Latest news with #VertuTrophy
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'It kind of took off and blew up!' - Inwood's hope for Bolton chance next season
SAM Inwood hopes his eventful end to the season can push his claim for first team football under Steven Schumacher. The highly rated 19-year-old remedied a defensive injury crisis to start the final two games against Peterborough United and Stevenage having played less than half an hour of senior football in the Vertu Trophy to that point. This was already a year when Inwood was selected for Northern Ireland's Under-21s – a departure from his first international steps with the Republic - and having made the breakthrough he is now looking forward to what comes next. 'It kind of took off and blew up in the last few months, really,' he said. 'For the first few months of the season I was in the B team and then maybe towards the end I was trying to get out on loan. For one reason or another that didn't come off. 'Then you are thinking: 'Is this a season where nothing's happened?' And then I got the call-up to the first team and, all of a sudden, you look back and it's been a pretty decent season for me. 'Seeing that I have been given that chance gives me hope for next year. 'I've just got to jobs" target="_blank">work hard in the off-season, work hard and improve pre-season and hope the gaffer selects me for first team again.' Inwood has been with Wanderers since the age of 15, having been left in limbo after Bury's sad demise in 2019. Though he was still representing Salford Schools, the defender was not sure if another club would step forward in the middle of the pandemic, a period of great uncertainty in the game. 'I didn't know what to do afterwards, I was a bit stuck to be honest,' he said. READ MORE Wanderers' Academy Legacy Programme explained as first caps handed out Schumacher confident there won't be 'black clouds' following Bolton next season Sharon Brittan: Promotion disappointment has strengthened resolve at Wanderers 'I'd heard quite a lot of lads had clubs ringing up asking them to come and trial, but I didn't really have anything.' Inwood trained briefly with Bolton's development group but it was only a few weeks later that Mark Litherland – who had been with him at Bury – offered up a second shot of a scholarship with the Whites. He worked with Julian Darby in the youth team before another cluster of opportunities presented themselves and he was offered a professional deal with the club. 'It was quite weird,' he added. 'The January before my pro (contract) I went down for a two or three day Republic of Ireland camp in Loughborough and when I came back from that I trained with the first team for the first time. 'I then travelled with the first team, got the pro, went to the B team, and then trained with the first team quite regularly. 'I've been in and out of training since and travelling a few times, so you've just got to take everything individually and work it out. 'You can't think: 'I've been with them so I should be on the bench, or I have been on the bench, so I should be starting.' You can't think that way. 'You have just got to take that each week as it comes. If they need you, if they want you, it's fine. But if they don't and you're involved with the B team you can't get too down about it, you have just got to say: 'Right I've got to perform well for the B team now.'
Wales Online
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Everyone's cup final, brutal football and why right manager is key – What Cardiff City can expect in League One
Everyone's cup final, brutal football and why right manager is key – What Cardiff City can expect in League One The Bluebirds will be playing their football in the third tier next season Cardiff players will play in League One next season (Image: Huw Evans Picture Agency ) League One will be a different beast next season from the last time Cardiff City were in it. The Bluebirds previous stay in the third tier, which was then branded Division Two, was in the 2002/03 campaign, a season which culminated in Andy Campbell's heroic goal to seal promotion via the play-offs. Cardiff have plied their trade in the top two tiers of English football ever since then, but next term will represent something different, a level of football that a generation of supporters will not have seen. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community. Of course, the objective is simple: Get out of League One at the earliest possibility. But how do Cardiff do that? And just what can the club, and its fans, expect from the division next season? We spoke to Alex Dicken, the Birmingham City correspondent for BirminghamLive, to gain a greater insight into League One and the lessons Cardiff can perhaps learn from Blues, who won the League and earned promotion at the first time of asking. Article continues below Q. What's League One really like? It seems like a hard grind from the outside looking in... AD: Well, Blues made light work of it in truth but the constant churn of games means it can become difficult if your squad isn't equipped. With the Vertu Trophy and a run to the FA Cup fourth round, Blues have played 60 games this season. Thankfully, they built a big, strong squad to cope with it. Cardiff will face the same thing Blues had whenever they are on the road next season. They are every team's cup final and that can be draining. It probably explains why Blues haven't tanked many teams away from St Andrew's with only one of their away wins coming by more than a two-goal margin. Q. What's the main differences between the Championship at League One? AD: The physicality of it. The majority of Championship teams want to play football, whereas the overwhelming majority in League One favour a direct style of football. Blues signed a few six-foot-plus players to cope with the aerial onslaught, such as Austrian defender Christoph Klarer who has been absolutely immense. Article continues below Q. What's the best part? AD: You get to visit new stadiums, most of which are very hospitable, and it's a chance to reset. For clubs the size of Blues and Cardiff it very much is about getting out as quickly as possible. If you do it right, as Blues did, then you can use League One to develop a style of football that will set you up to compete properly in the Championship. Q. What's the worst part? AD: Blues had quite a straightforward experience so there wasn't much to moan about. One thing I will say is that you'll face a lot of similar games, particularly at home, where teams don't show much ambition and you have to try and break down their low-block. That became a little bit tedious at times. Q. What do Cardiff have to do to ensure they bounce straight back up to the Championship? AD: Get the managerial appointment and recruitment right. It takes a lot of joined up thinking. Chris Davies has been a great find for Blues and he has driven their success but people behind-the-scenes found the players for him. And make sure your home form is good, because it's not a given that you'll win 15 games away from home. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Peterborough confirm Kwame Poku transfer decision amid Birmingham City interest
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited Peterborough United have confirmed Kwame Poku will depart the club at the end of his contract this summer. The winger is in demand after a superb season for Posh where he provided 20 goal contributions in 27 League One matches. Poku earned a place in the League One Team of the Year for his efforts in 2024./25. Birmingham City have a long-standing interest in Poku and he was instrumental in Peterborough's 2-0 win over Blues in the Vertu Trophy final last month. READ MORE: Jay Stansfield has Birmingham City transfer wish after getting help for League One abuse READ MORE: Kwame Poku transfer development emerges as Birmingham City weigh up summer move Poku is expected to ply his trade in the Championship next season after three solid campaigns in League One and Peterborough have now confirmed that he will move on. Midfielder Hector Kyprianou, who scored in the Wembley final against Blues, and striker Ricky-Jade Jones will also depart Peterborough. A club statement said: "As previously communicated, midfielder Hector Kyprianou, winger Kwame Poku and striker Ricky-Jade Jones will all depart at the end of their contracts. "The club held discussions with all three about extending their stays in PE2 but they indicated they wanted to move on and they leave with our thanks for their efforts over their time at the club." Due to the fact Poku won't turn 24 until August, Peterborough will be entitled to compensation for a player they signed from Colchester United four years ago. Peterborough have also released striker Kabongo Tshimanga, a player Blues tried to sign back in the summer of 2022. A deal was agreed with Tshimanga's club Chesterfield only to fall through after an issue popped up in the medical. Should Blues sign Poku? Have your say HERE Everyday, the BirminghamLive football desk strive to deliver all manner of news, features and transfer-related stories as a part of our overall package of Birmingham City content. Our dedicated reporters Alex Dicken and Brian Dick - you can follow Alex on X here and Brian here - follow Blues around the country and they offer you comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and everything that happens in between. So much happens day to day and sometimes you can struggle to keep on top of the very latest updates as and when they occur - that's why we have produced a daily newsletter which you can sign up to, for free, and which means you'll have a round-up of the key stories land in your email inbox. Sign up to the Blues newsletter here. You can also get all your favourite content from BirminghamLive's Blues team on WhatsApp. Click here to sign up for breaking updates about the biggest stories and insight from in and around the club. If you prefer reading our Blues stories on your phone, consider downloading the BirminghamLive app, in which you can personalise the content you see by selecting Blues as one of your designated topics. You can get it from Apple here and for Android here. Our weekly Birmingham City podcast, Keep Right On, is also available to watch and listen on all major streaming services. You can subscribe to the YouTube channel here, while you can access the podcast on Spotify here and via Apple here.
Time of India
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Gisele Bündchen steps out with Ivanka Trump in Costa Rica raising eyebrows as Tom Brady focuses on new ventures
Gisele Bundchen steps out with Ivanka Trump.(Image via Fernanda Calfat/Getty) Tom Brady's ex wife, Gisele Bündchen, has a new friend, and it is none other than Ivanka Trump . While Tom Brady has remained single after he and Gisele Bündchen finalised their divorce in October 2022, the former Victoria's Secret model has moved on and created a new family with boyfriend Joaquim Valente . Now, Gisele Bündchen is hanging out with her new set of friends. Tom Brady's ex wife, Gisele Bündchen, hangs out with Ivanka Trump in Costa Rica As per TMZ, Tom Brady's ex wife Gisele Bündchen was recently spotted walking along a beach in Costa Rica with President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump and her sister in law and former best friend of Taylor Swift's, Karlie Kloss. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Tom Brady's ex wife, Gisele Bündchen, looked stunning in a black coloured bikini top along with a matching sarong. She also had a necklace and wore a hat to escape the heat. Walking alongside Gisele Bündchen was Ivanka Trump, who looked happy and excited. Ivanka Trump was joined by her husband, Jared Kushner, as she stunned in a blue coloured bikini top that she paired with a floral mini skirt. Tom Brady's ex wife and former Victoria's Secret model Gisele Bündchen and Ivanka Trump looked engrossed in a deep conversation as they relaxed while walking on the beach in Costa Rica. It seems like Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend love being on the beach and hanging out on their luxurious yacht. The two have often been spotted with their friends or just hanging out alone on the yacht in Miami. In the last few weeks, Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend Joaquim Valente have also been spotted cuddling and sharing a kiss on their luxurious yacht. Gisele Bündchen and her boyfriend are maintaining privacy about their new lives Gisele Bundchen gave birth to her child with Joaquim Valente in February 2024, a few days before Super Bowl LIX. But it seems like Tom Brady's ex wife, Gisele Bündchen is doing pretty well with her new life. As per People, a source has revealed, "Gisele's doing well. She seems very happy and content…' While Gisele Bündchen is busy with a completely new life, Tom Brady has kept his focus on new ventures. A few days ago, the NFL legend was spotted in London where he attended his team, Birmingham City, play at Wembley Stadium for the Vertu Trophy final. But the team faced a devastating loss. However, Tom Brady has faced the defeat with a strong heart and has motivated his team to do better next time. Also Read: Michael Strahan stands by FOX Sports' Jay Glazer through a heartbreaking time days after announcing his new venture
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Birmingham will not 'let fans down' again
Birmingham City co-owner Tom Wagner has promised Blues fans that they will not get 'let down' again following the disappointment of Sunday's Vertu Trophy final defeat by Peterborough flew over from the United States to sit in the royal box at Wembley alongside minority shareholder Tom Brady, whose two previous experience of visiting the venue was in masterminding wins with the New England Patriots in 2009 and 2012 in the NFL. But, having beaten Peterborough to win promotion at London Road on Tuesday night, then wrapped up the League One title without kicking a ball on Saturday, Wagner and Brady found out that being sat in the posh seats is no guarantee of success at Wembley as Blues were well beaten 2-0 by Darren Ferguson and Barry Fry's Posh on on the disappointment, Wagner told BBC Radio WM: "For the Blues fans to understand, we recognise that it's not ok to let you down. "We've got a group of young men who gave their very best and it wasn't good enough on this particular day but we've got to try to get better and keep pushing forward. And I can promise you we will."The thing we have to remember, the thing we have to strive for in the future is winning the matches that are must-win matches."That's something for us to work on and I think it's ok to have things to work on."Wagner added that securing an immediate return to the Championship was the number-one priority this season. "The most important objective at the beginning of the season was to get promoted," he said."The second most important was to win the league, so we achieved our first two objectives. 'Just a reflex save' from Jutkiewicz - Steer Blues did not carry any real attacking threat in the final until the arrival of veteran striker Lukas Jutkiewicz off the 36-year-old was denied a goal by an unbelievable point-blank save by Posh keeper Jed Steer, who turned over his powerful right-foot volley."To make a save like that was just reflex stuff," said Steer, who had also been Posh's hero in the semi-final penalties win at Wrexham."I just threw my hand in the air."But it's always nice to make a save like that and to keep a clean sheet was fantastic."We knew we were heavy underdogs and they beat us on Tuesday but we learned things from that."They had 46,000 fans here I believe but it sounded like we had more. And that's just because they didn't have much to cheer about. Our fans made a tremendous noise."Steer also admitted that, being an Aston Villa old boy did make victory taste all the sweeter. "I have to say, yes, of course," he said. "I was at Villa for 10 years. We knew we the dominant force in Birmingham and still are." Blues can still achieve 'something special' Birmingham captain Christoph Klarer said it was "incredible" to see so the more than 40,000 Blues fans at Wembley and was "very disappointing" the players could not "give them what they deserved".Klarer added that, with the third tier title now secure, Blues must now concentrate on setting a new League One points are currently on 95 points from 40 games, having lost just three times all season, and need only three more wins to beat the current record, set by Wolves, who ran up 103 points in 2013-14. "We've still won the league," Klarer told BBC Radio WM."Now we want to go on and achieve something special."Tom Wagner and Christoph Klarer were talking to BBC Radio WM's Richard Wilford
