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Footballer Gets Married And Signs For New Club On The Same Day (Photo)

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6 years ago

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They say your wedding day is the happiest of your life, and for new Plymouth Argyle full-back Joe Riley it proved doubly so.

The 26-year-old, who had just been on the losing side with Shrewsbury in the League One play-off final, was about to get married to his fiancee Kayleigh when he found out the Pilgrims wanted to sign him.

“I had a quick check of my phone and I had a text off my agent saying Plymouth are interested,” he told BBC Devon.

“I said ‘go for it’.

And when asked what was better on his wedding day – his nuptials or the contract offer from Argyle – Riley quipped: “It was a tough call.”

Riley began his career as a youngster at Bolton Wanderers, but after Premier League starts against Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion, as well as a substitute appearance at boyhood favourites Manchester United, his progress was hampered by a succession of injuries.

A broken foot put paid to much of his second season at Bolton and he missed all of the 2013-14 campaign with knee ligament damage sustained in pre-season.

He went out on loan to Oxford United, which was followed by a free transfer move to Bury in January 2015 where the full-back rebuilt a career which has seen him play almost 150 games.

“I’m just happy to be here and hopeful that it can be a successful time,” he said of his move to Home Park.

Off the field, Argyle have re-appointed Michael Dunford as chief executive.

Dunford held the role between 2004 and 2009 before being made redundant during the financial problems that almost saw the club fold.

Since then he has held similar roles at Birmingham City, Crawley Town and Chesterfield and replaces Martyn Starnes who left earlier this year to become chief executive at Bristol Rovers.

“The club is certainly different to the one I left in 2009 and I have been extremely impressed with the ambition shown by chairman James Brent, vice-chairman Simon Hallett and fellow Board members,” Dunford told the club website.

“I am really looking forward to building a solid working relationship with Derek Adams, who has given all our fans hope that our on-the-field fortunes will continue to improve.”

One more new signing

Argyle manager Derek Adams says he expects to bring in a midfielder on loan as his final signing of the summer.

Adams has already brought in 10 new players this summer in all areas of the field as the club look to build on a season which saw them rise from bottom of the table to play-off contenders.

“When you come into any football club you need to have new blood, but you have to have the continuity of the ones that have done well. for you in previous seasons,” he told BBC Radio Devon.

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Rodri becomes first EPL player to win Ballon d’Or in 16 years

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3 days ago

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October 29, 2024 9:11 am

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Rodri Hernandez, the Manchester City midfielder, has been named the 2024 men’s Ballon d’Or winner.

The Spanish deep-lying playmaker beat Real Madrid’s trio of Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Dani Carvajal to claim his first-ever Ballon d’Or at the Théâtre du Chatelet in Paris, France, on Monday.

Rodri was a vital cog in Manchester City’s steamrolling of teams en route to the fourth consecutive league title and FA Cup triumph. He also holds the astonishing record of featuring 74 straight games without a loss. He was instrumental in Spain’s victory at the 2024 European Championships. The 28-year-old was also named player of the tournament.

The 28-year-old became the first player in the English Premier League (EPL) to win the prize since Cristiano Ronaldo clinched the award in 2008.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman ranked 14th in the men’s Ballon d’Or list.

In the women’s category, Aitana Bonmati, Barcelona’s midfielder, won the Ballon d’Or Femeni. The victory was her second consecutive Golden Ball prize.

Lamine Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy, the award for best-performing player under the age of 21.

The 17-year-old beat off competition from Arda Guler and Pau Curbasi to claim the award.

Emiliano Martinez won the best goalkeeper award while finishing 18th in this year’s Ballon d’Or.

  • Men’s Ballon d’Or: Rodri
  • Women’s Ballon d’Or: Aitana Bonmati
  • Kopa Trophy: Lamine Yamal
  • Yashin Trophy: Emiliano Martinez
  • Best Striker of the Year: Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappe
  • Best Men’s Coach: Carlo Ancelotti
  • Best Women’s Coach: Emma Hayes
  • Best Club: Real Madrid
  • Women’s Club of the Year: Barcelona Femeni
  • Socrates Trophy: Jennifer Hermoso
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Erik ten Hag sacked as Manchester United manager

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3 days ago

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October 28, 2024 1:50 pm

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Erik ten Hag has been dismissed as manager of Manchester United, the club confirmed Monday.

The decision came in the wake of a 1-0 Premier League defeat to West Ham United, which marked the end of the Dutchman’s two-and-a-half-year tenure at Old Trafford.

Under Ten Hag’s leadership, United struggled in the early stages of the 2024–25 season, managing just three wins from nine league games.

The team’s form in all competitions also faltered, with only four victories in 14 matches, leaving them in 14th place in the Premier League table, a troubling seven points adrift of the Champions League qualification spots.

Manchester United are likely to turn to club legend Ruud van Nistelrooy to guide the team on an interim basis following the sacking of manager Erik ten Hag.

Van Nistelrooy, who was brought in during the offseason to support Ten Hag, will assume leadership while the remaining coaching staff maintains their roles.

Ten Hag’s tenure began with high expectations after he took over in 2022, signing a contract that was recently extended by one year this past July, pushing his commitment through 2025.

His previous achievements with the club included an FA Cup final victory against Manchester City, but after United’s disappointing eighth-place finish last season—their lowest since 1990—a summer review was conducted.

United’s decision-makers, including CEO Omar Berrada, sporting director Dan Ashworth, and technical director Jason Wilcox, ultimately chose to retain Ten Hag.

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Flying Eagles thump Niger Republic to qualify for 2025 U-20 AFCON

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4 days ago

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October 28, 2024 9:27 am

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The Flying Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the 2025 U-20 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria defeated Niger Republic 3-1 in the semi-final of the ongoing WAFU B U-20 championship on Sunday night in Lome, Togo.

The team had to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat to return from a goal down and reverse fortune in the explosive encounter at the Stade Kegue.

Niger Republic stunned the Eagles when they scored first within the opening 10 minutes of the game.

Nigeria dug in, however, and restrained their free-attacking opponent’s onslaught in the opening 30 minutes. Then Clinton Jephta equalised for the Eagles in the 35th minute with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Jephta scored his second goal of the game and heaved Nigeria ahead immediately after the second half started.

Shortly, Olalekan Alonge cushioned the victory for the team with a well-taken goal later in the game.

The Eagles will face Ghana in the final of the WAFU B U-20 championship on Wednesday.

The WAFU B U20 Championship serves as the qualifiers for the 2025 U20 AFCON, and only the finalists book the tickets.

Next year’s U20 AFCON will also be African qualifiers for the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile, for which the four semi-finalists will automatically qualify.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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