Team GB notched another Olympic medal at Paris 2024 on Monday night but even more excitingly for us Mancs, it was an outright gold for Wigan’s very own Keely Hodgkinson.
After having narrowly missed out on the top prize at Tokyo 2020, claiming the silver on debut, the 22-year-old has now brought her wait for an Olympic gold medal to an end with just her second attempt.
Born in Atherton, the homegrown hero and much-loved member of Leigh Harriers and Athletics Club had plenty of people all over Greater Manchester right behind her.
You can see the reactions to Keely Hodgkinson and her incredible 800m win in the studio and from some very happy local faces down below:
With ex-gymnast turned pundit Gabby Logan and Team GB legend Jessica Ennis-Hill cheering her on every step of the way live inside the Stade de France, not to mention another native Wigan athlete Ella Toone cheering her on through the telly, she had support with every superb stride.
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As you can see, the BBC Sport cameras were also fixated on her friends watching from the stands, former heptathlete Denise Lewis and her fellow Harriers watching back home.
Moreover, Man United Women’s star Toone – who both went to Longworth High in Tyldesley and virtually all of the same after-school clubs during their younger days – had a very special message for her childhood friend and newly crowned Olympic champion.
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Safe to say that secondary has produced two pretty remarkable pros and inspirational figures for the next generation when it comes to women in sports.
Ella Toone sent a wholesome message to Keely Hodgkinson after she won her Olympic gold medal 🥇
Crossing the line in an impressive 1.56.72 and cruising a good chunk of the race before turning of the afterburners on the home stretch, Hodgkinson became just the 10th British woman to win athletics gold in Olympics history.
This was also the UK’s first Olympic track title since Mo Farah won that iconic 5,000m and 10,000m double at Rio 2016 when Keely was just 14.
Speaking to the media after the win, she said: “I’ve worked really hard for the last year and I think you can see how much it meant to me when I crossed the line. I can’t believe I have finally done it!” We’re so proud of you, Keely, and we can’t wait for you and hopefully more Mancs to get a hero’s welcome.
Tributes paid as Curzon Ashton FC founder Harry Twamley dies following a ‘long illness’
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring as local team Curzon Ashton FC have confirmed that club founder Harry Twamley BEM has sadly passed awayat the age of 82.
Based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, the National League North side shared the news on Wednesday morning, with fans across the region as well as up and down the English footballing pyramid paying their respects.
Posting on social media, the Curzon Ashton official accounts wrote: “It is with deep regret that we announce that Harry Twamley (BEM) passed away after a long illness.”
“Our condolences are expressed to Richard and Jayne and to the rest of his family at this time.”
While they explained that a full statement will be shared online in the coming days, the initial announcement on the club website featured heartfelt words from former club chairman Wayne Salkeld, who took over from Twamley back in the 2018/19 season, spending five years at the helm.
Salkeld said: “It’s a sad day for everyone at the club. I was honoured when Harry asked me to become chairman in 2018/19 and I will never forget that day.
“I’m going to miss our phone calls which were every day. Thanks for the memories and we will work hard to keep your legacy going.”
Curzon Ashton director Oliver Newall also shared a touching tribute to the club founder, who set up the club back in 1963, adding: “What an incredible man. Someone who brought Curzon Ashton into the world and whom without we would not have had so many amazing moments and memories.
“The word legend gets thrown around too often… Harry Twamley was a legend and he will be missed so much.” He was joined by numerous fans and other clubs in offering their condolences.
Other teams paying tribute included Salford City, Saddleworth Cricket Club and nearby non-league outfit, FC United of Manchester.
The lattermost wrote: “From all at FC United, we would like to pay our respects to a legend of the game in Greater Manchester, we ground-shared at Curzon Ashton and saw first-hand what an immense character Harry was.”
Twamley was named in Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year’s Honours list back in 2017 and awarded an Order of the British Empire medal for his services to amateur football. Our thoughts go out to his friends, family, The Nash and their supporters.
Rest in peace to an important local figure and treasured champion of the grassroots game.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series
Emily Sergeant
Manchester City is looking for some diehard fans to be part of a new documentary series by sharing their love for the club.
The Sky Blues are no stranger to a documentary, having had several successful series and feature-length shows air on Amazon Prime, Netflix, and the club’s own online TV platform CITY+, over the past couple of years – drawing in millions of viewers across the globe each time.
But now, it sounds like there’s another one in the works… and you could be a part of it.
The football club is looking for families with four generations of supporters to share their special memories of following Manchester City down the years.
📣 We’re looking for diehard fans to share their special City memories for an exciting new documentary series!
On top of this, the club is also keen to find fan videos that can help take documentary viewers into the stands from a City fan’s perspective, and is asking that people get in touch and send footage that they’ve taken of some of the club’s most famous moments from over the years – including reactions to Sergio Aguero’s famous goal against QPR in 2012, and the Treble-winning season.
Footage could also be submitted from other important milestones such as the 1999 play off final, or from things like random away days in the 1980s, or even City-themed kids’ birthday parties from the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
No matter whether the footage was taken on a mobile phone, old-school video camera, or something similar, it could come in useful.
Manchester City is looking for ‘diehard fans’ to be part of a new documentary series / Credit: Manchester City
The only condition is that all footage submitted by fans must be their own, and not recordings from commercial media, or copied from YouTube or any other media/social media outlets.
Keen to be a part of the production then?
If you would like you and your family to be considered for the documentary, then you can email [email protected] with your details and stories about supporting City.