Latest news with #TheBackPage
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'Not happy': Fans react amid sad news around Tony Squires and Candice Warner
Fans are expressing their sadness after it was revealed on Saturday that long-running sports program 'The Back Page' has been axed after 29 years. Tony Squires, who has hosted the show on Fox Sports for the last 12 years, confirmed the sad news but admitted he wasn't surprised. The sport talk-show has been running since 1997, but will wrap up for good after three more episodes. 'Ironically, I wrote a story in 2021 saying television shows don't usually last 25 years,' Squires told . 'They're like animals on the Savannah - very few of them die of old age. 'There's always something young and exciting with big nasty teeth, coming to get them. Well, The Back Page is now 29 years old, I've been hosting it for almost 13 years ... and we've been got. To be honest, it wasn't a shock.' The late, great Mike Gibson was the show's first host back in 1997, and held the role up until 2012. Peter FitzSimons, Billy Birmingham, Tracey Holmes and Jeff Wells were the panellists when it first began, and in recent times it regularly featured journalist Robert Craddock, ironwoman Candice Warner, NRL legend Greg Alexander and AFL great Brad Johnson. Warner, the wife of Aussie cricket great David, became a weekly panellist in 2022 and used the show as a launching pad for her burgeoning media career. Former AFL player-turned-radio host Ryan Fitzgerald was also a regular panellist, as were Socceroos legends Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich. 'It's been a privilege to host a show once run by the legendary Mike Gibson,' said Squires, who's expected to stay on with Fox Sports in another role. 'But most of all it's been fun - like sitting at the pub with your mates pretending to know a shitload about sport. 'I'm going to miss it. Not because it was a job, but because it was my social life. I got to hang out with Kelli Underwood, Ryan Fitzgerald, Kerry O'Keeffe, Candice Warner, Brad Johnson, Ben Dixon and Robert Craddock - the most enthusiastic man on the planet. 'We've interviewed hundreds of sporting superstars over the years. From Rod Laver to Gout Gout – a 17-year-old kid who lit up the screen on his first live TV interview show just a few weeks ago.' Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley said the decision to cut 'The Back Page' is not a cost-cutting move, denying it has anything to do with Foxtel's new owners DAZN. 'At Fox Sports we have introduced a number of new shows in recent times and we have more in final planning,' he said. 'The Back Page has been entertaining audiences for nearly three decades; there are very few shows that can claim that. 'Entertainment programming is a tough business in that it's like life itself, how everything has a lifespan. Even the great shows like 'Hey Hey It's Saturday' and 'The Back Page'. In a big country with different codes of football and unique tastes, it's extremely rare for a sports show to survive, let alone for almost 30 years.' RELATED: Fresh blow for Panthers as four-time premiership winner retires Tennis world blasts 'classless' act after French Open women's final Crawley commended Squires and the team that made the show so successful. 'Host Tony Squires, panellists Crash (Craddock) and Fitzy, Candice Warner and Kelli Underwood and producer Matt Parslow have put in so much hard work,' he said. 'We'll celebrate Back Page over the final three weekly episodes.' Fans of the show took to social media on Saturday to express their sadness at hearing it's been axed. "Not happy at all about this decision," one person wrote. Another commented: "Great show. Looked forward to it every Tuesday. Can't believe it is ending." The Back Page Australia's longest-running television sports show is closing down after 29 years. Only 3 more episodes to go.I liked it best when Gibbo was host & Billy Birmingham, Peter 'Chippy' Frilingos, Mike Coleman & David Hookes used to chew the sporting fat. Crash ok too. — OBBY (@OBBY001) June 7, 2025
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Changing Newcastle United's crest is 'changing history', say fans
Newcastle United fans have said they do not support plans to change the club's crest because the current design "represents its history".The club said it was consulting with fans on a new emblem because the current design was too intricate to reproduce Daniel Mulligan said: "I know other clubs have done it but [the crest] represents the history of the club and changing it is something I wouldn't support."But while some fans are disappointed, others say the change is needed to "move with the times". Newcastle United season ticket holders and club members have been given the chance to voice their opinion on the new badge and will be given a choice of options during the second stage of the a number of fans do not want the crest to change at all."The owners have done great things for the club but if they are asking for the opinions of the fans, I think they should stick with the current emblem," Mr Mulligan said. Chris Tate, the manager of sport memorabilia shop The Back Page, said Newcastle has "one of the best emblems in the world"."The design captures the history of the city," he said. "We've got the black-and-white stripes and it's instantly recognisable. I really don't know how you can improve on it."He said while the crest was not on everything the shop sold, any change to the emblem would have an impact on the said the current design was a "wonderful crest" and he would be "disappointed" if the club changed it. Fellow supporter Rachel Riley said altering the badge would be "changing history". "I don't think it's something we should be doing," she said."It will be far too difficult to rebrand Newcastle. You see people with their tops off on sunny days and they've got the tattoo on their arm. "You can't change that - it is part of the culture here." Matty Nicholls has a number of Newcastle United tattoos and even shaved a Greggs sausage roll into his head before the Carabao Cup final to BBC Radio Newcastle, he said the plan to change the crest was not "much of a surprise"."A lot of teams over recent years have been changing badges, so I guess it's just moving with the times," he said."I am sure there will be many fans up and down the country with different opinions but it is going to be hard - you can't please everybody."But he said he would be happy with the new design as long as it represented Newcastle United and its supporters around the having the current emblem permanently inked on his skin, he is not upset by the prospect of a change in the official logo."I've got a little bit more space, so I guess I'll have to use it on the new badge." Follow BBC Newcastle on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Aussie F1 legend Alan Jones backs Piastri to win title, labels Norris ‘a weak person'
The last Australian to win a Formula One world championship has backed Oscar Piastri to win the title as soon as this year, labelling his McLaren teammate Lando Norris mentally 'weak'. Piastri is the first Aussie to be on top of the F1 standings since his manager Mark Webber in 2010 after his win in Saudia Arabia — Piastri's third win in four races. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during racing. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The 23-year-old has shed any notion of being a No. 2 driver to Norris and has emerged as a serious contender to win the F1 world title this season. Alan Jones won the F1 world championship back in 1980 and he remains the last Aussie to reach the pinnacle of the sport. Jones is tipping Piastri to make a serious charge for this year's title, declaring the Melburnian has the temperament to challenge Norris and Max Verstappen. 'He is without a doubt a future world champion,' Jones told The Back Page on Fox Sports. 'He's come out of almost nowhere and he's got all the attributes that you need to be a world champion. 'Like any Aussie, it's been fantastic. If you can tune into any sporting event and there's an Aussie who's a frontrunner or has a chance at achieving victory, it just makes it that much more interesting for you.' Norris had been seen as the championship favourite heading into the season, but the Brit has faltered at key moments in qualifying and races as his early championship lead evaporated. Norris' habit of negative self-talk reared its head when he was particularly scathing of his own performance following a poor outing in qualifying in Bahrain. 'Just I've been off it all weekend,' Norris said, per the BBC. 'I don't know why. Just clueless on track at the minute. I don't know. I just need a big reset.' Norris being down on himself when he makes mistakes may well play into Piastri's hands as the season goes on, according to Jones. 'The first person you've got to beat is your teammate,' Jones told The Back Page, in comments you can watch in the video above 'He (Piastri) can do it (win the F1 title) this year, no question. At the end of the day, his teammate is weak. 'His teammate is quite quick, there's no doubt about that. But mentally, I think he's quite a weak person. He's coming out with all this nonsense that he's got a bit of a mental thing, he's dwelling on some of the problems he's had rather than the positives. 'When they start talking all that nonsense, you know you've got them.' Piastri's unflappable nature has been evident since his F1 debut, with his calmness coming across over team radio. 'Oscar is a pretty strong minded young kid. I love him,' Jones gushed. 'He doesn't show off, he doesn't dance all over the place. He's just a strong individual and that's exactly what we need to get the job done. 'He's got an old head on young shoulders. He's very, very mature. He's very laid back. He's not easily ruffled, whereas I think his teammate is a little bit the opposite way. 'I think the teammate could be blown out quite easily and I think Oscar will take advantage of that. He's got the brains and the strength to do that. He's very laid back, he doesn't't say much and he gets on with it, which I love. 'Out of the car he's quiet, but when he gets in the car he grows horns and that's what you want.' Verstappen was full of praise for Piastri after the Aussie's win in Saudi Arabia and suggested Piastri could be the frontrunner for the championship. 'I think I've said it before, people forget a little bit – last year was his (Oscar Piastri's) second year. Now he's in his third year, and he's very solid,' Verstappen said. 'He's very calm in his approach, and I like that. It shows on track. He delivers when he has to, barely makes mistakes – and that's what you need when you want to fight for a championship. 'And I think with Mark (Webber) by his side, he's helping him a lot,' Verstappen continued.' 'It's great. People learn from their own careers – that's what I had with my dad (Jos Verstappen), and Mark is advising Oscar.' 'At the end of the day, Oscar is using his talent, and that's great to see.' Piastri came off best in a Turn 1 clash with Verstappen in Jeddah and Jones believes it won't be the last skirmish between the Aussie and Dutchman this year. 'He sees a gap and goes for it, and Oscar is not going to be put off by that,' Jones said. 'There's a lot of other drivers he'll bluff and hold them to ransom a bit, but I believe Oscar has got the mental strength not to put up with that crap. He'll just take it for what is and give it back to him.'
