This year, I was tasked with voting for the National League Rookie of the Year. Here's my ballot and what went into each decision.

Danny Dyer has revealed what he thinks of the infamous Jared Bowen chant about his daughter Dani, following the team's huge Europa Conference League win against Fiorentina. "I had about 15 cans of Stella", he joked of how he spent the game. When quizzed on the infamous song, he simply replied: "I think there's a bit of romance in it...think about it, it's a compliment, they're saying Bowen is on fire which is unreal, and he's also s******* Dani Dyer...they're saying it can't get any better." Click here to sign up for our newsletters

Connor Bedard did not disappoint in his NHL debut

Harry Kane began his Bayern Munich career on the bench for Saturday's German Super Cup clash with RB Leipzig, just hours after...

Villarreal has hired Marcelino García Toral for his second stint as coach of the Spanish soccer club

Now that Patrice Bergeron has announced his retirement, NHL fans wonder which stars will be next to announce the end of their playing careers.Boston Bruins legend Patrice Bergeron has announced that he is retiring from the NHL in a statement via NHL.com. “As I step away today, I have no re...

England Under-21s went goal crazy as they produced a stunning display to crush Serbia 9-1. Chelsea forward Noni Madueke, debutant Jaden Philogene and Harvey Elliott all scored twice at the City Ground. Liam Delap, Jonathan Rowe and Luka Subotic’s own goal heaped further misery on Serbia as the Young Lions came from behind in their first home game since winning Euro 2023. They had to hit back, despite dominating, after Vladimir Lucic’s classy strike gave Serbia the lead in the Euro 2025 qualifier. Victory made it two from two in Group F ahead of Monday’s game with Ukraine in Slovakia. Boss Lee Carsley had moved to distance this squad as European champions with just six of his winners featuring on Thursday after the majority of the class of 2023 aged out. His new-look Young Lions should have been cruising inside 10 minutes but Charlie Cresswell planted a free header wide after Philogene’s effort was turned over by Veljko Ilic. The goalkeeper then gathered a tame effort from Elliott and continued to deny the hosts, a reaction stop keeping out Philogene at the far post. Madueke pulled the strings, the forward teasing the overworked Serbia defence, but he should have done better than to drag wide following a neat exchange with Hayden Hackney. Carsley’s side dominated, Elliott shooting over, but they were shocked by Serbia after 27 minutes. Lucic started the move on the left and when Nikola Stankovic was played in behind Hackney he found Lucic to brilliantly guide a first-time finish into the top corner from 16 yards. It was a stunning finish and checked England’s momentum which, until then, had only been growing. The Young Lions were briefly cautious as they sized their opponents up again but Delap should have levelled nine minutes before the break rather than let Ilic save with his legs. Yet just two minutes later they levelled as Philogene marked his debut by smashing in high from the edge of the box after being gifted the ball by Ilic. Elliott went close before England got the second they deserved after 41 minutes when captain Cole Palmer was thwarted by Ilic but Philogene recycled the ball to find Delap who crashed in from five yards. It opened the floodgates and Elliott added a third when he collected the ball, advanced and arrowed a strike into the top corner. Eight minutes after the break Madueke got the goal he deserved when he danced across the Serbia defence and drilled in low. It was now a procession, with Serbia resorting to needless fouls to halt England’s rhythm, but they could do nothing to stop Madueke’s second. Hackney was allowed to run and slip the ball into Rico Lewis whose backheel found Madueke to roll into the corner. England continued to pile on the pain and Philogene got his second after 63 minutes, Delap unselfishly squaring to his Hull team-mate after Lewis put him clear. The scoreline reflected the gulf in quality and Cresswell and James McAtee went close to adding a seventh before Elliott hit the crossbar. It was left to Serbia to embarrass themselves as, under pressure from Jamie Bynoe-Gittens, Mitar Ergelas’ clearance clattered off Subotic and looped over Ilic with three minutes left. There was still time for substitute Rowe to get a debut goal, the Norwich forward heading in Elliott’s cross from close range. Then, in stoppage time, Elliott added the flourish with a ninth goal, seizing on Igor Miladinovic’s wretched pass to complete the scoring. Read More Marcus Smith set for full-back role in England’s World Cup quarter-final Scotland slip to defeat in Spain but qualification hopes remain alive FA would face criticism one way or another for conflict response – Southgate Southgate says experimental England must have right mindset against Australia Graham Arnold urging Australia to claim England scalp for ‘kids and nation’ England ready for challenge of knocking India ‘off their perch’ – Chris Woakes

A baseball player turned pro wrestler, Caleb Balgaard takes a leap of faith to win the heart of Charity Lawson among 24 other contestants

Asking a footballer who is addicted to gambling to play in stadiums plastered in betting logos is akin to making an alcoholic work in a pub, campaigners have said. The Big Step campaign, part of the Gambling With Lives charity, has said Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali deserves “empathy and support” for his gambling rather than a 10-month ban. Italian football federation (FIGC) president Gabriele Gravina said on Thursday the 23-year-old had been suspended for 10 months and ordered to undertake a further eight-month rehabilitation programme, according to reports in Italy. The player’s agent, Giuseppe Riso, has said his client is living with a gambling addiction. The PFA is understood to be working with and continuing to support Tonali. “Footballers are human and if they are suffering from addiction they deserve empathy and support, not lengthy bans,” the Big Step said in a statement issued to the PA news agency. “Every football game is wall-to-wall with gambling ads, not just across shirts but around stadiums and related media content. “Sending someone addicted to gambling into this environment is like sending an alcoholic to work in a pub. If you force young footballers to endorse addictive products then don’t be surprised if they use them. “Ending all gambling advertising and sponsorship in football, including all parts of the shirt and in every stadium, will help to prevent harm to those on and off the pitch.” Gravina told reporters: “An agreement has been reached between the federal prosecutor and Sandro Tonali. “The plea agreement is for 18 months, of which eight months is for rehabilitation, which involves therapeutic activity and making at least 16 public appearances. “The rules call for a certain number of years of suspension, but the plea bargain and extenuating circumstances have been taken into consideration and the players’ collaboration went above and beyond, therefore we must continue to respect the rules we have established for ourselves.” Tonali was one of several players named in the FIGC’s investigation, which also saw Juventus midfielder Nicolo Fagioli banned for seven months. Read More It doesn’t add up – North Wales Crusaders chief on IMG’s new grading system England ‘at end of cycle’ in ODIs – Michael Atherton England bowled out for just 156 in must-win World Cup clash with Sri Lanka

Cristian Romero explains how Ange Postecoglou has turned things around at Tottenham.

Liverpool’s late show fired Jurgen Klopp’s men to a 3-1 comeback win at Wolves. Andrew Robertson and Hugo Bueno’s own goal saw the Reds escape Molineux with a victory which looked unlikely at half-time. Hwang Hee-Chan’s early opener gave Wolves the lead as the hosts dominated and only a woeful miss by Matheus Cunha stopped them going further ahead. Liverpool were wretched in the first half but slowly improved, levelling through Cody Gakpo before breaking Wolves’ resistance with four minutes left for a third comeback win of the season. Boss Klopp had unloaded a new blast at the fixture schedule ahead of the early kick-off and his mood would have darkened just seven minutes in. Vibrant Wolves had already begun to stretch Liverpool before they broke at pace from the edge of their own area. Cunha sent Pedro Neto scampering down the left and the forward glided past the flimsy Dominik Szoboszlai and Joel Matip. He had little support but rolled the ball across the front of goal for Hwang to slide in at the far post as Alisson failed to make the ground. Manager Gary O’Neil promised Wolves had a plan to be aggressive and they continued to press with debutant Jean-Ricner Bellegarde a bustling presence, in contrast to the sloppy £60m Szoboszlai. Neto was a constant menace, steering over Nelson Semedo’s cross before firing wide from 20 yards, with Liverpool shellshocked and unable to find rhythm. If Klopp, who patrolled his technical area with typical gusto, expected a response he was found wanting. Gakpo was anonymous, Mo Salah timid and Diego Jota wasted their only opening of the half, firing over from 15 yards. While masterminding Bournemouth’s escape from relegation last season, O’Neil oversaw a 1-0 win against Liverpool and the boss believes the Reds will challenge for the title again. After three wins from their opening four games, he expected to see an improved Liverpool at Molineux yet for spells it was one-way traffic as Wolves dominated and should have doubled their lead after 33 minutes. Again Neto was the architect, bamboozling Joe Gomez to cross for an unmarked Cunha, only for the striker to completely mistime his header from five yards to let Liverpool off the hook. It was a glaring miss but the pedestrian Reds were unable to take immediate advantage, Gakpo slicing wide and nodding over. There was, at least, a small spark from Liverpool before the break when Jose Sa spilled Jota’s cross to Salah, whose shot was blocked, with Sa then saving Szoboszlai’s follow up. The fear for Wolves was Liverpool would not be that passive in the second half and Klopp responded by introducing Luis Diaz for Alexis Mac Allister. It almost paid off immediately when the forward headed Robertson’s cross inches wide 90 seconds after the re-start – and the visitors levelled 10 minutes later. Wolves were unable to rob Diaz and Gakpo on the edge of the box, with the ball eventually rolling for Salah to cross low for Gakpo to tap in from close range. It was the striker’s final touch, Darwin Nunez replacing him, while Wolves’ good work was in the process of being completely undone. From being in charge, the hosts had their backs to the wall and only a last-ditch block from Max Kilman stopped Nunez snatching the lead. Yet the Reds struck with four minutes left after Sa gifted them a second. The goalkeeper’s poor clearance was collected by Robertson mid-way inside the Wolves half. He advanced to dart into the area, swapped passes with Salah and finish under Sa. There was still time for a third in stoppage time when Elliott’s 20-yard drive clipped Bueno to wrongfoot Sa and roll in off the post. Read More Who is Jarell Quansah? The Liverpool ‘phenomenon’ making a first Premier League start Wolves vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League latest updates Remembering former Wales great Gary Speed – Friday’s sporting social What Mohamed Salah’s dressing room speech says about Liverpool future Jurgen Klopp gives update on Mohamed Salah Saudi Arabia transfer As Saudi clubs prepare world-record bid, Mo Salah shows his true value to Liverpool

Matt Fitzpatrick produced quite the performance to end his losing streak at Ryder Cups