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South Wales Argus
11 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Tesco apologises for Lionesses display in Cardiff store
The UEFA Women's Euros kicks off on July 2 in Switzerland, with both Wales and England qualifying for the tournament. They have even been drawn in the same group (Group D) and will face off against each other on Sunday, July 13. So when a large Lucozade archway appeared in a Tesco store in Cardiff with the England Lionesses all over it, Welsh fans weren't happy. Hi @asda, do you care to explain why you are strongly pushing for support of the Lionesses in your Cardiff stores? Not only have @FAW_Womens qualified for the tournament, they are in England's group and direct rivals! This is deeply offensive, read the room.@FAWales — Rich 🏴🇪🇺 (@BluebirdRichie) June 19, 2025 Tesco's England display labelled "offensive" and "disgraceful" by Welsh fans Tesco has received considerable backlash from the Welsh public following the erection of the display, which gives people the chance to win a meet and greet with the Lionesses. The display has been labelled as "offensive" and "disgraceful" on social media. One Welsh fan, posting on X (formerly Twitter), said: "Do you care to explain why you are strongly pushing for support of the Lionesses in your Cardiff stores? "Not only have @FAW_Womens qualified for the tournament, they are in England's group and direct rivals! "This is deeply offensive, read the room." Wales and England have both been drawn in Group D for the upcoming UEFA Women's Euros. (Image: Nick Potts/PA Wire) Another added: "@Tesco Must be lovely for our Welsh women footballers, walking in Tesco and seeing the England women's team. Disgraceful." While a third person commented: "This is so, so bad. In the capital city of Wales, and they're promoting England at the Euros. "As mentioned in the tweet, they're in the same group as us and our direct rivals. Honking." Even FAW Chief Executive, Noel Mooney, had something to say about the display. Also posting on X, he said: "We are @Cymru .. why is this in our capital??" RECOMMENDED READING: Tesco apologises for Lionesses display Tesco has now come out and apologised for the Lionesses display in its Cardiff stores. A spokesperson said: "We're sorry this happened. "We wish both the Welsh and English teams good luck in the upcoming Euros and know many of our colleagues and customers will be supporting their home nations in the tournament.'
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
I practice what I preach – Jack Farrimond teaching value of pushing to the end
Less than 24 hours later the 19-year-old half-back was pouncing with time up on the stadium clock to score a dramatic second try and seal a comeback win for Wigan in their Betfred Super League clash with Huddersfield at Dewsbury. His rapidly rising stature in the game has not stopped Farrimond, the latest product to roll off the Warriors' seemingly never-ending production line, from popping back to help out at his old junior club where his father Tom is the long-time head coach. Jack Farrimond claimed a last-gasp win for Wigan at Dewsbury last week (Nick Potts/PA) 'We're working quite hard at the Miners at the minute about everyone staying alive and pushing into the final moments, so it was great to get to practice what I preach,' Farrimond told the PA news agency. 'It was even better on Sunday morning for the under-11s who had seen the theory being put into practice. 'To them, though, I'm still not really anyone special. I'm just the same 'Big Jack' they've known since they were six or seven years old. For me it's all about staying humble and giving back to the place where I started.' Friday night coaches an u11's session about staying in the game and being an tea time match winner on 79:59 😮💨 — tom farrimond (@tomfarrimond) June 14, 2025 Scouted from the well-respected Miners youth system at an early age, Leigh-born Farrimond found himself fast-tracked to first-team stardom after spending just a year in Wigan's academy set-up. But the win at Dewsbury represented only his third start of the current season, due to a minor injury to Bevan French, and Farrimond knows he will have to wait for further opportunities with French and half-back partner Harry Smith a difficult duo to dislodge. With French set to return to the starting line-up for Friday's trip to Wakefield, finding Farrimond suitable game time to maintain his impressive trajectory is a problem Wigan head coach and long-time admirer Matt Peet is wrestling with. Farrimond scored the winning try for Wigan against Huddersfield (Nick Potts/PA) 'I don't want him to be too patient, though,' said Peet, who believes there is no reason why Farrimond, whom he remembers scouting as a junior, should not aspire towards dislodging some of the biggest names in the game. 'If he can be better than Harry or Bevan, then he can play more. It's not about being patient, it's about working hard and making it a competition, not just waiting to get a game. 'Respectfully, it's Wigan Warriors, and we're not going to lower our standards so younger players can get a game. I wouldn't expect it to happen imminently, but that shouldn't be his attitude. His attitude should be to compete and learn, and take every opportunity he gets.' Relatively diminutive for a top-level half-back at around 5ft 8ins, Farrimond, who became devoted to the idea of making a career out of rugby league from a young age, is no stranger to the type of challenge laid down by his head coach. 'I've always been told that because of my size I had to play the game in different ways, I had to be smarter because when I was younger the other teams would have bigger, stronger lads and I was never going to run over the top of someone,' added Farrimond. 'I'm sure having to learn about the smart, tactical side of the game has helped me, as has learning from Bevan and Harry. 'They are two world-class half-backs and I am not expecting to take one of them out of the team straight away. It's a slow process but they're happy to help me with tips and it's important that I remember to stay grounded and keep working hard.'
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
I practice what I preach – Jack Farrimond teaching value of pushing to the end
Less than 24 hours later the 19-year-old half-back was pouncing with time up on the stadium clock to score a dramatic second try and seal a comeback win for Wigan in their Betfred Super League clash with Huddersfield at Dewsbury. His rapidly rising stature in the game has not stopped Farrimond, the latest product to roll off the Warriors' seemingly never-ending production line, from popping back to help out at his old junior club where his father Tom is the long-time head coach. Jack Farrimond claimed a last-gasp win for Wigan at Dewsbury last week (Nick Potts/PA) 'We're working quite hard at the Miners at the minute about everyone staying alive and pushing into the final moments, so it was great to get to practice what I preach,' Farrimond told the PA news agency. 'It was even better on Sunday morning for the under-11s who had seen the theory being put into practice. 'To them, though, I'm still not really anyone special. I'm just the same 'Big Jack' they've known since they were six or seven years old. For me it's all about staying humble and giving back to the place where I started.' Friday night coaches an u11's session about staying in the game and being an tea time match winner on 79:59 😮💨 — tom farrimond (@tomfarrimond) June 14, 2025 Scouted from the well-respected Miners youth system at an early age, Leigh-born Farrimond found himself fast-tracked to first-team stardom after spending just a year in Wigan's academy set-up. But the win at Dewsbury represented only his third start of the current season, due to a minor injury to Bevan French, and Farrimond knows he will have to wait for further opportunities with French and half-back partner Harry Smith a difficult duo to dislodge. With French set to return to the starting line-up for Friday's trip to Wakefield, finding Farrimond suitable game time to maintain his impressive trajectory is a problem Wigan head coach and long-time admirer Matt Peet is wrestling with. Farrimond scored the winning try for Wigan against Huddersfield (Nick Potts/PA) 'I don't want him to be too patient, though,' said Peet, who believes there is no reason why Farrimond, whom he remembers scouting as a junior, should not aspire towards dislodging some of the biggest names in the game. 'If he can be better than Harry or Bevan, then he can play more. It's not about being patient, it's about working hard and making it a competition, not just waiting to get a game. 'Respectfully, it's Wigan Warriors, and we're not going to lower our standards so younger players can get a game. I wouldn't expect it to happen imminently, but that shouldn't be his attitude. His attitude should be to compete and learn, and take every opportunity he gets.' Relatively diminutive for a top-level half-back at around 5ft 8ins, Farrimond, who became devoted to the idea of making a career out of rugby league from a young age, is no stranger to the type of challenge laid down by his head coach. 'I've always been told that because of my size I had to play the game in different ways, I had to be smarter because when I was younger the other teams would have bigger, stronger lads and I was never going to run over the top of someone,' added Farrimond. 'I'm sure having to learn about the smart, tactical side of the game has helped me, as has learning from Bevan and Harry. 'They are two world-class half-backs and I am not expecting to take one of them out of the team straight away. It's a slow process but they're happy to help me with tips and it's important that I remember to stay grounded and keep working hard.'
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Gareth Bale part of group seeking Plymouth takeover
The Telegraph were first to report that the 35-year-old former Real Madrid and Wales forward was part of the group seeking to buy Argyle. The PA news agency understands the group featuring Bale has registered an interest in buying Argyle, but the process is at a very early stage. Plymouth will start next season in League One (Nick Potts/PA) Should the deal go through, Bale would be the latest big sporting name to be associated with an EFL club. Bale's former Real team-mate Luka Modric became an investor and co-owner in Championship side Swansea in April, while ex-NFL quarterback Tom Brady has a minority stake in Birmingham. Plymouth declined to comment. Bale retired from football in January 2023 at the age of 33. He won five Champions League titles with Real and is the men's all-time record goalscorer for Wales with 41 in 111 caps. Bale featured for Wales at the 2022 World Cup – their first appearance at the global finals since 1958 – and at the Euros in 2016 and 2020.
The Herald Scotland
12-06-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Beckham, Bale, Bellingham – Trent adds to list of British players to join Madrid
Laurie Cunningham (1979-84) England winger Cunningham lit up the Bernabeu after his move from West Brom (PA) The winger became the first British professional player to move to the Bernabeu after Los Blancos agreed a £950,000 deal with West Brom in 1979. The Londoner helped the side to a league and cup double in his first season but that proved the peak as injuries blighted the remainder of his time at the club. Steve McManaman (1999-2003) McManaman was one of the first big-name English players to exploit the Bosman ruling when he quit Liverpool to join Real on a free transfer. He won the Champions League twice – scoring a memorable goal in a player-of-the-match display against Valencia in the 2000 final – as well as LaLiga on two occasions. David Beckham (2003-07) David Beckham's fortunes in Madrid were mixed (Nick Potts/PA) Beckham and Real Madrid seemed a match made in heaven, but the anticipated glut of trophies did not follow. Things turned sour after Fabio Capello took over as manager in 2006 and, amid contract wrangling, the England captain was frozen out. That pushed him to agree a move to LA Galaxy but there was to be a happy ending as he was recalled for the run-in and played a pivotal role as Real claimed the league crown. Michael Owen (2004-05) The England forward spent a single season at the Bernabeu after Liverpool agreed to a cut-price £8million sale after tiring of months of contract negotiations. But he did not settle well and, despite scoring a creditable 16 goals in 45 appearances, mostly from the bench, did not look like supplanting Ronaldo or Raul in the team. He was sold to Newcastle after a year, for £15m. Jonathan Woodgate (2004-07) Woodgate's spell in Spain was an unhappy one (Nick Potts/PA) England centre-back Woodgate endured a torrid spell in the Spanish capital with a succession of injuries limiting him to just 14 appearances in two years. He did not play at all in his first season and, when his debut belatedly came against Athletic Bilbao in September 2005, he scored an own goal and received a red card. He departed for Middlesbrough in 2006, initially on loan. Gareth Bale (2013-22) ⚪️🏆 Gareth Bale stole the show as Madrid beat Liverpool to take home the trophy #OTD in 2018 💪#UCL | #UCLfinal — UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) May 26, 2021 Statistically, the Welsh winger belongs among Real's greats having helped the club to five Champions Leagues and three LaLiga titles following his world-record £85m move from Tottenham. Highlights included two goals against Liverpool, one a spectacular overhead kick, in the 2018 Champions League final but supporters were never truly won over amid a perceived rivalry with team-mate and fan favourite Cristiano Ronaldo. Embracing a Welsh fan's flag reading 'Wales. Golf. Madrid. In that order' hardly helped. Caroline Weir (2022-present) Weir (left) has made a strong impression at Real (Jane Barlow/PA) The Scotland international moved to Real from Manchester City in 2022 and enjoyed a superb first season in Liga F, scoring 19 goals in 28 appearances as the team finished runners-up to Barcelona. She also scored against City to knock her old club out of the Champions League. A cruciate ligament injury prevented her building on that last term before her return to action earlier this season. Jude Bellingham (2023-present) 😊 Jude Victor William Bellingham, at your service. 😊 — Real Madrid C.F. 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@realmadriden) August 12, 2023 It is sometimes difficult to believe Bellingham is still only 21, such is the remarkable impression the England midfielder has made in the game, first at Borussia Dortmund and now at Real. Revelling in an attacking role, he shone from the moment he arrived in Spain, scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assists in his first campaign that produced a LaLiga and Champions League double.
