Sport

Football fans call out ‘tone-deaf’ FA TikTok for mocking ‘life-threatening’ head injury

Footballing bodies say they are taking head injuries more seriously and then you see this.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 9th December 2022

Football fans are calling out the official FA Cup TikTok account for mocking a serious head injury suffered by a Stockport County player earlier this week.

The Hatters beat Charlton Athletic in fine fashion with a 3-1 victory on Wednesday, 7 December, with Will Collar’s hattrick (the club’s first since 2019) sending them through to the next round of the cup.

However, another notable moment from the night was right back Macauley Southam-Hales’ collision with advertising hoarders after a shove from Charlton captain George Dobson.

As the likes of County fan Joel Ward wrote on Twitter, many online were quick to slam the clip for joking about an injury that hospitalised the player, the consensus being that it isn’t a “great look” for the FA.

A repost of the controversial FA TikTok

While many reacting in the comments recognised that Dobson didn’t intend to hurt Southam-Hales by shepherding the ball out of play, the Stockport defender does hit the predominantly metal structure with some force and was left in clear discomfort following the smash.

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The video itself has since been removed from the official account following the backlash but people are still reacting as the clip continues to be reshared on social media.

The clip was branded as everything from “disgusting” and “disgraceful” to “simply unbelievable”.

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What’s most concerning is that despite the recent push to promote awareness surrounding concussions, brain trauma and even heading the ball – which, historically, haven’t been properly monitored in football – whoever posted the video on behalf of the FA didn’t consider the very serious nature of the incident.

As alluded to above, perhaps what makes the post even more shocking and tone-deaf is that it comes just weeks after Bath City player forward Alex Fletcher was placed in intensive care following an almost identical accident.

The 23-year-old underwent life-saving brain surgery and although he has since been discharged from the hospital, he is said to have a “long road to recovery ahead of him”.

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County confirmed that despite being the all-clear pitchside, Southam-Hales was taken to the hospital as a precaution after he suffered significant swelling around the neck area. Nevertheless, as we know all too well, it could have been much worse.

As for the FA, they have now apologised for the inappropriate attempt at humour, confirming that they have removed the video from all official accounts, admitting that “it should never have been published and assuring that they will “review [their] processes to ensure this never happens again.”

You can watch the full highlights from Stockport County vs Charlton Athletic HERE but we’d recommend you watch Alan Shearer reminding everyone who plays football to be more vigilant when it comes to head injuries.

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

Featured Image — Emirates FA Cup (via TikTok)/Joe Ward (via Twitter)

Sport

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

Danny Jones Danny Jones Roger Espinoza Wigan retirement

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.

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.

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.

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?

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

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

Sport

The Chester Zoo 10k returns for a crucial fundraising cause

Danny Jones Danny Jones 2024 Chester Zoo 10k run

Runners, listen up because the much-loved Chester Zoo 10k is back for 2024 and this year’s run aligns with an important national day in the world of animal conservation.

Just the second time the charity event has taken place, Chester Zoo‘s ‘Run For Nature’ proved a success in its inaugural year and is now set to welcome 2,500 racers to the world-renowned and award-winning wildlife park for one of the coolest routes to jog around you could ever ask for.

In case you were in any doubt, yes, those taking part will stomp through the 128-acre zoo, racing
past Asian elephants, the rare Rothschild’s giraffes, camels, giant otters and more – all before continuing
out into the wider Cheshire countryside and circling back to the finish line at the zoo.

Say no more, sign us up.

Most importantly, this year’s Chester Zoo 10k lands on World Rhino Day, a global moment of observance and recognition of the majestic creatures which are still sadly threatened with potential extinction.

People from all over the globe gather together every try to raise awareness and money for this important cause on 22 September every year, and now both you and the zoo can do your bit lacing up your running shoes and simply going for a jog.

There were once more than 500,000 rhinos roaming across Africa, Asia and parts of Europe; now there are just 25,000 on the entire planet, including those kept in conservation facilities like Chester’s, but the hope is that with the money generated through initiatives like this, the population can rise once again.

Runners of all abilities are being invited to take part in the main 10K and there’s even a special one-mile ‘Zoom’ fun run for kids aged 4-15, so pretty much everyone can get involved.

All participants will receive a sustainable medal on completion of the run, as well as free entry to the zoo on the day. Top fundraisers will also have the opportunity to win a variety of prizes, such as annual zoo memberships, animal adoptions and experiences, as well as bundles of other vouchers.

chester zoo charity 10k
rhinos chester zoo
Credit: Chester Zoo

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All proceeds from the 2024 Run For Nature will go towards the zoo’s efforts to protect rhinos from extinction, which include developing innovative scientific techniques – which they have been pioneering for 15+ years – such as using hormone monitoring to provide crucial insights into the health of rhinos.

For instance, just a few months ago, this technology helped 21 critically endangered black rhinos (with a baby female being born at Chester Zoo back in November 2023) be returned to an area in northern Kenya where they had previously been extinct for 50 years.

Lorraine Jubb, Fundraising Lead at Chester Zoo, said: “We’re really excited to be bringing back our 10k Run For Nature event… it’s a relatively flat route and an excellent opportunity to break your PB!…

“All you have to do is sign up online and we’ll send you a registration pack in the post, which includes all of the fundraising details and your numbered bib, so you can just turn up on the day and start warming up. It’s going to be a fun-filled day that the whole family can enjoy and make a real difference for wildlife.”

So, if you want to get involved and make a contribution to animal conservation this World Rhino Day, you can sign up for Chester Zoo’s 10k Run For Nature on Sunday, 22 September HERE and we’ll see you at the finish line.

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

Featured Images — Chester Zoo (supplied)

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