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BBC News
26 minutes ago
- BBC News
Swansea beaten by Cheltenham
Swansea City lost 2-1 away to Mike Flynn's Cheltenham Town in their latest pre-season friendly on Wednesday hosts went ahead early in the second half but Swansea levelled when a Cheltenham player conceded an own goal from Josh Tymon's the League Two side secured the victory during the final 10 minutes with Lee Angol scoring for the hosts.
The Sun
26 minutes ago
- The Sun
Win free kit for your kids' football team courtesy of Octopus Energy in our brilliant competition
FANCY getting your kids' footie team kitted out for the new season? The Sun has teamed up with Octopus Energy to offer 100 teams across the UK a FREE set of football strips including shirts, shorts and goalie kits. There are 1,000 Octopus-sponsored kits up for grabs and the 100 selected teams will be able to choose from 13 kit options in different colourways. Apply by midnight on July 31 and the kits will be ready for the new season in September. Open to teams serving children aged 16 and below, you just need to enter the code SUNOCTOKIT, tell us your team name, age group and contact details. The energy firm started its Kits For Kids drive last year and gave away 27,000 strips to clubs around the country. The costs of kits is one of the biggest outlays for grassroots clubs, with average prices for strips costing £250-£300 in total. After seeing huge demand for its original campaign, Octopus has teamed up with us to offer a special batch of strips just for Sun readers. Rebecca Dibb-Simkin, chief product officer at Octopus Energy, said: 'We've decked out more than 27,000 kids in free Octopus Kits, and we're delighted to extend an exclusive offer to Sun readers with an extra 1,000 strips. 'With opportunities for grassroots teams to win more goodies and awesome prizes, we can't wait to see the next generation of stars dazzle their opponents in their new Octokits.' Here we meet some of the teams who benefitted last year. Footie hero backs campaign to give grassroots football teams free kits - here's how to get your freebies SAVING SOULS FC 3 SAVING Souls established a football team for young women and girls in Lewisham, South East London, in 2024 with the aim of creating a community, combating isolation and helping mental health. A Savings Souls men's team launched in 2022 but founder Kerry Phillips, 38, wanted to set up a women's team, too. He said: 'Thanks to the Octopus kit we have now been able to realise our dream of establishing a women and girls' team because our funds go much further as the kit costs are covered. 'Before then, our ambitions were limited by resources. 'We chose bright yellow shirts and black shorts because we want women's football to shine bright.' Saving Souls goes beyond football. At the end of every session there is a circle where the players can chat and older girls can mentor younger girls. Club captain Nevaeh Phillips said: 'Our new kit really gives us our own identity, separate from the boys' team. 'It's vibrant and unique, and it will help us stand out, attracting more girls and young women.' POOLE TOWN FC WESSEX 3 POOLE Town FC Wessex began in 1989 with just one team. Today they have grown to 29 teams providing football for 400 local children. The club is also linked to the Poole Town Kids Initiative, which provides free football sessions for youngsters across the area. Alex Crabb, coach at Poole Town FC Wessex Under-8s, said: 'Football clubs unite all people from different cultures and backgrounds and bring them together with a shared passion. 'By having access to initiatives like this, it's enabled the children to feel proud to be part of a team and learn social and sporting skills.' Austin Smyth, one of the players with the Under-8s, said: 'I love the kit, especially the bright, cool colour of it. 'I've been wearing it to the park, around the house and to school on special days.' ALMONDSBURY UTD FC, GLOUCS 3 THE Gloucestershire team has been a powerhouse for youth football since it was established in 1969. With more than 300 kids playing each week, plus a men's team, the Under-11s side were the lucky winners of the Octokits. Coach Matthew Jackson, 41, said: 'The free Almondsbury Utd kit is a dream come true. 'The vibrant colour is eye-catching, and the quality is top-notch. 'Plus, the iconic club crest adds the perfect finishing touch. 'The kids love it and they all feel like they've won a competition.' Club player Lana-Jane Roberts, 11, said: 'Thank you Octopus Energy for supporting Almondsbury United FC in making us a kit. 'I love how the blue, pink and white looks. 'I really feel it makes us look like a professional team. 'Thank you so much for choosing us.' HOW TO ENTER SCAN the QR code above or go to Enter the code SUNOCTOKIT. Then tell us your name, email address, phone number, team name and its age group. Applicants must be 18 or over and resident in England, Scotland or Wales and be a reader of The Sun newspaper to be eligible to apply on behalf of the football team. One hundred teams will be chosen at random. Entries close at midnight on July 31. Promotion closes at midnight on July 31, 2025. Open to residents of England, Scotland and Wales aged 18 or older, excluding employees/agents of Octopus Energy Ltd or News Group Newspapers Ltd. One entry pp. Nominated teams must not have a shirt sponsor and must consist of players under 16, with the exception of mixed-age teams that include children under 16. Winners selected at random and notified on August 1, 2025. No cash alternative. and prize non-transferable. Your info will be used to administer this promotion and otherwise. For full T&Cs, see
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ricky Hatton, Michael Watson and Barry Hearn to be awarded Freedom of the City of London at black-tie boxing event
Boxing legends Ricky Hatton, Michael Watson and Barry Hearn are set to receive one of the capital's oldest civic honours, the Freedom of the City of London, at a high-profile charity boxing night this October. The trio, recognised for their outstanding contributions to British boxing, will be honoured at a black-tie fundraiser at London's historic Guildhall on Wednesday 8 October 2025, alongside The Lord Mayor of London, Alderman Alastair King DL. The event, titled City Fight Night, will feature six bouts of white-collar boxing between members of the London Fire Brigade, selected by renowned amateur club Fitzroy Lodge, and their counterparts from the New York City Fire Department. Speaking ahead of the event, former world champion Hatton said: 'I'm absolutely chuffed to bits to be given the Freedom of the City of London. It's a real honour and something I never imagined happening to me... It'll be a great night for a great cause, and I can't wait to be part of it.' Hearn, the founder and president of Matchroom, called the honour a 'privilege' and said the evening 'promises to be a knockout event in every sense'. Watson, whose courage and resilience following a life-changing injury in the ring earned him widespread respect, will also be formally recognised on the night. Adding to the occasion, the Lord Mayor himself will step into the ring for a special exhibition bout against a mystery opponent from New York. 'Boxing is one of my passions and I cannot wait to venture into the ring myself,' he said. 'In fact, this will be the first time a Lord Mayor of London has seen active combat whilst in office since the Peasants' Revolt of 1381!' The event, hosted by actor and presenter Terry Stone, is being held in partnership with The Lord Mayor's Appeal and sponsored by Bloomberg. It aims to raise funds for charities that use boxing to steer young people away from crime, and for organisations supporting the mental and physical wellbeing of UK firefighters. All three honourees - Hatton, Watson and Hearn - will join an exclusive list of recipients of the Freedom of the City, a tradition that dates back to the 13th century.
