Latest news with #SamSmith
News.com.au
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Striker Sam Smith enjoying the ‘journey' of being a Wrexham player
The 'unique experience' of being a Wrexham player is one that club's record signing Sam Smith admits took time getting used to. But now that the 27-year-old striker has been at the Welsh outfit owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney for six months, he couldn't thing of anywhere else he would rather be. The Red Dragons have become somewhat of a global phenomenon since Reynolds and McElhenney bought the club reportedly for $4.1 million in February 2021. On the back of three successive promotions, Wrexham will compete in the 2025-26 English Championship, meaning they are just a step away from gaining Premier League status. The club is now worth more than $200 million dollars and is the subject of Welcome to Wrexham, a sports documentary television series that as won eight Emmy Awards. 🌱&ðŸ�‹ ðŸ'´âš°ï¸� #WxmAFC — Wrexham AFC (@Wrexham_AFC) July 10, 2025 'It's enjoyable and puts you on a platform to show everyone what you can do, and you've just got to enjoy the journey,' said Smith, who joined Wrexham in January from Reading for a club record fee of more than $2 million. 'Everyone wants to come to Wrexham and beat us knowing the attention it brings, but that's part and parcel of it, and you've just got to adapt and do what you do best. 'It's a unique experience. It's one that takes a while to adjust to, but you're thrown in and you're expected to perform, so after a certain amount of time it becomes normal and you get used to it.' To prepare for the new season, the Red Dragons are touring Australia and New Zealand, with their first game on Friday night against A-League club Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium. 'It's an experience we're all looking to enjoy. It's an extremely important two weeks to spend with the team and the staff and bond,' Smith said. 'It means when you go through difficult times in a season, you're all accustomed to each other and you'll go that extra yard for each other. 'We'll work on what we worked on last season and the way the manager (Phil Parkinson) wants us to play in his system, and we'll got from there.' Smith also new additions to Wrexham's squad ahead of the club's season-opening clash against Southampton, who were relegated from the Premier League at the end of last season, on August 9 at St Mary's Stadium. 'There are still quite a lot of players that need to come in. That'll change the dynamics of the team,' he said. The Red Dragons' tour also includes games against Sydney FC (Tuesday night, Allianz Stadium) and Wellington Phoenix (Saturday week, Sky Stadium).
The Herald Scotland
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
Festival announced in honour of Barrowland's biggest fan
During lockdown he persuaded stars like Sam Smith, Charlotte Church and The View's Kyle Falconer to perform a virtual gig to raise money for poverty charities. Read More: The legacy of 'Soapy' will be celebrated at Soapyfest at the Barras on August 31, with money raised going to Marie Curie and the Beatson. Still Game star Gavin Mitchell will compere the event, with performances from Ken McCluksey of The Bluebells, Colonel Mustard & the Djon 5, The Filthy Tongues, Mickey 9s, The Twistettes, Warren Starry Sky and The Girobabies and a DJ set by Phill Jupitus. All of the bands will perform a cover by James, Soapy's favourite band. Tickets are available for £25 plus booking fee here.
South China Morning Post
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South China Morning Post
Barbra Streisand duets with Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Hozier and others on new album
Barbra Streisand was worried. She had just spent six days a week for six weeks recording the audiobook version of her 2023 memoir My Name is Barbra, which became more than 48 hours of discussing her career – full of Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards – and the life that came with it. But now, it was time to record a new album with a stunning line-up of duet partners that ranged from current hitmakers Hozier and Sam Smith to legends Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney and James Taylor. And when producers played the songs for her, she could not sing along. Her mighty voice would just squeak. 'My voice was shot,' says Streisand, 83, calling from her home in Malibu, California. 'I mean, I literally prayed to God in front of that microphone, 'Let my voice be there for me.' And I don't know how, but it was there.' Fans will be able to hear that for themselves on her album The Secret of Life: Partners, Volume 2, available in stores and on streaming services. Streisand shows she can still deliver the performances she wants while coaxing them out of others. Play Her duet with Dylan had been decades in the making. In 1970, Dylan sent Streisand a bouquet of flowers and a note – written in what she believes was crayon – asking, 'Would you sing with me?'
Leader Live
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Wrexham AFC's Paul Mullin speaks of 'sadness' at leaving
The 30-year-old joined the Reds from Cambridge United in the summer of 2021 and was a prolific scorer in his four seasons at The Racecourse. He bagged 110 goals in 172 games, helping Wrexham make history by clinching three successive promotions to climb from the National League to the Championship. However, Mullin found opportunities limited in the second half of last term following the arrival of Sam Smith and Jay Rodriguez in the winter transfer window and he last featured in a League One game on January 28 when he scored in the 3-2 home defeat to Stevenage. Mullin still has two years left on his contract in north Wales and although his long-term future remains up-in-the-air, the frontman reflected on 'the best four years of his life' after playing his part in the successful story under Hollywood owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. 'It is a loan so you never know what the future holds,' said Mullin after joining League One side Wigan. 'It is out of my hands. 'But it's been a phenomenal four years. It's been the best four years of my life, an unbelievable time. 'My life changed and the reason is went so well was down to a lot of the support of the fans. I owe a lot to the club, the owners and the fans. 'Wrexham has been a special place for me and it's been a part of my family's life for years. 'It has become so important to us. The place as a whole and the friendships I made with fans and people around the club. 'It is not the way anyone envisaged it going at this point and you never know, it might not be over. 'But I am looking forward to what the future brings at a new club, it is always exciting when you have a fresh start somewhere.' Wrexham and Wigan will discover their schedule for the 2025-26 campaign when the EFL fixtures are released tomorrow at 12pm.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Nottinghamshire Council to stay at historic base, Reform confirms
Nottinghamshire County Council is set to remain at its historic headquarters, the authority's new leader has council has been based at County Hall in West Bridgford for decades but was in the process of relocating to new offices near Hucknall, and a first full council meeting was held there under the Conservatives in taking over at the local elections in May, however, Reform UK has held most meetings at the old base, and council leader Mick Barton has now told the BBC that County Hall can be considered the council's head office again."It's a wonderful building," he said. "Yes, it is my headquarters and we're having meetings here, why wouldn't we use it?" The new building - called Oak House - was originally built to house services such as the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub, which had been based in rented Conservatives later decided to also use it as the council's headquarters after a review found County Hall required "significant ongoing maintenance".The council said in 2023 that the building would need more than £30m in essential repairs over 12 years and a further £28m of investment to bring it up to modern environmental group leader and former council leader Sam Smith said Reform would now have to explain where it would find the money to renovate County Hall."What libraries are they closing, what roads and pavements aren't they repairing, what recycling centres are they closing, what youth centres are being shut, what schools aren't going to be built?" he this month, Labour called for the council to move back to County Hall and suggested Oak House be sold. According to the council's online calendar, all meetings currently scheduled for June are due to be held at County Hall, along with all but two meetings in July.A full council meeting on 10 July and a cabinet meeting on 17 July are both due to be held at Oak why those two meetings would not be held at County Hall, Barton said: "We can utilise both buildings."We've got lots of buildings throughout Nottinghamshire, so we could have it somewhere else if we wanted to."It has previously been suggested the two buildings could be used as the headquarters of separate newly-established authorities.
