Darlington 2 - 0 Wrexham New season, new players and a new determination that drove Darlington to a deserved opening day victory. It's too early to read much into just one game, but despite the dangers of building a side from scratch, the very early
Sunderland 1 Tottenham 0 IT is an image that Sunderland fans have spent the best part of two years attempting to expunge from their memory banks. When lifelong Newcastle United supporter Michael Chopra scored his first Premier League goal at
Sam Allardyce enjoyed a winning start to his career as Newcastle manager - at his old team's expense. Newcastle beat bolt 3-1 thanks to two goals from Obafemi Martins. Former Toon striker Michael Chopra made a it a dream start for Roy Keane's tenure
Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn 2 "There's a long hard season ahead for Middlesbrough," Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen both agreed after witnessing highlights of Boro's opening day defeat to Blackburn. This isn't just the opinion of two Match of the Day
Bolton 1 Newcastle 3 SAM Allardyce labelled Saturday's encounter at the Reebok as a game between two sides he had created. The similarities, however, ended with the fact that both teams were fielding 11 players. advertisement On the evidence
Middlesbrough 1 Blackburn 2 Roque Santa Cruz made a dramatic impact on his introduction to Premier League football only to be outshone by Blackburn's exciting young prospect Matt Derbyshire. The Paraguayan striker, described by Rovers skipper
Darlington 2 - 0 Wrexham Goals from Kevin McBride and Julian Joachim were enough to give ten-man Darlington a 2-0 win over Wrexham. Goalkeeper Andy Oakes was sent off in the 63rd minute for a professional foul after bringing Michael Proctor down on
MICHAEL Chopra grabbed a dramatic last-gasp winner for Sunderland as they beat Spurs 1-0 in the opening game of the new Premiership campaign.
AN Army recruit who died in a helicopter crash in North Yorkshire has been named. The Daily Record newspaper has reported that he is Sean Tait, 17, from Glasgow, who joined up just four weeks ago. His parents Colin and Margaret Anne were at his side
A FOOTBALL club has complained after nearly £60,000 of housing developers' money was allocated to one organisation, leaving none for other groups. Tow Law Town AFC hoped to secure some of Wear Valley District Council's section 106 agreement money to
FLOOD-HIT villagers have demanded improvements in surface water drainage to safeguard their futures. Gilling West, near Richmond, was one of a number of villages which suffered flash flooding three weeks ago, when up to three feet of water gushed into
A SPECTACULAR meteor shower is expected in the skies over the region tonight. Thousands of multicoloured shooting stars will be seen from 11pm to 2am as the earths atmosphere passes through the tail debris of the Swift-Tuttle comet. The skies are predicted
PLANS to encourage wildlife and improve the appearance of a village will go on show to residents next week. Two schemes will be presented at a consultation event in West Auckland on Tuesday, designed to make the area cleaner, safer and greener. Different
THE parents of Madeleine McCann attended a poignant service of prayers for their missing daughter on Saturday as they marked the 100th day since her disappearance. Kate and Gerry McCann made emotional pleas for people to keep looking and praying for
POLICE have urged to bikers travelling to the Croft Circuit, North Yorkshire, for tomorrow's British Superbike Championships to take care on the region's rural roads. Inspector Andy Huddleston, of Durham's road policing unit said today: "This is a huge
FIREFIGHTERS were sent on an unusual rescue mission when they were called to free four seagulls from a pub roof. North Yorkshire fire and rescue were called to the Lord Nelson pub on Foreshore Road, Scarborough at 10.45am on Saturday after reports that
POLICE are urging councillors to block a shop's plans to sell alcohol round the clock because drink-fuelled yobs already blight the area. The Boro 24-hour Shop, in Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough, has applied to vary its licence to allow the sale of alcohol
A 50-YEAR-OLD woman biker died early this morning when her 850cc three-wheeler ploughed into a road sign near Wolsingham, County Durham. Police said the woman, who is from the Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders, went straight over a give way junction
ONE lucky person is sitting on a £35.4 million jackpot today after winning the EuroMillions lottery. It is the largest lottery payout in Britain, but the ticketholder probably isnt even aware of their good fortune yet. The draw, which saw the numbers
IT never ceases to amaze me how skilled our plumbers, builders, plasterers and electricians are. They can install central heating systems, build complex structures, make walls smooth enough to paint, and rewire our homes. All these are highly
HAVING just returned from a twomonth tour of Australia, I can say that I do not agree with Prime Minister John Howard's policy on multiculturalism. This is a nation that until recently had a "whites-only" immigration policy. The government also
THE debate about who's right and who's wrong in the Middle East seems to be going on ad infinitum. Unfortunately, the problem is that there will never be peace on the planet as long as we have conflicting religions. At the present rate, it will
DES More's letter about George Galloway and Iraq (HAS, Aug 4) was interesting. We all know Mr Galloway is an enigmatic character and his implacable opposition to our war in Iraq is a view shared by millions of people. His sycophantic words to
I DO think there is a case for unitary authorities, as long as they are a sensible size. The public does get confused when, like in Spennymoor, we have three local authorities - Durham county, Sedgefield borough and Spennymoor town councils. During
REGIONAL NEEDS I DON'T particularly like saying "I was right", but the current concerns about the Regional Spatial Strategy show clearly that we need some democratic control over regional policy. The proposals a couple of years ago for an elected
PLANS to encourage wildlife and improve the appearance of a village will go on show to residents next week. Two schemes will be presented at a consultation event in West Auckland on Tuesday, designed to make the area cleaner, safer and greener
A FOOTBALL club has complained after nearly £60,000 of housing developers' money was allocated to one organisation, leaving none for other groups. Tow Law Town AFC hoped to secure some of Wear Valley District Council's section 106 agreement money
RETIRED teacher Ken Gorman, keen all his life to become a writer, has just had his first book published - at the age of 78. He has sent off a long succession of stories over the years without success, so was highly delighted when an acceptance
PROMISED football pitches at South Park were not built because a developer that had agreed to install them decided they were too expensive, it has emerged. George Wimpey was granted planning permission in 2005 to build 73 properties and 60 apartments
A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme to transform a former industrial plant is expected to be unveiled after an initial plan was rejected. Commercial Development Projects is in the process of drawing up plans for a mixed-use scheme on the redundant Torrington
Having taken over the home of Scotland's leading newspaper, The Scotsman hotel is writing another chapter in Edinburgh's history, Peta King pay it a visit. IN the days of the Press barons, the headquarters of The Scotsman thundered its importance across
North East England is full of exciting and very different things to do. Make sure you're making the most of the summer by planning some great days out and see some of the wonderful places on your doorstep. Maybe you've invited friends and relatives to
OUR new flowerbed looks lovely - 'hot' colours, all reds and yellows, to cheer your way up the garden path. My husband dug and planted it back in the spring, and haven't we been glad of it to cheer the dreary, wet days of this abominable summer? In among
Inevitably best remembered as the shoulder-padded wife of JR Ewing in Dallas, Linda Grey talks to Steve Pratt about ther role in the world premier of Terms of Endearment, which opens in York later this month. No sooner has Linda Gray sat down for the
Sharon Osbourne tried and failed. Top Gear's Richard Hammond had a go but wasn't asked back. Plans for Bradley Walsh to do it didn't come off. They're all victims of the hard-to-crack talk show circuit. Undeterred, Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton
THE organisers of a new book festival have been awarded a £5,000 Arts Council grant. Richmond Swale Valley Community Initiative will hold the event alongside the existing Richmond Walking Festival from September 21 to 30. The festival, called Books and
PHOTOGRAPHS taken by residents of a spa town will be used in a calendar. Residents of Harrogate took up a challenge to take shots for the calendar and Lesley Peplow, of Harewood Road, took the winning photograph of a flower border. Her picture will be
Tiny Glaisdale threatre may have to become a charity to stage further world premiers. THERE'S a cash crisis looming for the tiny theatre at Glaisdale, near Whitby, just as the 100-seater venue is celebrating a world premiere and a guestlist tonight that
RESIDENTS of Hambleton are strolling their way to good health by taking part in organised walks in the district. The Hambleton Strollers has a packed programme of walks in Northallerton, Stokesley, Easingwold, Bedale and Thirsk. The group was set up four
Just like the tornado that swept through Brompton, Archdeacon Janet Henderson hopes to effect positive changes in her new role. FIRSTLY, and for the uninitiated of both sexes, a rough guide to the hierarchical (formerly squirearchical) structure and traditions
AN afternoon tea dance takes place later this month aimed at people who use a careline service. More than 130 people are expected to attend the event, which will be held at Durham County Cricket Club's Riverside Stadium, Chester-le-Street, on Wednesday
POLICE are opposing a north Durham nightclub's application for a licence to stay open until 6am. Businessman Sonny Gill, who owns Decade nightclub in Consett town centre, has applied to the local licensing committee to extend drinking laws from 2.30am
A BUILDING site manager is stepping out to raise funds for a charity which is close to his heart. Nineteen years after he was diagnosed with lymphoid leukaemia, 39-year-old Barry Metters is to run the Reykjavik marathon, in Iceland. At the age of 20,
PEOPLE in Middlesbrough are being encouraged to leave behind their bad habits and take up a healthy lifestyle. The Lifestyle Choices Day allowed shoppers to find out all they needed to know about healthy eating, stopping smoking, sun safety, and drugs
WORK to link two schools will be discussed next week. The improvements, proposed as part of plans to join Tanfield Lea junior and infant schools, will go before Durham County Council's planning committee on Friday. The plans include an 80-metre covered
CLASSIC cars will go on show in the grounds of a tourist attraction later this month. Durham MG Club members will have a selection of their cars on show at Durham University's Botanic Gardens, at a one-off event, from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, August 26
RUSSIAN gipsy violinist Oleg Ponomarev returns to a market town theatre to play alongside an energetic string quartet. The Hot Club of Dublin reproduces the music of the Hot Club of France, which featured Belgian guitarist Django Reinhardt and jazz violinist
A VILLAGE bobby's dream will be realised after his death - when his friends publish his memoirs. Norman Leslie Barningham was born in 1938 and became a beat bobby in 1959. He served in Northallerton and Osmotherley for 26 years and made lengthy notes
SECURITY cameras could be installed after the third yob attack on a market town cemetery. White paint was daubed on the path and other parts of Malton cemetery in the latest incident. Previous vandalism has included a smashed chapel window and graffiti
FLOOD-HIT villagers have demanded improvements in surface water drainage. Gilling West, near Richmond, was one of several villages that suffered flash flooding three weeks ago. Up to three feet of water gushed into homes, ruining floors and furnishings
A BUSINESSWOMAN from the region has been honoured by her industry colleagues. Victoria McLaren, 29, from Sedgefield, picked up two awards at the South Humberside Export Association's annual prize-giving ceremony. She was named as the Wilkin Chapman Business
A COUPLE who met as neighbours in Great Ayton celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary this week. Dennis and Marjorie Cumbor celebrated with their three children, five grandchildren and family and friends - and received a visit from Hambleton District
THE new owner of a Tyneside manufacturing company is looking to increase turnover by up to 50 per cent in the next three years after completing a management buy-out. Summit 1 Technology has been formed to take over the UK design and contract manufacturing
MORE than 200 people made unemployed when a factory went into administration stand to gain hundreds of pounds after winning a tribunal for compensation, it was revealed last night. Frozen dessert maker Bonne Bouche, in Hartlepool, closed in March after
A HOSPITALITY company is planning further expansion after marking its first year in business. Amanda Jackson and Victoria Brunton admit their venture Hospitality Guaranteed has exceeded their expectations for its first year in business. Having started
FOOTBALL-MAD youngsters from Hartlepool made an incredible comeback to win a North-East competition. The team, who receive support from the Hartlepool Borough Council's Children's Services Department, competed in the annual Kelly Cup five-a-side tournament
TWO people have been arrested following a road accident in which a motorcyclist died. The crash happened shortly after 7pm on Thursday on the A171 south of Scaling Dam, between Guisborough and Whitby, North Yorkshire. Police closed the road for nearly
A 17-YEAR-OLD girl made a prank call after drinking an "inordinate" amount out of cider, a court heard yesterday. The girl told police she had drunk seven litres, but chairman of the bench at Darlington Youth Court, Leslie Abbot, replied: "Seven litres
GREEN-FINGERED enthusiasts are being reminded to enter this year's Hartlepool Horticultural Show. The event, which takes place in the Borough Hall, on the Headland, on August 18 and 19, features more than 110 categories for the best plants, flowers and
PATIENTS are being told by doctors at a busy hospital in Teesside to get on their bike - for their own good. A £35,000 exercise bike presented to the James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, yesterday, assesses a patient's suitability for complex
A THREE-month campaign has been launched in east Durham to help raise awareness of three life-threatening cancers. The project, called Talking about Cancer and organised by County Durham and Darlington Primary Care Trust, is being conducted from a "blitz
TOURISM chiefs are promoting Hambleton's Herriot Country as the place to come for a late summer or autumn break. Holiday guides are being sent to past visitors as part of a campaign to keep the district on the tourist trail. "The perception from some
A COUNCIL is to investigate the possibility of sharing a chief executive with another authority. Richmondshire District Council has selected a panel to decide how to fill a gap created when its best official quit weeks after agreeing an extended contract
CUSTOMERS at a shopping centre were able try their hand at making bottle-top dogs, decorating plates and creating proggy mats when museum staff called in. The Gates Shopping Centre, in Durham, hosted the activities by Beamish Museum, including a display
THEIR home games attract crowds of only about 150, but Durham City Football Club has a rapidly expanding fan base - in Eastern Europe. Richard Kanocz became the club's first Hungarian backer a few days ago, after picking up a replica shirt in a Budapest
A CENTRE giving women victims of domestic abuse a place of refuge has been officially opened. The refuge gives victims from across Wearside and County Durham the privacy of their own flat, while supporting them through their problems. Newsreader Pam Royle
THE Dalby Junior Foresters Club will run a bike awareness for beginners course, on Wednesday, from 10.30am to 2pm. The course is for ten to 14-year-olds and will be led by a cycling ranger. Children will learn basic awareness, including safety and map
A TEENAGER who was caught with a bag of heroin and told police he thought it was cannabis has been spared jail. Kayne Armes, 16, was given a supervision order yesterday after a judge said the case were so unusual that he did not need to be jailed. Teesside
WITH the North-East being so passionate about football, the new season is always met with great excitement, but it is fair to say that there is an even greater sense of anticipation in the region this time round. Only the most optimistic will believe
FIREFIGHTERS are determined to prevent a spate of car fires in Middlesbrough escalating out of control. Cleveland fire brigade has teamed up with Middlesbrough Council to remove abandoned cars before young yobs can torch them. There were 11 vehicle fires
AN arguing couple who were making like a misery for a community while they were visiting a friend have been barred from returning to the house. When residents complained about the constant fighting and bickering at a house in Perkins-ville, Chester-le-Street
SPOT fines have been issued to two shops which sold alcohol to teenagers during a police operation. The two premises, owned by the same retailer, were issued with £80 fixed penalty fines after selling alcopops to the youngsters in the test purchase operation
BUSINESS is booming at Chester-le-Street's refurbished market place - with stallholders at a new farmers' market reporting an increase in sales. Farmers' markets, held once a month on every second Friday as part of the traditional market day, feature
AN exhibition featuring the work of two Hartlepool artists opens at the town's art gallery today. Stan Kaiser has been a member of Hartlepool Art Club for more than 20 years and is known for his work in watercolours and acrylics. The 76-year-old, who
ORGANISERS behind a watercolour painting course have been singled out for praise by students. The event was organised by Stockton Borough Council's adult education service. Students said the day-long course was "fantastic" and "value for money". A silk
Roy Keane makes his Premier League managerial debut this lunchtime and the Sunderland boss has urged his players to make "their own piece of history" over the course of the next nine months. Keane will lead out the Black Cats as they entertain Tottenham
A SEMINAR will be held for individuals and arts organisations thinking of applying for grants. Arts Council Yorkshire will run the seminar in Harrogate with the support of the borough council's community development team. The seminar will explain the
Three-and-a-half years ago, Roman Abramovich's Chelsea were rolling into Scarborough and suddenly the outlook for the town's financially-stricken football club looked rather different. Conservative estimates put the total income from Scarborough's FA
CONFIDENCE goes a long way in football and Joel Porter believes Hartlepool United possess it in abundance. After promotion from the bottom division in 2003, Pools adapted swimmingly to life in the new division. Today, on the back of last season's elevation
Leeds chairman Ken Bates is threatening to launch a fresh appeal to the Football Association after losing his fight against a 15-point penalty imposed by the Football League. Bates is furious after fellow Football League chairmen voted overwhelmingly
NEWCASTLE Falcons centre Jamie Noon has admitted that this afternoon's international with France represents a "make or break" opportunity to win a place in England's World Cup squad. England coach Brian Ashton will name his 30-man squad on Tuesday, and
FOUR-TIMES Darlington 10K winner Martin Scaife must wait until he takes his place on tomorrow's starting line to find out whether he will be crossing swords again with arch road-race rival Stephen Hepples. The 27-year-old North-East 10K champion is currently
PLOTTING big-money coups in valuable races such as Haydock's Old Newton Cup has long been one of Luca Cumani's trademarks, a point worth noting given the presence of Futun in the field. With a first prize in excess of £52,000, easily top-dollar on a
LEON Haslam is banking on an action replay of his dramatic victory at Croft last year to put his bid for the Bennetts British Superbike crown firmly on track this weekend. Then the Airwaves Ducati rider pulled off an audacious last corner, last lap move
England's hopes of preserving their unbeaten home Test series record were shattered by a relentless India batting display led by unlikely centurion Anil Kumble at the Brit Oval. Resuming on 316 for four on the second morning of the final npower Test,
THERE will be few starting XIs up and down the country as unrecognisable as the one Darlington manager Dave Penney will select to face Wrexham today. Few clubs have been as active in the transfer market as Quakers during a summer of wheeling and dealing
Second division champions Spennymoor breathed a sigh of relief yesterday when they learned that the town council will allow them to play on the Brewery Field, starting today against Seaham Red Star. Moors were served with an eviction notice by their landlords
IN preparing for life in a new division, Danny Wilson set out to improve the standard of his squad. By releasing 11 players and signing seven, the Hartlepool United boss is confident he has achieved his aim ahead of this afternoon's opener at Luton Town
CHANNEL 4 pay a rare visit to Redcar where Ragheed (3.40) is confidently expected to put on the style in front of the television cameras, writes Colin Woods (Janus). The son of top-class sire Rahy appeared to be flagging on his latest start when headed
Yorkshire paid a heavy price for getting on the wrong side of Stuart Law as Lancashire set new records on the second day of the Roses match at Headingley Carnegie yesterday. Aussie-born Law gave a classic display of batting, hitting a double century
THERE aren't that many happy memories from Sunderland's last season in the top-flight, but mention the word "Tottenham" and Daryl Murphy still finds himself transported to a positive time. The Black Cats' most recent meeting with Spurs came in February
DWIGHT Yorke has warned Premier League managers that Roy Keane can be as successful a boss as he was a player, but anyone expecting Sir Alex Ferguson mark two this season may be disappointed. And Yorke, who was one of Keane's first signings as Sunderland
SAM Allardyce will be suffering from double vision when he takes his Newcastle side to Bolton this afternoon, because both teams will have been assembled to his own personal blueprint. Allardyce spent eight successful seasons at the Reebok Stadium, putting
NEWCASTLE midfielder Joey Barton willingly holds his hands up to past misdemeanours but believes his public profile has been distorted, insisting his troubles ''are not war crimes''. Barton's £5.8m summer switch to Tyneside was overshadowed by an imminent
Graeme Storm is no longer in the lead at the USPGA Championship but it looked like Tiger Woods would be before too long. Storm, from Hartlepool, entered Friday's second round of the USPGA Championship with a two-shot lead, but a six-over-par 76 has him
THERE is a chapter in Brian Clough's autobiography that is modestly entitled, "How To Manage A Football Club". In it, one of English football's most mercurial minds outlines his blueprint for assembling a successful side. There are suggestions for instilling
THEY boast a new badge, a new sponsor and the makings of a new team, so Gareth Southgate expects a new Middlesbrough to be in evidence when the Premier League returns this afternoon. And while a majority of pundits are predicting a season of struggle,
HE might come across as one of the nicest men in football, but Stewart Downing has revealed that Middlesbrough's players have already seen plenty of evidence of Gareth Southgate's nasty streak. Watching the Boro boss calmly discuss the qualities of the
KIERON Dyer is expected to complete his controversial transfer to West Ham next week after he was left out of the Newcastle squad for this afternoon's Premier League curtain-raiser at Bolton. And with fellow Magpies midfielder Nolberto Solano also hoping
DURHAM begin their hectic build-up to next Saturday's appearance at Lord's with a NatWest Pro40 League match at Canterbury tomorrow. Twenty20 winners Kent are alongside them at the top of division two with two wins from two games but have just suffered
A WAD of French francs which saved a D-Day soldier from a bullet to the heart have been uncovered by his daughter.Tom Thornton was with a platoon of soldiers storming the beaches of Normandy as the battle to liberate occupied Europe began.Machine guns
ALAN GREGORY can rightly be described as fan-tastic.The 47-year-old, from Yarm, near Stockton, has been chosen ahead of thousands of England football supporters to reach the final five of a national competition run by England team sponsor Carlsberg.Mr
THE number of people declaring themselves bankrupt is continuing to rise across the region.Official insolvency figures released yesterday by the Ministry of Justice show a rise of 19 per cent, in both the North-East and North Yorkshire, of people petitioning
A RURAL heritage line is sending out the message that it is back on track by encouraging dales residents to get on board.The Weardale Railway, in County Durham, marked the end of troubled times with a low-key relaunch yesterday. Patience is the key virtue
NEARLY £56bn was wiped from the value of London's leading companies yesterday as fears over a credit crunch in global markets intensified.The FTSE 100 Index lost 3.7 per cent - its biggest fall since March 2003 - adding to the heavy falls for the benchmark
She was a teenage mother with an unwanted baby. He suffered from learning difficulties, had smoked cannabis by the age of 12 and had tried to kill himself by 15. They met, and the fate of four-year-old Leticia Wright was sealed. Ian Noble and Andrew Douglas
A GRIEVING mother says "no justice has been served" after learning the teenage driver who killed her eight-year-old son will be freed after just 18 months in prison.Ashley Lindo, 16, was sent to a young offenders' institution for three years after he
TOP guns from around the globe will gather on Northern moors next week for what promises to be the best grouse shooting season for a decade.The National Gamekeepers Association, with 4,246 members nationwide, reports that numbers of the red grouse have
PROUD mother Amanda Eclerton heard the patter of not-so-tiny feet when her baby was born with only gas and air - weighing more than a stone.Baby Shaune weighed in at a staggering 14lb 7oz - twice the average - and measured 2ft after a traumatic natural
FORGET Las Vegas, Broadway and the West End -a North-East town is rivalling them all to become an entertainment hotspot.The town hall at Spennymoor, in County Durham, has won the hearts of some of the biggest names in showbusiness, who are used to appearing
A FORMER boxer's punches ended a feud between families when both sides realised it had gone too far, a court heard.Taxi driver Tahir Mahmood, 37, was in his parked cab at 2am when another taxi drew alongside and the driver asked to have a word with him
THE family of a woman who died from mesothelioma are trying to trace her former work colleagues in the hope they can shed light on how she was exposed to asbestos.Maureen Bell died in February 2005, aged 65, having being admitted to Sunderland Royal Hospital
NORTH-EAST teenage singing sensation Lewis Bradley's dream is about to come true after all.The 18-year-old, from Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, came third on the BBC show Any Dream Will Do earlier this year, but it has now been confirmed that he will play
TWO North-East teenagers have agreed to tell their harrowing stories of real-life sex abuse in an attempt to help others.The youngsters, a boy and a girl and both from Teesside, escaped a life of prostitution with the help of social workers working for
THE makers of anti-dementia drug Aricept will appeal against a High Court verdict yesterday upholding a ban on patients receiving treatment for the mild stages of Alzheimer's.Eisai Limited said it would continue the fight to broaden access to the drug
A COUPLE who murdered a four-year-old girl after a campaign of "deliberate and grotesque cruelty" were yesterday jailed for life.Sharon Wright, 23, and boyfriend Peter Seaton, 22, who met in Hartlepool, were found guilty of murder and will serve a minimum
THE death toll from an RAF helicopter crash in the region yesterday rose to three after an Army recruit died of his injuries. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the soldier, from the Infantry Training Centre (ITC) at Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire
The Dutch teenager has been allowed to continue his six-month loan spell at Scottish Premier League side, Falkirk. Given is expected to be back in action before the end of the month but, with the Irishman having suffered two previous groin problems last
GARETH Southgate last night insisted that Ayegbeni Yakubu was "not for sale", and claimed that he was pursuing Tottenham striker Mido in the hope of playing him alongside the Nigerian, rather than instead of him. Yakubu's future has been called into question
