Latest from Daily Record
Daily Record
2 hours ago
- Daily Record
Spain's crumbling island beloved by locals with nothing to do but 'sunbathe and swim'
Spain's smallest inhabited island is facing an infrastructure crisis as it's overwhelmed by locals escaping the crowds Every day, thousands of tourists flock to a tiny Spanish island that is crumbling into the sea. But for once, it is not the large numbers of visitors, many of whom are locals, who are causing the problem. Despite being just a few kilometres off the coast of Alicante and technically part of the Spanish resort, which has long been a favourite with British holidaymaker s, the island of Nueva Tabarca is almost deserted. At 1,800m long and 400m wide, and home to only 68 permanent residents, Tabarca is Spain's smallest inhabited island. It also boasts a colourful history, as the possible landing spot of St. Paul and a former haven for pirates. In recent years, more visitors have been taking the Ferry Azul boats from the mainland, delighting in the shoals of small fish that gather around its glass sides during the journey. Upon arrival, they are typically met with the same realisation. "It's a lot smaller than I thought. When they said it was a small like, tiny," remarked Sante, who recently visited Tabarca with his wife This becomes a significant issue as up to 5,000 people descend on Tabarca each day during peak season, increasing the full-time population by 30 times. From 10am to 9pm, the island's single main street is teeming with visitors, who depart as swiftly as they arrived in the evening. According to Carmen Martí, president of the neighbourhood association, "the problem isn't tourists," reports the Mirror. She explained that underlying infrastructural challenges pose a much greater concern. She recounted her frustration with the facilities, or lack thereof: "There are no public restrooms, no shaded areas, tourist attractions, such as the church or the vaults of the wall, are closed, the tower is in ruins." The island's medical facilities are scant, and risks are present due to the absence of lifeguards for much of the year and Tabarca's reputation for blistering heat. With its elevation barely 15 meters above sea level and a scarcity of trees, there's little respite from the relentless sun. The local, Carmen, expressed frustration at the authorities' response. "We've presented plans for a rest area to the town hall so that young people don't have to eat and rest sitting on the town's sidewalks, but they've ignored it," she disclosed. The root of these issues appears to stem from bureaucratic limbo, as Tabarca sits awkwardly between two administrative bodies, leaving several key roles unfilled for years. This, along with its offshore detachment, results in perceived neglect by the locals. They highlight the deplorable state of municipal infrastructure, including offices, warehouses, and even the relatively new 20-year-old museum, where salt has damaged the roofs, leading to makeshift propping and eventual closure of the museum for safety. Despite these challenges, including the presence of aggressive seagulls known to attack beachgoers, visitors continue to flock here. They are drawn by the stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters, safeguarded by Spain's first marine reserve, established in 1986.
Daily Record
3 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Two UK pennies worth more than £2,600 if they have this tiny mark
These coins are highly sought-after by collectors due to an initial found on one side An expert has urged Brits to look out for two old pennies that could be worth over £2,600 combined. These pre-decimal coins are no longer in circulation but could be hiding away in an attic or coin jar. However, these pieces are only especially valuable if they feature two tiny letters. This mark will make them highly sought-after by collectors. In a video uploaded to social media platform TikTok, an expert known as the Coin Collecting Wizard, said: 'Thousands of pounds if you have either a 1918 or 1919 old UK penny with this mint mark. 'As you will be aware if you follow me, there are many pre-decimal pennies from the UK that have some crazy values, but it all depends on the date.' But you need to check for the initials 'KN' on both coins to be sure they are collectable. 'Today we discuss the 1919 KN penny, KN meaning King's Norton Mint,' he continued. 'Of the two mints, the King's Norton is by far the most difficult to get.' Rather than being produced at the Royal Mint like most coins in the UK, these were created at the King's Norton Mint in Birmingham. At the time this company was contracted to help keep up with demand for coins. The expert gave more details: 'The obverse [head side] shows a portrait of King George the Fifth by Australian sculptor Bertram MacKennal. George the Fifth was king of the United Kingdom and the British dominions and Emperor of India from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936. 'The reverse [tail side} shows Britannia seated with trident and shield. It is the same as other pennies of that era with the exception of the KN mint mark.' It is the 'KN' mark that sets it apart. This can be spotted just under the shield held by Britannia on the tail side of the coin. However, you will need to look closely as it is very hard to see. If your coin has these letters it could be worth an incredible £2,000 or more. 'If you are lucky enough to find the 1919 KN penny then it may surprise you that this coin can sell for over £2,000 depending on condition,' he said. The expert then showed an image of the 1918 KN penny. He added: 'Now as with a lot of these coins, the value very much depends on the condition of the coin. A good grade 1918 KN penny can be over £30, but as the condition increases, such as an extra fine version, you would be looking at over £600.'
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Stephen McManus identifies sizzling Celtic prospect destined for the top as B team boss makes a candid admission
Big Mick is convinced the next generation of stars are ready to break through at Parkhead Every Celtic youngster dreams of following in the footsteps of poster Bhoys James Forrest, Callum McGregor and Kieran Tierney. But Stephen McManus knows better than most that only a handful will ever make it all the way. Now B team boss, the former Hoops captain is hellbent on streamlining the route from the youth set-up to the first-team. As an academy graduate himself, Big Mick is a shining example for the current crop learning their trade at Lennoxtown. The ex-defender rose through the ranks, captained Celts to title glory and led them into the last 16 of the Champions League. These days, it's his job to nurture the next generation of stars. And while the road to Brendan Rodgers' top team is anything but straightforward, McManus insists there will always be a pathway. He said: "Yeah, listen, that's what pre-season is for as well. This is my fourth year with the B team and we've been really lucky that over the last three years, we've got boys that have played, after under-18s, they've played 150 games. "They've played 50-odd games a season, which after under-18s, you don't always get. We're lucky that we've got that. "Like I say, our job is to try and prepare the boys for first-team football. Hopefully, it's here. Absolutely. "We've been lucky this year, I think. Francis Turley made his debut this year. Jude Bonner made his debut this year. Sean McArdle came on and made his debut towards the end of the season. "And then you've got the boys that have been out on loan as well. You've got Ben Summers, Matthew Andersons as well. "So it's been a really productive season again for us. But ultimately, we want to make sure we try and do our best to help the manager and the first-team staff to be able to say, 'Right, these are what we've got. Are they ready to fit into the first-team squad?' "That's what pre-season is for. As a young player, you get an opportunity. You'll get an opportunity, whether it's in pre-season or every day that you come to work, every day that you're then performing for your club, whether you're at the football club or you're at somebody else on loan. "So it's difficult. It's difficult, of course it is. That's why the people that come through are so limited. "But when you look at the success that we've had with boys that are playing football at other clubs, it's great." With Greg Taylor vacating the No.3 jersey, there could soon be an opportunity for a homegrown talent to step up. Returning hero Tierney will reclaim his place at left-back - but his injury record means Rodgers will need to manage his minutes carefully. Rising star Matthew Anderson is among the most highly-rated emerging talents at Lennoxtown. Dubbed 'the next KT' by coach Greig Robertson, the defender spent last season on loan in Austria with feeder club Admira Wacker. Now 21, this summer could prove to be make-or-break. McManus said: "He's got a massive future in the game, absolutely massive. He's a terrific boy with a brilliant family, and again, you can only stay with us, with the B team, for a couple of seasons. "Matthew outgrew the B team two years ago. That's why he's not played for the B team. That's why the next stage of his development was to go out and loan. "Some people make their debut at 16 and then go and play for the rest of their careers. Some people are 21, 20, they need to go a different route. That's fine, that's fine. "But what you need to do is, when you get an opportunity, you need to try and become a football player, and that's what Matthew's done. "He's a terrific boy, terrific worker for a terrific family, and he'll be a top player. He'll be a top player." For aspiring players, there are few better role models than Forrest, McGregor and Tierney. Forrest recently overtook Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennox to become Celtic's most decorated player, with 26 trophies to his name. Skipper McGregor - whose own breakthrough came via a loan to Notts County - is only two major honours behind. And Tierney famously banked the club a record £25million fee in 2019, only to return on a free six years later. Speaking to promote next month's friendly clash with Newcastle United at Parkhead, McManus added: "You need that here, where it's so important that people can relate. The boys that have been here, that have done it. "I've spoken about this before, but when I look back over 20-odd years, boys that have come through the football club, you want them making an impact. "Making an impact is not just playing now and again. You want to contribute. You want to play five games. You want to play 50 games. You want to play 100 games. You want to play in the first team. "You need people that have done it, basically, just to prove, listen, if they can do it, there's no reason why the other boys can't do it. "That's where Kieran falls into it, Callum falls into it, and James falls into it. It's great, but it's a hard slog. "Of course it is, but you need the right types of people that are leading the football club, and that's what we've got here at the moment."
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
The haunting Rangers failure Steven Davis still lives with as former skipper lifts lid on 'huge frustration'
Davis admits it still lives with him that Rangers failed to kick on after sealing 55 Steven Davis admits he's still haunted by Rangers ' failure turn 55 into 56. The retired Ibrox legend was a key man when Steven Gerrard 's squad last lifted Premiership silver back in 2021. But they let that crown slip the following season after Gerrard made a mid-season move to Aston Villa, with his replacement Gio van Bronckhorst unable to mount a repeat of the previous season's title triumph. It has proved to be a pivotal sliding doors moment. Instead of embarking on their own era of glory, Gers have had to sit and watch their Parkhead foes rack up four straight league wins in a row. 'It's a huge frustration to be honest,' admitted former skipper Davis. 'I believe that with the quality we had in that time, we should have had a lot more success than what we did together. "It's easy to sit here and say that but it's hard to pinpoint the reasons why we didn't go on and achieve more than what we did, because we did really feel that the quality was there within the team. 'Ultimately over the course of the season, usually the best team wins and we didn't do enough in that year to do it.' Asked if he felt Rangers would be in a far stronger position now had they backed up their 2021 victory, the Northern Irishman replied: 'One hundred percent. That's always the ambition, once you get your hands on that first trophy, you want to do it on a regular basis. "We know it's not easy to have consistent success and we fell short really in the end. It's still a huge frustration for all of us involved, me certainly.' It's that failure to deliver regular silverware which means captain James Tavernier continues to divide the Ibrox fanbase. The full-back has clocked up 10 years in Glasgow but the club have yet to announce if he will be honoured for a decade of service. Davis, though, is adamant there would be no-one more deserving of a testimonial than Tavernier. He said: 'I think 10 years service at a club like Rangers is an unbelievable achievement. 'You know when you sign there that you're going to get criticism at some point during your career. He's had that but he's got broad enough shoulders, and for me, he's dealt with it really well. 'And I think also at Rangers, they're always looking for better players to replace you. But ultimately, he's managed to keep his place over the course of the time that he's been there, 'So everybody who has been manager has always seen the qualities when deciding to keep playing him and to keep him as captain as well. 'So I think if you have that level of service at a club, then you deserve everything you get.' Russell Martin is rumoured to be eyeing up Max Aarons as a potential replacement for Tavernier. But Davis believes his old-team still has plenty to offer. Asked if he could understand the flak directed at Tav, he replied: 'That's the Glasgow fishbowl, isn't it? 'When you're captain of the club and the club hasn't won as many trophies as they would like in recent times, that pressure's going to come, the stress is going to come. For me, sometimes it's over the top. 'I think he's been a fabulous player for the club. 'His availability is unquestionable, the number of goals and assists that he's had is incredible really, for a full-back or any position to be honest. I think he's been a really good servant for the football club. 'Sometimes that is overlooked. I understand that, you're always going to get critics out there. But I do feel that at times it's been a little bit over the mark with Tav. 'You can't be false to who you are as a person. You get the role because of the qualities that you bring, and you try to bring those qualities to the team. 'There's no two people who are the same and everybody will lead in different ways as well. 'It's just about the consistency of your actions, really. For me, that's how I tried to act as a player, I tried to lead by example. "Obviously on the basis of that, I was chosen in different captaincy roles at various clubs and also for my country as well. 'It's the same in management too, which I'm finding out now in my new coaching role. There are many different managers out there but you can't copycat anybody, you just have to be your own person. 'And I think people then respond to that. ' Davis isn't ready to write off Tavernier - but he admits it might be time for Ross McCausland to consider an Ibrox exit if he can't win over new boss Martin. He gave his fellow countryman his big break when he introduced him to the Gers line-up during his brief stint as caretaker gaffer in 2023. McCausland got off to a flying start - but he's featured less and less lately after a nightmare display towards the end of the season saw him sent off at Pittodrie. 'I think for you, development is always important to play games, that's where you learn,' said Davis. 'It's difficult to just train and try to progress, so it's obviously going to be another big summer for Ross in terms of the decisions that he makes. 'I'm sure different things are floating around his head, but ultimately there's a new manager coming in, he'll be open to seeing what players can bring to the team and give them an opportunity to do that and really impress in pre-season. 'Maybe then things can go from there. 'Hopefully that's the case for Ross. I think he's got qualities in there, he has had a difficult season and he's probably the first to admit that himself. 'But he'll ultimately want to stay at Rangers and have a career there, so I think the onus is on him to really go and stamp his authority on pre-season and see where that takes him. 'As a manager you have to be open-minded and I think there's always players that will surprise you. I've seen Russell talking about that himself. 'I think that when you go in there, you have a picture of maybe the qualities that players have, but until you work with them on a daily basis then you don't really get the full picture. 'Obviously Russell will be bringing in his own people to try to help the team as well but there's no reason why players like Ross who have kind been on the periphery this season can't show that they have qualities that they can bring to the team.' Davis was speaking as he helped promote 10 Years On - a celebratory event taking place at Belfast's Ulster Hall on May 2, 2026, marking next year's anniversary of Northern Ireland's Euro 2016 campaign. For tickets go to
Daily Record
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Record
Jordan Spieth forced to quit Travelers Championship in agony as he shares five words with Luke Clanton
Sickened Jordan Spieth forced to chalk up unwanted first in Connecticut Sickened and suffering Jordan Spieth was in agony before being forced quit at the Travelers Championship The three-times Major champion was full of apologies to playing partner Luke Clanton after having to give up on his fight against injury. Spieth looked to have trouble in the neck area during the round and was clearly in physical pain as he attempted to battle through the anguish. The Texan star, who won the Open in 2017, after 2015 wins at the Masters and PGA Championship, received physio from medical staff on the course during the round in his efforts to scrap through to the finale and conclude the round. However, Spieth just couldn't manage and apologised to Clanton walking down the 13th fairway as he had to admit defeat. He was heard saying: 'I can't do it anymore.' It was a bitter blow to the American who has felt that he is the right track and ahead of schedule with his form having come back from wrist surgery at the end of last year and working through rehabilitation during his enforced lay-off. Spieth had never pulled out of an event during play in 297 starts and Sky TV commentator and ex-professional Nick Dougherty said: 'That is terrible news for Jordan Spieth. "Let's just hope actually it's not too serious and he is back playing again soon. "But he is a withdrawal and Luke will be left to play the rest of this round on his own. "The first time he has ever withdrawn in 297 starts and he wouldn't have done it lightly, he certainly didn't look to.' Dame Laura Davies, also on the Sky commentary team, agreed as she added: 'No, I think he was wresting with himself. "He probably could have given up at any time, but you heard him say to his partner: 'I'm really sorry. I don't want you to play in a one-ball.' "That's just how professional this guy is and it is such a shame. But, hopefully, he'll be ready to go next time.' Spieth was excited for the tournament having been handed a sponsors invite to take part in the signature event. As a former winner of the event eight years ago, he recounted his coolest moment in the game so far with the holed bunker shot to win the 2017 play-off. He said: 'I have great memories here. I've had some mixed results, but coming in right now, I feel like it's a pretty important event for me. "I feel like I've been moving the right direction after kind of essentially missing an off-season, trying to kind of get back into it. "Every month's felt a little bit better. Structurally things are getting better. I'm seeing more consistent ball striking results. "Just need to pour in some putts. It feels like I just need to stay the course and good things are coming.'
