Latest news with #NickRobinson
Powys County Times
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Isthmian League chairman honoured with Lifetime Achievement
Pitching In Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson was thrilled and surprised in equal measure as he was honoured with the Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award at the National Game Awards in association with Isuzu. Robinson has had a long and storied career within non-league football, and before becoming Isthmian League chairman, he held the roles of Dulwich Hamlet general secretary between 1975 to 1982, and then Isthmian League secretary until 2005. The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.'
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Isthmian League chairman honoured to receive Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award
By Phil Campbell, Sportsbeat Pitching In Isthmian League chairman Nick Robinson was thrilled and surprised in equal measure as he was honoured with the Non-League Paper Lifetime Achievement award at the National Game Awards in association with Isuzu. Robinson has had a long and storied career within non-league football, and before becoming Isthmian League chairman, he held the roles of Dulwich Hamlet general secretary between 1975 to 1982, and then Isthmian League secretary until 2005. The honour was kept secret from Robinson until the award ceremony and he expressed how humbled he was to be recognised by those who have also put many years of service into non-league football. 'I did not know anything until I heard, 'when your father was treasurer of a non-league club', that I thought, 'Oh hang on, that is me!',' he said. 'It is my 50th year in football this year, so it is amazing to receive such a recognition.' Amidst a career of dedicated service to non-league football, Robinson was quick to highlight what he believed was his biggest achievement during his time involved with the Isthmian League, which forms part of Step 3 & 4 of the National League System, alongside both the Northern Premier League and Southern League. 'It has been incredible to see the change in non-league football over those years,' he continued. 'In 1975, the Isthmian League had two divisions, now it has four divisions comprising of 88 clubs. 'We used to have elections to determine promotions, now it is all automatic, right from Step 6 up to Step 1. 'You win a league; you get a promotion. It does not depend on somebody liking you or not liking you. And I think that is the biggest achievement of all my 50 years. 'I am very proud of that. We have now got a perfect pyramid, and I am very proud that I have been a part of being able to put that in place.' The National Game Awards is a celebration of the non-league season - highlighting the community, fans, on-field, and off-field successes of the game outside of the English Football League. The ceremony is held each year by the Non-League Paper, the UK's number one selling football title and the best place for your non-league news, with this year's event held at Plough Lane - home of AFC Wimbledon And when asked whether he had any plans to step away from an active role within non-league football, Robinson was unequivocal in his response. 'No, no, no, absolutely not!' he said with a smile. 'I tried to see every club this year, and I think I failed by about three clubs, but I went to nearly 60 grounds. 'It is a commitment and sometimes you question it, but actually, I love it. 'You go along, you meet people, you shake hands with them, and you try and make a difference. 'It is all about talking to people and finding out what they want. It is not always achievable, but I will always try my best to help.'
The Guardian
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel's ‘no hunger in Gaza' narrative flies in face of obvious evidence
For many decades, Israel was proud of its officials' ability to defend and argue and convince around the world. The war in Gaza has seen the country's public diplomacy face its greatest test – as was made clear on Wednesday morning with a robust exchange between David Mencer, a spokesperson for the Israeli government, and Nick Robinson, a presenter of the BBC's flagship Today programme. Mencer stressed that he was speaking on behalf of the prime minister and made an uncompromising statement of Israel's arguments, including the accusation that Hamas – described as a 'genocidal death cult' – uses civilians as human shields. 'Israel faces a moral paradox right now. It's been created by Hamas. We have an opportunity to strike every military target, but when we do, we get condemned, you know, or we don't strike them, and we reward the use of human shields,' he told Robinson. But the core of the confrontation was Israel's blockade of Gaza. Here some listeners may have decided Mencer was involved in a deliberate attempt to obscure the reliably reported reality on the ground for political, ideological and strategic ends. Certainly, the key Israeli argument that there is 'no hunger in Gaza' is hard to sustain. The same goes for Mencer's accompanying claim that and there is food in Gaza, and that markets are open. It is true that there are some basics still available in the territory, even after 11 weeks of a total blockade by Israel, and that a few stalls and shops still offer some basics. But the vast majority of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip cannot afford to buy what they need to survive, and , if they could, stocks would suffice only for a tiny number. There is a limited amount of often spoiled flour, of which a standard 25kg sack costs hundreds of dollars, and of fresh food such as potatoes and tomatoes, a kilo of which costs between $10 and $15. There is no dairy and almost no meat. Free bakeries shut weeks ago for lack of fuel and flour, while community kitchens which once served 1m meals a day are closing fast. Almost all the main warehouses run by big international NGOs, such as the World Food Programme or Unrwa, are now empty. Many people are living on canned peas or dried beans, of which there is a finite supply. There are, however, thousands of tonnes of food, medicine, shelter, fuel and everything else necessary for survival ready to be sent into Gaza, but that can happen only when Israel opens the checkpoints it controls along its perimeter. It is true, as Mencer said, that a substantial amount of aid was brought in and stockpiled during the 10-week ceasefire that came into effect in mid-January, but this has all gone – and this influx did not offset the consequences of 19 months of war that has devastated agriculture, water supplies, sanitation systems and health services, leaving the population gravely weakened and vulnerable to disease. Essential medicines used to treat malnutrition are now being rationed, aid workers say, and medical supplies are running low. Then there is the obvious evidence of images of clearly malnourished people – often children. Mencer suggested that such cases may not be proof that thousands or tens of thousands of others are in the same dire condition, but a report on Monday from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a consortium of experts that has for decades advised the UN and governments, said that Palestinians living there faced 'a critical risk of famine'. The IPC, which has developed a five-level famine warning system, found that between 1 April and 10 May this year, 244,000 people in Gaza were in the most critical food security situation: level five, 'catastrophe/famine'. The IPC noted that there had been a 'major deterioration' in the food security situation in Gaza since its last assessment in October 2024. Mencer denied that Israel was using starvation as a deliberate strategy, asking why, if that was the case, would Israel have sent 'enough food aid to fill Wembley Stadium in London to the brim 80 times over' into Gaza during the conflict. But the aid allowed into Gaza through much of the 19-month conflict has been inadequate, unpredictable and subject to much-criticised bureaucratic procedures that blocked many shipments and slowed more. It was also hard to distribute given the widespread destruction and continuing violence. Almost 53,000 people have been killed since the Israeli offensive began. Sanitation systems, water supplies and health services are in ruins. Roads are choked with rubble, and bulldozers are systematically targeted by Israel, for example. Israeli officials argue that Hamas steals and sells aid to fund its military and other operations. Therefore, they say, the restriction of aid is necessary to defeat the militant Islamist organisation, which killed 1,200, mostly civilians, in its raid into Israel on 7 October 2023, and to secure the return of the 57 of the 251 hostages taken that day who are still held in Gaza. Instead, Israel has made its own plan to distribute aid from six major hubs in southern Gaza, which would be run by private contractors and defended by Israeli troops. Aid agencies say they have robust mechanisms to prevent leakage of aid, and that Hamas steals little, if any. They also say they believe the new Israeli scheme is impractical, inadequate, likely to be dangerous and is potentially unlawful as it wouyld displace hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, forcing them into ever smaller parts if the territory. Given this, they cannot agree to cooperate with it.
BBC News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Political Thinking with Nick Robinson comes to BBC Two as the series is extended
BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson will see its series run extended to 36 episodes, with the studio interviews airing on BBC Two regularly for the first time. The Political Thinking with Nick Robinson podcast, first established in 2017, will be broadcast in a regular lunchtime slot on BBC Two on Fridays during its run, as well as it being available on BBC iPlayer, and in its usual slot on BBC Radio 4. This a testament to the success of the podcast, most recently with former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which was his first broadcast interview since leaving No 10. The first episode of the next series is out on Friday 9 May. In the last series, guests on Political Thinking ranged from Kim Leadbeater, the backbencher piloting Assisted Dying legislation through the Commons; the Chancellor Rachel Reeves; the president of the CBI Rupert Soames; the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Mark Rowley to the chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor. Nick Robinson says: "Now more than ever there's a need to get beyond the soundbite and the shareable clip to understand what explains the views of those who shape our lives - their backgrounds, their stories, their values. I'm delighted the BBC has decided to extend my series of reflective conversations with those who influence our political thinking, now on TV as well as Radio 4 and BBC Sounds." Notes to Editors Episodes will air on BBC Two and be available on BBC Sounds and BBC iPlayer on Fridays. It will air on BBC Radio 4 on Saturdays. IA
New York Times
28-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
The title race you didn't know about: Recapping a ‘crazy' final day in English football
Saturday April 26, was the final day of the Isthmian Premier League season, the seventh tier of English football. Going into it, three teams were tied at the top on 84 points. One goal separated the top two on goal difference. Only one team could win the title and earn automatic promotion, leaving the other two to run the gauntlet of the play-offs. Advertisement If you want a healthy slice of jeopardy with your football, this was the place for you. With title races across Europe's elite struggling for excitement this season, the 24-team Pitching In Isthmian Premier League stands apart. A place in the National League South is at stake and the English Football League suddenly does not feel too far away. Billericay Town, based in Essex, headed into Saturday's final day as league leaders on 84 points with a +39 goal difference. They were followed by West Sussex's Horsham FC, who had a +38 goal difference; just ahead of Kent's Dartford FC with +31. Saturday. New Lodge. 3pm. Our season comes down to one title-deciding game.#BTFC 🔹 — Billericay Town FC (@BTFC) April 25, 2025 Nick Robinson, the league's chair, told The Athletic: 'This season has been fantastic. It is the closest we've had in all the divisions for many years. We used to have one or two clubs that were out in front. But now, this year in particular, we are really pleased. We've got Billericay, Horsham and Dartford who could all win the championship. It is really exciting. 'It is very rare to have it this close. We (the league's board) normally use April to plan our title presentations and choose the Saturdays to do it!' According to Robinson, the tight title race has seen attendance at the three teams' stadiums average around 1,600 people in the month of April, and tickets were sold out across the board for Saturday's finale, with all games kicking off at 3pm. Robinson said league staff went to Billericay's New Lodge stadium and, if results changed proceedings, were prepared to drive down to Dartford's Princes Park stadium to hand the league trophy and winners' medals to the right side. Horsham, however, is 71 miles away from Billericay so they would have to wait for their silverware. Advertisement Freddie Humphry-Wakefield, a Horsham fan who also does live commentaries for the club, said before kick-off against Hashtag United: 'I feel very nervous. It's been a very intense season, and this final day just makes it all the more crazy. So the overall feeling is nervousness and excitement. I think it will be crazy today.' So did Horsham, who had not been leaders of the division at any point this season, come out on top? It doesn't take long for the action to begin… 3.11pm – Dartford 0-1 Carshalton — Billericay champions 3.13pm – Billericay 0-1 Cheshunt — Horsham champions 3.13pm – Horsham 0-1 Hashtag United — Billericay champions 3.15pm – Horsham 1-1 Hashtag United — Horsham champions 3.16pm – Billericay 0-2 Cheshunt 3.30pm – Horsham 2-1 Hashtag United 3.44pm – Billericay 1-2 Cheshunt 3:47pm – Dartford 0-2 Carshalton Half-time: Horsham are champions. 4:12pm – Billericay 2-2 Cheshunt 4.18pm – Billericay 3-2 Cheshunt — Billericay champions 4:19pm – Horsham 3-1 Hashtag — Horsham and Billericay level on goal difference 4.30pm – Horsham 4-1 Hashtag — Horsham champions 4.32pm – Dartford 1-2 Carshalton 4.33pm – Horsham 5-1 Hashtag 4.47pm – Dartford 1- 3 Carshalton 4.58pm – Billericay 4-2 Cheshunt 5.03pm – Dartford 1-4 Carshalton Horsham's game finishes first. There are 12 minutes of stoppage time at Billericay and then… Horsham are champions! THE GREATEST DAY OF OUR LIVES!#HorshamFC #WeAreNationalLeague 💛💚 — Horsham F(C) (@HorshamFC) April 26, 2025 Billericay lose the title by just a single goal. They have to settle for second place, with Dartford in third. Both sides now having to quickly turn their attention to preparing for the play-offs next week, against Dover Athletic and Cray Valley Paper Mills as they look to secure their pathway to the National League next season. 'It is incredible, what a way to do it (win the league),' Horsham manager Dominic Di Paola said after the game.'On the final day with a shootout really. It was a great way to win the league. 'We knew that we would have to score at least four or five goals. We knew there was not really a margin for error today and we would have to keep attacking. The boys were magnificent today like they have been all season.' 'It has just proved not to be enough,' Billericay manager Gary McCann said after the full-time whistle. 'We have to tip our hats to Horsham. We didn't want to but you have to be gracious in defeat.' Fancy reliving the action of yesterday's manic game to confirm us as champions? Of course you do 😉 — Horsham F(C) (@HorshamFC) April 27, 2025 Humphry-Wakefield said that Horsham's title celebrations went late into the night. Players, coaching staff and fans all celebrated together on the pitch and in the club's bar after the game, singing, dancing and revelling in title glory. 'The celebrations were brilliant,' he said on Sunday morning. 'I think the coaching staff, players, and fans are still out! Incredible scenes. 'The game was an unbelievable six-goal thriller. Horsham could have scored 10 to be honest with you. A crazy, crazy game and almost as good as it gets for a title decider.'
