Sunday Mercury - 2021-11-28

TRUSTED NEWS SINCE 1918 SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 £1.90 VILLA oN TARGETT! Palace...0 Villa......2 SToRm ARwEN BATTERS REGIoN Blues.........1 Blackpool..0 ➤ TRAVEL CHAOS AFTER SNOW AND GALES: PAGES 8-9 PLUS: WOLVES AND COV IN ACTION ➤ SEE SPORT PLEASE DON’T LET MY SON OUT OF JAIL ELDERLY DAD’S DISGUST AS EVIL THUG wHo TERRoRISED DYING mUm IS To BE RELEASED ExCLUSIVE BY ANNABAL BAGDI ➤ PAGE 7 ■ ‘Cursed’: Vincent Harris

2 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 iNSiDE NEWS * Save 40% for 13 weeks and 20% thereafter ■ Jailed: Teeko Le and Darnall Donovan-Harris, below. get your S TO ORdER YOuR SubScRipTiOn HiS gREAT diScOunT be done If you want to arrange home delivery from a local newsagent, the 40% discount is also available using the same offer code as above and you can give the retail subscription vouchers we send you ■ Morgan fired the first shot from his bike ustomer to the newsagent as payment. delivered to If you have any other questions, please email newspapersalesteam@reachplc.com your door for SHOOTOUT ice is £3.45 per week (40% discount) for the first 13 weeks and then £4.60 per week (20% discount) moving forward. NEWS DELIVERED *The price is is period you will be given ½-PRICE a 20% discount unless you decide to cancel. Offer ends: 30/11/2021 *Offer details correct at the time of printing. ➤ WEEKEND: PAGE 14 WEEKEND ON A SUMMER DAY IN BRUM... LETTERS & COMMENT .... 2-3 COLLECTABLES................... 4 MIKE LOCKLEY ................... 5 WILDLIFE ......................... 6-7 NOSTALGIA ...................... 8-9 MOTORS............................ 15 TRAVEL ............................. 17 TV .................................18-19 PUZZLES & STARS ............ 20 GOT A STORY? NEWSDESK 0121 234 5553 mike.lockley@reachplc.com PICTURES: 0121 234 5251 SPORT: 0121 234 5748 ADVERTS: 0121 234 5785 SUBSCRIPTIONS & HOME DELIVERY: 0333 2028000 Sunday Mercury, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ Corrections & clarifications If we have published anything that is factually inaccurate, please contact editor Graeme Brown on 0121 234 5316, at graeme.brown@reachplc.com or at Birmingham Mail, 60 Church Street, Birmingham B3 2DJ and, once verified, we will correct it as soon as possible. The Sunday Mercury is published by Reach Midlands Media Limited, a subsidiary company of Reach PLC, which is a member of IPSO, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. We adhere to the Editors’ Code Of Practice as enforced by IPSO, who are contactable for advice at IPSO Gate House,1 Farringdon Street, London EC4M 7LG. Website www.ipso.co.uk Telephone: 0300 123 2220 email advice@ipso.co.uk If you have a complaint concerning a potential breach of the Code of Practice, we will deal with your complaint directly or IPSO can refer your complaint to us. Please go to www.reachplc.com/howtocomplain where you can view our Complaints Policy and Procedure. A ‘How To Complain pack is available from the Legal and Compliance Department, Reach PLC, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5AP. OpRAh FlASh Staff Reporter This was the moment a fatal shootout erupted on a Birmingham street in broad daylight. Naasir Francis was killed after being repeatedly shot at close range following a dispute between two rival groups in Birmingham. CCTV footage showed a gunman ride up to a white Lexus on a bicycle in a Lozells street at 12.30pm on August 26 last year. Three more men can be seen running onto the scene including the 22-year-old victim who was wearing a black and red jacket. At least 13 gunshots were fired at the vehicle. One of the gunmen opened the door and delivered repeatedly punches to Naasir. he was then shot in the abdomen and died in hospital. Two people have been handed life sentences for the killing. Teeko Le and Darnell Donovanharris were standing outside the ■ Victim Naasir Francis runs shops in Lozells Road when Lawrence Morgan and Naasir pulled up in their white Lexus. As Morgan and Naasir got out and walked down Lozells Road, they spotted the pair and fled, jumping into a passing car of an associate. They then drove to an address where it is believed they collected a gun and within minutes returned to Lozells Road. Morgan was on a pedal bike and Naasir followed on foot. Morgan fired the first shot at the group and Teeko Le subsequently fired back. Morgan jumped back on his bike and Naasir got into the Lexus. As Teeko Le and Donovan-harris pursued Morgan, Donovan-harris spotted Naasir sitting in the driver’s side of the car and started to punch him. Donovan-harris then made way for Teeko Le who fired several shots into the car. Naasir was shot several times – an execution in broad daylight. Morgan, who was still nearby, started to shoot towards Teeko Le and Donavon-harris before jumping into the car as the other two ran off. Rather than taking Naasir to hospital, Morgan drove off before callously leaving his dying friend in a street nearby where members of the public tried to help him. An analysis of phone records and eyewitness accounts as well as CCTV placed each one at the scene and, over the next few days, all three were arrested. Outlining their defence in court, Morgan, 25 and Donovan-harris, 23, confirmed it was them in the CCTV, but Teeko Le continued to deny he was there. On Friday at Birmingham Crown Court, Teeko Le, aged 18, was sentenced to life with a minimum of 20 years in prison after being found guilty in June of the murder of Nassir, attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon. Darnell Donovan-harris was found guilty of manslaughter in June and sentenced to 18 years in prison. Lawrence Morgan pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm at the beginning of the trial and in June was sentenced to five years for possession of a firearm. Detective Chief inspector Jim Munro from the homicide Team, said: “sadly this is the tragic reality of what carrying a gun can lead to. Teeko Le and Morgan chose to carry a gun and open fire in broad daylight knowing any one of them could be instantly killed. And sadly that’s what happened to Naasir. “Naasir’s death is such a waste of life, not only Naasir’s life but also the lives of two young men and a teenager who will spend a long time in prison. “My thoughts remain with Naasir’s family at this difficult time.” Driver jailed for smashing into police on motorway A BMW driver has been jailed after crashing into police vehicles on the M6 motorway. Officers spotted Jonathan sabayinda, of Warwick Road, Acocks Green, “travelling erratically”. The 25-year-old was followed on the A34, between Cannock and stafford, as he entered the M6 toll road before attempting to drive against oncoming traffic. he collided with police vehicles and a number of officers sustained minor injuries as a result of the collision. he was arrested at the scene, while cash and two phones were seized. A subsequent search of sabayinda’s property revealed a quantity of cannabis and scales, staffordshire Police said. sabayinda admitted to dangerous driving following a crash and possession of cannabis. he was handed an eight-month prison term and a three-year driving ban at stafford Crown Court on Thursday, November 25. speaking after the case, Detective sergeant Jon Bradbury, said: “sabayinda put the lives of the public at risk ■ Killed: Naasir Francis. when he took to the road on 14 september. i welcome the court’s decision to ban sabayinda for three years as our roads have no place for such reckless and dangerous behaviour. “We will continue to pro-actively seek out and disrupt all drugs activity on the streets of staffordshire in our attempts to make the communities we serve a better place to live.”

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 3 news Stunned dad hit with £100 bill for parking inches outside space... into bay ‘blocked’ by pillar A FINE LINE... andy richardson News Reporter a DRiVeR was hit with a £100 fine after parking just three inches over a bay – which he claims was blocked by a huge pillar. Damian maj said he was stunned after receiving the penalty after leaving his mazda at allison street car park in Bir- mingham city centre, which is owned by Hockley based Pre- mier Parking logistics. The maintenance engineer said he paid £2.20 for a ticket after visiting Birmingham for a day out with wife agata and 18 month-old son Victor on august 1. He admitted he parked slightly over a bay which he didn’t think could be used by another vehicle because of a huge pillar at the front of it – yet Premier Parking logistics insists the bay is used by drivers. mr maj, from Crick, near Rugby, said: “i returned to my car and just ■ Damian Maj, his wife Agata and son Victor. Right his Mazda parked at Allison Street car park couldn’t believe it, so i took some pictures. “The space next to my mazda was blocked by a post that is supporting the roof. “Clearly, no one can park on this space safely by manoeuvring around that post. “as i am a new father i was looking for spaces around the car park where i could fully open the car’s door to take safely my little one out of the car. so i did move my car a little to the space with no access and covered a yellow line. “When we came back, i received a ticket for ‘Not Parked Wholly Within B a y ’. “i could absolutely agree with a ticket if i blocked another space or some access but in this case, clearly, another car can’t park there.” mr maj issued an appeal to the company to overturn the ticket but lost. But a spokesman for Premier Parking logistics said the bay was used by motorists and added mr maj had “admitted that they purposely parked over the bay for their own convenience, so has admitted liability. “The terms and conditions which form the contract which the driver agreed to adhere to were broken by the driver. “The driver parked next to the sign with the terms and conditions. There is also a 24 hour phone number on the signs. “We have checked the back office and on the day there were only seven cars in the car park during the whole day. “There are 30 spaces in the car park all of which are above regulation size as recommended by local authorities. “We have today taken time stamped photos of the bay you claim to be obstructed with two cars either side and the bay empty. “We have then taken time stamp photo of a vehicle parked in the bay and then comfortably leaving the bay.” The company invited our reporter to the car park to see a vehicle being parked in the bay, but we declined. Families flee blaze above burger restaurant Jasbir authi News Reporter Families were forced to flee their homes after a fire and ‘explosion’ above a burger restaurant. Up to 13 people will need to be rehoused after a blaze broke out in stratford Road, in Hall Green, after 4.30pm on Friday. Flames leapt from a roof above burger bar Ozzy’s, while a “flash and an explosion” were also witnessed. Firefighters from six appliances were called in to tackle the blaze, with fire chiefs stating the cause of the inferno was believed to be accidental. incident commander mark smith, from West midlands Fire service based at Highgate station, said: “We had reports of people inside. We were told two, but they self-presented. “Two other premises will be closed. Two flats have been affected. There’s smoke damage. Two families will be rehoused. We have 13 people who will be rehoused.” a business owner told how the fire had caused chaos. Tahir Hussain, 49, the owner of Teemo’s, which is next door to Ozzy’s burgers, said: “it was 4.30pm and we open at 5pm, we were setting up. “They came running next door, saying ‘get out, get out’. “i told half a dozen of my staff to evacuate and ran upstairs to tell a family with three children to get out. “They got out from the back safely, then i turned off all my machines and got out. it was chaos, i didn’t know what was happening. “The fire came and i brought them in and they made sure no one was inside the flats or here and they carried on putting out the fire. “The blaze was smelling of plastic burning, heavy smoke. We have been told to close. “We had bookings but we are staying closed.” mr Hussain gave fire crews £250 worth of food, which otherwise would have gone to waste. He added: “i gave all the food i made to the fire crews. i gave them peri peri chicken, sauces, because they’ve done a great job.” ■ Aftermath of the fire at Ozzy’s in Hall Green

4 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news 15 YEARS OF HELL AS WANTED MAN FINALLY CLEARED OF £49M FRAUD Family’s anger after one of biggest cases ever saw him flee to Pakistan Jane Haynes Sunday Mercury Writer The family of Birmingham fugitive Nisar Afzal has spoken for the first time about his ordeal after the Serious Fraud Office called time on their 15-year-long investigation. Nisar, 63, who has always proclaimed his innocence, fled to Pakistan amid allegations he was part of a criminal enterprise to fraudulently obtain millions of pounds in mortgage loans. he had his bank accounts frozen and personal assets seized in his absence. his brother Saghir Afzal, who remained in Birmingham, was later jailed for 13 years after admitting his part in the scam. his sentence was increased by ten years in 2013 after he failed to divulge the whereabouts of millions of pounds connected to the case, as ordered by the courts. Now the Serious Fraud Office have confirmed they have ended their pursuit of Nisar Afzal, closing down arrest and restraint orders and so leaving him free to return to the city, and his name in the clear. It marks the end of a ‘nightmare’ time, during which Nisar, from edgbaston, has been unable to see his loved ones in the UK, said nephew Asim Afzal. he missed out on spending time with his dying daughter, nor could he be at her funeral, he said. The unexpected decision by investigators to finally end the pursuit comes 15 years after Mr Afzal first fled to Pakistan. he did so, he said, because he did not believe he would get a fair hearing and that he and his family were ‘victims of a high profile conspiracy’. he has been pursued ever since by the Serious Fraud Office, aided by the National Crime Agency and Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau. Investigators had claimed in court that he was involved in the fraud and was believed to have control of £26 million linked to it. Gold jewellery he owned, said to be worth £500,000, and two properties worth £1.5 million in Birmingham were seized as part of the investigation. In 2019 the SFO proclaimed its success at seizing the assets, saying in a press release that doing so sent out “a clear message to anyone involved in fraud, bribery or corruption – that we will work tirelessly to get back the proceeds of your crimes.” The decision to now cancel the arrest warrant and restraint order means that Nisar Afzal is no longer wanted in connection with the allegations. Asim, son of Saghir Afzal and nephew to Nisar, speaking with his uncle’s consent, said: “The Serious Fraud Office has taken the right decision in dropping the case altogether – but this case should have been closed a long time ago. There were no grounds to spend tens of millions of pounds on the witch hunt of our family, from the public purse.” he said there were ‘loopholes’ and ‘issues’ with the case against the Afzal family ‘from day one’. Ultimately the case against Nisar Afzal fell down, he says, “because he was not involved in the acts of criminality that the SFO alleged.” Asim also made the extraordinary claim that Saghir Afzal only pleaded guilty to the charges against him because his brother Nisar had There were no grounds to spend tens of millions of pounds on the witch hunt of our family, from the public purse. Nephew Asim Afzal been kidnapped in Pakistan at the time of the trial and he had ‘no choice’ but to make an admission. “Saghir protested at the time that he was pleading under duress as his brother was being held by kidnappers in Pakistan,” he said. But despite that, the case proceeded, and resulted in Saghir Afzal’s imprisonment. he remains in jail after his term inside was extended by ten years for failing to hand over millions of pounds of assets, as ordered by the court. his family are also now pursuing legal steps to try to get his conviction reconsidered. During his 15 years separated from his family, Nisar has said he was too afraid to return, convinced his fate was sealed and he would not get a fair trial. During his exile, as well as being a victim of a kidnapping, he saw from afar how his reputation was trashed and honestly gained assets, including sentimental jewellery, seized, said Asim. Brother jailed for duping people to hand over millions SAGhIr Ahmed Afzal was jailed after Ian McGarry providing admitting his part in carrying out a Saghir and, allegedly, £49 million fraud. his brother Nisar was named in Nisar Afzal with false valuations based on court proceedings as a co-fraudster in fictitious leases, his absence, despite his protestations which were used to of innocence – but has never been support fraudulent arrested or charged for the offence. mortgage applications Judge Beddoe, sentencing Saghir Afzal in 2011, said he had orchestrated “with his brother” a “massive and on six proper- ties in Aston, Saltley and Oldbury. carefully orchestrated confidence A cowshed and trick” over a period of two years, defrauding the Cheshire Building Society, Bank of Ireland, Societe Generale and the Nationwide Building Society out of almost £50 million. The hearing, at Southwark Crown an abandoned airbase were among the properties involved. These false valuations were then used by Saghir Afzal and, it Court, heard the fraud revolved was claimed, by his around crooked chartered surveyor brother, to deceive lenders to hand over almost £50 million on properties which were worth only £5.6 million. Saghir Afzal was found to have personally benefited from the fraud. It was also claimed he had sent more than £26 million back to Pakistan. The case was seen as one of the biggest and most complex ever investigated by the SFO, ■ Brother Saghir Afzal a n d involved international cooperation with Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The fraud allegedly took place between 2004 and 2006 and offences included two counts of conspiracy to obtain money transfers by deception and four counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception. Saghir Afzal was jailed for 13 years and told to repay £29.3 million. McGarry was given a seven-year sentence and ordered to return £1.5 million. Six solicitors who allegedly conducted the property transactions on their behalf were also tried but three were acquitted and the jury was unable to reach a verdict in respect of the other three. The Afzal family say Nisar was held in jail for several months, in inhumane conditions, and was at one point “kidnapped and threatened he would be killed in Pakistan, just as Saghir was forced to plead guilty.” he added: “Nisar Afzal is relieved that the case has been dropped but 15 long years have been wasted and lost and his whole life was turned upside down. “he’s in talks with his lawyers to consider next legal options.” When asked if Nisar Afzal was intending to return to Birmingham, he added: “Mr Nisar Afzal will be travelling to the UK when his health situation permits, as he’s currently receiving treatment. he will be travelling to the UK soon.”

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 5 news ■ Some of the seized jewellery Family call for return of £1.7m in gold and assets Assets seized during the sFO operations that belonged to Nisar Afzal – including £1.2 million worth of property, and a £500,000 haul of gold jewellery – should now be returned, said nephew Asim Afzal. For now, the sFO says it does not intend to return the seized assets. Lawyers for Nisar Afzal are “involved in discussions with the sFO, demanding the release of several items seized without his permission and consent,” said Asim. “these items have huge sentimental value to Nisar. None of it is about money. every legal option will be explored to get the assets back, as these assets have been made through rightful means.” Asim said lawyers have offered to give receipts for the seized items to the sFO, as all were obtained legitimately. ■ Fugitive Nisar Afzal Nisar missed funeral but ‘did not flee on his own free will’ Of Nisar’s experience in exile for 15 years, the family said: “It has been a painful experience for over 15 years. Britain is his home and he has always loved the city of Birmingham, where he was involved in several charitable initiatives. “He didn’t leave the city on his own free will. He was forced to leave the city for Pakistan when he realised that it was not possible to get fairness,” he said, claiming there was ‘a mindset’ prevalent among investigators that assumed guilt. “While in Pakistan he missed many family bereavements – his cousins, brothe-inlaws and other family members passed away when he couldn’t be present. “But more importantly his daughter passed away – and he His daughter passed away – and he couldn’t be by her side in hospital, nor there for her funeral or burial. Family couldn’t be by her side in hospital, nor there for her funeral or burial.” Of the encounters with the Serious fraud Office, the family claim Nisar “constantly asked and offered to the SfO that he would return to the UK once the SfO confirmed it has completed its investigations in both the UK and Pakistan. “The SfO refused to do so,” he said. “This has been a harrowing experience, when you are put up against a public body with the full might of the state and access to the public purse with far reaching powers. “In this case, everything was done to ruin the lives of Afzals by the SfO,” claimed Asim. “The Afzals were victimised at all levels, including in Pakistan.” Genuine Ex-Army clothing and footwear Also stockist of children’s camouflage clothing + safety footwear. Ex army boots + RAF shoes. Ex-army webbing, clothing + work wear, overalls + waterproofs, camping equipment + leisure wear Tents, Sleeping Bags & Gas Cookers now in stock Specialist suppliers for all Duke of Edinburgh & Cadet equipment YOU CAN NOW SHOP ONLINE Telephone: 0121 472 1402 325-327 Harborne Lane, Birmingham, B17 0NT www.twrydersinbirmingham.co.uk

6 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news KICKED OFF TIKTOK 6 TIMES BECAUSE MY BOOBS ARE TOO BIG Busty Shirley, 40, claims ban is discrimination KAte Pounds News Reporter A PLUS-SIzE woman turfed off TikTok six times for posting revealing videos claims she’s being discriminated against – for having JJ boobs. Shirley Flynn, 40, said she created her ‘BustyMalone’ account to post bodypositive videos for plus-sized women. It contained photos and videos of the size 20 woman in revealing low cut tops, showing her ample cleavage. But it was permanently banned within weeks for allegedly “violating community guidelines” – and she’s been banned five more times since September 2020. The busty customer services worker claims she’s being discriminated against over her ample assets – because smaller breasted women post similar content without bans. Shirley, from Birmingham, said: “It’s discrimination. They’re banning me because I’ve got really big boobs. “My videos are not nude or pornographic. I’m not topless and I don’t do anything sexual or touch myself or anything like that. “If I was a size eight, or a B or C cup they’d never have complained about me. “There are loads of smaller women who show as much as I do. It’s not fair that they’ve treated me like this. “I feel under attack and victimised, and really angry and offended. “I wouldn’t post sexual or nude content because youngsters use TikTok.” She added: “Sure there’s a lot showing, but it’s important to embrace your body without shame, and I don’t feel Warning to selfish school-run parents over parking SELFISH parents putting children at risk with dangerous school-run parking face being hit in the pocket, cops have warned. Police officers in Perry Barr, Birmingham, issued stern warnings to brazen drivers who dump cars on pavements and double yellow lines around school premises. The Perry Barr unit have embarked on a campaign by posting pictures of ashamed of any of my content: it’s fun and legal. “Other women wear thongs and have their buttcheeks hanging out, but they don’t take those videos down.” Shirley said her boobs are natural, and she has to wear two bras to get adequate support. She started posting online in July 2020 and said she wanted to give herself and other curvy women more confidence. But her first video sparked a message from the platform admins claiming it showed nudity and was too sexual, she said. Within six weeks her account was deactivated – and the same happened five times, most recently earlier this month. She said each time she gets 24, then 48 hour bans, which are overturned on appeal, before she is permanently banned. She said this happens after around three months, or when she My videos are not nude or pornographic. I’m not topless and I don’t do anything sexual or touch myself or anything like that. hits 8,000 followers. Shirley said she has sent over 50 messages to the platform asking them to justify deactivating her accounts, but claims they never respond. “Basically this is boobism,” she said. “I feel bullied and harassed. I was born this way and it’s only natural. All this affects my sense of selfworth.” TikTok has not responded to a request for comment. Shirley Flynn inconsiderate drivers around North Birmingham on social media. And they warn tickets will be issued to drivers who park illegally. One tweet from a West Midlands Police school patrol, posted on Thursday, said: “Officers are often out on school patrols looking for inconsiderate & unsafe drivers. “The safety of children is paramount – please don’t become one of the people who will be receiving a ticket, as these three will be!” The shoddy parking epidemic even stretched to Great Barr where a bold driver parked at a bus stop near Fortis academy on November 18. Fortis Academy is a secondary school and sixth form not far from the busy A4041 roundabout. Queslett Road nearby recently witnessed a horrific crash where a teenage boy was hospitalised ■ Shirley Flynn says she feels victimised after her TikTok account was suspended for the sixth time with serious injuries. Arena Academy on Beeches Road saw a large white van parked inconsiderately on the pavement on November 16. Bad parking seems to plague Birmingham with numerous cases including Dudley, where ‘selfish’ hospital and staff visitors were blasted by residents for inconsiderate parking on roads neighbouring Russells Hall hospital. Hunt for man on crutches after attacks Police are appealing for information after a man and a 17-year-old girl were assaulted by a thug on crutches in Tamworth. The girl suffered significant facial bruising at about 5am on Sunday, october 31, in George Street. Staffordshire Police have issued a ccTV appeal of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident. They say: “The victims reported that a man with crutches had approached them, hit the 24-year-old male victim with a crutch and shouted a homophobic slur. “The girl then reported being assaulted by the same offender who hit her with a crutch, causing significant facial bruising. “officers have obtained a ccTV still image of a man they would like to speak to in connection with the incident.” Driver wanted after car flips in bad crash Police have launched an investigation after a car left the scene of a crash in Wolverhampton leaving a man seriously injured. emergency services were called to Dovedale Road in the Woodcross area of the city after a white Honda civic smashed into a lamppost and telegraph pole and landed on its roof. A man in his 30s was rescued from the wreckage by an off-duty firefighter and treated for serious head and arm injuries. He remains in hospital in a stable condition. it is believed he had been involved in a two-car collision at the laburnum Road junction just after 6pm on Thursday. Police said a black Jaguar left the scene. A spokesman for the force said: “The white Honda civic landed on its roof and the driver, a man in his 30s, suffered serious injuries to his head and arm. “We understand a second car was also involved in the crash at the junction with laburnum Road. “The car, believed to be a black Jaguar, had left the scene before officers arrived. “No one else was reported injured.”

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 7 news DAD BEGS: DON’T LET ‘CURSE’ SON OUT OF JAIL Jailed thug terrorised parents for 20 years eXClUsiVe AnnAbAl bAgdi News Reporter THE father of a heartless bully locked up after terrorising his parents for 20 years has revealed he is ‘disgusted’ his son will be freed from prison early. John Harris’ cruel son Vincent was jailed last month after becoming a ‘curse’ on his elderly parents’ lives and even wishing them dead as they battled with his violent outbursts. But John says he is dumbstruck that the 44-year-old could now leave prison in February with an electronic tag – meaning he would have served just four months of his two-year sentence. His ‘brokenhearted’ father now fears controlling alcoholic Vincent will turn up outside his Black Country home, despite a restraining order banning him from contact. The 81-year-old said: “I have been told that if he agrees to be tagged, he would be coming out in February. To me, that’s an insult. I’m disgusted with the legal system. “I didn’t call the police to get him put in jail, I just did it so he never stepped foot in this house again or anywhere near me. I don’t want to see him again.” He added: “All we did was want to look after him but those days are gone. It’s broken my heart. It’s what every man wants when he gets married – a son – look what I ended up with. Our life was a living hell. “I just want to live the rest of my life in peace, how ever long I have got left.” Vincent ‘humiliated’ his parents in PM tightens restrictions as mutant Covid strain found in Midlands A MIDLANDER was one of two people diagnosed with the feared Omicron Covid variant, it was revealed last night. The person, from Nottingham, was said to be isolating. The other case was detected in Chelmsford, Essex. Last night Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a raft of new restrictions including the return of face masks in some public places. ■ Vincent Harris their home and continued with his cold-hearted bullying while his mother Patricia lay on her death bed – ‘ruining’ the couple’s last moments together. He destroyed food, trashed household items, deliberately broke keys in doors, locked his dad out of the house and threw away the elderly man’s medication. The former plumber made daily demands for money and hunted He said the measures were “temporary and precautionary”. Both of the new cases, each with a link to southern Africa, are believed to be connected. Face coverings will now be mandatory in shops and on public transport, the Prime Minister said, adding: “We don’t yet exactly know how effective our vaccines will be against Omicron. “But we have good reasons for It’s what every man wants when he gets married – a son – look what I ended up with. Our life was a living hell. John Harris VINCENT Harris admitted assault by beating and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour in an intimate or family relationship between December 29, 2015 and July 8, 2021. He was jailed for two years and handed a restraining order banning him from visiting his father’s home when he appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court on October 20. The court heard Vincent’s campaign of cruelty also included wrecking his newly-painted bedroom walls by smearing blood and chucking lemonade on them after his father spent three days decorating. He was repeatedly verbally abusive and physically violent towards his parents, urinated on the floor, would slam glass doors so they would break, and pinched cash including £70 his father took a fortnight to save. through his parents’ belongings to pinch cash until they were ‘bled dry’ and could barely afford to eat. Widower John recalled on one occasion hearing an ‘almighty thump’ and quickly discovered his wife – who struggled to walk and breathe due to her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis – hurt at the bottom of the stairs on July 7. Vincent arrived home as paramedics were tending to his mother but he just stepped over her frail body and continued up to his room. John said: “He did not go up to his mother, who was skin and bones, hardly breathing. He stepped over her like stepping over a piece of dog poo in the street. He never said a word to her. She was on her deathbed, practically.” Patricia was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham following believing they will give some level of protection.” He urged the country: “It is more vital than ever that people get their jabs.” The UK may need to face up to the possibility of further action if the Omicron variant is very transmissible, the UK’s chief scientific adviser added. Sir Patrick Vallance told a Downing Street press conference: “I think we’ll get more information on transmissibility, we’ll get more information on the ability of the vaccines to protect against the virus, but that’s going to take a little bit of time. “At the moment, the models are more ‘if it spreads very fast, of course it’s going to spread very fast and go into a lot of places, and if it spreads less fast it’s going to do so less’. “But if it’s very transmissible and does cause big escape, then clearly ■ John and, left, with wife Patricia Harris ‘You became a curse upon them and upon their lives’ He also stole £1,500 his father had hidden from him after an industrial incident claim payout. John and Patricia were married for almost 60 years. He now visits Bushbury Crematorium every day to ‘talk to his wife.’ Sentencing, Judge Stephen Thomas said the bully’s excessive drinking was to blame for his ‘prolonged and sustained campaign’. He told Vincent: “This behaviour towards your parents and now your father, I’m told, has been a feature of your lives for up to 20 years. “It must have ruined the latter part of their lives which they could have realistically hoped to enjoy together in peace, free from you, and in fact, with your company. But it was not to be. You became a curse upon them and upon their lives.” her fall, where she died the following day after John spent six hours at her bedside alone. John said: “The next day, Vincent came home, he never even asked “where’s mum?”. He must have known she had been in hospital. “He went upstairs and I called the police and then he was arrested.” Just a week before his mother’s tragic death, Vincent had wished both of his parents dead. that’s a major issue we have to face up to. But that isn’t what we know at the moment, we need to get that information.” Professor Chris Whitty said the UK will need to decide whether to extend the booster jab down to adults age 18, and whether a second dose should be offered to children aged 12-15 who decided with their families to get the first dose of the vaccine.

8 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 ARWEN HITS MIDLANDS SNOWVEMBER Damage and disruption as gales and snow batter region JANE TYLER News Reporter Storm Arwen wreaked havoc across the West Midlands on Saturday as high winds and thick snow left a trail fallen trees, damage and disrupted transport. More than 60,000 homes were left without power across the region following a night of gales, with gust up to 70mph in parts. The region was one of the worst affected as the first storm of the winter combined with heavy snowfall brought down power lines across Birmingham, Worcestershire and Staffordshire. Western Power Distribution (WPD) revealed 60,000 properties it serves had no power on Saturday morning – most in the Midlands. Train passengers also faced severe delays after trees were blown onto railway lines. The Shrewsbury line was blocked near Codsall, Staffordshire, after a train actually hit a falling tree. There were no reports of any injuries. Services in Birmingham were also impacted by the bad weather, as overhead wire damage caused by trees blocked the busy Cross City north line. In Stetchford, Birmingham, high winds ripped the roof off flats above shops in Station Road. Local resident David Duffy, who sent a picture to the Mercury, said the “wind was ‘next level’.” He told the Mercury: “The weather in Stechford was really bad. “The roof looks peeled back to front about three shops long. “It opened up like a tin.” In Chaddesley Corbett, near Bromsgrove, the main road into the village was blocked for several hours when a tree was blown across the carriageway. In nearby Belbroughton, one householder said: “The power went off at about 5am on Saturday and by 12.30pm was still off. “My partner works from home and was due to work today, so had to get in her car and drive five miles to the nearest coffee shop to use their electricity and wi-fi. “We have no heating, internet or lighting and are hoping and praying it will be back on by tonight – otherwise it will be a candle-lit takeaway supper!” Graham Halladay, operations director for WPD said it was a perfect storm – literally – of factors which had led to a mass black-out. “North westerly wind speeds of up to 65mph and a combination of rain and snow have made conditions difficult,” he said. Part of a lower-level roof at Worcester Catherdral was also damaged by falling stonework. A planned concert there on Sunday was cancelled as a result. The Saturday market in Worcester was also cancelled. Elsewhere, three people died as Storm Arwen lashed other parts. A man died at around 11pm on Friday in Cumbria after a tree fell on him in the popular town of Ambleside, in the heart of the Lake District. Another person died in Aberdeenshire, but there were no details. In Northern Ireland a headteacher was also killed when a tree fell on his car. Francis Lagan, a father of four, was head of St Mary’s Primary School in Maghera, Co Londonderry, in Northern Ireland, for several years and well known in the local community, it is reported. Tributes poured in for Mr Lagan, believed to be in his 40s. He is understood to have been travelling with his wife and children when strong winds uprooted a tree that struck the vehicle. A St Mary’s school statement for parents read: “It is with great pain and sadness this evening that I have to inform you of the untimely death of our much loved principal Mr Lagan. May his gentle soul rest in peace.” There was also a Facebook message from local sports club Watty Graham, An Gleann that read: “A great club man, coach, principal, colleague, mentor, friend but more importantly a fantastic son, brother, husband and daddy. “We as a club and community will stand strong with the Lagan family in the days, weeks and months ahead.” More than 120 lorries were also stuck in heavy snow on the M62 in Greater Manchester, with the motorway shut by police while ploughs and gritters led the rescue effort. Dozens of crashes were reported by police agencies across the UK, many roads were closed due to fallen trees, snow or ice, and more than 130,000 homes were without power on a cold night in the north. ■■ Bumble Hole in Netherton by Lisa Reynolds ■■ A tree hit a train in Staffordshire ■ ■ A roof was ripped off in Stetchford

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 9 ARWEN HITS MIDLANDS STORM CHAOS ■ A snowy scene in Halesowen ■ Cars stuck on a hill near Belbroughton in Worcestershire ■ A red panda at Dudley Zoo enjoys a snack in the snow. Left, Bungle the Golden Retriever and, right, A pug ready for the a n-ice walk in a coat and booties ■ Tree down in Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, right, broken tree branches in Burntwood and, left, Sion Hill, Kidderminster

10 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news PC PAWS GET THEIR OWN STAB VESTS ■ A West Mercia Police dog models the new protective vests ALeXAnDeR BROCK News Reporter POLICE dogs in Worcestershire have become among the first in the country to be fully equipped with ‘protective vests’. West Mercia Police made the move after one of the force’s own police dogs, Canto, was seriously injured in a horrific stabbing back in 2017. The attack unfolded after Canto and handler PC Emma Worrall were called to a property in Bridgnorth in Shropshire following reports of a man with a knife. When the pair arrived, Canto was stabbed in the chest by the suspect with a kitchen knife. Fortunately, the police dog was able to make a full recovery and return to frontline work, even going on to receive a medal from animal charity PDSA for his bravery. West Mercia Police says all of the forces general purpose and firearms support dogs will now be provided with the vests, which it says will offer extra protection when in the line of duty. PC Worrall has welcomed the move, saying: “If at the time Canto was equipped with one of these vests, it could have helped protect him from the weapon and saved him from the pain and injury it inflicted on him. “Protecting our force’s police dogs means a lot to myself, as I have witnessed first-hand my own dog being seriously injured in the line of duty so I welcome this move and can’t wait for them to be wearing them when responding to incidents.” Chief Constable Pippa Mills added: “Our dogs carry out a vital role in supporting frontline policing and are an important part of our policing family. “They are often the first to run towards a potential threat and can be at risk of being harmed. “Sadly, we have experienced how it can affect the force when a dog is injured during the line of duty and it means a lot that we are able to equip our dogs with these protective vests to help prevent them from harm.” Raiders swipe OAP’s £30k POLICE are hunting distraction burglars who stole £30,000 from a 90-year-old woman’s home after pretending to be officials. One crook entered her home in Rowley Regis at around 6pm on Thursday under the guise of being a council official. He took her into the kitchen and while pretending to check her water, two others entered the property pretending to check the water system upstairs. After the gang fled the property, the homeowner discovered that around £30,000 in old banknotes had been stolen. A day earlier another elderly woman was targeted in her own home in Bentley, Walsall. The 90-year-old woman was dragged from her bed and robbed at around 9pm on Wednesday, November 24. Three men told her a fake story that there had been an explosion before fleeing the house with her savings. A spokeswoman for West Midlands Police has said there is “no suggestion the two incidents are linked”. Detective Inspector Phil Griffiths from Force CID, said of the latest incident: “We are determined to find who is behind this burglary that has understandably left this poor lady shaken. “Something I want to highlight is that a large amount of the money stolen is made up of old banknotes that would have to be changed for the new notes at banks. “We are working with banks across the region to make sure this message is cascaded out to all branches. “If anyone is asked to change old notes for new ones, I would urge them to contact police immediately. “We’ve carried out forensic examinations, taken statements and are examining CCTV. “Patrols have been stepped up in the area and we are continuing to encourage our communities to step up and look out for our elderly, vulnerable neighbours and friends.”

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 11 OH YES IT IS... A MUSLIM news PANTO! ■■ The cast of Cinder’aliyah HUSNA ANJUM News Reporter FANCY a different kind of Cinderella story? Birmingham has just the thing with a Muslim Cinderella pantomime coming to the stage this Christmas. Dubbed Cinder’aliyah, the unique panto will feature a mix of British and Islamic humour in this twist on the classic fairy tale. Those behind the play feel Muslim audiences will identify with the story as it mirrors the British Asian/Muslim experience. The play even starts with the line ‘Like our curries and tea, this story was also taken from Pakistan.’ It tells the story of a young Pakistani girl trapped by her wicked stepmother and jealous stepsisters Bushra and Shagufta. Meanwhile, the King and handsome Prince search the land for a mysterious woman who left her shoe behind at the Ball. TV star and comedian Abdullah Afzal was inspired to create the play for British Muslims who wanted a performance that their children could relate to. The 32-year-old star of Citizen Khan said: “If you re-watch Cinderella, you’ll see it’s actually a Pakistani story. “I even had British Pakistani women come up to me saying this pantomime was like their experience growing up. “Pantomimes are such a British tradition and great for kids, so I wanted to create something Muslim families could comfortably enjoy. We play with those stereotypes and it bridges the gap between cultures. “The actors have no background in acting but stood out in auditions. They would never have had an opportunity like this anywhere else.” Promotional images convey the multicultural theme with Cinder-aliyah donning a shimmering gown and headscarf, while the cast are dressed in traditional South Asian attire. Tickets for the panto were snapped up in under 48 hours. An initial run of 10,000 tickets were sold along with an additional 5,000 tickets that have just gone on sale. The panto journeys on a UK-wide tour, stopping for Birmingham shows on December 19 and 22 at Aloft Birmingham Eastside on Woodcock Street. Proceeds from ticket sales will go towards global Islamic charity Penny Appeal’s Winter Emergency campaign. They will provide those in need with life-saving winter aid, including hot food, clothing and blankets. £19.99 was £39.99 HoMedics Neck Massager £48.99 was £84.99 Star Wars Animatronic Baby Yoda from £174.50 was from £349.00 Simba Refurbished Mattress Selected Black Friday inventory only. HoMedics Neck Massager offer ends 30/11/2021. Star Wars Animatronic Baby Yoda offer ends 4/12/2021. Simba Refurbished Mattress offer ends 30/11/2021; price refers to double Hybrid mattress. All offers are while stocks last. Delivery charges may apply to the Channel Islands and Isle of Man.

12 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news REIGN OF TERROR sTePHAnIe BALLOO News Reporter THE wife of the charity campaigner known as One Eyed Baz has spoken for the first time of her ‘living nightmare’ after she was trolled online and stalked in a three-year campaign of terror. Tracey Patterson, partner of Barrington Patterson, was left fearing that, no matter where she went, she “couldn’t get away” from abuser Natasha Dawn as she “inflicted misery”. The ‘relentless’ 43-year-old troll mes- saged the mum up to 80 times a day, from 8am until 1am, she said. During the ‘three years of abuse’, Dawn sent Tracey a total of 8,000 mes-- sages – including photos of her front door, threats to ‘smash her face in’ and enquiries about her house-sitter while they were away on holiday. “For all that time, I didn’t know what she looked like,” Tracey said after the troll was jailed. “I was scanning the crowd, thinking: ‘Is she here, what’s she going to do?’ When you don’t know what somebody looks like, it’s much worse. “She was going to do all sorts to me, smash my face in. She called us paedo- philes, contacted my husband’s work, his gym, contacted our children saying not to let us see our grandchildren. “She posted a picture of my front door and said: ‘Your husband’s just left, why don’t you come outside’. That was towards the end. “She must have had such a sad life that she wanted to inflict misery on people on a day-to-day basis – that was her life.” Dawn, of Sheridan Court, Stapleford, Nottingham, was jailed for three years at Nottingham Crown Court after pleading guilty to three counts of stalking. She was also given a restraining order, banning her from contacting or referring to a number of people on social media, which will go on indefinitely. She was described as a “full-time” troll as the court heard she set up more than 100 accounts to conduct her reign of terror. She would call Tracey constantly on Instagram and, after she described their lounge in detail, the couple felt forced to fit CCTV cameras at their home. “We went on holiday, she sent me a picture asking if the house-sitter was OK,” she said. “No matter where I went, I couldn’t get away from her, I just could not, she would call 40 to 50 times a day. I never ever answered the phone to her.” Dawn would then make threats to post pictures, including an image of her brotherin-law, who died many years ago. “He was in the picture with my husband and my mother-in-law, and she said: ‘I can see three monkeys and apes,’” she recalled. “Every day, I would turn my phone off at night, and when I turned my phone on in the morning the messages would come through, one after the other, sometimes up to 80. “I used to feel physically sick about what the day would bring because I couldn’t stop her. It was relentless. “I never felt safe for the whole time because I didn’t know what she looked like. I couldn’t go out on my own, our grown-up children, my husband, were worried about my safety.” During the campaign of abuse, Dawn changed Barrington’s Wikipedia page to say he was dead and Tracey was forced to block a total of 212 created accounts. ■ !!!!!!! ?????? !!!!!!!! !!!!!!! ?????? !!!!!!!! !!!!!!! ?????? !!!!!!!! Wife of charity champ One Eyed Baz tells of 3-year ‘living nightmare’ as stalker is jailed ‘One CAn’T COnCeIVe OF A MORe CRUeL THInG TO DO’ SPEAKING of the prison sentence for Dawn, Tracey said she was ‘relieved’ the judge took it seriously, but reflected on the fear – even when she was on bail. “I really didn’t expect she would go to prison. It’s a relief that the judge took it seriously and took it for what it was. It wasn’t just online,” she continued. “I forgot what life was like before she came into our life. “I couldn’t remember what it was like to be able to wake up and go out of the front door on my own. It got to the point where she was making such drastic threats that it was impossible to live a normal day-to-day life. “It was like living in a nightmare and there was no way out. Even when she was on bail, I was scared.” Tracey also spoke of the impact on their charity, Birmingham’s homeless support team, after Dawn messaged sponsors wanting to donate to the cause. “She was contacting sponsors – as soon as somebody said they would like to donate toiletries, she would message them straightaway, then they would not contact us as they were scared she would start trolling or stalking them. “We lost a lot of support online, then Covid happened. At the moment, things are looking bleak.” Passing sentence, Judge Julie Warburton told Dawn: “You made cruel, vicious comments regarding Mrs Patterson’s mother. One can’t conceive of a more cruel thing to do to another human being. It is clear you must have been treating this as a full-time occupation.” Dawn’s legal representation told the court she had no recollection of what had happened and suffered from mental health difficulties. “This is a lonely and possibly damaged woman,” they said. “Sitting at home, seldom leaving the house and losing herself in this world of social media and any sense of what is right and what is wrong.” ‘Would-be thieves’ smash Range Rover windows A gANg of ‘thieves’ smashed up a man’s home and Range Rover after they were spooked during an attempted break-in at a Staffordshire property, it has been claimed. Three men tried breaking into the vehicle on giggetty Lane in Wombourne at around 4.30am on Thursday morning, November 25, claimed the homeowner’s daughter. But they were disturbed by the man and instead decided to smash the Range Rover’s windows and windows of the porch, the victim’s daughter has claimed. The woman, who did not want to be named, said they pulled up in a ‘white van’ and proceeded to ‘try and gain entry through the driver’s side door by smashing the window’. ■ Barrington and Tracey Patterson, some of the hate messages sent, and top left, stalker Natasha Dawn “My dad’s car had an attempted theft,” she said. “It was only when my dad disturbed them that they started smashing the house porch windows and the rest of the car and before running off.” The incident was captured by the homeowner’s Ring doorbell camera. Police have appealed for information.

A few little helpers this Christmas. Any 3 for 2 Clubcard Price 25 % off 6 or more Clubcard Price £12 £10 Clubcard Price Half Price Clubcard Price 18+. 25% off 6 excludes Wine Route, boxed wine, fortified wine, bottles under £5 in England and NI or £7 in Wales & bottles under 200ml. Minimum unit pricing applies in Wales. Max. 36 bottles. Excludes Express & Scotland. While stocks last. Clubcard/app required. Delivery charges may apply. Ends 29/11. Tesco whole lamb shoulder joint: Clubcard price £4.25/kg, regular price £8.50/kg, ends 30/11. Carling 18 x 440ml: Clubcard price £1.27/L, regular price £1.52/L, ends 01/01. Excludes Scotland and Wales. 3 for 2 on all chilled party food, cheapest item free, ends 02/01. Available in the majority of larger stores. Clubcard/app required. Delivery charges may apply.

14 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news WELCOME TO The wonky Grinch tree in Evesham GRINCH TOWN! Wonky town centre tree divides the locals Bradley stokes Special Correspondent sHoPPERS have been left baffled after ‘Britain’s wonkiest Christmas tree’ was installed in their town centre. Locals are split over the 20fthigh artificial tree which has been erected outside the shopping centre in Evesham, Worcestershire. Town centre bosses usually fund a traditional tree but this year opted for a bendy Grinchstyle creation. Residents in the town have expressed mixed views on the wacky S-shaped fir, with some saying they “love it” while others said it looks like it was “broken by the wind”. Gran Katrina Hopkins, 54, took her threeyear-old granddaughter to admire the tree. She said: “I absolutely love it and anyone who moans about it, well bah humbug to them. The Grinch is my favourite Christmas movie and I think it’s brilliant to have the wonky tree in the town. “After all we’ve been through over the last two years, everyone needs a laugh and the tree is certainly putting a smile on people’s faces.” Some locals disagree and say the tree looks “broken” rather than “wonky”. Business manager Andy Howell, 50, said: “I know I’ll probably sound like a bit of a stick in the mud but I don’t like it. “I actually thought it looked broken from the wind rather than being deliberately wonky. “I have watched the Grinch and my kids loved it when it first came out but the feedback I’ve had is that the tree just looks a bit odd. “I know quite a few of the business owners in the town and they’re all saying the same thing which is this year’s tree is just wrong.” Town centre manager Paul James admitted he was expecting the tree would become a “Marmite” issue. He said: “We always put a considerable effort in creating a welcoming and festive atmosphere with our Christmas displays. “This year’s tree, in particular, has been a massive hit - it’s so quirky and different that families have been lining up to take selfies and share amongst family and friends via social media. For me, putting a smile on people faces and bringing a slice of festive joy to people’s lives makes me very happy; we are over the moon with the response.” ■ Katrina Hopkins and granddaughter Megan Kinnersley Ward, 3, with the tree High street gets the hump RESIDENTS may have got the hump when three camels rode through – but luckily they were launching the countdown to the festive season. Christmas well and truly arrived in Chasetown, Burntwood as the creatures strolled down its High Street to the bemusement of locals. Chasetown councillor Darren Ennis was on hand to capture the unlikely parade on camera, and said that it was “brilliant”. He said: “We work with a lot of local businesses. A lady called Charmaine Sweeney organised the camels – I never thought she would be able to do it. It’s just marvellous.” The camels kicked off the countdown to the town’s Christmas light switch on celebrations on Thursday. Cllr Ennis, who owns Haywoods Blinds, led the camels. He said: “When I turned up, I was half expecting to see blow-up camels or people dressed up as them instead. “It was very surreal and just really, really good. “The company supplied the camels, riders and the leaders too. “The shock, awe and randomness of it all was amazing. Everyone had faces of wonder. “The camels are used in films and other productions - they were so happy and comfortable walking through the streets. “They started at Chasetown Football Club and walked down Church Street to Chasetown Engineering. They then went down the High Street. “The camels then went to St Joseph and St Theresa Primary School who had set up a pen for them. It was just brilliant.” The event was funded by local businesses and the local council. The camels later returned to their home near Stratfordupon-Avon after the event. ■ The three wise men and their camels riding through Chasetown, Burntwood

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 15 news POT DOG! Terrier Holly rushed to vets after run-in with cannabis just months after swallowing joint AdAm dutton Staff Reporter A dog was rushed to the vets when she ate cannabis leaves dumped at a beauty spot just months after the ‘laid back’ pooch also swallowed a spliff on the same walk. Vets told the owner of Bedlington terrier Holly she must have eaten the illegal drugs on her daily walkies. The one-year-old mutt fell ill hours after wolfing down cannabis leaves which had been dumped under a bush. She threw up and worried owner david Williams recognised the halfdigested leaves and rushed her to a local vet who gave her anti-drug injection. Incredibly, it was just four months after Holly needed tablets to flush out her system after she ate a halfsmoked cannabis joint. david, 58, from Cannock, said: “I’d taken her for her usual walk and let her off and she’d gone sniffing behind a bush. “I called her back and when we got in the car she didn’t look right and she smelled strange. “I recognised it as cannabis because we’ve had a lot of antisocial behaviour around here so I know what cannabis smells like. “When she brought up the leaves it confirmed my suspicious and I took her to the vet again. “I just couldn’t believe it had happened so soon after she swallowed the cannabis joint. “My friends and family joke that Holly’s got a drug problem. I have to say, she is a very laid back dog anyway but this time she was off her legs. We actually think she’d make a very good sniffer dog. “Four months ago she got ill after swallowing a discarded cannabis joint. We took her to the vets and they gave her tablets. “This time she’d obviously eaten too much of the drug and she needed an injection and we were told to check her regularly overnight.” Holly’s latest brush with pot happened while david took her on a walk around Calf Heath Reservoir near Cannock recently. david, who has one grown-up son and lives with wife Jonanne, 47, reported it to police and is now warning other dog owners about the dangers of discarded drugs. He added: “dog walkers need to be extra cautious, I won’t be going My friends and family joke that Holly’s got a drug problem. I have to say, she is a very laid back dog anyway! David Williams down there again. “My wife was horrified when me and Holly got home. She’s her little baby and she was so sick.” A Staffordshire Police spokesman said: “A man reported that his dog had found and consumed cannabis left along a lane leading to Calf Heath Reservoir. Police issued the man with safety advice and told him that the local council is responsible for removal of any waste products.” Amazon depot protest: 17 arrested ■ Officers look on as Extinction Rebellion protesters outside Rugeley’s Amazon depot SEVENTEEN people have been arrested after an Extinction Rebellion protest at Amazon’s main Midlands depot. Police were called at 4am on Friday to reports of a protest at the centre on Power Station Road, Rugeley. A number of specialist officers attended the scene and 12 men and five women were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass. They all remained in police custody last night while inquiries continue. Three of the protesters were from Birmingham and one from dudley. The rest were from across the country. A Section 34 dispersal order was enacted for the Power Station Road area and remained in place last night. The order allows police to disperse people from the area if they are involved in instances of antisocial behaviour and take anyone under 16 back to their home. Chief Superintendent Elliott Sharrard-Williams said: “The role of the police service in these matters is to be impartial and not to have, or express, a view on the matters that are the subject of the protest. “The responsibility of the police is to balance the rights of individuals to protest, against the rights of those whose activities are impacted upon by the protesters. “often the rights of these different groups can come into conflict and our role is to judge where that balance lies in ever-changing circumstances. “our response to the protests will always be based on the available information we have at the time and officers will continue its engagement with the local community and all parties impacted by the issue. “I would like to thank those affected for their patience and cooperation.” The protest finally ended at 9.30pm on Friday. Amazon issued a statement which did not directly address the protests, but pointed out environmental efforts made by the company. It said: “At Amazon, we take our responsibilities very seriously. That includes our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040 - 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement - providing excellent pay and benefits in a safe and modern work environment, and supporting the tens of thousands of British small businesses who sell on our store.” It added: “We know there is always more to do, and we’ll continue to invent and invest on behalf of our employees, customers, small businesses and communities in the UK. “We’re proud to have invested £32bn in the UK since 2010, creating 10,000 new permanent jobs across the country this year alone, and generating a total UK tax contribution of £1.55bn in 2020.” ■ Bedlington terrier Holly with owner David Williams We buy any house! WE BUY HOUSES FOR CASH Sell in days – or in your timescale No fees & no obligation Any condition or location NAPB approved & RICS regulated GET UP TO £30,000 CASH ADVANCE Call us FREE today for a cash offer available 24/7 0800 031 9071 goodhousemove.co.uk BEST PRICE PAID

16 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news TRAPPED OAP FINALLY GETS RAMP PUT IN Prisoner in own home for two years ■■ Maurice Reed with the ramp, and right, before it was put in MIKE LOCKLEY Sunday Mercury Writer Get £75 worth of beer for only £34.99 Includes: 30 Craft Beers • Magazine • Tasty Snack • Free Delivery Only £1.16 per can! BLACK FRIDAY OFFER Save £10 RRP £44.99 A DISABLED pensioner has finally been freed from his council house after waiting TWO YEARS for a ramp to be installed. Former mechanic Maurice Reed was left a prisoner in his own home when he became unable to get up the steps outside his bungalow. South Derbyshire District Council was agreed that Maurice needed a ramp due to his wheelchair – but two years later, Maurice was still waiting. Now, his wait is finally over. The 84-year-old, who also worked as a taxi driver, has a ramp and can get out of the bungalow in Swadlincote near Burton upon Trent. Although the council has yet to fully complete the work, it has come as a great relief to Maurice and his family. Son Adam said: “He is over the moon. I bought him an electric wheelchair so he can get out more on his own. We are waiting for the door to be changed, but he can manage temporarily. “He has not been out much yet as they did not remove the barriers till late last week, and the skip and stuff is still about. “I am happy he finally can get out on his own, even just to the garden.” The Sunday Mercury revealed earlier this month that Maurice had only been out twice in two years with the help of his son Adam, and that was to get a Covid jab. The thought of getting the wheelchair up and down the steps scared him so much it resulted in him never leaving the house. The pandemic did play a part in him being trapped as he had to isolate due to his age. The district council has since apologised for the delay in getting Maurice the ramp and he is now delighted to be able to get in and out of his house once again. The father-of-three, who has 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren, has lived in the bungalow for more than 10 years, and sadly ended up in a wheelchair at the end of 2019. The bungalow has three steps at the front door and the back door is too small to get the wheelchair through. Following reports of the pensioner’s plight, two local people were so moved that they offered to fit a ramp. One was the stepson of Sam Rice, landlady of the Loaf and Cheese, in Waterloo Street. She said at the time: “When I read the story, I was just fuming. It’s just completely wrong that this elderly gentleman has been waiting so long.” However, in the end Mr Reed’s family felt it was best the council’s contractor did the job as it was a council-owned property. Madonna hits out as image of exposed nipple removed A monthly subscription of unique hand picked craft beers and lagers from exceptional small and independent breweries *£34.99 offer is only available to new customers. Hopsmore Beer Club Subscription is £44.99 per month thereafter. Please drink responsibly SUBSCRIBE & SAVE TODAY AT HOPSMORE.CO.UK Madonna has criticised Instagram for taking down photos in which her nipple was exposed, saying she is grateful she has maintained her sanity “through four decades of censorship, sexism, ageism and misogyny”. The singer, 63, raised eyebrows with a string of pictures in which she is writhing on top of and under a bed in fishnet tights, a cut-out bra which reveals parts of her breasts, a thong and high-heeled shoes. The Hung Up star said the photos had been taken down by the social media site and said it was “astounding” that women can show any part of their body except their nipples. Sharing the pictures again with heart emojis covering her modesty, she wrote: “I’m reposting photographs Instagram took down without warning or notification. “The reason they gave my management that does not handle my account was that a small portion of my nipple was exposed. “It is still astounding to me that we live in a culture that allows every inch of a woman’s body to be shown except a nipple. As if that is the only part of a woman’s anatomy that could be sexualized. The nipple that nourishes the baby! “Can’t a man’s nipple be experienced as erotic ??!! And what about a woman’s ass which is never censored anywhere. “Giving thanks that I have managed to maintain my sanity through four decades of censorship...... sexism......ageism and misogyny.”

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 17 news CHER: WHY I’LL NEVER FORGIVE X FACTOR LOUIS ALeXAnDeR BROCK News Reporter CHER Lloyd has revealed which ‘horrible’ X Factor star she still won’t speak to 11 years after appearing on the show. The Malvern singer was just 16 when she impressed the likes of Simon Cowell and Cheryl Cole with one of its most memorable auditions in 2010. She gave an electric performance of Soulja Boy’s Turn My Swag On and quickly became a breakout star that year, despite also becoming a controversial figure on the show. She become known for alleged tantrums and a falling out with mentor Cheryl, with Cher previously admitting herself that she was ‘young and foolish’. But, opening up to Rylan Clark on his new podcast, called Rylan’s Ry-Union, the star said she would not be keen on a reunion with judge Louis Walsh. She claimed: “He was horrible to me. He still says stuff about me. “When Louis is not doing X Factor, he’s not doing a lot, perhaps he needed something to talk about. He started on me.” However, she was full of praise when it came to the members of One Direction – including Redditch’s Harry Styles. “I think they are such genuinely nice people. Not one of them was ever any trouble,” she said. “All good energy and I think that’s what made them so likeable, and made people want to get behind them and support them, because you could tell they were genuinely nice guys. So yeah, and the success that they achieved was just like humongous. “It’s so amazing to think that they came off that show.” She added: “I found it extremely challenging. At times, I’d get really angry. “I felt angry because I’d go to a rehearsal, leave the studio, and be chased on my own, chased by a group of 20 to 25 men with cameras. I felt really vulnerable.” She said the experience quickly made her realise she couldn’t wear a skirt without shorts and claimed it was “brutal” back then, but isn’t like that now. ■ Cher Lloyd and inset, Louis Walsh

18 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news JokE’S ON DRUG dealer AFTER HE IS BANGED UP Laughing crook sent out thousands of messages Jasbir Authi Staff Reporter A BIRMINGHAM county lines dealer who sent out 5,000 bulk text messages advertising drugs for sale has been jailed. Mohammed Nabeel, 25, was snared after a pair of cops on their lunch break spotted two known drug users acting suspiciously near Tesco Express in Constitutional Hill, on February 5. The officers pounced when the men approach a parked car – which then sped off. The users were detained and police found text messages advertising crack cocaine and heroin for sale on their phones. The West Midlands Regional Organised Crime (ROCU) County Lines Taskforce identified Nabeel as the sender. When a search was conducted at his flat on Mint Drive, Hockley, officers found the drugs hotline plus £2,000 in drugs, £10,000 cash and a kilo of cutting agent in Nabeel’s car. Analysis of call data on his phone showed between November 29, 2020 and March 9, 2021, Nabeel had sent more than 5,000 bulk SMS text messages advertising drugs for sale and received almost 6,000 messages, many drugs orders. A video on his phone showed Nabeel laughing and joking as he prepared drug wraps in his kitchen. At Birmingham Crown Court Nabeel admitted possessing drugs with intent to supply and being concerned in the supply of heroin and crack cocaine. He was jailed for four years and eight months. ROCU Detective Constable Thomas Reece said: “It was a chance encounter by two officers on their lunch break that led to us uncovering a significant drugs supply line. It just goes to show that police officers are never off duty! “In just over three months we estimated Nabeel supplied around 1kg of Class A drugs to his customer base; we found around 120 contacts on his drugs phone. “Drug trafficking is a priority for us because it often involves the exploitation of children and vulnerable people, plus is linked to serious violence between drug gangs and acquisitive crime committed by users to fuel their addictions.” ■■ Video of Nabeel joking while cutting drugs and, left, some of his messages Acorns Christmas Appeal £10 could help provide meals for a family member this Christmas £40 could provide one hour of vital nursing care to a child Yes, I want to support Acorns with a gift of £100 could give parents the chance to stay in our family flat with their child I enclose a cheque payable to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust OR Please debit my credit/debit card with the amount above. Card No: Expiry Date: / Security Code: Date: / / Signature: Title: Full Name: Address: The Greatest Gift! Will you give the Greatest Gift to local children and families this Christmas? 24 The hours a day, 365 days a year, Acorns will be there to provide vital Greatest nursing care. For our families that is The Greatest Gift. Please donate to your local children’s hospice today Gift! Post: Acorns Children’s Hospice, 302 Alcester Road, Wythall, B47 6JR Phone: 01564 825 037 Online: acorns.org.uk/gift Postcode: Your support helps local children, and we look forward to keeping in touch with you by post, sharing our work, news, and appeals. Would you also like to be updated by email? Yes, my email is: If you wish to change your preferences at any time please contact Supporter Services at supporterservices@acorns.org.uk, 01564 825 037 or write to the address below. We can only care for children and families with your support. Thank you. Registered charity no: 700859 Registered in England company no. 2036103 Our ref: W21G1A

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 19 news ■■ Liam Neeson’s catchline in Taken is: ‘I will find you’ My bin’s been... Clarkson ‘nearly lost a leg in farm accident’ Jeremy Clarkson revealed he narrowly escaped losing his leg in an accident on his farm. The television presenter stars in Clarkson’s Farm, which sees him grow crops and look after livestock on land he owns in the Cotswolds. Speaking on the Jonathan Ross show about his new book Diddly Squat: A Year On The Farm, he revealed that there are “more accidents in farming than all the other industries put together”. Explaining his own experience, Clarkson, 61, said: “I got this thing called a telehandler, it’s like a JCB thing. I thought ‘I’ll just use its front to push the post in.’ It got halfway into the ground and the fence was leaning on it and it flicked back. How it didn’t take my leg off... I didn’t walk properly for a week. This was a quarter of a tonne of fence post.” Clarkson bought the farm in 2008 and it was run by a villager, but when he retired in 2019 Clarkson decided to see if he could run it himself. ■■ Jeremy Clarkson Speaking about how his documentary series came about, Jeremy said: “It was an accident. I was contractually obliged - I had to make a programme on my own. I thought ‘I’m slightly bored of Terminal 5. I’ll film at home on the farm.’ “I thought what a lovely programme it would be to try and learn to be a farmer. I genuinely love it out there.” Neeson movie inspires householder’s promise to thief: I will find you! Alison Brinkworth Sunday Mercury Writer AN annoyed resident whose bin was stolen wrote an hilarious Facebook message to the thief in the style of Liam Neeson from revenge movie Taken. For when the householder in Dovecote Road, Bromsgrove discovered their green recycling bin was ‘taken’, they got straight on to the internet warning of reprisals. The message says: “If you let my bin go now that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you, I will not pursue you, but if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you and I will post on Spotted again my disappointment in you.” The post on Spotted Bromsgrove also warned that the resident has “skills”, saying: “To the bin thief on Dovecote Road; I don’t know who you are. I don’t know what you want. “If you are looking for recycling I can tell you I don’t have a bin now, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. “Skills I have acquired over a very long career of owning a recycling bin. Skills that make me a nightmare for bin thieves like you.” The message prompted a wave of hilarious responses online including memes of Liam Neeson from the action-packed movie and also others saying it reminded them of the A Team. Sharon Towner commented: “Anyone else read that in Liam Neeson’s voice, or was it just me?” Liz Evans wrote: “Ok who’s nicked Liam Neesons bin?” Paul Browne added: “I read this with the theme tune of The A-Team playing... powerful stuff.” Liam Neeson has become famous for his phone speech in movie Taken when he stars as former CIA operative Bryan Mills talking to the kidnappers of his teenage daughter and her best friend. It is uncannily similar with Neeson saying: “If you are looking for ransom, I can tell you I don’t have money. “But what I do have are a very particular set of skills, skills I have acquired over a very long career, skills that make me a nightmare for people like you. If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it. I will not look for you.” I don’t have a bin now, but what I do have are a very particular set of skills. Skills that make me a nightmare for bin thieves like you!! Householder

20 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news Roman mosaic floors experts The mosaic in a Midland farmer’s field depicts one of the most famous battles of the Trojan War Players must be 18 or over. Terms and conditions apply. Excludes NI. 18+ Health Lottery operates 5 main lottery draws per week (Tue-Sat) each with a jackpot of £25,000. Every £1 line for any Wednesday or Saturday main lottery draw will also automatically be entered into the appropriate £100,000 free prize draw which also take place on those days. All players matching 5 numbers in the free draw will win an equal share of the prize. Based on an average of 22 main lottery draws each month, the average value of monthly jackpots and free draw prizes is ~£1.3M. The Health Lottery scheme manages 12 society lotteries that operate in rotation and each represents a different geographical region of Great Britain. This month’s society lottery is Health Lottery West Midlands. For more details on which society lottery is running each month please visit www.healthlottery.co.uk or ask your Health Lottery retailer. The Health Lottery logo is a registered trademark of The Health Lottery Ltd. Amazing Midland discovery unique in Britain Richard Vernalls Special Correspondent A ROMAN mosaic unique in Britain depicting one of the most famous battles of the Trojan War has been uncovered in a farmer’s field. The artwork was discovered during excavations of an elaborate villa complex made up of a host of structures and other buildings, dating to the third or fourth century AD, Historic England said. Midland archaeologists said it was the most exciting Roman mosaic discovery in the UK in the last century. Such is its rarity and importance, the site has been officially protected as a scheduled monument by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), it was announced. The mosaic depicts a scene from Homer’s The Iliad – about the epic fight between Achilles and the Trojan hero, Hector. It is one of only a handful of such mosaics in Europe, and was part of the floor of a large entertaining or dining area within the villa. The complex is likely to have been occupied by a wealthy individual from the late Roman period. Duncan Wilson, Historic England’s chief executive, described the find as “remarkable”. The site, in Rutland, was discovered during last year’s lockdown by Jim Irvine, whose father Brian Naylor owns the land. Mr Irvine then notified the authorities, leading to an excavation by University of Leicester archaeological services (ULAS). He described how what started as “a ramble through the fields” led to the “incredible discovery”. Jim Irvine with father Brian Naylor The site in Rutland near Leicester “Finding some unusual pottery amongst the wheat piqued my interest and prompted some further investigative work,” he said. “Later, looking at the satellite imagery I spotted a very clear crop mark, as if someone had drawn on my computer screen with a piece of chalk. “This really was the ‘oh wow’ moment.” Archaeologists later discovered remains of the mosaic, measuring 11m (36ft) by almost 7m (22.9ft). It is unique in the UK in featuring two heroes of antiquity, Achilles and Hector, and their battle which ultimately ended in Hector’s death. John Thomas, of ULAS, said it was “the most exciting Roman mosaic discovery in the UK in the last century”, and a “very well-preserved example of a villa in its entirety”. He added that the person who commissioned the artwork clearly had “a knowledge of the classics... who had the money to commission a piece of such detail”. Other buildings and features revealed by site surveys include what appear to be aisled barns, circular structures and a possible bath house, all within a series of boundary ditches. Fire damage and breaks in the mosaic, suggests later reuse of the site after it fell into disuse. Human remains were also discovered in the rubble covering the mosaic and are thought to have been interred after the building was no longer occupied. The age of the remains, though later than the mosaic, are currently unknown but suggests that some time in the very late Roman or early Medieval era the villa had a re-purposed use. The dig, on private land, has now been back-filled to protect the site and work will continue to potentially turn over the field to grassland to lower the risk of future damage from ploughing. Heritage Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “This fascinating discovery of an elaborate Roman complex in Rutland is helping us to understand more about our history. I’m delighted we have protected this site to help further studies and excavations.” The discovery of the Rutland villa and filming as the mosaic is uncovered will be featured as part of BBC Two’s Digging For Britain in early 2022.

22 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news HOPELESS DRUNK JAILED FOR SEX ASSAULT IN SHOP Persistent attacker admits he has no purpose in life ■ Dale Barber DA nny Thompson Staff Reporter A homeless alcoholic has been jailed after he sexually assaulted a female newsagent worker while he was drunk. Dale Barber, 28, who has a history of similar offences, was sentenced to 18 months at Warwick Crown Court. Barber, of no fixed address, had convictions for 64 offences, including sexual assaults in 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017 and 2018. Prosecutor Andrew Wallace told how on october 9 Barber was going in and out of a newsagents in Coventry city centre to buy booze. he first bought half a bottle of vodka, and then a quarter bottle, followed by cans of beer, and eventually became ‘hopelessly drunk.’ When he came into the shop yet again, he stood by the counter holding out two £5 notes, but was incoherent when he tried to speak. one of the assistants went over to him to ask what he wanted, at which Barber reached out and grabbed her left breast. her colleague told him to leave, which he did, but then came back into the shop and pushed past other customers to the front of the queue. As he leaned across the display, the other assistant tried to keep hold of the plastic screen, but Barber pulled it from her, causing it to split and cut her finger. helped by a customer, she ushered him out, and he threw a punch at her, which missed. Police arrived and arrested him, but he was so drunk he could not stand unaided. Judge Anthony Potter said: “I have read the pre-sentence report with care, and it’s a depressing document.” simon hunka, defending, said: “Depressing is the word. It is rare to see someone with so little by way of prospects going forward, and as he himself sees it ‘I have no purpose in life’. “he has been around people who abused alcohol for his entire life. It cannot be good for someone with the past he has had to have so little for himself going forward. “he has no friends or family. he just walks. he has a backpack. his existence is one which is extremely lonely. “It’s not that he enjoys the situation he is in, but he needs a different set of circumstances to have a hope of properly addressing this. “I can only offer his remorse. he wishes me to put that forward. he acknowledges that at the moment the best place for him is in custody, but he has to learn to deal with life without committing such offences.” Jailing Barber, Judge Potter told him: “This is your fourth appearance at the crown court for offences of sexual assault, and you have been subject to sex offender registration for 12 years now. “The impression I get is that you have determined you will drink when you want, what you want, and ignore advice that abstaining would be of benefit to you and to society. “You have an aggressive and persistent attitude towards females when you are in drink, and your last appearance at this court for sexual assault back in 2016 has echoes of this offence. “Just weeks after you had finished your post-release supervision, by about 4pm you were hopelessly drunk and unable to articulate what you wanted, and when they sought to assist you, you responded with sexual aggression.” SOME PUBLISHERS DON’T LIKE TO DISCLOSE THE TRUTH OF WHAT MY BOOKS CONTAIN. NOT TO WORRY, THE BACK COVERS PLUS AMAZON ONLINE WILL TELL YOU ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW. I JUST HOPE THE POLICE AND JUDICIARY ENJOY READING ABOUT THEMSELVES AS MUCH AS I ENJOYED WRITING ABOUT THEM. MY TOURING BOOK IS EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS, AN ENJOYABLE ROMP AROUND EUROPE IN MY MOTORHOME ON A BUDGET, WILD CAMPING MOST OF THE WAY. A MUST READ FOR ANYONE LOOKING TO TRAVEL. PERFECT STOCKING FILLERS FOR www.thomaslewin.co.uk

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 23 news ■ The Earl and Countess, left, are using elderflowers to create St Maur liqueur, right. Above: their ancestor Jane Seymour, 3rd wife of Henry VIII SPIRIT OF KING’S WIFE LIVES ON IN LIQUEUR! ALIsOn BRInKwORTH News Reporter The earl and Countess of Yarmouth may count henry VIII’s wife Jane Seymour among their ancestors, but they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty to make a go of their own Midlands business. William and Kelsey Seymour are now picking their own fruit from their family-owned ancient woodlands in Alcester, near Redditch, to transform it into handcrafted elderflower liqueur. It comes after a highly publicised family rift between the couple and the earl’s parents, when they moved from the family’s £85 million Ragley hall in Warwickshire two years ago, even though he is heir to the estate. Since then, relations are reported to have improved with the couple’s latest child named with William’s father’s middle name. The aristocrats with royal connections came up with the idea of a drink as a unique present for guests at their wedding in Ragley hall three years ago. Their drink – St Maur – has already won three awards, including The World Liqueur Awards’ ‘Best english Floral’. It was based on old family recipes and named after the ‘St Maur’ surname used by the family in medieval times when their ancestors rode with William the Conqueror. The ■ The Earl picks fruit in Alcester family later changed the name to Seymour, the line producing henry VIII’s third wife and mother to King edward VI. The eldest son of the Marquess of hertford, 28-year-old William grew up at 110-room Ragley hall, so he knows exactly where to find wild elderflower blossoms in the area. he has been handpicking them from elder groves and Ladies Wood to use in the new drink. William, who has moved into farm premises near the Ragley estate in Alcester, said the business will help him instil a ‘‘work ethic’’ in his sons Clement and Jocelyn, which he says he never had growing up. “Working at the farm enables us to be hands on with every aspect of the business,” said William. “It is hard work but it is rewarding in so many ways. “Sourcing our elderflowers from land which has been in my family for centuries adds to the authenticity of St Maur. There is huge enjoyment for us, playing our part. “We are the custodians of a beautiful place, but more than this, to do justice to a heritage and the environment in which it exists you must look after its future.” Countess Kelsey, aged 36, added: “I am from this part of Warwickshire, and although I have a business background, I grew up with a love of this countryside. “St Maur now enables me to combine both these things, and for me that is hugely enjoyable. “There is a sense of place here, this is the heart of england. It is both a privilege and a joy to live and work here.” Ragley hall has been the seat of the Seymours since the 18th century. The bottle’s logo of a red-legged partridge is a nod to the bird successfully introduced to england in the 19th century by his ancestor Francis Seymour, the 5th Marquess. Jane Seymour became betrothed to henry VIII in 1536, the day after Anne Boleyn’s execution. Marrying just 10 days later, she gave birth to his son edward the following year, but died soon after. Ken’s Queen Xmas message stress Ken Bruce has revealed the BBC used multiple back-up tapes and an extra generator as a precaution during its broadcast of the Queen’s Christmas message in the 1980s. The veteran broadcaster, 70, was involved in the festive transmission on a number of occasions between 1986 and 1990 while hosting his show on BBC Radio 2. he said the responsibility created a “particular stress”, despite him only needing to press a button on his desk to start the tape rolling. Writing in the Radio Times, he said: “I volunteered to come in live on the big day for a number of years. “The particular stress came in the form of the Queen’s Christmas message. Back then it was broadcast on radio in the morning, at 10am in our case on Radio 2. This was termed a grade one broadcast; nothing could be permitted to go wrong. “I had to simultaneously start a back-up in case the original failed. To allow for the possibility of both failing, another studio next door was also running a further copy. “This, you might think, would be belt and braces enough. But no. As a final precaution, the generators in the basement of Broadcasting house were fired up, just in case of a power cut. “not one of these fail-safe measures was ever needed on my Christmas mornings, but their very existence fed the worries.” Will you give the Greatest Gift to local children and families this Christmas? Please donate to your local children’s hospice today The Yes, I want to support Acorns with a gift of I enclose a cheque payable to Acorns Children’s Hospice Trust OR Please debit my credit/debit card with the amount above. Card No: Expiry Date: / Security Code: Date: / / Signature: Title: Address: Full Name: Postcode: We will continue to contact you by post unless you tell us otherwise. If you do not wish to receive communications from us by post, please contact supporterservices@acorns.org.uk, 01564 825 037 or by writing to the address below. We can only care for children and families with your support. Thank you. Post: 302 Alcester Road, Wythall, B47 6JR Phone: 01564 825 037 Online: acorns.org.uk/gift Registered charity no: 700859 Registered in England company no. 2036103 The Greatest Gift! Greatest Gift! The Greatest Gift! Acorns Christmas Appeal Our ref: W21H1A

24 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 news BRAVE HEROES WHO PULLED 4 FROM VAN INFERNO HONOURED Annabal Bagdi News Reporter TWO heroes who fearlessly pulled four people from a burning camper van moments before it exploded have been honoured for their bravery. Akam Ali and Simon Motzkeit quickly leaped to the rescue after spotting the vehicle engulfed in flames following a crash in Staffordshire. The vehicle contained gas cylinders which are believed to have ignited when it smashed into a streetlight and flipped over while leaving the A38 northbound in Lichfield. The driver of the van, his wife and two friends soon became trapped inside the burning vehicle as the flames took hold. Gym boss Mr Ali was at a nearby petrol station when he spotted the smash and quickly dodged traffic to sprint across the 70mph carriageways on foot to offer help. Mr Motzkeit – an off-duty firefighter for West Midlands Fire Service – was travelling northbound with his children when he noticed the motor-home lose control. He immediately parked his vehicle and made his way across the carriageway to the frightening scene. Despite the extreme temperatures and lack of equipment, the quick-thinking heroes managed to save all four people. They have now been awarded the Chief Fire Officer’s Commendation Award by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service following the horrific blaze on July 27, 2019. Crew Manager Bryan Brindley said: “From my observation of the fire and the positioning of the vehicle following the collision, I believe both men demonstrated a great level of bravery and put themselves in a position of risk in order to save the lives of those involved. “I also believe that if not for their actions, the four occupants may not have been able to escape by themselves and may have lost their lives in such a tragic way.” Last year, Mr Ali was honoured at Pride of Birmingham 2020, receiving an Former adult club torched by arsonists to be bulldozed AN OLD swingers’ club in rural Staffordshire once torched by arsonists is set to be bulldozed to make way for a housing development. The 18th century Wheaton Aston Old Hall became notorious in recent times for housing the Utopia adult club, which closed in 2007. The Watling Street building ■■ Chief fire officer Rob Barber presented Simon Motzkeit with his award. Below, fellow hero Akam Ali has been vacant for several years and was damaged by fire in October, 2018. During the height of the blaze more than 30 firefighters were called out to tackle the blaze. That fire in October came just six months after another blaze at the site. Now it is due to be pulled down after South Staffordshire Council’s planning committee approved plans for its demolition and the creation of nine new homes on the site. Committee members voted unanimously on November 16 to approve the latest plans for two and three bedroom houses on the site at Ivetsey Bank. Outstanding Bravery award for risking his life to save the people in the van. He recalled how he had been driving to the barbers and pulled over at a petrol station to grab snacks when he witnessed the horrific camper van crash. The collision came years after his cousin had died in a car crash near Middlesborough. His vehicle had set on fire but no-one came to his aid. The father, from Burton, said at the time: “I just think that it could have been anyone’s family in the van that day. It was like they were so shocked that they couldn’t move. “When I saw the smoke and the fire I ran to the back doors straight away, and managed to open them. But there was so much stuff there that it was impossible to get through.” He then climbed on top of the camper van and ripped off the windows in his bid to free the passengers. He added: “The fire was coming out of the same window I had pulled them all out from. “The next thing I feel is my legs go. I sat down and watched as the rest of the gas canisters started exploding. “Everyone had to run away and take cover. There was a gas canister in the van for cooking, so within minutes the van had turned into a twisted piece of metal.” Dealer with huge drugs stash jailed A drug dealer has been jailed after he was found with a large stash of crack cocaine, heroin and cash near the River Severn in Shrewsbury. When police arrested Jacob Cooper on Sydney Avenue on June 2, officers found 108 wraps of the class A drugs along with a wad of £780 in cash. The 24-year-old, of Caradoc View, entered guilty pleas at Shrewsbury Crown Court and was sentenced by the same court on November 25. Cooper has been sentenced to 32 months in prison for possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. Detective Sergeant Steve Miller said: “We are committed to tackling drug dealing in our communities. This sentence acts a reminder to those undertaking criminality that we will not tolerate it. “By working with our local communities we can work together to target county lines drug supplies to help protect people from harm. “Anyone concerned about drug dealing in their local area can report it online here and we will investigate.” I’m a Celebrity set intruder was removed AN intruder was removed from the set of I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! after a security breach at the castle, ITV said. It is understood the intrusion happened earlier in the week, before adverse weather conditions forced the show to pre-record an episode on Friday as Storm Arwen battered the UK with winds as high as 98mph. A statement from the programme said: “A security breach was identified and an intruder was removed from the location with immediate effect. The safety of both our celebrities and our production crew remains our primary concern.” It has been an eventful first week at Gwrych Castle in North Wales, where the programme is being filmed for a second year because of the coronavirus pandemic. On Thursday Richard Madeley announced he was leaving the show after he was taken to hospital as a precaution when he fell ill in the early hours of the morning. The TV star later said he felt “fit as a fiddle” and was “gutted” that Covid restrictions meant he was not able to return to the show.

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 25 news COWS IN MOO-TURN Police officers were forced to deal with an unusual challenge this week as cows were spotted stampeding through a Midlands village. Video footage, shared by West Mercia Police’s road safety team, shows the herd running down a road in Treflach, a small and leafy village in north Shropshire. Officers were on hand to help guide the cows to their destination during the incident on Tuesday, later joking on Twitter: “Speed enforcement in our rural communities isn’t always what you’d expect.” The road safety team added: “Gives a new meaning to our com’moo’nity concern enforcement programme.” As you would expect, many people on Twitter couldn’t help reacting to the bemusing sight by coming up with some truly terrible puns. Dave Harwood said: “Oh come on, moooove them along.” “They were doing at least 15mph, what’s the limit for moo-ving cattle?” Marcus Watkin said. Simon Neale added: “Terrible... haven’t you got any udder ones better than that?” The police force responded “We really are milking these cow puns now.” National Holidays is part of the JG Travel Group and is a leading specialist in great-value coach holidays across the UK, Ireland and Europe. UK BREAKS UK Events Just Go! Holidays is a UK leader in the provision of group tours and holidays carrying in excess of 70,000 passengers annually. BEVERLEY, YORK & LINCOLN 3 DAYS BY COACH ONLY £139 Departing Fri 4 Mar ‘22 A wonderful three-day break as we enjoy the stunning market town of Beverley, the cathedral city of Lincoln and historic York with its beautiful architecture, museums, famous York Minster and the cobbled streets of the Shambles (Europe’s oldest shopping street). WHAT’S INCLUDED z Return coach travel from Birmingham & Solihull z 2 nights at the 3-star Royal Hotel, Hull with dinner & breakfast z Free excursion to York z Included visits to Beverley & Lincoln Single Supplement £35 ISLE OF WIGHT HOUSE PARTY 4 DAYS BY COACH ONLY £159 Departing Fri 25 Mar ‘22 Treat yourself to a break away to the Isle of Wight with its dramatic white cliffs and pretty resorts, and be prepared for fun and amusements by the bucket (and spade) load! There’s also a fabulous drinks offer to enjoy at our hotel on this lovely short break. Single Supplement £45 What’s Included z Return coach travel and ferry crossings from Solihull & Sutton Coldfield z 3 nights at the Holliers Hotel, Shanklin with dinner & breakfast z Happy hour before dinner every evening z Entertainment some evenings z Excursion to Newport & Ryde Optional excursion to Cowes, Yarmouth & Ventnor (£11pp) Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to Just Go! Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. Call 03332 342 515 (quoting RCH) or visit justgoholidays.com/RCH 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. BLACKPOOL METROPOLE SPECIAL 2 DAYS BY COACH ONLY £84 Departing Sun 20 Mar ‘22, Sun 26 Jun ‘22, Sun 20 Nov ‘22 Two wonderful days away to enjoy everything bustling Blackpool has to offer. Discover the endless attractions of one of the UK’s best-loved coastal resorts, combined with welcoming hotel accommodation on this special break! WHAT’S INCLUDED z Return coach travel from Birmingham & Solihull z Overnight stay at the 2-star Metropole Hotel, Blackpool with dinner & breakfast z Evening entertainment z Free time in Blackpool Single Supplement £15 Operated by Just Go Holidays Ltd trading as National Holidays. Coach package holidays and short breaks are subject to National Holidays terms and conditions. Your booking is protected by Bonded Coach Holidays (BCH) and the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT); this is a government approved consumer protection scheme. Tours offered subject to availability and government guidelines. Errors and omissions excepted. Prices per person, based on two people sharing a double/twin room. Calls to 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. Call 03332 342 515 (quoting RCH) or visit nationalholidays.com/RCH 033 numbers are free within inclusive minutes packages otherwise standard rates apply. justgohols JGTravelGroup

26 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 FLYNN Derek Joseph Sadly Derek left us aged 89 on the 1st Nov. His funeral will be at Robin Hood Dec 6th 3.30pm. Past friends welcome. PALMER David Leonard Sadly passed away at home on Tuesday 16th November 2021 aged 74 years. David will be deeply missed by his family and friends. A service to celebrate David's life will take place at Redditch Crematorium on Friday 10th December 2021 at 11.45am All enquiries may be made to:Thomas Brothers The Funeral Directors, 66 Birmingham Road, Bromsgrove, B61 0DD 01527 831700 funeral-notices.co.uk Announce, share and remember forever Funeral Notice Partners The following Funeral Directors have chosen funeral-notices.co.uk to provide notices on their website meaning you may view their current and past notices on their own websites. Check out your local Funeral Notice Partners below: Visit: jacksonfunerals.co.uk Interested in becoming a preferred partner to funeral notices? Funeral Directors can be added free to this advert by calling 03444 060 276

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 27 Classified Entertainment Property LOCAL GARDENER • All Aspects of gardening work undertaken • Winter tidy ups • Regular maintenance • Pressure washing • Fencing • One off jobs • Excellent plant knowledge • Plants supplied & planted in your garden Affordable, reliable & friendly. 7 Days 07514 415 639 WANTED CARAVANS cash paid any age, any size, any caravan considered 07785567739 WANTED Mobility scooters All models any condition. Instant cash payments on the day daily collections. Also wheel chair access vehicles purchased all makes urgently needed will pay up to ££££££££ 07768362853 WANTED F O O T B A L L P R O G R A M M E S WANTED PRE - 1969 , TICKETS , BADGES , PHOTOS , OLD SHIRTS , ALSO SPEEDWAY & RUGBY ****CASH PAID **** cornerprogrammes@ gmail.com 07427 746 806 VINYL RECORDS WANTED ROCK/INDIE/PUNK/SOUL/ REGGAE/PSYCH LP'S/7" SINGLES/EP'S FANTASTIC CASH PRICES PAID £750 07780360187 Busty 36H Natural Fun and Fantasy 07977376959 2014 Swift Chamonix 38x12 www.thewinnall.co.uk 01299 878872 Motors MJ RECOVERY LTD ALL SCRAP VEHICLES WANTED WE PAY UP TO £500 Up to £25,000 paid for runners BIGGER CARS = MORE CASH! MOT Failures - DVLA Notified Cheap Breakdown Service • Fully Insured Registered Waste Carrier FAST • HONEST • RELIABLE Tel: 07766 540 401 Freephone: 08000 778 328 T & C’S Apply WANTED CARAVANS cash paid any age, any size, any caravan considered 07785567739 www.mjrecoveryltd.co.uk WANTED SMALL CAR With cheap tax, anything considered, with or without MOT. Please call 07508 398651 Two bedrooms. Double glazing, and central heating. Integrated Fridge Freezer and microwave. Price includes large decking area. £55,000 The Winnall Caravan Park Lincomb Stourport on Severn Worcestershire DY13 9RG *PER TONNE Public Notices Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence Leyland Trade Supplies Ltd of Unit 1, 186A Drews Lane, Birmingham, B8 2SL is applying for a licence to use Unit 1, 186A Drews Lane, Birmingham, B8 2SL as an operating centre for 3 goods vehicles and 0 trailers. Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS9 6NF stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office. LICENSING ACT 2003 APPLICATION FOR A NEW PREMISES LICENCE (s17) Northfi eld Super Store, 717 Bristol Road South,Birmingham, B31 2JT We, Northfi eld Superstore Ltd have submitted the above application on 17.11.21 to Birmingham City Council Licensing Authority to apply for the Sale of Alcohol for consumption ‘off’ the premises and opening hours from 07.00 until 00.00 Monday to Sunday. Any person can submit a representation that shall only be made in writing by 15.12.21 to: General Licensing Regulation & Enforcement,PO Box 17831, Birmingham, B2 2HJ or by email to licensing@birmingham.gov. uk.The application details can be viewed in the licensing register that is kept at the above address by appointment only between the hours of 09.00 until 15.00 Monday to Friday or also available to view online at www.birmingham.gov.uk. It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application that carries an unlimited fi ne. Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence RK Pallets Limited of 294 Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green Birmingham, B9 4UU is applying for a licence to use 294 Cherrywood Road, Bordesley Green Birmingham, B9 4UU as an operating centre for 2 goods vehicles and 0 trailers. Owners or occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffi c Commissioner at Hillcrest House, 386 Harehills Lane, Leeds, LS9 6NF stating their reasons, within 21 days of this notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice. A Guide to Making Representations is available from the Traffi c Commissioner’s offi ce.

Discover your next flexible job today Competitive pay rates (including holiday pay) Hiring across: Hospitality Industrial Healthcare Retail Facilities Management Scan to £40 referral bonus* Flexible, consistent and long-term work Unlock benefits including career coaching, mental health support, family leave, plus everyday savings, and more! Join us and book immediate shifts It’s easy... Sign up Get onboarded Book shifts To find out more visit indeedflex.co.uk TRAINEES WANTED Cumberland Meat Packers is a family-run business operating from a modern food processing facility in North-East Coventry. We process over 1000 cattle per week and we have vacancies in various departments for trainees. Our starting salary is £22,000 per annum and after a successful training period there are numerous opportunities to further develop your career. If you decide to join us before 7th December 2021 we will give you a £1000 bonus on completion of your first stage of training. Our industry is long established, with good job security and it offers in-roads to many catering related industries. If you, a friend or a relative are keen to find out more, in the first instance please call Richard on 02476 621 467 or email richard@cumberlandmeats.co.uk to arrange a meeting.

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 29 RESULTS CARLISLE TODAY Going: Good to soft-good in places on chase course (prec inspection 8am) Universal Folly 12.10 Lord Condi Dreal Deal 12.45 adrimel A Distant Place 1.15 A Distant Place Elimay (nb) 1.45 annie Mc Sultans Pride 2.20 Lossiemouth Court Dreaming 2.50 Morning Spirit Big Arthur 3.20 Knowwhentoholdem BANGOR-ON-DEE Abandoned due to High winds DONCASTER Going: Good to soft-good in places 12.05 (3m 2f, £2,505): 1, SUMMIT LIKE HERBIE (J Nailor) 15-2; 2, Bobmahley 6-4 Fav; 3, Vintage Glen 10-3. 9 ran. 4l, 3¾l. (N Twiston- Davies). Tote: Win £8.50; Pl £2.10, £1.10, £1.40. Exacta: £23.00. Tricast: £46.61. Trifecta: £81.30. CSF: £20.53. NR: Banana Joe, Strategic. 12.35 (2m 1f, £4,084): 1, BRIEF TIMES (J Best) 2-5 Fav; 2, Global Famenglory 17-2; 3, Stumps Or Slips 16-1. 7 ran. 3l, 45l. (N Mulholland). Tote: Win £1.40; Pl £1.10, £3.20. Exacta: £3.70. Trifecta: £13.60. CSF: £5.07. NR: Alchemystique, Bob’s Bar, Waltons Grove. 1.08 (2m 3f, £5,991): 1, NEXTDOORTOALICE (H Bannister) 13-8; 2, Becky The Boo 3-1; 3, Karlie 6-4 Fav. 5 ran. 10l, 2¼l. (A Hales). Tote: Win £2.63; Pl £1.20, £1.50. Exacta: £6.10. Trifecta: £8.70. CSF: £6.86. 1.43 (2m 1f, £4,956): 1, INGLEBY HOLLOW (N Moscrop) 17-2; 2, Rattle Owl 7-4 Fav; 3, Gordon’s Jet 7-2. 7 ran. 3½l, 1½l. (R Menzies). Tote: Win £9.50; Pl £3.90, £1.50. Exacta: £27.00. Tricast: £62.72. Trifecta: £99.00. CSF: £24.36. NR: Constancio. 2.18 (2m 3f, £4,956): 1, HERBIERS (H Brooke) 10-3 JtFav; 2, Global Citizen 7-1; 3, Courtandbould 5-1. Also: 10-3 JtFav Ecco. 8 ran. 8½l, 3½l. (O Greenall). Tote: Win £4.34; Pl £1.30, £2.30, £1.90. Exacta: £28.50. Tricast: £113.75. Trifecta: £171.60. CSF: £26.33. 2.53 (1m 5f, £1,906): 1, LE FILS DE FORCE (Bryony Frost) 7-2; 2, Our Marty 9-1; 3, Idealdes Villerets 9-2. Also: 15-8 Fav King Of Quinta. 9 ran. 2¾l, 1½l. (Simon Whitaker). Tote: Win £4.50; Pl £1.60, £2.30, £1.70. Exacta: £39.40. Trifecta: £134.90. CSF: £35.22. 3.28 (2m 3f, £5,882): 1, FLIC OU VOYOU (Bryony Frost) 10-11 JtFav; 2, Jacamar 10-11 JtFav; 2 ran. 8½l. (P Nicholls). Tote: Win £1.91; PLACEPOT: Dividend: £16.70. NEWBURY Going: Good to soft-good in places 12.10 (2m, £14,860): 1, ELLE EST BELLE (H Skelton) 2-1; 2, Ahorsewithnoname 5-1; 3, Theatre Glory 17-2. Also: evens Fav Nina The Terrier. 6 ran. 8½l, 5½l. (D Skelton). Tote: Win £3.00; Pl £1.40, £2.20. Exacta: £11.90. Trifecta: £45.50. CSF: £12.59. NR: Rainyday Woman. 12.40 (2m 7f, £28,475): 1, AHOY SENOR (D R Fox) 5-2; 2, Mr Incredible 11-10 Fav; 3, Flash Collonges 6-1. 4 ran. 31l, 14l. (L Russell). Tote: Win £3.50; Exacta: £4.80. Trifecta: £12.10. CSF: £5.82. 1.15 (2m 6f, £20,812): 1, KAPCORSE (H Cobden) 13-2; 2, Court Master 18-1; 3, Espoir De Teillee 16-1. Also: 4-1 Fav Kalooki. 13 ran. 5½l, 1½l. (P Nicholls). Tote: Win £7.50; Pl £4.70, £2.60, £4.80. Exacta: £122.60. Tricast: £1795.16. Trifecta: £1967.20. CSF: £112.35. 1.50 (2m 4f 118yds, £21,784): 1, EARLOFTHECOTSWOLDS (S Twiston- Davies) 14-1; 2, Masters Legacy 10-3 Fav; 3, Annsam 13-2. 11 ran. 1l, 4¼l. (N Twiston-Davies). Tote: Win £15.00; Pl £3.10, £1.80, £2.40. Exacta: £57.40. Tricast: £339.19. Trifecta: £560.50. CSF: £59.93. 2.25 (2m, £28,475): 1, ONEMOREFORTHEROAD (J Quinlan) 8-1; 2, Captain Morgs 9-2; 3, Gowel Road 3-1. Also: 5-6 Fav Soaring Glory. 4 ran. 2½l, hd. (N King). Tote: Win £9.00; Exacta: £33.30. Trifecta: £72.10. CSF: £36.22. 3.00 (3m 2f, £142,375): 1, CLOUDY GLEN (C Deutsch) 33-1; 2, Fiddlerontheroof 9-2; 3, Brahma Bull 40-1; 4, Ontheropes 8-1. Also: 3-1 Fav Eklat De Rire. 21 ran. ½l, 28l, 1½l. (V Williams). Tote: Win £40.40; Pl £6.90, £1.80, £9.00, £2.70. Exacta: £321.40. Tricast: £6068.79. Trifecta: £16217.30. CSF: £169.43. 3.35 (2m, £20,812): 1, IL RIDOTO (H Cobden) 4-1 CoFav; 2, Numitor 4-1 CoFav; 3, Frero Banbou 13-2. Also: 4-1 CoFav Grey Diamond. 12 ran. 6½l, 1½l. (P Nicholls). Tote: Win £5.00; Pl £2.30, £2.00, £2.60. Exacta: £29.10. Tricast: £104.16. Trifecta: £224.40. CSF: £20.99. NR: Sao. JACKPOT: Not won, pool of £3,932.97 carried over. PLACEPOT: Dividend: £2,805.30. NEWCASTLE Going: Good to soft-soft in places 11.45 (2m, £10,892): 1, TOO FRIENDLY (Bridget Andrews) 5-4 Fav; 2, Twilight Twist 11-8; 3, Galah 14-1. 6 ran. 4¾l, 1¼l. (D Skelton). Tote: Win £2.90; Pl £1.20, £1.20. Exacta: £3.30. Trifecta: £11.40. CSF: £3.40. 12.20 (2m 4f, £4,139): 1, SCENE NOT HERD (J J Burke) 15-8 Fav; 2, Luckofthedraw 11-4; 3, Caboy 10-1. 10 ran. 6½l, 8l. (C Longsdon). Tote: Win £2.88; Pl £1.30, £1.40, £2.70. Exacta: £7.90. Tricast: £37.14. Trifecta: £42.10. CSF: £7.85. 12.55 (2m 6f, £7,804): 1, MR GLASS (S Bowen) 5-6 Fav; 2, Loughderg Rocco 14-1; 3, Marble Sands 15-8. 4 ran. 1l, 1¾l. (P Nicholls). Tote: Win £1.84; Exacta: £8.00. Trifecta: £15.30. CSF: £9.63. NR: Captain Quint, Coolbane Boy. 1.30 (2m 7f, £5,882): 1, WINDS OF FIRE (A Wedge) 10-1; 2, Cooper’s Cross 7-4 JtFav; 3, Valleres 7-4 JtFav. 4 ran. 1¾l, 20l. (E Williams). Tote: Win £11.00; Exacta: £35.30. CSF: £26.97. 2.05 (2m 7f, £39,865): 1, AYE RIGHT (C Bewley) 5-1; 2, Good Boy Bobby 9-2 Fav; 3, Dingo Dollar 15-2. 12 ran. hd, 9½l. (Mrs H Graham). 12.10 RACING TV CONDITIONAL JOCKEYS’ HANDICAP HURDLE (4) 2m 1f Winner £4,901 (9 run) RTV 1 841 Lord Condi (106) D Brooke 8 11-12.... Emma Smith-Chaston (3) 122 2 97- Lucky Lover Boy (486) O Greenall 6 11-12 (D)............F Gregory — 3 881 Romeo Brown (11) Sue Smith 7 11-11 (CD)..........T Willmott (3) 108 4 -15 Malpas (20) D McCain 6 11-11 (CD)............................ T Gillard (3) 118 5 671 Universal Folly (28) N Richards 6 11-7 (CD)...Mr C Rabbitt (10) 119 6 4-5 Applaus (194) M Hammond 9 11-5 (CD)............... Jack Hogan (7) 101 7 249 Frightened Rabbit (11) D Sayer 9 11-3 (CD)............A Doyle (5) 121 8 5P0 Ensel Du Perche (147) Mrs Stella Barclay 7 11-1.. Charlotte Jones 114 9 0-6 Vee Dancer (30) R McNally (IRE) 6 10-11......................K Brogan 105 BETTING: 7-2 Romeo Brown, 4 Lord Condi, Universal Folly, 6 Vee Dancer, 8 Malpas, Applaus, 10 Frightened Rabbit, 12 Lucky Lover Boy, 33 Ensel Du Perche. 2020: No corresponding race. 12.45 BET AT RACINGTV.COM NOVICES’ CHASE (3) 2m Winner £7,080 (6 run) RTV 1 714 Arvico Bleu (22) Ewan Whillans 9 11-12 (CD)...............C Bewley 143 2 PP- Adrimel (232) T Lacey 6 11-2 (D3)..................................J J Burke — 3 P-2 Cornerstone Lad (15) M Hammond 7 11-2 (D6)...... C O’Farrell 142 4 17- Dreal Deal (232) R McNally (IRE) 6 11-2 (D2)................ D Meyler — 5 1P- The Mouse Doctor A Keatley 8 11-2 (D2)............Sean Quinlan — 6 11- Word Has It (251) D McCain 7 11-2 (C, D).....................B Hughes — BETTING: 13-8 Dreal Deal, 3 Adrimel, 7-2 Cornerstone Lad, 6 Word Has It, 10 Arvico Bleu, 20 The Mouse Doctor. 2020: No corresponding race. FORM GUIDE: DREAL DEAL 7-1 Held up in rear, hampered 4 out, headway approaching 3 out, weakened before next, 7th of 12, well behind My Drogo at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr. ADRIMEL 25-1 Prominent on inside, pushed along after 7th, weakened after next, pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by My Drogo at Aintree 2m 4f nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Apr, 12 ran. CORNERSTONE LAD 5-4 Led, pushed along and headed when mistake 3 out, battled back to lead briefly before last, outpaced flat and no extra, 2nd of 3, 4l behind Fransham at Wetherby 1m 7f nov hcap ch (3) gs. WORD HAS IT 2-11fav Led, jumped right on occasions, pushed along before 2 out, went right and ridden approaching last, ran on flat, won at Kelso 2m nh nov hdl (4) gd in Mar beating Wicked West by 6l, 12 ran. ARVICO BLEU 9-1 Prominent, led 3rd, headed after next, led 5th, headed after 2 out, weakened flat, 4th of 8, 7l behind Darling Du Large at Aintree 2m hcp chs 0-140 (3) gs. THE MOUSE DOCTOR 40-1 Mid-division, not fluent 4th and dropped to rear halfway, detached after 4 out and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Jazzaway at Punchestown 2m hcp hdl in Apr, 24 ran. 1.15 BRITISH EBF ‘NATIONAL HUNT’ NOVICES’ HURDLE (4) 2m 3f Winner £4,629 (10 run) RTV 1 2-1 A Distant Place (27) Jonjo O’Neill 6 11-4........... Jonjo O’Neill Jr 133 2 3-6 Everyday Champagne (38) N Richards 5 10-12........................ .............................................................................D McMenamin 121 3 -22 Pilgrims King (183) P Bowen 5 10-12 (BF).................. S Bowen — 4 22- Scipion (232) T Lacey 5 10-12.................................... S Sheppard — 5 -P9 Tim Pat (11) D McCain 5 10-12.......................................B Hughes 68 6 66- A Day In Donostia (233) M & D Easterby 4 10-11...W T Kennedy 88 7 3-5 Court At Slip (22) T Easterby 4 10-11.......................J Hamilton 128 8 1 Harry Du Berlais (209) N Kent 4 10-11............... C Hammond — 9 2-4 Lounge Lizard (35) H Daly 4 10-11...........................T J O’Brien 92 10 759 Wotsmyname (12) I Jardine 4 10-11.....................Sean Quinlan 97 BETTING: 7-4 A Distant Place, 7-2 Lounge Lizard, 5 Scipion, 11-2 Pilgrims King, 10 Everyday Champagne, Harry Du Berlais, 20 Tim Pat, Court At Slip, 66 Others. 2020: GASTON PHEBUS 4 11 4, Jonjo O’Neill Jr 4-1 (Jonjo O’Neill), 7 ran. FORM GUIDE: A DISTANT PLACE 8-15fav Chased leader, not fluent 2nd, led final bend, drew clear flat, comfortably, won at Hereford 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd beating Chanceux by 5l, 7 ran. LOUNGE LIZARD 25-1 Mid-division, headway 3 out, 4th and edged left before last, no impression on leaders, 4th of 12, 24l behind Gelino Bello at Aintree 2m 4f mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct. SCIPION Pr in main group, 40l 5th 1/2way, clsr in 3rd aftr 4out, jnd ldr when left ld 2out, hdd 50 yards out, no ex, 2nd of 15 Minella Crooner at Cork 3m ire ptp gd in Apr. PILGRIMS KING 85-40fav Held up on inside, switched right and closed from over 2f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, held but stayed on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Brief Times at Ffos Las 2m NH flat (5) gs in May. EVERYDAY CHAMPAGNE 16-1 Not fluent in rear, ridden before 3 out, no extra, 6th of 11, 24l behind Kayf Hernando at Carlisle 2m 4f nh nov hdl (4) gd in Oct. HARRY DU BERLAIS Ld/disp 2nd & jw, wo aftr 8th, 1l adv bef 4out, chall brfly 3out, qckly went clr bef 2out, 12l adv last, easily, won at Dawstown 3m ire ptp gs in May beating Boys Of Wexford by 10l, 8 ran. COURT AT SLIP 50-1 Mid-division, dropped to rear before 3 out, ridden before 2 out, always behind, 5th of 7, 19l behind Mister Whitaker at Kelso 2m 7f nh nov hdl (4) gs. TIM PAT 18-5 Contested lead, headed 3 out, pushed approaching 2 out, weakened and beat when ridden turning for home, 9th of 13, 30l behind Captain Quint at Hexham 2m NH nov hdl 4-6yo (4) gs. A DAY IN DONOSTIA 80-1 Always towards rear, 6th of 8, well behind Bellaney Gem at Sedgefield 2m 4f nov hdl (4) gd in Apr. WOTSMYNAME 33-1 Not always fluent towards rear, well beaten 9th 3 out, 9th of 11, 27l behind Soft Risk at Ayr 2m nh nov hdl (4) gs. 1.45 HOUGHTON MARES’ CHASE (LISTED) (1) 2m 4f Winner £18,794 (4 run) RTV 1 11- Annie Mc (298) Jonjo O’Neill 7 11-4 (D3)............... Jonjo O’Neill Jr 159 2 21- Elimay (239) W P Mullins (IRE) 7 11-4 (D2)....................B Hughes 166 3 2-4 Zambella (29) N Twiston-Davies 6 11-4 (D)..................... D Jacob 155 4 5F7 Dolly Dancer (22) M Barnes 7 11-0 (D)........................C Bewley 135 BETTING: 8-15 Elimay, 5-2 Annie Mc, 6 Zambella, 100 Dolly Dancer. 2020: MY OLD GOLD 10 11 0, Brian Hughes 4-1 (N Richards), 6 ran. FORM GUIDE: ELIMAY 8-15fav Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, headway in 2nd after 4 out, led 2 out and pushed along, ridden and kept on run-in, won at Fairyhouse 2m 5f Listed ch (1) in Apr beating Demi Plie by 1 1/4l, 5 ran. ANNIE MC 13-8fav Chased leaders, went 2nd after 7th, pushed along before 2 out, led last, drew clear final 150 yards, stayed on well, won at Warwick 2m 4f Listed ch (1) sft in Feb beating Zambella by 6l, 5 ran. ZAMBELLA 4-1 Handy, left behind by winner before 3 out, stayed on one pace, weakened from last flight, 4th of 7, 14l behind Molly Ollys Wishes at Wetherby 2m mrs hdl (listed) (4yo+) (1) gs in Oct. DOLLY DANCER 14-1 Disputed lead, slow jump 3 out, lost place and weakened tamely, tailed off, last of 7, well behind Sultans Pride at Kelso 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft. 2.20 VISIT RACINGTV.COM HANDICAP HURDLE (3) 3m 1f Winner £7,407 (10 run) RTV 1 -15 Burbank (154) J Moffatt 9 11-12 (D)..............Charlotte Jones (5) 142 2 -11 Lossiemouth (11) T Lacey 6 11-11 (C)................... T Doggrell (7) 131 3 10- The Cob (254) B Pauling 7 11-11.........................Luca Morgan (5) 100 4 21P Homme D’Un Soir (29) S Crawford (IRE) 5 11-6............. D Jacob 142 5 11- Storm Nelson (239) A M Thomson 8 11-3 (CD2)............ R Mania 142 6 53- Flashjack (259) H Daly 11 11-3.................................... R Patrick 146 7 -20 Big Bad Bear (154) N Richards 7 11-3 (C)...............Sean Quinlan 135 8 6-1 Sultans Pride (22) G Boanas 9 11-0...........................B Hughes 141 9 376 Perfect Man (15) M Hammond 10 10-12...Miss Becky Smith (3) 145 10 RP- The Delray Munky (295) I Jardine 9 10-7................. C O’Farrell — BETTING: 9-4 Lossiemouth, 4 Storm Nelson, 6 Sultans Pride, 7 The Cob, 8 Big Bad Bear, 10 Burbank, 12 Homme D’Un Soir, 16 Flashjack, The Delray Munky, 25 Perfect Man. 2020: No corresponding race. FORM GUIDE: LOSSIEMOUTH 11-2 Tracked leaders, going well on inside when took it up 3 out, clear last, ran on well flat, easily, won at Ffos Las 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) sft beating To Be Sure by 10l, 7 ran. STORM NELSON 8-15fav In touch, headway to track leaders 6th, hit and led 2 out, clear next, won at Carlisle 3m 1f hcp hdl 0-125 (3) gs in Apr beating Bali Body by 11l, 9 ran. SULTANS PRIDE 11-2 Mid-division, tracked leaders before 3 out, shaken up after 2 out, pressed leader before last, ridden and stayed on well to lead towards finish, won at Kelso 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) sft beating Doyen Breed by 1l, 7 ran. THE COB 28-1 Always towards rear, tailed off, 12th of 16, well behind Vanillier at Cheltenham 3m nov hdl Grade 1 (1) gs in Mar. BIG BAD BEAR 25-1 Mid-division, ridden and dropped away 3 before 3 out,, 12th of 13, well behind South Terrace at Uttoxeter 2m 7f hcp hdl (2) gd in Jun. BURBANK 7-2 Chased leader, led 5th, blundered badly and headed next, 2nd until after 10th, weakened 3 out, 5th of 6, 37l behind Solar Impulse at Cartmel 2m 5f hcp chs (2) gd in Jun. HOMME D’UN SOIR 7-1 Mid-division on inner and 6th from halfway, not fluent 4 out and soon pushed along, no impression in 9th before 3 out and pulled up before next, in a race won by Eskylane at Down Royal 2m 1f hcap hdle sft in Oct, 12 ran. FLASHJACK 18-1 Held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway after 7th, went 3rd before 2 out, not fluent last, stayed on same pace, 3rd of 11, 16l behind J’Ai Froid at Warwick 3m 2f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) sft in Mar. THE DELRAY MUNKY 12-1 Towards rear, jumped left at times, behind 12th, mistake 18th, pulled up before 19th, in a race won by Mighty Thunder at Musselburgh 4m 1f hcp chs 0-150 (2) sft in Feb, 11 ran. PERFECT MAN 33-1 Mid division, pushed along and weakened home turn, tailed off, 6th of 8, 31l behind Earlofthecotswolds at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs. 2.50 JOIN RACINGTV NOW HANDICAP CHASE (3) 3m 110yds Winner £7,407 (7 run) RTV 1 -2F Morning Spirit (35) Jonjo O’Neill 6 11-12......... Jonjo O’Neill Jr — 2 0-3 Downtown Getaway (42) P Bowen 8 11-9................ S Bowen 96 3 113 Juge Et Parti (28) J Ewart 8 11-7 (D2).........................B Hughes 138 4 224 Thatsy (20) B Butterworth 7 11-7 (D)......................Sean Quinlan 138 5 662 Court Dreaming (45) N Richards 8 11-2 (CD).....D McMenamin 134 6 2-7 Who’s In The Box (28) N Kent 7 11-0 (D)................ C Hammond 136 7 5-8 Flower Of Scotland (28) A M Thomson 6 10-12........ R Mania 139 BETTING: 9-4 Morning Spirit, 10-3 Juge Et Parti, 7-2 Court Dreaming, 7 Who’s In The Box, 8 Downtown Getaway, 10 Flower Of Scotland, 14 Thatsy. 2020: RATH AN IUIR 7 11 9, Conor O’Farrell 5-4 Fav (R Dobbin), 7 ran. FORM GUIDE: MORNING SPIRIT 3-1 Held up towards rear, not fluent 2nd, fell 8th, in a race won by Corach Rambler at Aintree 3m 1f nov Limited hcap ch (3) gd in Oct, 7 ran. JUGE ET PARTI 9-1 Mid-division, chased front rank after 10th, ridden 2 out, stayed on one pace, 3rd of 9, 5l behind Hold That Taught at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct. COURT DREAMING 7-2 Tracked leader, outjumped 3 out, soon pushed along, ridden after last, stayed on to take second close home, no impression on winner, 2nd of 3, 1 1/4l behind Quartz Du Rheu at Carlisle 3m hcp chs 0-135 (3) gd in Oct. WHO’S IN THE BOX 7-1 Tracked leader, pushed along 4 out, ridden 2 out, gradually faded, 7th of 9, 9l behind Hold That Taught at Carlisle 3m 2f hcp chs 0-135 (3) sft in Oct. DOWNTOWN GETAWAY 8-1 Chased leader, mistake 4th, ridden 3 out, weakened, 3rd of 4, 35l behind Minella Trump at Sedgefield 2m 3f nov hcp chs (3) gd in Oct. FLOWER OF SCOTLAND 28-1 Always rear, mistake 1st, never showed, 8th of 11, 35l behind Papa Tango Charly at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) sft in Oct. THATSY 40-1 Held up, ridden and outpaced after 3 out, kept on after 2 out, not reach leaders, 4th of 5, 10l behind Emir Sacree at Carlisle 2m 4f nov hcap ch (3) gs. 3.20 RACINGTV.COM OPEN NH FLAT RACE (5) 2m 1f Winner £2,451 (12 run) RTV 1 1 Knowwhentoholdem (38) M Harris 6 11-7 (D)....................... ...............................................................................M Bastyan (3) 121 2 Big Arthur Mrs H Graham 4 11-0................................. R Mania — 3 Boris The Brave T Coyle 4 11-0............................T Midgley (7) — 4 4 Ceolwulf (193) Chris McSharry 5 11-0..........................J Garritty 97 5 81- Chase Outlaw (211) D McCain 5 11-0.........................B Hughes — 6 P35 Duke Of Deception (28) O Greenall 4 11-0.................H Brooke 117 7 4 Eden Mill (29) D Whillans 4 11-0..................................C Bewley 119 8 Medicine Wheel N Mechie 5 11-0................................. D Jacob — 9 2 Summergrounds (207) N Richards 5 11-0........D McMenamin 124 10 2- The Questioner (231) O Greenall 5 11-0................ Craig Nichol — 11 Heaventree Ewan Whillans 4 10-7............................ C O’Farrell — 12 2 Melvich Bay (50) D Brooke 4 10-7.........................Sean Quinlan 128 BETTING: 3 Summergrounds, 4 Knowwhentoholdem, 5 Chase Outlaw, Melvich Bay, 8 The Questioner, 10 Eden Mill, 12 Ceolwulf, Duke Of Deception, 25 Others. 2020: AVIEWTOSEA 5 11 0, Max Kendrick(3) 7-2 (G McPherson), 7 ran. MAJOR BET INSIDE TRACK statistics Weight watcher Horses which have dropped most from previous winning handicap marks in the last two years. CARLISLE: 2.20 Flashjack (won off 134 down 6lb to 128); Perfect Man (6lb). LEICESTER: None. Downgraded Horses dropped two grades or more from their previous race. CARLISLE: 12.10 Lucky Lover Boy (down 2 grades), 12.45 Adrimel (down 5), 12.45 Dreal Deal (down 5), 2.20 The Cob (down 5). LEICESTER: 3.00 One For Billy (down 2), 3.00 The Dancing Poet (down 2), 3.00 Tinnahalla (down 2). Stable movers Horses which are having their first run for a new trainer. CARLISLE: 12.10 Lord Condi (I Jardine to D Brooke), 12.45 The Mouse Doctor (A J Martin to A Keatley), 1.15 Harry Du Berlais (C Bowe to N Kent), 1.15 Scipion (C Bowe to T Lacey), 3.20 Chase Outlaw (D P Murphy to D McCain), 3.20 The Questioner (J P Berry to O Greenall). LEICESTER: 12.55 Krypton Gold (S Lavery to S Edmunds), 12.55 Parliament Hill (John Murphy to O Murphy), 3.00 Al Kherb (J J Quinn to Sarah Bowen). Race trends Highlighting any races which a trainer has won twice or more in the past 10 years. CARLISLE None. LEICESTER D Skelton won the 1.55 in 2015 . LEICESTER TODAY Going: Home straight: soft; remainder: good to soft-soft in places (prec insp 8am) Jackpot meeting Book of Secrets 12.55 Book of Secrets Karakoram 1.25 robeam Reilly 1.55 reilly Presuming Ed 2.30 Presuming Ed The Dancing Poet 3.00 Floki Dorisa Queen (nap) 3.30 Tashunka 12.55 JUVENILE MAIDEN HURDLE (4) (3-Y-O) 1m 7f 113yds Winner £4,139 (11 run) RTV 1 9 Agent Empire (23) O Signy 10-12...............................C Deutsch 55 2 2 Book of Secrets (18) D Skelton 10-12.......................H Skelton 97 3 Buxted Too I Williams 10-12...................................... C Todd (3) — 4 Crestwood Joseph Parr 10-12................................ N Scholfield — 5 Cuban Cigar R Hannon 10-12...............................T Scudamore — 6 Krypton Gold S Edmunds 10-12.............................G Sheehan — 7 6 Many Words (24) A Carroll 10-12........................... H Bannister 73 8 9 Outback Boy (9) O Greenall 10-12............................. R T Dunne 42 9 Parliament Hill O Murphy 10-12........................... A Coleman — 10 53 Sabre Jet (28) A Murphy 10-12.....................................J Quinlan 72 11 4 Trusty Scout (8) D Pipe 10-12.............................. P Armson (7) 83 BETTING: 6-4 Book of Secrets, 9-2 Parliament Hill, 7 Trusty Scout, Buxted Too, 10 Cuban Cigar, 14 Outback Boy, 16 Krypton Gold, Sabre Jet, 20 Others. 2020: BLUE SLATE 11 0, Paul O’Brien(3) 50-1 (F Brennan), 10 ran. FORM GUIDE: BOOK OF SECRETS 7-2 Tracked leaders, led 2nd, not fluent 4 out, ridden 2 out, headed approaching next, kept on one pace, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Saint Segal at Bangor-on-Dee 2m 1f 3yo mdn hdl (4) gs. PARLIAMENT HILL 50-1 Led early, prominent, closed up travelling smoothly straight, pushed along 2f out, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Point Nepean at Navan 1m 5f 3yo mdn in May (flat). BUXTED TOO 9-4fav Led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong, 4th of 6, 3 1/2l behind Sir Chauvelin at Newcastle 1m 4f hcp 0-85 (4) (flat). TRUSTY SCOUT 20-1 Not jump well, led until 1st, chased winner until 2 out, weakened into 4th flat, 4th of 8, 22l behind John Locke at Huntingdon 2m mdn hdl (4) gd. CUBAN CIGAR 11-1 Towards rear, pushed along over 2f out, never nearer, 8th of 14, 7l behind Marion’s Boy at Lingfield 1m 2f hcp 0-70 (5) pol in Oct (flat). 1.25 LEICESTER-RACECOURSE.CO.UK SELLING HURDLE (4) 1m 7f 113yds Winner £3,322 (7 run) RTV 1 570 Colonel Lesley (30) B Leavy 5 11-0 (D)........... P J Kavanagh (7) 85 2 242 Karakoram (13) G Harris 6 11-0 (D).............................B R Jones 105 3 38 Olly’s Folly (17) M Gillard 7 11-0............................. F Gillard (3) 102 4 6/0 Robeam (11) B Ellison 5 11-0.......................................S Coltherd 67 5 471 Dolly McQueen (13) F Brennan 5 10-12 (D).....................D Bass 104 6 700 Jewari Of Saints (7) D Pipe 4 10-12..................... P Armson (7) 87 7 4F2 Gaia Vallis (31) D Bridgwater 5 10-7.......................A Jordan (7) 114 BETTING: 7-4 Robeam, 4 Gaia Vallis, 9-2 Dolly McQueen, 5 Jewari Of Saints, 6 Karakoram, 16 Olly’s Folly, 25 Colonel Lesley. 2020: PARICOLOR 4 11 5, Fergus Gillard(5) 11-8 (D Pipe), 5 ran. FORM GUIDE: ROBEAM 33-1 Always in rear, tailed off before 2 out, 12th of 14, well behind Romeo Brown at Hexham 2m hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gs. GAIA VALLIS 4-1 Mid-division, closed up to chase front pack after 3 out, pushed along and went close third home turn, pressed leader before last, led briefly last, ran on, soon headed run-in, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Secret Secret at Stratford 2m 3f cnd/am sll hdl (5) gd in Oct. DOLLY MCQUEEN 7-1 Held up, headway 6th, went third after 3 out, ridden to challenge 2 out, led before last where not fluent, ran on flat, won at Plumpton 2m sll hdl (4) gd beating Karakoram by 4l, 7 ran. JEWARI OF SAINTS 66-1 Raced handy, losing place and ridden before 3 out, weakened from 2 out, finished tailed off, 13th of 19, well behind In Rem at Exeter 2m 6f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd. KARAKORAM 2-1 Midfield, took closer order 5th, led going well before 2 out, joined and headed approaching last, ridden after last, kept on flat, 2nd of 7, 4l behind Dolly McQueen at Plumpton 2m sll hdl (4) gd. 1.55 CHRISTMAS MEETING 28TH NOVICES’ HURDLE (3) 2m 4f 110yds Winner £5,991 (4 run) RTV 1 -23 Marble Sands (1) F O’Brien 5 10-12......................... P Brennan — 2 0-0 Pitch It Up (33) E Lavelle 5 10-12.................................T Bellamy — 3 2-2 Reilly (26) D Skelton 5 10-12........................................H Skelton 112 4 2 Surrey Quest (186) N Henderson 4 10-11....................J Bowen — BETTING: Evens Marble Sands, 5-2 Reilly, 3 Surrey Quest, 20 Pitch It Up. 2020: MIDNIGHT RIVER 5 11 4, Harry Skelton 1-4 Fav (D Skelton), 12 ran. FORM GUIDE: MARBLE SANDS 3-1fav Held up towards rear in touch, pushed along in 4th after 2 out, hit last, ridden and edged left run-in, ran on well to take 2nd on flat, not reach winner, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Milan Bridge at Lingfield 2m 3f NH nov hdl 4-6yo (3) gs. REILLY 5-1 In touch in mid-division, headway after 5th, went 2nd before last, no impression on winner, kept on, 2nd of 15, 6l behind Brief Times at Exeter 2m 1f nh nov hdl (3) gs. SURREY QUEST 10-3 Held up in rear on outside, headway 5f out, chased winner over 1f out, soon green and edged left, held but stayed on, 2nd of 7, 2l behind Russian Ruler at Warwick 2m NH flat (5) gs in May. PITCH IT UP 40-1 Led, stumbled 4th, headed narrowly 3 out, when bad mistake and lost all chance, 12th of 14, well behind Mr Glass at Chepstow 2m 3f mdn hdl (4) gd in Oct. 2.30 LEICESTERSHIRE NOVICES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (5) 1m 7f 113yds Winner £2,342 (9 run) RTV 1 551 Presuming Ed (10) A West 6 11-13............................ L Edwards 107 2 -24 Lonimoss Bareliere (15) D Skelton 5 11-7 (BF)........H Skelton 109 3 64- On The Rise (220) M Young 5 11-4...................................... J Best 98 4 908 Baliyad (31) M Sheppard 6 11-3...................................C Deutsch 98 5 /48 Taqwaa (10) L Morgan 8 11-0........................................ A Wedge 101 6 -F0 Bold Red (19) D Bridgwater 5 10-1.......................... H Bannister 102 7 P83 Ace Time (19) J R Jenkins 7 10-0...............................B Godfrey (5) 95 8 080 Joint Account (19) D Frankland 8 10-0......................... B Poste 101 9 486 Fast Deal (10) M Chapman 4 10-0...................Alison Johnson (7) 86 BETTING: 6-4 Lonimoss Bareliere, 13-8 Presuming Ed, 8 Taqwaa, 10 Ace Time, 16 Baliyad, 20 On The Rise, 25 Bold Red, 33 Joint Account, Fast Deal. 2020: No corresponding race. FORM GUIDE: LONIMOSS BARELIERE 11-4fav Held up, ridden and outpaced before 3 out, rallied and kept on after 2 out, not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 12l behind Gavin at Uttoxeter 2m hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd. PRESUMING ED 3-1fav Went left at times, made all, soon clear, slightly reduced lead after not fluent 3rd, kicked on again from 5th, mistake last, all out, won at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd beating Infiniti by 2 3/4l, 9 ran. TAQWAA 13-2 Held up in mid-division, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 8th of 9, 37l behind Presuming Ed at Market Rasen 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd. ACE TIME 40-1 Held up in mid-division, not fluent 5th, headway after 7th, one pace from 2 out, left 3rd last, 3rd of 12, 9l behind Mr Yeats at Huntingdon 2m 5f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd. 3.00 NELSON PANORAMIC RESTAURANT HANDICAP HURDLE (4) 1m 7f 113yds £3,322 (12 run) RTV 1 -70 Tinnahalla (18) O Murphy 4 11-12 (D2)................... L Stones (7) 129 2 8/0 One For Billy (18) D Skelton 9 11-10 (D3)...........Mr T Durrell (7) 33 3 2/3 The Dancing Poet (15) B Ellison 5 11-9 (D)................S Coltherd 15 4 1/8 Floki (15) D Skelton 7 11-9...........................................H Skelton 73 5 13P Sid Hoodie (27) A Hales 7 11-5 (D3).......................... H Bannister 125 6 -P5 Made For You (23) O Murphy 6 11-5 (D).............Daire Davis (10) 125 7 284 Inn The Bull (20) A Ralph 8 11-4 (D3)..................... N Scholfield 128 8 -23 Fanfan Du Seuil (18) T R George 6 11-4 (BF)................J Bowen 125 9 294 Begin The Luck (13) Mrs C Bailey 5 10-11 (D2)........... R T Dunne 131 10 -14 Prairie Town (188) A Carroll 10 10-11 (C, D3)............ L Edwards — 11 261 Al Kherb (43) Sarah Bowen 6 10-3 (D2)............Miss S Bowen (7) 127 12 442 Seaborough (7) D Shaw 6 10-0.......................... A Anderson (5) 127 BETTING: 5 Fanfan Du Seuil, 11-2 Al Kherb, 6 Seaborough, 8 The Dancing Poet, Floki, 10 Made For You, Inn The Bull, Begin The Luck, 12 Others. 2020: FIL D’ARIANE 5 11 12, Benjamin Poste 11-1 (T Symonds), 11 ran. FORM GUIDE: FANFAN DU SEUIL 7-4fav Held up in rear, headway before 3 out, every chance after 2 out, 3rd and held last, no extra flat, 3rd of 7, 9l behind Mack The Man at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-130 (3) gs. AL KHERB 4-9fav Chased leaders, ridden after 2 out, challenged and hung left off final bend, led last, ridden out, won at Stratford 2m sell hdl (5) gd in Oct beating Fort De L’Ocean by 1 1/2l, 5 ran. SEABOROUGH 11-4 Held up in last, headway after 7th, went 2nd before 2 out, soon pressing winner, held from last, kept on, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Quick Draw at Uttoxeter 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-120 (4) gd. FLOKI 15-2 In rear, ridden and outpaced home turn, weakened thereafter, last of 8, 40l behind Earlofthecotswolds at Wetherby 2m 4f hcp hdl 0-135 (3) gs. THE DANCING POET 7-1 Chased leader, untidy when took it up briefly 4 out, pushed along 3 out, could not go pace of leader last, weakened flat, 3rd of 4, 6l behind Lakota Warrior at Wetherby 2m hdl (2) gs. 3.30 MARES’ HANDICAP HURDLE (5) 2m 4f 110yds Winner £2,761 (8 run) RTV 1 280 Wilderness (26) Seamus Mullins 6 11-12....................B R Jones 112 2 -24 Tashunka (26) F O’Brien 8 11-12............................... P Brennan 108 3 8-6 Midnight Callisto (26) A Honeyball 6 11-9 (BF)..B Godfrey (5) 103 4 141 Ginger Du Val (2) M Rowley 5 12-1.............................Doubtful 102 5 248 Chosen Shant (10) I Williams 5 11-6........................ A Coleman 110 6 -31 Dorisa Queen (31) D Skelton 5 11-3...........................H Skelton 108 7 -91 Astra Via (33) E Williams 6 11-1................................... A Wedge 108 8 661 Miss Bamby (47) J Mackie 6 10-5 (D)..............................J Bowen 111 BETTING: 15-8 Dorisa Queen, 4 Astra Via, 5 Midnight Callisto, Miss Bamby, 6 Tashunka, 14 Chosen Shant, 16 Wilderness. 2020: UNE DE LA SENIERE 5 11 10, Paddy Brennan 10-1 (F O’Brien), 11 ran. FORM GUIDE: DORISA QUEEN 3-1fav Mid-division, headway to track front pair 3 out, ridden and pressed leader home turn, led well before last, kept on well for pressure, won at Stratford 2m 3f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Oct beating Masterdream by 4 1/2l, 10 ran. ASTRA VIA 28-1 Towards rear, effort and headway 3 out, pushed along to chase front rank after 2 out, ridden and switched left to press leaders before last, stayed on strongly to lead final strides, won at Chepstow 2m mrs hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gd in Oct beating Esme Shelby by shd, 15 ran. MIDNIGHT CALLISTO 10-3fav Mid-division, keeping on behind leaders when pushed before 3 out, ridden after 3 out, kept on one pace, 6th of 18, 16l behind Tibbie Dunbar at Exeter 2m 1f hcp hdl 0-100 (5) gs. MAJOR BET INSIDE TRACK Tote: Win £6.00; Pl £2.20, £1.80, £2.70. Exacta: £33.00. Tricast: £169.04. Trifecta: £153.60. CSF: £27.86. NR: Nuts Well. 2.40 (2m, £4,629): 1, SINCE DAY ONE (B Hughes) 14-1; 2, Parisencore 7-2; 3, Well Educated 7-2. Also: 5-2 Fav Cool Jet. 10 ran. 2¾l, 4¼l. (D McCain). Tote: Win £15.00; Pl £2.80, £1.60, £1.60. Exacta: £57.90. Trifecta: £262.50. CSF: £64.44. NR: Andante, Fortcanyon. 3.15 (2m, £64,710): 1, NOT SO SLEEPY (J J Burke) 18-1; 1, EPATANTE (A Coleman) 11-8 Fav; 3, Sceau Royal 9-2. 6 ran. Dht; 1½l. (H Morrison, N Henderson). Tote: Win Not So Sleepy £10.10, Epatante £1.19; Pl Not So Sleepy £5.80, Epatante £1.20. Exacta: Not So Sleepy, Epatante £24.50, Epatante, Not So Sleepy £10.80. Trifecta: Not So Sleepy, Epatante, Sceau Royal £91.60, Epatante, Not So Sleepy, Sceau Royal £33.40. CSF: Not So Sleepy, Epatante £20.57, Epatante, Not So Sleepy £10.78. PLACEPOT: Dividend: £95.90. Queen to reign for Skeltons at Leicester Dorisa Queen can end what looks set to be a profitable afternoon for Dan and Harry Skelton at Leicester in the Next Meeting Thursday 2nd December Mares’ Handicap Hurdle. The five-year-old, who runs in the finale, made the switch from Warren Greatrex’s stable to Dan Skelton a winning one when scoring at Stratford last month on his first outing for his new trainer. She was fancied, having been sent off the 3-1 favourite, and justified the strong market support by winning in smooth fashion by four and a quarter lengths from Masterdream on her handicap bow. The assessor has put her up 7lb, but that should not stop her from following up. The Skelton team can also collect with Book Of Secrets in the opening Leicester Racecourse Ideal Self-Hire Wedding Venue Juvenile Maiden Hurdle. The three-year-old gelding made a promising debut over jumps when second at Bangor on his first run since moving from Amy Murphy’s yard. With that experience under his belt, Book Of Secrets can waste no more time in getting off the mark. Reilly is another with strong claims for the Skeltons in the Christmas Meeting@leicesterraces 28th December Book Now Novices’ Hurdle. The five-year-old was second in his only bumper at Warwick and filled the same spot at Exeter on his hurdling debut. The winner that day, Brief Times, looks promising and stepping up in trip will also suit Reilly. While Willie Mullins’ main focus will undoubtedly be the Fairyhouse Winter Festival, Ireland’s champion trainer is sure to have an eye on Elimay in the Houghton Mares’ Chase at Carlisle. The Closutton handler sends the talented seven-year-old to the Cumbrian venue for her seasonal reappearance rather than run her nearer to home. It looks the perfect starting point for her as she is suited by the race conditions despite being a multiple Listed and Graded winner. RACING

30 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 DAN SERVES UP A CUP CRACKER thristON tEnnIS ElEanor CrookS Straight-sets wins for Cameron Norrie and Birmingham’s Dan evans earned great Britain victory over France and the perfect start to their Davis Cup Finals campaign. France’s success against the Czech republic on Thursday meant this was a must-win tie for Britain in terms of clinching top spot in the group, and evans and Norrie were both solid against potentially tricky opponents. French captain sebastien grosjean shuffled his pack, leaving out veteran richard gasquet and bringing in arthur rinderknech as number one, meaning adrian Mannarino shifted to two and took on evans in the opening rubber. With no crowd allowed in innsbruck because of austria’s lockdown, it was up to the teams to generate an atmosphere, and evans was pumped up throughout his 7-5 6-4 victory. he and 71st-ranked Mannarino had met three times previously, all of them close, and there was little to choose between them again. evans led 5-3, only for Mannarino to level at 5-5 but the British player broke again with a pinpoint forehand and this time served out the opening set. One break of serve in the ninth game then proved the difference in the second, leaving evans very satisfied with his morning’s work. he said: “My job is to set the tie up for the other guys. i did well. it was a difficult match. he obviously played number one the other day. That’s sort of the beauty of the competition: you can move the players around. i think they were hoping to get that win to set their tie up.” evans played at number one at the inaugural finals week two years ago and he admitted to feeling nerves about his opening role. “i find it a bit more pressure than ■ Britain’s Dan Evans serves against France’s Adrian Mannarino in their Davis Cup group C match in Innsbruck, Austria coming out as number two,” he said. “Obviously last time i came out, i was 1-0 up a lot of the time. “There’s no denying they’re a strong, strong doubles team. We go one down, they’re in form, it’s a difficult doubles. We can win that doubles, but no one wants to be sat there 1-1. i want it to be 2-0 and out of there.” it played out that way, thanks to Norrie’s 6-2 7-6 (8) victory over rinderknech, who like his opponent has rocketed up the rankings in 2021. Beeb to broadcast champ Raducanu’s homecoming eMMa raducanu’s first home match since her historic Us Open victory will be broadcast on the BBC today. The Briton stormed to her first grand slam title in september, coming through qualifying to eventually lift the trophy in New York. The 19-year-old will play elena-gabriela ruse of romania in the Champions tennis exhibition at London’s royal albert hall. The match will be shown live on BBC iPlayer from 11.55am. it will also be available to watch live on the red Button and the BBC sport website and app. The exhibition will be raducanu’s first match on home soil since her run to the last 16 of Wimbledon in July. her opponent ruse, who is ranked 85 in the world, was raducanu’s practice partner at the transylvania Open in October. raducanu was just 18 years old when she became the first British woman in 44 years to lift a grand slam singles trophy. she was named the sunday times sportswoman of the Year on Thursday. Sport Norrie now sits at world number 12 but this was only his third Davis Cup tie. in his last appearance in 2018, he was stunned by lowly-ranked Uzbek Jurabek Karimov, but Norrie is a different player now in terms of his confidence and all-round strength, and he proved a safe pair of hands. after a tight start, rinderknech was unable to cope with Norrie’s relentless play as he lost five games in a row to end the first set. The Frenchman was far more tenacious in the second and came through a number of long service games to force a tie-break. he led 4-1 but Norrie battled his way back and saved two set points in a tentative denouement before making it across the line. rinderknech and Nicolas Mahut claimed a consolation 6-1 6-4 win over Joe salisbury and Neal skupski in the doubles rubber but Britain already know that victory over the Czech republic today will send them through to a quarter-final in innsbruck on tuesday. ■ Emma Raducanu will play her first match ay home since Wimbledon Thriston storms to first title as Open curtailed GolF Lawrence won his first DP World tour title after the third and final rounds of the Covid-19 and weather-affected Joburg Open were abandoned. The opening event of the season had already been reduced to 54 holes to help players, caddies and staff return to their home countries as international travel restrictions were imposed on south africa due to the new variant of Covid-19 detected in the country. storms had also played havoc over days one and two and after lightning led to the players coming off in round three and heavy rain rendered parts of the course unplayable, the result was decided on 36-hole scores. That handed the trophy to south african Lawrence, who was 12 under after back-to-back rounds of 65 and had made a bogey on the first shortly before play was suspended. With the UK and eU imposing their own travel restrictions, 19 players from the UK and ireland had ■ Thriston Lawrence withdrawn from the event in an effort to get home but englishman ashley Chesters played on and was rewarded with a place at next season’s Open Championship. The top three players in the top 10 not already exempt earned a place in the field and Lawrence, fellow south african Zander Lombard and Chesters will now tee it up at st andrews. Lombard finished four shots behind Lawrence, with Chesters a further shot back alongside south african shaun Norris, who was already exempt. “it’s a lifelong dream that’s come true,” said Lawrence. “i’ve never played in a major before and to play your first one at st andrews is unbelievable. “i can’t wait, i’m so excited. From a young age, it was a goal of mine and it’s unbelievable to achieve it. “You don’t get these opportunities often. i’ve had four years of co-sanctioned events so you build up experience but it’s just unbelievable. “it’s been a goal, you want to see yourself up there but the last year and a half of Covid it’s been tough so you sort of see your dreams fade. For it to change this week is unbelievable.” shrewsbury-born Chesters finished in a tie for 12th at the 2015 Open at st andrews as an amateur and is excited to be returning to the home of golf. “it’s going to be very exciting to play in the 150th Open,” he said. “i played at st andrews as an amateur in 2015 and i did quite well that year, which was really nice, but i did say at the time that it would be good to go back there as a professional so i’m really happy and excited. “i know the course very well so hopefully that will give me a chance come July.”

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 31 WASPS RALLY RUGBY Cov struggle to make most of conditions london scotTISH 36 coventry 23 WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR LEE ■■ Wasps’ Alfie Barbeary holds off Gloucester’s Jamal Ford-Robinson during the Gallagher Premiership match at The Coventry Building Society Arena Coventry remain winless on the road this season as they were beaten 36-23 by the Championship’s bottom side London Scottish. An error strewn display saw Coventry trail 7-6 at half-time despite having the strong wind at their back, conditions the hosts took full advantage of after the break, with five tires to claim their first win of the season at the ninth attempt. Storm Arwen would have a big impact on proceedings, but twice Cov wasted early attacking line-out positions, and in a first-half low on quality it took 21 minutes for the first points, as Evan Mitchell landed a penalty. It would be Mitchell’s chargeddown kick that sparked the attack that led to Scottish’s opening try, Brian Tuilagi breaking free to cross, with a second Mitchell penalty the Wasps head coach Lee Blackett was critical of his side’s first-half performance in their 35-33 defeat to Gloucester. And he refused to use their extensive injury problems as an excuse for the result. Gloucester took a 23-5 lead in Friday night’s Premiership clash at The CBS Arena before Wasps, aided by a yellow card for Gloucester wing Jonny May, staged a remarkable late rally which almost proved successful In fact, Wasps outscored their opponents by five tries to four with Jacob Umaga scoring twice in the closing stages after Gabriel Oghre, Alfie Barbeary and Thomas Young had crossed earlier on. Billy Twelvetrees scored two tries for Gloucester with Jack Clement and May also on the scoresheet for the triumphant visitors, although they nearly saw victory snatched from their grasp in a dramatic final quarter. Ali Crossdale and Marcus Watson both withdrew from the starting lineup ahead of the game to take Wasps’ casualty list to 19. Matteo Minozzi and Francois Hougaard replaced them, with the South African scrum-half assuming an uncustomary role on the wing. Blackett said: “It was a disappointing night and a disappointing result. Covid wrecks Baa-Baars clash yesterday’s scheduled clash between the Barbarians and Samoa at Twickenham was cancelled 90 minutes before kick-off due to coronavirus cases in the invitational side. A statement released by the RFU revealed four players and two members of staff had tested positive for Covid-19. Glasgow and Scotland back-row Ryan Wilson, pictured, had been due Two points we will take, but we didn’t want two points from this game, we wanted at least double that, if not five points. It is going to be a difficult weekend to reflect on that. “I thought we were poor in the first half. We were very, very sloppy with the ball; I thought defensively we were too soft.” to captain a side that also featured South African World Cup winners Duane Vermeulen, Malcolm Marx and Steven Kitshoff, as well as Australia internationals James O’Connor and Nic White. The match was set to serve as a swansong for Ireland great and two-time British and Irish Lions tourist Rob Kearney, who was named among the replacements He added: “It was a factor that we had to use players out of position but we won’t look for any excuses. Franny [Hougaard] went off injured but I thought he played really well on the wing. “You’ve got to give credit to the way the boys fought back and we had an opportunity to win it but we lost all and planned to retire following the fixture. The kick-off slot was taken by a clash between Barbarians Women and a Springbok Women’s XV. An RFU announcement read: “We appreciate that this is an extremely disappointing situation for the many fans due to attend, but the safety of all members of both teams is our priority.” the collisions in the first half and it wasn’t until the final period that we were able to control possession.” Gloucester head coach George Skivington felt his side fully deserved their victory but admits there was also a feeling of disappointment in the camp at the way they finished the game. Skivington said: “There was some real disappointment as we had a really poor last 15 minutes. A few players went for the big plays to seal victory and we didn’t need it. “The boys shouldn’t be disappointed as we did enough before that to win the game, which we deserved to do. “It’s five points on the road and moves us up the league table but that’s not my major concern. It’s more about the group growing by communicating with each other and trying to solve the problems that arise. “We were squeaky clean in the first half and I don’t think ill-discipline cost us, more a case of taking the wrong options in the final period and us being on the wrong side of the referee when there was a momentum shift in the game. “We were also disappointed to concede two tries for line-out drives, the first one was well-worked but for the second one, our defence was poor. However, we’ve only conceded two in that area all season so we’ve doubled the tally.” ■■ Coventry’s Rob Knox only further points of the half. Cov were up against the wind after the break, and although they quickly hit the front as a fine Will Owen offload set Louis Brown clear for a try that Mitchell converted, they were soon up against it. After a spell in the Cov 22, Tom Baldwin crashed over for the hosts, with Ehize Ehizode quickly adding another that gave them a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The hosts were back on the attack after the restart, and with play breaking up Cov tried to clear only for Matas Jurevicius to intercept and go under the posts. Cov hit straight back as replacement Josh Barton picked up a loose ball on half-way and sprinted half the length of the pitch, but hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished as the hosts pack powered towards the line from a scrum, Cameron King busting over. Rob Knox claimed a third try for Coventry late on but it couldn’t prevent them leaving empty handed, Scottish adding a further penalty with the final kick.

32 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 100 CAP ELLEN’S WHITE ON CUE ENGLAND 1 AUSTRIA 0 ELLEN White said she was living the dream after marking her 100th England cap with the winning goal on wintry Wearside. her 45th international goal handed the Lionesses a 1-0 win over austria to extend a perfect start to their Women’s World Cup qualifying campaign. she said: “It’s a dream really. It’s come full circle, to have made my debut against austria and now win my 100th cap against them. ‘‘I’m delighted to get on the scoresheet again. I’ve said before how much I love playing for England, scoring for England, so it’s an absolute dream. “I just wanted the team to win, I’m so proud of the team.” head coach sarina Wiegman hailed an “amazing accomplishment”. White’s 40th-minute strike, which took her to within one of Kelly smith’s record tally, clinched victory at the stadium of Light on a day when Wiegman’s side dominated possession but struggled to convert it into chances. England will head into Tuesday’s clash with Latvia – who they beat 10-0 in Riga last month – at Pep: I couldn’t go anywhere but City maNChEsTER City manager Pep Guardiola has all but ruled out ever taking charge of another club in England. The spaniard is contracted at the Etihad stadium until 2023 and could extend that, but expects to work elsewhere at some point in the future. although he has expressed an interest in international football, the 50-year-old has no clear vision of where his long-term future lies. one thing he is sure about, however, is that he cannot see himself being employed by another Premier League club. The former Barcelona and Bayern munich boss said: “I’ve said many times when we’ve finished our part here, for the pleasure to live in a European Championship, a World Cup, I would like to live it but I know it is not easy to find it because normally there are few positions. In England, being here, I think I will always be at man City. If I had to come back I would come back to man City, if they want me. I don’t think I am going to train another club in England. I’m a part of this club.” Despite that desire to lead a country to a major tournament, he is adamant that Gareth southgate’s position as England manager is not something he has his eye on. “Gareth has done an incredible job, reaching the final of the Euros and the semi-finals of the last World Cup,” said FOOTBALL Doncaster’s Keepmoat stadium sitting five points clear at the top of Group D with five wins out of five. however, they needed two second-half saves from keeper mary Earps to preserve their record of not having conceded a single goal in the campaign to date England, who replaced Leah Williamson and Beth England with Demi stokes and Rachel Daly, gradually worked their way into the game after a scrappy start in difficult conditions as Keira Walsh settled things down in the middle of the pitch. alex Greenwood sent a 10thminute free-kick straight into keeper manuela Zinsberger’s midriff and Beth mead could not sort out her feet quickly enough to convert Fran Kirby’s driven farpost cross four minutes later. The home side were starting to find their feet with mead and Kirby prospering wide on the right, but were unable to produce a final ball of note, although Lauren hemp warmed Zinsberger’s hands with a well-struck drive from distance after intercepting the keeper’s misdirected clearance. skipper millie Bright drilled a shot just wide from 30 yards, but mead increasingly looked the most likely to unlock the massed austrian ranks, and keeper Zinsberger was grateful to see her 36th-minute cross diverted straight to her by defender Virginia Kirchberger just ahead of White. The opening goal eventually arrived five minutes before halftime when, after her initial effort had been blocked, Kirby lifted the ball towards the far post for White to thump it into the roof of the net. Zinsberger denied Kirby and White in quick succession as the half-time whistle approached, but England headed for the dressing room with work still to do. They received a timely reminder of that within five minutes of the restart when Earps, who had until that point been a virtual spectator, had to react smartly to turn away Barbara Dunst’s deflected shot. Earps was extended much further three minutes later when she dived to her right to parry sarah Zadrazil’s rising drive after a flowing attack with austria sensing an opportunity. mead saw appeals for a penalty waved away by referee Kateryna monzul after she had gone down under Carina Wenninger’s challenge, but then forced a decent 65th-minute save from Zinsberger after being played in by Kirby. The home side hammered away at the visitors’ defence as time ran down with Zinsberger saving from Daly, but White’s contribution ultimately proved decisive. Guardiola ahead of today’s home Premier League clash with West ham. “This is a huge success for English football. he has extended his contract and what I want is after that (for him) to extend for more years, if he is happy to do it. “I am not here to take anyone’s position. It is not my target. as long as it is possible to be here, as much as my energy is there and my love for what I am doing is here, (I will be).” ■ Pep Guardiola ■ Ellen White celebrates her winning goal with teammate Beth Mead Ruben finds top gear to impress with inner drive Thomas Tuchel has hailed Ruben Loftus-Cheek for thriving even amid Chelsea’s crowded midfield selection battle. Chelsea host manchester United this afternoon looking to end another weekend on top of the Premier League. The Blues will be without France’s World Cup-winning dynamo N’Golo Kante, who has a knee injury, and Croatia midfielder mateo Kovacic, sidelined with hamstring trouble. But they will be able to call on Loftus-Cheek, who has hit top form after finally shaking off his long-term achilles problem and could feature again at the base of midfield. and Blues boss Tuchel has lauded the 25-year-old academy graduate for proving his class all over again, even in a position where Chelsea are blessed with particular depth. “I see the potential and I think he knows about his potential,” said Tuchel. “since he was an academy player everyone was very aware about his potential. “But the next step is to show it to everyone. Everybody in the stadium must go home and know how good and how strong Ruben is. “That is the next step, to actually put the potential on the street and drive the car as fast as possible. “This is ■ Ruben Loftus-Cheek what he’s doing for many weeks otherwise he would not play, otherwise there would be no chance for him to play, because this is about performance. “he deserves to play and he deserved to play some weeks ago. “he’s in competition with N’Golo Kante, with Jorginho, with mateo Kovacic and saul, so he’s in one of the toughest competitions for minutes on the pitch. “But I can only repeat I am still happy with Ruben. he was part of a fantastic performance (against Juventus) and this is what we expect because we can expect it from him and we will stay very demanding because of his potential.” Chelsea will host a United side again in a state of flux, with michael Carrick on the touchline as interim head coach after ole Gunnar solskjaer’s sacking. Ralf Rangnick is expected to arrive shortly to manage the Red Devils until the summer, with mauricio Pochettino still in the frame to take the long-term old Trafford helm. Tuchel insisted United cannot be discounted as silverware challengers even despite a turbulent few weeks. asked if he had expected more from United this term, Tuchel replied: ‘‘Yes, I was, and maybe I still am. “I would never write anybody off, not in this league and not in this game, and certainly not a big club like this. “They are very experienced individually and it’s a top-level group of players, and this is still the case. “Part of the challenge for our performance is to stop them from performing.”

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 33 GARY EVERY SUNDAY... NEWBON MIDLAND TV LEGEND LIFTS THE LID ON 6 DECADES OF SPORTING ENCOUNTERS The phone rang in the Central Television sports department and was answered by my number two, Jeff Farmer. Robert Maxwell was asking for me. he was told that I was in an ITV Sport meeting in London. Mr Maxwell, as Jeff and I always addressed him, boomed: ‘‘Well tell Newbon to get off his fat arse and come to my office at the top of the Daily Mirror. I have a world exclusive for him.” I was the publishing tycoon’s favourite interviewer with his football interests as first chairman-owner of Oxford United. I had no idea of what he was to become – a disgraced newspaper proprietor who fraudulently misappropriated the Mirror Group Pension funds and ran up millions of loans elsewhere trying to save his massive business empire when it was failing big time towards the end of his life. On this particular occasion Jeff and I suspected he was buying Derby County and we were hoping this interview would confirm it. It would be a great exclusive story to start that Wednesday night’s Central Sports Special football highlights show. n Robert Maxwell and daughter Ghislaine When I arrived at his Mirror hQ I watch an Oxford United match in 1984 was shown into a room where my cameraman had already set up. I was intrigued to see about eight chairs set up in the background out of camera range and enquired why were they there. One of his staff said: “Mr Maxwell is next door holding a meeting with some leading executives from other major companies and he has requested that they watch your interview.” And so they all entered about 20 minutes later. “Good to see you again,” said Mr Maxwell. ‘‘I have a world exclusive for Tycoon Maxwell gave me a scoop you.” The camera rolled and off he went. n Players and management fall to their knees in praise of while retaining ownership of Oxford cally the losing manager of QPR in Amazing for a man with a record Derby owner Robert Maxwell United where I will make my son that final. for rudeness he just took it meekly after they are promoted in ‘87 Kevin the new chairman. Maxwell had attempted to buy from Mrs Newbon. ‘‘I can reveal to you, Gary, that I am buying Derby County Football Club to Wembley to win the League Cup in 1986 Smith had left and was ironi- who he was, I was in the bath and wouldn’t be disturbed. ‘‘I will also keep my 19 per cent share in Reading.” One was allowed to do that at the time. however, when he tried to buy Watford off elton John the Football League changed the regulations as a result. They soon brought a new rule that stated anyone with an investment in a football club could not own more than 2% in another. Maxwell bought Oxford United in 1982 and saved them from bankruptcy. he soon had the idea of merging the club with Reading, reasoning that both had financial difficulties and he would organise a new ground and they would be called “Thames Valley Royals”. But despite Maxwell’s determination to push it through the combination of the Reading owners and huge fan demonstrations on an off the pitch made sure that it never happened. Oxford United did have success on the field. Back-to-back promotions took the side into english football’s top tier. Jim Smith was the manager. When Maxwell was thinking of buying Derby he wanted Smith to switch, but the manager said he still had a job to do at Oxford. however, by the time Oxford went Manchester United in 1984 but did not meet the asking price set by chairman Martin edwards. Instead, he bought Derby in 1987. I was at the Baseball Ground for his first match. he called me into an empty room for a private chat. he was always reminding me about his 20% ownership of Central TV. Now he wanted my opinion on everything Derby County. he used to ring me at odd times to ask why Oxford United’s matches were not televised more often and kept charging me to do something about it. I was having a bath one Saturday morning when my wife Katie answered a call from Maxwell, who was demanding to speak to me. She told him that she didn’t care Jimmy Greaves came up with a great line on our show when Maxwell was looking for a new Oxford manager. Jimmy said: ‘‘Well, Gal, Mr Maxwell says he wants a big name so he will probably appoint himself!” On November 5, 1991, with his massive crooked business deals closing in on him, Maxwell went missing off his boat, the Lady Ghislaine, in the Atlantic Ocean, off the Canary Islands. he was later found dead floating in the sea. The cause of death has never been solved. Those interviews were certainly a chapter in my career. n I am back on Tuesday with my regular column with Utilita in both the Birmingham Mail and Coventry Telegraph.

34 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 All THe reSulTS , SCorerS & TAbleS FINAL SCORE Home Away p w D l F A w D l F A g D pts Chelsea 12 4 1 1 17 3 5 1 0 13 1 26 29 Liverpool 13 4 3 0 18 5 4 1 1 21 6 28 28 Man City 12 4 1 1 15 2 4 1 1 10 4 19 26 West Ham 12 3 1 2 12 9 4 1 1 11 5 9 23 Arsenal 13 5 1 1 12 6 2 1 3 3 11 -2 23 Wolves 13 3 0 3 5 6 3 2 2 7 6 0 20 Tottenham 12 4 0 2 6 8 2 1 3 5 9 -6 19 Man Utd 12 2 1 3 10 11 3 1 2 10 10 -1 17 Brighton 12 2 2 2 6 8 2 3 1 6 6 -2 17 Crystal Pal 13 2 4 1 10 6 1 3 2 9 13 0 16 Aston Villa 13 3 1 2 11 8 2 0 5 7 13 -3 16 Everton 12 3 1 2 10 8 1 2 3 6 11 -3 15 Leicester 12 2 1 3 7 10 2 2 2 9 11 -5 15 Southampton 13 2 3 1 5 4 1 2 4 6 14 -7 14 Brentford 12 1 1 4 7 9 2 3 1 9 8 -1 13 Watford 12 2 1 3 8 12 2 0 4 8 8 -4 13 Leeds 12 1 3 2 6 9 1 2 3 6 11 -8 11 Burnley 12 1 3 2 8 8 0 3 3 6 12 -6 9 Norwich 13 1 2 4 5 11 1 1 4 2 16 -20 9 Newcastle 13 0 3 3 10 16 0 3 4 5 13 -14 6 this week’s fixtures today 3pm unless stated pREMiER lEAgUE Brentford v Everton (2pm); Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur (2pm); Chelsea v Man Utd (4.30pm); Leicester v Watford (2pm); Man City v West Ham (2pm). SkY BEt ChAMpioNShip Sheff Utd v Bristol City (12.30pm). SkY BEt lEAgUE oNE Ipswich v Crewe. CiNCh SCottiSh pREMiERShip Celtic v Aberdeen; Livingston v Rangers (12pm). tomorrow 7.45pm unless stated SkY BEt ChAMpioNShip Derby v QPR. SCottiSh CUp - thiRD RoUND Brechin v Darvel Juniors. tuesday 7.45pm unless stated thE EMiRAt ES FA CUp - FiRSt RoUND REplAY Exeter v Bradford. pREMiER lEAgUE Leeds v Crystal Palace (8.15pm); Newcastle v Norwich (7.30pm). CiNCh SCottiSh pREMiERShip Motherwell v Dundee Utd. SpFl tRUSt tRophY - QUARtER-FiNAlS Cove Rangers v Rangers U21; Hamilton v Kilmarnock; Inverness CT v Raith. vANARAMA NAtio NAl lEAgUE Wrexham v Yeovil. vANARAMA NAtioNAl lEAgUE NoRth AFC Telford v Guiseley; Hereford FC v Kettering. vANARAMA NAtioNAl lEAgUE SoUth Oxford City v Ebbsfleet United; Tonbridge Angels v St Albans. wednesday 7.45pm unless stated pREMiER lEAgUE Aston Villa v Man City (8.15pm); Everton v Liverpool (8.15pm); Southampton v Leicester (7.30pm); Watford v Chelsea (7.30pm); West Ham v Brighton (7.30pm); Wolverhampton v Burnley (7.30pm). CiNCh SCottiSh pREMiERShip Aberdeen v Livingston; Dundee v St Johnstone; Hibernian v Rangers; St Mirren v Ross County. SpFl tRUSt tRophY - QUARtER-FiNAlS Queen of South v Morton (7.30pm). thursday 7.45pm unless stated pREMiER lEAgUE Man Utd v Arsenal (8.15pm); Tottenham Hotspur v Brentford (7.30pm). CiNCh SCottiSh pREMiERShip Celtic v Hearts. ArseNAl (0) 2 NewcAsTle (0) 0 Saka 56 Att 59,886 Martinelli 66 68% Possession 32% 6 shots on target 5 18 shots off target 4 0 offsides 3 5 fouls 12 4 Corners 4 125 Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Saka Dubravka, Krafth, Lascelles, Schar, Ritchie YEARS (Almiron (Martinelli 64), Thomas (Elneny 85), Sambi 67), Fraser, Shelvey (Hayden 89), Willock, Saint- Lokonga, Smith-Rowe, Odegaard, Aubameyang Maximin, Wilson, Joelinton (Murphy 67). Subs not (Lacazette 76). Subs not used: Leno, Tierney, Mait- used: Clark, Lewis, Hendrick, Manquillo, Darlow, land-Niles, Holding, Pepe, Nketiah Booked: Longstaff Booked: Krafth, Lascelles, Ritchie. Aubameyang. BrighToN (l) l leeds (l) l % Possession % shots on target shots off target offsides fouls Corners Sanchez, Veltman, Dunk, Webster, Lamptey, Gross, Bissouma, Moder, Cucurella, Maupay, Trossard. Subs not used: Mac Allister, Mwepu, Lallana, March, Steele, Duffy, Locadia, Richards, Sarmiento liverpool (3) 4 souThAmpToN (0) 0 Jota 2, 32 Thiago 37 van Dijk 52 64% Possession 36% 6 shots on target 3 14 shots off target 4 2 offsides 2 7 fouls 14 5 Corners 7 Alisson, Alexander-Arnold, Konate, van Dijk, Robertson, Henderson (Milner 67), Fabinho, Thiago (Oxlade-Chamberlain 59), Salah, Jota (Minamino 81), Mane. Subs not used: Tsimikas, Origi, Matip, Kelleher, Williams, Morton Referee: Stuart Attwell Referee: Craig Pawson Referee: Andre Marriner Meslier, Dallas, Llorente, Cooper, Firpo, Forshaw, Phillips, Raphinha, Rodrigo, Harrison, James. Subs not used: Roberts, Klaesson, Struijk, Gelhardt, Cresswell, Klich, McCarron, Shackleton, Jenkins McCarthy, Bednarek (Redmond 46), Lyanco, Salisu, Livramento, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Perraud (Walker-Peters 88), Broja, Adams (Tella 46), Armstrong. Subs not used: Long, Smallbone, Diallo, Walcott, Valery, Forster Booked: Bednarek. premier leAgue sTATisTics QuiCkest goal Diogo Jota (Liverpool vs Southampton) 1:37 mins latest goal Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa) 94:23 mins QuiCkest goal By a suBstitute Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal vs Newcastle) 1:33 mins QuiCkest Booking Jan Bednarek (Southampton vs Liverpool) 10:39 mins most offsides-player 2 Callum Wilson (Newcastle vs Arsenal). crysTAl pAl (0) 1 AsToN villA (1) 2 Guehi 90 Targett 15 Att 25,203 McGinn 86 63% Possession 37% 3 shots on target 3 5 shots off target 7 1 offsides 0 11 fouls 10 7 Corners 3 Guaita, Ward, Tomkins, Guehi, Mitchell, Milivojevic (Eze 60), Kouyate (Ayew 87), Olise, Gallagher, Zaha (Edouard 72), Benteke. Subs not used: Butland, Hughes, Schlupp, Clyne, Kelly, Riedewald Booked: Milivojevic, Ward, Zaha. Norwich (0) 0 wolves (0) 0 Att 26,911 44% Possession 56% 4 shots on target 2 10 shots off target 3 1 offsides 0 10 fouls 10 4 Corners 3 Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams, Normann (Rupp 35), Sargent (Tzolis 68), Gilmour, McLean, Rashica (Dowell 82), Pukki. Subs not used: Cantwell, Lees-Melou, Gunn, Giannoulis, Idah, Omobamidele Booked: Gibson, Gilmour. Referee: Michael Salisbury Referee: Simon Hooper most offsides-team 3 Newcastle. most fouls 3 Romain Perraud (Southampton vs Liverpool), Luka Milivojevic (Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa), Hee-Chan Hwang (Wolverhampton vs Norwich), Vojnovic Lyanco (Southampton vs Liverpool), Callum Wilson (Newcastle vs Arsenal), de Lira Joelinton (Newcastle vs Arsenal). most fouls with no Cards 3 Romain Perraud (Southampton vs Liverpool), Hee-Chan Hwang (Wolverhampton vs Norwich), Vojnovic Lyanco (Southampton vs Liverpool), Callum Wilson (Newcastle vs Arsenal), de Lira Joelinton (Newcastle vs Arsenal). Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett, McGinn, Nakamba, Ramsey (Douglas Luiz 67), Bailey (El Ghazi 77), Watkins, Young (Buendia 85). Subs not used: Sanson, Steer, Tuanzebe, Ings, Hause, Chuk- wuemeka Booked: Cash, Douglas Luiz, Nakamba. Jose Sa, Kilman, Coady, Saiss, Nelson Semedo (Dendoncker 76), Neves, Joao Moutinho, Ait Nouri, Trincao (Traore 68), Jimenez, Hwang (Hoever 90). Subs not used: Marcal, Moulden, Silva, Ruddy, Cundle Booked: Nelson Semedo, Neves. Top scorers Mohamed Salah (Liverpool).........11 Diogo Jota (Liverpool).....................7 Jamie vardy (Leicester)...................7 Sadio Mane (Liverpool)...................7 Michail Antonio (West Ham)..........6 ismaila Sarr (Watford) ....................5 Maxwel Cornet (Burnley) ...............5 odsonne Edouard (Crystal Palace) .5 2 for Celtic Raphael Raphinha (Leeds) ............5 Callum wilson (Newcastle).............4 Christian Benteke (Crystal Palace).4 Conor gallagher (Crystal Palace)....4 Cristiano Ronaldo (Man Utd) .........4 Emile Smith-Rowe (Arsenal)..........4 E Bonaventure (Watford) ...............4 hee-Chan hwang (Wolverhampton).... 4 heung-Min Son (Tottenham)..........4 Joshua king (Watford) ....................4 most free-kiCks won 3 Ashley Young (Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal vs Newcastle), Hee-Chan Hwang (Wolverhampton vs Norwich), Mohamed Salah (Liverpool vs Southampton), Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa), Diogo Jota (Liverpool vs Southampton). most shots without sCoring 6 Nuno Tavares (Arsenal vs Newcastle). most shots without sCoring-team 14 Norwich. most shots in matCh-team 24 Arsenal. fewest shots in matCh-team 5 Wolverhampton. Mason greenwood (Man Utd)........4 Bruno Fernandes (Man Utd) ..........4 Mota Bernardo Silva (Man City) ....4 Neal Maupay (Brighton) .................4 pablo Fornals (West Ham)..............4 p-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) ...4 Reece James (Chelsea)....................4 Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) ..........4 teemu pukki (Norwich) ..................4 wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace).........4 Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle) .3 Andros townsend (Everton)...........3 Ben Chilwell (Chelsea) ....................3 Chris wood (Burnley) ......................3 Danny ings (Aston Villa)..................3 Demarai gray (Everton)..................3 Dominic Calvert-lewin (Everton)..3 ivan toney (Brentford) ....................3 John Mcginn (Aston Villa) ...............3 Top scorers lge 1 Top scorers lge 2 Cole Stockton (Morecambe) ......... 13 Michael Smith (Rotherham)......... 12 Macauley Bonne (Ipswich)........... 11 Ross C Stewart (Sunderland) ........ 10 Ryan hardie (Plymouth) ..................9 Scott twine (Milton Keynes Dons) ...9 will keane (Wigan)..........................9 Joe ironside (Cambridge Utd) ..........8 Marcus harness (Portsmouth).........8 Anthony Scully (Lincoln City) ..........7 Callum lang (Wigan).......................7 lee gregory (Sheff Wed)..................7 oladapo Afolayan (Bolton) .............7 Alfie May (Cheltenham) ...................6 Ben wiles (Rotherham) ....................6 Danny Andrew (Fleetwood Town) ...6 gerard garner (Fleetwood Town) ....6 James henry (Oxford Utd)................6 Jayden Stockley (Charlton)..............6 Dominic telford (Newport C).....13 Jamille Matt (Forest Green) .......10 Mathew Stevens (Forest Green) 10 Matt Jay (Exeter) ........................10 harry Smith (Leyton Orient) ........9 luke Armstrong (Harrogate T) ....9 Aaron Drinan (Leyton Orient) ......8 Elliott list (Stevenage).................8 Jack payne (Swindon) ..................8 Sam Fishburn (Carlisle)................8 8 for Lancaster City Andy Cook (Bradford)...................7 Freddie Sears (Colchester) ...........7 george Miller (Walsall)................7 kwesi Appiah (Crawley Town)......7 Marcus Dackers (Salford City)......7 7 for Stalybridge Celtic Sam Nombe (Exeter)....................7 tyreece Simpson (Swindon)........7 Home Away p w D l F A w D l F A g D pts Fulham 20 7 2 1 23 6 6 2 2 26 10 33 43 Bournemouth 20 6 3 1 23 11 6 3 1 13 5 20 42 West Brom 20 6 4 0 16 5 3 3 4 11 11 11 34 Blackburn 20 6 2 2 23 16 3 4 3 11 11 7 33 Coventry 20 7 2 1 19 8 2 4 4 8 15 4 33 QPR 19 6 3 1 16 8 3 2 4 15 16 7 32 Stoke 20 6 2 2 15 9 3 2 5 9 12 3 31 Huddersfield 20 6 1 3 14 11 2 3 5 9 12 0 28 Swansea 20 4 4 2 13 8 3 2 5 12 18 -1 27 Millwall 20 4 4 2 11 10 2 5 3 9 11 -1 27 Blackpool 20 4 2 4 7 9 3 4 3 13 13 -2 27 Middlesbro 20 4 2 4 14 12 3 3 4 9 11 0 26 Birmingham 20 4 2 4 10 12 3 3 4 9 9 -2 26 Luton 20 4 3 3 16 12 2 4 4 11 14 1 25 Nottm Forest 20 2 3 5 10 15 4 4 2 14 8 1 25 Preston 20 4 4 2 13 11 2 3 5 9 15 -4 25 Sheff Utd 19 3 2 4 13 11 3 3 4 10 15 -3 23 Bristol City 19 2 5 3 8 10 4 0 5 13 18 -7 23 Hull 20 3 2 5 9 12 3 1 6 7 11 -7 21 Cardiff 20 2 1 7 7 15 4 2 4 14 19 -13 21 Reading 20 4 2 4 15 15 4 0 6 11 17 -6 20 Peterborough 20 3 4 3 12 10 1 0 9 5 28 -21 16 Barnsley 20 2 2 6 7 14 0 4 6 6 17 -18 12 Derby 19 3 5 1 11 9 1 5 4 5 9 -2 1 pools check No FT 1 L 2 L 3 L 4 L 5 1 6 L 7 1 8 L 9 2 Bournemouth (1) 2 Coventry (0) 2 Anthony 45 Godden 85 Billing 66 Kane 90 AFC BoURNEMoUth: Travers, Mepham, Lerma, S Cook, Stacey, Kilkenny (Rossi 87), L Cook, Billing, Anthony (Marcondes 90), Christie (Davis 79), Solanke. Subs not used: Nyland, Lowe, Rogers, Moriah- Welsh. Booked: S Cook, Mepham. Sent-off: Lerma. CovENtRY: Moore, Dabo, McFadzean, Hyam, Kane, Kelly, Sheaf (Jones 86), Maatsen (Walker 90), O’Hare, Allen (Gyokeres 63), Godden. Subs not used: Wilson, Shipley, Eccles. Booked: McFadzean. Referee: David Coote Birmingham (0) 1 BlaCkpool (0) 0 Jutkiewicz 81 10 1 11 3 12 1 13 1 friday west Brom (0) 0 n forest (0) 0 Att 22,424 wESt BRoM: Johnstone, Kipre, Bartley, Clarke, Furlong, Molumby, Mowatt, Townsend, Diangana (Phillips 60), Ahearne-Grant (Hugill 79), Robinson (Reach 72). Subs not used: Ajayi, Button, Gardner-Hickman, Fellows. Booked: Clarke, Molumby. Sent-off: Molumby. NottM FoRESt: Samba, Worrall, Tobias Figueiredo (Mighten 72), McKenna, Spence, Yates, Garner, Bong, Johnson, Zinckernagel (Lolley 66), Grabban. Subs not used: Horvath, Cafu, Ojeda, Drager, Taylor. Booked: Tobias Figueiredo, Worrall. Referee: Gavin Ward yesterday 14 1 15 2 16 L 17 1 18 1 BiRMiNghAM: Sarkic, Sanderson, Roberts, Pedersen, Graham, James, Sunjic, McGree, Bela (Aneke 66), Hogan, Deeney (Jutkiewicz 75). Subs not used: Etheridge, Dean, Castillo, Walker, Oakley. Booked: McGree, Pedersen. BlACkpool: Grimshaw, Sterling, Ekpiteta, Husband, James, Connolly, Dougall, Mitchell (Bowler 68), Anderson, Dale (Lavery 75), Madine (Yates 84). Subs not used: Lawrence-Gabriel, Wintle, Moore, Gretarsson. Booked: Anderson, Connolly, Husband. Referee: Matthew Donohue huddersfld (0) 1 middlesBro (2) 2 Daniels 90 (og) Watmore 16, 23 Att 19,192 hUDDERSFiElD: Nicholls, Pearson (Turton 37), Lees, Sarr, Thomas, High, O’Brien, Toffolo (Koroma 73), Sinani, Ward, Holmes (Campbell 60). Subs not used: Ruffels, Colwill, Schofield, Russell. MiDDlESBRoUgh: Daniels, Dijksteel, Bamba, McNair, Jones (Ikpeazu 90), Crooks, Howson, Tavernier, Bola, Sporar, Watmore (Hernandez 77). Subs not used: Taylor, Olusanya, Lea Siliki, Stojanovic, Coburn. Booked: Bola, Crooks, McNair. Referee: Keith Stroud hull (1) 2 millwall (1) 1 Honeyman 29 Bradshaw 45 Longman 54 Att 10,613 hUll: Baxter, Bernard, McLoughlin, Greaves, Lewis- Potter, Smallwood, Docherty, Longman (Williams 79), Honeyman, Wilks (Elder 62), Magennis (Eaves 80). Subs not used: Ingram, Cannon, Moncur, Huddlestone. Booked: Eaves, Smallwood. 19 3 20 3 21 1 22 1 23 1 24 L 25 1 26 1 27 2 MillwAll: Bialkowski, Ballard, Hutchinson, M Wallace, McNamara, Mitchell, Saville (Evans 82), Ojo (Bennett 72), Bradshaw (Smith 67), J Wallace, Afobe. Subs not used: Long, Cooper, Kieftenbeld, Malone. Booked: Afobe, McNamara. Referee: Josh Smith luton (0) 1 Cardiff (1) 2 Clark 64 Colwill 10 Morrison 77 lUtoN: Sluga, Bree, Lockyer, Bradley, Naismith, Bell (Onyedinma 61), Rea (Lansbury 84), Clark, Mpanzu, Cornick (Hylton 66), Adebayo. Subs not used: Shea, Burke, Campbell, Jerome. Booked: Rea. CARDiFF: Smithies, McGuinness, Morrison, Nelson, Ng, Pack, Ralls, Giles, Colwill (Harris 75), Collins (Davies 81), Moore. Subs not used: Phillips, Flint, Vaulks, Bacuna, Brown. Booked: Morrison, Smithies. Referee: Oliver Langford peterBoro (0) 0 Barnsley (0) 0 pEtERBoRoUgh: Cornell, Knight, Edwards, Butler, Thompson, Coventry (Norburn 59), Taylor, Burrows (Randall 71), Dembele, Corbett (Szmodics 59), Clarke-Harris. Subs not used: Beevers, Grant, Tomlinson, Blackmore. Booked: Butler, Coventry, Norburn. BARNSlEY: Collins, Williams (Hondermarck 89), Helik, Andersen, Kitching, Benson (Palmer 68), Gomes, Styles, Cole (Adeboyejo 68), Woodrow, Morris. Subs not used: Walton, Moon, Vita, Frieser. Booked: Andersen, Gomes. Referee: John Busby 28 1 29 3 30 1 31 1 32 1 33 1 34 1 35 1 36 3 preston (0) 1 fulham (1) 1 Evans 72 Ream 15 Att 9,838 pREStoN NoRth END: Iversen, van den Berg, Lindsay, Hughes (Cunningham 90), Barkhuizen (Storey 53), McCann, Whiteman, Earl, Browne, Maguire (Evans 60), Jakobsen. Subs not used: Johnson, Ledson, Hudson, Sinclair. Booked: Evans, van den Berg. FUlhAM: Rodak, Odoi, Adarabioyo, Ream, Robinson, Seri (Onomah 69), Reed, Wilson, Carvalho (Knockaert 81), Kebano (Reid 69), Mitrovic. Subs not used: Tete, Hector, Rodrigo Muniz, Gazzaniga. Booked: Onomah, Robinson. Referee: Chris Kavanagh stoke (0) 0 BlaCkBurn (0) 1 Att 21,739 Khadra 52 StokE: Davies, Wilmot, Batth, Chester (Doughty 78), Smith, Sawyers, Tymon, Fox (Ince 66), Vrancic, Brown (Fletcher 66), Campbell. Subs not used: Bonham, Ostigard, Oakley-Boothe, Duhaney. Booked: Brown, Chester, Davies, Wilmot. BlACkBURN: Kaminski (Pears 56), Lenihan, van Hecke, Wharton, Nyambe, Travis, Rothwell (Davenport 73), Pickering, Buckley, Khadra (Dolan 69), Brereton. Subs not used: Johnson, Butterworth, Clarkson, Edun. Booked: Brereton, Dolan, Nyambe, Pickering. Referee: Tim Robinson swansea (1) 2 reading (2) 3 Paterson 3 Dele-Bashiru 4 Manning 49 Carroll 30 Att 16,980 Drinkwater 50 37 1 38 3 39 1 40 3 41 1 42 L 43 1 44 1 45 L SwANSEA: Hamer, Bennett (Cullen 82), Naughton, Williams, Laird, Grimes, Ntcham, Manning, Smith (Downes 63), Paterson, Piroe. Subs not used: Benda, Cooper, Latibeaudiere, Bidwell, Walsh. Booked: Laird. READiNg: Southwood, Yiadom, Holmes, Dann, Baba, Laurent, Halilovic (Azeez 66), Drinkwater, Swift, Dele-Bashiru, Carroll (Puscas 81). Subs not used: Tetek, Camara, Rafael Cabral, Ashcroft, Abrefa. Booked: Drinkwater, Puscas, Swift. Referee: Tony Harrington leAdiNg scorers Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham)................. 21 Ben Brereton (Blackburn) ........................ 16 Dominic Solanke (AFC Bournemouth)...... 15 Joel piroe (Swansea) ................................. 10 viktor gyokeres (Coventry)......................... 9 Elijah Adebayo (Luton)............................... 8 Emil Jakobsen (Preston North End) ............ 8 Jamie paterson (Swansea) ......................... 8 John Swift (Reading) .................................. 8 karlan Ahearne-grant (West Brom).......... 8 lewis grabban (Nottm Forest) ................... 8 Andreas weimann (Bristol City)................. 7 harry Cornick (Luton) ................................. 7 Matt godden (Coventry) ............................. 7 phillip Billing (AFC Bournemouth) ............. 7 harry wilson (Fulham) ............................... 6 ilias Chair (QPR) .......................................... 6 Jaidon Anthony (AFC Bournemouth).......... 6 lyndon Dykes (QPR) ................................... 6 Scott hogan (Birmingham)......................... 6 Chris Martin (Bristol City) ........................... 5 Jacob Brown (Stoke) ................................... 5 Jed wallace (Millwall)................................. 5 Jerry Yates (Blackpool)................................ 5 46 3 47 1 48 1 49 1 7 Score Draws 3 No Score Draws 16 Home Wins 13 Away Wins Dividend Forecast is tBC

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 35 FINAL SCORE All the results, scorers & tA bles Fa TroPhY seCoND rouND sCoTTish resulTs aFC w’Don (0) 2 FleetwooD (1) 2 Assal 53 Garner 35 McCormick 79 Johnson 84 Att 7,405 bolton (1) 2 CheltenhaM (2) 2 Amaechi 26 May 14, 45 Kachunga 58 Att 13,145 burton a (0) 2 DonCaster (0) 0 O’Connor 55 Att 2,954 Jebbison 76 CaMbriDge (1) 1 sunDerlanD (2) 2 Smith 27 Mitov 15 (og) Att 7,174 Broadhead 36 gillinghaM (0) 0 PortsMth (0) 1 Att 5,637 Tucker 90 (og) linColn CitY (0) 0 aCCrington (0) 1 Att 8,547 Bishop 55 MoreCaMbe (0) 0 Mk Dons (2) 4 Att 3,700 Eisa 23 O’Riley 40, 82 Darling 64 oxForD utD (0) 0 rotherhaM (0) 0 Att 7,620 PlYMouth (1) 1 wigan (1) 2 Mayor 43 Keane 35 Att 15,329 Lang 90 sheFF weD (1) 2 wYCoMbe (1) 2 Shodipo 45 Mehmeti 23 Windass 50 Obita 65 Att 20,761 shrewsbY (0) 1 Charlton (0) 0 Udoh 90 Att 6,158 P W D L F A Pts Rotherham.........19 11 5 3 34 13 38 Wigan ................18 12 2 4 34 16 38 Wycombe...........20 11 5 4 32 23 38 Plymouth ...........20 10 6 4 33 22 36 Sunderland ........18 11 2 5 30 23 35 MK Dons.............19 10 4 5 37 24 34 Sheff Wed...........20 8 9 3 28 21 33 Oxford Utd..........18 9 5 4 29 18 32 Portsmouth........20 9 5 6 26 22 32 Burton Albion.....20 8 4 8 22 23 28 Cheltenham .......19 7 6 6 26 30 27 Bolton ................20 7 5 8 29 29 26 Ipswich ..............19 6 6 7 34 29 24 Accrington..........19 7 3 9 23 36 24 Charlton .............20 6 5 9 26 27 23 Cambridge .........20 5 8 7 27 35 23 Wimbledon ........18 5 6 7 26 30 21 Lincoln City ........19 5 6 8 20 24 21 Shrewsbury........19 5 4 10 18 25 19 Morecambe........19 5 4 10 29 37 19 Gillingham .........20 3 8 9 16 27 17 Fleetwood..........18 3 6 9 30 34 15 Doncaster...........19 3 4 12 11 34 13 Crewe.................19 2 6 11 16 34 12 miNor leagues The NorTher T N Foo Tball league Premier DivisioN Bamber Bridge 1 Basford Utd 0, Buxton P Witton Albion P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed), FC United of Manchester 2 Mickleover 0, Gainsborough Trinity P Hyde Utd P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed), Scarborough Athletic P Grantham Town P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed), Stafford Rangers P South Shields P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed). P W D L F A Pts Matlock Town.....19 14 1 4 37 15 43 Bamber Bridge...20 13 2 5 41 23 41 South Shields .....19 12 4 3 33 15 40 Buxton ...............18 11 6 1 35 13 39 Warrington Tn ....18 9 5 4 25 18 32 Whitby Town ......19 9 3 7 21 20 30 Stafford Rangers 19 7 6 6 21 14 27 Scarborough.......18 8 3 7 22 27 27 FC Utd of Man.....20 8 2 10 29 26 26 Basford Utd ........19 7 5 7 20 22 26 Atherton ............19 8 2 9 18 22 26 Stalybridge Celtic19 8 1 10 30 28 25 Lancaster City.....19 8 1 10 25 26 25 Radcliffe.............19 7 3 9 24 29 24 Witton Albion.....19 6 4 9 25 39 22 Ashton Utd.........18 5 6 7 22 21 21 Gainsborough ....18 5 5 8 14 25 20 Mickleover .........21 5 5 11 19 34 20 Morpeth Town....17 5 4 8 25 29 19 Nantwich Town ..18 5 4 9 15 22 19 Hyde Utd ............19 6 1 12 23 33 19 Grantham Town..19 3 3 13 19 42 12 The NorTher T N Foo Tball league FirsT T DivisioN NorTh T WesT 1874 Northwich 0 Widnes 3, City of Liverpool 0 Kendal Town 0, Clitheroe 1 Trafford 0, Kidsgrove Ath 1 Bootle 2, Leek Town P Colne P, Market Drayton Town P Runcorn Linnets P, Warrington Rylands 8 Ramsbottom Utd 0, Workington 1 Prescot Cables 0. P W D L F A Pts Marine ...............15 13 0 2 31 11 39 Workington........17 11 4 2 28 14 37 Warrington R......17 10 4 3 42 21 34 Clitheroe ............17 10 3 4 34 17 33 Runcorn Linnets .15 10 2 3 31 16 32 Leek Town ..........17 9 4 4 28 17 31 Mossley..............16 10 1 5 31 21 31 Friday ColChester (0) 1 newPort (1) 1 Sears 78 Telford 36 Att 2,401 Yesterday Carlisle (0) 1 walsall (0) 0 Abrahams 88 Att 3,795 CrawleY (0) 1 MansFielD (1) 2 Tilley 48 Hawkins 24 Att 1,824 Oates 73 Forest gn (1) 2 bristol r (0) 0 Matt 20, 77 (pen) Att 4,128 n’haMPton (1) 1 l orient (0) 0 Hoskins 41 Att 5,769 Port vale (1) 2 hartlePool (0) 0 Garrity 31, Pett 90 Att 4,839 roChDale (0) 1 exeter (0) 1 Taylor 69 Ray 59 Att 2,102 salForD C (1) 2 olDhaM (0) 0 Lund 45, Thomas-Asante 77 sCunthorPe (1) 1 braDForD (0) 1 Jarvis 39 Songo’o 68 Att 3,823 sutton utD (1) 1 barrow (0) 0 Ajiboye 16 Att 2,678 swinDon (0) 1 harrogate (1) 1 Payne 83 (pen) Diamond 24 Att 8,199 tranMere P stevenage P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. P W D L F A Pts Forest Green.......18 12 4 2 34 14 40 Northampton.....19 10 4 5 25 15 34 Exeter.................19 8 9 2 31 21 33 Swindon.............18 9 6 3 28 18 33 Port Vale.............19 9 5 5 32 20 32 Sutton Utd..........19 10 2 7 28 22 32 Harrogate Town..19 8 6 5 33 24 30 Leyton Orient .....19 6 10 3 32 17 28 Newport.............19 7 7 5 30 23 28 Tranmere............18 7 5 6 15 14 26 Salford City.........19 6 6 7 22 19 24 Bradford.............19 5 9 5 25 23 24 Rochdale ............19 5 9 5 24 24 24 Walsall ...............19 6 6 7 21 23 24 Mansfield ...........19 6 5 8 21 25 23 Bristol Rovers .....19 6 5 8 22 29 23 Hartlepool..........19 7 2 10 20 30 23 Colchester ..........18 5 6 7 16 22 21 Crawley ..............18 6 3 9 20 28 21 Barrow ...............19 4 7 8 20 24 19 Stevenage ..........18 4 6 8 15 30 18 Carlisle ...............19 3 7 9 13 28 16 Oldham ..............19 4 3 12 16 30 15 Scunthorpe ........19 2 8 9 15 35 14 Trafford ..............18 8 6 4 34 22 30 Bootle ................16 8 0 8 33 29 24 City of Liverpool .17 6 5 6 21 25 23 Ramsbottom U...17 7 2 8 26 33 23 Kidsgrove Ath.....17 7 1 9 23 26 22 1874 Northwich .17 6 4 7 21 29 22 Colne..................15 6 3 6 21 19 21 Newcastle Town .18 5 4 9 22 31 19 Glossop N E.........17 3 7 7 13 19 16 Widnes...............17 4 2 11 17 23 14 Prescot Cables ....18 3 2 13 21 43 11 Kendal Town.......18 2 2 14 16 43 7 Market Drayton ..17 1 2 14 6 40 5 The NorTher T N Foo Tball league FirsT T DivisioN miD laNDs Belper Town 4 Shepshed Dynamo 1, Cambridge City 1 Chasetown 3, Carlton Town 4 Corby Town 2, Daventry Town P Coleshill Town P, Halesowen Town P Soham Town Rangers P, Loughborough Dynamo 3 Histon 4, Spalding Utd 1 Bedworth Utd 1, Sporting Khalsa P Wisbech Town P, Sutton Coldfield Town P Stamford P, Yaxley 0 Ilkeston Town 1. P W D L F A Pts Ilkeston Town .....17 13 2 2 52 17 41 Chasetown .........16 11 4 1 39 18 37 Belper Town .......17 12 1 4 40 24 37 Halesowen Town . 16 11 3 2 37 16 36 Carlton Town ......16 10 5 1 34 14 35 Stamford............16 10 3 3 42 20 33 Coleshill Town ....16 11 0 5 36 19 33 Spalding Utd ......17 7 4 6 24 30 25 Loughborough ...17 7 2 8 37 37 23 Bedworth Utd ....17 7 2 8 23 27 23 Sporting Khalsa..15 6 2 7 26 28 20 Corby Town.........17 6 2 9 23 28 20 Cambridge City...17 5 4 8 21 23 19 Shepshed D ........16 4 6 6 26 28 18 Yaxley.................17 4 1 12 22 43 13 Sutton Coldfield .15 2 6 7 18 24 12 Daventry Town ...16 3 3 10 16 39 12 Wisbech Town ....16 2 3 11 14 36 9 Histon ................17 2 3 12 15 48 9 Soham Town R....17 2 2 13 16 42 8 The souTher T N Foo Tball league Premier CeNT NTral AFC Rushden & Diamonds P Needham Market P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed), Alvechurch P Coalville Town P (Postponed - new date altrinChaM (0) 1 southenD (2) 2 Mooney 68 Murphy 1 Att 1,288 Dalby 34 eastleigh P solihull M P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. griMsbY P borehaM w P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. king’s lYnn (0) 0 alDershot (0) 1 Att 785 Whittingham 80 MaiDenheaD P ChesterFlD P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. notts CntY (L) l Dag & reD (L) l torQuaY (0) 2 FC haliFax (1) 3 Lolos 88 Slew 30, 46 Little 90 Waters 50 Att 2,269 wealDstone (0) 1 stoCkPort (1) 4 Jackson 87 Quigley 26 Crankshaw 62, 67, 81 woking (1) 1 barnet (1) 2 McNerney 2 Marriott 28, 90 Att 1,779 wrexhaM (1) 2 broMleY (0) 0 Hall-Johnson 33 Mullin 60 Yeovil (0) 1 Dover (1) 1 Yussuf 77 Bramble 2 P W D L F A Pts Chesterfield........17 10 6 1 35 15 36 Boreham Wood ..17 10 5 2 26 13 35 FC Halifax ...........17 10 3 4 28 16 33 Grimsby..............17 10 2 5 29 17 32 Bromley .............17 9 4 4 31 20 31 Wrexham ...........17 8 6 3 33 18 30 Stockport ...........17 9 3 5 28 20 30 Notts County ......17 8 5 4 27 20 29 Solihull Moors ....17 8 5 4 22 20 29 Dag & Red ..........17 8 2 7 33 22 26 Yeovil .................16 7 4 5 17 15 25 Altrincham .........17 7 3 7 31 26 24 Woking...............17 8 0 9 30 26 24 Eastleigh ............16 7 3 6 21 21 24 Barnet................17 6 4 7 21 30 22 Wealdstone........17 5 6 6 17 25 21 Torquay ..............17 5 3 9 24 30 18 Aldershot ...........17 5 1 11 18 30 16 Weymouth .........17 4 3 10 20 35 15 Maidenhead Utd . 15 4 2 9 18 30 14 Southend ...........16 4 2 10 13 25 14 King’s Lynn .........17 2 2 13 15 37 8 Dover .................17 0 4 13 14 40 -8 to be confirmed), Banbury Utd 2 Royston Town 0, Barwell 2 Hitchin Town 1, Leiston P Biggleswade Town P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed), Lowestoft Town 2 St Ives Town 2, Nuneaton Borough 1 Hednesford Town 1, Redditch Utd 1 Rushall Olympic 1, Stourbridge P Stratford Town P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed), Tamworth P Peterborough Sports P (Postponed - new date to be confirmed). The souTher T N Foo Tball league DivisioN oNe CeNT NTral AFC Dunstable 2 Harlow Town 0, Barton Rovers 0 Berkhamsted 3, Biggleswade FC 3 Ware 0, Colney Heath 2 Kidlington 3, Didcot Town 0 Bedford Town 3, Kempston Rovers 1 FC Romania 6, Waltham Abbey 0 Thame Utd 3, Wantage Town 3 Hertford Town 3. The souTher T N Foo Tball league Divisio ivisioN oN Ne e souTh T Barnstaple Town 0 Willand Rovers 4; Frome Town 3 Mangotsfield United 0; Lymington Town 0 Paulton Rovers 7; Melksham Town 2 Highworth Town 0; Sholing 1 Evesham United 0; Slimbridge 1 Bideford AFC 0; Winchester City 1 Cirencester Town 3. miD Dla ND league, , Premier Divisio ivisioN Bewdley Town v Tividale P; Haughmond 4 Romulus 1; Highgate United v Stourport Swifts P; Lichfield City v Whitchurch Alport P; Lye Town v Uttoxeter Town P; Stone Old Alleynians v Boldmere St Michaels P; Walsall Wood v AFC Wulfrunians P; Wolverhampton Casuals v Hanley Town P; Worcester City v Shifnal Town P. DIVISION ONE: Ashby Ivanhoe 2 OJM Black Country 4; Atherstone Town 1 Wolverhampton Sporting Community 0; Bilston Town Community v Cradley Town P; Darlaston Town v Shawbury United P; Dudley Sports v Paget Rangers P; Khalsa Football Federation v Heath Hayes P; Wednesfield v Dudley Town P. DIVISION TWO: Cadbury Athletic v Knowle P; Kenilworth Sporting 1 Earlswood Town 1; Lane Head v Bolehall Swifts P. DIVISION THREE: AFC Solihull v Coventrians P; Bartley Reds v Balsall and Berkswell P; Central Ajax v AFC Birmingham P; Continental Star v Birmingham Tigers P; DSC United v Sutton United P. aFC FYlDe (0) 1 gatesheaD (0) 0 Obi 74 ashton utD P guiseleY P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. bath CitY (0) 0 DartForD (0) 0 Dartford win 3-5 on penalties. binFielD (0) 2 truro CitY (3) 3 Howell 54 Harvey 8 Harris 77 Riley-Lowe 25, Neal 42 b stortForD (2) 5 leiston (1) 1 Merrifield 6, 9 Mills 20 Foxley 53 Harris 80, Charles 82 braCkleY (0) 1 boston utD (2) 2 Ndlovu 48 Elliott 27 Byrne 45 braDFD P a P Marine P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. braintree (1) 3 Potters b t (1) 1 Krasniqi 20, 51 Esan 45 Holness 89 brentwooD (0) 1 DulwiCh h (1) 2 Harvey 50 Mills 13 CanveY isle (0) 0 tonbriDge a (0) 1 Turner 56 ChelMsForD (1) 1 Cheshunt (1) 2 Dada 44 Beckles-Richards 14 Liburd 69 ChiPPenhaM (0) 0 uxbriDge (0) 1 Whitham 71 ConCorD r (0) 0 aFC totton (3) 5 Taylor 14, Griffin 20, 24 Kasimu 49 Tomasso 53 C wanDerers (2) 2 ebbsFleet (0) 2 Yila 35, 38 Bingham 76, Wood 90 Cray Wanderers win 5-3 on penalties. C ashton (0) 2 Chester FC (1) 1 McKay 56 Poscha 40 (og) Thomas 87 NatioNal lGE scorErs Kabongo Tshimanga (Chesterfield).....17 Michael Cheek (Bromley) .....................13 Tahvon Campbell (Woking) .................13 Billy Waters (FC Halifax) .......................11 Armani Little (Torquay) ..........................9 Joe Sbarra (Solihull Moors) .....................9 Paul Mullin (Wrexham)...........................9 Ruben Rodrigues (Notts County) ...........8 Jordan Slew (FC Halifax) .........................7 Josh Umerah (Wealdstone) ....................7 Kyle Wootton (Notts County)..................7 Scott Boden (Boreham Wood) ................7 John McAtee (Grimsby)...........................6 Joseph Quigley (Yeovil) ..........................6 RESERVE DIVISION: Boldmere St Michaels Res v Redditch Borough Res P; Gornal Colts Res v Sutton Rangers P; Gresley Rovers Res v Redditch United Res P; Leamington Res 3 Solihull Sporting 0; Racing Club Warwick U23 4 Walsall Wood Res 3. UNDER-21 EAST: Coalville Town v Quorn P; Coventrians v Barwell P; FCV Stamford 0 Bedworth United 1; Loughborough University 7 Leicester Football Education Academy 1. UNDER-21 NORTH WEST: Boldmere St Michaels v Brocton P; Birmingham Tigers v Sutton Coldfield Town P; Chasetown v Stafford Rangers P; Dream Chaser Youth v Lichfield City P. UNDER-21 SOUTH WEST: Redditch Borough v Silhill P; Stourbridge v Halesowen Town P. WEST MIDLANDS (REGIONAL) LEAGUE, DIVISION ONE: Bromyard Town v FC Darlaston P; Gornal Athletic v Tipton Town P; Sikh Hunters v Team Dudley P; Wyrley United v Wrens Nest P. DIVISION TWO: Edgbaston Spartans v Sikh Hunters Dev P; Norton Canes v Wellington Amateurs Dev P; Saltley Stallions v Dudley Athletic P. BIRMINGHAM VASE: Alcester Town 5 Castle Vale Town 0; Barnt Green Spartak v Coton Green P; Hampton v Stratford Town Res P. STAFFORDSHIRE CHALLENGE CUP: Rushall Olympic U21 v Warstones Wanderers Academy P. NORTHAMPTON FA LOWER JUNIOR CUP: Thrapston Venturas 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U21 4. SHROPSHIRE FA CHALLENGE CUP: Shrewsbury Development Centre U21 0 Albrighton 8; Shrewsbury Juniors v Allscott Heath U21 P; Wellington Amateurs 6 Allscott Heath 1. WORCESTERSHIRE FA SATURDAY CUP: Droitwich Spa BG U21 v Kidderminster Harriers U21 P; Fairfield Villa v Upton Town P; Inkberrow v Evesham United Dev P; Redditch Borough v Droitwich Spa P; Sporting Club Inkberrow v Worcester City Res P. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH CHALLENGE CUP: AFC Coventry Rangers v Nuneaton Griff P; Copsewood Coventry 2 Chelmsley Town 0; eastbourne (1) 2 tiverton (0) 1 Walker 42, 66 Hayfield 74 FarsleY CeltiC P stalYbriDge C P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. F & walton u (0) 0 aFC telForD (3) 4 Williams 23 Oswell 32, 40 glouCester (2) 3 kettering (0) 0 Hulbert 6, 21, Sheaf 55 hanwell t (0) 0 enFielD t (1) 2 Faal 42, 80 h wintneY (0) 0 Folkestone i (1) 2 Yusuff 36 Heard 64 h heMPstD (1) 1 s’briDge (1) 1 Wilson 17 (og) Styche 26 Hemel Hempstead win 5-6 on penalties. hereForD FC (1) 1 k’Minster (1) 1 McLean 42 Morgan-Smith 18 Kidderminster win 5-3 on penalites. hungerForD (1) 3 welling (1) 2 Seager 45 Shokunbi 45 Smith 79 Saunders-Henry 62 Tyler 85 leaMington (0) 0 alFreton (0) 3 Hobson 62, 77, 82 liverseDge P lanCaster C P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. MaiDstone u (0) 1 billeriCaY (1) 1 Luque 89 Pitoula-Wabo 11 Maidstone Utd win 6-5 on penalties. MatloCk tn P Marske utD P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. neeDhaM M (0) 3 w garDen C (0) 1 Ingram 62 Mensah 89 Dye 64 Mpongo 90 oxForD CitY (0) 1 st albans (2) 4 Iaciofano 48 Jeffers 18, 45, 53 Wiltshire 82 Ken Charles (King’s Lynn Town)...............6 6 for Cheshunt Paddy Madden (Stockport County).........6 Paul McCallum (Dag & Red)....................6 Ryan Taylor (Grimsby).............................6 Corie Andrews (Aldershot)......................5 Danny Rowe (Chesterfield) .....................5 Josh Kelly (Maidenhead Utd) ..................5 Josh Rees (Boreham Wood).....................5 Joshua Walker (Dag & Red) ....................5 Max Kretzschmar (Woking) ...................5 Rhys Murphy (Southend)........................5 Sam Barratt (Maidenhead Utd) ..............5 Aaron Cosgrave (Dover)..........................4 Stockton 2 Christ The King 1; Triumph Athletic v Coventry Alvis P. COVENTRY TELEGRAPH JUNIOR CUP: Dunlop Res v Nuneaton Borough U21 P. BIRMINGHAM LEAGUE: All matches postponed. UHLSPORT HELLENIC LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION: Bradford Town 3 Roman Glass St George 1; Brimscombe & Thrupp 1 Cribbs 1; Chipping Sodbury Town 0 Westfields 4; Corsham Town 3 Royal Wootton Bassett Town 0; Hereford Lads Club 1 Bishops Cleeve 3; Longlevens AFC 1 Lydney Town 2; Shrivenham 1 Malvern Town 7; Thornbury Town 0 Westbury United 0. DIVISION ONE: Abingdon United v Moreton Rangers P; Bourton Rovers v Hereford Pegasus P; Littleton v Studley P; Pershore Town 3 Malmesbury Vics 0; Shortwood United 2 Newent Town 2; Stonehouse Town 2 FC Stratford 4; Worcester Raiders 2 Clanfield 85 1. UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION NORTH: Anstey Nomads v Heanor Town P; Eastwood CFC v Deeping Rangers P; Holbeach United 1 Loughborough Students 2; Leicester Nirvana v Heather St John’s P; Long Eaton United 4 Sleaford Town 1; Melton Town 0 Skegness Town AFC 1; Newark 2 Boston Town 5; Quorn 2 Pinchbeck United 0; Selston v Gresley Rovers P. PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH: Coventry United 3 Wellingborough Town 2; Desborough Town v Easington Sports P; Eynesbury Rovers 0 Hinckley LRFC 4; GNG Oadby Town v Godmanchester Rovers P; Harborough Town 3 Coventry Sphinx 1; Lutterworth Town v Biggleswade United P; Potton United 2 Bugbrooke St Michaels 2; Rothwell Corinthians 0 Long Buckby AFC 3; Rugby Town 3 Newport Pagnell Town 1. DIVISION ONE: Barrow Town 2 Aylestone Park 1; Birstall United Social v Belper United P; Bourne Town 1 Radford 3; Dunkirk v Kimberley MW P; Gedling MW 4 Kirby Muxloe 2; Graham Street Prims 3 Hinckley AFC 3; Harrowby United 2 Hucknall Town 4; Ingles v West Bridgford P; Saffron Dynamo v Clifton All Whites P; St Andrews 3 Borrowash Victoria 0. COVENTRY ALLIANCE, ALLIANCE PREMIER: Folly Lane BCOB v Coventry Colliery P; Jet PlYMouth P (0) 1 h & riChMonD (0) 0 Crago 59 slough (1) 1 havant & w (0) 0 Kuhl 30 (pen) southPort P Darlington P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. sPennYMoor P ChorleY P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. warrington (1) 1 MorPeth (1) 1 McDonald 38 Sayer 25 Morpeth win 5-3 on penalties. whitbY town P nantwiCh P Postponed - new date to be confirmed. wiMborne (0) 1 larkhall a (0) 2 Britton 69 Lambert 74 worthing (0) 0 Dorking w (1) 2 Rutherford 38, 64 York (1) 1 blYth sP. (0) 0 Beck 4 raDCliFFe (2) 5 taMworth (1) 1 Navarro 12 McDonald 35 Grant 17, 54 (pen) Crothers 50, Spinelli 60 Welsh CuP semi- FiNals Friday bala town (1) 1 Connah’s Q n (1) 4 Stephens 29 Mendes 43, 67 Curran 65 Mullan 72 Yesterday CarDiFF M u (2) 3 barrY twn u (1) 2 Roscrow 32 (pen) Cotterill 6 Lewis 36 Jarvis 90 Evans 55 Welsh Prem P W D L F A Pts TNS FC ................14 11 2 1 35 9 35 Flint Town Utd ....14 8 2 4 29 18 26 Newtown ...........14 7 2 5 28 18 23 Penybont............14 5 6 3 21 17 21 Bala Town...........14 5 6 3 23 20 21 Connah’s Quay N.14 5 5 4 16 9 20 Caernarfon Tn.....14 6 2 6 19 17 20 Barry Town Utd ..14 5 4 5 20 21 19 Aberystwyth Tn..14 5 1 8 9 16 16 Haverfordwest C.14 4 3 7 15 25 15 Cardiff Met Uni ...14 4 3 7 12 23 15 Cefn Druids.........14 0 2 12 6 40 2 Blades v AFC Binley P. ALLIANCE ONE: Christ The King Res v Folly Lane BCOB Res P; Coventry Warriors Gurdwara GNP v AFC Coventry P; Kenilworth Wardens 2 Triumph Athletic Res 3; Polonia Coventry v Folly Lane BCOB Assoc Res P. ALLIANCE TWO: Christ The King Third v Whitnash Town P; Coventry Colliery Res v Shilton P. ALLIANCE THREE: Bourton & Frankton v Balsall/Berkswell Hornets P; Coundon Court v Stockingford AA Pavillion P. ALLIANCE FOUR: Craftsman v GNP Sports Jnrs Lions P; RS Sports Res 5 Red Lion Rangers 0; Shilton Res v Striders P; Woodlands WMC v Yelvertoft P. MAJOR BOYD CARPENTER CUP: AFC Binley Thirds v Jaguar Daimler P; Bulkington Poppys v Crick Athletic Res P; Dunlop Thirds v AFC Binley Res P; Kenilworth Sporting 4 Folly Lane BCOB Assoc 4 (Kenilworth won 7-6 on pens). EVERARDS BREWERY LEICS SENIOR LEAGUE, PREMIER DIVISION: Allexton & New Park 0 FC Khalsa GAD 0; Blaby & Whetstone Athletic 0 Desford 0; Cottesmore AFC 1 Glenfield United 1; Ellistown v ProChance Football Academy P; Highfield Rangers 1 Fleckney Athletic 2; Northfield Emerald v Ashby Ivanhoe Knights P; Sileby Town v Hathern P; Thurnby Rangers 3 Friar Lane & Epworth 1. STRATFORD ALLIANCE, AQUAID DIVISION ONE: AFC Bromsgrove v FC Wickhamford P; FC Wickhamford v Shipston Excelsior P. WALLS & CEILINGS DIVISION TWO: Bearley United v Claverdon Res P; Blockley United v Inkberrow Academy P; Shipston Excelsior Res v Blockley P; Shottery United 0 FISSC Res 1; Tysoe United 1 AFC Stratford Town Colts 2. OXFORDSHIRE SENIOR LEAGUE, PRESI- DENTS CUP: Southam United 9 Garsington 1. STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE, MEN UNITE PREMIER DIVISION: AFC Alsager 4 City of Stoke 0. All other matches postponed. Premiership DunDee (2) 3 Motherwell (0) 0 McCowan 19 Att 4,747 Mullen 27 Sweeney 49 hearts (0) 2 st Mirren (0) 0 Mackay-Steven 61 Att 17,311 Kingsley 75 ross Co (0) 1 DunDee utD (0) 1 Baldwin 90 Appere 49 st Johnstone (1) 1 hibernian (0) 2 Porteous 40 (og) Nisbet 83 Murphy 86 P W D L F A Pts Rangers..............13 9 3 1 29 13 30 Hearts ................15 7 6 2 25 14 27 Celtic ..................13 8 2 3 30 9 26 Dundee Utd........15 7 4 4 15 14 25 Motherwell ........15 6 3 6 19 24 21 Hibernian ...........13 5 3 5 17 17 18 St Mirren ............15 3 7 5 16 24 16 Aberdeen ...........14 4 3 7 15 19 15 St Johnstone ......14 3 5 6 9 14 14 Livingston ..........13 3 4 6 11 17 13 Dundee ..............14 3 4 7 14 27 13 Ross County........14 2 4 8 19 27 10 scottish Cup Third round Friday PartiCk (0) 1 D’FerMline (0) 0 Docherty 82 Att 2,198 Yesterday alloa (2) 5 bonnYrigg r (0) 0 Niang 13, 90 Att 513 Henderson 20, 70, 83 arbroath (2) 3 ForFar (0) 0 Thomson 12 Att 1,280 Little 20 Donnelly 53 auChinleCk t (0) 1 haMilton (0) 0 G Wilson 60 aYr (0) 2 albion (0) 1 Maxwell 54 Wright 46 Moffat 65 Att 986 banks oDee (1) 2 east FiFe (1) 1 Newton 28 (og) Semple 13 Gilmour 81 Att 328 C s strollers (0) 0 PeterheaD (0) 3 McLean 55 (pen) S Brown 60 Cameron 90 ClYDebank (1) 2 ClYDe (0) 0 Darroch 44 Little 64 C rangers (1) 2 Q oF sth (1) 2 Vigurs 33 Soares-Junior 32 McAllister 90 Paton 72 Att 468 Dalbeattie s (0) 1 east kilbriDe (1) 2 Degnan 70 McLaughlin 43 (pen) Saunders 64 DuMbarton (1) 3 sauChie (0) 1 Pignatiello 24 Smith 58 (pen) McKee 90 Att 571 Schiavone 90 Falkirk (0) 1 raith (1) 2 Morrison 50 Matthews 27 Att 2,512 Ross 84 g FairYDean (0) 0 annan ath (0) 1 Smith 51 inverness (1) 1 Morton (0) 1 McKay 12 Reilly 82 keltY hearts (0) 0 Montrose (0) 0 Att 744 lothian t (0) 1 eDinburgh C (2) 2 Douglas 82 Handling 35 Murray 42 Queen’s Pk (0) 0 kilMarnoCk (1) 1 Att 1,153 E Murray 45 s’houseMuir (0) 0 airDrie (1) 2 Frizzell 37 S McGill 55 stirling (2) 4 tranent (0) 0 Mackin 20, 63 (pen) Att 701 Leitch 30 McGregor 81 Championship P W D L F A Pts Kilmarnock.........15 9 2 4 20 9 29 Raith ..................15 8 5 2 26 16 29 Inverness CT .......15 8 4 3 18 11 28 Partick................15 8 3 4 29 14 27 Arbroath.............15 7 6 2 26 13 27 Dunfermline.......15 2 7 6 15 24 13 Ayr .....................15 3 4 8 13 26 13 Hamilton............15 3 4 8 13 29 13 Morton...............15 2 6 7 12 20 12 Queen of South ..15 3 3 9 13 23 12 league 1 P W D L F A Pts Cove Rangers......15 8 4 3 29 17 28 Airdrieonians......15 8 2 5 24 19 26 Montrose............15 6 7 2 25 13 25 Queen’s Park.......15 5 8 2 25 17 23 Falkirk ................15 6 4 5 20 17 22 Alloa...................15 5 4 6 24 25 19 Dumbarton ........15 5 3 7 22 29 18 Peterhead ..........15 5 2 8 22 24 17 Clyde ..................15 4 4 7 18 30 16 East Fife..............15 3 2 10 17 35 11

36 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 bournemouth 2 coventry 2 ■■ Coventry City’s Todd Kane, left, celebrates scoring the winner, which also delighted team-mate Jodi Jones, above. Matt Godden, right, got the first goal KANE ABLE TO CAP RECOVERY Sky Blues stage remarkable late comeback From ANDY TURNER at The Vitality Stadium A brilliant stoppagetime Todd Kane goal handed Coventry City a superb point as Mark Robins’s men battled back from two goals down against ten-man Bournemouth. The Sky Blues trailed 2-0 midway through the second half after Jaidon Anthony floated home the first on the stroke of half-time before turning provider for Philip Billing just after the hour as the Cherries were largely in control of the Championship clash for just over an hour. But the home side had a man sent off minutes later when Jefferson Lerma took out Matty Godden enroute to the box, the midfielder – who had been filling in at centre-back – shown a straight red card. Godden then pulled one back as City looked to capitalise on their extra man advantage and was denied an equaliser on 90 minutes by an athletic save from the keeper as the visitors mounted an exciting late fightback. But that never-say-die attitude came to the fore and Kane popped up with a delightful wind-assisted angled shot over the keeper that nestled inside the far side netting in the fifth and final minute of added time to send the travelling fans wild. Robins conceded that the game turned in his side’s favour when the Cherries had a man sent off shortly after doubling their lead at the Vitality Stadium. “I thought it was a good game and they (Bournemouth) are brilliant and you have got to be really careful,” said the City manager. “We worked so hard in the first half, tactically and technically, to try to block them off because they move the ball really quickly, so they can open you up. But I think that we handled that pretty well. “They changed their shape and threw different problems at us but still had the same power, pace and technical ability and know-how, and they can hurt you, there’s no doubt.” The Cherries snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time when Anthony hit a wind-assisted cross-cum-shot inside the far post. “So to go down 1-0 to a poor goal from our perspective but they were delighted with it,” said Robins. “But coming in at 1-0 down was not really what they deserved. I thought they had worked hard enough to deserve not conceding, and a cross going straight into the net was not what we were looking for. “Having said that, we were well in the game when we were well out of the game when we played against them last year. I think we needed more of the same coming out in the second half and really tried to have a go in what we knew would be a two-part game. “But when you open up a little bit against you there’s always that threat that they can hurt you on the counter attack and just open you up on transition, and they did at times, got into some really good positions but didn’t really create a huge amount, which is testament to the lads and how they went about their jobs.” Although Billing doubled the home lead on 66 minutes, Scott Parker’s men were reduced to ten two minutes later when Lerma was red-carded for a last-ditch foul on Godden as he raced into the box, taking the man not the ball. “The sending-off was a turning point because then we were obviously able to make the change with Vik (Gyokeres) coming on,” said Robins, “knowing it was a gamble but Callum O’Hare had to work two jobs, which he was doing most of the day anyway because of the spaces down the sides of the midfield which we didn’t want to be opened up too much. “And you start to get tired because of the amount of work they have done. “That’s always a concern but when the sending-off happened it just made things clearer in terms of how we could attack them and hopefully get back at them, which happened through some really good work down the right-hand side. “It was brilliant from Liam Kelly who was in a good position and lost it and then regained the ball and put it in and Matty Godden adjusted his feet and finished really well. That gave us that little bit of impetus and belief. “Jodi Jones came on and really controlled things with a really calm head, and I thought he was really good because whenever he had the ball he was calm, which obviously spreads. “The anxiety can go the other way and you can start to go a little bit longer but we were calm and carried on playing the way we wanted them to and got into some really good positions. “And then Todd Kane saw the goalkeeper off his line and it was the deftest chip into the far corner that I have seen this season, so happy days!” he added. AFC BOURNEMOUTH: Travers, Mepham, Lerma, S Cook, Stacey, Kilkenny (Rossi, 87), L Cook, Billing, Anthony (Marcondes, 90+3), Christie (Davis, 79), Solanke. Subs not used: Nyland, Lowe, Rogers, Moriah-Welsh COVENTRY CITY: Moore, Dabo, McFadzean, Hyam, Kane, Kelly Sheaf (Jones, 85), Maatsen (Walker, 90+2), O’Hare, Allen (Gyökeres, 63), Godden. Subs not used: Wilson, Shipley, Eccles STAR MAN: Todd Kane.

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 37 ISMAEL TO TAKE AIM AT HIS MISFIRING BAGGIES ■■ West Brom’s Karlan Grant evades Nottingham Forest defender Joe Worrall but it was frustrating evening for the forward as the home team drew another blank JOSEPH CHAPMAN Tweet @ChapmanJ92 West Brom head coach Valerien Ismael admitted a lack of firepower is costing his team after the 10-man Baggies drew 0-0 against Nottingham Forest at The Hawthorns on Friday night. It was a case of same old, same old for the Baggies as their unbeaten home record remained in tact, but they yet again failed to find the back of the net. Their problems were compounded by the second-half sending off of Jayson Molumby, who was handed a second yellow card when he dived in on Joe Lolley to leave Ismael with a real problem ahead of their game with Coventry on Saturday. Albion created four big chances but failed to break the deadlock and it’s now just one win in six, with their goal drought fast becoming a crisis. Ismael said: “It was a really frustrating and difficult evening again. It’s the same picture at the minute. We didn’t concede any big chance from Forest but we lost too many balls in the first half. ‘‘Until the red card, I thought we were more on the front foot. After the red card it was a different game. It was all about to stay strong, to stay in the game, to stay compact and to wait on your chance. ‘‘We did that job. At the minute we’re really strong defensively. Our issue is just to cross the line. We had four big chances, with Darnell Furlong, with Diangana, with Karlan Grant and at the very end with Jordan Hugill. ‘‘The picture at the minute is that we’re struggling to score goals. We need to work on it. The chances are there; this is a good thing. Now we must go deep into the details. Is it the body shape? Is it the positioning? ■■ Forest’s Ryan Yates outjumps Alex Mowatt and James Garner battles for the ball with Callum Robinson on Friday nght “At the minute we put the ball in areas where we’re really dangerous, so we create an overload down the sides and we put the crosses in, but maybe we need to adapt our crosses. Are they too strong? “The good thing now is that we play Saturday, Saturday, in a good rhythm. We can recover well. This was our third game in seven days. We can get the confidence back in training and develop the desire to score the goals.” ‘‘We are well prepared, we have the game-plan, we have everything. The next part – the players need to take responsibility for the performance. Altogether we try and create the momentum.’’ Ismael made an honest admission football about Molumby’s sending off 20 minutes before full-time “It’s a red card,” he said. “I think that Jayson needed to manage the challenge better when you’ve been booked nine minutes before. You need to stay calm and to control your emotions in that situation. “It’s another kind of mistake, but it’s another which put us in a difficult situation to stay in the game. The good thing was that we managed the situation when down to ten men.” Forest have now extended their fine run of form to just one loss in 13 matches, but Steve Cooper’s side will have been frustrated to have not found a winner against the 10 men. Cooper was ‘‘annoyed’’ with his side’s performance after being on the back foot for much of the game. “We didn’t play with enough intensity or urgency and maybe lacked a bit of belief,” he said. “I know it’s three games in a week, which can be tough physically, but it was the same for West Brom. “I thought we could play better than we did and I’m slightly annoyed with it. We are a better team than that. I can’t apologise for wanting the best all the time. The players are feeling it as well.” “I didn’t feel under threat in the game. I know they had a couple of good moments in the first half, but I didn’t feel like we were ever getting peppered in the game.” Shock as sub sinks Saddlers carlisle 1 walsall 0 Substitute Tristan Abrahams scored a last-gasp winner to end Carlisle’s 12-match winless streak in League Two. It was a bitter blow for Saddlers boss Matt Taylor whose side started as strong favourites on the back of their seven-match unbeaten away run in all competitions. Carlisle began the day languishing in the relegation spots but Abrahams’ 89th-minute goal from close range hauled Keith Millen’s side out of the bottom two. The Cumbrian outfit rode their luck in the early stages with Conor Wilkinson close to giving Walsall a first minute lead when he weaved into the box to create an opening for Otis Khan who shot just wide. A minute later Wilkinson had a fierce shot that keeper Mark Howard did well to parry away. But Walsall’s early goal threat faded and openings became few and far between. A mistake by veteran defender Stephen Ward was pounced on by Joe Riley but his ambitious 40-yard effort flew just over as he tried to catch keeper Carl Rushworth off his guard. Riley’s involvement ended shortly after when a shoulder injury following a collision with Jack Earing saw him replaced by Taylor Charters. Carlisle came closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half on 37 minutes when Jordan Gibson wriggled into space to unleash a shot which cannoned off the post. Gibson tried his luck with a free-kick two minutes before the interval but Rushworth was untroubled as the ball flew over the bar. Chances remained at a premium but Walsall’s George Miller carved out a good opening on 57 minutes with a first-time shot well saved by Howard. Joss Labadie tested Howard from distance but when the keeper spilled the shot no Saddlers player was on hand to make anything of the rebound. At the other end Rushworth wasn’t too busy either with Corey Whelan spurning a good opportunity by blazing over from the edge of the area. Emmanuel Osadebe then linked up with Miller to burst into the box but his well-struck shot was just too high to trouble Howard. The sting in the tail for Walsall came via a Callum Guy free kick which was kept alive by Rod McDonald who squared for Abrahams to tap in the back post. Saddlers boss Taylor admitted it was a disappointing performance. “I’ve asked the players for more consistency and we didn’t do enough today,” he said. Walsall: Rushworth, White, Ward, Labadie, Monthe, Wilkinson, Osadebe, Miller, Earing, Khan (Phillips, 65) , Menayese. Subs (not used): Rose, Taylor, Kinsella, Leak, Perry, Shade. Star man: George Miller

38 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 Pen kings Harriers knock out finalists hereford 1 kidderminster 1 Harriers win 5-3 on penalties norwich 0 wolves 0 KIDDERMINSTER Harriers triumphed in their FA Trophy tie knocking out last year’s finalists Hereford after going through on a penalty shoot-out. Omari Morgan-Smith had seen his 19th-minute strike cancelled out by Ryan McLean’s equaliser before the break as the two sides battled out a 1-1 draw resulting in penalties. Goalkeeper Luke Simpson, pictured, made a one-handed save from Dan Smith before substitute Jaiden White netted the winning penalty. Kidderminster had won their last seven of their last eight games on the bounce coming into the tie and started brightly with Morgan-Smith rifling them ahead after 19 minutes pulling away from his marker and then firing home from outside the box. Sam Austin could have doubled his side’s lead three minutes later but saw his low effort from an angle saved by goalkeeper Brandon Hall. However, the Bulls came into the match as the first half wore on and McLean saw his cross caught in the wind and goalkeeper Simpson had to save from under his own bar. McLean pulled his side level three minutes before the break when Krystian Pearce’s header was saved by Simpson into a crowd of players, but the Bulls winger was on hand to backheel the rebound home. Kidderminster were being drawn into a physical battle but did have an opportunity through Austin who sent his effort over. Harriers’ substitute White almost had an immediate impact capitalising on a slip before seeing his effort saved in the best of their second half chances from open play. However, Hereford were equal to their visitors in a close encounter and former Harriers’ player Jared Hodgkiss released midfielder Luke Haines who fired over as the game went to penalties. A perfect penalty taking record saw Hemmings, Morgan-Smith, Ethan Freemantle and Elliot Bonds all score before White secured their passage into the third round. Brakes made to pay for fluffing chances leamington 0 alfreton t 3 Brakes slipped out of the FA Trophy on a bitterly cold afternoon on Harbury Lane against divisional rivals Alfreton. Dayle Southwell’s stinging drive forced Leamington keeper Jake Weaver into a smart stop inside the opening 20 seconds. Brakes only clear cut chance of the first half came on the half hour. Steph Morley’s free-kick was saved well by George Willis but Kelsey Mooney was quickly onto the loose ball, and looked certain to bundle it home from right in front of goal only for an Alfreton defender to somehow divert it over the bar. The visitors enjoyed more of the attacking play in what was an uninspiring contest, and moved in front on 63 minutes. Josh Clackstone sent in an inviting centre for Bailey Hobson to head inside Weaver’s far post. Brakes boss Holleran threw on Kaiman Anderson and Junior English in search of a route back into the game, and English sent a ball in from the right that saw Dan Turner come within inches of a leveller as his header was acrobatically tipped over by Willis. The visitors appeared to have made the game safe with 13 minutes to play when a ball over the top was collected by Matt Rhead with no apparent danger, but with Weaver out of his goal and the defence playing a high line, the veteran striker lifted it across to Hobson, who calmly slotted it into the net. Leamington then forged two glorious chances to get themselves back into proceedings. Joe Clarke’s right wing cross was missed by Clackstone, giving Turner the chance to pick up possession and turn towards goal, but his shot was still rising as it flew over the bar. Brakes then carved out an even better opportunity, Jack Lane feeding Callum Gittings, whose scuffed effort was diverted into the path of Devon Kelly- Evans, who it appeared just needed to run on to the ball and slot it past Willis, but instead put it past the far post. This signalled the end of the tie, as within seconds Hobson had sent a low shot past a wrong footed Weaver to put Alfreton out of sight. ■■ Raul Jimenez is tackled by Norwich City’s Ben Gibson during the stalemate at Carrow Road Creative spark missing for Lage Bruno Lage has demanded more from his Wolves forwards and urged them to take more risks in the hope it’ll lead to more goals after they were made to settle for a goalless draw at lowly Norwich. Wolves have scored just once in their last three league games after drawing another blank on the road at Carrow Road, and they didn’t particularly look like improving on that statistic either. Key forward men Daniel Podence (Covid) and longterm injury absentee Pedro Neto (ACL) are still to come back in, but in their absence Francisco Trincao and Hwang Hee-chan failed to supply target man Raul Jimenez with any substantial line of service over the course of the piece. Lage wants to see more chances created and more risks taken from his wide men and front-line, because he believes that with the keeper, back three and holding midfielders, they have a very solid base which permits the attackers to be more adventurous. “I said that in the dressing room in front of the players,” Lage said. “The most important thing... the wingers we have, the strikers, the full backs, they have the freedom to create chances – we’re very solid at the back with three centre backs and two midfielders. I was pleased how we built up from the goalkeeper, through to the defenders and midfielders, but in the final third we need to be more aggressive. They have the freedom to do that, to go inside, to shoot and create their own chances. “It’s the point – in an intensive way we were there, but we must be more aggressive, when one v one, and of course not to concede chances for the opponent. “In the first 30 minutes, we managed it. We played as though we were at home. We could be more aggressive, to create our own chances. In the second half the game was more balanced, we moved the ball to the sides, we concede some positions, and Norwich create good chances. It’s a point, but we can do better in the final third.” If there was a small positive to take out of this game, for Lage – aside from the clean sheet – then it was the progress made, in the manager’s eyes, on the showing at Selhurst Park recently. “When you look back to our game against Crystal Palace it was a different game, but it’s a point and we move on,” he added. “I’m happy with how they’re doing, but I’d rather they lose the ball if they’re trying to create chances.”

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 39 premier league Glassboys don’t crack in shoot-out non-league round-up DAVID LAWRENCE ■■ Francisco Trincao pushed forward for Wolverhampton Wanderers ■■ Wolves skipper Conor Coady barks out orders at Carrow Road OLD RIVAL PUTS WANDERERS ON THE BACK FOOT From JOSEPH CHAPMAN at Carrow Road Tweet @?Chapman92 Wolverhampton Wanderers followed up their excellent win over West Ham United with a hardfought goalless draw at revitalised Norwich City. The Canaries, who have now collected four points from a possible six under the management of former Ason Villa boss Dean Smith, were the better side but Wanderers’ back three turned in an excellent display to ensure they left Norfolk with a share of the spoils. Norwich, fresh from putting successive Premier League wins over Brentford and Southampton together, began sharply. Milot Rashica on the left gave Nelson Semedo plenty to think about in the opening stages, while Teemu Pukki got caught in two minds when well placed and his cross, or shot, passed over the bar. As Wolves, who were without Daniel Podence after he tested positive for Covid, continued to warm themselves up, Norwich created another chance when Josh Sargent struck a first-time effort from the edge of the penalty area just wide of Jose Sa’s goal. Perhaps that was a wake-up call, because from there Wolves began to dominate the ball and they looked far more threatening, especially out wide. Rayan Ait-Nouri had plenty of joy on the left and one low cross to the near post was met by Raul Jimenez, who couldn’t direct his shot on target. Despite being comfortable for the entirety of the first half, that was their only effort on goal – until shortly before the break when they should’ve taken advantage of the Canaries’ ineptitude in their own penalty box. Wolves’ press forced a moment of hesitation between Grant Hanley and keeper Tim Krul, whose clearance under pressure from Hwang Heechan only reached Joao Moutinho on the edge of the D. The diminutive Portuguese’s strike wasn’t powerful enough and the recovering Krul blocked. Right before half-time, Norwich themselves opened Wolves up at the back. A neat one-two between Max Aarons and Lukas Rupp allowed the former in on goal, and Sa saved with his legs. Smith’s men returned to the field for the second half with their tails still up, but Wolves’ back-line were holding firm. Rashica continued to dazzle, and earned a booking out of Semedo, and while the slippery Pukki continued to pop up in the pockets, but Wolves had them at arm’s length. At the other end, the visitors had one decent Francisco Trincao run and cross for Jimenez, whose header wasn’t on target. Norwich continued to lay it on Wolves. Sa was called into action again when he was left one-on-one with Pukki, who’d been slipped in by Rupp. Lage called for Adama Traore and, later, Leander Dendoncker, but his side remained under the cosh. Rupp ought to have done better when he received the ball in the box from Rashica, but Sa was equal to a rather juggled effort. All in all, this was a hard-earned point for Wolves, who while they were uninspiring in attack defended supremely well and completed a second successive clean sheet. NORWICH CITY: Krul, Aarons, Hanley, Gibson, Williams, Normann (Rupp, 35), Sargent (Tzolis, 68), Gilmour, McLean, Rashica (Dowell, 82), Pukki. Subs not used: Cantwell, Lees- Melou, Gunn, Giannoulis, Idah, Omobamidele WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS: Sá, Kilman, Coady, Saïss, Nélson Semedo (Dendoncker, 76), Neves, João Moutinho, Aït-Nouri, Machado Trincão (Traoré, 68), Jiménez, Hwang Hee-Chan (Hoever, 90+2). Subs not used: Marçal, Moulden, Fábio Silva, Ruddy, Cundle star man: Max Kilman Ten-man Stourbridge pulled off a shock to knock National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town out of the FA Trophy. Keeper Charlie Price was the star turn, pulling off two penalty saves as the Glassboys won a dramatic shootout 6-5 following a 1-1 draw in Hertfordshire. It was the home side who struck first in normal time when the ball was turned into his own net by Stourbridge defender Jack Wilson on 17 minutes. But it was all square just three minutes later when Montel Gibson calmly slotted home. Glassboys defender Lathaniel Rowe-Turner was sent off before half-time following his challenge on Josh Castiglone but the visitors still created the better of the openings with Gibson powering another effort over the target when in on goal. Hemel had chances to snatch victory in the second half but the visitors held firm to take the tie to penalties where Price’s two saves edged them into the third round of the competition. Tamworth’s road to Wembley ended at Radcliffe who romped to a 5-1 win. Shaquille McDonald scored before the break for the Lambs as they trailed 2-1 at half-time but the hosts netted three more times after the interval while the visitors had Aaron Forde sent off. The weather wiped out a number of games in the Southern League Premier and those that survived finished all-square. Redditch United made the perfect start at home to Rushall Olympic with skipper Jack Byrne taking just four minutes to break the deadlock. But it was 1-1 midway through the second half when Danny Glover forced the ball home from a corner. United finished the game with ten men, defender Kieron Dawes seeing red after collecting a second booking. It was the same scoreline at Nuneaton Borough where Hednesford Town came from behind to claim a point. Anthony Dwyer opened the scoring on 22 minutes for the hosts but the Pitmen levelled just before the break when Kyle Rowley headed in a Carter Lycett free-kick. In the Midland Division of the Northern Premier, Chasetown were 3-1 winners at Cambridge City, John Atherton scoring twice after Dilano Reid had handed them the lead. Elsewhere in the league, Ryan Nesbitt’s goal earned Bedworth United a 1-1 draw at Spalding United. IN ASSOCIATION WITH

40 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 blues 1 blackpool 0 ■■ The Blackpool defence appeal in vain as substitute Lukas Jutkiewicz, left, wheels away after scoring Birmingham’s late winner at St Andrew’s When you want support to grow your business, we’ll put an expert team around you. Our experts bring local knowledge, sector expertise, and connections to specialists across Barclays. From cashow and lending,* to international expansion and payments, they’ll help you fuel growth and navigate your business Moneyverse. Search Barclays Business *All lending is subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history. Barclays Bank UK PLC. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority (Financial Services Register No. 759676). Registered in England. Registered No. 9740322. Registered Office 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP.

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 41 championship TANGERINES ARE CRUSHED AFTER JUKE LATE SHOW From BRIAN DICK at St Andrew’s Tweet @briandick LUKAS Jutkiewicz’s second goal of the season gave patched-up Birmingham City a much-needed three points and their first win in four. The 32-year-old, on as a late sub, nudged home a header from rookie Jordan James as Blues registered a tenth clean sheet of the campaign. In truth the game was a low-quality affair but that won’t matter to Lee Bowyer, who has just one senior central midfielder at his disposal. The head coach made three changes to the team who drew with Coventry – handing 17-year-old James a full Championship debut. The defence was also bolstered by the return of Kristian Pedersen and Jordan Graham, meaning Harlee Dean dropped to the bench and Troy Deeney assumed the captain’s armband. Blues started quite brightly, with Jeremie Bela lashing a rising shot which brushed the side-netting inside the first minute. Soon after, James fed a lovely pass into Deeney’s path on the right of the area but the captain’s cross was behind Scott Hogan. A minute later Marc Roberts sent in a long throw for which Pedersen challenged but a deflection off a Blackpool defender forced Daniel Grimshaw to tip over. After that it was the home goalkeeper who was more active, having to react sharply to gather Keshi Anderson’s right-wing cross. Gary Madine had the best chance of the half in the 19th minute when he poked Anderson’s cross over the bar at the near post. The visitors then had a sniff of two opportunities in quick succession before going desperately close to the opening goal. Another Anderson cross searched out Demetri Mitchell rushing in to pounce but Blues goalkeeper Matija Sarkic was on to it in a flash. Left-back Reece James then advanced forward but his low angled drive was well wide. Birmingham invited pressure on themselves when Pedersen pulled down Kenny Dougall and was booked. From the resulting free-kick, Mitchell’s effort curled agonisingly wide. Reece James tried his luck again from distance with another low drive – this time fully 30 yards – but his effort was wayward and drifted well off target. Blues were slightly better in the ■■ Blues striker Scott Hogan battles for possession with James Husband second half and created a couple of half-openings. First, when Riley McGree sent Hogan into the area but his cross was behind Deeney and then just after the hour as Graham’s shallow cross to the edge of the box landed at Deeney’s feet but his drive was blocked. Sarkic was forced into his first real save in the 73rd minute when McGree lost the ball upfield and the Tangerines countered. Owen Dale laid the ball back for Josh Bowler to send in a low shot, which Sarkic touched behind with his right hand. It looked like Blackpool might have had a case for a penalty in the 77th minute. Substitute Shayne Lavery burst into the box only to take a tumble under a challenge from Ivan Sunjic but the referee waved play on. Blues made Blackpool pay for not turning their earlier dominance into goals by breaking the deadlock with nine minutes to go. McGree, now operating at wing-back, spread play to the left where Pedersen came forward. The Dane sent in a cross which James headed into the path of Jutkiewicz and the striker bundled home. Blackpool head coach Neil Critchley admitted his team got what they deserved after failing to convert their first-half dominance into goals. “Sometimes if you don’t produce better quality than what we produced, you get what you deserve,” he said. “I’m not sure we deserved any more because we didn’t do enough when we had the opportunities we created. “In the first half we were in the ascendancy, played some good football, had some good attacking moments, and created some decent opportunities. “Our play was not as good in the second half and our collective decision-making and quality in the final third was poor. While it’s 0-0 you always run the risk of Birmingham doing what they do well, which is get the ball in the box from a throw-in, corner or cross, like the goal came from. “Arguably it (goal) could have been offside but that was the decisive moment.” Critchley felt Blackpool could have had a penalty when Lavery tumbled under a challenge from Sunjic. “Possibly – Shane got to the ball first and Sunjic ran across him and got brought down, but I never expected the ref to give it,” he added. BLUES: Sarkic, Sanderson, Marc Roberts, Pedersen, Graham, J James, Sunjic, McGree, Bela (Aneke 66), Hogan, Deeney (Jutkiewicz 75). Subs: Etheridge, Dean, Castillo, Walker, Oakley. BLACKPOOL: Grimshaw, Sterling, Ekpiteta, Husband, R James, Connolly, Dougall, Mitchell (Bowler 68), Anderson, Dale (Lavery 75), Madine (Yates 84). Subs: Lawrence-Gabriel, Wintle, Moore, Gretarsson. STAR MAN: Jordan James. Pep talk does the trick for Blues hero LEE Bowyer praised Lukas Jutkiewicz after the striker came off the bench to score just his second goal of the season and hand Birmingham City a 1-0 victory over Blackpool. The 32-year-old replaced fellow striker Troy Deeney with a quarter of an hour to go and had only been on the pitch seven minutes when he bundled home Jordan James’ header. And Bowyer revealed he had given the veteran a pep talk earlier in the week. “Jutkiewicz scores goals as well,” the head coach said. “I have spoken to him earlier on in the week, it’s been tough for him, Troy in the last few weeks has been assisting, giving Scotty (Hogan) a lot of chances in games. “Jutkiewicz ain’t really done much wrong. I said to him, ‘Nothing’s changed the way I feel about you, I still feel the same way but Troy is a good player, you have got to be patient, I know it’s tough but when you get your chance just grab it’. “When I put him on I said, ‘Go win us the game’ and that’s what he’s done. I am really pleased for Jukey because without doing anything wrong he has watched a lot of football of late. “But I know he is a good pro, I know when I put him on if he gets a chance there’s a good chance he’s going to take it.” Overall Bowyer was happy with the outcome, if not his team’s first-half performance. “I would say a hard-earned three points. It was a game of two halves, they were better than us in the first half. We did well to get to half-time at 0-0 then second half I thought we were better than them. “Conditions played a big part in the game. It wasn’t pretty but the most important thing for me is that we won the game and we got three points and we ground it out. Especially with everything that has happened to us of late, I am really pleased. “Second half I changed it. I went to a back four, positive move. I just didn’t want it to unfold into a 0-0. I knew it could go either way. It’s a bit risky but it’s risk and reward. That’s the way I am, I want to win football matches not just watch draws. “So I changed it to a four-diamond, wanted to get the overload in the middle of the park and have more bodies when we put the ball into the box. That paid off. “Ten clean sheets out of 20 games, that’s some going. The players deserve plenty of credit for that because it’s hard work. No-one gives you ten clean sheets, you have to work for that. “Again we had to work for that. Mati (Sarkic) made a good save in the second half. “It’s just hard work on the training pitch, demanding of them if your mate is out of position can you help him out? It’s hard. “Yes, so they should. We are second in the league table for clean sheets. We are the best outside the top three for clean sheets. “If you went on all those stats, expected goals and all that, we should be fifth or sixth in the league.’’

42 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 PALace 1 villa 2 ■■ Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi scores against Legia Warsaw Wilfred’s debt of gratitude to ex-Foxes chief premier league Wilfred Ndidi has paid tribute to Claudio Ranieri for giving him his Premier League shot. The midfielder was Ranieri’s final signing at the Foxes when he joined from Genk for £17million in January 2017. The Italian returns to the King Power Stadium with Watford today, the first time he has visited as a manager since his sacking in 2017, just nine months after winning a shock Premier League title. Ndidi has made 188 appearances for the Foxes, helping them win the FA Cup last season, and thanked Ranieri for having faith in him. “I’m very grateful to him because he gave me the opportunity to come to Leicester and play in the Premier League for the first time,” he said. “That was a really important move in my career, so I’ll always remember it. Joining Leicester City has been fantastic for me. It’s a great club.” The Nigeria international, 24, scored in Thursday’s 3-1 Europa League win over Legia Warsaw, which left the Foxes’ European destiny in their own hands ahead of their final Group C game at Napoli next month. It was a welcome victory after an inconsistent Premier League campaign, with the side having won just twice in their last nine games. “It’s really tight at the moment, which makes this busy period of games really important,” said Ndidi. “For us, as a team, this is the perfect time to turn things around. “We’ve shown before how strong we can be when we have momentum and, if we can start putting that together in the Premier League, we’ll see the benefits in the table. We know what we’re capable of and we’re striving to reach our top level. “We’re expecting a tough game but one which provides a great opportunity to build confidence and pick up points. “They had a great result against Manchester United in their last game so we know they will be feeling good but we’re playing at home, in front of our fans, and we believe we can get the win.” n Liverpool turned up the pressure on leaders Chelsea as they coasted to a second successive 4-0 victory at Anfield with Southampton the powerless victims on this occasion. Saints were dispatched as comfortably as Arsenal had been a week ago as Jurgen Klopp’s side moved within a point of the top, in the process becoming the first top-flight team to score two or more goals for 17 matches in a row since Sunderland in 1927. Second-placed Liverpool have now netted 39 times in 13 matches and no player has more Premier League goals individually this season than any of the starting front three of Mohamed Salah (11), Sadio Mane and Diogo Jota (both seven). Jota added a couple to his tally, midfielder Thiago Alcantara made it two in two games shortly before half-time and Virgil Van Dijk killed off any fanciful hopes of a Saints comeback just after the break. n Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli delivered a tag-team double salvo as Arsenal dispatched Newcastle 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. England forward Saka capped a neat move to put the Gunners ahead, before his replacement, Martinelli, killed the contest with just his second touch. Saka’s second league goal of the season ensured Mikel Arteta’s men held onto fifth place in the table. ■■ John McGinn, left, celebrates with Matty Cash after sealing the three points with a sumptuous late strike for Villa City next up on Gerrard agenda STEVEN Gerrard is not resting on his laurels after promising to go to work today and begin preparations to upset Manchester City at Villa Park in midweek. The new head coach made it two wins from two after a spirited performance to inflict Palace’s first defeat of the season, thanks to goals from Matt Targett and John McGinn. “We’ve got Man City to come in midweek and we can enjoy tonight but we’ll go to work tomorrow in terms of preparing the team the best way we can,’’ said Gerrard. “We know it’ll be tough. We know we’ll be the underdogs but we will give it our best shot. We’re really pleased with the start we’ve made but there’s still a lot of work to do to grow and evolve and that’s my job to make sure that happens.” Villa limited Palace to three tame efforts on goal and, on his side’s gameplan, he said: “We want to find that real structure how we move around the pitch together. “I thought we were difficult to play against today. I thought we executed the gameplan for the majority of the game up until injury time. The players deserve a lot of credit for that and it’s a difficult place to come, a side who have a good young coach who’s improved them a lot. To limit them to few opportunities is pleasing and we need to take confidence from that. If we can keep tweaking, improving and evolving then that will put us in good stead moving forward. “Our set-pieces worked really well, scoring from one. That puts Ashley Young at the top in terms of assists at the club so well done to Ash. “The second strike was top. Our first-half performance was excellent. In a lot of departments we were top. We knew at times we had to dig in and roll our sleeves up. We knew (Palace boss) Patrick (Vieira) was going to make changes in terms of subs and Palace improved after the break and made it really difficult for us at times. “But, having said that, we had a few more moments to score more goals. It’s a fantastic away performance, taking six points from six, and our away fans go home extremely happy, which is nice.” Gerrard reserved praise for McGinn and said: “Both of his performances since we came in have been outstanding. “He’s infectious, a real ball of energy around the place. His goal was outstanding and that’s the type of midfielder we need, who is capable of getting to the edge of the box or into the box and adding goals to the game.’’

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 43 PREMIER LEAGUE O’Neill takes a Pott-shot at officials StokE 0 bLACkbURn 1 ■ Villa boss Steven Gerrard congratulates John McGinn ■ Matt Targett fires Villa into an early lead at Selhurst Park and, inset, is all smiles VILLA’S REVIVAL UNDER STEVIE G CRYSTAL CLEAR From ASHLEY PREECE at Selhurst Park Tweet @PreeceObserver IT’S four goals scored and six points from a possible six for Steven Gerrard, whose start at Aston Villa couldn’t have gone any better after a dogged win over Crystal Palace. An early goal by Matt Targett put Villa in the ascendency and John McGinn wrapped up a deserved three points late on before Marc Guehi netted a consolation for the Eagles in stoppage time. Villa went ahead after just 15 minutes when Targett fired home his first goal in more than two years, taking a touch before rifling in Ashley Young’s corner, with the veteran chalking up back-to-back assists in the Premier League. James Tomkins, recalled in place of the injured Joachim Andersen, had been at fault with Targett his man and he also mistimed his jump while trying to head Young’s cross away to ensure Palace conceded a 10th goal from a set-piece this season. Young started for the first time under new head coach Gerrard who, prior to kick-off in London, said the 36-year-old fully deserved his place after being the standout pick in his first two weeks at Bodymoor Heath. Leon Bailey was Villa’s other change, with the Jamaican and Young replacing Danny Ings and Emi Buendia respectively. Wilfried Zaha had the game’s first big chance as he dragged his effort wide on 11 minutes after reacting first to a loose ball as Ezri Konsa and Matty Cash were slow to react. Just four minutes later and, with Villa starting well, Targett smacked home at the far post from Young’s corner after skipper Tyrone Mings – excellent once more – failed to get on the intended ball for him. Villa, meanwhile, had two decent penalty shouts when Ollie Watkins was bundled over twice, first by Luka Milivojevic and the second by Cheikhou Kouyate with referee Michael Salisbury ruling both as comings together. It was then the turn of the excellent McGinn to try his luck as he stuck his backside out, rolled Kouyate before curling one just wide of Vicente Guaita’s far post, with the best still to come for the midfield man. Gerrard’s Villa were cool, calm and composed throughout, with the boss making his first change after 65 minutes as Jacob Ramsey was replaced by the fit-again Douglas Luiz. The Brazilian was, though, initially sent off by Salisbury – making his Premier League debut – for a late challenge on Kouyate before the red was rightfully downgraded after a VAR check. Gerrard then introduced Anwar El Ghazi for Bailey with a little over 10 to go and, other than tame efforts from Christian Benteke and Odsonne Edouard that were saved with ease by Emi Martinez, that proved to be that in terms of Palace pressure. Villa put a nice gloss on their display with a fabulous McGinn goal with five minutes remaining, the Scot bending home first time on the edge of the 18-yard box after El Ghazi’s square ball. Palace centre-back Guehi poked home at the near post to pull one back in the fifth minute of stoppage time after getting in between Konsa and Mings but that was that. The result, Villa’s first win at Palace since 2014, lifts them into mid-table with the Gerrard era going from strength to strength as the boss became the first Villa manager to win his first two Premier League games in charge since John Gregory. Palace boss Patrick Vieira was frustrated to see his side’s seven-match unbeaten run end. It took until the 80th minute for the Eagles to test Martinez. Viera said: “I am really disappointed with the result but more disappointed by the performance. We didn’t move the ball quick enough, didn’t defend well enough as a team and a consequence is not getting anything from the game.’’ PALACE: Guaita; Ward, Tomkins, Guehi, Mitchell; Kouyate, Gallagher, Milivojevic (Eze 60); Zaha (Edouard 72), Benteke, Olise (Ayew 87). Subs: Butland, Kelly, Clyne, Riedewald, Schlupp, Hughes VILLA: Martinez; Cash, Konsa, Mings, Targett; McGinn, Nakamba, J Ramsey (Douglas Luiz 67); Bailey (El Ghazi 77), Watkins, Young (Buendia 85). Subs: Steer, Hause, Tuanzebe, Sanson, Ings, Chukwuemeka STAR MAN: Marvelous Nakamba STOKE manager Michael O’Neill expressed his anger towards the officials and decisions made by the referee after seeing his side suffer their second Championship loss in a row. Blackburn leapfrogged the Potters in the table with a 1-0 win at the bet365 Stadium. Reda Khadra scored the winner early in the second half and Rovers never looked like allowing the home side back into the game. It was a good run from the Brighton loanee and he struck a beautifully-hit ball into the bottomleft corner past Adam Davies from just inside the box. The goal did, however, come with a hint of controversy as Stoke were denied a corner before Rovers took the ball up the field to score. Romaine Sawyers’ effort was turned around the post by Thomas Kaminski and Stoke’s Mario Vrancic had another long-distance effort from outside the box. It took a wild deflection, which was somehow unnoticed, and the referee gave a goal-kick. Rovers went straight up the other end to take the lead. Stoke nearly stole a point in added time through Danny Batth as he flicked a shot goalwards but it was brilliantly saved by Kaminski to hold on to the three points. Rovers nearly doubled their lead through Darragh Lenihan. Joe Rothwell whipped in a free-kick from the right to the back post and Lenihan’s volley flashed in front of Davies’ eyes as it went wide of the post. Stoke held the majority of possession in the opening 45 minutes but looked toothless going forward and neither side seemed as though they wanted to go on and claim the three points. But that all changed in the second half as Stoke’s creativity was just beginning to show but Rovers took the lead. “I think we played quite well in the first half in difficult conditions. We tried to build the game and it was difficult for the players,” O’Neill said. “Ultimately, the game was decided by one moment and it was always going to be that kind of game, I felt. And unfortunately, Blackburn had that moment. “If you look at the goal really, Mario puts in a strike that’s on target and it takes two deflections and the referee, in his wisdom, decides to award a goal-kick. “The ball was kicked forward, we have to defend that and I think Romaine picks it up and plays it to Ben (Wilmot) and his clearance was closed down and the next thing is the ball is in your net. “It was a good finish from the lad but ultimately we should have been asking Blackburn to defend a corner as opposed to us having to defend a goal-kick and that’s what leads to the goal. “It’s disappointing from that aspect and it’s a poor decision from the referee. One of many.’’

SPORT Jukey jumps off bench to bag winner 16 PAGES OF ACTION PAGES 40-41 BLACKPOOL ROCKED BY BLUES PAGES 42-43 WOLVES Revitalised Canaries are caged PAGES 38-39 EYE OPENER FOR McGINN Super strike seals it as Villa clip the Eagles’ wings ALBION Frustrated Val aims to fill in blanks PAGE 37 SKY BLUES TURN TO THEIR ‘KANE-DO’ GUY! PAGE 36

WEEKEND » OPINION » LETTERS » NOSTALGIA » HUMOUR » NATURE » COLLECTABLES » MOTORS EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH GUITAR GOD ON FIRST NEW MUSIC IN 8 YEARS, A SIGNATURE SCENT & SUFFERING AN HORRIFIC ARM INJURY

2 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 Email your views to: sundaymercury@sundaymercury.net YOU SAY COMMENT Is Brum’s WE SAY Sources in both the local Conservative Party and local Labour Party believe Labour could lose control of Birmingham City Council in red wall next year's elections. All 101 council seats in the city will be contested in the vote on May 5. The city used to elect a third of councillors at a time, with polls held in three years out of every four. This was changed by Eric Pickles, a former in danger Local Government Secretary, who said having all-out ■■ The founding lamp at Villa Park of falling at polls? Celebrate 150 years of the Villa with a charity match THE football world knows that Aston Villa were formed in 1874, when local working men met under a lamp in Heathfield Road, Lozells. The exact date has not been known, but my historical researches point to Saturday, November 22. The research is published on my website trevorfisherhistorian.com. This means that the 150th anniversary of the birth of the club will take place on November 22, 2024. – in three years time. In my view Villa should celebrate this and have a party of some kind. If the club can have a charity fundraiser that would be grand. Given Villa’s major history in world football, I think a charity football match where the Villa veterans play a world team would be a good idea. Now it is clear this special anniversary is coming up, I hope the club and its supporters will try to make this something that the football world can recognise and enjoy. Trevor Fisher, by email What’s the point of costly jab reminders in post? WHY is the NHS sending our all these letters concerning Covid-19 jabs, boosters and flu jabs? This is such a waste of resources and spending money that the NHS can ill afford. I know for data protection each individual has their own correspondence, but the amount of paperwork involved is ridiculous. Both for the Covid-19 jabs and the boosters my husband and I received three sheets of information plus the envelope, as well as the postage and someone’s time. The flu jab reminder consisted of two sheets plus envelope, postage and someone’s time. Most people are receiving their appointments through their doctors so what is the point of all this post? On November 18, my husband and I went for our booster jabs, locally, which was very quick and efficiently carried out. The letter that was handed to us, had our names and date of births in extremely small print on the back. (We definitely needed a magnifying glass to read it.) and nothing else was said to us. We had to sit for 20 minutes before leaving, so I thought it was a good opportunity to read the letter. On opening it the first thing that stood out in bold print was THIS LETTER SHOULD BE FULLY READ BEFORE HAVING THE JAB. Well that was a bit late wasn’t it? I commented this to one of the volunteers on the way out, who said they hadn’t been told anything with regards to this. I presume the NHS are covering themselves but who is covering the patients? Also yesterday I went into the Lloyds Chemist to get some lateral flow tests, but was refused and told that as from October I had to ring 119 for a code. So this morning, before 8am, I rang to obtain the code (after many pressing of numbers). According to elections every four years would make long-term planning easier. But it also allows for dramatic changes to the council's composition. At the moment there are 65 Labour councillors, 27 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats and one Green councillor. Labour are easily the largest party, but that could change overnight. Birmingham had a Conservativeled administration between 2004 and 2012, working with the Liberal Democrats to form a "progressive partnership". There was never a Tory majority, but for some years there were more Conservative councillors than Labour. There are politicians in both major parties who think the Conservatives could regain control of Birmingham in 2022. Nobody believes Conservatives will win overall control – ie a majority of council seats – but it's thought they could gain enough to form another arrangement with the Lib Dems. Why? It’s very straightforward. Many Birmingham voters (so it's believed) are unhappy with the state of the city and want change. Particular issues include the growing number of houses in multiple occupation, known as HMOs. These are homes that have been converted for use by a number of households, ranging from single people to parents with children, who generally get their own bedroom and share facilities such as a living room. Critics say these "change the character" of neighbourhoods, leading to an increase in anti-social behaviour and litter. HMOs include properties known as the gentleman I spoke to, I should not have been refused, and the chemists were not being very co-operative, but he gave me the code. I duly went back to Lloyds, related what had been said and was told these instructions had come from the NHS. My only comment to the lady was, “It seems the right hand doesn’t know what the left had is doing”. There was no reply. Just what is going on, has no-one any common sense these days. Mrs Ann Turner, Shirley. » What do you think? Please send us your views on this or any other big talking point by emailing us at sundaymercury@sundaymercury.net “exempt accommodation”, so-called because they are exempt from rules limiting the amount of rent that can be covered by benefits. These are used to house tenants who need support getting their lives together, ranging from people who recently left prison to victims of domestic violence. Of course, these people need somewhere to live and many will have had hard lives. Even so, the growing number of these properties is a real concern and while the council has very little control over residential properties (the authority is in the process of seeking more powers to regulate Permanent comedian in residence at Number 10 APART from government ministers or their advisers, who else is likely to benefit from the HS2 network, at a time when many ordinary people are delighted to be working from home? HS2 might help those who want to retain long-distance courtships or romances, with a wide range of extramarital partners. For pensioners, or ordinary people ORDER PHOTOS FROM THE MERCURY... ■■To order photos from today’s paper or classic images from our archives, please go online to reachphotosales.co.uk/Reach ■■For photo inquiries, please call our customer services on 01604 683902 or email sales@dipintosales.co.uk landlords), it does get the blame anyway. Other concerns include the general state of the streets, including litter and anti-social behaviour, and the city’s Clean Air Zone, a road-charging scheme which appears to be more popular in middle class neighbourhoods than working class districts. Whether any of this is enough to remove Labour from power in Birmingham remains to be seen. But people in both major parties think it could happen. It’s striking how much of a contrast there is with the mood at Westminster at the moment, including among journalists. doing regular work for their living, the speed limits imposed by Victorian or later rail technology are not a problem. Shaving 20 to 30 minutes, from the Birmingham to London journey, is far less important than providing predictable and reasonable travel fares. Might a new “Northern Powerhouse Energy Centre” be set up in the Pennines, if our illustrious PM is fired for sleaze or retires? The hot air on offer from his mouth might be a better energy source than any nuclear power station. We used to look forward to Not the Nine O’Clock News for a comical parody of the news and political life. With our current PM we have a permanent comedian in residence at Number 10. Would the Glaswegian drunk Rab C TALKING There was a sense this week that the scales have tipped. For a long time, Boris Johnson looked like a winner, but he’s come to be seen as a liability for the Conservative Party. That means it’s open season on the Prime Minister. Consider his speech to the CBI on Monday. It was embarrassing that Mr Johnson lost his place, muttering “forgive me” three times. But what people focused on was his reference to visiting Peppa Pig World, and the general rambling nature of his comments. However, Mr Johnson’s speeches have always sounded as if he’s Nesbitt, if acting as PM, have made a worse job of dealing with the pandemic, the NHS, HS2 and Tory sleaze? Once his stint as PM is over he might try his hand at wallpapering. J T Hardy, by email Rights signed away in the midst of a pandemic WHY do I feel more and more like the running man? I should be delighted that our Government has made a commitment to net zero emissions, so why do I feel worried? Could it be that somewhere this commitment was made without telling me how much it was going to cost? And, I don’t seem to recollect the debates on these commitments, it

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 3 POINT making it up as he goes along. I suspect they are deliberately written that way. And they tend to include moments where he goes off at a tangent with some strange personal anecdote. When he spoke in Coventry in July about levelling up, he recalled a visit to East Germany in 1990, “a place of strange little cars with two stroke engines and fake coffee”. The difference is that Mr Johnson used to be indulged. His quirks were overlooked, or portrayed as part of his appeal to voters. That’s changed. The media, at least for now, have decided not to laugh at his jokes. To some extent, they may be taking their lead from Conservative MPs, many of whom were understandably angry that Mr Johnson ordered them to defend former North Shropshire MP Owen Paterson in a row over sleaze, only to carry out a swift U-turn. There’s also concern over policy blunders, such as last week’s rail announcement – which was a PR disaster, at the very least – and concern about the deteriorating relationship between Number 10 and the Treasury. But the key question is whether this is Westminster bubble stuff, or whether it’s going to affect how people vote. And the view of people who actually knock on doors in Birmingham is that, so far, it’s the former. Indeed, Labour politicians fear the sleaze issue is harming both parties, as it lowers voters’ opinions of politicians in general, not the Tories in particular. There’s a long way to go until a general election. The next few years may see the cost of living rise significantly for many people in this country, causing them real worry, and you’d tend to think the Tories will be in deep trouble if that happens. But it’s far too soon to write Boris Johnson’s political obituary. CORRIDORS OF POWER WITH POLITICAL EDITOR JONATHAN WALKER Rising cost of living as wages fall is perfect storm for Tories Most working people will pay higher taxes from April next year. To put it another way, the amount of money you take home will fall, at least unless you’re lucky enough to get a pay rise at the same time. This is when the Government’s 1.25% increase in National Insurance comes into effect. It’s no secret that this tax rise is coming, but some Conservative MPs are worried that voters will really start to object once it affects their pay packet. They include Birmingham MP Andrew Mitchell, a former Cabinet Minister, who has been urging the Government to make sure it explains to people exactly how their money is being used to improve the NHS and fund social care. He set out his concerns in the House of Commons last week, complaining that the “Treasury bench” – this means Government ministers – weren’t taking the issue seriously. He said: “I have been dismayed that when we had the measures to increase national insurance earlier this year – this was greatly to the credit of the Government for grasping a nettle that so many have not grasped before – those on the Treasury Bench were extraordinarily disinterested in checking that value for money for this additional taxpayer spend was achieved. “When I suggested that we should Solving knife crime is not a new problem Some MPs enjoyed privileged backgrounds, attending the nation’s poshest public schools. Gary Sambrook, the Conservative MP for Birmingham Northfield, isn’t one of them. He spoke about what became of some of his fellow pupils, in a Commons debate about crime. Mr Sambrook said: “Knife crime is a real concern in Birmingham. It is something that has been around for as long as I can remember ... five people I went to school with – we were in the same year group – are currently inside for murder. account to our constituents through the Treasury, making certain that we understood where this £1.2 billion was going, the answer from those on the Treasury Bench was extremely lacklustre.” Why is he worried? Of course, Mr Mitchell is right to say that taxpayers should know how their money is being spent. But there’s also concern that next year will see voters hit hard in their wallets. Inflation right now is somewhere between 3.8% and 6%, depending on how you measure it, and experts say it will increase before it starts to fall again. We’ve gone through a long period of very low inflation. People aren’t used to seeing the cost of their supermarket shop rise significantly. But it’s starting to happen now. Fuel bills are going up for many people. And if interest rates rise, which is likely, a lot of people will face higher mortgage payments, either because they are on a variable-rate mortgage or because their fixed-term deal comes to an end. Boris Johnson, the Conservative Prime Minister, has come in for a lot of criticism recently. But a lot of Tories fear that the issue most likely to upset voters is a rise in the cost of living, coming at the same time as takehome pay falls, and that’s a problem that’s hasn’t really begun to register yet. “All those crimes were committed with a knife. People I went to school with have been slain in Finchley Park over arguments.” He criticised Labour MPs, saying they liked to suggest that crime was the fault of the present government, but these problems had existed for decades. He said: “These sorts of things were never addressed properly. They affected people and children, and included the killing of children in local parks. We need to address these issues, and these powers are at the heart of the efforts to combat them.” seems that in the midst of a pandemic my rights have been signed away, and my opinion just doesn’t matter. Freedoms I took for granted have gone, the right of protest hindered, and the right of choice restricted, freedom of movement, changes to my environment, my travel, and my access, have all become obstacles, inoculations almost mandatory, entry passports in the pipeline, so what’s next? Did I see George Orwell on that bus? S.T. Vaughan, Yardley Wood Compulsory vaccination a form of medical fascism WHAT on Earth is going on in Austria? These are deeply disquieting times. Compulsory vaccination is a form of medical fascism. It staggers the imagination that it would even be considered, let alone implemented. Any legal system that allows it deserves to be overthrown. No civilised society debates whether or not to lock people up on the basis of what they choose to do to their own bodies. Eddie Sanders, Pheasey Estate The big profits in breeding violence in children’s minds SURELY every adult must have noticed, that in both the USA, a highly-educated country, with universities and Silicon Valley, controlling vicious mobile technology for children across the world, and Afghanistan, a primitive country divided amongst mountain tribes, there is this pathological appetite to carry an automatic rifle, a tool with only one purpose, to deliver widespread death? What explains such twisted minds? An aggressive US culture, seeks to justify the ‘Right to bear arms’ from the 18th century, as a method to control crime, where every school teacher shall have a pistol in her desk, lest some aggrieved male ex-pupil returns to school, carrying a rifle to expiate his emotions by killing innocent pupils. To combat the evil threat of some psychopathic minds, armed to kill, half the US population chooses to think like them, and want the school to teach that. The only ridiculous explanation, is their definition of masculinity, that it is ‘natural’, that real men want to kill someone, as their way to solve problems. Although this is preposterous, in many countries today, more violence, aerial bombing or the terrorist’s plastic explosives, destroys the hope for peace for the next generation. Can women find a higher vision? It is axiomatic throughout this universe, that violence begets violence, both in the individual mind and in a nation, as germs beget germs in disease. Capitalistic economics have discovered that there is a big profit to be made, in breeding violence in children’s minds, by selling mobile games of indiscriminate shooting, just as Taliban warriors fire off their rifles in every direction, as their means of joyful self-expression. C N Westerman, by email Sense of proportion over ‘institutionalised racism’ I DO wish we could keep a sense of proportion over so-called “institutionalised racism”. In the case of Yorkshire Cricket Club, what we have here is a small number of people making allegations, some of which date back years, some unwitnessed and some being flatly denied. I wouldn’t blame players if they walked away from the club to avoid being tarred by a brush that has been dipped in a tin of “woke” hysteria. Bill Platt, Selly Oak

4 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 COLLECTABLES Bidders in a lather for soap maker’s brooches »A pair of Victorian memorial brooches 1884” and “Edward Cook born July 22 1810 least 11 children, including Edward Rider marking a romance that spanned half a died April 21 1886”. The brooch for Anne Cook, who went on to become a Liberal century have sold for £580 at auction. Cook features an additional diamond star. politician and MP for West Ham North. The jewellery, crafted from onyx and gold Edward Cook was a soap maker who When Edward died in 1886, just two years with split-pearl accents, are inscribed with built a highly successful business in the after Anne, he left an estate worth many the names and dates of the 19th Century 19th century. A respected businessman, he millions in today’s money. soap tycoon Edward Cook and his wife Anne became a Freeman and Liveryman of the The auction house placed the brooches (née Rider). Tallow Chandlers’ Company in 1839. together as one lot to preserve their Designed by as sentimental mourning Edward Cook & Company Limited, or provenance. pieces memorialising their 49-year ‘Cook’s of London’ as it became known, Ben Randall, Senior Specialist at marriage, they are thought to have produced some of the UK’s most popular Fellows, said: “To have two surviving belonged to close friends or family of the brands of soap and disinfectants, including brooches commemorating not only couple. Cook’s Primrose Soap, and produced one one individual, but a husband and Discovered by Fellows Auctioneers of the very first antiseptic soaps, Asepso, wife, is such a rarity. in Birmingham in a consignment of which is still in production. “I cannot help but feel a deep costume jewellery being auctioned for The couple were married in 1835 at St longing to keep the two brooches the Alzheimer’s Society, they are inscribed Saviour Southwark and records show that together so that they might still be “Anne Cook born July 4 1814 died March 21 during their 49-year marriage they had at close, even in death.” Fairground attraction! MIKE LOCKLEY Sunday Mercury Writer All the fun of the fair could be yours thanks to a rare opportunity to buy a 1970s Super Danter’s Waltzer car. The hand-painted item, once owned by the famous Danter family renowned for providing fairground attractions since the 1930s, is coming up for sale at Hansons Auctioneers with a guide price of £800-£1,200. It’s just one item in a quirky collection of unique fairground items being sold by Mark Peacock, a 51-year-old IT manager from Glasgow. “The Waltzer car is a superb piece of fairground history,” said Mr Peacock. “It was owned by the Danter’s Funfair business which still operates. “This particular Waltzer car was produced by George Maxwell & Sons, a ride manufacturer that previously traded in Musselburgh, East Lothian, Scotland. “Maxwell was arguably the best-known manufacturer of the ride in the UK. This example was built in 1975, but the hand-painted artwork is based on an earlier 1950s design.” “I have been finding items like this for several years now. Buying unearthly cool or collectable things is a great hobby and I am often invited to places others don’t get into. I enjoy owning them for a while, but then move them on to make way for the next batch!” The colourful artwork and quirky nature of vintage fairground finds make them hugely popular with collectors and Hansons are expecting strong interest when the items go under the hammer in January. ■■ The Danter’s Waltzer car and, right, hand-painted Mickey Mouse signs Lots include a fibreglass clown head with a large gaping mouth which would have been used as target to throw balls through, valued at £200-£300. There are also two hand-painted Mickey Mouse signs ■■ The 1906 silver medal with a ‘Rings must lay flat’ sign, valued at £150-300, and three advertising domes, which would have been illuminated, emblazoned with Olympic silver medal »A SILVER medal from the Athens Olympics of 1906 will go under starter’s orders tomorrow when Fellows’ Antiques, Silver and Collectables auction takes place. The medal was designed by Jules-Clement Chaplainand, one of the world’s finest craftsmen. Extremely rare, it could sell for £2,000 to £3,000. The 1906 Games became the blueprint for the modern Games with the first Olympic village, opening and closing ceremonies with teams parading their flags. ‘Candy Floss’, ‘Toffee Apples’ and ‘Fortune Teller’, with a £300-£500 valuation. There is also an ‘Auction This Way’ wooden board and confectionery sign (£100-£200); hand-painted headliner wooden boards emblazoned with ‘Pridgeons Super Thriller’ (£350-£550), and hand painted side panels (£350-£550). Together, the entire collection could fetch in excess of £3,000. Steve Fulford, valuer at Hansons, said: “You don’t need to be a fortune teller to predict that this collection will do well. “Fairs have been part and parcel of British life since the 19th century. Some of our earliest childhood memories are made at the fair. Most people can remember the excitement of childhood visits – the music, the lights, the candy floss, toffee apples and hot dogs and, most of all, the colourful rides. “Bright and bold fairground artwork reminds us of those magic moments. It opens up a rich vein of nostalgia. It’s been wonderful to see appreciation for fairground art grow over the years. As well as enjoying the vibrant designs, some collectors like to research the history and stories attached to items like these.” The fairground items are due to be sold in a Toy and Nostalgia Auction on January 20, 2022 at Hansons Auctioneers, Heage Lane, Etwall, Derbyshire. ■■ To find out more, email Steve Fulford: sfulford@hansonsauctioneers.co.uk

MIKE LOCKLEY » OUR AWARD-WINNING COLUMNIST ON THE FUNNY SIDE OF LIFE... SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 5 I predicted I’d become a maverick in 30 years... but ended up a curmudgeon THERE’S a cruelty about old age. Yes, I have a wisdom that, aged 20 to 30, I’d have longed for. Tragically, I lack the energy and ambition to do anything about it. Young employees know this. I watch them whispering conspiratorially and fear it is only a matter of time before they chase me from the vending machine. I will then be consigned to staring longingly at the Nice ‘n’ Spicy Nik Naks from a safe distance like some bull elephant ousted from the herd. There’s a cruelty about old age. We dubbed our own grandfather “Spiderman” not through respect for his wartime heroics, but because he couldn’t get out of the bath. What, I wonder, will my grandchildren call me? Like him, I sometimes forget my age. My son jokes that the family will soon have to count rings left on the side of my empty bath to discover how long I’ve been on this planet. There’s a suspicion spawned by advanced years. I won’t answer a “knock, knock” joke unless the teller shows me ID. There’s a fear spawned by advanced years. I used to think nothing of flying into tackles, indulging in gut-churning fairground rides and strolling through high-risk neighbourhoods, higher risk pubs. Yesterday, I rang 111 after discovering the bacon I’d eaten was two days beyond its “best before” date. I have become the pub sage. “Mike will know it,” shouted someone in the pub where I now have my own seat: it used to be Derek’s, but he died trying to push-start his Ford Fiesta. “Who was the Norwegian who helped the Nazis occupy his own country?” “Quisling,” I mouthed, looking up from my edition of Caravan Monthly. “Vidkun Quisling, hence the expression.” I have an encyclopedic knowledge of past events, but cannot remember where I put my glasses. I can remember the name of every kid on my school register, and their nickname: halitosis didn’t stop “Dog Breath” Berrisford getting an executive position with ICI. I used to berate my mother by cruelly asking her: “How can you remember an entire war, but not the four digits of your pin number?” Now I know. Thirty years ago I pledged to be a maverick in old age. Trendy, silverhaired and hanging out with much younger people, bowling them over with wit and knowledge. It hasn’t happened. I’ve just become curmudgeonly. I’ve learned to my cost that young » Went to the funeral of a mate killed by an errant tennis ball. It was one hell of a service people aren’t drawn to someone in slippers, even if they don’t represent a threat in a street set-to. By and large, young people aren’t comfortable with someone in a cardigan, someone who consistently misses his round because he needs the toilet. Harrowingly, the noises I used to make during sex are the same ones I now make simply getting out of bed. The purchases become more impulsive with old age, the Sunday paper offers more tempting. “You don’t even like Elvis!” shouted my wife. “So why the hell have you bought an Elvis pewter mug that plays Wooden Heart?” They’d run out of the Elvis cuckoo clocks. The full ravages of senior years shone through last night while, in a moment of weakness, I spied adult satellite channel Babestation. There, in saucy French maid outfit, was a curvaceous blonde. She energetically spring-cleaned her pad in fishnet stockings and a thong, yet the only thought that burned my addled brain was: “We used to have a Hoover just like that.” Diminishing sex drive I can cope with, but the thing that really hurts about growing old is the constant worry spawned by memory loss. Last weekend my wife and I went for a romantic Warners Weekend: that’s the break for seniors who long for the original Bucks Fizz line-up to get back together. As she slipped between the sheets and we cuddled close, I whispered those words only a married couple of some standing can comfortably say to each other: “Did you switch the immersion heater off?” “Will you stop worrying about the bloody immersion heater,” she fumed. “I’ve already spent four hours during the journey down here listening to you wittering on about whether the hot tap is still on.” “And the iron,” I pointed out, helpfully. She flashed a dagger look and warned: “For God’s sake, give it a break.” Julie dramatically turned her back and pulled the sheets tight. “Want something to worry about?” she threatened. “Worry about the black mould on the ceiling in our bedroom because it’s spread to the landing.” I spent the next hour pacing the small hotel room, muttering: “It’s got to be the flashing on the roof. Either that or we’ve got a leak.” Where have all these fears come from? As a young man, I possessed a devil-may-care attitude. I’d bundle clothes together and travel hundreds of miles on a whim. I wouldn’t stare longingly into the eyes of a woman I met on my travels and think: “Did I leave the grill on? Did I lock the back door? Back in a second – just checking I didn’t leave a tap on.” Now we can’t leave home without a hamper that would stump Henry VIII. The last one was so crammed with chicken legs, quiches, beef rolls and an assortment of desserts, they banned us from entering the lion enclosure at West Midland Safari Park because staff thought we were trying to tease the beasts. The car windows used to be steamed by passion. Now it’s down to the jacket potatoes we’ve just unfoiled. “Do you think,” asked Julie during one hotel break, “Joe will have a party while we’re away?” There you go. She’d dropped another worry on my lap. I rang frantically at 11pm that night. My son was hardly audible above the thumping music and the sound of laughter. “Are you having a party?” I seethed. He assured me he’d just got a few friends round. “Good,” I bellowed, struggling to make myself heard above girlie giggles, “there’s a time and place to enjoy yourself - and our house isn’t it.” Julie grabbed the phone. “Don’t let anyone in our house smoke drugs,” she warned, “and stay away from the drinks cabinet.” I wrestled the phone back. “More importantly,” I boomed above the disco musak, “if they must have a bath, the immersion heater only needs to be left on for 20 minutes - it gets hot very quickly.” MORE LAUGHS WITH MIKE LOCKLEY EVERY FRIDAY IN THE BIRMINGHAM MAIL

6 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 MIKE LOCKLEY Sunday Mercury Writer IN my rural parish – a mere nine miles from the bustle of Wolverhampton – the biting, bitter cold of last Sunday night heralded an invasion. I opened my window on the following morning to scan a landscape glistening and dusted grey by the winter’s first true frost. But it was the ice blue sky that betrayed the true wildlife shift sparked by the season’s sting. Large flocks of redwing and fieldfare, both members of the thrush family, filled the sky. Some obligingly descended on the high branches of tall trees that border our home. They chattered noisily before taking to the air as one in search of stubble fields and berry laden hedgerow. For me, the birds’ arrival – a visit to avoid the sub-zero temperatures in their northern and Eastern European homelands – heralds the arrival of winter. Forget the beast from the east, these are the beauties from the east. They are common migrants and near you, but on the wing many may well have mistaken them for starlings. They are easily overlooked. I’ve never understood why robins have become signature Christmas birds. They’re abundant and bold garden visitors throughout the year. Their appearance does not alter. No, the thrush family are the singing stars of the season of goodwill. It is the time for a thrush rush hour. Their most common British member, the blackbird, is the bird we most regularly see picking its way over snowdusted lawns, yet it is rarely depicted on Christmas cards. When it comes to the festivities, the robin appears to have stolen Christmas. But it is the thrush family who save the very best for the dark, cold depths of winter when fieldfare and redwing – both much more attractive than our resident song and mistle thrush – arrive in huge numbers. Monday’s long walk through South Staffordshire farmland proved that. The Russian and Scandinavian visitors were in abundance, while mistle thrush also fed in fields. It is the time to spot thrushes, although, to the untrained eye, the species can cause confusion. Certainly, fieldfare and redwing, which rarely The decline in song thrush numbers has probably been caused by the loss and degradation of preferred feeding and nesting habitats. RSPB venture into gardens and are most often seen in flight, prove a headache when it comes to identification. Many get muddled over the difference between mistle and song thrushes. Broadly, we have five thrush species that are guaranteed to be seen in the UK at different times of they year. The rarest is the ring ouzel, a mountain blackbird. The summer visitor, near identical to a blackbird bar a prominent white collar, is a bird of higher ground and I can confidently predict one has not arrived in your garden. Its close cousin, the blackbird, is near certain to be spotted, however. And not all the blackbirds you see during the impending freeze are British birds. Numbers are swollen by WALK ON THE WILD SIDE blackbirds arriving from Europe. Without being accused of stating the bleedin’ obvious, male blackbirds are Bible black with a bright orange beak. Females are brown and some show a dull, mottled plumage. There are, according to the RSPB, just over five million breeding pairs in the UK, but in winter the figure is swollen to around 15 millions. That’s why the blackbird’s a very familiar sight in gardens at Christmas. The next thrush you’re most likely to see is the song thrush. It is nowhere near as abundant as it was two, three decades ago, but the song thrush is still out there, with around 1,200,000 breeding pairs. We’ve all seen this brown, speckled bird smashing the shells of snails to get to the juicy morsel inside. We are not seeing them as often as we did – and the decline, coupled with the steady rate of decline, is a cause for concern. The RSPB warns: “The population in England declined by more than 50 per cent between 1970 and 1995. This was most pronounced on farmland, where the population decreased by about 70 per cent. Because of this decline, the song thrush is red listed as a bird of serious conservation concern. There has been a partial recovery in numbers during the last decade. “The decline in song thrush numbers has probably been caused by the loss and degradation of preferred feeding and nesting habitats. “Loss of hedgerows and wet ditches removed feeding and nesting sites, while increased land drainage and tillage are likely to have reduced the number of earthworms and other crucial invertebrate prey available to song thrushes on farmland. “Grazed permanent pasture (especially cow pastures) and woodland are important habitats with plenty of food for song thrushes. Both of these have been lost or degraded in many lowland areas.” How bare would our countryside be without the song thrush’s liquid call? Initially, it can be mistaken for the much rarer mistle thrush, although the marked differences are soon apparent. Mistles are bigger, grey rather than brown and the speckles on their WEEKEND forget robins, these are the real stars FIELDFARE THRUSH bodies are less uniform. Aggressive birds, they can be seen on the solitary, swaying uppermost branches of trees in high winds. In fact, they appear the revel in blistery conditions, hence their country name, “storm cock”. In flight, the wings are pointed, almost hawk like. Both the mistle and song thrush have to bow to their north European cousins when it comes to looks. Make no mistake, the redwing and fieldfare are the current stars of the winter show. The bird books will tell you they are strictly winter visitors, but that’s not strictly correct. There is regular, recorded British breeding. The RSPB list one or two fieldfare nests, in the remote Scottish highlands, each year, while the redwing

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 7 WILDLIFE of festive season REDWING BLACKBIRD RING OUZEL has a more stable highland population of 13 pairs each year. But it is in winter they flock to the West Midlands. The fieldfare is larger and more striking, with slate grey head and rump and chestnut wings. Their invasion has begun and numbers will swell to just under one million birds. The British Trust for Ornithology state: “As a winter visitor, fieldfares begin to arrive in October, continuing through until the end of November. “These arrivals are later in years with good berry crops in Scandinavia. In bad years, as many as a million fieldfares may have no alternative but to head over the sea to the British Isles in the hope of finding winter HOUR! sustenance. These winter flocks prefer open countryside, bordered by well-developed hedgerows and woodland, only coming into gardens in the harshest winter weather when the ground is frozen and soil invertebrates are not available. “Many people think of fieldfares as fruit-eaters but, in fact, this is not the case. They much prefer grubs and worms, switching to windfall apples and berries when these invertebrates are unavailable.” They’re tough, too – and prone to downright dirty defensive tactics. The BTO adds: “Fieldfares often breed in loose colonies and are very vigorous in their defence against predators. There are even reports of birds ramming magpies and jays in flight. “Some observers are sure that there are actually ‘guard’ fieldfares which will escort potential predators away from the colony. However, the most characteristic defence is well-aimed defecation directed at the intruder. Much like mistle thrushes, they will defend winter food sources, like apples and berries.” The redwings is a more common winter visitor, with some years seeing over eight million arrive on these shores. The RSPB says: “The redwing is most commonly encountered as a winter bird and is the UK’s smallest true thrush. Its creamy strip above the eye and orange-red flank patches make it distinctive. “They roam across the UK’s countryside, feeding in fields and hedgerows, rarely visiting gardens, except in the coldest weather when snow covers the fields. Only a few pairs nest in the UK.” The charity adds: “Redwings migrate by night in loose flocks. Listen out for their soft ‘seep, seep’ call, as they pass overhead. In autumn, redwings gather along the Scandinavian coast at dusk before launching off on their single 800 km (500 mile) flight across the North Sea to the UK. In rough weather, many may crash into the waves and drown. SONG THRUSH “Some redwings come from Iceland to winter in Scotland and Ireland. Others come from Russia and Scandinavia to winter in southern England and further south in Europe. “The first redwings reach the UK in October. They spend the autumn in hedges and orchards, where they feed on fruit and berries. As winter draws on, and the fruit is used up, they move onto open areas in search of earthworms.” The Christmas celebrations will this year be celebrated with a large number of Russian and Scandinavian guest, it appears. Take time to spot these magnificent birds before the thaw sets in. Forget the Christmas rush and enjoy the Christmas thrush!

8 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 WEEKEND Florida Phil INCREDIBLE STORY OF the BOY WHO just COULDN’T STOP RUNNING AWAY MIKE LOCKLEY Sunday Mercury Writer FIFTY years ago, a 15-yearold Coventry schoolboy made headlines around the world – by fleeing to America as a stowaway aboard a passenger jet. The story of teenager Philip Davison’s great escape – with no passport or money – occupied the pages of the tabloids for weeks. When he was finally brought back to Britain, he was mobbed by the press before being taken by limo to TV studios, where he was interviewed by David Frost. And that was far from the end of his brush with fame. While most schoolboys dream of adventures in far-off places, Philip lived the dream. In the months and years that followed, he was dubbed “the boy who couldn’t stop running away” as continued to stage a series of daring escapes. Among his exploits, the teenager: ■■ Hid on a Pan-Am jet to New York, then slipped undetected onto a Florida-bound plane; ■■ Spent time shackled in a Swiss adult prison after being discovered wandering barefoot in Berne; ■■ Escaped death after being found by a mountain rescue team’s St Bernard dog, shivering in the snow-covered Alps; ■■ Reached Denmark by hiding under the tarpaulin of a ship’s lifeboat. His is an incredible story that would be dubbed far-fetched if put forward as a soap opera plotline. But behind the headlines of Boys Own adventure lay a desperately unhappy childhood, a rebel always longing to escape, a misfit consigned to a string of often brutal care homes. “I’m the cat who had nine lives – and I used up most of those,” Philip said. “It’s what I had to do to survive. “It was either run away or be treated badly on a daily basis. It was fight or flight.” Even before school, the eldest son of a successful shoe shop owner took flight time and again. A battery of child psychologists failed to discover why. Aged only three, Philip was discovered digging a tunnel the tot I sat in First Class – it was the first time I’d tasted the high life and I can remember being pampered by the stewardesses. Philip Davison ■■ Philip makes headlines in 1971 and, right, aged eight believed would take him to Australia. “I became notorious,” he recalled. “Sometimes I’d run away three times a day.” By the age of five, Philip’s breakouts had earned him a place in the first of a string of care homes. He refused to play by the rules, and refused to eat. Three years later, he was placed in a Birmingham hospital asylum, where he says electric shock treatment was administered. “It was horrific, it was done without parental consent,” he said. “I can remember the smell of the chemicals. I can remember my back arching under the treatment. That is when my personality did change.” In December 1971, Philip, by now a ‘guest’ of Tymwr Assessment Centre in South Wales – a home he describes as brutal and barbaric – undertook the great escape that would make him a household name. With no passport, food or money, he fled to America. He told the Sunday Mercury: “It took me a day to get to Coventry. I stayed in the garden shed of our family home, without them knowing, and stole milk and eggs from doorsteps. “What else could I do to survive?” The schoolboy reached Heathrow by hitching lifts and hiding on trains – and then set about getting on a plane. “There was a large family in the departure lounge and I kicked the small child to cause a distraction,” he said. “With staff running to the screaming child, I simply strolled on-board. “I sat in First Class – it was the first time I’d tasted the high life and I can remember being pampered by the stewardesses. “But I didn’t know we were flying to America. I actually thought I was going to Australia.” Incredibly, Philip managed to board another flight to Tampa, Florida, shortly after touching down at JFK Airport in New York. Those extra air miles were to prove his undoing, however. “When I got off the plane, it was dark and humid and there were a lot of insects,” he said. “Florida was vast, alien and I was scared. I was a little boy.” The frightened teen sought refuge on the shuttle train service between terminals, where he was eventually cornered by suspicious police. After they discovered his incredible story, he was placed for a week in Lake Manderville Delinquent Centre, Jacksonville. The schoolboy – by now dubbed ‘Florida Phil’ in British national papers – was flown home and greeted by the flash of press corps cameras. “I just took it in my stride,” he laughed. “They were shouting ‘Where are you going to run away to next?’ “I didn’t feel overawed. I thought it was great. My dad was there. He wanted to tell me off, but I think he was pleased. He told the reporters, ‘This is the freedom of the British spirit; this is what the British can do’.” Philip and dad Denis were

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 9 NOSTALGIA Bev Bevan’s ALBUMS OF THE WEEK THE PRETTY THINGS: LIVE AT THE BBC (Repetoire) The cleverly named Pretty Things (pretty they were not!) formed at Sidcup Art College in Kent in 1963, under the leadership of one of the founder members of the Rolling Stones, Dick Taylor, and extravagant front man Phil May. The band went on to have limited chart success – Don’t Bring Me Down making number 10 on the UK charts in 1964 and Honey I Need number 13 in ‘65. Rosalyn, Cry To Me, Midnight To Six Man, Come See Me and A House In The Country also all made the top 50. But the group’s controversial, rebellious image and brash, unkempt appearance ensured them maximum publicity. This well researched six-CD box set features recordings that the Pretty Things made for various BBC radio shows between 1964 and 1975, including Beat Room, Saturday Club, A Whole Scene Going, Top Gear, the John Peel Show, Sounds Of The 70s and In Concert. As well as live versions of their hit records there are also cover versions of songs like Big Boss Man, Johnnie B Goode, Raining In My Heart, The Letter, Summertime and Route 66. whisked by limo to London for a live interview with David Frost, but fame was fleeting – with a return to Tymwr only days away. Once back at the assessment centre, the care home’s greatest escape artist hit the road again– and again. As he puts it: “The more they kept sending me back, the more I kept running away.” Within months, Philip had hoodwinked his way onto a Dover ferry, hitch-hiked through France and was discovered bedraggled and barefoot in Berne, Switzerland. “I’d begged for food from lorry drivers and scavenged in bins,” he said. “I remember once sleeping in a cowshed with the cows.” The teenager spent days handcuffed in a Zurich prison before being transferred to Musingen Psychiatric Clinic. “I was a boy in shackles and handcuffs,” said Philip, wincing at the memory. “The Swiss are supposed to be humane, but they were not particularly humane to me. The inmates were quite kind, but I spent most of my time in solitary confinement.” A second escape bid to Switzerland – this time with a fellow Tymwr troublemaker – was foiled in the snowbound Alps. “It was cold, dark and icy,” he recalled. “I had visions of dying and not being found. I really did want to be found that time.” Thankfully, he was – by a rescue team’s St Bernard’s dog. There were other adventures. Philip spent 20 miserable hours in the lifeboat of a ship bound for Denmark – “That was the longest period of my life. I only had thin clothes, it was freezing dark and the constant swaying made me sick.” He also made it to Gothenburg, Sweden, and was sent home in handcuffs. In fact, Philip spent most of his teenage years on the run – and only stopped running when given the chance to take control of his father’s shoe business in 1981. That new-found security and contentment was shattered when he suffered severe head injuries in a 1991 car crash, injuries which he blamed for the breakdown of his short marriage and collapse of his business. It also paved the way for one last escape – this time from a hospital regime, and this time to Finland. In by now time-honoured fashion, Philip managed the journey without a passport. The wilderness years finally came to an end in 2006 when Philip enrolled on a summer law course at Ruskin College, Oxford. He shone so brightly, he later received a scholarship and decided to pursue a career as a barrister. Speaking in 2011, he told the Sunday Mercury: “Throughout my life I’ve tried to kick against the system. “Because people have been unkind to me, I’ve kicked back. “Society is wrong and only the rich can afford access to justice. I want to provide that access to the homeless and most vulnerable members of our society – I have an affinity with the homeless. “No-one wants to help the underdog and I want to bring some kind of equality back into society.” ONE WEEK LATER: ECLECTICA (R J Music) Midlands pop and rock trio One Week Later are back with their fourth album, Eclectica, recorded at the excellent Sine Wave Studios in Tamworth. Writing and recording together for ten years, songwriters Rick Smith (guitar and keyboards) and Jane Broughton (vocals) along with drummer and percussionist Perky Dudley have experimented with numerous forms of music. This album reflects the band’s hopes that the 11 tracks here will have something for everyone. The tracks mix surfy, choppy guitars with atmospheric keyboards, melodic vocals and expressive drums and percussion. One Week Later list their influences as Fleetwood Mac, Blondie, The X X, Future Islands and ELO. BOOK OF THE WEEK The Bee Gees in the 1960s, by Andrew Mon Hughes, Grant Walters & Mark Crohan According to Billboard magazine the Bee Gees are one of the top three most successful bands in their chart’s history. It all started in the fascinating decade of the ‘60s – personally my favourite Bee Gees music. n My band Quill have a new album, Riding Rainbows, available online from www.quilluk.com

10 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 EXCLUSIVE PAUL COLE Special Correspondent WHEN Tony Iommi famously sliced off the tips of his right hand fingers in a metal press at the age of 17, he feared he would never play guitar again. He defied the odds and conquered the world with Black Sabbath, of course. When he was diagnosed with blood cancer lymphoma in 2012, he started planning his own funeral. This time there was more at stake than music. He battled back, took to the Sabbath swansong stage, and is now in remission. Then along came Covid-19 and – just a few weeks ago – another accident, this time at his Cotswolds home, that left him fearing once more for his career. Just as he returned with a new band, his first new music in eight years, and the launch of a signature scent, the horizon was clouded by concern. “I snapped a tendon in my left arm – my one good arm,” he reveals. “A delivery man came with a big box on a pallet – it contained 200 bottles of the perfume we’d just developed. I said I’d give him a hand, but as we were walking through my hallway, I went flying. “I grabbed to save the box because I didn’t want the bottles to smash, and – bang! – my tendon just snapped. The pain was horrendous. “I couldn’t move my arm at first. It was bruised from the wrist right up to the shoulder where it had snapped from. “I went last week to have an MRI scan, then back to the Priory Hospital in Solihull for the results. They said I’d left it too late to repair. “They could take a tendon from my leg to fix the problem, but the consultant said he wouldn’t like to guarantee that I’d be able to straighten my arm afterwards. Even if I could, he warned that it might take over a year. “I thought ‘Forget it’. It’s OK. I can still move it round enough to play guitar – that was the main thing for me.” The injury has not stopped Tony carrying on with this week’s big heavy metal comeback. The 73-year-old guitar hero has recorded a four-minute rock single titled Scent of Dark, initially to promote the new scent of the same name he has designed with Sergio Momo, designer for Italian luxury perfume house Xerioff. Over the past 18 months he has been working secretly on the new scent, which recalls the heady patchouli days of rock festivals in the late 1960s and 70s, and hits stores ahead of Christmas. “It’s mainly patchouli,” says Tony from his second home in Sandbanks, where Harry Redknapp is a near neighbour, on the South Coast. “I didn’t know this but apparently they used to use the smell of patchouli oil to get rid of the smell of people smoking dope back in the day.” It was the decision to record a heavy rock riff to promote the perfume that fuelled Tony’s hunger to return to the fray after a frustrating pandemic lockdown. Still in remission from lymphoma, with which he was diagnosed in 2012, the Sabbath legend had to self-isolate at his house in Broadway because of his weakened immune system – and GUITAR GOD TONY’S BACK WITH NEW BAND & FIRST NEW MUSIC IN 8 YEARS It wasn’t right for a Sabbath album but it just seemed to fit this project. I added some heavier, doomier bits so it’s part old and part new. Tony Iommi WEEKEND still wears a mask whenever shopping or at an indoor event. “I was petrified, to be honest,” he admits. “I had to be really careful with everything. “I really did cut myself off for quite a while. You start going a bit mental because you can’t do what you normally do. It stopped me from working so much musically because people couldn’t come in your home. “When restrictions were eased, my friend and producer Mike Exeter came round again, but we both had masks on and it was crap, sitting there with a mask on and trying to get into something. Oh blimey. It just seemed odd so we didn’t do that much in the end. “My wife Maria and I had just bought the house in Sandbanks when the pandemic hit, and we couldn’t travel down to sort it out because all but essential journeys were banned. That was very frustrating too. Then my daughter Toni and her partner got Covid and we couldn’t see them. “As things eased off a bit, I did this thing with Robert Plant. We signed a guitar for charity. He came over to my house and we did it socially distanced in the garden while Maria took photos of us both with our masks on. We both had gloves on, too, sitting there drinking coffee. “Eventually we were able to go down to Sandbanks and that has kept me busy, with work being done on the house. Now, when we’ve had all the jabs and everything, hopefully we’re all a bit safer – but I still wear a mask whenever I go shopping or to get petrol.” Tony still has regular blood tests to monitor his condition. A private doctor visits him at home when required, and he has tests and check-ups back at the Spire Parkway Hospital in Solihull, where he was treated for his lymphoma. Scent of Dark is Tony’s first new music to be released since Black Sabbath’s ‘13’ album back in 2013, four years before the band played their final farewell in hometown Birmingham. Joining him are Sergio Momo on guitar, bassist Jimmy Crutchley, drummer Ash Sheehan, Mike Exeter on keyboards, and strings players Rebecca Rose and Julianne Bourne. The track was mainly recorded at Gospel Oak studio in Rowington, Warwickshire. “It’s based on a riff I’ve had around for some years,” says Tony. “It wasn’t right for a Sabbath album but it just seemed to fit this project. I added some heavier, doomier bits so it’s part old and part new, but we’re all really happy with it. “I developed a band overnight and it worked so well that I’m definitely going to make an album now.” In the meantime he has also played on a charity track with fellow Brummie and Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason and appeared as guitar guest on a track by metallers Candlemass, earning him a Grammy Award nomination for best heavy metal performance. Next up is a collaboration with old bandmate Ozzy Osbourne, for whose new album Tony has written, and played on, a track titled No Escape From Now. A stellar guitar line-up also includes Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Zakk Wylde. “I don’t know what it sounds like, mind,” he smiles. “I haven’t heard it yet. I wrote the track for Ozzy, sent it to him and he really liked it. I recorded it at home, with Mike Exeter on bass and programmed drums. They’ve had Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers re-do the drums. “I still talk to Ozzy a lot, and keep up with Geezer and Bill from time to time. I just wish Ozzy wouldn’t forget the time difference and call me from the States at two in the morning!” ■■ Paul Cole is former editor of the Sunday Mercury and founder of the paulcoletravels.com and stillgotthefevber.blogspot.com blogs.

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 11 MUSIC ■■ Maria in the video ‘I am now officially haunted by my wife!’ »THE spooky video for Scent of Dark was recorded at haunted Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, close to Tony Iommi’s Cotswolds home. The castle is reputedly home to the spectre of Catherine Parr, who famously outlived husband Henry VIII – and Tony confesses he was haunted by his own wife, Maria, even though she’s very much in the land of the living. “They allowed us to film inside the house, which was brilliant,” he reveals. “Nobody is allowed in some of the family’s private rooms which we used. Sergio knows the owners and has stayed there a few times. It was the obvious place to get the right atmosphere. “In the video, Maria is the ghost who walks in through the gates at the beginning, and who appears right at the end before she vanishes. It was really weird because they had to paint her face and hands gold for the shot. “When we’d finished for the day, I asked if she was going to wipe it off before we went home. She said ‘No’ because she wanted to use her own cleanser. If we’re stopped, they’ll wonder what the hell has been going on, I thought. I am now officially haunted by my wife.” In another shot, Tony plays a solo on the lawn outside the castle. “The funny thing is that there were still visitors looking round the grounds, some of them in their 80s and 90s. There I was, dressed all in black, miming to a loud rock guitar solo blasted out on the loudspeakers. There was soon a crowd watching me, wondering what the hell I was doing. “I don’t think it was what they were expecting on a day out at Sudeley Castle…” SCENT EXPERT & SABBATH FAN SERGIO »TONY met Italian perfumer Sergio Momo during the pandemic after they were introduced virtually by a friend. Not only is Sergio a scent expert but he is also a Sabbath fan and guitarist. “He said he wanted to send me some perfume because he’d heard I was interested in scent,” says Tony. “I was expecting maybe a bottle of perfume but what arrived was a big box of about 20 different sorts. A note read ‘Let me know what you think’. “We started chatting by phone and texting and we built up a friendship. When he was able to come to England, he came to visit me, and asked if I’d be interested in doing my own perfume. “I’d been interested in scents since the 1970s and always used to buy stuff on the road when we were on tour in our freezing old van where the usual aromas were beer and BO. “Sergio asked me to make a list of all the smells I like. I put stuff down like that new car smell you get, leather, raspberries, strawberries … a whole list of them. “He mixed some stuff and sent me little tester bottles to try. Then, over a year or so, it was trial and error until we found one which suggested we were on the right track. “Eventually we hit on one I really liked, I knew it was THE one but Sergio still improved it from there. He shares my attitude of wanting things to be right. In music, I keep trying things and changing them until it is just right. Well, he’s he same with perfume. “I never want to put my name to something that I’ve not been involved in, so to be a part of the process from stage one right to the finished bottle was great.” It’s a far cry from the days when Brut and Old Spice were the go-to gifts for men, Tony recalls. “In those days if I got a Christmas present, that was the ultimate gift, those little bottles of after-shave,” he grins. “Then Henry Cooper advertised it, of course. What a legend.” ■■ Tony with Sergio Momo

BLACK FRIDAY SAVE UP TO 80% PLUS FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS! OK! BEAUTY BOX SUBSCRIpTIOn TRY YOUR FIRST BOx FOR jUST £2.99 * OK! ChRISTmAS BEAUTY BOX nOW £45!** FREE OK! BEAUTY BOX wITh EVERY 6 OR 12-mONTh SUBSCRIPTION GIFT VOUChER *** OKBEAUTYBOX.CO.UK/BLACKFRIDAY *£2.99 is only available to new customers, OK! Beauty Box subscription is £15 per month thereafter. This offer expires at 23:59 on 29 November 2021. ** The OK! Christmas Beauty Box is available to buy at £45 until 23:59 on 29 November 2021, only while stocks last. *** To qualify for the free OK! Black Friday Beauty Box you must purchase a 6 or 12-month OK! Beauty Box Subscription e-Gift voucher. The free box will be dispatched to the bill payer within two weeks of purchase. The offer is only available until 23:59 on 29 November 2021, only while stocks last.

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 13 your WILDLIFE photos SEND US YOUR PHOTOS »SOME more stunning photographs this week that capture the changing of the seasons as the last leaves of autumn fall and the cold snap of winter moves in. Many thanks and please, brave those elements to keep them coming. Send your pictures to: mike.lockley@reachplc.com »Gary Stocker captured this picture of a jay, whose colours perfectly match the surrounding foliage. “Saw this fellow having his/her breakfast at Warwick University on Monday,” he says. »Our thanks to local historian Richard Pursehouse for two stunning photographs, an atmospheric nighttime shot entitled Earthshine and the final glorious flourish of a copper beech on Cannock Chase. »Rosemary Storer spotted this deer on a walk in her local wood. »This flowery fungus complete with stalk was sent in by Jayashri Morgan. »This week Gloucestershire snapper Peter Wilcox has turned his lens on the water. He said: “The first one is a shot from Cotswold Water Park, this time of male and female tufted ducks (above). The next four are from the lake at Newent, Gloucestershire, and show a moorhen (left), a heron and a preening mallard (below). Finally, a caterpillar that appeared in my garden when I was clearing up fallen leaves.” »Sandy Neale sent in these pictures with a seasonal warning of what’s to come... “This Holly tree was absolutely covered in berries a few weeks ago – a sign of a cold winter so the old tales go. Today most of the top of the tree has been stripped by the pigeons.”

GET YOUR FAVOURITE NEWSPAPER AT HALF PRICE* Order yOur cOpy delivered straight tO yOur dOOr Or purchase at a retailer Of yOur chOice tO save 50% THERE ARE TWO EASY WAYS TO ORDER YOUR PAPER 1. DELIVERED DIRECT TO YOUR HOME We have a long established, reliable and efficient direct home delivery network. • To order online visit newspapersubs.co.uk/SMC • Select the HOME DELIVERY option and enter the offer code WKQ421VH when prompted to receive your 50% discount. 2. COLLECT FROM OR DELIVERED BY YOUR LOCAL NEWSAGENT If you’d like to order home delivery from a local newsagent, or collect from a retailer. • To order online visit newspapersubs.co.uk/SMC • Select the VOUCHER option and enter the offer code WKQ421VH when prompted to receive your 50% discount. • We will send you dated vouchers for you to give to the newsagent as payment for your paper. alternatively, call us on 0333 202 8000 and one of our team will be happy to assist or e-mail newspapersalesteam@reachplc.com *Terms and conditions: This offer is for new customers only and redeemable by direct debit. DELIVERED DIRECTLY: The price is £1.15 per week (50% discount) for the first 13 weeks and then £1.72 per week (20% discount) moving forward. Direct Home Delivery service not available in all post codes. RETAIL VOUCHERS: The price is 95p per week (50% discount) for the first 13 weeks and then £1.52 per week (20% discount) moving forward. If you choose to organise home delivery via a local newsagent, you will need to pay your newsagent their home delivery charge separately. Not all retailers offer home delivery, please check directly with them. Offer details correct at the time of printing. After the introductory period, you will be given a 20% discount unless you decide to cancel. Offer ends: 18/12/2021

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 15 Motoring Writer Peter Keenan test-drives the latest Nissan Qashqai DRIVETIME I’VE always envied the fact that car models can be constantly updated with the latest technology and design. I’ve long wanted a new body with a sleek, streamlined exterior and all mod cons to replace the clapped out version currently struggling out of bed in the morning. I told my wife that some of the improvements made by Nissan to the third generation of its iconic Qashqai crossover were in part due to customer feedback. ‘‘If only they made husbands’’ seemed to be the gist of her response. Anyway, the good-looking third generation of the car that sparked the reign of the all-conquering crossover features a host of improvements. The exterior is tweaked while the cabin gets an upgrade. There are sharper handling characteristics and tighter running costs with the overall goal of launching the Qashqai forward to another period of domination – no easy feat as the competition has rapidly increased in quantity and quality as demand has soared. The high specification Tekna+ trim I spent some time with is a comfortable conveyance with supportive seats that are electrically-adjustable up front with heating, massage and memory functions. There is also an efficient dual-zone climate control ensuring a pleasant atmosphere. Built at Nissan’s Sunderland factory, it doesn’t lack for driver information with a head up display the star of a cast that also features a smartphone compatible, nine-inch central display. This gives access to the assorted entertainment goodies provided as well as the NissanConnect navigation system – there is also a 12.3-inch TFT instrument panel. The cabin is easy on the eye offering lots of space for four adults with a fifth easily accommodated as long as you don’t want the natty drop-down central armrest which offers handy cup holders for two rear-seat passengers. The spaciousness is down to ■ Nissan Qashqai All-conquering Qashqai will not relinquish its crossover crown FAST FACTS ■ Model: Nissan Qashqai Tekna+ 1.3 mild-hybrid ■ Price: £36,125 ■ Mechanical: 156bhp, 1,332cc, 4cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via an automatic gearbox ■ Max speed: 124mph ■ 0-62mph: 9.2 seconds ■ Combined mpg: 43.8 ■ Insurance group: 16 ■ CO2 emissions: 146g/km ■ BiK rating: 33% ■ Warranty: 3years / 60,000 miles the fact that the lastest Qashqai is longer, wider and higher than before with an expanded wheelbase which, together with a weight-loss programme, makes it an agile beast. Indeed the Qashqai feels planted to the road, offering excellent grip in corners and decent feedback from the steering. The increased dimensions also improve luggage space which now ranges from 436 litres to a maximum of 1,621 litres with the rear seats removed. With them folded flat – an easy manoeuvre – the available space is 1,379 litres. There is a high-end feel to proceedings with lots of luxurious touches such as quilted leather upholstery, a heated multi-function steering wheel, a panoramic glass roof and an automatic tailgate. Power is provided by a 1.3-litre mild-hybrid engine with a battery that stores energy captured when you brake to feed the Qashqai’s electrical systems. There is a 138bhp version and the 156bhp front-wheel drive car I drove that allows 62mph to be reached from a standing start with the help of an automatic transmission in a shade over nine seconds on the way to a claimed top speed of 124mph. The more powerful mildhybrid achieves a claimed fuel economy figure of 43.8mpg – which in the real world equated to the high 30s – with emissions of 146g/km. All Qashqais are fitted with stop/start technology as well as an Eco drive mode for when you’re feeling frugal. Nissan’s neat e-power technology – featuring a 1.5-litre petrol engine that generates electricity to drive its cars – is expected to be available on the Qashqai next year. Since its launch in 2007 the Qashqai has regularly been one of the top selling cars in the UK and the latest model – styled, designed and engineered at Nissan’s facilities in London and Bedfordshire – looks set to continue that success story. ■ I wouldn’t like to guess how much this beauty cost its owner. This stunning- looking machine is the Ferrari BR20, and it’s the latest custom-made one-off car built for one of Ferrari’s loyal customers. The BR20 is based on the GTC4Lusso which means it has a V12 engine and four-wheel drive. Unlike that car, however, the BR20 has only two seats. Ferrari’s previous custom-build customers include Eric Clapton. kia’s cool concept You’re looking at a teaser of the EV9 concept car that Kia will be unveiling at the Los Angeles motor show this week. As you will see from pictures of the EV6, Kia is coming out with some bold designs. The EV9, which is an electric SUV, looks like it’s going to be similarly ground-breaking in terms of design. Although it’s described by Kia as a concept car, I’ll be surprised if something very similar isn’t launched within the next year. We’ll know more after the LA show.

Sun-soaked new Sailcation boasts star-studded line-up IMAGINE CRUISING’S 10-NIGHT EXCLUSIVE SPAIN AND PORTUGAL SAILCATION ON P&O CRUISES’ VENTURA BOASTS A STAR-STUDDED LINE-UP OF ENTERTAINMENT INCLUDING ALFIE BOE, RUSSELL WATSON AND HARRY REDKNAPP DEPARTING MAY 21, 2022 PRICES FROM £799pp NO-FLY CRUISE NO.1-SELLING ARTIST AND RENOWNED TENOR ALFIE BOE CLASSICAL SINGER RUSSELL WATSON FOOTBALL LEGEND HARRY REDKNAPP Book now at imaginecruising.co.uk/p-and-o-sailcation or call 01793 547 444

SUNDAY MERCURY, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 17 MARION McMULLEN DISCOVERS JUST HOW LONDON IS PUTTING A SPARKLE BACK INTO THE FESTIVE SEASON... It felt like everyone around the world was on Santa’s naughty list last year. Grottos had the ‘closed’ signs up, elves were on furlough and around 200 pantos were cancelled. Oh yes they were! Many families had to spend the big day apart and yours truly even ended up attempting to cook a turkey for the first time in years. Luckily, no-one got food poisoning for Christmas, although I did have nightmares of spending Boxing Day in A&E. Now London’s West End is serving up Christmas with all the trimmings to put some sparkle back into the festive season. More than a million LED bulbs light up the area – making history as the world’s largest Christmas light switch-on. From the shopping mecca of Oxford Street, Regent Street and South Molton Street, the luxury boutiques of Bond Street and Mayfair, to the bright lights of Piccadilly Circus, the culture of St James’s and the theatres of Leicester Square, the area is filled with dazzling displays. Following what has been a most challenging 18 months, West End businesses are kick-starting a campaign to shine a light on the exciting and thrilling experiences that can only be discovered right here. The John Lewis store on Oxford Street is among those leading the way with an entire Christmas floor packed with gifts, decorations, ornaments and every bauble you can think of, from snowmen and frogs to dinosaurs and fish. Staff themselves say they discover something new every day. If you want a pink whale as the centrepiece of your Christmas decorations this year then this is the place to head to. Work by local craftspeople is on offer at the store’s Curated Makers Market, with new workshops offering everything from gin tasting to tips on how to make the perfect Christmas wreath. You can even buy personalised Quality Street gifts or film yourself in the alien spaceship that is the highlight of John Lewis’ Christmas adverts. There is so much to do during a London visit – from snapping a selfie at Bond Street’s iconic Christmas tree to experiencing the world’s first Bollinger 007 Champagne Bar in Burlington Arcade. I stayed at the beautiful Beaumont Hotel in Mayfair, which offers a great location for making the most of a Christmas break. for Christmas The David Bowie experiential pop-up on Heddon Street, in honour of the musician’s 75th birthday, is among the new attractions, or you can book yourself in for a Christmas burlesque dance class at Danceworks, if you still have any energy left after all that shopping and sightseeing. I chose an afternoon tea at Fenwick of Bond Street to help Lighting up recharge the batteries, the festivities before catching the new comedy sensation Pride And Prejudice (sort of) at the Criterion Theatre. It was the first time I had stepped into a theatre in 18 months and made me aware of just how much I had missed the joy of a live performance. There is only so much telly you can watch and this multi-talented five-strong female cast is proving just the tonic when it comes to welcoming audiences back to the theatre. It’s a gloriously original new take on the Jane Austen story that is earning well-deserved standing ovations. Lunch at Whitcomb’s at the new Londoner hotel in Leicester Square is another treat worth making time for. The dover sole came highly rec- TRAVEL A capital idea Angels keep an eye on the Christmas shops Fact File A starry night on Oxford Street ommended and did not disappoint, while the whole modern menu was packed with tempting dishes. Alright, I thoroughly stuffed myself, but it was worth every mouthful. Believe me, you need the calories to help you visit all the Christmas attractions packed into the West End before going in search of the perfect present at the oldest toy store in the world, Hamleys. Celebrities love Dr Barbara Sturm’s skincare range and treatments and a new centre has now opened in Mount Street offering e ve r y t h i ng you n e e d to g e t ready and look good for the festive season. It is a little oasis of calm amid all the Christmas activities and, let’s face it, after lockdowns, furloughs and restrictions, we all deserve a bit of pampering and one unforgettable Yuletide party. And there’s no better way to start than to enjoy the bright lights of London. ■ The Only In The West End this Christmas campaign aims to show visitors what’s on offer in the capital this festive season. Illustrator Olivia Brotheridge has created a map of the West End to help. View the map and find out more at oxfordstreet.co.uk, regentstreetonline.com, bondstreet.co.uk, stjameslondon.co.uk, leicestersquare.london and mayfairldn.com. For Beaumont Hotel details, see thebeaumont.com TrAveL buzz A room at Mama Lisboa ■ Fun and affordable French brand Mama Shelter has lined up Lisbon for the opening of its first hotel in Portugal on January 12. Set in the heart of the vibrant Portuguese capital, the bold design of the 130-room Mama Lisboa is a playful mix of the country’s maritime heritage, modern pop decor and bohemian style. In a nod to its Gallic roots, the restaurant serves up French specialities alongside Portuguese classics, or pick up one of the famous Mama pizzas to take away. At the gigantic island bar, guests can mingle with the locals over a coffee or a cocktail. But for spectacular sunsets and stunning views of the city and the Tagus River, kick back at the rooftop bar with a relaxing drink. ■ From £75 per night, room only. mamashelter.com/lisboa ■ Manhattan is the latest hip location for Hilton’s lifestyle brand Motto, launched just three years ago. Opening on Motto reception area February 3 in a 42-storey building, Motto by Hilton New York City Chelsea is just two blocks from Madison Square Park and the Flatiron Building. Landmarks including the elevated High Line park, Chelsea Market, Times Square, and Greenwich Village are within a mile radius. The third property for the ‘micro-hotel’ chain features Motto’s trademark ‘travelsized’ stylish minimal rooms (some with interconnecting doors, linking up three in a row) and there’s an on-site restaurant and bar. ■ From £140 per night, room only.hilton.com/en/hotels/ nycdlua- motto-new-york-citychelsea High Line park is nearby

18 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 Today’s tV

SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 19 JUST £5.49 A BOTTLE ave over ON 12 LUXURIOUS RED WINES Enjoy a massive £83 saving on 12 world-class red wines, complete with FREE express delivery! T&C’s apply. Autumnal Reds Collection 12 CRAFT WINES WAS £148.88 NOW £65.88 With FREE EXPRESS DELIVERY! To order, visit virginwines.co.uk/VE2441 or call 0343 224 1001 quoting VE2441 Terms and Conditions: New customers only. UK Delivery only. You must be 18 years of age or over. One case per customer. Not to be combined with any other promotion. By redeeming this offer you agree to try the Virgin Wines WineBank. WineBank uses easy monthly top-ups to save for your wine and rewards you with £1 for every £5 you deposit, plus free delivery on all future purchases. There’s no obligation to buy any more wine. For full T&C’s, visit www.virginwines.co.uk/terms DRINKING IS ONLY FUN WHEN YOU DON’T OVERDO IT

20 SUNDAY MERCURY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2021 QUICK CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Unaccountable (12) 7. Muffled (5) 8. Swear (5) 9. Bed (3) 10. Make laws (9) 11. Writer (6) 12. Supple (6) 15. Invasion (9) 17. Tavern (3) 18. Get to know (5) 19. Small wood (5) 21. Forcibly (12) DOWN 1. Unapproachable (12) 2. Place (3) 3. Deep blue (6) 4. Acquisition (9) 5. Grub (5) 6. Doggedly (12) 7. Engine (5) 10. Maze (9) 13. Gleam (5) 1 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14. Be restless (6) 16. Deep fissure (5) 20. Killer whale (3) 15 16 17 CODEWORD 14 18 19 20 21 This puzzle has no clues. Instead, every number printed in the grid represents a letter, with the same number always representing the same letter. For example, if 8 turns out to be a V, you can write in V wherever a square contains 8. Using your knowledge of words, complete the puzzle. A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 A S 7 4 5 2 9 3 8 4 1 5 6 7 8 3 9 5 6 7 8 1 2 1 9 6 4 2 3 9 5 1 3 8 6 7 2 3 4 1 6 5 9 8 2 1 4 5 7 6 4 7 2 3 8 8 1 7 4 6 9 2 6 5 7 3 1 2 4 1 7 5 8 4 3 9 5 SUDOKU: 2 9 8 3 6 9 THE PUZZLE PAGE www.dingbats.net S M A S H T R T S H E L F O P I SPLIT DECISION: P R O O F 6 Find the familiar phrase, saying or name in this arrangement of letters. 1 2 3 4 5 H G S X F P R O O G U O P K E I S P E R E R H I L F T H R N T L E V A S S S M S W H SUDOKU Each row, column and 3 x 3 box must contain the numbers 1 to 9. 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 14 18 19 20 21 CRYPTIC CROSSWORD ACROSS 1. Head operator? (5,7) 7. Close studies on the East (5) 8. Put out of sight (5) 9. I get outpointed but emerge victorious (3) 10. He experiences initial difficulty in speech-making (9) 11. Six annoy in a masculine way (6) 12. It’s made by people who count (6) 15. Holding back hesitation at charge outside shelter (9) 17. In general bishops may wear one (3) 18. Solemn accent (5) 19. Surprised a defender (5) 21. Well-attended churchservices? (4,8) SPLIT DECISION Cross out one of the two letters in each divided square to reveal a completed crossword grid. 2 8 1 9 6 8 1 3 8 9 5 4 1 1 4 9 7 3 7 2 8 9 5 7 4 6 1 5 5 6 1 8 WORD SQUARE: lower, LOWERMOST, lowers, lowest, lows, mews, mower, mows, owes, rows, slew, slow, slower, stew, stow, strew, swore, towel, towels, tower, towers, trowel, trowels, twosome, welt, welts, wert, west, wets, wooer, wool, woos, wore, worm, worms, worse, worst, wrest, wrote. X A R I D J F V S P U Q H 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 B G K C Y Z M N E T W O L 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 CODE WORD: DOWN 1. Worse than mean (5,7) 2. She spends her life in an unworldly environment (3) 3. Able to help us with processed fuel (6) 4. He approaches one side then the other (2-7) 5. It often goes into a basket (5) 6. Are orators lost and speechless without them? (7-5) 7. He gives the fellow an alternative (5) 10. They quieten Len’s cries perhaps (9) 13. It will be less than the normal fare (5) 14. Very good speed for a very bad sailor (6) 16. Girl has one item of headgear (5) 20. Skill or profession of a painter (3) WORDSQUARE How many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? Each word must use the central letter, and letters can only be used once. You cannot use plurals or proper nouns, but verb forms ending in “s” are allowed. At least one word using all nine letters can be found. ANSWERS E S M R W O O L T The Wordsquare uses words in the main body of Chambers 21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition) HOW YOU RATE: 20 Good; 25 Very Good; 30 Excellent. CRYPTIC CROSSWORD: Across: 1 Brain surgeon; 7 Dense; 8 Blind; 9 Win; 10 Stutterer; 11 Virile; 12 Census; 15 Retention; 17 Alb; 18 Grave; 19 Aback; 21 Mass meetings. Down: 1 Below average; 2 Nun; 3 Useful; 4 Go-between; 5 Osier; 6 Address-books; 7 Donor; 10 Silencers; 13 Snack; 14 Pirate; 16 Tiara; 20 Art. QUICK CROSSWORD: Across: 1 Inexplicable; 7 Muted; 8 Curse; 9 Cot; 10 Legislate; 11 Scribe; 12 Lissom; 15 Incursion; 17 Inn; 18 Learn; 19 Grove; 21 Emphatically. Down: 1 Inaccessible; 2 Put; 3 Indigo; 4 Accession; 5 Larva; 6 Determinedly; 7 Motor; 10 Labyrinth; 13 Shine; 14 Fidget; 16 Chasm; 20 Orc. 6 DINGBATS: Horse around RUSSELL GRANT Aries March 21–April 20 Libra Sept 24–Oct 23 People are glad to have you around. Nothing seems to escape your notice. You might suddenly see the reason for a hold up at work or in matters connected with a volunteer association. Some quick thinking will help you overcome a tricky situation before it has time to develop. For more call 0905 789 4271 (80p/min network access + For more call 0905 789 4277 (80p/min + charge) charge) Taurus April 21 – May 21 If anything important needs to be done you are likely to find you have to do this yourself. Some fairly broad hints are being given out that leave you in no doubt that some people aren’t in the mood for anything resembling work and they don’t intend to be persuaded to get on with it. Scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22 You’re tired of conversations about the past that cause nothing but contention. You are tired of discussions about who or what went wrong and who should be blamed. You would prefer not to get involved. Encourage others to let it go. It is time to forgive and forget. Gemini May 22 –June 21 Sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21 Cancer June 22 –July 23 People aren’t deliberately trying to cause problems as you first thought. Although a legal or financial deal might fall through, an alternative arrangement will be suggested. Since this is something that will suit you and the other party, it is an offer that’s worth seriously considering. For more call 0905 789 4276 (80p/min + network access charge) network access For more call 0905 789 4272 (80p/min network access + charge) For more call 0905 789 4278 (80p/min + charge) If anyone asks you to do something for them, you will be doing yourself a big favour by saying no. You could be surprisingly under par mentally and physically. This will make you reluctant to continue with usual commitments. Bear this in mind before taking on anything new. network access For more call 0905 789 4273 (80p/min network access + For more call 0905 789 4279 (80p/min + charge) charge) network access Capricorn Dec 22 –Jan 20 Your charisma is at an all-time high. A desire to make the most of all and everything that involves group and friendships makes you very popular. Are you single, lonely and looking for love? Romance may be just around the next corner. People are inspired by your positivity. For more call 0905 789 4274 (80p/min network access + For more call 0905 789 4280 (80p/min + charge) Leo July 24 – August 23 Someone is worried that you are about to do something foolish. It isn’t as if you are going to change the status quo without putting a lot of thought into it. You are justified in wondering whether there are better avenues to explore if life lacks excitement, stimulation and challenge. network access charge) Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19 Someone in a work or community venture will refuse to allow certain arrangements to proceed unless a range of conditions are met. Unless their proposal is accepted, it is unlikely this project can continue as there seems to be no alternative. Certain rules are standing in your way. For more call 0905 789 4275 (80p/min + network access charge) For more call 0905 789 4281 (80p/min + charge) Virgo Aug 24 – Sept 23 You’re using outside commitments as an excuse to neglect duties closer to home. You aren’t doing this deliberately but you are finding excuses as to why you can’t fulfil some obligations. Problems aren’t going to be resolved if you keep avoiding the one person you really need to see. It’s hard to settle down and focus on any one thing when so many people seem to be vying for your attention. A lot of time is wasted because you are spreading yourself too thinly. Don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re making progress when in fact you are just chasing your own tail. Lately you’ve been distracted from your own goals in order to help those around you who need support. You don’t have to reduce your social commitments or turn anyone away but you will find it helpful to put time aside for contemplation to reconnect with the inner you. network access Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20 You long for a change. It doesn’t matter if it is a change of scenery or a change of occupation, you just want to find something new to do. Even so, tone down this desire with liberal helpings of common sense or it could be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire. For more call 0905 789 4282 (80p/min + network access charge) Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge – maximum of 5 minutes duration. You must be over 18 and have the bill payer’s permission. Service provider Spoke. Helpline 0333 202 3390