Latest news with #north of England
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
The £100 million player who could be set for Merseyside move
Everton are pursuing a loan deal for Jack Grealish, who has fallen out of favour at Manchester City and was not included in their Club World Cup squad. Despite interest from Napoli, Everton believe they have a strong chance as Grealish is keen to remain in the north of England for family stability. David Moyes is reportedly willing to build his team around Grealish, offering him more creative freedom than he currently experiences at City. The potential move is also appealing due to Everton's upcoming relocation to the Hill Dickinson Stadium and the new Friedkin ownership's readiness to invest. Separately, Everton are in discussions with Lyon for 20-year-old Belgian forward Malick Fofana, who is valued at over £40 million and is open to a move for the right project.
BBC News
5 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Ray French - dual-code international and iconic voice of rugby league
For millions brought up in rugby league's television age, Ray French's voice was synonymous as the soundtrack to the glory years of the sport in the 1980s and was a time when rugby league was a staple of Saturday afternoon Grandstand, with a nationwide audience tuning in to action from places largely across the north of England - Wigan, Castleford, Oldham, it was a time when the sport had a wider profile, when Ellery Hanley, Garry Schofield, Martin Offiah and, further afield, Mal Meninga were household Ray French was one too. Walking the walk to go with the talk French was far more than an iconic broadcaster, however. He walked the walk to go with his commentary was a much-respected player and, employed as a teacher in his native St Helens away from the field - grounding that would prove essential in his future ability took a lad from the working class north into the establishment elite of English rugby union, earning him international honours in the 15-player Helens saw the qualities and brought him home to play rugby league, and he was part of a successful side alongside fellow Saints legends such as Kel Coslett, Tom van Vollenhoven and later commentary partner Alex ended his career at Widnes, and became a dual-code international when he represented Great Britain and was part of the 1968 World Cup squad, playing alongside stars such as Roger Millward, Neil Fox and Cliff was an intelligence to his play, an eye for a pass to go with the robust requirements of playing second-row in the hurly-burly of the 1960s. Becoming the voice, following an icon For all his on-field excellence, it was the voice, the tone and the lexicon employed in French's second rugby league career which made many, including this boy from beyond the heartlands in Nottingham, fall in love with the game and his wonderful was a tough gig, following in the footsteps of the pioneering Eddie Waring, who took rugby league mainstream and forged a career in light entertainment as a well-known figure in the broadcasting was not for rubbing shoulders with Morecambe and Wise. For him, it was about putting the sport in its best his first Challenge Cup final in 1981 through to the last in 2008, and a host of Test matches and internationals, French soundtracked some of the greatest players and the greatest games in his inimitable 1985, Wigan versus Hull. Arguably the ultimate Challenge Cup final."He can step on a threepenny bit this lad!" French said as John Ferguson worked in the tiniest of spaces to finish for emotive language, the punching tone bright with enthusiasm and excitement. Nine years later, Jonathan Davies outstripped Australia's rapid-quick Brett Mullins to score a brilliant try - again on Wembley's grand stage."He's got the head back! The Welshman is in for a magnificent try."One of the most memorable Great Britain tries, called the greatest moment was his call of Martin Offiah's rip-roaring length of the field effort under the twin towers for Wigan in the 1994 Challenge Cup final against Leeds, just months before Davies' was goosed having touched down, barely able to acknowledge his feat as he sank to his knees with emotion. French had the words."That must rank among the finest ever seen on this ground."Captured to all commentators, he had his pet lines. "He's going for the line!" being a famous one, and his penchant for the combo of a player's weight and amateur club was another little idiosyncrasy that fans grew to package of a sing-song voice-note forged by his St Helens upbringing, the richness of his vocabulary, his authenticity as someone steeped in rugby league and his brilliant rapport on the mic with Joe Lydon, Maurice Bamford and former team-mate Murphy, and in later years those he had called home to score such as Davies, helped establish Ray as an iconic voice. 'A genuinely lovely human being' Beyond all of his abilities in a professional capacity, those who worked with Ray in the game will recall a genuinely lovely human coaches, directors, owners, fans encountered an engaging, friendly, humble and kind man, always happy to talk about his beloved years he was the main man for rugby league at the BBC, and yet never forgot his roots and his his later years, Ray kept his hand in commentary with Radio Merseyside often alongside great friend Allan Rooney, and it was a joy to spend time listening to the pair's stories, patter and was the equivalent of seeing Barry Davies or John Motson down at your local club, yet it was just business as usual for French will always be rugby league royalty and a broadcasting legend.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carlisle Cathedral celebrates musical foundation at end of year
Carlisle Cathedral has been celebrating its musical foundation which has reached the end of the academic year. The city is blessed to have one of the finest cathedral choirs in the north of England who sing evensong throughout the week alongside other holy mass on Sundays. Carlisle Cathedral (Image: Supplied) The choir often play a key role in large ceremonial services for the city including Remembrance Sunday and Royal celebrations. Alongside the daily services and commemoration events, the choir plays a key role during the special services that make up the Christmas and Easter celebrations including sell out concerts and carol services. The cathedral has paid tribute to its musicians after a long academic year. A spokesperson for Carlisle Cathedral said: 'It's the end of term for our wonderful Choirs. 'Thank you to everyone involved - Choir members, Lay Clerks, the Music Department team, Chaperones, Parents, Chorister Sponsors, Vergers and members of Clergy - for another brilliant term of music and for your continued support. Photo taken at the recent Hadrian's Choirs Festival Concert (Image: Carlisle Cathedral) 'We hope you all enjoy a break over the summer. 'Choral Evensong now becomes Evening Prayer, and the Sunday Eucharist will be said, apart from when we welcome a Visiting Choir over the summer holidays. For more information, and to see who is visiting us this summer, please visit the website.' Today, the choir comprises up to sixteen boy choristers, the same number of girl choristers, six regular lay clerks with additional choral scholars and deputy lay clerks. READ MORE: University of Cumbria celebrates graduation ceremonies | News and Star The choristers begin as probationers in the choir from the age of 8 and continue until the early years of secondary school. The Consort, previously known as Carlisle Cathedral Youth Choir, was founded in 1997 and is made up of talented young singers from across North and West Cumbria. The choir is conducted by Mark Duthie who is assisted by Ed Taylor.
