Sport
Bukayo Saka wins England men’s Player of the Year for the second year running on his birthday
Literally couldn’t have happened to a nicer lad.
Premier League star Bukayo Saka has won the England men’s team Player of the Year award for the second consecutive year – and on his birthday, no less.
Beating the likes of national team captain Harry Kane, and fellow talented youngster Jude Bellingham, who came second and third, respectively, Saka has now won the supporter-voted award for the second year running, after clinching his first at just 21.
As for this year’s accolade, following another successful league campaign with Arsenal in the 2022/23 season, and having more than played his part for England – scoring three times during their Qatar World Cup journey and shining in both the Nations League and the European qualifiers – it comes as little surprise that one of the country’s best talents has won it yet again.
Better still, it’s safe to say that he was a little taken by surprise when presented with the award concealed inside a giant birthday present by his teammate James Maddison.
Cue a typically wholesome reaction from arguably England’s most wholesome footballer.
As you can see, the youngster said he had “no words” after winning the award, simply insisting, “I’m really grateful. Thank you to everyone who made this happen and yeah, it’s a nice birthday gift as well, so I’m happy”.
Saka, who just turned 22 on Tuesday, has scored seven goals in the last 10 appearances he’s made for his country – including the first hattrick of his career in the Three Lions 7-0 win over North Macedonia at Old Trafford back in June.
He also happened to win the PFA’s Young Player of the Year at the end of August, and came in second for his club’s own POTY award.
The Ealing-born winger is once again part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad for their Euro 2024 qualifying match against Ukraine on Saturday and the friendly with Scotland in Glasgow the following Tuesday.
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Meanwhile, the Lionesses’ Player of the Year award will be announced later this month, with countless candidates likely to closely contest each other following an incredible showing at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
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Featured Image — England/Bukayo Saka (via Instagram)
Sport
Everton manager Sean Dyche randomly pops up in the music video for Blossoms’ new single – and he’s great
Danny Jones
Did anyone else think they’d ever see Sean Dyche make his acting debut in the role of a Northern crime boss in a silly little music video for the Blossoms?
No, us neither but that’s the bizarre alternate reality we’re living in, apparently.
Blossoms are currently working on the fifth studio album and have already released their lead single entitled, ‘To Do List (After The Break-Up)’, but now they have a new song out as well, with a rather amusing music video to go along with it and somehow Sean Dyche has found himself the star.
The Stockport band teased the curious collaboration in April, giving us just short glimpses of the Everton manager and former Burnley boss with very little explanation – all we know is that it looked funny and it was.
Dyche is still busy trying to finish the Premier League campaign as strong as possible after successfully navigating the Toffees to safety even in spite of their points deductions this season, but it sounds like keeping them up has given him enough time to moonlight as an actor.
Sending the indie five-piece on a mission to collect something of value (yes, that’s all the info we have at this point as the story is still to be continued), it looks like the Kettering-born coach has a larger role to play in whatever this narrative turns out to be.
Playing what can only be described as some kind of semi-Manc mafia figure on the hunt for a very valuable piece of art, i.e. a big giant gorilla statue – one that many Stopfordians spotted being lugged around various parts of the borough –
They also shared a little bit of BTS footage from the shoot for the music video last week. Some lovely head-bobbing and unassuming surroundings here:
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As for the track itself, it’s a bit of stylistic change for the lads who’ve mastered their 80s-tinged indie formula over the past decade but it’s an absolute pop and is already stuck in our heads.
Revealing that they’ve collaborated with contemporary funk, disco and electronic icons Jungle on the track, it doesn’t take too long to hear the influences. Look forward to hearing it at Wythenshawe Park this summer.
You can watch the music video for ‘What Can I Say?’ and the ginger-goatee’d football manager extraordinaire in full character HERE.
He’s not the only footballing figure who’s made an entertainment crossover recently either.
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Featured Images — Blossoms (via YouTube)/Virgin EMI
Sport
Tributes paid to former Manchester City winger Ian Mellor, dead at 74
Danny Jones
Tributes are pouring following the death of former Manchester City star, Ian Mellor, who has sadly passed away at the age of 74.
Mellor, from Sale in Greater Manchester, played as a left winger for Man City as well as the likes of Norwich City, Brighton, Chester, Sheffield Wednesday and Bradford.
With his family and former club confirming the death on Wednesday, 1 May, social media has been awash with people paying their respects to the seasoned ex-pro who sadly died following a long battle with amyloidosis, a rare and incurable disease which affects organs such as the heart, brains and kidneys.
Replying to his son and ex-Liverpool turned Sky Sports broadcaster, Neil Mellor, the club paid their respects to the former Blue who made 50 appearances for the club.
Mellor began his career just down the road at Wythenshawe Amateurs before going on to represent City from 1970 to 1973.
A boyhood fan of the club, he scored 10 goals whilst wearing Sky Blue and also went on to win the Charity Shield with them back in 1972.
Eventually nicknamed ‘Spider’ for a good chunk of his career due to his long-legged stature, he remained attached to the beautiful game for years after his retirement and went on to become a committee member for the Former Players Association at City.
Joining the likes of all his former clubs, Chester City said: “Everyone at [the club] is saddened to hear of the passing of Ian Mellor. Sending all our love to you and your family, Neil Mellor.
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His son Neil’s goodbye has touched many online too, calling his dad his “hero” and his “everything”.
He also went on to thank locally-based end-of-life care organisation and charity, St Ann’s Hospice, who have facilities all over Greater Manchester and who helped care for Ian in his final days.
Our thoughts are with his friends and family as well as those whose lives he touched through football during this difficult time.
Rest in peace.
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Featured Images — Manchester City/Neil Mellor (via X)
