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South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Soccer Sevens: Wrexham women hail ‘all-in' Hollywood owners as they reach Hong Kong final
Wrexham captain Lili Jones on Saturday paid tribute to Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for their 'all-in' attitude to growing the club's women's team, after they reached their final at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens in Hong Kong. Following their takeover in 2021, American actors Reynolds and McElhenney pumped US$60,000 into the now increasingly high-profile women's side. Jones said the pair were 'regularly in touch on socials and send us good luck messages before games'. It was testament to the club's rocketing profile that when Jones and her teammates landed at Hong Kong International Airport, they were met by 'people with printed photos of us asking for autographs'. 'It's massive for our profile to be here,' Jones said. 'For our women's team to be the first from the club to come to Asia is huge in Wrexham's history and it's an honour to be part of it. Everyone has been so friendly and it's a great set-up.' Lili Jones (right) challenges for the ball against Kitchee. Photo: HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens Wrexham stayed unbeaten in the group stage and will play Kitchee in Sunday's final.
South China Morning Post
17-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Soccer Sevens: Leicester City shocked in Hong Kong but West Ham into quarters
Hong Kong Football Club took an English Premier League scalp at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens as they dramatically toppled Leicester City on a perfect Saturday for the tournament hosts. A Jonas Sorensen strike with the last kick of the game stunned Leicester, whose senior team were preparing to wave goodbye to legendary centre-forward Jamie Vardy in Sunday's top-flight clash with Ipswich Town. 'It was a great feeling to score against a big club with good players and a huge history,' Sorensen said. There was double joy for Football Club as they then inflicted a 1-0 defeat on AZ Alkmaar, who recently lost only narrowly to Barcelona in the Uefa Youth League semi-finals. Football Club wrapped up their flawless group stage when they beat Hong Kong under-22s 3-1 to book a quarter-final date with West Ham United on Sunday. 'It's another big team – we're looking forward to it,' Sorensen said. 'The support has been amazing, we've done really well so far and we want to keep it going.'
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Wrexham off to flier at Hong Kong Soccer Sevens, former Arsenal star sent off on debut
Women's headline act Wrexham launched their debut HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens campaign with a pair of tense 1-0 victories on Friday night. Advertisement In their opening game, against Chonburi FC of Thailand, Grace Morris scored the only goal for the Welsh club, who gained global prominence after their 2021 Hollywood takeover by actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. In their second match, Ava Suckley scored to beat Singapore team Eastern Thunder. The 2024 runners-up, Kitchee, began with a 1-1 draw against Eastern Thunder, before a Cheung Wai-ki goal gave them a 1-0 victory over hosts Football Club. In the Masters tournament, Lee Man's head coach, Chu Siu-kei, warmed up for a crunch weekend in the local Premier League title race by scoring for Ampcontrol Discovery Bay in their 2-0 victory over Wallsend Boys Club HK. Advertisement The former Arsenal and Germany goalkeeper Jens Lehmann had a short-lived competition debut, after he was sent off for a professional foul in Yau Yee League All Stars' 2-0 loss to HKFC Masters.
South China Morning Post
16-05-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong Soccer Sevens: Aston Villa captain taking tips from Tielemans
Aston Villa's captain at the HKFC Standard Chartered Soccer Sevens has said he will be channelling his illustrious clubmate Youri Tielemans as his side aim for an eighth title this weekend. Todd Alcock is playing in his third Soccer Sevens at Hong Kong Football Club after victory in his first in 2023 and defeat by Brighton & Hove Albion in last year's final. This year, he has his sights set on a third consecutive final and going one better than 12 months ago. 'The last two years, we've had a good record … so hopefully we can get good results in the group, see what we can do in the last couple of games and try and level it or better,' Alcock said. 'We try and train with the first team quite a lot. You learn a lot from the players, they've got lots of quality, and that's why they're flying like they are [in the Premier League].' The HKFC Soccer Sevens captains learn to make milk tea. Photo: Jonathan Wong Aston Villa are sixth in the Premier League and are chasing Champions League qualification for the second year in a row.
South China Morning Post
10-04-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong-born British footballer has allies in high places for city passport application
The local football association has intervened in the passport application process for Callum Beattie, in a bid to have the Football Club defender available for Hong Kong selection this summer. Advertisement Beattie, 23, has been a fixture for his team this season, after studying in the United States and Canada. A raiding left-back, he was born in Hong Kong but has British citizenship. Beattie started the passport process in August and is optimistic of being naturalised 'quite soon'. In June, Hong Kong have a crucial AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India. The following month, they will go to South Korea for the East Asian Football Federation Championship finals. 'I've just received a reference letter from the Hong Kong FA to speed up [the application], so, hopefully, it shouldn't take much longer,' Beattie said. '[Hong Kong head coach] Ashley Westwood and the technical director [John Morling] signed it. It seems I have their full backing and I'm looking forward, hopefully, to getting in the squad.' Left-back Callum Beattie strides forward for HKFC against Eastern at Mong Kok Stadium. Photo: HKFC Beattie, whose dad, Danny, played semi-professionally in England and was a Football Club coach, made his senior debut at age 16 in January 2018.
