'Feeling of general apathy' despite win at Old Trafford
Before this season it was hard to imagine a world where West Ham fans would struggle to care about doing the double over Manchester United.Of course it was great watching us win 2-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday, after our 2-1 victory in October at London Stadium. But given how woeful United's Premier League season has been and their upcoming Europa League final against Tottenham (come on you Reds, by the way!) their players could not have cared less, and it showed.However, arguably the most important factor, and the most disheartening, in why there was a feeling of general apathy after the win is how abject 2024-25 has been for West Ham - proven by the fact the victory moved us to the heady heights of 15th!It's a shame really and sadly I can't see next season or beyond being much better.We also bid farewell to some club legends at the end of the season, with Aaron Cresswell, Vladimir Coufal and Lukasz Fabianski all leaving when their contracts expire.Even in my 30s, I still feel emotional saying goodbye to players who have given so much to our club. All three were integral in our recent historic European runs while Cresswell is the only player, along with Michail Antonio, who was there for the iconic last season at Upton Park.Although I can't help but feel Coufal's departure is a little premature, I wish them all the very best for the future and thank them from the bottom of my heart for everything they have done for West Ham.Find more from Will Pugh at We Are West Ham, external
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BBC News
38 minutes ago
- BBC News
Boultucanu & home comforts - how historic Queen's unfolded
Packed crowds, British feel-good energy and the emergence of 'Boultucanu' - the historic women's tournament at Queen's has either Tatjana Maria or Amanda Anisimova lift the trophy on Sunday, they will end Olga Morozova's 52-year reign as women's champion at the iconic a women's event for the first time since 1953 is a moment many feel has been "a long time coming".There were concerns, however, over the impact on the grass courts, with the men's tournament beginning at the same venue on director Laura Robson said there had been no complaints over the courts after a week of absorbing action, while the success of the British contingent has contributed to the feel-good atmosphere in London. Quintessentially British experience embraced by fans When action got under way on day one the general feeling was 'it's about time'.Queen's has long been a staple of the men's schedule, and a huge draw for fans in the build-up to Wimbledon. The absence of a women's tournament had felt like a missed recalled watching the men compete, either on TV or as a spectator, and wishing they could take part. Britain's Katie Boulter later said she had been "dreaming" about playing on the main court."It has been a long time coming," former British number one Robson told BBC 5 Live."I didn't realise just how many players have watched this tournament on TV."To see it come together in the last few months has been stressful but in the best way, because you want it to be perfect."Walking around the grounds of Queen's does, in some ways, feel like a 'mini Wimbledon'.It is a quintessentially British tennis experience: punters dressed in their finery, Pimm's in full flow and a beautiful setting, with as much care taken of the flowers and greenery as the pristine has the same bustling feeling that envelops SW19, with fans queueing at the merchandise stalls or craning their necks at the practice courts for a glimpse of the it was fitting that British icon Sir Andy Murray, a long-time advocate and ally of the women's game, delivered the coin toss for the first women's match on the main court now bearing his name. "Hopefully in a few more years there'll be an arena named after a female player," said one fan. Britons relish in Queen's 'reward' The positive energy around the club was further fuelled by a successful week for the British contingent, who quickly made themselves at already live and train in London. Sleeping in their own beds and being around friends and family was a rare, welcome treat in a packed tennis Raducanu said the home comforts helped her rhythm and perhaps even contributed to what she called her "free and expressive" style at the tournament."I had a lot of joy playing here at Queen's," said Raducanu after her exit to top seed Zheng Qinwen."The crowd was amazing. The support the whole way through every match was really enjoyable for me."It was a welcome sight to see the 2021 US Open champion smiling and enjoying herself after a difficult few years. Her matches were always well attended, with cries of "we love you Emma!" heard number 37 Raducanu reached the quarter-finals while Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Heather Watson all lost in the who rode her bike to and from the site each day, said the tournament had "sort of Wimbledon vibes" because of the history."I played on Court One in qualifying and the stand was almost full," the 33-year-old said."Having a big tournament here in London, which is the home of British tennis, is huge and very special for us. It feels like a reward."Boulter's fiance, Alex de Minaur, reached the final at Queen's two years ago. This year, he was able to watch her play before beginning his campaign. "Queen's is everything I dreamed it would be," Boulter said."Every single day I have stepped on the court, it's been a great crowd."I have enjoyed it a lot. I wish it could have been longer." Perhaps the highlight of the tournament - particularly for those who queued for over an hour in the London sun - was Boulter and Raducanu's surprise doubles pairing. The duo, now fondly nicknamed 'Boultucanu', delighted the 1,000-capacity crowd with their first-round win. Held on the smaller, more intimate Court One, the pair laughed and joked together and chatted with fans at the changes of run was short and sweet, but the pair have teased a potential return at some point in the year. 'No complaints' over court quality Ticket prices were lower in the WTA week, which will not yet be able to raise anything like the revenue of the long-established men's over 80% of the tickets were purchased before the tournament began and Saturday's semi-finals were sold out."The two tournaments have different personalities and we want to make sure the women's event has its own identity," Robson told BBC 5 Live."From ticket sales we've noticed 55% of the tickets have been sold to women this week. That's not the case next week. "We've seen a younger, more diverse audience in the crowd, and that's something we hope to grow in many years to come. This feels like the start of something special."Attracting the biggest players is an ongoing challenging. With Queen's taking place straight after the French Open, only three top-10 players ultimately competed, with world number three Jessica Pegula a late total fund this week was £1.043m ($1.415m), compared with £2.122m (2.522m euros) for the men. The LTA has pledged to introduce equal prize money by no later than for the courts, they do show signs of wear and tear after a week of action, but that is to be expected. Tennis correspondent Russell Fuller compared them to "day three or four" at Wimbledon."I can't actually believe how well they've held up," said Robson. "It looks almost pristine still."The ground staff have done an incredible job and put in some serious hours."So far, no complaints from the ATP players on site, and long may that continue."Britain's Dan Evans, arriving on site while the tournament was ongoing, said the women's event being held before the men's had created a better buzz around the having a standalone women's event put the spotlight firmly on the female players as the British public begins to turn its attention towards Wimbledon."I think it's a really good opportunity for women's tennis," Boulter added."It was a massive schedule change and probably quite risky, because we are quite set in our ways."I think it's in a place that it should be - and it's pushing more and more towards where it could be."
Daily Mail
38 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Like father, like son! Cristiano Ronaldo, 40, and son Cristiano Jr, 14, show off their matching ripped physiques as they cause social media stir
Cristiano Ronaldo and his son Cristiano Jr proudly showed off their matching ripped physiques as they posed together for a photo. Ronaldo sported a bare-bodied look alongside his son, who will turn 15 next week, and shared the picture on Instagram to his 657 million followers. The post, accompanied by the caption 'Tal pai tal filho', which translates as 'like father, like son' has already been liked over three million times. Clad in red shorts, Ronaldo tensed for the camera, revealing he remains shredded even at the age of 40, while his son, wearing blue shorts, followed suit. An aspiring footballer, Cristiano Jr is keen to follow in the footsteps of his father, who recently broke down in tears after winning the Nations League with Portugal. There was more success in the Ronaldo household when Cristiano Jr was capped by Portugal's U-15s for the first time, wearing the No 7 shirt made famous by his dad. Ronaldo said he was 'very proud' of his eldest son after he made his debut during the 4-1 win over Croatia in the Vlatko Markovic International Tournament. The talented 14-year-old was cheered on by his grandmother Dolores Aveiro, Ronaldo's mother, and was also reportedly watched by scouts from Manchester United and several other elite European clubs, including Tottenham. Five-time Ballon d'Or winner Ronaldo said on Instagram: 'Congratulations on your debut for Portugal, son. Very proud of you.' Cristiano Jr later scored twice for Portugal in the final of the tournament and celebrated just like his dad, wheeling off to perform the iconic leap and 'siu' shout. Ronaldo has made no secret of his desire to play on the same pitch as his son one day, but he also stressed he would not pressure him. 'I would like it, I would like it,' said Ronaldo. 'It's not something that keeps me awake at night but we'll see. It's more in his hands than mine. 'The years are starting to go by and one day I'll have to let it go. There will come a time when it is no longer possible. Not only physically but also psychologically.'
BBC News
42 minutes ago
- BBC News
State schools to contest Knight-Stokes Cup in 2026
A new nationwide cricket tournament for state schools will launch in 2026 with the trophy awarded to the winning teams carrying the name of England cricketers Ben Stokes and Heather Knight-Stokes Cup will be a T20 competition contested next summer via a series of knockout regional qualifiers with the finals to be staged on the main ground at Lord' tournament will be for school pupils in the year 10 age group with separate events for boys and Sport understands England men's Test captain Stokes and England women's batter Knight, who stepped down as skipper earlier this year, have given their blessing for their names to be attached to the and Knight were educated at state schools in Cockermouth and Plymouth tournament has been conceived by Michael Vaughan and is being part-funded by the Black Heart Foundation, a charity which seeks to help under-privileged children with whom the ex-England captain is a Marylebone Cricket Club Foundation will oversee the organisation of the Knight-Stokes Cup in conjunction with regional cricket boards.A number of independent schools have agreed to provide grounds and facilities for state schools to play 2023, the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) reported "elitism and class-based discrimination" in the game was partly down to a lack of cricket in state schools and a talent pathway structurally aligned to private report noted some 58% of men to play for England in 2021 were privately educated, significantly higher than the 7% of the general population who went to private 18 of the report, involving the removal of the historic fixture between public schools Eton and Harrow fixture from Lord's, has gained wider traction. Senior figures at the MCC said the fixture, which has been played at the ground since 1805, should be it will remain at the Home of Cricket until at least 2027 after complaints by members of the MCC forced the club to reach a compromise.
