Latest news with #TommySmith
RNZ News
17-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
All White Tommy Smith leaves Auckland FC
Auckland FC's Tommy Smith takes a team photo. Photo: Shane Wenzlick / Auckland FC vice-captain Tommy Smith has left the A-League club after one season to return to the United Kingdom. The club said the centre-back made the decision to depart "in order to devote more time and support to his young family". Smith has two children with his wife Leanne. The All White made 25 appearances for Auckland FC last season, including 12 starts, and helped guide the team to a historic milestone as the first New Zealand side to lift A-League silverware . "It's been an incredible year in Auckland, and I was able to lift silverware. That's something I'll carry with me forever," Smith said. "The team, staff and fans made me feel so welcome returning back to Auckland. I'm truly grateful to have played a part in such a special first chapter for this club. It was a difficult decision to leave such a special city. "From the first day of pre-season, the journey we shared has been unforgettable. There's a real sense of pride in what we built together. The fans created an atmosphere and community that made it feel like home. They've truly reignited the passion for football in Auckland." With a career spanning the English Championship, Major League Soccer, and the international stage with the All Whites, Smith brought a wealth of international and professional experience into the squad. His influence extended beyond the pitch as he was recognised by The Port as their "Hero of the Year" for his contribution to the fans. Auckland FC director of football Terry McFlynn said Smith had been a leader on and off the field. "He bought into the vision of what we're building at Auckland FC." Club chief executive officer Nick Becker said Smith would always be remembered as a "proud member" of our inaugural squad. "He is part of a team that made history and will be remembered with fondness. We completely respect his decision to depart, and we wish him and his family all the best for the future." Auckland FC play their first pre-season game on 22 July and play their first Australia Cup game on 29 July. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
The Sun
05-07-2025
- The Sun
Wife of crime boss ‘Hotdog' to ‘live in tent' when illegal scrap yard is shut down as she's kicked out of 8-bed home
THE wife of a crime boss has claimed she may have to live in a tent when she is evicted by authorities next week. Mary Smith, 48, and her husband Tommy 'Hotdog' Smith will be imminently booted from their eight bedroom detached house in Great Harwood, Lancashire. 2 2 The couple's site is also stacked with static caravans and stables for dozens of horses. Those occupying the land will be evicted after a court order was issued by Judge Guy Mathieson following a spate of criminality, including illegal waste collection and fires. In May, firefighters spent several days putting out raging fires outside the illegal scrapyard after illegal waste was dumped in the area. And following reports of a disturbance at the site on Bonfire Night in November, cops were attacked with fireworks as they attempted to defuse the issue. Mrs Smith's lawyers accepted the justification for the order, but argued the welfare of the couple's children and animal should be highlighted and argued for partial closure. This was swiftly rejected by Judge Mathieson. Mrs Smith alleged that tenants she had previously evicted were responsible for the fires and that she had no affiliation with them after Mr Smith was jailed seven years ago. Mrs Smith replied: "Me and my daughter Indiana have bought a tent, a two man tent. That is all." The judge asked: "You have a £1.4 million turnover and you are going to live in a tent?" Mrs Smith replied: "I don't know what you are talking about. I don't own any business. Sir, I think you have got it wrong. "My husband has been in jail for the past seven years, I haven't had any business for at least six years. "At the moment sir, I have had to sign on benefits." Mark Chester, representing Lancashire Constabulary, said there was a 'staggering' list of previous enforcement action going back 'years' to tackle issues on the site. He said: "None of these measures have had the necessary effect and what is very clear is that as soon as these orders lapse, the lucrative business of waste management continues. "This has been years of misery being heaped on local residents." He added that neighbours were unable to open their windows due to "putrid smells" coming from the site, with some suffering breathing difficulties. Judge Mathieson granted a full closure order meaning more than 100 officials from the police, council, RSPCA and Environment Agency will move in to secure the site and prevent occupants from access. He said: "The fact is, the occupants of this site have done nothing to address the reasons behind the closure order. They have, either directly or indirectly by letting their tenants, continue to commit nuisance and continue to operate a highly profitable business. "The only way to ensure the cessation of this is to grant a full closure order."
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lostock AC duo mark individual parkrun milestones
Lostock AC members excelled at the annual Leo Pollard Duathlon. The duathlon is for Lostock AC members, family and friends and participants can complete the duathlon solo or be part of a relay. The Duathlon begins with a 5k bike ride starting at on Georges Lane, Horwich, at the top of Wilderswood. The cycle starts with a fast decent along Georges Lane, then turning left on Matchmoor Lane. It is then a climb up Burnt Edge Lane to Mast Road where the run commences. After the run, it was back to the bikes to repeat the original loop. Advertisement In the solo race, Josie Greenhalgh was this first to finish in an epic 42mins 31secs. Andy Laycock followed shortly behind in 45:12 and Rachel Hancock was next is 49:50, then Sally McCoy 50:28 and Clive Worthington in 57:44. In the team duathlon, Mary White and Alan Sweatman were first in 45:17, second was Nikki Hancock and Katie Edern in 49:30, third was Greg Kilshaw and Gaz Foulkes in 51:13 and finally Heather Soden and Jon Tuson in 53:14. To ensure all members could take part, participants were allowed to complete a 3.8-mile trail run, taking in the summits of Two Lads and Burnt Edge. First male was Tommy Smith in 28:43, then Mark Shuttleworth in 34:27 and Phil Holland in 35:04. The first and only female was Hazel Hatfield in 43:10. Other results: Dave Parry 35:27, Gareth Pratt 35:39, Chris Baker 41:46, Paul Lacey 43:11, Ian Burns 43:18, Ian Johnson 45:56, Brian Halton 45:56. Advertisement For the next instalment in the Fell Championships, three Lostockers travelled to Darwen to compete in Aggie's Staircase - a challenging four-mile run with an elevation gain of 1,000 feet. The race starts with a narrow uphill climb along a single track before reaching the base of the climb up to Darwen Tower. From the tower there is a gradual decent down a stone path to the bottom of Jacobs Ladder. As the name suggests, this is another steep climb then runner head around the back of Darwen Tower via a 'flat' runnable section. A stile then marks the start of a steep rocky section. The bottom of this decent reveals the start of Aggies Staircase which the race is named after and represents a section which really can only be tackled with a zombie-style climbing technique due to the terrain. Runners then head back to the start for a fast finish. Greenhalgh had an amazing race, getting a course PB of 39:59 and coming first in her age category, and she was followed by Shuttleworth, in 43:57. Tommy Smith did not have the race he had planned, he erroneously believed it started at 7.30pm when it started at 7pm. He did cross the start line at 7.05pm but this did put him at a disadvantage. Despite this, he was able to make his way up the field, finishing in 44:33. Advertisement It was the June instalment of the Media City Race series and regular racers, Jo McManus and Rachel Stevens, took part in the 5k. McManus had a fantastic race, finishing in 21:59 and third in her age category, while Stevens followed in 26:03. Dynamic duo, Tony Maxwell and Sheila Garewal joined 277 runners taking part in the Trawden seven-mile trail race. Organised by Trawden AC, it starts at the recreation ground next to Trawden village which lies a couple of miles south east of Colne. The first km consists of one-and-a-half laps round a large grass field and then it's on to an anticlockwise route through the scenic countryside. After a short road section, there's a left turn onto an asphalt track which passes through a farmyard, and then it is back on to grass to cross a field. Asphalt and gravel paths then take you downhill to briefly enter the village before a sustained uphill to reach a tricky stone path on an undulating moorland ridge. After passing the water station just after halfway it was a left turn downhill to reach the relative cool of a shady wooded section next to Wycoller Brook. The bridge across the brook led to a public road for the relatively gentle couple of kms climb back to the recreation ground. Another half lap of the grass field took competitors to the finish line. The run was enjoyable but tough race, with a gruelling elevation gain of 700 feet. Maxwell finished in an impressive 154th with 1:10:45 and Garewal in 1:26:07. Advertisement It was a momentous occasion at Haigh Woodland Parkrun where Andy Laycock completed his 300th parkrun and club member Allan Jones complete his first ever one. Parkrun results: Haigh Woodland - Tommy Smith 19:53 (sixth male and second in age category), Gareth Pratt 23:34 (third in age category), Anthony Sutton 23:38, Chris Baker 24:38, Mark Shuttleworth 25:08, Brian Halton 25:39, Andy Laycock 26:04, Rachel Hancock 26:56 (first in age category), Matt Carney 27:35, Greg Kilshaw 28:01, Paul Lacey 28:02, Chris Taylor 28:33, Katie Edern 28:37 (first in age category), Rachel Stevens 28:57 (third in age category), Lynda Hardman 29:19 (Haigh PB), Ian Burns 30:07 (third in age category), Markus Stevens 31:04 (Haigh PB), Gillian Caldwell 32:12 (first in age category), Karen Taylor 36:19, Allan Jones 43:42 (second in age category), Bev Atherton-McKenna 51:29, Heather Soden 51:31, Jeanette Brandon 51:33; Bolton - Mel Goodall 28:27 (third in age category); Fell Foot - Tony Maxwell 25:07 (second in age category), Sheila Garewal 31:35.
Times
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
The reign of Tommy Smith as the king of jazz is over — what now?
Tommy Smith is no longer the leader of the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. But the saxophonist is still very much its face. Last week the musician stepped down as the band's artistic director after he was dismissed from Scotland's premier music and drama university, the Royal Conservatoire, over allegations he had a relationship with a student. Yet Smith's picture remains plastered all over the website of the publicly funded orchestra he founded 30 years ago. Its youth wing is even named after the musician. For decades, insiders say, the former teenage prodigy has been the king of Scottish jazz. His reign is now over. Some lament the loss of a genuine talent. Others last week were celebrating what they see as an opportunity for musicians to come out from under his shadow.
STV News
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- STV News
Jazz professor dismissed from role at Royal Conservatoire
Leading Scottish saxophonist Tommy Smith has been sacked as a professor at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Following a disciplinary investigation and hearing by the Glasgow institute, the 58-year-old – who has been a star of jazz since his teens and founded the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra – was dismissed. Mr Smith had held the position of head of jazz at the music school for the last 16 years. The Daily Mail reported that the dismissal is related to allegations of a relationship with a female student who was over the age of 18. It was claimed that Mr Smith was told to stay away from classes at RCS after the allegations came to light. Smith was brought up in the Wester Hailes housing scheme in Edinburgh, was awarded an OBE in 2019, and holds honorary doctorates from Heriot-Watt University and the University of Edinburgh. A spokesperson for the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland said: 'Following a disciplinary investigation and hearing, Tommy Smith has been dismissed. 'RCS has robust policies in place to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.' Founded in 1847, Scotland's national conservatoire is a global leader in performing arts education, consistently ranked in the top ten of the QS World University Rankings. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
