machine that he loves as much as his Ferrari.
      Tyson Fury is obsessed with his coffee machine that he loves as much as his FerrariCredit: Getty
      The undefeated WBC champion is passionate about fast cars and has amassed an impressive collection, which includes a Porsche and of course a Ferrari.
      However, Paris insists there is only one other thing the heavyweight likes as much as his cool rides and that is his coffee machine that makes him him his beloved Americanos.
      The Gyspy King’s partner revealed in her autobiography Love and Fury: The Magic and Mayhem of Life with Tyson that her husband’s passion began during a training camp in the US.
      The 35-year-old then bought a coffee machine that he is so enamored with that he keeps it in his main training ground in Morecambe so that his six children don’t “tamper” with it.
      Read More on Boxing
      Paris wrote: “I’m quite content with Nescafe instant granules – fully caffeinated; I need that pep-up – and like it made very weak with lots of milk, but no sugar.
      “If I’m having a hot drink in town, I’ll choose a latte or a flat white, nothing too strong or bitter for me.
      “Tyson, on the other hand, has become a coffee connoisseur (or a ‘coffee snob’ as I call him).
      “His obsession began when he was holed up in a US training camp that happened to have an all-singing, all-dancing coffee machine.
      Most read in Boxing
      “A freshly made Americano – with hot steam milk – soon became his daily treat, something for him to really look forward to.
      “Then, perhaps to break the monotony of camp life, he began to educate himself on the origins of the beans – Kenya, Brazil, Colombia – as well their various blends and roasts.
      “When he returned to the UK, Tyson splashed out on his own top-of-the-range coffee machine.
      “It’s his pride and joy (he loves it as much as his Ferrari, I reckon) and it’s kept permanently in his camp HQ in Morecambe so the kids can’t tamper with it.
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      Fury’s wife Paris revealed he keeps his coffee machine away from his kidsCredit: PA

      🥊 Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk – Date, live stream, TV channel and all you need to know about heavyweight bout
      “Once or twice a day he’ll grind his own beans and, with tender loving care, will make himself his perfect brew.
      “His coffee fetish has become a standing joke between us, in fact. He’ll ridicule my mugs of cheap Nescafe, and I’ll poke fun at his posh Americanos.
      “‘Not such a working-class man of the people, eh, Tyson?’ [He responds] ‘Oh, go and boil your kettle’.”
      Tyson will need his daily caffeine intake ahead of his undisputed clash with Oleksandr Usyk on December 23 to keep him on his toes for the big fight. More

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      The Sun launches Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit by the cost-of-living crisis

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      THE Sun is today launching a landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisis.We have teamed up with Tesco’s Stronger Starts programme to hand out £150,000 worth of grants to grass roots youth football clubs struggling with funds.
      The Sun is launching our landmark Footie For All Fund to help protect kids’ clubs hit hard by the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Oliver Dixon
      Harry Redknapp has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Louis Wood
      Gary Lineker has backed The Sun’s Footie For All FundCredit: Doug Seeburg
      The cash can be used in any way that encourages more children to take up the sport or improves access to the game.
      Perhaps you are a local team that wants to offer parents help with membership fees.
      Maybe you need new kits or more pitch space to play on.
      Grants can also be used to help with transport or general running costs.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      Earlier this year we launched our Footie For All campaign to shine a light on how financial struggles were forcing kids to give up football.
      Figures showed that 94 per cent of grass roots clubs were concerned about the impact soaring costs were having on their membership, according to charity Sported.
      In the wake of our probe we have been inundated with stories of local youth sides — who make a huge difference to their communities — struggling to cover their costs.
      Clubs across the country also told us how some kids are being forced to drop out altogether as families can not pay their membership subs or for kit and transport.
      Most read in Football
      So today we urge grass roots clubs to apply for one of our fantastic £1,000 Footie For All support grants.
      Launched in conjunction with Tesco’s Stronger Starts campaign — which funds healthy food and activities for children — we will dish out 150 grants in total to clubs across the country.
      Christine Heffernan, Tesco group communications director, said: “The Tesco Stronger Starts grant programme provides £5million of funding to get more children and their families access to healthy and nutritious food and physical activities.
      “We thought that The Footie For All programme would be a great extension to that to help kids to thrive.
      “Any child should be able to do physical activity they enjoy if they wish, taking away the worry about paying for subs or kit for example.”
      Our campaign is being backed by big names in the game.
      Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker said: “I think grass roots is vital.
      “That’s where everyone starts. Some of us finish at the top, some don’t, but we all enjoy it.”
      Sun columnist Harry Redknapp added: “Grass roots football is important, and we need to ensure there are facilities for kids.”
      Reality star Joey Essex is also keen to see kids keep playing.
      He said: “Football provides an escape for so many kids from whatever else is going on. The Sun is offering families a lifeline.”
      To apply for one of our grants, see tescostrongerstarts. org.uk/footiefund.
      Grants will be awarded by The Sun with charity Groundwork, which runs Tesco’s grant-giving programmes, on a rolling basis.
      Applications must be made by October 29.
      SOMERTON TOWN
      YOUTH football club Somerton Town, Somerset, kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisis.
      But organisers had to raise them from £95 to £120 this season after rises of up to 30 per cent in costs.
      Somerton Town kept its membership subs frozen for three years to help families cope through Covid and the cost-of-living crisisCredit: Chris Balcombe
      Since it was founded in 2001, Somerton have played a unique social role for its 187 players, across 11 teams.
      Chairman Justin Davies, 40, says: “We have a huge catchment area that contains areas with large-scale social and economic deprivation.
      “Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play.
      “Little things like shaking hands before and after a match to show respect to the other team is important.
      “When we put the prices up, 21 players left, with 20 not going on to join another club. It was a financial decision.”
      Justin Davis said: ‘Playing football teaches young people about teamwork, respect and fair play’Credit: Chris Balcombe
      HACKNEY WICK FC
      AFTER leaving prison in 2019, Bobby Kasanga started Hackney Wick FC, in East London, to stop other children falling into a life of crime.
      It now has more than 180 children on its books and a waiting list of even more who want to be part of its teams.
      For many families, the club is a way to keep their children on the right path – and Bobby, 37, who spent eight years inside for armed robbery, never turns anyone away.
      He says: “We try to do as much as we can to alleviate financial stress and often let kids play without paying or offer discounts if a family has multiple kids with us.
      “We’ve seen it getting worse recently, but we know turning anyone away could see them get taken in by gangs.
      “If we can’t have them, the gangs certainly will.”
      To play a year at Hackney costs around £250.
      But Bobby and his team are writing off around £5,000 of unpaid subs because they know families can’t afford it.
      He says: “We rely on our sponsors and they’ve been amazing.
      Last year, one covered the cost of 20 kids for a year. But it’s hard to keep our heads above water.”
      The club’s relationships with local businesses provide more than just financial help.
      Bobby says: “We’ve had four of our players taken on by one of our sponsors.
      “It means they have a stable income and a potential career for life.
      “That’s so important for helping them stay out of danger.
      “But even if they end up going down a bad path, the club relationships across the whole of East London may help diffuse violent situations.
      “They may stop an attack because they know the other gang member from football.”
      Bobby adds: “I never want anyone to go through what I went through growing up.
      “We are a family and I won’t take football away from them over money.”
      BLACKBURN EAGLES
      LIKE other clubs, Blackburn Eagles have also seen more kids struggling to pay – but it never turns anyone away.
      The club, which is the biggest in its area with 650 players on its books, feels it is vital for all kids to have access to the beautiful game and tries to keep its fees low.
      Blackburn Eagles feels it is vital for all kids to have access to football and tries to keep its fees lowCredit: BLACKBURN EAGLES
      In fact, the academy’s vice-chairman, Chris Hughes, 39, says prices have not been put up in around eight years.
      He adds: “We don’t turn anyone away.
      “We just take more children, create new groups, create new training sessions and create new teams.”
      But the club has recently had to take teams out of the Junior Premier League due to the cost of the four-hour round trips to play other teams across the North West.
      Chris says: “Football gives kids a good focus and can be a massive part of certain children’s lives.
      “It might be the one thing they’ll look forward to all week, and sometimes it gets them out of situations where maybe they don’t want to be at home all the time.”
      HOW TO APPLY
      WE want to hear the story of your club and the huge difference you are making to kids and your community.
      If you are a not-for-profit grassroots football club in England, Wales or Scotland working with youngsters under the age of 18 you could be eligible for one of our 150 grants.
      Funds can be used for anything that encourages more children to take part in the sport.
      Perhaps your club needs help with pitch fees or wants to sponsor funded places for children who can not afford membership.
      To apply and for full T&Cs, see tescostrongerstarts.org.uk/footiefund.

      WHAT THE STARS SAY

      A young Phil FodenCredit: Instagram @philfoden
      Phil says football ‘brings happiness for so many people’Credit: Getty
      “GRASSROOTS football is where it began for all of us.
      “It brings happiness for so many people and it’s so important nothing gets in the way of everyone having that opportunity.”

      A young Harry MaguireCredit: Instagram
      Harry says ‘playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline’Credit: Getty
      “I SPENT my childhood with a ball at my feet.
      “Playing with a team gives kids an outlet and a chance to learn discipline and to make friends with people they might not have met.”

      A young Raheem Sterling
      Raheem said that as a kid he ‘fell in love’ with football and ‘made friends for life’Credit: Getty
      “MY mentor got me in to football to correct my behaviour.
      “I found something I wanted to put my energy in to.
      “I fell in love with it – and I made friends for life.”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES

      A young Jarrod Bowen
      Jarrod said ‘football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way’Credit: Getty
      “WE can’t let kids see their dream die simply because Mum or Dad can’t afford to pay for the subs, kit and travel.
      “Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way.” More

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      in Soccer

      Jordan Pickford’s wife Megan gives birth to baby girl – and reveals adorable name

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      JORDAN Pickford and his wife Megan have welcomed their second child today.The pair made the big announcement on Instagram this evening and revealed the adorable name of their baby girl.
      England star Jordan Pickford and Wag Megan have welcomed a new member of the familyCredit: Instagram / @meganpickford_

      The couple now have two children in the Pickford clanCredit: Instagram / @meganpickford_

      Megan marked the arrival of the newest member of the Pickford clan with an adorable post.
      The heartwarming Insta upload read: “Welcome to the world Ostara Haze Pickford.
      “Our dinky dotty dream come true.”
      Megan shared snaps of a cradle draped in pink along with a neon light display saying “oh baby!”
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      And the backdrop was completed by a beautiful array of pink flowers and balloons which captured the celebratory spirit.
      The glam couple already have one child together, a boy named Arlo.
      Jordan and Megan married each other in 2020, after meeting as teenagers.
      The wedding was a low-key affair because of the coronavirus pandemic, with the Prem star sporting a baseball cap and ripped jeans.
      Most read in Football
      However, when restrictions were lifted they flew to the Maldives and tied the knot for a second time.
      The two admitted it was “worth the wait” as they shared pics of the luxurious occasion.
      No expense was spared, as Jordan and Megan stood on a white podium filled with pink roses as they said their ‘I do’s’ in front of 13 guests for their beach wedding.
      The newlyweds then enjoyed a dance together on the beach, before they were seen cradling Arlo in their arms and serenading him with kisses.
      Megan looked every inch the footballer’s wife – wearing a white off-the-shoulder gown from Berta fashion house.
      While Pickford looked stylish in a white tuxedo a crisp shirt, a cream bowtie, a waistcoat, and flowers attached to his blazer. More

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      in Soccer

      ‘Fragile’ Shakira makes heartbreaking Pique confession in tell-all interview and admits she’s still plagued by ‘demons’

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      POP icon Shakira said she believed in “till death do us part” in a tell-all interview about her split from football ex Gerard Pique.The Colombian star, 46, said that it was once her “dream” to have a life-long relationship with the father of her two children.
      Shakira, 46, said that it was once her ‘dream’ to have a life-long relationship with the father of her two childrenCredit: Billboard
      The star revealed that since the turbulent breakdown of their relationship, she is still ‘battling her demons’Credit: Instagram
      The couple split last summer as the Spanish World Cup winner ditched her for Clara Chia Marti, 23Credit: Instagram
      She revealed that since the turbulent breakdown of their relationship, she is still “battling her demons”.
      Slamming her ex in talks about her upcoming music, she compared the split to being “thrown in the trash and surrounded by rats”.
      And in a heartbreaking revelation, the star also admitted her struggles with being a single mum.
      The singer told Billboard that she is in “a reflective period” following the drama of their tumultuous split.

      “I’ve gone through several stages: denial, anger, pain, frustration, anger again, pain again. Now I’m in a survival stage,” she explained.
      A fragile Shakira said that before she split from her ex, who was rumoured to have cheated, she “believed in till death do us part”.
      “My priority was my home, my family. I believed in ’till death do us part.’ I believed that dream, and I had that dream for myself, for my children.”
      “It’s what I wanted for myself and my children, but it didn’t happen.”
      Most read in Football
      The singer also opened up about her music, describing the “organic” opportunities she’s had since her split to produce new tracks.
      Several of her most recent singles have appeared to be swipes aimed at her ex, including The Boss.
      The song is named after the alleged nickname given to her by Pique’s friends after she failed to hang out with them or bond with them during the pair’s relationship.
      The music video for the track also features the nanny her ex allegedly fired without pay.
      Another one of her singles talks about wanting more in a relationship that feels like drinking out of an empty cup.
      And her new music video for the single Copa Vacia features Shakira as a siren, where she “returns to the sea because it’s her destiny”.
      The star explained: “The siren is a symbol that represents that part of me that was abducted and taken from a world where she belongs to a world where she doesn’t belong.
      “A world she had to make enormous sacrifice to be in. A world where perhaps she lacked oxygen.
      “But in the end, she returns to the sea because it’s her destiny, just like I returned to Miami.
      “This siren was first abducted and then, for love, is next to this man, captive and locked up in a way. Sacrificing her own well-being and what is natural for her for love. And then she ends up thrown in the trash and surrounded by rats.”
      Opening up about her life before the split, Shakira said that her career struggled during the family’s ten years in Barcelona.
      “I was dedicated to him. To the family, to him. It was very difficult for me to attend to my professional career while in Barcelona.”
      Now in Miami, the star said it is easier for her to travel to Los Angeles or elsewhere in the US, and have collaboraters come to her.
      “I had to wait for agendas to coincide or for someone to deign to come. I couldn’t leave my children and just go somewhere to make music outside my house.”
      “Right now, I have an idea and I can immediately collaborate with whomever I want to.”
      The pop icon said that now she is focusing her energy on quality time with her children, but struggles sometimes with being a single mum.
      The pair have two boys together, Milan, 9, and Sasha, 7.
      “Sometimes I think being a single mom and the rhythm of a pop star aren’t compatible. I have to put my kids to bed, go to the recording studio; everything is uphill.”
      “It’s constant juggling.”
      The couple split last summer as the Spanish World Cup winner ditched her for Clara Chia Marti, 23.
      The famous pair were together for 11 years and announced their split in June, before Shakira moved from Spain to Miami with her children.
      The footie star has come under fire after it was reported that he cheated on the singer, and that she rumbled his alleged affair thanks to a jar of strawberry jam.
      Rumours swirled that Shakira returned home from a period of travelling to find a jar of her strawberry jam had been eaten.
      It’s been claimed that Pique follows a strict diet and would not have tucked into the jam – and neither would her children.
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      The She Wolf singer is then said to have come to the conclusion that someone else – more specifically another woman – had been in her home, and her fridge.
      Almost a year on it seems as though the footballer has plans to wed his new beau Clara Chia and is set to announce their engagement, according to Spanish media.
      The footballer pro was caught up in cheating rumours after the famous pair went their separate waysCredit: Getty
      The famous pair were together for 11 years and announced their split in June, before Shakira moved from Spain to Miami with her two childrenCredit: Getty More

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      Lionesses’ legend Fara Williams backs campaign to save humble kickabout amid concerns kids no longer have space to play

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      LIONESSES’ legend Fara Williams MBE has backed a campaign to save the humble football kickabout amid concerns kids have less space than ever to play.Capped 177 times for her country, scoring 40 goals in the process, the former Everton, Liverpool, and Arsenal star had a successful career at the highest level.
      Fara Williams has teamed up with a noble campaign to open space for kids to play
      Williams is determined to help children carve a path in professional football
      But it started modestly – with her first taste of football taking place on concrete council estates in southwest London.
      And now – after a poll of 530 children aged six to 16 who live in urban areas found 44 per cent have “nowhere” nearby for a kickabout – the ex-Lioness is determined future generations don’t miss out.
      The 39-year-old has teamed up with Weetabix, to launch a new campaign called Balls Allowed – which is helping more girls play football by placing pop-up goals in local urban areas across the country including London, Leeds, and Manchester.
      It aims to raise awareness of barriers to kickabouts in public spaces – including “no balls allowed” signs, which aren’t always legally enforceable – after 38 per cent said such signs have deterred them.
      Read More on Football
      Fara Williams said: “For me, it all started on a council estate.
      “Being able to have a kickabout in my local community was my first step to discovering a love for football.
      “Without it, I wouldn’t be where I am today, I wouldn’t have been a Lioness.
      “I really hope more girls get the opportunity to play – both in their communities (through the Balls Allowed goals) and at grassroot programmes such as the Weetabix Wildcats.”
      Most read in Football
      The study also found 55 per cent of boys and girls are more interested in playing football than they were before, thanks to this year’s endeavours by the Lionesses.
      While it also emerged 11 per cent think they could “definitely” make it as a pro footballer – with 23 per cent describing themselves as “very good”.
      But regardless of their current level of ability, 53 per cent polled fear a lack of space to play could hold them back in their attempt to become a pro player like Williams.
      Further to this, 60 per cent believe they’d have more kickabouts with friends than they’re currently able to – if there were more places to do so.
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      Williams has teamed up with Weetabix in the Balls Allowed campaign
      Instead, the research carried out through OnePoll found 65 per cent of those who feel this way spend their time indoors, watching TV or playing video games.
      Lorraine Rothwell, spokesperson for Weetabix, which is giving away 100s of footballs through the Balls Allowed website and special packs of the cereal, said: “For many of us, our first experience of playing football is a casual game against local kids.
      “But, if you don’t have a garden, and local green spaces ban you from playing by putting up “no balls allowed” signs, potential Lionesses of the future may never achieve their full potential.
      “We know that when communities can come together through play, they thrive which is why we’re launching our pop-up goals and free footballs to give everyone the advantage to have that kickabout (with parental supervision of course!).”
      READ MORE SUN STORIES
      Balls Allowed sits alongside England Football’s Weetabix Wildcats programme, which sees more than 1,800 football sessions take place every week.
      Delivered by qualified FA coaches, the sessions are aimed at girls aged five to 11 and offer them the “chance to try football for the first time and provide regular opportunities to play in a safe environment” – for more information click here. More

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      in Soccer

      I was the ‘new Maradona’, had a boot deal as a kid & starred on TV shows but it all got too much – now I’m a cab driver

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      SONNY PIKE was once dubbed the “new Diego Maradona” but now works as a taxi driver.Pike, 40, was once Britain’s biggest football prodigy, but things all got too much and he quit the game having never made a professional appearance.
      Sonny Pike was set for stardom but never made it as a professionalCredit: YouTube
      He is now a taxi driver and football coachCredit: Sonny Pike
      His story began when he was a schoolboy, first playing at local side Enfield FC with a dream of emulating his idol Paul Gascoigne.
      It wasn’t long before he started competing against older children for at school and for his Sunday League team, catching the attention of the press having netted over 100 goals in one season.
      Pike’s first television appearance came on 1990s news show London Tonight before he was then interviewed on hit programmes like Fantasy Football League and The Big Breakfast.
      He had the world’s media in a frenzy as they hyped him up as the “next Maradona or George Best”.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      It alerted the likes of Ajax, who had developed a reputation for nurturing some of the best talents in the game.
      The Dutch side invited him to a trial in Amsterdam with the then 12-year-old being followed by Blue Peter cameras while in Holland.
      He set about dazzling coaches with his technique and skill despite Pike focusing his future on becoming a Premier League hero one day.
      The fanfare grew on his return from Ajax with his new-found celebrity status.
      Most read in Football
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      Pike was a guest on Fantasy Football LeagueCredit: YouTube
      He was soon being snapped up by huge companies in sponsorship deals with the likes of McDonald’s, Coca-Cola and Mizuno as all tried to get a piece of the action.
      Pike explained to Flashscore: “I was on the pitch for Coca Cola Cup finals doing kick-ups before the games, I was doing McDonald’s adverts, I was getting Paul Smith making me suits.
      “I started to get awards from Sky Sports at this point in time obviously the Premier League and Sky Sports were just kicking off.
      “I was sponsored by Mizuno and was doing things with [Gianfranco] Zola and all these guys but in the early to mid-90s.
      “Only one or two players out of a Premier League team would have their own boot deal. People were saying, ‘Who’s this Sonny kid, he’s everywhere. He’s a little kid, he’s got deals, he’s going in Hello magazine.’
      “It was rubbing some professionals up the wrong way – but I was just a kid getting all this attention.”
      As quickly as fame arrived, it soon began to disappear and Pike’s life began to spiral downwards.
      Aged 14, the pressure got too much and it was reported that his legs were insured for £1million.
      It led to Pike being on the receiving end of disgusting abuse from jealous parents that wanted their kids to injure him.
      He told SunSport: “Because I had long hair they used to say, ‘he’s only a girl, break his legs.’
      “Not just that, off the pitch and at school I got different treatment that didn’t help me either.
      “Once I remember a guy came up to me on the street to tell me he put a bet on me to play for England. It was scary.”
      Pike is reluctant to blame his father for his downfall but one huge moment led to his career stalling.
      He was signed as a youth player by Leyton Orient and his dad Mickey pushed his son to appear in a documentary called ‘Coaching and Poaching’ presented by Greg Dyke.
      Pike was stunned to hear the documentary, instead of looking at his life as a youngster, actually exposed that Chelsea were tapping him up, with the young star unaware he had broken any rules.
      Pike fell out of love with the beautiful game as a teenagerCredit: Sonny Pike
      The FA banned him and his relationship with his father became further strained when he began to believe Mickey was making money off his name.
      His parents also divorced and Pike was left without a club due to his ban.
      Opened up on the dark time, he said: “After watching that documentary, I came out of the pub and I stood in the middle of the main road in Edmonton, actually on a roundabout.
      “There’s cars just whizzing around me and I just felt that’s what my head was getting like. ‘This is too much, enough of this now.’
      “Then a month later my dad turns up, I’d not seen him for a few weeks. As soon as he comes up towards me, the first thing I’m gonna say to him is, for the very first time, ‘I don’t want to do this no more.’
      “He told me that he had some more work for me, some more TV stuff and I’m literally about to walk up to and say the complete opposite.
      “He said, ‘If you don’t do it, you ain’t got a dad.’”
      Eventually, Pike was handed a chance by Crystal Palace but made the news again when his father did an interview with a newspaper claiming how big offers had ripped the family apart.
      On the pitch, he could no longer cope, revealing: “I pretty-much had a mental breakdown on the pitch. I came on for 15 minutes, I was given the opportunity and I just walked off.
      “The pressure of me going on, it was just too much. I looked at the coach and just walked off.
      “I broke down and I knew it was all over from then.”
      Pike then spent two years at non-league Stevenage until he was 18-years-old on a YTS scheme but his heart was no longer in football.
      Battles with depression continued but the wonderkid managed to turn his life around with the pressures of expectation and media attention gone.
      Pike started a new career working as a cab driver in London while he also helps young and upcoming footballers not fall into the trap of stardom.
      He does coaching sessions but offers support for off-field matters as he delivers talks to parents and players about protecting mental health and the dangers that lie ahead for future pros.
      Pike also wrote a book called “The Greatest Footballer That Never Was” further explaining his story.
      On his life within football now, he says: “I’m talking to their parents and then trying to get the player through that process because obviously I can relate to it a lot – the attention and the pressure they get – I’ve been there. 
      “I get a lot of other kids come in… a boy was sent down from up north and had a professional contract given to him but he didn’t want to sign it.
      Read More on The Sun
      “His mum and dad sent him down to me, just to talk to me. I get a lot of that.”
      Pike adds: “Instead of grabbing all the sponsorship deals and this sort of stuff, getting excited over a few pairs of boots or an advert or whatever else, think long-term and concentrate on and promote the love of football more.”
      Sonny Pike is now a football coachCredit: GettyYou’re Not AloneEVERY 90 minutes in the UK a life is lost to suicide.

      It doesn’t discriminate, touching the lives of people in every corner of society – from the homeless and unemployed to builders and doctors, reality stars and footballers.
      It’s the biggest killer of people under the age of 35, more deadly than cancer and car crashes.
      And men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
      Yet it’s rarely spoken of, a taboo that threatens to continue its deadly rampage unless we all stop and take notice, now.
      That is why The Sun launched the You’re Not Alone campaign.
      The aim is that by sharing practical advice, raising awareness and breaking down the barriers people face when talking about their mental health, we can all do our bit to help save lives.
      Let’s all vow to ask for help when we need it, and listen out for others… You’re Not Alone.
      If you, or anyone you know, needs help dealing with mental health problems, the following organisations provide support:

      CALM, www.thecalmzone.net, 0800 585 858
      Heads Together, www.headstogether.org.uk
      Mind, www.mind.org.uk, 0300 123 3393
      Papyrus, www.papyrus-uk.org, 0800 068 41 41
      Samaritans, www.samaritans.org, 116 123
      Movember, www.uk.movember.com
      Anxiety UK www.anxietyuk.org.uk, 03444 775 774 Monday-Friday 9.30am-10pm, Saturday/Sunday 10am-8pm More

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      in Soccer

      Harry Kane’s wife Kate gives birth to couple’s fourth child – and reveals baby’s adorable name

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      HARRY Kane’s wife Kate has given birth to the couple’s fourth child.Bayern’s £104m striker, 30, celebrated the announcement of his fourth tot in a heartfelt Instagram post – and revealed the little one’s adorable name.
      Harry Kane and his wife Kate have revealed their latest totCredit: Instagram
      Henry Edward Kane is the family’s fourth childCredit: Instagram
      Harry Kane and Kate had recently moved to Munich with their familyCredit: Instagram @katekanex
      The star striker said that the latest addition to the Kane family would be named Henry Edward Kane.
      England’s captain wrote: “Welcome to the world Henry Edward Kane. 20/8/2023.
      “Love you baby boy!”
      Thousands of congratulatory messages flooded the comments section on Kane’s social media post just minutes after the happy news.
      Read More in Football
      A second cute snap showed the adorable tot laying down which his head turned to the side.
      The couple are parents to three other children – daughters, Ivy, six, and Vivienne, five, and son Louis, two.
      Representatives for Kane confirmed the star’s tot was born in England – after fans feared a potential future star could play for Germany after Kane’s move to Bayern Munich earlier this month.
      Sources previously said Kate scouted homes – and hospitals – in a secret visit to Munich at the end of July.
      Most read in Football
      England captain Harry previously said: “We’ll do whatever works best for us as a family.”
      A source said two weeks ago that the birth taking place in Germany was a “real possibility”
      The source commented: “Kate flew out to Munich to do a recce at the end of last month as the deal got closer.
      “They knew that if it got over the line they’d need to be able to ­relocate very quickly.
      “Kate looked at homes but also visited a couple of private hospitals.”
      And the little one’s adorable name may well have been chosen based on Kane’s family history which features some footballing heritage.
      Kane’s mother’s father, Eric Edward Hogg, was quite the footballer, according to findmypast.
      Hogg played at a semi-pro level for Blundell Rovers in the 1960s and later for Brentwood and Warley – now known as Brentwood Town F.C.
      Kane is quickly settling into life in Germany on the pitch as he set up Leroy Sane’s first and scored the second in Bayern’s 4-0 win over Werder Bremen last Friday.
      The former Tottenham star could have had a hat-trick with Bremen goalkeeper Jiri Pavlenka pulling off several saves before Kane found the net.
      Kane’s debut ended prematurely as he pulled up with cramp, but he left the pitch to a standing ovation from the travelling Bayern support.
      Read More on The Sun
      The deadly striker hopes to lead England to victory in the Euros in Germany next summer, and revealed he had received a congratulatory text from Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate.
      He said they will speak “when things have calmed down”.
      Kane recently signed for Bayern Munich in a blockbuster dealCredit: EPA More