Hodgkinson and Sawyers golds cap expected European Indoor Championships haul

Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson defended her 800m title in style before team captain Jazmin Sawyers won a stunning long jump gold at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul.

Hodgkinson carried her form from a superb season into the final, finishing well clear in one minute 58.66 seconds. The Olympic and world silver medallist, who turned 21 on Friday, was almost two seconds clear of Slovene Anita Horvat.

Hodgkinson claims gold as GB & NI win seven medals on day three in Toruń

Teenager Kelly Hodgkinson claimed her maiden European senior title as the British team added seven medals to their tally to equal their best haul at the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Toruń, Poland winning two gold, four silver and six bronze medals overall. The teenager, who only turned 19 on Wednesday, timed her move around the outside perfectly to take the lead with 250m to go and held her nerve as she ramped up the pace for the final lap.

Despite a late surge from Joanna Józwik (POL), Hodgkinson kicked once again to power across the line in 2:03.88 for her maiden senior title and become the youngest British champion at the event since Marilyn Neufville in 1970. After the race, Hodgkinson exclaimed: “I’m so happy. You never quite understand the shock when it happens. You picture it in your head so many times, but when the reality comes through, it’s just a different feeling. 

“I didn’t really think about the pressure. I am only 19 and I’m still learning and there’s still things that I’m going to learn. I just wanted to keep my same relaxed state like I did in the heats and the semi-final. Me and Trevor (Painter) talked about that and we said not to change anything for the final. I just didn’t want to make any mistakes and I really believed in myself. 

“They trust my instincts. They are really letting me grow into my athlete and Jenny’s Meadows experience is there to tap into if I need it. They said to me ‘just keep the same relaxed state and you’ll know how you feel and what to do’ and that’s what I did.” Teammate Ellie Baker narrowly missed out on bronze, crossing the line fourth in 2:04.40 after a last 50m burn up with Józwik and Angelika Cichocka, with Isabelle Boffey, also making her senior British debut, sixth in 2:07.26.

There was double relay delight for the women’s and men’s 4x400m relay teams as the women’s contingent secured silver in an impressive 3:28.20, with the men’s securing bronze in 3:06.70. Andrew Pozzi became the first British man to claim a medal at the championships as he claimed silver in the 60m hurdles final, equalling his personal best in 7.43s as he cut the tape.

It was a near-flawless run from Pozzi, who got out strongly and was level with France’s Wilhem Belocian at the halfway point. The Briton clipped the fourth hurdle before a lunge for the line saw him claim silver, just 0.01s away from taking the gold. Pozzi said: “It’s an equal PB. I was actually doing really well at the start, I just lost a couple of steps in the middle. It’s a championships and the better man won, so it is what it is. I’m a bit disappointed, but I gave it everything I could”.

In the women’s equivalent, sisters Cindy Sember and Tiffany Porter secured silver and bronze to boost the British medal tally, clocking 7.89s and 7.92s respectively as Nadine Visser of the Netherlands defended her title in a world leading 7.77s. A bold front-run from Jamie Webb in the men’s 800m final saw him rewarded with a bronze in 1:46.95 following a sprint-finish.

It all came down to a sprint finish for the Briton, who had led from the first lap of the race, but as Poland’s Patryk Dobek hit the front at the bell, Webb found himself having to hold off the challenge of Adam Kszczot (POL) and Mateusz Borkowski (POL) in the final 100m on the final bend. Webb gave it his all but could not hold off the challenge of Borkowski, who pipped him to silver on the line in 1:46.90, with Dobek notching a personal best 1:46.81 for gold.

In the men’s 3000m final, Andrew Butchart and Jack Rowe came home in seventh and ninth position respectively, clocking 7:52.15 and 7:53.47 respectively, a season’s best for the latter as they found themselves playing catch-up with Jakob Ingebrigtsen’s (NOR) speed. The British duo found themselves searching for space in the final four laps, being forced to settle for seventh and ninth respectively, with Norway’s Ingebrigtsen clocking 7:48.20 for gold.

Having set a personal best 1.91m in qualifying for the women’s high jump, Emily Borthwick cleared a best of 1.85m as she finished eighth on her maiden senior Championships. The Wigan & District athlete required a third time clearance at her opening height of 1.85m to progress, but three fouls at 1.89m signalled the end of the competition.

 

British medallists at the 2021 European Athletics Indoor Championships:

Gold:Keely Hodgkinson (women’s 800m), Amy-Eloise Markovc (women’s 3000m)

 

Silver:Holly Archer (women’s 1500m), Andrew Pozzi (men’s 60m hurdles), Cindy Sember (women’s 60m hurdles), women’s 4x400m relay

 

Bronze:Verity Ockenden (women’s 3000m), Jodie Williams (women’s 400m), Holly Bradshaw (women’s pole vault), Tiffany Porter (women’s 60m hurdles), Jamie Webb (men’s 800m), men’s 4x400m relay

Hodgkinson lines up over 800m for Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final in 2023

Keely Hodgkinson is set to return to the scene of her brilliant British Indoor 800m record next year when she lines up in the Birmingham World Indoor Tour Final at the Utilita Arena on Saturday 25 February.

The 20-year-old World, Olympic and Commonwealth 800m silver medallist, European Champion and British record holder both indoors and outdoors, smashed the British Indoor 800m record at the 2022 event clocking 1:57.20, the fastest time indoors for 20 years.

Hodgkinson pulls out of record attempt through injury

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson has withdrawn from the Keely Klassic because of a hamstring injury.

Hodgkinson to return to action at Müller Birmingham Diamond League

Olympic 800m silver medallist and British record holder Keely Hodgkinson will put her World Indoor Athletics experience behind her, to return to Wanda Diamond League action at the Müller Birmingham Diamond League at the Alexander Stadium on Saturday 21 May.

Hollie Arnold seals sensational sixth world title at Kobe24

Hollie Arnold (coach: Scott Knighton, club: Blackheath & Bromley) sealed a sensational sixth consecutive world title in the F46 javelin to get Great Britain and Northern Ireland off to a golden start at the World Para Athletics Championships Kobe24.

Holly Bradshaw Faces World-Class Pole Vault Line-Up at the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead

Holly Bradshaw faces a big test on the eve of the Tokyo Olympics when she takes on the world’s leading female pole vaulters at the Müller British Grand Prix in Gateshead International Stadium on Tuesday July 13.

The 28-year-old, who competes for Blackburn Harriers and is coached by Scott Simpson, cleared a British outdoor best with 4.82m at a meeting in Huelva, Spain, this month, whereas earlier this year indoors she cleared 4.85m, a mark which is close to her outright British record of 4.87m, which was also set indoors. The Müller British Grand Prix next month is part of the Wanda Diamond League series and Bradshaw’s competition includes:

Katie Nageotte – the world No.1 this year after clearing 4.94m at a meeting in the United States this month where the pole vault was moved indoors due to bad weather. However, the 30-year-old American also jumped 4.93m outdoors last month in the States and she produced the best jump in the world last year too with 4.92m.

Anzhelika Sidorova – the reigning world champion has a best of 4.95m, which was set when winning that title in Doha in 2019. The 29-year-old is one of a small number of Russian athletes who have been allowed to compete as Authorised Neutral Athletes.

Katerina Stefanidi – the Greek pole vaulter is the reigning Olympic champion and her national record of 4.91m was set in the UK when she won the world title at the London Stadium in 2017.

Sandi Morris – the reigning world indoor champion also has silver medals from the 2016 Olympics and 2019 World Championships and holds the No.2 outdoor mark in history with 5.00m. The American has a good record in Britain, too, as she won her world indoor title in Birmingham and was runner-up at the 2017 World Championships in London.

Bradshaw said: “After opening my season well in Doha last month, things have gone even better since with my best-ever outdoor height of 4.82m in Spain. My event is really competitive at the moment and in Gateshead I’ll be due to face most of the top pole vaulters in what promises to be a really good competition. With the meet falling so close to the Olympics as well it will be a great final test before heading out to Tokyo.”

Such is the quality of the competition, in good conditions the athletes could get close to the world record of 5.06m set by Yelena Isinbayeva in 2009. Several women’s pole vault world records have been set at Gateshead International Stadium in the past. Daniela Bartova of the Czech Republic, for example, set a world record of 4.14m at the venue in 1995 while Isinbayeva of Russia set world marks of 4.82m in 2003 and 4.87m in 2004 at the same track.

The pole vault line-up is the latest event to be announced for the Müller British Grand Prix following the news that British star Dina Asher-Smith will be racing over 200m and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands will compete in the women’s mile. Gateshead staged the first Wanda Diamond League event of 2021 in May after it was moved from Rabat in Morocco to the North East of England and now, on July 13, the same venue will host the seventh Diamond League of the season after it was moved from its original home of London.

The Müller British Grand Prix will be broadcast internationally from 7-9pm with BBC showing the action live for domestic viewers.

Holly Mills and Tade Ojora named co-captains of the British Team For European U23 Championships

Holly Mills and Tade Ojora have been named as co-captains of the British team at the European U23 Championships taking place between in Tallinn, in Estonia.

The recently crowned British champion in the men’s 110m hurdles, Tade Ojora will be looking to build on this great form in Tallinn. The NCAA athlete reached the semi-final at the European U23 championships in 2019 at just 21 years of age so will be looking to go all the way this time.

He was delighted at being named captain; “It is a great honour to have been bestowed that position. I came to the U23 champs in Gavle, Sweden and it was a great experience although it didn’t go exactly to plan as I was disqualified on a technicality in the second round, but I really learnt a lot from that. But some of what I learned about how to manoeuvre through championships with heats, semis and a final, helped me reach the NCAA final and the British Championships final and hopefully back here at the Euro U23s.  

“I think my journey and understanding the mentality of an elite athlete will really help others in the team. I didn’t come just to participate; I came here to win, and I think the rest of the team are in that space too.” 

Co-captain, Holly Mills, the European U20 long jump bronze medallist of 2019, goes in the heptathlon which begins on Thursday with the 100m hurdles. 

Reflecting on the responsibility of being named captain she said: “It is an absolute honour especially as I am only in my second year as an under 23 and it is a really large team. This is one of the many stepping stones for me as I have made every age group team champs since 2016 and I have been on the Futures Academy at British Athletics has been so useful for me. It also means I have grown up with many of the coaches and athletes here. This feels like the last stepping stone for me before becoming a proper senior. This will also be so beneficial for me as captain.  

“I feel I am approachable, and I can talk to anyone, and I know so many on the team. It is great that I can relate to almost every event - the sprints, the distance, the throws and the jumps - so being a heptathlete really has its advantages.”

Michael Afilaka, Team Leader, said: “Both Holly and Tade are mature beyond their years and are great examples to the rest of the team as to what can be achieved. Holly has been on the British Athletics Performance Pathway and really represents all the advantages that this programme brings to the athletes supporting them on their journey toward future Olympic success. She has also progressed through the age group championships including being captain at the European Junior Championships in 2019. 

“Tade is such a promising talent who really came to the fore at the recent British Championships. He has bounced back so well from the disappointment of a DQ at the European U23s in 2019 and this is a great example that resilience and perseverance can pay off.

“The whole team is excited about the championships, and we are really looking forward to competition getting underway on Thursday.”

The European Athletics Under 23 Championships will be streamed live on the European Athletics website with events getting underway at 10:00am (0800 BST) on Thursday.

Jona Efoloko has been called up to 4x100m relay squad for the Olympic Games with Joe Brier also headed to Tokyo as a travelling reserve in the 4x400m so neither will be competing in Tallinn. James Hanson joins the men’s 4 x 100m relay team.

The British team for the European Athletics U23 Championships:

Men

100m

Dominic Ashwell (Marvin Rowe, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Jeremiah Azu (Helen Patricia James, Cardiff)

Brandon Mingeli (Ryan Freckleton, Cambridge Harriers)

200m

Shemar Boldizsar (Stephen David Loft, Harlow)

400m

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Michael Baker, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

800m

Finlay McLear (Exeter)

Ben Pattison (Dave Ragan, Basingstoke and Mid Hants)

Thomas Randolph (Craig Winnow, Tamworth)

1500m

Tiarnan Crorken (Andy Bibby, Preston)

Josh Lay (Anthony Love, Rugby & Northampton)

George Mills (Jon Bigg, Brighton Phoenix)

5000m

Issac Akers (Bill Boyd, Crosby)

Rory Leonard (Morpeth)

Tom Mortimer (Christopher Brown, Stroud)

10,000m

David Melville (Harvard Uni)

110m Hurdles

Tade Ojora (Caryl Smith-Gilbert, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Josh Zeller (Adrian Brown, Bracknell AC)

400m Hurdles

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin, Amber Valley & Erewash)

High Jump

Joel Khan (Deidre Elmhurst, Worcester)

Hammer

Ben Hawkes (Adrian Palmer, Cardiff)

4 x 100m Relay

Dominic Ashwell (Marvin Rowe, Shaftesbury Barnet)

Jeremiah Azu (Helen Patricia James, Cardiff)

Shemar Boldizsar (Stephen David Loft, Harlow)

Brandon Mingeli (Ryan Freckleton, Cambridge Harriers)

Destiny Ogali (Winston Thomas, Dacorum & Tring)

James Hanson (Jake Awe, Woking)

4 x 400m Relay

Alex Haydock-Wilson (Michael Baker, Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow)

Alex Knibbs (Nick Dakin, Amber Valley & Erewash)

Alastair Chalmers (Matt Elias, Guernsey)

Lewis Davey (Newham & Essex Beagles)

Ethan Brown (Clarence Callender, Bromley & Blackheath)

Aidan Leeson (Glyn Hawkes, Rugby & Northampton)

Women

100m

Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas, Herne Hill)

Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh AC)

200m

Georgina Adam (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students)

Amber Anning (Denis Shaver, Brighton & Hove)

Kiah Dubarry-Gay (Clarence Callender, Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets)

400m

Yasmin Liverpool (Stewart Marshall, Coventry)

800m

Izzy Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Khahisa Mhlanga (Mick Judd, Herts Phoenix)

1500m

Erin Wallace (Andy Young, Giffnock North)

5000m

Eleanor Bolton (Chris Barnes, Ribble Valley Harriers)

Izzy Fry (Mick Woods, Newbury)

10000m

Eleanor Bolton (Chris Barnes, Ribble Valley Harriers)

100m Hurdles

Jenna Blundell (Bristol & West)

Anastasia Davies (John Blackie, Blackheath & Bromley)

400m Hurdles

Zoe Pollock (Nick Dakin, Oxford City)

3000m Steeplechase

Sarah Tait (Linda Smith, Lasswade)

Elise Thorner (Wells City)

Pole Vault

Molly Caudrey (Stuart Caudery, Thames Valley)

Long Jump

Lucy Hadaway (Matt Barton, City of York)

Javelin

Bekah Walton (David Turner, Blackheath & Bromley)

Hammer

Anna Purchase (Rob Careless, Notts)

Tara Simpson-Sullivan (Robert Halliwell, Wigan & District)

Heptathlon

Holly Mills (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Andover)

Jade O’Dowda (Newham & Essex Beagles)

Jodie Smith (Laura Turner-Alleyne, Windsor, Slough, Eton & Hounslow)

4 x 100m Relay

Georgina Adam (Joe McDonnell, Loughborough Students)

Kristal Awuah (Matthew Thomas, Herne Hill)

Ellie Booker (Lewis Samuel, Rotherham)

Kiah Dubarry-Gay (Clarence Callender, Victoria Park & Tower Hamlets)

Cassie-Ann Pemberton (Sharon Morris, Birchfield Harriers)

Alisha Rees (Leon Baptiste, Edinburgh AC)

4x 400m Relay

Amber Anning (Brighton & Hove)

Izzy Boffey (Luke Gunn, Enfield & Haringey)

Hannah Kelly (Les Hall, Bolton)

Yasmin Liverpool (Stewart Marshall, Coventry)

Zoe Pollock (Nick Dakin, Oxford City)

Hollywood great, Andy Garcia, to host 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards

Hollywood star Andy Garcia has been revealed as the host of the 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards.

Hollywood star Hugh Jackman spotted at Wrexham's return

Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman joined Wrexham fans to watch the club's return to the Football League after 15 years. The Wolverine star joined celebrity owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney at Wrexham AFC's first game in football's fourth tier since 2008.

The return has been a dream come true for long-suffering fans. However, celebrations were short-lived as the club was on the receiving end of a 5-3 defeat to MK Dons.

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney to take over Welsh minnows Wrexham

Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are to be the new owners of National League club Wrexham.

 

Wrexham Supporters Trust (WST) members voted overwhelmingly to back the takeover with 98.6% of those who responded backing the bid. Out of more than 2,000 trust members eligible to vote, 1,809 approved, 26 were against and nine abstained.

 

The trust wished the pair "the very best of luck in charge" and "look forward to what the future brings".

 

In a statement, the trust added: "Subject to final agreement, league and FA confirmation - the RR McReynolds Company, LLC will take 100% control of Wrexham Football Club Limited from the WST.

 

"Both parties will now proceed with finalising the details of the takeover, and we will update Wrexham supporters as soon as we can."

 

Reynolds and fellow actor McElhenney had told trust members they want to turn Wrexham into a "global force".

 

The takeover could lead to £2m being invested in the club, which has been in fan ownership since 2011. Board director Spencer Harris previously said he expected the club to be in Reynolds' and McElhenney's hands within a few weeks of the vote going their way. They presented their vision to trust members at a virtual meeting with voting starting the following day and ending on Sunday.

 

The duo also issued a mission statement and have said they intend to attend games when work commitments allow.

 

The pair set out their plans for the club at the virtual meeting after trust members voted 95% in favour of holding talks with the pair. They also answered fans' questions during the online gathering.

 

More than 2,000 trust members were eligible to take part in the vote with 75% of members who responded to the ballot needing to vote in favour for the takeover to go ahead.

 

Trust members had received voting packs before the presentation detailing the next steps of the proposed takeover bid by The RR McReynolds Company.

 

The north Wales club, formed in 1864, play in English football's fifth tier following their relegation from the Football League in 2008.

Hollywood stars-owned Wrexham appoint Fleur Robinson as new Chief Executive Officer

Following making historical new grounds with Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney taking up ownership of the Welsh club, Wrexham has broken further new grounds by appointing Fleur Robinson as their new Chief Executive Officer.

Following her appointment, on the club’s official website a thrilled Fleur said: “I’m delighted to accept this fantastic position and I’m excited about joining one of the oldest professional football clubs in the world, which has both a proud history and a positive future.

“There are not many jobs that would have pulled me away from Burton Albion, a club I have helped develop from the second tier of non-league to two seasons in the Championship, but the prospect of joining Wrexham at the start of what I believe is about to be an incredible new era for the club was too exciting to pass up.”

Co-owner Reynolds said: “Fleur’s enthusiasm just shone through and having successfully navigated the journey to the EFL from the National League, she was able to offer us something different but exceptionally relevant.”

Fellow-owner McElhenney added: “Fleur will be a great leader for Wrexham. Her commitment to placing the Club at the centre of the community and experience in doing so was exceptionally attractive when you consider the importance we place on that area in our Mission Statement.”

The latest off-field development by the pair will see Fleur Robinson taking up her new position in June after she serves her notice period at her current club.

Holt Enders mourning the death of Aston Villa’s European Cup winning hero Gary Shaw

Former Aston Villa and England striker Gary Shaw has died from injuries sustained in a fall.

Home comforts await Caledonia as they reach BBL Trophy Final

Caledonia Gladiators weathered a tough challenge from NBL Division 1 side Derby Trailblazers at the Clarence Wiggins Sports Centre, but prevailed 83-65 to reach the BBL Trophy Final.

David Sloan led the Gladiators with 22 points and nine rebounds, whilst Fraser added 15 points to lift Caledonia to a final that takes place at their home venue of the Emirates Arena in Glasgow.

Home fans thanked by Team England

Watching on as the very first performers stepped out during the Opening Ceremony, and there until the final medal was awarded, Birmingham 2022’s fans have been cheering on the world-class athletes throughout the Games.

Showing their support for teams across all Commonwealth nations and territories, Birmingham’s fans have been showing up in their great numbers to watch and cheer on the Games.

Home nations call off weekend's football following death of Queen Elizabeth II

All English, Welsh and Northern Irish football and senior Scottish football has been postponed this weekend as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Ten Premier League and six Scottish Premiership fixtures were scheduled.

English Football League games were due to take place last night and today, with six Women's Super League fixtures on Saturday and Sunday. England's National League, FA Trophy and grassroots football is also off.

Home secretary criticised over racial abuse and taking the knee responses

England’s Euro 2020 defender Tyrone Mings has accused the home secretary, Priti Patel, of pretending to be disgusted by racist abuse, after she previously described taking the knee as "gesture politics". Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka and Jadon Sancho were targeted after they missed penalties in the Euro 2020 final. Patel was quoted as saying that she was disgusted by the online abuse directed at the trio.

Mings said that she ‘stoked the fire’ by refusing to criticise fans who booed the England team for taking the knee. Patel declined to comment on his tweet, but Downing Street said she was "working every day to clamp down on hate crime, racism and violence".

The Aston Villa star was angered by a perceived lack of action by the government when some fans booed the players taking the knee before the tournament. Taking the knee has become a prominent symbol in sport and during anti-racist protests in recent years, and England players have been adopting the stance at the start of their matches.

In June, Patel said that she would not support people participating in that type of “gesture politics". When asked if she would criticise fans who booed England players taking the knee she said: "That's a choice for them, quite frankly."

Writing on Twitter, Mings said: "You don't get to stoke the fire at the beginning of the tournament by labelling our anti-racism message as 'Gesture Politics' and then pretend to be disgusted when the very thing we're campaigning against, happens".

The government defended Patel, but saying: "There is no place for racism in this country and she is backing the police to hold those responsible for this abuse accountable." Health Secretary Sajid Javid, on the other hand, said that he fully respected players who took the knee, adding that everyone should show respect to those who did so.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was due to discuss online abuse, but former Premier League footballer Anton Ferdinand, himself a victim of racist abuse during his career, told the government: "Sort your own house out before going after social media platforms.”

He said there was no point in the government talking about what it was planning to do when, as the people that run this country, they are not condemning those who boo players taking the knee. How can you not condemn that, but then come out and say it's about social media?"

After apologising for missed his penalty in a statement posted on Twitter, Rashford added: "I will never apologise for who I am and where I came from." A mural of him in his hometown of Withington was defaced after his penalty miss - but it was later covered in hundreds of messages of support and solidarity.

He said that he was on the verge of tears when he saw the supportive messages – before the mural has since been repaired. England captain Harry Kane said that Rashford, Saka and Sancho deserve support and backing, not the vile racist abuse they received.

"If you abuse anyone on social media you're not an England fan and we don't want you," he added.

England manager, Gareth Southgate, called the racist abuse issued after the defeat "unforgivable", with the English Football Association also condemning it. The Metropolitan Police is investigating the abuse and said that it will not be tolerated, while the UKFPU (UK Football Policing Unit) has also launched an investigation.

Tyrone Mings's intervention comes after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer accused PM Johnson of having "failed the test of leadership" by not condemning fans who booed England players taking the knee. Ahead of Euro 2020, after England's final warm-up game, Downing Street stopped short of condemning fans who had booed players who took part in the anti-racism protest.

Seemingly stopping short of declaring to support the taking of the knee, Johnson later said he wanted supporters to cheer England players, and not boo them.

Addressing those who sent abuse, the prime minister said: "Shame on you - I hope you will crawl back under the rock from which you emerged." Sir Keir said Mr Johnson's comments had come too late, adding: "The actions and inactions of leaders have consequences, so I'm afraid the prime minister's words today ring hollow."

The home secretary was also criticised by Baroness Sayeeda Warsi - a former Conservative minister - who said: "If we 'whistle' and the 'dog' reacts we can't be shocked if it barks and bites. It's time to stop the culture wars that are feeding division. Dog whistles win votes but destroy nations."

Another Conservative MP, Fay Jones, said that she supported players trying to fight racism. However, she said that “taking the knee is a political symbol. I think that's the problem that certain people have had with it".

The abuse received in the aftermath of the defeat against Italy also raised questions about the role of social media companies, with the home secretary saying: “Social media companies could no longer ignore some of the appalling, vile, racist, violent and hateful content that appears on their platforms.

"We have been clear that if they do not stamp this out we will take action against them in the Online Safety Bill." The proposed legislation is yet to be published but it could give the media watchdog Ofcom powers to fine social media companies up to £18m if they fail in their duty of care.

The Football Association has also urged social media companies to ban abusers from their platforms, as well as gathering evidence to make prosecutions easier. In a statement, Facebook said it had removed comments and accounts directing abuse at England's footballers.

Home sensation, Marchand, wins an unbeatable fourth Olympics gold in the pool

As the track and field events was set to take centre stage in Paris, it was France's swimming sensation, Leon Marchand, who would command centre stage, winning a sensational fourth Olympic gold in the pool.

Homebuilder backs football club’s remarkable run in Oxford Half Marathon

David Wilson Homes has supported Benson United Football Club as its members donned their new running gear to partake in the esteemed Oxford Half Marathon.

Hometown Heroes unveiled ahead of Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

14 ‘Hometown Heroes’ have been unveiled by Birmingham 2022 ahead of next year’s Commonwealth Games in a campaign celebrating and recognising the diversity of the of the UK’s second city and the wider West Midlands.

Made up of coaches, managers, umpires and fundraisers, who have dedicated their lives to grassroots sport in the region, each ‘Hometown Hero’ will be profiled on the Birmingham 2022’s website and social media platforms and will receive a special glass award to mark their achievement.

Amongst those chosen is boxing coach Haseebah Abdullah, who coaches at Windmill Boxing Gym in Smethwick, who was chosen for developing female participation in the sport. is honoured for developing female participation in the sport, having also played a huge role in changing official dress code rules to allow women to wear a headscarf and full-length clothing.

Also honoured are Naseem Akhtar, who has spent more than 20 years encouraging thousands of women in inner city Birmingham to transform their lives through physical activity.

Having played a huge role in changing official dress code rules to allow women to wear a headscarf and full-length clothing, she set-up The Young Sahelis, a club for girls aged 14 to 25, as well as the Saheli running and cycling clubs.

“It feels absolutely amazing to have been selected as a Hometown Hero,” she said, “My aim has always been to provide a service, a home, a safe haven and a platform for equality in my sport and community.”

Kevin Dillon is head coach at Lions Amateur Boxing Club in Brierley Hill. He is recognised for his work despite being visually-impaired having contracted meningitis as a child.

He launched a podcast called ‘Black Country Blokes’, which covers the struggles and successes that men experience, with topics such as mental and physical health, fitness, work and family life, aiming to remove the stigma around taboo subjects.

Birmingham 2022 chief executive Ian Reid said: “I'm in awe of our 14 Hometown Heroes.

“Their generosity to their club, whether that's giving up their time or just being a listening ear, is inspiring. Shining the spotlight on these devoted individuals will no doubt encourage participation in sport and physical activity across the West Midlands.”

The other Hometown Heroes include: Salma Bi (coach, umpire and fundraiser, and director of Sporting Pathways, Birmingham), Jeevan Chagger (chairman, coach and umpire at City of Birmingham Hockey Club), Ricardo D’Alva (coach at City of Birmingham Rockets Basketball Club), Kirsty Davie (team manager and coach at Birmingham Moseley Women’s RFC), Dave Heeley (runner and charity fundraiser, West Bromwich), Joan Hunter (coach at University of Birmingham Netball Club), Steve Mroso (coach and team manager at Team Birmingham Elite Basketball Club), Yasmin Nessa (co-founder of Saltley Stallions Women’s Football Club), Kevin Redmond (coach at Solihull Moors FC Ability Counts), Sarah Scanlon (umpire at Ernesford Grange Netball Club, Coventry) and Ranjit Singh (coach at Wolverhampton Wrestling Club).