Colors: Yellow Color

Antoinette “Toni” Harris is the first woman ever to attend college on a full football scholarship. She has overcome challenges brought about by her gender, build, what other people say, and even a fatal illness she was diagnosed with. In fact, she dreams of being the first woman to play in the NFL.

Harris, 22, who was born and raised in Detroit, has always been a football fan since she was 4-years old. Even though she also liked cheerleading and track-and-field, she really enjoys football the most.

She started just watching her cousins play until she herself played football during grade school. Eventually, she entered the high school football team but with teammates who “weren’t really accepting,” it wasn’t easy at first.

She said: “It took them some time to warm up to me. But once they did, they were loving, they were supportive — and eventually everybody else got on board.”

Harris, who was proclaimed the homecoming queen on her senior year, still had doubts with herself. Being younger and a lot smaller than male players didn’t stop her though. She realized she just has to learn to live with it.

“At the end of the day, I told myself, ‘I cannot allow myself to live in fear.’ You don’t really live if you live in fear,” she said.

Her bravery has been ultimately tested when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 18. She lost half of her body weight and she went through remission later that year.

She continued with her dreams despite people telling her she couldn’t move from high school football to college. While enrolled at Golden West College, she entered East Los Angeles College to be able to play free safety with the community college team.

After two years in college football, she has received dozens of scholarship offers to play. Most recently, she marked history as the first woman to sign a letter of intent for a four-year college football scholarship. She accepted the scholarship with Central Methodist University to continue her studies and play football in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.

Moreover, Harris has also caught the attention of giant companies. In January, a Toyota advertisement featuring her with a RAV4 Hybrid was premiered in their Super Bowl commercial.

After college, Harris dreams of playing for her favourite team, the Seattle Seahawks, or “any other team in the NFL — as long as I got my chance,” she said. Additionally, she also plans on becoming a “homicide detective with a background in forensics.”

 

Birmingham Hippodrome and Associate Company Rosie Kay Dance Company announce an exciting opportunity to be part of a unique performance on Tuesday 21 May.

The choreographer of the Commonwealth Games Handover - broadcast from Birmingham city centre around the world last year - is once again calling for West Midlands residents to get involved in a large-scale dance performance. Produced as a collaboration between Rosie Kay Dance Company and the local community, 120 SOLDIERS will mark the premiere of 10 SOLDIERS, a key production within Birmingham Hippodrome’s 120th anniversary year.

Choreographer Rosie Kay comments, “I’m thrilled to be able to present another opportunity for people from all backgrounds to come together and create a public performance. The West Midlands has such strong enthusiasm for dance but to keep this scene fresh and engaging, we need to continually open it up for different communities to get involved. I hope to see youth groups, students, parents, local workers getting involved, but I also want to see cadets, soldiers, ex-services and those with a connection to the Armed Forces. 10 SOLDIERS is all about building a greater understanding between the public and The Army, developing connections and trust within a diverse group, working together as a team, cementing friendships and an empathetic, supportive network. Hopefully, 120 SOLDIERS can give people the opportunity to experience how participating in dance can help us do these things.”

This opportunity is open to everyone aged 16 and over, regardless of previous dance experience. Participants will need to commit to a rehearsal on Sunday 19 May from 10am-4pm and Tuesday 21 May from 5pm-9pm at Birmingham Hippodrome.

Participants will receive a free t-shirt and ticket to see the main show of Rosie Kay Dance Company’s 10 SOLDIERS, taking place in the main auditorium on Tuesday 21 May at 7.30pm. The show comes a decade after Rosie Kay’s initial research into The Army which developed into her best known and highly regarded 5 SOLDIERS. Commissioned by Birmingham Hippodrome, 10 SOLDIERS explores what it is like to be a soldier in today’s British Army, the friendships and relationships that develop, the physical and psychological transformation that soldiers experience, and ultimately how a tightknit group is formed that are prepared to face anything.

Chris Sudworth, Associate Director (Programme & Artist Development), said: “Rosie Kay’s 5 SOLDIERS has been an international hit production, made in Birmingham. We are delighted that Rosie’s debut at this scale will be on the Main Stage of Birmingham Hippodrome, in her home city before touring nationally - and we hope internationally. We’re also delighted that Rosie will work directly with non-professional dancers to make this exciting pop-up performance on the night of the world premiere. We can’t wait to make more surprising and exciting projects with the people of our city across our 120thanniversary year.”

Applications to participate in 120 SOLDIERS close on Friday March 29. To apply, complete the form at www.rosiekay.co.uk/120soldiers

A team captain from the University of Wolverhampton has scored a trip of a lifetime to go behind the scenes at an international football stadium.

Student Lowri Walker is one of a select group of leading footballers from women’s football clubs at UK universities who will join a programme of events, tours and training.

The programme, organised by Santander Universities, is designed to help build critical thinking and management skills for female talent, both through sporting and wider leadership activity.

The 21-year-old, who captained her team to BUCS Conference Cup glory this week, will jet off to Barcelona this month for three days of activities at the iconic Camp Nou.

In celebration of Santander’s sponsorship of the UEFA Champions League, Lowri will have the chance to watch Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Gerard Pique and their Barcelona team mates play in the club’s vital round sixteen tie against Olympique Lyonnais.

Lowri, who has a sports scholarship from the University, will also take part in a panel event on women’s leadership, and have the opportunity to benefit from a training session with Chapi Ferrer, professional football coach and ex-player of both FC Barcelona and Chelsea FC.

The visit also includes a tour of the Camp Nou stadium and time to visit the sights of Barcelona.

BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science student Lowri, from Aberystwyth, said: “I’m so grateful to Santander Universities for this amazing opportunity, and I hope I can do the University proud when I represent our team in Barcelona. I’m really looking forward to visiting the Camp Nou and making the most of this exciting trip.

“As Captain of the women’s football team, I’m a role model for my players and having that on my shoulders has helped mould me into the person I want to be, and it has massively helped me on the pitch too. The Sports Scholarship from the University has developed me as a person and has made me feel like part of a wider team, so I’m incredibly grateful for the support I’ve received.”

Dr Richard Medcalf, Director of the Institute of Human Sciences, said: “I’m delighted that Lowri has been given this opportunity and am very grateful to Santander for their part in this.

Women’s football is a hugely important sport for us at Wolverhampton, the team is on course to gain promotion this year and Lowri is an excellent example of a sports scholar who takes a professional approach to both sport and study.”

Matt Hutnell, Director, Santander Universities, said: “We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to top female football talent from across the UK to help develop their leadership skills, both within and outside a sporting context.  We are committed to supporting higher education and we know that those selected for this programme are equally committed to their sport, investing hours into training and are an inspiration to their peers both on and off the pitch.

We hope the trip will motivate and support female talent with their career ambitions – whether in the world of sport, finance or beyond.”

Emilio Botín launched Santander Universities in Spain in 1996, as an effective vehicle for business investment into its communities.  The programme now has over 1,200 University partners across 20 countries. Santander Universities UK launched in 2007; encompassing 84 universities, and providing over £10m of funding in 2018 alone. The programme focuses on education, entrepreneurship and employability giving all students the opportunity to succeed.

Warm-hearted students, staff and families from across all Arthur Terry Learning Partnership (ATLP) schools have been digging deep to raise more than £1100 in support of Birmingham-based housing charity, the Geoff Horsfield Foundation.

A total of 10 schools across Birmingham, North Warwickshire and Staffordshire, also received an ‘unprecedented’ number of donations of warm clothing and bedding from their communities. They will pass the items and funds on to former Birmingham City Football Club legend, Geoff Horsfield, whose foundation provides quality, safe and secure housing accommodation and other services for vulnerable adults who have fallen through the current support network.

Geoff, one of the most respected sportsmen in the West Midlands, founded the charity as a ‘debt of gratitude’ to the local community.

He said: “We’re really touched by the amount of donations schools have generously given. The community spirit is alive in our schools and it’s heartening to see such a mass of support for others. I must give huge thanks for their combined efforts – this will really make a difference.

“Our foundation’s aim is to provide vulnerable adults and to make a sustainable impact on homelessness, vulnerability and its echo effect on the local community. Winter is a hard time and if we can provide safe, warm and secure homes for people who are at risk of falling through the system, then it’s a start to tackling this growing issue.”

ATLP’s Brookvale, Curdworth, Hill West, Mere Green, Scotch Orchard, William MacGreggor, Two Gates, Slade, Arthur Terry and Coleshill schools all took part in the fundraising initiative.

Lisa Dodd, headteacher of Curdworth Primary School, said: “We’re absolutely blown away by our community and their big hearts. They have all dug deep to support his worthy cause and we’re so grateful for their warmth and generosity.

“This is an issue that affects us all. We’re raising our young people to be responsible and caring citizens, to look out for one another and to work together to support those in need. The work that Geoff and his volunteers are doing is life-changing and this is the least we can all do to play our part in this worthwhile initiative.”

The ICC Cricket World Cup Trophy Tour, driven by Nissan, has embarked on its most extensive journey around the globe yet, amid growing excitement ahead of the showpiece event in England and Wales from May 39 to July 14. And on March 15 it will be stopping off at Wolverhampton.

With more stops than ever before, The #CWCTrophyTour started its journey from the International Cricket Council headquarters in Dubai on Monday, 27 August 2018. Travelling across five continents, 21 countries and over 60 cities the “most connected Trophy Tour ever” will allow fans around the world to get up close to the coveted prize that will be lifted at Lord’s Cricket Ground on July, 14.

During the nine-month journey, the Trophy Tour will travel not only to countries taking part in the tournament, but for the first time ever will go beyond traditional cricket heartlands and connect with fans in a further 11 countries where cricket is growing including Nepal, USA and Germany.

From the United Arab Emirates, the Trophy will travel to Oman, the USA, the West Indies, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, India, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany before arriving in England and Wales on 19 February, 2019 for a 100-day domestic Trophy Tour.

15th March – Wolverhampton 16th March – Birmingham  17th March – Coventry 18th April – Rooftop cricket, Edgbaston day 19th April – Street Futures community session (Birmingham council) 20th April – Birmingham Super Saturday

#CWCTrophyTour

 

Gloucester Rugby and Music Plus Sport have announce Nile Rodgers & CHIC as the next headliners in their summer season of concerts, headlining on Sunday June 9.

Announcing Olly Murs (Friday June 7) as the first headliner at the end of last year, the show soon became one of the hottest tickets in the history of Gloucester Rugby with Nile Rodgers & CHIC expecting to follow suit.

Rodgers is truly exceptional. He amplifies his legacy as a multiple GRAMMY-winning composer, producer, arranger and guitarist by constantly traversing new musical terrain and successfully expanding the boundaries of popular music.

As the co-founder of CHIC, Rodgers pioneered a musical language that generated chart-topping hits like “Le Freak,” sparked the advent of hip-hop with “Good Times,” and won CHIC 11 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame nominations. His work in the CHIC Organization and his productions for artists like David Bowie (incl. ‘Lets Dance’), Diana Ross (incl. ‘Upside Down’, ‘I’m Coming Out’) and Madonna (incl. ‘Material Girl’, ‘Like A Virgin’) have sold over 300 million albums and 50 million singles worldwide while his innovative, trendsetting collaborations with Daft Punk, Avicii, Sigala, Disclosure and Sam Smith reflect the vanguard of contemporary music.

Releasing their ninth studio album ‘It’s About Time’ in 2018, the release saw the band once again work the cream of the crop of the current music stars ranging from Mura Masa and Stefflon Don to Lady Gaga.

Stephen Vaughan CEO of Gloucester Rugby said; “We are delighted to announce that Nile Rodgers and Chic will be the second act performing at Kingsholm in the summer of 2019 a couple of days after Olly Murs.

Nile Rodgers is an absolute legend in the world of music. He has written, produced and performed on albums that have sold millions of copies worldwide.

Kingsholm Stadium is a unique venue which provides a special setting & atmosphere for concerts and Nile Rodgers and CHIC will put on a superb evening’s entertainment, one that we’re all really looking forward to.”

Co-Founder of promoters Music Plus Sport Simon Halden, MD said; “We are thrilled to bring the legendary Nile Rodgers & CHIC to Kingsholm Stadium for what will no doubt be a highlight of the summer alongside Olly Murs.  Gloucestershire crowds have consistently delivered a great atmosphere for the shows we put on and we know 2019 will be no different.”

Expect to hear some of the best-known pop anthems from the last four decades. With more than 200 production credits to his name, the scope of Nile Rodgers' peerless influence is undeniable.