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    Arsenal ready to spend £10m on transfer for Brentford stopper David Raya with Emiliano Martinez set for exit

    ARSENAL are ready to up their bid for Brentford keeper David Raya.
    The Gunners will go as high as £10million for the Spaniard, who would be Bernd Leno’s back-up.

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    David Raya could be set to replace Emi Martinez at ArsenalCredit: PA:Empics Sport

    Brentford may sell as Raya — who turns 25 on Tuesday — is keen on the chance of Prem football.
    His arrival would also allow Arsenal to clear Emiliano Martinez’s move to Aston Villa.
    The Bees plan to look at Charlton’s Dillon Phillips as a replacement.
    Martinez was left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad for Saturday’s 3-0 victory over Fulham as he closes in on a move to Aston Villa.
    The stopper, 28, was heading to Birmingham to undergo his medical.
    And if he passes, as expected, his signing will be announced by Villa imminently in a £20million deal.
    The Argentinian has agreed a long-term contract believed to be worth around £60,000-a-week to join Dean Smith’s team.

    Martinez was a revelation between the sticks for the Gunners last season.

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    He was brought into Arteta’s side after the restart when Bernd Leno suffered a long-term injury.
    The stopper went on the star as the North Londoners won the FA Cup in August.
    And he kept his place ahead of Leno for the recent penalty shoot-out victory over Liverpool.

    Watch Arsenal hero Emiliano Martinez break down in tears and leave interview early after being asked about his family More

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    Football is back today and we are putting YOUR knowledge of the beautiful game to the test

    HERE we go again! Football is back today and we are putting YOUR knowledge of the beautiful game to the test.
    Match Of The Day Magazine has released its new brilliant Family Footy Quiz Book, jam-packed with brain-busting puzzles, crosswords, trivia questions and much more.

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    Here we go again! Football is back today and we are putting YOUR knowledge of the beautiful game to the testCredit: PA:Press Association

    Kick off the new campaign with our pick of pitch-perfect puzzles. Some are easy as a six-yard tap-in, while others are tougher than a 50-50 tackle on a muddy midfield. Answers at the bottom of the page.
    Match Of The Day Family Footy Quiz Book is out now (BBC Books) £6.99
    Premier League founders
    FIFTEEN of these clubs were in the Prem for its first season in 1992 – but do you know which ones?

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    Which of these clubs were Premier League founders?
    Goal kings
    Can you copy this crossword and solve it with the clues below?

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    ACROSS

    First club of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry (6)
    Joint 1997-98 Golden Boot winner, Chris __(6)
    Club that signed Ruud van Nistelrooy from Man United (4,6)
    Prem Golden Boot winner Robin van Persie played for this country (7)
    Surname of French striker who scored for six Prem clubs Nicolas __ (6)
    DOWN
    PFA Young Player of the Year in 1995 and 1996, Robbie __(6)
    Alan Shearer began his career at this club (11)
    Joined Liverpool in 1995 for an English record fee of £8.5m, Stan _(9)
    Didier Drogba joined Chelsea from this European club (9)
    First name of another joint 1997-98 Golden Boot winner __ Dublin (4)
    Golden boys
    HERE are the Golden Boot winners from the first and the last ten years of the Prem – fill in the blanks!

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    Polish up your knowledge of Golden Boot winners
    Transfer puzzlers
    HERE are the ten biggest transfers in football history – can you name the players?

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    Ten biggest transfers in football history – can you name the players?
    Title wordsearch
    THE surnames of SEVEN managers who have won the Prem title are in this grid, right – can you find them?

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    Find the top footie bosses in here
    Team teasers
    BELOW are eight Premier League Teams of the Year – name the missing players!

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    Name the missing players for your own top honours
    Career path
    IDENTIFY these Champions League superstars from their epic career histories . . . 

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    Can you follow the money to name the players
    World Cup winners
    CAN you name the World Cup winner or hosts of these tournaments?

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    Do you know your World Cup champs
    BEAT THE CLOK
    YOU have 60 seconds on each section to answer as many questions as you can . . . 
    The Prem
    Which player scored the first goal in Premier League history back in 1992?
    Which Premier League club did Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli play for from 1996-97?
    Which Prem club went unbeaten for the whole of the 2003-04 season?
    Who was manager of Blackburn when they won the Premier League in 1994-95?
    Michael Owen left Liverpool to sign for which club in 2004?
    Which country did Prem Golden Boot winner Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink play for?
    Which Premier League club used to play its home games at Maine Road?
    Which club did Tony Yeboah play for in the Premier League from 1995-97?
    Which Prem club’s shirt was sponsored by O2 from 2002 to 2006?
    Christian Gross managed which Premier League club between 1997 and 1998?
    The World Cup
    Which country has won the World Cup most times?
    Which European country knocked England out of the 2018 World Cup?
    What nationality is all-time World Cup top scorer Miroslav Klose?
    England famously won the World Cup in which year – 1958, 1966 or 1974?
    Which Germany player scored the winning goal in the 2014 World Cup final?
    Who’s the only player to win the World Cup three times?
    Which MotD legend scored a hat-trick against Poland at the 1986 World Cup?
    Which Italy defender was headbutted by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 final?
    In which year did Lionel Messi make his World Cup finals debut – 2002, 2006 or 2010?
    Who was named player of the tournament at the 2018 World Cup in Russia?
    The Champions League
    Which club was the winner of the first Champions League in 1993?
    Which stadium hosted the 1999 final between Man Utd and Bayern Munich?
    Which Scottish midfielder won the Champions League with Borussia Dortmund in 1997?
    Who was manager of Leeds when they reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001?
    Which English ref took charge of the 2016 UCL final between Real and Atletico Madrid?
    Who was manager of Chelsea when they won the competition in 2012?
    Which was the last Italian club to win the Champions League?
    Patrick Kluivert scored the winner in the 1995 UCL final for which club?
    Which Arsenal keeper was sent off in the 2006 UCL final against Barcelona?
    Who was the last Englishman to score in a Champions League final?
    All-round knowledge
    Croatian Alen Boksic played for which English club between 2000 and 2003?
    Which Premier League club was managed by Brian Horton between 1993 and 1995?
    Man United won the first Premier League title in 1993 – but who finished second?
    Mo Johnston and Tony Cottee were teammates at which Prem club in the 1990s?
    Who played at Highfield Road during their Prem days between 1992 and 2001?
    Which club was Kevin Phillips playing for when he won the Prem Golden Boot?
    Which Premier League club was sponsored by Dr Martens between 1998 and 2003?
    World Cup-winning forward Christophe Dugarry played in the Prem for which club?
    Which club did David Bardsley captain in the Prem during the 1993-94 season?
    Which manager quit as Swindon boss in 1993 to take charge at Chelsea?

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    Match Of The Day Family Footy Quiz Book is out now (BBC Books) £6.99

    ANSWERS

    HERE are the answers to the Match Of The Day quiz
    PREM FOUNDERS
    Middlesbrough, yes; 2. Blackburn, yes; 3. Notts Forest, yes; 4. Crystal Palace, yes; 5. Watford, no; 6. Leicester, no; 7. Leeds, yes; 8. Sheff Utd, yes; 9. West Brom, no; 10. Newcastle, no; 11. Southampton, yes; 12. Man City, yes; 13. Ipswich, yes; 14. Coventry, yes; 15. Oldham, yes; 16. Aston Villa, yes; 17. Sheff Weds, yes; 18. QPR, yes; 19. Norwich, yes. 20. West Ham, no.
    GOAL KINGS XWORD
    ACROSS: 4. Monaco 5. Sutton 6. Real Madrid 7. Holland 9. Anelka DOWN: 1. Fowler 2. Southampton 3. Collymore 4. Marseille 8. Dion
    GOALDEN BOYS
    1992-93: Tottenham. 1993-94: Newcastle. 1994-95: Alan Shearer. 1995-96: Blackburn. 1996-97: Alan Shearer. 1997-98: Michael Owen. 1998-99: Leeds. 1999-2000: Sunderland. 2000-01: Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink. 2001-02: Thierry Henry. 2009-10: Chelsea. 2010-11: Man United. 2011-12: Arsenal. 2012-13: Robin van Persie. 2013-14: Luis Suarez. 2014-15: Sergio Aguero. 2015-16: Harry Kane. 2016-17: Harry Kane. 2017-18: Mo Salah. 2018-19: Sadio Mane.
    TRANSFER PUZZLER
    Neymar 2. Kylian Mbappe 3. Eden Hazard 4. Philippe Coutinho 5. Ousmane Dembele 6. Joao Felix 7. Antoine Griezmann 8. Paul Pogba 9. Cristiano Ronaldo 10. Gareth Bale
    TITLE WORDSEARCH
    Ancelotti, Wenger, Ferguson, Conte, Dalglish, Mourinho, Guardiola.
    TEAM TEASERS
    1994-95: Tim Flowers, Rob Jones, Gary Pallister, Jurgen Klinsmann.
    1998-99: Nigel Martyn, Sol Campbell, Emmanuel Petit,David Ginola.
    2001-02: Shay Given, Sami Hyypia, Wayne Bridge,Robert Pires.
    2008-09: Glen Johnson, Nemanja Vidic; Ashley Young, Nicolas Anelka.
    2015-16: Hector Bellerin, Toby Alderweireld, Riyad Mahrez, Dimitri Payet.
    2016-17: Kyle Walker, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku.
    2017-18: Kyle Walker, Nicolas Otamendi, Marcos Alonso, Christian Eriksen
    2018-19: Aymeric Laporte, Bernardo Silva, Paul Pogba, Raheem Sterling.
    CAREER PATH
    Robert Lewandowski 2. Luis Suarez 3. Gianluigi Buffon 4. Angel Di Maria
    WORLD CUP WINNERS
    2018: France. 2014: Brazil. 2010: Spain. 2006: Germany. 2002: Japan. 1998: France. 1994: USA. 1990: Italy. 1986: Argentina. 1982: Italy
    BEAT THE CLOCK
    PREM: 1. Brian Deane 2. Middlesbrough 3. Arsenal 4. Kenny Dalglish 5. Real Madrid 6. Holland 7. Man City 8. Leeds 9. Arsenal 10. Tottenham
    WORLD CUP: 1. Brazil 2. Croatia 3. German 4. 1966 5. Mario Gotze 6. Pele 7. Gary Lineker 8. Marco Materazzi 9. 2006 10. Luka Modric
    CHAMPS LEAGUE: 1. Marseille 2. Nou Camp 3. Paul Lambert 4. David O’Leary 5. Mark Clattenburg 6. Roberto Di Matteo 7. Inter Milan 8. Ajax 9. Jens Lehmann 10. Wayne Rooney
    ALL-ROUND: 1. Middlesbrough 2. Man City 3. Villa 4. Everton 5. Coventry 6. Sunderland 7. West Ham 8. Birmingham 9. QPR 10. Glenn Hoddle

    Premier League fans return in doubt with 1,000 people limits and bans in coronavirus hotspot areas from October 1
    GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More

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    Roy Hodgson admits Everton and Tottenham transfer target Wilfried Zaha has had ‘ideas put into his head’

    ROY HODGSON admits wantaway Wilfried Zaha has had his head turned going into the new season.
    Crystal Palace forward Zaha, 27, is being linked with Spurs and Everton.

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    Palace boss Roy Hodgson believes transfer-seeking star man Wilfried Zaha needs to be more consistent if he hopes to land a big moveCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Boss Hodgson, preparing for today’s Premier League opener against Southampton, said: “There are a lot of things being said and a lot of people putting ideas into his head.
    “So it’s not the easiest thing for him to come to terms with.
    “The external influences are quite great and he has to battle a few demons there.
    “But I must say I’m basing my opinion on what he is doing at the moment.

    “His training and the matches he has played for us, there has been no problem at all.

    He might get frustrated that we aren’t having to turn down offers every day from top clubs. Because he thinks he has that ability to play there and I think so too.
    Roy Hodgson

    “You’d have to speak to Wilf to find out the exact state of his psyche — but I’m not concerned.”
    Ivorian Zaha scored just four Premier League goals last season, his worst return for four years.
    And Hodgson has urged his star man to improve his displays if he has aspirations of moving on to a higher level.

    The 73-year-old said: “I’m surprised we don’t get more people knocking on our door who are willing to pay a sensible price for him because he’s such a good player.
    “He might get a bit frustrated sometimes that we aren’t having to turn down offers every single day from some of the top clubs in the world.
    “Because he thinks he has that ability to play there and I think so, too.”

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    Dele Alli gets debate about ‘top three best chocolate bars’ going on Tottenham’s new Amazon doc – and is NOT Bounty fan More

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    Anthony Yarde returns with three domestic clashes after losing dad and nan in heartbreaking lockdown

    ANTHONY YARDE suffered a heartbreaking Covid-19 lockdown — but is set to burst back on to the scene with a hat-trick of domestic clashes.
    The light-heavyweight, 29, lost his father and nan to the pandemic but is ready to make his ring return on Saturday night at the BT Sport studios in Stratford.

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    Anthony Yarde will make his return at BT Sport studiosCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    The East Londoner, known as the Beast from the East, leapfrogged any serious home-grown grudge battle — and English or British title — before going into last year’s painfully close world title loss to Sergey Kovalev.
    But the ever-changing travel restrictions and quarantine rules mean Yarde is now eyeing up a trio of all-British bouts that could define his career.
    Ahead of the first clash with Scunthorpe hard-man Dec Spelman, Yarde said: “It’s funny how things have worked out, I don’t really look at where my opponents come from but depending on how the world moves, there are big domestic fights here for me now.
    “Dec Spelman is first and Lyndon Arthur will come next hopefully when fans are allowed back in arenas.

    “And the fight with Joshua Buatsi is one that everyone in British boxing is already talking about but deserves to have at least one world title on the line and headline a packed British arena or stadium.
    “The majority of my opponents have been foreign, in order to climb the right rankings, and coming up against other English speakers definitely adds an edge and some intrigue that I am looking forward to.”
    The Londoner’s giggle-filled training sessions have drawn criticism — but he is adamant he will not change things.
    Yarde said: “Walking around with a scowl and growling doesn’t make you tough or win you fights but being yourself definitely helps.”

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    Yarde was defeated by Sergey Kovalev last yearCredit: Getty – Contributor

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    Spelman has never been stopped and the part-time builder appears to have a breeze-block chin.
    But Yarde said: “I keep hearing all about his chin, like it is something special, but it will be made of the same bone, sinew and tissue as everyone else’s.
    “Let’s see how it holds up once I land on it — because I can guarantee he has never been hit by someone like me.”

    Yarde knocked out in round 11 by Kovalev after brave showing in Russia More

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    Jose Mourinho must find next Christian Eriksen if he is to deliver Premier League title at Tottenham

    JOSE MOURINHO needs to find the new Christian Eriksen to unlock a trophy-winning team at Tottenham.
    That’s the expert view of Spurs legend and former boss Glenn Hoddle, who is launching his own podcast this weekend to coincide with the return of the Premier League.

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    Jose Mourinho needs to replace Christian Eriksen to bring trophies to SpursCredit: AFP or licensors

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    That is the view of club legend Glenn HoddleCredit: Getty Images – Getty

    Hoddle also believes Spurs need to sign a centre-half and left-back to complete a squad to make them capable of challenging for honours.
    Hoddle is sure Mourinho has his eye on winning the Europa League or the FA Cup in a season that ends in ‘1’, traditionally a year in which Spurs deliver trophies.
    But it has been 12 long years since their last piece of silverware — and nearly 60 years since they won the league title in 1961.

    Hoddle said: “Yes, Spurs can win a trophy at long last but it is by no means a given, as there are six or seven clubs with chances of winning one of the cups this season.
    “And I’d put Spurs’ opening opponents Everton as one of those.
    “The only blemish of Mauricio Pochettino’s time at Spurs was that he should have taken the FA Cup more seriously.
    “It should have been a major priority.  Success breeds success and Spurs just needed to get one trophy over the line to give the entire squad a lift and ease the pressure about not winning trophies.

    “Jose is a serial trophy winner and he is building a squad capable of winning one — but while they have strikers who are exciting and will score plenty of goals, they need a creative spark in the centre of midfield.

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    “Jose has to get Dele Alli back to his best and has to get Lucas Moura consistently producing.
    “I don’t think he has the player yet for that vital central midfield role. I don’t see Giovani Lo Celso playing that 360 degrees in midfield. He is best wide.
    “Harry Winks is the best option but Eriksen was that player. Not when he first arrived, not for the final 18 months, but for two or three years in between he was the creative genius.
    “He could lay set-plays on a plate. He could get the best out of Alli and Harry Kane, providing them both with plenty of chances, opening teams up with that spark.
    “With the need for a centre-half and a left-back there are holes in the squad to be filled.

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    “For a time Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen were ahead of anything in the Premier League — and that included City and United and Liverpool until Virgil van Dijk arrived.
    “They were the best unit and with Danny Rose and Kyle Walker flying, that was a sound base — but they need to be replaced.
    “The keeper has a little bit to prove this season, so too does Lucas Moura.
    “Son Heung-min took time to settle and Moura has had that time now, so he is under pressure to perform. But there is no doubt Spurs have the firepower with Steven Bergwijn looking promising, Kane, Alli, Son and Moura.
    “As for Spurs’ opponents on Saturday, it’s an exciting time for Everton fans with some of the buys brought in.
    “I’d fancy Everton more if they were at home, despite no fans. But, on balance, I’d make Spurs favourites for this one, as it might be four, five or six games further down the line before we see the best of this new, exciting Everton team brought together by Carlo Ancelotti.”
      The brand new Glenn Hoddle Footy Show podcast is out on Sunday evening.

    Jose Mourinho tells Dele Alli he is ‘f***ing lazy’ in All or Nothing Tottenham doc More

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    Jose Mourinho aims dig at Danny Rose as out-of-favour Tottenham defender eyes Genoa transfer escape

    JOSE MOURINHO fired a prospective parting shot at Danny Rose — claiming he is not up to playing in a team where his place is under threat.
    Tottenham left-back Rose will miss their Prem opener at home to Everton on Sunday as he mulls over a move to Genoa.

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    Danny Rose’s playing time was limited following Jose Mourinho’s Spurs arrivalCredit: Reuters

    The England ace, 30, is in the final year of his contract and spent the second half of last season on loan at Newcastle after being frozen out at Spurs.
    Rose was seen confronting his manager about his lack of playing time in an episode of Amazon’s documentary on the club Tottenham Hotspur: All Or Nothing.
    Mourinho said yesterday: “If Genoa get Danny Rose,  they get a good player.

    “If they get a good player in the last year of his contract, they’re in a privileged position to do a good deal.
    “If Danny Rose goes there, I wish him all the best.
    “It’s one of the things that was very clear from one of the Amazon bits is that Danny is the kind of guy who wants to play all the time.
    “Some players are more adapted to belong to a squad with quality where competition is higher. Other players are only happy if they’re in a club where they play all the time.”

    Mourinho’s men finished sixth last season — ten points ahead of Everton.

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    But he believes the Toffees under Carlo Ancelotti  are top-six rivals this time.
    He added: “I do see them as top- six challengers. The ten-point distance last season was the consequence of how strange last season was.”
    TOTTENHAM (likely XI) vs Everton: Lloris, Dier,  Sanchez, Alderweireld, Doherty, Sissoko, Winks, Davies, Moura, Son, Kane.

    Dele Alli gets debate about ‘top three best chocolate bars’ going on Tottenham’s new Amazon doc – and is NOT Bounty fan More

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    Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho told to deliver trophies NOW as Spurs move on from ‘sleeping giants’ tag

    DANIEL LEVY has told Jose Mourinho he wants trophies at Tottenham.
    Spurs have not lifted any silverware since the 2008 League Cup — and for their last top-flight title you have to go all the way back to 1961.

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    Jose Mourinho has been told he must deliver trophies at TottenhamCredit: Rex Features

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    Spurs chairman Daniel Levy says he wants silverware in Amazon Prime’s new All or Nothing documentaryCredit: PA
    Chairman Levy, who was appointed in 2001, tells Amazon Prime’s new All or Nothing documentary on the club: “Tottenham when I took over was a much smaller club than it is today.
    “I saw this club as a sleeping giant.
    “We are now in a period where we need to win.

    “I am a Spurs fan and I want to see this club continue to grow — and I want to see trophies.”
    The North Londoners finished sixth last  season  after Mourinho replaced Mauricio Pochettino as manager during a rollercoaster, coronavirus-hit campaign.
    Levy said: “You couldn’t really write what’s happened when you think last summer we were in the Champions League final.

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    “We were also the largest net spenders in the transfer market last summer and sitting here today, Mauricio’s no longer with us, Jose Mourinho’s with us and we’ve had injuries we couldn’t believe.

    “Credit to Jose, he’s been a class act. He’s obsessed in a positive way with winning. But he’s come into a difficult situation.”
    Danny Rose, who was seen having showdown talks with Mourinho in the series before a loan move to Newcastle last season, could now join Serie A side Genoa.

    Jose Mourinho wants to make leader Harry Kane ‘explode’ at Tottenham in All or Nothing doc More

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    Sausage maker dress goalkeeper as giant cheese grater to fight prostate cancer

    GOALIE Johnny Coombs is shredding this season — but it’s all for the grater good.
    His non-league side Bedale AFC are wearing kit sponsored by sausage maker Heck Food, which is raising cash to fight prostate cancer.

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    Keeper Johnny Coombs and his non-league side Bedale AFC are wearing kit sponsored by sausage maker Heck Food, which is raising cash to fight prostate cancerCredit: GARY MORRISROE
    The firm will be dressing Johnny, 39, as a giant cheese grater to promote its new range of “Veg with Edge” bangers.
    His team-mates will wear a carrot-print kit.
    The North Yorks team wore a sausage kit in 2017 voted worst ever by fans.
    In 2018 it was hot dogs and 2019 it was bangers and mash.

    Heck’s co-founder Andrew Keeble said: “We’ve had some fun along the way.
    “What started as an innocuous sausage kit a few years ago has snowballed into this massive, almost unstoppable force that shows no sign of letting up.

    “Every time we think that’s it, we get another idea for a new kit and away we go again.
    “However, there is a very serious side to all of this because Heck and Bedale AFC continue to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer.”

    The disease kills 11,000 men a year, one every 45 minutes.

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    Heck’s co-founder said the firm and Bedale AFC will ‘continue to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer’Credit: GARY MORRISROE

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    Heck Food will be dressing Johnny as a giant cheese grater to promote its new range of ‘Veg with Edge’ sausagesCredit: GARY MORRISROE

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    The North Yorks team wore a sausage kit in 2017 which was voted the worst ever by footie fansCredit: North News and Pictures

    Jimmy Tarbuck talks candidly about his prostate cancer diagnosis on Good Morning Britain
    GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL exclusive@the-sun.co.uk More