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      ‘I won the Premier League three times with Man Utd and played for England, now I’m a pro golfer’

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      FORMER Manchester United and England winger Lee Sharpe has opened up about his life after football – which has seen him become a professional golfer.The former footballer won the Premier League three times during his time at Sir Alex Ferguson’s United, making 228 appearances for the club and registering 28 goals and assists for the club.
      Lee Sharpe won three Premier Leagues during his spell at UnitedCredit: PA
      Sharpe is now focused on a pro golf careerCredit: Getty
      He would go on to appear for clubs including Sampdoria, Leeds and Bradford before retiring from the game following a spell at Northern Counties East Premier League side Garforth Town.
      His playing career also included eight England caps between 1991 and 1993.
      Away from the game, Sharpe achieved renewed fame when he made appearances on reality shows  Celebrity Wrestling, Celebrity Love Island, Dancing on Ice and even picking up a minor role in Coronation Street.
      But starting in 2021, Sharpe began competing in professional golf tournaments.
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      At the age of 51 he is now officially a professional golfer and seeking a spot on the European Senior Tour, which is now known as the Legends Tour.
      Speaking to Golf Magic Sharpe said he’s had a love for the game since his playing days.
      He said: “I had spells of playing lots of golf even when I played at both Manchester United and Leeds United.
      “I actually played in a Mini Tour event with him somewhere in Manchester a while back.
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      “I then went away and played in a couple of Mini Tour events as an amateur.
      “I rang up to enter one tournament and they said there were no amateurs playing that week but if I paid a bit extra then I could turn pro.
      “So I did that by accident really, just so I could play in the tournament and that was my amateur status gone in England.”
      The former England international is now based in Valencia and is seeking to turn pro in Spain as well.
      Talking about his rapid rise to turning pro in his 50s, Sharpe said:
      “I honestly fell in love with the game when I first started playing it during my football career.
      “But with an obsessive nature I have with sport, I had to be as good as I could. My first handicap was 14 and then I turned pro in England just before the lockdown in 2019.
      “But I’m now based out in Spain so am looking to turn pro out here, and my handicap is now 0.5.”
      He added: “So it’s really just a case of trying to get as low as I can now.
      “I’m going to play in a couple of tournaments next year in an attempt to turn pro in Spain.
      Read more on The Sun
      “That’s the route we are going with a view to possibly making it on the European Senior Tour.
      “If I can make that level of golf then it would be amazing. I’m going to give it a go anyway.” More

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      Abandoned stadium which kicked off Sir Alex Ferguson’s manager career before his Man Utd and Aberdeen heroics lies empty

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      SIR ALEX FERGUSON began his dugout career with little East Stirlingshire before going on to glory with Aberdeen and Manchester United.But the site for the start of one of football’s greatest ever managerial careers now lies derelict, overgrown and empty.
      The old ground’s entrance at the end of Firs Street cul-de-sacCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      All signs of the turnstiles have gone at the road’s dead endCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
      The lush green turf used to be well used every other SaturdayCredit: SNS
      There’s a lot more greenery now – but the ground’s certainly not playableCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
      Firs Park in Falkirk was the home of The Shire from 1921 until 2008.
      The club moved to rent Ochilview in nearby Stenhousemuir before returning to their hometown to share Falkirk Stadium in 2018. They’ve been there ever since.
      Meanwhile, their old ground with railway sleeper terraces tucked behind a town-centre retail park is completely unrecognisable.
      Overgrown with weeds, trees and bushes it is a far cry from Old Trafford, Wembley and the Nou Camp where its most famous boss lifted football’s top prizes.

      Only one metal panel and post exists from the old entrance at the end of Firs Street in Falkirk, lined with tenements.
      The rest is blocked off with flimsy temporary fencing.
      And for a location that gave birth to football’s legendary hairdryer treatment – it’s a WASHING MACHINE that sits where the turnstiles used to be.
      Sir Alex, aged 32 and earning £40 a week, was only in charge of the Shire for three months before moving on to St Mirren and later fame and glory with Aberdeen and Manchester United followed.
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      He’d been a first-team coach a short distance away at Falkirk’s Brockville before a fall-out and move to Ayr United before his dugout destiny.
      His first game inspired a thrilling comeback from 3-0 down to draw with Forfar Athletic and he won nine of his 17 games in charge at Firs Park.
      The dugout, and the manager’s office though, are now long gone.
      The remains of the ramshackle main stand have been removed as have just about all signs of football ever being played on the ground.
      SIr Alex moved on from Firs Park to great gloryCredit: AFP
      The modest little ground kicked off one of the greatest careers in footballCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      The scene of Fergie’s first job as a manager now lies in disrepairCredit: Alan MacGregor Ewing
      Housing plans for the prime town centre location have never materialised and it sits derelict, an open space for urban wildlife and occasional fly-tipping.
      An old pitch line marker sat unused for several years as the weeds grew around it but it too was cleared out with the leftovers of the stand and covered terrace opposite.
      In its’ heyday Firs Park hosted more than 2000 to see the great and the good of Scottish football, but its demise mirrors’ the Shire’s fall – and sits in sharp contrast to Fergie.
      The club are now in the Lowland League – Scottish football’s fifth tier – having been first to succumb to the SPFL pyramid play-off against Edinburgh City in 2016.
      Meanwhile Sir Alex landed 17 league titles, 15 domestic trophies and six European trophies including two in the Champions League and the Intercontinental and FIFA Club World Cup.
      Read more on The Sun
      But that glorious career – potentially the greatest-ever – all started in a derelict expanse, hidden behind TK Maxx, in the middle of Falkirk.
      Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page More

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      Ex-Man Utd star Ander Herrera admires ‘incredible’ Bombonera with former Old Trafford pal as Boca Juniors win

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      ANDER HERRERA has hailed the Boca Juniors atmosphere as “unforgettable” while visiting former team-mate Marcos Rojo.The former Manchester United star attended a match at La Bombonera stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
      Ander Herrera watched a Boca Juniors match with Marcus RojoCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtO36eZLhbV/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA
      The two were team-mates at Manchester UnitedCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Herrera also did a stadium tour of La BomboneraCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtO36eZLhbV/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA
      He shared the pictures on his InstagramCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtO36eZLhbV/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA
      He looked at the Deigo Maradona memorabiliaCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtO36eZLhbV/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA
      Herrera, 33, watched on alongside Rojo, 33, and football agent Kristian Bereit as Boca beat Chilean outfit Colo-Colo in the Copa Libertadores.
      Rojo currently plays for the Argentinian giants but missed the match due to a muscle injury.
      The midfielder posted to Instagram sharing his experience of his visit to Argentina.
      One video showed the incredible fans in the Boca ground cheering on their side.
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      In one of the pictures, Herrera posed with Rojo and Bereit with the stadium in the background.
      Herrera also showed other glimpses of his trip, including eating a pastry and watching some street football.
      He also did a tour of La Bombonera, visited the museum, and had a picture pitchside.
      He captioned the post on Instagram: “Unforgettable 🇦🇷”.
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      The post was loved by his fans as well as other former team-mates Angel Di Maria, David De Gea and Eric Bailly among those that commented.
      Herrera left Old Trafford in 2019 after five years at the club following his move from LaLiga side Athletic Bilbao.
      The Spaniard moved to PSG but returned to Bilbao on loan in 2022 before making the switch permanent last summer.
      During his time at Manchester United, he won an FA Cup, League Cup and Europa League title.
      Herrera also toured Buenos AiresCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtO36eZLhbV/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA
      And watched some street footballCredit: https://www.instagram.com/p/CtO36eZLhbV/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA More

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      David Brooks makes ’emotional’ Wales return on Portugal training camp

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      ROBERT PAGE reckons the ’emotional’ return of David Brooks can fuel Wales closer to Euro 2024 qualification.The Bournemouth winger, 25, linked up with the Dragons on Thursday for the first time since his cancer recovery.
      David Brooks is back in the Wales squad after recovering from cancerCredit: The Mega Agency
      Brooks returned for club side Bournemouth in the Premier League at Aston Villa back in MarchCredit: PA
      Brooks was on Wales duty in October 2021 when quick-thinking medical staff sent him for tests which revealed he had stage two Hodgkin lymphoma.
      Page’s squad including Brooks join up in Portugal for a warm-weather training camp before this month’s double-header against Armenia and Turkey.
      Page said: “It will be an emotional camp but in a positive way. We are meeting with the players in Portugal.
      “He will be welcomed back in and then we get on with work as usual. We won’t dwell on it too much.”
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      Brooks is a popular member of the Welsh squad, coming through the ranks alongside close pal Chris Mepham, 25, Dan James, 25 and 26-year-old Harry Wilson.
      He won the last of his 21 international caps in the Euro 2020 last-16 4-0 hammering by Denmark in Amsterdam two summers ago.
      Page added: “He’s a big character in the dressing room. They are a tight-knit group.
      “On the first day he comes into camp there’s no doubt the players will have a moment together themselves.”
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      Wales return back to Cardiff from their Portugal base near Lagos next Tuesday.
      Page’s side host Armenia in Group D on Friday, June 16.
      Then the Welsh travel to the Turkish city of Samsun three days later. More

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      Diletta Leotta shows off blossoming baby bump as she enjoys date night with footballer boyfriend Loris Karius

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      DILETTA LEOTTA showed off her blossoming baby bump as she enjoyed a date night with boyfriend Loris Karius.The couple are expecting a child together, announcing the pregnancy in an emotional Instagram post back in March.
      Diletta Leotta showed off her blossoming baby bump at workCredit: Instagram/@dilettaleotta
      Diletta Leotta enjoyed a date night with her footballer boyfriend Loris KariusCredit: Instagram/@dilettaleotta
      Diletta has since kept her 9million Instagram followers up to date with her pregnancy journey.
      She again displayed her growing bump on Thursday in a series of snaps shared to her Instagram story.
      In the first, the DAZN Italy presenter can be seen with her tummy on show as she posed for a mirror selfie at work.
      Later, her and Karius headed out on a dinner date with two of their friends.
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      The couple looked loved up as they tucked into a seafood platter in another picture shared to Diletta’s story.
      Karius smiled into the camera as Diletta looked at him whilst holding a pair of chopsticks.
      The stunning presenter has not let her pregnancy stop her from wowing her fans on social media.
      A previous racy post showed her in a plunging top that had her followers calling for her “arrest”.
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      Diletta Leotta is currently expecting a baby with Loris KariusCredit: Instagram/@dilettaleotta
      Meanwhile, she has been begging for Karius to leave Newcastle, labelling the city “uncomfortable”.
      Karius’ deal at St. James’ Park expires later this month, but Eddie Howe is reportedly keen for him to stay following shock links with Inter Milan.
      The 29-year-old goalkeeper signed a short-term deal with the Magpies in September, before extending his contract in January.
      He has made just one appearance, though, stepping in for the suspended Nick Pope in the Carabao Cup final. More

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      Former Arsenal and Newcastle star retires and pens emotional message after the ‘end of the dream’

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      FORMER Arsenal and Newcastle star Mathieu Debuchy has penned an emotional farewell to football after announcing his retirement.The former full-back, 37, wrote on Twitter: “The end of a dream but the beginning of a new life.
      Debuchy during Arsenal’s Community Shield clash with Manchester City in 2014Credit: AFP
      “Thank you to all the people from near and far who have contributed to my development in the different clubs where I have been.”
      The former French international, who made 27 appearances for his national side, played 30 times for the Gunners after signing from Newcastle for £7.9million in 2014.
      He endured an injury-ridden spell for Arsenal but was a part of the squad that won the 2015 FA Cup.
      The defender had his Arsenal contract terminated in 2018 which enabled him to move to Saint-Etienne.
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      He spent two years at the French club before dropping down a league to join Ligue 2 side Valenciennes, where he ended his career playing as a veteran centre-back.
      Debuchy had been a bright light for Newcastle during a miserable time for fans under the ownership of Mike Ashley.
      He played 46 times for The Magpies and their fans were among those paying tribute to the defender on Twitter.
      One Newcastle fan said: “You should see our club now Debuchy, no hard feelings you leaving us under Mike Ashley.
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      “Hope you give us some support in the Champions League next season. Happy retirement!”
      An Arsenal fan added “Well done Mathieu.”
      The official account of the French national team also added: “Congratulations on your career Mathieu! 💙”
      Debuchy appeared at both the 2012 European Championships and the 2014 World Cup for Les Bleus.
      He said in an interview with club Valenciennes that he plans to enter coaching following his retirement.
      He said: “I registered to pass the first coaching diploma, so we will continue on that. We will see the opportunities that will open up to me.” More

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      Mateo Kovacic ‘agrees terms’ with Man City with transfer fee for Chelsea star to be settled after Champions League final

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      MATEO KOVACIC is tipped to join Manchester City next week after the Chelsea midfielder reportedly agreed terms.Transfer guro Fabrizio Romano reckons a transfer fee will be decided after City’s Champions League final against Inter Milan on Saturday.
      Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic should complete a move to the Etihad following their showpiece clash against Inter in IstanbulCredit: AP
      The Premier League champions are already said to have held advanced talks over signing the Croatia star.
      And the 29-year-old admits he’s open to a move after Chelsea’s “very bad” season.
      City have just sat out one major transfer battle as Real Madrid landed Jude Bellingham.
      And so far the Treble seekers are not seen as in the running for West Ham skipper Declan Rice.
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      So recruiting a cheaper, more experienced player with Champions League-winning pedigree makes sense.
      Kovacic, who is on international duty, stirred exit talk with frank comments over the past 24 hours.
      He told Nacional, via the Evening Standard: “I have one more year with Chelsea, this season was very bad.
      “Everything is going towards the fact that after five good years I will change, but in football anything can happen.”
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      The former Inter and Real ace even added: “Manchester City is a top team and deserves to be in the Champions League final.
      “That’s what I have to say. The summer is long, we’ll see what happens.”
      He softened those remarks only slightly by describing Chelsea as “phenomenal” and revealing he “loved” London as well as Blues’ fans.  More

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      Bizarre new rule set to hit long-throw specialists next season as football chiefs try to get play started quicker

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      LONG-throw specialists in the EFL will be BANNED from using towels to dry the ball next term.Club chiefs agreed the rule amendment at their annual meeting, which also formally introduces “multiball” to get play started quicker.
      EFL will ban using towels to dry the ball next termCredit: Rex
      In a statement after the meeting, where club bosses gave chief executive Rick Parry a new three-year mandate, a spokesman said: “The EFL will introduce a multiball system in all its competitions for the 2023/24 season.
      “Match balls will be placed on cones in designated areas at pitch side to help increase the time of the ball being in play.
      “Meanwhile, Clubs will no longer be permitted to use towels or other articles, including items obtained from spectators to dry footballs during matches.”
      The EFL clubs agreed to mirror the Prem’s reformed and toughened Owners’ and Directors Test, a move aimed at preventing rogue executives becoming involved in the game.
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      Clubs will also be banned from any transfers for 18 MONTHS if they are routinely late with HMRC debt payments.
      Any breaches of payment dates will be added up and if a club “accumulates 30 days of late payments in a 12-month period” they will be unable to sign a player for a fee or any consideration for three full transfer windows.
      The meeting was addressed by Sports Minister Stuart Andrew, who again warned Prem clubs they face Government intervention if a new cash deal with the EFL is not swiftly agreed.
      Premier League and EFL bosses remain at daggers drawn over parachute payments and other issues, with Parry wanting 25 per cent of the top flight’s TV income to be given to his clubs.
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      The Minister said: “We want a thriving football pyramid, and more money must flow through the game to make this happen.
      “It remains our firm belief that the best solution is a football led one and I am hopeful that the resolution will be found soon.
      “I would urge both sides to reach a deal as soon as possible. It is in the game’s interests to avoid the risk of further financial uncertainty.
      “If one is not found the Regulator will have a backstop power to intervene and force a solution.” More