Latest news with #RichardStevens
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Teenager Bray signs three-year West Brom deal
West Bromwich Albion have signed Harrogate Town teenager Jack Bray on a three-year deal. The forward, 18, made his senior league debut in League Two last season against Grimsby Town but will join the Baggies' under-21 group upon his arrival at The Hawthorns. Advertisement "In the FA Youth Cup, you play teams from different leagues, categories, and players get the chance to stand out. We watched Harrogate's previous two matches before we played them last season and Jack stood out," Albion's academy manager Richard Stevens told the club's website. "He is crafty with the ball at his feet, creative in tight areas, and has got that bit of off-the-cuff to his game which we don't always see. "Our job is to let him use that creativity as he progresses through the 21s programme here."
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Teenager Bray signs three-year West Brom deal
West Bromwich Albion have signed Harrogate Town teenager Jack Bray on a three-year forward, 18, made his senior league debut in League Two last season against Grimsby Town but will join the Baggies' under-21 group upon his arrival at The Hawthorns."In the FA Youth Cup, you play teams from different leagues, categories, and players get the chance to stand out. We watched Harrogate's previous two matches before we played them last season and Jack stood out," Albion's academy manager Richard Stevens told the club's website., external"He is crafty with the ball at his feet, creative in tight areas, and has got that bit of off-the-cuff to his game which we don't always see."Our job is to let him use that creativity as he progresses through the 21s programme here."
BBC News
26-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Gloucestershire Pride events in rural areas 'help beat isolation'
The chair of a Pride organisation says reaching out to LGBTQ+ people living in rural areas is key to helping prevent in Gloucestershire, which began in 2006, started connecting with smaller towns and villages in 2019, spurred on by people contacting organisers about setting up their own Richard Stevens said living outside of a city "you might feel like you're one of the only [LGBTQ+] people because you're scared of talking to other people in case word spreads". Pride events now run in Cheltenham, Cirencester, Cinderford and Tewkesbury, as well as as a larger event in Gloucester in September, attracting thousands of people. 'Bottling things up' Mr Stevens said: "If you live in a big city like Manchester or London or Birmingham, or even Bristol, there are generally more groups, more spaces to go and more people to speak to."I grew up in a small town and... [you are] not just isolated from other people in the community, or from activities or safe spaces which are usually prominent in larger towns, but it's that whole feeling of that lack of privacy, or being scared of what people might be talking about."You feel like you're bottling things up, and you can't share information, and you can't be your true self."He explained everyone was welcome to all Pride events in Gloucestershire, "as long as they're respectful of everyone around them"."It just helps break down those those invisible barriers." The Gloucestershire Gay & Lesbian Community (GGLC), has been running since 1974, following the Campaign for Homosexual Equality in 1969."It's believed to be one of the longest running [LGBTQ+] organisations in the UK, which is a huge achievement," said Mr Stevens."And even going back further back in history, the Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership developed a queer history map of the county, and this can go back all the way back to the Middle Ages, back to King Edward II.""He's buried in Gloucester Cathedral, and he was known to be bisexual," he said. Thousands have turned out for the recent events in Cirencester and Cheltenham, which Mr Stevens described as "fantastic".The next event in the county in on 19 July in Cinderford, where 500 people are expected to attend."It's really good to see people coming out and supporting - and learning as well," said Mr Stevens. "All of our Pride events are open, they're free to attend."
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
West Brom tie down exciting prospect to new deal
Highly-rated Alfie Maughan has marked his 17th birthday by penning professional terms with Albion. Maughan's development has been rewarded with a two-year deal after a successful maiden term in the scholarship group, which saw the right-back provide 14 assists and help the Under-18s reach the last eight of the FA Youth Cup. Advertisement The defender, from Tamworth, first joined the club's youth system aged six, progressing through the development sides. READ MORE: Championship clubs told to pay £1m for ex-Birmingham City wonderboy READ MORE: Birmingham City have created a new role for Lukas Jutkiewicz after retirement Capable with both left and right foot, he can cover either of the wide defensive positions and is a key attacking outlet down the flanks. A regular set-piece taker, Maughan also featured for the U21s last season, playing a handful of matches across both Premier League 2 and National League Cup competitions. Academy manager Richard Stevens said: 'Alfie's another boy who's been in the system since pre-academy, is Albion through and through, and loves everything about the football club. Advertisement 'He comes in every day like it's the most important thing to him and, as a footballer, he really has developed. 'When I first came in, Alfie was in the Under-12s and even then he was a standout, but ever since he has really maintained that growth and quality throughout his schoolboy years. 'During his first year as a scholar, Alfie has continued that development. He's been excellent, impacting games with his deliveries with both feet from crosses, set-plays, moments in the final third, and that aspect is a strength of his. 'At the other end of the pitch, he's improving all of the time with his defending and is another who can take his football career as far as he can. 'This club can help him do that and it was really important we offered Alfie this contract.''
