Latest news with #TomKelly
BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
The bricks connecting Coventry City football fans to their club
When Tom Kelly was born, his great-uncle bought him a an unusual birth present but instead, a personalised brick bought by his Coventry City FC mad relative in a wall at his beloved team's home football not alone - across the UK, thousands of football fans have sponsored bricks or paving stones at their team's stadiums, including at Sunderland's Stadium of Light and Celtic Park in Glasgow, as a way of celebrating special Coventry, 4,500 fans were given that chance with their bricks engraved on the Sky Blues Wall of Fame at the CBS Arena, then named the Ricoh, in August 2005. Why do it and what do these bricks mean to families and their fans? Several shared their stories with us: The brick to remember a great-uncle Tom Kelly, 20, from Finham, Coventry, is the man whose brick on the wall was bought for his birth by his great-uncle Dave, who died when he was young.A Sky Blues fan since he was a child, Mr Kelly said the brick gave him a reason to remember his late uncle, who used to take him and his dad to games when they were younger."Loads of fans knew him, loads around the club knew him, he'd be on every away-day travel coach, he'd be in and around the ground, so he purchased the brick for me before he passed away," he Mr Kelly, football goes beyond being a sport as it also give a chance for him to go and spend time with family and "random people"."I think some things in life aren't certain but being a Coventry City fan for the rest of my life certainly is," he said. The brick to let a father live on Kate Cooper's brick remembers her father - Paul Averns died in October 2006, after he was diagnosed with terminal was a "huge" Sky Blues fan, she said, and had been diagnosed around the time when the brick scheme at the arena was first announced."My brother brought him a brick," Ms Cooper, from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, explained. "We weren't even sure if it was going to be in there in time for my dad to see it but it was, so it was put in there just before he passed away."Ms Cooper said her dad was tearful and emotional when he found out about the brick and appreciated he was going to live on through his club, his "favourite thing in the world".Mr Averns ashes were also scattered on the pitch."Towards the end of his life, he used to like going up there [the stadium], he was very proud of the fact he had a brick up there, it made him feel quite famous I think," Ms Cooper said."To me, I just feel like I'm part of a family and I'm really proud that that started with my dad and he's carrying on through the rest of us." The brick connecting a son to his dad Ian Lissaman's late dad was a carpenter who worked on some of the restoration of Coventry City's former ground, Highfield Road, in the 1960s, when the main stand was damaged in a fire.A lifelong Sky Blues fan, Mr Lissaman and his dad both have personalised bricks at the 53-year-old, from Stoke Aldermoor, said he always goes to visit the bricks every time he goes to the stadium."He died in 2003, so before the CBS was built, so I just felt it important that he was part of the journey and, you know, carried on his support of the Coventry City family," Mr Lissaman said."I wish he was here to see it for himself but knowing the bricks there is some comfort."The family's love for the the Sky Blues has surpassed generations, with Mr Lissaman's own granddaughter, Eva, 13, also "obsessed" with football.A massive Coventry fan, she has been watching the team play for the last four seasons and credits her granddad for her love of the club."He kind of just got me obsessed with football and I don't know what I'd do without my granddad at the football and everything," she said. The brick for a Canadian fan For Keith Reay, 61, his brick is all about reconnecting from far away as his love for the Sky Blues spans 40 years - and more than 4,000 from Coventry, the die-hard fan emigrated to Alberta, Canada, 22 years ago but still flies back to England to see his favourite team play a few times a year."Every year I buy a new shirt, new scarf...I had a season ticket for 25 years before I emigrated to Canada," he said."I get back whenever I can. These last few years I've been back two or three times a year and it's cost me an absolute fortune." Mr Reay has a brick after first falling in love with the Sky Blues when his father took him to see Coventry play Newcastle in said he still misses the city "incredibly" and had been back to visit his personalised brick after a fellow Coventry supporter on the internet discovered its location."He told me where it was, so the last two times I've been back, I made a point of looking out for my brick, found it, [had] my picture taken with it, and it's lovely," he added. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Entrepreneur
11-08-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
AI Essentials for Modern Finance and Accounting Leaders: A Foundational Guide
Join us for this free webinar and learn how today's CFOs can future-proof their teams and stay ahead of the curve. In an era where artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming the business landscape, finance and accounting leaders can no longer afford to sit on the sidelines. Whether you're tasked with strategic forecasting, risk management, or month-end reporting, the integration of AI isn't just inevitable—it's essential. But before diving into advanced tools and automation systems, leaders need a firm grasp of the fundamentals. That's exactly what this upcoming webinar delivers. Join us for AI Essentials for Modern Finance and Accounting Leaders: A Foundational Guide, presented by Oracle NetSuite and Entrepreneur. Tom Kelly, the Sr. Director Product Marketing/Management for the Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit and an expert in helping financial leaders navigate the ever-changing digital landscape, will be joined by moderator Dr. Jill Schiefelbein, an AI Strategist and Business Communication Expert in this timely conversation. Together, they'll provide a foundational guide to get CFOs and leaders ready to take the next steps in understanding AI and its possibilities for the financial role. AI Essentials for Modern Finance and Accounting Leaders will be a practical, jargon-free session designed to help financial professionals confidently navigate the basics of artificial intelligence. It's not about turning you into a data scientist. It's about giving you the knowledge you need to ask the right questions, spot the right opportunities, and lead your team with clarity in an AI-enhanced world. REGISTER NOW From the principles of machine learning to the practical applications of automation in financial workflows, you'll walk away with a solid foundation—and a forward-looking mindset. In this webinar, we'll discuss how to: Demystify AI with core concepts and clear definitions tailored for finance professionals Apply AI fundamentals to key areas like forecasting, reporting, and risk mitigation Identify the early wins where automation can drive efficiency Strategize a phased, thoughtful AI adoption plan that aligns with your organization's goals Whether you're just starting to explore AI or looking to guide your team with confidence, this foundational guide will equip you with the strategic insights you need to stay competitive—and lead with impact—in the age of intelligent automation. The AI Essentials for Modern Finance and Accounting Leaders webinar will take place Thursday October 23 at 3 p.m. ET | 12 p.m. PT.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Conrad signs gas sales agreement with PLN EPI for Mako gas field
Conrad Asia Energy has announced the signing of a gas sales agreement (GSA) with PLN Energi Primer Indonesia (PLN EPI) to supply domestically all the natural gas produced from the Mako gas field. PLN EPI is a subsidiary of Indonesian state-owned electric utility company PLN Persero. Conrad Asia Energy holds a 91.5% interest in the Mako gas field and serves as the operator, while Empyrean holds an 8.5% interest. Located in the Riau Islands Province in Indonesian waters, the field boasts 2C contingent resources of 376 billion cubic feet. The GSA, signed on 16 July 2025, outlines a total contract quantity of 392 trillion British thermal units, extending through the current Duyung production sharing contract (PSC) period until January 2037. It allows for the sale of up to 111 billion British thermal units per day, ensuring a steady supply of gas to meet domestic demand in Indonesia. The pricing for the Mako gas will be linked to the Indonesian Crude Price (ICP), mirroring the economic conditions of previously approved prices for both domestic and export sales of Mako gas. The gas from the Mako field will be sold at the ICP-linked price, deviating from the standard fixed domestic offtake price. Conrad managing director and CEO Miltos Xynogalas said: 'The GSA between the Mako joint venture and PLN EPI is a significant milestone both in the development of Conrad and in our progress to bringing the Mako Field into production. The signing of the GSA underpins the financial viability and crystallises the value of the Mako Field. 'The PLN EPI GSA will make a meaningful contribution to aligning Indonesia's new energy policy to continue to secure cleaner energy. Mako is the first of many gas projects we aim to bring into commercial production from our existing portfolio of gas discoveries, which also include our Aceh gas resources where we hold four existing discoveries.' The GSA terms with PLN EPI remain confidential, and PLN EPI will also be responsible for financing and constructing the pipeline from the West Natuna Gas line to Pemping Island, with no associated costs for Conrad. Furthermore, the Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources has revoked its previous directive for the sale of Mako gas to Perusahaan Gas Negara and Sembcorp Gas, leading to the termination of the GSAs with these entities. The new GSA is subject to customary conditions precedent. The contract ensures the sale of plateau gas rates of approximately 111.9 million standard cubic feet, equivalent to the Mako gas field's entire 2C contingent resources, until the end of the Duyung PSC. Empyrean CEO Tom Kelly said: 'The GSA between the Mako joint venture and PLN EPI is a significant milestone for the Mako Gas Field. It is anticipated that this milestone will provide momentum to the project in a region of Asia that is experiencing strong demand for gas to meet energy demand growth.' "Conrad signs gas sales agreement with PLN EPI for Mako gas field" was originally created and published by Offshore Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Joe Soap for president
Sir, – I wonder if the people of Ireland would like an ordinary Joe Soap as president. Somebody like me, for instance. I am not well known. I am not a member of any party. My achievements in life are extremely modest. I am not very articulate. I can't write for nuts. I have no grand messages for the people of Ireland. I am neither rich nor poor, though closer to poor. READ MORE I can't imagine anything I would do or say as president would offend any ordinary person like myself. I would continue to live in my modest home. The Áras could be converted into apartments for poor people. And 90 per cent of my salary would go to community groups. I would receive foreign dignitaries in my home as I receive all guests and visitors (I make a mean lemon cake). Don't all trample over each other in your rush to nominate me. – Yours, etc, TOM KELLY, Broadstone, Dublin 7.
Fox Sports
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
2025 MLB All-Star Game: Building the Best Twins Lineup
This list goes beyond the Twins legends that were once launching dingers at the Homer Dome. Obviously, there's Kirby. And Hammerin' Harmon. And even Hall of Famer Rod Carew. Plenty of top stars who kept things on target in the Twin Cities. Manager: Tom Kelly Tom Kelly took over as the manager of the Twins in 1986, after Minnesota went 59-80 with him the year after his own term as a midseason replacement. Kelly was the sixth Twins' manager of the decade at that point — Minnesota had yet to post a winning season in the 80s, and likely only escaped the AL West cellar in '86 thanks to Kelly's promotion. In '87, the Twins won the World Series, and they did it again in '91: Kelly remained at the helm for 15 years, and in addition to the championships, ranks first for Minnesota in wins. Starting pitcher: Walter Johnson There are positions in Twins' history where there's room for debate about who deserves the nod, but not at starting pitcher. Bert Blyleven is a Hall of Famer, as is Jim Kaat. Johan Santana would have been, if his body had let him. Walter Johnson is inner-circle, however, behind only Cy Young in career wins above replacement owing to over 5,900 innings with a 2.17 ERA. That figure isn't just because of the Dead Ball era, either. Johnson's ERA+ is 147: he led the league six times, and he's the all-time leader in shutouts with 110, too. Reliever/closer: Joe Nathan The Twins acquired Joe Nathan (as well as Francisco Liriano and Boof Bonser) from the Giants in exchange for A.J. Pierzynski, just as Nathan seemed to be figuring out how to succeed in relief. Over the next seven years, he was significantly better than his best effort with San Francisco, racking up both saves (246) and strikeouts (518, 11.1 per nine) as a key member of a Twins' team with annual postseason aspirations. He'd end up leaving a year later, but not before becoming the franchise's all-time saves leader with 260, passing Rick Aguilera. Catcher: Joe Mauer Joe Mauer was a true Twins' lifer. Not only was his entire 15-year major-league career with Minnesota after they drafted him first-overall in 2001, but he was born in one of the twin cities that the team is named for: St. Paul, Minnesota. Mauer was more than just a local boy, though. He could hit, and not just for a catcher. Mauer finished his career with the second-highest on-base percentage (.405) for a catcher, one of just two backstops over .400, and was also a Gold Glove-caliber defender. Even with the injuries, he was a no-doubt Hall of Famer. 1B: Harmon Killebrew Harmon Killebrew's career began in 1954, at age 18, allowing him to play for the Nationals, Senators and Twins iterations of the franchise. Killebrew isn't just the all-time home run leader for the Twins — at 559, he's the only Twins player with over 300, 400 and 500 long balls — but he's also 12th all-time in MLB with 573, who led the league in homers four times (and the AL another two). That power is part of why there are fans of a certain age who know him best from 1990s reruns of the 1960s television show, "Home Run Derby". 2B: Rod Carew How many other Twins second baseman were named dropped by the Beastie Boys? Exactly. To Carew's credit, he was more than just a name that rhymed, as he was about as sure of a shot as you could get for a base hit: in 12 seasons with the Twins, he second baseman won eight batting titles, and led all of MLB in average in four of those seasons. For his career in Minnesota, Carew batted .334, and produced a 137 OPS+, third-best among Twins, while his .393 on-base is tied for first — those weren't empty batting averages by any means. 3B: Gary Gaetti Gary Gaetti's league-average 1987 season was flanked by two superior campaigns. In '86, he mashed 34 homers with a then-career-high .856 OPS, and in '88, he produced what would end up being his lone season with an OPS over .900. Gaetti didn't forget to bring it when it counted, however: in the 1987 postseason, he hit .300/.348/.650 with two homers in the ALCS against the Tigers, earning series MVP honors, then .259/.333/.519 with another home run and four RBIs against the Cardinals, helping the Twins to their first championship since 1924. SS: Cecil Travis Cecil Travis led the majors in hits in 1941 with 218, while batting .359/.410/.520. The next three seasons would be spent on military bases and overseas, as part of the United States military. Travis lost what was left of his prime years on the diamond to World War II, and while that impacted more than just his final career tallies, we can still recognize his highly productive run before then. From 1934 through 1941, Travis averaged about four wins above replacement per year while batting .327, often playing high-quality defense at shortstop, to boot. OF: Torii Hunter It took Torii Hunter a few years to get going in the majors, but in 2001, at age 25, he broke out all at once. Hunter won his first of nine consecutive Gold Gloves — the first seven with Minnesota — and his bat finally took a step forward. And then another step in 2002, earning Hunter his first of five All-Star berths, and a sixth-place MVP finish. From 2001-2007, Hunter hit .272/.326/.484 alongside his excellent defense. While he left for the Angels in free agency, he did return to the Twins in 205 for his final year in MLB. OF: Kirby Puckett The franchise's successor to Rod Carew and predecessor to Torii Hunter. While Puckett won just one batting title compared to Carew's eight, the latter never had to contend with being in the same league as Wade Boggs: Puckett still hit .318 for his career, and .329 from 1986-1992. As for the Hunter connection, Puckett won his first Gold Glove in '86 for his play in center field, then five more before his career ended. Puckett was forced to retire early due to loss of vision in one eye, but even with the shortened career, proved an easy entrant to Cooperstown. OF: Sam Rice Sam Rice, like Harmon Killebrew, played all but one season of his career with the franchise. Unlike Killebrew, though, he did it all well before Minnesota was ever in the picture. Rice got a late start in his big-league career, coming up at age 25 with Washington, but he stuck around until he was 44 to make up for it. He led the league in hits once, and the AL another time — both seasons had 216 knocks — and batted .323 for the Nationals across 19 seasons. Rice was inducted into the Hall of Fame through the Veteran's Committee in 1963. DH: Justin Morneau Justin Morneau was drafted in the third round by the Twins in 1999, out of Canada. He'd debut four years later in the majors, and had a hold on the first base job by mid-2004, which allowed him to go deep 19 times in 74 games. He won the AL MVP in 2006 after batting .321/.375/.559 with 34 home runs, but would top that mark in 2008 with 47 blasts. Morneau is fourth in Twins' history with 221 homers, and tied for 10th in doubles with 289. He's also fourth all-time among Canadian-born players with 247 homers. Honrable Mentions: Bucky Harris (manager) Ron Gardenhire (manager) Clark Griffith (manager) Bert Blyleven (starting pitcher) Brad Radke (starting pitcher) Johan Santana (starting pitcher) Jim Kaat (starting pitcher) Jim Perry (starting pitcher) Eddie Guardado (reliever/closer) Glen Perkins (reliever/closer) Rick Aguilera (reliever/closer) Kent Hrbeck (1B) Buddy Myer (2B) Chuck Knoblach (2B) Brian Dozier (2B) Eddie Yost (3B) Corey Koskie (3B) Joe Cronin (SS) Roy Smalley (SS) Zoilo Versalles (SS) Greg Gagne (SS) Goose Goslin (OF) Michael Cuddyer (OF) Tony Oliva (OF) Jacque Jones (OF) Larry Hisle (OF) Bob Allison (OF) Tony Oliva (OF) Shane Mack (OF) Nelson Cruz (DH) Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily! recommended Item 1 of 3 Get more from the Major League Baseball Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more in this topic
