Sport - CBJ Spotlight: Recent Episodes
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News and content produced by BA Broadcast Journalism 2nd and 3rd year students at Nottingham Trent University's Centre for Broadcasting & Journalism
The future of Nottingham Forest continues to be up in the air, with the club still locked in a row with the city council over the rent the Reds pay each year for the land on the banks of the Trent that the City Ground sits on.With their current lease set to expire in 33 years, the club and council came together to discuss renewing the deal on the ground Nottingham Forest have called home since 1898. However, talks stalled three weeks ago (29th February) with the council wanting to quadruple the rent, with a jump from £250,000 to £1,000,000 a season.
It’s important for its business planning […], in terms of where it can go in terms of it’s success
Paul Rawnsley – sports finance expert
The Forest board wants the issues resolved as quickly as possible so the club can either, continue with their £100 million redevelopment plan of the City Ground; or start to look elsewhere for a cheaper site to play on, with club Chairman Tom Cartledge telling the BBC, “It is now having to be a realistic discussion point as to look elsewhere”. Nottingham City Council, have said they are “more than happy” to work with the club to “explore new options”.
An artists impression of what the City Ground could look like after the development – from Invest in NottinghamThe expansion would see the ground increase capacity, improve the hospitality experience, and build a museum to the historic club, among other developments, to bring the ground closer to some of its Premier League counterparts; almost 350 jobs would also be created.
The museum would be able to pay homage to the club’s 159-year history, including the 19 trophies won while they have called the City Ground home for the last 126 years.
- 2 x European Cups (1978/79 & 1979/1980)
- 1 x European Super Cup (1979)
- 1 x Intercontinental Cup (1980)
- 1 x First Division (1977/78)
- 3 x Second Division (1906/07, 1921/22 & 1997/98)
- 1 x Third Division (1950/51)
- 1 x Football Alliance League (1891/92)
- 2 x FA Cups (1897/98 & 1958/59)
- 4 x League Cup (1977/78, 1978/79, 1988/89 & 1989/90)
- 1 x Charity Shield (1978)
- 2 x Full Member’s Cup (1988/89 & 1991/92) A potential site for a new Nottingham Forest ground could be 8.5 miles south, in Toton. Councilor David Martin has suggested it to the city council, and gave his reasons to the BBC, “Toton already has the infrastructure including a tram stop and railway station. Any new stadium at Toton will far surpass the current capacity of the City Ground”.
City council leader, David Mellen, wants to keep Forest at their current home, but he does believe a rent increase is “only fair”. Mr. Mellen is due to step down from his position in May, meaning if talks continue he won’t have much impact.
Experts, such as Paul Rawnsley, agree that a rent increase is justified due to the club’s league status, with Forest having made £116.1 million from league prize money alone last season.
Mr. Rawnsley also explains how, even though the lease expires in 33 years, it is important for the club to know where their future stadium is as “it’s important for its (Forest) business planning […], in terms of where it can go in terms of it’s success”.
The post City Ground rent row needs resolving so Forest can plan for their future, says expert first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
Nottingham Forest fans and former players could have trouble coming to terms with a potential move away from the famous City Ground, if a row over rent is not sorted.Former Nottingham Forest striker Jason Lee says that although the club needs to focus on growth, to continue to survive in the Premier League, there is a lot of history tied up in the stadium on the banks of the River Trent.
The City Ground is situated on land which is owned by the Nottingham City Council. The club has been in this location since 1898.
There are currently 33 years left on the club’s lease and talks about an extension have stalled over the authority’s demand that the current £250,000 rent is increased to approximately £1m annually.
“They could be playing on an old field, and we’d still support the reds”.
DUNCAN MANN
A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council told the BBC it had been in discussions with the club about options for the future.
“These latest talks, approved by the authority’s executive board in November last year, are ongoing and, by their nature, complex”.
Club Chairman Tom Cartledge says unless there is significant progress they may have to look elsewhere.
The City Ground sits on the banks of The River Trent (Image, Tommy Crossley)The world famous City Ground has been home to Nottingham Forest since they moved there 126 years ago.
Named in celebration of Nottingham’s new “city” status, the ground is mere yards from their former home at the opposite end of Trent Bridge.
The City Ground, 1898Plans to develop the ground, first announced five years ago, included increasing the Peter Taylor stand capacity, from 5000 to 10,000, and to add two new hospitality areas on either side of the Trent End.
The current stadium holds just over 30,000 fans, but since Forest’s long awaited Premier League return, some matches have seen demand for tickets reaching 50,000.
With queues for tickets longer than 30 minutes, Nottingham Forest fans regularly take to a Facebook Supporters Group with one fan saying it is “far easier buying a house” than obtaining tickets for a match.
Nottingham Forest fans struggle to obtain ticketsArsenal Fan TV star Lee Judges says City Ground is the “Best atmosphere I have ever seen” and pundit Andy Townsend called the atmosphere “as good as anywhere”.
Nottingham Forest’s fanbase believe all of their greatest moments have all been at The City Ground with some even describing the stadium as home.
Despite this lifelong Forest fan Duncan Mann says that the club will always have a devoted following.
“We could be playing on an old field, and we’d still support The Reds,” he says.
Registering only one Premier League win on the road last season, the “12th man” at home no doubt contributed to last seasons survival, Forest picked up 30 out of 38 points at the City ground.
Supporters sing “Mull of Kintyre” at kick off (Image, Tommy Crossley)Since his purchase of Forest in May 2017, owner Evangelos Marinakis has pumped money into the club to help establish it back into the Premier league.
As well as signing 32 players, since The Reds promotion into the top flight, Marinakis has also made a few changes around The City Ground.
- New fan zone built, using shipping containers, outside The Brian Clough Stand
- New badge, which illuminates, either end of The Trent End
- VAR technology installed upon the clubs promotion to The Premier League
- Glass removed from Legends Lounge hospitality area in the Trent End
- Stadium externally cleaned Negotiations between Nottingham Forest and the council continue.
The post Forest fans nostalgic as City Ground rent row goes on first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
Sixteen defibrillators have been installed across sports venues in Nottinghamshire, after Rushcliffe Borough Council received more than £2.5 million from The UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
It comes just three weeks after a boy collapsed whilst playing on a sports pitch in West Bridgford.
The aim of the project is to save the lives of young athletes who may go into sudden cardiac arrest whilst playing sports such as football.
West Park in West Bridgford is one of the venues where the defibrillator has been moved from inside the sports hall, an area that is sometimes restricted, to a much more accessible location next to the pitch.
West Park, West BridgfordThe defibrillator can be used by calling 999 to get a code which opens it, and then following the instructions coming from the speaker.
This is what you can expect to hear:
https://cbjspotlight.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/03/DEFIB_SOUND_mixdown.mp3
“Bystander defibrillation can double the chance of survival”
Kate Rontree , paramedic
Councillor Jonathan Wheeler, who launched the project, said “a lot of the defibrillators used to be inside sports halls next to pitches, which meant that sometimes people couldn’t access them quickly enough in an emergency. Having the defibrillators outside could genuinely save lives, and that’s why this project has been a passion of mine.”
Councillor Wheeler explains the importance of life-saving equipment in young sportspeople.
Participating venues are also registering with the national defibrillator network The Circuit, which provides NHS ambulance services with vital information about defibrillators across the UK.
Paramedic, Kate Rontree from East-Midlands ambulance service, said “defibrillators can be effective for people of all ages, but the likelihood of success depends more on the underlying cause of the cardiac arrest rather than the age of the person.”
Kate Rontree at work with colleaguesShe added that: “access to defibrillators in pre-hospital settings has been shown to significantly increase survival rates. Bystander defibrillation, when performed quickly, can double the chance of survival compared to waiting for an ambulance alone.”
As part of the project, Rushcliffe Borough Council is ensuring that volunteers at sportsgrounds are also CPR trained and shown how to correctly use a defibrillator, hoping that in future, many young lives can be saved.
The post Life-saving defibrillator project rolled out across Nottinghamshire first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
Ashbourne’s 2024 mass football match ‘Royal Shrovetide’ wrapped up on Ash Wednesday, with thousands of players and spectators travelling to the village for the event.
For those uninitiated with Shrovetide, the game takes place annually on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday every year. Each game sees the Up’ards (those born above Henmore Brook running through town) and the Down’ards (those born below it) each try to tap the Shrovetide ball on their teams goal, situated three miles away from where the ball is turned up.
This year’s event saw the Up’ards extend their unbeaten run to 5 years, managing to score a goal on each day.
Rallying the troops – Brian Swan gave a talk before Wednesday’s turn-up in hopes of inspiring another goal
Tuesday began slowly, with the ball moving just 300 yards after the first hour. Continued pressure from both sides prevented the ball from breaking towards either goal, but the Up’ards numerical advantage prevailed, reaching their goal at Stursdon just after nine o’clock.
Goalscoring honours were bestowed upon Will Nash, who delighted the Up’ards before being paraded back to the village on the shoulders of his team mates.
Action began much more quickly on Wednesday when a Down’ard managed to grab the ball and run it into the town centre. For the rest of the day the Down’ards put up a valiant display, taking the ball across the village centre, through Henmore brook and right up to Henmore trading estate, just a mile from the Clifton goal.
Fierce competition – Up’ards and Down’ards fight over the ball in the Henmore Brook
As it turned out, the Down’ards hard work was in vain. After breaking loose in the darkness about seven o’clock, an unnamed Up’ard runner scooped up the ball and took off, evading his competition and reaching the Clifton goal where Steve Maznenko sealed an Up’ard victory.
Steve Maznenko held his ball aloft and enjoyed a hero’s welcome as he returned to the Green Man pub.The event is a celebration of the village’s history, with locals claiming that Shrovetide football has been taking place since for centuries. It is thought that the first evidence of the game taking place dates back to 1683, with Charles Cotton’s ‘Burlesque upon the Great Frost’ making what many people interpret as a cryptic reference to the match.
“…Two towns, that long that war had raged
Being at football now engaged
For honour, as both sides pretend,
Left the brave trial to be ended…”Charles Cotton, ‘Burlesque upon the Great Frost’, 1683
Ashbourne Town Hall displays a number of balls from previous years’ Shrovetide competitions, including a 134-year-old ball used in 1890 as well as the ball turned up in 2003 by then Prince of Wales King Charles III.
In the town hall historian Tim Baker has curated the display, along with other historically significant artefacts from the game’s history. Over his time working as a Shrovetide historian, he has seen the game attract more visitors than ever before.
Historian, Shrovetide ball painter and Ashbournian Tim Baker on the changes to Shrovetide.
The post A look back at Royal Shrovetide Football 2024 as Up’ards secure a 2-0 victory first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
Live sporting days out are among the first luxuries being dropped by people struggling with the cost of living crisis.Upday news reported that a recent survey of 1000 UK adult sports fans by the trading and investment platform Saxo identified that due to the cost of living crisis, 46% of those surveyed were attending fewer live sporting events and half of those had attended “significantly less” events.
The same survey revealed that 41% had cancelled at least one TV sports subscription, with that figure up to 60% of 16-24 year-olds surveyed.
Nottingham Forrest fan Toney said he has attended far fewer live fixtures, both home and away, since the cost of living crisis set in and continues to look for affordable ways to follow his beloved team
“Its getting harder for me to support my team”
Toney, Nottingham Forest fan
Because of this entrepreneurs such as Sach Nijran, are being forced to branch out within the hospitality industry to fill the gaps which is appearing, with a cost effective alternative to attending live sports events.
FANPARK Nottingham, based in the Island Quarter, will act as a second home for Nottingham Forest Football Club offering Nottingham’s residents an experience including street food, craft beers and a lively atmosphere in which to watch the fans beloved ‘Forest’, at a fraction of the cost of a day out at The City Ground.
With Nottingham Forest currently playing in the Premier League, ticket prices are high with the additional expenditure of travel and consumables also increased, this can make for a costly day out.
Adult tickets on sale for the forthcoming Liverpool fixture at home this weekend are as much as £52. The overall cost undoubtedly higher when travelling to an away match.
Ben Hicklin, Head of Events at Binks Yard Nottingham believes there is a clear demand for a more affordable way to enjoy football that feels more upmarket than an afternoon or evening in the local pub or at home on the sofa.
The post Nottingham’s new and exciting FANPARK venue up and running first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
John Clarke has moved from the stands to the stage as the first person with Cerebral Palsy to coach at Burton Albion F.C.
Clarke, who is originally from Burton, said he has loved football ever since he was younger and could never imagine being where he is today.
“I still have to pinch myself on a regular basis,” he said.
John has Quadriplegic Cerebral Palsy, a condition which affects movement and coordination. Despite living with this condition his entire life, he doesn’t let it hold him back.
“this is the one place where my disability disappears”
John Clarke, Burton Albion F.C.
John joined the academy in July 2022 in a support role, working closely with players across all age groups and assisting in player care and life skills.
He said, “It’s about making them good footballers as well as good human beings.”
Aaron Webster, a former player for Burton Albion and current player care representative, said, “John is a role model for our young players but also for people with disabilities as well – they can look at John as a shining light and think I can do something positive as well…
“Someone like John can change people’s lives.”
Despite his condition, John has continued to make strides to success.
John Clarke with the prestigious EFL award, pictured with Aaron Webster and former Burton Albion manager Dan Robinson. Photo credit – Burton Albion F.C.John was named as the Club Employee Award Winner at the 2023 EFL awards ceremony which celebrates and recognises outstanding work.
“It still feels like a dream,” he said.
Outside of football, Clarke presents a radio show on Micro Brew Radio called Wheels of Life, where he interviews a variety of guests about various topics such as music and human connection.
John requires the use of a wheelchair to get around and assistance from a carer for everyday tasks, but this does not stop him from reaching his dreams.
“Ironically, working at Burton and in professional football, this is the one place on Earth where my wheelchair and my limitations disappears,” he said.
Aaron Webster adds, “When I was younger, there weren’t many black players at the time. I wanted to look to see people like me – John is that person for our young players; he’s an inspiration.”
The next step for John will be to gain his UEFA C licence and continue his upward trajectory on the professional football coaching ladder.
The post Changing the game with John Clarke: The first Burton Albion coach with cerebral palsy first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
There’s a new kid on the block at Burton and he’s already making his mark, Joe Hugill speaks to CBJ News about his ambitions for the future and where it all started…Joe (20) began his professional career at Manchester United and was on loan to Altringham in the national league last year. He has now joined Burton on loan for six months.
As a youngster he was inspired to take up football after watching his older brothers play.
Most young footballers dream about scoring on their debut, and Joe Hugill turned that dream into a reality with his equalising goal in Burton Albion’s narrow defeat to Derby County in League One.
Joe Hugill goal vs Derby – ‘Credit Burton Albion YouTube
Hugill was brought in on loan from Manchester United to add some fire power to the Brewers and fans will be hoping Joe continues his goalscoring form.
Having briefly worked with Joe during his work experience period while at United, Martin Paterson knows the talent and ability that the striker possesses.
“I pride myself on developing strikers and I think Joe can be a really good addition for us”
MARTIN PATERSON, Burton Albion Head Coach
After scoring 54 goals across his youth career, Joe is now making the step into first team football and with a goal and assist in just 90 minutes for Burton, he is certainly making a very promising start.
The 6ft 3 goal machine is a menace for defenders and will only improve with the exposure to first team football. The Brewers won their first game of the Paterson era against Charlton Athletic at the Pirelli stadium which moved them above Charlton and into 15th place, with just under half of the season left Burton will be looking to climb the league table and hopefully record a top-half finish.
2023/24 League one Table, Surrounding clubs
Burton Albion fans will be excited for what their new signing has shown so far but more is to come from the promising youngster.
The post A dream start for Burton Albion’s new star Joe Hugill first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
Radford FC’s ground has been lit by the same floodlights for around 30 years, and they are in desperate need of repairs. National Non-League Day (Saturday 25 March) ensured these repairs can happen by providing a platform to get more donations to fix the lights, and keep the club alive.The floodlights standing tall over Selhurst Street were installed in the early ’90s and have been a constant ever since, but the club confirmed earlier in 2023 that while the stanchions are able to go strong into next year, the same cannot be said for the bulbs.
With floodlight bulbs being so specialist, the new ones will not come cheap, and to update all the bulbs in all six stanchions the club are looking at a cost of at least £30,000.
One of Radford FC’s six floodlight stanchionsWhile this would barely make a dent down the road at Forrest, this price is well outside Radford’s budget.
Fortunately the club have been able to secure funding from the FA and Sport England, on the condition they can raise £5,000 themselves which has been being raised by setting up a page on Crowdfunder, having a donation box at games and players donating out of their wages.
Radford can access “pull-down” funding from the FA to pay for the bulbs if they raise 30% of the cost (£10,000)
The club have also secured “match funding”, meaning whatever the club raise Sport England will match
By securing these grants it means the club only need to crowd fund £5,000
Source: Radford FC
James Doe grew up a massive football fan, and following a 400 mile round trip in 2010 to watch a friendly in south Devon, fell in love with grassroots, non-league football.
This left James wanting to share his new love with the rest of England and he created National Non-League Day, an annual occurrence during the March international break, to encourage fans of the top clubs to go and pack out their local team’s ground.
While this originally began as a small scale experiment, it has grown and is now a massive part of the football calendar at all levels, with the Premier League backing the initiative.
With Non-League Day rolling into Radford FC the club took full advantage of the boosted attendance and tapped up everyone at the game to donate, and were able to raise the money needed to fix the lights, and keep the club going.
We've hit our £5k target BUT we dont want to stop!
Our stretch target of £7500 has now kicked in. The more we raise, the less needed from our precious reserves. Plus we can develop a whole host of improvements to our club.
1 week left, let's smash it. #GreenLightRaddy pic.twitter.com/uVGbMoZ0JU
— Radford FC (@RadfordFC64) March 26, 2023
However, it was not just a day of fundraising for the club, it was also the chance for the team nestled away in Hyson Green to show what they can do, and the fans that packed out Selhurst Street were not disappointed, being treated to an entertaining game with a lot on the line for the hosts.
“We looked the better side, but it was one of them scrappy games”
Sacha Markelic – Radford FC
Radford FC, who are just one point outside the playoff spots, hosted mid-table Rainworth Miners Welfare in a game that for 65 minutes looked destined to end 0-0.
But a goalmouth scramble saw the ball eventually hit the back of the net when Radford’s winger Sacha Markelic connected with the ball and gave the hosts a 1-0 lead, which they hung on to.
Speaking after the game Sacha said: “We looked the better side, but it was one of them scrappy games.” He also explained the team need to be patient as they look to make a charge on promotion via the playoffs.
VIDEO: Sacha Markelic speaks following his winning goal for Radford FC
The post Non-League Day 2023: Nottingham club use the day to reach vital fundraising goal first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
It’s been a tough season for twenty-third placed Burton Albion who have the worst defensive record in League One, conceding fifty-four goals in twenty-six matches.The Brewers had their midweek clash with Peterborough postponed due to a frozen pitch following freezing temperatures overnight.
This will be the second consecutive time that Albion have had a game postponed due to the pitch being unfit.
“I’m never bothered whether the game is called off or not, we always prepare properly.”
Dino Maamria, Burton Manager
Having two games postponed has meant an elongated break between fixtures, giving the players and staff much needed time to regroup and tackle the tricky task ahead of them.
However, Burton boss Dino Maamria is unfazed by fixture postponement and believes his team prepare thoroughly for each game, no matter when it is played.
Albion have only won two games in their last ten in League One which will need to improve if they want to avoid being relegated.
Maamria will be hoping his new signings can slide straight into the team helping rejuvenate the squad and helping Burton push on into the second half of the season.
One signing of note is Dale Taylor, on loan from Premier League Nottingham Forest, who will be looking to add to the existing prolific nature of the team.
“He’ll be excellent” is what Maamria said when asked about the Northern Irish striker’s impact on the team.
Burton face Oxford United on Saturday at the Pirelli Stadium who have proved to be a bogey side for The Brewers, having not won against the U’s in the last six meetings.
Maamria is actively trying to sure-up the defence and stop the persistent leaking of goals by bringing in new signings and tweaking the approach his team takes.
A win on the weekend would see Burton Albion escape the relegation zone, if results elsewhere go in their favour, which is a motivating factor for the team to kick on and improve their performances.
The post Burton Albion FC: Second game postponed in as many weeks first appeared on CBJ Spotlight.
After a two-year hiatus due to coronavirus, football’s Non-league Day returned on 26 March 2022. The event, started by James Doe, is a day which celebrates the beauty of lower league football and urges football supporters around the country to relinquish their top tier team for the day and watch and invest in their local […]
Nottingham Forest are just one game away from Wembley when they host Liverpool in the quarter finals of the FA Cup. The Reds host the Merseyside outfit at 18:00 on Sunday evening (20th March 2022) in the first meeting between the two since 1999. Steve Cooper’s men have already beat Arsenal, Leicester City and Huddersfield […]
Since its closure in 2006, the Bishop Street Stand has been at the centre of fan attention, with many hopeful about its redevelopment and reopening. Mansfield District Council signed off on the renovation in 2002, however, the club have not done anything about it since. But at a Fans Forum event on Wednesday evening the […]
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba faces a defining moment in his Nottingham Forest career after doubts are cast over his credentials after being sent off in a moment of madness in the 2-2 draw against Stoke City. In the 85th minute the Congolese goalkeeper lashed out at Stoke City defender Phil Jagielka. After the Englishman […]
“Do you actually like football, or are you just pretending that you do?” I think it’s the way they say “pretending” that riles me up. I mean, people would think I’d fake passion to fit in? Don’t even get me started on the looks they give me when I try and talk tactics or upcoming […]
John Ledwidge had always dreamed of walking out to the Champions League’s iconic anthem. Since he was 13, he had aspired to be a professional footballer and reach the pinnacle of his profession. In 2017, his dream finally came true… …even if the reality was a little different. Ledwidge, now 33, has rocketed to the […]
Mansfield Town supporters think that it has been “one of the worst seasons in the Football League” for their club but seem positive after ensuring their safety in League Two for another season. The 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons have been a nightmare for football clubs, fans and owners of multi-million-pound businesses that own clubs all […]
Notts County Women are among the many football clubs who have been hit hard by the COVID 19 pandemic. The club have had their season cut short for a second time, despite being on course for promotion. Notts currently play in the fourth tier of the women’s footballing pyramid in the East Midlands Women’s Regional […]
Wales risks losing a generation of rising young athletes due to facilities being closed. That’s the view of GB tennis coach Fran Lewis. She and other sporting leaders in Wales wrote to First Minister Mark Drakeford asking for more ‘elite dispensation’ for rising athletes during lockdown restrictions. Along with Tennis Wales, Fran Lewis has written […]
Basketball England’s Return to Play roadmap for elite activity has moved into Level 2 in response to the Government’s social distancing guidelines. As the sport tries to bounce back from the restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, teams will be able to take part in outdoor training sessions with up to 30 individuals allowed on […]
Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha has joined a small number of players and clubs in not taking the knee before games in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. Zaha is the first Premier League footballer to do so, choosing to stand before Palace’s win over West Brom on March 13.
The winger said in February “I feel kneeling has just become a part of the pre-match routine and at the moment it doesn’t matter whether we kneel or stand – some of us still continue to receive abuse.”
Nottingham Forest’s Lyle Taylor has refused to take the knee since January. Nottingham Forest player Lyle Taylor has refused to take the knee since January, branding Black Lives Matter a “Marxist group”.
In an interview with LBC, Taylor said: “I took the decision because I felt that enough was enough… not enough people have looked into the organisation that has brought this all to the fore.
“I said before that I agree with the message that black lives do matter and something needs to be done about that to actually teach the message that racial inequality and societal injustice need to stop.”
“i want to see every member of our society treated equally”
Liam rosenior
Derby County assistant manager Liam Rosenior disagreed with Taylor’s comments at the time, saying after a match against Millwall that saw fans at The Den boo players for taking the knee: “There is not a single footballer in the country who is taking the knee because they are Marxist, or because they want to see bad things happening on our streets.
“I take a knee because I want to see every member of our society treated equally. That shouldn’t even be an argument. It [politics] is something people use to forward their prejudiced views.”
Derby County players and staff stand in support of fighting against all forms of discrimination before their match against Millwall at Pride Park Stadium on March 13, 2021 Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images) At the start of March, Derby County announced they would no longer be taking the knee, citing that “the symbolic gesture of taking a knee is not enough; more needs to be done and we are committed to playing an important role in this.”
The players and staff stood together before their 1-0 loss to Millwall on March 13, similar to Zaha taking a stand against discrimination across the sport.
Derby County’s players and staff have confirmed, unanimously, that they will no longer take a knee before matches.
— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) March 6, 2021
Derby have joined Queens Park Rangers, Brentford and Bournemouth in no longer making the pre-match gesture.
Meanwhile, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has said taking the knee will continue until the end of the season but there will be fresh talks with players over the most effective way to move forward.
After his huge crash in Formula 2 at Spa 2019 Juan Manuel Correa announced his return to formula 3 after recovering from severe leg injuries. Correa’s Charouz car crashed into Antoine Hubert’s BWT Arden at around 135 miles per hour (218 kilometres per hour) resulting in more than 20 operations and 16 months of intense rehab but avoided having an amputation. Hubert sadly passed away however, following the incident.
The Ecuadorian-American driver spent two weeks in a coma and suffered severe injuries to his lungs, spine and legs and had to spend 14 months with a metal frame on his right leg. But now it has been taken off and has had a metal rod inserted into his leg.
“my dream is still to reach f1 and this is the first step of my comeback”
juan manuel correa
With the first Formula 3 test set for less than a month away at the Jerez Circuit, many questions are being asked about his performance and if he managed to recover his pace after the horrific crash.
There are drivers who been to return to the track after a serious collision. F3 driver Sophia Floerch suffered a huge crash at the Macau Grand Prix and is racing after recovering from her own injuries.
Billy Monger also suffered a crash in Formula 4 in 2016 at Donnington similar, and had to have his leg amputated but he raced in the Euro Formula open championship back in 2019.
https://cbjspotlight.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2021/02/smith-formula-3.mp3 F1 fan Adrian Kita talks about the similarities between Juan Manuel Correa and former F1 driver Robert Kubica
The Formula 1 community has almost universally welcomed the news with many drivers current and past including Williams F1 driver George Russell and former team mate Callum Ilott showing appreciation for Correa’s return
The January transfer window slammed shut at 11pm last night as Mansfield Town took their business right down to the wire. With players coming in there has to be a clear-out which sees players move out on loan or away from the club permanently.
We look over the outgoings from the club and what situation each player finds themselves in.
OUT Alistair Smith- Permanent Signing For Altrincham
Midfielder @AlistairSmith13 has signed for Altrincham on a free transfer.
The move for the 21-year-old includes future incentives for #Mansfield in the event of a prospective transfer.
Best of luck, Ali!
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) January 15, 2021
A move the 21-year-old has been wanting in order to get more first-team football elsewhere as he wasn’t given enough chances at the Nottinghamshire club.
Smith came through the youth ranks at Mansfield and made a handful of appearances for the amber and blues before moving on loan to Altrincham this season.
The move was made permanent after Smith was happy with the game time he has been given at the National League outfit managing 13 appearances this season.
Rollin Menayese- Loan Signing For Grimsby Town
Defender @4Rollinmenayese has joined @officialgtfc on loan until the end of the season.
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) January 18, 2021
The central defender joined Mansfield in the summer transfer window when Graham Coughlan was still in charge.
Since Coughlan’s sacking in November, Menayese was only able to play the one match under Clough and decided it would be best for him if he searched for minutes elsewhere.
Grimsby Town loaned the player from Mansfield until the end of the campaign as they were in dire need of a defender.
Andy Cook- Loan Signing For Bradford City
Striker @andy9cook has joined @officialbantams on loan until the end of the season.
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) January 27, 2021
Another example of a player searching for more minutes is striker Andy Cook. Under Clough, the forward has only completed a full 90 minutes on one occasion.
His move to Bradford come similarly to the move he made to Tranmere Rovers in last year’s January transfer window.
In search of more minutes, the Yorkshire club signed him on loan and will hopefully utilise his main assets alongside fellow striker, Danny Rowe in a front two.
Nicky Maynard- Loan Signing For Newport County
Striker Nicky Maynard has joined @NewportCounty on loan until the end of the season.
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) February 1, 2021
Maynard has not hit the same heights that he did last season under John Dempster and Graham Coughlan.
Plagued with injuries, the forward hasn’t had a lot of game time under the new manager at the One Call Stadium as was desperate to leave the club.
Newport County signed the striker on loan as they hunted for new attacking options. The 34-year-old decided a move to Wales was the best option if he wanted to get back to his former self.
Fan Reaction The outgoings from the One Call Stadium seemed logical from the Mansfield Town boss as the fans reacted to the news.
One Stags fan said: “If they are not playing it’s a sensible decision.”
Another said: “If it’s what Clough thinks is best for the club then ill go with that.”
The Transfer window slammed shut last night at 11pm with all professional teams in England unable to strike any more deals until the summer. Mansfield Town have had a relatively busy January, bringing in four players and seeing four leave, whether it has been on a permanent basis or a loan deal that will last until the end of the season.
In this article, we’ll look at the players that Nigel Clough has brought into the club over this quiet January transfer window
IN Stephen Quinn – Loan Signing From Burton Albion
We are delighted to announce the loan signing of experienced midfielder Stephen Quinn until the end of the season!
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) January 15, 2021
The 34-year-old was the first signing of the transfer window and signed for the club on loan from Burton Albion for the rest of the season.
Quinn adds experience and tenacity into a midfield that is relatively young with George Lapslie, George Maris and Harry Charsley.
The Irish midfielder worked with Clough at the Brewers last season and will definitely be up to scratch with the manager’s system and how he wants his team to play.
George Lapslie – Permanent Signing From Charlton Athletic
“I did have other offers, some in the league above. But it’s important to be happy and this was the right move.”
Read more from midfielder @GeorgeLapslie, who signed permanently for the #Stags this week.
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) January 21, 2021
Every Stags fan was delighted when the news arrived that Lapslie signed a two-year deal from Charlton Athletic, who let the midfielder leave on a free transfer.
The London-born midfielder has been a revelation in the Amber and Blues side, he has managed to score six times for the club so far this season.
Operating in a midfield three, the 23-year-old is able to make runs from deep and cause the opposition defenders a lot of havoc with the vision, determination and his eye for goal.
Jamie Pardington – Loan Signing From Wolverhampton Wanderers
We are delighted to announce the loan signing of @Wolves goalkeeper Jamie Pardington until the end of the season!
Welcome to the #Stags, Jamie!
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) February 1, 2021
The young goalkeeper joins Mansfield from Wolves as the 20-year-old looks to get more experience in a professional environment.
Pardington was one of two deadline day signings for the Stags, but it left many of their supporters confused on why they signed him, as they already have two keepers in Marek Stech and Aidan Stone.
Oliver Sarkic- Loan Signing From Blackpool
We are delighted to announce the loan signing of @BlackpoolFC forward Oliver Sarkic until the end of the season!
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) February 1, 2021
Sarkic, similarly to Quinn, had played under Nigel Clough at Burton during the 2019/20 campaign as he joined the Brewers on a free transfer from Leeds United’s U23’s.
He managed five goals and ten assists in 2019/20 but decided to move to Blackpool at the beginning of the new campaign.
It gives manager Nigel Clough another striker if he is in need of one at any given moment, and Sarkic can provide him with some attacking intent.
Firstly, the forward will need to get his match sharpness and fitness up as he has only featured nine times for the Tangerines this season.
Fans Reaction Mansfield Town fans have been vocal regarding the four signings that Nigel Clough has made during this transfer window.
One Stags fan said: “A striker who scores is a bonus not sure about goalkeeper as we already two in the playing squad.”