Ex-Wolves player Geoff Thomas prepares for seventh Tour De France
Ex-Wolves and England footballer Geoff Thomas is riding in his seventh Tour De France this summer to raise money towards clinical leukaemia trials.The retired player and former leukaemia sufferer will be part of a team to cycle the full 2,200-mile (3,540km) route across 21 days in June and July.The challenge aims to raise £1m for Cure Leukaemia, with Thomas describing it as the "most gruelling" of his life.He said: "I first did it in 2005, when I was six months in remission - if I could do it then, what's stopping me now?"
Thomas, who lives in Worcestershire, received nine caps for the national team, but was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2003, a year after he retired.He subsequently raised millions of pounds for charity, became a patron of Cure Leukaemia and launched his own charity, The Geoff Thomas Foundation.He said if he could reach the finishing line in Paris in July, setting off a week before the pro riders, it would "eclipse anything" he had ever done on a football pitch. "I don't really think you can do enough training - it's about getting as many miles in your legs as possible, without fatiguing yourself," he said. "I'm just aiming to do the first day, knowing that you've got over 100 miles to do - you've got to survive that, and then take each day as it comes."He described reaching Paris on previous tours as "one of the most enjoyable experiences you can have". "It eclipses anything I ever did on a football pitch, and I was lucky enough to be involved in some great games - it's just a magical time."
Thomas announced his decision to take part in the event at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, where he met current leukaemia patient Adam Claxton, 42, from Worcester. Mr Claxton said his own diagnosis the previous year had been "a complete shock"."I'm a football fan, and I remember Geoff as a player - his career was terrific, he had a great run on the pitch and to meet him off the pitch is an honour," he said. "What he's doing is inspirational." Dr Salim Shafeek, a consultant haematologist who previously treated Thomas at Worcestershire Royal, said he was "a real ambassador for people with leukaemia"."It's unbelievable what he's been doing for clinical research over the last 20 years," he added.
Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and 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
Russell Martin says Rangers icon was one of his footballing heroes growing up and reveals traits his players MUST have
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) NEW Rangers manager Russell Martin has revealed that a massive Ibrox icon was one of his favourites growing up. The ex-Gers defender signed a three-year deal this week to take over in the dugout, with the red carpet rolled out for his first day in the building. 4 Russell Martin was unveiled as Rangers manager this week Credit: Willie Vass 4 He had a short spell playing at Ibrox Credit: Keith Campbell - The Sun Glasgow 4 He's revealed Paul Gascoigne was one of his footballing heroes Credit: Getty And now he's in the door supporters of the club are getting the chance to learn a bit more about him. Speaking to the club, the Englishman said that Paul Gascoigne was one of his footballing heroes. He said: "I know it will sound cliche but Gazza... I think all of us absolutely loved watching him. "When they were flying and he was flying during Euro '96, and what he was doing up here. "He was just an incredible player to watch." Martin was born in 1986 meaning Gascoigne was turning out for England from early childhood until he was around 12, with his Gers spell taking place in the last three of those years. The ex-Southampton gaffer was asked what three non-negotiable qualities are for players working under him ahead of his first season at the helm in Govan. He replied: "Courage. Intensity. And honesty. "I love watching a player or a group of players or a team start with something, an idea or way to improve, and seeing after the process what they're capable of achieving. "I absolutely love being able to watch and see something that I think is a problem for a player then help them find the solution, and then see them actually enjoying finding the solution. Rangers fans react to news Russell Martin is their new manager "When they do, that moment when it clicks is just the best." He's already discussed wanting the best out of the current squad as well as hinting that he knows areas which will need improved in the transfer window. He also revealed that his earliest memory of the sport was in Scotland, despite being born in Brighton. He said: "At the Ayr Youth Cup watching my big brother play up here. I think I was three or four. "I bought a plastic ball, a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles ball, and it got stolen outside my room in Butlins or Haven, whichever one it was. "I was devestated, but I got bought a new one the next day. 4 Gazza starred at Euro '96 for England when Martin was young Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd "That's my earliest footballing memory. Just watching him play and playing on the side of the pitch." And having spoken openly about his managerial career being based on proving people wrong and never being first choice, he's said similar of his playing time too. When asked about the moment when he knew he'd made it, he responded: "Never. Even when I was playing my first game for Wycombe I was thinking 'I've played a professional game now, that'll be it, at least I've had one game'. "And I've never felt comfortable once throughout my career, so not at one point did I think I'd cracked it or I'd made it, and definitely before that I didn't think I could do it. "So I'm very grateful that I did!" He went on to make almost 600 club appearances, mostly for Wycombe and Norwich, and was capped 29 times for Scotland. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Michail Antonio shares footage as he learns to walk again after horrific crash
West Ham star Michail Antonio was involved in a horror car crash in December last year and has given a behind-the-scenes look at his gruelling recovery which involved learning how to walk again Michail Antonio has shared a video of his recovery from his horror car crash after vowing to return to football. The West Ham star was involved in an awful collision in December last year in Essex. His Ferrari was at the heart of a single-vehicle collision, leaving him with a broken leg. Antonio immediately underwent surgery for his shocking injury but was discharged from hospital three weeks later. Antonio, 35, has now taken to Instagram to give supporters a look at his gruelling recovery, alongside the caption: "Faith will overcome all challenges". The video which appeared on his official social media began with the wreckage of Antonio's car, while it also showed him in hospital immediately after the incident. Antonio then shared videos of him walking with a frame alongside doctors, as well as a clip of West Ham teammates visiting him in hospital. Other videos then show him at the Hammers' training ground on crutches, with the striker eventually gaining strength to walk unaided. The veteran is then pictured hard at work in West Ham's gym. The Jamaican international's emotional return to the London Stadium is also documented. The video then ends with Antonio training with a ball, as well as him being given a round of applause by his West Ham team-mates upon his return to team sessions. A number of his colleagues have replied to the update. Tomas Soucek replied with three heart emojis, while Vladimir Coufal wrote: "Respect brother". Ex-West Ham captain and current Arsenal star Declan Rice also replied as he wrote: "Monster." Antonio's latest update comes after he admitted he was close to being killed in the smash. "The most difficult part is that I almost wasn't there for my children," Antonio told the BBC's Morning Live. "It's just made me happy, positive about life, because I've got another chance at life. "During this, we kept it away from the kids. My eldest saw it, and he struggled with it. He's 13, and obviously people were showing photos of the car. So he came down and saw me in the hospital. But the younger ones, they never really knew how bad the situation was. We kind of avoided letting them get on the internet." He added: "It gave me a weird feeling in my stomach. It just made me realise how close I was to dying. I had seen the pictures but it was 10 times worse in person. The car was an absolute mess. It was difficult for me." Despite that, Antonio vowed to be back on the pitch. His West Ham contract comes to an end this summer. "Yes, 100 per cent. I will play again," he said. "It's the biggest injury I've ever had in my career. But the fact that I'm already two to three months ahead of where I should be, I know that I'll play again, and I know that once I'm playing the game I'll get the sharpness back. "People have always doubted me. My mental strength is something that I've always believed in and this is just another setback, and it is not going to stop me." Join our new WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Mirror Football content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Belfast Telegraph
3 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Northern Ireland must learn to be better with the ball to shock big teams, claims Isaac Price
The West Brom ace has been brilliant at international level for his country, scoring a bunch of goals, and he tends to hit the target in honest post-match assessments as well. Keeping the ball more in away games going forward was a key takeaway from the trip to Copenhagen for Michael O'Neill's players. Without the ball Northern Ireland worked extremely hard in their 2-1 friendly defeat against a Danish side that had the vast majority of play, but Price appreciates more is required moving forward when in possession. With O'Neill's young side starting their World Cup campaign away to Luxembourg and Germany, the match at Parken provided the team with food for thought knowing they are a much more capable outfit going forward than what they showed at the weekend. Quizzed on the possession factor, Price commented: 'The gaffer said about our possession after the match. I think because when you work so hard off the ball and you're chasing the game a lot, when you finally get the ball you've got to be good enough to keep it and manipulate the ball and buy fouls and get time for your team. 'That's definitely something we've got to work on, especially when we know we're going into the World Cup qualifiers where we're going to play top opposition like Germany. We've got to get better at keeping the ball.' Denmark made their possession and pressure count in the second half with Christian Eriksen netting the winning goal in the 67th minute. At that point Northern Ireland fans were fearing the Danes would pile it on as Sweden did in March on their way to a 5-1 triumph over O'Neill's team in Stockholm. In the first half the visitors had kept Denmark at arm's length until Gustav Isaksen's fine strike in injury time, which levelled Pierre-Emile Højbjerg's sixth minute own goal. Price said: 'We knew what they were going to be like. I think we had a pretty good game plan from the start and we dug in well but their quality shone through in the second half. 'It could have quite easily gone like it did in Sweden and gone three, four, five, but we dug in well and kept it at two. 'I think their equaliser killed us a little bit. We'd worked so hard for 45 minutes and we've got our goal, and to concede so late in the first half you're going into half-time on a little bit of a downer. 'It's a kick in the teeth really, but they've got quality players and unfortunately they beat us in the end.' If that was disappointing, ex-Everton and Standard Liege player Price was full of praise for team-mate Justin Devenny. The 21-year-old Crystal Palace midfielder started in a left wing back role and delivered an impressive performance. 'I thought Justin was outstanding,' said Price. 'He's playing a different position to what he normally plays. He's been asked to do a little bit of a different job and I thought defensively he was very good.' On Tuesday, Northern Ireland return to action at home to Iceland with Price only thinking about one outcome. 'It's definitely a game that we'll look to go and win,' he said. 'We want more of the ball and to show a little bit more quality when we have the ball. 'And it's at home and I think all the team knows how well we do at home. It gives everyone a little bit of an extra boost. So, yeah, we'll be going into that game hoping to win.'
