England win inaugural Transplant European Football Championship
The first ever Transplant European Football Championship has been won by the hosts England.Six nations were represented at the tournament which was held over three days at Radley College, Oxfordshire, with the finals taking place on Sunday.England took the title beating Italy 1-0, with the winning goal coming in the last minute of the match.All the teams were made up of organ transplant recipients from England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, Spain and Wales.
England player Kevin Kyley said: "There was a real buzz around the place all week with spectators and fans from other countries cheering you on."After a week of football our legs were giving up on us but we just kept pushing, and to get that goal in the last minute of the game was unbelievable."The tournament follows last year's first World Transplant Football Cup held in Cervia, Italy, and aims to promote transplant football and raise awareness for organ donation.Organiser Transplant Active wants to establish a biennial European event, taking place either side of world cup tournaments.Oxfordshire is also hosting the British Transplant Games from 31 July to 3 August in Oxford.
You can follow BBC Oxfordshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scottish Sun
2 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
When is Rangers Champions League draw and who could Russell Martin's side face in qualifiers?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) RUSSELL MARTIN only started work as the new Rangers head coach this week. But time doesn't wait for anyone - especially not in Scottish football - and particularly when it comes to the Champions League qualifiers this summer. 2 Rangers will be back in the Champions League draw again Credit: Getty 2 Rangers lost in Champions League qualifying to Dynamo Kyiv last year Credit: PA Rangers will enter Uefa's top competition at the second qualifying round stage. Winning that tie is of paramount importance to Gers as it will significantly impact how difficult it could become to secure European group stage football of some sort for the season ahead. The Light Blues made another deep run in Europe last season, reaching the quarter-finals of the Europa League before losing to Athletic Bilbao. They'll start a level above for this campaign and will hope to improve on their last showing in the Champions League proper when they finished with the worst record of any team during the 2022-23 season (Gers failed to qualify at all last year). Here's all you need to know for the Champions League draw, when Rangers will find out who they play. When is the Champions League second qualifying round draw? The Champions League second qualifying round draw will be held on Wednesday, June 18 It will be held at the House of European Football in Berne, Switzerland Proceedings will get underway at around 11am UK time Are Rangers seeded for the draw? Yes, Rangers are seeded for the Champions League second qualifying round draw Their club coefficient ensures they will be in the League Path for the qualifying rounds For the second qualifying round, they are seeded alongside Red Bull Salzburg and Viktoria Plzen Who could Rangers face in the Champions League second qualifying round? Rangers will face either Panathinaikos, Servette or Brann in the Champions League second qualifying round All three of those teams are unseeded Like Rangers, all three of those sides finished second in their respective leagues When are the the Champions League second qualifying round fixtures? The first leg of the ties will take place on 22/23 July The second legs will be held on 29/30 July What happens if Rangers lose in the second qualifying round? If Rangers lose in the second qualifying round, they will drop into the Europa League third qualifying round as an UNSEEDED team. Moment Ally McCoist interrupts live radio to congratulate his 'wee pal' on signing for Rangers That would put them at the mercy of some strong sides on the continent. Anderlecht, Braga, Midtjylland and PAOK are all confirmed as seeded sides in the Europa League third qualifying round. Those fixtures are scheduled for 7 and 14 August and there is NO parachute into the Europa Conference League league phase for the losers at this stage. Instead, Gers would face a play-off to reach the group stages. It's hard to say whether the Glasgow side would be seeded here or not as the 26 winners of the Conference League's third qualifying round and the other four would-be losers in the Europa League third qualifying round are obviously yet to be determined. Of the team current in the picture though, only Serie A outfit Fiorentina have a higher club coefficient than Gers. But in the worst case scenario, Rangers would be OUT of Europe by the middle of August. What happens if Rangers win in the Champions League second qualifying round? A win in the the second qualifying round would guarantee group stage football for Russell Martin's Gers. That's because the losers of the Champions League third qualifying round drop into the league phase of the Europa League. And if Rangers win the third qualifying round tie as well then they would of course go into the play-off round. It's straightforward from there: win and it's into the Champions League proper, lose and it's the Europa League league phase once again. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
South Wales Guardian
2 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Wesley Ward absent from Royal Ascot this year
Hugely impressive on his Churchill Downs debut, the Speightstown colt looked a major contender for the Norfolk Stakes but will not be making the trip across the Atlantic. Ward said: 'He had a a nice breeze yesterday (Tuesday) on the grass here in Keeneland and unfortunately he came out with just a hair of a shin (problem), which 90 per cent of all two-year-olds get and it's just unfortunate it's right on the heels of Ascot. 'We're here and not over there though, that's one good thing. He didn't have to leave Keeneland, so that was good.' Outfielder debuts the best for trainer Wesley Ward and @ljlmvel! ⚾️ — Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 23, 2025 Part-owned by Amo Racing, Outfielder could still be seen in action on European soil this summer, with August's Prix Morny at Deauville – a Group One Ward has previously won with No Nay Never (2013), Lady Aurelia (2016) and Campanelle (2020) – under consideration. 'Our original plan was to go for the Norfolk and then the Prix Morny, so we'll just train him into the Morny if all goes to plan,' the trainer added. Few in Europe had heard of Washington-born Ward when he first came to Ascot in 2009, but it did not take him long to make a big impression, with Strike The Tiger becoming the first American-trained horse to win at the Royal meeting when landing the Windsor Castle Stakes. The very next day Ward was on the mark again with Jealous Again in the Queen Mary and he has sent horses to Berkshire in all but one of the subsequent 14 years, amassing a dozen winners in the process. The ebullient handler will be conspicuous by his absence in 2025, but he is not too downbeat. 'I'll still enjoy watching it here, that's for sure,' he said. 'This was the 16th year we were getting ready to go over there. My eldest son Riley has been going every year since I started and he's got all these friends that he's met that go back and forward between American and the the UK, so he's the one that's gutted the most out of the whole family. 'Outfielder was obviously meant to be making the trip and we had another couple lined up and had some breezes on Monday, but while the breezes were good they weren't Royal Ascot-winning good. 'You know me, I'm pretty positive and excited, but if I'm not thinking they've got big chances when it's a lot of money to go over there for the owners… I want to make sure at least going into it that you think you have a winner.'
Glasgow Times
3 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Keane eager for flying Ascot start in new Juddmonte role
The six-time Irish champion jockey was named retained rider to the leading owners earlier in the week and can look forward to a stellar book of mounts as he dives straight in at the deep end for his new employers at one of the year's most important meetings. Keane is embracing the challenge as he pays thanks to the role long-time ally Ger Lyons – one of the men who gave Keane his 'baby Mick' moniker – has played in his rise to becoming the weighing room's most wanted man. Colin Keane will be wearing the Juddmonte colours on a regular basis (Brian Lawless/PA) 'If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be on the stage I've got to. I was with him from when I was an apprentice, I went straight there from my father's and he has backed me 100 per cent,' said Keane. 'Ger has never hidden that and I'm very fortunate. I wouldn't be where I am without him. It was a pretty straightforward decision (to take the Juddmonte job) and once I had a chat with Ger and he was happy enough, we were all happy. 'I think Pat (Healy, racing photographer) and Ger came up with 'baby Mick' and it's not a bad nickname to have. But we try to keep it as relaxed as possible and get the job done. 'Royal Ascot is the pinnacle of our sport. It's the place where everyone wants to go – owners, trainers and jockeys – and so I'm very fortunate to have some nice rides to look forward to next week.' Keane is the first jockey since James Doyle to be committed to Juddmonte, joining the likes of Pat Eddery and Richard Hughes amongst those who have donned the famous pink, white and green silks on a regular basis for the Abdullah family's operation. Colin Keane was in Newmarket to ride Lead Artist on Wednesday (Adam Morgan/PA) It is not just decorated names in the saddle that are inextricably linked with Juddmonte but also some of the finest racehorses of all time, with the 30-year-old well aware of the history of his new role. Keane added: 'It was a 'pinch yourself' moment when the call came and I had to double check that it was actually Barry Mahon (Juddmonte's European racing manager) on the other end of the phone! 'When you get opportunities like this, you have to take them and we could be talking here for a while now about the horses that have come and gone in these colours. Hopefully there will be more to come. 'I'll be coming over whenever I am told and finding things out. I'll be talking to Barry Mahon and he'll be telling me where I need to go. I'll go over and back from Ireland and maybe having the odd day in France. I'll be kept busy, that's for sure.' First up for Keane will be his Ascot baptism of fire where his new associations will be put to the test on the grandest stage of racing. Colin Keane tasted Classic glory on Field Of Gold (Niall Carson/PA) However, the Irishman is content to ride the waves of his brief honeymoon period ahead of a week in the spotlight in Berkshire, where Field Of Gold could prove the ace in his swelling pack as he looks to add to his two previous triumphs at the Royal meeting. 'I won't be able to tell you what the pressure is like until next week and we'll take it as it comes,' Keane added. 'I've a nice book of rides and the hardest problem is often getting on these horses, so it's a nice problem to have. You just have to take your chances. 'You are riding these horses for brilliant trainers and they will guide you the best way possible and you will have done your homework for sure. You're more looking forward to it than anything.'
