Latest news with #NickPotts
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
There were a few tears – Wales forward David Brooks expecting first child
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. David Brooks (centre) has stood up for Wales with some important goals in recent times (Nick Potts/PA) '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. Wales boss Craig Bellamy is unbeaten after eight games in charge (David Davies/PA) '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. Wales are in a new era now with Gareth Bale (left) and Joe Allen (right) retired and skipper Aaron Ramsey (centre) plagued by injury (Nick Potts/PA) 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.'
South Wales Argus
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
There were a few tears – Wales forward David Brooks expecting first child
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. David Brooks (centre) has stood up for Wales with some important goals in recent times (Nick Potts/PA) '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. Wales boss Craig Bellamy is unbeaten after eight games in charge (David Davies/PA) '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. Wales are in a new era now with Gareth Bale (left) and Joe Allen (right) retired and skipper Aaron Ramsey (centre) plagued by injury (Nick Potts/PA) 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 Herald Scotland
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
There were a few tears – Wales forward David Brooks expecting first child
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. David Brooks (centre) has stood up for Wales with some important goals in recent times (Nick Potts/PA) '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. Wales boss Craig Bellamy is unbeaten after eight games in charge (David Davies/PA) '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. Wales are in a new era now with Gareth Bale (left) and Joe Allen (right) retired and skipper Aaron Ramsey (centre) plagued by injury (Nick Potts/PA) 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.'
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Match-winner Joe Root vows he still has ‘a lot to give' for England
England's pursuit of 309 appeared doomed after lurching to two for two and 133 for five at Cardiff but Root showed his enduring class with an ODI-best 166 not out off 139 balls to seal a three-wicket win. In helping England move into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Metro Bank series, Root became his country's most prolific run-scorer, overhauling former captain Eoin Morgan's tally of 6,957. Player Of The Match 🏅 Who else? 👌 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2025 'It's a sign you're getting old, having played as many games as that,' the 34-year-old said with a smile after becoming the first Englishman to go past 7,000 ODI runs. Root, who is also England's record Test run-scorer and the top-ranked batter in that format, insisted he is nowhere near winding down and is as hungry as he ever was to add to his achievements. 'I want to give as much as I can for England for as long as I can,' he said. 'I've still got a lot to give and a lot more runs in there and hopefully, an innings like that shows that. 'Until that desire, that want to get better every day, want to add to the group and want to be not out at the end of a chase like that, when that's not a burning desire any more, it will be time to stop. 'It doesn't feel like that's anywhere near the case at the moment and I'll keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and series down the line.' Joe Root became England's all-time leading run-scorer at Cardiff (Nick Potts/PA) Harry Brook has guided England to a first ODI series triumph since September 2023 after replacing Jos Buttler, who rarely had a full-strength squad to choose from when he led the white-ball sides. Root played just 19 ODIs between England's triumphant 2019 World Cup and the forgettable 2023 defence as priority was given to the Test side but he wants to be at the vanguard of rebuilding the 50-over team. 'I've played a huge amount of cricket with Jos and almost felt guilty that I wasn't able to be there for him throughout a lot of his tenure,' Root said. 'Now that there's more chances and more opportunities to play ODI cricket, I want to be involved in that. I want to play as much as I can for England. If I'm going to make the team better, then absolutely.' England had a ragged display in the field with four dropped catches – with Root shelling one – and two missed run-outs as Keacy Carty's 103 underpinned the Windies' total of 308 all out after 47.4 overs. Harry Brook led England to their first ODI series win since September 2023 (Nick Potts/PA) But having been 170 for two after 30 overs, the tourists faded as Adil Rashid took four wickets and Saqib Mahmood three and Root believes Brook's tactical acumen with field placings and game management came to the fore at a blustery Sophia Gardens. While claiming his fellow Yorkshireman is 'an idiot' off the field, Root, who helped England reel in the total with seven balls to spare, hailed Brook's cricketing smarts. 'As much as he's an idiot away from cricket – and I can say that because I've known him forever – he's very cricket intelligent,' Root added. 'He understands the game exceptionally well. 'I think that's what will make him a really good leader as well. I think you saw he might see the game slightly differently, and he might do things differently, but it asked different questions.'
South Wales Argus
3 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Match-winner Joe Root vows he still has ‘a lot to give' for England
England's pursuit of 309 appeared doomed after lurching to two for two and 133 for five at Cardiff but Root showed his enduring class with an ODI-best 166 not out off 139 balls to seal a three-wicket win. In helping England move into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Metro Bank series, Root became his country's most prolific run-scorer, overhauling former captain Eoin Morgan's tally of 6,957. Player Of The Match 🏅 Who else? 👌 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2025 'It's a sign you're getting old, having played as many games as that,' the 34-year-old said with a smile after becoming the first Englishman to go past 7,000 ODI runs. Root, who is also England's record Test run-scorer and the top-ranked batter in that format, insisted he is nowhere near winding down and is as hungry as he ever was to add to his achievements. 'I want to give as much as I can for England for as long as I can,' he said. 'I've still got a lot to give and a lot more runs in there and hopefully, an innings like that shows that. 'Until that desire, that want to get better every day, want to add to the group and want to be not out at the end of a chase like that, when that's not a burning desire any more, it will be time to stop. 'It doesn't feel like that's anywhere near the case at the moment and I'll keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and series down the line.' Joe Root became England's all-time leading run-scorer at Cardiff (Nick Potts/PA) Harry Brook has guided England to a first ODI series triumph since September 2023 after replacing Jos Buttler, who rarely had a full-strength squad to choose from when he led the white-ball sides. Root played just 19 ODIs between England's triumphant 2019 World Cup and the forgettable 2023 defence as priority was given to the Test side but he wants to be at the vanguard of rebuilding the 50-over team. 'I've played a huge amount of cricket with Jos and almost felt guilty that I wasn't able to be there for him throughout a lot of his tenure,' Root said. 'Now that there's more chances and more opportunities to play ODI cricket, I want to be involved in that. I want to play as much as I can for England. If I'm going to make the team better, then absolutely.' England had a ragged display in the field with four dropped catches – with Root shelling one – and two missed run-outs as Keacy Carty's 103 underpinned the Windies' total of 308 all out after 47.4 overs. Harry Brook led England to their first ODI series win since September 2023 (Nick Potts/PA) But having been 170 for two after 30 overs, the tourists faded as Adil Rashid took four wickets and Saqib Mahmood three and Root believes Brook's tactical acumen with field placings and game management came to the fore at a blustery Sophia Gardens. While claiming his fellow Yorkshireman is 'an idiot' off the field, Root, who helped England reel in the total with seven balls to spare, hailed Brook's cricketing smarts. 'As much as he's an idiot away from cricket – and I can say that because I've known him forever – he's very cricket intelligent,' Root added. 'He understands the game exceptionally well. 'I think that's what will make him a really good leader as well. I think you saw he might see the game slightly differently, and he might do things differently, but it asked different questions.'
