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      Fans stunned by England star’s appearance and say ‘seeing him like this is like seeing your teacher outside of school’

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      JORDAN PICKFORD was labelled “Clark Kent on a normal day, Superman on match day” after fans marvelled at an “unrecognisable” off-duty snap.Skipper Harry Kane shared a smiling, behind-the-scenes picture of team-mates to highlight England’s “togetherness” at Euro 2024.Some supporters refused to accept it was Jordan Pickford almost hiding on the left at the back, behind Luke Shaw, Harry Kane and, right, Tom HeatonCredit: XJordan Pickford was slick between both the posts and his ears as he celebrated shootout glory against Switzerland with his more usual hairstyleCredit: AlamyBut it was Pickford’s new appearance that dominated the reaction from supporters.Just one simple change had many fans doubting it was really the Three Lions’ quarter-final shootout hero in the photo.Gone was the Everton keeper’s slicked-back hair, in came a tidy, even old-fashioned, look.One fan posted: “Seeing Pickford without his hair slicked back is like seeing your teacher outside of school…”READ MORE ON EURO 2024Many confused the 30-year-old with Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon, 23.And others even refused to accept it was Pickford.One posted: “Still couldn’t recognize him even after reading this tweet.”Another wrote: “No way that’s Pickford…”  Most read in Euro 2024EURO 2024 LIVE: KEEP UP TO DATE WITH ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM GERMANYAnd just a day after Pickford produced the only spot-kick save needed to KO Switzerland, his fresh-faced look was compared to the difference between docile character Kent and heroic alternative self, Superman.Well, the 66-cap ace between the posts is almost like kryptonite to opponents in shootouts at major tournament.Quick-thinking England hero Jordan Pickford was forced to change penalty shootout routine at last minute vs SwitzerlandPickford has now saved four out of 14 such penalties – compared to just two being kept out by all other England stoppers from 1990 to 2012.Some of that that, however, might be down to his “secret weapons” – like inside tips on penalty takers written on his water bottle, as against the Swiss.Yet despite his prominence, fans were still baffled by the effect of a simple new look.He looked the most innocent of the foursome – smiling angelically at the back behind Kane, Luke Shaw and Three Lions’ training keeper Tom Heaton.One supporter said: “How has his whole face just changed just because his hair isn’t slicked back.”But with the Three Lions potentially just two games and a week from glory, Pickford will hope it’s a case of new hair today, new gong tomorrow.England player ratings: Saka the saviour for Three Lions but subbed Kane stuggles in penalties thriller vs SwitzerlandBUKAYO SAKA showed huge courage as he dug England out of a hole and through on penalties against Switzerland, writes Tom Barclay.The Three Lions looked to be going out when Breel Embolo had put Swiss ahead on 75 minutes.But Arsenal star Saka dragged England back into five minutes later with a stunning effort off the post.To penalties it went – just like it did between these two sides five years ago in the Nations League.And just like back then, Jordan Pickford made a save – repelling the Swiss’s first effort from Manuel Akanji.England were perfect from then on, with Cole Palmer, Jude Bellignam, Saka, Ivan Toney and finally Trent Alexander-Arnold sending the Three Lions into the semi-final.Here’s how the players rated…Jordan Pickford: 7Had his heart in his mouth when Xherdan Shaqiri’s corner deep into extra-time hit the post and bar, but then pulled off a smart stop to take it to penalties.Saved Manuel Akanji’s first spot-kick by diving low to his left.Kyle Walker: 6Spent most of the game on the right side of a three which meant he could not get forward. Embolo got in front of him for Switzerland’s opener. Won the toss so the penalties were taken in front of the England fans.John Stones: 6Crisper passing in the first half, much better than his sloppy Slovakia display, but his deflection on Dan Ndoye’s cross diverted it to Embolo.Ezri Konsa: 6Was decent in the first half of his maiden start at a major tournament but, like the rest of the team, went into his shell after the break.Kieran Trippier: 6Had been expected to play right wing-back but was once again on the left.Solid defensively but, as has been the case throughout the tournament, offered little going forward on his unnatural side.Declan Rice: 7Anticipated, and subsequently, won a number of 50-50s at the base of England’s midfield.It was his decoy run that opened up the space for Saka to find the corner, before his 25-yard wonderstrike was denied by a flying Yann Sommer save in extra-time.Kobbie Mainoo: 6Some decent drives forward from midfield. Looked as if he would fire home an opener just before the break afterBukayo Saka’s nice cutback, but was denied by Granit Xhaka’s excellent block.Bukayo Saka: 8 and STAR MANDid not play at left wing-back as expected, but was England’s most dangerous attacking player throughout – and none more so when he came to the rescue with his 80th-minute leveller which flew in off the post.Showed huge courage in the shoot-out as he stroked home his penalty beautifully, three years on from missing in the last Euros final.Jude Bellingham: 6Produced a few graceful dribbles which showcased his quality in the first half but pretty quiet.Looked knackered but showed big cojones with his low penalty.Phil Foden: 6Admitted before the game that his central role would suit him better and it seemed to in the first 20 minutes, but faded after that.Harry Kane: 4This system just does not suit him. He needs runners, but does not look like he is going to get them.Just could not get into the game and was subbed out of it in extra-time, seconds after he was sent crashing into his manager on the touchline.SUBSCole Palmer (for Konsa, 78): 7One of three players to come on in reaction to Switzerland’s opener – why did it take so long, Gareth? Dispatched England’s first spot-kick with aplomb.Luke Shaw (for Trippier, 78): 6First minutes of football since February, slotting in on the left side of back three as Southgate went for broke.Eberechi Eze (for Mainoo, 78): 6Carved out a nice bit of space for himself in the dying moments but fired wide.Ivan Toney (For Kane, 109): 7It was no surprise to see him come with the prospect of penalties on the horizon – what was more of a shock was that it was for spot-kick maestro Kane. Was knocked over in the box right at the end of extra-time, but nothing was given. Confident penalty.Trent Alexander-Arnold (for Foden, 115): 7Thrown on late into extra-time. Belted home his spot-kick to win it.Gareth Southgate: 4The adjusted back three system worked to a certain extent, but still the approach looked to be to keep it tight and rely on a moment of magic.Saka provided that for the leveller, but given the talent at his disposal, it seemed very limited.Took an age to make a change – prompted only by Switzerland going ahead. But got his subs right when it came to the penalty shoot-out. More

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      Jamal Musiala was an artist on and off pitch… but one ex-Chelsea player was streets ahead, reveals old school teacher

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      JAMAL MUSIALA was an artist on and off the pitch as a youngster.The Germany superstar, who has lit up Euro 2024, grew up in England and attended prestigious private school Whitgift, in Croydon, South London, as a teenager.Jamal Musiala is now Germany’s star manCredit: RexHe plays the same way now as he did as a youngster, says his former teacherHe invited his former school coach to the Allianz last yearWhitgift has a rich recent history of helping produce footballers including Victor Moses and Callum Hudson-Odoi – with Musiala the pick of the bunch.But the Stuttgart-born lad was unlike most footballers who generally stick together and instead was more of a social butterfly.And one that also had a passion for a paintbrush in the rare moments he was not honing his talent with a football.His coach Andrew Martin, who is now Director of Football at Whitgift, recalled to SunSport: “Most footballers can be quite loud, brash and outgoing. Jamal’s the complete opposite, he’s very comfortable in his own skin and in himself.READ MORE ON EURO 2024“He had a real variety of friends which spoke to his character and how approachable he was. “He knocked about with some other boys in the football team, some in the hockey team and some who didn’t play sport at all.“Jamal dedicated all his time to football.  But he did really well across the board. He was a good student.“I wouldn’t say he was academically astonishing. But he did very well, his reports were always glowing about his character.Most read in Euro 2024129 goals in 39 matches helped lead Whitgift to numerous titlesThe youngster also had a strong academic backgroundMusiala represented England at all youth levels alongside Jude BellinghamEURO 2024 FREE BETS AND OFFERS“He really liked his art. His languages were obviously pretty strong, growing up in Europe.“He was well liked by teachers and pupils.Play Foden & Bellingham centrally & go for it! | Jack Wilshere’s plan to win the Euros“But as soon as he crossed that white line, there was a different side to him, he would switch on to a very determined and driven young man who believed in everything he did on the football pitch.”Martin is a former Crystal Palace player himself who was a schoolboy at the South London club when Gareth Southgate was still there in the mid 90s.Two games stick out in the Welshman’s memory from his time working with Musiala, who he still speaks to now and has been in touch with even during the Euros.One was an Under-12s national cup quarter-final down in Plymouth, when Musiala shrugged off a five-hour coach journey and netted a hat-trick in the first five minutes, eventually bagging seven in a 10-0 win.The other was in a semi-final in Peterborough a year later when Musiala, a diminutive No9 back then, was in tears at half-time after some rough treatment from the opposition, before having the last laugh as his second-half double secured a 2-1 victory.Musiala went on to score 129 goals in just 39 matches for Whitgift across Under-12, Under-13 and Under-14 age groups, as he combined his time with the Chelsea academy.Comparing his former pupils Moses, who went on to win the Premier League with Chelsea, current Nottingham Forest star Hudson-Odoi and Musiala, Martin said: “Victor was a physical specimen of a boy who could dominate games with his pace and athleticism.“Callum could literally do anything and everything, he was streets ahead of anything I’ve ever had before in terms of being able to be the complete package.Musiala is currently joint top scorer at the EurosCredit: GettyBut Musiala’s old coach admits ex-Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi was ‘streets ahead’ at WhitgiftCredit: 2013It was harsh to hook Gallagher at half-time… but Mainoo showed he’s the answer, says Jack WilshereKOBBIE MAINOO was always my preference to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold in England’s midfield, writes Jack Wilshere.I think he showed why in the second half against Slovenia.But I still feel that it was harsh on Conor Gallagher that he was taken off at half time.Firstly because it was probably our best half of the tournament.And secondly, because it didn’t feel like a Gareth Southgate thing to do.It will knock Gallagher’s confidence for sure.He will have thought that this was his chance, but he only gets a half.Having said that, despite the disappointing result, the second half was better and Mainoo proved he is the man – or boy – to play there in future.Read Jack Wilshere’s post-match verdict in full.Or check out all of Jack’s Euro 2024 columns.“Jamal was an out-and-out No9, the features he showed at school he shows now.“His close-quarters dribbling, his receiving, his goals.“The way he dribbles with the ball now on the telly in front of millions was exactly how he moved it when he was 12 or 13, his style of movement.“If you put two clips together from then and now, they would be identical.”Whitgift have a massive poster of Musiala pinned up on their state-of-the-art Sports Hall, along with images of fellow alumni Moses, Hudson-Odoi and rugby star Elliot Daly.The Bayern Munich attacker’s old school is proud as punch with what he is achieving with his life.Who is Euro 2024’s sexiest star?EURO 2024 has something for everyone from stunning goals, thrilling matches… and the continent’s biggest hunks, writes Jack Figg.Several stars have lit up the group stages with their skills on the pitch – but others are also catching the eye for their looks.But who is the sexiest?Thankfully AI boffins have carried out an analysis on the facial attractiveness of all players at the tournament.And it’s bad news for Gareth Southgate’s Three Lions who are the fourth UGLIEST in the competition – one place below Scotland.In fact it’s England’s group rivals Serbia who have fans swooning the most – boasting an average score of 77.90/100 with defender Strahinja Pavlovic deemed their most attractive.While Turkey defender Mert Muldur has been ranked as the tournament’s BEST-LOOKING player.But who is England’s sexiest star, and who makes the Euros’ hunkiest XI? Read our full story.And there will be plenty of fans cheering him on all the way back in Croydon when Musiala’s Germany take on Denmark in the last 16 of the Euros on Sunday.Martin, 44, added: “There is a huge pride in what the young man is doing at the moment.“Not just on the pitch but off it too. He’s not splashed across the front of papers, he lets his football do the talking.“I’m lucky enough to still be in contact with Jamal and his mum and dad.“Jamal and his mum invited me out to watch Bayern last year. It was great to see him play at the Allianz Arena.READ MORE SUN STORIES“Sadly I won’t get out to Germany due to it still being the school term.“But as a Welshman, I’m actually supporting Germany because we didn’t qualify!”Meet England’s Euro 2024 WagsEngland Wags range from childhood sweethearts to recently blossoming love stories.Katie Goodland (Harry Kane’s wife)The fitness instructor has been married to the England captain since 2019 and joined him in Germany with their four children after he joined Bayern Munich.Laura Celia Valk (Jude Bellingham’s girlfriend)The stunning Dutch model, 25, has more than half a million Instagram followers and is said to be absolutely smitten with the Real Madrid star.Rebecca Cooke (Phil Foden’s girlfriend)Foden’s childhood sweetheart and the mother of his two kids tends to keep out of the spotlight, but is a regular at England games.Dani Dyer (Jarrod Bowen’s girlfriend)England’s most famous Wag, former Love Island winner and daughter of Eastenders’ Danny Dyer.Iris Law (Trent Alexander-Arnold’s girlfriend)Dani Dyer isn’t the only actor’s daughter dating an England star. Iris’ dad is Hollywood legend Jude Law.Megan Davison (Jordan Pickford’s wife)Megan has been with Pickford since he was 14 years old. The couple married in 2022 and have one son.Olivia Naylor (John Stones’ girlfriend)The 33-year-old former beautician has stepped back from her role after giving birth to a baby son.Read more about the Wags who will be supporting England at Euro 2024 here More

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      Major change to rules in youth football matches announced after two year trial

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      HEADING is being outlawed from youth football matches in England, it was announced yesterday.It will be banned for the next three seasons under a new rule for all leagues, clubs and affiliated school matches, the Football Association says.The change will cover all under-seven to under-nine matches in 2024-25, before expanding to include under-ten level from 2025-26 and under-11s the following season.Deliberately heading the ball will result in the opposition being awarded an indirect free-kick.The indirect free-kick will be taken at the point where the ball was deliberately headed. If the ball was deliberately headed in the penalty area, the game will restart from the nearest sideline.READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWSIt follows a two-season International Football Association Board trial.Ex-professional footballers are more than three times as likely to be diagnosed with dementia than the general population.The FA said about 16,000 teams and 107,000 players participated in the Ifab trial, launched in 2022.The ruling body said: “Our aim is to create more opportunities for players with the ball at their feet.”Most read in FootballIn 2021 it was recommended professional footballers in England should be limited to 10 “higher force headers” a week in training.Akanda FC player Herman Tsinga dies after collapsing on the pitch following a header More

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      Eddie Hearn touts Liam Dillon vs Reece Bellotti as ‘British old-school classic’ ahead of NXTGEN’s seven-year anniversary

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      NEARLY seven years ago, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing made a decision that would change the futures of prospects for years to come.For years, the promotion had performed a juggling act balancing showcasing their prospects’ respective rises up the ranks on big shows and filling cards with pay-per-view worthy fights.
      Matchroom Boxing began their NXTGEN shows back in March 2017Credit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      The likes of Jordan Gill have graduated from the series and become household namesCredit: SPORRTSFILE
      2020 Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai has also featured on the NXTGen SeriesCredit: RICHARD PELHAM
      Matchroom Boxing supremo Eddie Hearn is thrilled with NXTGEN’s successCredit: SPORTSFILE
      Aware of the importance of doing justice to their up-and-comers and preparing them for bigger showcases to come, Matchroom created their wildly-popular NXTGEN series.
      The series has been a rip-roaring success, helping make the likes of Felix Cash, Jordan Gill and Galal Yafai – to name just a few – go from previous unknowns to household names.
      And to say NXTGEN is one of Hearn’s proudest achievements during his time at the Matchroom helm would be a major understatement.
      Hearn told SunSport: “It’s been great because a lot of the younger generation don’t get the opportunity to fight deep on the card.
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      “You’ve got guys that are headlining and co-main eventing.
      “The pressure of being in the press conference this week as the main event or a TV fight, a lot of guys that you bring through fight at five o’clock, six o’clock and you want to try to get them on the main card.
      “This is the opportunity to showcase them and build their profiles because you can’t be hiding that talent.
      “You have to show everybody how exciting and how good that next generation of talent is and eventually bring them on to the main shows at the big arenas.”
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      Reece Bellotti tops the bill of the latest NXTGEN show against Liam Dillon nearly seven years to the day since headlining the series’ first cardCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      NXTGEN’s maiden event was headlined by then-featherweight Reece Bellotti, who fittingly tops the bill of this weekend’s card at The Indigo at the O2 Arena just a few weeks shy of the seventh anniversary of his clash with Dai Davies.
      The British and Commonwealth Super Featherweight titles will be spoils for Bellotti this time around, provided he can get past undefeated Chingford clubber Liam Dillon.
      Eddie Hearn told Anthony Joshua some distressing news at Francis Ngannou press conference
      The match-up is, in the eyes of many, a throwback to domestic dust-ups of yesteryear
      “It’s old school, an old school classic this Saturday,” Hearn said of the clash of 130lbs tussle.
      “You’ve got a young guy in Liam Dillon against one of our favourites in Reece Bellotti – who has been up, been down, a very popular kid from Watford as well.
      “He’s won commonwealth titles. And it’s just one of those really good British old-school classics.
      “They won’t take a step back, both guys throw hundreds and hundreds of punches.
      “Both guys have got good chins, both guys can crack a bit.”
      Hearn has likened the tasty domestic super-featherweight clash to an ‘old-school’ British classicCredit: MATCHROOM BOXING
      This weekend’s main event isn’t the only fight veteran promoter Hearn is looking forward to.
      The 44-year-old said: “The undercard has also got some of our best young talent on it.
      “Cameron Vuong in a step up, Shannon Ryan – who looks like a future world champion.
      “Craig Richards back in action as well – and John Hedges as well.”
      Matchroom have an extremely exciting stable of prospects on their books, including the likes of Jordan Flynn, Hopey Price and the previously aforementioned Vuong.
      And with the continued benefits the NXTGEN platform provides, Hearn believes it’s only a matter of time before we see them competing in big and more meaningful fights.
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      He said: “These NXTGEN cards are about showcasing the future of the sport.
      “Some of these guys are going to fight for world championships in big arenas and this is a platform to bring them through.” More

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      Jake Humphrey reveals why he left BT Sport and opens up on awful bullying he ‘would not wish on worst enemy’

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      JAKE HUMPHREY has revealed he quit BT Sport for his family – as he launched an attack on social media abuse and recalled childhood bullying he “would not wish on my worst enemy”.The presenter says he “struggles with the modern world” and gets a stomach-wrenching feeling when he drops his kids off at school – due to the “nasty” treatment he received in the same setting.
      Jake Humphrey is glad to have stepped back from TV presentingCredit: Getty
      The broadcaster says his school dealt badly with his bullyingCredit: Getty
      The former Champions League broadcaster, 45, is now more focused on his High Performance podcast and also wrote How to Change Your Life.
      And he explained how he was “not always that comfortable” as a TV frontman, partly as “the lads-y banter thing is not for me”.
      The ex-BBC Formula One presenter admitted being ill at ease dealing with “firm opinions” on BT Sport, rather than more subtle debate.
      Humphrey told The Telegraph:  “I often felt I was doing High Performance all week, and empathy and understanding and leaning into people. Then, on Saturday, I was having conversations about sacking managers and dropping players, criticising decisions made by referees.
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      “I’d been dreaming for a long time, but not brave enough to take a leap.”
      He is also aghast at how toxic life online can be, having spoken out against “chauvinistic and nasty bullying” received by presenter Karen Carney.
      Humphrey said of trolling: “I think you would be a sociopath or something if it didn’t get through the armour sometimes.
      “I’ve always thought that if you just let this stuff go you are as complicit as anybody.
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      “The only place that reaction happens is on Twitter. No one has ever stopped me in the street and said it… I just feel exactly like I felt when I got bullied at school.”
      The former children’s game show presenter then relived some of the abuse he got at secondary school.
      He said: “When we drop the kids off, I still get the feeling in the pit of my stomach when I see them walking off with the bag over their shoulder.
      “It still triggers me to this day… God, the feeling of having to do that day after day after day, knowing what awaited. 
      “There were these two buses in the school car park and I’d go and sit in there on my own and just have my lunch.”
      Humphrey also believes his school’s handling of the matter only made him feel worse.
      He added: “At that age, particularly at that time, people didn’t really know how to deal with it. 
      “I was asked to stand up in assembly and the teacher said, ‘Can people stop bullying this guy?’ That just brings more heat.” More

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      I was kicked out of school at 16 for swearing at a teacher – now I make £45,000 a MONTH and I’m a boxing champion

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      A MAN who was kicked out of school at 16 for swearing at a teacher claims he now makes £45,000 a month and is a boxing champion.Teshi Cheema, 22, from Leeds, was raised by his grandparents in nearby Micklefield after his mum died unexpectedly.
      Teshi Cheema is a Thai boxing champion
      The entrepreneur said he was a disruptive and abusive towards his teachers at school.
      He told LeedsLive: “I was always cracking jokes, being immature, being a nuisance, trying to p*** off of my teachers.
      “Literally doing anything I could to not do any work, I would not do work.”
      Matters came to a head when Teshi, then 16, was put in isolation by his head of year.
      Read More Sport
      Teshi said: “I just didn’t agree with it and I started swearing at him.
      “We got quite close to each other and it nearly was an altercation and teachers did come out.
      “That was just the last straw and I got suspended.”
      Teshi’s record of bad behaviour stopped him from attending the local sixth form, and he left school with a string of rock-bottom grades.
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      His life only turned around when he took up Thai boxing at university after watching fights on YouTube.
      Teshi’s grandad Dilip drove him to training four days a week, patiently waiting in his car during the sessions.
      Dilip never missed a fight – and was in the crowd for the recent title fight in Leeds where Teshi won the British Thai Boxing Belt.
      Teshi has turned professional and manages 16 properties through his business House of Cheema – claiming he rakes in £45,000 a month.
      He now makes more in a month than he did in a year at his previous job as a Morrisons worker.
      The entrepreneur said he sometimes bumps into his old teachers – and is proud to tell them how he has turned his life around. More

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      Footie-mad lad, 6, stuns classmates at his school’s Halloween disco — by dressing as Man City’s Jack Grealish

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      A FOOTIE-mad six-year-old trumped classmates when he arrived at his school’s Halloween disco — dressed as Manchester City’s Jack Grealish.Nairn Rodgers put on the club’s kit and scraped his hair back in a band like his midfield hero before drawing on stubble.
      Nairn Rodgers stunned his classmates when he went as his footy idol for a Halloween school disco
      Jack Grealish is Nairn’s favourite playerCredit: Avalon.red
      His fancy dress inspiration came three days after Nairn fulfilled his dream of watching Grealish, 28, play and he got to tour City’s Etihad Stadium.
      Parents Jordan Rodgers, 26, and Michaela Goodwin drove him 200 miles for last Saturday’s 2-1 win over Brighton to celebrate his upcoming seventh birthday.
      Michaela, 23, said: “Jack Grealish is his favourite player and we’re proud of him and how much he suited the costume and actually looked like Grealish.
      “Other kids went as scary pumpkins, witches, Encanto, but no other footballers. Unfortunately, they don’t do prizes for best dressed any more.”
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      Nairn, who goes to Machanhill Primary in Larkhall, near Glasgow, plays football for his local team.
      Michaela added: “He’s only six but football is his everything.
      “He wants to be a footballer. It’s all he ever does and has done from when he could kick a ball.
      “His room is filled with Manchester City posters, football cards, scarves, and he has two strips.”
      Most read in Football
      Nairn now has fans of his own.
      After Michaela posted snaps of his Jack outfit on Facebook, Tracy Robson wrote: “Looks like him so much.”
      Amy Crawford said: “I’m howling. Why, he’s like a proper wee man.”
      Man City fan Nairn fulfilled his dream of visiting the Etihad and watching Jack play More

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      Jude Bellingham’s incredible dream to play for BARCELONA leaked… hours before Real Madrid star plays in El Clasico

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      JUDE BELLINGHAM had the one dream you keep secret before your El Clasico debut.That’s if a school ‘snitch’ is to be believed!
      Judging by his expression in training as Real Madrid prepare for El Clasico against Barcelona, perhaps Jude Bellingham knows his ‘guilty secret’ is outCredit: EPA
      Bellingham’s head was in the clouds if this display board is true
      The new £115m Real star has amazing stats in his first LaLiga campaignCredit: Reuters
      Revealing that Bellingham loved Adam Sandler movies might be considered embarrassing enough.
      But the kid who claims he was a Year 10 colleague of Real Madrid’s new hero also insisted England’s hottest talent wanted to play for BARCELONA.
      Bellingham lines up at Real’s fiercest rivals on Saturday after 11 goals in 12 games since his £115million arrival from Borussia Dortmund.
      The midfielder was signed more for his all-round gifts than his strike rate.
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      So the 20-year-old has made a staggering start to his career in Spain by anyone’s standards.
      But – according to a TikTok post from a ‘school-mate’ – Bellingham had OPPOSITE plans for his life in LaLiga when he was aged about 10.
      Photos uploaded to the social media site include a display board disclosing the kids’ fantasies for the future.
      And a scrapbook is notable for a photo apparently of the ex-Birmingham ace, captioned: “Point of view: You went to primary school with Jude Bellingham.”
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      The young Brummie is outed as an admirer of Sandler – who by then had featured in The Wedding Guy and The Waterboy but has more recently had top roles in Hustle and Uncut Gems.
      Bellingham is said to have listed talking too much as a bad habit – ironic as he seems so mature, relaxed and natural in interviews.
      And then came the killer confession under a section headed: “When I grow up I want to be…”
      In the top right the purported answer from Bellingham is: “A professional footballer for Barcelona and England.”
      If true, it was certainly a dream of two halves.
      He’s already won 27 caps after becoming the Three Lions’ third-youngest player ever – aged 17 years and 136 days against the Republic of Ireland in November 2020 aged 17.
      But playing for Barca at any stage would be a sensational development after he joined ‘El Clasico enemies’ Real in June this year. More