​Jo Coles, the deputy mayor for crime and policing, has proposed convening a meeting with partners to “understand how to improve the experience for all residents of Scarborough”.

​It follows concerns from residents, the town council, and councillors about how HMO conversions and emergency accommodation sites in the North Yorkshire town are impacting neighbours.

​Cllr Janet Jefferson, who represents Castle ward, said: “The coastal area of North Yorkshire is seeing an increasing number of applications for conversions of hotels and other buildings into emergency accommodation, proportionally much higher than other parts of the country.

​“Due to concerns from residents about disturbances, there are frequent call-outs to police officers. However, they advise that issues around disturbances and security are the domain of the agency/owners.”

​Speaking at a recent meeting of the North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Panel, she added: “People have a right to accommodation, but there has to be some clear accountability around how best to support such circumstances.

​“Given the increase in such situations, is the deputy mayor concerned by the ongoing frequent use of police resources and is there a better way forward to ensure situations are approached in a legal and respectful manner with clear accountability?”

Jo Coles, the deputy mayor for York and North Yorkshire, said she was aware of the issue and had already provided a written answer.

​Speaking at the meeting, she added that Alison Hume, the MP for Scarborough and Whitby, had also raised concerns with her “about the number of HMO applications coming through, especially on the coast, and I think it is particularly Scarborough”.

​Ms Coles said: “We’ve provided a written update and the police will always be there to respond based on the threat risk and harm to the community, and they will make those decisions operationally.”

​However, she added that some responses should come from a partnership approach.

​The deputy mayor said she would be “very happy to convene a meeting of partners, including housing partners and commissioned service providers”.

​She said: “We have our wonderful women’s centre in Scarborough, but given the nature of the response, we would also want to better understand what is happening for men in some of those accommodations in terms of drug and alcohol services being made available to vulnerable residents on the coast.”

North Yorkshire Police, Fire And Crime Panel, July 2026. NYC

Responding to a question about how North Yorkshire Police responds to planning applications, Ms Coles added: “It is certainly not for the police to decide where people are accommodated; that’s a matter for the council to oversee.

“It’s absolutely vital that we are alive and alert to particular community problems when they are emerging, which they appear to be around these HMO properties on the coast.

​“I will take that away and liaise with Cllr Jefferson to convene something with partners so we can understand how to improve the experience for all residents of Scarborough.”

​

(Image: Newsquest)

Each device is in a public access cabinet, ensuring the lifesaving equipment is available at any time, day or night, when every second count

A local council has announced the installation of 14 new automated external defibrillators at its public buildings across the borough.

Each device is in a public access cabinet, ensuring the lifesaving equipment is available at any time, day or night, when every second counts. Two of the council’s existing AEDs have been relocated to external cabinets, improving public access to these devices outside normal opening hours. Each of the defibrillators have been added to “The Circuit,” the national defibrillator network.

In Northern Ireland, more than 1,400 people experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year, with fewer than 10 percent surviving to hospital discharge. However, early intervention can dramatically increase survival rates.

READ MORE: Key moments from Ards and North Down Borough Council in July

READ MORE: Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann to kick off in Bangor, not Belfast

Ards and North Down Borough Council’s rollout supports the internationally recognised “Chain of Survival,” which outlines four essential steps proven to improve outcomes. The first is early recognition of cardiac arrest and calling 999, the second is early cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, to maintain blood circulation, the third is early defibrillation using an AED, and lastly, early advanced care provided by emergency medical services.

CPR is an emergency life-saving procedure performed when someone’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped. It combines chest compressions and rescue breaths to keep oxygen-rich blood flowing to the brain and vital organs. It is used if a person is unresponsive and not breathing normally or only gasping in emergencies like cardiac arrest, drowning, or a severe drug overdose.

Survival chances decrease by approximately 10 percent for every minute without CPR and defibrillation, highlighting the importance of quick action and community access to AEDs. In a life-threatening emergency, members of the public should always dial 999 immediately. Emergency medical dispatchers can provide CPR instructions and direct callers to the nearest available AED.

The council will be facilitating a series of free community defibrillator and CPR workshops, which will be delivered by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. The workshops are open to all and will include a practical CPR training element, giving attendees the opportunity to develop hands-on lifesaving skills.

Sessions will take place on Monday August 10, 7pm to 8.30pm at the Alderman George Green Community Centre, 1 Rathgill Parade, Bangor,Thursday September 3, 12 noon to 1.30pm, at Manor Court Community Centre, Mill Street, Newtownards, Friday October 2, 1.30pm to 3pm at Kircubbin Community Centre, 4 Church Grove, Kircubbin, and Wednesday November 4, 7pm to 8.30pm at Donaghadee Community Centre, the Parade, Donaghadee.

Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney said: “It is great to see this life-saving equipment being installed across the borough, helping to ensure that more people have access to a defibrillator in an emergency. These devices have the potential to save lives, and I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free awareness training available so they can feel prepared and confident to act when it matters most.

“This initiative also reflects the council’s commitment to building and strengthening a community of lifesavers across the Ards and North Down area, empowering residents with the skills and confidence to respond effectively in an emergency and help save lives.”

To register your interest in attending any of these training sessions, email communityhalls@ardsandnorthdown.gov.uk

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Stephen Grzyb disappeared on Saturday, prompting a major manhunt

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A prisoner who fled from the police after he was dropped outside a court is now back in custody, police said.

A manhunt was launched after Stephen Grzyb, 22, ran off after being taken to Liverpool Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, Merseyside Police said.

Grzyb, of Princess Drive, Liverpool, was due to appear in court charged with a domestic burglary.

Police said he fled down Red Cross Street in the direction of The Strand just after 10am.

He had been taken to the court from a police custody suite by security firm GeoAmey, which is contracted by the Ministry of Justice to transport prisoners.

READ MORE: Suspect in murder of woman found dead in suitcase spouted hate for Christian aid workers online

READ MORE: Ex-Celtic star’s wife begged for her life as machete thugs broke into her home

According to its website, the firm oversees more than 8,500 prisoner movements every week.

In a statement on Tuesday, Merseyside Police said: “An escaped prisoner who absconded outside Liverpool Magistrates’ Court after being transported from Belle Vale custody suite by GeoAmey has been arrested and is in custody.”

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s plan to open five city-owned grocery stores is being misrepresented online in posts that claim identification will be required to shop there. The claims are juxtaposed against Democratic resistance to nationwide voter ID requirements.

Republican officials and other major public figures, as well as conservative social media influencers, were among those who made the claim.

Misinformation began spreading in response to a comment made at a press conference last week by Jeanny Pak, the interim president and CEO of New York City’s Economic Development Corporation. Asked how the city will stop people from taking advantage of lower prices at the stores, Pak mentioned the possibility of a “library-card-esque” system.

But city officials say there will be no ID requirement for shoppers.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

CLAIM: ID will be required to shop at city-owned grocery stores in New York City.

THE FACTS: This is false. No one will be asked to show ID to shop at stores owned by the city, according to officials. A customer card, akin to a loyalty savings card at a traditional supermarket, is being discussed as a way to manage supply and stop people from reselling large amounts of discounted items, but the program would be voluntary and would not require ID to access.

Mamdani laughed off the claim during an appearance on The Joy Reid Show on Monday night, saying: “When we’re talking about a city-run grocery store, one in each borough, which by the way, you do not need an ID to shop at, no matter what you’ve just heard in the news of today, we’re talking about actually addressing the question of skyrocketing grocery prices.”

Joe Calvello and Dora Pekec, both spokespeople for Mamdani, similarly refuted the claims in X posts that evening.

“Insane that this even needs to be said, but to be absolutely clear: NYC Grocery stores will be open to everyone,” Calvello wrote. “There will be no system to verify identity, residency or income, and no one will be asked to show ID to shop. This is the dumbest and fakest online news cycle I have seen.”

The system Pak referred to as “library-card-esque” at last week’s press conference is a customer card that would help stores manage supply and keep aspiring resellers from buying discounted items in bulk, according to Cassio Mendoza, another Mamdani spokesperson. He explained that obtaining such a card would not require ID, residency, or income verification and would be available to anyone who wants one.

In a request for proposals seeking private grocery store operators to run the city-owned shops, the system is described as “a voluntary free-to-access membership card program to monitor sales activity, and implement the discount program and any associated demand management measures.” It makes clear that the cards should not be required for physical access to the stores.

A statement from the Mayor’s Office further clarified that “the operator selected through the City’s procurement process will determine the specific design of that card system” and that “it is not something people will need to apply for through City Hall or another government agency.”

The false claim spreading online is being used to criticize opponents of voter ID laws, many of whom are Democrats. In particular, President Donald Trump’s SAVE America Act would require people to show documentary proof of citizenship before registering to vote and impose nationwide voter ID requirements. The measure has passed the U.S. House but has not gotten a vote in the Senate, where even some Republicans oppose it.

“Comparisons to voter ID laws or the SAVE Act simply do not apply,” the Mayor’s Office statement reads. “This is not an identification system, nor is it a mechanism to verify who someone is, where they live, or how much they earn.”

___

Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck.

On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking much of the Sun’s light and creating a dramatic partial solar eclipse across Scotland

Scotland is set to enjoy one of the most spectacular astronomical events in a generation, with the deepest solar eclipse visible from the UK since 1999 now just days away.

On Wednesday, August 12, the Moon will pass directly between the Earth and the Sun, blocking much of the Sun’s light and creating a dramatic partial solar eclipse across Scotland.

While a total solar eclipse, where the Moon completely covers the Sun, will only be visible from a narrow path stretching across Greenland, Iceland, Spain, northern Russia and a small part of northern Portugal, people across Scotland will still see around 90% or more of the Sun obscured.

The eclipse will be the deepest visible from Scotland since August 11, 1999, when a total solar eclipse was visible from parts of south-west England.

Scotland’s best places to watch the eclipse

The Isle of Barra in the Outer Hebrides is expected to offer Scotland’s best view of the eclipse.

Because it sits furthest west and closest to the path of totality, Barra will experience around 93% coverage, making it the best place in the country to witness the event.

The eclipse takes place shortly before sunset, meaning the Sun will be very low in the western sky. Experts recommend choosing an elevated location or somewhere with an uninterrupted view towards the west or north-west.

Other excellent viewing locations include:

West Coast and Islands

The west of Scotland will see the greatest eclipse coverage.

• Isle of Barra offers around 93% coverage with an uninterrupted Atlantic horizon.
• The Outer Hebrides and Isle of Skye provide excellent coastal viewpoints for the sunset eclipse.
• The Ayrshire coast is one of the best mainland locations thanks to its wide-open sea views across the Firth of Clyde.

Edinburgh and the Lothians

Edinburgh will see around 90.7% of the Sun covered.

Some of the city’s best vantage points include:

• Arthur’s Seat
• Calton Hill, where the Astronomical Society of Edinburgh is expected to host a public viewing event using solar telescopes.
• Blackford Hill, beside the Royal Observatory Edinburgh.

Glasgow and Central Scotland

Glasgow is forecast to enjoy around 91.4% eclipse coverage.

Recommended viewing spots include:

• Cathkin Braes, the highest point in the Glasgow area.
• Loch Lomond Shores, offering expansive views across the water.
• Queen’s Park flagpole viewpoint.

What time is the eclipse in Scotland?

Timings vary slightly across the country, but the eclipse follows a similar pattern throughout Scotland.

LocationEclipse beginsMaximum eclipseCoverageEnds

What is a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse happens when the Moon moves directly between the Earth and the Sun.

As the Moon passes in front of the Sun, it casts a shadow across part of the Earth. Because the Moon’s shadow only covers a relatively small area, a total solar eclipse is only visible from a narrow path, while a much larger area experiences a partial eclipse.

There are between two and five solar eclipses every year, with a total solar eclipse occurring somewhere on Earth roughly every 18 months.

How to watch the eclipse safely

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) warns that people should never look directly at the Sun, even during a partial eclipse, without proper eye protection.

The safest way to watch is by using specialist eclipse glasses or handheld solar viewers that meet the ISO 12312-2:2015(E) international safety standard. Eclipse glasses should only be bought from reputable retailers and should not be used if the filters are scratched, torn or otherwise damaged.

Another safe option is to make a simple pinhole projector using a piece of card with a small hole punched through it. This projects an image of the Sun onto another surface, allowing the eclipse to be viewed indirectly.

A bonus treat for skywatchers

The celestial display does not end with the eclipse.

The event coincides with the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, meaning that once darkness falls, Scots could be treated to dozens of shooting stars streaking across the sky if cloud conditions are favourable, rounding off a remarkable night for astronomy enthusiasts.

She was given a prognosis of four to six months to live back in 2023 but thanks to a new treatment, she is living with cancer and feeling well

This is Christine Campbell who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer five years ago and given a prognosis of four to six months to live back in 2023. Now thanks to a new treatment, she is living with cancer and feeling well

Christine, from Dundonald was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in April 2021 after a gynaecological appointment. She is still living with the disease, but it’s currently stable and there are no new tumours.

Annually, almost 204 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer in Northern Ireland, and 120 women die from this disease. In the Republic of Ireland, approximately 400 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and almost 300 women die.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women in Ireland, after lung, breast, and colorectal cancer. It is considered one of the more common cancers in Ireland, yet new statistics from the Irish Network for Gynaecological Oncology show that less than one in three women (29%) feel confident they would recognise the symptoms.

Christine displayed the classic symptoms of ovarian cancer, but had no idea until her diagnosis. She knew something was wrong but looking back now, she wishes she had been more aware of what to look out for.

“My symptoms actually started in November 2020, but I didn’t realise they were symptoms of ovarian cancer,” she told RSVP Magazine. “In April 2021, I was eventually diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer as an emergency patient.

“I was really lucky, I got a cancelled gynaecological appointment. I was red flagged in February for an appointment after seeing my GP and had been referred to the hospital, but because it was still the pandemic, I was told it could be months before I got an appointment.

“In April, I got a cancelled appointment and was diagnosed with stage four. I had heard of ovarian cancer but I didn’t really know the signs and symptoms and I hadn’t recognised any of those signs and symptoms in myself. As a 55-year-old woman at that time, I really should have known. There’s no screening process for ovarian cancer so raising awareness of the signs and symptoms is so important.”

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Christine was suffering from the typical symptoms of the cancer but it wasn’t until she began to bleed that she really knew something was going on.

“The first symptom I noticed was bloating and stomach distention,” she explains. “My waist had actually gone from 32 inches to 42 inches in the space of a couple of months. I was asked at the hospital whether I could be pregnant, as they could see the swelling of my stomach.

“I then noticed that I was going to the toilet a lot more and having to get up in the middle of the night, which had never happened before. I was also having bowel accidents, which was really embarrassing. It turned out, it was because there was a tumour pressing on my bowel and blocking it.

“Just before my diagnosis, I noticed that I couldn’t look at food or stand the smell of food. I couldn’t cook, it would make me feel ill. I lost my appetite completely – I was surviving on yogurt and cream crackers.”

She concludes: “The key thing for me was that I started to bleed, and I had already been through the menopause so I knew something was wrong.”

Christine went through three rounds of chemotherapy, surgery and further chemo, which she responded really well to. She was then eligible to go on a medication that stopped the blood flow to the cancer cells and stopped them from growing. However, she received the news in July 2023 that it had stopped working.

“My disease had metastasised and spread to other parts of my body,” she says. “When I asked what the prognosis was, I was told I had four to six months.

“I think anybody that receives that news can do one of two things: you can curl up and accept it, and I would not condone anyone for doing that – but I was determined I was going to beat this. I try to keep a positive attitude and hold onto an element of hope.”

She was given maintenance treatment to keep the symptoms and pain at for as long as possible and was eventually told that nothing more could be done and she would be moved onto pain management when she needed it.

However, in April 2024 she was told that a new drug had become available. She got access to it and began taking it in June 2025 and the disease has been stable ever since. For Christine, the quality of her life is more important than the quantity, and she now focuses on living everyday to the fullest, and using her voice as an advocate to inform people about ovarian cancer and its signs.

“It hasn’t gone away, but it’s stayed stable and it’s given me so much extra time and I am forever grateful for it,” she says. “I’ve been fortunate and I have very limited side effects. There’s nothing that stops me living my life with a cancer diagnosis.

“I can do normal day to day things that every person wants to do, with the support of the people out there who are helping me to live my life as well as I can, which includes a palliative care team. They’re very supportive, they talk to me about diet and exercise to build up strength.

“There’s support out there. The likes of OvaCare and the Society of Gynecology run workshops and coffee and chats, which is great for me to meet like minded people. That’s a comfort to me and I think other people find comfort in me as well – the fact that five years after my diagnosis I am still here and I am still fighting this.”

For anyone who is dealing with any of the B.E.A.T. symptoms, Christine urges them to talk to their GP.

“Our bodies go through so many changes – puberty, child birth, perimenopause, menopause, all the rest of it,” she says. “You do understand your body and you know something is wrong, but you maybe just don’t know what it is and I think that’s why awareness is so important. I am using my voice to advocate for awareness around the signs and symptoms and that’s given me a purpose.”

World Ovarian Cancer Day was earlier this year and the theme was #NoWomanLeftBehind, which promotes the urgent need to ensure that all women, regardless of geography, socio-economic background, or access to healthcare, have the knowledge, support, and resources to recognise ovarian cancer symptoms and seek timely care.

The INGO’s research also found that only two percent of women were aware of the B.E.A.T acronym, which represents the key symptoms of ovarian cancer:

• Bloating that is persistent and doesn’t come and go
• Eating less and feeling full more quickly
• Abdominal and pelvic pain you feel most days
• Toilet changes in urination or bowel habits

If these symptoms occur frequently, are persistent, and represent a change from what is normal for someone, medical advice should be sought. Early detection significantly improves outcomes, making awareness and timely action critical. The clear message is that if a woman experiences any of these symptoms for three weeks or more, she should contact her GP.

For more information, please visit www.thisisGO.ie.

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Lauren Laverne hosted the latest instalment of the BBC programme with Alex Jones

TV and radio star Lauren Laverne said it was “so lovely to be back” as she presented The One Show.

The BBC programme had been on its summer break until late in July, and as she presented Tuesday’s instalment (August 4) of the show with Alex Jones, Lauren shared that she was happy to be on the sofa again.

During the summer, the star had revealed to fans that she had been diagnosed with a disorder with “no cure”, reports the Mirror.

She wrote on Instagram in July: “Hey, so personal news. I’m quite a private person by nature but I’m sharing this as one of the many things I’ve learned after going through health challenges in recent years is that talking about this stuff helps people.

“I’ve been diagnosed with something called smouldering myeloma (yes that is a weird name and no I’d never heard of it either). It’s an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that in some people can develop into blood cancer.”

“Thankfully for me the risk of this happening in my case is pretty low,” the star informed her followers on the platform. “At the moment I feel OK and don’t need treatment.”

She added that there was “no cure yet” and that it meant her immune system was “a bit compromised”.

Lauren addressed her health on The One Show after a feature about hospitals taking services directly into shopping centres, an initiative benefiting patients while simultaneously encouraging people back into town centres.

After it aired, Lauren said to her co-host that she thought it was “a great idea”. “I mean, Al, you know, I have to do quite a lot of outpatient appointments,” she said.

“And actually the idea of doing them somewhere a little bit more relaxed, a little bit more, it’s not quite as kind of medicalised as a hospital, that would be quite nice.”

“It really appeals to me,” she went on.

The TV star opened up about her smouldering myeloma diagnosis two years after she told her fans that she had received the “all clear” following treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.

The One Show airs at 7pm on BBC One on weekdays.

By CAMERON CHARTERS

Published: 17:34 BST, 4 August 2026 | Updated: 21:01 BST, 4 August 2026

Even in the quaint world of Godshill Model Village events move quickly.

On Saturday the Daily Mail reported that directors of the miniature village on the Isle of Wight had decided to remove Erica the much-loved streaker from their football pitch over fears her exposed breasts caused offence to visitors.

But 72 hours later village bigwigs have decided Erica and her topless bosom can stay after all thanks to a poll.

Godshill Model Village hosted an online referendum on the fate of Erica and an overwhelming 98 per cent of voters chose to keep her.

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To welcome her reinstatement in the village she will be used to help raise money for breast cancer charities.

Erica will now be hidden in various spots in the village to encourage people to find her and then donate to charity, rather than returning to the football pitch. 

She was originally placed on the football pitch as a nod to the era of prolific football streaking in the 1970s and 80s.

Her cheeky pose brought ‘innocent delight’ to children who saw her 7in blonde frame which cost £300 to fashion from painted resin.

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Can you spot the streaker?

The streaker, intended as a ‘lighthearted joke,’ was placed on the village’s miniature football pitch as a nod to the game’s streaking era of the 1970s and 80s

And now, Erica the topless streaker shall return after a poll found in her favour

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Regular visitor Rupert Willoughby said he felt ‘dismay’ when he learnt that the village had removed the figure and decided to lead the campaign to democratically decide her fate.

After the lifting of Erica’s suspension, a spokeswoman for the village said: ‘She will be returning… but this time swapping the football pitch for various secret locations around the gardens.

‘We would like her return to help raise awareness and funds for a wonderful local breast cancer charity.

‘So, if you spot her hiding in the gardens, there will be a donation pot nearby if you’d like to show your support.’

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Previously director Penny Dyer said Erica was going to be removed because of complaints from a small number of visitors.

She said: ‘The streaker on the football pitch has been part of the model village for many years, and for most visitors has been seen as a light-hearted joke.

‘However, we’ve received a small number of comments from visitors who felt it was inappropriate for a family attraction.’

Fifa’s chief of global football development Arsene Wenger says scrapping the plan to have private investment in Fifa competitions was “absolutely necessary and beyond question”.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino planned to create a commercial subsidiary to run its main events, including its World Cups, with external investors able to buy stakes.

Infantino had offered Fifa’s 211 member associations $40m (£30m) each if they backed the proposal.

But after days of controversy – including Uefa’s 55 nations threatening to boycott all Fifa tournaments – Infantino was forced to withdraw the plan.

There was further criticism from Prince Ali of Jordan, who accused Fifa of creating a situation which “amounts to blackmail” over unpaid prize money and support for Infantino’s re-election.

Fifa secretary general Mattias Grafstrom, meanwhile, called the last week “a sad and reproachable series of events” in an internal email to staff.

Wenger has been in a role which encompasses data analysis of the game, Fifa’s online training and youth competitions, since 2019.

The former Arsenal boss previously supported Infantino’s proposal to play the men’s World Cup every two years.

A week after Infantino’s investment plan was first released, the Frenchman issued a statement through Fifa in which he demanded “transparency and integrity” from world football’s governing body.

“The recent events at Fifa deserve some clarity from my side,” Wenger’s statement read.

“I was not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent Fifa that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity.”

Wenger is one of 18 Fifa officials named in a document preservation letter Uefa sent to Fifa threatening legal action.

Carlos Cordeiro – Infantino’s senior adviser on global strategy and governance – is the only Fifa official to resign over the scandal, saying the proposal was “a bad deal for football” and would “mortgage football’s future”.