Category Archives: Sport

News, Sport

Everton On Course to Open New £750 Million Stadium Next Season

Premier League club Everton are set to open a new stadium in 2025 ahead of the start of next season. The £750 million multi-purpose sports ground will replace Goodison Park, which has been the Toffees’ home since 1892.

Photographs revealed by the club show the latest progress made by the stadium’s developers. Everton are hoping to be able to host a test event at the venue in the spring ahead of the new 2025/26 football season.

Situated in Bramley-Moore Dock in Vauxhall, Liverpool, the new stadium will house 52,888 fans and be used for music concerts and other sporting events to maximise revenue.

Everton Desperate to Still Be in Premier League for Launch

It has been a difficult start to the 2024/25 Premier League season for Everton. They are just 15/8 for those looking to bet on Premier League and its relegation market. Sean Dyche’s side have a lot of work to do to secure their status in the top flight.

Everton are likely to be one of the leading football tips for their away clash with Premier League newcomers Ipswich Town following the international break. Since their defeat to Aston Villa, the Toffees are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions. They have shown an improvement in form, which is a big boost to their survival chances.

Former Burnley manager Dyche has revealed he is desperate to still be at the Merseyside club for the stadium launch in 2025. His future may depend on how well his team fares this season. He is one of several managers at high-profile clubs in the Premier League that is under pressure to keep their job.

Other Premier League Clubs Looking at Ground Options

Everton are unlikely to be the latest Premier League to move into a new home over the next few years. Manchester United are another club who are in advanced talks with their stakeholders regarding a new stadium.

Manchester United currently have the largest ground of the 20 clubs in the Premier League. Old Trafford has a capacity of 74,310 but the stadium in Greater Manchester is showing signs of being tired. United’s owners want to build one of the best football stadiums in the world to boost the local economy.

Liverpool are also considering their options for the future. They have decided to redevelop their current stadium for now. The recent extension of the Anfield Road Stand brought the capacity up to 61,000. There were some talks with Everton regarding a possible stadium share deal but supporters of both clubs rejected that suggestion.

Everton Stadium Confirmed as A Euro 2028 Host Stadium

Everton were handed a big boost by UEFA as the new stadium in Bramley-Moore Dock will be one of the grounds used at Euro 2028. The tournament will be co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Wembley Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, City of Manchester Stadium, St James’ Park, and Villa Park were the other venues announced in England for Euro 2028. With it being the national stadium, Wembley will host the final on the 9th of July 2028.

Naming rights and other stadium partners are likely to be revealed by Everton ahead of the launch of the new venue in early 2025.

 

Image source: Deposit Photos

Sport

New Bruno Film Shows Why He Is A National Treasure

A new film featuring Frank Bruno underlines why the retired world champ is a “national treasure”.

That’s the view of Frank’s ghost-writer, journalist Nick Owens, who helped the star pen two bestselling memoirs, Let Me Be Frank, and Sixty Years A Fighter.

Bruno is now centre stage in the new Amazon Prime film,  Four Kings, which tells the story of Frank, Lennox Lewis, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank.

Frank’s appearance comes as he continues to fight for a greater understanding of mental ill health.

His charity, the Frank Bruno Foundation, which Magnify PR supports, has helped thousands of people.

Nick Owens,  the former deputy editor of the Sunday Mirror said: “Four Kings is a powerful and brilliant film which tells the story of an iconic period in British boxing. Anyone unsure as to why Frank Bruno is, and always will be, a national treasure just needs to watch this film.”

In his new book Sixty Years A Fighter Frank talks about his ongoing fight. Fellow boxing icons Tyson Fury and Ricky Hatton – who have gone through their own mental health battles – also share their experiences in the memoir.

“I’ve been there and got the t-shirt,” Frank said. “That’s why I wanted to start a Foundation that helps people in a different kind of way. We use exercise and non contact boxing in our centres to show people there is a different option than just taking a tablet. Although medication works for some, many doctors are dishing out pills too freely. And, for many, this causes more aggro than it solves.

“The Government needs to spend some proper money on ensuring those suffering can get a different kind of service. If you break your arm or leg you can go to hospital and get it fixed. But if your mind is busted then you have to go home and sort it out on your own. That’s not right.”

News, Sport

American Golf weathers market challenges with improved trade performance

The UK’s leading golf retailer American Golf, today provided an update of its trade performance (February – August 2024), revealing sales and market share increases, as well as standout results for newly refurbished stores. 

American Golf reports a sales increase of 1.8% like for like (LFL) and an increase in market share of 1.4% LFL. The sales increase is attributed to equipment, clubs and footwear, a clear indication that the Brand’s aim to become the ultimate one stop destination for everything a golfer requires continues to appeal to their core customers and new customers alike.

American Golf’s success continues despite a challenging start to the season, with wet weather conditions across the UK causing the average number of rounds played per course to drop by 8%, with the Midlands and North of England suffering the most (-12% fewer rounds and -13% fewer rounds respectively).

In the face of these challenges, American Golf has continued to invest in its national store footprint. So far in 2024, several key stores in American Golf’s 80+ portfolio has seen investment, through improved signage, top to bottom refurbishments and continued focus on customer experience and service. 

American Golf Thurrock store, for example, has benefited from an extension and significant financial investment It has already reported a LFL sales boost of 35%. As part of the refit, the store now boasts an additional custom fitting bay with market-leading technology, more Brands, and an animated putting green. Similarly, the recently relocated Norwich store, which was upgraded with additional custom fitting facilities, has seen a LFL sales uplift of 65% following the reopening. 

The business has put additional focus on customer experience, engagement, and loyalty, such as targeted and personalised campaigns, investment in new ‘listening tools’, a new behind-the-rope loyalty programme, and a continued approach to treat every customer as a VIP. This has driven year-on-year increases in customer frequency (+2%) and average spend (+7%). 

The business has further invested its portfolio of exclusive Brands such as Benross, Stromberg, Greg Norman, Fazer and Rife, providing golfers of all levels with a ‘good, better, best’ offering to suit all budgets. With the support of dedicated Brand campaigns, industry product reviews and influencer engagement, each Brand continues to grow in sales and market share.

Nigel Oddy, Chief Executive Officer, American Golf said: “We are pleased with our performance despite the delayed start to the golf season, caused by the unusually wet weather. Although a slow start to the financial year, we have seen strong results in recent months, and I am confident we will continue this growth for the remainder of the year. I am particularly proud of the progress we’ve achieved in developing our retail stores and customer experience – this remains our biggest priority throughout 2024 and beyond. Investing in new technology, bespoke services and maintaining our high standards of customer service will maintain the Brand’s fantastic position for the rest of the year.”

As well as individual stores, American Golf has invested in new and dynamic partnerships, including its first ever concession with leading retailer GO Outdoors, to continue to grow the store offering. The 3,000 square foot concession opened in GO Outdoors Gloucester in August 2024, with another store due to follow by the end of 2024.

Charity & CSR, Education, Education News, India, Sport

NBA, ACG AND BFI To Launch India’s Largest School-Based Basketball Program In Collaboration With Skechers

– ACG Jr. NBA Program Will Feature Nationwide 3v3 Tournament for Youth Ages 14 and Under –

The National Basketball Association (NBA), ACG, a global leader in pharmaceutical solutions, and the Basketball Federation of India (BFI), the governing body of basketball in the country, today announced the launch of the ACG Jr. NBA program, a nationwide 3v3 tournament for the top U-14 players across India and the largest school-based basketball program in the country.  Skechers, the global performance and lifestyle footwear and apparel brand, will serve as the official kit partner of the program and provide high-quality gear for the participants.

The ACG Jr. NBA program will feature boys’ and girls’ divisions with teams representing schools from across the country and tip off on Tuesday, Sept. 24 with tournaments in Chennai and Mumbai before visiting Aizawl, Delhi, Kolkata and Ludhiana.  The top eight boys’ and girls’ teams from each city will then compete in a league phase within each city that will see the top three boys’ and girls’ teams and one all-star team from each of the boys’ and girls’ divisions advance to the league finals early next year.  The dates of the remaining city tournaments and league phases, and the dates and location of the league finals, will be announced at a later date.  Schools can register to participate by visiting this link.

 

ACG Managing Director Karan Singh said:

“Through the ACG Jr. NBA program, we are taking a significant step in empowering the next generation of basketball players in India.  This initiative goes beyond the game – it’s about building character, instilling values, and offering young athletes a platform to grow and shine.  By working with the NBA and BFI, we are committed to creating opportunities for these players to learn from the best and pursue their dreams.  As we launch the largest school-based basketball program in India, we’re excited about the potential we’re unlocking.  This program represents our continued dedication to grassroots development and fostering excellence both on-and-off the court.”

 

In addition to the ACG Jr. NBA program, the collaboration aims to enhance youth basketball development at the local level, expand elite talent identification nationally, and provide new development opportunities for players, coaches and referees at all levels.  The collaboration builds on the prior association between the NBA and ACG that included the launch of ACG-NBA Jump, a nationwide basketball talent search program, and marks the first time BFI will serve as an ACG Jr. NBA partner.

The announcement was made today at a press conference in Mumbai by BFI President Aadhav Arjuna, NBA Asia Strategy Head and NBA India Country Head Rajah Chaudhry, ACG Chief Marketing Officer Alex Robertson and CEO of Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd. Rahul Vira.

 

BFI President Aadhav Arjuna said:

“Our association with the NBA underlines our joint dedication to nurturing talent and elevating basketball to unprecedented heights nationwide.  The NBA’s efforts to bolster grassroots basketball development in India have been truly commendable.  We’re excited to work closely with the league to inspire and empower generations of basketball enthusiasts, fostering a culture of excellence both on-and-off the court.  Programs like the ACG Jr. NBA will enhance students’ skills and motivation while introducing more children to the game in a fun and interactive environment.  Additionally, it will serve as a hotspot for talent identification and development and help establish a sustainable pipeline of elite-level Indian players.”

 

NBA Asia Strategy Head and NBA India Country Head Rajah Chaudhry added:

“There is tremendous momentum for basketball and the NBA in India, and our collaboration with ACG, BFI and Skechers will significantly drive participation and improve talent development at the youth level across the country.  Over the past decade, we’ve engaged millions of children through the Jr. NBA program, and we look forward to expanding our development efforts in India alongside our partners and providing more opportunities for boys and girls to play the game and maximize their potential.”

 

CEO and Country Manager of Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd. Rahul Vira said:

“As elite professionals like Joel Embiid and Julius Randle compete in Skechers Basketball sneakers in the NBA, we are excited to collaborate with the league to bring our footwear and apparel to the next generation of basketball talent.  We look forward to enhancing the game for the ACG Jr. NBA players through innovative, comfortable, and high-quality gear delivering ‘Comfort That Performs’ on the court.  Together, we aim to create a memorable program that not only inspires but also empowers young athletes to reach their full potential.”

 

The Jr. NBA program has reached more than 14 million youth and 15,000 physical education instructors across 35 cities in India since 2013.  The ACG Jr. NBA program is part of the NBA’s broader basketball development initiatives in India that include NBA Basketball School, a network of tuition-based basketball development programs open to male and female players ages 6-18, and Basketball Without Borders Asia, the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development and community outreach program that has been held in India twice.

Players, coaches, and families can learn more about this year’s ACG Jr. NBA program by following the NBA’s social media channels in India across Facebook, Instagram, and X.  Fans can also download the NBA App for the latest news, updates, scores, stats, schedules, videos and more.

 

About the NBA

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a global sports and media organization with the mission to inspire and connect people everywhere through the power of basketball.  Built around five professional sports leagues:  the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, NBA 2K League and Basketball Africa League, the NBA has established a major international presence with games and programming available in 214 countries and territories in more than 60 languages, and merchandise for sale in more than 200 countries and territories on all seven continents.  NBA rosters at the start of the 2023-24 season featured a record 125 international players from 40 countries and territories.  NBA Digital’s assets include NBA TV, NBA.com, the NBA App and NBA League Pass.  The NBA has created one of the largest social media communities in the world, with more than 2.3 billion likes and followers globally across all leagues, team and player platforms.  NBA Cares, the NBA’s global social responsibility platform, partners with renowned community-based organizations around the world to address important social issues in the areas of education, inclusion, youth and family development, and health and wellness.

 

About ACG

For over 60 plus years, ACG has been innovating the production solutions for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical companies, that help make people better.

As the world’s most integrated provider of oral dosage products and services, we produce capsules, barrier packaging materials, manufacturing machinery, and visual inspection and traceability solutions. All fully compliant with international standards.

Today, ACG fosters long-term collaborative partnerships with customers in 138 countries across six continents.

Together, we share a common purpose: to solve the world’s greatest health challenges and make it better for everybody we serve.

 

About the Basketball Federation of India

The Basketball Federation of India (BFI) is the official governing body for the sport of basketball in India. Established in 1950, BFI and its 30-member state associations focus on grassroots development, nurturing over 1 million student athletes, 8,000 trained basketball coaches, and more than 50,000 physical education teachers across schools and colleges.

BFI organizes national championships, oversees Indian teams’ participation in international competitions, and collaborates with global basketball organizations to enhance the sport’s standards and reach in India. Through programs like coaching clinics, youth development initiatives, and talent identification camps, BFI strives to nurture and elevate Indian basketball talent.

Under the visionary leadership of its president and secretary general, BFI aims to unite all stakeholders by embracing technology and fostering private and international collaborations. Their ambitious vision includes elevating India’s FIBA ranking from the current 82nd to the top 10 and qualifying for the 2036 Olympics.

For more information, please visit our official website at basketballfederationindia.org.

 

About Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd and Skechers U.S.A., Inc.

Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd is a subsidiary of Skechers U.S.A., Inc. (NYSE:SKX), The Comfort Technology Company based in Southern California. Skechers designs, develops and markets a diverse range of lifestyle and performance footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company’s collections are available in 180 countries and territories through department and specialty stores, and direct to consumers through skechers.com and approximately 5,200 Skechers retail stores. A Fortune 500 company, Skechers manages its international business through a network of wholly-owned subsidiaries, joint venture partners, and distributors. For more information, please visit skechers.in and follow our lifestyle and Skechers Performance sites on Instagram, X and YouTube.

 

Sport

Great Britain Rugby Sevens Announce Giselle Mather as Women’s Head Coach 

Great Britain Rugby Sevens (GB7s) has announced the appointment of Giselle Mather as its new women’s team head coach for the upcoming season.
Mather is a distinguished figure in the world of rugby and brings her experience as a former player and a coach. She also received 34 caps for England, where she became a World Cup winner in 1994.
Mather has held numerous coaching roles in both the men’s and women’s games, including time with Wasps Women and London Irish men and was also the first woman to earn a Level 4 RFU coaching qualification.
Stepping into her new role, Mather said: “I am incredibly excited to take on this role with the Great Britain Rugby Sevens women’s team. Women’s rugby is on the rise globally, and to be a part of that trajectory and development at an international level is a fantastic opportunity.
“I look forward to working with the talented group of players that we have and pushing the boundaries of what we can achieve as a team.”
Ciaran Beattie, GB7s director of rugby added: “We are thrilled to welcome Giselle as the head coach of the women’s team. Her vast experience, vision, and passion for the sport make her the perfect fit for our programme.
“We have no doubt that she will bring fresh energy and perspective to the team, helping to elevate our performance on the world stage.”
Mather joins GB7s from her previous role as director of rugby at Ealing Trailfinders, where she played a key part in the club securing a place in premiership women’s rugby last season, where the team finished sixth in their first season in the top tier.
To find out more about GB7s and their upcoming season you can find out more here. You can also follow the team on Instagram @gbrugbysevens and X @GBRugbySevens.
Sport

Athletics legend who created one of the most iconic moments in olympic history returns to pro sport at age of 59

An Athletics legend responsible for one of the most iconic moments in Olympic history is returning to professional sport – aged 59.
Derek Redmond is remembered by many for the moment in the 1992 Olympics when his father, Jim, helped him over the finish line during the Men’s 400m after tearing his hamstring.
Now, the 59-year-old has been selected to play in the 2025 World Basketball Championships for GB Men’s Over-55s side.
A former Birmingham Bullets and England professional basketballer, Redmond will be linking up with The Federation of Masters Basketball Association (FIMBA) GB side, which provides the opportunity to continue performing on the international stage for all age groups 35+.
Speaking with high performance training providers Champions (UK) plc, Redmond said: “I’m obviously really excited. It rolls back the years of preparing for a major competition like the World Championships.
“It all comes with new challenges, a bit of excitement, a little bit of apprehension, a little bit of going slightly into the unknown. I guess my advantage is I’ve competed at the highest level, so I won’t be getting stage fright and that sort of stuff.
“I think my biggest concern or worry is that I can still perform at that sort of level, and I’m not going to make a complete fool of myself.”
A multifaceted athlete, Redmond has also competed in rugby 7s, boxing, martial arts and motorcycle racing post-athletics career. The former Olympian has revealed that he wants to continue to perform professionally for as long as possible.
“Even at the age of 59 I’m not giving up,” he explained. “People always think, ‘why do you still box at your age?’ Well, why not? You know when am I going to stop? When I can’t climb in a ring or run up and down a basketball court.
“I don’t have a time limit on those sorts of things. It’s pretty cool to do anyway. It’s great because it kind of shows I practice what I preach with my work. And I love challenges. I just can’t seem to stop trying. I wish I could.
“I woke up after basketball training with sore knees and thought what the hell am I doing? But I’ll go back next week! I’m like that person who gets drunk, has a horrible hangover, says I’m never going to get drunk again, and then does it again the next week!”
Nowadays, Redmond is also a renowned keynote speaker and business training provider, utilising his own learnings to help motivate organisations’ teams.
He continued: “It means a lot to me, because of what I do now for a living, talking about resilience, talking about never giving up, being brave, trying new things. I think this is an example of that, and I’m pretty much practicing what I preach.
“So it’s nice to be able to not only talk about it on stage, but actually live it. I live what I talk about. And that’s something that hopefully comes across when I speak. I’m talking not just about random things, I’m talking from the heart. I’m wearing my heart on my sleeve, and I’m speaking from my own experiences.”
The 2025 World Championships will be taking place in Ticino, Switzerland between June 27 – July 6, 2025.
FIMBA GB M55 Head Coach Des Williams also commented: “I’m over the moon that Derek is joining the team and preparing with us for the World Championships, he adds that extra dimension and competitive edge and I’m looking forward to working with him.”
Health, Health Tech, Healthcare Tech, Sport, Sports Tech

North Wales firm CryoClinix moves into photobiomodulation

North Wales firm CryoClinix has announced its worst kept secret, that being its aggressive European move into photobiomodulation, more commonly called Red Light Therapy.

After attending the PBM 2024 in London recently, David Morris announced at the conference that CryoClinix, after engaging with a number of medical representatives from major football clubs in the UK, Europe and also the Saudi Pro League, that commercial strength Red Light Therapy is now available to their client base in Europe to purchase. The client base already taking pre-orders include football clubs, players, spas and wellness centres.

David Morris, Chief Revenue Officer of CryoClinix said “after talking to some of the world’s leading exponents of photobiomodulation, it was clearly evident that from the countless doctors and professors with whom we talked to, that red light therapy would accelerate rehabilitation via the company’s own devices given their strength. As a consequence, CryoClinix has announced its sales channel expansion from the US into Europe, focussing predominantly on the sports and spa sectors.”

Red light therapy from CryoClinix can be applied by one of two methods, firstly by a simple 15 minute treatment inside a pod, or for those persons that wish to use the modality when travelling, a full body pad is used. Morris continues “quite simply no other company offers the quality or the complimentary product range that we do. We are certainly not the first to market in Europe. We have observed the market increase over the last 3 quarters, and firmly believe that our products are the most powerful, providing the best photobiomodulation treatment for the patient.

Already our pods are used extensively in the US, relied upon by a number of teams from the NFL, NBA and countless clinics. Our products are powerful using commercial LED lights so we actively encourage the European market to aggressively compare our specifications to what’s currently available and ask some key questions around competitor technology.” Clients in Europe that are using photobiomodulation include spas, recovery centres and domestic residences – predominantly high net worth individuals, all of which see value in the technology to improve their energy levels, sleep and general all round wellness.

“Because the treatments are whole body, it affects over 30 trillion blood cells via the strength of our 17,000 commercial strength LED lights (yes 17,000) which are located the closest to the skin within the industry for maximum penetration. Our lights omit 630 and 660 nanometers (nm) and 850nm near infrared beams, resulting in a very impressive 100 mW/cm^2 rating.” Red Light Therapy is frequently used to boost the body’s mitochondria – often referred to as the powerhouses of the cell. Mitochondrias main function is to generate the energy necessary to power nearly all types of cells in the body. They are vital to our survival, generating the majority of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which basically is the energy currency of the human cells.

Morris continues “It’s the power of the LED’s and their capability to penetrate the skin which is vital to obtain the highest form of mitochondria, all achieved during a very relaxing 15 minute treatment. It is key that the different wavelengths of light penetrate the skin from the closest distance possible. This is something that is simply not possible by some other manufacturers, many of whom use unbelievably converted sun bed frames as a basis to build up from. All our machines are made from scratch in the US for what is rapidly becoming a global marketplace.

For more information about CryoClinix Red Light Therapy or Cryotherapy Chambers, please contact David Morris davidm@cryoclinix.com

Sport

Connectus Announces New Sponsorship of Luke Cowan-Dickie

Connectus Business Solutions is proud to announce that it will be sponsoring Sale Sharks’ esteemed international hooker, Luke Cowan-Dickie.
This sponsorship highlights Connectus’ ongoing commitment to supporting top-tier rugby talent, and reflects the company’s dedication to excellence within the sport.
Roy Shelton, the CEO of the Connectus Group, said: “We’re proud to be sponsoring Luke this season in what we hope will be a successful season both for him and for the Sharks.
“As a business we are passionate about supporting sport from grass roots up to professional level and we look forward to continuing our ongoing relationship with the club.”
Luke Cowan-Dickie boasts a distinguished career, having made over 100 Premiership appearances with Exeter Chiefs. His outstanding contributions were significant in Exeter’s first European title. Internationally, Luke has earned over 40 caps for England, and his efforts contributed to the country’s Grand Slam victory in the 2016 Six Nations. The athlete’s remarkable career aligns with Connectus’ ongoing support for top rugby talent, continuing their established sponsorship tradition.
This sponsorship marks the sixth consecutive season that Connectus has supported Sale Sharks, highlighting the company’s consistent commitment to rugby. Previous sponsorships have included players such as former club captain Jono Ross, England international Tom Roebuck, and Manu Tuilagi. Adding Luke Cowan-Dickie to the list of exceptional talent backed by the company reflects Connectus’ focus on supporting world-class rugby talent.
Home Tech, Sport

A nation of armchair supporters? Home cinemas win out at Olympics with smaller growth for sports

As the curtain falls on the 2024 Paris Olympics, new data from eCommerce provider Visualsoft reveals that despite a quarter of Brits believing they have what it takes to qualify for the 2028 games, the allure of a home cinema experience has outshone the traditional purchase of sports-related goods.

During the Olympics period, revenue for electrical goods and appliances surged by an impressive 44% year-on-year (YoY), outpacing the sports, outdoors and recreation sector, which saw a comparatively modest 12% increase. The trend was also mirrored in order growth, with electrical goods and appliances orders rising by 29% versus a 17% uptick for sports-related items.

Interestingly, the Average Order Value (AoV) for electrical goods and appliances climbed by 12% – a notable achievement considering that such increases are often accompanied by a dip in order volume. In contrast, the sports, outdoors and recreation sector saw a 4% decline in AoV, suggesting that sales growth was driven by a higher volume of smaller orders.

Despite the overall trends, the sports sector did see a momentary surge when the athletics events kicked off on the 1st of August. On this day, sports-related revenue peaked at 70% above the 2024 average, highlighting that the excitement of live sports can still trigger a wave of consumer enthusiasm. The sports, outdoors and recreation sector also experienced a remarkable 134% increase in conversion rates (from 1.6% across the period to 3.7%), indicating that shoppers were highly motivated to purchase rather than just browse.

The influence of Olympic sponsors, including tech giants like Intel, Panasonic, and Samsung, is likely a contributing factor to the 24% rise in mobile orders for electrical goods and appliances. The convenience of mobile shopping, combined with targeted campaigns and sponsorships, appears to have driven this growth, as consumers opted to upgrade their home entertainment setups.

So while the love for sports remains strong, consumers are increasingly investing in enhancing their at-home viewing experience – in fact the BBC saw record breaking views that were more than double the Tokyo Olympics.

Antony Hoyland, VP of Business Development at Visualsoft said: “The rise in sales of electrical goods and appliances during the Olympics underscores a growing trend towards creating the ultimate home cinema experience with live sports holding a special place in the hearts – and wallets – of the nation. However, the spike in sports-related purchases during key events like athletics proves that live sports continue to inspire and engage consumers in a significant way. This trend, fuelled by Olympic sponsorships and the convenience of mobile shopping, reflects a broader change in how consumers engage with major sporting events.”

Sport

Former Aston Villa midfielder heaps praise on Emery, but expects club to drop out top four as season approaches

Former Aston Villa midfielder Lee Hendrie  says Unai Emery has been a ‘brilliant’ manager at the club – but expects his side to struggle for top four this season.

The Villains enjoyed an incredibly successful 23/24 campaign, finishing the season in the final Champions League spot.

And Emery has so far brought in eight new players, with defensive midfielder Amadou Onana and left-back Ian Maatsen, and Hendrie remains excited for his former club’s upcoming campaign.

Speaking at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championships, he told event organisers Champions (UK) plc: “Unai did brilliant last season, there’s no doubt that getting into the Champions League and finishing in a fantastic league position is quite unique, and it’s something that Villa have been striving for, for quite some time.

“It’s been great to see that the club’s on the up and people have started believing, while the players that have come in have bolstered the squad. It’s a really big squad there, I was at the game against Atletico (Madrid) and they’re showing really good signs, lots of quality and knowing that they’re going to have to come up against some really big sides, particularly in the Champions League.

“We know what the Premier League is all about,” he continued. “It’s the world’s best league for me.

“I like who Unai’s brought in, I’m sure that there might be a couple more to enter the building, and I’m really optimistic after seeing what they did last season. I believe the new faces that have come in can give that added extra spark of light. I’m looking forward to the season, but there’s going to be a big onus on them to go and do well.”

With further European football on the horizon, Villa will certainly have to utilise a larger squad as fixtures pile up. While Emery has undoubtedly added quality to his squad this summer, other teams around will be expected to improve.

The Villains may have a harder task of reaching the heights of the top four spots in the upcoming season, and Hendrie believes the odds are slightly against the Midlands side.

“I think there’s going to be sides that are going to be better and stronger,” he explained. “You’d expect Manchester United to be stronger, Chelsea to be stronger, Spurs, Newcastle. I think you watch what Newcastle did the season before where they got in the Champions League and just drifted away because of the overload of games.

“But I think Villa having the taste of being in Europe last season in the Conference League, I think that will have done them the world of good. I think that was just a bit of a rerun of what’s going to happen this season on a different scale.

“I just feel that squad depth is going to be massive and keeping players fit, and hopefully we can finish around that top six, it would be a superb continuation if not better, but I think that’s going to be a big ask.”

 

Aston Villa kick off their Premier League campaign next Saturday, as they travel to the London Stadium to take on a West Ham side who have also strengthened this summer.

 

Hendrie was speaking at the Farmfoods British Par 3 Championships at Nailcote Hall, Warwickshire.