Sports News

UK Athletics has appointed Jockey Club Services (JCS), which offers a range of world-class business services to organisations in professional sports in the UK, to manage its financial processing function. The appointment will see JCS manage transactional processing, treasury, debtor management, expenses and financial reporting for the next three years, providing the sport with an up to date system at best possible value.

Jonathan Orr, Chief Financial and Operations Officer of UK Athletics, said: "We have studied the experiences of a number of NGBs who have effectively outsourced various business services to Jockey Club Services and the feedback has been exceptionally positive. Like all governing bodies we are continually challenging ourselves to have a resilient but cost effective back-office operation in order to drive core investment to the sport of athletics.

“In JCS we have found an organisation that has extensive experience in the NGB sector who will work closely with us to provide the depth of financial management and expertise that we need as we head to Tokyo and beyond.”

Since its inception, JCS has provided a number of different business services to a wide cross-section of professional sports in the UK including Badminton England, Table Tennis England, England Squash and British Fencing.

Rob Quick, Director of Jockey Club Services, said: “It’s a real honour for JCS to be chosen by a governing body with the size, scale and pedigree of UK Athletics to manage their financial operational requirements for the next three years.

“The appointment from our perspective confirms the quality of the JCS offer and the depth of support that we are able to offer.

“We very much look forward to working with the team at UKA to deliver a first-class financial management service.”

Jockey Club Services clients include the provision of Ticketing Services to three first-class County Cricket Clubs, Finance and Accounting for numerous NGBs, Procurement Support for a range of leading sports organisations and Loyalty programmes through the creation of Rewards4Cricket with half of the UK’s professional cricket clubs.

Zak Wells has announced his intention to retire from professional basketball at the end of the current season, after a great career in the BBL, internationally for GB and overseas.

Wells started basketball at 17, where he participated in a scheme called 'Tall and Talented' at Barking Abby. Before turning pro in 2014 with Leeds Force in the BBL, he represented Great Britain at the FIBA Under-20 European Championships, where the team secured promotion from Division B.

Zak spent his first two professional seasons with Leeds with averages of 10+ points per game on both occasions. In the 2016-17 season, following a short stint overseas in Slovenia for Hopsi Polzela, Wells returned to the BBL, joining London Lions.

At the start of the following season, newly appointed Raiders' head coach, Gavin Love, signed Wells and appointed him club captain - a position he has held over the past two seasons.  Returning to the Raiders for a second season, this time under Paul James, Wells is currently playing a crucial role in attempting to bring Play-Offs basketball back to the city for the first time in seven years.

"It was a big decision deciding to retire, especially at the age of 26, but I know it's one I will not regret," Wells said of his retirement.

"I have had the privilege of playing professionally for seven years now, both abroad and domestically, and have had the honour of representing my country with the Great Britain men's team.

"I always knew that playing basketball wasn't something I was looking to do for years and years. I now look forward to starting a new career and facing new challenges pursuing various business ventures.

"It has been a pleasure to end my career here in Plymouth, as they have been so good to me, for which I couldn't be more thankful. I wish them nothing but success in the future and I look forward to following them, and getting to a game to watch next season."

Coach James added: "Zak doesn't get the credit he deserves because the things he does so well don't always show up in the stat lines.

"I know the great things he brought to the table, as do his teammates. Zak has been an integral and valuable member of the team this season, and a great club captain.

"I wish him every success in the next chapter of his life."

Richard Mollard added: "Zak has been a great addition to the team the past two seasons, and a fantastic club Captain.

"Much of Zak's value cannot always be seen on the stats sheet, but his contribution both on and off the court has been invaluable, and he's going to be sorely missed in and around the club.

"Having coached alongside him this past year at the new Whitleigh Warriors CVL sessions, I've seen firsthand what a brilliant role model he is, and how much he enjoys working with the next generation of players, so I truly hope he finds a way to keep this up, despite his professional playing retirement.

"He's become a friend to us all, and on behalf of everyone at the club, I wish Zak all the very best with his future career."

Zak's retirement will come at the end of this season's campaign, and the club thanks him for his dedication over the past two seasons, on and off the court, and wishes him all the best for the future.

Olympic gymnast and University of Wolverhampton student Kristian Thomas put students through their paces as part of National Biomechanics Day.

The bronze medallist from London 2012 led a session on the biomechanics of gymnastics at the University’s Walsall Campus on Wednesday, 10 April 2019.

He was joined by two members of British Judo’s visually impaired squad, Natalie Greenhough and Connah Anders, who also train at the campus.

Students from Birmingham Metropolitan College and Aston Villa Foundation were invited to the special event which involved fun practical activities in the biomechanics laboratory.

Kristian, who is in his final year of a BSc (Hons) Strength and Conditioning degree, said:

“It was a pleasure to be part of the National Biomechanics Day showcasing the link between biomechanics and elite sport, in this case gymnastics. The students involved were predominantly from a coaching background so to see first-hand uses of biomechanics and its application within coaching was very helpful.”

The event was led by Dr Tina Smith, Senior Lecturer in Biomechanics at the University of Wolverhampton, and supported by undergraduate and Masters students as well as laboratory technicians from the Institute of Human Sciences.

Dr Smith said: “We were delighted to showcase biomechanics and to demonstrate its many applications, such as how it is relevant to everyday activities, sport, health and even computer games. People may not realise how biomechanics is fundamental to our daily lives so this was a great opportunity to promote the subject to college students.”

National Biomechanics Day is a worldwide celebration of Biomechanics in its many forms for secondary school students and teachers. This year’s theme was ‘Science Meets Fun’.

ICC Cricket for Good, in partnership with UNICEF, announced #OneDay4Children at the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. #OneDay4Children ambassador Nasser Hussain and England all-rounder Chris Woakes, launched the tournament-wide campaign focussed on bringing the world of cricket together as one team to help build a better world for every child.

There will be #OneDay4Children activity throughout all 48 matches of the event, peaking with a day of celebration during the England v India game on 30 June at Edgbaston. The money raised will support UNICEF’s work in cricket playing nations to help children learn to play and be healthy.

The #OneDay4Children match will be special, with the players, the sell-out crowd and global audience all playing a part in the celebrations. Edgbaston will turn blue whilst players will support the campaign with special one off #OD4C branded kit. Celebrities and legends of the game will join the action with unique activations and fundraising both in stadium and across the live broadcast.

David Richardson of the ICC said: “As part of our continuing work with UNICEF through Cricket for Good, we are delighted to launch #OneDay4Children and use the platform of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019 to help more children to play and be healthy. This is our most ambitious charity project to date and we know that cricket’s one billion fans will come together to help build a better world for every child.

“Our partners have got right behind #OneDay4Children, with global broadcast partner Star Sports ensuring it will be seen by hundreds of millions around the world, whilst locally in the UK Sky have also committed to promoting it to their viewers. Booking.com and Gray Nicolls have committed to a significant donation whilst our other global partners are working on in-venue activations and promotions to drive fundraising ensuring our #OneDay4Children match really captures the imagination of cricket fans.”

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2019, Managing Director, Steve Elworthy said: “#OneDay4Children is such an important tournament wide campaign which we are extremely proud to be delivering. We have a unique opportunity while the eyes of the cricketing world, and beyond, are watching, to show how we can harness the power of the fans to help support the wonderful work UNICEF do for children across the globe.”

Mike Penrose, Executive Director at Unicef UK, said: "We are delighted to see the world of cricket unite for #OneDay4Children at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Players, teams and one billion cricket fans will come together for Unicef. The money raised through #OneDay4Children will support Unicef’s work to help children learn, play and be healthy through cricket. It is a shared belief that cricket has an incredible power to raise vital funds and inspire and empower millions of children."

Neil Snowball, Chief Executive of Edgbaston Stadium, said: “Supporting children and helping them to be able to play in a safe and healthy environment is one of the primary aims of our community work here in Birmingham and across Warwickshire, through the Edgbaston Foundation.

“England versus India is one of the biggest games in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup and, to use this fixture to raise awareness and important funds that will hopefully bring such positive change is a fantastic initiative.

“We’re thrilled that Edgbaston will play host to such a momentous occasion.”

The world famous Harlem Globetrotters, featuring some of the most electrifying athletes on the planet, will bring their spectacular show to the United Kingdom during their 2018 World Tour.

Only one year after setting seven official Guinness World Records ® titles, the Globetrotters broke a single-day total of nine records in 2016, including the longest basketball hook shot, longest basketball shot blindfolded, most basketball 3-pointers made by a pair in one minute, and longest blindfolded basketball hook-shot.

During their 2018 World Tour, the famed team will feature a star-studded roster that includes Big Easy Lofton, Ant Atkinson, Hi-Lite Bruton, Thunder Law, Bull Bullard and Cheese Chisholm – plus female stars TNT Lister and Ace Jackson*– the Globetrotters’ one-of-a-kind show is unrivalled in the world of family entertainment. Every game will showcase incredible ball handling wizardry, rim-rattling dunks, trick shots, hilarious comedy and unequaled fan interaction.

See the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters at Arena Birmingham on May 2 - After the game, Globetrotter stars will sign autographs and take photos with fans.

Tiger Woods produced a scintillating finish to win a fifth Masters title and end an 11-year wait to claim a 15th major.

There were raucous celebrations around the 18th green as Woods finished with a two-under-par 70 to win on 13 under, one clear of fellow Americans Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka.

Woods, written off by so many so often as he battled back problems in recent years, punched the air in delight, a wide smile across his face, before celebrating with his children at the back of the green.

"I'm a little hoarse from yelling," said the 43-year-old. "I was just trying to plod my way around all day then all of a sudden I had the lead.

"Coming up 18 I was just trying to make a five. When I tapped in I don't know what I did, I know I screamed.

"To have my kids there, it's come full circle. My dad was here in 1997 and now I'm the dad with two kids there.

"It will be up there with one of the hardest I've had to win because of what has transpired in the last couple of years."

Victory caps a remarkable resurgence for Woods, who missed the 2016 and 2017 Masters with back problems before finally undergoing back fusion surgery in April of that year.

A superb 2018 followed where he challenged at The Open before finishing joint sixth and pushed eventual champion Koepka close at the US PGA Championship.

He then capped off the season by winning the Tour Championship for his 80th PGA Tour title and this victory puts him one behind the record of 82 held by Sam Snead.

Overnight leader Francesco Molinari's hopes sunk with two double bogeys on the back nine and he had to settle for a share of fifth on 11 under after a two-over 74.

Over 21,000 swimmers took to the water helping to raise £1.8m for Cancer Research UK and Marie Curie.

Over £1.8 million in fundraising was raised by the Sunday of the event weekend by swimmers participating across the UK, who had chosen either individual challenges of 400m, 1.5k, 2.5k, 5k or Triple 5k, or team distances of 1.5k or 5k.

The nationwide format of Swimathon started in 1988 and since then over 700,000 participants have dived into more than 1,000 pools across the UK and have up to this point, raised over £51 million for different charities.

With more than 21,000 swimmers taking to pools around the UK for Swimathon this year, the event has seen an incredible increase of over 1,000 swimmers compared to Swimathon 2018. The introduction of a 400m and Triple 5K challenge in recent years has made Swimathon an accessible challenge for all, which has driven increased participation.

Olympic gold-medallist and Swimathon President Duncan Goodhew said: “It has been a real joy to see Swimathon develop into the great event that it is today and raise so much money for so many worthwhile charities. Swimathon really gives people a chance to get active with friends and family, whilst doing some greater good at the same time. I am so proud that Swimathon gives so many people their first chance to enjoy the water.”

In keeping with Swimathon’s swim for all mentality , this year saw a wide variety of Swimathon Ambasadors from all over the UK participating including Wanda Stockdale and Tamsyn Smith, while new recruits such as the youngest ever Ambassador, Paige Gallagher (14), also hit the water achieving the incredible Triple 5k.

Returning swimmer Wanda once again personified the swim for all mentality stepping up from last year’s 5k swim to tackle the brand new Triple 5k challenge. She proved that even with disabilities you can still achieve greatness in the water.

Marie Curie is the UK’s leading charity for people with any terminal illness. The charity helps people living with a terminal illness and their families make the most of the time they have together by providing hands-on nursing care and expert hospice care, emotional support, research and guidance to improve the way care is provided in the UK. Last year, Marie Curie cared for and supported over 50,000 people affected by terminal illnesses across the UK.

Cancer Research UK is the world’s leading charity dedicated to to saving lives through research. It supports the work of scientists, doctors and nurses who are dedicated to beating cancer by understanding its causes and finding new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent the disease.

Mark Winton, Head of Community Fundraising at Marie Curie, said: “I’d like to say a massive thank you to all of the 21,000 swimmers who went to great lengths during this year’s Swimathon. We’re absolutely delighted that £1.8m has been raised so far, which will help Marie Curie to provide care and support to more people living with any terminal illness and their families.”

Cancer Research UK’s Head of Events and Sports, Emma Hyatt, said: “I’d like to offer a huge congratulations and a massive thank you to all the 21,000 swimmers who took on the challenge at this year’s Swimathon. It is a privilege for Cancer Research UK to partner with such a special event and we are amazed by all the hard work that has gone in to fundraising the £1.8m so far, which will help to fund lifesaving research and help bring forward the day when all cancers can be cured.”

For the past six years, Swimathon has been partnered by Zoggs, whose goggles, swimsuits, learning aids and training accessories have helped millions of swimmers across the world learn to love swimming.

Exciting new changes to the format of the BBL season can now be revealed for the 2019-20 campaign.

A best-of-3 series format will be introduced next season to the Quarter-Final and Semi-Final stages of the BBL Play-Offs ahead of the post-season Finals at The O2 in May, 2020.

Qualification remains the same with the top eight teams in the BBL Championship standings advancing to the Play-Offs, though the regular season now changes to consist of 22 games with the teams playing each other once home and away.

The 2019-20 season will begin in September with BBL Cup action as the start of the regular Championship season follows the conclusion of a new group stage. The 12 BBL sides will be split into two groups of six to play home and away fixtures before the top four in each group advance to the Quarter-Finals.

The top two in each group will host the one-legged ties in the last eight before the Semi-Finals are played over two legs to decide the two teams heading to Arena Birmingham for the Cup Finals on Sunday 26 January, 2020.

The BBL Trophy will remain the same with the adopted bracket format used for the current 2018-19 season retained. The path to the Finals - at Glasgow's Emirates Arena, in March, 2020 - is mapped out with a First Round draw as the 12 BBL sides will again be joined by four invited non-BBL sides.

Fixtures for next season will be revealed in full during the summer.

With just a month to go until dozens of hot air balloons from across the globe ignite their burners at Telford Balloon Fiesta 2019, things are hotting up on the ground too, as ‘Ultimate Strongman’ prepares to come to town, brought to Telford in association with MKM Building Supplies.

Already a massive TV hit on Channel 5, Strongmen from across England and Wales will converge on Telford in two days of free to watch events at the fiesta, to battle for the honour of becoming their country’s National Champion.

Each day, in a gruelling four hours of head-to-head competition, 12 strength athletes will lift, carry, strain and shove their way towards the goal of returning home, trophy in hand as the Strongest Man in their home nation.

Telford & Wrekin Council’s Head of Events Psyche Hudson is delighted that Telford Balloon Fiesta has been chosen as the venue for such a spectacular competition.

‘The Ultimate Strongman event is coup for Telford, offering a very different attraction for the overall programme with added tension and thrills. We are especially pleased that we have attracted the England and Wales finals to the town park for this epic battle of strength and I am sure that families will be very engaged by this fascinating competition.

Each strong man will face five disciplines that test pure strength, grip strength, technical ability and pain tolerance to the limit, overseen by five times UK’s Strongest Man, Glenn Ross.

“I don’t think Telford will have seen anything like Ultimate Strongman before, “ said Ross, “it’s going to be great to bring so many of the UK’s best strength athletes to such  fantastic outdoor family festival”

Wales’s Strongest Man will take place when the crowd’s favourites will be Channel 5 stars Richard Bessant, Ben ‘Badger’ Brunning and the hugely popular 6’6” Welsh Guardsman Gavin Bilton.

England’s strongest men will take to the Arena where among the favourites for glory will be Sheffield duo Paul Smith and Phil Roberts and defending champion Sean Logan.

Both England’s Strongest Man and Wales’s Strongest Man are being backed by Ketley-based MKM Building Supplies which, following a successful involvement with the council supported ‘Let’s Go Quackers’ duck trail in 2018, they are thrilled to be able to work with Telford & Wrekin again on the event.

“It’s fantastic that we can get involved,” says Mark Evans, Branch Director at MKM.

“Telford has been very good to us since we opened here and it’s really important to us to be able to give back something to the community and bringing Strongman to the town is incredibly exciting.”

Wales’s Strongest Man Final kicks off on Saturday 11 May with England’s Strongest Man Final the following day.  Both events take place at the Town Park’s QEII Arena.

The Africa Cup of Nations tournament draw takes place in Cairo, Egypt today. And, ahead of the much anticipated draw - at the Pyramids - the 24 finalists will be placed into six groups of four teams each.

From there 16 teams will progress to the knockout round, using the same format of Uefa Euro 2016 with much of the focus on the dangerous nations including Kenya, Uganda, South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, Mauritania, Benin, Guinea Bissau, Tanzania, Angola, and Madagascar. Potential AFCON dark horses are South Africa with the underrated Zimbabwe also worth a look at.

Making their debuts are Burundi, Madagascar and Mauritania.

Cameroon are the defending champions, beating Egypt in the 2017 final with Liverpool pair Mohamed Salah (Egypt) and Sadio Mane (Senegal), Manchester City's Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) and Crystal Palace forward Wilfried Zaha (Ivory Coast) among the Premier League stars expected to feature.

The original timing of the event was changed from June 15 - July 13 to its current dates to allow players to rest after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan - when Muslims abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset – which is due to start at the beginning of May and last until the beginning of June.c

The AFCON draw takes place at 18:00 GMT. The tournament starts on June 21; with the final set to be played on July 19.

Following the confirmation that triple European champion Dina Asher-Smith will line-up in the women’s 100m at this summer’s Müller Anniversary Games, Jamaican double Olympic champion Elaine Thompson, two-time world 200m champion Dafne Schippers (Netherlands) and double world medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou of the Ivory Coast have all been confirmed to join Asher-Smith on the start-line for the race come July.

Building to be one of the stand-out sprint fields of the summer, the quartet hold a staggering 18 Olympic and World medals between them, with the figure growing to 39 medals when taking European Championships and Commonwealth Games medals into account.

Fresh from history-making exploits in Berlin last summer where she won triple European gold over 100m, 200m and 4x100m, home favourite Asher-Smith will relish taking on some of the quickest women in the world in London when the 100m takes place on Sunday 21^st July at this year’s edition of the event.

Among those aiming to spoil the party is the diminutive Ta Lou, with the Ivorian enjoying magnificent back to back years with world 100m and 200m silver in 2017 being backed up by finishing 2018 as the joint quickest in the world over 100m alongside Asher-Smith.

The athlete with the quickest 100m personal best of the four with 10.70 - the fifth quickest time ever recorded - Elaine Thompson will head into the summer season of 2019 aiming to recapture the type of stunning form that saw her win a historic double sprint gold at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Last but not least, long-time rival of Asher-Smith on both the European and global stage Dafne Schippers will aim to re-address the balance of victories against her sprint rivals come July 21. Returning to the stadium where she successfully retained her world 200m title at London 2017, the third quickest 200m sprinter in history is still very much a force to be reckoned with, as her haul of Olympic, World and European medals go to show.

The Müller Anniversary Games has seen history made on numerous occasions in recent years, with some memorable performances from British names such as Sir Mo Farah, Laura Muir and Asher-Smith herself, while para athletics stars Kare Adenegan and Sophie Hahn both broke world records at the 2018 edition of the event. 

University of Wolverhampton (UWR) Race Team engineering students have unveiled their 2019 MSVR Formula 3 Cup racing car at the Telford Innovation Campus.

The launch event saw team sponsors, students and staff gather together to see the new livery for the very first time ahead of the first race of the 2019 season.

For the past three years, UWR has taken a top three position in the national F3 Cup Driver’s Championship.

As the only University competing in the MSVR F3 Cup, UWR is taking part in all 18 rounds of the competition at world famous tracks including Brands Hatch, home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone, and Donington Park.

An investment of £10 million in the University’s engineering facilities at its Telford Innovation Campus in Priorslee has created world class education facilities for engineering students including industry standard design, development and testing facilities. Students from across the School of Engineering and the wider University test, prepare and race the cars, learning all the skills required to be part of the highly competitive world of motorsport.

UWR takes part in the F3 Cup Championship, the IMechE Formula Student competition, the British Hillclimb Championship (driven by University of Wolverhampton Honorary Graduate, Graham Wynn OBE) and also race three Morgan development cars in the AR Morgan Challenge on behalf of the Morgan Motor Company.

‌Dr Syed Hasan, Head of the School of Engineering, said: “The significant investment we have made in engineering on the campus has provided us with facilities which are amongst the best in the country combined with a really attractive course offering for students who want to study engineering.

“With a competitive motor racing team and committed sponsors, our students have a real hands-on engineering experience which meets the needs of future employers.

“On behalf of UWR, we thank our sponsors for their contributions which make our success possible.”

Andrew Down, Motorsport Engineering student and Head F3 Data Engineer, said: "The launch was very successful and it was great to see the majority of the sponsors in attendance.

“Without their support we would be unable to compete in this high end motorsport series. The skills, knowledge and experience I have gained is invaluable to the progression of my career in Motorsport."

The first race event of the F3 Cup season takes place on 6^th and 7^th April at Donington Park National.

UWR Team sponsors include official engine sponsor Securi-flex, official oils supplier Advanced Lubricant Solutions, FBC Manby Bowdler, Santander, Oceanscan, the Engineering Integrity Society, the Manufacturing Technologies Association, ActionPlas, Wynn Developments, Pro-Fix Access, Tungaloy UK, Technia, Sercal NDT, Quickgrind, Specsavers Telford, Laser Process, Dassault Systemes, Beta Tools, Graphite Additive Manufacturing, MTD CNC, HCi Systems, Hex Vinyl, Lenovo, Salop Design & Engineering, Zuken, Evolution Measurement,  Boneham & Turner, Varley Red Top, Hub Le Bas and MyWorkWear.

A talented University of Wolverhampton footballer has been selected to play for the English Universities squad.

Student Lowri Walker is captain of the WLV Women’s team who recently won the BUCS Conference Cup.

The 21-year-old Sports Scholar will earn her first cap for the English Universities Women’s Football team at the Home Nations Tournament in Cardiff this month.

Lowri, from Aberystwyth, is in her third year of a BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science at the University’s Walsall Campus.

The central midfielder said: “I’m delighted to have been selected for the English Universities Team and look forward to meeting up with the girls on the 15 April in Cardiff. I have worked hard this year for club and University so it is really nice it has paid off and I impressed at the trial the other week.”

Lowri was one of a select group of leading footballers from women’s football clubs at UK universities who recently visited Barcelona to take part in a programme of events, tours and training focused on leadership.

The Women in Football event, organised by Santander Universities, was designed to help build critical thinking and management skills for female talent, both through sporting and wider leadership activity.

The Home Nations is a university sports competition between England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It sees teams competing in a selection of sports across two days to crown an overall nation as champion.

The University of Wolverhampton is leading the way with supporting talented athletes in education after being accredited by a new initiative.

The Sport England-backed ‘Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme (TASS)’ programme supports young sportspeople to have the opportunity to gain qualifications alongside their sporting pursuits.

Bess Evans, Head of WLV Sport at the University, said: “We’re delighted to have been awarded TASS Dual Career Accreditation, and although the University has always encouraged and supported flexible learning for our elite athletes, the accreditation goes further to endorse our ambitions to create sporting hubs within the learning environment.

“Our reputation has grown in regards to the delivery of high performance sport, with an emphasis on ensuring it is underpinned by a strong foundation of growing our own talent. We are also very focused on managing expectations – there is no guarantee of success – so student athletes need to back up their sporting potential with a balance of education and qualifications.”

For student athletes, the academic flexibility policies may mean they have the opportunity to access online notes or resources, are able to arrange catch up sessions with lecturers, or even reschedule deadlines or exam dates in exceptional circumstances.

Meanwhile for the University of Wolverhampton, the recognition of becoming a TASS Dual Career Accredited Site is expected to be beneficial by attracting a greater number of talented athletes and building connections with other local sporting institutions.

As a Dual Career Accredited Site, University of Wolverhampton will be an important extension of the network of universities that already partner with TASS, delivering core support services to more than 600 student athletes each year.

All Dual Career Accredited Sites receive training and a toolkit of resources to equip them with practical dual career support and bring together all parties who work with the athlete.

TASS National Director, Guy Taylor, said: “We’re delighted to be awarding TASS Dual Career Accreditation to colleges and universities across England.

“Dual career support is at the forefront of what TASS does and that’s why the Accreditation Scheme is so important for us in recognising those institutions who place precedence on their athletes’ education too.

“We hope that the academic flexibility policies put into place for the accreditation will begin to develop an effective and lasting dual career structure within each institution.

“Congratulations to the successful institutions and we look forward to working alongside many more outstanding colleges and universities in the near future.”

Tottenham Hotspur made an emotional return to Haringey on Wednesday night as the new 62,062 capacity stadium opened its doors for its first Premier League game.

The club have been playing at Wembley Stadium since May 2017 while the new multi-purpose venue has been built, but they finally returned to their spiritual home in Haringey when they faced Crystal Palace.

The council has been working with the club ahead of the big opening and – following two test events – gave final approval for the stadium to officially open its doors.

Haringey’s building control team presented the stadium’s safety certificate to Spurs chairman Daniel Levy on the pitch before the game.

Council Leader Councillor Joseph Ejiofor attended the match and said: “We are thrilled to welcome Tottenham Hotspur back to their home in Haringey and to see them performing at one of Europe’s biggest and best stadiums.

“The victory on Wednesday night was an outstanding way to mark the opening of the new stadium.

“Spurs keep our borough on the world stage, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors from across the globe for matches, NFL games, concerts and other world class events.

“The stadium will provide hundreds of jobs for residents and provide a major economic boost to local businesses. Our number one priority is that this stadium works for our residents and we will continue to work with the club to ensure people in Haringey feel the benefits of this fantastic destination.”

The new stadium – and development around it – will bring in jobs, housing, and a major economic boost to the area. Through the Northumberland Development Project, the club has built 256 affordable homes elsewhere in North Tottenham and a 400-pupil primary school.

This is part of Haringey Council’s wider vision for North Tottenham aimed at improving the area for people living there.

The council’s 2,500-home High Road West scheme will deliver high-quality council homes at council rent which will be managed by Homes for Haringey, plus affordable homes for local people.

It will also deliver jobs, a new library and learning centres, a civic square for activities and cultural events, green spaces including gardens, a play area and an outdoor gym, plus shops and restaurants.

There will be more than £10million in social and economic support for businesses and residents.

With the new stadium’s increased capacity, there will also be some changes around the stadium when it comes to travel and road traffic management, controlled parking zones and the closure of roads in the build-up to the game.

Cllr Charles Adje, Cabinet Member for Strategic Regeneration, said: “The new stadium – and development around it – will provide jobs, housing, and a major economic boost to the area. Alongside this, the council has committed to delivering thousands of new homes in North Tottenham to meet urgent need, including a large contribution to our pledge of delivering 1,000 new council homes by 2022. Our number one priority is that any change in Tottenham works for our existing residents and businesses – they are at the forefront of all of our plans and always will be.”

Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said: “Last month we achieved a safety certificate for Test Events. I should like to thank the Planning and Building Control departments of Haringey Council for the many hours and hard work to get us to this stage.

“We did not just want to build a stadium. We wanted to change the prospects for those that live in this part of London, and for our stadium to be the flagship development that kickstarted its regeneration.

“We see it as bringing hope, prosperity and uplift to Tottenham, embracing the local community, building on the character and talents of the area. Our vision is that our neighbourhood is a prosperous mixed community. If you live here you should be able to study, work and play here.”

Watford FC goalkeeper Ben Foster has become a Patron of blood cancer charity Cure Leukaemia. The 36-year-old former England international shot stopper has been an active supporter of the charity since taking part in Cure Leukaemia’s London 2 Paris bike ride in 2015 to aid his recovery from a knee injury.

Having cycled alongside the charity’s co-founders Professor Charlie Craddock CBE and Graham Silk, CEO James McLaughlin and fellow Patron Geoff Thomas that year, Ben was fully immersed in the charity and has been keen to help ever since.

Ben, who lives near Leamington Spa, has helped raised over £10,000 for Cure Leukaemia through auctioning the match-worn shirts of his Premier League opponents which this season have included Liverpool’s Alisson Becker and Manchester United’s David de Gea.

He has also supported Cure Leukaemia with numerous video messages for patients and supporters, helped the charity launch its £1m Appeal to expand the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s globally significant Centre for Clinical Haematology in early 2017 and he donated a plaque for three years on a special wall that will soon be installed at the Centre in Birmingham.

Speaking at a recent event in Leamington Spa promoting Cure Leukaemia’s cycling events he said: “I am thrilled to be a Patron of Cure Leukaemia. I’ve been involved with the charity for four years now and it has become very close to my heart. I am very fortunate that my family has not been touched by blood cancer but we have seen the football community rocked by Carl Ikeme and Stiliyan Petrov being diagnosed in recent years and of course Geoff Thomas too.

“It is such an indiscriminate disease that affects people from all walks of life, young or old and any level of fitness and Cure Leukaemia is a charity that is fighting back and being proactive in trying to find a cure as quickly as possible.”

Ben met a teenage leukaemia patient called Harrison Price at the launch event in 2017 and he has followed his treatment closely ever since and he was delighted to see him with his family last week.

“It was great to see Harry, I love that kid, he always has a massive smile and I forgive him for being a big Aston Villa fan! I know he has a rare form of blood cancer and it’s another reason why supporting charities like Cure Leukaemia is so important so that more can be done to help people like Harry.

“I know Harry’s mum and dad are cycling the Velo Birmingham and Midlands on 12th May so I’m going to sponsor them with the funds raised from David de Gea’s shirt! I’m so glad the shirt idea has worked so well, I’m really grateful to all the players that have supported this and everyone who has bid to raise funds for the charity.”

Cure Leukaemia Chairman Ian Allen said: “Ben is a fantastic person and typifies the spirit of Cure Leukaemia. We are delighted to have him as a Patron and I know that his involvement will be a huge benefit to our charity for years to come.

We wish him well for the rest of the season and for the FA Cup Semi-Final this weekend.”