List of All Articles with Tag 'sport'

Former Wrexham defender Neil Taylor has told the club’s Hollywood owners Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds to stay clear of signing big-name “over the hill” players and avoid a “circus”. Actors McElhenney and Reynolds have transformed Wrexham since buying the club in February 2021, with the Dragons set to end a 15-year absence from the English Football League after winning the National League title. Wrexham’s promotion has seen them linked with several prominent names, among them former Real Madrid and Wales star Gareth Bale, who McElhenney and Reynolds attempted to lure out of retirement. Former Wales forward Hal Robson-Kanu and ex-Blackburn and Norway midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen, now 41, have also offered their services to Wrexham since promotion to the fourth tier was won. “It can’t become a circus. It’s still a football club that needs to be successful because no one will pat you on the back if you don’t do it properly,” said Taylor, the former Swansea, Aston Villa and Wales full-back who began his senior career at Wrexham. “Leave those players that are over the hill. I’d say to Hal ‘I don’t think you’re getting in over Paul Mullin. You’re retired now and he’s a top-class striker’. “People think League One and League Two is easy but they’re not. It’s really hard football, harder arguably than when you play higher up with the amount of games, travel and some of the grounds you play at. “So I’d say to Wrexham, stay clear and go for players who know the league and have been successful in it, players who are hungry to get higher up.” Taylor, who grew up in north Wales at nearby Ruthin, predicts Wrexham will mount another strong promotion challenge in League Two next season. Several members of Phil Parkinson’s squad – among them top scorer Mullin, Ollie Palmer, Elliot Lee and skipper Ben Tozer – have extensive experience playing in the EFL. “Hopefully that success continues and I don’t see any reason why not with the squad they’ve got,” said Taylor. “They will strengthen this summer but it’s already a ready-made team to do well in League Two. But if you’re a good player in League One or League Two and Wrexham knock on the door, you’re going to go there. They've got to be careful who they get through the door because, in my mind, there's no bigger pull than Wrexham below the Championship Neil Taylor “You’ll look at the brand and the commercial value of it and see how Paul Mullin’s gone from Tranmere to having a book out. “It shows how good going to Wrexham can be for your career and agents will clamour to get their players at the club. “But they’ve got to be careful who they get through the door because, in my mind, there’s no bigger pull than Wrexham below the Championship.” Taylor was 19 when he was part of the Wrexham side relegated from the EFL in 2008 and he admires McElhenney and Reynolds for their impact on the football club and the wider community in general. He said: “When I started there – and I was carrying the water for the first team at 16 – the Racecourse was full. “But by the time you’re getting relegated, there were 2,500 in the stadium and you see the decline. “It was tough for many years, so to see them promoted was emotional because I know many people connected with the club who are still there when I was.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How managers Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag fare ahead of FA Cup final How Manchester United reached the FA Cup final for a 21st time How Manchester City reached first FA Cup final for four years

Manchester City face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday. Here, the PA news agency looks at how Pep Guardiola’s side made it to Wembley. Man City 4 Chelsea 0 (third round, Jan 8) City sailed through with surprising ease as Chelsea put up little resistance at the Etihad Stadium just three days after a hard-fought Premier League clash between the sides at Stamford Bridge. A superb Riyad Mahrez free-kick, a Julian Alvarez penalty and a Phil Foden effort effectively wrapped up the contest in the first half. Mahrez completed the scoring from the spot late on. Man City 1 Arsenal 0 (fourth round, Jan 27) City edged a tight and entertaining game that lived up to its pre-match billing as a heavyweight contest. A tidy finish from defender Nathan Ake, placing a shot into the bottom corner after good work from Jack Grealish, settled the tie in the 64th minute. Bristol City 0 Man City 3 (fifth round, Feb 28) Foden struck twice as City saw off their Championship hosts with little alarm. The England midfielder opened the scoring after seven minutes when he turned home a low Mahrez ball at the back post and made victory certain with a deflected effort after the break. Kevin De Bruyne added a brilliant third with a low curling shot from outside the area. Man City 6 Burnley 0 (quarter-finals, Mar 18) City gave their former captain Vincent Kompany a hero’s reception on his return to the Etihad – but showed his Championship-leading side little mercy on the field. The prolific Erling Haaland, who had smashed five past RB Leipzig just days earlier, helped himself to a hat-trick as the Clarets were put to the sword. Alvarez weighed in with a double and Cole Palmer also got on the scoresheet in the rout. Man City 3 Sheff Utd 0 (semi-finals, Apr 22) Another promotion-challenging Championship side failed to lay a glove on City as Guardiola’s men booked a return to the final for the first time in four years after three successive semi-final defeats. Mahrez took centre-stage by scoring the first FA Cup semi-final hat-trick since 1958 and the first at Wembley. The Blades were made to rue missing a gilt-edged early chance through Iliman Ndiaye as Mahrez grabbed his first from the spot, ran through the defence for a fine solo second and swept in to complete his treble. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How managers Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag fare ahead of FA Cup final How Manchester United reached the FA Cup final for a 21st time Former Wrexham defender Neil Taylor warns club to avoid ‘circus’ over signings

Manchester United are through to a record-equalling 21st FA Cup final and will take on Manchester City on Saturday. Here, the PA news agency looks at the Red Devils’ route to another Wembley showdown. Man Utd 3 Everton 1 (third round, Jan 6) In-form Marcus Rashford scored his fifth goal in as many games after creating two others as Erik ten Hag’s men cruised to victory. The forward set up Antony’s early opener before seeing a second-half cross turned into his own net by Conor Coady, scorer of Everton’s equaliser. Then in stoppage time Rashford kept his scoring run going by sending Jordan Pickford the wrong way from the penalty spot after Ben Godfrey fouled Alejandro Garnacho. Man Utd 3 Reading 1 (fourth round, Jan 28) Casemiro scored a magnificent brace before Fred flicked home audaciously as United’s Brazilian stars sparkled. The hosts initially made hard work of the straightforward fourth-round assignment against Championship opposition, but second half samba magic in the Manchester rain sealed victory on a night when Amadou Mbengue grabbed Reading a consolation after Andy Carroll was sent off. Man Utd 3 West Ham 1 (fifth round, March 1) Teenage star Garnacho inspired United to a late comeback win as Ten Hag’s men sealed progress to the FA Cup quarter-finals three days on from their Carabao Cup triumph. United looked set to be brought back down to earth with a bump after Said Benrahma put the Hammers into a deserved lead, only for Nayef Aguerd’s 77th-minute own goal to spark an impressive turnaround. Garnacho’s superb 90th-minute effort followed, before a stoppage-time strike by Fred. Man Utd 3 Fulham 1 (quarter-finals, March 19) United punished five minutes of madness from Fulham as they came from behind to progress to the semi-finals. Marco Silva’s men were full value for the lead that Aleksandar Mitrovic gave them five minutes into the second half, but the wheels came off with around 20 minutes left. Silva, Willian and Mitrovic were all sent off in quick succession, with Bruno Fernandes levelling from the resulting penalty. Marcel Sabitzer flicked home to put United ahead, before the Fernandes lashed in another in stoppage time. Man Utd 0 Brighton 0 – United win 7-6 on pens (semi-finals, April 23) United set-up an all-Manchester final against rivals City after Solly March’s spot-kick miss saw Brighton suffer semi-final shoot-out heartache. In-form Albion made Ten Hag’s team sweat as the south-coast club sought to reach just their second FA Cup final, with the semi-final ending 0-0 after 120 minutes at Wembley. The first 12 penalties of the shoot-out found the net before Albion favourite March blazed over, allowing Victor Lindelof to secure a 7-6 win. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live How managers Pep Guardiola and Erik ten Hag fare ahead of FA Cup final How Manchester City reached first FA Cup final for four years Former Wrexham defender Neil Taylor warns club to avoid ‘circus’ over signings

The tradition of hockey’s playoff beard goes back to at least the mid-1980s, with the Detroit Red Wings getting widely credited with beginning the facial hair phenomenon

They were No. 8 seeds

England Women’s Women’s World Cup 2023 squad for Australian and New Zealand will be confirmed this afternoon by Sarina Wiegman. The Lionesses will hope to win the World Cup for the first time, adding to their European crown from last summer. Injuries have hit the Lionesses hard already though, with Leah Williamson and Fran Kirby out, while Beth Mead, the winner of the Golden Boot at last summer’s Euros, is also a major doubt. Millie Bright and Lucy Bronze are also facing fitness battles and Wiegman will be speaking to the media from Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham to explain her decisions and thoughts ahead of this summer. Follow live build-up to the squad announcement, reaction and analysis: Read More Predicting England’s Women’s World Cup squad: Who’s on the plane and who could miss out? England World Cup squad announcement: Five key decisions Sarina Wiegman must make England can win World Cup despite injury problems – Jill Scott

Brentford have signed Netherlands goalkeeper Mark Flekken on a four-year contract. The deal, which brings the four-times capped Flekken from Bundesliga side Freiburg, is subject to international clearance and work permit. “We’re very happy to have signed Mark,” head coach Thomas Frank told the official Brentford website. “He’s a player with a lot of quality who will strengthen our goalkeeper group. “He has big experience and joins us after two great seasons with Freiburg, who have just had a top season in the Bundesliga, finishing fifth and qualifying for the Europa League. “He was a big part of the team there and now he’s coming to us and will hopefully make the group better and the team better. “He’s a very good shot-stopper and comfortable with the ball at his feet. His distribution is very impressive.” Flekken began his career in his native Netherlands at RKVV WDZ and Roda before moving to Germany, where he has played for Alemannia Aachen, Greuther Furth, Duisburg and Freiburg. The 29-year-old made his Netherlands debut in March 2022 and kept 13 clean sheets in 34 Bundesliga matches – the highest tally in the division last season. Frank has said Brentford goalkeeper David Raya could leave the club this summer after four successful seasons in West London. But Frank warned interested parties that it will cost them £40million to sign the 27-year-old Spaniard. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live

Governments in major European countries are putting pressure on FIFA and public broadcasters to resolve a dispute over

Britain is heading into a second consecutive summer of train strikes this week as union bosses and ministers

Yogi Berra famously said "It ain't over 'til it's over," but one of the greatest careers in baseball history might have been over before it had even begun.

French Sports minister Amelie Oudea-Castera says Novak Djokovic’s political message about Kosovo was “not appropriate

Golden State Warriors general manager Bob Myers will step down after playing a key role in constructing one of NBA's most successful teams, the team announced on Tuesday.