After more than 12 years at the club, Phil Jones is finally leaving Manchester United at the end of the 2022/23 season.
Jones joined the club all the way back in July 2011 and was once predicted to become Man United‘s “best ever player” by Sir Alex Ferguson himself, but after years of injury problems and failing to live up to those expectations, his time at Old Trafford became synonymous with sitting on the sidelines.
Well, that and pulling all manner of faces whenever he did play.
However, after more than a decade at the club, one Premier League title, a Europa League, one of each domestic cup and two Charity Shields to his name, United confirmed that Phil Jones is saying goodbye to United in July and although he is set to become a free agent, his future in football remains up in the air.
It’s official, Phil Jones leaves United after more than a decade in red.
Joining United at just 19 from Blackburn Rovers, Jones was once thought to be part of United’s next generation, earning England call-ups alongside long-term centre-back partner Chris Smalling, who also left the club back in 2020 after the pair’s popularity continued to dwain over time.
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The Preston-born lad was never blind to his reputation at the club either. He famously turned down the chance for a testimonial after joking, “Apart from my mum and dad, who else would come?”. While he may not have always been a popular figure at Old Trafford he was at least an honest one.
Jones’ last game for United came in a 3-0 win against Brentford in May last year when he was subbed on for Juan Mata and before that was his remarkable comeback against Wolves in January 2022 — both of which occasions he had to fight incredibly hard to regain his fitness for, having only played a handful of games over recent years.
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As for the man himself, the 31-year-old issued the following lengthy and emotional statement on his social media, thanking the club and the fans for their support over the years, stating that he “lived a dream at the biggest club in the world” and has made friends and memories for life.
Insisting that he will “always be a Red”, the club gave Jones a fond farewell video where he was presented with a special commemorative plaque by ex-teammate turned technical director and coach, Darren Fletcher.
They went on to add that the “no.4 is now taking some time before deciding his next move and everybody at United would like to wish Phil the very best of luck for the future.”
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He might never have turned out to be the player Fergie thought he would be, but he still brings an end to his United career with a handful of trophies, six goals from defence and as a cult figure around a club that he clearly loved.
One thing’s for sure, Phil Jones leaves a United legend in his own right. All the best, Phil.
Featured Image — Wikimedia Commons/Phil Jones (via Instagram)/Man United
Sport
Wigan Warriors make history after yet another Super League Grand Final victory
Danny Jones
Wigan Warriors have made Super League history after winning yet another Grand Final following what can only be dubbed a spellbinding season.
Beating Hull Kingston Rovers 9-2 in what was their 13th Grand Final, not only have they now lifted the trophy for the seventh time but they have also become the first team in the Super League era to win the hallowed quadruple.
To make things even more special, the landmark evening in Manchester saw them match the same achievement of winning all four major pieces of silverware 30 years on from their famous Wigan predecessors in 1994, and are one of just a handful of teams to ever do so.
Matt Peet’s side signed off on an incredible year after winning not only the Challenge Cup and World Cup Challenge but by lifting the League Leaders’ Shield and retaining their Grand Final.
Star-man Bevan French put them ahead in the game before Harry Smith gave them breathing room before half-time and despite Hull KR answering back with a penalty in their first-ever visit to the final, Adam Keighran’s kick helped make sure the Warriors made it over the line.
That’s a couple of Challenge Cups, two lots of League Leaders’ Shields, a World Cup Challenge and a pair of successive Super League Grand Final wins in just 99 games over eight months as head coach for Peet too. Generational.
While the likes of Bradford and St Helens have won all four prizes up for grabs over the course of two seasons, a record like this is simply sensational and well and truly puts them up there as one of if not the greatest rugby league side ever – as if they weren’t in the conversation already.
You can see how much it meant when they lifted the trophy:
Things look to be only getting better for the Cherry and Whites under the Wigan local and they seem to be more fitting of their Warriors title under his watch than arguably ever.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the game, winner of the inaugural Rob Burrow Player of the Match award French said: “It’s been an emotional week. We knew history was on the line, with the chance to be the first to win all four in a calendar year.
“This one just meant more. The club went above and beyond to surprise me by flying my brother and uncle over, so this is special. I might not ever get to feel like this again. I’ve got to take it all in.”
Winning the quadruple in the modern era doesn’t just beckon Wigan Warriors into the history books, it could signal the start of a new period of dominance as was seen in the 1980s and 90s. Are the Saints about to make way for a new Northern super-power?
You can watch the highlights from the 2024 Betfred Super League Grand Final and see how Wigan completed the quadruple down below.
Wigan Warriors are now third in the table of all-time Super League Grand Final winners too.
Bolton boss Ian Evatt charged with misconduct by FA after squaring up to Shrewsbury player
Danny Jones
Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt has officially been charged with misconduct for squaring up to a Shrewsbury player following the full-time whistle.
Evatt was sent off as a result of his reaction which began with his complaining to the referee about the eight minutes of added time that were tacked on to the end of the game which ultimately ended up in a 2-2 draw.
The 42-year-old was unable to contain his frustration and although multiple players on both sides were trying to defuse the situation, the incident unfolded all too fast and the Bolton manager suddenly found himself pressing his forehead against Shrewsbury defender and captain Morgan Feeney.
You can see the moment he saw red (quite literally) here:
Ian Evatt charged by the FA for misconduct after this.
This isn’t an isolated incident either. He has a history of letting his emotions take control when things don’t go his way.
Following an investigation by the FA, Evatt has now been charged with “improper and/or violent” misconduct for leaning his head against Feeney’s and was given until Thursday, 10 October to respond.
Although he has yet to issue an official statement following the decision, Evatt did speak to BBC Radio Manchester shortly after the altercation, admitting: “I’m disappointed and I’m not happy with how things turned out.”
“There wasn’t an issue with the referee [Declan Bourne] at all, we were discussing the timing situation”, he clarified, going on to add: “There was context to my actions. Their player grabbed me and was saying some not-nice things and I reacted in a way I shouldn’t have done.”
Nevertheless, many fans have remained enamoured with the Coventry-born coach’s passionate albeit sometimes overzealous behaviour on the touchline even if recent results have been very up and down for the Wanderers.
It was only last season that the Greater Manchester side narrowly missed out on promotion after losing the playoff final to Oxford United, having also fallen foul in the previous season’s knockout stages.
The Trotters missed out on the next round of the EFL Trophy competition following a tense but wasteful draw against Aston Villa’s under-21s before losing 4-1 on penalties in their previous game.
As for what’s up next following Evatt and the misconduct charge, his side have the international break to gather themselves and prepare to take on Burton Albion FC back in League One on Saturday, 19 October, where a win feels all but essential given the current atmosphere of the club.
What do you reckon, Bolton fans – Evatt in or out?
Danny Jones -
19th May 2023 
