Sports News

As Arsenal became the most successful club in FA Cup history, Aston Villa, a mere shadow of the side that performed so impressively to beat Liverpool at Wembley in the semi-final, will have to regard Premier League survival (by the skin of their teeth, again) as their success this term.

European indoor pentathlon champion Katarina Johnson-Thompson has confirmed that she will compete in the long jump at the Sainsbury’s Anniversary Games at London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park on 24-25 July.

Qatar Airways, FC Barcelona and Aspire Academy hosted a friendly match at Miniestadi, Barcelona, between Qatar Airways & Aspire Academy – Football Dreams Africa team and FC Barcelona’s Infantil A Team.

Jo Pavey will represent GB & NI for the first time since she was crowned European 10,000m champion last summer as the 41 year old joins an eight-strong team heading to the European 10,000m Cup in Chia on 6 June.

Olympic heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill has confirmed that she will compete at the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix on Sunday June 7. The British heptathlon record holder is planning to contest both the 100m hurdles and shot put at the Alexander Stadium.

Whilst the Birmingham Bears entertain local rivals Worcestershire Rapids at Edgbaston in the NatWest T20 Blast, a new chapter in the city's cricketing history will begin as the first match is played at the Edgbaston Foundation Community Ground at Portland Road, Smethwick.

Former Manchester United and Aston Villa star, Dwight Yorke, has added another string to his aleeady considerably successful bow as he takes up his new role as Tobago Global Brand Ambassador, heading an array of Premier League stars who will be taking part in the British Airways Tobago Football Legends tournament, on the Caribbean island.

West Bromwich Albion stars, Joleon Lescott and Darren Fletcher, have both admitted that they are confident that the Baggies can progress next season, after securing their Premier League status for another year.

Aston Villa manager, Tim Sherwood, has urged his players to beat the drop - and then nurture a winning mentality. Sherwood believes successive battles with relegation have affected confidence levels.

University of Birmingham Sport (UBSport) will be hosting their International Rules – Gaelic Football v Aussie Rules, to be played on Saturday, June 13.

A 52-strong Great Britain & Northern Ireland under 20 team has been selected to compete at the Loughborough International Athletics (LIA) on Sunday May 17 at the Paula Radcliffe Stadium.

The biggest names in  British athletics will line up at the Sainsbury’s Birmingham Grand Prix on June 7 when Mo Farah will be joined by the likes of Olympic, European and Commonwealth long jump champion Greg Rutherford and world and former Olympic 400m champion Christine Ohuruogu as well as a raft of other British stars.

Kyle Hogg will be holding a special evening to celebrate his career at Emirates Old Trafford after Lancashire Lightning’s first NatWest T20 Blast game this summer.

After resuming 107 ahead, at 39-5, at the Kensington Oval in Barbados, England were bowled out for 123, leaving the hosts with a target of 192. At one stage, they were 80-4 before Darren Bravo and Jermaine Blackwood shared 108.

Tim Sherwood insists he has no interest in the weekly machinations of the basement battle - as he eyes the points required to move up the Barclays Premier League table and away from trouble.

English soccer star Rio Ferdinand paid tribute to his "wonderful wife" after she passed away following a cancer diagnosis.