Sport

Keely Hodgkinson, Sarah Storey, Luke Littler and more shortlisted for BBC Sports Personality of the Year

The North smashing it yet again.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 9th December 2024

The North West and Greater Manchester specifically have notched multiple nods ahead of the year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards.

2023’s recipient Mary Earps had local ties as Manchester United Women’s no.1 and this year even more Manc names or those associated with the city have been named on the shortlist of nominees.

Following standout performances at Paris 2024, native Olympic and Paralympic athletes Keely Hodgkinson and Dame Sarah Storey have both earned a place among this year’s frontrunners, as well as Warrington-born dart sensation Luke Littler, whose breakthrough year sparked a phenomenon.

That’s three of the top six from our region alone. Get in.

Atherton-born Hodgkinson, still only 22, earned her first-ever Olympic gold back in the summer and her first thought wasn’t to celebrate and put her feet but go and smash the world record next time. Big murals were erected in her honour both in Manchester city centre and back over Wigan way.

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Dame Sarah Storey’s career is one that has long deserved much more recognition, notching medal after medal first in swimming and now in cycling, with no sign of slowing down even at 47. An inspiration to any aspiring athlete, let alone one with an impairment, and was rightly given special recognition by MMU earlier this year.

And Luke Littler’s story needs very little explanation: the 16-year-old with ability way beyond his year that he helped draw an entirely new crowd to the world of darts, winning multiple titles in his first year as a so-called ‘senior’ player on the pro tour. If we’re talking strictly personality, he’s got plenty of that too.

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Others shortlisted included England and Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, England’s record run-scorer Test cricketer Joe Root, as well Olympic triathlete Alex Yee. We also think this man should be on the list again but his time will come, we’re certain of it.

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The 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year takes place on Tuesday, 17 December, with voting taking place during the show which will be broadcast on BBC One and online via BBC iPlayer.

The programme – once again presented by Gabby Logan, Alex Scott and Clare Balding from over in MediaCityUK, Salford Quays – will begin at 7pm and conclude around 9pm after the winner is announced.

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Who do you think should win BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2024?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Richard Turner (via Flickr)/Erik van Leeuwen (WikiCommons)/DARTSNOW (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

Century-old Didsbury Sports Ground left devastated after Greater Manchester flooding

Danny Jones Danny Jones Didsbury Sports Ground flooding damage

As residents and local businesses in various parts of the region continue to pick up the pieces after recent flooding, one of the venues worst affected is Didsbury Sports Ground, which sadly suffered “catastrophic” levels of damage.

Having stood in South Manchester for over 100 years, Didsbury Sports Ground (DSG) has been a key community institution for generations, home to rugby, cricket and football clubs, as well as the weekly parkrun, just to name a few of its regular leisure activities.

Unfortunately, following the recent floods which hit several of the 10 boroughs hard, as well as many parts of Cheshire from New Year’s Eve onwards, the pitches, car park, clubhouse, storage and changing rooms have all rendered unusable or completely ruined following the major incident.

And when we say unusable, we mean a lot of it is still underwater.

didsbury football pitches flooded
Credit: Didsbury Sports Ground (supplied)

After banks burst up and down the River Mersey and the North West downpour continued, not only were the various playing fields left heavily waterlogged, but the club’s central building also suffered significant structural damage.

In addition to a large hole being knocked through the main clubhouse wall, with collapsed fencing and tree limbs littering the perimeter, the constant flow of water has seeped right down to the foundations.

Speaking on the damage, DSG‘s director Ian Bailey said: “The devastation caused by the flooding is nothing short of heart-wrenching. The Grounds have been a landmark and local hub within the village for over a century. The damage is catastrophic and the impact on the community is immense.

“Our Ground is far more than just a sports facility, it is a place where people connect, grow, and thrive, and embrace the community spirit. To lose such an iconic and central community resource would be unthinkable and such a travesty, which is why we’re calling on local and central government support.”

“Every week, DSG brings together over 800 people from the local area for Manchester sports, fitness, social activities, recreation and community events, creating a place for well-being, a fantastic social circle and helping to build an all-round happier and healthier community.”

didsbury flooding fundraiser
didsbury sports ground flooded
Credit: Supplied

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As a result of the damage and loss to the community, the team behind DSG are now frantically trying to raise enough funds to carry out a raft of remedial repairs and some serious groundwork.

Setting themselves a total target of £50,000 for the entire clean-up operation, every penny of which will go towards getting the sports ground back in a usable state.

Thus far, thanks to nearly 500 donations by loving locals and kindhearted Mancunians who know the value of leisure centres and clubs like this, they have already more than 30% of the amount needed in just over a week (just over £17k). Legends, every single one of them.

Bailey went on to add: “We are so grateful for the immediate help of our volunteers and the fantastic people at this club […] We will, however, need more than time, we will require the funds to bring the Grounds and Clubhouse back into full use and to safeguard from future flooding, which is why we have launched our ‘Repair & Rescue’ Fund.

As Ian reiterated, “Every contribution will make a huge difference”; you can see more proof of just how much work needs to be done and donate if you wish HERE.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Supplied

Sport

Marcus Rashford’s representation are reportedly in Italy to discuss a potential loan move

Danny Jones Danny Jones Rashford's agents in Italy to discuss potential loan move AC Milan

Marcus Rashford’s representatives are reportedly in Italy to discuss the possibility of a loan move for the Manchester United player.

The Wythenshawe winger has been left out of the matchday squad for five of Man United’s last six games, including the derby against rivals Liverpool this past weekend (in which he has scored multiple times), as head coach Rúben Amorim continues to assess his squad.

As a result of Rashford‘s absence, talk of a potential move away from his boyhood club has once again ramped up now the January transfer window is open, though there has been speculation surrounding his future at the club prior to his recent omission.

Although there are several clubs thought to be monitoring the Rashford situation at Old Trafford, it looks as though AC Milan is one of those leading the chase for the 27-year-old via a loan deal.

Detailed in an article by journalist Laurie Whitwell, along with transfer expert David Ornstein and The Athletic‘s resident Serie A writer James Horncastle, the red half of Milan is one of the teams most interested in trying to sign Rashford as early as this month.

According to the piece, the number ten’s brother and agent Dwaine Maynard flew to Milan on Tuesday to discuss the prospect of a transfer, though talks are still said to be in the “preliminary stage”.

It’s unclear whether an option to buy is on the table but it is claimed has already turned down offers from Saudi Arabia.

This comes after Rashford gave the first real indication that a move away, be it on loan or permanently, and “a new challenge” might be on the cards in an extended interview with football writer Henry Winter.

However, the Italian side has a pretty healthy selection of players in Rashford’s position, not least of all their pacey and often prolific forward, Rafael Leão, who is also considered one of the most in-demand attackers even despite some injury setbacks upsetting his rhythm of late.

With that in mind, Whitwell goes on to explain that as well as PSG’s well-publicised and long-standing interest in the United and England star – though he was left out of Gareth Southgate’s Euro 2024 squad – other European suitors include fellow Italian team Juventus and German outfit Borussia Dortmund.

Dortmund famously took Jadon Sancho back on loan for the remainder of the 23/24 season when the youngster ended up in similar ousted circumstances when Erik ten Hag was still in charge.

If rumours are to be believed, even Premier League rivals Arsenal are supposedly ‘keeping an eye on’ Rashford, especially since the United are understood to be facing financial pressures regarding PSR (profit and sustainability rules) and FFP (financial fair play).

Co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe, his INEOS board and the manager himself have all made it clear that player sales would need to be made to even consider adding new names to the squad.

At the club since the age of seven, the Red Devils is all Rashford has ever known and despite a stunning breakthrough campaign as a teenager and several strong years as a first-team talisman since, including his best-ever statistical season (30 goals, nine assists) in 2022/23, his performances have been under fire in more recent times.

Considered a somewhat streaky player who tends to enjoy impressive ‘purple patches’ when he is in form, there’s no question as to his talent and natural ability when at the top of his game, but Amorim evidently isn’t 100% happy with his level of application at present.

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That being said, the United boss did issue Rashford with a rallying cry of sorts, declaring this new project as “the biggest challenge” of all and insisting that he wants nothing more than to see the Manc sporting star back to his best.

On the other hand, football fans will have already seen how moves to Italy have benefitted former MUFC players like a currently red-hot Scott McTominay and Napoli teammate Romelu Lukaku, who returned to Inter Milan back in 2022 – who Matteo Darmian also joined to become a title-winner – before switching to once again find his goalscoring boots with the league leaders.

What do you think, Reds – would a loan move to Italy suit Rashford right now? Alternatively, would you rather him stay and fight for his place or sell him permanently?

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — The Overlap (screenshot via YouTube)

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