
Sam Thompson pulls out of Soccer Aid match last minute after THAT awkward interaction with Louis Tomlinson
During an appearance on Friday's episode of This morning, the 32-year-old confirmed the devastating news that he won't be taking part in the charity match this Sunday (15 June).
It comes after he suffered a string of injuries, including a calf injury, after his 260-mile Soccer Aid challenge at the start of the month.
Now, instead of playing the game, the reality star will be helping from the sidelines as a coach.
Host Alison Hammond, 50, was keen to know how he's been since his injury, asking: 'Have you recovered, how are you doing?'
Sam replied: 'I'm still very sore, still got the torn calf, however I am here at Soccer Aid HQ and it does not get better than this.
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During an appearance on Friday's episode of This morning, the 32-year-old confirmed the devastating news that he won't be taking part in the charity match this Sunday (15 June)
'We've still got the management team of England, we've got Vicky McClure, Tyson Fury, who's stepping into some new shoes and Harry Redknapp...
'But also because I'm not going to be able to run around, you've also got me, part of the management team. Come on baby!'
Dermot said: 'So you can't play this year obviously because you're literally falling apart.
'So is that right? you're not going to play but you're part of the management team?'
Sam said: 'Yeah I came here with high hopes and went to see Gary the physio and I can kick a ball from a standing start, but when it comes to like general chaos of playing competitive sport there's just no way.
'I cant really run properly so yeah. They were very kind and said we still want you to be a part, so I get to go on the dark side with Tyson Fury.'
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The Sun
13 minutes ago
- The Sun
We married ‘down' – it's the secret to a sizzling sex life
WHEN red-haired student Jess met trainee bricklayer Bradley in a nightclub, the spark between them was unmistakeable. But while 20-year-old Jess was quickly smitten with her handsome boyfriend, not everyone was quite so pleased. 4 'Bradley bought me a drink, chatted me up and made me laugh,' recalls Jess, then a chemistry undergraduate at the University of Manchester. 'When he asked for my number my university mates were horrified.' It was a similar story with her upper middle class parents. Did poor Brad have bad breath or a drug habit which put off her friends? No. His crime was not having a degree — with Jess's friends and family claiming she was 'dating down'. And she's not the only one. With far more girls now going to university than boys in Britain, increasing number of couples are made up of a white collar wife and blue collar bloke — with some claiming this pairing is the secret to both a healthy bank balance and a sizzling sex life. 'Breath of fresh air' Jess, 30, says: 'Mum and dad made it clear even socialising with a tradie was out of the question — a girl like me was better and smarter than that. 'They wanted the best for me, but I found it boring. 'They wanted me to marry up. Behind the Scenes with Celebs: The Rise of Couples Counselling 'Their friends were constantly bragging about the wealthy or well-to-do husbands their daughters were marrying.' But when Bradley asked Jess out, she instinctively wanted to say yes. She said: 'My inner rebel geek took hold. 'Brad was honest from the start, admitting he'd grown up on a local estate, had been a bit of a ladies' man and wasn't parent-pleasing material. 'He made me laugh, he had great banter and he could fix things.' And Bradley, 41, excelled in another area. Jess says: 'He's also an amazing kisser, great in bed and a lover who was definitely good with his hands.' While once it was the done thing for women to 'marry up' for financial reasons, the tables have turned. Last year, over half of British women reported feeling financially independent. Now females have more freedom when choosing their spouse — and are plumping for males who are more physical and practical than brainy breadwinners. Women are more likely to go to universit y than men. In 2018, 53.6 per cent of girls went on to higher education, compared to 40.2 per cent of boys. Like most women I've always had a 'perfect-man checklist. When I met Rob he didn't tick any of those boxes but I soon discovered that my list was snobby and shallow Laura It seems to be a global trend, with stats showing females being more educated than males in the US, France and Belgium too. This means the dating pool of men at university has dwindled while women can rely on themselves financially. Plus a survey by Materials Market found 74 per cent of women partnered with a blue collar worker said they were good in bed or better than more learned blokes. After seven years together, Jess and Bradley, who live in Chichester, West Sussex, married in 2022 and welcomed their son a year later. Jess says: 'People who think marrying down is wrong are just snobs. 'Brad's amazing in bed, better than university lads. 'Our marriage will last, while girls I know who married up are already divorced.' 4 4 Bradley thinks the marriage works because the couple bring their 'brains and brawn together'. Jess agrees. She adds: 'I may be the brains but he works hard for his money. 'He's not obsessed with keeping up with the Joneses and I find that to be a breath of fresh air. 'When we met, he was living paycheck to paycheck but he still continued to treat me like a princess. 'He wasn't bothered that I was smarter than him. 'When I started work as a specialist pharmacist he was thrilled and didn't care that I earned double his wage. 'I fell out with some of my posh pals who accused me of dating down and slumming it. Brad's building a business. He admits he doesn't understand chemistry, I don't understand the difference between a spanner and a screwdriver Jess 'Brad's building a business. 'He admits he doesn't understand chemistry, I don't understand the difference between a spanner and a screwdriver. 'Tradies are never out of work, they are in demand, and they have great chat. 'I'd rather be with a tradie than a doctor or surgeon.' As for her parents, Jess says: 'When they met Bradley they didn't like him. 'But after a year he'd won them over with his charm, kindness and commitment to our family.' Privately educated Laura Dolphin, 38, had a similar experience when she found love with husband Rob, 40, who left school at the age of 16 to become a mechanic. 'I went to a posh private school and some of my friends were determined to marry up and nab the richest and poshest husbands,' says Laura, who lives in Northampton with Rob and their seven-year-old daughter. 'I have dated lawyers and uber-wealthy businessmen with expensive motors and pedigree backgrounds.' Before meeting Rob in 2013, Laura, who is a CEO for a global company, was in a relationship with someone she describes as a 'super academic' from a wealthy family. She says: 'It ended when I realised he'd never consider me his equal or be interested in my goals. 'I'd realised marrying up meant living your husband's life.' Rob was a corporal in the British Army when he and Laura met. 'Like most women I've always had a 'perfect-man checklist',' she says. 'When I met Rob he didn't tick any of those boxes but I soon discovered that my list was snobby and shallow. 'When he wasn't fixing vehicles in the Army, he taught skiing. 'I was a learner in one of his classes when we met, and for a week, he saw me falling over, sliding on my butt, and making a fool of myself. 'He wasn't someone I'd ever considered dating material but on the last night we shared a drink, had a laugh and he asked for my number. 'Within days, he called. 'We had the same dark sense of humour. 'I'd been an Army reservist, and we could talk about anything. 'They were snobs' 'He didn't care if I'd been to a private school or was a CEO earning more than him. 'He was my opposite and yet we fit. 'When I told a close friend about him she was stunned, telling me he was 'below my rank' and she didn't like him. 'Her response was shocking — we haven't spoken since.' While they may be opposites, Laura says they were the perfect match, marrying in 2016. 'I do the finances, all the household planning and organisation, the timetables and schedules and Rob does the heavy lifting,' she says. 'Instead of the mansion and posh cars I dreamt of, we live in a three-bed terrace with a veggie patch and chickens. 'Rob thinks lots of my mates look down on him, but they're jealous. 'So many of my friends are divorced and those who are still single can't find a man. 'My advice is to chuck out the checklist and marry down — it's a recipe for a happy life.' Rob agrees. He says: 'She's the boss and brains, but being the brawn means I have my uses, too. 'The moment I met Laura, I felt a connection. 'We know our marriage will last.' Dating coach and relationship expert James Preece, owner of HeraHaven, has seen a rise in women looking for 'high emotional intelligence' rather than someone who can provide for them. He says: 'They understand that relationship success comes from having similar values and life goals, and are comfortable with being the main earner.' Pensions and human resources executive Paige Bournett lives in Worcester with her fiance, forklift driver Adam Taylor, 38. They have been together seven years and are getting married in 2026. I was raised to be prim and proper. I was told to stay at school, go to university and marry a lawyer, doctor or businessman Paige Paige, 31, tried 'dating up' but found the men boring, bad in bed and only interested in their needs. She says: 'I was raised to be prim and proper. 'I was told to stay at school, go to university and marry a lawyer, doctor or businessman. 'But every super geek or university lad who asked me out didn't care about my needs. 'When I met Adam at a nightclub in 2018, he was cocky, sure of himself and full of funny banter. 'I was in heaven.' At the time, Adam was in between jobs but this did not deter Paige. Within two months they were a couple and Adam, who left school at 16, spent time on Universal Credit and flitting between part-time low-level jobs. Paige recalls: 'My posh friends were horrified he didn't have a career or 'prospects.' 'I didn't care, they were snobs. 'I had the checklist for a husband — a rich man who would have a big house and I wouldn't have to work. 'Instead, I found a fella who is a forklift driver and earns less than me but is a dedicated fiance and who loves me. 'My checklist was silly, I'd be unhappily single if I'd stuck to it. 'My single friends who at first slagged off my choice are now asking him to introduce them to his tradie mates.' Adam adds: 'Paige was posh and prim when I met her, but she was not a snob. 'She's my uptown girl and I am proud to be her downtown man.'


The Guardian
16 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Sabalenka ousts former doubles partner Mertens to reach Wimbledon quarter-finals
Tennis players often say it's hard to play against a friend, the killer instinct never quite as easy to call on as it might be against someone else. Aryna Sabalenka, the world No 1, has rarely had that problem, but she was pushed hard by her former doubles partner Elise Mertens before winning through 6-4, 7-6 (4) to reach the quarter-finals. Mertens had won just two sets in their past nine matches but played as good a match as she has ever done at Wimbledon, and still came out on the wrong side. Sabalenka hit 36 winners and made just 18 unforced errors, coming from 3-1 down in the second set to set up a quarter-final against Laura Siegemund of Germany. 'It's tough to play against someone you know quite close,' Sabalenka said. 'She's a great player, great person. It's tricky facing her. I know how smart she is, I know she's going to fight til the very end and she will be trying to find something. She really challenged me today, I'm super happy with the win.' This is the only grand slam event in which Sabalenka has yet to make the final, but the Belarusian said her belief was growing. 'I always dreamed of winning it. Every time on this court, I'm trying to give my best tennis, trying to fight for every point and really hope for the best.' Challenged by Emma Raducanu in the previous round, Sabalenka broke in the fourth game on her way to a 4-1 lead. But Mertens, returning sharply and using her forehand slice when out of position to make life awkward for Sabalenka, hit back and levelled at 4-4. But every time it seems as if Sabalenka is on the back foot, she takes back control. A good hold of serve put her in front again and she ripped a backhand winner to take the set. Mertens continued to play with poise, mixing nice touch with crisp groundstrokes and good serving and the Belgian claimed a 3-1 lead in the second set. Again Sabalenka dug deep, breaking back for 3-3 and taking command of the tie-break to win it 7-4 and take her place in the last eight. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Siegemund reached the quarter-finals here for the first time, following up her win over Madison Keys in the previous round with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Solana Sierra, the lucky loser from Argentina who took out Katie Boulter in round two.


BBC News
16 minutes ago
- BBC News
T20 Blast round-up: Notts in last gasp win and Essex finally off the mark
Nottinghamshire Outlaws grabbed a narrow and thrilling victory over Leicestershire Foxes, winning by one wicket with one ball to spare, on a day which saw Durham, Derbyshire and Worcestershire all post wins in T20 Blast North defended a big total, Derbyshire chased one down and Northants' slide continued, this time at the hands of in the South Group, Essex claimed their first win in a rain-affected game with Surrey, while Somerset, Gloucestershire and Glamorgan were also the prize for the most nerve-racking finish went to Trent Bridge. After visitors Leicestershire had posted 188-2 from 20 overs, with half-centuries from Rishi Patel (51) and Sol Budinger (56), Nottinghamshire had looked in control of the chase after 50 from Joe Clarke and a gutsy cameo from Tom Moores (42). But the loss of Moores for the seventh wicket saw the game tighten with 10 still needed from 14 balls and prompted a late five for the win and four for a tie from the final over, three singles then a wicket brought last man Farhan Ahmed to the crease with two needed from two hit out to the cover boundary was gathered by his brother Rehan but with Farhan gambling on a second the throw came in just too late to prevent Notts getting home. Elsewhere in North Group, Derbyshire Falcons pulled off a brilliant run chase anchored around a stunning knock from Aneurin Donald to deny Yorkshire at contributions throughout the Yorkshire batting effort saw them rack up 200-6 from their 20 Donald then hit a 13-ball 50 to equal Marcus Trescothick's T20 Blast record on the way to 85 off 35 deliveries, including eight fours and seven sixes, to set up an improbable Donald fell at 125-2, Ross Whiteley (29) and Wayne Madsen (38) still had work to do but the pair brought home only the third win of their Blast campaign by seven wickets with 16 balls to left Derbyshire still bottom, level on points with Yorkshire but behind on net run rate. They are eight points off fourth spot and, with four games to go, remain in contention for a quarter-final spot. Northants Steelbacks continue to battle to pull out of a worrying tailspin, with Worcestershire Rapids inflicting a fourth-straight defeat on David Willey's quarter-final contenders, who remain Finch posted figures of 3-28 as Northants were restricted to 152-9 and Kashif Ali did the damage with the bat as Worcestershire recovered from a horror start at hit 88 in 46 balls with seven fours and six sixes to tilt the match back in the Rapids' favour, with the visitors running out winners by six wickets with 20 balls to spare. And Durham saw off a spirited chase from Birmingham Bears to stay on the heels of leaders Lancashire Lightning, level on points but behind on net run Rhodes's 36-ball 51 against his former side was the cornerstone of a solid batting display from the hosts, who reached 182-7 despite another good spell from Hasan Ali, who finished with separate double-wicket bursts in close succession took crucial momentum from the Bears' chase, the visitors eventually falling eight runs short despite 49 from Ed Barnard. Essex finally land win as Somerset down Hawks to stay top Essex finally got their T20 season up and running by getting the better of a turbo-charged chase after rain reduced their match against Surrey to a 12 overs per side shootout.A ferocious display with the bat from the hosts, which featured eight sixes and 11 fours, helped Surrey post an imposing 141-6, a total which looked set to condemn Essex to yet another a superb opening partnership of 64 in 27 balls between Michael Pepper (36 in 15 balls) and Paul Walter (55 in 26) put them on Zampa looked to have wrested that momentum back in Surrey's favour with 3-14 in his three overs as the nerves set needing 30 from the last three, then 18 from the last two, Essex needed seven from the final over off Sam Curran to secured at least a tie with the penultimate delivery, Matt Critchley found the point boundary to secure victory off the final ball. Hampshire Hawks' new signing Chris Lynn was unable to back up his debut half-century after sustaining an injury in Saturday's victory over Sussex his absence, James Vince (82) and Joe Weatherley (60) had helped the Hawks to what looked a decent enough 178-3 in 20 overs. Yet it was to prove just short as Somerset chased down the target, winning by four wickets with one ball to 89-run partnership for the fourth wicket between Sean Dickson (52 in 33 balls) and Tom Abell (37) teed up Ben Green and Lewis Goldsworthy, who both cleared the ropes in the final six deliveries to confirm the walloped Kent Spitfires, winning by six wickets with 50 balls to spare at Sophia Gardens. Ned Leonard (4-17) and Andy Gorvin (4-26) did the damage with the ball as Kent were restricted to terminally under par three wickets in six balls derailed a Middlesex chase at the death as Gloucestershire successfully defended their total of 204-5, winning by nine runs.D'Arcy Short's 48-ball 83 proved the centrepiece of an excellent batting effort from Gloucestershire but Middlesex made a decent stab of chasing it down, reaching 169-4 with 13 balls Higgins then hit his own wicket off the bowling of David Payne and then two wickets in five balls from Josh Shaw, who finished with 3-48, left Middlesex with too much to Cracknell and Zafar Gohar combined for three sixes in the final over but it was not enough to prevent last year's T20 Blast champions posting a fourth consecutive victory.