Latest news with #SoccerAidforUNICEF2025
Daily Mirror
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Sam Thompson loving new role as he coaches ex Zara's new man Louis Tomlinson
The pair - who have both dated the same reality star - will be on the England team at Soccer Aid at Old Trafford tomorrow Sam Thompson is relishing his new role as Soccer Aid coach and bossing the team around after he was forced to pull out of playing in the charity match. The I'm A Celebrity favourite helped raise over £1million by completing a gruelling 261-mile five-day challenge for Unicef but injured his calf in the process. It means he'll be on the sidelines for tomorrow's game. 'I'll putting my two pence in,' vowed Sam. 'I might be shouting 'I think we might need to change it to a 4-2-3-1.' But we'll have to wait and see. If Tom Grennan 's looking a little bit leggy, I might have to hook him off. Obviously that will have to go via Tyson Fury. I'm quite small, he's quite tall, so getting into his ear is gonna be a bit tough, but I'm gonna give it a go. I might get power drunk and then just be like, 'Tyson, take a back seat.' And he's gonna be like, 'Sam, sit down.'' Sam was told he could no longer play in the match after being assessed by a medic. He was lined up to play for England - alongside Louis Tomlinson. All eyes have been on the pair and their awkward interactions after Louis started dating Sam's ex Zara McDermott. Sam has insisted there are "no hard feelings" between the guys. Sam, 32, and former Love Islander Zara, 28, called time on their five-year relationship shortly before Christmas. Zara is said to have moved on with One Direction singer Louis, 33, in March. Ahead of the charity match, Sam took part in a gruelling challenge, running and cycling 260 miles, delivering the match ball from Stamford Bridge to Old Trafford. His journey was documented for ITV One's Sam Thompson's Match Ball Mission for Soccer Aid. Sam said his challenge has changed his outlook on life, likening it to therapy and say it's made him more grateful for everything he's got. 'It's the most important thing I've done in my 32 years of life," he said. "Getting to go to Guatemala, getting to see what UNICEF do on the ground, it's just life changing. The past four months have been a whirlwind. There's so much that's happened in that space of time. While their lives have remained the exact same. 'I left a lot out on that road. I remember at the end of Thursday, I went silent for an hour and a half on the bike. And that's weird for me. I was really struggling. I just cried on the bike as I was cycling. You really realise why we were all there and what we were doing. It's the quietest I've ever been.' Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 will take place tomorrow at Old Trafford, Manchester and will be shown live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Donate to UNICEF ahead of the match at This year, thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, every donation you make to Soccer Aid for UNICEF will be doubled – up to £5 million.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
The unusual way Soccer Aid stars are bonding ahead of charity match
Celebrities and football legends join forces to raise vital funds for UNICEF with Old Trafford game The Soccer Aid camp have been bonding over late night karaoke sessions. Celebrities including singer Tom Grennan, presenter Big Zuu and footballer Robbie Keane were on the mic until 11pm belting out hits as they got stuck into training at Champneys Tring. Tom, 30, revealed: 'We've been singing all night." 'There were a few dancing queens last night,' chuckled Lioness Steph Houghton, 37. 'There was a bit of ABBA, everyone was having a great time.' Big Zuu, 29, said he got in on the action. 'I sang Senorita by Justin Timberlake,' he told. 'As soon as Robbie says it's time to sing, you're ready. Get a vocal ready. He is the life and soul of soccer. It really broke the ice on the first night.' Coach Harry Redknapp, 78, said he left the team to it - and didn't bother imposing any strict curfew as he said they wouldn't listen to him. 'They definitely won't listen to me,' he laughed. 'I just go to bed and ignore it all the let them get on with it. And hope for the best in the morning. Everyone gets a bit excited.' Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 sees England taking on the Soccer Aid World XI FC in the world's biggest celebrity football match. Stars taking part include One Direction star Louis Tomlinson, explorer Bear Grylls, Strictly Come Dancing star Gorka Marquez and Gladiators favourite Diamond. Denise Lewis says she's been pushed out of her comfort zone in her first year taking part in Soccer Aid. The retired Olympics athletics star says she's gained a newfound love for football and has even joined a local team. 'I'm representing the 52 year old women right now,' Denise says proudly. 'I'm a debutant and I've been retired for 100 years so this is all new territory for me. I'm trying to champion the mindset of trying something new, go out your comfort zone, do something different, and have fun with it.' Having joined Penn & Tylers Green Football Club in the lead up to tomorrow, Denise said she's taken to the sport. 'I wasn't that girl who had the opportunity to play football in school,' she explained. 'It just didn't happen. And so I've only started kicking a ball, even with my boys, just the odd kick. I'm fit for purpose. It's nothing like when I was an elite athlete, but I definitely think I've been more mindful about why I exercise now in the last five years.' This year, thanks to the Children's Investment Fund Foundation, every donation you make to Soccer Aid for UNICEF will be doubled – up to £5 million. It will take place tomorrow at Old Trafford, Manchester and will be shown live exclusively on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Donate to UNICEF ahead of the match at
The Herald Scotland
01-05-2025
- Health
- The Herald Scotland
Aaron Lennon: Still work to be done on mental health support in football
In May 2017, while he was at Everton, Lennon was detained under the Mental Health Act over concerns for his welfare. He was taken to hospital for assessment, going on to receive care and treatment for a stress-related illness. Lennon, who will be making his debut for England at Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 on June 15 at Old Trafford, continues to talk openly about his own experiences and encourages others to seek help if ever needed. 'If I didn't get sectioned, I probably wouldn't be here…' 💔@AaronLennon12 bravely opens up about his personal battle with mental health. — The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) October 28, 2024 'There is still a little bit of a stigma around it, but there is definitely more help,' Lennon told the PA news agency. 'People are more open – and it is not just football players, a lot more celebrities are speaking openly about it. 'But there is still work to be done. There needs to be more support for players, especially the younger lads, but there is definitely an improvement. 'Mental health affects everyone, and players are no different. There is so much pressure, they are in this spotlight and some of them don't know who to turn to. 'It is still there, and you still see a lot of people who are suffering in silence. They don't want to speak out. Aaron Lennon played for England at the World Cup in both 2006 and 2010 (Nick Potts/PA) 'There is a little bit of a stigma around it, and these people coming out with comments about 'man up' or 'you shouldn't worry about that'… but until you actually go through it, then you can never put yourself in somebody's shoes. So there is a lot to be done, but it is improving.' Lennon, who was capped 21 times by England, knows from his own experiences that mental health struggles can impact anyone – no matter their status. 'Obviously people just think that 'oh, if you are paid well, then all your problems go away'. It doesn't work like that,' he said. 'Everyone from the outside would never think anything could be wrong with you, because they are just looking at financial and material stuff, whereas mental health issues are all internal stuff, you have to look within. 'It doesn't pick and choose. It can affect anybody and if it doesn't affect you, normally will affect somebody close to you. Sometimes it is just having that first conversation which can change everything. 'It is OK to not feel OK all the time. It is really normal. Once you can start to accept that, then you will start to see that massive improvement.' Lennon is relishing the prospect of pulling on his boots again to take part in Soccer Aid. 'I have heard so many good things about it. Everyone I spoke to always said this is the one you want to play in,' Lennon said. 'It is a great laugh, but then once the game starts, it is really serious. The lads want to win, the celebrities want to win, so I can't wait.' :: Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on June 15 at Old Trafford. Adult tickets start from £20 and juniors from £10. See
Irish Independent
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
‘The boy is very, very talented' – Peter Schmeichel backs Rasmus Hojlund to overcome confidence issues at Man United
The Red Devils went for potential over a proven asset when signing the highly-rated Denmark striker from Atalanta in July 2023 in a £64million deal that could reach £72million with add-ons. Hojlund showed promising flashes during his first season but has stuttered this term, with the 22-year-old scoring just once in his last 28 club appearances in all competitions. Schmeichel knows the pressures that come with playing for United as well as anyone and has helped support his compatriot since moving to Old Trafford, where he is certain Hojlund will prove his worth. 'The boy is very, very talented,' the former goalkeeper said ahead of United's Premier League trip to Bournemouth on Sunday. 'He's like every other player in that squad – of course short of confidence. Everyone. This is the big thing. Once you don't win games, the confidence levels drop so it's been a tough one. 'I mean, he will come through it. He's so strong mentally. He will come through it. He's got really, really good support from his family as well and I know what he can do. 'Hopefully there's a bit of success left in this team, and you bring that into your break, you come back in a different frame of mind, new season. 'I'm convinced that he's still a very, very valuable player for Manchester United.' It was always a big ask to throw Hojlund in and hope he flourished, with the weight of expectation compounded by the paucity of other striking options and goal output from team-mates. Schmeichel says it is wrong to pin it all on one player and hopes United's poor campaign can be salvaged by Europa League glory. 'He's a number nine,' he said. 'Number nines need service. It's not always been the case in this team. I'm convinced that he's still a very, very valuable player for Manchester United Peter Schmeichel on Rasmus Hojlund 'The service has not been great, but it's been everyone so just singling out a player I think is wrong. Football is a team game, and you win and lose as a team. I know it's cliches and all that, but that is the truth. 'When you have an off day – which when playing for Man United you shouldn't really have too many of them – the rest of the team should be in such confident mood that they will carry you through. 'But this is not happening for anyone in this squad, and it's just one of them. There's too many things, too many changes in a short period of time. 'The good thing is that we still have the Europa League, so we can still dream about Champions League and if that happens it's all going to change in the summer, and this is where we pin our hopes now.' Schmeichel has been a regular this season at Old Trafford, where he will be returning in a coaching capacity at Soccer Aid for UNICEF 2025 on June 15. 'It's always great to be there,' he said of United's home. 'It's always great to see people that you've known for so many years. That place is a special place to me. There's no doubt about it. 'Soccer Aid is really important and I like the whole concept of what UNICEF is doing, so I am really looking forward to it.' :: Soccer Aid for UNICEF takes place on June 15 at Old Trafford. Adult tickets start from £20 and juniors from £10. See
