All that remains now in Albert Park, Middlesbrough, are the original plinth and the boots of the former Boro goalscoring hero.

Work to remove the statue began on Tuesday, May 19, just weeks after Sir Geoffrey Boycott, a close friend of Clough, publicly criticised the condition of the structure during a visit to Middlesbrough.

Sir Geoffrey Boycott at the scene in Albert Park to witness the most recent condition of the statue (Image: Goffy Media)

Sir Geoffrey said: “Cloughie deserves better than this. Brian Clough’s legacy is way better than that.”

His remarks followed his discovery of the statue behind fencing and covered in protective mesh, which he described as deeply upsetting.

The comments reignited public debate across Teesside and further afield, with figures such as Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston voicing their support.

Brian Clough’s statue seen being dismantled in Albert Park on Tuesday (May 19th 2026) (Image: Goffy Media)

The outcry also reached Nottingham, where Clough is immortalised by a statue near Old Market Square—unveiled in 2008 by his widow Barbara.

On Tuesday, council contractors arrived to carry out the removal in what marks the first major physical step in resolving the controversy.

Sir Geoffrey said: “I hope to see a clear timeline to get my old friend looking his finest.

The statue in Albert Park, Middlesbrough during the early days just after being unveiled in 2017 (Image: Goffy Media)

“The public reaction tells you just how much Brian Clough still means to people in Middlesbrough and far beyond.”

Attention will now turn to what happens next and whether plans will be announced regarding the statue’s restoration and future location.

With only the plinth and Clough’s boots remaining in Albert Park, communities in Middlesbrough and beyond await updates on how the tribute will be reinstated.

Meanwhile, Sir Geoffrey is set to return to Teesside for his ‘An Evening With Sir Geoffrey Boycott’ event at The Hub at Teesside University on June 19.

The show will feature stories from his cricket career and reflections on sporting legends, including Clough.

Sir Geoffrey said: “It will be interesting to see the progress of Cloughie’s Middlesbrough statue when I revisit the town for my show in June.”

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.   

North Yorkshire Police have issued several CCTV images of a man their officers would like to speak to after a woman was sexually assaulted in Selby.

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It happened in March after the victim was given a lift in a vehicle – before being sexually assaulted over her clothing.

Police believe this man can help with their investigation (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

“Please contact us if you recognise the man pictured in the images as we believe that he may have information that will assist our investigation,” said a spokesperson for the force.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 and pass information to the Force Control Room or you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or submit an online report via their website.

Another picture of the man (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

Please quote reference 12260040588 when providing information.

Donald Trump says that negotiations with Iran were “in the final stages”, while warning of further attacks unless Tehran agrees to a peace deal.

Six weeks since Trump paused Operation Epic Fury for a ceasefire, talks to end the war have ‌shown little progress. Trump said this week he came close to ordering more attacks, but held off to allow time for negotiations.

“We’re in the final stages of Iran. We’ll see what happens. Either have a deal or we’re going to do some things that are a little bit nasty, but hopefully that won’t happen,” he told reporters. “Ideally I’d like to see few people killed, as opposed to a lot. We can do it either way.”

Speaking later at the US Coast Guard Academy, Trump continued: “We may have to hit them very hard… but maybe not” – and reiterated his determination not to allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Tehran, for its part, accused Trump of plotting to restart the war, and threatened to retaliate for any strikes with attacks beyond the Middle East. “If aggression against Iran is repeated, the promised regional war will extend beyond the region this time,” the Revolutionary Guards said in a statement.

The airport has been completely transformed, and we got a look at all the changes.

Belfast International Airport has undergone a major £100 million overhaul, and we got a look at all the new and refurbished shops and restaurants.

There has been a lot of work done on the airport across the duty-free shops, restaurants and bars. It has seen the introduction of some new businesses to the space to enjoy before you head off on your flight.

We were invited in to have a tour of the airport and try out some of the food on offer.

The Lagan Bar

The “iconic” Lagan Bar has also fully reopened with a fresh look and increased capacity. As part of the redevelopment, the team have been keen to open up the space and increase the number of covers by around 25.

If you’re after a pre-flight tipple, a glass of house wine will set you back £8.15, and a bottle of beer starts at £6.50. With a fresh new look, you will hardly recognise The Lagan Bar, but they have assured it will still have the same “good craic” that everyone has come to expect.

The food offering here is pretty simple, with the menu consisting of burgers, wings, and sharing dishes. There is also a range of ‘sweet treats’ and hot drinks on offer.

Flax & Soda

Flax & Soda is one of the airport’s newest food and drink venues and is offering an approachable, family-friendly atmosphere.

Celebrating the best of Northern Ireland, Flax & Soda is a 280-cover space offering a flexible, all-day dining experience tailored to a wide range of passenger needs.

The menu celebrates both local and global influences – from Belfast baps, breakfast naans and soda bread Benedicts in the morning to a varied selection of burgers, curries, fish and chips, Turkish-inspired chicken kebabs and vibrant salads later in the day.

The space also features a bespoke mural celebrating the region’s rich history and culture by local artist Keith Drury, titled “Best of Belfast”, which serves as a striking centrepiece

The venue has also teamed up with Knead, a pizza restaurant that can be found in Common Market, has teamed up with the restaurant to add their pizzas to the menu for passengers to get when they’re passing through.

The Northern Quarter

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This part of the airport has had a massive makeover and is completely unrecognisable.

The new and improved part of the airport comes with a new menu. You can pick up traditional breakfast items as well as burgers, sharing plates and light bites.

It will come with a fully serviced bar, and customers can pick up pints on draught, wine and spirits. It also provides non-alcoholic alternatives like 0.0% Guinness and Heineken.

As well as the new restaurant and bar, visitors to the airport will be able to pick a coffee from the new Bewleys coffee area within the Northern Quarter.

Soul + Grain

Soul & Grain serves up happy and healthy hot and cold ‘good for you’ food, beautifully balanced with a slice of cake or two. All ready to grab & go in planet-friendly packaging, with artisan coffee to fuel you up for the rest of your journey.

Make your selection from a range of nutritious and nourishing food – with breakfasts, salads, cakes & pastries, sandwiches, baguettes and more. All made on-site fresh daily and designed to fuel you through your journey and beyond.

They pride themselves on a large range of plant-based and vegetarian options as well as catering for those on a gluten-free, high protein, high fibre, low sugar and low salt diets.

The Shipyard Coffee Co.

Shipyard Cafe brings a taste of Belfast’s proud heritage to your journey, offering a welcoming spot where travellers can relax and enjoy freshly prepared food and drinks. From barista coffee to hot meals and grab and go deals, Shipyard Cafe serves quality, convenience, and a warm welcome, whatever time your flight departs.

WHSmith

No airport is complete without a WHSmith, and Belfast International Airport is no different. While the airport store has always been there, it has now expanded and taken over the neighbouring unit, which was previously Boots.

As part of the refurbishment works, they have opened large windows to the rear of the store, making it much brighter. However, you can still pick up your meal deals and your holiday read on the way through.

Starbucks

While not new to the airport, the Starbucks has moved locations and expanded, offering customers a much more seamless experience.

Coffee lovers can pick up their usual orders alongside a range of tray bakes, sandwiches and breakfast items.

Pret A Manger

Pret is a relatively new addition to Belfast International Airport and offers passengers a great light-bite option.

Pret A Manger serves freshly made food and organic arabica coffee to fuel your travels through Belfast International Airport. You can pick up baguettes, salads, toasties, bakery treats and more every day, making it perfect for sitting in or grab-and-go.

Burger King

Burger King has been a stalwart of Belfast International Airport for years, and it has now got a new home next to The Lagan Bar.

With a range of self-service tills it will sell all of its famous menu items like the ‘Chicken Royale’ and the ‘Classic Whopper’.

Some work is still being carried out across the airport, but it is due to be fully completed in the coming weeks. Boots remains closed at the time of writing as it has moved and will reopen later in the summer.

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

Maya Jama has reportedly split from Manchester City footballer Ruben Dias after spending 18 months together.

The couple are said to have called time on their romance just three weeks before Maya flew to Inverness to film The Celebrity Traitors.

Their shock split comes after the pair first began dating in December 2024 after meeting at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester the month prior.

It has even been claimed that both Maya and Ruben have begun to delete loved-up photos of their time together, according to The Sun.

Maya had previously relocated to a mansion in Alderley Edge in Cheshire with Ruben after choosing to leave London to be closer to him.

Prior to dating Maya, Ruben was in a relationship with Portuguese singer April Ivy from 2018 to 2021.

Maya’s most famous romance before Ruben, meanwhile, was with British rapper Stormzy.

The Love Island host was first in a relationship with the singer from January 2015 until August 2019.

They then announced a sudden split before confirming they had secretly rekindled things just a few years later after being spotted on holiday in Greece.

Their 2023 reunion, however, lasted under a year before the pair seemed to call things quits for good.

Announcing their split in July 2024, the former said: ‘We’ve been laughing whilst drafting this because we never, ever, in a million years thought we’d be the couple announcing a breakup.

‘But for the sake of clarity and, more importantly, to allow us the space and grace that’s needed for us both to be able to navigate this next bit of our lives with peace, we thought it might be best to.’

‘We decided to try for the final time in August 2023, and we’ve spent this past year trying our best to make it work; however, we recently decided to call it quits.’

Another romance of Maya’s included former NBA player Ben Simmons who went public with their relationship in July 2021.

However, after announcing their engagement less than a year later in January 2022, the pair ended up splitting.

Earlier this year, Maya and Ruben went through a ‘devastating’ ordeal in January after their home was attacked.

Thousands of pounds worth of items were reportedly stolen, including designer clothes, jewellery and electronics from their 6,300 sq ft, four-bedroom home.

Other amenities include an indoor leisure suite, landscaped gardens and a security system.

Metro has contacted Maya Jama for comment.

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England boss Thomas Tuchel has begun making the phone calls as he prepares to name his 26-man World Cup squad, with Phil Foden and Luke Shaw among those expected to miss out

England manager Thomas Tuchel began making phone calls 48 hours before he named his World Cup squad, with Manchester City star Phil Foden and Manchester United defenders Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire out of the team. The England manager tackled the difficult conversations first, before ringing the 26 fortunate players to inform them they had made the cut.

Foden and Cole Palmer arguably represent the most notable absentees from the full squad. Trent Alexander-Arnold is similarly expected to be left out. Manchester United defender Maguire was among those to receive the unwelcome news, in what amounts to a devastating blow that effectively signals the end of the 34-year-old’s international career.

This outcome was hardly a surprise, given that back in March, Tuchel made it abundantly clear that Maguire ranked effectively sixth in the pecking order, behind the likes of John Stones, Ezri Konsa, Marc Guehi, Trevoh Chalobah and Dan Burn, while Levi Colwill, who had recently returned to the fold, is also anticipated to miss out.

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Maguire said: “I was confident I could have played a major part this summer for my country after the season I’ve had. I’ve been left shocked and gutted by the decision. I wish the players all the best.”

Fikayo Tomori has been informed he will not feature, and Shaw is likewise not expected to progress from the initial 55-man pool into the final 26-man squad. Ivan Toney is hopeful of securing one of three striker berths in the squad, while Jordan Henderson and Ollie Watkins are also fighting for their places.

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These are the defining selections, with players bracing themselves for either heartbreak or elation when Tuchel unveils his squad on Friday. The Football Association are unveiling the squad through their new app with Daniel Sturridge and Theo Walcott hosting proceedings.

England manager Tuchel will then reveal his selections for those heading to the United States on June 1 for the Florida training camp initially, before moving on to Kansas City to prepare for their Group matches against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.

Tuchel is monitoring the fitness of crucial players and faces a dilemma at right back because Ben White would almost certainly have been selected to provide cover for Reece James, but now England must wait on Tino Livramento.

Jarell Quansah appears a certainty as he’s capable of operating at right-back and centre-back, while Colwill has returned at the perfect moment after catching Tuchel’s eye with his performance in the FA Cup final. City defender Stones has received guarantees that he’ll be included despite limited playing time for his club.

Brentford midfielder Henderson finds himself in a similar position and offers experience, while Tuchel even stated in March he didn’t need to assess Newcastle defender Burn because he understood what he offered.

Tuchel possesses an abundance of options in midfield with numerous creative players like Foden, Palmer and Eberechi Eze. They cannot all be selected but Tuchel has made clear his intention to include three strikers and evidently Harry Kane, the captain, talisman and record goalscorer is guaranteed his place, leaving two remaining spots.

Aston Villa striker Watkins was omitted in March but has been in outstanding form since and will surely be included. It is understood that Tuchel, following the second of the two March friendlies against Japan, held an exhaustive and lengthy meeting with coaches Anthony Barry and Justin Cochrane.

The trio concluded that they needed to reassess and potentially cast their net beyond the 35-man squad that faced Japan and Uruguay.

Bukayo Saka was notably absent through injury, while Noni Madueke anticipates his place in the squad alongside him. Foden was handed his opportunity – and failed to grasp it.

At that stage, Tuchel had been considering deploying two forwards alongside a false nine – with Foden, Palmer and Jude Bellingham all capable of filling that role – but the idea was reconsidered.

A return for former Brentford striker Toney had appeared highly unlikely, given that Tuchel has yet to travel to Saudi Arabia to watch him in action.

However, a change of heart has since emerged, with Toney coming back into consideration alongside a fresh look at Danny Welbeck and Dominic Calvert-Lewin.

With Dom Solanke ruled out through injury, Toney has re-entered the frame despite his last England appearance coming as a late substitute against Senegal a year ago.

A general view of a Private Property sign at Rockliffe Park, Middlesbrough’s Training Ground. Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting to spying on opponents on three occasions this season, including play-off opponents Middlesbrough earlier this month. The club have also been docked four points for next season (PA)

PA Wire

Diana Henry is the Telegraph’s much-loved cookery writer. She shares recipes each week, for everything from speedy family dinners to special menus that friends will remember for months. She is also a regular broadcaster on BBC Radio 4, and her journalism and recipe books, including Simple and How to Eat a Peach, are multi-award-winning. A mother of two sons, Diana can satisfy even the fussiest of eaters.