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Northern city pokes fun at neighbour with cheeky ‘Welcome to Hull’ signs

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson - 13th January 2022

Hull has appeared to take a swipe at its neighbouring northern city with new road signs that appeared this week.

A footnote on the ‘Welcome to Hull’ signs has poked fun at Leeds, cementing the long-standing rivalry between the two cities.

The small print says: “Welcome to Hull: We know we aren’t perfect but at least we aren’t Leeds,” The Hoot reports.

Hull City Council has denied any involvement in the cheeky new additions to the city.

They posted on Twitter: “We didn’t include this line on the sign, it has been added by someone afterwards, so we suspect it’s a bit of mischievous fun.”

BBC News presenter Peter Levy was one of the first to spot the mysterious sign.

The BBC presenter tweeted: “Bottom line of signs just been put up. Not sure who at ⁦@Hullccnews⁩ is responsible for this but it’s genius. Love it.”

One user tweeted in response: “When I lived in Sheffield we used to watch Look North for Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, as we refuse to watch the one coming from Leeds.”

Another jibed: “Cool [.] please leave it on there”

‘We know we aren’t perfect but at least we aren’t Leeds. / Image: Peter Levy, Twitter

Meanwhile, plenty of others jumped to the defence of Leeds, suggesting the sign was in bad taste.

One Twitter user said: “Suggest the people of Kingston Upon the River Hull don’t need to have snide remarks defaming another city in order to welcome visitors.

“No city is perfect, we have nothing to be ashamed of and everything to be proud of. Please get the line covered up asap and apologise to Leeds.”

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Other comments included: “I think that is disrespectful. Yes, have great pride in your city but not at the defamation of another.”

Another person wrote: “Oh come on, surely we’re better than that. What a great way to stir up trouble with away fans, visiting our City. What dimwit on our council thought that one up? The signs need changing anyway, our City is called Kingston-upon-Hull.”

Featured image: Unsplash, Gary Butterfield / Luke Thornton

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Manchester City set to re-sign former youth keeper James Trafford

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester City to re-sign former youth academy goalkeeper James Trafford

Manchester City look set to re-sign their former academy goalkeeper, James Trafford, just over two years after he left the club.

The Burnley shot-stopper was signed by the Lancashire side back in June 2023 after he impressed in two consecutive seasons on loan at Bolton Wanderers.

Now, just a few transfer windows later, it looks like Man City are set to fend off interest from other Premier League outfits for the chance to bring him back to the Etihad Stadium.

As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, an agreement is already in place for him to return to Manchester in the next few days.

According to Romano, the Cockermouth-born and Carlisle-blooded keeper, who joined the City youth setup at the age of 12, will be signed once again for a fee below the previously reported £40m price tag.

The Blues put a buy-back clause in the deal for his move to the Clarets when he was sold just a couple of summers ago.

Although the details of the contract are yet to be fully confirmed, it is said that City maintained the option to match the bid of any other team that came in within three days as part of the stipulation.

Backed up by The Athletic‘s David Ornstein, it seems the club have done just that, entering a matched price of £27m (before add-ons) after an offer was made by Newcastle United.

Once again, the wages he will earn upon returning to the Etihad remain undisclosed, but you can assume they have promised a more attractive package than Newcastle; you would expect some assurances surrounding playing time, too.

Although Ederson is the first-choice goalkeeper on paper, he and backup keeper Stefan Ortega have been increasingly rotated across multiple competitions, and the 22-year-old said in an interview back in 2021 that he believes he has the potential and talent to become “Manchester City’s number one.”

Here are some of the highlights from the previous term.

Having impressed at youth level for England and most notably keeping 29 clean sheets – conceding just 16 goals in all 45 league fixtures in 24/25 – with Burnley securing automatic promotion as one of the best defences in the EFL, he’s not just a young prospect any more: he’s a sought-after shot-stopper.

It seems only a matter of time before his comeback is officially announced by the clubs, with Trafford preparing to sign a five-year contract with his old employers and where the bulk of his youth development took place.

The question is, Man City fans: can you see him pushing Ederson and Ortega, who have both been linked with moves away themselves, for the starting gloves?

Meanwhile, although Pep might be looking to phase in a new go-to between the sticks, another member of his senior squad who has struggled to nail down a consistent spot in the first XI could, conversely, be on his way out the exit door.

Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away

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Featured Images — Burnley FC/Fozcast (screenshots via YouTube)

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Jack Grealish linked with Serie A switch as Manchester City star reportedly wants a move away

Danny Jones Danny Jones Jack Grealish leaving Man City this summer

Manchester City star and England international, Jack Grealish, has been linked with leaving for a possible Serie A switch as the midfielder is reportedly eyeing an exit from the Etihad Stadium.

The 29-year-old is already being monitored by a number of clubs here in England and in mainland Europe, but it appears that Italian champions Napoli have emerged as the latest and seemingly strongest suitors looking to add Jack Grealish to their growing roster.

A number of outlets are reporting interest from the ‘Gli Azzurri’, who have already signed former Man City talisman Kevin De Bruyne this summer, and look to be continuing with a productive period of recruitment ahead of defending their fourth league title – the second in the space of three seasons.

It wouldn’t be a change in colour or even in position, apparently, as they have identified him as a number of left-sided targets this summer, according to the likes of Corriere dello Sport.

It didn’t take long for the transfer rumour mill rumblings to get supporters hopping on the bandwagon either, as Grealish’s social media is now full of Napoli fans and others urging him to ‘come to Italy’.

The former Aston Villa favourite was left out of the FIFA Club World Cup after Pep Guardiola revealed the pair had shared “honest” discussions regarding his future in Manchester, but did reassure that it was the “best” decision for him and is not ruling out a resolution before the start of the 2025/26 campaign.

The Telegraph‘s Matt Law states that Grealish has returned to City but only to train alone and will remain apart from the rest of the team until an outcome has been decided.

Other clubs that are said to be keen on tapping up the dynamic winger and attacking midfielder include Spurs, West Ham, Newcastle and even Everton are thought to be exploring a potential approach.

Guardiola‘s squad are expected to resume training on 28 July following a much-needed break post-tournament, which they crashed out of in the round of 16 following a shock defeat to Saudi side Al-Hilal.

Meanwhile, it is claimed that the England star has already flown to Naples.

As per Manchester Evening News (MEN), Grealish’s driver, Salvatore, told the ‘Radio Goal’ show on native station Kiss Kiss Napoli that the footballer is already training privately on the Amalfi Coast.

The outlet also recently wrote that the 29-year-old would be available if the right offer came in, with Man City supposedly wanting around £40 million for his prospective sale.

Jack Grealish is now considered well within his traditional ‘prime years’, and arguably soon to exit this crucial period for any athlete, so he will no doubt be pushing hard for a move this summer if his place with the sky blues is still undecided.

Despite being a well-regarded talent and regularly picked for his national team, the Brummy-born footballer has struggled to cement a spot in the starting XI under Pep, so perhaps leaving City might be the best for both Grealish and City, who are continuing to rebuild with new personnel.

He’s not the only Manchester-based star looking to the continent for a new lease on life.

Marcus Rashford officially unveiled as a Barcelona player after sealing blockbuster loan move

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Featured Images — Steffen Prößdorf (via Wikimedia Commons)/pantkiewicz (via Flickr)

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