football Archives - Page 14 of 20

Ex-England footballer Micah Richards fined for speeding in Knaresborough

Former England footballer Micah Richards has been fined for speeding in Knaresborough.

Richards, 34, of Nidd, near Harrogate, appeared before Harrogate Magistrates Court yesterday charged with the offence.

He pleaded guilty to speeding in excess of 30 mph on the B6165 at an address listed as Howe Hill in Knaresborough on August 3 last year.

A separate charge of failing to identify the driver of a vehicle in relation to another traffic offence on December 27, 2022, was withdrawn.

The 34-year-old, who was driving a Rolls Royce at the time, was fined £666 and his licence was endorsed with three penalty points.

The magistrates also ordered Richards to pay a victim surcharge of £266 and court costs of £90.

Richards was previously banned from driving for six months in 2013 after he failed to respond to two speeding notices sent to his home address.

The former footballer made 203 Premier League appearances for Aston Villa and Manchester City, where he won the league in 2012 and FA Cup in 2011, before retiring in 2019.

He also won 13 caps for England between 2006 and 2012.

Richards now works as a pundit for Sky Sports and BBC Sport.

Harrogate Town secure English Football League status

Harrogate Town secured their status in the English Football League with a win at Newport County last night.

The 3-2 victory will see Town remain in League Two next season.

It means Harrogate can prepare for a third campaign in the EFL since their historic promotion in 2020.

Financially, it also means the club will continue to receive Premier League solidarity payments, EFL money and potential broadcasting fees if fixtures are shown on television.

The Premier League pays solidarity payments to all EFL clubs, with those in League Two receiving an estimated £450,000 each in recent seasons.

The club plans to renovate its EnviroVent Stadium on Wetherby Road to comply with EFL standards.

It can now proceed in the knowledge that its place among England’s top 92 clubs is safe for at least another year.

Town’s 3-2 win at Newport last night was secured with a goal from Luke Armstrong seven minutes from full-time.

Armstrong’s 16th goal of the season leaves Harrogate nine points above the relegation zone with two games remaining.

Speaking after the match at Rodney Parade, manager Simon Weaver said he wanted the team to continue to build momentum despite securing survival.

He said:

“We said before the game that we want to finish with as many points as possible. We wanted to excite the fans, keep building momentum and end on a positive note for the fans.”

How Pateley Bridge man won two league titles with Leeds United

Pateley Bridge man Alan Sutton can barely believe he won league titles with Leeds United.

His career at United spans three decades and includes a First Division title, a Second Division championship, a cup final at Wembley and stints in Europe.

But Alan was not a player – he was the club’s physio.

Sitting in his conservatory at his home in Pateley Bridge on a sunny April morning, he says it took him a while to realise his achievements.

“Have you ever seen that episode of Dallas when Bobby Ewing gets killed, but then he comes back again? He comes out of his shower and it was like a dream.

“It’s a bit like that. I wake up and think: ‘did that really happen?’”

He’s documented his career in a book My Journey: Pavement to Premier League with Leeds United, which initially started as stories for his grandchildren during the first covid lockdown.

But Alan’s story of his time at the pinnacle of English football is not a conventional one.

In fact, 25 years prior to joining Leeds United as its physiotherapist, he was flagging pavements in Bradford.

So how did a kid from Bradford go from working on building sites to lifting a First Division title?

Flagging pavements in Bradford

Alan was born in Bradford in 1946. His mum and dad, Winnie and Alf, both worked typical mill town jobs.

Alf was a foundry man and Winnie worked in the mills.

Much like a lot of teenagers in post-war Britain, Alan left school at 15 in 1961.

His dream was to play football and his education suffered for it. As a result, he was left to apply for manual jobs in his hometown – some with not much success.

He said:

“I had three jobs in three months and got sacked from every one of them.

“I think the youth employment place was a bit fed up of seeing me.”

After many tries, Alan finally found a job as a street mason which involved him laying flags and kerbs for the Bradford Corporation.

For two weeks, he was told to sit in a shed armed with a lump hammer and a chisel learning how to chip away at stones.

“As you can imagine, I probably hit my hand more times than I did the chisel.”

While Alan was working on building sites and laying flags, he pursued a passion for football.

He played in the Yorkshire league for Salts FC at Saltaire, as well as Bradford Minors.

Alan caught the eye of local coaches as a player and went on to play Leeds FA in the West Riding FA Cup final for Bradford Minors.

In a sign of things to come, Alan says on the day of the game, he read about a new signing for Leeds in the local Telegraph & Argus paper.

“I read in the paper that Leeds United have just signed another Scottish schoolboy international called Edwin Gray.

“It’s ironic how your life pans out and 30 years on, the amount of hours I would spend with Eddie.”

Despite his dream, Alan did not go on to have a football career as a player.

He turned down an opportunity to sign as an apprentice for Bradford Park Avenue after impressing their manager, Jimmy Scoular.

From Canada to Leeds

After saving up money working in the building trade, Alan headed off to Canada in 1967 to pursue more work.

He returned to England in 1968 after making enough money and worked in the building trade while taking his coaching badges.

While helping coach young players at Bradford City, he opted to learn physiotherapy and take on an FA Management and Treatment of Sports Injuries diploma at Lilleshall.

Alan with his First Division title medal

His big break came in July 1981, when Halifax Town FC hired him on £50 a week.

Alan went on to pass his diploma and took up a role at Mansfield Rugby League, before going on to Halifax Rugby League in 1985 where he would get his first taste of silverwear.

Despite the success in rugby league, Alan’s career would take a different path in another part of West Yorkshire.

In August 1986, Leeds United physio Geoff Ladley called Alan.

Geoff had decided to leave the club after 10 years to take up a new job at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield.

He asked Alan if he would be interested in taking over as physio and if he would meet with Leeds manager and club legend Billy Bremner.

The initial interview did not go to plan though.

“I’ve gone through to see Billy.

“But I’m still on a roll from winning the championship with Halifax and I’m not exactly the most positive person when I’m talking to him.”

Alan went back to his part-time job with Halifax Town, but was confronted about his interview by manager Mick Jones.

“He asks: ‘how did you get on with Billy?’ And I said ‘yeah alright’.

“He just looked at me in the eye and said: ‘Listen, you just cannot turn down Leeds United.’”

Alan called Geoff back up and asked for another chance, which he was given. Fortunately for him, Billy asked when he could start.

Success with Leeds United

Leeds missed out on promotion and reached the 1987 FA Cup semi final in Alan’s first season.

He describes his workplace as “mayhem” as the club’s physio.

“I had 40 people from kids to the squad to look after. Also, on a match day, I was kit man as well as physio.

“What I loved about Billy was he would come into the treatment room, he would sit down crossing his legs, smoking a fag and start telling all the stories.”

But Billy’s tenure wouldn’t last and a new manager would come in in 1989 and spark a “culture change”, as Alan describes it.

Howard Wilkinson arrived from Sheffield Wednesday and led an overhaul of the club.

The 1989/90 season saw Leeds promoted back to the First Division.

For Alan, who saw it firsthand, part of the reason for the success was recruitment and the type of players that were brought in.

“I get asked loads of times about who was the best player in my near 30 years at Leeds United.

“Without a shadow of a doubt, in those early days it was Gordon Strachan. He was like the manager on the field.

“We were still in the culture where everyone was drinking. He started to change all that.”

Leeds United’s 1992 squad, which were the last team to win the First Division before it became the Premier League. Alan can be seen in the blue jumper with an “AS” logo.

Strachan would be pivotal in that promotion season and more so two years later when Leeds won their first title since 1974 – and became the last team to win it before the Premier League.

The championship was clinched n April 26, 1992, after a chaotic game at Bramall Lane against Sheffield United.

Alan, who still has his First Division medal, recalls the aftermath of that game in Sheffield and finding out that they had clinched the title on the drive home on the radio.

During the drive, Liverpool were playing Manchester United at Anfield. A victory for the home side would secure Leeds the championship.

“I got my nephew to pick me up and take me to my sisters in Bradford.

“While we were driving, Liverpool had gone one-nil up. I’m half asleep and Mark Walters had got the second goal with about three minutes to go.

“My nephew said: ‘Uncle Alan, I think you have just won the championship.'”

Alan would get his hands on the title at the Norwich game at Elland Road the following weekend.

Today, he keeps a picture of him with his wife Shirley, his son Miles and daughter Adele on the pitch, with the trophy in his home.

‘It gets under your skin’

Alan left Leeds in 2014 after 37 years of service.

When asked to sum up his career, he is thoughtful and takes time to reflect on his achievements.

Alan with current Leeds United captain Liam Cooper.

Much of his thoughts on his career are in his book, the proceeds of which go to two of his chosen charities: Sarcoma UK and the Gary Kelly Cancer Centre in Drogheda, Ireland.

For the most part, Alan reflects on how much Leeds managed to get to him throughout the past three decades.

“When someone asks me if I’m a Leeds United supporter, I say no.

“Leeds United became far deeper. It becomes your life. Eddie Howe was talking about Newcastle the other day. He said: ‘This place gets under your skin’. That was Leeds United.”

Alan’s book ‘My Journey: Pavement to Premier League’ is available now here. All proceeds go to Sarcoma UK and the Gary Kelly Cancer Centre.

This is the first article in a series of Sporting Spotlight interviews. If you have any local sporting heroes who you think should be featured, contact calvin@thestrayferret.co.uk.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly on target as England win Finalissima

Harrogate-born striker Rachel Daly scored in the penalty shootout as England beat Brazil to win the Finalissima last night.

The match, in front of 83,000 fans at Wembley and broadcast live in ITV, saw Euro 22 champions England take on Copa America winners Brazil.

England led 1-0 at half-time but Brazil pounced on a goalkeeping error in injury time to take the match to penalties.

With the score at 1-1, Daly — who came on as a substitute in the 73rd minute — put England ahead with a powerful drive and the Lionesses went on to win 4-2.

They are now unbeaten in 30 matches.

Harrogate’s Olympic hopeful from a famous sporting family

Harrogate is home to one of Britain’s most famous sporting dynasties — the Mills family.

Dad Danny played football for England and Leeds and while his 19-year-old son Stanley is forging a career with Everton, 23-year-old son George is making a name as an international middle distance runner.

George was 1,500 metre British champion in 2020 and has realistic ambitions of representing the UK at the World Championships in Budapest this year and at the Olympics in Paris next year.

Like most international athletes he lives a nomadic life, spending winter training in South Africa and then alternating between there, Leipzig in Germany and St Moritz in Switzerland during the summer race season.

Training in St Moritz

But his roots are firmly in Harrogate, having lived in the town for most of his childhood when he attended Ashville College, Brackenfield School and St Aidan’s Church of England High School. His youngest brother is still at St Aidan’s. George says:

“St Aidan’s is where I got properly into running. I was in Year 7 and I went to a lunchtime cross-country club every week. I started doing local school races and joined Harrogate Harriers when I was 12 or 13 where I had my first proper coach.”

Under Jo Day’s guidance at Harrogate Harriers, he improved rapidly and became under-18 European 800 metres champion at the age of 17 by running a remarkable 1 minute 48.36 seconds.

Jo recalls:

“Everything I asked George to do he did. I had to pull the reins in on him at times because he wanted to work so hard.

“He was incredibly focused. If you are going to do something in the Mills family, you do it 110%!”

George Mills and Jo Day Harrogate Harriers

George in a Harrogate Harriers shirt with coach Jo Day

In September 2017 George moved to Brighton to attend university and transferred to Brighton Phoenix, the club 1980 Olympic 800 metres champion Steve Ovett ran for. But injuries kept him off the track for three frustrating years.

He bounced back in 2020 to win British indoor and outdoor titles at 1,500 metres — the distance he now focuses on.

But international athletics is a brutal and unforgiving sport. His senior British debut at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade last year turned into an “absolute disaster” when he thought he’d recovered from a bug only to fade to seventh in his heat.

He was then tripped in his second senior international appearance at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul this month.

George, however, doesn’t dwell on these disappointments. He says:

“You learn to roll with it. There’s always setbacks in sport. It’s how you deal with them that counts.”

Instead he is focusing on doing everything he can to have the best chance of success in the 18-month run-up to the Olympics. And we mean everything: he runs up to 180 kilometres a week in training, which even by the standards of the Mills family, where everybody exercises at least five times a week, is extreme. He jokes:

“They think I’m a bit of a weirdo because it’s so time consuming.”

Parental support

His parents are, however, totally behind him and occasionally watch him race. George, who is now a member of On Athletics Club Europe’s elite team of young runners, says:

“Having a dad from a high level sporting background was positive. He taught me about discipline and training — how I have to eat, sleep and train right and recover right. Being a professional sportsman is a 24/7 thing.”

Running may have usurped football but the bond remains strong. He grew up kicking a ball and admits he was “an absolute glory hunter as a kid” who supported Chelsea but now just supports his brother, who made his Everton debut last year.

George runs up to 180km a week

Athletes may be the financial poor relations to footballers but the route to the top is every bit as hard.

British middle distance is currently the strongest it’s been since the 1980s golden era of Ovett, Coe and Cram so even qualifying for major championships is tough.

George, however, is up for the challenge of being an Olympian in 2024.

“The level is incredible at the moment but if I said to you ‘I don’t believe I will make it’, I would be lying. It’s my sole focus. Paris next year is the big goal. But it’s way easier said than done.”

One thing is for sure, he won’t shirk the challenge.

“I’m very much a believer in mindset and the people you surround yourself with. Success breeds success.”

Harrogate Town appoints women’s director of football

Harrogate Town has appointed Jason Barker as women’s director of football.

Mr Barker will be the first full-time member of staff dedicated to the women’s team.

He will be tasked with overseeing the development of women’s and girls’ football at Harrogate Town from the player development centre to the first team.

Mr Barker, who has 10 years coaching experience and was formerly at Liverpool FC’s academy, said:

“I am looking forward to starting work with Harrogate Town and continuing the hard work the club has already done to build the foundations of the women’s/girls section.

“The next steps for us at Harrogate are to expand the women’s/girls’ section of this already very successful club and promote more playing opportunities for girls and women in the Harrogate district.”

Club operations director Dave Riley added:

“I am delighted that Jason has been appointed as our girls’ and women’s director of football. This is a real positive step and another major milestone within the football club for the women and girls’ game.

“Everyone at Harrogate Town AFC is looking forward to seeing their progression being taken to the next level.”

Harrogate Town’s stadium upgrade approved

Harrogate Borough Council has approved plans by Harrogate Town FC to upgrade their Envirovent Stadium on Wetherby Road.

It will see almost 1,000 seats installed to bring the ground up to English Football League (EFL) standards.

To the south of the ground, the Myrings terrace will see 264 seats installed and the 1919 bar will be demolished and replaced with a new standing terrace.

A total of 603 seats were installed in the Black Sheep Brewery stand a few weeks ago.

The changes will not increase the overall capacity of 5,071 but will see the number of fans that can be seated rise from 1,193 to 2,060.

This is to ensure the club meets an EFL requirement that grounds have a minimum capacity of 5,000 and 2,000 seats.

The 1919 bar has not been used on matchdays since before the covid pandemic. It has also been used for private functions.

The club recently opened a new bar next to the Black Sheep stand.

The ground on Wetherby Road has been used by the club for over 100 years and has seen significant investment over the last few years as the club looks to keep up with rapid growth on the pitch.

Simon Weaver’s side now play in the EFL after playing most of its existence in the lower leagues.

They currently sit in 21st in League Two and play Gillingham at home tomorrow (Saturday).

A Harrogate Town spokesperson said:

“As part of our wider stadium development plans, work will soon begin on a new South Stand at the Envirovent Stadium with the aim of being completed in time for next season 2023/24.

“The development will enable the club to reach the required EFL regulation of a minimum of 2,000 seats and will also help us provide for the increasing demand for seats which we cannot accommodate currently.

“We are seeing more young families and first-generation Town supporters, as well as first time fans visiting than ever before so we are delighted to be in a position to provide more seats and facilities to meet the growing demand. In turn, it will help deliver an enhanced match day experience for our loyal supporters and visiting away clubs too.”

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scores twice as England beat Italy

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scored twice as England beat Italy in the Arnold Clark Cup.

Daly, who made her first start up front, secured the Lionesses their second win of the competition with two headers in a 2-1 victory.

The tournament is hosted by the Football Association and sees four teams play against each other during the February international break.

The 31-year-old was given the start up front after scoring 10 goals in 13 appearances for Aston Villa this season.

Daly’s performance will prove a headache for head coach Sarina Weigman ahead of the final game of the Arnold Clark Cup on Wednesday.

Sunday’s victory over Italy sees England top the tournament table on six points.

The Lionesses will play Belgium for the Arnold Clark Cup at Ashton Gate, Bristol, on Wednesday at 7.45pm.

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly scores four in Women’s FA Cup

Harrogate’s Rachel Daly continued her fantastic form when she scored four goals for Aston Villa Women in the Women’s FA Cup yesterday.

Villa cruised to an 11-0 win over AFC Fylde to reach the last 16 of the competition.

England star Daly, who started her career with Killinghall Nomads, opened the scoring in the second minute and added a second as her side went 6-0 up after 25 minutes.

She was denied a 13-minute hat-trick when her penalty was saved but still notched a couple more after the interval.

Daly, who played as a defender during England Lionesses’ Euro 2022 victory last year, is having a remarkable first season in the West Midlands since her summer transfer from Houston Dash.

Playing up front, she is along with Manchester City’s Khadija Shaw the joint highest scorer in the Women’s Super League with nine in 11 matches — which doesn’t include her FA Cup goals.

She has twice been named Barclays Women’s Super League Player of the Month this season.

The draw for the fifth round of the Women’s FA Cup takes place at 6.30pm tonight on the BBC’s Sportsday show on the BBC news channel and BBC iPlayer.

Petition launched to honour all England Lionesses — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly

A petition has been launched to award honours to all members of the England Lionesses team that won Euro 2022 — including Harrogate’s Rachel Daly.

Captain Leah Williamson was appointed OBE while Beth Mead, Lucy Bronze and Ellen White became MBEs in today’s King’s New Year Honours.

But the decision to recognise four players and not others in a team game has caused controversy.

A petition calling for all of the Lionesses’ playing squad to receive honours has already attracted 2,000 signatures.

Michael McCann, who started the petition, said:

“It simply does not feel fair at all, that after such a monumental collective effort, and given the historical precedents set with previous sporting successes in England, to chose to honour just four of the Lionesses players.”

Mr McCann calls on the Cabinet Office to “honour the entire 23-player squad with at least an MBE”.

Politicians, including Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor of Greater Manchester, have questioned why only four of the team were recognised.

Why only four? They were a TEAM. It should be all or none and I say ALL. https://t.co/lc6ysVKZWL

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) December 31, 2022

The Daily Mail’s northern football correspondent, Dominic King, also expressed forthright views on Twitter.

If Gareth Southgate’s squad had won the World Cup, every member would have got recognition in the honours list. It’s puzzling, them, why every member of Sarina Weigman’s squad hasn’t been honoured. Sir Hugh Robertson’s explanation for the exclusivity is nonsense, too.

— Dominic King (@DominicKing_DM) December 31, 2022

Daly, whose career started at Killinghall Nomads, has had an amazing year. Besides winning Euro 2022 she has twice been named Women’s Super League Player of the Month for her scoring exploits at Aston Villa.

Rachel Daly receiving her player of the month award November.

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Flagging pavements in Bradford

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From Canada to Leeds

Success with Leeds United

‘It gets under your skin’

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Parental support

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