matchesBaller League Round 7FollowBaller League Round 7 MVPs UnitedMVPs United‌ .css-1fuoqk-AboutMatchParagraphCSS{font-size:13px;padding:0 8px;line-height:normal;-webkit-align-self:center;-ms-flex-item-align:center;align-self:center;}@media (min-width: 992px){.css-1fuoqk-AboutMatchParagraphCSS{font-size:15px;line-height:20px;}}MVPs United is playing home against Wembley Rangers on Mon Predicted lineups are available for the match a few days in advance while the actual lineup will be available about an hour ahead of the match Have scored 14 goals in their last 5 matches Haven't kept a clean sheet in 6 matches Have scored 16 goals in their last 5 matches Oliver Cannon has created the most big chances for Wembley Rangers (3) MVPs United is playing home against Wembley Rangers on Mon Over 30,000 tickets have already been sold for the Ashes opener between England and Australia at Wembley later this year The much-anticipated three-Test series will begin in the capital in late-October with a bumper crowd hopefully expected to kick off the first Ashes campaign in over 20 years The second Test at Everton’s new stadium and the final match at AMT Headingley have already sold out meaning that supporters only have Wembley remaining as a viable option should they wish to purchase tickets with nearly six months still remaining until the series begins there have been plenty of tickets already sold – with that figure for Wembley now over 30,000 🎟️There have been more than 30,000 tickets sold for the England v Australia opening test match at Wembley in October — The Tryline 🏉 (@TrylineUK) May 2, 2025 that is a long way short of anything like a healthy crowd inside the national stadium But with months left to go until the series begins – and Wembley the only option for those who have already missed out on the other two Tests – it points towards a major crowd in London RL Commercial CEO Rhodri Jones had admitted that he was hopeful of beating the figure set in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup semi-final double-header at Wembley There is still a lot of work to be done to surpass that total but hopes are high that with considerable backing and plenty of interest in the series given how long it has been since the last Ashes showdown there could be well in excess of that total watching for the series opener 👉🏻 Sam Burgess declares interest in Perth job as huge NRL revelation made 👉🏻 ‘Gone too far’: More Super League coaches unite against tackle laws 👉🏻 Super League predictions: Huge Hull KR win and Leeds shock among Caitlin Beevers’ tips 👉🏻 Analysing back-row transfer options for Castleford after Danny McGuire claim © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved The first Ashes series in 22 years is set to become the best attended in history with the second and third Tests sold out and demand for Wembley tickets at unprecedented levels With the third Test at Headingley on November 8 already sold out all remaining tickets for the second Test at the 54,000 capacity Everton Stadium were snapped up within an hour of going on sale to the general public The house full sign for the first non-football event at the new stadium in Liverpool on November 1 guarantees the series will have the biggest crowd for an Ashes Test since 1994 The Ashes are back in 2025: What you need to know Rugby League Commercial Managing Director Rhodri Jones said the first Test at Wembley Stadium on October 25 was now the only remaining chance for fans to see the return of the Ashes after a 22-year absence since 2003 "We’re already well past the aggregate attendance for the last two Ashes series in England and advance sales for Wembley are also at record levels well ahead of where they were for the opening Tests of the 1990 and 1994 series which were the best-attended home Ashes series on record," Jones said “The excitement around the return of the Rugby League Ashes has been building for months and to have already sold out two of the three matches is a huge boost to the sport “It has been a pleasure working with the staff at all three venues to deliver such an outstanding result “The second Test at the new Everton Stadium will have an attendance of more than 50,000 which will be the biggest for an Ashes Test since 1994 “We’re excited about the prospect of taking the first non-football event to such a superb new stadium and also about taking an Ashes Test to Headingley for the first time since 1982 – in each case in front of a full house In-form Farnworth eyeing Ashes shot at Aussies “We’re equally pleased with the speed at which tickets are selling for the First Test at Wembley Stadium "Mal Meninga and his Australia team are excited by the prospect of playing at Wembley but we want Shaun Wane and his England team to have the support of a packed and passionate crowd for the first Ashes Test in this country since 2003 Rugby League Commerical said the lower bowl at Wembley was selling out quickly but a limited number of places remain for Everton and Wembley Home advantage: Why England chose Headingley for Ashes decider The Third Test at Headingley on Saturday November 8 had already sold out in the priority window More than 60,000 tickets were sold on the opening day of the priority window for the end-of-season Ashes series smashing all previous records for rugby league in England Jones said: “These are unprecedented and exciting figures for rugby league – easily the most tickets that have been sold for any series in a single day 'What our game is built on': Mal hails Ashes revival “It confirms the huge demand to see Shaun Wane’s England team taking on Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos this autumn “We believe our choice of venues has captured the imagination of rugby league and sports fans in all parts of the country “We have set ambitious goals to ensure the series is played in front of the audiences it deserves – and we are already well on course to meet those goals.” Golden Age Group has appointed Figurehead as the construction partner for its Box Hill South townhouse development, Wembley Hill The first release of the 143 townhouses at the Hay Street development will start construction soon and are expected to be completed in Q3 2026 "We are excited to partner again with Figurehead Construction for the construction of Wembley Hill, a development that embodies our commitment to creating sustainable, high-quality living spaces," Golden Age Group Development Director "This project is set to redefine modern living in Melbourne's eastern suburbs supplying families and home buyers an opportunity to invest in a vibrant Golden Age has released the next stage of Rothelowman-designed townhouses draws inspiration from the liquidambar trees planted throughout the streetscapes creating vibrant green links that connect different sections of the community masterplan Families and couples have been the most active buyers at Wembley Hill Sustainability and design are at the heart of the project, imagined by Cox Architecture and acclaimed landscape architects TCL The expansive 13,000 sqm of landscaped gardens and native greenery create a transition into the nearby Gardiner’s Creek Trail TCL’s design responds to the adjacent KooyongKoot (Gardiners Creek) corridor with a planting scheme that supports local biodiversity and grasses contributes to the project’s long-term ecological and community value We're on a mission to radically improve the quality of Urban communities being developed across Australia We aim to showcase every development in Australia to help you find the perfect new home You have reached ESPN's Australian edition. Stay on current site or go to US version Unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk is set to face IBF champion Daniel Dubois on July 19 at Wembley Stadium in London Ring Magazine reported that the event -- originally scheduled for July 12 -- was moved to a week later to avoid the recently announced Ring Magazine 3 fight card headlined by Shakur Stevenson's title defense against William Zepeda The fight is a rematch of their 2023 meeting, which Usyk won by a ninth-round TKO as a body punch that put Usyk down in the fifth round was ruled a low blow Usyk would recover and finish Dubois later in the fight has pursued a rematch with Usyk since the loss and will get it when the stakes are the highest Usyk, 38, is coming off consecutive unanimous decision wins over Tyson Fury in 2024 He became the undisputed champion after their first meeting but was forced to relinquish the IBF title to secure the high-profile rematch later that year An 80s pop icon looked unrecognisable as he headed back to Wembley Stadium for Live Aid: The Musical's cast recording on Thursday The musician was a key organiser of the original two-venue benefit which intended to raise relief funds for the Ethiopian famine that claimed approximately 300,000 to 1.2 million lives Almost 40 years after 72,000 fans converged on the venue for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the decade this singer posed for photos on its hallowed turf Hailing from the outskirts of Greater Glasgow the musician journeyed around several groups in the 70s and early 80s but found real success as the second lead singer of a revived band in 1979 which went on to become the fifth highest selling single in the UK that year He juggled his key roles in three big bands, before co-writing and producing Do They Know It's Christmas for Band Aid in 1984 and bagging a solo number one single with If I Was a year later. It is none other than Ultravox, Thin Lizzy and Visage star Midge Ure. Echoing that legendary summer's day in 1985, the sun beat down on Wembley as he and fellow Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof recalled fond memories of the fundraising event. Launched at London's Old Vic in 2024, jukebox musical Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical details the events leading up to the two concerts, while featuring a series of fictionalised dramatic sub-plots. Following a recent two month run at Toronto's Mirvish Theatre, it will open at London's Shaftesbury Theatre from May 15 for a further eight weeks, in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid. Watched by an estimated 1.9billion people across the world, the two concerts raised an astonishing £150m in total for famine relief. Just seven-months after the release of Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas?, Geldof and Ure brought together some of the biggest artists of the 1980s for two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F. Kennedy Stadium. David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John and Queen led a lengthy roster of performers in London, while Black Sabbath, Joan Baez, Run D.M.C and The Beach Boys joined a host of stars in Philadelphia. Ahead of the anniversary, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have announced plans to broadcast Live Aid at 40, revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the idea of charity to a new generation. The event proved the pinnacle of Midge's lofty career, which kicked off with a 1976 number one single, Forever And Ever, while playing in the band Slik. He then had a brief stint in new wave group Rich Kids before forming Visage in 1978 with Rusty Egan and lead vocalist Steve Strange. The band enjoyed a string of hits, including Fade To Grey, and successful albums Visage and The Anvil before tensions caused them to go their separate ways. He then joined Thin Lizzy in 1979 before regrouping Ultravox later that year as its singer, songwriter and guitarist. As Vienna topped the charts in 1981, Midge was also juggling his roles in Visage and Thin Lizzy. They went on to land four top 10 albums and a top three single in Dancing With Tears In My Eyes, before their greatest hits record was released and certified triple platinum. Once he focussed on his solo career, Midge had a number one single with If I Was in 1985 and a number two album in the same year with The Gift. After overseeing Live 8 in 2005, Midge was awarded an OBE. He married his first wife, TV presenter Annabel Giles, in 1985 and they had one daughter Molly Lorenne before divorcing in 1989. In 2003, he tied the knot with his second wife, actress Sheridan Forbes. The duo live in Bath and have three daughters. Last year, Midge paid tribute to his friend and Ultravox bandmate Chris Cross: 'We worked together, we played together, made music and directed videos together. 'We were instant friends as well as Ultravox comrades. Even after years apart we managed to pick up where we left off like the years in between never existed. You were the glue that held the band together. 'You were the logic in the madness and the madness in our lives. It was great to know and grow with you. You are loved and missed old friend.' Major terror attack 'was just HOURS away' before it was foiled by the special forces and police:... Victim of acid attack 'plotted by his ex-partner who teamed up with a gang' dies in hospital six... We are trapped in unsellable newbuild homes after a £52m dual carriageway was built on our... Horror as $4.5M influencer-laden yacht SINKS off Miami... after glam women made a rookie maritime... 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No one seems to have shared their thoughts on this topic yetLeave a comment so your voice will be heard first. {{message}} Bob Geldof and Midge Ure were back on familiar ground as they reunited to celebrate the forthcoming 40th anniversary of Live Aid on Thursday The original two-venue benefit, which lasted for 16 epic hours on July 13 1985, was organised by Geldof and Ure to raise relief funds for Ethiopia as the East African country battled a devastating famine that would claim approximately 300,000 to 1.2 million lives in just two years Almost forty years after 72,000 fans converged on London's Wembley Stadium for an epic string of performances from some of the biggest stars of the 1980s they were back to announce Just for One Day: The Live Aid Musical original cast recording when stars such as David Bowie and Queen mesmerised fans across the world Originally launched at London's Old Vic in 2024 Just For One Day: The Live Aid Musical details the events leading up to the two concerts while featuring a series of fictionalised dramatic sub-plots Following a recent two month run at Toronto's Mirvish Theatre it will open at London's Shaftesbury Theatre from May 15 for a further eight weeks in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Live Aid Just seven-months after the 1984 release of Band Aid charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? Geldof and Ure brought together some of the biggest musical artists of the 1980s for two huge concerts at Wembley Stadium and Philadelphia's John F David Bowie, Sir Paul McCartney, Status Quo, Sir Elton John and Queen led a lengthy roster of performers in London Run D.M.C and The Beach Boys joined a host of stars in Philadelphia Watched by an estimated 1.9billion people across the world the two concerts raised an astonishing £150 million in total for famine relief BBC Two and BBC iPlayer have announced plans to broadcast Live Aid at 40 revealing the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the idea of charity to a new generation Exclusive interviews include iconic figures such as Bob Geldof Bono and Sting - along with US President George Bush President Obasanjo of Nigeria and Birhan Woldu became the abiding image of the Wembley concert and the famine During an appearance at the ground, Bob quipped to the Sun: 'It doesn’t look that sort of different I expect it to be mega and new and it just looks as crappy as before I’m blue in the face listening to f***ing Freddie Mercury.' Midge adds: 'I went in as a jaded rock star expecting cheese But during the show this jaded rock star had a lump in his throat 'One song jumped out in particular for me and I was never a big Bob Dylan fan the interpretation that they’ve done on that was phenomenal.' The series weaves the back room stories of two gangs of musicians from the UK and the US with the political stories that both inspired them and brought them to a worldwide audience Archive of the performances and back stage of the record and the concert feature Paula Yates Status Quo and George Michael whilst interviews with Nile Rodgers Roger Taylor and Brian May are set against the memories of the Ethiopian politicians at the heart of the relief effort said: 'The series takes the audience on an irresistible and entertaining ride through the 40 years since the biggest live concert ever was shown on TV 'Featuring exclusive behind the scenes interviews with an array of stars of rock & pop unravels the politics and explores the legacy of Live Aid.' Also coming to BBC Two in July is Live Aid the Concert, a look back at the 16-hour concert in full, with performances from the likes of Madonna, Mick Jagger, Patti LaBelle, Phil Collins, Queen, Spandau Ballet, Sade, Sting, Status Quo, Tina Turner and U2. Approximately two billion people watched the broadcast in more than 100 countries. Now, for the first time since 1985, BBC Two gives viewers a chance to relive over 6.5 hours of extended highlights of the London and Philadelphia concerts, in addition to backstage footage. Head of BBC Popular Music TV said: 'This summer we’re delighted to be giving viewers a chance to relive one of the biggest concerts in history for the first time on TV since it was originally broadcast on the BBC 'By providing over 6.5 hours of footage that was captured on the day Live Aid took place we want viewers to feel transported back to 1985 and to enjoy all those classic songs that we all still know and love to this day which was broadcast on BBC Four in November 2024 is also available for viewers to enjoy on BBC iPlayer BBC Radio 2 will be marking the anniversary on Sunday 13th July as the station broadcasts Live Aid – The Fans Story Last November, Ed Sheeran claimed he wasn't asked permission from Band Aid 40 organisers to use his vocals on the a new version of their charity single. The musician originally featured on the 2014 version of the track - spearheaded by Geldof and Ure - alongside the likes of Sting and Harry Styles which aimed to raise money for the Ebola relief efforts. However, the regarding 2024 Ultimate Mix of the song to celebrate its 40th anniversary, Sheeran has told how he would have denied permission to add his voice to the song had he'd been asked. Taking to his Instagram stories, the Shape Of You hitmaker re-shared a message from Ghanaian-British musician Fuse ODG, who has been vocal in his criticism of the charity single claiming it 'dehumanises Africans and destroys our pride and identity in the name of ‘charity’.' He wrote: 'My approval wasn't sought on this new Band Aid 40 release and had I had the choice I would have respectfully declined the use of my vocals. 'A decade on and my understanding of the narrative associated with this has changed, eloquently explained by @fuseodg. This is just my personal stance, I'm hoping it's a forward-looking one. Love to all x.' {{message}} Taking a look back at a classic West Ham United moment on this day in history West Ham United secured the FA Cup for the second time in the Club’s history by defeating Fulham on this day 50 years ago - and you can enjoy the goals again here Alan Taylor scored both goals in a 2-0 victory over their Second Division opponents at Wembley firing home two close-range finishes and delighting the Claret and Blue Army members in the 100,000-strong crowd Billy Bonds captained the Irons to glory against a Fulham side that included his predecessor having recovered from injury just in time to lead the Irons out at the Home of Football “I’d picked up a niggly groin strain before Christmas and it’d got progressively worse as we got into our 1974/75 FA Cup run,” Bonds recalled I’d seen specialists who wanted to operate had cortisone injections and taken some horrible-tasting pain-killers to get me through our ties against Southampton while I had to miss nine of our last dozen league games “Going into the final against Fulham it was still touch and go whether I’d play I’m only 75% fit and I’m worried I won’t last 90 minutes’ I got through my first-ever Wembley final and Alan Taylor’s two goals meant that I finally got to lift a trophy for the Hammers “Everyone remembers Bobby Moore playing for Fulham that afternoon – I’d been in awe of him since I’d met him as a 14-year-old kid – and as a former West Ham team-mate we all went and shook his hand because we had such tremendous respect for him who’d been a big part of my life both in terms of football and how he’d brought me up He had a window-cleaning round and you could see the spring in his step as he walked off with his ladders knowing that I now had an FA Cup winner’s medal in my pocket!” Taylor and West Ham’s fantastic afternoon at Wembley again here! Site designed & built by Other Media, powered by Clubcast If you have any queries about this error, try emailing feedback@mirror.co.uk and we'll do what we can to help you Here's how to score yourself a seat at this year's final in Wembley Burnley and Leeds United have scored their place in the Premier League next season That's all to fight for in this year's Championship Play-off Final After 45 rounds – with the 46th taking place this weekend – 24 clubs have gone toe-to-toe for the chance of stepping out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium this May and winning the \"richest prize in football\" with Southampton pulling 1-0 ahead of Leeds United in the first half and then managing to maintain their lead for the final 45 Bristol City and Coventry City currently in contention for the semi-finals here's everything you need to know about tickets You can also check out how to get FA Cup Final tickets and Women's FA Cup Final tickets, not to mention Champions League Final tickets This year's Championship Play-off Final is set for Saturday 24th May – the week after FA Cup Final weekend and just before the League One and League Two Play-offs the Championship Play-off Final will take place under the historic arch of Wembley Stadium you can get there via three stations: Wembley Park Wembley Stadium Station and Wembley Central Wembley Park is available on the Jubilee and Metropolitan lines Wembley Stadium Station is accessible via Chiltern Railways (just one stop from London Marylebone) and Wembley Central is available on the Bakerloo and Overground lines as well as Southern and West Midlands rail With just one game left in the regular Championship season places in the Play-offs are still up for grabs Burnley and Leeds United have secured their places in the Premier League next season by earning the first and second spot on the league table It's then up to the teams placed third to sixth to fight it out for the remaining spot The last round of the Championship is on Saturday 3rd May and right now the teams in contention are: Sheffield United Dubbed the \"richest prize in football\" clubs often earn around £170 million in revenue after winning Championship Play-off Final although this of course can be affected by club spending and transfer fees Tickets to the play-off finals are mainly sold through the websites of the competing clubs Be aware that priority access will likely be given to season ticket holders or 'loyal fans' who have attended multiple fixtures we’d suggest looking first at hospitality tickets like P1 Travel or Seat Unique These packages are always more expensive than regular tickets however they guarantee you a prime spot in the stands and you get extra perks such as food and drink access Failing that, there's always the re-sale site Ticombo. While we wouldn't normally advise re-sale sites, this has a 4.7 rating on TrustPilot and allows you to pick your seat be aware that these tickets are very expensive LiveFootballTickets (which boasts a 5-star rating on Trustpilot) also has tickets available Last year’s base prices started at around £18 for concessions and £36 for adults At the time of writing (Wednesday 30th April) Club Wembley and P1 Travel provide packages that cost anywhere from £800 however these come with additional food and drink and sometimes the option to meet previous club legends Don't forget to take a look at Europa League Final tickets and Europa Conference League Final tickets. Plus, how to get Usyk vs Dubois tickets. How to get tickets to Championship Play-off Final 2025 at Wembley StadiumHere's how to score yourself a seat at this year's final in Wembley That's all to fight for in this year's Championship Play-off Final After 45 rounds – with the 46th taking place this weekend – 24 clubs have gone toe-to-toe for the chance of stepping out onto the hallowed turf of Wembley Stadium this May and winning the "richest prize in football" So if you're eager to be there to see it here's everything you need to know about tickets You can also check out how to get FA Cup Final tickets and Women's FA Cup Final tickets, not to mention Champions League Final tickets Chris Brunskill/Fantasista/Getty ImagesThis year's Championship Play-off Final is set for Saturday 24th May – the week after FA Cup Final weekend and just before the League One and League Two Play-offs If it's your first time travelling there It's then up to the teams placed third to sixth to fight it out for the remaining spot Dubbed the "richest prize in football" clubs often earn around £170 million in revenue after winning Championship Play-off Final Visionhaus/Getty ImagesTickets to the play-off finals are mainly sold through the websites of the competing clubs Be aware that priority access will likely be given to season ticket holders or 'loyal fans' who have attended multiple fixtures Failing that, there's always the re-sale site Ticombo. While we wouldn't normally advise re-sale sites, this has a 4.7 rating on TrustPilot and allows you to pick your seat Sign up for our Going Out newsletter to receive the latest updates on new ticket releases plus inspiration for how to spend your weekend By entering your details you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Don't forget to take a look at Europa League Final tickets and Europa Conference League Final tickets. Plus, how to get Usyk vs Dubois tickets you are agreeing to site title privacy policy This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Subscribe to RT!Subscribe to Radio Times magazine and get £10 issues for £10! Could your home unlock your dreams?Releasing equity from your home could help give you the retirement you've been dreaming of? Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next? 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Getty ImagesEmpty Manchester City seats at Wembley You've only got to spend a few moments scrolling on your favourite social media platform to come across someone bashing Manchester City's fanbase for not selling out their allocation at Wembley on Sunday afternoon it's perhaps one of the biggest dates in the football calendar for many fans and a unique opportunity to visit one of the most iconic sporting venues on the planet Then you take a step back and realise: Sunday's FA Cup semi-final meeting with Nottingham Forest was Manchester City's 30th - yes THIRTY - appearance at Wembley Stadium since 2011 To give that remarkable figure a bit of perspective Liverpool managed a total of 30 appearances at the old Wembley in their entire history before the ground was demolished in 2002 An understanding of Manchester City supporters following the club to and from Wembley over the last 14 years should also take into account the extortionate costs of the day as a whole; a ticket averaging £77 across the five pricing categories And all this is before you even consider the wider costs of following the club home and away throughout the duration of a season well exceeding 50 games additional costs of 'cup schemes' for the FA Cup and League Cup But what is really happening online as fans continue to poke fun at Manchester City's empty seats at Wembley on Sunday afternoon is supporters are missing the real issue at hand: FA Cup Semi-Finals should not be held at Wembley Stadium all semi-finals in the FA Cup were contested at neutral venues large enough for the occasion Common hosts including Birmingham's Villa Park and Manchester's Old Trafford Perhaps a return to that more logical strategy could bring the semi-finals of the greatest cup football competition on the planet to former glory days and rejuvenate such an occasion for who it should mean most to: the fans Find more from Freddie Pye at City Xtra, external Related topicsPremier League Manchester City FootballTop storiesLive Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool & 'expected to join' Real Madrid - reaction and updates Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool at end of season Watch World Snooker Championship final: Wiliams pulls one back against Zhao The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages How Bournemouth turned tables on set-piece specialists Arsenal VideoHow Bournemouth turned tables on set-piece specialists Arsenal Vardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer 'Pretty special' - Leeds and Burnley's fight for Championship title Match-fixing scandal to Crucible final - fall and rise of Zhao Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show 'Painful but we'll be back' - Luton's rise and fall 'Balls all over the Crucible floor' as pocket breaks during semi-final Video'Balls all over the Crucible floor' as pocket breaks during semi-final Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Varsho makes 'crazy' behind-the-back catch VideoVarsho makes 'crazy' behind-the-back catch Sky Bet Championship, League One and League Two play-off semi-finals take place between Thursday May 8 and Saturday May 17, with the finals taking place at Wembley across the weekend of May 24 to 26; watch or stream all 15 play-off matches live on Sky Sports The regular Championship, League One and League Two seasons conclude on Saturday May 3, with several teams now braced for the rollercoaster of the Sky Bet EFL play-offs. The first Championship semi-final first leg, between Bristol City and Sheffield United, will kick off nine consecutive days of action on Thursday May 8. The semi-final schedule will conclude on Saturday May 17, with the League Two semi-final second leg contested by AFC Wimbledon and Notts County. The Championship, League One and League Two play-off finals will be played at Wembley across the weekend of May 24 to 26. Each and every one of the 15 play-off matches will be available to watch live on Sky Sports. Thursday May 8: Bristol City vs Sheffield United, Ashton Gate - kick-off 8pm Friday May 9: Coventry City vs Sunderland, CBS Arena - kick-off 8pm Monday May 12: Sheffield United vs Bristol City - Bramall Lane, kick-off 8pm Tuesday May 13: Sunderland vs Coventry City - Stadium of Light, kick-off 8pm Saturday May 24: TBC vs TBC - Wembley, kick-off TBC Saturday May 10: Leyton Orient vs Stockport - Brisbane Road, kick-off 12.30pm Sunday May 11: Wycombe vs Charlton - Adams Park, kick-off 6.30pm Wednesday May 14: Stockport vs Leyton Orient - Edgeley Park, kick-off 8pm Thursday May 15: Charlton vs Wycombe - The Valley, kick-off 8pm Sunday May 25: TBC vs TBC - Wembley, kick-off 1pm Saturday May 10: Notts County vs AFC Wimbledon - Meadow Lane, kick-off 8pm Sunday May 11: Chesterfield vs Walsall - SMH Group Stadium, kick-off 3.30pm Friday May 16: Walsall vs Chesterfield - Poundland Bescot Stadium, kick-off 8pm Saturday May 17: AFC Wimbledon vs Notts County - Cherry Red Records Stadium, kick-off 12.30pm Monday May 26: TBC vs TBC - Wembley, kick-off 3pm Tom from Southampton became a millionaire for free with Super 6! Could you be the next jackpot winner? Play for free! Old Trafford and Hillsborough hosted the fixtures - but in 2003 it was announced they would take place at the 'new' Wembley The decision was primarily financial - to help repay the £798m cost of rebuilding a new national stadium said the move was "a financial necessity" The first semi-final held at Wembley was actually the 1991 north London derby between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal but the fixtures moved there permanently from 2008 "There will be traditionalists upset by the idea of the semi-finals being at Wembley," said Barron "So will some fans of clubs who would have to travel a long way to London and we appreciate that it's not necessarily an ideal situation." When the FA released its 2022-23 annual report last year chief executive Mark Bullingham said it had finished repaying the debt from building Wembley describing it as a "significant milestone" The FA has not made an official statement on where future FA Cup semi-finals will be played but Wembley is the largest stadium in the United Kingdom - with a capacity of 90,000 - which allows more fans to attend it is only second behind Barcelona's Nou Camp The highest attendance for an FA Cup semi-final came in 2009 with 88,141 watching Manchester United against Everton Crowds for the past three years have been: Coventry v Manchester United - 83,672 (2024) Manchester City v Sheffield United - 69,603 (2023) Brighton v Manchester United - 81,445 (2023) Manchester City v Liverpool - 73,793 (2022) Though switching the semi-finals to Wembley was initially a financial decision reverting to club venues would limit the amount of fans who could attend The attendances for the past two FA Cup semi-finals played at club venues were 50,559 at Old Trafford (Chelsea v Blackburn) and 37,425 at Villa Park (Watford v Manchester United) former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson along with Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram - the mayors of Greater Manchester and Liverpool - called for the semi-final between Manchester City and Liverpool be switched to a venue in the north Engineering works meant no trains were running from either city to or from London that weekend Henderson said: "In my head it would make sense obviously to change it to a [different] neutral venue especially with it being two teams from the north-west." Burnham and Rotheram - in a joint letter to the FA - said: "We believe the most obvious solution is to move the game to a more accessible stadium and offer to work constructively with you to make that happen." The FA provided free travel for 5,000 supporters to and from Anfield or the Etihad Stadium This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team Who runs the Premier League? And how do rule changes happen? Why are there so many international breaks? How does BBC report on big stories about itself? What is a tifo banner? Contact formContact formRelated topicsFA Cup FootballComments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser View comments | 115Top storiesLive The time to strike for League One Play-off Final tickets is now The final round of League One is this weekend which means it's time to start looking forward to the all-important play-offs Birmingham and world-famous side Wrexham have already secured their place in the Championship next season but now it's time to see who will join them Wycombe and Charlton have all confirmed their places having come third to fifth in the league table meanwhile Reading and Leyton Orient have been left fighting over that final spot these four teams will be ready to face off in the knock-outs all before taking the long walk back to Wembley Stadium at the end of May It may be the third league of English football but it's just as exciting as any FA Cup Final Here’s what you need to know about the League One Play-Off Final You can also check out how to get FA Cup Final tickets and Women's FA Cup Final tickets, not to mention Champions League Final tickets The League One play-off Final will kick off on Sunday 25th May, the day after the Championship Play-off Final are played at the neutral ground of Wembley Stadium this gives fans a truly special – and sometimes once in a lifetime – experience you can take your pick of three tube stations: Wembley Park As we go into the final day of the League One regular season Birmingham and Wrexham have confirmed their places in the Championship Wycombe and Charlton have all confirmed their places in the Play-offs The final place is currently being contested by Leyton Orient and Reading As with the Championship Play-Off Final and League Two Final tickets will mainly be sold by their respective clubs and will go on sale once the other finalist has been confirmed It’s up to the clubs to decide how tickets are sold and distributed although it’s pretty likely that priority access will likely be given to season ticket holders or 'loyal fans' who have proof that they attended multiple fixtures Alternatively, you can book a hospitality space through P1 Travel Be aware that these seats are going to be hugely expensive but they’ll come with exclusive food and drink access and sometimes the chance to meet a few legends of the sport Buy League One play-off Final hospitality tickets at P1 Travel take a look at re-sale sites like LiveFootballTickets or Ticombo Both of these have at least a 4.6-rating on TrustPilot so are more trustworthy than most Tickets sold through the clubs are likely to cost anywhere between £20 and £80 (based on 2024’s tickets) so grab one quick if you want to guarantee a good price Don't forget to take a look at Europa League Final tickets and Europa Conference League Final tickets. Plus, how to get Usyk vs Dubois tickets. How to get tickets to the League One Play-off Final 2025 at WembleyThe time to strike for League One Play-off Final tickets is now which means it's time to start looking forward to the all-important play-offs but now it's time to see who will join them but it's just as exciting as any FA Cup Final The League One play-off Final will kick off on Sunday 25th May, the day after the Championship Play-off Final are played at the neutral ground of Wembley Stadium The final place is currently being contested by Leyton Orient and Reading although it’s pretty likely that priority access will likely be given to season ticket holders or 'loyal fans' who have proof that they attended multiple fixtures Alternatively, you can book a hospitality space through P1 Travel Buy League One play-off Final hospitality tickets at P1 Travel Holiday brochuresNeed inspiration of where to go next Request a free brochure and start your journey The rematch will take place over the undisputed world heavyweight title Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois are headed for the ultimate rematch at Wembley Stadium this July in a battle to become the undisputed World Heavyweight Champion Nearly two years on from their first encounter the match will see the Ukranian world titleist and London-born boxer battle it out over four heavyweight belts with Usyk currently in possession of the WBC WBA and WBO titles and Dubois holding the IBF belt In a press conference Usyk said: \"I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to once again fight for the undisputed championship for taking care of my IBF belt – now I want it back.\" While Dubois said: \"This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk.\" The pair's first match-up in 2023 saw Dubois lose inside nine rounds despite knocking Usyk down with a blow the referee ruled low Since then the latter has been victorious against Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua while the former has claimed wins against Filip Hrgovic Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will meet on Saturday 19th July at Wembley Stadium marking nearly two years since their first encounter Wembley Stadium has a capacity for 90,000 fans which should give you an idea of the kind of demand organisers are expecting Tickets went on sale at 12pm (midday) on Wednesday 30th April via Ticketmaster there are still tickets available for the rematch As a highly-anticipated rematch, demand is sure to be high so make sure you read our tips on how to beat the Ticketmaster queue Buy Usyk vs Dubois tickets at Ticketmaster You can find hospitality tickets over at official provider Seat Unique These will get you a prime view of the ring plus additional perks like merchandise Buy Usyk vs Dubois hospitality tickets at Seat Unique tickets for Usyk vs Dubois will set you back from £49.96 at Ticketmaster and hospitality tickets at Seat Unique cost from £249 for VIP packages Make sure you also take a look at how to get Women's FA Cup Final tickets and Women's Champions League Final tickets. How to get Usyk vs Dubois tickets as sale goes live for Wembley Stadium rematchThe rematch will take place over the undisputed world heavyweight title In a press conference Usyk said: "I'm grateful to God for the opportunity to once again fight for the undisputed championship for taking care of my IBF belt – now I want it back." While Dubois said: "This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk." The pair's first match-up in 2023 saw Dubois lose inside nine rounds As a highly-anticipated rematch, demand is sure to be high so make sure you read our tips on how to beat the Ticketmaster queue Buy Usyk vs Dubois tickets at Ticketmaster Buy Usyk vs Dubois hospitality tickets at Seat Unique Make sure you also take a look at how to get Women's FA Cup Final tickets and Women's Champions League Final tickets Maya Jama formed part of the Ruben Dias fan club as Man City made the FA Cup final with the Love Island host enjoying a "family day out to Wembley" BBC Sport football news reporterPublished28 April 20252568 CommentsManchester City reached their third consecutive FA Cup final by beating Nottingham Forest on Sunday but the semi-final was played against a backdrop of thousands of empty seats in the blue half of Wembley Pep Guardiola's side have enjoyed an incredible period of success and the club and supporters will travel down to the national stadium as a neutral venue for the 29th time since it was refurbished in 2007 So are City victims of their own success with fans suffering from 'Wembley fatigue' and would a change of venue for the semi-finals of the world's oldest club competition help Why are FA Cup semi-finals played at Wembley Man City beat luckless Forest to reach third straight FA Cup final Man City can't 'confuse' season as success - Guardiola Manchester City have made Wembley their second home since beating rivals Manchester United in the 2011 FA Cup semi-finals before edging past Stoke courtesy of Yaya Toure's winner in the final which laid the foundations for the trophy-laden years that have followed But the frequent trips from Manchester to London appear to have taken their toll with an attendance of 72,976 for Sunday's game at the 90,000-capacity stadium This was City's seventh consecutive semi-final appearance but - aside from the Covid years when matches were played behind closed doors - there have been occasions during that run when the attendance was lower in 2023 against Sheffield United (69,603) and Brighton in 2019 (71,521) The ticket-sales breakdown for the four semi-finalists this year were approximately: Factors such as Nottingham Forest having a remarkable season Crystal Palace being based in London and Aston Villa's buoyant team chasing silverware under Unai Emery can be taken into consideration for those numbers Reaching Wembley does not happen too often for most clubs and supporters relish a possible once-in-a-lifetime day out there One scenario would be to give the tickets away but there is a balance to be struck between keeping them on sale until the last minute for fans to purchase them against the idea of distributing them among people in the local area for free The logistics of doing that in such a short space of time are not straightforward Highlights: Nottingham Forest 0-2 Manchester City Manchester City supporters have pointed out the price of tickets buying food and drink and a Sunday kick-off at 16:30 BST as the major factors for the number of empty seats general secretary of City's official supporters' club told BBC Sport: "It is an expensive day out and when you have done it 25 or 30 times there are decisions you have to take in terms of the cost "Our record in the FA Cup under Guardiola has been unbelievable but fans - without disrespect to Nottingham Forest - are hoping to be reasonably confident we will play in the final People do have to make a financial choice." Those who were in attendance joyously celebrated victory with their 'Poznan' dance while Guardiola took the adulation of the travelling supporters "You could see the passion within the supporters after beating Nottingham Forest but 'Wembley fatigue' is a good way of describing how we feel about the day," says Parker the additional expense and having work or school the next day It is inconvenient to play at 4:30pm on a Sunday." Some City fans are planning further protests during the Premier League game against Wolves at Etihad Stadium on Friday over what they say is the club's refusal to increase the number of season-ticket holders But Parker said the non-sale of tickets for the semi-final was "not a fan protest" and the empty seats had "nothing to do with that" The official supporters' group has 400 branches worldwide and Parker said it already had ticket applications from places such as Thailand Australia and the United States for the final Qualifying for the Champions League is the most important thing - Guardiola There have also been calls to move semi-finals away from Wembley to another neutral venue The club laid on 12 coaches but road closures because of the Manchester marathon made it complicated for supporters to meet at Etihad Stadium for the 09:30 departure while some did not arrive back until 01:30 on Monday morning Had the match gone to extra time or penalties it would have made it even more difficult for City fans to head home with only three trains to Manchester departing Euston Station after 20:00 "One day maybe the FA Cup will be played here in the north," City boss Guardiola said in his pre-match news conference on Friday "They will come here to Old Trafford or [the] Etihad or Anfield or Goodison Park "All around the world people suffer economically and I understand completely it's not easy for them." a founder of the MCFC Fans Foodbank Support told BBC Sport that City are "a northern club" and it is a 400-mile round trip for fans Clarke said he was "out of pocket" for the outing as he booked a 16-seater minibus for £850 which was only taken up by 12 people while his ticket cost £45 and the total for food and drink was £60 BBC Sport asked City fans their thoughts with Steve saying semi-finals at Wembley take the "aura" away around those matches Andrew asking for a "geographically sensible ground" while Ian said the costs "mount up" Wembley is the home of the semi-finals and can accommodate the greatest number of fans for the clubs competing in the last four is easy to mention but difficult to organise because April is a busy period for Premier League clubs who might host the semi-finals View comments | 2568Top storiesLive the Eagles have managed to return on plenty of occasions Palace have walked down Wembley Way 11 times to date with the 2024/25 FA Cup semi-final against Aston Villa set to be our 12th visit to the iconic venue Considering the stadium was demolished and rebuilt between 2001 and 2007 Palace have actually made it something of a regular pilgrimage we take a trip down memory lane and revisit the previous Wembley trips To mark the centenary of the foundation of the Football League in 1888 This included the Football League Centenary Tournament - also given a catchy alias of the Mercantile Credit Football Festival Initially set up as a six-a-side competition featuring 16 teams from the top four divisions Palace were defeated in the first round, losing out to Sheffield Wednesday after a - slightly inevitable - penalty shootout. You can read more about our first visit here. For many Palace fans inside the old stadium that day this was their first ever visit to the old Wembley the FA Cup final against Manchester United might not have gone our way few match-ups will ever surpass the initial tie The game remains etched in Crystal Palace history. Goals from Gary O’Reilly and two from Ian Wright saw the Eagles draw 3-3, after a pulsating 120 minutes - but in truth that description barely scratches the surface on a remarkable final. Five days later Palace were back at the home of football for a rematch with United with a fatigued Palace side perhaps finding it one game too far as Lee Martin’s second-half finish proved to be the only goal of the game Silverware would arrive on Palace's fourth visit to the Twin Towers after triumphing in the Full Members' Cup final with a 4-1 win against Everton after extra-time The tournament aimed to provide an extra competition for clubs in the top two divisions due to the ongoing European ban for English clubs who had suffered from the ban after winning the league in 1987 But they were no match for an in-form Palace team who also finished third that season Geoff Thomas gave Palace the lead and although Everton were able to force extra-time two from Ian Wright and one from John Salako completed the perfect day Palace's first ever one-off play-off final at Wembley came in 1996 After finishing third in the regular table before seeing off Charlton Athletic in the semi-finals Leicester City were all that stood between Palace and a return to the Premier League Steve Claridge hit a stunning half-volley to break Palace hearts the Eagles would be back down Wembley Way only a year later for redemption.. Having lost out in dramatic fashion in 1996 the '97 final was to end very differently for Steve Coppell's team The match itself was rather uneventful and cagey and also looked destined for extra-time until a moment of magic from David Hopkin in the 90th minute the Scottish midfielder's winning goal remains one of the most iconic moments in the club's long and proud history It was promotion in the best way possible - a last-gasp winner With Wembley undergoing a complete rebuild at the start of the 21st century Palace had to wait 16 years before our next visit The 2003/04 Division One play-off win took place at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium and by the time the Eagles were back at the national stadium the Arch had replaced the old Twin Towers as a major footballing landmark with Watford our opponents in the Championship play-off final Palace came into this game after defying the odds to beat Brighton & Hove Albion on their own turf in a dramatic semi-final which followed a barren run of one win in 10 games as the season drew to a close including great goalkeeping from Julian Speroni just when it seemed penalties would be needed semi-final hero Wilfried Zaha won a spot-kick just before the interval Substitute - and former Watford forward - Kevin Phillips took on the responsibility and duly dispatched it into the roof of the net as well as one of the most important goals in club history Palace's most recent FA Cup final four victory Yannick Bolasie got Palace off to a flying start heading home Damien Delaney’s flick-on in the sixth-minute Watford pulled one back in the second-half through captain Troy Deeney Pape Souaré whipped in a cross to find Connor Wickham - the Eagles' striker losing his marker and planting a header firmly in the back of the net to secure a 2-1 win and a place in the FA Cup final Cue bedlam right across the Palace half of Wembley One month later and Alan Pardew's side were back under the Arch for our second FA Cup final appearance once again Manchester United would provide the opposition And once again the Eagles would put up a real fight Jason Puncheon slammed home a stunning effort following Joel Ward's pass in the 77th minute That kickstarted a quickfire emotional roller-coaster Juan Mata levelled just four minutes later to put United back in the contest Jesse Lingard drove a stunning effort into the top corner of the Palace goal to hand United the trophy We'll let you decide whether this - or the 1988 Football League Centenary Cup wins the award of 'oddest Wembley trip.' Spurs played their home fixtures at Wembley during the demolition of the old White Hart Lane and construction of the adjacent Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Palace headed to Wembley with the unusual feel of being the away team A largely below-par game was settled by one moment of quality - as Son Heung-min's curler on the hour mark won the points It would prove something of a unique experience Tottenham moved into their new surroundings with just four home games remaining of the following season the first of which happened to be against Palace in their first 'post-Wembley' home fixture Our most recent visit to the Wembley Arch came three years ago as a Palace side managed by Patrick Viera once again reached the last four of the FA Cup With Everton impressively brushed aside in the quarter-final hopes were high the Eagles could produce another Wembley performance for the ages In the end Chelsea proved too strong on the day the then-reigning European Champions going through after a hard-fought 2-0 win Supporters can experience Wembley, and Palace's biggest game of this season, from the best seats in the house through one of our Premium Experiences – including our Pitch View package which comes with a number of incredible benefits Click here to find out more Related NewsMore News Crystal palace Sam Ryder just keeps on thriving he's announced his biggest ever headline show – at London's iconic Wembley Arena on November 6 2025 It's a milestone moment for the Eurovision king, who launched his second album era in March with soulful new single White Lies "I saw my first ever gig at Wembley Arena – it was Sum 41 and I was crammed right in the back wondering if I’d ever get to jump around on stage like those legends," Sam said in a press release We’re stoked to put together an insane show for you and so thankful that the road from that first gig led here.” Tickets will on on general sale at 10am on Friday May 9 via Sam's website the lead single from Sam's upcoming second album is his first release since becoming an independent artist again His released his chart-topping debut album "It’s going back to where the foundations were laid," Sam told OfficialCharts.com earlier this month "I have so much to thank the major system for – I truly mean that with my whole heart What we did when we were picked up for Eurovision I knew I had to build a world that would work for Eurovision He added: "Creating that world – the jumpsuits everything like that – was necessary because I was a massive fan of that institution and I knew in my gut how to approach it I knew how to build something that’d feel larger than life on that stage But Eurovision was only a chapter of the book and now we’re building a new world for this next record." Sam will embark on a North American headline tour SPACE MAN SAM RYDER YOU'RE CHRISTMAS TO ME SAM RYDER Join the conversation by joining the Official Charts community and dropping comment Log in Register ORDINARY ALEX WARREN PINK PONY CLUB CHAPPELL ROAN SHOW ME LOVE WIZTHEMC/BEES & HONEY AZIZAM ED SHEERAN LOVE ME NOT RAVYN LENAE Loading...Charts in your inboxEmail Sign upPrivacy policy Karl Standley watched the grass grow and the paint dry at the weekend but a cut of 22 millimetres will give us enough grass so that when we water the moisture will stick on the leaf,” he explains from side to side on Wembley’s famous turf We measure the 22mm height with a prism each time we cut and we cut the grass millimetre by millimetre “They’re very much like surgeons with their scalpels It is 11.30am on Saturday, with just under six hours until Crystal Palace meet Aston Villa in the first of the weekend’s two FA Cup semi-finals and Karl and his team have already cut the grass once It grows 2mm a day in this corner of London It is a life cycle he has witnessed thousands of times since joining Wembley’s staff in 2006 the year the new stadium’s turf was laid for the first time more delays in other parts of England’s most famous building site meant another year ticked by before it could stage sport What was meant to be a three-year job from demolishing the old ground to opening the new one became a seven-year saga the initial quote of £327million ($438m) tripled to £1billion the venue’s owner and English football’s governing body under a huge financial burden and that strain was soon written across the stadium’s face to the world The first was that the height of Wembley’s new seating bowl — its 90,000 capacity is second only in Europe to Barcelona’s vast but basic Camp Nou (although Barca are going through their own protracted upgrade) — and a much bigger roof changed the microclimate Less daylight and wind meant the pitch was damper and more prone to disease But this basic gardening problem was exacerbated by the FA’s financial headaches. The only way to pay for this new temple to human endeavour was to use it more. A lot more While the old stadium had traditionally been reserved for cup finals big fights and a handful of concerts in the summer the new Wembley was meant to be a multi-use venue for a year-round calendar of major events Racing greyhounds and motorbikes around the edge of the pitch would no longer suffice Its groundskeepers did not have to wait long for the reviews England goalkeeper Paul Robinson was an early critic after the national team’s first game back at HQ in June 2007, a friendly against Brazil. Five months, six concerts, three more England games and an inaugural NFL International Series fixture later Croatia manager Slaven Bilic was even less impressed saying “the pitch is no good and not in the condition that Wembley used to be known for” following a Euro 2008 qualifier “The stadium — and this game — deserves a better pitch,” Bilic told reporters Australia’s rugby union team blamed the pitch for injuries to two of their players during a one-off game against the Barbarians Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger called the pitch “a disaster” while Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson claimed he was so concerned about the surface he did not start his strongest side there might have been an element of sour grapes about their complaints told the BBC he thought the pitch was “very soft No matter how many times the groundstaff ripped up the pitch and grew a new one “The pitch ruined the final,” said Chelsea captain John Terry after the 2010 FA Cup final “It’s probably the worst pitch we’ve played on all year It was not good enough for a Wembley pitch.” He was on the winning team But that was rock (or should it be soggy?) bottom the FA bit the bullet and paid Dutch firm Desso for one of its hybrid GrassMaster pitches These fancy weaves of grass and millions of polypropylene fibres have transformed English football which meant the GrassMaster was only a partial solution to the FA’s financial conundrum as the stadium could only really stage concerts until early July Not only did this limit the number of events Wembley could stage in its concert season but it also meant the venue was less likely to get the type of week-long residencies the biggest music acts in the world prefer now as it just did not have enough slots to offer we got the decision that explains the second half of Standley’s official job title No, this has nothing to do with the modern buzzword for taking the ball from the other team, but everything to do with how the FA intends to meet its goal of turning Wembley into a genuine profit centre, not another expensive property it probably should have sold when it had the chance “Lay and play” was the answer but this time grown at a turf farm 200 miles north of London and then rolled into 720 pieces of pitch “We’ll use three pitches a year,” explains Standley “We grow it off-site for 14 weeks while we have concerts we’ve got Oasis and then the Community Shield One to remove the pitch — the one we have here — and then two days to lay the new one “So no more growing pitches from seed and me asking the company for 35 days to grow a pitch and them saying That’s what we can deliver to the business and it’s now up to the business to fill that space “Our job as groundspeople is to deliver safe and playable surfaces for players but we are also massively commercially minded about how we can utilise this place It does not take long in Standley’s company to work out that he is a man who loves his job A football fan who was not sure what he wanted to do but knew it did not involve sitting at a desk Standley realised he had green fingers when he successfully grew some tomato plants one summer Two years at horticultural college followed the club he had followed since childhood and still does the home of football came calling and he joined Wembley’s staff as an assistant groundsman “Everyone can look at the playing surface and say actually how healthy is the grass plant’,” he says before launching into an explanation that includes references to the pitch’s NDVI (normalised difference vegetation index and a prototype robot that uses driverless-car technology to travel over the grass shooting UV light at it “We are always looking for a playing surface that delivers energy back to the player,” he continues “We’ve got some wingers in action today and when that ball comes over we’re looking at how much rotational resistance they’re getting from the playing surface “There was one I remember from a few years ago during Covid. (Manchester City’s) Phil Foden watched the ball come over and he flicked it behind him but the playing surface helped him watch the ball “We have multi-million-pound teams arriving to play; my job is to deliver a playing surface that enables them to perform All that data we collect is key — we use it as a compass If it’s too hard four days before matchday I ask why we often see sprinklers on during warm-ups or at half-time If you kick the sand when it’s soft and dry it will go for miles and get in people’s eyes and their picnics it’s got the moisture in and binds together “We also add moisture so there is as little friction as possible when the ball rolls over the grass entertaining football and that’s how we aim to set up the pitch “But Mother Nature is the biggest boss and dictates everything we do We have a weather app and we can phone up our own weather forecaster to ask for minute-by-minute rundowns of what is coming it’s a wet game and we have to get on with it I followed up by suggesting he must water the pitch more for an NFL game as those guys surely appreciate a softer landing we try to keep the grass as dry as we can because they’re playing through the air “So you are more worried about how well the players can cut It’s more about the agronomics of the surface I’d say it’s like a dozen games of football back-to-back in terms of the damage to the pitch You’ve got guys who weigh 23 stone but can run 100 metres in 14 seconds We put down 12 litres of paint for a football match I ask him if he misses being able to show off his creativity with his mowing patterns For those new to (our) football or too young to remember there was a time when groundskeepers tried to outdo each other with stripes of flattened grass Southampton, where Standley started, were once famous for the pretty patterns their lawnmowers made, but it was Leicester City’s “Messi of mowing” John Ledwidge who truly elevated the art form until 2017 when the killjoys at the Premier League and elsewhere decided the concentric circles tartan and star shapes were making it harder for assistant referees to spot offsides but we have to remember the Premier League has rules on patterns so we don’t want to be doing too many,” he says “But you will notice that we always have the single mowing pattern behind the goal lines with the wider stripes in the middle Clearly deprived of that outlet for his ingenuity, Standley turned his mind to something else. Worried about the amount of plastic-infused turf Wembley would be sending to landfill, he started talking to Dorset-based recycling firm Circular11 about ways to separate the polypropylene from the grass and do something with it key rings and a whole bunch of other stuff they have not thought of yet The FA has already started to send these benches out to grassroots clubs so that players have somewhere to tie their laces and their parents somewhere to enjoy a cup of tea The next step is to put QR codes on these benches so that anyone can take a picture and find out which games and concerts were once played on that piece of furniture Word of his recycling experiment has already got out within the industry turned the last Anfield pitch of the Jurgen Klopp era into benches and planters at their training ground Just as the pitch itself will go full circle by returning to a grassroots venue I thought this was a good point to let Standley get on with his final preparations for what everyone at Wembley seemed to agree was one of their favourite weekends As I bid him farewell, I overheard plans to get extra corner flags ready, as they had seen what Jean-Philippe Mateta sometimes does to them after scoring But there were no karate kicks from the big Frenchman that afternoon (Top photo: Eddie Keogh — The FA via Getty Images) Based in North West England, Matt Slater is a senior football news reporter for The Athletic UK. Before that, he spent 16 years with the BBC and then three years as chief sports reporter for the UK/Ireland's main news agency, PA. Follow Matt on Twitter @mjshrimper Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time Warriors chief executive Cameron George will investigate allegations that assistant coach Richard Agar grabbed a UK-based journalist by the throat at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday who previously coached in the Super League and hails from England allegedly has a long-standing feud with the journalist and is alleged to have grabbed him by the throat near the press box The press centre and coaches boxes are on the same level at Allegiant Stadium “I haven’t had a chance to speak with Richard “There are enough cameras in this building The journalist declined to comment and does not want to be named The success of the Las Vegas season-opener has prompted the NRL to consider launching its season at London’s iconic Wembley Stadium from 2029 The NRL are locked into playing the opening round fixtures in Las Vegas until at least 2028 but the incredible scenes in Sin City has the NRL convinced it has found the right formula to launch its season each year The NRL could be heading to London’s Wembley Stadium.Credit: Getty The governing body believes hosting the season-opening double header in a major city is the correct blueprint going forward and is considering shifting the event to London in the hope of re-engaging with a market that is becoming increasingly disengaged with the sport The list of potential targets in the post-Las Vegas era also include other major United States cities like Miami and New York City The thought of a sold-out Wembley Stadium with 90,000 fans is a mouth-watering prospect for the NRL Other potential venues include English Premier League venues like Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850) and Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium (60,700) which hosted the 2022 World Cup semi-final between England and Samoa Jarome Luai celebrates Samoa’s World Cup semi final win at Emirates Stadium back in 2022.Credit: Getty One of the challenges facing the NRL and the potential of playing its first-ever premiership game in London is the time difference and its impact on the television broadcasters An 8.30pm kick-off in London is a 7.30am start in Sydney meaning the second match of the double header will start at 9.30am in Australia The other option could be to play the first match at 11am in London but that means the two matches wouldn’t be aired into Australia until 10pm and midnight New York City and Miami share the same time zone and would be much more appealing to Australian broadcaster Australia won the 1995 World Cup final at Wembley.Credit: AP An 8.30pm and 10.30pm kick off on the east coast of America would mean the matches are televised into Sydney at 12.30pm and 2.30pm The matches in Las Vegas this weekend has brought in an estimated $US80 million into the city Brian To’o being put through his paces on the morning of the game We spotted him testing his hamstring from the 21st floor of Resorts World Penrith winger Brian To’o running on the synthetic turf behind the team’s Resorts World hotel on the morning of the game.Credit: Nine as he did at Fremont Street a couple of nights ago expect he’ll play in Penrith’s next game against the Roosters in almost two weeks’ time We’re told that if the Las Vegas game was a grand final Nathan Cleary enjoying the morning of the game having breakfast at the Arts District of Las Vegas Which Sydney NRL club has made enquiries with the suspended Taylan May about his fitness and condition ahead of his court appearance next month May is due to front court on March 10 after he was arrested and charged with domestic violence offences against his partner in April last year will deny their interest until after the case is heard to avoid any public scrutiny given the sensitivity and serious nature of the matter in front of the courts Taylan May (centre) walks into a board meeting with the Panthers flanked by his legal team earlier this month.Credit: Steven Siewert The domestic violence allegations occurred during his time at the Penrith Panthers resulting in him being banned from playing in the NRL under the governing body’s no-fault stand-down policy The Panthers later served him with two breach notices; incidents referenced included swearing on social media a video post showing May as the passenger in a car driving 96km/h in a school zone and allegations he punched a woman in the face and leg The Panthers moved to sack May but later agreed to provide him with a confidential pay-out after a lengthy legal battle over perceived wrongful dismissal The check-in issues at Resorts World have been well documented One player was assigned a room that had already been taken by another person You can imagine that players’ surprise when he walked in to find a female in the shower Former Cronulla skipper Wade Graham presented new Sharks recruit Addin Fonua-Blake with his jersey at the team’s jumper ceremony on the eve of his first game for the club The costs in Las Vegas are often astronomical None more so than the $170 a head the teams had to pay for their players per meal in the team room Times that by three meals a day and the cost of feeding each player soared to over $500 per day The venues for the end-of-season Ashes series between Australia and England will be announced later this week We’re hearing that the new stadium of Premier League club Everton will host one of the games The other two Test matches will be played at Wembley Stadium in London and Headingley in Leeds We bumped into Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos in the chairman’s club As you could imagine he was pretty delighted with the re-signing of Mitchell Moses over the past few days The questions over Dylan Brown’s future remain with Newcastle reportedly trying to lure him north with a 10-year deal worth between $13-14 million won’t budge on their offer despite the mammoth deal on the table at the Knights “We’ve had a great offer on the table for Dylan out to 2031 for some time now and would obviously love him to be a part of the exciting new era for our club,” Sarantinos said which is the second-longest contract in the NRL reflects how highly regarded Dylan is by the club while balancing the need to build a premiership-contending roster.” The Herald’s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL \\u201CI haven\\u2019t had a chance to speak with Richard \\u201CThere are enough cameras in this building so I\\u2019m sure we\\u2019ll get to the bottom of it The success of the Las Vegas season-opener has prompted the NRL to consider launching its season at London\\u2019s iconic Wembley Stadium from 2029 Other potential venues include English Premier League venues like Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (62,850) and Arsenal\\u2019s Emirates Stadium (60,700) but that means the two matches wouldn\\u2019t be aired into Australia until 10pm and midnight Brian To\\u2019o being put through his paces on the morning of the game expect he\\u2019ll play in Penrith\\u2019s next game against the Roosters in almost two weeks\\u2019 time We\\u2019re told that if the Las Vegas game was a grand final resulting in him being banned from playing in the NRL under the governing body\\u2019s no-fault stand-down policy You can imagine that players\\u2019 surprise when he walked in to find a female in the shower Former Cronulla skipper Wade Graham presented new Sharks recruit Addin Fonua-Blake with his jersey at the team\\u2019s jumper ceremony on the eve of his first game for the club We\\u2019re hearing that the new stadium of Premier League club Everton will host one of the games We bumped into Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos in the chairman\\u2019s club The questions over Dylan Brown\\u2019s future remain with Newcastle reportedly trying to lure him north with a 10-year deal worth between $13-14 million won\\u2019t budge on their offer despite the mammoth deal on the table at the Knights \\u201CWe\\u2019ve had a great offer on the table for Dylan out to 2031 for some time now and would obviously love him to be a part of the exciting new era for our club,\\u201D Sarantinos said reflects how highly regarded Dylan is by the club while balancing the need to build a premiership-contending roster.\\u201D The Herald\\u2019s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL and WBO heavyweight champion Oleksander Usyk of Ukraine and IBF champion Daniel Dubois had their first face-to-face meeting at Wembley to promote their highly anticipated rematch for the undisputed heavyweight title The two warriors will clash again on July 19 at Wembley Stadium and during the first promotional event on Monday The last time the two rivals met was in Warsaw where Usyk scored a ninth-round knockout victory This was due to Daniel Dubois knocking Usyk down in the fifth round but the referee ruled it was a prohibited low blow allowing Usyk time to recover from the knockdown who showed his resentment at England’s national football stadium on Monday by pushing his opponent also demonstrating the cordiality that unites them “I am grateful to God for the opportunity to fight once again for the undisputed championship,” Usyk said for taking care of my IBF belt; now I want it back.” Dubois responded: “This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I have the opportunity to get revenge on Oleksandr Usyk but the referee prevented me from doing so so this time I won’t make a mistake in front of my fans at the national stadium in my hometown.” Privacy Policy / Cookie Policy News | Crime Get our award-winning daily news email featuring exclusive stories I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice A man who blagged his way into the VIP area of Wembley Stadium to watch the Champions League final with his young son could face jail Steven Carruthers and his four-year-old son mingled with fashion model Naomi Campbell and heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk when they watched the Champions League final from top-tier seats worth £21,800 “at the lowest” The 34-year-old, from Hull in East Yorkshire appeared at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to one count of obtaining services dishonestly told the court: “The defendant involved his young son who was four years old at the time in order to assist his illegal entrance into the stadium “He was wearing a suit for the specific purpose of looking like he was entitled to these services.” Ms Gokani added Carruthers went on to “advertise his offending” in a national newspaper She said: “He went to the Daily Mail and a football-related publication essentially boasting about gaining entry – something he said he had done previously Dubois trainer claims Usyk 'conned boxing' in low blow controversy Sheku Bayoh inquiry chairman facing conduct hearing over meetings with family “Mr Carruthers was boasting precisely that he met Naomi Campbell and the heavyweight boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk and other celebrities.” Quoting a probation officer who met Carruthers prior to the hearing Ms Gokani added: “He had no shame or remorse and was clearly proud of what he had accomplished.” The court heard Carruthers and his son enjoyed an exclusive hospitality area which regular members of the public were not able to purchase Spanish giants Real Madrid defeated Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the match played on June 1 2024 Ms Gokani said: “The most expensive hospitality package available on that day was £10,900 per person “The hospitality area which Mr Carruthers entered is on a hospitality package which basically exceeds that “The Daily Mail article and Mr Carruthers himself refer to a cost of about £20,000 for tickets so he is plainly aware of the levels we are dealing with.” Ms Gokani said the offending and its subsequent “advertisement” in the Daily Mail posed security risks for Wembley Stadium and prompted the Football Association to prosecute Carruthers Referring the 2020 Euro final mass disorder incident when more than 2,000 people stormed their way into Wembley she said: “The devastating events of that day are why they (the FA) take offences such as this seriously “There are real risks in terms of disorder apologised after he was told the offence carried a maximum sentence of three years in jail “I don’t really want to ruin my kids’ future.” Lead magistrate Laura Mee told the defendant the case is to be transferred to crown court for sentence as the serious nature of the offence exceeds the magistrates’ sentencing powers Carruthers told the panel as he left the dock: “I think it’s excessive He will be sentenced at Harrow Crown Court at a date yet to be fixed David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash in London 'shut down' by council over noise complaints David Beckham’s 50th birthday bash 'shut down' over noise complaints VE Day 2025 flypast and parade LIVE: King Charles and senior royals watch procession as crowds line the Mall King joined by senior royals to watch VE Day parade before flypast UK tourists face major travel shake-up as Dubai airport set to close Why are Newcastle still ahead of Chelsea in the Premier League table Revealed: The real reason Brooklyn Beckham snubbed dad David’s 50th birthday amid family feud Revealed: Why Brooklyn Beckham snubbed dad David’s 50th birthday For Kimberley and Jeff Swinyard, the husband and wife duo behind building design and interiors firm Studio Atelier (and the masterminds behind the stunning Stillwood Retreat!) the transformation of their once “dark” and “pokey” Wembley home had this ethos at its heart… Pardon our pun You’ll be able to get an up close and personal look through the home at this year’s Open House Perth 2024 and offering a backstage pass to Perth’s most interesting design destinations Part of a global network of Open House events the first Open House Perth was held in 2012 – and since then has welcomed over 400,000 design lovers to hundreds of architectural spaces normally hidden from the public Warm Hearted House fits in seamlessly with the leafy Wembley streetscape – a suburb filled with countless character Californian bungalows light-filled extension that can evolve alongside a family while preserving its character charm at the front This new rear wing creates a stunning, open-plan space that embodies modern family living – seamlessly connecting to the garden (with native and edible landscaping by landscape architect Annghi Tran) – while also creating opportunities to glance back towards the original home and appreciate character details like the original leadlight doors Crisp white spaces are softened by gently curving bulkheads and plenty of indoor greenery – including plants tumbling from a skylight that drenches the kitchen and a reading nook with sunlight and highlights the glossy sheen of the low-maintenance polished concrete flooring Want to see more? You can tour this home and many others as part of Open House Perth – check out the full program at the Open House Perth website Just moments away from Lake Monger, this stunning Klopper & Davis-designed home channels mid-century appeal with luxe contemporary convenience Located at 24 St Vincents Avenue, Wembley the home’s façade mimics the sleek geometry of many mid-century homes at a more contemporary scale – while cleverly adhering to the local character protection guidelines that requires a pitched roof and masonry “The intent was always to create a sense of timelessness and continued occupation within the home,” reads the architectural firm’s description of the home “We achieved this by reusing existing materials deliberately fatiguing surface treatments and exploring mid-century stylistically to reinforce the sense of the home’s permanence.” “The home is uniquely stylistically responding to key contextual generators whilst also developing its own individual architectural typology.” The home’s main entry is to the right – but before we head inside we’re going to take you around to the other side of the house understand why – just look at that inviting This north-facing side of the home is not just a great representation of the home’s mid-century influence (the pitch of that roof awning The vast walls of timber-framed glazing!) but its passive solar design the front wing of the home is devoted almost entirely to three of the home’s four bedrooms (not including the granny flat) – with the primary bedroom suite adjoining directly to the alfresco and pool with its own little staircase (Perhaps even more charming is the attached spacious ensuite and walk-in robe – that could just be us though…) is almost entirely devoted to the open-plan kitchen its spaciousness emphasising its sense of ease 360 degrees of clerestory windows means the huge space is flooded with light bouncing off those textured white brick walls and polished marble flooring The dining area is practically alfresco with the size of the sliding doors connecting to the backyard – and we can’t help but think of how great this room would be for a party jubilantly spilling between the interior and exterior spaces The kitchen is decked out in lush honey-toned timber cabinetry – a luxurious continuation of the warm timber tones found in the exterior cladding and window frames – complemented by the marble bench tops and tiled backsplash the laundry is neatly tucked alongside the raised lounge – providing heaps of additional hidden storage and linking to the rear of the garden The very rear of the block is also where you’ll find the granny flat which includes its own ensuite and kitchenette – needless to say Fallen in love? Check out the listing for 24 St Vincents Avenue, Wembley here. Coldplay tickets can still be purchased from resale sites.(Image: (Image: GETTY))Last year Coldplay announced a series of stadium tour dates confirming their plans to tour the UK throughout 2025 The band will be performing two massive shows at Hull's Craven Park Stadium - playing there for the very first time - before embarking on a ten-show residency at London's Wembley Stadium they'll be entertaining nearly one million fans throughout August and September 2025 Despite the number of tickets that were released Tickets were snapped up in record time when they hit general onsale fans have now started turning to various resale websites such as viagogo and StubHub to secure their tickets there are still plenty available on VIP and hospitality website Seat Unique We've got all the information you need on how to get your hands on Coldplay tickets below: and Vivid Seats allow fans to buy resale tickets from other fans it is important to note that ticket conditions often prohibit resale after initial purchase Those tickets may not be valid for admittance to gigs Fans intending to buy tickets for live events through resale websites should check the ticket terms and conditions Ticket terms and conditions can be checked with the original seller tickets bought second-hand could be voided and admission to the event refused Coldplay tickets are out right now.(Image: (Image: GETTY))How to buy Coldplay resale tickets nowColdplay tickets are currently available through various resale websites Tickets from these resale websites are being sold by fans who can no longer attend ticket prices may be slightly different from face value That means they could be higher or lower than expected It also means fans can grab tickets without being forced into any kind of digital queue Here's a rundown of where you might want to look: READ MORE: Lovehoney flash sale slashes prices of 'must have' summer items to under £20 READ MORE: 'Charlotte Tilbury's new double-ended lip liner makes my lips look like they have filler' Coldplay tickets were officially released on Friday, September 27, 2024. Many retailers, such as Ticketmaster and See Tickets, would have sold out very quickly, however, there are still opportunities to buy VIP tickets right now. Seat Unique offers bespoke and exciting experiences for fans who want to enjoy the finer things in life. For these tickets, fans could potentially benefit from included catering, drinks, special access and even after parties. What do you get when you mix a classic Wembley home from the ’30s with a lush greenhouse – and a touch of luxe Provence villa Designed by Highgate-based architects Chindarsi and completed in 2018 Harray Residence expands on a Deco-era family home with a timelessly chic extension to the rear while gently updating the original home for a young family A new roofline simplifies the street-facing façade its vertical ridges continued by narrow black metal columns and long-format brick paving the front verandah and garden become a welcoming other renovations include updating the bathroom and kitchen (plus scullery) to contemporary taste and functionality – but us We’re rather fixated on that spectacular bank of steel-framed glazing that leads out to a lush backyard While its a classic format for Australian indoor-outdoor living – open-plan kitchen living and dining that seamlessly leads out to an alfresco – the scale of the glass panels and French doors creates a sense of grandeur in turn emphasised by the enduring style of steel-framed glazing It’s the kind of feature that’s just as fitting here as it would be in a luxury European holiday villa While normally a greenhouse would have plants inside in this case the wall of windows show off the lush garden outside – with the long tendrils of grapevine climbing the alfresco providing a particularly stunning view whether you’re appreciating from inside the house or within the alfresco itself To check out more projects by Chindarsi Architects, head to their website here. Image credits: Penny Lane Creative Dubois, the IBF champion, and Usyk – who holds the WBA, WBC, and WBO belts – last boxed in Poland in August 2023, and on July 25 they will fight again in London. The rematch was formally announced earlier in the week, and the fighters squared up on Monday on the turf of the national soccer pitch, before tickets went on sale a couple of days later with sources today confirming to BoxingScene that they are moving rapidly. Dubois’ last fight was in Wembley Stadium, when he took out Anthony Joshua in five rounds having dropped his compatriot four times on his way to a resounding stoppage win last September. Usyk is well-known to British fight fans. His last two victories came over Tyson Fury, and the two before that came against Joshua. Even prior to those four marquee matches, he’d drawn big crowds and won over fans in bouts against Tony Bellew and Derek Chisora. Dubois’ team still dispute a punch from his first fight with Usyk that they claimed was low, but many others believe it was legal. Regardless of that contest, Dubois has gone away and defeated Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic (neither had lost before) and Joshua – while claiming the vacant IBF title – to move himself into the second fight with Usyk. This website may contain adult language. TM & © 2025 BoxingScene.All Rights Reserved. This website may contain adult language TM & © 2025 BoxingScene.All Rights Reserved Culture | Music US pop star Mariah Carey will play at Capital’s Summertime Ball US musician Benson Boone, Price Tag singer Jessie J, rapper and social media star KSI and Messy singer Lola Young are also among the first acts revealed for the event Carey, 56, known for songs including All I Want For Christmas Is You and Emotions, will perform this June when the annual music event returns to Wembley Stadium Also performing are pop supergroup Busted vs McFly US singer Dasha and Mean Girls star Renee Rapp Capital Breakfast hosts Jordan North Chris Stark and Sian Welby will announce more names from 7am on Tuesday said: “We are absolutely buzzing to be back at Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard this year “We’ve just announced the first half of the incredible line-up on air but be sure to tune in to Capital Breakfast tomorrow for even more names that will be playing.” founder and executive president of radio company Global said: “Capital’s Summertime Ball with Barclaycard is back and this year we’re bringing some huge names we’ve never had at the ball before “We’ve got a stellar line-up of global superstars and today’s biggest hit music artists – all set to light up the stage “This is truly one of our best ever line-ups and we can’t wait to see 80,000 Capital listeners enjoy every moment Last year Kylie Minogue made a surprise appearance at the event to perform to the more than 80,000 fans at the radio station’s show Dubois eyes 'revenge' as date for Wembley rematch with Usyk confirmed Irish postal service offers to send cards to the Vatican for free Sir David Attenborough to present immersive experience at Natural History Museum Enter the AXA Startup Angel competition to win £25,000 Tickets go on general sale on April 30 at 9am on Global Player Capital listeners who are logged into Global Player will get exclusive pre-sale access to tickets from 9am on April 29 Capital’s Summertime Ball will be held at Wembley Stadium on Sunday June 15 Now the pair have agreed to a sequel at the national stadium and will meet face-to-face at a press conference on Tuesday. Dubois’ camp, led by promoter Frank Warren, were unhappy about the circumstances of the 27-year-old’s previous defeat in Poland. Referee Luis Pabon ruled that a fifth-round knockdown of Usyk was a low blow, allowing him a lengthy recovery period, and his call was strongly contested in the aftermath. Read moreSince then Dubois has bounced back by defeating Jarrell Miller, claiming the vacant IBF belt with a win over Filip Hrgovic, and knocking out Anthony Joshua at Wembley Usyk has not boxed since beating Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in December “This is the fight I wanted and demanded and now I get my chance for revenge against Oleksandr Usyk,” said Dubois “I should have won the first fight and was denied by the judgment of the referee so I will make no mistake this time around in front of my people at the national stadium in my home city “I am a superior and more dangerous fighter now and Usyk will find this out for himself on July 19 I would like to thank my promoter Frank for making this happen for me and I intend to repay him by becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.” The prospect of getting the two men back in the ring together rose last month amid reports that a request has been lodged with the WBO to sanction the Dubois-Usyk clash ahead of a scheduled mandatory defence against Joseph Parker. Dubois had been looking at a possible all-British affair against Derek Chisora had his hopes of a second crack at the Ukrainian fallen through. Free weekly newsletterThe best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend’s action A head-to-head press conference has been scheduled for Tuesday, with tickets for the eagerly awaited contest on sale the following day. BBC Sport football news reporterPublished26 April 2025571 CommentsManager Pep Guardiola says Manchester City supporters face a "difficult" situation with the team poised to play in a seventh consecutive FA Cup semi-final in London Reports on Friday suggested City were struggling to sell out their allocation, external for the game at Wembley against Nottingham Forest on Sunday (16:30 BST) Ticket prices range from £30 to £150 while travel to the capital as well as food will increase the outlay further BBC Sport asked the Football Association (FA) whether it would review semi-finals being held solely at Wembley and sources said the venue has "the largest capacity in the country" and therefore "permits the biggest numbers of fans possible from each club to support their team in person" City manager Guardiola said in his pre-match news conference: "One day maybe the FA Cup will be played here in the north "They will come here to Old Trafford or Etihad or Anfield or Goodison Park "All around the world people suffer economically and I understand completely it's not easy for them We will play for the people who come to Wembley and for the people who would like to come but cannot "I am pretty sure they would love to come but they can't and I understand perfectly." This will be City's 28th match at the national stadium since its refurbishment was completed in 2007 They are also vying for a third consecutive final having beaten and lost to rivals Manchester United in the previous two years "The fans cannot come because the situation is difficult for travel the people are at work on Monday and maybe will be back late the prices of the tickets," added Guardiola "I understand completely that they don't come I'm pretty sure they would love to go "We have to do it with or without them - our job is to do our best but I'm not complaining at all - completely the opposite I am alongside the people who would like to come but cannot." Earlier this week, City fans staged a second protest outside Etihad Stadium before the Premier League game against Aston Villa on Tuesday and are planning further demonstrations over what they say is the club's refusal to increase the number of season ticket holders The group claims fans then have to pay up to £88 for an adult matchday ticket or up to £58 for a child while tickets are then sold through third-party sites for inflated prices View comments | 571Top storiesLive Broadway Off-Broadway Off-Off Broadway Cabaret Dance Opera Classical Music Minneapolis / St. Paul Connecticut Atlanta Chicago Los Angeles Central New York WEST END UK Regional Canada Australia / New Zealand Europe Asia Latin America Africa / Middle East TV/Movies Music Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Live Aid with a very special performance at the Shaftesbury Theatre it was announced that Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of Live Aid with a very special performance at the Shaftesbury Theatre followed by an exclusive after party with surprise special guest performances at Koko There are a limited number of tickets available to purchase for this performance and after party with a generous additional contribution to the Band Aid Charitable Trust The event was hosted by radio DJ Jo Whiley and reunited the founders of Live Aid and Trustees of the Band Aid Charitable Trust, Sir Bob Geldof KBE, Midge Ure OBE, Harvey Goldsmith CBE and John Kennedy OBE as they returned to the iconic stadium almost 40 years on from the legendary concerts Also announced today was Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical (Original Cast Recording) which has been created with the backing of Sir Bob Geldof and the Band Aid Charitable Trust this album is a love letter to the ‘80s – a time of bold anthems and an unshakable belief in music's power to change the world This is not only a reworking of these legendary tracks it's a celebration of their lasting impact recorded in the same spaces as many of the original iconic songs Produced by Olivier nominated arranger Matthew Brind and Jon Bath, and engineered by Grammy-nominated Jeremy Murphy, the album boasts a modern, expansive sound while staying true to the energy and emotion of the originals, even featuring new lyrics penned by Sir Bob Geldof himself Jamie Wilson Producer of Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical commented: “As we approach the 40th anniversary of Live Aid it's an incredible honour to bring Just For One Day to the stage—a celebration of the people and the power of music to change the world This musical is not only a tribute to one of the most extraordinary days in music history but a reminder of what we can achieve when we come together for a common cause.” Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical is the acclaimed new musical which had a record-breaking world premiere at London's The Old Vic theatre in January 2024 – where it became the theatre's fastest selling musical ever. It made its North American premiere at CAA Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto from 26 January to 16 March 2025 The production will begin performances at Shaftesbury Theatre Marking 40 years since the iconic Live Aid concerts in London and Philadelphia 10% from the sale of all tickets to Just For One Day - The Live Aid Musical will be donated directly to The Band Aid Charitable Trust more than £600,000 has been raised by the musical discover the behind-the-scenes story of Live Aid in a whole new way at JUST FOR ONE DAY - The Live Aid Musical Live Aid was an unprecedented global music event that brought 1.5 billion people together and they all have a story to tell about ‘the day rock ‘n' roll changed the world' Whether you saw it live, watched it from home or weren't even born yet, you won't want to miss this “rip-roaring” (The Daily Telegraph) and “remarkable” (Daily Mail) new musical written by John O'Farrell (Mrs. Doubtfire, Something Rotten!) and directed by Luke Sheppard (& Juliet The historic Saville Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue is set to return to live performance for the first time in over half a century, following planning approval from Camden Council. Super show that lightens a very dark subject (corecive control), but does not diminish it Check out photos from the Manchester Opera House gala night featruing a performance from the company of A KNIGHT'S TALE THE MUSICAL. Check out photos from the evening. Equity members have overwhelmingly re-elected Paul W Fleming to serve a second term as General Secretary of the performing arts and entertainment trade union. and exclusive discounts on tickets to your favorite shows © 2025 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved. Privacy Policy even if Tottenham and Manchester United both progress with Bilbao locked in as the destination regardless of the all-English final possibility An all-English Europa League final tie could be on the cards this season, as two of the worst sides in the Premier League have a chance of saving their seasons with a cup win Tottenham, who are sat in 16th place in the league have a two-goal advantage to take to Norway while Manchester United are in a commanding position having secured a 3-0 win at San Mames in the first leg of their own semi-final tie Should both Premier League sides hold on to their advantage then an all-English tie could be on the cards a feat that has occurred three times in recent years The Independent has now revealed that while there is a possibility of Tottenham and Manchester United contesting the 2024/25 Europa League final UEFA has made its stance clear on how the final is expected to take place there is no chance that a Manchester United-Tottenham final could be moved to an English venue as Bilbao’s San Mames Stadium was awarded the rights to host the Europa League final way back in 2021 While the San Mames has an official capacity of 53,289, demands for tickets from Manchester United and Spurs supporters are expected to far exceed what both teams would be allocated if they reach the final UEFA have confirmed that the final will go on in Spain and that the two teams who reach the final will receive up to 15,000 tickets each with a further 11,000 tickets up for general sale and the remainder offered to hospitality and sponsors Tottenham are so close to booking a place in the final but the Lilywhites have to guard against complacency as we have seen numerous comebacks in football in recent years Ange Postecoglou’s side has had to manage a difficult spell in the league and there is no doubt that they would be eager to get the job done when they go to Norway That is exactly what Dominic Solanke promised Spurs fans after their first-leg win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Solanke stated that Spurs would ensure they see the tie through. When asked whether Glimt’s late goal changes the second leg we still know that we need to go there and do the job there no matter the score if it was 3-0 or 3-1 we still need to go there and put in a big performance.” one thing is certain – the Tottenham faithful would make the trip to Spain and support this team every single Spurs fan out there wants the decade long trophy drought to end.