Latest news with #Dane
The Journal
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Journal
Former Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews appointed as new Brentford manager
KEITH ANDREWS HAS been confirmed as the new manager at Brentford. The former Republic of Ireland international has been heavily linked with the vacancy at the Premier League club and his appointment has now been confirmed. Andrews becomes the successor to Thomas Frank, having been part of the Dane's staff last season when he impressed as a set-piece coach. 'Pretty humbled would be the overriding feeling, honoured that I'm the person that's been chosen to take the club into the next chapter', Andrews told Brentford's in-house media. 'I'm very appreciative of the owner, the board and the staff that have supported this decision. It's an opportunity I feel I'm very capable of doing and ready to do. 'I don't know where to start in terms of what's exciting me because there's so much: the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club.' 'It's an amazing place to be and I've felt that for 12 months now. That will remain. It's really important to me to have that vibe around the football club, that energy. 'There are a lot of words that are preached in sporting environments, like culture, and they're not lived, whereas they are lived here on a daily basis. I think it's really important to keep that humility that we have as a football club and continue to grow. 'I want a team that the fans feel represents them and what they want to see on a Saturday. 'We want to play winning football, we want to be competitive, we want to have an edge, we want to play dynamic, relentless football but we want to be organised. Advertisement 'We want to have huge moments, huge games, and I think the big one is that we want to have an attitude and a relentlessness of progression. We really need to maintain that, and that's on a daily basis. 'If you do that, the rest looks after itself. 'It's a massive advantage to know the players inside out, I've got a really good connection with the players. The ceiling is massive in terms of what we can achieve and I've got so much belief in them. 'I love being on the grass, I love developing young players, I love seeing the growth in young players as players and as human beings. There's clear alignment between myself and the football club on that. 'There will be a clear plan to try and develop our talented young players and also our older players, because development doesn't just stop when you get to a certain age; it's for every single player, and we'll support them in every single way we can.' 'Keith is a very good fit,' said director of football Phil Giles. 'He gets on with everyone, he's very open and he's a learner. Keith is clear in what he wants, he's detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him. 'He understands the players in the building and the way we've played and trained under Thomas Frank. 'Keith will bring his own evolution but isn't starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress. 'He's a very good coach and has clear ideas about how he wants the team to improve. We were looking for somebody not just to maintain what we've been doing but actually try and get better.' Andrews' backroom staff has yet to be announced, though there are a lot of vacancies to fill with assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton all following Frank to Tottenham. Written by Fintan O'Toole and originally published on The 42 whose award-winning team produces original content that you won't find anywhere else: on GAA, League of Ireland, women's sport and boxing, as well as our game-changing rugby coverage, all with an Irish eye. Subscribe here .
Leader Live
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Frances Tiafoe backs efforts to expand grassroots tennis in UK
Lack of access to facilities has typically led to far smaller participation levels than in more popular sports in Britain and, though an LTA report in 2024 revealed that around 3.6million UK children play at least once a year, barriers remain to its regular uptake amongst young people, both in Britain and abroad. Much of that is down to the expense of equipment and limited access to properly maintained courts and coaching, in practice fencing the game off from some demographics. Current world number 12 Tiafoe, whose family immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone during the 90s, cites his early introduction to the game as an outlier. Had his father not worked as janitor at a tennis centre in Tiafoe's hometown Maryland, he believes he would never have taken up a game which was seen as off limits to people from less affluent backgrounds. 'You give a chance to people in inner cities, people who wouldn't be able to do a particular sport,' said Tiafoe, who was speaking at an event in London to mark one year of Barclays Free Park tennis scheme, which provides facilities and coaching with the aim of removing barriers between children and grassroots sport. 'In America, that's why everyone's so quick to play basketball. All you need is a ball and a hoop. Same as (football) over here (in the UK).' A morning at the Draw 🧮#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2025 He believes that initiatives like Free Park Tennis – billed as the sport's answer to Park Run and which provides for free the coaches and equipment many would otherwise be unable to afford – will provide the stimulus in the UK for barriers to fall away. 'Tennis you need rackets and strings and shoes, it becomes very upper echelon,' he said. 'This way everyone will be able to it. That's what means a lot to me.' Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist in 2022 and 2024, will be aiming to improve upon his Wimbledon record – where he has never progressed beyond the fourth round – when play begins on Monday. The 27-year-old is drawn to face the Dane Elmer Moller in the first round with a possible second-round meeting with Brit Cameron Norrie. He believes that more players from his background will in future feel they can follow in his footsteps, with the UK leading the way in breaking down barriers. 'There'd be three or four of me sitting here if we had these schemes (in the US),' he said. 'That's why I'm so passionate about these type of things.' BBC Sport presenter Ian Wight, also speaking at the event, said his own experience of growing up on a council estate in south London pushed him and his peers towards football because sports like tennis appeared closed off. 'When we were younger, you go the tennis court where I lived in Brockley, it was always empty,' he said. 'I didn't see anybody on there – white, black, nobody. 'There were people who played football with us just because it's easy to get a football and all of you can play. I'm sure some of those guys, if they had the facilities from this kind of initiative, they would have done it. '
Rhyl Journal
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Frances Tiafoe backs efforts to expand grassroots tennis in UK
Lack of access to facilities has typically led to far smaller participation levels than in more popular sports in Britain and, though an LTA report in 2024 revealed that around 3.6million UK children play at least once a year, barriers remain to its regular uptake amongst young people, both in Britain and abroad. Much of that is down to the expense of equipment and limited access to properly maintained courts and coaching, in practice fencing the game off from some demographics. Current world number 12 Tiafoe, whose family immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone during the 90s, cites his early introduction to the game as an outlier. Had his father not worked as janitor at a tennis centre in Tiafoe's hometown Maryland, he believes he would never have taken up a game which was seen as off limits to people from less affluent backgrounds. 'You give a chance to people in inner cities, people who wouldn't be able to do a particular sport,' said Tiafoe, who was speaking at an event in London to mark one year of Barclays Free Park tennis scheme, which provides facilities and coaching with the aim of removing barriers between children and grassroots sport. 'In America, that's why everyone's so quick to play basketball. All you need is a ball and a hoop. Same as (football) over here (in the UK).' A morning at the Draw 🧮#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2025 He believes that initiatives like Free Park Tennis – billed as the sport's answer to Park Run and which provides for free the coaches and equipment many would otherwise be unable to afford – will provide the stimulus in the UK for barriers to fall away. 'Tennis you need rackets and strings and shoes, it becomes very upper echelon,' he said. 'This way everyone will be able to it. That's what means a lot to me.' Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist in 2022 and 2024, will be aiming to improve upon his Wimbledon record – where he has never progressed beyond the fourth round – when play begins on Monday. The 27-year-old is drawn to face the Dane Elmer Moller in the first round with a possible second-round meeting with Brit Cameron Norrie. He believes that more players from his background will in future feel they can follow in his footsteps, with the UK leading the way in breaking down barriers. 'There'd be three or four of me sitting here if we had these schemes (in the US),' he said. 'That's why I'm so passionate about these type of things.' BBC Sport presenter Ian Wight, also speaking at the event, said his own experience of growing up on a council estate in south London pushed him and his peers towards football because sports like tennis appeared closed off. 'When we were younger, you go the tennis court where I lived in Brockley, it was always empty,' he said. 'I didn't see anybody on there – white, black, nobody. 'There were people who played football with us just because it's easy to get a football and all of you can play. I'm sure some of those guys, if they had the facilities from this kind of initiative, they would have done it. '
North Wales Chronicle
9 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Frances Tiafoe backs efforts to expand grassroots tennis in UK
Lack of access to facilities has typically led to far smaller participation levels than in more popular sports in Britain and, though an LTA report in 2024 revealed that around 3.6million UK children play at least once a year, barriers remain to its regular uptake amongst young people, both in Britain and abroad. Much of that is down to the expense of equipment and limited access to properly maintained courts and coaching, in practice fencing the game off from some demographics. Current world number 12 Tiafoe, whose family immigrated to the United States from Sierra Leone during the 90s, cites his early introduction to the game as an outlier. Had his father not worked as janitor at a tennis centre in Tiafoe's hometown Maryland, he believes he would never have taken up a game which was seen as off limits to people from less affluent backgrounds. 'You give a chance to people in inner cities, people who wouldn't be able to do a particular sport,' said Tiafoe, who was speaking at an event in London to mark one year of Barclays Free Park tennis scheme, which provides facilities and coaching with the aim of removing barriers between children and grassroots sport. 'In America, that's why everyone's so quick to play basketball. All you need is a ball and a hoop. Same as (football) over here (in the UK).' A morning at the Draw 🧮#Wimbledon — Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) June 27, 2025 He believes that initiatives like Free Park Tennis – billed as the sport's answer to Park Run and which provides for free the coaches and equipment many would otherwise be unable to afford – will provide the stimulus in the UK for barriers to fall away. 'Tennis you need rackets and strings and shoes, it becomes very upper echelon,' he said. 'This way everyone will be able to it. That's what means a lot to me.' Tiafoe, a two-time US Open semi-finalist in 2022 and 2024, will be aiming to improve upon his Wimbledon record – where he has never progressed beyond the fourth round – when play begins on Monday. The 27-year-old is drawn to face the Dane Elmer Moller in the first round with a possible second-round meeting with Brit Cameron Norrie. He believes that more players from his background will in future feel they can follow in his footsteps, with the UK leading the way in breaking down barriers. 'There'd be three or four of me sitting here if we had these schemes (in the US),' he said. 'That's why I'm so passionate about these type of things.' BBC Sport presenter Ian Wight, also speaking at the event, said his own experience of growing up on a council estate in south London pushed him and his peers towards football because sports like tennis appeared closed off. 'When we were younger, you go the tennis court where I lived in Brockley, it was always empty,' he said. 'I didn't see anybody on there – white, black, nobody. 'There were people who played football with us just because it's easy to get a football and all of you can play. I'm sure some of those guys, if they had the facilities from this kind of initiative, they would have done it. '
The 42
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
Former Ireland midfielder Keith Andrews appointed as new Brentford manager
KEITH ANDREWS HAS been confirmed as the new manager at Brentford. The former Republic of Ireland international has been heavily linked with the vacancy at the Premier League club and his appointment has now been confirmed. Andrews becomes the successor to Thomas Frank, having been part of the Dane's staff last season when he impressed as a set-piece coach. 'Pretty humbled would be the overriding feeling, honoured that I'm the person that's been chosen to take the club into the next chapter', Andrews told Brentford's in-house media. 'I'm very appreciative of the owner, the board and the staff that have supported this decision. It's an opportunity I feel I'm very capable of doing and ready to do. 'I don't know where to start in terms of what's exciting me because there's so much: the potential of the football club, the potential of the players and the potential of the staff that underpin what has brought success to this brilliant football club.' 'It's an amazing place to be and I've felt that for 12 months now. That will remain. It's really important to me to have that vibe around the football club, that energy. Advertisement 'There are a lot of words that are preached in sporting environments, like culture, and they're not lived, whereas they are lived here on a daily basis. I think it's really important to keep that humility that we have as a football club and continue to grow. 'I want a team that the fans feel represents them and what they want to see on a Saturday. 'We want to play winning football, we want to be competitive, we want to have an edge, we want to play dynamic, relentless football but we want to be organised. 'We want to have huge moments, huge games, and I think the big one is that we want to have an attitude and a relentlessness of progression. We really need to maintain that, and that's on a daily basis. 'If you do that, the rest looks after itself. 'It's a massive advantage to know the players inside out, I've got a really good connection with the players. The ceiling is massive in terms of what we can achieve and I've got so much belief in them. 'I love being on the grass, I love developing young players, I love seeing the growth in young players as players and as human beings. There's clear alignment between myself and the football club on that. 'There will be a clear plan to try and develop our talented young players and also our older players, because development doesn't just stop when you get to a certain age; it's for every single player, and we'll support them in every single way we can.' 'Keith is a very good fit,' said director of football Phil Giles. 'He gets on with everyone, he's very open and he's a learner. Keith is clear in what he wants, he's detailed, and the players and staff like and respect him. 'He understands the players in the building and the way we've played and trained under Thomas Frank. 'Keith will bring his own evolution but isn't starting from scratch, so hopefully we can make some quick progress. 'He's a very good coach and has clear ideas about how he wants the team to improve. We were looking for somebody not just to maintain what we've been doing but actually try and get better.' Andrews' backroom staff has yet to be announced, though there are a lot of vacancies to fill with assistant first-team coach Justin Cochrane, head of athletic performance Chris Haslam and first-team analyst Joe Newton all following Frank to Tottenham.
