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Belfast Telegraph
4 days ago
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
My hard work is now paying off and can help Lisburn enjoy a special season, says Neil Whitworth
The 31-year-old tops the batting averages with his 328 runs coming at exactly 82, while he has also taken 15 wickets with his off-spin. He's proven very much a finisher, scoring four half centuries in his last five innings — three of them unbeaten. The Durham-born all-rounder has cited the confidence gained from a pre-season Ulster Grasshoppers tour, plus hard work in the nets for his prolific form. 'I've been working very hard over the winter on my batting with Uel Graham and a bit with Mark Adair as well,' said Whitworth. 'That coupled with the trip to South Africa definitely helped as well with my confidence. It was an experience of a lifetime for me, really brilliant and so much fun on and off the field. It was superbly organised with brilliant people. 'I just try to be consistent in the No.4 position and read the game as I see it. I'm very fortunate in that there are a number of power hitters in the ranks that take the pressure off. Having the likes of Nigel Jones, James Hunter and Ross Adair lets me play my own game.' It's been a great time for Sunderland fan Whitworth, who is in his second season as captain and enjoying leading a side packed with internationals. 'I think it's important that everyone knows their role in the team. The good thing for me in having so many high-profile players in there is that you're never short of anyone to turn to for advice. 'Nigel Jones in particular has so much experience over here and has such a high stature in the game, and of course Faiz Fazal our overseas professional.' The one gap in Lisburn's honours CV is the Irish Senior Cup, although the Wallace Park side did taste success in the All-Ireland T20 competition last season. 'That T20 win will stand us in good stead. We have a home draw against fellow NCU opposition CSNI to look forward to. We had a very tough game against them earlier in the season so it will be a hard test without a doubt.' Lisburn will be without their trio of Irish internationals for the weekend, but Whitworth isn't angry at their absence — indeed far from it. 'We should embrace the fact that the club has three internationals and celebrate it. It's just one of those things and we have a good deal of depth and quality in our squad to cope with it,' he said. Lisburn have never been a club to rest on their laurels, always looking for the next signing to build for the future. 'That's the structure of the club, where we have some very important key heads behind the scenes,' added Whitworth, who lives close to Wallace Park. 'They are all very future focused on where they want to be, and that's very beneficial to have.' There's a feeling 2025 could be a really special season for Lisburn, and Whitworth agrees. 'It potentially could be. We have got a very strong squad and there's not much Irish international cricket this summer so we have got plenty to look forward to,' he said. Other northern sides in action on Sunday are CIYMS — who entertain Railway Union — while Instonians travel to Pembroke. Flying the flag for the north west are Coleraine, who take on five-time winners North County, while Donemana travel to two-time winners Merrion. Tomorrow's Premiership action has leaders Lisburn hosting North Down, while Instonians will look to keep the pressure on as they visit troubled Muckamore. Templepatrick entertain Cliftonville Academy with both sides desperate for points, while CIYMS are home to Woodvale and Waringstown face CSNI, knowing even at this early stage a win is vital for their Premiership title ambitions.
North Wales Chronicle
24-05-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Sunderland's return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict'
A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign – in which the French coach has marshalled a side that finished 16th in last season's second tier – as they earned a top-flight return after eight years away. 'It was impossible to predict,' said Le Bris. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of a play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's wonderful clipped finish. A contentious VAR call denied Chris Wilder's team the goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League, from which they were relegated in last place a year ago. You deserve this, Gaffer 🥺 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship, first Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball unto the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final action for the club before departing for Brighton. Le Bris added: 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.' Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign with Sunderland's late winner (Nick Potts/PA) Le Bris added that he had no doubt in including Durham-born Watson in his squad and throwing him on with 17 minutes to play at Wembley, despite him having agreed a move to the Amex last month. 'It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help,' he said. Blades boss Chris Wilder, whose side led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse, reflected on a difficult summer ahead for his players. What a way to sign off… 19-year-old Tom Watson earned Sunderland promotion to the Premier League with a 95th minute winner in his final match for the club 🤯 — Premier League (@premierleague) May 24, 2025 'It's going to take quite a while to get over this one,' he said. 'We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. 'They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers.' Of the controversially-disallowed goal in the first half – where Burrows was judged to have unsighted the goalkeeper – Wilder said: 'I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it.'
Powys County Times
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Sunderland's return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict'
Head coach Regis Le Bris admitted it was 'impossible to predict' Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League when he took over last summer after they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign – in which the French coach has marshalled a side that finished 16th in last season's second tier – as they earned a top-flight return after eight years away. 'It was impossible to predict,' said Le Bris. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of a play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's wonderful clipped finish. A contentious VAR call denied Chris Wilder's team the goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League, from which they were relegated in last place a year ago. You deserve this, Gaffer 🥺 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship, first Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball unto the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final action for the club before departing for Brighton. Le Bris added: 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.' Le Bris added that he had no doubt in including Durham-born Watson in his squad and throwing him on with 17 minutes to play at Wembley, despite him having agreed a move to the Amex last month. 'It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help,' he said. Blades boss Chris Wilder, whose side led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse, reflected on a difficult summer ahead for his players. What a way to sign off… 19-year-old Tom Watson earned Sunderland promotion to the Premier League with a 95th minute winner in his final match for the club 🤯 — Premier League (@premierleague) May 24, 2025 'It's going to take quite a while to get over this one,' he said. 'We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. 'They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers.' Of the controversially-disallowed goal in the first half – where Burrows was judged to have unsighted the goalkeeper – Wilder said: 'I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it.'
Rhyl Journal
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Sunderland's return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict'
A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign – in which the French coach has marshalled a side that finished 16th in last season's second tier – as they earned a top-flight return after eight years away. 'It was impossible to predict,' said Le Bris. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. You deserve this, Gaffer 🥺 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of a play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's wonderful clipped finish. A contentious VAR call denied Chris Wilder's team the goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League, from which they were relegated in last place a year ago. Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign with Sunderland's late winner (Nick Potts/PA) Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship, first Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball unto the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final action for the club before departing for Brighton. Le Bris added: 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.' When we said 'Til The End, we meant it. — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 Le Bris added that he had no doubt in including Durham-born Watson in his squad and throwing him on with 17 minutes to play at Wembley, despite him having agreed a move to the Amex last month. 'It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help,' he said. Blades boss Chris Wilder, whose side led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse, reflected on a difficult summer ahead for his players. What a way to sign off… 19-year-old Tom Watson earned Sunderland promotion to the Premier League with a 95th minute winner in his final match for the club 🤯 — Premier League (@premierleague) May 24, 2025 'It's going to take quite a while to get over this one,' he said. 'We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. 'They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers.' Of the controversially-disallowed goal in the first half – where Burrows was judged to have unsighted the goalkeeper – Wilder said: 'I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it.'
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Sunderland's return to Premier League ‘impossible to predict'
Head coach Regis Le Bris admitted it was 'impossible to predict' Sunderland's promotion to the Premier League when he took over last summer after they beat Sheffield United 2-1 in the Championship play-off final at Wembley. A stoppage-time winner from 19-year-old substitute Tommy Watson capped a remarkable campaign – in which the French coach has marshalled a side that finished 16th in last season's second tier – as they earned a top-flight return after eight years away. 'It was impossible to predict,' said Le Bris. 'They played fantastic football sometimes (last season). Against Southampton they won 5-0, so it was clear that it was possible to play very good football and to be efficient and very dominant. You deserve this, Gaffer 🥺 — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 'But at the same time, they were so inconstant, so my job was to give the methodology to bring this consistency.' It had looked unlikely for much of a play-off final during which the Blades had had the better of Le Bris' side, taking the lead midway through the first half through Tyrese Campbell's wonderful clipped finish. A contentious VAR call denied Chris Wilder's team the goal that would have put them two ahead and cruising back to the Premier League, from which they were relegated in last place a year ago. Harrison Burrows' strike was ruled out with his team-mate Vinicius Sousa judged to have interfered with the view of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson. It gave Sunderland a lifeline that they duly clung on to haul themselves out of the Championship, first Eliezer Mayenda rifled the ball unto the roof of the goal to level with 14 minutes to play, before Watson wrote himself into Wearside folklore with his final action for the club before departing for Brighton. Le Bris added: 'We need talented players, we need strong connections between them. I think they deserve this. 'They worked so well together. This game is a good example of the season.' When we said 'Til The End, we meant it. — Sunderland AFC (@SunderlandAFC) May 24, 2025 Le Bris added that he had no doubt in including Durham-born Watson in his squad and throwing him on with 17 minutes to play at Wembley, despite him having agreed a move to the Amex last month. 'It was clear in our mind and in his mind that he is still a Sunderland player and the squad accepted this decision as well, knowing that he's a good player and he can help,' he said. Blades boss Chris Wilder, whose side led the Championship at the end of March before suffering a late collapse, reflected on a difficult summer ahead for his players. What a way to sign off… 19-year-old Tom Watson earned Sunderland promotion to the Premier League with a 95th minute winner in his final match for the club 🤯 — Premier League (@premierleague) May 24, 2025 'It's going to take quite a while to get over this one,' he said. 'We're going to have to suffer and go through the pain. 'They're big boys and they've got to get over it if they're going to have decent careers.' Of the controversially-disallowed goal in the first half – where Burrows was judged to have unsighted the goalkeeper – Wilder said: 'I don't think the goalkeeper saves it. I don't think he gets anywhere near it.'
