“Signed from AS Roma in the summer of 2017, the No.11 has firmly established himself as one of the greatest players in Liverpool’s history, helping the club to two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups, as well as an FA Community Shield.

Barry Hearn says the decision for the World Snooker Championship to stay at the Crucible until 2045 was uniquely sentimental in his career and did come with a dissenting voice.

The tournament has been held at the Sheffield theatre since 1977 and the previous contract was due to expire in 2027, until a huge new agreement was reached between World Snooker Tour and Sheffield City Council.

There will now be £45m spent on the Crucible, which will see the venue renovated and expanded to around 1,500 seats, from its current capacity of just under 1,000.

The work will take around 18 months and start in the summer of 2028, meaning the 2029 and possibly 2030 editions will be held elsewhere, before returning to a revamped Crucible until 2045, with an option to extend to 2050.

While negotiations were ongoing, Matchroom Sport president Hearn talked up the possibilities of moving abroad to vast arenas, with the potential of huge investment from the Middle East or China.

Instead the tournament remains in the iconic, historic venue, which will be bigger and better than ever when the work is complete.

The 77-year-old admits feelings, and not just cold hard cash, played a part in the decision-making, having made his great career breakthrough in the venue as Steve Davis’ manager when the Nugget won the 1981 World Championship.

Asked if sentiment had ever played such a part in a big deal before, he said: ‘No, never, never.

‘The reason for that being my life changed in 1981 when [Steve] Davis won the world title. Matchroom was a £100 company. It was formed in 1982 on the back of a Crucible win. Suddenly I had someone to promote. He was a world champion.

‘Matchroom is now the biggest sports promotion company in the world. It all started with the Crucible, really.

‘So that’s where sentiment – mind you, I’m still a hard-nosed bastard. I want my pound of flesh out of everybody – but there’s certain things where you’d hate yourself for doing it.’

He added: ‘The Crucible has grown with us as Matchroom has become a global force, we did so on the back of the Crucible roots and we would have felt like we’d lost an arm had we not stayed here.’

There were lengthy negotiations over the extension of the tournament’s stay in Sheffield, with the significant investment in redevelopment coming from local and national government funding, along with money from the private sector

‘It was a good fight. At the end of the 12 rounds, the judges said it was a draw,’ Hearn said of the discussions. ‘And that’s not a bad result. We gave each other a hug: snooker, Sheffield Council, even the government. I never say anything nice about politicians, but well done to them.

‘They put their money where their mouth is, and they’ve managed to make this place fit for purpose.’

Tuesday’s announcement felt like a tremendously positive one for snooker and for Sheffield, but Hearn admits not everyone was in agreement to stay at the Crucible, notably his son Eddie, who is now chairman of Matchroom Sport.

Asked if there was anyone fighting against his sentiment, he said: ‘Oh yeah, there are. I wouldn’t say it was unanimous.

‘Eddie’s not a snooker fan. He likes the business of sport. So therefore he likes snooker because it’s a good company for us. But he doesn’t have the same passion. He wasn’t there.

‘That’s why he’s so passionate about boxing, because a lot of these big memories have made his career where he is. Whether it’s A.J. against Klitschko. That changed his life.

‘Eddie likes snooker, but he’s from a generation that moves at more speed than snooker does. That’s a good way to describe it.

‘He doesn’t actually appreciate the Agatha Christie side. Where you don’t find who does it until the final chapter. It builds to that moment.

‘Until you’ve actually experienced the building of that, you’re not really qualified to say, and he hasn’t experienced that.’

Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has announced he will leave the club at the end of the season.

The 33-year-old Egypt international, who joined Liverpool from Roma in June 2017, confirmed the news via a video message on his social media accounts.

“Unfortunately the day has come. This is the first part of my farewell,” Salah said.

“I will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.”

We associate New Year with deep mid-winter and the tidy date of January 1, but for 600 years between 1155 until 1752 in England and Wales the new year began on 25 March. This day was one of the quarter days that divided the year historically and on which rents and debts were settled. March 25 became the quarter day where annual accounts were finalised. So, around about now, we’d have been preparing to welcome in a new year alongside the warmer weather and spring blooms.

Celebrations were double as the legal and ecclesiastical calendar worked in harmony as March 25 is also Lady Day or the Feast of the Annunciation. Falling exactly nine months before Christmas Day, for Christians it marks when the archangel Gabriel informed Mary that she was shortly to bear a son.

Feast days are normally days of indulgence and merrymaking, but Lady Day normally falls in Lent, a time of abstinence. This meant, for some, Lady Day was a temporary lightening of Lenten restrictions.

Also known as Annunciation Day, Lady Day has sometimes fallen on Good Friday, as it did in 1608. This day is the opposite of a feast day, marking the crucifixion and death of Christ, which is observed through fasting and abstinence. The poet John Donne reflected on this crossover in 1608 in Upon the Annunciation where he saw it as an opportunity to be extra pious:

“Tamely, frail body, abstain today;
today My soul eats twice,
Christ hither and away”

So for Donne, this was a day of fasting and reflection to commemorate both the coming of Christ and his death.

Superstitions

Lady Day has many associated superstitions. An anonymous pamphlet printed in 1721 called When my Lord Falls in my Lady’s Lap, England Beware of a Great Mishap takes its title from an old saying that means that it is unlucky when Lady Day falls on or near Easter Sunday. The author proceeds to run through the many calamities that have happened on such inauspicious occasions.

For instance, it tells of how in 1117 the heir to Henry I, William Adelin was drowned in the sinking of the White Ship along with 300 other souls. The author hasn’t got their facts quite straight here as this disaster happened in November 1120. By Victorian times, this superstition about Lady’s day falling near Easter Sunday was considered old fashioned with The Hampshire Advertiser describing it as a “former ill omen” in its 21 March 1846 edition.

Customs

Lady’s Day is still celebrated in some parts of the UK. In Hampshire, The Tichborne Dole on Lady’s Day dates back to around 1150. Mabella (or Isabella), Lady de Tichborne of Alresford, made a deathbed request that an annual donation of bread, baked with grains from her lands, be made in her memory to the parish poor.

Her rather less charitably minded husband, Sir Roger, agreed on condition that his benevolence was limited to crops from just the land that she could walk around while carrying a single burning log from the fire. According to the legend, the dying Mabella crawled her way around some 23 acres before the flame went out. This area is still known as “The Crawls”.

It’s said Mabella left a curse on the house that if ever the dole was stopped the family line would die out. Specifically, she vowed that a generation of seven sons would be followed by a generation of seven daughters. The dole continued uninterrupted until 1794 and it would seem that Mabella’s curse came to pass when the last male Tichborne had a family of seven daughters. And so, the custom was reinstated.

A film, The Tichborne Curse, was released in 1947. The reinstated Dole is still taking place today. Adults from the parishes of Tichborne and Cheriton are entitled to claim one gallon (2kg) of flour, and children half a gallon each.

Always in April

The dating system in the US, Britain and Ireland changed in 1752 when these countries adopted the Gregorian calendar. Then the legal New Year in these countries became the same as it had been in Scotland for the last century and a half: January 1.

However, it wasn’t just the year start that needed adjusting, as the new calendar was now out by several days. This meant that in England, 11 days were “lost” as Wednesday September 2 1752 was followed by Thursday September 14 1752 in order to right things. The jump must have been very disconcerting if we consider how much the clocks going forward an hour throws us out for a while.

In Britain, the legacy of the old-style dating system lives on in our tax system. Where the new tax year was March 25 (the old New Year) it was moved to April 5, and later to April 6, due to the leapfrog in dates 1752.

This day became Old Lady Day. April 6 day now stood in for the financial aspects of the quarter day, which meant this was the date in which new leases on farms and land began and often farm labouring families moved into new tied housing on that day as they signed new year long contracts. Author Thomas Hardy includes this in his 1891 novel Tess of the d’Urbervilles. Tess is hired on a farm upon “her agreeing to remain till Old Lady-Day”.

So March 25 may be a day that for most goes by with little notice now but it was once a major holiday that marked the beginning of the new year.

Arsenal are unbeaten in both Women’s Super League matches against the Blues this season, though this is the first time in the history of UEFA women’s club competition that two teams from the same city will face off. Follow the game LIVE below with our dedicated match blog, featuring expert insight and analysis from Arthur Ferridge at the Emirates Stadium.

Bookings are up as holidaymakers continue to plan summer getaways

A leading local travel agent says Easter marks the start of a busy holiday booking season, with demand for spring getaways remaining strong despite wider global uncertainties.

At present, rising fuel prices have not had an impact on the cost of holidays, with many holidaymakers booking now while availability and choice remain high. Selected suppliers have also introduced extra promotional savings, including attractive offers such as free child places on key school holiday dates, helping families secure excellent value.

Barrhead Travel reports that Northern Ireland holidaymakers are continuing to book their summer holidays, with many customers keen to secure something they can look forward to.

READ MORE: Consumer Council issues important advice for those travelling from Northern Ireland this EasterREAD MORE: Everything you need to know on your travel rights amid Middle East flight chaos

Short-haul European breaks remain a firm favourite for their great weather and convenient travel times, with firm favourites including Turkey; Majorca; Tenerife; Portugal and Benidorm performing particularly well.

Many holidaymakers are choosing package holidays, which offer additional protection and peace of mind when booking their trips.

Cruising is also maintaining strong momentum, with healthy demand for fly-Mediterranean and river cruises, alongside growing popularity for UK sailings. Long-haul destinations such as the Caribbean, Canada and Florida are selling really well – Japan and Hong Kong are amongst the fastest growing destinations.

Lisa Hammill, Regional Sales Manager at Barrhead Travel said: “While there has been some short-term disruption to certain flight routes, the vast majority of holidays for customers here in Northern Ireland are continuing as planned. Airlines are simply adjusting routes where needed, and for most people, it really is business as usual.

“We encourage everyone to trust your travel agent. Our expertise ensures you are fully supported, and we are committed to keeping you fully informed with accurate, up-to-date and factual advice at all times. Staying in touch with your agent and remaining flexible are key to enjoying your holiday stress-free. Only rely on official and verified sources for guidance.”

Lisa says Northern Ireland customers are showing strong demand for a mix of holidays: “European destinations remain popular, with Spain, Greece, Portugal and the Canaries performing particularly well.

“Cruising is also growing, with both flights from the UK and sailings departing directly from UK ports providing choice and convenience for our local travellers. Long-haul travel continues to attract interest too, with destinations such as the Caribbean, Canada, Florida seeing lots of bookings.

“Ultimately, the travel industry is very strong and resilient. Time and again, we’ve seen destinations bounce back quickly after periods of uncertainty. The message for Northern Ireland is positive – people are still booking, travelling and prioritising their holidays, and we are here to ensure every customer feels confident, informed and fully supported every step of the way.”

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

Declan Berry is believed to have been driving a car containing four other teenagers when it entered the River Nene

A helicopter has been used to help with the search for Declan Berry after a car entered the River Nene at North Brink a week ago. Declan and four other teenagers crashed into the River Nene outside Wisbech St Mary at around 8.20pm on Tuesday, March 17.

Two 16-year-old girls and one 18-year-old boy were able to get out of the vehicle and were taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The body of a 16-year-old girl, Eden Bunn, was recovered by the police from the river on Wednesday, March 18.

The blue Volkswagen Polo that they had been driving in was recovered by police on Sunday, March 22, with help from specialist dive teams. The police confirmed that no further people were found inside the car.

The police are continuing to search for Declan, 18. People have spotted a helicopter over the area that headed towards Guyhirn that police are using to help with the search.

People have placed flowers along the road in tribute to the two teenagers. Eden’s family have paid tribute her, describing her as “the kindest, most loving girl”.

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NHS dentists will be incentivised to treat urgent cases

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Patients across Peterborough will be able to get urgent dentist appointments more easily due to an upcoming nationwide overhaul of NHS dentistry.

That was the view shared by Pam Green, Director of Neighbourhood Health, Places and Partnerships at a meeting of the Prevention, Independence and Resilience Scrutiny Committee at Sand Martin House on Monday night (March 23).

The meeting saw NHS Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board (ICB) update the committee on dentistry, outlining actions taken to improve access to NHS dentist appointments.

Ms Green explained that a major overhaul to the contracts the government agrees with NHS dentistry providers means that, from April, urgent care will be prioritised over regular care:

“The fundamental change to the contract is the pricing,” she said. “The national pricing has changed, and the incentives, too.”

She went on: “It’s a more logical way to incentivise on-the-day access and not constantly seeing six-month reviews – the previous contract encouraged reviews as opposed to that urgent access.”

Going forward, NHS dentists will be financially incentivised to carry out fewer check-ups and instead use that time to treat urgent cases like severe tooth pain, dental infections, trauma to teeth, or other conditions that need rapid treatment.

“The model… was so linked to six-month reviews that actually it stopped people being able to get [NHS dental] access,” Ms Green summarised. This new approach, she said, would help “free up capacity”.

Councillor Asim Mahmood (Lab) and Councillor Heather Skibsted (Greens) both asked Ms Green why routine general access to NHS dentists – akin to going to see your local GP – was not available in the way that it used to be three or four decades ago.

“Dentistry absolutely is there for everyone but it’s never been the same offer as General Practice (GP),” she replied. “It’s a perception that everyone is registered with an NHS dentist and that just isn’t the case. What our urgent dental access is saying is that, irrespective of whether you’re registered, you should be able to access care.”

Following question a from Cllr Skibstead enquiring about the ICB’s “vision” for dentistry in the city, Ms Green acknowledged that it will take time for the new ways of working to become established.

“We will see a change in the way access is derived,” she said, “[but] we’ve got to work that through. We want people to be able to access [NHS] dentistry on the frequency that is appropriate… [and] offer, where there is need, the right level of service.

“That is the vision. I promise you that the dental contract changes will help us get there.”

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Kevin Cash isn’t worried that manager ejections will become a relic of baseball’s past just because robot umpires have arrived to settle some debates.

“You only get two challenges, right? That can come up in the first inning,” the Tampa Bay Rays manager said.

Manager tantrums at umpires have long delighted fans: the Yankees’ Billy Martin kicking and throwing dirt on Dale Scott in 1988, Cincinnati’s Lou Piniella heaving first base into right field in anger at Dutch Rennert in 1990 and the Orioles’ Earl Weaver going face to face with Bill Haller in 1980, each profanely calling the other a liar.

But Major League Baseball has given managers less to gripe about in the past two decades. Video reviews began for home run calls in August 2008 and were widely expanded to many decisions for the 2014 season. The Automated Ball-Strike System starts this year to allow challenges to human strike zone calls, dubbed robot umpires.

“Manager ejections have been down for a while now because of the replay system,” said Hall of Famer Jim Leyland, a three-time Manager of the Year tossed 73 times over 22 seasons. “I really like the ABS. I think it’s going to be great for the game.”

Last year, 61.5% of ejections among players, managers and coaches (99 of 161) were related to ball/strike calls, according to MLB, up slightly from 60.3% (114 of 189) in 2024. The figure included what MLB counted as inappropriate comments and conduct, and throwing equipment in protest.

“I’m in favor of anything that allows our technology to play in this game,” Cash said. “We have so much of it. Why not use it?”

Each team gets two challenges per game, and a club keeps its challenge if successful. A team out of challenges gets an additional one in each extra inning.

“You’re going to take out the argument of balls and strikes initially,” Minnesota Twins manager Derek Shelton said. “I think the challenge is going to be after the challenges go away, how managers are and what they do? But I do think that there is going to be probably less general complaining about balls and strikes in the early going.”

Aaron Boone of the Yankees has led or tied for the most ejections in four straight seasons, and his nine in 2022 were the most since Atlanta’s Bobby Cox was tossed 10 times in 2007.

Cox was thrown out a record 162 times, followed by John McGraw (121), Leo Durocher (100), Weaver (96), Tony La Russa (93) and Bruce Bochy (89).

Cincinnati’s Terry Francona, starting his 25th season in a big league dugout, leads active managers with 54. Boone, beginning his ninth season, is second with 46.

Boone is less concerned over whether his dugout dissents will dwindle and more focused on keeping his players locked in if a challenge goes against them. If an umpire calls strike three to strand the bases loaded and the pitcher pumps a fist and bounds off the mound, how will the pitcher quickly regain composure if ABS reverses the call and forces a 3-2 offering?

“It’s a whole new thing that pitchers have never dealt with. That’s an emotional thing you’ve got to deal with,” Boone said. “That’s something we’ve already addressed, same with the hitters to a lesser degree: that reset. How do you clear the mechanism?”

Bobby Valentine, who managed three major league teams over 16 seasons, will be honored by the New York Mets this May with a giveaway promotion commemorating one of his 44 ejections. After he was tossed by Randy Marsh on June 9, 1999, Valentine returned to the dugout with a fake mustache fashioned from eye black and sunglasses.

Valentine thinks players have evolved past the point where a manager could spark his team with a histrionic argument.

“I found that by the end of my career that that was only entertainment,” he said. “It didn’t fire anyone up except for my wife, who was worried about the fine that I was going to get.”

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Benjamin Sesko has been mainly used off the bench by Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick in recent weeks.

Benjamin Sesko’s agent has revealed that he doesn’t ‘like’ the striker being referred to as a ‘super sub’. The Manchester United forward has been a regular off the bench this season, but is now pushing for more starts.

Sesko has scored 10 goals in all competitions for United this season after his £74 million move from RB Leipzig in the summer. Four of those goals have come after he entered the pitch as a second-half substitute, including winners against Fulham and Everton and a late equaliser vs West Ham.

It’s led to the Slovenia international being labelled as a ‘super sub’ for interim manager Michael Carrick. But the player’s agent Elvis Basanovic would rather his client be given another nickname.

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“If you ask me about this name, I don’t like it. I like ‘super striker’ much more,” he told Arena Sport. “I think Benjamin is a super striker.

“He has started 13 games this year, coming off the bench in 13 games. He scored half of his goals when he started the game and half when he came off the bench.

“We can see that he is a complete striker and Benjamin is someone who deserves the name ‘super striker.’”

There have been calls for Sesko to be in the starting line-up more often. However, speaking back in February, the forward hinted that he was quite happy with his current role as he continues to settle into Premier League football.

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“We are talking, of course, but he [Carrick] believes in me, everyone believes in me,” he said. “They are getting me ready to start as soon as possible. It’s more about me showing up when it’s important, no matter how many minutes I’m getting, I’m focusing on delivering and trying to help the team secure the wins.”

He added: “I’m getting settled in the league from game to game. Again, I’m not even thinking about ‘I have to start, I have to start.’

“For me it’s just whenever coach decides to put me there one time or not I’m just going to be there.

“If I get the next minutes, five minutes, I’m going to use them and for me it’s just about trying to enjoy and delivering for the team.”

Sesko came off the bench to play the final 19 minutes for United’s 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Friday night. It was revealed by the club on Monday that the striker has been managing an injury.

That has led to him pulling out of the Slovenia squad over the international break to aid his recovery. Sesko will hope to be available when United return to action on Monday, 13 April, when they host rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford.

England’s 2026 World Cup kits

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England and Nike have launched the new home, away and goalkeeper kits to be worn at this summer’s FIFA World Cup. You can get free delivery on all orders with the code: ENGFREEDEL