Latest news with #PhilJones
South China Morning Post
a day ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Footballers visiting Hong Kong is vital for local kids: Manchester United legend
Cristiano Ronaldo is not the only Manchester United legend visiting Hong Kong this week. Peter Schmeichel is, too, for a JC Youth Football Academy Summit that the Danish former goalkeeper predicted would leave a lasting impression locally. Organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, the summit saw young Hong Kong sides and local children engaging with the Manchester United academy, Schmeichel and former United defender Phil Jones. United's academy drew 3-3 with a local Premier Youth League Select on Friday before winning a penalty shoot-out, then beat Hong Kong's under-16 national team 7-1 on Sunday and hosted a training session for the city's young football fans on Monday. 'I think any experience that any children have with players who are professionals, or the young lads from Manchester, is great,' said Schmeichel, a five-time Premier League title winner with United. 'At the end of the day, this is what football is all about. The important thing is to play and to have fun, and it's interesting. Peter Schmeichel (right) helped United win the Champions League in 1999. Photo: AP 'If you look over to the parents, they've been told not to use their mobile phones. They've been told to watch, actually watch what the kids are doing, and not take photographs.
South China Morning Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong youngsters pay the penalty as Manchester United counterparts finish strongly
Manchester United's U16 academy team needed two penalties – both awarded in 10 minutes of added time at the end of the second half – to salvage a 3-3 draw on Friday against a team made up of Hong Kong's hottest prospects. Advertisement Manchester United's academy faced the Hong Kong Premier Youth League Select at Mong Kok Stadium, as part of the JC Youth Football Academy Summit, organised by the Hong Kong Jockey Club. The match started at blistering speed, with United converting a penalty in the fourth minute, before Hong Kong's Jack Bennie seized on an error from goalkeeper Jake Darlington to equalise five minutes later. Hong Kong's Cai McGunnigle then added two more before half-time. Manchester United legend Phil Jones did a lap of honour before the match. Photo: Edmond So Both halves ended with a staggering 10 minutes of added time, with United winning and converting two penalties at the end of the second half.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong heat, dragon boats add to Manchester United youngsters' learning curve
Manchester United's potential stars of tomorrow will broaden their horizons during their visit to Hong Kong this week, according to coach and former player Phil Jones. The club's under-16s are in the city for the Jockey Club Youth Football Academy Summit, and trained alongside Hong Kong counterparts under blistering skies in Tseung Kwan O on Wednesday ahead of matches at Mong Kok Stadium on Friday and Sunday. English Premier League winner Jones, who has begun coaching after injury forced his premature retirement two years ago, led parts of the session. 'Coming to places like this, training in the heat and experiencing a different culture, climate and pitches, will add so much to our players' development,' Jones said. 'It's part of understanding what it's like to be a footballer, and will hopefully help them have successful careers.' Along with equipping young prospects for on-field battles, Jones said it was imperative that United managed players' personal growth. In reality, a number of the 24-player touring party will either forge careers away from the three-time European champions or drift out of the game altogether. Phil Jones was once tipped to become Manchester United's 'best-ever player'. Photo: Jonathan Wong 'Being a good human being is more important than being a good footballer,' Jones said. 'It's great to have both, but if you're not a good person, it's pretty difficult to make it in football.'
CBS News
09-08-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Officials warn Solano County trail "dangerous" in summer after weekly rescues, heat-related death
Solano County first responders are putting out a public service announcement, warning people not to hike a popular trail in Winters in the summertime heat. Stebbins Cold Canyon Reserve's trails have a clear draw: the sparkling views from atop Lake Berryessa. The Vacaville Fire Protection District is putting out a warning to avoid this hike altogether if you are not an experienced hiker, and even still, consider hiking at a cooler time of the year. At the Cold Canyon trailhead, hikers have to walk right past a large orange sign that reads "heat kills." "Everything over 85 degrees, they suggest not to get on this trail," said District Chief Phil Jones with VFPD. Last week, seven hikers were rescued by helicopter when they all started to suffer from heat illness halfway through the five-mile hike. "And that was all from heat. They were on top of the hill. They weren't prepared. They just got stuck. They got in a bad situation," said Jones. It's posted on the trailhead sign that anyone hiking the trail needs to bring a gallon of water with them to stay safe. Especially with the triple-digit temperatures forecasted through the weekend, the warning is dire. "We're starting to get calls almost every week to pull people off the hill for dehydration and heat-related illnesses," said Jones. The uphill, 1,300-foot elevation gain is unforgiving. "So it's a lot easier coming down, but it's still treacherous, it's little trails. It's not a nice walking road with handles," said Jones. Friday, a CHP search and rescue helicopter was conducting a rescue drill while CBS13 was shooting this story. Though crews are ready, they hope people heed their warning and stay off the trail. "This is not a casual hike. This is an extreme and dangerous hike," said Jones. One of the reasons this hike is so challenging is that there is so little shade. Only a few trees provide any cover at all, and they are right at the start of the trailhead. At the top of the hill, when most people start to struggle halfway through the five-mile loop, there's only blazing sun to welcome you. "A few years ago, this area was impacted by the LNU complex fire that burned through this entire area, so most of the vegetation is burnt out," said Jones. One hiker has already died in May of this year and one died last year, both heat-related deaths after a trail-top rescue. Officials are asking people to avoid this trail altogether until the temperature dips back down into the 70s and low 80s. If you still plan to hike the Cold Canyon and Blue Ridge trails, the advice is this:
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blackburn Rovers favourite delivers transfer ultimatum to achieve play-off hopes
Phil Jones believes Blackburn Rovers will struggle to make the play-offs next season without impressive recruitment. A top-six finish is the obvious next step for Valerien Ismael's side having fallen just short in 2024/25. That has been the case in three of Rovers' last four league campaigns. However, with the renewal of the Championship likely to be as competitive as ever, Rovers face a tall order to reach the play-offs without significant investment in the squad. Adding more goals to the team is an obvious area to improve the team whilst adding pace in wide areas is another priority. READ MORE: ROVERS REGISTER INTEREST IN WANTED CHAMPIONSHIP DEFENDER Jones has his doubts about Rovers' prospects without significantly adding to their squad. "Yeah, it would be tough (to get promoted next year)," Jones told OLBG. 'I think they do need to bring one or two in, I was just looking before the retained list and the lads who have gone and stuff, I think they're going to need to strengthen that area for sure. "I think it'd be difficult for them to get playoffs next year. They're going to have to recruit well. 'I'm not sure what the transfer budget will be either, but it'd be nice to see them competing for sure." Jones spent time at Brockhall earlier in the campaign under John Eustace. It's little surprise he therefore came away thinking his exit was anything but a huge blow to his boyhood club. The Academy graduate's perception that they were overachieving feeds into his view on how next season might look. 'I think they were overachieving a little bit during the middle of the season. I thought they did a fantastic job under John Eustace. I thought he was brilliant. 'I went in to see John at Blackburn and watched him train for a couple of days and you could see the culture he'd created there was a good one. Then obviously he left to go to Derby. 'He's kept them in the league (Derby), which is a great achievement for them, pleased for them. Blackburn didn't win in eight games, nine games and I think it absolutely killed them. 'Obviously, Ismael had a tough start; he only won two out of his first eight games or something like that, but I think it'd be too early to call that one. 'I mean he's only been in the job short of six months, so let's see how they get on next season." Jones still speaks with great pride about his time at Rovers. He remains a fan and has been down to the Senior Training Centre since retiring. It was the perfect start to a career path that he would not change, having also turned out for England's biggest club. 'I look back and I think I went for £16 million plus add-ons, and that was 2011," he said. 'In this day and age, if I were to move from Blackburn again to Man United, you'd be looking at £40-50M for sure. 'I mean, I'm not trying to bump my price up and add a few noughts on the end, but I think coming from Blackburn, I would have definitely thought at least £40 million 'It's a club that I grew up supporting when I was a little boy and played for. So many fond members down at Blackburn "I grew up supporting Blackburn, so to play for Blackburn was an incredible achievement for me. 'I remember being on the terraces watching from the stand all those years, and then I'm playing there, which was amazing. 'Then playing for Man United, whilst I would have liked to have played more, there's not really another club I would have liked to have played for. 'Obviously you look at Real Madrid, everyone wants to play for Real Madrid, look at Trent going there now (and I don't blame him by the way). 'I don't think I'd go to any club that I look back and think, we should have gone there or we should have gone here." Should Tyrhys Dolan leave, one man who could be central to Rovers' efforts is Todd Cantwell. The former Norwich City and Rangers man had a up and down debut season at Ewood Park. Jones feels he is someone Rovers must look to retain due to his 'big-game experience' but also wants to see more consistency from Cantwell. 'Yeah, I think he's done all right," he added. 'I think he's scored a few goals, got a few assists, but again, I think he was out injured towards the end of the season. 'I think he struggled for continuity, but again, he's a player that I think was on the retained list. 'They need to keep hold of him because again, he's somebody who can score goals. He's played at that level before, and he's been to Rangers, he's played in big games. 'He's a big game player, he's a type of player and character that you want to play in big games because he's not frightened of taking the ball under pressure or in difficult circumstances'.
