A group of lifelong Bolton Wanderers and Plymouth Argyle fans are set to have their years of service and support rewarded by becoming part of the Guard of Honour at this year’s EFL Trophy final.
Drummed up with lead sponsor Papa Johns, six deserving and long-serving supporters from each side have been selected to be part of a special pre-match ceremony that will see them join the congratulatory Guard of Honour as they usher the players onto the pitch for the final of the historic cup competition.
Welcoming heroes from their respective teams onto the hallowed ground of Wembley, these faithful football fans and seasoned match-goers will not only get to line up in front of the tunnel as so many players have before, but they will also arrive like royalty on a private coach and get to meet club legends.
This once-in-a-lifetime experience is part of the EFL’s wider community programme aimed at providing opportunities for over 55s, such as the Extra Time Hubs dotted around the country which help arrange activities and social spaces for ageing football fans all across the UK. This is what we like to hear.
Veteran Bolton fan, Bob GrenvilleLifelong Plymouth fan, Cynthia JagoA dozen dedicated Bolton and Plymouth fans will help give the Guard of Honour in the 2023 EFL Trophy final
Those who have been selected, many of whom are retired, were recognised not only for their unerring support but for their own unique and fascinating stories down the years.
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A Bolton fan for more than 70 years, Stella Peel was just 14 when she used to sneak out of the house to go games as her father didn’t like her watching football.
As for the Argyle fans involved, veteran Dave Boobier has been a supporter since the first post-WWII season of 1945/46, and Dave Sellick was witness to the incredible match which saw the late, great Pelé and Brazilian giants Santos beaten by his side 3-2 at home back in 1973. Imagine that.
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Behind every fan is a backstory and these lot have seen more than their fair share down the years.
The Papa Johns EFL Trophy Final kicks off at 3pm on 2 April, with Wanderers facing up against The Pilgrims in the Greater Manchester side’s first visit to Wembley in 12 years.
Bolton boss Ian Evatt said his club’s fans “deserve a big day out” after this season and everything they’ve been through in recent years. His squad will no doubt do everything they can to try and deliver.
Premier League Darts is returning to Manchester’s AO Arena in 2027
Lydia Mastrolonardo
Premier League Darts is confirmed to be returning to Manchester next year.
Now’s your chance to see the youngest world champion in darts history, AKA Warrington’s very-own Luke ‘The Nuke’ Littler, show us how it’s done, as next year’s BetMGM Premier League Darts lineup has just been announced this week – with various dates confirmed across 17 different cities in the UK and Europe.
And Manchester is one of those cities, as the AO Arena has shared that they are set to host an evening next April, and we couldn’t be more excited about it.
This means that we will be lucky enough to witness the biggest names in world darts all under one roof, including headliners Gian van Veen and Luke Humphries, as well as Littler.
Manchester is the only northern city to get the pleasure of hosting the event next year, as Liverpool is also on the lineup, as is Leeds, Sheffield, and Newcastle, while elsewhere in the UK, the stars will travel to Glasgow, Birmingham, London, and several other major locations.
BetMGM Premier League Darts is to be held on Thursday 8 April at the AO Arena in Manchester, and to avoid being disappointed, fans are advised to register for presale ticket access.
Following a successful season of events in 2026, tickets are expected to be like gold-dust, so don’t say you haven’t been warned.
To access the first wave of tickets, fans must become an active PDCTV Annual Member before 23:59pm on Friday 9 October. Alternatively, general sale is on Thursday 22 October 2026, but make sure not to hang about.
Featured Image – Sandro Halank (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sport
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands
Emily Sergeant
Andy Burnham has claimed he wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on fans getting to drink alcohol in football stands.
It’s a ban that’s been in place in the top five tiers of men’s football since 1985, when fears over violence and hooliganism were at their height, but now the Prime Minister has raised the question of whether drinking in football stands – or ‘drinking in sight / view of the pitch’, as it’s known formally – is actually unjust, due to the fact that same rules don’t apply to fans of other sports.
“I don’t think it’s fair for football fans to be singled out in that way,” Andy Burnham has declared this week, grabbing headlines in the process.
He continued: “I think that legislation dates to an era where football was very different, and I do believe there is a case to remove that discrimination.
“I’m not going to back away from what’s been a long-held view of mine. I don’t see how it can be fair that some supporters of one sport can be treated differently.”
The Prime Minister’s comments have been met with mixed response.
Andy Burnham wants to scrap the ‘unfair’ ban on drinking alcohol in football stands / Credit: James Kirkup | Julia Nastogadka (via Unsplash)
The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA), for example, has very much welcomed the idea, saying that it ‘totally agrees’ the legislation is ‘outdated’ and ‘deserves to be reviewed’.
Tom Greatrex, chair of the FSA, said in a statement: “The FSA has always argued that it’s unfair to criminalise football fans for having a pint while watching the match – especially since you can sit in the same seat drinking alcohol whilst watching an Oasis gig or rugby league.”
However, on the flip side, the UK Football Policing Unit said it would be ‘incredibly rash’ to change the rules without proper consultation.
“Other sports simply don’t see the violence and criminal behaviour from their supporters that football does, albeit a minority, with alcohol often playing a significant part in violent and disorderly behaviour,” it said in a statement on the matter.
The Prime Minister did state in his initial proposition though that ‘there are different ways it could be done’, hinting that it could be done ‘on a trial basis’ perhaps.
The English Football League (EFL) added that it would be ‘receptive to discussions around reviewing current legislation and permitting alcoholic drinks within view of the pitch’.
No formal details on a review have been confirmed as of yet, so fans are encouraged to stay tuned for updates in due course.
Danny Jones -
29th March 2023 
