'None of them done themselves any harm' - Kerr praises young Buddies
St Mirren assistant manager Brian Kerr says "a few staked their claim" in the Buddies comfortable pre-season friendly win against Dumbarton.Mikael Mandron opened the scoring for Stephen Robinson's side before Roland Idowu added a double and James Scott rounded off the scoring with a late goal."I think it's always important that strikers get opportunities and chances," Kerr said. "We've managed to get Mika, Roland and James all scoring goals today, which is pleasing for us and important for them on a personal point of view. "A good workout, a good performances along the way with young boys and with some of the experienced ones."There's a couple of them really state their claim for their place in the season."The Buddies had a number of academy graduates and young players out at The Rock, and Kerr added "none of them have done themselves any harm"."It's great for the young boys to come in," he added. "Obviously, Callum [Penman] and Evan [Mooney] came in last season. We've got Billy [Hutchison] and Thomas [Falconer] that came in and performed very, very well."Opportunities are there for the boys if they want to take them. Certainly, none of them have done themselves any harm."
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The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Women's Euro 2025 team guides: Netherlands
This article is part of the Guardian's Euro 2025 Experts' Network, a cooperation between some of the best media organisations from the 16 countries who qualified. is running previews from two teams each day in the run-up to the tournament kicking off on 2 July. The Netherlands did not have a smooth journey to the Euros and qualified in the final group game, away against Norway in the coastal town of Bergen. They were 1-0 down until Vivianne Miedema avoided disaster for the coach, Andries Jonker, by scoring an equaliser. They would surely have reached Switzerland via the playoffs but nearly missing out on automatic qualification is a snapshot of where the team are. The main problem, as for some time, was a lack of punch: in the six group matches they never scored more than one goal. Injuries have played a big part since Jonker took over after a disappointing Euro 2022, and the past year has been no different. Miedema was coming back from a cruciate ligament injury and suffered a few niggles on the way while Jill Roord and Victoria Pelova also sustained ACL injuries. The Oranje goalkeeper Daphne van Domselaar, meanwhile, was also forced to miss the important home game against the group winners Italy. That match began a new era for the side, being the first one after the retirement of Lieke Martens, who had announced she was hanging up her boots the previous month. Up until the last friendly before the Euros, Jonker had opted for a 5-3-2 (or 3-5-2). It had proved the most successful for him and the team. At the 2023 World Cup he played with wing-backs Esmee Brugtsand Pelova. However, against Finland towards the end of June – with Lineth Beerensteyn injured – he reverted to a more traditional Dutch 4-3-3 and may well start the tournament that way. There is healthy competition in central defence where Sherida Spitse looks set to lose her place to the teenage sensation Veerle Buurman. In January Andries Jonker was told the Dutch FA (KNVB) did not want him to continue after the Euros. Jonker was furious, disappointed and offended, but he would not reveal the reason behind his departure. 'That is something the technical director, Nigel de Jong, will have to do,' he said. Jonker has not been keen to make many changes and that has resulted in an ageing squad. The number of players over 30 is significant. However, with a quarter-final at the 2023 World Cup, reaching the semis of the 2024 Nations League and qualifying for Euro 2025, it cannot be said Jonker has failed. Other countries, however, have made more progress in that time. For years Miedema was the undisputed Oranje star with Roord, Jackie Groenen and Daniëlle van de Donk just behind her. Lineth Beerensteyn often had to play a supporting role to those players but no longer. In the past two seasons the Netherlands have come to rely on the Wolfsburg player's goals. She doesn't score the flashiest goals but finishes with both feet – and her head. She is unpredictable and extremely fast. 'I'm getting better at recognising which runs to make and knowing which angle to shoot from,' she said recently. 'That is happening more and more.' Was carrying a knock coming into the tournament and may not be fully fit for the first game. Sign up to Moving the Goalposts No topic is too small or too big for us to cover as we deliver a twice-weekly roundup of the wonderful world of women's football after newsletter promotion Renate Jansen has been in the squad for what seems like ages but is still not among the best-known players. Maybe because she has never played abroad. A No 10 or a winger, Jansen has been named the Eredivisie MVP on several occasions during spells with Den Haag, Twente and PSV. She has good memories of playing group rivals England, having scored a beauty against the Lionesses in a 2-1 win in September 2023. 'Lieke Martens played a beautiful through ball between two opponents. I thought I shouldn't take a touch so just hit it. It went nicely into the top corner.' Probable lineup Much was expected of the women's Eredivisie following the outstanding performances of the Orange Lionesses during the Wiegman era but the domestic top flight has been overtaken by the Spanish and Italian leagues. Other countries such as England, France and Germany, were already miles ahead. Most clubs are semi-pro and the minimum requirement for a licence is three players earning at least the minimum wage. The average age of the playing squads is getting lower and most of this squad play abroad. There is some stardust, though, including the USWNT player Lily Yohannes, who plays for Ajax. The average attendance is 1,100 and ESPN has the broadcast rights. The knockout stages seem unlikely. The group is hard, including France and England, and the recent heavy defeat against Germany showed how far they have fallen. Too old, no form, and little belief in the manager. The Netherlands team guide was written by Steven Kooijman for De Telegraaf.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Pubs reveal expected boost to economy from Euro 2025
UK pubs are anticipating a significant economic uplift this summer, with the Uefa Women's Euros expected to drive millions of additional pint sales, according to a leading trade body. The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) projects that pubs could pull an extra 2.6 million pints during the tournament. The estimate is based on an anticipated surge in beer sales during matches compared to the annual daily average. The tournament kicks off in Switzerland on 2 July, with England's Lionesses and Wales playing their opening fixtures on 5 July. Further boosting potential custom, pubs may also be granted extended opening hours should England or Wales advance to the final stages of the competition. The BBPA, whose members brew 90 per cent of British beer and own nearly half of UK pubs, said this could deliver a £13 million boost to the economy. Furthermore, pubs could be allowed to stay open beyond their usual closing time if either of the two countries reach the semi-finals or final of the Euros, which will take place towards the end of July. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the BBPA, said: 'The pub has forever been regarded as a home away from home, especially for sports fans, so it's no surprise that fans will be flocking to the pub to cheer on our brilliant teams.' However, Ms McClarkin renewed calls for the Government to 'level the playing field and reduce beer duty', with England and Wales paying the fourth-highest tax rate compared with other nations competing in the tournament, she said. Alcohol duty is paid by manufacturers when they make their products, and the duty is generally then passed on to consumers through prices. Duty on draught pints was cut by 1.7 per cent earlier in the year – meaning a penny off a pint in the pub.
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
Survey reveals true cost of children's sports – and which is the most expensive
Parents in the UK are spending an average of £443 annually to support their children 's participation in sporting activities, a new survey suggests. The poll, conducted for payment provider Clearpay, found that children involved in organised sport typically engage in three different activities each year. Football emerged as the most popular choice, played by 62 per cent of children, followed by swimming at 42 per cent, and dance at 20 per cent. However, the cost of participation varies significantly across sports. Hockey was identified as the most expensive, with parents shelling out an average of £460 per year. Dance and basketball followed, costing £395 and £372 respectively, while tennis (£359) and gymnastics (£350) also ranked among the pricier options. The survey also broke down where the majority of the funds are allocated. Lessons and coaching represent the largest outgoing cost, averaging £81. Specialist kit accounts for £67, with footwear, including football boots and trainers, adding another £66 to the annual expenditure. Budgets also stretch to travel (£62), club memberships (£59) and equipment (£43). Despite the cost, almost two-thirds of parents (65 per cent) say they place no financial limit on how much they will spend to support their child's sport. However, the cost-of-living crisis has also had an impact, with more than half of parents (53 per cent) saying it has limited the number of sports their child can try. More than one in five parents (21 per cent) also admit they regret how much they have spent on sporting activities that their children have since given up. The poll also found major events have motivated nearly a quarter of children (24 per cent) to try a new sport, with 37 per cent of parents reporting that watching Wimbledon inspired their children to pick up a racquet for the first time. Rich Bayer, UK country manager at Clearpay, said: 'Parents are committed to giving their children access to different sports, which inevitably comes with a price tag. 'Ultimately, this investment will hopefully create a generation of people with a lifelong love of sport and active lifestyles.' Opinium surveyed 2,000 parents with children aged between five and 17 between 13 and 20 June.
