Latest news with #NonsensePotteryTrophy
Metro
29-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Readers dispute Barton's claim that England Lionesses aren't 'worthy of equal pa
Do you agree with our readers? Have your say on these MetroTalk topics and more in the comments. Former Premier League footballer Joey Barton described the Lionesses' Euros trophy as the 'Nonsense Pottery Trophy' and said the women's game was 'miles off' being worthy of equal pay to the men's (Metro, Tue). People like him need to take their medicine and accept that the England ladies team have done twice what the men have only done once – won a major trophy. It is pointless to try to compare the men's and women's game in terms of merit as he does. They are different competitions with different individuals and histories. I remember when he was invited on to Question Time a while ago on the basis, I suppose, of him being some kind of intellectual but I think a lot of people saw through him very quickly for what he really stands for. Dec, Essex Joey who? The guy is irrelevant. Bob, Bristol Many congratulations and very well done to the England Lionesses and back-room complement who roared past the Spanish Cheetahs in the European Championship final. This, despite the efforts of the French referee, who had clearly missed her appointment at 'Le Specsavers'. You all deserve every accolade that's going. Now, if only our men's senior team could 'play like girls'… Ian D, Baildon, West Yorkshire Looking at the most recent football transfer updates in Metro, one is reminded that if results were a matter of money alone there are clubs (Premier League and elsewhere) who should have predictably swapped piggy banks for trophies and titles. So it goes with stats. This is what's so great about football. Look at the Euros – the Spanish national team are just dazzling and yet the Lionesses nonetheless celebrated extraordinary back-to-back successes at the final, this year and last time around. Congratulations! So proud of our team. And finally, an open-top bus was rightly coughed-up for. Gerard Hamilton, Barking At last some countries have woken up to the need to supply food to Gaza's starving and dying men, women and children. But still, airdrops? Is this a human way of supplying food to other human beings? Why not by road? Is this how one human should treat another human being? The way Israel is treating the Gazan people is worse than animals. I hope its government learns some humanity in their life. Pritam, London Reading the golfing story about Donald Trump's caddie appearing to move his ball to a more favourable position (Metro, Tue), brings to mind the golf sequence in the James Bond film Goldfinger. In it, the villain's own caddy, Oddjob, helps his boss out by dropping in a new ball after his is lost in the rough. Sean Connery's 007 gets his own back on the last hole by passing the wrong ball to Goldfinger, which later disqualifies him as he is found to be playing the wrong ball number. Michael, Slough While the concern expressed by Robert Hughes (MetroTalk, Mon) that Jeremy Corbyn's new party will split the Labour vote is understandable, it overlooks a crucial point. Under its current leadership, the Labour Party has demonstrably lurched to the Right. Many traditional Labour voters and those on the genuine Left now feel unrepresented by a party that no longer champions the socialist principles it once stood for. For a growing number of people, Labour has abandoned its core values, leaving a significant void in British politics for those who advocate for genuine social justice, wealth redistribution and an end to austerity. Therefore, the emergence of Corbyn's new party is not about splitting the Left but rather providing a much-needed political home for voters who feel abandoned. It offers a clear alternative for those who believe in a fairer, more equitable society and who can no longer find that vision within the current Labour Party. Far from being a spoiler, this new movement represents the vital re-energising of a truly left-wing voice in our political landscape. Brian Dooley, The Wirral In response to The Poll Position about how 12 per cent of people earning over £100,000 a year feel trapped by their financial outgoings (Metro, Mon). If you earn more than £100,000 and are having problems with your finances maybe you should just budget properly, cut back on non-essential services and get rid of some of the luxuries you have come to see as essentials to your lifestyle. There are people working two jobs just so they can afford to keep a roof over their head and food on their table. More Trending If you earn over £100,000 any money problems you have are down to your own poor decisions. Marc (30k A Year), Newcastle n I enjoy reading your lists of famous people's birthdays and am often surprised at how old (or how young) they are. Wouldn't it be more fun, though, if you listed the celebs' names on one page but put their ages somewhere else in the paper so that we could guestimate, then find out how well we did? Incidentally, I share my birthday, January 8, with Elvis, David Bowie and Dame Shirley Bassey, which surely makes it the most musical birthday in the calendar – or does anyone want to dispute that? William Buckley, Reading MORE: Trump attempts Sean Connery impersonation after opening new golf course MORE: 'I am a Lioness super fan, and I'm getting tattoos of seven players on my calf' MORE: Rugby star, 27, killed alongside property developer father in London stabbing
Graziadaily
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Graziadaily
Joey Barton Called The Women's Euros A 'Nonsense Pottery Trophy' But His Opinion Is Irrelevant
After five nail-biting matches, one of which saw England beat Sweden on penalties, the Lionesses made their way to the Euros 2025 final against Spain and won for the second time in a row. It goes without saying that most England teams are not prone to victory – except this one. Aside from lifting the coveted trophy and altering the trajectory of women's football, this team consistently inspires the whole country. Well, the whole country bar a few bitter apples still hellbent on undermining the Lioness's achievements, mocking their talents and embarrassing themselves. Enter Joey Barton. After complaining he had been 'overlooked' for punditry gigs because he is a man – not, as is more likely, for his lack of valuable football analysis – the former Manchester City player and ex-Bristol Rovers manager has landed himself in the headlines for calling the Women's Euros a 'Nonsense Pottery Trophy'. Chloe Kelly of England celebrates with teammates following the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the UEFA Women's EURO 2025 Final match between England and Spain at St. Jakob-Park on July 27, 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. (Photo by) He posted on X after the final to write, 'Don't ever ask for equal pay again. Youse are miles off it.' Barton seems unable to distinguish the concept of closing the (inconceivably huge) gender pay gap from asking for 'equal pay'. The average Premier League player earns £67,000 per week, with some earning significantly more, while Lioness captain Leah Williamson is thought to earn £150,000 per year playing for Arsenal. Despite women's matches increasingly filling out stadiums, drawing international attention, and in England's case, taking home more trophies than the men's team, it's still inadequately underfunded on every level. As things stand, top female players like Williamson would have to work for 23 years to earn what the average male player makes in a year. Female footballers are indeed 'miles off' pay parity, but not for the reasons Barton suggests. In another rant, he then exposed how little he has been paying attention to the events of the tournament or the players in the Lioness team, despite claiming to be an expert. Barton tweeted that he could score '1000/1000 penalties against Mary Earps' (who is no longer the England goalkeeper, Hannah Hampton is), not with his foot, but with his 'd**k'. He then added a zinger that must have been lifted from a post-war comic book, telling the players to 'stick to knitting'. This isn't the first time Barton, whose career as a manager and pundit has been on a steady decline for years, has taken a swipe at women's football. In 2023, he claimed 'women are not qualified' to talk about men's football' and have 'no authority on the subject'. It's curious to understand by that logic why he feels he has the authority to talk about women's football. 'I'm bothered about the female footballers who aren't good enough players to comment on the male players because they don't understand the game,' he continued on X. 'They are taking men's jobs that our good enough [sic]. They are taking their opportunities. Taking food out of their families' mouths. When those men have done the hard yards.' If the room you're in has just filled with fog, it's probably the stench of Barton's bitterness. Sadly, he joins a rank of men who feel ownership over the game and refuse to recognise or accept that women have been watching, playing and commenting on the sport since it began. Luckily Alex Scott and Jill Scott, who ran the coverage of the Euros final, along with Gabby Logan and Jeanette Kwakye, are all proven professionals in their fields and do not need an endorsement from someone who has been fired from multiple jobs in football, a history of making sexist and racist remarks and a criminal record. While the virality of Barton's comments exposes that these misogynistic, regressive opinions still exist, the overwhelming condemnation of said comments show that Barton is part of a woeful minority – one that is slowly losing its influence. As his career illustrates, no one is entitled to be a leading voice on football just because they once played the game professionally, nor because they are a man. As Barton taps away on his keyboard posting sexist vitriol on X, the Lionesses are preparing to fly home from Switzerland ready to parade the Euros trophy through central London to an army of fans old and new. It's safe to say they've had the last laugh. Chloe Kelly and Michelle Agyemang celebrate with the UEFA Women's EURO trophy. (Photo by) Nikki Peach is a writer at Grazia UK, working across entertainment, TV and news. She has also written for the i, i-D and the New Statesman Media Group and covers all things pop culture for Grazia (treating high and lowbrow with equal respect).
Metro
28-07-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Joey Barton branded 'bitter and twisted' after England's Euro 2025 win
Football fans were quick to hit back at Joey Barton after he – predictably – made several vile comments about England's Euro 2025 triumph. The Lionesses were crowned back-to-back European champions on Sunday after defeating world champions Spain in Basel. The match finished 1-1 after extra-time before England prevailed 3-1 in the penalty shootout thanks to the heroics of Chloe Kelly and Hannah Hampton. The nation rejoiced as Leah Williamson and her team lifted the trophy, with this English football's third major tournament victory and the first on foreign soil. Not everyone was pleased however, with former footballer Barton, a controversial and outspoken figure both during and after his playing career, voicing his displeasure. 'Well done to the Lioness winning the Nonsense Pottery Trophy,' the ex-Manchester City star posted on Twitter, just minutes after Kelly's scored the winning spot-kick. 'Those penalties were borderline embarrassing again. Well done to the Lioness winning the Nonsense Pottery penalties were borderline embarrassing ever ask for equal pay are miles off it.🐕💨 — Joey Barton (@Joey7Barton) July 27, 2025 'Don't ever ask for equal pay again. Youse are miles off it.' The 42-year-old, who earlier this year was found guilty of assaulting his wife at their family home, had previously taken aim at Sir Keir Starmer. He bluntly replied 'do one' to the Prime Minister's tweet that wished the Lionesses well ahead of the final. This is the latest in a long line of vile remarks Barton, whose England career lasted just 12 minutes, has made about the women's game. In January 2024, he referred to former players turned pundits Eni Aluko and Lucy Ward as 'the Fred and Rose West of football commentary'. Fans have clearly had enough of Barton's comments, with one replying to his post: 'Imagine being this triggered, bitter and twisted because women achieved something you could only dream of.' 'Sad man can't accept women have done something the men have never achieved. Speaks volumes,' another said. 'Grow up,' was one reply, with another saying: 'Mental how you've been to court more times than you've been to Wembley during your playing career.' 'They've literally won the Euros more than you've played games for England,' read one comment, while another simply asked: 'Who are you?' Unfortunately, Barton's tirade continued on Monday morning as he replied to one fan who had posted a video of him skying a penalty during his Man City days, with the caption: 'Maybe Chloe Kelly could teach him how to take one.' More Trending 'Go and watch the 4-4 Arsenal game ya dope,' his lewd reply began. 'Full size goalies. I would score 1000/1000 against Mary Earps taking each pen with my d**k. 'And 2000/2000 against the midget they had in net last night. Stick to knitting.' Again fans ridiculed 'rattled' Barton with many pointing out the obvious: 'Talking about full size goalies yet couldn't hit the target?' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: 7 films celebrating women in sport after the Lionesses win Euro 2025 MORE: 'If that's not a sign…' – Ella Toone shares poignant tribute to 'angel' dad after Euro 2025 win MORE: Emmerdale celebrates the Lionesses' Euros victory with last minute special scene
