The likes of 2018 Commonwealth Games and European Championship gold medallis Dina Asher-Smith and 1500 metre European, two-time 2017 European Indoor champion, 1500m/3000m double, and two-time 2018 World Indoor Championship medallist Laura Muir alongside the world’s very best, have been regular names at this event, the Muller Grand Prix Birmingham, lane-by-lane, with other major figures in this, the Muller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham - ranked as the best one-day indoor meeting in the world – will see more world-class head to heads expected to light up the Arena Birmingham today.

With the city known loving its athletics, and having produced many a British and world legends of the sport, such as Sir Mo Farah, today’s fare, part of the IAAF World Indoor tour, promises even greater excitement than ever before.

And it’s just another taster for when the very best in the Commonwealth comes to Birmingham in 2022.

Regarded as one of the game's greatest in his position, England’s World Cup-winning goalkeeper Gordon Banks, earned 73 caps and who died yesterday, was named FIFA goalkeeper of the year six times

Perhaps best known for his wonder save from Pele during the 1970 World Cup, in Mexico, against Brazil, the star striker paid tribute to him calling him "a fine human being" and "a goalkeeper with magic."

Sir Bobby Charlton, who was part of the 1966 winning team alongside Banks, said: "Gordon was a fantastic goalkeeper, without doubt one of the best England has ever had.

I was proud to call him a team-mate. Obviously we shared that great day in 1966 but it was more than that.

Even though I was on the pitch and have seen it many times since, I still don't know how he saved that header from Pele."

Another of the ’66 heroes, Sir Geoff Hurst - who scored a hat-trick in the Final - tweeted: ‘One of the very greatest. Thinking especially of Ursula, Julia, Wendy and Robert. Sad for football, Stoke City and for England fans.’

Ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who replaced Banks at Leicester, tweeted: ‘I'm devastated - today I've lost my hero,’ whilst former England striker Gary Lineker said: "An absolute hero of mine, and countless others, England's World Cup winner was one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, and such a lovely, lovely man."

Current England and Manchester City forward Raheem Sterling was among the first to pay tribute, also tweeting: ‘Of course there was that save, but it's so much more we are mourning today. RIP Gordon Banks. England legend, your legacy will live on.’

The Sheffield-born hero, who also won the League Cup with Stoke and Leicester, before retiring in 1973, is the fourth player of the England team that started the 1966 World Cup final to have died, after Bobby Moore, Ray Wilson and Alan Ball.

He was 81.

Organizers of a sporting event in Wales have taken the step of banning boys from its national netball competition; saying it was aimed at encouraging more girls to take part while boys' physical strength sometimes put them at an advantage.

The Urdd National Sports Festival, which takes place in Aberystwyth, is one of many annual events it puts on and primary schools were – despite the ruling - told girls will be able to play in the football competition with boys at the same tournament.

Pupils have criticised the move, with some saying: "Netball isn't just for girls, it's for boys and girls. If they're taking away netball from the boys, why don't they take a sport away from the girls?"

Another pupil said: "Why can't boys play netball? I'm normally into football, but I wanted to try something different. If girls are allowed to play football, why can’t we do netball?"

The Urdd Gobaith Cymru was set up in 1922 to provide opportunities for children through the medium of Welsh.

After a hugely successful inaugural event at St George’s Park last November, Cure Leukaemia is staging another six-a-side football tournament at the FA’s National Football Centre, on Tuesday, October 22.

Once again a number of footballing legends will be back to do battle, just as they did last year, when former Aston Villa favourites Ian Taylor and Lee Hendrie were both among the Anvillians team crowned Copa Del CL champions.

Cure Leukaemia CEO James McLaughlin said; “We had a fantastic inaugural tournament with players able to savour the world-class facilities at St George’s Park but also the atmosphere and camaraderie you’d expect when former footballers are reunited.

The feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, so we are delighted to be putting the event on once again, potentially bigger and better with a Champions League theme.

And you never know, the Cure Leukaemia team might actually manage to score a goal this year!”

Last year’s line-ups included an array of legends including Matt Le Tissier, Taylor, Hendrie, Stiliyan Petrov, Jody Craddock, Darren Purse, Lee Naylor, Maik Taylor and Tommy Johnson.

Cure Leukaemia Patron Geoff Thomas and fellow Wolves legend Matt Murray each managed a team, actor from the hit BBC show ‘Line of Duty’ and Villa fan Nigel Boyle was in the winning squad, and the whole event was hosted by Sky Sports’ Johnny Phillips, with former Arsenal and Aston Villa great Paul Merson providing the after-dinner entertainment.

Companies and clients from across the UK took part including Deutsche Bank, LDC, The Binding Site and Sadler & Partridge Ltd. Chris Hurley, Chief Portfolio Officer at LDC said: “The inaugural Copa Del CL provided the ideal springboard; it is original, ambitious, engaging and team focused allowing our LDC colleagues to lace up their boots and show their on-field talents in a unique location alongside some of the great names of English football. We look forward to supporting Cure Leukaemia further in 2019 and beyond with an even more exciting tournament.”

Global Football Pro, based at St George’s Park, who organise player experiences and tournaments across the country and internationally return to oversee the football event which will focus around a Champions League theme, as, once the tournament is over, guests will be invited to enjoy refreshments whilst watching the two Champions League fixtures in the company of the legends during the evening.

Taylor, who is a Director with Global Football Pro, is looking forward to another exciting tournament.

“Last year’s event proved a fantastic success and fun-packed day, but, most importantly, it generated both funds and awareness of this cruel disease, helping the amazing work that is being carried out to hopefully find a cure in the not-too-distant future.

As former players we are still competitive whenever we get out on the pitch, but there were also many excellent players and lively teams which made for a really hard-fought tournament.

We are looking forward to another great event with the action on the top-class pitches at St George’s Park then followed by the chance to sit down and watch the Champions League games and chat football – what a day!”

The Müller Indoor Grand Prix Birmingham welcomes more than 50 global medallists to Arena Birmingham this Saturday at the world’s number one ranked indoor athletics event with Olympic, world and European medallists on show for fans to see go head to head at the sold-out event.

Britain’s European 1500m champion Laura Muir competes in the women’s mile with an eye on Kirsty Wade’s 31-year-old British record of 4:23.86. Following her victory at the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships over 3000m and her Scottish indoor record over 800m in Torun, Muir’s race will be one of the highlights of the meet.

Just 0.01 seconds outside the world indoor mile record in at the Millrose Games in New York last week, Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha’s next race on the track will be greatly anticipated as he goes over 1500m with Hicham El Guerrouj’s 22-year world indoor 1500m record of 3:31.18 under threat.

Among the Olympic champions in action are Jamaal’s Rio 2016 double gold medallist Elaine Thompson and Katerina Stefanidi, of Greece, who will feature in highly competitive women’s 60m and women’s pole vault fields respectively.

Thompson takes on the reigning European Indoor champion, Asha Philip, who claimed the SPAR British Athletics Indoor Championships title last weekend – her tenth national title in total - and Ivory Coast’s double world medallist Marie-Josée Ta-Lou.

Stefanidi has won almost all there is to win in the sport, and with only a few weeks until she aims to defend her European Indoor title, she’ll take on a strong field in Birmingham including European bronze medallist, Team GB star, Holly Bradshaw who cleared a British Indoor Championship record of 4.80m last weekend at Arena Birmingham.

Furthermore, five 2018 world indoor champions return to the venue including men’s and women’s long jump champion Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba, Serbian Ivana Spanovic and Ethiopian Samuel Tefera over 1500m, in addition to Kejelcha and Stefanidi.

World number two in 2019 following his 6.53 clocking in Berlin two weeks ago, Reece Prescod (GBR) goes in the men’s 60m, taking on world indoor silver medallist Su Bingtian of China. Newly-crowned British champion Dominic Ashwell and second-place Adam Thomas will have a last chance to chase European Indoor championship qualifying times.

Proposals for the second phase of the regeneration of Perry Barr, in Birmingham, have been unveiled by Birmingham City Council.

The 12.27 hectare site would accommodate around 400 new homes, associated public open space and a new secondary school for 1,260 pupils.

The area, between Holford Drive and Aldridge Road in Perry Barr, is adjacent to the site of the former Birmingham City University Campus – already being demolished to make way for the residential element of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Village, which will then be converted into approximately 1,400 new homes for the public post-Games.

The Phase Two site unveiled today is only due to come forward for development after the Games, as it will initially form part of the Athletes’ Village, accommodating a number of Games-time facilities such as the athletes’ dining hall and other temporary facilities.

The area will also benefit from a number of transport improvements, enhancements to Holford Drive to enable better access to the new school, and improvements to Perry Barr railway station.

There will also be a sporting legacy through improved access to facilities in the area including the retained Doug Ellis Sports Centre and associated all-weather pitch currently at the heart of the Phase Two site.

A drop-in session is being staged for existing residents to find out more about the plans for the housing and the school as follows: Wednesday 20 February, at the Doug Ellis sports Centre, Perry Barr, between 1pm and 7pm.

Councilor Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “Birmingham is a growing, thriving, city and we are projecting a population increase of 150,000 by 2031 – so it is crucial we deliver the housing, infrastructure and jobs to support our young and growing population.

Phase Two of the wider regeneration vision for Perry Barr will play a significant part in achieving our goals, providing a high-quality neighbourhood for people and the best possible standard of living in Birmingham.

This scheme will build on the magnificent progress we have achieved on Phase One. It normally takes three years for a Commonwealth Games Village project to obtain planning consent, but thanks to the ‘can do’ attitude of the council and its partners, we have already done the job in just 12 months.”

Following the end of consultation, which closes on 4 March 2019, all comments will be reviewed with any appropriate changes then being made before the submission of an outline planning application, ahead of an anticipated decision by the council Planning Committee in summer 2019. The secondary school, proposed to the Department for Education, would open in 2021 if approved.

The exhibition will be available via the Birmingham Consultation Hub at: www.birminghambeheard.org.uk/economy/residential-perry-barr-phase-2