Marie-Louise Eta has made history by becoming the first woman to take charge of a men’s team in one of Europe’s top five football leagues, after being appointed head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

The groundbreaking appointment follows the dismissal of Steffen Baumgart on Saturday, after his side suffered a 3-1 defeat to Bundesliga strugglers Heidenheim.

Eta, 34, a Women’s Champions League winner with Turbine Potsdam in 2010, has been serving as Union Berlin’s under-19s coach this season.

She is also slated to lead the club’s women’s team from the summer.

Her previous experience includes working as an assistant to former men’s head coach Nenad Bjelica, and she notably handled media responsibilities during a Bundesliga game in 2024 while Bjelica served a touchline ban.

Her immediate task is to revitalise a struggling Union Berlin side, who have secured just two wins from their last 14 league matches, leaving them seven points clear of the relegation play-off position.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” Eta said on the club’s website.

“I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations. And, of course, I am convinced that we will secure the crucial points with the team.”

Union director of men’s football Horst Heldt said: “We have had a hugely disappointing second half of the season so far and will not allow ourselves to be blinded by our league position.

“Our situation remains precarious and we urgently need points to secure our place in the league. Two wins from 14 matches since the winter break and the performances shown in recent weeks do not give us the confidence that we can still turn things around with the current set-up.

“We have therefore decided to make a fresh start. I am delighted that Marie-Louise Eta has agreed to take on this role on an interim basis before becoming head coach of the women’s professional team in the summer as planned.”

Carolina Morace became the first woman to manage a men’s professional team in Europe when she took charge of Italian third division side Viterbese in 1999.

In July 2023 Forest Green appointed Hannah Dingley as caretaker boss, although she did not take charge of a competitive fixture.

Rory McIlroy surrendered a six-shot lead to leave the defence of his Masters title in the balance and headed straight to the range to find a fix ahead of the final round

Rory McIlroy made a beeline for the practice range to work on his game after squandering a six-shot lead, leaving his Masters title defence hanging in the balance.

Just 24 hours prior, the Northern Irishman had appeared set to dominate the field, having established the largest 36-hole lead in the tournament’s storied history.

While his rivals were posting impressive scores — the nine players immediately beneath him all carded sub-70 rounds — the world number two could only manage a one-over 71, having come unstuck at Amen Corner.

The persistent tee troubles he had been carefully managing throughout the week proved costly, and he wasted no time heading to the range to seek a solution ahead of his final-group pairing with Cameron Young, who fired a Masters-best 65, on 11 under.

“The course was obviously gettable, there was a lot of good scores out there, and the quality of the chasing pack is obvious,” McIlroy acknowledged.

“There’s a lot of guys in with a chance tomorrow. I’m still tied for the best score going into tomorrow, so I can’t forget that, but I do know I’m going to have to be better if I want to have a chance to win.

“I’m in the final group. I just need to go to the range and try to figure it out a little bit.”

McIlroy had entered Augusta National’s notoriously demanding Amen Corner stretch at 13 under, holding a three-shot advantage but showing signs of vulnerability. He finished one stroke behind Young after a difficult stretch that saw him take a double bogey, bogey and par, having pulled a seven iron into the water at the 11th, failing to find the green at the 12th and driving into the trees at the 13th.

“When you’re not quite feeling it, you struggle. You have to dig deep and I felt like I did that on the front nine and made a lot of good par saves,” he added.

“I missed a couple of chances on eight and nine and then I thought I turned the round around with the birdie on 10.

“I felt like I hit a pretty good second shot on 11 but it just drifted on the wind a little bit and went in the water. Those two holes (11 and 12) weren’t great.

“But again I felt like I bounced back pretty well with the birdies on 14 and 15. It would have been nice to play those last few holes and not make that bogey on 17 but, you know, I still have a great chance.”

Meanwhile, Shane Lowry, renowned for his knack for aces, celebrated his “wild” hole-in-one at the Masters, which propelled him into contention ahead of the final day.

The Irishman boasts an impressive array of aces throughout his career, and this marked his second at Augusta National, making him the first player to achieve this distinction.

Lowry’s tee shot at the 190-yard sixth saw him leap from six to eight under, and he concluded on nine under following a 69, sitting just two shots behind the leader.

“That’s wild, isn’t it? I made one a couple of weeks ago in Houston. You don’t ever expect to make a hole-in-one, I just couldn’t believe it,” remarked the former Open champion, whose previous ace here came at the 16th during the final round in 2016.

“Obviously you’re out there and you’re in the hunt at the Masters and you’re making hole-in-one, it’s pretty cool.

“The walk down the sixth hole with everyone around 16 and the sixth was very special. I’ll remember that for a while. It was obviously amazing.

“It gives you obviously a huge kind of boost. You go from six-under to eight-under and then all of a sudden you’re only four back.

“It’s getting real now. I felt like I did a great job of calming myself down afterwards.”

Lowry has also recorded aces at the 17th at Sawgrass in 2022 and the seventh at Pebble Beach in January 2025, two of golf’s most iconic par threes.

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Viral sensation Ronnie Pickering, famous for his ‘Do you know who I am?’ rant, has been subject to false death rumours – but his family have now debunked the claims

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Britain’s most unlikely internet sensation, Ronnie Pickering, has once again found himself making headlines – though this time for entirely different reasons.

The man behind one of the web’s most memorable meltdowns was falsely reported dead yesterday, with thousands of posts on social media paying tribute to the Hull man, claiming he had passed away on Friday aged 64.

Ronnie’s family have roundly condemned the “fake news”. One relative wrote: “People believing this fake news and making a laugh and joke about it are disgusting and disrespectful. He’s a lot more than just an internet meme. I’m not just gonna have people disrespect a member of my family to this extent.”

Pickering rocketed to worldwide fame in 2015 following a road rage confrontation with a moped rider. In the now-legendary clip, he repeatedly demanded: “Do you know who I am?” – only to be met with the now-iconic confused reply: “No.”

The extraordinary exchange transformed him into an overnight meme, with millions tickled by the sheer absurdity of the incident. From that moment on, “Ronnie Pickering” became a household name – even if nobody could quite explain why.

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Pickering later confessed he regretted the outburst, acknowledging he was “spouting gobbledegook” and having a difficult day. He previously stated: “To be honest, I was just spouting a lot of gobbledegook. I said things I wouldn’t normally say. I now wish I had never said all that but what can you do?”

Pickering, who claimed years ago that he “never made a penny” from the footage, added: “People have rows like that all the time but they are not always filmed. The guy wanted a reaction and he got one.

“I now see the funny side. It has become a comedy video really. There were unpleasant words had but there was no violence. It made a lot of people laugh. It has stayed with me but I do not revel in it. It is certainly not something to be proud of.

“You just have to get on with it. One day I was just me and the next everyone knew the name Ronnie Pickering. Some people still come up to be and say ‘do you know who I am?’ but I don’t mind and I have a laugh about it.”

Yet the clip has refused to fade away, securing his position in British internet history.

Charts have revealed exactly when and where warmer conditions will pick up again for the country – though not without a cooler period first

The UK’s recent warm spell which saw highs of 26C in parts earlier this week is set to disappear briefly before making a sharp rebound, new weather maps show.

Charts have revealed exactly when and where warmer conditions will pick up again for the country – though not without a cooler period first.

Maps by WXCharts show as of Wednesday (April 15), a cooler airmass will cast across the country with maximum temperatures to sink between 10C to 13C for most. The South and South-east will be slightly warmed at 14C to 17C while the cooler snap will be felt more keenly across Scotland and England, where highs plummet to 7C and 11C.

Fortunately, the forecast indicates the cooler air is short-lived as by Sunday next week (April 20), temperatures will start to pick up again.

The maps show southern England, including London and the South East, could reach 17C to 19C, while the Midlands and Wales are forecast to sit around 14C to 17C. Further north, temperatures remain more subdued, ranging from 9C to 12C.

The warm air continues into Tuesday, April 21, with much of southern England climbing to 18C to 20C. Central areas are expected to reach 16C to 18C, while northern England and Scotland lag slightly behind at 10C to 13C.

The broader pressure chart for mid-April supports this shift, showing cooler air dominating around April 15 before milder conditions push back in from the South.

The Met Office long-range forecast also predicts some mixed conditions that shows signs of improving later into the month. The forecasters find from April 15 to April 24, conditions will be “changeable” at first, with low pressure bringing showers or longer spells of rain, particularly in the North-west, alongside some strong winds.

Meanwhile, the South-east is likely to stay drier and brighter, and later in the period, weather may turn more settled, especially in northern areas, though parts of the South could still see rain at times.

Temperatures overall are expected to be near or slightly above average, reinforcing the signal from weather maps that any mid-month cool spell will be temporary, with milder spring conditions quickly returning.

‘Perfect if you’re short on time but still want a flawless result’

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With spring now well underway, it’s the perfect opportunity to achieve sun-kissed skin. But attaining a bronzed appearance doesn’t require booking an overseas holiday, as there are numerous tanning lotions and formulas beauty enthusiasts can apply at home.

Those pressed for time or unfamiliar with self-tanning may prefer the Express Tanning Antioxidant Mousse from celebrated beauty brand Coco & Eve. It’s quick-developing and features a customisable colour intensity to match each individual’s preferred appearance.

The £29 formula claims to provide a deep, beach-bronzed tan in just under an hour (including wash-off time), and will continue to intensify over the following 24 hours. It’s an ideal option for busy mums, spontaneous evening plans, or for those who prefer not to sleep while wearing a tan.

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Coco & Eve offer a variety of tanning products, several of which are presently discounted. One promotional highlight features the best-selling Sunny Honey Bali Bronzing Foam, now £20.80, reduced from £26.

Marketed as an ‘anti-ageing self tan’, it’s formulated using the brand’s distinctive ‘Cellushape’ formula, which claims to moisturise and firm the skin. It’s a quick-drying tan that develops within six hours, and comes in three shades: medium, dark and ultra dark, reports the Manchester Evening News.

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Beauty enthusiasts can also discover offers on skincare products, including 50% off this Daily Water Gel SPF50+ Sunscreen, now £11.50, was £23. It’s a hydrating, lightweight SPF with a silky texture.

In line with Coco & Eve’s SPF collection, this newly launched Highlighter Body SPF50 (£33) would be a gorgeous addition to any holiday beauty bag. It features delicate pearlescent shimmer, a serum-like consistency and is packed with skin-nourishing ingredients.

Elsewhere, Boots also stocks an extensive range of tanning and SPF products, including the Clarins Radiance-Plus Golden Glow Booster for Body (£30). It delivers an adjustable tan year-round and is formulated with 99% natural-origin ingredients.

Meanwhile, LookFantastic carries Tan-Luxe’s Gradual Illuminating Tanning Lotion (£25). This is a lightweight oil-lotion hybrid that promises a ‘natural, buildable tan with a luminous glow’.

Coco & Eve’s Express Tanning Antioxidant Mousse holds an overall rating of 4.8, based on more than 110 reviews. One customer remarked: “This mousse is a standout. It develops quickly, giving a natural, even glow without orange tones.

“The lightweight mousse applies smoothly, dries quickly, and blends effortlessly – perfect if you’re short on time but still want a flawless result. What really sets it apart is the antioxidant infusion.”

They concluded: “My skin feels hydrated and comfortable, not dry or tight like with some express tans. The colour continues to deepen evenly, fades naturally, and doesn’t go patchy. Ideal for last-minute events or anyone who wants a streak-free, bronzed finish with added skin benefits. This has become a go-to in my tanning routine.”

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Another satisfied customer wrote: “Love Coco & Eve. By far my favourite self-tanner! Doesn’t smell, and the colour comes out of my clothes and sheets if I happen to get it on them. Definitely recommend!”

Not every review is favourable, with one customer highlighting some drawbacks, writing: “Went on pretty patchy and definitely on the orange side. Tan lasted pretty long but faded patchily.”

One reviewer had greater success, commenting: “The colour is perfect, the smell is great, and the foam is easy to put on, and fades nicely. I am not looking like a body full of freckles.”

A final customer observed: “Love it! It looks natural and goes on very smoothly.”

Police and paramedics were called to Marsh House Avenue in Billingham, near the Knole Road junction, around 7.30pm on Saturday (April 11). 

An off-road bike collided with a grey Peugeot at the junction, flinging the 25-year-old rider from the bike. 

He was treated by paramedics before being taken to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough for treatment for punctured lungs and a broken arm and leg, Cleveland Police said.

Police in Billingham following a ‘serious’ crash (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The male driver of the car was left with whiplash and was checked over at the same hospital before being discharged. 

The road was closed for several hours on Saturday evening, with officers erecting a cordon across the busy road and nearby Knole Road. 

Pictures taken from the scene showed several officers standing on Marsh House Avenue beside the damaged grey Peugeot. 

Police in Billingham following a ‘serious’ crash (Image: THE NORTHERN ECHO)

The car can be seen with its main driver door off and bonnet up, and it appears as though its airbags have been deployed.

Cleveland Police says enquiries into the circumstances of the crash are now ongoing and is appealing for witnesses. 

The force said it wants to speak with anyone who saw the bike being ridden prior to the crash, or anyone with relevant footage is asked to contact Cleveland Police via 101, quoting reference 007485.

Former Premier League forward Jan Age Fjortoft criticised two Arsenal players after the Gunners suffered a disappointing Premier League defeat to Bournemouth.

Mikel Arteta’s side had the chance to extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to 12 points as they welcomed Bournemouth to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

The Gunners are chasing a first Premier League title since 2004 and beating Bournemouth would have put even more pressure on Manchester City ahead of their trip to Chelsea on Sunday.

But Arsenal fell to a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, meaning they have now lost three of their last four games and could see their lead in the title race cut to six points come the end of the weekend.

Man City will have another game in hand to potentially reduce the gap to three, while they can pull even closer to Arsenal when the two title rivals meet at the Etihad Stadium next weekend.

Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s goal against Bournemouth but also missed a number of chances and Norwegian football legend Fjortoft has questioned if the £64m striker’s form is ‘good enough’ to fire the Gunners to the title.

Gyokeres has been widely mocked in the aftermath of the Bournemouth setback after he said Arsenal were not helped by the ‘dry pitch’ at the Emirates Stadium.

‘I guess the best strikers in the world will score on dry pitches, wet pitches, snow, rain, wind, everything,’ Fjortoft said on ESPN.

‘I don’t want to re-open that debate over Arsenal lacking a top, top striker because Gyokeres just sent Sweden to the World Cup but he did miss some chances today.

‘If you see last season with [Erling] Haaland and [Mohamed] Salah, have there been any champions without that player who can save them on a bad day?

‘Gyokeres scored today and his form is okay but it seems it’s not good enough to shoot you to a championship.’

Fjortoft also criticised Declan Rice’s performance against Bournemouth and said Arsenal are ‘desperately missing’ injured captain Martin Odegaard.

‘I want to mention another name: Declan Rice,’ Fjortoft added. ‘I see he gets the captain’s armband and I talk to English pundits and apparently he’s the biggest leader since Lord Nelson.

‘He was the captain today but I didn’t see that, I didn’t see him doing that. I’m not saying this because he’s Norwegian but I think they miss an in-form Martin Odegaard.

‘Unfortunately he’s having some problems with injuries this season but they’re desperate to get him back because at the moment Declan Rice, the big hope for English football, isn’t producing either.’

Meanwhile, Arteta described Arsenal’s third defeat in four games as a ‘big punch in the face’.

‘It’s a big punch in the face and it’s about how we react now,’ Arteta said. ‘They are a team who haven’t lost for 11 games for a reason, they did a lot right.

‘We were far from efficient. The first chance they had to attack the box, it’s a deflection, a bad defending action and it’s a goal. That’s something we have to recover from.

‘The second half you expect a different game. We did a lot of strange things today. We have been very consistent. This can happen, this is football.’

Asked if his players were ‘hurting’ after losing to Bournemouth, Arteta added: ‘A lot. It has to hurt. They have to take it on the chin. You stand up and go for the fight or you’re out.

‘It’s a big week. A lot at stake. We’re still in a good position in both competitions.’

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Leaders of the Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Reform UK Scotland will take part in Debate Night on the BBC.

The leaders of Scotland’s main political parties will take part in the first TV election debate of the campaign on Sunday.

Leaders of the Scottish National Party, Scottish Labour, Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Greens, Scottish Liberal Democrats and Reform UK Scotland will take part in Debate Night on the BBC. They will be asked questions by a live studio audience, with issues such as the cost-of-living, energy crisis and the NHS likely to come up.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has made calls for SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney to apologise at the start of the televised debate for the Scottish Government’s handling of the NHS. Mr Sarwar said: “Our NHS is not safe with John Swinney and the SNP. They have now broken Scotland’s NHS treatment law 918,594 times, leaving patients waiting in pain because they failed to run the NHS properly.

“Tonight on television, right at start of the debate, John Swinney should apologise to every single patient who has suffered because the SNP could not get the basics right. My first priority as First Minister will be to cut waiting lists and put our NHS first so it is there when you need it.

“That means using all available capacity to get patients treated faster, breaking down barriers between health boards, and making sure funding follows the patient so the NHS focuses on getting people care on time.

“After two decades of broken promises, our NHS cannot survive another SNP government. On May 7, vote Scottish Labour on both votes for the change Scotland needs.”

However, polls are showing that the SNP are looking likely to stay in office, with the first YouGov MRP survey of the election season suggesting they are set to win 67 seats. The poll projects that Reform UK are on course to win 20 MSPs with Labour estimated to win no constituency seats at all, picking up just 15 seats from the regional lists.

The Greens are projected to win 11 seats and the Lib Dems are set to win nine, showing gains between them. The poll suggests the Conservatives could be looking at a sixth place finish and are projected to win just seven seats.

SNP candidate for Rutherglen Clare Haughey responded to Mr Sarwar’s comments, saying: “Of course there are challenges, just as there are across these islands, but the fact is John Swinney has a plan for our NHS and it’s working.

“While Anas Sarwar talks our NHS down, under our plan operations are up, waiting lists continue to fall, we have more GPs per head than England and our GP walk-in centres are springing up across Scotland.

“Labour-run England is paying doctors £20 per person to divert people away from their NHS and faces yet another NHS strike – not a single day has been lost to strikes in Scotland’s NHS thanks to the SNP in government.

“Only the SNP can be trusted with Scotland’s NHS – that’s exactly what you get from John Swinney’s strong leadership and that’s what’s on the ballot on 7th May.”

The debate will be moderated by Stephen Jardine who wrote in the Scotsman on Saturday that the debate may be dictated around which lines will end up being popular on social media.

He said: “Often they have spent days preparing, trying out attack lines, testing defensive positions and thinking about how they can cut through and make an impression. Nowadays another factor is also in play. Increasingly, political debates are less about the whole show and more about what ends up being a short clip on social media.”

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Located in a rustic spot at 1448 Chorley New Road, between Bolton and Bottom O’ Th’ Moor, this historic, stone-built pub has been serving up its range of lunches, nibbles, and dinners for many years.

With great food and panoramic views of the West Pennine Moors, close to Rivington and Smithills Country Estate, Bob’s Smithy Inn is popular with both locals and ramblers stopping in for a pick-me-up.

The outdoor area (Image: NQ)

The pub bills itself as a gastropub, so food is very much at the forefront of its offering.

The menu has a little bit of something for everyone – soup-of-the-day starters and prawn cocktails giving way to sirloin steaks and lamb shanks.

Salt and pepper squid, lamb koftas, Cajun chicken wings with garlic mayo, king prawns in garlic butter – all these can be found on the Smithy Inn menu as starters.

(Image: Bob Smithy’s Inn Country Pub & Dining)

Grills and pasta dishes flesh out the mains, whether you want to keep it traditional (though elevated!) with a chicken, leek, and bacon pie, go all in for an 8-oz sirloin steak, or fancy a splash of seafood with the pan-fried seabass.

Classic salads and burgers round out the menu, with special daily desserts available on request, though there is also a luxurious selection of specials available, including lamb shank, red snapper, or duck leg.

Jordan with his parents Lorraine and Stuart. (Image: Martini Archive)

Drinks-wise, the pub tries to keep things traditional, stocking a selection of ales both locally- brewed and sourced from further afield, as well as wines and soft drinks.

Bob’s Smithy Inn is no stranger to awards, maintaining a TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for several years due to consistently high ratings.

The pub was also awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award in the 2025 Food Awards England, also making the finals in 2022 and 2023.

To vote for the venue in this year’s The Bolton News award, buy a copy of today’s newspaper.

Prof Sir John Curtice said the result forecast in a YouGov poll would make it “more difficult” for Keir Starmer to resist Swinney’s indy drive.

Britain’s top pollster has said a shock poll showing the SNP on course for a historic majority would give John Swinney a mandate to demand IndyRef2.

Prof Sir John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said it would make it “more difficult” for Keir Starmer to resist Swinney’s independence push although cautioned many Scots still need to be persuaded.

Coming ahead of the first TV leaders debate tonight, YouGov’s MRP poll of the election campaign shows John Swinney’s party could take 67 of 129 seats. Only once before have the Nats achieved a majority, in 2011 which led to the 2014 independence referendum.

If the poll results were replicated on May 7, Prof Curtice said: “The SNP would say precedent suggests they have a mandate.

“We can probably anticipate the UK Government will say no. Swinney says he’s got something up his sleeve, but we don’t know what it is.

“It would certainly present them with an opportunity to say, in response to the usual cry from the unionist side this was a once in a generation event, the people of Scotland have now clearly indicated they do want another referendum.”

He added polls suggesting Plaid Cymru will win the Welsh election would mean “nationalist first ministers in all three devolved jurisdictions” – with Sinn Fein in charge at Stormont – creating a huge headache for Westminster.

YouGov’s poll also shows Labour and the Tories staring down the barrel of historic losses, with Reform set to win second place with 20 seats.

Labour would win 15 seats in its worst ever Holyrood performance, while the Greens would make gains to win 11, followed by the Lib Dems on nine, while the Tories reduced from 31 to a rump of seven MSPs.

Tonight, Swinney, Labour’s Anas Sarwar, the Tories’ Russell Findlay, Reform’s Malcolm Offord. Greens co-leader Ross Greer and Alex Cole-Hamilton of the Lib Dems face off in a 90-minute BBC leaders debate in Paisley, the first televised setpiece of the campaign.

Labour leader Sarwar, who yesterday was out campaigning with deputy chief Jackie Baillie in Balloch, called on Swinney to use the debate to “apologise to every patient” stuck on NHS waiting lists.

YouGov’s poll found Baillie is at risk of losing her Dumbarton seat to the SNP which the Labour veteran has held since 1999.

Speaking to our sister title The Sunday Mirror, Sarwar said: “I accept that we go into the election as underdogs, but this is an election I believe that Labour can win.”

Despite the positive poll for the SNP, one constituency which is at risk, according to YouGov, is Culture Secretary Angus Robertson’s Edinburgh Central seat, where Lorna Slater of the Scottish Greens could defeat him by “wafer-thin” margin.

Robertson, who is also the SNP campaign director, said: “We are on the verge of a historic majority that would unlock the fresh start of independence.”

Reform chief Offord said: “The Tories and Labour are finished in Scotland. It is clear that the only way to keep the SNP out is by voting Reform.”

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