Just an hour from Cambridge lies a town that is packed with character, from its thriving high street with independent retailers to its quaint waterfront and picturesque canal walks

While Cambridge has just about everything we need, it’s a little too landlocked to deliver any seaside magic.

Happily, the Norfolk coast is rich with excellent coastal spots, and many are only an hour from Cambridge. If you do head east, you’ll stumble across a charming town offering waterfront views, alongside its Georgian high street lined with independent shops, trendy coffee houses and an indoor market that has been running for more than 800 years.

Nestled in south-east Leicestershire, just an hour’s drive from Cambridge, is the historic town of Market Harborough. Thanks to its train links to London and market-town charm with a thriving high street, it has been named by the Sunday Times as one of the best places to live in the Midlands for the fourth year in a row, and certainly warrants a visit.

The winding River Welland runs directly through the town, and it also has the quaint Union Wharf lined with narrowboats and winding paths to follow along the river. The Waterfront restaurant is perfect for an al fresco bite and a drink with picturesque views in a town that has seemingly gone a little under the radar.

Adding to its waterways are the Foxton Locks, a Grade II listed site home to the longest and steepest flight of staircase canal locks in Britain, with ample walking routes to meander along. There’s the pub, Foxton Locks Inn, to stop by at one end of the notorious locks, which are a beautiful and historic landmark to explore, along with the idyllic café, Lock Keepers Cottage, at the other end.

Back in the town centre of Market Harborough, the renowned wide high street is characterised by its preserved architecture, including the stilted 17th-century timber-framed Old Grammar School, which takes centre stage. Now a museum, the beautiful building sits just beside the 14th-century St Dionysius’ Church with its Gothic tower and broach spire.

Housed in some of its ancient architecture are independent shops alongside branded stores, perfect for a day out shopping. There’s also the indoor market, which has been running since 1204 and was named the ‘best small indoor market’ in 2025, thanks to its traders offering everything from collectables and cakes, cheese, and crepes to beauty products, children’s shoes, books, jewellery, and woodcrafts.

After exploring the town, there are lots of inviting places to stop for a warming cuppa and a sweet treat, including Fran’s Coffee and Bakehouse, Milo’s Café and Two Old Goats. For lunch, there’s Loch&Bonnie for a packed-out bagel, or The Garage Bakehouse serving up Báhn Mì (Vietnamese) baguettes.

Following a visit, one happy traveller hailed The Garage Bakehouse for having “insane sandwiches” that are “simply incredible!” While another exclaimed that their New York Deli sandwich was the “best sandwich I have ever had”.

Ascough’s Bistro is another favourite in the area, offering inventive dishes made with local produce, while Rocksalt Bistro is recommended for seafood lovers. The Beerhouse is perfect for grabbing a drink, while the cosy Wine Shed is ideal for a class of vino, and Rio Bravo is a vibrant Mexican restaurant serving up nachos, tacos and margaritas!

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

There is only one reason why Vladimir Putin is launching his vicious attacks on Ukrainian railways – including the otherwise pointless destruction of a stationary civilian shunting locomotive yesterday, only a mile or so from the Polish border.

The reason is that after four and a half years of a cruel and unnecessary war, in which he has lost 1.5million men, the Russian leader is getting absolutely desperate.

He is posting record losses every month – more than 40,000 men either killed or wounded so seriously that they cannot fight again, in both July and August.

Russia has not sustained losses like this since the Second World War. In the ten-year Afghan conflict, the Russians lost 15,000 men – and that was enough to help trigger the collapse of communism.

Putin cannot go on like this, and he knows it. He is killing more Russians (and assorted tragic North Koreans) than he can possibly recruit – not without a general mobilisation.

And he knows that Russian mothers will not allow that to happen. They will not send a whole generation to be slaughtered in the trenches of the Donbas, chased to death by the Ukrainian drones with the inevitability of wounded deer in flight before the wolves.

Putin knows the mood is even starting to change among Moscow military commentators, with some of his most bloviating and bombastic supporters now calling for talks. They have been appalled by the success of the Ukrainian drones. They have watched the roofs of their mighty oil refineries blown off like biscuit tins.

They have queued for hours for petrol – in one of the great oil and gas exporting countries in the world; and then found that 28 per cent of Russian stations supply fuel of such poor quality that you risk damaging your car’s engine.

There is a limit to the credulity of the Russian public, and the willingness of the Russian media to keep up the pretence that the war is going well.

This was supposed to be the decisive fighting season, and yet the gains have been trivial, and in some cases Putin’s forces have even been going backwards. The Russian leader is never going to take the Fortress Belt of the Donbas, not without sacrificing millions. He is never going to take the city of Zaporizhiyya. That is why he has been stepping up his attacks on the railways, sending more and more missiles at passenger trains in what can only be described as terroristic attacks. There have been more attacks on passenger trains in the past six months than in the whole of the preceding four years.

It will not work. I know the Ukrainian railway company, Ukrzaliznytsia, very well. I have travelled in great comfort on their network for thousands of miles and indeed I passed through that border station shortly before yesterday’s explosion.

The company has already lost 1,700 employees to Putin’s utterly criminal attacks. They are heroes. They will not give in now. They are capable of rebuilding track and bridges with prodigious speed, and the civilian population of passengers continues to show a phlegmatic ability to endure Putin’s blitz. As one Ukrainian woman put it to me at the weekend: ‘It’s terrible to admit this, but we just learn to adapt and get on with our lives.’

The only way to get this foul war over is to show Putin the truth – that he has no chance of winning. That means doing much more to help the Ukrainians.

There have been more attacks on passenger trains in the past six months than in the whole of the preceding four years

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This weekend I visited the astonishing Ukrainian drone and missile start-up, Firepoint. They are now world leaders. They make the world’s best cruise missile – the Flamingo, that has been so devastating against Putin’s oil and gas industry.

But now they need to defend the trains and the cities, against Putin’s ballistic missiles, and against the new jet-powered Shaheeds. The Ukrainians desperately need better air defences, and with so many US Patriots being used up in the Gulf region, they have to be helped to make their own.

We need to give them the ‘seeker’ tracking systems to help them to take out Putin’s fast drones and neutralise his intercontinental ballistic missiles. It can be done, but it needs to be done fast.

Ukraine faces a grim winter, in which Putin is plainly going to step up his attempts to kill and terrify civilians – at work, at home, and on their way to work.

In the face of his new cruelty, and his new ruthlessness, we need a new seriousness from the West.

We need to help them to open the Black Sea ports, and get Ukrainian grain and other produce moving again.

We need to give them Starlink access to the skies above Russia, so they can take out the missile sites and bases that are being used to attack their populations.

We need to unfreeze the hundreds of billions of Russian cash – in Brussels and other Western capitals – and allow the Ukrainians to use it to fund their effort.

Putin will squeal. He will accuse the West of escalation – as he has at every stage in this conflict, of which he was the sole author, and which he could end tomorrow.

He will squeal because he is increasingly desperate. In the attacks on passenger trains, we see the bared teeth of a cornered rat. Sooner or later, he knows he will have to desist, and the more pressure we apply now, the sooner that moment will come.

Mark Wakeman, owner of Bakewell Pet Supplies, has been receiving multiple calls over undelivered online orders, despite his business not having a website

Hundreds of customers have been demanding to know where their online orders are after being scammed by fraudsters posing as a well-established Peak District pet shop.

Mark Wakeman, who owns Bakewell Pet Supplies, in Derbyshire, has been getting an average of 30 calls a day from people who are waiting to receive online orders from what they believe to be his store.

However, Mark’s store does not have a website and he knows nothing about their orders. This is because someone has stolen his business’ name, including his email and location, and is subsequently impersonating the store, Derbyshire Live reports.

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The shop owner has reported the situation to Report Fraud – formerly Action Fraud – however he says he is receiving no help for the problem. Mr Wakeman, also a local councillor, says the problem, which first came to light at the end of May, is getting worse and he is worried his business is going to suffer as a result.

He said: “Sometimes we have had as many as 50 calls in a day, and we have also had people turning up at the shop wanting to know where their goods are that they have paid for, and they can get quite angry. I have to break the news to them that there aren’t any goods and that they need to report the problem to the fraud people or at least to the police.

“They don’t seem to understand that there is nothing we seem to be able to do to get the other site taken down or stopped, and they blame us for the situation. I am very upset that nothing seems to be being done about it, and I feel so helpless.

“Initially, when we told the fraud people, it seemed to calm down, but in recent weeks it has just got worse. We have contacted everyone we can to try to get this sorted, but no one seems bothered.

“We are being warned to look out for fraud and scamming all the time, and then when it happens, nothing. Other businesses without websites could also be under threat.”

The 47-year-old took to his genuine Facebook account to explain the situation, but he says this doesn’t seem to have helped. The fake business is getting bad reviews on the uk.trustpilot.com site, which appears to be linked to the USA, but Mr Wakeman says people could interpret them as relating to his own genuine business.

He said: “In desperation, I have gone to Derbyshire Live to help get the message out there that people should not trade online with a company posing as us. We have also put our own message on the uk.trustpilot.com site, trying to warn people.”

The message says: “Please do not buy from this site, they take your money and no goods are received. We are Bakewell Pet Supplies, a small shop in Bakewell and do not have a website. These fraudsters are imitating our company and using our details. We are doing everything to get this site taken down. If you have purchased, please contact Report Fraud.”

Mr Wakeman added: “At one point, the fraudulent site seemed to be removed, but then when Report Fraud decided not to pursue it further, it went back up again – so I am at a loss to know what is going on.

“And we haven’t had any help from Report Fraud Victim Services support, probably because we are not the direct victims claiming money back, although the damage which is being done to our business could be incalculable.

“Anyone who has been affected by this should report it to Report Fraud, and maybe if some of the hundreds of people who have been in touch with us do that, then someone will please take notice.”

When contacted for comment on the action they would be taking in response to the incident, Report Fraud told Derbyshire Live: “Report Fraud can confirm that it received the complaint on May 29, 2026. It was assessed by the Report Fraud Analysis Service at the City of London Police, but has not been passed to a police force for investigation at this time.

“Over 850,000 reports are made every year. These reports are assessed against several criteria; unfortunately, not every case will be sent to law enforcement for investigative opportunities.

“There are different ways a report can be dealt with when it isn’t passed to a police force. These include the Report Fraud Victim Services supporting victims of cyber crime and fraud with specialist advice and helping victims to recover losses.”

Report Fraud does not have investigative powers but sends its reports to the Crime Services department, which decides if there is enough information to send to a police force for investigation, according to the Report Fraud website.

It recommends that any business, charity or organisation under a cyber attack should contact 0300 123 20240, and Victim Support is available on 08081 689111.

‘When going out, always carry adequate tools and spares and ensure you have enough fuel for your journey’

Two crew members onboard a broken-down fishing boat were rescued off the coast of Co Antrim on Sunday.

Larne RNLI volunteer crew were requested to launch their inshore lifeboat Terry at 11.59am at the request of HM Coastguard after a member of the crew onboard the boat reported that they had broken down.

Helm Scott Leitch and crew members Shea McFerran and Andy Purves made their way to the casualties’ last reported location.

An RNLI spokesperson said: ” Weather conditions at the time were described as good with a gentle breeze and slight seas.

“The casualties were located a short distance away in Larne Harbour.

“Once on location, the Helm assessed the situation. It was established that both crew members were safe and that the reason for the breakdown was mechanical failure.

“After checking that all on board were safe and following an assessment at the scene by the Helm, it was established that the necessary and safest course of action was that a tow line be established, and the boat taken to the safety of Larne Boat Club.”

A tow line was established, and the boat was safely returned to Larne Boat Club.

Speaking following the call out, Larne RNLI Helm, Scott Leitch said: “We would like to wish the crew well. The casualties had the means to contact the Coastguard and did the right thing when they realised that they had broken down.

“We would encourage anyone planning a trip to sea to check their vessels and ensure engines are well maintained. When going out, always carry adequate tools and spares and ensure you have enough fuel for your journey.

“If you do get into difficulty or see someone else in trouble, call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.”

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Celtic were beaten 3-0 by Rangers at Ibrox in the Old Firm derby as Martin O’Neill was left to reflect on a damaging defeat that exposed clear weaknesses in his side

Martin O’Neill disclosed that Haissem Hassan was absent from his Premier Sports Cup starting XI because he failed to get any sleep before the Ibrox clash.

However, it’s the Celtic manager who may now be facing restless nights ahead. This performance was the kind of nightmare that will leave the Northern Irishman troubled for quite some time.

O’Neill has witnessed plenty of Old Firm encounters to recognise when there’s simply an off day or when matches are decided by flashes of brilliance or individual moments. Yet this comprehensive 3-0 defeat in Govan wasn’t down to unfortunate circumstances.

Instead, it laid bare the vulnerabilities that Celtic supporters were already conscious of and worried could be exploited during the intense battle of a derby.

That’s why minor adjustments might not suffice in the days ahead, with another clash against Rangers looming on Sunday and a Europa League fixture against Ferencvaros sandwiched in between, reports the Daily Record.

Hassan ought to be fully refreshed by then, but Celtic could have benefited from his presence during a dismal first-half display at Ibrox before he was introduced after the interval.

O’Neill explained: “He had an overnight problem, and he didn’t get much sleep in all honesty, so it was just a matter of not starting him because of that. That’s the reason, really.”

Hassan represented just one concern on Glasgow’s South Side amongst numerous others. Celtic’s fragile midfield was overwhelmed, with Mika Baur consumed by the derby debut whirlwind while Benjamin Nygren was effectively nullified by James Penrice’s man-marking.

That left Callum McGregor in the King Cnut position, desperately attempting to stem the flow. Similar to the harsh Champions League qualifier in Austria, the obvious absence of midfield strength was exposed once more.

Rangers dominated proceedings, though the alarm bells had been ringing for Celtic for some time.

Clear issues emerged during the capitulation against LASK, yet even teams such as St Mirren, St Johnstone, Dundee United and Kilmarnock found space to fashion numerous opportunities against O’Neill’s side.

When it was suggested to the manager that Celtic’s defensive organisation has been questionable, and they surrender the ball too readily under pressure, O’Neill responded: “Yes, I absolutely agree with you. I think we can do much, much better than that. I think we can get the ball back a bit more quickly than we certainly did today, and start getting back to dominating. So we’ll see what next Sunday brings.

“In normal circumstances, I wouldn’t mind just a full week to look at a few things and maybe work on a couple of things.

“But yes, we had players today who were below par, and well below par, and that’s not a great mix.”

Derek McInnes surprised many with his three-at-the-back system and Penrice operating as an additional midfielder.

By the time Celtic recognised the formation and adjusted their approach, the match was already slipping beyond their grasp. O’Neill expressed no shock at Rangers’ tactical setup or work rate.

He commented: “I think you have to be able to deal with it. You deal with any sort of permutation that the opposition put in front of you. That’s their prerogative, to do exactly that. I’m not so sure it’s always to do with systems. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn’t.

“But if you do misplace a lot of passes, when you have comfortable possession, I don’t think that’s got to do with the systems, myself.

“I think we did misplace a lot of passes today when we were comfortable and choosing the wrong option when we were on the counter-attack.”

O’Neill withdrew Sebastian Tounekti at half-time, though several others might have been candidates for an early exit.

However, O’Neill has consistently been a manager prepared to protect his squad and absorb criticism himself.

He adopted that approach once more in the depths of Ibrox, and was particularly eager to support one of his younger squad members.

O’Neill stated: “I think young Colby Donovan has come out of this with great credit. I think he’s an absolute warrior.

“Sometimes we misplace passes, but he’s got a big heart. I think we can all learn from that. And because of the size of his heart, he was booked in the first half, but he kept going right to the end.

“He was booked against St Mirren after about eight or nine minutes, still kept going. In terms of heart and desire, he’s been a big plus for us.”

As for the others?

Praise was in shorter supply than accurate passes. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone endured a difficult first appearance, while high-profile summer acquisitions Kasper Hogh, Camilo Duran and Baur struggled to warrant their substantial transfer fees, and several deadline day additions only featured when the match was already beyond reach.

It proved to be a stern education for certain players.

O’Neill explained: “I want people to experience these games, because what other way am I going to learn about what people can or cannot do? What I don’t want to do is just put people in so that I can learn something from it.

“The main object is obviously to try and win, and it’s a fine balancing act from me. A lot of boys, Kieran Tierney and Callum, people like this here, and James Forrest, they’ve all won here when there’s been big crowds. And I think they’ve won.

“They’ve played here before, so I don’t know. But certainly for some of the younger and newer lads, it’s an experience that I don’t think they’ll forget.”

The manager won’t be forgetting it either.

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Early on Monday morning, Kristersson said it remained unclear who would form the next government.

“The voters have had their say, but we still don’t have a final result. Which government will lead Sweden in the coming years is still an open question,” he told supporters.

No major media outlets have declared a winner yet.

Sweden uses a mandate distribution voting system, a proportional representation method to elect “mandates”, or “seats”, in the Riksdag – the Swedish parliament. A party needs at least 4% of the vote to enter parliament.

With 94% of votes reported, the left-wing bloc led by the Social Democrats was ahead with 176 mandates compared to the right-wing bloc’s 173.

Sweden has two major political blocs featuring four parties on the right and four on the left – meaning coalition and minority governments are relatively common.

On Sunday night, Andersson – the leader of the country’s main opposition party – urged supporters to wait for the final result, but added that if the current results hold, “Sweden will have a new government.”

Her party, the Social Democrats, have been a major force in Swedish politics since the end of World War Two.

But SD – founded by Nazi sympathisers in the 1980s – had been shunned for years until 2022 when it became the country’s second largest party after campaigning on violent crime and immigration.

Both Andersson’s party and the far-right SD have lost support, according to early count results.

As of Monday morning, the Social Democrats were on track for their worst result in more than a century with 28 per cent, while the count showed the far-right SD party was losing support for the first time since 2010 when it entered the Riksdag.

Other parties comprising the left-wing bloc, including the Left Party, Greens and Centre Party have increased their support.

Turnout also dropped to approximately 80%, down four points compared to the 2022 poll.

After casting her vote on Sunday, Andersson laid out the choice facing the Swedish public: “Should we have a government entirely dominated by the Sweden Democrats, something that has never happened in Sweden before? Or should we have a government led by me, which will steer Sweden in a new spirit of co-operation?”

Kristersson, for his part, said it was important he and his alliance were able to continue their work.

“I think there is a genuine enthusiasm for us being able to continue our important work,” he said after casting his ballot in his home municipality of Strangnas.

National security, gang crime and welfare spending dominated the election campaign.

The 63-year-old won nine leagues and seven Irish Cups in his 17 years with Linfield. But this season could not have started much worse

David Jeffrey admits he wouldn’t blame Portadown fans for questioning his appointment after starting the season with six straight defeats.

The latest loss was particularly hard to swallow as they were beaten 2-0 at home by a Larne side who had Kevin O’Hara sent off in the 26th minute for a high boot that left Lewis MacKinnon with a bloody nose.

Portadown were already a goal behind at that stage and they failed to make the extra man count, leaving Jeffrey exasperated at the final whistle.

Reflecting on the campaign so far, the 63-year-old, who won nine leagues and seven Irish Cups in his 17 years with Linfield, said: “It has been challenging. We’ve had our difficulties.

“It certainly isn’t what I expected. It certainly isn’t what other people expected.

“But we find ourselves in the situation that we find ourselves in. You simply stand tall and go forward again.

“Regardless of how challenging it is, I didn’t think it was going to be in this situation. I’m sure supporters weren’t either, and I wouldn’t blame supporters for asking, ‘What on earth are we doing bringing that man Jeffrey in?’. I wouldn’t blame them, absolutely not.

“All I know is that every hour of every day, time has been given to Portadown Football Club, and we have tried to do so much so quickly, but through all of that work, all of what we’ve done, we are being severely punished for individual errors, and for errors which are preventable.”

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By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR

Published: 22:30 BST, 13 September 2026 | Updated: 02:52 BST, 14 September 2026

School lunch classics like fish and chips will be overhauled as part of a Government war on childhood obesity.

From next September, schools will no longer be allowed to serve deep-fried foods – and every meal must come with vegetables or salad.

It means the traditional ‘fish and chips Friday’ lunches loved by many pupils will still be permitted, but must be prepared using oven baking instead.

In addition, sweetened desserts such as cake, waffles and ice cream can only be served twice a week in secondary schools, and once in primary schools – and must include a portion of fruit.

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Previously, cakes and desserts were allowed every lunchtime.

The new food standards, published by the Department for Education (DfE), were developed alongside nutritionists and are backed by campaigners including TV chef Jamie Oliver and actress Dame Emma Thompson.

However, last night the Tories criticised the reforms, saying there are ‘much bigger things on the nation’s plate’.

Matt Vickers, party deputy chairman, said: ‘Our Armed Forces are crumbling, but Andy Burnham has decided his priority is taking pudding off the menu.

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School lunch classics like fish and chips will be overhauled as part of a Government war on childhood obesity (file image)

‘The only thing wobblier than Andy Burnham’s defence policy is the jelly he’s trying to ban.’

Under the new rules, all bread must be at least half wholemeal in its composition – whereas previously it could be all white.

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There are also new restrictions on processed meat products, such as sausages and chicken nuggets, which can only be served once a week.

And all pasta must be at least 50 per cent wholewheat at must be served least once a week, as must pulses such as lentils.

Condiments will also have new regulations, with only reduced salt and sugar ketchup permitted and chocolate spread not allowed.

Meanwhile, breakfast clubs, which previously had no specifications, must not include pastries, fried eggs and high-sugar cereals.

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Other restrictions will be placed on sugary drinks and foods high in fat and salt such as pizzas and sausage rolls.

Each school will be expected to publish their menus and food policies online to help boost compliance.

From next September, schools will no longer be allowed to serve deep-fried foods – and every meal must come with vegetables or salad (Pictured: Education Secretary Lucy Powell)

They will also be expected to nominate a school food governor who will hold schools to account for the meals on offer.

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The DfE will work with the Food Standards Agency on a plan to monitor schools, with details to follow in the coming months.

The changes come in response to data showing around one in three children are leaving primary school overweight or obese, while tooth decay is the leading cause of hospital admissions for youngsters aged five to nine.

Education Secretary Lucy Powell said: ‘These are once-in-a-generation changes that will transform school food for children across the country.

‘This is what change looks like: healthier food, fuller stomachs and a fairer start for every child.’

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However, Pepe Di’Iasio, general secretary of the ASCL heads’ union, said: ‘The current funding rate for free school meals is not enough to cover costs and many schools have to divert money from teaching and learning in order to afford this vital provision.

‘It is a case of having to rob Peter to pay Paul.’

By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR

Published: 01:50 BST, 14 September 2026 | Updated: 02:44 BST, 14 September 2026

NFL fans were left in raptures by an ‘incredible’ performance of the US national anthem ahead of the New York Giants‘ season opener. 

The Giants faced divisional rivals, the Dallas Cowboys, in Week 1 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday night – just two days after the 25th anniversary of 9/11 was commemorated in New York. 

The New York franchise honored the victims of the attacks with a touching pregame ceremony before a joint NYPD-FDNY quintet performed the Star-Spangled Banner. 

The quintet, dressed in uniform, delivered a beautiful a cappella rendition of the national anthem. 

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The ‘gorgeous’ performance on an emotional occasion for the city of New York and the neighboring areas was praised by gushing fans on social media. 

‘Goosebumps. Full body goosebumps. Absolutely gorgeous rendition of the National Anthem,’ one social media user wrote on X. 

In a week of remembrance across the United States, the Joint NYPD FDNY Quintet sings the National Anthem ahead of kickoff. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/9Y4YTDYNI6

— Sunday Night Football on NBC (@SNFonNBC) September 14, 2026

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NFL fans were left in raptures by an ‘incredible’ performance of the US national anthem

The New York Giants held a pregame ceremony to honor the victims of the 9/11 attacks 

‘Incredible national anthem. Well done, New York. Never forget,’ shared another. 

A third said that they had ‘chills during that National Anthem.’

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A fourth posted: ‘Nice job on the National Anthem. And the right people to do it. #SNF.’ 

‘Amazing National Anthem. God bless America,’ gushed a fifth, as another added: ‘Beautiful 9/11 tribute, National Anthem, and pregame festivities in NY.’ 

Before the national anthem was performed the Giants commemorated the 25th anniversary of the attacks on the Twin Towers. 

The spectators inside MetLife Stadium remembered the victims of the attacks with a moment of silence.

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During the stadium-wide remembrance, a photo montage, provided by season ticket members, of lives lost on 9/11 was displayed on the videoboards.

Two columns of light were illuminated in one endzone, replicating the image of the fallen towers into the night sky. 

The Giants players took the field accompanied by a motorcade of police motorcycles 

Players and coaches from both the Giants and the Cowboys wore commemorative t-shirts

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Fireworks illuminate the sky above MetLife Stadium during the Star-Spanged Banner 

Earlier in the evening, fans arriving at MetLife Stadium were welcomed by Ladder 343, a ceremonial FDNY firetruck named to honor the 343 members of the FDNY who lost their lives on September 11, 2001.

Outside the gates of the stadium, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation also concluded their Steel Across America tour with an authentic steel beam from the World Trade Center displayed, creating a visible reminder of the resilience and unity that emerged in the aftermath of 9/11. 

Players and coaches from both the Giants and the Cowboys wore commemorative NYPD, FDNY and PAPD pregame apparel, along with ‘Never Forget’ t-shirts.

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Meanwhile, the Giants took the field led by New York City first responders, who formed a gauntlet for the team to run through. 

Giants legends from the 2001 team, including Jessie Armstead, Tiki Barber, Kerry Collins and Jason Sehorn, joined uniformed first responders for the ‘Go Big Blue’ chant before kickoff.