Category Archives: Sports Headlines

Football, Sport, Sports Headlines

Huddersfield Town Launch New Home Kit For Next Season

Huddersfield Town are proud to unveil their 2023/24 Umbro home kit, with the latest take on their famous blue and white stripes designed in tribute to their first of three consecutive league title victories in the 1920s!

Available for purchase ahead of Father’s Day from Friday 16 June 2023 both online and in store, the Utilita and SportsBroker sponsored kit was unveiled by First Team stars Jack Rudoni, David Kasumu and Rarmani Edmonds-Green in front of their new 1920s inspired mural outside the Millers Oils High Performance Complex.

Several design features across the kit also tip their hat to the centenary of the Club’s first ever league win, with ‘Huddersfield Town AFC 1923/24 Champions of England’ proudly featuring inside the neckline. With gold detailing around the neck, collar and Umbro’s double diamond, the woven embroidered Club crest is also enveloped in gold.

Two subtle changes are a thin pinstripe alongside their blue and white stripes, with the stripes themselves housing a prominent pattern of stars within them. On the rear of the kit, the three stars now sees the first detailed in gold, with the remaining two silver to represent the first of their three league titles.

Names and numbers will also feature in gold on the rear of the kit, matching seamlessly with the SportsBroker branding across the shoulders. Playing shorts will remain predominantly white with gold trim and blue down each side, with white socks featuring a blue ring across the top with gold HTAFC and Umbro detailing on the calf and shin.

Head of Retail Luke Cowan commented: “It’s always a brilliant occasion to launch the new home shirt, and we can really start to look forward to the 2023/24 Sky Bet Championship season now we know what we’re wearing!”

“As always, we have worked extremely closely with Umbro in the development of our kit design to focus on the intricate details across the shirt, and are proud that this bespoke kit allows us to tell the story of that first league title win.”

“I’m also delighted that Umbro have got the home kit to us early this summer so that fans can buy theirs ahead of Father’s Day and the summer holidays.”

“Kit releases are always popular thanks to our amazing supporters, so to give everyone a great chance of making one their own as soon as possible the home shirt will be available both in store and to purchase online at shop.htafc.com from the morning of Friday 16 June, with no pre-order or click-and-collect service available on release.”

East Yorkshire, News, Sports Headlines

From Sofa to Sailboat!

Forget about ‘Couch to 5K’; a leisure sailor and his inexperienced ex-Team GB crewmate are moving from their sofas onto a tiny 17ft sailboat to cross the Atlantic Ocean in aid of charity.

In December 2023, John-Kenneth D Habbershaw, who was born and raised in Bridlington, East Riding of Yorkshire and his crewmate Farris Collins will take on an incredible challenge as they cross 3000 miles of the Atlantic Ocean, unassisted in a tiny upcycled 50-year-old ‘Leisure 17’ sailboat, which has been nicknamed their ‘dinghy with a lid’.

The pair aim to raise £100,000 in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Mind, MS-UK, and St Helena Hospice.

The skipper, John-Kenneth D Habbershaw (40), a Marine Surveyor/Electrician, is a leisure sailor of thirteen years and he has honed his skills on the North Sea and East Coast. In addition, he’ll use the technical knowledge he’s gained during nine years as a consultant for record-breaking world Atlantic and Pacific Ocean Rowing teams. John-Kenneth was previously a volunteer in the Blue Light Emergency Services until his health led to his retirement from that role.

Joining him as First Mate is Farris Collins (25), an ex-Team-GB four times gold medal Commonwealth, and a bronze medal World Championship Powerlifter. Farris is completely inexperienced when it comes to sailing but is no stranger to pushing himself to the limit. He draws on his experience on various fundraising expeditions, including climbing Kilimanjaro and Mt Toubkal and completing a half marathon.

Farris added: “I have never sailed before, so this will be a massive challenge for me. But I am determined to give it my all, and I am confident we can make it across. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far, and we hope that people will continue to donate to our fundraising page.”

Their journey will take approximately six weeks and cover a distance of over 3000 miles from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. The brave duo will face numerous challenges, including unpredictable weather, rough seas, and isolation. The upcycled boat is being specially modified for the ocean crossing. It will also use some of the latest marine technologies and renewable energy equipment to make the expedition as safe as possible and without reliance on fossil fuels. The project follows advice from ‘The Green Blue’, an RYA/British Marine joint environmental program.

Leeds, News, Sports Headlines

Underpin Sports Secures Deal With Clutch Pro Tour

Leeds-based golf mental performance coaching company Underpin Sports has signed an exclusive partnership with the international Clutch Pro Tour – a feeder to both the Challenge and DP World Tours.

The partnership highlights the growing importance of mental strength within golf at the highest level and will ensure an increasing number of elite amateur and professional golfers competing on this season’s tour will access mental performance coaching through Underpin Sports.

Several rising stars, competing on this year’s Clutch Tour, are already benefitting from the firm’s mental performance coaching with improved results, including Ben Rhodes from Leeds who turned professional early last year and is a member of Headingley Golf Club.

Underpin Sports’ team of mental performance coaches, led by Greg Robertson, work with players beneath the surface, challenging them to learn and understand how to get the best out of themselves and their game.

The partnership is in response to the growing pressures and expectations on players competing on the Clutch Tour, which showcases up-and-coming talent across the golfing world and provides playing opportunities for the next generation of professional golfers. It attracts some of Europe’s best players with guaranteed £15,000 winner cheques and prize pots totalling £100,000.

Tom Hayward, director of the Clutch Tour, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Underpin, as mental performance coaching support is key to the development of players on the tour and vital to helping them reach their full potential.”

“Competing in any sport at the top level not only requires skill, but it also relies on strong mental focus to perform consistently against the best players in the world. The partnership is integral to the future of the tour in helping players cope with very high-pressure situations, particularly those in the early stages of their career.”

Greg Robertson, founder and mental performance coach at Underpin Sports, said: “We see this unique partnership as an excellent opportunity to help even more Clutch Tour players become calmer and more focused in competitive environments and allow their best performances to come through.”

“By teaming up with the tour, we’re raising the profile of mental performance coaching amongst players who may not have considered such support before or known where to turn for it. This presents a chance for us to collaborate with them on a one-to-one bespoke basis and also provide access to group introductory online sessions exclusively for Clutch Tour members. Both designed to help them to develop the mental strength and resilience needed to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.”

Bradford, News, News Headlines, Rugby, Sports Headlines

Bulls Pass Junior Season Ticket Milestone

Bradford Bulls are delighted to announce we have passed another milestone in our Kids Go Free campaign – with over 15,000 FREE Junior Season Tickets now distributed.

Over 250 schools have been visited in the Bradford area, alongside over 120 businesses – all receiving one message. KIDS GO FREE.

Bradford Bulls Media & Marketing Manager Luke Mawson said: “Kids Go Free was, and remains, the cornerstone of our 2023 marketing campaign.”

“We are incredibly passionate about engaging with juniors in Bradford and beyond and making watching rugby league at Odsal Stadium affordable.”

“We have distributed 15,000 free season tickets, having visited over 250 schools and over 100 businesses in Bradford, but our work is by no means done.”

“We invite people of all ages, backgrounds and beliefs to our safe, fun and welcoming environment.”

“Plans are well underway to make the match day experience more enjoyable for juniors and all fans alike, and we will constantly be engaging with our local community with all things rugby league.”

“Our mission was to let every child under the age of 18 – in and around the Bradford area – know they can come to our matches for free, and we will not stop until we achieve that goal.”

Cricket, Sport, Sports Headlines

Yorkshire Set For Pre-Season Tour In South Africa

Yorkshire will face Warwickshire in a two-day friendly as part of the county’s fortnight-long pre-season tour to Cape Town in March.

Ottis Gibson’s charges will face the Bears in a two-day fixture on March 19 and 20 to complete six match days in the South African sunshine.

The Yorkshire squad will leave Headingley on March 8 and return on March 21, with three training days preceding two T20 fixtures and the first of two two-day games.

Opponents for the pair of T20s on March 13 and 14 and the opening two-day clash (March 16-17) are still to be confirmed.

Coach Gibson returns to the nation where he played domestic cricket in the 1990s and then led as head coach between 2017 and 2019.

Yorkshire spent their pre-season in Potchefstroom in early 2019 and also played at the iconic Newlands venue in Cape Town during the 2012 Champions League T20 event when they faced both the Sydney Sixers and Sachin Tendulkar’s Mumbai Indians.

The current squad are preparing for the opening LV= Insurance County Championship Division Two match of the new season, against Leicestershire at Headingley on April 6.

Earlier this month a quartet of seam bowlers – Ben Cliff, Ben Coad, Ben Mike and Matthew Revis – travelled to Dubai for a specialist training camp.

Fin Bean, Harry Duke, George Hill, Will Luxton, Yash Vagadia and James Wharton are heading out to India for a similar batting camp.

And prior to the Cape Town tour, Dom Leech, Jack Shutt and Jonny Tattersall are due to train with Pakistan Super League side Lahore Qalandars.

Other Sports, Sports Headlines

Sheffield’s Jack Holder Takes Australian Title

Sheffield’s Jack Holder has been crowned the new Australian Champion.

The Tru Plant Tigers’ No.1 has enjoyed a solid four round series and got the job done by claiming victory in North Brisbane on Wednesday.

2017 World Champion and Ipswich star Jason Doyle had won all three of the opening events putting him in pole position to regain the title. But an impressive run saw Holder just three points behind him in the overall standings and a tense finale was highly anticipated.

Unsurprisingly, both made it through to the Semi-Finals – and when Doyle was eliminated in the first, Holder knew the task in hand.

He won his Semi to qualify before pulling off an early pass to get by Max Fricke in the Final to earn his first senior national title.

Said Holder: “It feels amazing. I’ve worked so hard for this and spent a lot of money on bringing my good stuff back from Europe. I’m pretty speechless at the moment but wow, number one!”

Rugby, Sport, Sports Headlines

Hull Kingston Rovers Welcome David Kilburn To Board

Hull KR is delighted to welcome David Kilburn to the newly formed board of directors. David joins the recently appointed, James McNicol alongside Chair Paul Sewell, the club’s Chief Executive, Paul Lakin, and Robins’ owner Neil Hudgell.

After founding MKM Building Supplies in 1995, David has grown the business to become the UK’s fastest growing builders’ merchant with over 100 branches, operating the length and breadth of the UK.

David is excited by the opportunity to leave his mark on East Hull and said: “I see joining the board of Hull KR as a real privilege. As someone who’s not been a fan of Rugby League previously, this is an opportunity for me to understand the game and help see if I can lift the Robins into being the team at the top again.”

“Joining the Board of Hull KR is an opportunity to help create something really special on the East side of the city. As MKM, we have been supporting Hull City Football Club for over 20 years, and it’s time we had a presence closer to our base in the East to compliment it. Big changes are coming to how the league is run, and I’m excited by the plans the club has in embracing them.”

“When Paul Sewell asked me if I was interested in joining the board, I was flattered but I reminded him that I’m a football man. However, he soon convinced me that I could contribute, and that he and the rest of the board had plans to take the club on a journey of success. I’m really looking forward to getting involved and understanding much more about the club, and the opportunity to help with its future.”

Hull KR Chair Paul Sewell is delighted to capture and attract such a leading business figure to the club. “David Kilburn is one of the outstanding entrepreneurs and business people of his generation. He has been an associate and friend for over 40 years, so I know he will bring experience, wisdom and balance to our new board.”

“We feel this a great start to the recruitment of our board, and we will add more to create a team working together as one. Discussions with others, to give us the balance we need, are progressing well, and we anticipate to be able to make further announcements shortly.”

“Alongside James, we are all delighted that they have chosen to join us, and we can’t wait to get cracking in February.”

Cricket, Sport, Sports Headlines

Yorkshire Sign Jafer Chohan On A Rookie Contract

The Yorkshire County Cricket Club is delighted to announce the signing of 20-year-old Jafer Chohan on a rookie contract until October 2023.

The leg-spinner, who came through the ranks at Middlesex and has also represented Berkshire, will join up with the squad next week.

The 20-year-old year old played a pivotal role for Berkshire as they secured the National Counties 50 Over competition title in 2022, gaining him a place on the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA). SACA provided Chohan with the platform to showcase his skills against county 2nd XI’s, where he made an instant impression leading the attack and becoming a key member of the squad.

In November, Chohan further impressed at SACA’s open day at the Adil Rashid Cricket Centre where he was then invited to trial with Yorkshire.

The Club will support Chohan as he continues his studies at Loughborough University, with the bowler set to be available for selection in all formats from the start of the season.

Yorkshire CCC’s Managing Director of Cricket Darren Gough said: “We are thrilled to have signed Jafer for the 2023 season having been impressed over the last few months.”

“He is an impressive player with a unique skillset and I look forward to seeing what he can do in a Yorkshire shirt in 2023.”

SACA co-founder & Managing Director Dr Tom Brown said: “We’re delighted for Jafer and very excited to see what he can do now he has the chance to showcase his skills on the professional circuit. We’d like to thank Yorkshire for giving him this opportunity and look forward to seeing him in action for the white rose in 2023.”

Cricket, Sport, Sports Headlines

New Contract With Yorkshire Cricket For Jordan Thompson

Photo credit: SWPix.com

Jordan Thompson has signed a two-year contract extension that will keep him at Yorkshire until at least October 2025.

The all-rounder, who featured heavily in both the LV= Insurance County Championship and Vitality Blast this summer, had one year remaining on his current deal but has agreed new terms to secure his long-term future at Headingley.

The 26-year-old has claimed 108 First Class wickets since debuting in 2019, and scored 958 runs in the format. Alongside some stellar performances with the red-ball, Thompson has made a name for himself in white-ball cricket. 74 wickets and 691 runs at a strike rate of 154.6 represents a strong return in T20 cricket, with the Leeds-born fast bowler having earnt recognition in a number of franchise competitions in recent years.

Thompson said: “I’m delighted to have signed a contract extension with Yorkshire and am looking forward to playing my part as we look to secure silverware in the coming years.

“I spoke in the summer about my pride at representing my home county and couldn’t have been any happier to be awarded my First XI cap at Scarborough. I am determined to play my part in getting this Club back to where it belongs, competing in division one and challenging for silverware.

“On a personal note, I love playing in front of our supporters and hope that my passion for representing my county resonates with them. I’m looking forward to the start of the season and am confident we have a successful season ahead of us.”

Yorkshire CCC’s Managing Director of Cricket Darren Gough said: “It’s fantastic that Jordan has committed his future to Yorkshire.

“He has been a consistent performer for us for a number of years now and improved every year.

“Having barely missed a game in 2022, his contributions with both ball and bat are so important to us and I’m sure he will continue to develop over the coming years.

“With the contract extensions we have now confirmed, and the additional players we have brought in, I’m confident that we are in a great place to challenge across all formats for years to come.”

Other Sports, Sport, Sports Headlines

Teenager Becomes Sheffield’s New Rising Star.

Leave a comment

Dan Gilkes is Sheffield’s new Rising Star. The 19-year-old arrives at Owlerton heavily recommended by Tru Plant Tigers’ team manager Simon Stead who has worked with the youngster over the past couple of seasons within the Great Britain international set-up.

Gilkes is currently building up his fitness having spent a chunk of the 2022 campaign on the sidelines with broken ribs and a broken arm – of which he had the metal platework removed from last week.

But Stead says he has been introduced at Sheffield with the intention of keeping him involved on a longer term basis and is excited to see how Gilkes progresses during his time with the club.

Said Stead: “I was absolutely delighted that Dan’s name was still on the list of riders available to us when it came around to our Rising Star selection. That’s because he was my No.1 target anyway and I was desperate to work with him.”

“I spoke in some depth with Dan towards the end of last season and told him I genuinely felt the time was right for him to step up and make the move into the Premiership – albeit on his limited bike time and Championship racing this year due to injury.”

“Dan is somebody I’ve been working with for quite some time now in the GB Academy and with the GB squad. He is somebody who never fails to impress me with his level of application and dedication to the sport. He is the perfect fit for us and somebody I feel I work very, very well with and someone I think I can help continue to develop.”

“We see this as a long-term thing and that was made very, very clear to Dan throughout our discussions with him. He is really, really happy to be involved with Sheffield and while it will be a huge challenge for him, if what I’ve seen of Dan up to now continues and develops even further with us, then we really have got a shining light on our hands.”

“Sheffield fans really can trust me on this one when I tell them that they can look forward to seeing a talented, young British rider who will give his absolute everything for the club.”

It means Connor Mountain will depart the Sheffield side for 2023 having ‘graduated’ from the Rising Star scheme – but Stead is keen to see him return to Owlerton at some point in the future.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the end of Connor in a Tigers’ racejacket,” he said. “He was exceptional for us in 2022 and I was desperately disappointed that no matter how hard we tried, he just didn’t fit average wise with what else we’d already got lined up.”

“Trust me, we explored all options to try and keep him involved in the team but for next year, it just didn’t work unfortunately.”

“I know a lot of Sheffield fans will also be disappointed by that but right now all we can do is thank him for his tremendous efforts and like I’ve said, I don’t think it’s the last time we’ll see him racing for Sheffield because he did us so, so proud and he leaves with our very best wishes.”