Latest news with #DavidBrooks
The Sun
2 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
David Brooks to become a dad for first time just four years after Bournemouth and Wales star beat cancer
DAVID BROOKS feels "lucky" he will become a dad - fearing it would never happen after his cancer diagnosis. The Bournemouth winger's wife Flora revealed last weekend she is pregnant, with the pair expecting their first baby in November. 4 4 Brooks revealed the possibility of parent life was in doubt when he battled stage 2 Hodgkin lymphoma in October 2021. The 27-year-old said: "When I was diagnosed, I had those conversations and there was never any guarantees that I would be able to have children in the future. "There was a chance that it wouldn't have been possible. I was really lucky that it's happened naturally. "After the treatment, everything has gone back to normal. I'm really happy. "I always wanted to start a family. My wife and I always wanted kids at some point. 'My situation took it out of my hands, so it's very nice that everything has happened naturally and progressed into being a family. "I'm really looking forward to it and I know my wife is, even though she's the pregnant one and going through all that. "I'm delighted - there were a few tears and now we're really looking forward to it. We're still a few months away - but I can't wait." Before Brooks has to contend with nappies and sleepless nights, the Cherries attacker aims to extend Craig Bellamy's unbeaten start to life as Wales boss. The Dragons have now gone eight matches without defeat and expect to make that nine at home to Liechtenstein in Cardiff tomorrow. Premier League club move into incredible new home that resembles futurist James Bond villain lair 4 But then Wales face a tough trip to Group J favourites Belgium on Monday night. Brooks ensured Bellamy has not tasted a loss yet with a 96th-minute equaliser in North Macedonia in March. He added: "It instills a bit of fear into who we are playing because other teams know we aren't going to give up. It's a massive positive. "It gives us confidence and makes the opposition wary." Brooks made 33 appearances for Bournemouth across all competitions last season - but that included just 12 starts. The wideman said: "It's always a bit frustrating. I had a good patch of starting games and I thought I was playing well. 'I've been out a long time and that was the reason I went out on loan to Southampton last year. 'But I don't want to get to the end of my career and have half of my appearances on the bench. "I'm always looking to play more games and looking to make the best impact at club level when I get the opportunity. "I'm in good fitness and form and confident I can make a difference over the next two Wales games."
Daily Mirror
4 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Premier League star in tears as he learns he'll become dad after beating cancer
Bournemouth and Wales star David Brooks was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma almost four years ago, but now he and wife Flora are expecting their first child David Brooks cried tears of joy after being told he is to become a dad – something the Wales forward feared might not happen following his 2021 cancer diagnosis. Brooks, who was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma nearly four years ago, and wife Flora are expecting their first child on November 1. The 27-year-old Bournemouth player announced he was cancer-free in May 2022, but the long-term effects of the disease in terms of fathering children were unclear. 'Obviously when I was diagnosed you have those conversations and there were never any guarantees that I would be able to have children in the future,' said Brooks, who has linked up with the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifying double header against Liechtenstein and Belgium. 'There was a chance it wouldn't have been possible and I was really lucky that it came naturally. After my treatment things went back to normal so, of course, I was really happy. We were trying so it wasn't a massive shock, but there were a few tears. 'We always wanted kids at some point, but the situation kind of took it out of hands a little bit. So it's obviously very nice for everything to come naturally and progress into being a family. 'We're really looking forward to it, even though she is going through everything that comes with being pregnant.' Brooks was the Wales hero in their last World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia in March. His equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time secured a precious 1-1 draw, making it four points from the opening two qualifiers and extending Craig Bellamy's unbeaten start as Dragons manager to eight games. 'I think it instils a little bit of fear into who we are playing,' said Brooks. 'They know we are not going to give up, even if it's the 96th minute. It's a massive positive. 'If felt like a big goal in North Macedonia and it makes the table looks a lot better for us. I feel like we are on a good journey.' Brooks says he is now in the 'old box' at 27 with the Wales squad having changed so much in recent years. Gareth Bale and Joe Allen are retired and captain Aaron Ramsey, the third standout member of the team which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, is recovering from another injury setback. Brooks said: 'This is probably the first campaign we have had without them. 'There's a lot of young talent coming through and a lot of lads, including myself, who have been waiting for an opportunity to showcase ourselves. 'We are all looking as a collective to try to move forward, instead of it being about the special individual.'
Powys County Times
12 hours ago
- Health
- Powys County Times
There were a few tears – Wales forward David Brooks expecting first child
David Brooks cried tears of joy after being told he is to become a dad – something the Wales forward feared might not happen following his 2021 cancer diagnosis. Brooks, who was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma nearly four years ago, and wife Flora are expecting their first child on November 1. The 27-year-old Bournemouth player announced he was cancer-free in May 2022, but the long-term effects of the disease in terms of fathering children were unclear. 'Obviously when I was diagnosed you have those conversations and there were never any guarantees that I would be able to have children in the future,' said Brooks, who has linked up with the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifying double header against Liechtenstein and Belgium. 'There was a chance it wouldn't have been possible and I was really lucky that it came naturally. After my treatment things went back to normal so, of course, I was really happy. 'We were trying so it wasn't a massive shock, but there were a few tears. 'We always wanted kids at some point, but the situation kind of took it out of hands a little bit. 'So it's obviously very nice for everything to come naturally and progress into being a family. 'We're really looking forward to it, even though she is going through everything that comes with being pregnant.' Brooks was the Wales hero in their last World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia in March. His equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time secured a precious 1-1 draw, making it four points from the opening two qualifiers and extending Craig Bellamy's unbeaten start as Dragons manager to eight games. 'I think it instils a little bit of fear into who we are playing,' said Brooks. 'They know we are not going to give up, even if it's the 96th minute. It's a massive positive. 'If felt like a big goal in North Macedonia and it makes the table looks a lot better for us. I feel like we are on a good journey.' Brooks says he is now in the 'old box' at 27 with the Wales squad having changed so much in recent years. Gareth Bale and Joe Allen are retired and captain Aaron Ramsey, the third standout member of the team which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, is recovering from another injury setback. Brooks said: 'This is probably the first campaign we have had without them. 'There's a lot of young talent coming through and a lot of lads, including myself, who have been waiting for an opportunity to showcase ourselves. 'We are all looking as a collective to try to move forward, instead of it being about the special individual.'
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
There were a few tears – Wales forward David Brooks expecting first child
David Brooks cried tears of joy after being told he is to become a dad – something the Wales forward feared might not happen following his 2021 cancer diagnosis. Brooks, who was diagnosed with stage-two Hodgkin lymphoma nearly four years ago, and wife Flora are expecting their first child on November 1. The 27-year-old Bournemouth player announced he was cancer-free in May 2022, but the long-term effects of the disease in terms of fathering children were unclear. 'Obviously when I was diagnosed you have those conversations and there were never any guarantees that I would be able to have children in the future,' said Brooks, who has linked up with the Wales squad for their World Cup qualifying double header against Liechtenstein and Belgium. 'There was a chance it wouldn't have been possible and I was really lucky that it came naturally. After my treatment things went back to normal so, of course, I was really happy. 'We were trying so it wasn't a massive shock, but there were a few tears. 'We always wanted kids at some point, but the situation kind of took it out of hands a little bit. 'So it's obviously very nice for everything to come naturally and progress into being a family. 'We're really looking forward to it, even though she is going through everything that comes with being pregnant.' Brooks was the Wales hero in their last World Cup qualifier against North Macedonia in March. His equaliser in the sixth minute of stoppage time secured a precious 1-1 draw, making it four points from the opening two qualifiers and extending Craig Bellamy's unbeaten start as Dragons manager to eight games. 'I think it instils a little bit of fear into who we are playing,' said Brooks. 'They know we are not going to give up, even if it's the 96th minute. It's a massive positive. 'If felt like a big goal in North Macedonia and it makes the table looks a lot better for us. I feel like we are on a good journey.' Brooks says he is now in the 'old box' at 27 with the Wales squad having changed so much in recent years. Gareth Bale and Joe Allen are retired and captain Aaron Ramsey, the third standout member of the team which reached the semi-finals of Euro 2016, is recovering from another injury setback. Brooks said: 'This is probably the first campaign we have had without them. 'There's a lot of young talent coming through and a lot of lads, including myself, who have been waiting for an opportunity to showcase ourselves. 'We are all looking as a collective to try to move forward, instead of it being about the special individual.'
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
'There were tears, but we are looking forward to it'
World Cup qualifier: Wales v LiechtensteinVenue: Cardiff City Stadium Date: Friday, 6 June Kick off: 19:45 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC One Wales, S4C, iPlayer, BBC Radio Wales and Radio Cymru, the BBC Sport website and app, plus live text commentary. David Brooks took the plaudits when Wales players were last together in March after scoring the 96th-minute equaliser in North Macedonia which preserved Craig Bellamy's unbeaten record as head were more congratulations for Brooks when the Wales squad reconvened for World Cup qualifiers against Liechtenstein and Belgium this week, but for entirely different and wife Flora revealed on social media earlier this week that they are to become parents, with their baby due on 1 Brooks, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, the news is especially joyous given that there were questions about whether this time would ever come."I always wanted to start a family. My wife and I wanted kids at some point," the 27-year-old says."Obviously when I was diagnosed, you have those conversations and there were never any guarantees that I would be able to have children in the future. There was a chance it wouldn't have been possible."But I was really lucky that it came naturally. After my treatment things went back to normal, so of course I was really happy. There were a few tears, but we are really looking forward to it."Brooks was 24 when he was diagnosed with Stage Two Hodgkin lymphoma in October were "dark times" for the attacking midfielder but, after several months of chemotherapy, he was declared cancer free in May returned to first-team football with Bournemouth in March 2023 and was back in the Wales squad that summer. A senior figure Two years on, Brooks acknowledges that he is now one of Wales' "more senior lads".Joe Allen's retirement means another of the nation's greats has gone, while captain Aaron Ramsey is again missing from this camp due to who has 33 caps, says he relishes the responsibility that comes with being one of the more experienced players in a squad which is rebuilding having lost the likes of Allen, Chris Gunter and Gareth Bale since the 2022 World Cup."Bale is probably the best British player of all time and Joe Allen has been one of the best Welsh players of all time," he adds"They are obviously are a big miss, but there's a lot of young talent coming through and there are a lot of lads, including myself, who have been waiting for an opportunity to showcase ourselves."This is probably the first campaign we have had without them. We are all looking as a collective to try to move forward instead of it being about the special individual. I think we are doing a good job." 'It felt like a big goal' Wales will expect to make it nine games without defeat since Bellamy took charge when the minnows of Liechtenstein visit the Cardiff City Stadium on a sterner challenge awaits in Brussels next Monday, when Wales tackle Group J's top seeds unbeaten record looked set to go during the previous international camp, when North Macedonia went ahead in added time in Skopje only for Brooks to prod home his fifth international goal with almost the last kick of the game."It was not one of my best but as long as it trickles over the line, I am not too fussed," he says."If felt like a big goal in North Macedonia and it makes the table looks a lot better for us."Wales are second as things stand, behind North Macedonia on goal difference, although Belgium are yet to play a game in the Red Devils go to North Macedonia on Friday before returning home to meet Wales. In years gone by, Wales may have viewed a trip to a heavyweight nation like Belgium with some trepidation, as a fixture where a draw would be a superb under Bellamy, who rejects the notion of his side being underdogs, Wales will travel with expectation rather than mere echoes team-mates by describing Bellamy's approach as "intense" – but says Wales' players are hungry to deliver for their boss."He is obviously a very, very passionate guy, especially about Wales, and that can't be a negative," Brooks adds."We want to play well for him and play in his system. We have had a good base, going unbeaten so far, and now we are looking to build on that and become more of a threat and minimising our risk of conceding goals."I feel like we are on a good journey."
