George Litchfield

BBC News •

Luton mascot reunites with life-saving hero before EFL trophy win

There were double celebrations pitch-side at Wembley Stadium on Sunday. Not only did about 30,000 Luton fans see the Hatters beat Stockport County 3-1 to take home the English Football League Trophy, but the team's mascot, Kayden Douglas-Imasuen, was reunited with the man who helped save his life. Kayden, 12, from Wootton in Bedfordshire, led his team out to glory, and also got to speak to Aubaid Aftar - the optician who spotted signs of a brain tumour during an appointment in August 2024.Kayden...
BBC News •

Sons of Great Escape survivors to retrace WW2 march

The sons of two World War Two soldiers who survived recapture after the legendary Great Escape are to cycle the 120-mile distance their fathers were forced to march.Stuart Green and Roger Churchill met for the first time at the 80th anniversary of the famed escape from Stalag Luft III in 1944.The route will closely mirror that taken by thousands of Allied prisoners of war in 1945, when Russian forces moved in on Nazi-held territory in Europe.Setting out on 5 May from the site of the camp in mode...
BBC News •

Aylesbury Friar ducks reunited at Discover Bucks Museum

Two ducks which were first displayed in a town in 1969 have been reunited for a special Easter display at a local museum.The sculptures were made by artist Peter Hand for the then-newly developed Friars Square shopping centre in Aylesbury.They remained there until 1987, when they were eventually sold privately.Discover Bucks Museum is reuniting the feathered friends outside its building for a limited amount of time before they are returned to their owners.

Two ducks which were first displayed i...
BBC News •

Lioness with autism from Bedfordshire wants to inspire others

An autistic teenager is hoping to inspire other neurodiverse sports people after representing England at international futsal events.Elise Packwood, 19, plays for the England Deaf Futsal team, which was set up by the Football Association after it decided there were more international opportunities, external for the England Deaf Women’s team playing futsal than the traditional 11-a-side football format.The teenager from Marston Moretaine, Bedfordshire, said she had experienced bullying in some sp...
BBC News •

Lewis Hamilton's Formula car from 2003 restored by enthusiasts

The first Formula racing series car driven by Lewis Hamilton has been lovingly restored after it was discovered in pieces in a storeroom.The car, driven by Hamilton when he won the British Formula Renault championship in 2003, took two years to rebuild.It was bought by collector Alex Thornton who said the work was a "total labour of love".The racing car will go on display outside Stevenage Museum in his hometown in August.

The first Formula racing series car driven by Lewis Hamilton has been lo...
BBC News •

Referee punched by footballer in Bedford retires

A football referee of more than 20 years has said he has stopped officiating games after a player assaulted him.Michael Giblin was in charge of a Bedford & District Sunday League game when he issued a yellow card to a player for a foul tackle.The man punched him twice after the final whistle, Mr Giblin said.The Bedfordshire Football Association (FA) said the man was banned from the sport for five years and that it did not "condone any physical violence or abuse".

A football referee of more than...
The Independent •

Is Ryder Cup on TV? Channel, start time and how to watch Europe v USA

The Ryder Cup kicks off this week, and will be hosted in Italy for the first time as the biennial competition heads back to Europe for its 44th edition.

The United States have not won on European soil since 1993, but in the last tournament claimed a commanding 19-9 victory at Whistling Straits to win back the trophy from Team Europe.

The margin of victory in 2021 was the biggest in the modern era of the Ryder Cup, and seven of the 12 players from historic win now return to try and defend the t
The Independent •

Why isn’t Liverpool vs West Ham live on TV?

West Ham have had a flying start to the season, losing only to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City despite losing key man Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer.

The loss of the 24-year-old in a £105m deal has proved no obstacle to The Hammers, who have reinvested the funds into key signings such as James Ward-Prowse, the midfielder repaying David Moyes’ faith by contributing five goals in the four Premier League fixtures he’s played in.

A trip away to Anfield is always a stern test, however, and wh
The Independent •

Andy Murray vs Aslan Karatsev live stream: How to watch online and on TV today

Andy Murray will face a tough test against Aslan Karatsev in the Zhuhai Championships today.

The three-time Grand Slam winner overcame Ye Cong Mo on Thursday to make the last 16 of the competition, with the Scotsman arriving in China shortly after he helped Great Britain make the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup.

Opponent Karatsev beat Matteo Arnaldi to set up the tie against Murray, and also won in straight sets when the two last met in the final of the 2022 Sydney Tennis Classic.

Here’s ever
The Independent •

Kick It Out CEO says online safety bill is only ‘a small piece of the jigsaw’

Kick It Out chief Tony Burnett says the government’s new online safety bill is “brilliant news” but only “a small piece of the jigsaw”.

The new legislation, which could help prevent discrimination and abuse on social media platforms, passed its final parliamentary debate on Friday.

The football authorities played a significant part in the development of the bill, and a joint statement from The FA, Premier League, EFL, PFA and Kick It Out shortly after the announcement described the legislation
The Independent •

Solheim Cup 2023: Tee times, schedule and TV coverage

Team Europe will be looking to secure a third consecutive win for the first time ever when they take on Team USA in the 2023 Solheim Cup.

The 2021 edition of the competition, women’s golf’s equivalent of the Ryder Cup, was only the second time Team USA had ever lost on home soil, with Suzann Pettersen securing the winning point in Ohio to provide her team with a 15-13 overall victory.

This made Scottish golfer and team captain Catriona Matthew the first ever European captain to win back-to-bac
The Independent •

What is the Women’s Nations League and how does Olympics qualification work?

England will take on Scotland in the first matchday of the inaugural Women’s Nations League on Friday.

The fixture is the first between the two nations for four years, and comes just over a month since Sarina Wiegman’s side suffered heartbreak after narrowly missing out on World Cup success in what was another brilliant tournament from The Lionesses.

They now face a clash with The Tartan Army in front of over 40,000 fans at The Stadium of Light, and the Scottish side will certainly be hoping t
The Independent •

Major UFC announcement hints at Conor McGregor return date

UFC President Dana White has seemingly quashed rumours that Conor McGregor would make his return to the Octagon in December at UFC 296.

“Notorious” hasn’t fought since suffering a broken leg in his second straight loss to Dustin Poirier in 2021, but had seemed confident he would make his return at the end of this year against Michael Chandler.

White did not include McGregor, however, when he announced the headline bout for the upcoming UFC 296 event in December, although he did say that more f
Mail Online •

Who is Ousmane Diomande, Sporting's £69m 19-year-old?

Sporting Lisbon's Ousmane Diomande could complete a phenomenal rise to the Premier League, as Arsenal look set to make another offer for the 19-year-old in January.

The defender began his career in his home country Ivory Coast, joining Olympic Sport Abobo FC in 2014 at the age of ten after being spotted at a training camp. Over the next eight years Diomande worked his way through the youth teams of the club, eventually helping the first-team gain a historic promotion to the third-tier.

He even
Sheffield Wire •

‘What Craig did was truly incredible’ - Rotherham fan builds Sheffield Wednesday arcade machine for young man with rare cancer

A Rotherham United fan has built a Sheffield Wednesday themed arcade machine for a young man with a rare form of bone cancer.

Craig Ramage, owner of Mancave Machines, said he wanted to help Callum Rodgers, 23, who was diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer known as Ewing Sarcoma in August this year.

He said: “Cancer has no colours.

“It’s not something I’ve done for publicity. It’s something I’ve done to help Callum, and