Sport

Roger Espinoza, part of Wigan Athletic’s famous 2013 FA Cup-winning side, has officially retired

He's an MLS legend but it you're a 'Tic, it's his time in blue and white you'll remember him for.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 27th June 2024

Another member of Wigan’s FA Cup-winning side has decided to hang up their boots as Roger Espinoza has confirmed his retirement at the age of 37.

Espinoza’s most recent club was Sporting Kansas City, who he played for nearly 400 times across two different spells, but in between those two stints, he was part of the famous Wigan team that managed to beat a then resurgent Manchester City in the 2013 FA Cup final.

Now 11 years on, the former Honduran international has revealed that he is calling time on his storied career following the conclusion of the 2023 American season.

As confirmed in an official club announcement, the number 11 will be honoured with a special pre-match ceremony at the home ground of Children’s Mercy Park before their game against Austin FC, along with a fireworks show immediately following the game.

Widely considered not just a footballing veteran but a legend of the league, he goes down as the player with the second-most appearances in Sporting KC history, winning three US Open Cup titles and helping carry them to 10 Audi MLS Cup Playoff appearances.

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His time in Greater Manchester, however, was relatively fleeting; the midfielder went on to become somewhat of a utility player throughout his career after joining the Latics halfway through the season but was quickly thrown into the first team through necessity.

Following injuries to Maynor Figueroa and Jean Beausejour, Espinoza was deployed as a left wing-back under Roberto Martínez in that FA Cup final over a decade ago which proved to be a big shock and remains Wigan‘s only major trophy. He played for 42 games before leaving in December 2014.

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Having racked up a total of 455 appearances all told – not including his caps for Honduras (52), who represented at two World Cups and even at the Olympics – scoring 17 goals and notching 49 assists, his playing career spans two decades and has already begun the transition into coaching.

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Paying tribute to his long-standing teammate and mate nicknamed ‘Lucky Lefty’, fellow Kansas City legend Graham Zusi was one of countless who paid tribute to Espinoza on social media, writing: “What a human. Ultimate teammate, leader, competitor and friend. Congrats, hermano!”

Roger Espinoza’s retirement also means that there are now just four surviving members of that 2013 FA Cup-winning side: James McCarthy, Callum McManaman, Jordi Gómez and goalkeeper Joel Robles.

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Meanwhile, then-manager Martínez is in charge of the Portuguese national team competing at Euro 2024 as we speak, and ex-Wigan talisman Shaun Maloney is still at the club only now as the head coach himself, and has been in post since January 2023.

Any excuse for the ‘Tics to watch it back, eh?

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Featured Images — Andy Witchger (via Flickr)/Wigan Athletic (via X)

Sport

Stockport County’s playoff fortunes hampered following Callum Camps injury

Danny Jones Danny Jones Callum Camps injured Stockport County

Stockport County’s luck as we head into the crunch time period has taken a less than ideal turn as Callum Camps is confirmed to be injured.

The club now has a clearer idea of how long he’ll be out for, but it’s not great news.

Camps was subbed off in just the 21st minute during County‘s recent away clash with title contenders Wrexham after a full-blooded tackle by fellow midfielder George Dobson – a challenge which went unpunished on the day, much to the frustration of the travelling fans.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester on Friday, 28 March, manager Dave Challinor revealed that the physios expect him to be out for “at least 6 weeks”, meaning he’ll likely miss the rest of the season.

As one of County’s most crucial and experienced players, his presence in the middle of the park is likely to be a big miss, especially with the playoff scraps looming large for the promotion hopefuls.

Challinor acknowledged that it’s a big blow not only for the club but the Tameside-born Northern Ireland international, cutting a quietly frustrated figure in his interview and giving away little regarding Camps’ current mentality besides his obvious “disappointment.”

At 29 years old and running out of contract this summer, the injury will no doubt bring an added pressure regarding his future as well, though you would suspect most Stopfordians would like to see him stay at Edgeley Park come 2025/26 if possible.

Not only a reliable operator in the engine room but also considered by plenty of fans as one of their best players this season, there’ll be lots of Hatters worrying how much of an impact this will have on how this year’s League One conclusion pans out.

Even with prior fitness issues in recent years, he’s still managed to make an impact and work his way back into the first-choice matchday squad, and many believe he should be more of a mainstay on the teamsheet for his national team.

To make matters worse, he’s not the only one set to watch the remaining games from the sidelines, as defender Ryan Rydel also looks set to be out for the next few weeks.

Following an injury suffered at Bolton Wanderers the week prior to the Wrexham game, the Oldham-born left-back who had made 15 appearances for County this season – half of those as an increasingly regular young member of the starting XI – a hamstring problem looks to have cut his campaign short too.

With just over half a dozen league fixtures left, it’ll be interesting to see how they’ll fare if they stay within the playoff places as predicted.

It’s been a frustrating few months for Stockport as they also had to bid a reluctant goodbye to rising star and high-flying loanee Louie Barry, who was recalled by his parent club Aston Villa only for him to be loaned out to Hull City and end up getting injured himself.

When it rains, it pours, as they say.

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Featured Images — Stockport County (screenshot via YouTube)

Sport

The 2025 Manchester Marathon is set to create the UK’s biggest-ever day of running

Danny Jones Danny Jones

The 2025 Manchester Marathon is just a month away now and as this year’s race is once again set to coincide with another major event (quite literally), it’s about to become the biggest day of running in UK history.

Like, ever…

Greater Manchester is no stranger to making sporting history, be it athletics, football, tennis or otherwise – you name it, we can lay our claim to plenty.

However, stuff like this always makes us feel part of something truly ‘greater’ and genuinely special as the tens of thousands preparing to run through the city centre and surrounding areas are about to put us in the record books in the running world.

manchester marathon history
Credit: Manchester Marathon

As more than 36,000 racers, joggers, fundraisers and downright legends are scheduled to take on the Manchester Marathon this year – with the annual event on course to break its attendance record – even more will be taking on the equivalent down south, given it is one of the official World Majors.

Recently, the Manchester and London Marathons have been colliding, and with the 2025 editions of both due to take place on the same day for the second year in a row, it means there’ll be an unprecedented number of participants taking on the 26.2-mile challenge.

More accurately, it’s predicted that over 90,000 runners will be out on the roads of the nation’s capital and its second city (yeah, you heard us, Birmingham), which will be the greatest concurrent number in British history – at least on record when it comes to marathons.

The potential milestones don’t stop with just those taking part, either; as per an official press release from the event time, it’s predicted to be a record-breaking day for charity too.

An estimated £80m is set to be raised for charitable causes, including the adidas Manchester Marathon charity partners: the British Heart Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society, The Christie and Cancer Research UK. Incredible stuff.

Commenting on what will be a historic day for UK Marathons, Andrew Smith, CEO of A.S.O. UK, said: “Having the adidas Manchester Marathon and the London Marathon take place on the same day — Sunday 27th April — marks a landmark moment for British running.

“We’re incredibly proud to be part of this historic occasion, inspiring 90,000 people to take on 26.2 miles, supported by nearly a million spectators across the country.

“This year’s brand-new city centre finish [line] in Manchester will bring a whole new energy, and the friendly North vs South rivalry will only make the atmosphere even more electric.”

As if all this wasn’t already momentous enough, nearly a million spectators are expected to line the streets to cheer on all the PB hopefuls and fundraisers – we can only hope for similarly groundbreaking crowds and levels of support to mark the occasion.

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Featured Images — adidas Manchester Marathon (supplied)

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