Premier League economic impact: Competition contributed £3.4bn to UK GDP according to EY report November 18, 2015 Premier League football kicked £6.2bn into the UK economy in a single season, according to a new study from Ernst & Young (EY). In a study commissioned by the league, EY estimate that English football's top tier division contributed £3.4bn to UK GDP in the 2013/14 season, paid £2.4bn in taxes to the Exchequer and [...]
New Zealand rugby legend Jonah Lomu passes away aged 40 November 18, 2015 New Zealand is in mourning after the unexpected death of All Blacks great Jonah Lomu, aged 40. Lomu, who scored 37 tries in 63 Tests for New Zealand during 1994 and 2002, suffered health problems since his retirement, undergoing a kidney transplant in 2004 and receiving dialysis treatment for the past decade. Former All Blacks [...]
Liberté, égalité, fraternité: All for one and one for Dele Alli as England host France in emotional friendly at Wembley November 18, 2015 England manager Roy Hodgson expressed his pride after Wembley came together in an unprecedented display of unity for an emotional friendly with France last night, just four days after terrorists killed 129 people in Paris. Home supporters joined in with the French national anthem, Le Marseillaise, the Duke of Cambridge presented the visitors with a [...]
Former world No1 Roger Federer ends Novak Djokovic’s winning streak to secure semi-final place at ATP World Tour Finals November 18, 2015 Former world No1 Roger Federer delivered an unmistakable statement of intent after ending top seed Novak Djokovic’s 23-match winning run with a scintillating performance at the ATP World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena last night. Six-time champion Federer beat the Serb 7-5, 6-2 to seal a semi-final place, a result which represented Djokovic’s first [...]
England v France: Genuine friendly fixture was a truly special occasion following the Paris attacks November 17, 2015 You know it must be a special occasion when more than 70,000 English rise to belt out a stirring rendition of one of their traditional rivals’ national anthems. When supporters greet the emergence of the opposition team for their warm-up, some 50 minutes before kick-off, with a standing ovation. Or when the parading of a [...]
Diminutive batsman James Taylor guides England to cusp of series win with half-century in third one-day international against Pakistan in Sharjah November 17, 2015 England skipper Eoin Morgan saluted the performance of James Taylor after the diminutive batsman struck a composed half-century to guide his side to a six-wicket victory against Pakistan in the third one-day international in Sharjah yesterday. Taylor struck 67 not out and shared an unbroken stand of 117 with the under-pressure Jos Buttler, who amassed [...]
Why Jesse Lingard’s call-up is no surprise: Data shows England’s experience levels steadily on the wane November 17, 2015 Is England's football team less experienced than ever? Roy Hodgson's current squad includes players such as Dele Alli, Jack Butland and Jesse Lingard, who have only made a handful of Premier League appearances but have been quickly promoted to the international stage. Lingard, for example, has only played five times in the Premier League and [...]
England v France: What fans travelling to Wembley need to know about travel, security and remembrance measures November 17, 2015 England and France are pushing ahead with their friendly at Wembley tonight, in a show of defiance and solidarity following the terrorist attacks in Paris last week which killed 132 people and injure dhundreds more. Yet due to the targeting of the Stade de France during France's match with Germany by suicide bombers, fans should [...]
Ireland qualify for Euro 2016 as Jonathan Walters helps exorcise ghost of Thierry Henry handball November 16, 2015 Republic of Ireland boss Martin O’Neill hailed the battling qualities of his side after they overcame Bosnia-Herzegovina in a nervy play-off at the Aviva Stadium last night to qualify for next year’s European Championships. Ireland are no strangers to play-offs and had lost five of their previous seven, but a goal in each half from [...]
ATP World Tour Finals: Ruthless streak is key to success, insists victorious Andy Murray after defeating Spain’s David Ferrer November 16, 2015 Britain's Andy Murray highlighted the importance of a clinical approach after his quest for a maiden ATP World Tour Finals crown started in solid fashion against Spain’s David Ferrer at London’s O2 Arena on Monday. The Scot recorded his fifth successive win over seventh seed Ferrer, dispatching the 33-year-old 6-4, 6-4 in 90 minutes, and will [...]