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Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘Starstruck' Jack Grealish poses with unrecognisable Premier League icon and calls him ‘one of my boyhood heroes'
Man City have made a bombshell decision to Mellberg's future OL ABOARD 'Starstruck' Jack Grealish poses with unrecognisable Premier League icon and calls him 'one of my boyhood heroes' JACK GREALISH has caught up with boyhood hero Olof Mellberg as he ponders his Manchester City future. The winger, 29, has been enjoying some time off after being left out of Thomas Tuchel's England squad. 3 Jack Grealish catches up with Villa hero Olof Mellberg Credit: 3 Olof Mellberg starred for Aston Villa between 2001 and 2008 Credit: Getty Grealish is a huge Aston Villa fan, and grew up idolising the club's star players from Holte End. One of his Villa favourites was Swedish defender Mellberg - a colossus at the back between 2001 and 2008. So when Grealish got the chance to meet his former hero, the Brummie ace couldn't contain his excitement. Posting a snap of himself with Mellberg to Instagram, gleeful Grealish wrote: "Not many that I get starstruck over but this guy is one! "Big Olof Mellberg. One of my boyhood heroes." Since hanging up his boots in 2014, Mellberg has launched a career in management. Following several roles in Sweden, the former Villa star managed St Louis City in MLS. Grealish, meanwhile, is set for a summer of change. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK SunSport recently revealed that the 39-cap star has accepted that he will likely have to leave City in order to play at next summer's World Cup. Last night it emerged that Grealish is set to be left out of City's Club World Cup squad as he chases a move. Man City drop Jack Grealish transfer hint as they launch stunning new kit for Club World Cup The attacker, who has two years remaining on his £300,000-a-week deal - is set to attract interest from the Premier League and across Europe. Grealish is reportedly valued at £40million - with former club Villa a candidate for his signature. City boss Pep Guardiola said last month: 'Of course Jack has to play. 'He needs to do it — with us or another place.' The Etihad side have agreed a £46.2m deal for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. While Lyon's Rayan Cherki and Wolves full-back Rayan Ait-Nouri are also of interest.
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
‘Starstruck' Jack Grealish poses with unrecognisable Premier League icon and calls him ‘one of my boyhood heroes'
JACK GREALISH has caught up with boyhood hero Olof Mellberg as he ponders his Manchester City future. The winger, 29, has been enjoying some time off after being left out of 3 Jack Grealish catches up with Villa hero Olof Mellberg Credit: 3 Olof Mellberg starred for Aston Villa between 2001 and 2008 Credit: Getty One of his Villa favourites was Swedish defender Mellberg - a colossus at the back between 2001 and 2008. So when Grealish got the chance to meet his former hero, the Brummie ace couldn't contain his excitement. Posting a snap of himself with Mellberg to Instagram, gleeful Grealish wrote: "Not many that I get starstruck over but this guy is one! READ MORE IN FOOTBALL "Big Olof Mellberg. One of my boyhood heroes." Since hanging up his boots in 2014, Mellberg has launched a career in management. Following several roles in Sweden , the former Villa star managed St Louis City in MLS. Grealish, meanwhile, is set for a summer of change. Most read in Football BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK SunSport next summer's World Cup. Last night it emerged that Grealish is set to be Man City drop Jack Grealish transfer hint as they launch stunning new kit for Club World Cup The attacker, who has two years remaining on his £300,000-a-week deal - is set to attract interest from the Premier League and across Europe . Grealish is reportedly valued at £40million - with former club Villa a candidate for his signature. City boss Pep Guardiola said last month: 'Of course Jack has to play. 'He needs to do it — with us or another place.' The Etihad side have agreed a £46.2m deal While 3 Grealish, 29, is set to be on the move this summer Credit: Getty
Daily Record
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Scottish accents may be 'hard to understand' but they could help you learn Dutch
Scottish accents are notoriously hard to follow but they could help you learn a new language faster The Scottish accent is known for being one of the hardest in the world to understand. Whether it's rolling your 'R's speaking in harsher, guttural sounds, or using too much slang, we can certainly leave a lot of people flummoxed. Half of Americans say the Scottish accent is the toughest to get their head round, with the Glaswegian accent always coming up as the one most likely to raise an eyebrow and leaving an out-of-towner particularly confused. However, new research from Preply is turning that perception on its head. The study suggests that the Glaswegian accent could actually offer an unexpected advantage - learning languages faster, thanks to its characteristics. The distinct rhythm and cadence of Glaswegian speech align with languages like German, and Dutch, where strong emphasis on syllables and guttural sounds can be important in conveying meaning. This makes it easier for Glaswegian speakers to adapt to languages with similar speech patterns. The Glaswegian accent has been showcased on the world stage many times by the likes of comics Billy Connolly and Kevin Bridges. But how might region accents improve language skills? "Generally, accents can help with language learning because they train your ear to recognise and reproduce sounds," Anna Pyshna, spokesperson at Preply, explained. "At the beginner level, language is mostly oral-oriented - you don't need perfect grammar, but it helps to know how to pronounce common words. "Ultimately, accents are not just about how we speak, they shape our ability to produce certain sounds." Three other British accents - Geordie, Scouse, and Brummie - were also highlighted in the study, each offering unique phonetic traits that support language learning in different ways. Folk from Newcastle have a glottal stop - a sound made by closing the vocal chords. This helps with languages including Danish, Czech, and even Hebrew, and Thai. Liverpool residents speak with a rolled 'r' sound, like in Spanish, Russian and Italian. Scouse speakers find it easier to master the trilled 'r' pronunciation. Its rising and falling tones are also well suited to Welsh, Irish, and Cantonese. Elsewhere, over in Birmingham, people speak in a monotone nature with long stretches on the same note. This will help if Brummies want to have a stab at Finnish or Russian. What's more, to expose more people to different accents, Preply has launched a unique Spotify series of accent-based sleep soundscapes, using Geordie, Scouse, Glaswegian, and Brummie voices. This is designed to boost language retention through passive auditory learning, as studies show that during deep sleep, the brain can keep forming new linguistic associations, especially when exposed to familiar phonetic rhythms. Not only will this help Glaswegians pick up new languages more intuitively, but it will help others tune their ear to the Glaswegian accent and appreciate its linguistic value - and make misunderstandings a thing of the past. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. 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. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Jude Bellingham's bum grabbed by bride-to-be on a hen-do as he relaxes in Ibiza before joining up with England
Bellingham has been at the F1 in Barcelona today BELLING-BUM Jude Bellingham's bum grabbed by bride-to-be on a hen-do as he relaxes in Ibiza before joining up with England Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) JUDE BELLINGHAM had his bum grabbed while posing with a bride-to-be in Ibiza this week. The Real Madrid superstar, 21, enjoyed a quick holiday before linking up with England. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 10 Jude Bellingham had his bum grabbed while posing for a picture Credit: BackGrid 10 A group of holidaymakers were buzzing to see the England star Credit: BackGrid 10 Bellingham, 21, enjoyed a holiday in Ibiza Credit: BackGrid 10 The midfielder graciously posed for pictures Credit: BackGrid After a long season in Spain, Bellingham headed to a beach club in Ibiza for some well-earned downtime. While relaxing in the sunshine, the England icon was spotted by a group of holidaymakers. The women, enjoying a hen-do on the party island, approached Bellingham after seeing him nearby. Ever the good sport, the footballer posed for pictures with the excited girls. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL AB FAB Kate Abdo 'subbed off' CBS Sports Champions League final coverage One woman, wearing a bride's veil, grabbed Bellingham's backside as they had their picture taken. While in Ibiza, Bellingham also headed to Wayne Lineker's famous beach club. The Brummie hung out with his younger brother Jobe, who last week sealed Premier League promotion with Sunderland. The midfielder has since headed to Barcelona to link-up with England. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 10 Bellingham jetted off for a well-earned break Credit: BackGrid 10 The England star had time for a quick break before international duty Credit: BackGrid 10 Bellingham headed to a beach club in Ibiza Credit: BackGrid 10 The Three Lions favourite was up for posing for pictures Credit: BackGrid Boss Thomas Tuchel treated his squad to a team-bonding trip to the Spanish Grand Prix this afternoon. England stars including Bellingham soaked up the sunshine as they enjoyed the Formula 1. England squad plays the Traitors The Three Lions are set to train in nearby Girona ahead of next Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Andorra. Rather than playing in the Pyrenees micronation, England will take on Andorra at Espanyol's RCDE Stadium in Barcelona next Saturday. 10 Bellingham was in the paddock ahead of the Spanish GP Credit: Getty
New Statesman
30-05-2025
- General
- New Statesman
Why is Birmingham leading Britain's child poverty spiral?
Photo by Christopher Furlong / Getty Images To truly understand the impact of child poverty in Birmingham, the best place to go is Ladywood. Sitting to the west of the city centre, research from 2008 identified this area as having the highest percentage of children who live in poverty of any parliamentary constituency. A newspaper report from the time depicts the situation on the ground for locals: 'I'd rather starve than let them go hungry,' a father who was out of work said of his girlfriend and their 12-month-old daughter. 'We might be short of money, but we're not short of love.' The headline of the piece, outlining the poverty the city's young people were growing up in, is simple and devastating: 'A poor start'. More than 16 years later, children living in Ladywood are still experiencing a poor start to life. It remains the constituency with the highest levels of child poverty in Britain: 55 per cent of its youth live in deprivation (after housing costs are accounted for), according to a 2025 report by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF). The situation in Ladywood is a microcosm of a wider crisis of child poverty across Birmingham. Ladywood and its neighbouring constituencies – Hall Green and Moseley, 55 per cent; Yardley, 53 per cent; Perry Barr, 53 per cent; and Hodge Hill and Solihull North, 51 per cent – account for five of the top ten areas affected by this issue. In excess of 100,000 children across the city are living in poverty. Birmingham itself is at the apex of a wider trend of rising child poverty across the country in recent years. According to the same research by the JRF, around three in ten children growing up in the UK live in poverty. As the scourge of child poverty has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, so has the need for third sector organisations to provide localised support. 'The pandemic hadn't helped the situation,' said Alice Bath, operational manager at the Family Action charity and a born-and-bred Brummie. Family Action runs an Early Help Programme for families in Ladywood and Perry Barr. 'Even though we're out of it, we're still facing the mop-up of the [underlying] issues that it presented,' Bath said. Children in Birmingham, Bath told me, are contending with 'exponential' increases of food insecurity, decaying dental health, respiratory conditions, obesity and housing instability. Despite the best efforts of Bath and her colleagues across the third sector, there is now a quiet acceptance of a deprived status quo among the city's youth: 'It's become a way of life and a way of being.' What isn't helping the fight against child poverty in Birmingham is the dire financial situation of its council. Birmingham City Council effectively declared itself bankrupt in September 2023. To claw back funding, government- appointed commissioners have pencilled in over £300m of cuts across the following two years in the Labour-controlled council. The cuts reportedly include up to £112m worth of spending reductions and savings in the council's early help and youth services. That includes axing £8m worth of funding that is paid by the Birmingham Voluntary Services Council to ten local charities – including Bath's Family Action – that put on vital services for children and families across the city. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe 'Birmingham was massively hit by the decline in the manufacturing base of the city,' Martin Brooks, who has served on Birmingham City Council for 20 years, told me. The region was once famous for its production of cars, metals and Cadbury's chocolates. Brooks added: 'We were losing jobs in the Thatcher years not by the hundreds or thousands, but by the tens of thousands. Those years [of deindustrialisation] had a massive effect on poverty within the city.' When accounting for the exponential levels of child poverty today, the blame is largely placed on the effects of the 2008 financial crash and Conservative-induced austerity of the 2010s. 'The poor governance of the city has [also] had some effect on where we are today,' said Brooks, who quit the Labour Party last December. (He now stands as an independent councillor.) Brooks resigned over the fresh cuts his former Labour council colleagues have approved, which will 'have a devastating effect on the life chances of our young people in this, the youngest of European cities,' he said at the time. Locals are desperately searching for answers from their council. Upon visiting the local authority's HQ – a grand, Victorian era Grade II-listed building – on a bright spring morning, looking for a council cabinet member to interview, I was told they were unavailable. They were 'busy dealing with the bin situation,' a member of staff told me. The strikes have ensured the city stays top of the headlines – albeit for the wrong reasons. The politicians representing Birmingham on a local and national level are all too aware of the challenges facing their younger constituents. 'We made good progress until austerity in addressing some of those issues,' Richard Parker, the Labour Mayor of the West Midlands, told me over tea when we met in the city. 'The Tory government took £1bn out of the spending power of the city council, and it's still living with the impact of those cuts. That £1bn is further damage to some of our poorest communities in the most vulnerable parts of the region.' Parker's Conservative predecessor, Andy Street, who I met in the city centre a few weeks later, acknowledged that he and other political leaders 'did not change [the] map of deprivation'. There is broad political alignment on how the issue can be tackled in the medium-to-long term: increased housebuilding (with a particular focus on social housing), inward investment for better jobs in the region and improved education and skills pathways to help locals capitalise on them. But in the immediate term, hordes of children in the city will remain impoverished. 'I think the two-child benefit cap limit has to change,' Liam Byrne, the MP for Birmingham Hodge Hill and Solihull North, and a former cabinet minister during the last Labour government, told me when we met in Westminster recently. Should the cap (which prevents parents from claiming Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit for a third, or any subsequent child, born after April 2017) be lifted, around 17,000 families in Birmingham would be able to receive additional financial support, which can currently cost a family household up to £3,455 a year. 'Family incomes need to go up,' Byrne added, 'that's why [lifting] the two-child limit is so important.' Birmingham is facing a 'child poverty emergency'. A 2024 campaign by local outlet Birmingham Live outlines the severity of the situation. No fewer than 46 per cent of the city's children are impoverished (up from 27 per cent in 2015); twice the national average. Two in three (66 per cent of) children living in poverty come from a working family. Over 10,000 children live in temporary accommodation – a record number. Healthwise, compared to the national average, children are: 1.8 times more likely to die in infancy, and as likely to be hospitalised for asthma; 1.3 times more likely to have a low birth weight, and as likely to die in childhood; and are 1.2 times more likely to be obese at ten years old. Child poverty in Birmingham is also being particularly felt on the city's large south Asian cohort: in all but one of the ten most afflicted wards, the largest demographic of residents come from Asian and Asian-British backgrounds. Although some feel optimistic about the government's upcoming Child Poverty Strategy– due to be outlined in the spring – the benefits it might bring to Birmingham remain unclear. The council cuts only exacerbate fears. As they were through austerity, the pandemic and now, those working in the third sector in Birmingham (and across the UK more widely) – largely made up of locals, many of whom are volunteers – will continue to be a vital safety net for society's most vulnerable. 'I could moan and groan, but it's not going to change things,' Family Action's Bath said of the council cuts, while looking towards the future of its service in Perry Barr and Ladywood. 'It's about having a positive mindset,' Bath added. 'It's about being solution-focused and saying, 'What can I control? And how can I make a difference to support children and families?' It's about keeping hold of why we come to work in the morning and what our core mission and values are about.' This article first appeared in our Spotlight on Child Poverty supplement, of 23 May 2025, guest edited by Gordon Brown. Related
