Sports News

University of Wolverhampton (UWR) Race Team engineering students narrowly missed out on the top place position in this year’s national MSV F3 Cup Championship title – coming third in the competition.

For the past two years, the Race Team has clinched second place in the national F3 Cup Championship title – marginally missing out on a first place spot last year by 1 point.

As the only University competing in the MSV F3 Cup competition, the Race Team has competed at Brands Hatch, home of the British Grand Prix, Silverstone, and Donington Circuit.

An investment of £10 million in the University’s engineering facilities at its Telford Innovation Campus in Priorslee has recently been completed, creating world class education facilities for engineering students including industry standard design, development and testing facilities as well as Motorsport workshops.

UWR takes part in the F3 Cup, the IMechE Formula Student competition, the British Hillclimb Championship (driven by University of Wolverhampton Honorary Graduate, Graham Wynn OBE) and also work on two Morgan development cars which the team raced in this year’s AR Morgan Challenge on behalf of the Morgan Motor Company.

‌Professor Ian Oakes, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “"Although this has been a challenging year, we are delighted with the progress we have made in all of the championships in which we have competed, including the F3 Cup, the AR Morgan Challenge and Formula Student.

“The massive investment that has gone into our facilities provides a really attractive course offering for students who want to study engineering.

“We have committed sponsors on board, students have their own cars to work on and we’re competitively racing, providing real, hands-on engineering experience for the team.”

Shane Kelly, UWR Racing Driver, said: "After a third season in F3Cup, UWR have always been in the top 3 for the driver standings, which is a phenomenal achievement. We’ve come so far and learned so much, and this wouldn’t be possible without our Engineering students who commit so much of their time to a full season of Formula 3 racing.

"These students have raced all over the Country, in all-weather scenarios, winning and losing together.

“We are already looking forward to the 2019 season and more than 100 students from the School of Engineering have expressed an interest in being a Racing Wolf.”

Anyone interested in studying Engineering courses on offer at the Telford Innovation Campus should register for the next Open Day on Saturday 17^th November 2018. Follow the UWR Race Team’s progress on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter@UWRacing and Instagram@uwracing.

TWO-TIME bwin Grand Slam of Darts finalist James Wade has secured his place in Wolverhampton next month after winning the Unibet European Championship.

Wade, the 2010 and 2016 runner-up at the Wolves Civic, qualified for November's tournament at the Aldersley Leisure Village with a memorable triumph in Dortmund on Sunday.

Less than two weeks after becoming a father for the first time, Wade ended almost four years without a televised title as he scooped the £100,000 top prize at the European Championship.

The left-hander is now looking forward to returning to Wolverhampton for the Sky Sports-televised event from November 10-18.

"I've qualified for the Grand Slam now so it's a great feeling," said Wade, the 35-year-old from Aldershot

"It's ticked a few boxes in my head. I've gone through my troubled times but I've shown that I'm dangerous and everyone needs to watch out."

Wade dedicated his European Championship success to new-born son Arthur, and admitted: "I've won TV titles before and I've never made the most of it. It's an amazing feeling."

Australian star Simon Whitlock also secured qualification for the Grand Slam after reaching the European Championship final, where Wade denied him a second triumph in the event.

Players have a final chance to secure automatic qualification in next weekend's bwin World Series of Darts Finals in Vienna, before eight players come through the last-chance qualifier for PDC Tour Card Holders on November 5.

The bwin Grand Slam of Darts will be held from November 10-18 at the Aldersley Leisure Village.

Midlands air conditioning and heating specialist Coolair Equipment Ltd has pledged its support for grass roots football after becoming the first sponsor of a local junior team.

The company’s Midlands operation, based on Walsall Road in Cannock, teamed up with its manufacturing partner Daikin to sponsor the jerseys of Shelfield United FC's Under 11s who are beginning their third season in the Lichfield & District Recreational League.

The two-year deal, which extends to providing home and away strips branded with the sponsors' logos, will help secure the future of the team which provides an outlet for local youngsters who are keen to play competitive football in a fun environment.

The Under 11 team plays its home matches on Sundays at Shelfield United's ground at Rushall in Walsall. The club is run entirely by volunteers and has Community Charter Standard Club and Community Amateur Sports Club status.

Cil Spencer, Coach of Shelfield United Under 11s, said: “We are extremely grateful and excited to get sponsorship from Coolair and Daikin. The 14 players who have signed up for Under 11 matches this season are all good athletes and are overcoming their lack of competitive experience and training discipline fast. They give their all in training and in every game we play.

“From finishing bottom in the league in our first year, we are now competitive with all teams in the league this season while also enjoying our football. Most of our players are from Walsall and surrounding areas.”

Cill added: “As a charity accredited club, we also play a wider role in the community with our CRB-cleared and FA-qualified coaches enhancing the lads’ social skills including teamwork, communication, cooperation, fitness and confidence.”

Neil Gibbard, Regional Director of Coolair, whose nephew Theo plays for the team, said: “As a successful Midlands company that is fully committed to the training and personal development of our young people, many of whom come from the local community, we regard sponsoring Shelfield United's Under 11s as a way of giving something back.”

Shelfield United Football Club has a variety of teams from Under 7 to Under 16 and operates a football-for-all policy. It also prides itself on being a community club and raises money for many local causes. More details are available on the club's website at www.shelfieldunitedfc.com.

Coolair Equipment Ltd, which also has offices in Manchester and Kent, is a specialist provider of tailored cooling and heating services to the retail, residential, commercial, education and hotel sectors. The company is a Daikin D1+ accredited installation partner.

New South Wales and its State capital Sydney were placed firmly on the map as the world's most-loved sporting destination in the 2000 Olympic Games. Fast forward 18 years and the iconic Harbour City is getting ready to host another internationally renowned sporting event, the 2018 Invictus Games.

Launching on 20 October as an international adaptive sports event for wounded service members and veterans, athletes will compete in 11 events staged across Greater Sydney, including Sydney Olympic Park and in and around Sydney Harbour. An estimated 1,000 family and friends are expected to accompany the competitors, with the event being supported by around 1,000 volunteers.

For visitors inspired by the amazing armed forces members and veterans, there are plenty of outdoor options throughout Sydney and regional NSW in stunning locations to help you stay active during your visit.

Amateur golfers will be given the chance to experience what it feels like to be a professional by playing courses of the calibre of Real Club de Golf El Prat thanks to the inaugural Emerald Golf Tour.

The innovative tournament, is played at four prestigious courses across Spain by 72 players, has prizes worth more than €400,000 up for grabs.

Emerald Golf Tour's aim is to give amateur golfers experience of playing in a professional golf circuit – with one 18-hole round also being played at Santander Golf, Madrid (June 29 and 30), El Prat (September 15 and 16) and Real Club Sevilla (December 1 and 2).

El Prat, which dates back to 1912, is one of the most exclusive golf clubs having played host to the Spanish Open on 10 occasions, while also remaining one of only a small number of clubs to have been granted royal status by King Alfonso XIII.

The tournament will follow an Individual Stableford format, with a €400,000 prize pot to be shared for a hole-in-one on any of the four designated par-three holes, longest drive and nearest the pin challenges.

Marcello Della Vecchia, director of sales and marketing at El Prat, said: “We are very much looking forward to hosting what is one of the best amateur competitions in Europe. Golfers will get the chance to play some of the finest courses in Spain and get to experience the closest thing to feeling like a professional in a tournament.

“We will host the second round in September where competitors will get to enjoy our Open Course, which is the most popular at El Prat. It is challenging but varied in its layout. I am certain that golfers playing in the Emerald Tour will absolutely love the course for many reasons and it will live long in the memory for them.”

El Prat, one of the oldest clubs in Spain, has also hosted some of the biggest names in golf, including Spanish legends Severiano Ballesteros and José Maria Olazábal, eight-time Major winner Tom Watson and European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjørn.

The 45-hole Greg Norman-designed course, which is just a 35-minute drive from the centre of Barcelona, was recently named one of the 125 Platinum Clubs of the World – Five-star Private Club – in recognition of attaining a standard of excellence by an international panel of experts, historians and connoisseurs in a confidential ballot, as well as being granted the Golden Plaque of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit.

Since 2002, Real Club de Golf El Prat's layout stretches across the 518-acre estate of BonVilar and cleverly utilises its 45 holes over an exciting and varied mix of five highly acclaimed courses – the Open, Blue, Yellow, Pink and Green.

The prestigious venue has been home to major Spanish and international amateur tournaments, such as the 2013 European Amateur Championships and has held more than 250 national and international championships.

Four more Wolverhampton sports stars are set to be inducted into the city’s Sporting Hall of Fame during a celebratory event later this month.

Kristian Thomas and Stuart Dangerfield have represented the city in gymnastics and cycling respectively and have many accomplishments in their sports.

Paralympic athlete, Mark Farnell, will also be inaugurated at the ceremony on Saturday 22 September, along with the city’s only winter Olympian, Andrew Booton.

The City of Wolverhampton Council and the Wolverhampton City Sports Advisory Council launched the Sporting Hall of Fame in 1999 to recognise and celebrate the achievements of sportsmen and women who have represented the city on an international stage.

Chairman of Wolverhampton’s Sports Advisory Council, Peter Holmes MBE, said: “We are looking forward to inducting four more inspirational Wulfrunians into our Sporting Hall of Fame.

“They are individuals who have performed with great success on a world stage and have been true ambassadors of everything that is good about the city of Wolverhampton.”

Kristian Thomas, who is from Wednesfield, represented Great Britain in the Olympic Games in 2012 where the country came third and again in 2016 where he captained the squad to fourth place.

He has also won a number of gold, silver and bronze medals whilst representing his country in the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. He has now retired from competition.

Stuart Dangerfield was a member of Wolverhampton Wheelers Cycling Club and has represented the country in the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Time Trials. In 2001, he broke the British record for the 10-mile time trial.

Visually-impaired athlete Mark Farnell will be the first Paralympian to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Mark ran his first marathon in 1981, and since then has taken part in a further 81 marathons where he has represented the country numerous times in the Paralympic Games, World Para Athletics Championships and Para Athletics European Championships.

Andrew Booton is Wolverhampton’s only winter Olympian and competed in the games in 1992 as part of the bobsleigh team. He took up the sport after responding to a magazine advert asking for civilians to train with the Armed Forces to qualify for the British Bobsleigh team.

Previous inductees include athlete Denise Lewis, racing driver Richard Atwood and Wolves footballers Bert Williams and Billy Wright.

This year’s ceremony will take place on Saturday 22 September at WV Active Aldersley where the Sporting Hall of Fame books and wall plaques are displayed.

Councillor Steve Evans, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “The City of Wolverhampton has a long history of producing top level sportspeople and we are delighted to celebrate their achievements through our Sporting Hall of Fame, which is proudly held at WV Active Aldersley.

“I would like to congratulate Kristian, Stuart, Mark and Andrew on their successes, and welcome them into Wolverhampton’s Sporting Hall of Fame.”

The Blenheim Palace Festival of Transport is gearing up for the 13th annual weekend celebration on 26 - 27 August,bank holiday weekend.

Perfect for families and auto enthusiasts the Festival of Transport is a celebration of hot rods, vintage classics, exhibitions, trade stands, competitions and history.

The Festival of Transport will also feature an exciting new section of electric cars and motorcycles displayed in an Electric Vehicle Zone. Full electric, hybrid, bridging cars and classics converted to electric will be on display plus the latest electric cars and bikes, most of which will be available for test drives.

Sunday 26 August will feature the Classic Car Show and Monday 27 August will include not only the Classic Cars but also motorcycles, Minis and VW's, Customs, Hot Rods and Americans, Kit and Sports Cars.

The bank holiday experience this year includes vehicle judging lead by former BBC radio presenter Les Clayton. Les, whose apprenticeship at Triumph and subsequent 19 years of specialist commentary will get all the family excited about the vehicular spectacle. Expect plenty to see and do around the grounds.

Event organisers Classic Shows have been running auctions and specialist car shows for almost 30 years and know exactly what gets the 'petrol head' in all of us hot under the bonnet. The show will have exhibitors, trade stalls and plenty of knowledgeable amateurs and motoring professionals offering a wealth of information, history and tonics about specialist vehicles.

From young to old the Festival of Transport is a true celebration of motoring history and achievement with plenty of exciting things to see, hear and do to keep all the family entertained.

One of the most prestigious titles in European MMA - the Cage Warriors featherweight title - will be decided by a four-man tournament across two blockbuster events.

The Cage Warriors featherweight title has catapulted the likes of Conor McGregor and Paddy Pimblett to MMA stardom, and four of the last five Cage Warriors featherweight champions ended up signed by the UFC.

The most recent example of this was Cage Warriors' last featherweight champion - Nad Narimani - whose impressive title-winning victory over Pimblett saw him snapped up by the UFC.

Narimani's UFC call-up means the title is now vacant, and Cage Warriors can now officially announce a four-man tournament to determine the next 145-pound champion, with a quartet of the best 145-pounders on the continent set to battle for the belt.

The tournament will kick off with the two semi-finals at Cage Warriors 98 on Saturday, 20 October, as Dean Trueman takes on Lewis Monarch, and Aiden Lee faces off against Paull McBain at the Genting Arena in Birmingham.

The two semi-final winners will then face off for the vacant Cage Warriors featherweight title at Cage Warriors 100 in December.

Cage Warriors 98 marks the occasion of the organisation's first event in Birmingham for eight years, and Cage Warriors president Graham Boylan said he plans on delivering a blockbuster show for the city's passionate fight fans.

"We're excited to return to Birmingham and to give these four athletes the chance to fulfil their dream of being the CW champion," he said.

"We're going to stack this card and have more big fight news to come in the coming days and weeks. Get your tickets early. This one's going to be big."

Before the World Cup began, the England football squad had been written off by many as a bunch of separate egos, not interested in playing as a team and with little hope of making it out of the qualifying stages.

The job of bringing this group of players together fell to the manager, Gareth Southgate. And, against all odds, he took the England football team to their first semi finals since 1990, uniting a team of players and a nation in the process.

Much can be learnt from Southgate’s vision of keeping a team motivated, happy and performing at full capacity and brought within the business world.

Chris Morgan, CEO of Staff Skills Training, a new online e-learning portal for businesses, has provided his own top tips for getting the most out of your staff and building a superstar business team.

“Gareth Southgate won over the hearts of the nation, thanks to his leadership qualities,” says Morgan. “There are important lessons we can learn from him in business – and ultimately we should all aim to be a bit more ‘Gareth’!”

Triple World and double Olympic 800m champion Caster Semenya has been confirmed as one of the headline star due to compete at the Müller Grand Prix in Birmingham.

The South African star will compete over 1500m at the Alexander Stadium, with her presence sure to excite the legion of fans that she has built in the UK following her successes at both London 2012’s Olympic Games and last summer’s IAAF World Championships in the same city.

Having established her status as the 800m athlete to beat following three successive world titles and back to back Olympic golds over the distance, Semenya’s outing in Birmingham over 1500m - a distance which she has claimed world bronze and Commonwealth gold in the past 12 months - will see her have one eye on breaking her own South African record time of 3:59.92 set earlier this year in Doha.

27-year-old Semenya said: “It has been such an amazing 12 months for me and I cannot wait to continue it by competing back in the UK again and in Birmingham for the first time ever. It is rare that I get to race somewhere for the first time, so that in particular is really exciting and will motivate me to perform very well in what I know will be a great, great race.”

In an exciting 1500m race Caster will be up against the Netherlands’ five-time World Championship medallist Sifan Hassan who impressively won the inaugural Millicent Fawcett mile in London less than two weeks ago in a time of 4:14.71, the fourth quickest women’s mile time in history, and is sure to relish returning to Birmingham having set Dutch records on her previous two outings in the city.

Also set to be present is Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay - who carries extraordinary range with sub-2:00, sub-4:00 and sub-15:00 minute personal best times for 800m, 1500m and 5000m respectively, while Kenyan World Championship finalists Winny Chebet, and Britain’s Laura Weightman are joined by 2017 European indoor finalist, and fellow-Brit Sarah McDonald.

British Athletics’ Major Events Director, Cherry Alexander said: “We’re delighted to have Caster racing in Birmingham and are very much looking forward to welcoming her to Birmingham for the very first time.

One of the most pleasing things we hear from overseas athletes come from them speaking about the warmth of the UK crowds and how strong a reception they receive, and I know that Caster will be sure of just that in Birmingham.

Having Caster present in the race alongside fellow world-class names such as Sifan and Laura means we are in for a fantastic spectacle. The fields are really coming together across the board and will be some of the strongest we have ever assembled, so the meeting will give the athletics-loving crowd another preview of the amazing action we are sure to see come 2022’s Commonwealth Games in the city.”

At the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham, on Saturday August 18, Caster Semenya will be join global stars Greg Rutherford, Luvo Manyonga and Juan Miguel Echevarria.

Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth champion Greg Rutherford will take to the long jump runway for the final time in Birmingham at next month’s Müller Grand Prix Birmingham on Saturday 18 August.

Competing at the Alexander Stadium for the last ever time following countless outings in the city for both the British Championships and IAAF Diamond League meetings over the years, Rutherford’s outing next month will be his final competition in the second city and his last British Athletics meet.

The 31-year-old British record holder has struggled with injury since taking Olympic bronze in 2016 but has committed to one more Stadium competition in Birmingham in order to bid farewell to many of his fans, though the competition in Birmingham will be nothing short of stiff.

Among those in the field are the two best long jumpers in the world at current: world champion Luvo Manyonga of South Africa and current world leader Juan Miguel Echevarria of Cuba.

Echevarría, 19, is widely regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in global athletics having recorded the longest jump in 23 years last month with 8.83m,

The Cuban missed the recent Müller Anniversary Games in London due to injury but will return to Birmingham and compete in the UK for the first time since he won gold at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in March earlier this year.

Looking ahead to an emotional farewell in Birmingham, Greg Rutherford said: “I am really excited. As the crowd sees you appear, there is a sort of rippling effect of cheers and every year that I have competed there has been relatively emotional for me. Ever since London 2012, the crowd have been amazing towards me. So, to do it, for what will be the last time in such a great Stadium with so many memories for me, is going to be very emotional and I am probably going to cry.

“We are very lucky in Great Britain that the crowd who come along generally are very knowledgeable and in Birmingham it’s generally the big athletics fans that are there, so they really do get behind you and know what is good and what’s bad. They know the athletes and will know that I am not at my full strength but they will get massively behind me with every jump so it will be really special.”

On his excitement of competing against Echevarría, Rutherford added: “I am really excited to have him there in Birmingham too, and that I will have the chance to compete against him before I retire. He, in my opinion, will go on to become the world record holder and will become the greatest ever so it will be wonderful to compete against him in Birmingham.

“It’s a bit of a change of the guard, and that’s how I am looking at it. I have had my time in the sun and been the best in the world for all of those years, but now it’s like I am passing the torch on. Hopefully he will run with it and elevate the event to where it should be.”

Rutherford also hopes that having world class names in the event will help to grow the sport, concluding: “The long jump is such an incredible event and I hope that from Echevarría’s successes, we see a whole new flood of new young athletes getting involved with long jumping.

“And once we keep pushing these kinds of athletes out and letting people see how incredibly talented they are, what we find is that those events will come to the top and people will really enjoy it.”

Give Greg a memorable send-off as he jumps in Birmingham for the last time on 18 August at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham.

Scores of families and young people have already signed up to a free Summer of Sport being offered by WV Active over the next six weeks.

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s three leisure centres, WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Central and WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams, will be providing a wide range of free activities for adults and children of all ages between Monday 23 July and Friday 31 August – from badminton, tennis, squash and table tennis to family swimming lessons and fitness classes.

Those who want to take advantage of the offer must be residents of Wolverhampton and will need to register for free Summer of Sport membership via the WV Active website.

Councillor Steve Evans, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “We are delighted to be offering a wide range of free activities for local residents of all ages during the school holidays, and I’d encourage people to sign up for their Summer of Sport today.”

The Summer of Sport programme is being supported with funding from the council’s Public Health service.

Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Hazel Malcolm, said: “It is important that as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy sport and exercise, and by offering a wide range of free sessions at our leisure centres from 23 July to 31 August we hope that even more residents will be able to enjoy a fit and active summer.

“This ties in well with our Vision for Public Health, whereby we create the right sort of environment in which people are better able to look after their own health and wellbeing.”

Your country needs you! At the Gymnastics World Cup on 23 March 2019! Be prepared to play your part in this major global event, as countries from around the world, with some of their best gymnasts, take up the ultimate gymnastics challenge. Fly your flag proudly as the mighty powerhouses of each country battle it out on this global stage. Which nations will emerge victorious?

Watch the battle as our male gymnasts go for glory. Who will show flair and stamina on the pommel horse and floor, demonstrate extreme strength on the rings, and pull off strong routines on the vault, parallel bars and high bar? Our female gymnasts will wow the crowds as they show grace and composure on the beam, let their personality and flair shine through on the floor, as well as unleashing power yet control on the vault and uneven bars.

Amanda Reddin, Women’s Head National Coach commented:

“This is a great opportunity for our gymnasts. The competition structure of the event allows gymnasts to thrive under pressure, their routines showcasing all the effort they’ve put in during hours and hours of training to peak at the right time. Competitions of this nature are invaluable to support our gymnasts on their road to Tokyo. There’s no better platform for them to perform on – these conditions make the Olympic pressure real.”

Great Britain’s very own James Hall and Alice Kinsella proved successful in 2018, both picking up medals in front of the all-important home crowd. Who will represent their country this year? Make sure you’re in the crowd cheering the gymnasts, flying the flag and lending your support.

The atmosphere will be electric. The competition will be tough. Make sure you’re part of it.

Regional schools from across the country have congregated at King’s House Ground, Chiswick,  to compete in the Summer Bowl, the season finale of the NFL Flag football tournament for UK schools in partnership with Subway. In a tense and thrilling competition Chorley Seahawks were crowned national NFL Flag champions.

The Summer Bowl attendees earned their place at the season finale by winning their respective regional tournaments throughout the year and included pupils from Thorpe Primary (Leeds), Primrose Hill (Manchester), George Betts Primary (Birmingham) and Gretton School (Tewkesbury).

On the day around 1,000 children aged 8-11, were coached and encouraged by six NFL stars, including current Super Bowl champion and Philadelphia Eagle, Mack Hollins, Oakland Raider Jared Cook, Seattle Seahawk Neiko Thorpe and Tennessee Titan Jurrell Casey, who acted as honorary coaches. All six NFL players in attendance will be playing in the NFL London Games in October.

NFL Flag Presented by Subway is currently operating in eight cities including London, Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, Bristol, Gloucester, Peterborough and Cardiff.

More than 10,000 school children across the UK have been involved in the programme since its launch in 2014, with the NFL and Subway sponsorship aiming to help primary school children develop their characters by focusing on the NFL core values of respect, integrity, responsibility, resilience plus the importance of a healthy lifestyle and getting active through NFL Flag.

Ian Oxborrow, Head Coach for Chorley Seahawks, said, “The kids are delighted to be crowned the national NFL Flag champions. NFL Flag has been a great programme to be a part of and we’ve first hand experienced the benefits it has to offer. We hope to be going head-to-head with more schools and reclaim our title next year!”

Sacha Clark, Marketing Director for Subway UK & Ireland, said: “Our partnership with the NFL is all about bringing the NFL closer to everyone. One of the ways we’re helping to do this is by enabling the NFL to grow its Flag programme, taking the sport into an increasing number of schools, to encourage everyone in the family to get active.”

Jason Brisbane, Head of Community for NFL UK, said: “Summer Bowl has been a huge success and continues the positive growth of NFL Flag in the UK. This event is testament to the positive impact American Football can have on children in the UK and a great celebration of this year’s national NFL Flag tournament.  Congratulations to Chorley Seahawks  for being crowned national champions!”

The World Cup led to record sales and footfall in Lidl UK stores over the past month, as people opted for garden parties and BBQs to cheer on the England team.

During the tournament, the discounter, which is the Official Supermarket of the England Football Team, experienced the highest ever number of customers shopping in stores, outside of Christmas. Footfall peaked on 30^th June, as customers prepared for the World Cup ‘Last 16’ stage, with fans visiting their local Lidl to stock up on supplies to support their team from the comfort of their own home.

Sales during the period indicate that the hot weather inspired football fanatics across the country to host BBQs and garden parties for friends and family.  Since 14^th June, when Russia beat Saudi Arabia in the opening game of the World Cup, to France’s victory in the Final on 15^th July, the following products delivered a record-breaking sales performance compared to the same five-week period in 2017:

• Total BBQ meat and poultry sales were up 25%.
• Burger sales were up 45%, with more than 100 burgers sold every minute.
• The beer, wine and spirits category grew 16% overall, with beer experiencing a 18% sales uplift.

As England’s chances of reaching the Final heated up, Lidl saw a particularly strong sales uplift across certain food items. In the week of England’s Quarter and Semi Final matches, burger sales increased by 50%, compared to the same period last year.

England’s successful run in the World Cup led to unprecedented support for the team from home fans, with Lidl seeing a surge in England football kit sales. Lidl sold 120,000 England branded tops, 34,000 children's England strips and 35,000 footballs in its 710 stores across the country.

Christian Härtnagel, CEO of Lidl UK said: "England's remarkable run in the World Cup, along with a never-ending heatwave, has led to more customers coming through our doors than ever before. As the Official Supermarket of the England Football Team, we’ve been really proud of their performance, and it’s been great to get behind the squad. We’re also incredibly proud of our colleagues, who have worked extremely hard throughout the tournament, to ensure that Lidl stores across the country were stocked up with supplies, as the nation showed their support.”

WV Active will be offering six weeks of free sporting activities for Wolverhampton residents to enjoy this summer.

The City of Wolverhampton Council’s Summer of Sport starts on Monday 23 July and continues until Friday 31 August across all three leisure centres, WV Active Aldersley, WV Active Central and WV Active Bilston-Bert Williams.

Free activities on offer include badminton, tennis, squash, table tennis, family swimming lessons and fitness classes, and can be enjoyed by adults and children of all ages.

Those who want to take advantage of the offer must be residents of Wolverhampton and will need to register for temporary Summer of Sport membership for free via the WV Active website.

Councillor Steve Evans, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for City Environment, said: “We are delighted to be offering a wide range of free activities for local residents of all ages during the school holidays, and I’d encourage people to sign up for their Summer of Sport today.”

The Summer of Sport programme is being supported with funding from the council’s Public Health service.

Cabinet Member for Public Health and Wellbeing, Councillor Hazel Malcolm, said: “It is important that as many people as possible have the opportunity to enjoy sport and exercise, and by offering a wide range of free sessions at our leisure centres from 23 July to 31 August we hope that even more residents will be able to enjoy a fit and active summer.

“This ties in well with our Vision for Public Health, whereby we create the right sort of environment in which people are better able to look after their own health and wellbeing.”