JAY STANSFIELD INTERVIEW: Birmingham forward opens up on dealing with family tragedy, Tom Brady's influence on the club's winning culture and dreams of playing for England at the World Cup
Blues' American owners believe they can reach the Premier League this season and to realise their ambition, they will rely heavily on a young forward who has lived with adversity since childhood.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Guardian
3 minutes ago
- The Guardian
‘Palestinian Pelé' killed in Israeli attack in southern Gaza
A footballer known as the 'Palestinian Pelé' has been killed in an Israeli attack in southern Gaza, according to the Palestine Football Association (PFA). Suleiman al-Obeid was killed on Wednesday when Israeli forces attacked civilians waiting for humanitarian aid, the PFA said. ''During his long career, al-Obeid, 41, scored more than 100 goals, making him one of the brightest stars of Palestinian football,' it said. Born in Gaza on 24 March 1984, Obeid began his footballing career with Khadamat al-Shati, later playing for Markaz Shabab al-Am'ari in the occupied West Bank, and Gaza Sport. A fixture in the Palestinian national side after his debut in 2007, Obeid gained 24 caps and scored twice, the PFA said, most memorably with a scissor-kick against Yemen during the 2010 West Asian Football Federation championship. His talent on the pitch earned him the nickname of 'the Palestinian Pelé' – a nod to the legendary Brazilian widely hailed as one of the greatest players of all time. His death adds to a growing toll of athletes lost in Gaza since the war began, with at least 662 sportspeople and their relatives reported to have been killed. 'The number of footballers killed or who died from starvation has reached 421, including 103 children,' the PFA said. Obeid is survived by his wife and five children. According to the PFA, 288 sports facilities have been damaged or reduced to rubble across Gaza and the West Bank, from stadiums and training grounds to gyms and clubhouses. The vast majority, 268, were in Gaza, while 20 were in the West Bank, with about half serving football directly. Among the sites hit was the PFA's headquarters in Gaza, struck during an Israeli air raid. More than 1,300 Palestinians are reported to have been killed in the vicinity of aid distribution points managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation since the US and Israeli-backed logistic group's launch in late May.
Daily Mail
4 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Crystal Palace to FINALLY appear at Court of Arbitration for Sport to appeal Europa League demotion
Crystal Palace will attempt to overturn their Europa League demotion at a high-stakes hearing on Friday – and the man at the centre of the issue will not be present. Eagles lawyers and officials will present their case having appealed UEFA's decision to drop them into the Europa Conference League thanks to breaches of its rules on multi-club ownership. Last month, revealed how Palace were in grave danger of being kicked out of the competition. And, following a hearing at UEFA HQ, the FA Cup winners' fears became reality. UEFA adjudicators ruled that John Textor, the US businessman whose company held a 43 per cent stake in the club along with a majority stake in fellow qualifiers Lyon, did hold 'control or decisive influence' at Selhurst Park, despite the fact he only possessed 25 per cent of voting rights. Because the French side finished in a higher position in their domestic league they took the slot, with Nottingham Forest subsequently leapfrogging Palace. Palace will appear at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in Lausanne, Switzerland, but Textor, who was a key witness at the UEFA hearing and who has subsequently sold his stake in the club, will not be there. Palace want their demotion overturned and for either Lyon or Forest to be demoted. Forest are sending their own legal team. Those who attend have the option to evade publicity by entering via a side exit. It is understood Palace, who believe they have done nothing wrong, will shun such a manoeuvre and enter via the main entrance.
BBC News
4 minutes ago
- BBC News
League One: Port Vale host Cardiff looking to bounce back from defeat
This will be the first league meeting between Port Vale and Cardiff City since the 2002-03 campaign, with the Bluebirds winning each of the last four meetings between the pair. Cardiff City have won each of their last two away league games against Port Vale via 2-0 scorelines, with this their first visit to Vale Park since February 2003. Since New Year's Day 2024, Port Vale have won just two of their 24 games in League One (D6 L16).
