Latest news with #Bolton-born
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
'I played in Champions League with Man Utd but quit at 27 to become a builder'
Lee Roche was an academy graduate for Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, but his time with the Red Devils didn't last long before he quit football altogether for a different career Lee Roche once started a Champions League game for Manchester United – but he found himself out of football completely less than a decade later. The former defender came through the Red Devils academy during the reign of Sir Alex Ferguson, and while he never established himself in the first team, he did make a handful of appearances for his boyhood club. Starting against Arsenal in the League Cup was certainly a highlight for Bolton-born Roche, whose shining light in his short United career came when he started against Deportivo La Coruna in the Champions League in March 2003. Given United had already secured their passage into the knockout stages, Roche was one of many youngsters that Ferguson opted to start in Spain alongside senior stars such as Ryan Giggs, Phil Neville and Laurent Blanc. He lasted 45 minutes and was subbed off at half time with United 1-0 down, before they conceded another after the break to lose 2-0 in their final game of the second group stage. Despite his presence on the European stage, it wasn't long before Roche fell down the footballing pyramid. He had stints with Burnley, Wrexham and Droylsden after being released on a free transfer by United in the summer of 2003, before retiring from the sport at 27 years of age. Now working on a building site in his post-football career, the 44-year-old admitted he didn't expect his sporting career to end the way it did, especially given the success United possess in their academy graduates. Asked if he ever expected to have such a drastic career change, he told LFETV back in 2012: "Definitely not. Especially when you sign for a club as big as Manchester United. You think you're going to be playing football until you're 35. "The way things have turned out I've had to work, I've been working here for nearly three years and it's a bit of a change from playing football, but you just have to get on with it." After parting ways with football, Roche was supported by the PFA and has since become a qualified plumber and owns a cavity wall insulation business. Having had to discover what his next step in life would be after football, Roche said he believes young players should have a back-up plan if their careers don't blossom as they'd expect. "I have had a few fellow workers on the building sites asking me about United and how have I ended up here," he said. "It can get pretty tiresome so I don't go shouting about that I played for United. I do think young players today should be made to train as something, so they know about the real world. Most of them probably don't have a plan to fall back on if they don't make it as a professional." Join our new MAN UTD WhatsApp community and receive your daily dose of Manchester United content from Mirror Football. 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.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Helen Flanagan slips into bargain blue swimsuit on solo trip after sad split
Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan flew off to France on Friday after splitting up with her boyfriend, Robbie Talbot, for a heartbreaking reason Helen Flanagan looked deep in thought when she was papped in France on Friday after calling it quits with her boyfriend. Seen sporting a bargain blue swimsuit following her heartbreaking split with Robbie Talbot, the Coronation Street star, 34, walked along the beach in Antibes alone, after reportedly having a 'grown up chat' with Robbie, who she had dated for a year, before calling it quits over claims she wanted children with the former footballer, 45. Following her heartbreak, the mum-of-three is now said to be focusing on the kids she shares with ex, Scott Sinclair - and her career - and decided to jet off abroad on a solo trip as she gets used to her single life again. Seen sporting a stunning £14 powder blue floral swimsuit from Primark while sunning herself at the swanky YOLO beach club in Antibes, France, the Rosie Webster star, cooled off in the sea, with her blonde locks tied up into a bun, sporting a pair of black Miu Miu designer sunglasses. After paddling in the crystal-clear water in the seaside city in the south of France, she then went for a stroll on her own, clutching a bright blue linen shirt, also from Primark and priced at £10, which, along with the swimsuit is part of the high street store's Love the Summer range and available to buy from May 27. It's been a tough time for the I'm A Me Out Of Here! star, who reportedly split from Robbie because they want "different things in life". The Bolton-born actress, best known for playing the role of Rosie Webster in Coronation Street, is said to have wanted children with the dad-of-two, with sources saying the pair had a "grown-up" chat after realising that things were not working out between them. The split comes just weeks after Helen was reportedly worried that her relationship could be "going backwards" after Robbie moved out months after they started living together. Helen reportedly was desperate to make the relationship work, but found it difficult to juggle her role as devoted mum to children Matilda, nine, Delilah, six, and three-year-old Charlie, while building something new. She also recently put her 'forever home' up for sale amid reports of financial strain. The actress has been candid about her bank balance and her mental health in recent months, admitting that at one point, she lost all her money. Helen had initially lived in the eight-bedroom house in Bolton, Greater Manchester, with her now ex-partner Scott 36, and their three children, prior to the couple's separation in 2022. Taking to Instagram in January, she shared: "My love life was a s**t show…. I didn't look after my mental health. I felt so s**t and sad. I felt like my whole life was f***ed up now and I had the perfect family. 13 years is a long time to be with someone. My whole 20s. I had a lot of family fall-outs too and I also lost basically all my money. Me and Scott weren't married we were engaged. "My mental health was so bad I thought maybe my kids would be better off without me and maybe they would be better off with their dad as he's more level-headed than me. I love my kids more than words can say, but when you are not well you're not well." Recently revealing that selling her family home, had left her 'anxious', she explained that while she's looking forward to the "fresh break" she was also worried about "downsizing". Explaining she'd put 'a lot of her savings' into the property to make it 'nice for her kids', she said recently on the Declutter podcast: "It actually makes me sad that I'm going to be leaving this house soon because I actually put so much effort into it. I put a lot of my savings into like doing the house up and stuff, and making it look really beautiful." Conceding it was a lot of work to manage, Helen continued: "It's an eight bedroomed house which is obviously really hard to keep on top of. I mean, I feel really lucky to to live here - well, soon to have lived here - because it is gorgeous but it's a lot to keep on top of." "But I think I'm gonna struggle to... Obviously when I do [move] because obviously I will be downsizing so much."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'We have events that hold a place in our heart' -new series starring Bolton presenter
Bolton TV presenter and radio broadcaster Sara Cox will be starring in a new series bringing alive people's most special memories - in miniature form. The eight-part BBC Daytime series will celebrate 'cherished memories and moments of time' in The Marvellous Miniatures Workshop. Professional model makers will bring places, people and iconic moments in time back to life via miniature models. The Bolton-born presenter said that she "can't wait" to find out the backstory behind each model. She said: "We all have life events that hold a special place in our heart, so I'm absolutely thrilled we are going to be recreating cherished memories and moments in time using the astonishing skills of our miniaturists. "This show taps into our fascination with the tiny, from fantasy film to classic literature and as a naturally very nosey person, I personally can't wait to find out the beautiful backstory that inspires each creation." Sarah Cox will present the new show The special one-off models will celebrate cherished and emotional family stories, as well as cultural heritage around events, design and fashions. Whether it is a life event, a snap-shot of mid-century design or a memory tied to trends of the past, these models say the BBC will serve as "tiny yet powerful windows into the way things were". To ensure the models are as authentic as possible, the miniaturists must embark on an investigative journey to uncover the personal stories behind each request, as well as dig into historical and cultural references to craft them as true and realistic as possible. Production company MGM Alternative will use the latest technology and microscopic cameras to get up close and personal, capturing the minute details and craft that goes into creating these special models. Have a story? Get in touch at The artists will also have to dig into historical and cultural references to make sure that they are as "true and realistic as possible". Rachel Platt, commissioning editor for BBC Daytime, said: 'Many of us will remember our first set of building blocks, train set, or dolls house, so what a thrill to have one of those miniature worlds created around your own special memory. 'Combining the nation's love of model-making with stories that are at once deeply personal and wonderfully relatable, each episode of this genuinely delightful series will be full of emotion, nostalgia - and exceptional skill.' READ MORE: Channel 4 launches Handcuffed fronted by Jonathan Ross READ MORE: Open air 'Wind in the Willows' production set for Ramsbottom READ MORE: Bolton presenter Sara Cox asks whether Facebook friends are real friends in new TV series Audiences will be taken on an emotional journey from start to finish, from meeting the people who want to capture their special moment, their background on why it's so important to them, to the research that goes into getting every detail correct. There will be challenges along the way, from identifying accurate furnishing colours and materials from over half a century ago, to recreating interiors and buildings that have long since been derelict. At the end of each episode is the big reveal; Have the miniaturists faithfully re-created the place of so many memories - and the reaction when childhood memories are recreated. Dom Bird, SVP at MGM Alternative UK, said: 'MGM is delighted to be growing our slate of BBC programmes in 2025, with this original new series combining deeply personal stories and incredible craftsmanship with joyous surprises and reveals. 'These perfect replicas will bring back to life those locations that changed and shaped people's lives, while the models will be small, the heart and joy in this series promises to be huge.'
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
All Seas Capital Realises First Investment
Continued Strong Growth at Hakim Group Leads to Reinvestment LONDON, May 22, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--All Seas Capital, a pan-European private capital fund that provides transformational capital solutions to leading founder- and entrepreneur-owned companies, is pleased to announce the successful realisation of its investment in Hakim Group, the UK's largest family of independent opticians and audiologists. Hakim takes on new investment from ICG, the global alternative asset manager and, as part of the transaction, All Seas has reinvested in the business to participate in Hakim's next phase of growth, reflecting its belief in Hakim's continued strong momentum. Founded by Bolton-born entrepreneur and optometrist Dr Imran Hakim in 2005, Hakim Group has grown quickly over the past 20 years by acquiring and partnering in independent optometry practices across the UK and Ireland. Since All Seas' initial investment in 2020, Hakim has experienced rapid growth, with the number of independent practices increasing nearly five-fold to over 500 and its team now numbers over 3,000 employees. The business provides centralised support services to practices on its platform to support their growth, including training, IT, procurement, finance, technical and HR. This enables practice partners to continue focusing on the local teams and communities with cutting edge optometry and audiology services. The All Seas team played a key role in Hakim's journey, working with management to support the professionalisation of the business, strengthen the leadership team through the recruitment of a full executive and non-executive management team, enhance financial and operational oversight with significant upgrades to KPI reporting systems and accelerate the onboarding and integration of new partner practices. The additional capital will enable Hakim to welcome more practices onto its platform and serve more communities across the UK whilst investing in its team, technology, innovation and service standards for customers. Marc Ciancimino and Cristobal Cuart, Co-Founders and Managing Partners of All Seas Capital, commented: "This first realisation is a major milestone for All Seas and a testament to our ability to support exceptional founders through transformative growth. Hakim Group is exactly the kind of thriving, ambitious business we seek to partner with. Reinvesting alongside ICG reflects our strong belief in its continued growth, and we're excited to support Imran and his team in the next chapter." Dr Imran Hakim, CEO of Hakim Group, said: "This is an important milestone on our journey and a signal of confidence in our vision, plan, model, culture and team. Together, our investors are backing the existing leadership and management team to achieve our long-term vision for the business to be the UK's leading independent provider of optometry and audiology services, renowned for its innovation and customer service. With All Seas Capital's support, we have achieved phenomenal growth and now having additional investment from ICG behind the business alongside All Seas will enable us to accelerate our plan and 2030 vision for the benefit of our people, partners, customers and communities, whilst helping more people to see better, hear better and live better." All Seas Capital was advised by King & Spalding (legal) and Dechert (tax). About All Seas Capital All Seas Capital is a pan-European private capital firm. We partner with mid-market businesses, constructing flexible, structured capital solutions - investing a combination of debt and equity - to empower transformational growth. The team is led by Marc Ciancimino and Cristobal Cuart who co-founded and led KKR's European mezzanine and preferred equity business. We back growing businesses with strong management teams and help them accelerate their growth plans, supporting entrepreneur and family-owned businesses who have already reached profitability but need strategic capital to realise their ambitions. These businesses have underlying resilience, typically generating EBITDA of €5-50m, with our investment ranging from €30-100m. View source version on Contacts For further information, please contact: All Seas CapitalCharlotte Balbirnie+44 7989 528421CBalbirnie@ Sign in to access your portfolio
The Irish Sun
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Brit TV star reveals she's pregnant with first baby after sweary speech at BAFTAs
A BRIT TV star has revealed her happy pregnancy news just days after scooping a BAFTA. The Bolton-born actress, 37, turned the air blue with her very sweary acceptance speech at one of telly's biggest events of the year. Advertisement 5 A Brit TV star has revealed she is pregnant with her first child Credit: Instagram 5 Sophie Willan, 37, shared images of her scan to Instagram Credit: Instagram 5 She stars in BBC show Alma's Not Normal Credit: BBC Yet now The Alma's Not Normal star took to her Instagram page to share an image of her in a red dress, having dinner with partner Carniel Francis Levy. They flashed smiles as they posed on opposite sides of their table, which was adorned with a white table cloth and menus and surrounded by flowers. The snapshot itself gave no hint as to the announcement, before Sophie made the big reveal in her caption and in subsequent pictures showing her scan. Advertisement read more sophie willan She wrote: "WE'RE HAVING A BABY BOY! "Coming November 2025. Our lives are about to change forever, in the most chaotic, joyful, and magical way… "And yes, we're already arguing about baby names." SCREEN QUEEN Sophie voiced reality show The Circle since 2018. Advertisement Most read in Drama She has also appeared in person on a number of TV programmes including Still Open All Hours and Click And Collect. She has also been on a number of comedy shows including The Tez O Clock Show, Class Dismissed and Live from The Comedy Store. BBC star confirms their comedy has been axed after two series - but there's a twist More recently, she created Alma's Not Normal which is set to be released in 2021. On stage, Sophie's Branded tour was a national sell-out including spending three weeks at SOHO Theatre in London. Advertisement She was also named on The Times Best Living Comedians List in 2018. The mum-to-be claimed the Herald Angel Award in 2017, while also bagging the 2018 BBC Caroline Aherne Bursary title. Bafta TV 2025 Winners List Here's everyone who has taken home an award at tonight's ceremony Drama Series: Blue Lights Leading Actor: Lennie James, Mr Loverman Leading Actress: Marisa Abela, Industry Entertainment: Would I Lie To You? Entertainment Performance: Joe Lycett - Late Night Lycett Factual Series: To Catch a Copper Factual Entertainment: Rob & Rylan's Grand Tour International: Shogun Supporting Actor: Ariyon Bakare, Mr Loverman Supporting Actress: Jessica Gunning, Baby Reindeer Limited Drama: Mr Bates Vs The Post Office Male Performance in a Comedy: Danny Dyer, Mr Bigstuff Female Performance in a Comedy: Ruth Jones, Gavin and Stacey Fellowship: Kirsty Wark News Coverage: BBC Breakfast: Post Office Special Reality: The Jury: Murder Trial Scripted Comedy: Alma's Not Normal Short Form: Quiet Life Single Documentary: Ukraine: Enemy in the Woods Special Award: ITV - Mr Bates Vs The Post Office Soap: EastEnders Live Event Coverage: Glastonbury 2024 Specialist Factual: Atomic People Sports Coverage: Paris 2024 Olympics, BBC One Children's Non-Scripted: Disability and Me (FYI Investigates) Children's Scripted: Cbeebies As You Like It At Shakespeare's Globe Current Affairs: State of Rage Daytime: Clive Myrie's Caribbean Adventure P&O Cruises Memorable Moment: Strictly Come Dancing - Chris McCausland and Dianne Buswell dance to You'll Never Walk Alone FAN SHOCK Sophie stunned fans - with her sweary acceptance speech cut - at the recent BAFTA ceremony in London. The star, who took home her second Bafta for comedy series Alma's Not Normal, couldn't resist cursing when taking to the stage – though made multiple efforts not to. Advertisement The excitable star admitted as she took to the stage: "I'm not allowed to swear and all I want to do is Beep Beep, Bl**dy Beep!!" before attempting to replace swears with something else. "I just want to say, these lot are flupping brilliant. Blimming fabulous!" she joked. However, she later slipped up and let a few out. The offensive words were edited out by the time they made it to broadcast on BBC One. Advertisement 5 Sophie stunned TV fans with a sweary acceptance speech at the recent BAFTAs Credit: Getty 5 Her partner Carniel F Levy works as a chef Credit: Getty
