The small settlement was once a charming place but has since been lost in time

Throughout history, Cambridgeshire has seen multiple villages come and go, almost as if they never existed. These places would have been tight-knit communities centuries ago, but nowadays people probably don’t even realise they once existed.

This is the case for the once-charming village of Clopton – an abandoned medieval area with history extending back to the Roman occupation. It was located around a mile south-west of Croydon in Cambridgeshire. The village, which is referenced in the 1086 Domesday Book, had only 18 people recorded as living there.

However, in medieval times, the two communities had an above average population. Although, like many villages in the area there was slow decline in population.

The village was granted a Friday market in the 13th-century by Robert Hoo, Lord of Clopton and its name ‘Clopton’ suggests it may have been given the status of a town. The name means ‘town or settlement on a hill’.

It’s believed the village was deserted between 1500 and 1518 after John Fisher, a London lawyer, purchased the land from the Clopton family in 1489. Following his purchase, he evicted the villagers to make way for enclosures.

Archaeologists located the site from the little-left remains of the village. These included the parish church of Saint Mary, two moated sites, and a probable mill.

The church was recorded as being in poor repair by 1561, which is the same year it is believed that Clopton merged with neighbouring Croydon to its east, and it was subsequently demolished and turned over to agriculture by 1660.

Today, the site is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument and consists mainly of earthworks.

“If you’re going through a tough time, you will get out at the other end.”

When Chloe McConnell was younger, she had always thought about going to university, but believed it was unreachable for her. Doing her GCSEs during the pandemic, her grades were predicted and she thought she would never go into higher education.

After the sudden death of her mum when she was just 19-years-old, she was left looking after the house, and fell into self-destructive behaviours. But it was one opportunity volunteering at her local youth club that turned things around for good.

Three years ago, Chloe walked through the doors of St Peter’s Immaculata Youth Centre in West Belfast and began volunteering as a youth worker. Two weeks ago, she graduated from Ulster University with a certificate in community youth studies, and returns to the university in September for a four-year degree.

Speaking to Belfast Live about her journey so far, the 22-year-old said: “I grew up in West Belfast and when it was time for me to do my GCSEs, it was during coronavirus and all my grades were predicted, so I left with none really. University always felt really unreachable for me.

“When I was 19, my mummy died suddenly of a heart attack. I was left with all these bigger responsibilities like looking after a house, it was really hard. It was tough and I’m not afraid to admit that, but I had a really good support group around me like my sister and family.

“Losing my mummy was really tough, she was my best friend, we did everything together. We were so close. I have moments where I feel like I need my mummy; everybody needs their mummy.

“When my mummy died and I had all the responsibilities, it was a big pressure financially and mentally. It was really overwhelming at times, my social life went out the window. But in here, they put me through different qualifications. They got me support when I needed it.”

Chloe said she never would have pictured herself becoming a youth worker, but said it’s a profession she’s fallen in love with.

“It was something I never really thought about, but I started volunteering here and just fell in love with it, and I’ve been here for three years now,” she explained.

“Stephen Hughes [senior youth worker at the youth centre] has been absolutely amazing and thanks to him, I’ll be able to give the young people the opportunities given to me, like university and all those things I thought were unreachable growing up.

“The youth centre helped put me through university and I graduated two weeks ago with a community youth studies certificate through Youth Action. In September, I will go back to Ulster University and will stay there again for another four years for a part-time community studies degree.”

Through her experience, Chloe said she is able to help other young people who attend the youth centre and may be going through a difficult period.

She said: “There are a couple of kids in here that go through the same things I do, and sometimes you don’t even need to have a conversation – you can feel the pain they’re going through. You’re able to help them through your own experiences.

“Kids can come in here and it’s a safe space. It’s so much more than a game of snooker or just going on a trip – it’s a lifeline for some young people. It’s an absolute honour to be a part of these young people’s lives.”

Looking back on how far she has come and what she wants to do next, Chloe said she is so proud of herself, and wishes she could reassure her younger self.

“Looking back on the girl I was when everything happened, I wish I could go back and tell her it was going to be okay. That I was stressing myself out for nothing,” she added.

“When I was graduating, it’s something you want to go and tell your mummy about. To go through everything I did and still be able to graduate, it really gives me hope for the young people in here and around West Belfast.

“Becoming a youth worker is the best thing I have ever done, and I’m very proud of myself.”

Offering advice to any young people who may be struggling, Chloe said: “When something bad happens there’s two ways you can go about it. It can make you or break you.

“Don’t get me wrong, there was a period of time in my life where I was going through self-destructive behaviours, then I was like no this isn’t me. This isn’t who I am.

“I would say that anything is possible no matter what. If you’re going through a tough time, you will get out at the other end. There is always light at the end of the tunnel and you’ll find your way there.

“Everybody grieves differently and struggles with things differently. You don’t always have to be alone, there are places you can go to like your local youth centre, and see what is out there for you. There are plenty of opportunities there for you.”

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

She was the last of the Spice Girls to walk down the aisle, but Melanie Chisholm has married Australian model Chris Dingwall at the age of 52.

Ms Chisholm, better known as Sporty Spice, or Mel C, said ‘I do’ dressed in a simple white, floor length gown while clutching a wildflower meadow bouquet of flowers at the Country House Cumbria in the Lake District on Saturday.

She was joined by her bandmates Emma Bunton, Melanie Brown and Geri Halliwell-Horner but Victoria Beckham was unable to attend as she is in the US at the World Cup.

Despite Posh’s absence, guests say that it was a ‘perfect’ ceremony where Ms Chisholm’s daughter Scarlett, 17, from her relationship with property developer Thomas Starr, acted as a bridesmaid.

However, there was a slight hiccup when a herd of cows from a nearby farm ran towards the Georgian venue while the singer and Mr Dingwall were saying their vows. Guests looked alarmed when they saw the animals.

Sources say that the couple wanted an ‘intimate’ wedding, and while they were joined by her fellow Spice Girls, it was expected to be a small affair.

A source told the Daily Mail: ‘Mel and Chris wanted an understated wedding, she didn’t want a big flashy day but something smaller and very classy. 

‘Mel swore she would never get married having a big do wasn’t really for her.

‘It is the perfect venue for them, totally out of the way but in the most beautiful place and everyone had the most fantastic time.

‘Victoria couldn’t be there but she loves Mel, and she will have made sure that she sent a beautiful present.’

Nestled in the picturesque Cumbrian countryside, the Country House Cumbria claims to be the ‘perfect setting for an elopement, small, sophisticated wedding’ which Ms Chisholm is said to have been keen to have.

It is owned by West End actor Ben Forster who starred alongside her on rock musical Jesus Christ Superstar in 2013 and property developer Paul Longman.

Ms Chisholm met Mr Dingwall, thought to be in his 40s, in 2023 on the exclusive dating app, Raya.

She admitted she originally thought she was finished with romance following her split from previous long-term partners, including Mr Starr.

Mel said ‘I do’ at the Country House Cumbria in the Lake District in a ‘simple and intimate’ ceremony, with all of her Spice Girls bandmates, except Victoria, in attendance

Mel went public with Australian model and writer Chris in 2024 after months of speculation about their romance 

But during a night out at the pub, her friends convinced her to download the app, turning the search for a partner into a game they jokingly dubbed ‘boy Bingo.’

Mel matched with Chris while she was in London and he was living in Sydney.

Despite the distance, she had an upcoming Australian DJ tour planned and decided to take a chance on the model.

Mel recently opened up about her future with Chris – and whether wedding bells could be in their plans. 

She told The Times in January: ‘It’s something I didn’t think would be part of my story, but I’m so happy with Chris. Maybe it is something that will be in my life.’

In May she explained how elements of her new album Sweat were inspired by her boyfriend.

She said: ‘Not long into making the record, I met somebody new, I fell in love, and so I ended up having this wonderful arc of emotions throughout the album – of heartbreak and then that excitement of a new relationship.’ 

She added to the Telegraph: ‘He’s very laid-back. He’s loads of fun… we work out together. We have very similar personalities and lifestyles.’

Mel had previously sworn off marriage but in a recent interview she admitted her deep loneliness during her Spice Girls years contributed to her battle with depression.

The singer wrote about her clinical depression diagnosis in her 2022 memoir, revealing how she hit rock bottom when the Spice Girls split in 2000 and her issues with binge drinking and binge eating intensified.

Mel has explained how her depression ‘was very environmental’ and stemmed in part from feeling ‘lonely’.

At the height of the Spice Girls’ fame in the late nineties, most of Mel’s bandmates were settled in relationships. Victoria had married and welcomed her first child with David Beckham by 1999, Mel B married first husband Jimmy Gulzar in 1998 and also had her first child whilst Emma Bunton began her romance with her now-husband Jade Jones in 1999.

Geri Halliwell was meanwhile enjoying a string of high profile romances, leading Mel to admit she felt left behind.

Speaking on The Louis Theroux Podcast she said being single ‘has been quite a big theme of my adult life, really. It was a long time before I was in a long-term relationship.’

She insisted that she never dated a fan, explaining that the perception of sex and fame going hand in hand was wide of the mark. 

‘It’s completely different. I mean, don’t get me wrong, other people had a better success rate than I did,’ the popstar explained.

‘You know, like historically with boy bands or rock bands, it’s like, “oh, you know, pick a member of the crowd… bring her back”. Our gigs weren’t like that.’

‘They were full of young girls and gays, which are the best audience. You just don’t get any action. But it was quite lonely for me at times.

‘I think there was many times in the band when we were working together where I was the only one without a partner… I would have liked to have dated. I had a dry spell. That’s what we call it.’

She added that her depression came from ‘the experiences that I’d had, and just getting to that point where I couldn’t continue living the way I was living’.

‘That was a really long road back to health, and I never really stopped. It was a different time as well because I probably would have benefited to go off and have some time to heal, but I was touring and promoting my solo stuff,’ she said.

Mel did have some high profile romances in the nineties, including a brief, month-long fling with Robbie Williams in 1997 at the height of their ’90s pop fame. 

In her 2022 memoir, Mel writes about how she was left heartbroken by Robbie after he ‘behaved badly’ with her, claiming that the Take That star led her on and then ‘abruptly’ dropped her, which left her heartbroken.

‘It was a million years ago and lasted two seconds. Oh God, that sounds really bad. Oh, well,’ she told Louis Theroux.

Mel went on to have a four-month romance in 2000 with another boyband star – J Brown from 5ive, with the star admitting she is still friends with her ‘lovely’ ex. 

‘I’ve not spoken to him for a while actually, but he’s an ex I’ve remained friends with. I don’t remain friends with many exes, but he’s a lovely boy,’ she said.

‘I saw Robbie recently. I mean, God, we were kids. Do you know what I mean? It’s like we’re talking like, 20-odd years ago. Nearly 30 years ago. It’s a long time.’

Olivia Attwood and Pete Wicks shared a passionate kiss on their first outing as a new couple in London on Friday.

The loved-up new couple, who went Instagram official this week, couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they stepped outside for some alone time. 

After months of soft-launching their romance, Olivia and Pete packed on the PDA following the launch party for her new collection with Tatti Lashes.

Olivia, 35, and Pete, 37, shared a passionate kiss before they headed home in a private car together.

Pete shared an array of loved-up snaps from their holiday this week to hard launch their romance.

Sending fans wild, Pete captioned the post: ‘I guess someone has to go first…IBIZA’.

Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson was quick to comment as he replied: ‘Never thought I’d see the day YOU hard launch!! couldn’t be happier for you brother’.

Olivia and Pete began dating back in February after she split from her husband Bradley Dack, and last week they were seen cosying up together during their Ibiza holiday.

The loved-up new couple, who went Instagram official this week, couldn’t keep their hands off each other as they stepped outside for some alone time

Rumours of Olivia and Pete’s romance began last summer after intimate pictures of the pair on a boat were captured. 

The pair went on a trip with KISS and were seen putting on a flirty and cosy display on a yacht. 

It caused uproar at the time as Olivia was still married to Bradley – who she split from months later, in January this year.

Addressing the snaps on Olivia’s House, a Platform Media original show, Olivia said: ‘Okay, let’s talk to my listeners about the yacht pictures with Pete.

‘Because there is a funny story here. Just as a subtext, okay I was obviously leaning back on [Pete] on the yacht, but nothing happened.’

Pete spoke about their romance for the first time the week before, after the couple enjoyed a holiday together in St Tropez.

The couple were spotted sharing steamy kisses by the pool at the celeb-favourite haunt Nikki Beach club this month.

On a recent episode of his Staying Relevant podcast with best pal Sam, Pete opened up about the Mediterranean getaway for the first time.

He said: ‘It was delightful. Switched off from the world as much as I could.’ 

After months of soft-launching their romance, Olivia and Pete packed on the PDA following the launch party for her new collection with Tatti Lashes

Olivia, 35, and Pete, 37, shared a passionate kiss before they headed home in a private car together

Olivia and Pete began dating back in February after she split from her husband Bradley Dack, and last week they were seen cosying up together during their Ibiza holiday

Rumours of Olivia and Pete’s romance began last summer after intimate pictures of the pair on a boat were captured

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Pete was ever the gentleman as he opened the door for Olivia

The pair couldn’t stop laughing as they stepped outside for a cigarette

Pete wrapped his arms around Olivia

Olivia looked stunning in a sequin pink dress for her party

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The couple waited for the taxi to arrive

Pete held Olivia’s hand during the outing

The grinning TOWIE star couldn’t wipe the smile off his face

Sam couldn’t resist bringing up the pictures of Pete and Olivia smooching, which were taken by an onlooker staying at the same resort.

He asked: ‘Question, if you don’t mind, why I’ve never been locked in an embrace with you in a pool? I’ve never been in that position with you before, you looked so comfortable and relaxed.’

Deliberately dodging Sam’s question, Pete replied: ‘I had a very, very lovely holiday.’

Earlier this week Olivia broke her silence on their romance as she confessed that Pete has ‘gone soft,’ after he sent her a huge bouquet of red roses while she was away in Ibiza.

The revelation came during the latest episode of Pete’s podcast Staying Relevant, which saw his co-host Sam interview brothers Ryan, Adam and Scott Thomas.

Pete was absent from the show due to his holiday, and Ryan shared that he’d asked Olivia to send him a message offering some insight into the TOWIE star, leaving host Sam aghast.

He said: ‘I asked my friend, if she had any gossip for me, because I’m going on Staying Relevant, and this friend of mine, you might know her, she’s called Olivia Attwood.’

‘I said “yes Liv, me and the boys are doing Staying Relevant today, got anything on Pete we can talk about?”

‘She went “Hi honey, what are you thinking? He sent me a hundred red roses to my set in Ibiza, because he’s gone soft.”

Pete shared an array of loved-up snaps from their holiday this week to hard launch their romance 

Pete’s best friend Sam Thompson was quick to comment as he replied: ‘Never thought I’d see the day YOU hard launch!! couldn’t be happier for you brother’

Olivia previously revealed on Instagram that Pete sent her a bouquet of roses while she was away for a lengthy spell in Ibiza filming her reality show Bad Boyfriends.

At the time she also shared the message Pete had sent her saying he wanted to make her ‘feel better,’ as she battled a nasty hangover following a night of partying on the island.

Shortly after splitting from Bradley, Olivia accused him of cheating on her multiple times. Despite their huge ITV wedding, they never made their union legally binding.

The television personality admitted on Gogglebox: ‘I didn’t think my first marriage would be amazing, but I didn’t think it would be that bad.

‘I’ve decided now I am going to get married a few times, or engaged, because I like the ring.’

After her split from Bradley, Olivia spoke out about what ‘mistruths’ are as she claimed Bradley ‘lied and cheated’ during their relationship, and now she feels like a ‘f*****g idiot’.

The television personality also denied trying to trick fans over her fake wedding scandal, and confirmed her new romance with Pete.

Olivia wrote: ‘I have stood by Brad for the last ten years during which he lied and cheated on me multiple times. The breakdown of our relationship is because of this.

‘I was in love with him and the potential I saw in him and wanted always to help him try to be the best version of himself – as I did for ten years – covering up. Lying to my family and friends. Arranging therapy. Believing the grovelling apologies.

‘I of course now feel like a f*****g idiot. (Especially as more things come to the surface) I never wanted to say any of this. I find the whole situation utterly humiliating.’

The sister of a 24-year-old mother who was stabbed and killed as she lay in bed with her husband and baby in west London on Sunday has said “she was my world”.

Kirandeep Kaur, who was originally from India, was fatally attacked at her home in Hayes.

Speaking through a translator from the Majha region of Punjab, India, her sister Gursharan told BBC London: “She is everything for me, she video calls me and my mum. What are we going to do without her?”

A man has been charged with Kaur’s murder.

Gursharan, who is 21, said her sister came to London looking for a better job so she could support her family.

“My sister moved to the UK in September 2024 to study at Buckinghamshire New University.

“She completed her studies and worked at a grocery store.

“We spoke to each other on the phone. But she hasn’t been back, so I haven’t seen her.

“When she reached London – she told me it was beautiful and she was happy.”

Gusharan said her sister was “very intelligent”.

“She was the top of her class here in India when she was studying, she’s a very hard worker. She loved us all very much.”

Gusharan added: “Our family is very poor. She always thinks about us first. She was very supportive to me. She was my world. My heart hurts.”

Josh Kerr shattered the 27-year-old world mile record at London Stadium on Saturday in extraordinary scenes.

The 28-year-old Brit, roared on by a capacity 60,000 crowd at the London Diamond League meeting, ran a time of three minutes 42.68 seconds to break Hicham El Guerrouj’s long-standing mark by 0.45 seconds.

He had targeted a 222-second race, and he pulled it off to become the sixth British athlete in history to hold the record for the distance. 

El Guerrouj set his world record in 1999 when British record holder Kerr was only one year old.

The 2023 world 1500m champion announced in March that his intention was to break the Moroccan’s record on home soil, and he framed a training regime which included 222-second-long recovery ice baths to help make it a reality. 

‘It’s very overwhelming with the amount of hype [I created]. 

‘It’s silly to call [the attempt] that early because there’s a lot of things which can go wrong, but I am surrounded by amazing people and was able to stay consistent and put the work in,’ Kerr told BBC Sport.

‘If I am to leave my mark on this sport as a British legend, following in the footsteps of the legends behind me, I have to put in those performances.

Kerr set off at speed in front of 60,000 people at the London Diamond League Meeting today

Kerr had a targeted 222-second race and pulled it off to become the sixth British athlete in history to hold the record for the distance

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Kerr victorious after winning the one mile men’s final and setting a new world record 

The Scotsman had the crowd on their feet as he pulled off the daring challenge to the world record

‘Those performances take every single part of you, every single part of your team. 

‘The amount of work behind the scenes is incredible. Today, it was a performance I was able to bring out – I just hoped it would be a little bit faster!’

Kerr, who was presented with a cheque for £38,000 for breaking the record, shaved almost three seconds off his own personal best. 

The record had been untouched since 1999 – when Kerr would have been aged one. 

But it has now been bettered by almost half a second, making Kerr the sixth-fastest man in history over the mile. 

He was joined on the start line today by American Yared Nuguse, fourth on the all-time list and a fierce opponent to the Olympic silver medallist’s challenge.  

Nonetheless, the Scotsman came through victorious. He started off with two pacemakers, who both left by the 1,000-metre mark. 

His first 1,500m were faster than his British record for that distance and he did not stop there – continuing to the finish line with an emotional finish. 

He lifted his arms in elation as he crossed the finish line, punching the air as the crowd got to their feet. 

Josh Kerr has always made his daring ambitions known, having announced he would be aiming to smash the mile world record in London four months before this historic run. 

It’s a strong comeback for the athlete, who saw his gold medal dreams shattered at the World Championships in Tokyo last September when he suffered a calf injury. 

His coach, Danny Mackey, confirmed the Brit had set his sights on the mile world record months ago, and the pair had worked relentlessly since to make it happen today. 

Kerr even documented the training building up to Saturday’s world-record attempt. 

The endeavour was titled ‘Project 222’ – the total number of seconds standing between him and the world record. 

The documentary culminated in a 1,200m time trial which predicted he would be in good enough shape to achieve the world record, as Kerr clocked two minutes 42.45 seconds, leaving him with more than one minute to cover the remaining 400m. 

Kerr was kitted in specially designed spikes and a ‘bespoke speed suit’ by his sponsors Brooks in London for the world record attempt. 

He wore an all-in-one which had laser-cut perforations to improve breathability in the July heat and enhance his aerodynamics. 

This place has tasty food by the river, what more could you want?

I was writing a piece this week about the best beer gardens in Belfast, and that’s when I remembered just how idyllic Cutter’s Wharf was.

Cutter’s is tucked away in Stranmillis right along the banks of the River Lagan, and if you secure a spot outside, you will be able to watch the rowers practising.

The sun was shining this week, so I knew it was time to finally head down and give the food here a go.

What we ordered

• First up, we went for fish and chips, which came with a pot of mushy peas and tartare sauce.
• For the second dish, we went for honey chilli pork belly bites and a side of triple-cooked chips.
• Washed down with two ciders. (It was a very warm day)

What we liked

The portion sizes on both dishes were great, and they really didn’t hold back at all. The fish was absolutely massive and took up the full size of the plate, which we always like to see. This was a really solid fish and chips and the hefty side pots of mushy peas and tartare sauce will always go down well with me.

The pork belly bites were the star here and went down very well. They were well presented, and the honey chilli sauce went down an absolute treat for me.

The menu we had was essentially bar food and light bites, but it felt a little elevated beyond your usual pub grub. There are other menus throughout Cutter’s Wharf, but you have to sit inside for those, and I was not wasting a nice day.

What we didn’t like/would change

Honestly, there was one thing here, and that was the chips. They were supposed to be triple-cooked chips, and they didn’t really live up to that name in my eyes. Don’t get me wrong, though, they were fine, but I just expect those really crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside when I hear triple-cooked.

As much as I love a chip, this meal did not live or die on a chip because the rest was lovely.

How much it cost

Everything we got came to £47.90, which I do think was pretty good. However, if you take out the two ciders, it would bring it down to £34, which, to me, is a pretty reasonable price.

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a place to grab a bite to eat across the city with a view like this. It is such a peaceful place, with the river flowing by, lovely service, and chill music that really creates an atmosphere like very few other places in Belfast.

So take my advice, while the weather is nice, make your way to Cutter’s Wharf for a bit of food or even just a drink in the garden.

In the interest of fairness and transparency, we pay for all the meals and drinks we review. This ensures that we are giving accurate and honest representations of the food and service that we receive. So, unless we state otherwise that we were invited down, we have paid for the meal ourselves and visited without the knowledge of the eatery, so you can trust our opinions aren’t skewed by a freebie.

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

Careers which started 4,000 miles away in south Durham when both players took their first big steps up from youth football into the professional game, and they did so in the toughest of conditions at a club that was on the brink of collapse in a team that was prone to heavy defeat…

Dan Burn makes his first appearance in The Northern Echo in July 2008 winning the national finals of a Coalfields Regeneration Trust competition with Blyth Spartans (Image: NQ staff)

 WHEN Darlington signed Dan Burn on a Youth Training Scheme in July 2009, he was a 17-year-old trolley boy at Asda in his hometown of Blyth. When he left 19 months later, he had transformed into a central defender ready to play at the highest level of English football.

Burn had fallen out of Newcastle’s youth system aged 11 and Darlington spotted him playing for Blyth Spartans while studying sports science and collecting trolleys.

Dan Burn in the Darlington youth team at the start of 2010-11 season (Image: NQ staff)

Darlington youth team in April 2010 managed by Craig Liddle, left, and with Dan Burn standing head and shoulders above everyone else on the back row (Image: NQ staff)

He took two trains a day to travel to Darlington, which must have been deeply depressing experience as the club, riddled with debts, was losing its senior players and sliding out of the Football League.

Dan Burn makes debut for Darlington in a 5-0 defeat at Torquay United on December 12, 2009 (Image: NQ staff)

But this also provided him with his opportunity. With no defenders left, manager Steve Staunton gave the 6ft 7in youth his debut, as a substitute away at Torquay on December 12, 2009 (a 5-0 defeat) and then gave him his first start on March 6, 2010, at home against Torquay (a 3-1 defeat and the Quakers’ fifth defeat in a row).

Dan Burn rising above a Torquay player at the Darlington Arena on March 6, 2010 (Image: NQ staff)

Echo reporter Craig Stoddart made Burn man of the match, giving him six out of ten and saying that although he was at fault for Torquay’s first goal, it was “an otherwise solid first start”.

At the end of Burn’s first season, the Quakers were relegated into the Conference National league (now called the National League), and it wasn’t until midway through the 2010-11 season that new manager Mark Cooper gave Burn his chance.

Dan Burn uses his long legs to thwart Crawley striker Matt Tubbs (Image: NQ staff)

He played him in a 4-1 FA Trophy win over Bath that January, and then said: “He was outstanding, especially for a young lad. He’s calm with the ball, he’s aggressive in the air and he’s not a slouch. Based on that performance, he is better than I thought he was.”

Cooper quickly persuaded Burn – whom the Echo began referring to as a “starlet” – to sign a two-and-a-half year contract, but knew he would not stay at the club to see it out.

After a 1-0 home defeat to Gateshead, Cooper said Burn was “a million miles the best player on the pitch”, and added: “If I was a Premier League manager I’d sign him straight away. He’s 6ft 6in, he’s a left footed centre back and they don’t grow on trees.”

As Darlington played their way through to the FA Trophy final at Wembley, The Northern Echo Arena was besieged by scouts from the top clubs wanting to sign the starlet, and he made it into Scott Wilson’s North East team of the season.

“He might only have made 11 senior starts, but teenage defender Dan Burn has already done enough to establish himself as one of the most exciting prospects in North East football,” said Scott.

Dan Burn being fitted for his Wembley suit when Darlington reached the FA Trophy final in April 2014, but he wasn’t allowed to play by Fulham who had signed him for a record £350,000 (Image: Unknown)

Burn was fitted with an extra-long suit for Wembley, but never made it onto the pitch. Instead he signed for £350,000 – a Darlington record – for Fulham, who insisted he had a minor knee operation rather than mess around in a trophy match.

And so, after 19 appearances for the Quakers, in April 2011 Burn was on his way to the top flight, leaving behind a club that was peering deeper and deeper into an abyss of debt…

England’s Dan Burn at the World Cup (Image: Bradley Collyer)

JANUARY 17, 2012, was a day of drama unlike any other in Darlington FC’s 129 year history. With unresolvable debts of £1.8m, and a millstone of a 25,000 seater stadium hanging around the necks of the 2,000 fans, a midday deadline for additional funds expired, and so the club was terminated.

It ceased to exist. The Quakers had died.

Temporary manager Craig Liddle told the 10 remaining players that the game was up and their contracts had evaporated, and administrator Harvey Madden prepared to make the final, official, public announcement of the club’s demise.

At “the 13th hour”, two men – Shaun Campbell and Doug Embleton – screeched up to the stadium in a silver Peugeot 308.

Somehow they had raised £50,000, enough to keep the club afloat for a fortnight in the hope that a permanent solution might be found. They presented evidence of the money to the administrator before he administered the final rites and so although the club, founded in 1883, was gone, the playing side gained a stay of execution.

This meant that from somewhere, manager Liddle had to rustle up at least 11 players to fulfil Darlington’s next fixture, on January 21, 2012, against the big spending “Cod Army” of Fleetwood Town.

The football family, particularly the North East clubs, responded to the Quakers’ predicament, and offered reserve players on loan.

Strict league rules prevented many of the players signing on, but the position of goalkeeper was regarded as a specialist and so Sunderland’s 17-year-old reserve keeper was allowed in.

He was Jordan Pickford, born in Washington, who had been on Sunderland’s books since he was eight.

March 17, 2012, a dejected Jordan Pickford kicks the ball out of the back after the net after Ebbsfleet had scored at the Darlington Arena, condemning the Quakers to a 2-0 defeat (Image: NQ staff)

He made his debut for the Quakers against Fleetwood in front of a crowd, swelled by the prospect of seeing the club rise from the dead like Lazarus, of 5,638. There had been queues an hour before kick-off at the turnstiles.

But Quakers lost 1-0.

Pickford was joint man of the match, being awarded seven out of 10 by a discerning Stoddart – one more than Dan Burn earned on his debut. Craig said: “A fine display for the youngster, especially considering the occasion and that he is only 17.”

Jordan Pickford in the Darlington Arena as the Quakers lose to Ebbsfleet on March 17, 2012 (Image: NQ staff)

Pickford was only meant to stay a month but Sunderland agreed to extend his loan until the end of the season as Darlington tried to find, and fund, a future as a community-owned club.

Pickford, who has been England’s first choice keeper since 2018, has recently said that this was “my first taste of first‑team football, in the National League at the age of 17… I played nearly 20 games for them and it was quality. I really enjoyed it, despite the team getting battered every week during what was a difficult time for the club.”

Jordan Pickford in the Darlington Arena as the Quakers lose to Ebbsfleet on March 17, 2012 (Image: NQ staff)

A masterful understatement on many levels. Suddenly, the 17-year-old had to grow up. This was real life, where players with families and mortgages relied on being paid by a football club every week, and where a club’s supporters had huge emotional investment in every twist and turn of the fortunes.

Pickford played 17 games for the Quakers, and it was an understatement that he was just battered because he was filleted as well: Quakers drew six of those 17 and lost the rest with Pickford conceding 39 goals.

Jordan Pickford catches the ball for the Quakers against Mansfield Town on February 21, 2012 – he let in five that day (Image: NQ staff)

But at least he had learned how to pick the ball out of the back of the net.

As Pickford returned to Sunderland, Liddle reckoned he would take heart from keeping two clean sheets in his last five games (conveniently forgetting he had conceded nine in the other three), and said: “He’s got a big future ahead of him if he continues to listen and learn, which he will because he’s got a good character as well.

Jordan Pickford catches the ball for the Quakers against Mansfield Town on February 21, 2012 – he let in five that day (Image: NQ staff)

“He was bossing the penalty area and that’s what we wanted him to do.

“He’s become more and more confident. There’s been one or two errors, but you’d expect that because he’s only young.

“I’ve known him for a lot of years, since he was in the under-12s at Sunderland I think, and he’s got a bright future.

“Sunderland are grateful for him getting first-team experience and pleased with his progress.”

And so in April 2012, with Darlington relegated, Pickford was away back to Sunderland. He spent another four years gaining more experience on loan to lower league sides before in January 2016 breaking into the Sunderland first team and then, 10 months later, being called into the England senior squad.

Jordan Pickford extravagantly punches clear in his last game for the Quakers on April 17, 2012, against Newport County (Image: NQ staff)

Darlington, though, had left the 25,000 seater stadium in which both Burn and Pickford had played in front oceans of empty seats.

For its financial sins, the club was relegated four tiers to the Northern League Division One and was forced to groundshare with Bishop Auckland FC.

England’s Jordan Pickford (Image: Bradley Collyer)

In January 2014, the fan-owned club was campaigning to raise £50,000 to move back into Darlington so it could play at the town’s rugby club’s Blackwell Meadows.

But on January 4, 2014, the club’s old boy, Dan Burn made his first appearance for Fulham’s first team, in the FA Cup against Norwich. This triggered a further £75,000 payment to Darlington.

Despite the windfall, the club carried on its fundraising but it can be said that, having set Burn on the road to success, he helped pave its way back into the town.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. diagnosed actor Mark Ruffalo with a severe case of “Trump Derangement Syndrome” following a recent text message dispute between the two men.

During an appearance on the Fly Zone USA podcast, Kennedy claimed that the Marvel star was angry with him over his political alignment, Mediaite reported. When the host, Christian Mathis, clarified if Kennedy was referring to the Marvel Avengers star, Kennedy confirmed the interaction and detailed their private messages.

According to Kennedy, Ruffalo texted him stating, “You’re working for the stupidest man in America.”

Kennedy addressed the criticism on the podcast, admitting he previously held a similar view of President Donald Trump before working closely with him.

“Now you can say a lot about Trump — and a lot of Democrats believe he’s stupid — and I actually at one point believed that,” Kennedy said. “I believed he’s very superficial; he probably hasn’t read a book. Now that I know him, he has like an encyclopedic mind.”

Kennedy went on to praise the president’s range of knowledge, stating that Trump understood Wall Street financial structures, sports, theater, music and foreign policy in high detail.

“He knows everything about Wall Street, who made their money, how they made the money, what the deals look like,” Kennedy said.

Ruffalo has a long history of public opposition to Trump. During a 2025 interview with MS NOW at a “No Kings” rally, the actor asserted that Trump had “made himself a king and dictator.”

Trump dismissed the characterization last year, telling reporters on Air Force One that he was not a king but worked hard to improve the country, as reported by The Hill.

The text exchange follows years of public criticism directed at Trump by Ruffalo. As reported by The Independent in January, Ruffalo labeled Trump the “worst human being” during a red carpet appearance at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles.

At that event, Ruffalo and other celebrities wore promotional buttons supporting the “Be Good” campaign, an initiative backed by the ACLU and the National Domestic Workers Alliance to protest immigration enforcement actions. Speaking to USA Today on the red carpet, Ruffalo referenced recent U.S. military operations in Venezuela and heavily criticized Trump’s character.

“The only thing that matters to him is his own morality, but the guy is a convicted felon; a convicted rapist,” Ruffalo told reporters at the time. “He’s a pedophile.”

Trump has never been charged with or convicted of a criminal sex offense, including pedophilia.

Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May 2024. In a separate 2024 civil suit, a jury found Trump liable for the sexual abuse of E. Jean Carroll, who has since received $5.6 million in damages following the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Trump’s appeal. Trump continues to appeal a separate $83 million defamation judgment awarded to Carroll in a related trial.

Following those red carpet remarks, the White House directed The Independent to a public statement by White House Communications Director Steven Cheung. Cheung dismissed the criticisms on social media, calling Ruffalo “one of the worst actors in the business” and saying the activist was spreading falsehoods.

Spain‘s final training session before Sunday’s World Cup final has been cancelled due to thunderstorms wreaking havoc on the New York City area.

FIFA confirmed the schedule changeup Saturday and said that there would not be another time slot for the team to train.

Organizers did not say whether Argentina’s session, scheduled for 11:30 am local time (1530 GMT), would go ahead as planned.

“The Spanish national team’s training session on the pitches at the Melanie Lane Training Ground in New Jersey has been suspended in accordance with the US storm safety protocol,” the Spanish federation said in a statement.

“The players are currently taking part in a warm-up session indoors.”

The final will kick off at 3 p.m. local time (1900 GMT) on Sunday.

US choked by wildfire smoke ahead of final

The rain isn’t all bad news as it was expected to help dissipate thick wildfire smoke that has invaded the New York City area.

The eastern United States has been blanketed by heavy smoke this week, stemming from hundreds of wildfires burning across Canada and prompting widespread air quality warnings from officials.

Spain trained outside in the hazardous conditions Friday despite calls from experts to remain inside due to the health risks.

The World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium is expected to face minimal impact from the wildfire smoke, forecaster AccuWeather said Friday. A crowd of more than 80,000 is set to attend football’s biggest prize.

While air quality in East Rutherford, New Jersey, may still register below “good levels” on Sunday, AccuWeather predicts a notable improvement from the “poor to unhealthy” conditions anticipated for Saturday.

Meteorologist Adam Douty stated: “It may still not be considered good, but it should not be as bad as Saturday. It will also be less humid compared to Saturday, which will make for more comfortable conditions.”

The New York New Jersey region smelled of smoke under hazy skies this week, as local authorities urged residents to reduce strenuous outdoor activity.