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    Former Premier League stadium given bizarre new name but there’s a heartwarming reason why

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    A FORMER Premier League stadium has received a bizarre new name – but there is a heartwarming reason behind it.Wigan Athletic won promotion to the top-flight in 2005 under Paul Jewell.A former Premier League ground will be is now known as The Brick Community StadiumCredit: RexThe 24,000-seater ground’s new name starts from May 13Credit: GettyAgainst all the odds, the Latics managed to defy the odds and stay up for eight years before finally suffering relegation in 2013.However, even that year saw the club make history as they famously beat Manchester City to lift the FA Cup.The 25,138-seater DW Stadium, which opened in 1999 and is also home to Rugby League giants Wigan Warriors, hosted all of the ups and downs throughout that period, including Europa League matches after their Wembley success.However, things have continued to go downhill since and they now find themselves in League One.READ MORE ON FOOTBALLHowever, under boss and former midfield star Shaun Maloney, hopes are high that years of struggles are coming to an end and they can try and push for promotion next term.And that will all be done at their newly-named home – The Brick Community Stadium.Fans were initially in shock at the news, but now the club have explained the reason behind the switch.A statement explained: “The renaming of Wigan’s historic multi-sports stadium is in partnership with local charity, The Brick, whose work began over 100 years ago to improve the lives of those in the town most in need. Most read in EFLCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS“The Brick delivers effective solutions to address poverty and homelessness across the Wigan and Leigh Borough, providing supported and emergency accommodation services, street outreach services, wrap-around person-led support, a food community, and affordable furniture and essential household items to make a house a home.”It added: “The inspirational charity, which was Latics’ Official Charity Partner in both 2017/18 and 2018/19, has a long-standing affiliation with the Football Club, collectively raising much-needed funds to help people who are homeless, in poverty, or facing a debt crisis. Wigan and Bolton stars clash in huge brawl after feisty League One derby“The name will initially remain in place until the end of 2025 with further support for local charities to be announced in the coming weeks.“Both clubs will also continue to work together to secure a long-term commercial stadium partner for 2026 and beyond.”Both clubs have also vowed to work closely with The Brick to explore other ways that the partnership can benefit the town.Wigan Athletic chairman, Ben Goodburn, said: “The Stadium is a spiritual home for so many of our loyal fans across both clubs, many of whom will have been, in some way, impacted by the positive work of The Brick.”The ground has hosted Premier League and Europa League action over the yearsCredit: RexWigan’s ground will be called ‘The Brick Community StadiumCredit: Instagram @laticsofficial More

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      Shocking moment ‘piece of s***’ fan sucker punches 15-year-old during rugby match as furious dad vows to hunt him down

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      A RUGBY LEAGUE match was suspended after a fan punched a 15-year-old player.The Auckland Rugby League under-16s fixture between the Otara Scorpions and Manurewa Marlins was marred by the incident.A fan in a blue top walked onto the field to confront a playerCredit: X formerly Twitter / @mmmmaggyHe appeared to swing his fist at the player’s headCredit: X formerly Twitter / @mmmmaggyThe player managed to move out of the way of the punchCredit: X formerly Twitter / @mmmmaggyFootage has shown a man walking onto the field and throwing a punch at the Scorpions player.Fortunately, the player was able to move out of the way and reduce the amount of contact made by the attack.The father of the player has now called on social media to help him identify the fan.He wrote: “Needing help identifying this piece of s*** in the blue/yellow/white top who thought it was OK to run on the field and blind shot my 15yr old son.READ MORE IN FOOTBALL”Manurewa Marlins won’t give up his name, so I’m letting social media do its thing.”The Marlins char Karla Matua argued that social media does “not always show the full context of the situation.”She also claimed that they are “aware and have evidence to support this.”Matua told New Zealand website Newshub: “Our priority has been to ensure our team and team management are safe mentally, physically and spiritually and we have wrapped support services around them.Most read in Football”We are in positive dialogue with Otara RL and both clubs want the same thing, for our kids to be safe and those responsible are dealt with appropriately.”We are following ARL (Auckland Rugby League) processes and look forward to positive outcomes for our kids and whānau [families].”Otara Rugby League club general manager Willie Maea has insisted that they are trying to identify the spectator alongside the help of the Marlins.The club will then bring the matter to the police once it is confirmed.Maea said: “While the actions on the field were controlled by the referee, they don’t condone adults coming on the field.”For us, we’re wanting to identify these men, charge them with assault and trespass them from this ground.”The ARL have also released a statement on the incident and confirmed that the police would be involved.It read: “ARL has zero tolerance for this type of violence and behaviour.READ MORE SUN STORIES”We have judicial processes in place and when necessary, we will involve the police.”This matter is now being managed by the police and we are unable to be commenting further.” More

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      Championship club’s former stadium looks unrecognisable as rugby ground with just 2000 capacity

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      A CHAMPIONSHIP club’s former stadium looks unrecognisable after being transformed into a rugby ground with a capacity of just 2,000.The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium is home to the Sheffield Eagles rugby league side.The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium looks completely different these daysCredit: https://twitter.com/OLPSheffieldIt was built over the site of the demolished Don Valley StadiumCredit: ReutersDon Valley used to host Rotherham and was the second-largest athletics arena in the UKCredit: PA:Empics SportThe 25,000-seater has now been transformed into a modest 2,000 rugby league stadiumCredit: https://www.instagram.com/sheffieldolympiclegacypark/Built between 2021 and 2022, it was opened two years ago following a £10million construction project.The arena holds 2,000 people and also plays host to the Sheffield Giants American football team.It was the previous home of Sheffield United Women too.But it looked very different back when Championship side Rotherham played there.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSThe Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium was built over the site of the Don Valley Stadium, which closed in 2013 and was demolished a year later.The £29m arena, opened in 1990, was the second-largest athletics stadium in the country and could hold 25,000 spectators.That number doubled for concerts and similar events.But it also played host to Rotherham when the club was without a home for four years.Most read in FootballBEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERBetween 2008 and 2012, up to 10,000 fans were allowed in for each game before Rotherham moved into the New York stadium – where they remain to this day.However, the Don Valley Stadium was closed by Sheffield City Council 11 years ago as part of a £50m budget cut.The site, which had previously been renovated in 2008, was entirely demolished.But in 2014, it was announced that an Olympic Legacy Park would be built over its remains.As well as the new stadium, the site now contains an indoor sports arena and several schools.It now plays host to the Sheffield Eagles, who had also played at the Don Valley Stadium and were forced to ground-share in Doncaster, Rotherham and Wakefield until the 2022 opening of the Legacy Stadium.Speaking ahead of its opening, captain Anthony Thackeray said: “It’s been a long time coming.“It’s really important for the club, the fans and everyone involved.”Rugby league side Sheffield Eagles play at the Legacy StadiumCredit: AlamyThe ground was only opened in 2002Credit: AlamyIt took eight years to build and also houses some schoolsCredit: AlamyIt is a lasting legacy to the Olympic gamesCredit: Alamy More

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      Major sporting event could be MOVED after 26 years due to Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s controversial Man Utd plans

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      RUGBY LEAGUE chiefs are drawing up alternative venues for Super League’s Grand Final should Manchester United’s Old Trafford home be bulldozed.Except for 2020 due to Covid, United’s stadium has hosted the showpiece since 1998 — but Red Devils’ new part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has the ground earmarked for a massive redevelopment.Sir Jim Ratcliffe has some bold plans for Old Trafford which could impact Rugby League chiefsCredit: PARatcliffe could propose a new venue on the land next to the current groundThat could mean a temporary shift of venue with Manchester City’s Etihad likely to be the preferred choice.Newcastle’s St James’ Park and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which have hosted Magic Weekend and the Challenge Cup final respectively, are also in the frame.Ratcliffe, 71, has admitted Old Trafford has become “tired” and needs updating. To that end, the Ineos chief’s preference is to build a new stadium on the land owned by Man Utd.READ MORE ON MAN UTDOne ambitious plan comes under the guise of Ratcliffe wanting to build a so-called “Wembley of the North” with the help of taxpayer funds.Another includes a 90,000 seater stadium with a new Stretford End.He said: “It’s about time someone built a national stadium in the north of England.”If it can be achieved, it would clearly be my preference.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS”I would be very excited for the north of England.”A stunning step towards this goal includes a five-year plan to redevelop Old Trafford to be a site which stretches down to the water and links to MediaCity.Erik ten Hag insists he does have Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s backing amid rumours Man Utd boss faces sack in summerAmenity plans include a five-star hotel and a host of other facilities to accommodate Man Utd’s global supporter base, with only a megastore and museum currently at the club’s disposal.Huge infrastructure projects like the one proposed on the grounds of Old Trafford are nothing new to Ineos, who are currently building a £5billion petrochemicals plant in Antwerp, Belgium.Ratcliffe completed his deal for a 27.7 per cent stake in Man Utd in February.Inside Ratcliffe’s Man Utd plansEverything you need to know as Sir Jim Ratcliffe takes charge at Manchester United… More

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      Alan Shearer’s glam daughter Hollie flashes bra in see-through lace top as fans call her ‘beautiful woman’

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      ALAN SHEARER’S daughter Hollie has left her fans in awe as she hung out in the streets of Paris.Shearer’s 29-year-old daughter has built a strong following on social media with a series of glam pics and is often sharing fashion tips online.
      Hollie Shearer took social media by storm once moreCredit: Instagram
      Hollie took to the streets of Paris with a glam outfitCredit: Instagram
      Hollie left her Instagram followers in aweCredit: Instagram
      This time she took to the streets of the French capital with a see-through top and a pair of jeans.
      Hollie issued the following caption on Instagram: “Strolling the streets of Paris.”
      Her 83,000 followers took to the comments’ section soon after she posted those three photos.
      One fan posted: “Beautiful woman.”
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      Another commented: “Gorgeous.”
      A third wrote: “Lovely pictures.”
      This fan said: “Stunning.”
      And that one gushed: “Beaut.”
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      Away from the camera, Hollie is a singer-songwriter and released a number of singles over the past few years.
      The social media model is dating England rugby superstar Joe Marchant and lives in Paris with the Stade Francais centre.
      Alan Shearer’s glamorous daughter Hollie shows off her toned tummy in crop top leaving fans in love with her outfit-
      The couple recently holidayed in Marrakech and kept fans up to date with their travels.
      Inside Hollie’s glamorous life as singer, model, football icon’s daughter and rugby Wag…
      Hollie is the glam daughter of Newcastle legend and pundit Alan Shearer
      Father and daughter; Hollie with dad Alan
      Hollie has become a social media star in her own right
      Hollie boasts over 83,000 followers on Instagram
      Singer Hollie dreams of living in Nashville, Tennessee
      She supported Sam Fender at her father’s foundation nightCredit: Instagram
      Hollie dazzled in glittery fishnet stockings as she performed on stageCredit: Instagram
      Hollie, left, posed with brother Will and sister Chloe, right on a recent holidayCredit: Instagram/@chloeshearer1
      Hollie has been dating England rugby star Joe Marchant since 2022Credit: Instagram @hollieshearer
      Hollie cheered on partner Joe from the stands at the World Cup in France alongside his sister Melita, mum Sue and dad JoeCredit: Instagram @hollieshearer
      Hollie wowed in this revealing bikini… but she stole it from her sisterCredit: Instagram / @hollieshearer
      Hollie often leaves fans swooning with her incredible toned bodyCredit: Instagram
      Hollie showed off her beach body on a swanky holiday to Greece
      Hollie cuts an elegant figure in a stunning red dress
      Hollie turned into a biker girl as she posed in a crop top and leather trousersCredit: Instagram
      She has accumulated a substantial following on InstagramCredit: Instagram
      Hollie frequently posts pictures to her adoring fans on social mediaCredit: @blackboughswim
      She treats fans to regular glimpses into her lifestyleCredit: Instagram
      The singer-songwriter loves being on the water in an array of colourful bikinisCredit: INSTAGRAM / @hollieshearer
      She loves maintaining her impressive tan on holidayCredit: INSTAGRAM / @hollieshearer
      Hollie shares the same confidence in front of the camera that her dad showed in front of goal
      Hollie posed in a pink bra and thong for PrettyLittleThing Valentine’s Day shootCredit: PrettyLittleThing
      Hollie’s posts regularly have fans hailing her as a ‘stunning princess’Credit: Instagram / @hollieshearer
      Hollie looks equally as glamorous when not just in a bikiniCredit: instagram @hollieshearer More

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      in Boxing

      I KO’d a boxing world champion – then I went to jail for assault and had to hang out with heroin addicts

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      FORMER boxer and rugby league star Garth Wood has detailed his experiences in prison after being sentenced for assaulting his partner’s ex-boyfriend.Australian Wood, 45, played rugby for South Sydney and Balmain Tigers between 1997 and 2005, before turning his attention to the fight game.
      Garth Wood won 14 fights during his professional boxing careerCredit: Getty
      He was sentenced for assaulting his partner’s ex-boyfriend in JuneCredit: Getty
      He had his first professional bout in February 2007 and went on to accrue a record of 12 wins, four defeats and one draw.
      Most famously, he knocked out former super-middleweight world champion Anthony Mundine in the fifth round of their first fight in 2010.
      The pair rematched in 2011 as Mundine secured a unanimous points victory.
      Then, after hanging up his gloves, Wood was incarcerated for an attack he carried out on his partner’s ex in June of this year.
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      Now a free man once more, he has opened up about the drug problem in prison.
      Speaking on the I Catch Killers with Gary Jubelin podcast, he said: “I was expecting it [prison] to be more of a man’s man experience where everyone is a tough guy.
      “I thought I’d be confronted with guys who wanted to fight me, but a lot of it was drug addiction and mental health.”
      He went on to add: “There were seven blokes in Parklea who were all on the heavy s*** [heroin].
      Most read in Boxing
      “They all shared the syringe. Yet there was one bloke who had AIDS. He was the last one who was supposed to blast it.
      “It just shows you what they are willing to do for the addiction.”
      Wood also explained how he developed a way of staying in shape while behind bars alongside some of his other inmates.
      But while he did grow close to some of them, he also insists he came into contact with some dangerous people.
      He said: “I got with a gang of people – not a gang, people who wanted to train – and I tell you what, I did some of the hardest training sessions in there.
      “We did a lot of burpees, bear crawls, squats, push-ups. It was like a big circuit which went for nearly 40 minutes and the first couple of sessions I couldn’t walk for the next couple of days.
      “I met some really good people in jail, but there’s also some evil f***ing people as well, which I wouldn’t care to run into ever again.” More

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      Micah Richards reveals he chose to become pro footballer ahead of shock other sport as Gary Lineker jokes ‘bad decision’

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      MICAH RICHARDS chose to become a professional footballer ahead of a shock other sport.The former England defender made the revelation on the latest episode of The Rest Is Football podcast.
      Micah Richards chose football over rugby league as a youngsterCredit: Getty
      He and Alan Shearer were both asked if they were good at any other sports growing up.
      This prompted Richards to explain his love of rugby league as a youngster in Leeds.
      “Rugby,” answered the ex-Manchester City star. “I was good at rugby.
      “Yorkshire lad, Leeds Leeds Leeds, Leeds Rhinos, of course I was. I was quick.”
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      Clarifying which code he played, Richards added: “Rugby league, yeah. I used to love it.
      “I had to pick out of going to rugby and going to football but I picked football and…”
      However, before he could continue, host Gary Lineker quipped: “Bad decision,” prompting all three to burst out laughing.
      After moving from Birmingham, Richards grew up in Leeds, the home of 11-time Super League champions Leeds Rhinos.
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      Gary Lineker joked that Richards made a ‘bad decision’Credit: The Rest Is Football
      He also spent time in Leeds’ academy as a striker before he was released.
      Richards later switched to defence and played for Oldham ahead of joining City’s youth system aged 14.
      His decision to pursue a career in football appears to have paid off, with the 35-year-old going on to win two Premier League titles with City.
      He also lifted both the FA Cup and League Cup during his playing days, alongside winning 13 caps for England.
      Since retiring, Richards has become a fan-favourite pundit on the BBC, Sky Sports and CBS. More

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      I played in the 2007 Rugby World Cup final for England… now I’ve bought a non-league football team

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      A FORMER England Rugby player is one of the surprise people involved in the takeover of non-league club Yeovil Town. The National League side have finally changed ownership after weeks of speculation.
      Ex-Rugby star Paul Sackey (right) and Matt Uggla are among the main faces heading up the Yeovil takeoverCredit: Rex
      The SU Glovers group confirmed it had “taken on the stewardship” of the club earlier this week.
      And former England World Cup star Paul Sackey is among the group involved, it has emerged.
      The ace was a part of England’s rugby union side who got to the 2007 World Cup Final before losing to South Africa.
      But now he has moved onto pastures new and is looking to help turn Yeovil’s fortunes around after a difficult few years.
      READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
      The bid is believed to be headed up Sackey, businessman Matt Uggla and his mother Julie-Anne.
      Sackey and Uggla were interviewed about their intentions for the club in a video uploaded to Yeovil’s social media channels.
      Sackey, 43, said: “We love the history of the club. We’ve done a lot of research and background on the club and we love it.
      “It’s got such a passionate fanbase. It’s a big club but the position it’s in now, it’s probably too big for this place, so we want to bring [the club] back to where it needs to be.”
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      Uggla added: “We’re really excited. It’s taken some time to get to this point but we’re really excited to be here and we’re hoping that we can move the club forward and bring it back to where it belongs.”
      Yeovil were relegated out of the EFL in 2019 after 16 consecutive seasons in the football league.
      Their mission for the rest of the season is to avoid being relegated again with the Glovers only out of the National League bottom four on goal difference. More

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      Charlton’s mystery takeover bidders revealed as Lenagan family – owners of Rugby League giants Wigan Warriors

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      CHARLTON ATHLETIC’S mystery takeover bidders are the Lenagan family — owners of Rugby League giants Wigan Warriors.The League One outfit have been a target for several parties but now the Lancashire-based family are close to a deal.
      Charlton’s takeover bidders have been revealed as the Lenagan FamilyCredit: Getty
      Family head Ian Lenagan is the RL club’s chief but has big football interests from his time at Oxford and as EFL chairman.
      His son Simon may be the family representative who steps in at Charlton as their main man if they conclude a move to buy 80 per cent of the club.
      Owner Thomas Sandgaard wants to sell the majority of the Addicks and recently brought in a new management team.
      Director of football Andy Scott was at Oxford during Lenagan’s reign while “deal fixer” Charlie Methven had links with the U’s before moving to Sunderland.
      Read More on Football
      Methven also has allies at Charlton with the new regime and — despite denials — is a main player behind the scenes.
      The group should have no problems with approval for their plans.
      Charlton are 12th in the League One table amid a turbulent campaign.
      Dean Holden replaced Ben Garner as Addicks boss last month after a disappointing start to the season.
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      Holden’s side earned a 2-1 win over Lincoln on Saturday after beating Portsmouth in midweek.
      The Addicks are nine points above the third tier’s relegation zone and the same amount off the playoffs. More