Print Features

Subterms

    More stories

    • 250 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Jude Bellingham owes superstardom to mum he calls his ‘queen’ & ‘hero’ ex-cop dad – as Jose Mourinho praises family

      by

      GRATEFUL Jude Bellingham made mum Denise the centre of attention after his Wembley triumph as thanks for helping his dreams of glory come true.The Champions League winner, 20, credits the woman he calls his Queen with getting him within touching distance of Euros greatness.Jude Bellingham owes a lot to his family following his Champions League victory with Real MadridCredit: AFPJude has won the coveted trophy in his first season at the Spanish clubCredit: GettyReal Madrid star Jude took Denise, dad Mark and younger brother Jobe from the crowd and later fought back tears as he thanked his family for their support.He said: “This is the best night of my life. I was all right until I saw my mum and dad’s faces.“The amount of nights where they could be at home by seven o’clock and they’re doing trips at 11 and 12 at night to take me to football.“And my little brother there who I’m trying to be a role model for. Yeah, it’s the best night of my life.”READ MORE ON JUDE BELLINGHAMEngland fans were now urging Jude to save his strength for the upcoming Euros in Germany, after playing 42 games for Real in a debut season which saw him La Liga Player of the Year.Chelsea fan Richard Wilson, 36, from Sunbury-on-Thames, Surrey, said: “Jude has played twice as much football as most top professionals at his age — he must be knackered.“But he has the ability to become a true England great.”On Saturday night Jude celebrated the 2-0 win over former club Borussia Dortmund by taking Denise to the sidelines to meet former Madrid manager and TV pundit Jose Mourinho, dubbed The Special One.Most read in FootballJude snapped the pair together, telling smiling Mourinho: “Sorry about that, my mum’s fancied you for years!”Mourinho later told TNT Sports: “Special player, special family. To see that family, the way they are there, they are not looking for cameras, they are not looking for the VIP seats, they are just there to support their kid in the most humble way.Gareth Evans recalls playing against ‘exceptional’ 16-year-old Jude Bellingham on his debut“For me, it’s really beautiful. Family, we play for them, especially in these moments, we play for them.”Mum Denise, 54, had accompanied former Birmingham City player Jude when he was sold to Dortmund in 2020 for £21million — then stayed by his side as he moved to Madrid last year for an initial £88million.Retired cop Mark, 48, remained at home with 18-year-old Jobe, currently playing for Sunderland.Denise made sure to celebrate her birthday, in December, back in the UK.Jude wrote online: “Happy Birthday to my Queen! Love you more than life.”He has admitted: “Without my mum, sometimes I’d get too low with the lows or too high with the highs and I stay pretty humble because I’ve got her around.“She’s a great laugh as well. We get on so well, and we’re always doing stuff together. The role my mum is playing is massive.“It’s probably the biggest role of anyone, more than my coaches and managers, to be honest.”Denise, a former human resources manager, looks after all of Jude’s financial affairs, while Mark is his manager.Jude said: “It leads to great conversations at the table. It can be anything from a discussion about a movie or something that happened to, ‘By the way, Real Madrid is interested . . . ’.”Jude has said he only has “good memories” about his childhood in Hagley, West Midlands.He was not obsessed with football as a young child, despite Mark being a prolific striker in the non-league game.When taken along to his dad’s training sessions, he opted to make a daisy bouquet for his mum or play hide and seek.Jude took a photo of his mum with her crush Jose MourinhoCredit: Pixel8000But he became hooked. He recalled: “We talk about footballing heroes, and my dad was like my first.”“Seeing the way he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football.”The family’s unwavering support let him focus on simply being a “good footballer” and not getting caught up in the trappings of attention and fame.But The Sun revealed he has found time for romance with Dutch model Laura Celia Valk, 25.Yesterday he flew back to Madrid ahead of a huge parade in the city to mark the club’s 15th European Cup win.That means he will not be available for England’s friendly against Bosnia and Herzegovina at St James Park, Newcastle, tonight.But he will join team-mates in time for our final friendly before the Euros against Iceland at Wembley on Friday night.An England source told The Sun: “He’ll probably join in light training with the squad on Wednesday or Thursday but Gareth Southgate will want him to take a well-earned break.“He might be on the substitutes’ bench against Iceland but is unlikely to get any game time.”Supporter Paul Taylor, a 46-year-old building firm director from Birmingham, said: “We have our best chance in my lifetime with this squad and Jude is our stand-out player. He needs to take a break before the Euros.”And events organiser Jemma Swift, 39, from West London said: “We have our best chance of finally winning a trophy.“If he stays fit and fired up it’ll be an incredible summer!”READ MORE SUN STORIESThe England source added: “I’m sure Jude will be raring to go once the Euros kick off and will be fired up when the time comes.“He has tasted success and now he will be wanting more in an England shirt.”Bellingham has found romance with Dutch model Laura Celia ValkCredit: Instagram/lauraceliavBaby Jude with mother DeniseCredit: Twitter More

    • 263 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Ballon d’Or fave Jude Bellingham will take on Utd reject Jadon Sancho in Champions League final – who will take glory?

      by

      TWO of England’s most expensive football stars go head to head in tomorrow night’s Champions League final.One is considered to be the best footballer in the world and the other a trouble-maker on the pitch.We take a look at Jude Bellingham, now he’s become one of England’s most expensive starsCredit: GettyAnd we compare him to Jadon Sancho, who he’s set to go up against tomorrow night – and who has a much more complicated reputationCredit: GettyJude Bellingham, 20, more than justified the £88million transfer fee Real Madrid paid for him by scoring 23 goals this season and earning player of the year awards.But that was not the case for Jadon Sancho, who was banished to Manchester United’s youth set- up last autumn despite the club shelling out a whopping £73million for his services.But Jadon, who has been accused of being stroppy and not training properly, now has the opportunity for one of the greatest comeback stories in football history.The 24-year-old winger will step out at Wembley for underdogs Borussia Dortmund, where he is currently on loan and uncertain about where he will be next season.READ MORE BEAUTIFUL GAMEJust three years ago both talents were on the subs’ bench for England in the Euro 2020 final. But manager Gareth Southgate hasn’t selected Jadon for his squad in this summer’s Euros while Bellingham is certain to start in the tournament’s games.Here we look at how the two attackers took such different paths.JUDE BELLINGHAM – THE GOLDEN BOYON the face of it, this son of a policeman from Stourbridge in the West Midlands could not be more different to his big-match rival Jadon Sancho.Most read in FootballJude Bellingham’s Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti described him as “serious, professional and mature”.Jude Bellingham is the favourite to win the coveted Ballon d’Or prize, and has been named the top footballer in Spain this seasonCredit: GettyEven his private life seems to be perfect, as he’s reportedly together with Dutch model Laura Celia ValkCredit: InstagramHe is the favourite to win this year’s coveted Ballon d’Or prize for the best player in Europe, and has already been named the top footballer in Spain this season.Jude Bellingham explains why Real Madrid move was ‘no brainer’ despite holding transfer talks with European giants In his first campaign at Real, who have been crowned champions of Europe a record 14 times, he won the country’s league title and netted  23 times.That’s an incredible total for a 20-year-old midfielder.Even his private life seems to be perfect. Jude is reportedly dating 25-year-old Dutch model Laura Celia Valk, who has become a regular part of his Madrid lifestyle.The stunning blonde boasts nearly 500,000 followers on Instagram and has posed for a string of brands, including PrettyLittleThing and Lipsy. Their relationship follows his split from Instagram model Asantewa Chitty last year.It’s very special for me to play this game, but we have to try to put the emotions to one sideJude BellinghamBellingham owns a £156,000 black BMW SUV and lives in a luxurious gated estate in the upmarket La Finca area of Spain’s capital.The handsome star has been courted by the biggest brands, modelling for swanky fashion label Gucci and becoming a brand ambassador for Adidas’s Predator football boots.Undoubtedly, though, his focus remains on the beautiful game.Bellingham does not court attention, isn’t seen falling out of nightclubs and isn’t one to talk about his private life.Keeping his feet planted firmly on the lush green turf are his parents.Mum Denise, 55, moved with him to Madrid, sometimes acting as his chauffeur and also making his bed.Ex-cop dad Mark, 47, is his agent and has been helping manage his son’s career since he was a youth star at Birmingham.Bellingham displayed a mature approach when talking about tonight’s final, admitting: “It’s very special for me to play this game, but we have to try to put the emotions to one side.” Jude’s parents Denise and Mark are supporting him through this phase of his careerDad Mark has helped him manage his career since he was a youth star for BirminghamBut in a couple of ways, Jude and Jadon have some things in common.They both signed for Borussia Dortmund as teenagers rather than risk ending up on the bench of a moneybags Premier League side.Bellingham, who made his league debut for Birmingham City aged just 16 in 2019, was courted by Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool among others.Instead, the next year, just like Sancho, he joined the top German team.He has also been known to speak his mind rather than simply towing the party line.Bellingham was fined by the German Football Association in 2021 after criticising a referee in a big match between Dortmund and rivals Bayern Munich. He said: “You give a referee, that has match-fixed before, the biggest game in Germany. What do you expect?”Earlier this year, there were allegations that Bellingham had called ex-Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood a “rapist” during a game in the Spanish league.Greenwood’s side Getafe reportedly asked that the apparent dig — which referred to a charge against the striker which prosecutors later dropped — be placed in the referee’s official match report.Following a LaLiga probe into the alleged slur, the accusations were dismissed amid reports it could not be proven what Bellingham had said.JADON SANCHO – COMEBACK KIDIT was something of an understatement when Jadon Sancho said this week it is “crazy” that he will be playing in tomorrow night’s Champions League final.The South Londoner went from one of the game’s most sought-after footballers to exiled from his own squad last September.It’s been pretty tumultuous for Sancho recently, as he was exiled from his own squad not that long agoCredit: GettyStrict Man Utd manager Erik ten Hag said that he hadn’t been picked for the side that lost 3-1 to Arsenal due to his ‘performances in training’Credit: GettyBut it might not be completely fair to just say that he’s ‘lazy’Credit: GettyIt came after strict Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag said publicly that Sancho had not been picked for the side that lost 3-1 to Arsenal due to his “performances in training”.The forward was banished from the first team and made to train alone at the youth academy.He wasn’t even allowed into the canteen and had to eat his meals from a lunchbox.Earlier this year, he left Old ­Trafford on loan to return to former club Borussia Dortmund.The player had hit back at ten Hag’s “performance” accusation on social media, insisting that it was “completely untrue” and claiming he was being made a “scapegoat” by the struggling club.His gaffer demanded an apology but Sancho refused, preferring to spend four months in exile instead.This week, one of Man Utd’s coaching staff, Benni McCarthy, said Sancho, 24, had told him, “I ain’t apologising, because if I do I’m apologising for being lazy, always being late and not giving my best”.Which he didn’t think was true. Off the pitch, Sancho was filmed partying with Nigerian model and dancer Cocainna, 26. And it wasn’t the first time he had been accused of taking his eye off the ball.Sancho has been filmed partying with Nigerian model Cocainna off the pitchCredit: InstagramDuring his first spell at Dortmund, Sancho didn’t show up on time for a training session ahead of a key game, and was also suspended by the club for coming home late from international duty.As a 17-year-old youth player at Manchester City, he refused to return to training, reportedly in a bid to force a move away from the club.Benni thinks that Sancho didn’t give in to ten Hag’s demand because, “from the streets, no one wants to apologise”.The controversial player grew up on a housing estate in Kennington, raised by his hard-working parents.And he emphasised his attitude to the game ahead of tonight’s big match, revealing: “I grew up with cage football and it’s always been with me.“Every time I go on the pitch, I always try and do the skills I do in the cage.”Calling him lazy may be unfair as, when Jadon was still at school, he travelled from South London to ­Watford most days to train with their youth team. He then left home at 14 to be closer to the Hertfordshire club and, a year later, he joined Manchester City.I grew up with cage football and it’s always been with meJadon SanchoThe ambitious youngster wasn’t happy with a £30,000-a-week pay cheque just to play in City’s reserves.He’d been named player of the tournament at the under-17s Euros for England and decided to switch to Dortmund in the hope of getting first team game time.His stunning performances in Germany saw him picked for England, and he came off the bench as a sub in the Euro 2020 final against Italy.But his failure to convert a penalty, with Marcus Rashford and Bukayo Saka also missing, cost the national team the match.Even though he fell out with Man Utd, he has remained good pals with many England stars, including Jude Bellingham — who he described as a “friend.”READ MORE SUN STORIESWhatever tonight’s result, the fact that Sancho is on the biggest stage in club football is a huge turnaround.As he said: “It’s kind of crazy . . .  me being in the Champions League final, especially where I came from. I’m just happy.” More

    • 263 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      We had 5 hours of hell as Siena had life-saving op…but she’s fixed now. She’s our heart warrior, says Jack Wilshere

      by

      FORMER Arsenal and England star Jack Wilshere suffered “five hours of hell” as his five-year-old daughter Siena had life-saving cardiac surgery.And he said he had been “100 per cent” sure she would die during the operation to fix a hole in her heart in February.Retired football star Jack Wilshere suffered ‘five hours of hell’ as his five-year-old daughter Siena had life-saving cardiac surgery, pictured with wife Andriani, leftCredit: Eleven Miles.Siena had a rare kind of heart issue which required swift actionCredit: Eleven Miles.Jack, 32, also recalled how he and his wife Andriani spent 45 minutes crying as they were gripped by the fear of losing her.Only a month earlier, doctors had told the father-of-four that Siena — his second-youngest child — had the heart condition.While it can be fatal, it often does not need surgery — but Siena had a rare kind which required swift action.Arsenal ace Jack, who played 34 times for his country, told The Sun how he lost almost a stone due to stress during the month between her diagnosis and the surgery.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSEven worse was the moment when Siena, now six, was given an anaesthetic just before the op began.He said: “When I took Siena down to the surgery I had to drag my wife out of the anaesthetic room and we went to a room upstairs and we were just crying, both of us, for about 45 minutes.Heart murmur“It was five hours from hell, waiting for the phone to ring. It was a blur.”Jack and Andriani have now become ambassadors for the British Heart ­Foundation, and he praises the charity’s work in helping to keep poorly children like their daughter alive.Most read in FootballHe also hopes to alert other parents to the signs of heart problems.In Siena’s case the early symptoms for a congenital heart defect, which means it was present from birth, were not ­obvious.Four Arsenal stars confronted Arsene Wenger after huge stars sold to bitter rivals, reveals Jack Wilshere Jack said: “She was probably a bit more out of breath than her friends when she was on a trampoline, and chest infections hung around for longer.”Medics thought it may be due to asthma, because Andriani had ­it as a child.But it took two years for the real cause to be discovered, during a family holiday in Cyprus, where many of Andriani’s relatives live.Jack said: “My kids got ill — nothing serious — ear infections. The doctor listened to her heart and said, ‘I don’t want to worry you, but I can hear a bit of a murmur in her heart’, and said, ‘You should get it checked when you get back to the UK’.“That doctor saved my daughter’s life.”A cardiologist carried out a series of tests on Siena, and days later, rang Jack, who coaches Arsenal’s under-18s, just as he was about to go away with his squad.He recalled: “At the time I found out I was with my assistant.“I was at the training ground and I virtually broke down in his arms when I told him. All my staff were brilliant.”The hole in Siena’s heart was so serious that surgery was arranged for just a month later.Tests had revealed the gap in the muscle wall between the lower ­chambers of her heart meant it had to work much harder, which is why she was so out of breath.A tearful Andriani, 33, said: “I remember just falling to the floor and crying, I just couldn’t believe the news. It was shocking.”Siena after the life-saving February operationCredit: BBC SportOnly 40 per cent of people born with a heart defect need heart surgery.Often the issues are spotted while the child is in the womb.But the worst cases carry the chance of sudden death, and it is necessary to carry out the operations while patients are still young.Siena had a rare condition in which, Jack said, her veins had rerouted because they were leaking into her lungs.The wait for the day when she would be “fixed” was almost impossible for the doting dad to bear.And there was also the fear of his daughter undergoing a precarious operation.He said: “I remember the date she got diagnosed — the 27th of January — and she eventually had the surgery on the 27th of February, and that whole month I lost six kilos.Bag of nerves“I can’t even remember it, it was so stressful, because obviously there were risks involved in the surgery.”There was a one per cent chance she wouldn’t wake up.”His wife was equally anxious.Andriani said: “The night before, we were a bag of nerves. I remember having this feeling in the pit of my stomach.”A team of medics had to close the defect in Siena’s heart, which could have caused sudden death.She had surgery on Monday and we were back home on Friday. She was laughing, she’s really bubbly, she loves lifeJack WilshireAfter crying with his wife, Jack went for a coffee with his parents and took a walk around the block.Thankfully, they got the message that Siena had pulled through.Andriani recalled: “When we went down to the intensive care unit, it was all such a blur.“I heard Siena cry and it was then that I knew she was going to be OK.”Jack is in awe of the way his brave daughter had dealt with the terrible ordeal.He said: “I have been through surgery. I had a lot of injuries as a player, and it took me ages to recover.“She had the surgery on the Monday and we were back at home on the Friday and she was laughing.“She’s really bubbly, she loves life. It’s great to have her fixed.”And he added: “We call her our heart warrior. The bravery and strength she’s shown has been incredible.”Three months on, it seems that Siena is making a good recovery.Jack said: “The surgery has made all the difference and she has so much energy now.”Up against itThe breathlessness and coughing fits have relented.The couple are far from alone, because every day 13 babies in Britain are diagnosed with congenital heart disease.It was the British Heart Foundation which helped Jack and Andriani to understand what they were up against.Andriani said: “We didn’t know anything about congenital heart conditions and never thought our daughter would ever require open- heart surgery.“Turning to the BHF made us feel less alone and gave us the answers and support we needed.”The charity has been funding research into heart conditions for more than 60 years and put £99million into the field during 2022-2023.Wilshere and partner Andriani have become ambassadors for the British Heart FoundationCredit: BBC SportProud dad Jack says: ‘We call her our heart warrior’Credit: Eleven Miles.Jack said: “We’re supporting the British Heart Foundation because without life-saving research keeping children’s hearts beating, we might not have Siena here with us today.”It is not the first time the star has faced a health crisis with one of his children.His eldest son, Archie, 12, from his relationship with Lauren Neal, often had to be rushed to hospital in the middle of the night, suffering from seizures.Under controlJack, who also has daughter ­Delilah, ten, with Lauren and a four-year-old son, Jack Junior with Andriani, said in 2019: “My wife and I would sit up most nights because most of the seizures were happening at night.”Fortunately, doctors got the ­condition under control.Now Jack’s aim as a British Heart Foundation ambassador is to raise awareness of the charity’s important work and to encourage people to have any problems or concerns properly assessed.Many adults don’t even know they have a hole in the heart.Jack said: “There are people ­suffering cardiac arrests who have gone undiagnosed.”And he added: “You know your child better than anyone. If you think something isn’t quite right, don’t take no for an answer.READ MORE SUN STORIES“It is the most common defect you can be born with.”
      To donate £5 please text FIVE to 70507 and help British Heart Foundation fund more life-saving research.
      Jack played 34 times for EnglandCredit: Getty More

    • 175 Shares159 Views

      in Soccer

      Forget Beckham, here’s proof that Gareth Southgate has always been the ultimate fashion icon

      by

      IF there is one thing footie boss Gareth Southgate does well besides managing the England team, it is being a dapper gaffer.He caused waistcoat sales to soar as he led the Three Lions to the World Cup semis in Russia in 2018, then sported a sharp suit and tie for Euro 2020 when England made the final at Wembley.Gareth Southgate is a real fashion iconCredit: PABut the unlikely style icon has since opted for more relaxed polo shirts and cardies, “to put players at ease”.Gareth, 53, told GQ mag: “When you’re working with young lads, you don’t want to be too stiff in what you’re doing or wearing.”Deputy Fashion Editor Abby McHale takes a look at Gareth’s gear over the years as player then manager . . . 1995Clean-shaven 25-year-old Gareth holds a Union Flag in full Nineties clobberCredit: GettyCELEBRATING in his playing days with a Union Jack flag after his first England call-up in 1995, the then clean-shaven 25-year-old Gareth is in full Nineties clobber.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe Aston Villa star was on trend for the time with a Calvin Klein jumper tucked into jeans, worn with a belt.With the average age of today’s England squad about the age he was here, the lads would be curious to check out the cut of his jib.1996In 1996 Southgate rocked this white sweatshirt by Japanese sportswear brand MizunoCredit: GettyTO be fair, there’s no points for fashion flair at the training ground – and Gareth looks more on the ball with his footie than his appearance.Back in the day, the Villa hotshot might just have got away with that white sweatshirt by Japanese sportswear brand Mizuno.Most read in FootballBut he teamed it with three-quarter-length tracksuit bottoms with natty side zips.Maybe best we don’t get too good a look at them here.Inside Gareth Southgate’s love life including secret Tesco car park meetings2006New Middlesbrough manager Gareth is bossing things in his roomy suitCredit: PA:Press AssociationSTARTING his managerial career at Middlesborough, after seeing out his playing career there, Gareth is working hard to look the part.But whatever his skills as an aspiring leader of men, at age 35 he is not bossing things sartorially.He is hardly playing a blinder with the roomy suit, stripey tie and checked blue shirt, although the whistle and flute do sort of match his hair.Time to raise his game.2014While managing the England U-21s Southgate wore an all-blue get-up with brown beltCredit: Getty Images – GettyNOW managing the England Under-21s, and into his forties, our man has a sharper, short haircut and is finally getting somewhere style-wise.The all-blue get-up, with brown belt, is nothing too offensive yet not the most trendy.He was clearly expecting a spot of rain, but the duffle coat on his arm does stray into “dad on a day out with the kids” territory.2018Southgate changed up his style for the 2018 World Cup and boosted sales of waistcoatsCredit: AFP or licensorsGRACING the big stage at the World Cup with a newly suave vibe, this is a total transformation.Our boys suffered semi-final heartbreak in a defeat to Croatia but it took nothing away from the gaffer’s suit.His Marks & Spencer three-piece catapulted him into the hall of football fashion fame.Waistcoat sales and online memes went wild, as brands copied the look.Some hailed it as the male corset, framing a fella’s body.2021A sharp Gareth at the last EurosCredit: GettyTHREE years on from that wondrous waistcoat and Gareth still looks sharp.But he’s done away with the three-piece suit, to keep it simple and not draw too much attention to himself – maybe a lesson learned?The navy suit and pocket square are jazzed up by a polka-dot tie, which was dubbed lucky by some until we lost in the delayed Euros final to Italy.Quite the sophisticate on the side-line is our Gareth.2022 The England coach debuted a knitted polo back in 2022 for the World CupCredit: GettyWHILE Southgate has said this year he is all about thin knits, it seems he has already been wearing the look for two years.Debuting a knitted polo back in 2022 for the World Cup, the £39.50 Merino wool blend zip neck was once again an instant hit with fans.And it seems the 2018 waistcoats may never see the light of day again after he told BBC Radio 4 that he hasn’t worn one sinc2024Gareth wore this posh cream cardy for GQ magTHIS year as England boss Gareth might be trying to fly under the radar with his outfits, but it seems to be having the opposite effect.READ MORE SUN STORIESPosing for GQ mag in a posh cream cashmere cardy, the 53-year-old looks more dapper than ever.Showing cardigans don’t just have to be for the older generation, let’s see if his new laid-back attitude for a younger England squad stands us in good stead for the Euros next month. More

    • 188 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Chelsea ace Raheem Sterling handing out tuition-fees to help more Black students get into university

      by

      FOOTIE ace Raheem Sterling is helping more Black, African, and Caribbean heritage students go to university.It will be the second year of the scholarship programme from the foundation named after him.Raheem Sterling is continuing his efforts to get more Black students into top universitiesCredit: GettyHe says that many students are put off applying due to the potential for financial strain on their familyCredit: The Raheem Sterling FoundationHis initiative comes as research found that from 2021-22 fewer than five per cent of UK students starting undergraduate degrees at Russell Group universities were black.The Chelsea and England player, 29, will give a financial boon to 14 successful applicants to get them through higher education without worrying about having enough cash.Raheem told The Sun: “You only have to look at the data to see that very few capable and talented students from minority backgrounds are applying for university.“A lot of that hesitation stems from the anxiety that the financial strain can place on not only the student but their family.READ MORE ON RAHEEM STERLING“There are plenty of young people from challenging backgrounds, from minority communities, that have the talent to really make a difference in this world, but they are hit by obstacle after obstacle.“I wanted the Foundation to take away some of that worry and allow young people to focus on maximising that talent, whether that be at university or other.”The grants are for students attending King’s College London and the University of Manchester.Potential students can only apply for the grants if they have accepted an offer to study at one of the universities.Most read in FootballIt covers tuition fees, accommodation expenses and other essential educational costs, allowing students to focus on their studies rather than affording to live.Research by the Department of Education found that worries about living costs and day-to-day finances are one of the top concerns of students.Inside England’s stunning five-star Euro 2024 base with robot waiters that will cost £800,000One previous grant recipient in London said: “It has helped me massively by taking away my financial burdens. “Having the financial means for transport, clothes, food and other expenses is costly, especially in London.“I had more time to focus on my studies, very useful in busy exam periods.”A law student at Manchester who was given the funding last year said: “The grant has given me the gift of time, allowing me to work on my professional development and craft a successful application to Rare Foundations: Law, a highly competitive programme for students interested in commercial law.”They also told how the foundation provided networking opportunities and specialist CV workshops.Another recipient told how it has “given me peace of mind” allowing them to focus on their university life.The scheme also provides three-years of mentorship for each of the beneficiaries, something Raheem credits with turning his life around.He said: “I’ve loved hearing from our first-year scholars and how they have benefitted not only from the financial support but the mentorship programme too.“To me, this is just as valuable as the education.“Mentorship played a huge role in me reaching the top levels of professional football, and I want other young ones to benefit from the guidance and support that a mentor can offer them.“We really want to build upon this scholarship programme. “This year we have made 14 places available across King’s College London and University of Manchester and I’m hoping, moving forward, that we can positively impact more lives in minority and underserved communities.”The Raheem Sterling Foundation is focused on helping improve social mobility, education, and employment opportunities for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.READ MORE SUN STORIESOther initiatives the charity supports include the #BoyFromBrent project, which has put amnesty knife bins across London’s Brent borough, and a broadcast academy linked to talkSPORT and News UK.
      The deadline to apply for the grants is May 30 and can be applied for on the websites of King’s College London and The University of Manchester. More

    • 275 Shares179 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside Phil Foden’s incredible rise to fame from trophies to money off pitch – and new nickname given to him by mates

      by

      ENGLAND sensation Phil Foden has been dubbed “Fodenballs” by his mates — for following in the footsteps of David “Goldenballs” Beckham.Like Becks, the attacking midfielder is netting trophies on the pitch and millions of pounds off it.Man City ace Phil Foden has been dubbed the David Beckham of his generation – as friends call him ‘Fodenballs’Credit: GettyPhil is currently expecting his third child with sweetheart Rebecca CookeCredit: Sophie Eleanor Photography / Go PR & EventsManchester City ace Foden is set to star in tomorrow’s FA Cup final against rivals Manchester United.The showdown comes on the back of another incredible season in which he won his sixth Premier League title and scored a stunning 24 goals in all competitions.He was named both Premier League player of the year and the Footballer Writers’ player of the year. And on Tuesday Gareth Southgate named the 23-year-old in his provisional 33-man squad for next month’s Euro 2024 tournament in Germany.READ MORE ON MANCHESTER CITYBut humble Foden is proving just as savvy when it comes to doing deals. Latest publicly available accounts from his companies show his off-pitch earnings shot up by almost £10million.His wealth has increased by £4.8million in a year after setting up PWF Management Ltd to handle his image rights and sponsorship deals.That is the equivalent of £400,000 a month.Most read in FootballFoden and mum Claire Rowlands are listed as directors of the “sports activities” firm.He has also amassed £4.4million in a second firm, Rondog Sports Ltd — named after his nickname of “Ronnie”, given to him by his gran to differentiate him from his dad, who is also called Phil.Man Utd & Man City Premier League combined XIThe Man City ace with mum Clare and dad Phil SnrFoden has deals with Nike, Hugo Boss and jewellery firm Cernucci on top of his £200,000-a-week City wages.Top players also earn from the sale of merchandise including shirts that bear their name. Shrewd Foden also set up PF Property Holdings in 2022.Foden, expecting a third child with sweetheart Rebecca Cooke, 24, has splashed out £2.8million on a home in the footballer enclave of Prestbury for parents Phil Snr and Clare.He then paid £3million for the five-bedroom mansion where he lives with Rebecca, five-year-old son Ronnie and daughter True, one. It is just a stone’s throw from where United’s Wayne Rooney used to live.Despite it all, Foden still has some way to go to catch up Goldenballs Beckham who, according to the recent Sunday Times Rich List, is now worth £455million with wife Victoria. Also, unlike Becks, Foden is yet to amass a huge garage of supercars, having only passed his driving test in December while at the wheel of a VW ID3.However, he does have a £150,000 Mercedes G Wagon — decked out with sky blue seats — and a £100,000 Mercedes Vito people carrier.Despite his millions, Foden remains a regular visitor to the working class area of Edgeley, Stockport, where he grew up and learned his skills while kicking a ball against a wall.He is a loyal customer of Scissor Trim where he pays £20 for a skin fade, grabs Indian takeaways from Bombay Castle and often pops into Fresh Clothing.Fans pay tribute to Phil back home in StockportCredit: Matthew Pover LimitedAnd he and Rebecca shunned glitzy venues in Manchester to hold a baby shower for their third child at League One Stockport County’s function room.The ace is also a close pal of Stockport-based boxer Niall Brown and loves nothing more than going fishing with pals. He famously missed City’s 2018 title celebrations to go fishing with his dad.He also loves the freedom of riding quad bikes with his childhood mates.A source said: “Phil’s a legend to City fans on the pitch, and a legend to his family and friends off it thanks to his down-to-earth nature.“He can afford the finest things in the world, but loves nothing more than going back to where he grew up, getting a hair cut, seeing his mates and having a kickabout with some of the kids that idolise him.”It’s good to play with [kids in Stockport] and see a smile on their face. I just want to be a good role model for themPhil FodenPhil said previously: “I’ve still got family around Stockport, so I go and visit sometimes, and kids are just starstruck to see me.“It’s quite strange because I was one of those kids and was just the same as them.“They look up to you, so it’s just to give something back because I used to play there growing up. “It’s good to play with them and see a smile on their face. I just want to be a good role model for them.”If City win the FA Cup tomorrow, Foden will bag his 18th trophy of his career since making his City debut in November 2017.In 2018 he became the youngest recipient of a Premier League winner’s medal.Since then he has won five more Premier League titles, four League Cups, two FA Cups, two Community Shields, a Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup.He also won the U-17 World Cup with England, prompting City boss Pep Guardiola to describe the then 17-year-old as “the most talented player” he had ever seen.United legend Ryan Giggs, who retired aged 40, is the most decorated English footballer of all time winning 34 trophies including 13 league titles.We take a look at Phil Foden’s record compared to David BeckhamLEEDS FANS’ HOLS DASHTWO Leeds United fans are ditching their family holiday in the Med to go to their team’s Wembley play-off final — before flying back.Liam Cooper and Dean Fairbrother will leave their wives in their Ibiza hotel late tomorrow night to catch the 12.50am plane to London.Leeds United fans Liam Cooper and Dean Fairbrother will briefly ditch their family holiday to catch the game’s match on SundayCredit: Liam Cooper / SWNSA look at the duo’s mad dash to see the match at the weekendThey will see Sunday’s 3pm game with Southampton which may return Leeds to the Premier League.READ MORE SUN STORIESFood inspector Liam, 43, from Leeds, and, Dean, 59, a finance adviser in Devon, will fly back to continue their £5,500 hols.Dean said: “Normal people don’t understand why you do these things.” More

    • 225 Shares169 Views

      in Soccer

      Move over Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham the real England champ is a 15 yr old SUBBUTEO star

      by

      WHEN Cayn Matthews dusted off his old Subbuteo set eight years ago, he expected to play “two or three times a year”.Little did the 56-year-old dad know but his daughter Ruby, then seven, would “fall in love” with the game and go on to become one of its most promising stars.Ruby Matthews is the under 16s captain of the English Subbuteo Association and one of the game’s most promising starsCredit: PARuby, 15, will represent England at the Subbuteo World Cup this SeptemberCredit: Damien McFaddenNow 15 and soon to sit GCSEs, she will represent England at the flick-to-kick game’s World Cup this September.She is among a squad of 36 Three Lions, sponsored by Weetabix, to battle it out in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, where the event is being held for the first time.Ruby, ranked fourth in the world in the under-16s category, has travelled across Europe to play and reached the quarter-finals of the European Championships in Gibraltar last year.She is hotly tipped for victory in the Eland Cables FISTF World Cup after claiming her first win in the Majors — the third biggest type of Subbuteo event — in Paris in February.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSRuby, from Flintshire, tells us: “It felt amazing, I never expected to win. “I thought I would do OK but was in utter shock, it didn’t hit me when I won. “I immediately took to the game when my dad got out his Subbuteo set. “If it wasn’t for him helping me to play I wouldn’t be where I am now.Most read in Football“Most of my friends don’t know what Subbuteo is, and I think it confuses them but they think it’s cool I play something so different.”There are believed to be around five million Subbuteo players worldwide and in recent years the UK has seen a resurgence in the table-top game.Robert Lewandowski names THREE teams that could win the EurosAlan Lee, 54, chairman of the English Subbuteo Association, believes Covid and the “enthusiasm” of former players are the driving force.He says: “Membership is up about 600 per cent now compared with pre-Covid, when there were about 20 members of the national association. “We have around 200 full members now and our social media groups have about 10,000 people combined.”Alan, who started playing at 11, says for Tunbridge Wells, where the game was invented, to host the World Cup is “a boyhood dream come true”.He has high hopes for England’s chances in the tournament.Alan says: “We’re just like the England men’s football team — we have always had that potential, and good individuals, but never quite done it at the big tournament, the World Cup.“We have won a silver medal and a few bronze medals but we’ve never got a gold, so this year is the one. It has to be. “Football is coming home!”A replica of England’s real-life 1966 World Cup winnersCredit: RexMore than 300 competitors from 26 countries will travel to Tunbridge Wells to participate in two world cups, which will take place over the same weekend in September.England will be sending six teams — Under-12s, Under-16s, Under-20s, Open, Veterans and Women’s — to battle it out in 30-minute matches split into two halves.Alan says as many as 64 games can take place simultaneously during the early stages of the World Cup and he anticipates “thousands of spectators at any one time” will be there to watch.It will be a special moment for Tunbridge Wells, which remains proud of the success story of Subbuteo and its Brit creator Peter Adolph, who died in 1994.He created the game in 1947 after being demobbed from the Royal Air Force at the end of World War Two and soon it became a hit among children in the UK and across the globe.The first Subbuteo World Cup was held in 1987 — the same year that 16-year-old player Justin Finch, then ranked No5 in the world, insured his right hand for a reported £160,000.Celebrity fansAmong the game’s celebrity fans are footie bosses Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson, comic Frank Skinner, former Conservative leader Michael Howard and punk band The Undertones, who mentioned Subbuteo in their 1980 song My Perfect Cousin.The game’s popularity began to fall in the Nineties as video games took over.By 2003, annual sales had dropped to 500 per year, down from 3,000 the year before.But now an increasing number of younger people are playing — including Elliott Dieu De Bellefontaine, 27, of Elstow, Beds.He has represented England at “around ten World Cups”, including leading the Under-19s to a bronze medal in 2017, and has travelled “most of Europe” thanks to the game.Border Force officer Elliott, who trains eight hours a week to perfect his art, tells us: “My mates all take the mick out of me.“I was brought up playing on PlayStations and gaming consoles, so there is a bit of shock when I tell people that I play Subbuteo — until I speak to the older generations, who love it.”With just four months to go until the World Cup, England’s Subbuteo stars are hoping to at long last bring home a gold — and know victory is within flicking distance.READ MORE SUN STORIESIn Weetabix’s new competition, Brits can nominate themselves or someone they know who is facing an upcoming challenge or goal they’d like a boost with, and Weetabix will step in to give them the Weetabix Advantage to help reach their goal.If you, or someone you know – an individual or a group of people – deserve the Weetabix Advantage, tell us why and share your or their story via the https://weetabix.co.uk/bix-by-bix before 5th June 2024 to be in with a chance. Ruby, second from right, with fellow playersCredit: Damien McFaddenSubbuteo inventor Peter Adolph died in 1994Credit: TwitterEngland international football kits on Subbuteo figuresCredit: Alamy More

    • 238 Shares99 Views

      in Soccer

      Inside Euro 2024 security HQ where crack cops work around the clock to protect tournament from terrorists and hooligans

      by

      HIGH-definition screens flash constant streams of data as British intelligence researchers work around the clock in a vast security nerve centre bigger than a football pitch.Crack police teams from nations across Europe sit side-by-side at workstations in a constant vigil to snuff out potentially deadly threats.Policing teams from across Europe will be working together at Euro 2024 to combat disorder and potential terror threatsCredit: AFPGerman police have been taking part in operational drills at stadiums ahead of Euro 2024Credit: EPABut this is not Britain’s GCHQ listening post or a Pentagon war room — it is the hub of the biggest soccer security operation in history at Euro 2024 in Germany this summer.It is expected that 300,000 fans of England and Scotland will head from the UK for the month-long tournament, which kicks off on June 14.German authorities admit that, as well as soccer hooligans, they are trying to counter unprecedented terror threats from IS and rogue factions spilling out of the war to the east in Ukraine.And growing tensions in the Middle East are only adding to their security concerns.READ MORE EURO 2024Germany’s answer has been to pull together 300 of Europe’s top police brains to oversee the daunting security challenge from the purpose-built International Police Cooperation Centre at Neuss in western Germany.And the man in charge of the British presence spoke for the first time last night of the vital role that will be played by three specialist officers spearheading the intelligence operation.Former Met officer Mick Johnson, director of the UK Football Policing Unit, told The Sun on Sunday: “I’ve no doubt it’ll be a well-run machine.“We’ll have three staff working shifts. That’s one more than most nations, because English fans tend to start early and finish late.Most read in Football“They’ll work in three-day stints starting one day before games, match day itself and the day after.“We have a team of plain-clothed operational football officers — once called spotters — on the ground watching fans who will report to our team based in the IPCC.Euro 2024 Controversy: Spying Suspicions in Scotland Fans’ Lodging“If they spot anyone causing trouble, or identify anyone who’s been banned from matches, they will tell the IPCC team who’ll relay it to the Germans who will step in to take action as they see fit.“There will be three or four games a day so each hub will feed into the central IPCC coordinating centre at the same time.“It’s a good system. We’ve used it many times and I have to say the Germans are up with the best in the world at organising it.”Security forces face the task of protecting 2.7million fans, 24 team base camps, and ten stadiums where 51 matches will be played between June 14 and July 14. Top officials in Germany have been visiting the policing HQ as they prepare for an influx of fans next monthCredit: GettyPolice officers will have direct contact with the nerve centre as they keep control of fans around the groundsCredit: GettyPolice leave has been banned as fan zones nationwide are expected to attract 12million visitors and have been identified as the most likely terror targets.In an unprecedented move, Germany has invited 300 security experts from competing nations to the state-of-the-art Neuss HQ.UK experts will work in shifts alongside officials from Germany, Europol and European football body Uefa sifting data from live CCTV streams and the undercover spotters mingling with fans. The hub of the operation is a hangar-like 500  sq  metre conference room equipped with 129 computers and a giant 40  sq  metre screen.Tournament director Philipp Lahm said: “From the outset, security has been our top priority.”Oliver Strudthoff, director of the IPCC, said: “Each country knows its troublemakers better than any other and the foreign experts present in Neuss will be able to identify them more quickly.“A delegation’s size will depend on number of fans and how potentially dangerous they are. “England, for example, will have more representatives than Switzerland.”Among the visitors to the HQ was Herbert Reul, minister of the interior of North Rhine-Westphalia.The country’s interior minister, Nancy Faeser, revealed in March that an Islamist attack in Moscow had raised “dangers to a new level”.Her chilling alert came just days after the ISIS-K terrorist atrocity at a concert hall in Moscow killed 143.Among the drastic steps taken to protect Three Lions fans will be a plan to close borders temporarily and to ramp up frontier checks. A ring of steel will be thrown around every team base, including the home for Gareth Southgate’s England stars, who will be staying with their families at the five-star Weimarer Land Golf Resort and Spa in Blankenhain.More than 1,600 known England yobs have been banned from travel to Germany during the tournament.Between 800 and 1,300 police will be deployed around the stadiums at each match guarding three separate security perimeters.Cars will be checked at the first, bags searched at the second and tickets scanned at the third.Fan zones are feared to be softer terror targets as they welcome tens of thousands for every match.The German Army will scan the skies around matches for drone attacks and will feed data into the IPCC central command.Mr Johnson, whose nerve centre team will be led by his deputy Paul Foley, expects a minority of England fans to cause trouble but shares the hope it will be kept to a minimum.He said: “With England there are always going to be those who drink too much and engage in anti-social behaviour. “They might sing songs that they shouldn’t and are generally a pain in the arse.“But, by and large, they don’t get involved in premeditated violent outbursts and we’ve no major concerns with any of the teams we’ll be playing in the group stages.READ MORE SUN STORIES“We’re hopeful that it’s going to be really pleasant and enjoyable for all and let’s hope England fans get voted best fans in the tournament. “We’ve got to win something.”English police are hoping the nation’s supporters are the best behaved at the tournamentCredit: Getty More