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Snooker star felt ‘complete embarrassment’ during ‘absolutely nuts’ Crucible qualifier

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Snooker star felt 'complete embarrassment' during 'absolutely nuts' Crucible qualifier
Gary Wilson survived an ‘absolutely nuts’ final qualifier for the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images)

Gary Wilson is back at the Crucible but his performance in his final qualifier left him with ‘complete embarrassment’ in an ‘absolutely nuts’ contest.

The Tyneside Terror beat Xu Si 10-9, but it looked likely to be far more comfortable than that when he burst into a 7-2 lead, making two tons and five half-centuries on the way.

At that point, having thrashed Allan Taylor 10-1 in the previous round, things were looking very peachy for Wilson, but he says he never felt comfortable during either match.

Xu surged back into a 9-8 lead with the Englishman faltering, before scrapping to force a decider and then making a break of 126 to win it.

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Wilson was thrilled to win, but could not see many positives with how he played, even in his initial demolition of Taylor.

‘Absolutely nuts,’ Wilson told WST of his win over Xu. ‘People weren’t believing us the other day when I played Allan [Taylor] and it was 10-1 and I said I’m struggling. I was genuinely struggling.

Are you mad about snooker?

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A headshot of Metro Sports reporter Phil Haigh
Phil has been reporting on snooker for over a decade, since working in World Snooker’s press office in 2012

‘From ball one today I had no cueing whatsoever. Again I got a good lead, I was getting chances again, maybe he was a bit nervous. I potted a few good balls, but I was making breaks just steering in and trying.

Johnstone's Paint Masters - Day Two
Wilson has booked a sixth trip to the Crucible (Picture: Getty Images)

‘The table was playing lovely so it was allowing us to get away with things. Tonight was even worse I just couldn’t cue a ball even more, I thought it was a complete embarrassment.

‘At the end there, it’s the biggest tournament we have, if you can’t try everything here, when are you ever going to try? That last break at the end there was just sheer try. I was stabbing at them, steering them and yipping them and all sorts.’

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Making a century in a deciding frame to reach the Crucible is an achievement in itself, but Wilson will not be content until he feels comfortable at the table.

‘It’s all that counts but it doesn’t count for much going forward and that’s always the problem with me,’ he said of the impressive break.

2025 UK Championship - Day 3
Xu Si battled back to a deciding frame but could not book a Crucible debut (Picture: Getty Images)

‘If I play anything like that at the Crucible I’ll be happy to pick up me points, pick up me walk-ons for the two sessions, pick up me money and anything after that is a bonus.

‘I seriously need to try to find a way to cue the ball properly to have any chance to do what I feel I can do deep down, which is play much better than that, go deep in tournaments and win tournaments again.

‘It’s so frustrating but at the same time I’m over the moon to try my hardest there and somehow scrape through. I’ve always known I’ve got bottle and that’s all that was.’

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The 40-year-old will be in the World Snooker Championship draw for a sixth time on Thursday morning, learning his fate at around 8.45am.

Wilson has been to a Crucible semi-final before, reaching the last four in 2019, but has won just one match at the iconic theatre since then.

The three-time ranking event winner has had a mixed season, with his three standout results all coming in China, with a Wuhan Open final run, a semi-final at the Xi’an Grand Prix and World Open quarter-final.

He will be looking to add to his three ranking titles with the biggest one of all over the next three weeks.

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World Snooker Championship field

Top 16

Zhao Xintong
Judd Trump
Neil Robertson
Mark Williams
John Higgins
Kyren Wilson
Mark Selby
Shaun Murphy
Berry Hawkins
Xiao Guodong
Wu Yize
Chris Wakelin
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Allen
Si Jiahui
Ding Junhui

SNOOKER-WORLD
Zhao Xintong is favourite to defend his title this year (Picture: Getty Images)

Qualifiers

Hossein Vafaei
Zhou Yuelong
Matthew Stevens
Antoni Kowalski
Dave Gilbert
Stan Moody
Pang Junxu
Liam Pullen
Jak Jones
Ali Carter
He Guoqiang
Fan Zhengyi
Zhang Anda
Gary Wilson
Lei Peifan
Liam Highfield

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Judgement Day Results

Day One Results

Hossein Vafaei 10-4 Gao Yang
Zhou Yuelong 10-4 Michael Holt
Matthew Stevens 10-7 Stuart Bingham
Antoni Kowalski 10-8 Jamie Jones
David Gilbert 10-6 Aaron Hill
Stan Moody 10-9 Jiang Jung
Pang Junxu 10-8 Jackson Page
Liam Pullen 10-8 Noppon Saengkham

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Day Two Results

Luca Brecel 5-10 Jak Jones
Anthony McGill 7-10 Ali Carter
He Guoqiang 10-5 Jack Lisowski
Ben Mertens 4-10 Fan Zhengyi
Zak Surety 3-10 Zhang Anda
Xu Si 9-10 Gary Wilson
Ryan Day 5-10 Lei Peifan
Liam Highfield 10-2 Oliver Lines

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More Red Lion than Three Lions as YouTubers put on 20-goal show

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More Red Lion than Three Lions as YouTubers put on 20-goal show

Good afternoon and welcome to our live blog for the Sidemen FC vs YouTube Allstars charity football match at Wembley.

Returning for its seventh instalment, the event is organised by YouTube group, the Sidemen. 90,000 fans will arrive in north-west London to witness their favourite content creators and online personalities feature in a blockbuster at England’s showpiece stadium. The event is a fantastic way of raising money for charity, with last year’s edition generating over £4.7 million.

This year, all proceeds will go to the following charities.

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Bright Side: a grant-making charity that helps individuals “find and maintain a safe place to call home” and aids “young people in accessing education, spaces and opportunities.”

M7 Education: an educative organisation which “helps teachers bring learning to life through amazing, memorable school trips and workshops.”

This game is the 10th anniversary of this fundraiser. Back in 2016, the match was held at St Mary’s Stadium in Southampton, with the Sidemen winning 7-2. Three matches were hosted at The Valley, Championship outfit Charlton Athletic’s home, between 2017 and 2022, before a game at the London Stadium in 2023 and last year’s edition at Wembley.

After a decade of exponential growth, the popularity of these internet stars and influencers has skyrocketed, and it promises to be an unforgettable occasion for a generation of young spectators.

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In 2025, it was 9-9 after 90 minutes, with the All Stars claiming a 5-4 penalty shootout win. It was their first victory in the event since 2017.

This afternoon’s match marks a different direction for the event. Some Sidemen members, KSI, Miniminter and Behzinga, will play on the All Stars side. Meanwhile, Zerkaa, Wroetoshaw, Vikkstar and TBJZL will stay on the Sidemen team.

You can freely watch the game via a live stream, which begins at 14:10, on the Sidemen’s YouTube channel.

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No fancy, noisy machines – a tea bag is all you need

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No fancy, noisy machines - a tea bag is all you need

IT REALLY is the ‘best drink of the day.’

I clearly remember the 1970s adverts ending with that slogan. I looked them up online, and I was transported back to my teenage years, crouched by the radiator in front of our TV. I especially liked the advert with the man and his dog waking up in a gloomy flat on a dark, stormy morning – both were revived by tea, the dog drinking his from a saucer.

And the one with the housewife who, throughout the day, tried to make herself a cuppa, but ended up giving the drinks away to visiting tradesmen, her kids and husband.

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Watching those adverts, I couldn’t understand why a brand of tea is not mentioned. What I didn’t realise was that the famous slogan came from a national advertising campaign aimed at boosting flagging tea sales. Tea drinking in general was declining, so the industry started making generalised promotional ads to try to reverse the trend.

Tea drinking certainly wasn’t in decline in our house. The tea pot was the most well-used item of crockery in our kitchen, out on the table at all times of day, and a good chunk of the night as well. Throughout my life, tea has been a constant. In my childhood home, seldom more than an hour would pass without Mum asking if anyone wanted a cup.

I’ve carried on being a tea devotee. I’ve got a cup on the go as I write, and I am happy to sing its praises in advance of National Tea Day. Observed in the UK every year on April 21 to celebrate the drinking of tea, the occasion is celebrated in tea rooms, hotels, pubs and cafés through special activities and charitable fundraising events.

There’s no doubting we love tea, but is it ‘the world’s favourite drink’ as some websites claim? I’ve also read that it’s by far the most popular drink consumed in Britain today, with more than 100,000,000 cups being drunk every day of the year. But, I have to add, that snippet of information appears on the UK Tea and Infusions Association website, so they would say that. The site has a running total showing the cups of tea drunk so far that day. Its now 6pm on Tuesday April 14 and the number has surpassed 70 million.

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Of course not everyone loves tea. In 2024 one of Britain’s oldest tea firms, Typhoo Tea, collapsed after a drop in sales. Younger generations aren’t keen, many preferring coffee or drinks like bubble tea, which I don’t like the sound of at all.

My husband drinks nothing but coffee, and my eldest daughter has followed suit, going so far as to invest in a state-of-the-art coffee machine. That’s the thing with coffee, if you want a decent cup it’s all about fancy equipment – noisy machines that grind, froth and spit. You don’t need all this for a good cup of tea. A kettle and a simple tea bag will do.

There is much debate about how to make the perfect brew. I would say George Orwell had the best advice, setting out 11 rules in his1946 essay A Nice Cup of Tea. These include: boiling water, a warmed ceramic pot, milk last and no sugar. All of which I endorse, although I settle for an un-warmed mug. My parents always served tea in a cup and saucer. I like that, but we are not so civilised and want to limit the washing-up.

I’m a builder’s tea person. I’m not a fan of anything flavoured or taken without milk. Making tea at a friend’s house, I once unknowingly used Earl Grey teabags and, after tasting it, assumed the teapot hadn’t been rinsed, so I gave it a thorough clean and made another pot, only to find the same soapy taste. I was aged 18 – it was my first encounter with a flavoured tea and the beginning of a life spent avoiding them.

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The first cup of the day is always the best. And for the record, I prefer Tetley.

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United Airlines flight bound for New York diverts over ‘bomb threat’

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Daily Record

The plane heading for New York diverted to Pittsburgh instead

A plane bound for New York diverted over a “possible bomb” alert. United Airlines flight UAL2092 from Chicago was heading for the famous city on Saturday (April 18) but diverted to Pittsburgh around morning local time.

It is reported the jet issued a 7700 squawk code – a four-digit code which is used to signal an in-flight emergency, just after reaching cruising altitude. Mirror reports the 7700 alert means aircrafts are often directed to a remote stand where passengers can be deplaned and the jet searched.

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Flight radar tracking shared on X showed the jet diverting mid-air due to the perceived danger. The tracker showed the plane flew off its course and headed towards Pittsburgh airport.

A flight tracking app reported the plane sent an alert declaring “‘possible bomb” as the reason for its diversion. The United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 is said to have squawked 7700 while further messages reportedly sent via ACARS, which have been shared on X, have shed further light on the emergency diversion of United Airlines flight UA2092, reports the Daily Star.

The Boeing 737 MAX 8, operating from Chicago O’Hare to New York LaGuardia, declared an emergency after concerns were raised on board, with the aircraft later diverting to Pittsburgh International Airport for what was described as a security sweep. The most serious line in the communications, “ONE SECOND COUNT PER BEEP / POSSIBLE BOMB”, indicates the crew believed there was a potential explosive threat, possibly linked to a repetitive beeping sound or an item matching that description.

Other text suggests the flight crew and ground teams weighed diversion options, with “CLE OR PIT” referring to Cleveland Hopkins International Airport or Pittsburgh, while “KORD KLGA” identifies the original route using ICAO airport codes. A timestamp of “CREW 15:42Z / 10:42 CDT” places the exchange at around 15:42 UTC (10:42am local time in Chicago).

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In incidents involving a reported “possible bomb” message, standard procedure typically includes the crew squawking 7700 to alert air traffic control to a general emergency and receiving priority handling for the quickest safe landing.

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The famous Cambridge bridge haunted by a heartbroken drowned woman

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Cambridgeshire Live

The bridge was also the place where suspected witches were held

Cambridge has a rich history dating back hundreds of years and many ghosts are believed to haunt the streets and buildings of the city. One place said to be one of the most haunted sites in Cambridge is Magdalene Bridge.

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Now a popular place to start a punt tour, the bridge was once where suspected witches were punished. It was also used for ducking stools to humiliate people and is often said to be haunted by those who were believed to be witches.

One of the most ghostly tales to come from the bridge is one of a drowned woman who died in the river near the bridge centuries ago. Her spirit is said to linger around the river and bridge.

Some say she was a heartbroken lover in search of her special someone, or she was someone who fell into the river by accident. Locals and students have reported seeing a female figure near the water, especially at night or at dusk.

People have also reported suddenly feeling cold while on or near the bridge. It’s also been reported that people have heard unexplained splashes or footsteps while on the bridge.

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The nearby college, Magdalene College, is also said to be haunted. Outside the college, it is said that a former student mysteriously disappeared within the walls.

The former student’s ghost has reportedly been seen lingering in staircases or older rooms, while others have heard footsteps along empty corridors. If you have an interest in the haunted world, the Magdalene Bridge is worth a visit.

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Carnage and tears as Cardiff City’s promotion ends in poignant aftermath

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Wales Online

The final whistle barely mattered.

By then, the Select Car Leasing Stadium had already descended into pure, unfiltered chaos. Brian Barry-Murphy was up on the advertising hoardings, scarf whirling above his head, drinking in the adoration of a heaving away end. Champagne was being sprayed, Callum Robinson drenching himself as team-mates piled in, while thousands of Cardiff City supporters bounced in unison, voices hoarse, limbs everywhere.

“We are going up!” came the cry. Again. And again. And again.

One supporter burst from a hospitality box, phone pressed to her ear, screaming the words down the line to a loved one before joining in the chorus. Around her, strangers embraced like family. Smiles stretched wide, tears flowed. This was not just celebration – this was release.

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In seven years covering this club for me personally, there has been nothing like this.

READ MORE: All the Cardiff City promotion celebration pictures as players and fans party

For years, Cardiff City have lurched from one setback to another. Relegation. Managerial churn. Poor decisions. The heartbreak of losing Peter Whittingham and Sol Bamba, whose names were sung in a particularly poignant and emotional moment in the aftermath. The trauma surrounding Emiliano Sala. The wider struggles that have hit the communities in south Wales, from Covid to devastating floods.

And yet, through it all, fans kept turning up. Not even Mick McCarthy’s five centre-backs or finishing bottom of the Championship could keep them away.

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So when the moment finally came, in the most absurd, unlikely fashion imaginable, it felt almost surreal.

An Exeter goalkeeper scoring deep into stoppage time to deny Stockport. That just doesn’t happen to Cardiff City.

But maybe now it does? Maybe this is the start of something new.

Earlier in the day, it had felt like Cardiff were gatecrashing someone else’s party. One Reading supporter summed it up on social media pre-match: “No one here. Cardiff everywhere.”

They weren’t wrong. Nearly 3,000 made the trip officially, but there were dozens more scattered across the ground, tucked into hospitality, finding any way in.

There was a different feeling about it all from the start.

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Callum Robinson made his way over to his family before kick-off, father, wife, daughter, soaking in the moment. The away end, already in full voice, serenaded him with chants of “Robinson again, allez allez”.

But beneath the noise, there were nerves. And understandably so, perhaps, for this still young and relatively inexperienced bunch.

Reading started brightly and Cardiff wobbled. Dylan Lawlor endured a shaky opening, twice caught out before trudging over to the touchline after 17 minutes, where Barry-Murphy greeted him with an arm around the shoulder.

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The fans tried to ease the tension the only way they know how.

“Tottenham away, allez allez,” they sang just before the break. Then, with typical bite: “You Jack b******s, we’re coming for you!”

When Rubin Colwill’s header put Cardiff ahead, belief flickered. When Omari Kellyman added a second, it grew louder.

But this is Cardiff. It’s never simple.

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As news filtered through that Stockport were still ahead, the anxiety remained. Even more so when Reading pulled one back. The game teetered, the noise rising and falling with every update from Exeter.

Then came the first eruption.

On 68 minutes, the away end exploded – not for anything happening in front of them, but for Exeter’s equaliser to make it 2-2. Players glanced over. Fans grabbed each other. Something was shifting.

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Still, Cardiff needed their moment.

It arrived in spectacular fashion.

With four minutes left, Perry Ng picked up the ball 20 yards out and unleashed a rocket into the net. He didn’t hesitate. He sprinted the length of the pitch, straight to the supporters. Bedlam. Absolute bedlam. Somewhere in the chaos, a supporter’s crutch was hurled onto the pitch in celebration.

And then, the final twist.

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Deep into stoppage time, word spread like wildfire. Exeter had equalised again. The roar in the away end was deafening. The goalkeeper had scored. Ryan Wintle turned to the crowd, punching the air in sheer disbelief. The fans didn’t need telling twice.

Pandemonium.

In the aftermath, the songs poured out.

“Yousef Salech, scoring all the time…”

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The Colwill brothers were serenaded to the tune of Yaya and Kolo Touré.

“Cian Ashford running down the wing…”

These were no longer just players.

These were heroes. New heroes.

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This season has transformed them. Youngsters, unknowns in the eyes of many, growing into men under pressure, delivering when it mattered most. Delivering something this fanbase has craved for so long.

And as Barry-Murphy prepared to speak post-match, there was a fitting moment behind the scenes. Emerging from the tunnel came his father, Jimmy Barry-Murphy – a giant of Irish sport, a hero to so many, even to figures like Roy Keane.

But on this day, and for a long time to come, it is Brian who will hold that status in south Wales.

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Because this was his team. His players. His moment. And their moment.

Promotion days don’t come around often and these supporters deserve it. After everything, they deserve this.

*Sign up to our daily Bluebirds newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Cardiff City correspondent Glen Williams is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

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Women’s Six Nations 2026: Scotland 7-84 England – Depleted Red Roses deliver statement win

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Sporting Witness

Just before England’s Women’s Six Nations match against Scotland kicked off on Saturday, Red Roses head coach John Mitchell was asked if this spell was the biggest test of his team’s strength in depth since he took charge.

“No doubt,” he replied. “But you have to adapt and respond to it.”

In front of 30,498 people at Murrayfield – a record crowd for a standalone women’s sporting event in Scotland – the world champions did that and more, winning 84-7.

England were not quite at their best in the 33-12 home victory against Ireland seven days earlier, which in hindsight was probably to have been expected given the turnover in their squad since they lifted the World Cup on that magical day at Allianz Stadium in September.

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Four players, including captain Zoe Stratford, are unavailable because of pregnancy. Emily Scarratt and Abby Dow have both since retired.

Earlier this week, injured quartet Natasha Hunt, Morwenna Talling, Hannah Botterman and May Campbell were ruled out for the remainder of the tournament. The same fate had befallen Tatyana Heard before it had even started, while Alex Matthews’ shoulder problem prevented her from being involved in Edinburgh.

But a much-changed line-up delivered a statement victory that demonstrated once more why the Red Roses are the benchmark to which all other nations aspire in women’s rugby union.

Mitchell described it as a “special performance”, while captain Meg Jones, who scored one of England’s 12 tries, said the Red Roses were “relentless” in registering a 35th consecutive victory.

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She added: “We want to keep building on every performance we have. This game gives us tremendous feedback and we can just keep getting better and better.”

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Cardiff City boss Brian Barry-Murphy overcome as fans blow him away on promotion day

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Wales Online

The Bluebirds secured their return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading which sparked wild scenes in Berkshire

Brian Barry-Murphy admitted he was overcome with relief and pride as Cardiff City finally sealed promotion – and said the club’s supporters made it a day he will never forget.

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The Bluebirds secured their return to the Championship with a 3-1 win over Reading, with confirmation arriving amid chaotic scenes as news filtered through that Stockport had been held at Exeter.

After weeks of permutations and pressure, the Cardiff boss acknowledged just how difficult it had been to keep focus as the decisive moment edged closer. You can see all the wonderful celebration images from Reading here.

“It’s a huge relief, obviously,” he said. “It’s been an incredible day. To see our supporters, the extraordinary scenes towards the end of the game… we tried to stay focused on the game, but it was difficult!

“Probably in the last four or five minutes it was one that we could enjoy.”

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Even as Cardiff closed in on victory, the noise from the away end – reacting to Exeter City’s incredible equaliser, scored by their goalkeeper no less, against Stockport County – made it impossible to ignore the wider picture.

“I think if you were on the outside looking in you’d probably think that,” he added. Join the Cardiff City breaking news and top stories WhatsApp community.

“But when you’re involved, because you want the players to get what you feel they deserve so badly, you just can’t switch off from it.

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“So when Perry (Ng) scored it was a big relief and then to hear the roars when you presumed something was happening was nice.”

But while the result and promotion were the ultimate prizes, Barry-Murphy was keen to highlight the role of Cardiff’s support, including all 3,000-plus of them in Berkshire, admitting he has been taken aback by the connection built in such a short space of time.

“The swell of support we have is incredible for this club,” he said.

“Irrespective of how much you feel you deserve promotion based on how well we’ve played, there’s always an element of wanting to get it done.

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“Getting over the line is not easy in professional sport, so to finally do it is incredible for the players and something I’m sure will enable the team and club to grow massively.

“I didn’t have a true appreciation of how big the support was and the nature of the club, but I’ve seen very quickly what it’s like when you get it going.

“You try and give them what they want. There’ll be spells in the season – a couple of weeks back against Blackpool we were booed off – but that can be really beneficial. If they’re not happy, you’re not really doing your job properly.

“It stimulates and motivates me to try and give them what they want.”

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READ MORE: All the Cardiff City promotion celebration pictures as players and fans party

With promotion now secured, attention quickly turns to celebrations – something the manager admitted had not been planned in advance for fear of tempting fate. Sign up to our daily Cardiff City newsletter here.

“It’s the best way, I think,” he said. “We didn’t really plan anything.

“But I know from a fans’ forum in Aberdare that if we returned there after securing promotion the response would be incredible, so maybe a stop-off there!”

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There will also be a chance for a wider celebration when Cardiff return to home soil in midweek in their fixture against Port Vale, with Barry-Murphy determined to ensure supporters get the occasion they deserve.

“Hopefully the supporters get a night where they can celebrate their team,” he said. “I’ll do everything possible to try and make us play well and ensure the players give everything.

“But certainly in the next couple of days, it’s important that we celebrate what has been a magnificent effort by the club.”

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*Sign up to our daily Bluebirds newsletter here and our WhatsApp channel here. Cardiff City correspondent Glen Williams is also on social media. He can be found on his X account here, on Instagram, on TikTok and on Facebook.

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Chocolate sold at Home Bargains and B&M recalled over safety fears

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Belfast Live

The Food Standards Agency has issued a ‘do not eat’ alert

Chocolate sold at B&M and Home Bargains has been withdrawn from shelves after the Food Standards Agency issued a recall over safety concerns.

Loudwater Trade and Finance Ltd is recalling Millennium Peanuts Caramel Milk Chocolate due to the presence of milk, peanuts, and soya, and the possibility it may contain almonds, cashew nuts, cereals containing gluten, and hazelnuts, none of which are declared in English on the packaging.

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The affected products were stocked at Home Bargains and B&M, with the recall solely applying to items bearing no English ingredients list. The warning covers 285g packs of the chocolate with any best before date or batch code.

READ MORE: Large queues form as famous pizza shop opens second location in BelfastREAD MORE: Popular Belfast City Centre bar and music venue reveal plans for expansion

This product contains the allergens milk, peanuts and soya, and may also contain almonds, cashew nuts, cereals containing gluten, and hazelnuts, yet none of this is stated in English. This poses a potential health risk to anyone with an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, a peanut or soya allergy, an allergy to almonds or cashew nuts, an allergy or intolerance to gluten-containing cereals or coeliac disease, and/or a hazelnut allergy.

Loudwater Trade and Finance Ltd is in the process of recalling the product and has been advised to notify relevant allergy support organisations, who will in turn alert their members. The firm has additionally issued point-of-sale notices to its customers, outlining the reasons for the recall and advising shoppers on what steps to take should they have already purchased the product.

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A spokesman for the Food Standards Agency said: “If you have bought the product and have an allergy or intolerance to milk or milk constituents, an allergy to peanuts, soya, almonds, cashew nuts, an allergy or intolerance to cereals containing gluten or coeliac disease, and/or an allergy to hazelnuts, do not eat it.

“Instead contact Loudwater Trade and Finance customer careline at support@loudwateruk.com to obtain a full refund or if you require further information. Alternatively, return it to your local Home Bargains or BandM store.”, reports Wales Online.

On occasion, food products must be withdrawn or recalled when consumers face potential risks due to absent or inaccurate allergy labelling, or any other allergy-related concern. In such circumstances, the FSA will publish an Allergy Alert to notify the public.

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

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Calls for Met Gala boycott after Bezos foots the bill: ‘Brought to you by worker exploitation’

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Calls for Met Gala boycott after Bezos foots the bill: ‘Brought to you by worker exploitation’

A group of guerrilla activists are urging people to boycott this year’s Met Gala over the involvement of Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos.

At various locations near the Metropolitan Museum in New York City, posters have popped up with the words: “Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by the firm that powers ICE” and “Boycott the Bezos Met Gala.”

In November, the Met announced that this year’s biggest night in fashion would be “made possible” by the world’s third-richest man and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, who were named as lead sponsors, alongside secondary donors, Condé Nast and Saint Laurent. The role is understood to give the couple influence over everything from invites to the overall presentation of the event.

The sponsorship by the tech mogul — who recently spent millions on a movie by First Lady Melania Trump via his Amazon MGM film studios — sparked backlash from critics who accused Bezos of buying influence at the prestigious fashion ball.

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The poster that referenced ICE shows a canister of tear gas on a red carpet, alluding to allegations that Amazon quietly purged foreign warehouse workers who had legal authorization to work in the U.S. but lost it under President Donald Trump’s deportation efforts. The Independent has contacted Bezos’s representatives for comment.

The world’s third-richest man and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, were named as lead sponsors for the 2026 Met Gala
The world’s third-richest man and his wife, Lauren Sánchez Bezos, were named as lead sponsors for the 2026 Met Gala (AFP via Getty Images)

Another poster, stuck to a wall a few blocks from the museum, reads: “The Bezos Met Gala: Brought to you by worker exploitation,” referencing alleged worker mistreatment at Amazon order fulfillment centers.

The flyer campaign was organized by the British political activist group Everyone Hates Elon, which describes itself as anti-billionaire. The group’s name is inspired by the Tesla tech mogul Elon Musk.

In an interview with The New York Times, an anonymous leader of the group claimed that an online donation portal created last week has so far raised £10,000 (around $13,000) to fund the postering campaign around the city.

The flyer campaign was organized by the British political activist group Everyone Hates Elon
The flyer campaign was organized by the British political activist group Everyone Hates Elon (Reuters)

Everyone Hates Elon is the same group that traveled to Venice for Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez’s wedding last summer, displaying an enormous banner in the middle of the Piazza San Marco with a picture of a laughing Bezos beneath the words: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.”

Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director who has chaired the Met Gala since 1995, has attempted to quell the backlash over the couple’s involvement.

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She told CNN in November: “I think Lauren is going to be a wonderful asset to the museum and to the event. I’m very grateful for her incredible generosity, and she’s a great lover of costume and obviously of fashion, so we’re thrilled she’s part of the night.”

The couple’s sponsorship of the Met Gala breaks precedent from having a legacy fashion house as the primary sponsor.

The dress code for the 4 May event is “Costume Art,” which explores the “centrality of the dressed body” through depictions and interpretations of the human form in the Met’s extensive collection.

Jeff Bezos’s wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos on the red carpet at the Met Gala 2025
Jeff Bezos’s wife Lauren Sánchez Bezos on the red carpet at the Met Gala 2025 (Getty Images)

The dress code is said to encourage guests to think about how they can use their bodies as a blank canvas.

“What connects every curatorial department and what connects every single gallery in the museum is fashion, or the dressed body,” Andrew Bolton, the curator in charge of the Costume Institute, said in a statement.

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“It’s the common thread throughout the whole museum, which is really what the initial idea for the exhibition was.”

This year’s co-chairs, who act as honorary hosts for the fundraiser, are Beyoncé, Nicole Kidman and Venus Williams. Members of the Gala Host Committee — co-chaired by Anthony Vaccarello and Zoë Kravitz — include singer Sabrina Carpenter, musician Doja Cat, ballerina Misty Copeland, Girls creator Lena Dunham, singer Sam Smith and One Battle After Another actor Teyana Taylor, among others.

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Chelsea vs Manchester United LIVE: Team news from crucial Premier League clash

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Chelsea vs Manchester United LIVE: Team news from crucial Premier League clash

Chelsea’s early team news

Enzo Fernandez’s two-game suspension by the club has passed so all eyes will be on whether he is included in the starting XI or remains out in the cold.

Chelsea will still be without a lengthy list of injury casualties including Levi Colwill, Trevoh Chalobah and Jamie Gittens, with Reece James and Benoit Badiashile both unlikely to feature.

Predicted Chelsea XI: Sanchez, Gusto, Fofana, Hato, Cucurella, Caicedo, Santos, Palmer, Fernandez, Neto, Pedro

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Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:18

How can I watch it?

Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.

Coverage begins on TNT Sports 1 at 7pm.

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Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:12

When is Chelsea v Man Utd?

Chelsea host Man Utd at Stamford Bridge on Saturday 18 April, with kick-off at 8pm BST.

(Reuters)

Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:06

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Chelsea vs Man Utd

Chelsea face off against Manchester United in a battle for European spots between two teams who have enjoyed huge highs this season – but have suffered something of a comedown in recent weeks.

Mike Jones18 April 2026 17:00

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Good afternoon!

Welcome to The Independent’s coverage of tonight’s Premier League action as Chelsea host Manchester United in a crucial clash near the top of the table.

What I mean by that is that both clubs are challenging for a place in the Champions League next year and are hoping to secure a place in the top four.

Man Utd come into the match sitting third in the table with Chelsea sixth and seven points behind.

A win for Michael Carrick’s visitors would cement their place in the top four while Chelsea would get the gap should they prove victorious at Stamford Bridge.

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We’ll have all the updates, team news and more throughout the afternoon so stick with us as we build up to kick off at 8pm.

Mike Jones18 April 2026 14:06

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