News
Boxing great Ricky Hatton found dead at home, aged 46
Rest in peace, Ricky.
Ricky Hatton has been found dead at his home in Tameside at the age of 46.
The Stockport-born boxing legend, often known as The Hitman, had just recently announced he was returning to the ring.
Ricky Hatton was set to come out of retirement for his first competitive fight in 13 long years this December.
A police cordon is around his home on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross, Hyde.
Greater Manchester Police say his death is not being treated as suspicious.
A GMP spokesperson said: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”
Ricky Hatton was one of the sport’s best-loved boxers and one of the greatest sportspeople to come out of Greater Manchester.
Hatton, who held an MBE, had been working as a promoter and trainer since retiring from the sport.
His illustrious boxing career spanned from 1997 to 2012, during which time he held multiple world championships.
Tributes are pouring in, with boxing magazine Boxing News writing: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of British boxing royalty Ricky Hatton.
“A relentless pressure fighter and spiteful body puncher in the ring, Hatton was adored for his charisma and down-to-earth character outside of it.
“He will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with his loved ones. Rest in peace, Ricky.”
Amir Khan posted: “Today we lost not only one of Britain’s greatest boxers, but a friend, a mentor, a warrior, Ricky Hatton.
“As fighters, we tell ourselves we’re strong — we train, we sweat, we take hits, we get up. But sometimes the hardest fight happens in silence, in the mind. Mental health isn’t weakness. It’s part of being human. And we must talk about it. We must reach out. We must lean on each other.
“Ricky, thank you for everything. For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit. Thank you for pushing us, showing us what’s possible. To everyone reading this: if you’re hurting or struggling, you are not alone. Talk. Reach out. Because we need more light, more compassion, more understanding.
“Rest well, Ricky. You’ll always have your place in the ring of our memories.”
Sacha Lord shared: “RIP Ricky Hatton. A gentle giant and absolute legend.”
Fellow pro boxer Anthony Fowler wrote: “Feel sick. RIP RICKY HATTON.”
And podcaster James English shared: “RIP Ricky Hatton.
“A true champion inside and outside the ring, Ricky’s grit, passion and courage will never be forgotten.
“Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who admired him during this heartbreaking time. Rest in peace, Ricky. Thank you for the memories.”
Read more: Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, Aeropixels Photography
News
Police issue urgent appeal after three-vehicle collision on M62 leaves woman ‘seriously injured’
Emily Sergeant
Police have issued an urgent appeal to the public following a collision involving three vehicles on the M62 over the weekend.
Greater Manchester Police (GMP) explained that, at approximately 10:10pm this past Saturday (10 October), officers received reports of a collision involving three vehicles on the westbound carriageway between Junctions 20 and 21 of the M62 motorway.
A large emergency services response attended the scene – including colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS), as well as GMP.
When they arrived on the scene, they found that a woman in her has 60s sustained ‘serious injuries’, and at this time, she remains in hospital for treatment.
Initial police enquiries have indicated that a Mercedes van was involved in a collision with a Volvo, which subsequently collided with a Vauxhall Insignia.
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and remains in custody for questioning.
While enquires are ongoing, officers from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit are appealing for witnesses, or anyone with information, to come forward, and say they are particularly keen to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision or who has dashcam footage from the area around the time of the incident.
Can you help? Anyone with information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact police via 101 or through the Live Chat service at gmp.police.uk, quoting incident number 3374 of 10/10/26.
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Information can also be provided directly to the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 0161 856 4741, or alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Featured Image – Simon Brace (via Wikimedia Commons)
News
Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live – tickets, times and more for UK tour
Thomas Melia
American girl group Pussycat Dolls have reunited for a UK tour, stopping off at Co-op Live in Manchester with their powerhouse pop anthems.
Releasing their first LP in 2005, this pop girl group have a variety of radio hits to their name like ‘Don’t Cha’, ‘When I Grow Up’ and ‘Buttons’.
Over the years, the Pussycat Dolls lineup has gone through significant changes with this latest reunion comprised of Nicole Scherzinger, Kimberley Wyatt and Ashley Roberts.
The trio even released some brand-new material to coincide with the announcement of their UK and EU tour titled ‘Club Song’.
Now the girls are about to put their Doll Domination to the test as they bring their PCD Forever Tour in arenas across the nation.
Gig guide – Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live, Manchester
Pussycat Dolls UK tour dates
- Tue 29 September – Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
- Wed 30 September – Nottingham, UK – Motorpoint Arena
- Fri 2 October – Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
- Sat 3 October – Liverpool, UK – M&S Bank Arena
- Wed 7 October – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
- Fri 9 October – Newcastle, UK – Utilita Arena
- Sat 10 October – Manchester, UK – Co-op Live
- Tue 13 October – London, UK – The O2
Are there any tickets left for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live in Manchester?
‘Don’t Cha’ wish you had tickets to see Pussycat Dolls when they strut their stuff at Co-op Live in Manchester?
You can grab tickets to their Saturday 10 October live show HERE.
Pussycat Dolls setlist for 2026 UK tour
- When I Grow Up
- Beep
- Whatcha Think About That
- Bottle Pop
- I Don’t Need a Man
- Wait a Minute
- I Hate This Part
- Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)
- Glaciers
- Walking on the Sun
- Candy
- Woman Up
- As If We Never Said Goodbye
- Whatever U Like
- Right There
- Don’t Hold Your Breath
- Wet/ Poison
- Buttons
- Stickwitu
- Hush Hush; Hush Hush
- Club Song
- React
- Don’t Cha
What are the stage times for Pussycat Dolls in Manchester?
Doors for Pussycat Dolls at Co-op Live open from 6pm with a start time listed of 7pm with Lil’ Kim and rising girl group Deja Vu kicking things off.
Co-op Live has a strict curfew of 11pm, meaning you can get home and loosen your ‘Buttons’, hopefully before the clock strikes twelve.
How to get to Co-op Live
Tram
For those of you heading to Co-op Live, you’ll be glad to know it’s right next door to a rather famous big blue stadium and its integrated Metrolink stop.
Head along the light blue or orange lines directly to the Etihad Campus or Ashton-under-Lyne, and you can get off the tram literally spitting distance from the arena. You can find the full map HERE.
Trams run frequently on the Ashton-Eccles line to the Etihad stop, with services leaving every six minutes from the city centre and until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Bus
You can find the full list of bus routes HERE, with the one in closest proximity to the venue being the 53 bus, which runs from Cheetham Hill through to Higher Crumpsall, Old Trafford and Pendleton, leaving just a two-minute walk to Co-op Live.
Getting there by car and parking
If you’re driving, there is limited parking available at the venue, but this must be pre-booked ahead of time, and there are designated drop-off areas.
The postcode is M11 3DU, and you can follow the signs towards the wider Etihad Campus as you get closer; directions to the adjacent drop-off points will also be signposted.
Keep in mind that congestion on the roads close to the stadium is expected to gather around two hours prior to any event, so if you are travelling on the road, these are the suggested times they provide on event day, though estimates will obviously vary:
- Alan Turing Way (both directions): plan an additional 20 minutes into any journey by road.
- Hyde Road (eastbound): expect an additional 15 minutes to be added to your journey.
- Mancunian Way (westbound): plan for an extra 10 minutes of travel time.
There are also three park-and-ride facilities near Co-op Live, but be advised that the Velopark and Holt Town stops will be closed post-event to help safely manage crowds:
- Ashton Moss (Ashton line) – 183 spaces and 12 disabled spaces
- Ashton West (Ashton line) – 184 spaces and 11 disabled spaces
- Ladywell (Ashton-Eccles line) – 332 spaces and 22 disabled spaces
Walk/cycle
Lastly, Co-op Live is only a half-hour stroll from Manchester Piccadilly, and you could even walk along the canal all the way to the front door if you fancy taking the scenic route.
Greater Manchester now also offers the option to hire bikes on the Beryl app, with riders able to locate, unlock, get to their destination and then safely lock up the bike all through an easy-to-use app. There are hire points just near the south-west corner of the Etihad Stadium on Ashton New Road.
For more information on all travel options, you can check out the enhanced journey planner.
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Featured Images – Publicity picture, Rankin