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Daily Mail
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside Sunderland's bid to get back in the Premier League and how they can break the promotion curse
The image of a boy standing barefoot on the edge of a Trafalgar Square fountain, wrapped in a Sunderland flag as he shouts to what you imagine is a mass of people, radiates an optimism and defiance which will be carried into Wembley Stadium this weekend. It was taken when Sunderland played in, and lost, a Checkatrade Trophy final against Portsmouth, six years ago, and hangs in a corner of the North East city's Fans Museum, where a group of visitors is lingering around it in a kind of reverie on Wednesday afternoon this week.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Simplicity is genius' - From the Premier League to Irish Cup
Gael Bigirimana scored at Wembley to help Coventry win the Checkatrade Trophy in 2017 [Getty Images] He's played at Old Trafford and the Emirates, scored at Wembley and featured in one of football's biggest tournaments. Yet it's a small town in Northern Ireland, playing in front of 2,000 people most weeks, where Gael Bigirimana feels most at home. Advertisement From Newcastle United to Dungannon Swifts, it's been some journey for the Burundi international. The 31-year-has been a revelation since moving to Stangmore Park in 2023, and he has helped the Irish Premiership's underdogs to a second-ever Irish Cup final and a possible European adventure. Bigirimana is loved in Dungannon, and that feeling is mutual. In his words, sometimes "simplicity is genius". "I've been on the other end of where I am now, when I was at such a big club and earning money that, as a kid, I never would have dreamed of," said Bigirimana, who played for Burundi at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. Advertisement "I know the benefit of all the finance and glamour of playing at a high-level team, but you can lose the simplicity and love of the game. "That's what it's all about, people helping each other and building a community where others can have inspiration." 'The fruits are showing' Gael Bigirimana made 25 appearances for Newcastle United [Getty Images] Bigirmana says he has always been football mad and says the "simplicity" and "challenge" of playing at Dungannon were part of the appeal. "I have fun doing it, the ups and downs that come with it. "Could I come here and make an impact and serve this club? And serve my team-mates to enable them to get the best out of themselves and do well? Advertisement "That was my ambition to come here, and I'm thankful to God that the fruits are showing." It's a world away from the riches of the Premier League, where Bigirimana played for Newcastle United and made 25 appearances for the club in 2013. After moving on to St James' Park, he had a successful spell with Coventry, and went on to feature with Motherwell, Glentoran and Young Africans in Tanzania. But now, Bigirimana, along with his wife and two children, has embedded himself in the community in Dungannon, which is located in the heart of County Tyrone. "It's been a blessed time for me, my wife and my two kids," he added. Advertisement "We've enjoyed the town and people are really, really friendly. "As a human, you can only ask for such a strong community and they would go an extra mile to make sure you are well looked after." 'A huge day for the town' Despite a career that spans 11 years, more than 250 appearances in four countries, Bigirimana has just one medal from his career as a professional. That came in the Checkatrade Trophy final in 2017, when he scored the opening goal at Wembley as Coventry City defeated Oxford United 2-1. While he says the time at Newcastle United was "a fantastic experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life", that final with Coventry was the "highlight" of his career. Advertisement But that could be about to change. Dungannon Swifts have never won the Irish Cup - the most prestigious knockout trophy in Northern Irish football. "I think it would be the best highlight of my career, 100%," Bigirimana said when asked where winning the Irish Cup would rank. "The game against Cliftonville will be a difficult game because they are such a strong club. "They have some very good players and we know the obstacles that are in front of us. "For the club, the town, having a small budget and us being part-time, for us to lift that trophy would make me a very happy man. Advertisement "It's going to be such a huge day for Dungannon Swifts and for the town. "We are really looking forward to it."
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Simplicity is genius' - From the Premier League to Irish Cup
He's played at Old Trafford and the Emirates, scored at Wembley and featured in one of football's biggest tournaments. Yet it's a small town in Northern Ireland, playing in front of 2,000 people most weeks, where Gael Bigirimana feels most at home. From Newcastle United to Dungannon Swifts, it's been some journey for the Burundi international. The 31-year-has been a revelation since moving to Stangmore Park in 2023, and he has helped the Irish Premiership's underdogs to a second-ever Irish Cup final and a possible European adventure. Bigirimana is loved in Dungannon, and that feeling is mutual. In his words, sometimes "simplicity is genius". "I've been on the other end of where I am now, when I was at such a big club and earning money that, as a kid, I never would have dreamed of," said Bigirimana, who played for Burundi at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019. "I know the benefit of all the finance and glamour of playing at a high-level team, but you can lose the simplicity and love of the game. "That's what it's all about, people helping each other and building a community where others can have inspiration." Irish Cup finalists hold fond memories for Bradley Gormley 'doesn't lose sleep' over last year's final omission All you need to know about the Irish Cup final Bigirmana says he has always been football mad and says the "simplicity" and "challenge" of playing at Dungannon were part of the appeal. "I have fun doing it, the ups and downs that come with it. "Could I come here and make an impact and serve this club? And serve my team-mates to enable them to get the best out of themselves and do well? "That was my ambition to come here, and I'm thankful to God that the fruits are showing." It's a world away from the riches of the Premier League, where Bigirimana played for Newcastle United and made 25 appearances for the club in 2013. After moving on to St James' Park, he had a successful spell with Coventry, and went on to feature with Motherwell, Glentoran and Young Africans in Tanzania. But now, Bigirimana, along with his wife and two children, has embedded himself in the community in Dungannon, which is located in the heart of County Tyrone. "It's been a blessed time for me, my wife and my two kids," he added. "We've enjoyed the town and people are really, really friendly. "As a human, you can only ask for such a strong community and they would go an extra mile to make sure you are well looked after." Despite a career that spans 11 years, more than 250 appearances in four countries, Bigirimana has just one medal from his career as a professional. That came in the Checkatrade Trophy final in 2017, when he scored the opening goal at Wembley as Coventry City defeated Oxford United 2-1. While he says the time at Newcastle United was "a fantastic experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life", that final with Coventry was the "highlight" of his career. But that could be about to change. Dungannon Swifts have never won the Irish Cup - the most prestigious knockout trophy in Northern Irish football. "I think it would be the best highlight of my career, 100%," Bigirimana said when asked where winning the Irish Cup would rank. "The game against Cliftonville will be a difficult game because they are such a strong club. "They have some very good players and we know the obstacles that are in front of us. "For the club, the town, having a small budget and us being part-time, for us to lift that trophy would make me a very happy man. "It's going to be such a huge day for Dungannon Swifts and for the town. "We are really looking forward to it."
BBC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Simplicity is genius' - From the Premier League to Irish Cup
He's played at Old Trafford and the Emirates, scored at Wembley and featured in one of football's biggest it's a small town in Northern Ireland, playing in front of 2,000 people most weeks, where Gael Bigirimana feels most at home. From Newcastle United to Dungannon Swifts, it's been some journey for the Burundi international. The 31-year-has been a revelation since moving to Stangmore Park in 2023, and he has helped the Irish Premiership's underdogs to a second-ever Irish Cup final and a possible European is loved in Dungannon, and that feeling is his words, sometimes "simplicity is genius"."I've been on the other end of where I am now, when I was at such a big club and earning money that, as a kid, I never would have dreamed of," said Bigirimana, who played for Burundi at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019."I know the benefit of all the finance and glamour of playing at a high-level team, but you can lose the simplicity and love of the game. "That's what it's all about, people helping each other and building a community where others can have inspiration." 'The fruits are showing' Bigirmana says he has always been football mad and says the "simplicity" and "challenge" of playing at Dungannon were part of the appeal."I have fun doing it, the ups and downs that come with it. "Could I come here and make an impact and serve this club? And serve my team-mates to enable them to get the best out of themselves and do well? "That was my ambition to come here, and I'm thankful to God that the fruits are showing."It's a world away from the riches of the Premier League, where Bigirimana played for Newcastle United and made 25 appearances for the club in moving on to St James' Park, he had a successful spell with Coventry, and went on to feature with Motherwell, Glentoran and Young Africans in Tanzania. But now, Bigirimana, along with his wife and two children, has embedded himself in the community in Dungannon, which is located in the heart of County Tyrone. "It's been a blessed time for me, my wife and my two kids," he added. "We've enjoyed the town and people are really, really friendly. "As a human, you can only ask for such a strong community and they would go an extra mile to make sure you are well looked after." 'A huge day for the town' Despite a career that spans 11 years, more than 250 appearances in four countries, Bigirimana has just one medal from his career as a came in the Checkatrade Trophy final in 2017, when he scored the opening goal at Wembley as Coventry City defeated Oxford United he says the time at Newcastle United was "a fantastic experience that will stick with me for the rest of my life", that final with Coventry was the "highlight" of his that could be about to change. Dungannon Swifts have never won the Irish Cup - the most prestigious knockout trophy in Northern Irish football."I think it would be the best highlight of my career, 100%," Bigirimana said when asked where winning the Irish Cup would rank."The game against Cliftonville will be a difficult game because they are such a strong club."They have some very good players and we know the obstacles that are in front of us. "For the club, the town, having a small budget and us being part-time, for us to lift that trophy would make me a very happy man."It's going to be such a huge day for Dungannon Swifts and for the town. "We are really looking forward to it."
BBC News
12-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Boyhood Birmingham fan Allsop relishing Wembley 'dream'
Birmingham City goalkeeper Ryan Allsop has been to Wembley before - once as a fan, twice as a player and he has been on the winning side each when he heads back for this Sunday's Vertu Trophy final against Peterborough United, it will be his first visit as a Blues player - and, for Allsop, at the age of 32, that is beyond the stuff of dreams for the boyhood fan."It was an easy decision to come here to join my boyhood club," said the summer signing from Hull City, who was Chris Davies' first signing as Blues boss. "And I've played at Wembley twice before, for Wycombe Wanderers in the League One play-off final and for Lincoln City when it was the Checkatrade Trophy. And I've been on the positive side both times."To play at Wembley is a dream - but to do it for your boyhood club is something else." The 1-0 Trophy win over Shrewsbury Town with the Imps in 2018 was in front of a crowd of 41,261, barely half the number who will be there on Sunday. Two years later, when Wycombe beat Oxford United 2-1, it was the summer of the Covid pandemic and the only people who saw it were at home watching on TV. But they both still left their mark on him."Everything is so intense," he said. "Hopefully I can use my experience well."The atmosphere and all the emotion surrounding it is something you can't really describe. I remember playing for Lincoln that day and I came in from the warm-up just drained from the atmosphere."Uppermost in his mind when he walks out, on what is still the world's most famous football pitch, will be his nearest and was his dad who first started taking him to Blues games more than 20 years ago - and who was sat alongside him at Wembley when the club last went there and won, the extraordinary 2011 League Cup final triumph over Arsenal, the same year the club were last relegated from the Premier League."A really memorable day - and a massive day for the club," Allsop Allsop was already a St Andrew's regular by then."I remember I used to have soccer school on Saturday mornings and I'd rush home, have lunch and then go to the game with my dad. "I'd always want to go in the Blues shop. I remember getting a shirt and a Beau Brummie [mascot]."My favourite player was Peter Ndlovu but I loved them all really, Gary Rowett, Martin Grainger, Darren Purse, Michael Johnson, Ian Bennett, Martin O'Connor, Dele Adebola, Stern John, Stan Lazaridis, all these sort of players." When Blues did go up to the Premier League for the first time under Steve Bruce in 2002, they did it in Cardiff, as Wembley was still under its seven-year reconstruction. But, having been there as a fan 14 years ago, Allsop is so full of pride to now go back as a Blues player."I've got the chance to play for Blues at Wembley in front of my family - and not many can say that."My family are the ones who have motivated me and been beside me in everything I've experienced in football and life. "My three children, my wife, my mum and dad, they've ferried me about for ever and they never miss a game. My auntie too. She hasn't missed a game all season."I'll feel emotional when I see their faces. Then it's a case of putting my game face on and concentrating on the job in hand." 'To be able to call myself a Blues player is special' Following the departure of John Ruddy to Newcastle United and the release of Neil Etheridge following relegation last season, Blues signed two keepers this summer - Allsop and Bailey actually started the season as second choice, making only three cup appearances, before getting his first league start in the 1-0 home win over Huddersfield Town on 1 there has been no looking back since, having let in only 18 goals in his 32 league appearances and he said just playing for Blues every week fills him with pride."To be able to call myself a Birmingham City player is special," he said. "I'm so proud to put the shirt on and I just want to give 100% and make people feel proud of me."I try to take it in all the time when I'm playing for Blues at St Andrew's and the fans are singing. I just want to make sure I'm taking every single moment in."Ryan Allsop was talking to BBC Radio WM's Richard Wilford.
