Latest news with #Doran
Daily Record
a day ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Edinburgh GP develops supplement to help stressed insomniacs sleep
A study by Restorez revealed that 65% of people seldom wake up feeling refreshed and recharged, often seeking methods to improve their sleep quality. An Edinburgh GP has used her professional and personal experiences to develop a ground-breaking supplement aimed at helping people struggling to sleep due to stress. Dr Clara Doran has been a GP for more than two decades. Ten years ago, she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and, after suffering from brain fog, fatigue and anxiety, she realised the significance of lifestyle and nutrition for brain health. Dr Doran studied sleep medicine at the University of Edinburgh and functional medicine with the Institute of Functional Medicine before founding Noggin The Brain People, focusing on supplements, motivation and education about brain health. The mum-of-one also wrote the book Heads Up - how to look after your brain so it will look after you, filled with practical advice on brain care, reports Surrey Live. Many people struggle with relaxing and de-stressing enough after a tough day to get a decent night's sleep. A survey by Restorez found that 65% of respondents rarely wake up feeling rejuvenated and energised, leaving them often seeking ways to try and improve their sleep quality. While many of us have tried and tested strategies to sleep, if the various hacks, tips and tricks fail due to a build-up of anxiety, things can become even more daunting and stressful - causing a frustrating and exhausting cycle. Dr Doran's supplement, Pause from Noggin, is designed to calm the mind, encourage relaxation and aid a restful sleep. It is free from fillers, additives or unnecessary ingredients. Pause is a part of a range of supplements developed by Dr Doran in collaboration with female nutritionists Dr Charlotte Heald and Shona Wilkinson. It features a unique mix of botanicals, minerals and medicinal mushrooms, chosen specifically for their clinically proven brain-supportive and nootropic properties. All the ingredients have been researched and clinically tested, offering reassurance that the products will be effective. The Pause supplement includes key natural ingredients designed to boost brain health and alleviate stress and anxiety, such as the adaptogenic herb Ashwagandha. Originating from India, Ashwagandha is known for its ability to balance body and mind, reduce cortisol levels, enhance GABA receptors, regulate serotonin, and protect the brain from oxidative damage. The formula also contains lemon balm, l-theanine, hop extract, rhodiola rosea, and lion's mane mushroom. For best results, customers are recommended to take 1-2 capsules with food daily. However, those who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or on medication should consult their healthcare provider before use, and the product is not meant to replace a varied diet and healthy lifestyle. Natural supplements have become increasingly popular as a way to tackle stress and encourage better sleep, with shoppers keen to avoid prescription medicatioon. Elsewhere, JSHealth's Calm + De-Stress 60 Tablets, available at Boots for £15.99, are designed to promote calmness and mental wellbeing with a mix of adaptogens, herbs, and vitamins. Meanwhile, Bach's RESCUE Peaceful Night 30 Capsules cost £18.25 from Holland & Barrett and are vegan-friendly capsules aimed at supporting a peaceful night's sleep. On Noggins' website, Pause has received high praise with an average 4.9 out of 5-star rating. One pleased customer commented: "I've been taking PAUSE for 3 weeks and already feel much calmer and my sleep is so much better." Another said: "I've been trying PAUSE for a few weeks and seen a difference. It has helped relax me when I feel anxious and quite stressed throughout the day which then affects my sleep at night. For the first time in years I had a full night's sleep and it's improved my overall mood." However, the product hasn't worked for everyone, with one reviewer noting: "It didn't seem to work for me." Still, another user experienced notable benefits, stating: "I've been going through a lot of stress at home and couldn't sleep as a result. I've been taking PAUSE for a week and it has made it easier to shut my worries off when I go to bed and actually get some sleep. I'm now less stressed and anxious when I wake up which is such a relief."
Los Angeles Times
a day ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Watch: SoCal firefighters save the life of Eli, a colicky mule
Orange County firefighters came to the rescue when a 20-year-old mule named Eli appeared down for the count. The Orange County Fire Authority captured video of the Trabuco Canyon operation last week. Eli was experiencing life-threatening colic, the agency said on X. Station 18 stepped in when the mule's owners were unable to get him to stand. Footage showed the horizontal equine squirming and struggling as a firefighter and a veterinarian assisted him. A crew of firefighters then tied Eli up, flipped him, and hoisted him using a rescue device called a bipod. According to Sean Doran, a spokesperson for OCFA, that equipment was also used in World War I to roll over upside-down tanks. 'It's got this incredible capacity and strength,' he said told The Times. 'These horses obviously, or mules in this case, are no match for it.' The firefighters pulled Eli out of his stable before bringing him to his feet. After a bit, he clopped back into his stable, where he is doing much better, the authority's X post said. According to the University of Minnesota, horses and other equines are naturally prone to colic. Allowing the animal to walk around can help ease pain, the university said. Doran said that Eli, lying down, wasn't able to pass food and was at risk of his organs compressing. Had he not been hoisted upright, the colic could have been fatal, he said. Doran said he watched the rescue happen on Friday and visited Eli again on Sunday. He spoke with one of the owners, an animal lover who had owned Eli for almost all of the mule's life. Everything about the rescue was 'just goodness, pure goodness,' he said. He also said that OCFA firefighters had been trained to conduct large-animal rescues with live horses. In addition to routine rescue skills, they learn how to approach the horses and to interpret how they need to be treated depending on the situation. 'It's seamless teamwork in action,' he said.
The Herald Scotland
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Aaron Doran indebted to Scottish game for pulling him back from abyss
Should Doran not really be preparing to help Scott Kellacher's side launch an assault on the League One title in the 2025/26 campaign? Does he not still have something to offer Caley Thistle as they attempt to climb back up the divisions? Could he not give his old side a vital cutting edge in the final third? This is the man whose cheeky pass to Marley Watkins before the opening goal in the Scottish Cup final against Falkirk at Hampden back in 2015 is seared into the subconscious of every one of the Highland club's supporters forever. The Irishman himself, though, is more than content with his lot just now. He is grateful that he is able to bring home a regular wage, pay his mortgage and put food on the table for his young family. This time last year the father-of-three was in a dark place both professionally and personally. He had no idea what the future held for him either on the park or off it. Read more: The winger had been shamefully, after over 13 years of outstanding service and more than 400 games, released while he was awaiting an operation for the anterior cruciate ligament injury which he had suffered in a Championship match against Raith Rovers at the Caledonian Stadium just two months earlier. The surgery he was scheduled to receive was cancelled twice without any reason being given. Nobody from the club hierarchy bothered to call him, never mind speak to him face-to-face, to let him know that he wasn't going to be offered an extension. He received his P45 via email. 'I was definitely angry,' said Doran as he looked back on the appalling episode. 'But I was worried as well at the time. I was constantly trying to get in contact with the club, to speak to the people who were in charge. At times they would get back to me and say, 'Yeah, sure, we'll help you, we'll do this, we'll do that'. But eventually they just gave me the cold shoulder, just blanked me entirely. It was a really stressful period. 'I was 32 when I got injured. My contract was due to run out. So I understood the people upstairs at the club were probably thinking, 'We could do without giving him another deal. Then we won't have to pay for his operation. This is a chance for us to save ourselves some money'. 'To be honest, I would have been fine if they had just spoken to me and said, 'We're in financial difficulties, we haven't got the funds to pay for the surgery, we need to let you go'. But to go about it the way they did was wrong. 'I came out and spoke about it in the media. I just felt so strongly about what the club had done, not just to me but to a good few players. I had been at the club for a long time, for over 13 years. I had gone in nearly every day for over a decade and given my all. If they had been honest with me it really wouldn't have been a problem. To be treated like that in the end wasn't great. It was hard.' (Image: SNS Group Jeff Holmes) His friend and former Caledonian Thistle team mate Shane Sutherland had been through exactly the same harrowing experience the year before. The Brora Rangers striker was so incensed when he learned that history was repeating itself that he set up a Go Fund Me page online in an attempt to raise enough money to pay for the career-saving surgery. The contributions soon started to flood in. 'Shane hadn't been happy about getting released while he was injured,' said Doran. 'He didn't like the comments which were made to him at the time either. There was uproar about what happened to him as well. There was definitely a bit of anger there with Shane about how the club treated him. 'He set up the crowdfunding page for me. He didn't ask me if he could do it, he just set it up off his own back. But he spoke to me afterwards and said, 'Even if you only make £500, it's money towards the operation'. Nobody really expected it to get to where it got to. But it made the £10,000 I needed in two days. 'I was really touched. As well as Caley Thistle fans, a few of my former managers and team mates as well as old opponents of mine donated. It was definitely emotional looking at the page and seeing all the names. 'My old bosses John Hughes, John Robertson and Billy Dodds put money in. But so did Kris Boyd and the Souttar brothers, John and Harry. Lewis Vaughn at Raith Rovers sent money too. He has had four ACL injuries himself in his career. I had played against them, but I didn't know them personally. I honestly couldn't believe it when I saw what they had done. 'I just kept looking at the page and thinking, 'Wow! Wow! Wow!' I really appreciated what everybody did for me. Together, they got me the surgery that I needed. It is only because of those players, those managers and those fans that I am back training and playing again now.' Read more: His problems, though, were far from over after he went under the knife. He quickly realised the hopelessness of his predicament as he started his rehabilitation. He was incapacitated, he had no prospect of getting back playing any time soon and he had no money coming in. 'My leg was still in a brace, I couldn't walk, I was on crutches,' said Doran. 'On top of that, I had no job and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to play football for between nine months and 12 months. I didn't think any team would want me anywhere near them. It was a bit of a bleak position to be in.' Salvation came at Strathspey Thistle. Ryan Esson, another Scottish Cup winner who had not been shown the respect which he deserved when he was unceremoniously shown the exit door at Caley Thistle, had just taken over as manager at the ambitious Highland League outfit. He asked his old mucker if he would like to become player-coach. Doran jumped, metaphorically not literally, at the opportunity. He has not had cause to regret his decision on any level. 'It was perfect,' he said. 'I don't think any other club would have done that for me. I was still going to be out for a long time. So it was a good opportunity for me. It has helped me so much over the last year. 'Becky Musset, who was the physio when I was at Inverness, became the Strathspey physio around that time as well. She's been rehabbing me for the last year. So it has worked out pretty well for me. 'I had been thinking about coaching for a while and I had started my B Licence during the Covid season. I think I can see things on a football pitch, I think I can help players. I have learned a little off every manager I have played under since I worked with Sam Allardyce and Terry Butcher.' (Image: SNS Group Ross Parker) Doran is not, though, ready to retire from playing quite yet. He made his return from injury after 14 tumultuous months out in Strathspey's first pre-season friendly against, in a strange quirk of fate, an Inverness Caledonian Thistle Under-19 side at Seafield Park last month. True to form, he scored after coming off the bench. 'It was definitely strange playing against a team in that top,' he said. 'But it was good to get back out there again and great to get a goal. I think I have a few years left in me as a player. I was actually itching to get out onto the pitch last season. If I can get strong again, I think I have a good few years in the Highland League.' Doran will don an Inverness strip at the Caledonian Stadium once again this afternoon before taking to the field with his daughters Keeva, Ayla and Georgie by his side for his long overdue testimonial match against County. New owner Alan Savage gave the game the go-ahead shortly after he had completed his protracted £800,000 takeover last month and so ensured that one of the club's all-time greats will receive a fitting send-off. It is a gesture which suggests that far better times lie ahead. 'Alan agreed to it straight away,' said the player. 'In the past, my testimonial committee proposed games which never suited the people in charge. We could never seem to get it over the line. 'But Alan and Charlie [chief executive Christie] okayed it in about 10 minutes. I think it shows what type of people they are. They want to look after people. Alan has said that players will get the treatment they need going forward. It is good to hear.' It is certainly a far cry from the club which he left in such unfortunate circumstances last year. The financial implosion which occurred in October came as little surprise to those who had witnessed events behind the scenes at close quarters. Read more: 'Towards the end of my time, we noticed there were things getting spoken about that didn't have a lot to do with football, battery farms, concerts, things like that,' said Doran. 'There were a lot of things happening which didn't make a lot of sense. 'We used to get paid on time all the time and then all of sudden we weren't. So we knew there was something going on. As footballers, you just train and play. But there was a big difference from when I had first joined the club. It wasn't being run as well. I could see the change.' He continued, 'The club was in such a negative place when I left. They were talking about the move to Kelty, then the financial problems arose and after that there was administration. It is really good to see how positive it all is now. 'I think they're going to do really well this season, I think they will get promotion. It will be good to see them get back into the Championship and then see where they can go from there.' Doran, who originally hails from Inchicore in Dublin and who represented the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side as a young man, has come an awfully long way, both geographically and professionally, since leaving school and joining Blackburn Rovers back in 2008. (Image: SNS Group Rob Casey) 'I came over when I was just 16,' he said. 'Irish players actually can't do that any longer due to Brexit and FIFA regulations. But one of my team mates in the side I played for in Dublin signed at the same time so that made the move a little bit easier. We lived in a big lodge on the training ground and a family looked after us. 'The first season I was there they were a UEFA Cup team so there were high standards. Mark Hughes was the manager when I first went in and then Paul Ince took over and Sam Allardyce came in after that. But I progressed pretty quickly from the academy to the reserves to the first team. 'It all happened really quickly for me. I made my debut when I was 17. The guys I have played with over the years are probably sick of hearing me talk about it, but I played for Blackburn at the Etihad Stadium, at Stamford Bridge and at Anfield in the Premier League. It was a really proud time for me. 'I made my debut against Liverpool in a game at Anfield that was live on Sky Sports. I came on after half-time. My family were watching on television back home and it was a really emotional moment for them. I thought I would stay involved at the highest level, but, unfortunately for me, it was not to be.' Maybe that should be fortunately. His association with Caley Thistle has been a long and profitable one for both parties. 'One day in January I was called into a room and told I was going to Inverness on loan,' he said. 'Jonny Hayes had scored for Caley Thistle in a 1-1 draw with Rangers the month before and I remembered it. So I knew a little bit about them. 'I Googled them and saw they were in third place in the Premiership. But I didn't know how far they were until I actually drove up. It was a bit of a shock. But they were in a great place at that time. 'Straight away, I loved it. I was young, I got into the starting XI and I played every week. There was a good young squad and I got along with all the other players. After my six months were up it was a pretty easy decision to sign for them. I had a few other options, but I thought it would be best to play as much as I can at my age. 'I have always been proud to be part of the team. We finished in the top six of the Premiership three years in a row, got to the League Cup final, won the Scottish Cup, played in Europe. We went toe to toe with the biggest clubs. We beat Celtic, we beat Rangers. To do all that with a club like Inverness was a great achievement.' Read more: The Scottish Cup win over Falkirk 10 years ago was unquestionably his greatest accomplishment. But the man who set up Watkins for the opener when he dinked the ball between advancing Falkirk defenders Kieran Duffie and David McCracken was almost left on the bench. 'Yogi [Hughes] had a bit of a headache about who to play that day,' said Doran. 'He worried about me getting back down the park sometimes and it was in his mind to play more of a defensive winger. But I got the nod and I was happy to contribute to the opening goal with a nice assist. 'I want to score, to provide an assist, to try and impress, to make things happen, every time I go out on the park. I think I did that on a few occasions. I did that day and was pleased. But I did the defensive work as well. 'We stopped off in a pub in Auchterarder on the way home afterwards and Yogi came up to me, gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, 'I knew you'd pull it out of the bag for me'. I had what I was going to do when I got the ball in my head. I thought their centre-half was going to come out and leave half a yard of space. It worked out perfectly. 'On the training pitch, Yogi's definitely the best coach I've worked under. He wanted to play the football that I like to play. I think everybody learned a lot off him and became a better player. He was a joy to work with. Off the training ground, though, he was a bit of a headcase, a mad man. If you ever found yourself in his office with him you were always trying to get out as quickly as you could.' (Image: Paul Byars - SNS Group) Doran was never in any rush to get away from Inverness. Injuries unquestionably prevented him from achieving his enormous potential as a player. However, he turned down the opportunity to move on to larger clubs in both Scotland and England for more money on more than one occasion. The laidback way of life, the warmth of the people and the stunning scenery have suited this free spirit. 'I love the area,' he said. 'It's a beautiful part of the world to be. I prefer to be somewhere like Aviemore, where I live now, than Dublin or Manchester. I like the freedom that you have up here. Maybe that has a part to play in my longevity at Caley Thistle.' Doran confessed that leaving the relatively cossetted world of professional football and getting a real job for the first time in his adult life had been something of a shock to his system. 'The CEO of Strathspey is also the CEO of The MacKellar Group,' he said. 'He has really looked after me. But, yeah, it has definitely taken a bit of adjusting. I am out in the workshop now. I am learning every day. Everything I do is completely new to me.' Facing Ross County will hold no fears for Doran. He always raised his game for the Highland derby matches and found the target against the Dingwall men on a fair few occasions. It is one of many reasons why the cult hero is so loved in Inverness and will be given a warm send-off by Caledonian Thistle fans this afternoon in his final El Kessocko. 'I have scored more goals against County than any other team,' he said. 'I have scored a few nice ones too. I always enjoyed playing against them. They were the best opponents I could get for my testimonial. I am looking forward to it.'
The National
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
Aaron Doran indebted to Scottish game for pulling him back from abyss
Learning that this supremely gifted footballer, an individual who scaled some giddy heights during his time in Scottish football and who only turned 34 back in May, is now a member of the ordinary nine-to-five workforce was surprising. It felt wrong in fact. Should Doran not really be preparing to help Scott Kellacher's side launch an assault on the League One title in the 2025/26 campaign? Does he not still have something to offer Caley Thistle as they attempt to climb back up the divisions? Could he not give his old side a vital cutting edge in the final third? This is the man whose cheeky pass to Marley Watkins before the opening goal in the Scottish Cup final against Falkirk at Hampden back in 2015 is seared into the subconscious of every one of the Highland club's supporters forever. The Irishman himself, though, is more than content with his lot just now. He is grateful that he is able to bring home a regular wage, pay his mortgage and put food on the table for his young family. This time last year the father-of-three was in a dark place both professionally and personally. He had no idea what the future held for him either on the park or off it. Read more: The winger had been shamefully, after over 13 years of outstanding service and more than 400 games, released while he was awaiting an operation for the anterior cruciate ligament injury which he had suffered in a Championship match against Raith Rovers at the Caledonian Stadium just two months earlier. The surgery he was scheduled to receive was cancelled twice without any reason being given. Nobody from the club hierarchy bothered to call him, never mind speak to him face-to-face, to let him know that he wasn't going to be offered an extension. He received his P45 via email. 'I was definitely angry,' said Doran as he looked back on the appalling episode. 'But I was worried as well at the time. I was constantly trying to get in contact with the club, to speak to the people who were in charge. At times they would get back to me and say, 'Yeah, sure, we'll help you, we'll do this, we'll do that'. But eventually they just gave me the cold shoulder, just blanked me entirely. It was a really stressful period. 'I was 32 when I got injured. My contract was due to run out. So I understood the people upstairs at the club were probably thinking, 'We could do without giving him another deal. Then we won't have to pay for his operation. This is a chance for us to save ourselves some money'. 'To be honest, I would have been fine if they had just spoken to me and said, 'We're in financial difficulties, we haven't got the funds to pay for the surgery, we need to let you go'. But to go about it the way they did was wrong. 'I came out and spoke about it in the media. I just felt so strongly about what the club had done, not just to me but to a good few players. I had been at the club for a long time, for over 13 years. I had gone in nearly every day for over a decade and given my all. If they had been honest with me it really wouldn't have been a problem. To be treated like that in the end wasn't great. It was hard.' (Image: SNS Group Jeff Holmes) His friend and former Caledonian Thistle team mate Shane Sutherland had been through exactly the same harrowing experience the year before. The Brora Rangers striker was so incensed when he learned that history was repeating itself that he set up a Go Fund Me page online in an attempt to raise enough money to pay for the career-saving surgery. The contributions soon started to flood in. 'Shane hadn't been happy about getting released while he was injured,' said Doran. 'He didn't like the comments which were made to him at the time either. There was uproar about what happened to him as well. There was definitely a bit of anger there with Shane about how the club treated him. 'He set up the crowdfunding page for me. He didn't ask me if he could do it, he just set it up off his own back. But he spoke to me afterwards and said, 'Even if you only make £500, it's money towards the operation'. Nobody really expected it to get to where it got to. But it made the £10,000 I needed in two days. 'I was really touched. As well as Caley Thistle fans, a few of my former managers and team mates as well as old opponents of mine donated. It was definitely emotional looking at the page and seeing all the names. 'My old bosses John Hughes, John Robertson and Billy Dodds put money in. But so did Kris Boyd and the Souttar brothers, John and Harry. Lewis Vaughn at Raith Rovers sent money too. He has had four ACL injuries himself in his career. I had played against them, but I didn't know them personally. I honestly couldn't believe it when I saw what they had done. 'I just kept looking at the page and thinking, 'Wow! Wow! Wow!' I really appreciated what everybody did for me. Together, they got me the surgery that I needed. It is only because of those players, those managers and those fans that I am back training and playing again now.' Read more: His problems, though, were far from over after he went under the knife. He quickly realised the hopelessness of his predicament as he started his rehabilitation. He was incapacitated, he had no prospect of getting back playing any time soon and he had no money coming in. 'My leg was still in a brace, I couldn't walk, I was on crutches,' said Doran. 'On top of that, I had no job and I knew that I wasn't going to be able to play football for between nine months and 12 months. I didn't think any team would want me anywhere near them. It was a bit of a bleak position to be in.' Salvation came at Strathspey Thistle. Ryan Esson, another Scottish Cup winner who had not been shown the respect which he deserved when he was unceremoniously shown the exit door at Caley Thistle, had just taken over as manager at the ambitious Highland League outfit. He asked his old mucker if he would like to become player-coach. Doran jumped, metaphorically not literally, at the opportunity. He has not had cause to regret his decision on any level. 'It was perfect,' he said. 'I don't think any other club would have done that for me. I was still going to be out for a long time. So it was a good opportunity for me. It has helped me so much over the last year. 'Becky Musset, who was the physio when I was at Inverness, became the Strathspey physio around that time as well. She's been rehabbing me for the last year. So it has worked out pretty well for me. 'I had been thinking about coaching for a while and I had started my B Licence during the Covid season. I think I can see things on a football pitch, I think I can help players. I have learned a little off every manager I have played under since I worked with Sam Allardyce and Terry Butcher.' (Image: SNS Group Ross Parker) Doran is not, though, ready to retire from playing quite yet. He made his return from injury after 14 tumultuous months out in Strathspey's first pre-season friendly against, in a strange quirk of fate, an Inverness Caledonian Thistle Under-19 side at Seafield Park last month. True to form, he scored after coming off the bench. 'It was definitely strange playing against a team in that top,' he said. 'But it was good to get back out there again and great to get a goal. I think I have a few years left in me as a player. I was actually itching to get out onto the pitch last season. If I can get strong again, I think I have a good few years in the Highland League.' Doran will don an Inverness strip at the Caledonian Stadium once again this afternoon before taking to the field with his daughters Keeva, Ayla and Georgie by his side for his long overdue testimonial match against County. New owner Alan Savage gave the game the go-ahead shortly after he had completed his protracted £800,000 takeover last month and so ensured that one of the club's all-time greats will receive a fitting send-off. It is a gesture which suggests that far better times lie ahead. 'Alan agreed to it straight away,' said the player. 'In the past, my testimonial committee proposed games which never suited the people in charge. We could never seem to get it over the line. 'But Alan and Charlie [chief executive Christie] okayed it in about 10 minutes. I think it shows what type of people they are. They want to look after people. Alan has said that players will get the treatment they need going forward. It is good to hear.' It is certainly a far cry from the club which he left in such unfortunate circumstances last year. The financial implosion which occurred in October came as little surprise to those who had witnessed events behind the scenes at close quarters. Read more: 'Towards the end of my time, we noticed there were things getting spoken about that didn't have a lot to do with football, battery farms, concerts, things like that,' said Doran. 'There were a lot of things happening which didn't make a lot of sense. 'We used to get paid on time all the time and then all of sudden we weren't. So we knew there was something going on. As footballers, you just train and play. But there was a big difference from when I had first joined the club. It wasn't being run as well. I could see the change.' He continued, 'The club was in such a negative place when I left. They were talking about the move to Kelty, then the financial problems arose and after that there was administration. It is really good to see how positive it all is now. 'I think they're going to do really well this season, I think they will get promotion. It will be good to see them get back into the Championship and then see where they can go from there.' Doran, who originally hails from Inchicore in Dublin and who represented the Republic of Ireland Under-21 side as a young man, has come an awfully long way, both geographically and professionally, since leaving school and joining Blackburn Rovers back in 2008. (Image: SNS Group Rob Casey) 'I came over when I was just 16,' he said. 'Irish players actually can't do that any longer due to Brexit and FIFA regulations. But one of my team mates in the side I played for in Dublin signed at the same time so that made the move a little bit easier. We lived in a big lodge on the training ground and a family looked after us. 'The first season I was there they were a UEFA Cup team so there were high standards. Mark Hughes was the manager when I first went in and then Paul Ince took over and Sam Allardyce came in after that. But I progressed pretty quickly from the academy to the reserves to the first team. 'It all happened really quickly for me. I made my debut when I was 17. The guys I have played with over the years are probably sick of hearing me talk about it, but I played for Blackburn at the Etihad Stadium, at Stamford Bridge and at Anfield in the Premier League. It was a really proud time for me. 'I made my debut against Liverpool in a game at Anfield that was live on Sky Sports. I came on after half-time. My family were watching on television back home and it was a really emotional moment for them. I thought I would stay involved at the highest level, but, unfortunately for me, it was not to be.' Maybe that should be fortunately. His association with Caley Thistle has been a long and profitable one for both parties. 'One day in January I was called into a room and told I was going to Inverness on loan,' he said. 'Jonny Hayes had scored for Caley Thistle in a 1-1 draw with Rangers the month before and I remembered it. So I knew a little bit about them. 'I Googled them and saw they were in third place in the Premiership. But I didn't know how far they were until I actually drove up. It was a bit of a shock. But they were in a great place at that time. 'Straight away, I loved it. I was young, I got into the starting XI and I played every week. There was a good young squad and I got along with all the other players. After my six months were up it was a pretty easy decision to sign for them. I had a few other options, but I thought it would be best to play as much as I can at my age. 'I have always been proud to be part of the team. We finished in the top six of the Premiership three years in a row, got to the League Cup final, won the Scottish Cup, played in Europe. We went toe to toe with the biggest clubs. We beat Celtic, we beat Rangers. To do all that with a club like Inverness was a great achievement.' Read more: The Scottish Cup win over Falkirk 10 years ago was unquestionably his greatest accomplishment. But the man who set up Watkins for the opener when he dinked the ball between advancing Falkirk defenders Kieran Duffie and David McCracken was almost left on the bench. 'Yogi [Hughes] had a bit of a headache about who to play that day,' said Doran. 'He worried about me getting back down the park sometimes and it was in his mind to play more of a defensive winger. But I got the nod and I was happy to contribute to the opening goal with a nice assist. 'I want to score, to provide an assist, to try and impress, to make things happen, every time I go out on the park. I think I did that on a few occasions. I did that day and was pleased. But I did the defensive work as well. 'We stopped off in a pub in Auchterarder on the way home afterwards and Yogi came up to me, gave me a kiss on the cheek and said, 'I knew you'd pull it out of the bag for me'. I had what I was going to do when I got the ball in my head. I thought their centre-half was going to come out and leave half a yard of space. It worked out perfectly. 'On the training pitch, Yogi's definitely the best coach I've worked under. He wanted to play the football that I like to play. I think everybody learned a lot off him and became a better player. He was a joy to work with. Off the training ground, though, he was a bit of a headcase, a mad man. If you ever found yourself in his office with him you were always trying to get out as quickly as you could.' (Image: Paul Byars - SNS Group) Doran was never in any rush to get away from Inverness. Injuries unquestionably prevented him from achieving his enormous potential as a player. However, he turned down the opportunity to move on to larger clubs in both Scotland and England for more money on more than one occasion. The laidback way of life, the warmth of the people and the stunning scenery have suited this free spirit. 'I love the area,' he said. 'It's a beautiful part of the world to be. I prefer to be somewhere like Aviemore, where I live now, than Dublin or Manchester. I like the freedom that you have up here. Maybe that has a part to play in my longevity at Caley Thistle.' Doran confessed that leaving the relatively cossetted world of professional football and getting a real job for the first time in his adult life had been something of a shock to his system. 'The CEO of Strathspey is also the CEO of The MacKellar Group,' he said. 'He has really looked after me. But, yeah, it has definitely taken a bit of adjusting. I am out in the workshop now. I am learning every day. Everything I do is completely new to me.' Facing Ross County will hold no fears for Doran. He always raised his game for the Highland derby matches and found the target against the Dingwall men on a fair few occasions. It is one of many reasons why the cult hero is so loved in Inverness and will be given a warm send-off by Caledonian Thistle fans this afternoon in his final El Kessocko. 'I have scored more goals against County than any other team,' he said. 'I have scored a few nice ones too. I always enjoyed playing against them. They were the best opponents I could get for my testimonial. I am looking forward to it.'
Fox Sports
16-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox Sports
Queasy Shane van Gisbergen 'leaking out both holes' powers through to win at Mexico
MEXICO CITY — A four-day stretch that in some ways couldn't have gone much worse culminated in an afternoon that couldn't have gone much better for Shane van Gisbergen. Mired in 33rd in the NASCAR Cup Series standings and struggling in a rookie season, van Gisbergen captured the inaugural Cup race at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez as the Trackhouse Racing team overcame travel woes that resulted in them only having a partial crew for practice Friday. "Crazy weekend and everyone dug deep," van Gisbergen said. "Everyone banded together. Those engineers arriving yesterday right before qualifying and the night before mechanics — it was a skeleton crew really on Friday. "Credit to everyone who banded together and came up with a plan. And it ended up amazing." It didn't come as easy as the margin of victory of 16.567 seconds, the largest gap between a winner and second place in a Cup race in nearly 16 years. The three-time Supercars champion, in his second year of racing in NASCAR, battled sickness that he said had him feeling "pretty rubbish today leaking out both holes." Despite the sickness, van Gisbergen's dominance didn't surprise many. — A stout road racer, he won in his first Cup start in 2023 when he prevailed at the inaugural Chicago street course race in a one-off event for Trackhouse Racing. That started conversations for van Gisbergen to move from New Zealand full time and compete in NASCAR, where he raced primarily in the Xfinity Series last season. Having won the pole on Saturday and knowing he had a solid car, van Gisbergen said he felt queasy during the first stage of the event Sunday on the 15-turn, 2.42-mile road course before medication kicked in for the remainder of the 100-lap race. "The first stint, I was feeling pretty average," van Gisbergen said. "I was like, 'This is going to be a long race. ... I looked at my watch and my heart rate, and I needed to calm down a bit. I kind of had to manage myself, whereas normally it's just push flat out without a think of the fitness." While he led 60 of the 100 laps, van Gisbergen did need the cautions to fall his way to align with when he put on tires and took fuel. They did, allowing him to lead the final 32 laps. "The car was obviously OK, but he's unbelievable," said SVG crew chief Stephen Doran. "It's amazing to watch him race at tracks like this." Doran didn't have too much of a concern that van Gisbergen's illness would significantly impact his performance. But it was a little unknown as van Gisbergen said the illness came quickly Saturday afternoon and evening. Having traveled extensively, van Gisbergen said he tried to be careful with what he was putting in his body during the weekend. "My mind was clear but my body, I just had so much pressure in my stomach," van Gisbergen said. If van Gisbergen was in pain during the race, he didn't indicate it to his team. "I just kept reminding him to keep drinking some fluids," Doran said. "He had some little squeeze packs of energy pouches in the car with him. I could tell by his tone that he wasn't struggling too bad once he got racing." Everyone in the facility could tell he had the dominant mix of machine and skill. "I just need to work on myself a little bit, figure out what Shane was doing through a couple sections of the race track," said second-place finisher Christopher Bell. Daniel Suarez, teammate to van Gisbergen, said SVG had a solid setup. Suarez came in as the home country favorite and had delighted the crowd by winning the Xfinity Series race on Saturday. Starting 10th, Suarez finished 19th, a result of not being fast enough (losing speed on the long green-flag runs) and the cautions not coming out at times that would match his strategy. "We don't have exactly the same race cars," Suarez said. "We have different [geometry], different springs, so the cars are not the same. And then the strategy — today the strategy didn't work out. "Do I think that with the same strategy I was going to beat him? I don't know. It's impossible to say. ... We just have to continue to work, and hopefully we get better enough in the next 10 weeks to make it into the playoffs." The playoffs. For van Gisbergen, the victory vaulted him into the 16-driver playoffs despite his points position. The only way he would miss the playoffs is if there are more winners than 16 playoff spots (van Gisbergen was the 10th winner this year and 10 races remain in the regular season) as points are used as the tiebreaker. "That's why I'm here, to win road races," van Gisbergen said. "But I'm not here to run last on the ovals, either. I need to keep getting better to justify being a Cup Series driver. I need to be performing on the ovals, too. "I feel like we're really making strides, but this is what I'm here to do – make the playoffs, put another Trackhouse car in the playoffs." In the first 10 oval races this year, van Gisbergen finished once in the top 20. In the four oval races leading into Mexico City, van Gisbergen earned three top 20s. So it appears he has made progress. Slow progress but progress, nonetheless. That doesn't mean it hasn't been a frustrating year. But van Gisbergen is known as someone who will fight through the struggles. And the victory Sunday amid sickness appears to be no exception. He had no plans of going to sleep or taking more meds. "I'm going to mix some Red Bulls with some adult beverages," he said. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass. recommended Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more
