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BBC News
24-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Potter on Fullkrug's comments, fan frustration and returning to Brighton
West Ham boss Graham Potter has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game away against Brighton (15:00 BST).Here are the key lines from his news conference:Potter confirmed Edson Alvarez is still sidelined with a back injury but will "hopefully be back next week" while Aaron Wan-Bissaka "should be back". He confirmed that player availability otherwise is the same as against said he "understands the fans' frustrations" at recent results: "We're not playing how we want to play but to look at the bigger picture, it's not so straightforward to change things. You have to accept things and be up for the challenge. I want to support the players, who have been brilliant, and we'll fight together."More on his time in charge so far: "In the 40 or so games before I arrived, the team conceded a lot of goals. The fans are upset of course, and I'm the same, but at the same time we played well at Anfield and have been competitive in all the games."When asked about the Hammers' habit of conceding late goals, Potter said: "It's a number of factors. It's very complicated. When we came in, we were conceding early goals, and now it's late goals, but it's very tough for very different reasons."Potter was asked about Niclas Fullkrug's comments, external after last weekend's draw: "Sometimes you have to understand that after a game, everyone's emotional. It should be that way, but when you're a leader you have to accept the emotion and put things in perspective. Niclas wears his heart on his sleeve and he's entitled to his opinion. For me, it's better to have conversations in private. You have to be able to be honest and to think about the team as well."On Jean-Clair Todibo's difficult campaign: "Injuries play a part. I think he arrived late to pre-season as well. The team's been full of transition. The club invested a lot of money in the summer, but if you look at consistent minutes, it's not been easy. I've enjoyed working with him and he'll continue to get better."On returning to former club Brighton: "I have nothing but respect, love and gratitude for my time there. There were fantastic people, and I have great memories. Obviously I want to win, but I'll always look back fondly on my time there. They're not on a great run now, but that can happen because of various factors."Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news
BBC News
31-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Invictus Games: Eastleigh veteran 'elated' to compete
A former army serviceman who broke his neck and back in a bike accident four years ago has said he is "elated" to be competing in the Invictus Games. Rob Shenton, from Eastleigh in Hampshire, will complete in Nordic skiing and indoor rowing after successfully applying to the UK team on his fourth attempt. He spent 25 years in the army before being discharged on mental health grounds after suffering from recurrent depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The Invictus Games, a multi-sport competition for wounded or sick military personnel and veterans, begins on 8 February in Whistler, Canada. Mr Shenton is no stranger to athletic feats, having previous run the Marathon des Sables, the Everest Marathon and North Pole Marathon to raise funds for charity and he was also a Queens Commonwealth Baton Relay runner for first applied to be on Team UK for 2018 Invictus Games but was unsuccessful, as he was on two further attempts. Whilst Mr Shenton continued to train and apply to the Games, in August 2020 he was seriously injured in a bike accident, fracturing his skull and breaking six vertebrae. It took him about eight months to recover from his injuries - a process helped by his training as he continued to work towards a place in Team UK."My training improved the mobility I have in my back. It's given me that confidence in myself and in my abilities again," he said. Asked for his reaction when he found out he had made the squad for 2025, Mr Shenton said: "'Crikey - I've got to learn to Nordic ski', because I'd never done it in my life."But I was elated. My wife was probably more emotional than I was about it. "There were a lot of people contacting me to say I deserved it." 'I just wanted to push myself' Mr Shenton said he was attracted to Nordic skiing and rowing because of how difficult they were "I thought 'I'll give that a go'", he said "I just wanted to push myself that little bit further".While he completed a few days ski training in Norway in December, he has primarily been training on roller skis. "By the time I'm on the start line with 'United Kingdom' written on my back I've already won. But I'm going to aim for personal bests", he added the Invictus Games gave him and other competitors "purpose after life in the armed forces"."It's a chance for us to bond and to come together... but also for us to realise there's something beyond military service." Mr Shenton said it was a "shock" to leave the military when he was discharged, and his poor mental health after leaving the army impacted his ability to participate in sport: "You lose part of your identity when you take off that uniform."It has always been a part of my life, but once I was medically discharged it almost stopped. "Invictus gave me that purpose again."Asked what message he had for anyone attempting something similar who had experienced difficult circumstances, Mr Shenton said: "Keep going."It's always going to be difficult, you're always going to hit those dark places. Keep going, ask for support and be kind to yourself." You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
