Oxfordshire developer David Wilson Homes has donated a set of mini footballs to a nursery in Grove to inspire children to kick off the World Cup in style.

The nursery at Millbrook Primary School – which is located close to the housebuilder’s upcoming development at Monks Farm – received 25 of the footballs ahead of one of the world’s most eagerly-awaited sporting events, set to begin in Qatar.

In the aftermath of Manchester United's thrilling 2-1 injury-time victory at Fulham, Erik ten Hag allowed himself to reflect on the developments at Old Trafford since he became manager in the summer.

"We are now united," he said. "We have togetherness, in the dressing room, with the staff, the directors, the whole club, and the fans.

Not many Black players have represented Athletic Bilbao - or have many Basques played for an African national team, but former Spain international Inaki Williams is bucking the trend as he stands on the verge of a World Cup debut with Ghana. The forward won his sole senior cap for the country of his birth in 2016 but with none since, a trip to the West African country earlier this year prompted a family-inspired change of allegiance.

Officials from the Ivory Coast government signed a formal hosting agreement for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with the Confederation of African Football (Caf), with the signing being significant as it all but ensures that the next finals, which will actually take place in 2024, will be held in the West African nation.

With 100 days to go until the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final, world 1500m champion Jake Wightman has confirmed he will race at the Utilita Arena on Saturday 25 February 2023.

Wightman has enjoyed a landmark 2022 track season as he added European 800m silver and Commonwealth 1500m bronze to his ever-growing collection, following his triumph in Eugene where he superbly beat the Olympic champion, the Norwegian, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, to the gold medal.

European Athletics have announced that Birmingham will host the European Athletics Championships in 2026 following a successful bid process with UK Athletics (UKA). Working in partnership with Birmingham City Council and UK Sport, UKA had high hopes of hosting Europe’s most prestigious European athletics competition, seven years on from staging the hugely successful European Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow in 2019.