🎧 Saints and Sinners
The latest episode of BBC Radio Solent's Saints and Sinners is available now on BBC Sounds.Tom Deacon chats with BBC Radio Solent sports editor Adam Blackmore about the latest news from St Mary's.The team are also joined by former Saints goalkeeper and 1976 FA Cup winner Ian Turner, as well as Brighton fan Stephen Grant to look ahead to the game against the Seagulls this weekend.Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
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Press and Journal
3 hours ago
- Press and Journal
REVEALED: The English Premier League star Aberdeen winger Shayden Morris watches before games for inspiration
Aberdeen winger Shayden Morris has revealed he studies footage of an England international and Premier League legend in a bid to further improve his game. Morris played a pivotal role in the Dons' Scottish Cup final win against Celtic as the Reds won the trophy for the first time since 1990. The 23-year-old made an explosive impact off the bench when his cross was parried into his own net by Celtic keeper Kasper Schmeichel. In a memorable season, Scottish Cup-winning hero Morris also scooped the Aberdeen Player of the Year award – voted for by supporters. However, he is constantly striving to improve his performances and watches footage of Raheem Sterling for inspiration before matches. Sterling, 30, won four Premier League titles, an FA Cup and five League Cups with Manchester City. Currently at Chelsea, the winger – capped 82 times by England – has scored 174 career goals and spent last season on loan at Arsenal. Morris said: 'I still watch clips of Raheem Sterling from his Manchester City days to study his movement. 'Of course, at Arsenal he hasn't been the same as he was before at City, but it's him as a person I look up to. 'I want to improve so even before games sometimes I'll study Sterling online. 'He has pace, but he's also got the skill to make the most of that, so I'm trying to add stuff that he did. 'I like to think I'm slowly getting better at that so I can help the team as much as possible.' Signed from Fleetwood Town in summer 2022, Morris endured a frustrating first two seasons at Pittodrie due to injury. In his debut season, the winger suffered a hamstring tear which ruled him out for four months. There was a further injury setback in the 2023-24 season when Morris was ruled out for three months with another hamstring injury which required surgery. However, under manager Jimmy Thelin, the wing star has delivered a breakout season with five goals and 13 assists. In his constant pursuit of improvement, Morris has also sought advice from former Scotland international winger Robert Snodgrass. Former Leeds United, Aston Villa, West Ham and Norwich City star Snodgrass is now an agent. Capped 28 times, Snodgrass is with the same agency as Morris' representative. Morris hopes guidance from Snodgrass can help him develop into 'something really special'. He said: 'I've also got a good support system around me with my agent Joe Bolger, as we do a lot of analysis. 'Robert Snodgrass is also part of the agency and we do a lot of stuff together as well. 'He was a winger and quite a technical player – although he didn't have as much pace as me. 'In fact, he told me: 'I didn't have your pace, but I've got the other side of the game'. 'So if he can help me with that other side then hopefully I can merge into something really special.' Morris may have been seeking advice from Snodgrass and inspiration from Sterling on how to elevate his game to the next level. However, he has also been passing on his own knowledge to help younger players develop. Morris helped fellow Londoner Alfie Dorrington during his loan spell at Pittodrie from Tottenham Hotspur. Centre-back Dorrington started the Scottish Cup final win against Celtic at Hampden. The 20-year-old has now returned to his parent club. Prior to joining Aberdeen on loan. Dorrington signed an extended contract with Tottenham until summer 2029. Morris said: 'When Alfie first came up, I knew he hadn't played much first-team football so I really tried to help him. 'I told him how things were really different compared to London, and he settled in well. 'Alfie showed he's a really good player technically and built on that physical side. 'I think he's only going to get better and better – you can see why Spurs rate him so highly.'
Reuters
4 hours ago
- Reuters
Lionesses' Fran Kirby announces international retirement before women's Euros
June 3 (Reuters) - England women's midfielder Fran Kirby, who earned 77 caps for the Lionesses, announced her retirement from international football on Tuesday, a month before the European Championship. Best known for her role in England's historic Euro 2022 triumph, the 31-year-old started all six games in the tournament, scoring twice and registering three assists. "After being in the England team since the age of 21, it's time to close that chapter of my life. I never wanted this day to come, but I cannot tell you how proud I am that it happened," Kirby said in a statement on social media. "Representing my country has been the greatest honour and a dream come true from my younger years," she added. Kirby joined the national team at the age of 21 and her last appearance came as a second-half substitute in last week's 6-0 win over Portugal. She was not included in the squad for Tuesday's 2-1 loss against Spain. Having struggled with injury and illness throughout her career, she missed the 2023 Women's World Cup due to a knee injury that required surgery. "My journey has been full of ups and downs, setbacks and achievements. Enough has been said and written about those, but regardless of whatever was thrown at me, I want you all to know that every time I put on that England badge, I gave it my all," Kirby added. Former Chelsea player Kirby won seven Women's Super League titles and five FA Cup trophies during her time at the London club. This season, she scored seven goals in 17 appearances for Brighton, who finished fifth.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Crystal Palace bigwigs rush to UEFA's lakeside lair to plead their case, writes MIKE KEEGAN - and the stakes couldn't be higher in battle to play in Europe
It was almost symbolic that the major trophies that usually take pride of place inside UEFA's House of European Football were missing. The glass presentation cases, proudly perched at reception in front of the huge windows offering a stunning vista over Lake Geneva at HQ, stood empty, with the recently-acquired silverware currently on tour elsewhere. Meanwhile, in a wood-panelled meeting room directly downstairs in this luxurious, lakeside lair, Crystal Palace powerbrokers were attempting to stop their continental dream from vanishing. Ahead of this Swiss summit, revealed on Monday by Mail Sport, Palace insiders were confident that their majority shareholder's ownership of Lyon would not stop them from participating in this season's Europa League for a historic first time under competition rules following their stunning FA Cup triumph. However, the results of what transpired over a high-stakes two hours with UEFA officials and lawyers in the shadows of Mont Blanc remain to be seen. What can be said is that two of the key players involved cut very different figures. What can also now be said is that one of them is now actively trying to find a way out with the clock ticking towards the draw for qualifying rounds on June 17. John Textor, the US businessman whose interest in the French side appears to have put the Eagles' big adventure in danger of collapse thanks to UEFA's multi-club ownership rules, fronted it up. When asked by Mail Sport how the talks had gone he was initially guarded, before dropping a comment that highlighted the graveness of the situation. 'You want me to comment on this whole thing?' he responded, 'I can't really say anything.' However, when pressed, it turned out he did have something to say. 'Look, all of the UK knows that I don't have decisive influence over Palace,' he said. 'It was a good meeting. They listened and we'll see what happens.' As a parting shot, he added: 'I wouldn't be trying to sell if I did (have decisive influence).' Reports as recently as last month had claimed that Textor, frustrated that his 43 per cent share in Palace only comes with just 25 per cent of the voting rights, was actively seeking to complete a takeover at Selhurst Park and that he was in talks with fellow American shareholders David Blitzer and Josh Harris about buying their shares - which constitute about 36 per cent of the club. But when quizzed about that he was unequivocal that the direction of travel had changed dramatically. 'Look, we are trying to help separate it and sell,' he added. 'We wanted to buy but it's become clear that isn't going to happen and so we're trying to help Palace and the situation with UEFA. That's about all I can say.' Textor and Steve Parish are believed to have fallen out when the American increased his stake. Perhaps the Englishman had seen this one coming. Either way, he was not in the mood for talking when he appeared from an opposite direction. Wearing a blue suit and carrying a black suitcase on wheels, he thanked reception staff before refusing to answer questions or even acknowledging Mail Sport. When asked how the hearing had gone, or whether he would like to comment, Parish did not offer a single word in return, nor make eye contact. Instead, he passed his bag to the driver of a waiting, black Mercedes 4x4, and sat motionless in the back seat. The driver smiled apologetically before whisking his passenger away from the scene. Without wishing to speculate, the fact that Parish was here and not at the Premier League's annual general meeting would seem to hint at the seriousness of the situation. The Palace chairman is a regular at such events and is often one of the more active participants. UEFA declined to comment on proceedings and what happens over the coming weeks will be key. Should Textor manage to find a buyer at an acceptable price then the problem, like those trophies, goes away. That is by no means a given. Palace are an incredibly attractive proposition. A stable Premier League club with a respected manager and European football. However, the fact that this is in effect a forced sale may do little to get him the price he feels he deserves. Neither too, will be the prospect of someone else coming in and being subject to the same portion of input that has left him seeking the exit door. Getting a deal done in such a short space of time, with the draw for the early stages of European competition to take place on June 17, may also prove to be a tough ask. This is a complex situation with no precedent. UEFA's rules state that clubs with the same ownership groups cannot play in the same competition. They say: 'No club can hold or deal in the securities or shares or any other club, be a member of any other club participating in a competition, be involved in any capacity whatsoever in the management, administration and or sporting performance of any other club, have any other power in the management, administration or sporting performance of another club'. They add: 'No individual can hold a majority of shareholder voting rights, being able to exercise a decisive influence on the decision making of more than one club'. Clear much? To further complicate matters Danish outfit Brondby, who just happen to be owned by Palace shareholder David Blitzer's investment vehicle, may be in line to take the spot in the Europa Conference League, should Palace be told they cannot play in the Europa League and effectively take 'relegation'. It is messy. One of the matters Mail Sport understands is being explored is whether Palace's qualification to a higher-ranked competition places them above the Danes. If that transpires, then it would not go down well in Brondby. Palace will hope that it does not come to that. They remain of the view that the fact Textor only holds 25 per cent of the rights along with Parish, Harris and Blitzer, means they satisfy the criteria – essentially in that Textor is an owner without being an owner.
