England are set to round off the international break with a friendly against Scotland on Tuesday night, 12 September, but this isn’t just any throwaway match — it marks a significant moment in sporting history and, with that in mind, they will be wearing a very special shirt before the game.
As already sported by captain Harry Kane in promotional pictures, the Three Lions will be wearing a unique pre-match jersey ahead of what is the 150th Anniversary Heritage Match against Scotland at Hampden Park.
With Scotland already wearing a design that pays tribute to their 150-year history this season, a shirt that sold out within hours of its release, England will also be giving a nod to their own heritage by donning a jersey bearing the original crest from the first-ever Scotland vs England meeting in 1872.
Being hosted at Scotland’s home ground at Hampden Park on the Scottish Football Association’s significant anniversary, there was no more fitting way to celebrate the occasion than by replaying the world’s oldest international fixture and what will be the 116th meeting between the two teams.
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The shirt was first worn during the nations’ recent visit to Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow — now home to the West of Scotland Cricket Club — i.e. the same place where that first international match was played out on 30 November 1872, which ended in a goalless draw.
But the best part of all is that limited edition versions of the shirt will also be auctioned to raise money for the FA’s official charity partner, the Alzheimer’s Society.
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The one-off auction in support of Alzheimer’s Society is live NOW and will run until 8pm on Saturday, 30 September and these shirts are already certain to be deeply meaningful collectors’ items.
@HKane sported the replica for the first time during a visit to Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow, the scene of the goalless draw that was played out on 30 November 1872, alongside Scotland counterpart Andy Robertson 🤝 pic.twitter.com/usbDdJM0l2
The partnership with the Society is helping raise vital funds towards research that will help transform the future of dementia treatment. Diagnosis rates hit a five-year low during the pandemic and have stagnated ever since, leaving tens of thousands of people living with undiagnosed dementia. One in three people born today will go on to develop it in their lifetime, so it’s crucial that we raise awareness.
With Gareth Southgate‘s side playing out a lacklustre 1-1 draw against Ukraine in their Euro 2024 qualifier on Saturday, the Scots will be hoping they can manage to get one over on ‘The Auld Enemy’.
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England has won 48 to Scotland’s 41 and while the visiting Lions have lost just one of their past dozen meetings with them (drawing just one of those), this match always promises a fierce rivalry and Steve Clarke’s team also boasts the current joint-top scorer in Manchester United’s Scott McTominay.
Here’s hoping this historic game will have more goals than it did 150 years ago. The game kicks off at 7:45pm on Channel 4 tonight.
Manchester City’s Matheus Nunes rolls back the years and goes to work at Flat Baker in Ancoats
Danny Jones
Manchester City star Matheus Nunes has already impressed many during his short time at the Etihad so far, but he impressed a few more this weekend not with his skills on the pitch but in the kitchen after moonlighting at a popular Manchester bakery, The Flat Baker in Ancoats.
The recent Man City signing might only have the one assist to his name during his time as a Blue thus far, but he’s served up more than a baker’s dozen to local Manc residents thanks to a quick shift as a pastry chef this past weekend.
However, it was by no means his first time in the kitchen, as Nunes revealed that he used to work in a bakery during the earlier days of his footballing career.
Getting put to work on one of The Flat Baker‘s bestsellers, their unbelievably addictive pastel de natas — trust us, they’re utterly sinful these things — the bakery’s owners Débora and her husband, also called Matheus, got the City star back up to speed. You can see the full video here:
Matheus Nunes surprised a fair few locals after popping up at this beloved Manc bakery.
That being said, as you can see, the 25-year-old midfielder was a bit of a dab hand after a few goes at it; the fact he not only had prior experience but also shares the same heritage as the bakery’s founders no doubt helped.
Born in Brazil but raised in Portugal — two places where these unmistakable sweet treats are most famous — Nunes explained how he, his mother and English step-father moved to Europe for “a better life” and to help his chances of becoming a footballer.
The former Wolves player went on to explain how he “failed a lot in school” and eventually his mum gave him a choice: “give up football or school, in order to start working”.
Starting out in his godfather’s bakery, he went on to spend a fair bit of time making bread and pastries and even appeared in a similar video back in Portugal after signing for Sporting Lisbon.
Naturally, the trio did eventually touch on football a little bit, with Nunes discussing what it’s like to play under Pep Guardiola and how nice it’s been to arrive at a club where there are plenty of Portuguese-speaking players like Ederson, Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva and others.
Débora also joked about how he has fared getting used to ‘Rainchester’ and he was polite enough to smile it off and simply reiterated that playing for City was oppurtunity he culdn’t pass up.
So, if things don’t work out in the Premier League, he can always swap the sky blue shirt of city for a lovely chef’s apron and help out over at The Flat Baker.
Featured Image — Manchester City/Sporting Club de Portugal (via YouTube)
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Tributes pour in for Manchester City legend and former chairman Franny Lee
Danny Jones
Tributes are being paid to Manchester City legend and former chairman Francis ‘Franny’ Lee CBE, who has passed away aged 79.
The ex-Man City, Bolton Wanderers, Derby County and England star is said to have passed away in the early hours on Monday morning, 2 October, following a long battle with cancer.
Speaking via a club statement, his wife Gill along with children Charlotte, Jonny and Nik said, “He will be sorely missed and would like to thank everyone for their kind words”.
Both Manchester teams led tributes to the British footballing legend, with avid City fan Liam Gallagher and countless others joining in paying their respects.
Sending our sincere condolences to the loved ones of Francis and everyone connected with Manchester City at this terribly sad time 🙏
We are saddened to learn of the passing of Francis Lee at the age of 79. Franny won 27 caps and scored ten goals for the #ThreeLions between 1968 and 1972.
Social media has been filled with tributes following news of Franny Lee’s death.
Franny Lee scored 148 goals in 330 appearances during eight-year City, helping the club win multiple honours during their first periods of success, including the old First Division title back in 1968.
Born in Lancashire and starting out elsewhere in Greater Manchester at Bolton Wanderers, he also went on to play for Derby following his time with the Blues, helping the Rams to their second-ever title in 1975.
The striker also had 27 caps for England between 1968–1972, scoring 10 goals and winning FA Cup, League Cup, European Cup Winners’ Cup and the Charity Shield twice at club level during that period.
Honouring their former centre-forward who went on to serve as Chairman for four years from 1994 onwards, the club statement read, “It is with the deepest sadness and heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of former Manchester City player and Chairman Francis Lee, aged 79”, adding that flags around the Etihad Campus are flying at half-mast.
His first club, Bolton, said of the former marksman, “All at Bolton Wanderers are saddened to learn of the passing of former forward, Francis Lee. The thoughts of everyone at the club are with Francis’ family, friends and loved ones at this difficult time.”
As for legacy as for his time in Blue, the club had already planned to immortalise Lee prior to his death, announcing the erection of a statue back in May 2022, the reveal date of which will no doubt be moved up following his passing.
The club has also assured that “more tributes will follow in the coming days.”
Rest in peace to a legend.
Featured Image — Manchester City/England/Bolton Wanderers (via Twitter)
Danny Jones -
12th September 2023 
