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      in Soccer

      Alejandro Garnacho posts heartwarming message about unborn baby after Man Utd star’s goal against Wolves

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      MANCHESTER UNITED ace Alejandro Garnacho dedicated his goal against Wolves to his unborn baby.Garnacho announced last month that he and his girlfriend Eva are expecting their first child.
      Manchester United ace Alejandro Garnacho is expecting a sonCredit: Instagram @garnacho
      Manchester United ace Garnacho dedicated his goal against Wolves to his sonCredit: EPA
      The happy couple learned they will have a son and decided to call him Enzo.
      The winger helped United beat Wolves 2-0 at Old Trafford as he scored the second goal after Anthony Martial’s opener.
      The Argentine sealed the win in the fourth minute of stoppage time and celebrated by putting the ball under his shirt to represent a baby bump.
      The 18-year-old then ran around with his thumb in his mouth as he dedicated the goal to his son.
      Read More on Man Utd
      The Argentina Under-20 international then took to Instagram and revealed he can’t wait to welcome Enzo.
      Garnacho posted: “I love football, I wait for you Enzo.”
      Garnacho and childhood sweetheart Eva announced the good news by sharing an adorable United baby onesie for the child they are expecting.
      The cute one-piece means Enzo will be able to look exactly like his dad, complete with the Red Devils’ badge on his chest.
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      Garnacho said: “Where life begins, and love never ends…
      “Planning your arrival and knowing you’re going to be here to complete our lives fills us with love and excitement.
      “We can’t explain how we feel to be able to fulfil our biggest dream together.
      “We’re counting down the days to meet you, Dad and Mom already love you so much Enzo.” More

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      in Soccer

      Inside the football clubs making sure EVERY child can play as Harry Maguire and Phil Foden back our grassroots scheme

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      AFTER years of desperately wanting to be picked first for the football team, Eddie finally found somewhere that let him play every match.The nine-year-old, who is affected by autism and skull birth defect craniosynostosis, has found confidence with a group of friends.
      Ashford United’s under-11 disability team offers a way into football for youngsters and transforms their lives for the betterCredit: Louis Wood
      And it’s all thanks to Ashford United –– one of the football clubs that The Sun wants to benefit from our Footie For All campaign to help grassroots sport.
      Eddie’s grandmother, Linda Burrows, credits the Kent club’s under-11 disability team, run by Dan Ambler, with giving her grandson new confidence.
      She said: “When Eddie first went along he was hiding behind his mum, but now he is straight out of the car and playing with the other kids.
      “It’s amazing what it has done for his confidence. He believes in himself now.
      “He’s always smiling when he’s playing — even if he doesn’t always get a chance to touch the ball.
      “It’s really nice seeing Eddie do ­normal things that he wasn’t comfortable doing just a few months ago.
      “Dan and the team have made a world of difference. Eddie was never going to be able to play in a traditional team, but this club has made sure he doesn’t miss out.”
      Figures show the cost-of-living crisis is forcing kids away from football, with 94 per cent of grassroots clubs voicing concern about the impact of soaring prices on their membership, according to the charity Sported.
      Most read in Football
      Clubs across the country have told The Sun how parents are struggling to afford to keep their children playing sports as the cost of everyday essentials continues to spiral.
      England stars John Stones, ­Raheem Sterling, Jarrod Bowen and Eric Dier, who all started out in local football, have already lent their support to our campaign.
      Ashford United ace Dan, 37, set up the disability team when he realised his autistic son Jack could not keep up when playing alongside mainstream kids.
      He said: “I saw him being left out, and I wanted to do something about it. I thought other parents might see their children in the same position so I asked around — and within a few days I had 17 other parents whose kids wanted to play.
      “It’s been amazing seeing the kids coming out of their shells. They’ve formed close friendships and the confidence they’ve developed is incredible.
      “Eddie went from being very shy to doing the “worm” celebration in front of everyone at our last match.
      “It’s incredible. It doesn’t matter if you have the skills of Ronaldo or can’t kick a ball — all are welcome.”
      Kids who play on one of the two Ashford under-11 teams have a mix of disabilities, from neurodivergent conditions to physical disabilities such as a missing limb.
      Ashford Town United has been heavily involved in keeping the team going and it provides a lot of ­support to Dan, a podiatrist by day, to get everything right.
      But he has to raise around £800 to keep things afloat, on top of the £25-a-month payment from parents.
      Thanks to huge interest, he is opening up three new teams for this season, bringing the total to six, all of which will need sponsorship.Dan added: “I never turn anyone away.
      “They are welcome whatever disability they have, and I don’t want that to change.
      “It’s going to be quite a challenge, but I’m always up for it and we are used to overcoming difficulties. Hopefully, we’ll make it all work.”
      Today, England footballers Harry Maguire and Phil Foden back our campaign to keep kids playing.
      Two teams also reveal how they are dedicated to making sure all children have access to the sport amid the cost-of-living crisis.
      Phil Foden
      Premier League winner Phil Foden started out with Reddish VulcansCredit: PROVIDED
      Phil Foden now stars for Manchester City and EnglandCredit: Getty
      GRASSROOTS football is where it began for all of us. Whether you play in the Premier League, for your country or on your local park, we all started out playing for our grassroot teams.
      For those of us lucky enough, it goes on to become our jobs. But the grassroots game is for everyone, and it’s important that we continue to support it so that boys and girls across the country can benefit from everything it has to offer.
      For me, playing for my local team gave me the chance to make new friends and learn new skills.
      I loved football then as much as I love football now.
      Knowing you could go and train with your mates during the week and play at the weekend was such an important part of growing up.
      It brings happiness for so many people across the country and it’s so important nothing gets in the way of everyone having that opportunity.
      Harry Maguire
      World Cup ace Harry Maguire began his career with Brunsmeer AthleticCredit: PROVIDED
      He has gone onto play for Sheffield United, Hull City, Leicester City and Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty
      I SPENT my childhood with a football at my feet whenever I had the chance.
      My first memory is having a kickabout with my brother.
      Playing in youth teams for Brunsmeer Athletic, then later Barnsley and ­Sheffield United, gave me a chance to make football into a career, not just a ­passion.
      Kids these days should have that same option, no matter what else is going on around them.
      There is nothing better than playing with a team, winning and learning how to lose.
      It also gives them an outlet and a chance to learn discipline, teamwork and friendship with people they might otherwise not have met.
      I loved my time in grassroots football. Those memories never leave you.
      Beacons FC, Kidbrooke, South East London
      Beacons FC are trying to help make football more afforable for parents and have launched a boots swap schemeCredit: Olivia West
      BEACONS FC has recently launched a boot swap shop to help families keep their kids in footie ­footwear without breaking the bank.
      Club secretary Adam Gillham said: “They are a necessary item parents have to shell out for each season but they can be so ­expensive – especially when kids outgrow them so quickly.
      “At the swap shop, they can donate a pair of boots their child has outgrown and swap them for a pair that fits. Anything we can do to help them save a few quid helps.”
      The club started in Kidbrooke, South East London, in 2001, and now fields eight teams of boys aged seven to 17.
      To play for the season, each player pays a one-off £50 registration fee and £245 in subs which parents are able to pay off in monthly instalments.
      Praising the Sun’s Footie For All drive, Adam said: “We are well aware of the impact of the cost of living on our players’ families in the past year, so any campaign like this will certainly help the grass- roots game.
      “We deliberately kept the fees as low as we could this season, for that reason.
      “We have not increased them since before the pandemic because we know times are hard for so many families – even though we have seen our own costs going up year on year. Football should be for all – not just for those who can afford it.
      “As a club, we do everything we can to help mums and dads who may be struggling financially.
      “If a parent comes to us and says they cannot afford the subs any longer, then of course we would not stop their child playing.
      “Each child deserves a chance to play football – no matter their ability or background. It’s the people’s game.
      “I would like to see more money filter down from the Premier League to real grassroots football – youth football in parks and recreation grounds around the UK – where it is truly needed.”
      Blackburn Eagles FC, Lancs
      Blackburn Eagles vow never to turn away anybody despite parent money strugglesCredit: BLACKBURN EAGLES
      BLACKBURN Eagles has seen more kids struggling to afford to play – but it never turns anyone away.
      The Lancashire academy’s vice chairman Chris Hughes says prices haven’t been raised in around eight years, in a bid to maintain access for all children.
      Kids as young as two take part in the Little Eagles under-six mini-kicker sessions, which cost £15 a month for weekly training.
      As the kids progress through to teams, parents pay £25 a month for a one-weekend game, and £30 a month if kids play Saturdays and Sundays every weekend.
      The club’s team keeps on growing and now has 650 players on its books, making it the biggest in the area.
      Chris, 39, said: “We don’t turn anyone away. We just take on more children, create new groups, create new training sessions and create new teams.”
      The Eagles has a hardship fund to help out families who start to struggle with the costs of subs and kits.
      The club has also recently taken teams out of the Junior Premier League due to the cost of the regular four-hour round trips to play against other teams across the North West.
      Chris said: “There have been conversations about the cost of living and cost of petrol.
      “Stuff is getting expensive, so we’ve brought some of our teams back a little bit more local to help with that.”
      To give even more kids the opportunity to play, Blackburn Eagles is currently looking to link up with local schools and charities to potentially start providing free after-school sessions in poorer communities and deprived areas.
      And Chris believes every child should have the opportunity to play football, due to its benefits for physical and mental wellbeing.
      He added: “It gives kids a good focus and we find that football can be a ­massive part of certain children’s lives.
      Read More on The Sun
      “That might be the one thing they’ll look forward to all week, and sometimes it gets them out of situations where they don’t want to be at home all the time.”

      The Sun’s Footie For All campaign aims to support families through the cost of living crisis More

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      in Boxing

      KSI reveals fighting on same night as brother Deji stresses out their parents but ‘unites us even more’

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      KSI revealed fighting on the same night as brother Deji leaves their parents stressed and nervous – but brings the family closer together. The pair of YouTube stars-turned boxers are set to share another boxing card together this Saturday.
      Deji with brother KSI and mum YinkaCredit: Twitter
      Dad Jide with his eldest son KSICredit: Twitter
      KSI celebrating with brother Deji
      KSI faces millionaire nightclub tycoon-turned boxer Joe Fournier while Deji returns against rapper Swarmz.
      The last time the Olatunji brothers boxed on the same night, they both walked away with wins.
      But it came at the cost of stressing out their dad Jide so much that he will forfeit a ringside seat tomorrow night.
      KSI, 29, told SunSport: “I don’t think my dad’s coming this time because it just stresses him out, man.
      READ MORE ON KSI
      “And my mum, I think the last time she watched my bro win, she started breaking down crying.
      “It’s a lot for her and it’s a lot for my dad, but we always reassure them.
      “We always tell them we’ll work hard, train hard and we always try to make sure we get the W.”
      KSI first boxed in 2018, beating online rival Joe Weller, 27, before drawing to Logan Paul, 28, in the same year.
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      But in his 2019 rematch with Paul, he won a split-decision in what was also his professional debut.
      KSI would go on to have three years out of the ring to focus on a fledging music career before making a boxing comeback in August.
      He won twice in one night – beating Swarmz and Mexican boxer Luis Pineda.
      But the story of the night belonged to younger brother Deji, 26, who snapped a three-fight losing streak to win for the first time.
      It provided a memorable night for KSI and his family, who cherished the moment in unity.
      KSI revealed: “You saw what happened after Misfits 001, we were all celebrating, having the time of our lives.
      “It was just an awesome moment, I was bouncing, jumping around just having the time of my life.
      Deji with older brother KSICredit: DAZN
      Deji celebrating his first victoryCredit: Misfits Boxing
      “For me and my family, we’re all very good, in a great space and the boxing, I feel like it unites us even more.
      “We throw each other memes left, right and centre just to joke around but everyone’s in good spirits.
      “My bro’s feeling good, my dad is – always nervous – but he’s also feeling good. My mum is also feeling nervous but excited to see what we do in the ring.”
      Deji beat American influencer Fousey, 33, and then went on to face boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, 46, in an exhibition bout in November.
      Meanwhile, KSI knocked out gamer Faze Temperrr, 29, in January and fears a repeat performance against Fournier, 40, will scare off future rivals.
      He said: “It’s actually a good point, maybe I should stop winning so emphatically.
      “Maybe I should just start winning through split-decisions and stuff like that!
      “The way I knocked out Temperrr would terrify a lot of people to want to fight me.
      Read More on The Sun
      “When I knock out Joe Fournier in spectacular fashion, more people are going to be like, ‘You know what, I think KSI it actually hat guy. Maybe it’s not worth fighting him, because I don’t wanna be a meme.'”
      Deji ahead of his fight with Swarmz
      KSI facing off with Joe FournierCredit: Leigh Dawney/Misfits Boxing More

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      in Soccer

      I had Man City star Benjamin Mendy’s secret love child after holiday romance – he’s paying us £350 a month, it’s hard

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      MANCHESTER City footballer Benjamin Mendy has a secret love child from a Mediterranean holiday romance.This week it emerged that the Premier League ace is paying the mother Yolanda Aguera around £350 a month towards the upkeep of their daughter – after she demanded a four-figure sum.
      Benjamin Mendy has a secret love child, 3, from a holiday romance with Yolanda AgueraCredit: Darren Fletcher
      Mendy, 28, was ordered to pay Yolanda, 41, around £350 a month towards the upkeep of their daughterCredit: Andy Kelvin / Kelvinmedia
      Mendy’s £90,000 a week contract at Manchester City is said to expire in JuneCredit: Getty
      The child, now aged three, was conceived after he met former bank worker Yolanda, 41, at a trendy hotel in Barcelona and went with her to a party at a mutual friend’s plush apartment in the city.
      Mendy, 28, did not dispute paternity.
      His £90,000 a week contract at Manchester City is said to expire in June and raises questions as to whether he will be able to pay the mortgage on his £4.8 milllion home in Cheshire.
      He’s also been suspended without pay since September 2021 when he was charged with sex offences.
      Read More on Benjamin Mendy
      Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, Yolanda, who lives in a small one-bedroom apartment in the city suburb of Badalona, said: “The last three years of single parenting have been hard.
      “Initially I was getting up two hours every night to breastfeed and helping to look after my grandmother during the day before she went into a retirement home.
      “Since my daughter started at nursery school this year I’ve had a bit more freedom to look for work but I’m having to focus on jobs that will enable me to fit in with her timetables.
      “The money Ben is paying will help but I’m worried about how I’m going to make ends meet and ensure our daughter doesn’t want for anything.
      Most read in Football
      “I was getting just over £400 a month in state benefits up until they ran out a week or so ago.
      “My mortgage is £550 a month so at the moment I’m relying on the little savings I have and help from my parents.”
      Yolanda added: “I would like Ben to be there for our daughter as she grows up.
      “He hasn’t got any kind of meaningful relationship with her just now and has only seen her once when we flew to Manchester and visited him at his home in Cheshire.
      “She loves playing football and is left-footed like her dad and if I have the money I’d like her to start extra-curricular activities in sport and music which she also seems to have a passion for when she begins proper school next year.”
      Speaking about their holiday romance, Yolanda revealed they first met at the trendy W Hotel in Barcelona in July 2019.
      Yolanda says she told Mendy she was pregnant but did not name him as the dad on the birth certificateCredit: Darren Fletcher
      Yolanda added: ‘He hasn’t got any kind of meaningful relationship with her (his daughter) just now’Credit: Darren Fletcher
      She said: “I had gone along for a drink with a female friend and we got talking to him and his pals.
      “The attraction was instant and mutual.
      “There was music on the terrace and after we danced he sat me on his lap and we kissed.
      “My friend told me he was a footballer because I had no idea who he was when we first met.
      “We all ended up in a nearby apartment they seemed to be renting where one of Benjamin’s pals had offered to cook dinner.
      “Before we sat down for the meal Benjamin took me by the hand and guided me towards a bedroom where we had sex.”
      She realised she was pregnant five weeks later and became a mum following an emergency Caesarean on April 22, 2020.
      Yolanda told Mendy about her pregnancy but did not name him as the father on the birth certificate although he has not disputed paternity.
      Since then they’ve been trying to reach an agreement for care of their daughter.
      Mendy went on trial last year at Chester Crown Court charged with seven counts of rape against four women, one attempted rape of a fifth alleged victim and a sexual assault of a sixth woman.
      He was found not guilty of six counts of rape and the sexual assault but will face a retrial in June after the jury did not reach a verdict on one rape count and the attempted rape which he denies.
      Mendy has agreed visiting rights to his daughter.
      Yolanda, a Spanish citizen, said: “She’s adorable and always happy and she’s the spitting image of her dad.
      “My mum was the first person who held her in her arms in the hospital and told me how similar they were the moment she saw her.
      “I wouldn’t change her for the world. I had sleepless nights when I was pregnant wondering if I was doing the right thing by having her but the moment I had her in my arms she changed my life.
      “She’s the most incredible person I have in my life and my reason for living.

      “I wouldn’t turn the clocks back even if I could.
      “God has rewarded me with this daughter. Being a mother right now means everything to me.”
      The W Hotel in Barcelona where the pair metCredit: Alamy More

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      in Boxing

      ‘No, no, no, Mum, it’s alright’ – Joe Joyce has to calm his fuming mum after she interrupts post-fight interview

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      JOE JOYCE had to calm down his mum Marvel who was left emotional following her son’s loss to Zhilei Zhang. Joyce was beaten in six rounds after a series of left hands and sharp combinations left his eye gruesomely swollen.
      Joe Joyce’s mum Marvel interupted his interview on talkSPORT
      Joyce calmed down his emotional mum
      Referee Howard Foster was left with no choice but to wave off the contest following the advice of the ringside doctor.
      The result comes three years after Joyce gave Daniel Dubois similar eye damage in his tenth-round stoppage.
      And his mum referenced the length of time Dubois was allowed to box on in the immediate aftermath of her son’s first professional defeat.
      As Joyce was interviewed on talkSPORT, Marvel cut in: “How come Daniel Dubois can fight for ten rounds and no one looked at his eye?”
      READ MORE ON JOE JOYCE
      But Joyce responded: “No, no, no, Mum, it’s alright.”
      Dubois, 25, was unable to make it to his feet after ten rounds of punishment in his 2020 thriller with Joyce, 37.
      Joyce was instead pulled out by the ref Foster and the ringside medic and joked maybe his old rival got his own back in defeat to Zhang, 39.
      He said: “It’s an eye for an eye again now, I got my eye done.
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      “It’s like what I did, I got a bit of payback from Dubois I guess. Maybe it’s karma.
      “He just kept on getting my eye. I’m fine, I’m completely fine, but now it’s closed up and I can’t see out of it now.
      “I haven’t fought a southpaw for a long time, so I need to look over the tape.
      “I thought I could have carried on, I was taking his shots fine, but it’s just unfortunate that the eye closed up. But I’ll be back.”
      Daniel Dubois suffered an eye injury against Joe Joyce in 2020Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      Joe Joyce suffered a horror eye injury in defeat to Zhilei ZhangCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun More

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      in Soccer

      Kids’ football is more than just physical activity – it helps youngsters learn good behaviour, says Raheem Sterling

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      PLAYING weekend football with a local team has been a rite of passage for kids for generations.But a Sun investigation today reveals that the cost of living crisis is forcing scores of kids to drop out of sports clubs as families struggle to make ends meet.
      The cost of living crisis has driven more children away from clubs – here Brent Cross under-11s celebrate championship victory with head coach Jamie Kavanagh, far leftCredit: Olivia West
      Almost 50 per cent of Football club leaders surveyed told The Sun that a lack of money was affecting participation in sportCredit: Olivia West
      In the wake of the crisis, today The Sun is launching Footie For All — backed by some of England’s top players — to highlight the importance of grassroots sports clubs.
      A shocking new poll from Sported, a charity which supports community sports clubs, has found 94 per cent of grassroots clubs are concerned about the impact of soaring prices on their membership.
      And football clubs across the country have told The Sun how the economic crisis is forcing kids out of training and weekend matches, even though the clubs are doing all they can to give their players a chance.
      One such club is Brent Cross Football Academy in North London, which offers matches and training to almost 200 children, aged from four to 14.
      READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS
      The players come from a huge mix of social backgrounds and to keep things as accessible as poss-ible, the club still charges £400 to £500 a year for subscriptions, while other clubs have raised theirs to more than £600.
      The academy is determined to try to avoid any young player missing out on sport, and the management team make it clear to parents they will help out any family with financial struggles when they can.
      And the Brent Cross chiefs’ worries are shared across the country, with 92 per cent of clubs saying they are extremely concerned about the negative impact on the young people they serve, according to the Ring/Sported Community Pulse Survey.
      And almost 50 per cent of club leaders surveyed told how lack of money was affecting participation in sport.
      Most read in Football
      Some 31 per cent of those surveyed believe the long-term con-sequences of the economic pinch will see fewer young people taking part in sports and physical activity.
      The benefits of grassroots sports for kids is well documented.
      From the obvious health benefits, community sports teams also offer huge social benefits by channelling kids’ energy into physical activity.
      The UK is home to more than 40,000 clubs, and almost all those we spoke to declared that they would never want to stop a child playing with them — but often find themselves under pressure due to the cost of registration, pitches or transport.
      Nicola Walker, chief executive of Sported, said: “The cost of living is putting grassroots sports groups under extreme pressure. It’s making it harder to raise the cash to operate.
      “And it’s making it tougher on our kids to afford the price of participation, or even just the cost of travelling to take part.
      “That means they could miss out on a boost to their physical and mental wellbeing.
      Struggling families
      “But time spent kicking a ball or in a dance class is also time in a safe space where young people meet positive influences and get a priceless chance to learn and grow.
      “So it’s important that the Government recognises all the amazing ways in which sport contributes to building stronger, safer communities and offers the support it needs.”
      At Brent Cross the country’s economic woes started to become apparent at the beginning of the year, when head coach Jamie Kavanagh noticed he was losing children because families were struggling with paying the subs.
      He sent a message to all parents asking if those who could afford it could spare a little more to help fund sponsorships for ten children who could no longer afford to play.
      Jamie, 27, said: “We’re finding that a lot of the children are struggling to make every session purely because of the cost of the subs, new football boots, kit and travel to fixtures and training.
      “We hoped to be able to help ten children but we’ve managed to get the money to sponsor 12, thanks to the generosity of the parents.
      Every one who donated extra told us how amazing the initiative was.
      “The parents of the kids who get to play for free are hugely grateful and it allows them to focus on other things without the worry of their children missing out on activities they enjoy and keep them active.
      “Football is so important for helping kids with communication skills, having an outlet, and it gives them a family feeling. I’d never want anyone to lose that due to money issues.”
      With so many football clubs telling how the cost of living crisis risks harming the health of our youngsters, it was clear something needed to be done.
      Here we highlight some of the grassroots clubs which are making a big difference in their communities and finding ways to try to beat the negative effects of the cost of living crisis.
      And four England aces, who know only too well the benefits of grassroots football, back our call for Footie For All.

      TELL us about your inspiration grass roots club. Email us at footieforall@ the-sun.co.uk

      John Stones
      Barnsley, Everton, Man City & England
      “PLAYING grassroots football as a kid with my friends for my local team was the first step into football for me, and I never looked back.
      Playing grassroots football was incredibly important for England and Man City defender John StonesCredit: Alamy
      He says: ‘Football can give children something to look forward to, even when things may be difficult’Credit: Rex Features
      “It played such an important part of my childhood and I’ll always be so grateful for the opportunity it provided for me and so many other children.
      “Grassroots football often provides a happy and safe environment for children to play, meet friends and learn new skills.
      “If it wasn’t for that start I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to learn important life skills on and off the pitch while having fun with my mates.
      “It can give children something to look forward to, even when things may be difficult, and make such a positive impact for both parents and kids.”
      Raheem Sterling
      Alpha & Omega FC, QPR, Liverpool, Man City, Chelsea & England
      “WE can’t just look at the physical benefits of grassroots football because it also has the ability to bring people together.
      Raheem Sterling thinks football is more than just the physical benefitsCredit: Getty
      Raheem says: ‘My mentor Clive Ellington was the one that actually got me into football to focus my energy and correct my behaviour’
      “My mentor Clive Ellington was the one that actually got me into football to focus my energy and correct my behaviour.
      “He was a great role model. I found something I wanted to put my maximum energy in to and it paid off.
      “I fell in love with football through that Sunday league team – and made friends for life.”
      Eric Dier
      International Prep School, Lisbon, Sporting CP, Spurs & England
      “FOOTBALL is a lifeline for many.
      Tottenham and England defender, Eric Dier, feels football is a lifeline for someCredit: Getty
      Eric loved football as he says it ‘encourages teamwork, discipline, friendship, improved health and wellbeing’Credit: ericdier15/instagram
      “It encourages teamwork, discipline, friendship, improved health and wellbeing, and a sense of community.
      “I know kids will benefit from the game and all that comes with it.”
      Jarrod Bowen
      Leominster Miners, Hereford Utd (Herts), West Ham, England
      “WHEN I was little I had a dream of playing football for my entire life.
      West Ham winger, Jarrod Bowen, dreamt of playing pro football ever since he was a childCredit: Getty
      Jarrod says: ‘Football is for everyone and it’s massively important it stays that way’
      “It was the most important thing in my week and I know it’ll be the same for boys and girls across the UK.
      “We can’t let kids see that 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.
      “It’s more than just kicking a ball about, it’s building lifelong friendships, getting to do something you love and a chance to learn   about healthy competition.
      “It gives a routine and a chance to zone out from anything that might be going on in their lives. If that’s taken away it’ll leave children in a bad place because they’ve lost something they love.
      “One of the best things for me is seeing young kids play football at my old club. I saw an under-eights team in a penalty shootout. It brought me so much joy to see how happy and determined they were. That’s what football is really about – bringing joy to everyone.”

      Helston AFC, Cornwall
      HELSTON AFC plays a vital role in supporting nearly 400 kids in 17 teams, including many families from nearby Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, one of Europe’s biggest helicopter bases.
      But youth co-ordinator and under-13s coach Chris Strike says the cost of living crisis has badly impacted this region of Cornwall, making it harder for families to pay the £80 annual membership.
      Helston AFC plays a vital role in supporting nearly 400 kids in 17 teamsCredit: Apex
      Chris, 42, an architect from Helston, said: “We’ve had a number of parents say this year they can’t afford the membership fees.
      “I’m proud to say we don’t and we won’t ever stop a child registering because they can’t pay their fee.
      “Either the club will fund it or a couple of us have funded kids. Others ask us to pay monthly and that’s fine, we have always found a solution.
      “I’m lucky I own my own business and sponsor my team and there are a couple of coaches in that position, but a lot of the teams will try to raise money from local businesses.”
      Chris added: “Each of the 17 teams has two coaches trying to help the players, both in and out of football. Some kids want to talk about difficulties at home and you are there to support them in that respect as well. There’s a lot more to being a football coach than just coaching football.”
      The club has close ties with Plymouth Argyle and Southampton’s academies, and this year 19 youth players from Helston have represented Cornwall.
      Among their recent successes is striker Luke Jephcott, who plays for Swindon, and who was with Helston before joining Argyle’s academy.
      The Pythian Club, Nottingham
      COMMUNITY sports club and outreach centre The Pythian Club in Nottingham offers free sports sessions, including football and boxing, to youngsters aged up to 19.
      Yet even without subs, its bosses fear that costs such as travel and kit are becoming unaffordable for the families of its youngsters.
      The Pythian Club in Nottingham offers free sports sessions, including football and boxing, to youngsters aged up to 19Credit: Pythian Club
      The club performs an important social role, often taking on children who have been involved in gangs and crime, or who have been referred to it by probation services.
      Currently it looks after 400 children and teenagers who come to the centre to play a range of sports.
      Founder Benjamin Rosser told The Sun: “It absolutely breaks my heart that so many kids are missing out. Sport is such an important way for us to reach out to kids and stop them from going down the wrong path. Part of our work is actively seeking out young people that would otherwise fall through the gaps and give them a chance at a better life.
      “We have around 120 to 150 young people we work with that are really financially struggling and need extra support.
      “We try to find ways to work around that to make sure they don’t have to make difficult choices such as having to pay their bus fare to school and not be able to access a sports activity that week.
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      “Sometimes it’s getting food in their belly or playing football. Those are the difficult choices that they’re making.
      “Running a session on a Friday for about 180 kids sets us back about £280, which is expensive, but we never pass those costs on. We’re a family and we’ll always provide what we can.”
      Tell us about your inspiration grass roots club. Email us at footieforall@the-sun.co.uk More

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      in Boxing

      I feared my kids would grow up without their dad as robber pointed gun at me, reveals Amir Khan

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      BOXER Amir Khan has told of his gun robbery terror and said: “I feared my kids would grow up without their dad.”The former world champ, 36, handed over his £72,000 watch at gunpoint in London.
      Amir Khan, pictured with wife Faryal, told of his gun robbery terrorCredit: Doug Seeburg
      Amir, pictured with his children, said: ‘I feared my kids would grow up without their dad’Credit: Doug Seeburg
      Masked gunman Dante Campbell jumped out of a silver Mercedes, pointed the weapon in Amir’s face and shouted: ‘Take off the watch!’
      Wife Faryal, who was with him, said: “I thought we were both going to die.”
      Victim Amir Khan revealed how he turned his head in terror during his gunpoint ordeal so he would not see the bullet coming.
      The boxer had left a restaurant with wife Faryal when a gang pulled up in a Merc, pointed the weapon in his face and demanded his watch.
      Amir’s light-welterweight reflexes kicked in as he feared the gunman would pull the trigger.
      Read More on Amir Khan
      Speaking exclusively to The Sun on Sunday, he revealed: “In that moment, you think the worst . . . that the kids could be growing up without their dad, that Faryal would be raising them on her own.
      “Your life flashes before your eyes. I leant my head to the right because I thought, if he is going to shoot me, he can shoot the side of my head. I don’t want to see the bullet coming.”
      Amir handed over a £72,000 diamond-encrusted watch he’d bought to celebrate winning a fight.
      Terrified Faryal, 31, ran into the road and screamed for help.
      Most read in Boxing
      The robbers fled in their car and the timepiece has not been found.
      Faryal yesterday said she feared the couple were the target of an organised hit, saying: “I thought we were going to die on the spot.”
      The couple now feel the “England we love isn’t a safe place any more” so spend more time at their home in Dubai.
      Two men admitted involvement in the robbery, on April 18 last year.
      On Friday two others were found not guilty of acting as spotters.
      Amir and Faryal had been for dinner with pal Omar Khalid at the Sahara Grill in Leyton, East London.
      The boxer posed for selfies with fans and CCTV showed him leaving at 9.10pm.
      As the couple walked to their car, masked gunman Dante Campbell, 20, jumped out of a silver Mercedes coupe, pointed the weapon in Amir’s face and shouted: “Take off the watch!”
      Amir, who is dad to Lamaisah, eight, Alayna, four, and Muhammad Zaviyar, three, recalled yesterday: “It was the first time I’ve ever seen a gun in my life. I could see down the barrel.
      “I remember looking back seeing where my wife was. She ran back on the road and screamed ‘help!’
      “At the time, I didn’t know what he wanted. I thought maybe this is a prank. I just took off the watch, he grabbed it.”
      Amir had earlier been shopping in Knightsbridge while Faryal was at a photoshoot.
      Amir retired from boxing last year having won a silver medal for Great Britain at the 2004 Olympics in AthensCredit: PA:Press Association
      Amir blasted mayor Sadiq Khan, saying: ‘Since he has been in power, London has got so dangerous’Credit: PA
      They visited the restaurant during Ramadan as it serves halal steak, and spent around an hour eating and taking snaps with fans.
      Recalling the ordeal, Amir said: “Faryal ran back on to the road and I just froze.
      “Normally she walks in front of me so I know she’s safe.
      “But for some reason she didn’t that night — which looking back is a good thing.
      “The gunman told me to take off the watch so I did and he grabbed it. I was shaken up.
      “It happened so fast, it registered with me a day after. It makes you think, life is very short.
      “People said after, ‘You should’ve fought them’. Are they stupid? I’ve got a family. It’s only a watch. My life means more to me.
      “When you have kids, you have a priority to make sure they are looked after. I am the breadwinner for the family. If I was with the kids, I don’t know what I would’ve done. Maybe I would have panicked and tried to run.”
      Amir added: “Someone called the police. It caused a big scene and people recognised me.
      “I felt quite embarrassed it had happened to me, that I’d just been robbed at gunpoint.
      “I got into Omar’s car and we drove around the corner because I didn’t want to be around the area.
      “I did a 30-minute interview in the police car. I told them what happened, how it happened.”
      Amir and Faryal then returned to their room at the May Fair Hotel in central London, where she was in floods of tears.
      The boxer added: “I could feel how scared Faryal was. I sat with her and told her it’s fine, the watch is materialistic.
      “She said, ‘What if the kids were with us? What if they shot you and killed you? The kids love you so much, you’re a good father to them, they would miss you so much’.
      The former world champ handed over his £72,000 watch at gunpoint in LondonCredit: Central News
      “I had the worst sleep that night. It was like the sleep I have the day before a fight. I was very uneasy.”
      Yesterday Amir was revealed to be a star of next month’s I’m A Celebrity South African special — after a stint on the show in 2017.
      He retired from boxing last year having won 34 of 40 fights, 21 by knockout, and with a silver medal for Great Britain at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
      He is now based in Dubai but returns to England once a month for a week for charity and TV work.
      Since the attack he pays £600 a day on security in the UK.
      Bolton-born Amir said: “The UK isn’t a safe place any more.
      “It’s like living in Mexico. I don’t feel comfortable. I love England. I won a medal for the country but I stay in Dubai now because it’s the only place I feel safe. I’ve had my career, won my fights, got money. I just want to be safe.”
      Amir also blasted London’s Labour mayor Sadiq Khan, saying: “Since he has been in power, London has got so dangerous. He needs to pull his finger out and do something about it.”
      Speaking about the impact of the robbery, he added: “Faryal always says ‘Don’t go out on your own’.
      “She’s always on my back saying, ‘Make sure you take your security with you’.
      “A couple of months after the robbery, I remember walking outside Harrods.
      “It was about 5pm or 6pm, and I had a bag with a T-shirt in. I thought, ‘Oh s**t, it’s not safe for me to walk’.
      “A guy asked me for a picture, and I’m always happy to do that, but I felt very uneasy.”
      Amir had bought the stolen watch — a Franck Muller Vanguard Chronograph — after his December 2014 victory over American welterweight Devon Alexander in Las Vegas.
      Amir said: “I always buy a watch after a fight. It was quite sentimental. I got it after I won to treat myself.”
      Speaking about the impact of the robbery, Amir said: ‘Faryal always says ‘Don’t go out on your own’Credit: Doug Seeburg
      Recalling the ordeal, Amir said: ‘Faryal ran back on to the road and I just froze’
      Two weeks before the robbery he stopped paying £15,000 a year insurance for around £600,000 worth of watches.
      He had been paying the premium for ten years but felt safe having never been targeted before.
      Faryal, who married Amir in 2013, said of the ordeal: “I saw a really tall guy like hugging Amir.
      “Amir seemed to be laughing, I think he thought it was a fan.
      “Suddenly I saw a gun . . . I was on the phone to my best friend and just started screaming ‘help, help, help!’
      “I ran into the road as I thought I’d rather get hit by a car than shot. At the time, I thought ­someone had set us up. That they’ve come to shoot me and Amir. I thought, ‘Does Amir have any enemies?’
      “I was worried that while I’m running someone is going to shoot me from the back. It was really, really scary.”
      Faryal added: “I would lie awake at night thinking, ‘What if we both got killed?’ It took me a good few months to get over it.
      “After the incident, we sorted out our wills and a trust for the kids. It was a big wake-up call.”
      She said it brought her and Amir closer.
      She said: “It hit me that I could’ve lost Amir.
      “It makes you appreciate each other a lot more.
      Read More on The Sun
      “He’s the love of my life, my husband, the father of my children.
      “If I lost him, I don’t think I could ever recover from that.”
      Cops hunt suspects
      POLICE sought help to find suspect Hamza Kulane who they want to quiz over the raid.
      Alleged spotters Nurul Amin, 25, and Ismail Mohamed, 24, were cleared of conspiracy to rob on Friday after a two-week trial.
      Gunman Dante Campbell, 20, and crony Ahmed Bana, 25, have admitted conspiracy to rob and possessing an imitation firearm.
      They will be sentenced later.
      Jurors were shown CCTV film of Amir’s ordeal.
      He told Snaresbrook crown court: “I’m a sportsman, a fighter. I’ve been in the toughest situations but this is something different. This is really scary.” More

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      in Soccer

      Morgan Gibbs-White reveals he is the godfather to Phil Foden’s kids – now he wants to emulate mate and play for England

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      MORGAN GIBBS-WHITE revealed he is the godfather to Phil Foden’s children – and now he wants to emulate his great mate by becoming a senior England international.Nottingham Forest star Gibbs-White first met Foden aged 16 and the pair won the Under-17 World Cup with England in 2017.
      Morgan Gibbs-White has had an impressive season at Nottingham ForestCredit: Getty
      Gibbs-White first met Foden in 2016. They won the Under-17 World Cup togetherCredit: Getty
      They would often room together and are still extremely close today, to the point where the Manchester City man asked Gibbs-White to be a godparent to his son and daughter.
      Foden, 22, has racked up 22 caps for England, the latest of which came in Thursday’s 2-1 Euro qualifying win over Italy.
      Gibbs-White, 23, was this week named England Under-21 captain but is yet to receive a senior call-up – though Gareth Southgate says he is keeping close tabs on the midfielder.
      The Forest ace said: “It’s an honour I’ve even been mentioned and it shows I’m improving on the right path. I have to strive for more.
      READ MORE ON FOOTBALL
      “I’m still in touch with Phil, still really close. I’m godparent to his kids.  It just shows that anything is possible. I was in that Under-17 World Cup team so if those guys can do it, so can I.”
      Jadon Sancho, Marc Guehi, Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Emile Smith Rowe were the other whizkids from that World Cup-winning Under-17 squad to go on to play for the senior team.
      Foden is undoubtedly the pick of the bunch though and a character with whom Gibbs-White clicked instantly.
      MGW explained: “We just had a good connection. I met him at 16, we just got on. 
      Most read in Football
      “We roomed together quite a bit. He’s always been a nice kid, Phil.
      “He’s an unbelievable player. He’d play Fortnite until one or two o’clock in the morning every night! Every night. 
      “I’d tell him that if he scored the next day then he could stay on it for another couple of hours!”
      Foden’s missus Rebecca Cooke is also very close to Gibbs-White’s girlfriend, Britney De Villiers.
      The christening is still yet to take place though because of the hectic football schedule.
      Steve Cooper was the manager in charge of that amazing England Under-17 side that triumphed in India.
      And it was the Welshman, now at helm at Forest, who signed Gibbs-White for a whopping £42.5million from Wolves in the summer.
      Back then, the fee was all anyone would talk about when discussing Gibbs-White.
      But it is testament to his fine season, in which he has scored three goals and grabbed six assists in the Premier League, that his hefty price tag is less of a debating point now. 
      Yet the playmaker never felt any pressure at all by how much Forest shelled out on him – and certainly nothing compared to the heat on the team as they battle for survival.
      He said: “It wasn’t me who paid the price! I enjoyed it. It meant more eyes were on me. 
      “I could show myself more. It wasn’t a pressure thing. 
      “The focus was on the price tag and I had to prove people wrong in a sense. You thrive off that situation. You want to prove people wrong and impress.
      “(The battle to stay up) – that is pressure. There are so many good teams down there.”
      Forest are winless in their last six league games, losing four of them, and are just two points above the relegation zone.
      But there is no doubt in Gibbs-White mind that the Tricky Trees will retain the top-flight status they took 23 years to earn by avoiding the drop.
      He said: “One hundred per cent I’m confident we’ll stay up. We’ve proven that in games. We drew 1-1 with Man City. We need to be more consistent.”
      On Saturday though, Gibbs-White turns his attention to captaining his country for the first time ever.
      Despite representing England at nearly every level from Under-16s, the Stafford lad has never actually worn the armband for his nation.
      But that will change on Saturday afternoon when he leads the England Under-21s out for their friendly against France at Leicester’s King Power Stadium.
      He commented: “It was a surprise to be given it. It’ll be the first time I’ve captained an England side. 
      “It’s an honour to receive a call-up and when Lee Carsley told me that I was captain it was a really special feeling. It shows I’ve been doing well at club level and he sees me as a leader in the group. I think I’m the oldest one here so that is why!”
      Southgate’s recent comments suggest it will not be long until Gibbs-White does make that senior step.
      It would be a reward, just as captaining his country will be, for putting everything he’s got into his career and holding nothing back.
      That mentality is reflected by the words he had tattoed on his right hand last summer which read: “Why save the food stuff for later?”
      Read More on The Sun
      Gibbs-White added: “It is just, ‘why say no? Why not do the good stuff now and regret it later?’ I never wanted to regret anything in the future.”
      Good advice to pass onto his godchildren, no doubt – and to help keep Forest up. More