Manchester City Women have confirmed that club legend and long-serving captain, Steph Houghton MBE, is being inducted into the National Football Museum’s Hall of Fame.
As announced on Wednesday, 22 May, Houghton’s induction will take place next month, where she’ll join former teammate and fellow Lioness Jill Scott who was added in December last year.
She’s just the second female Man City star to ever be added to the Hall of Fame and one of only a handful of Blues full stop.
A huge moment of recognition for the 36-year-old Durham-born defender, who has made 242 appearances for the club over the course of a decade and recently became the first player to play 150 games in the Women’s Super League – a full century of those being wins.
— Nat. Football Museum (@FootballMuseum) May 22, 2024
Having won eight trophies with City, more than any other player since the club relaunched in 2014, and having retired at the end of this season, she’s left quite the mark on the women’s game.
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Her legacy stretches far beyond just club football too, having been a part of the Euro 2022 and Finalissima-winning Lionesses side, as well as starring at the 2012 London Olympics for Team GB.
Speaking in an official statement via the club, Houghton said of the induction: “I’m honoured to be inducted into the National Football Museum Hall of Fame so soon after announcing my retirement from football.
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“It is a prestigious list, with less than 200 players, managers and teams inducted so I am very humbled. I share the recognition with my teammates, managers, coaches, club support staff and family, who have all contributed so much to my career.
“Without them then I wouldn’t have achieved the success and enjoyment that I had in football.”
Steph Houghton will be officially inducted into the National Football Museum‘s Hall of Fame following a special presentation at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday, 12 June.
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As for the club themselves, they simply said: “Everyone at Manchester City would like to congratulate Steph on another incredible achievement.” – and there have been a lot of them.
She will be sorely missed not just by the City faithful but by football fans all over and what a fitting way to sign off an incredible career.
A captain and a role model for the next generation.
Stockport County to introduce safe standing at Edgeley Park
Danny Jones
Stockport County will soon be introducing safe standing at Edgeley Park as part of the pending stadium development plans.
The Hatters may have just missed out on promotion to the Championship, but it’s still been an exciting few years for the club that has seen a fresh surge in young new supporters in addition to their passionate lifelong followers.
In more fantastic news for fans, County have announced that brand new safe standing sections will be installed across the ground.
Confirming the news on Wednesday, the club said: “After receiving all necessary approvals and working closely with safety authorities, we are set to install rail seating in two designated areas of the stadium.
Stockport County is thrilled to announce the introduction of safe standing areas at Edgeley Park ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 season.
Visit the club site for more details on this exciting new development ⤵️#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) May 28, 2025
As detailed on the club website, there will be two new dedicated safe-standing/rail-seated zones – one in each main stand: the back five rows of seats in the Cheadle End’s upper tier and the back two rows of the Vitality Railway End.
With Stockport Council greenlighting plans for League One side to expand their home capacity, this reconfiguration is set to accommodate a total of 849 County fans and/or supporters.
Although this all depends on final approval from the Safety Advisory Group (SAG), the aim is to deliver a “vibrant and dynamic environment for both home and away fans at Edgeley Park.”
The official statement goes on to explain that the push for safe standing is not just to provide more matchday options for those in attendance, but in hopes of further “enhancing the atmosphere and improving the overall matchday experience for those who prefer to stand.”
Couty has insisted that “The rail-seating system incorporates a barrier for every seat, ensuring that supporters are protected from a sudden surge or crowd movement.”
Safe standing is part of the larger Stockport County stadium redevelopment plans.
Addressing early concerns in a ‘What This Means for You’ section, they go on to add: “Season ticket holders currently in the affected rows will be contacted directly by the Club over the coming weeks with details on their options, including relocating to a seated area if they prefer not to stand.
“Information regarding new season tickets and matchday tickets in the safe standing areas will be released in due course.
“We believe this is another significant step forward for Stockport County and will further enhance the already incredible atmosphere at Edgeley Park. We look forward to seeing and hearing the renewed energy in these new sections.”
The safe standing plan is set to be introduced for the upcoming 2025/26 season, with the administration hoping to make this their last in the third tier. Do you see them going up next year?
Featured Images — The Manc Group/Press Shot (via SCFC)
Sport
Rio Ferdinand is stepping away from TNT Sports after more than a decade
Danny Jones
Manchester United legend and ex-England international Rio Ferdinand has announced he will be stepping away from TNT Sports, leaving more than a decade with the broadcaster.
Ferdinand has spent the best part of the last 10 years serving as a leading pundit and analyst, as well as hosting his own ‘Rio Meets’ online series – the interview format of which has been replicated on his YouTube channel.
However, after having been one of their main anchors both under the BT Sport and even more so since the inception of the rebranded TNT Sports Football umbrella, the 46-year-old has confirmed he has now quit their regular coverage following the Champions League final this weekend.
In a lengthy statement on social media, the ex-Man United defender, who also played for Leeds, West Ham, Bournemouth and QPR, described it as a “difficult decision.”
Taking time to thank the network for their “tremendous support” over the years, especially those “behind the scenes, whose work often goes unseen but has been essential to our success.”
The talented centre-back retired in May 2015 after more than 500 appearances and 81 national team caps, making an almost immediate switch into punditry and remaining a household name.
Rio has also remained a popular figure at Old Trafford and, indeed, across various parts of Manchester since leaving United in 2014.
For instance, his self-titled Foundation has carried out some truly transformational local outreach across various boroughs, as it has back in his home city of London.
Responding to the news, TNT Sports said nothing more than “Thanks for everything, Rio”; meanwhile, fellow former Red, Danny Simpson (who retired last year and also works as a pundit/presenter for MUTV) added: “You’re going to be missed, bro. Every time you’re on, you give us all the mad insight.”
However, he has promised he will remain in the media industry, continuing to work under the Rio Ferdinand Presents digital brand and pursuing “other business interests”.
With his ‘Rio Reacts’ and ‘Vibe with FIVE’ series regularly raking in millions of views, he might not be on the box during European nights but you’ll still be seeing plenty of him.
Danny Jones -
22nd May 2024 
