“Bookies have us as the whipping boys” against Gunners
Sheffield United host Arsenal tonight at Bramall Lane as massive underdogs, as the Blades fight to stay in football's top league.
A victory for the Blades would elevate it from nineteenth, ahead of Burnley, who lost 2-0 to Bournemouth yesterday.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have won their previous five Premier League games and are currently third in the league, behind only Liverpool and Manchester City.
Sheffield United's manager, Chris Wilder, said: "The bookies will have us as the whipping boys tonight.
“We understand that but the game’s not always built like that. Results aren’t decided on league position.”
Read more below.
Red Bull dominate season-opener in Bahrain, but Horner remains talk of the paddock
Max Verstappen and Red Bull got a perfect start off the line in Bahrain and drove to a commanding victory, with teammate Sergio Perez coming home to take second place.
Team principal Christian Horner has been at the forefront of the drama in and around the Red Bull garage following allegations of "inappropriate behaviour" towards a female colleague, with Verstappen describing him to be "a little bit distracted" after qualifying.
Verstappen's father - former F1 driver Jos - said he believes the situation “is driving people apart” and "there is tension here [at Red Bull] while he [Horner] remains in position.”
The teams are currently preparing for the second race of the new season in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Teenager hospitalised with “serious” injuries after stabbing in Burngreave
A 17-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of affray which led to a teenage boy being hospitalised this morning.
The boy, also 17, was stabbed outside a property on Shirecliffe Road and received "serious, but not life-threatening or life-altering injuries", South Yorkshire Police said.
Many locals were unaware of the incident, but one resident said it was not uncommon for the area, and described witnessing a gun incident last November.
Jennie Chapman, whose parents live on Musgrave Road said: “It’s not the best area. I’m not happy about it because my parents are vulnerable.”
Part of Shirecliffe Road, between Longley Avenue West and Musgrave Road was cordoned off at 6.18am but has since reopened.
The boy remains in police custody and enquiries are ongoing.
Wilder: “Results aren’t decided on league position”
The Blades host Arsenal tonight as huge underdogs at Bramall Lane.
The Gunners are hoping to close the gap on Liverpool and Manchester City at the top and they come into tonight's game as clear favourites.
Arsenal have scored 19 goals in their previous four games and are unbeaten in 2024.
The Blades, rooted to the foot of the table, have only won three games all season, taking just 13 points.
Blades boss Chris Wilder said: "The bookies will have us as the whipping boys tonight.
"We understand that but the game's not always built like that. Results aren't decided on league position."
The idea of throwing the form book out of the window and focusing on the game as a stand-alone fixture could be crucial in determining if the Blades can get out of their current rut.
Especially with the game being at Bramall Lane, as United's fans can create a hostile environment for their opponents.
On how he is preparing his side for the game, Wilder said: "We're going to dress it up as a cup tie.
"I said to them, if it were an FA Cup match, you'd have nothing to lose. Go out there and make a good account of yourself."
Wilder also confirmed that the squad has been given a boost by players returning from injury.
Brereton Diaz has scored two in three games since joining from Spanish club Villarreal, whereas Greek international George Baldock hasn't played for the Blades since December.
Both could be vital in their hopes of causing an upset tonight.
The odds are certainly stacked against Sheffield United, who have only scored 22 times this season. Arsenal on the other hand, have scored 25 goals since 20 January.
Wilder doesn't want those stats to deter the fans, however.
He had a message for those who are doubting his side's chances tonight: "What would you rather do? Would you prefer to be playing a Championship club on the night, or Arsenal in front of the world?
"I know where I'd rather be" he said.
Lawrence Fox broke broadcasting rules, says Ofcom
The regulatory body announced that GB News was in breach of rule 2.3 concerning harm and offence following a five month investigation.
Following a misogynistic rant on GB News’ 'Dan Wootton Tonight' in September 2023, both Fox and programme host Dan Wootton were suspended by the broadcaster. Both were ultimately fired.
Ofcom said it has "significant concerns about GB News’ editorial control of its live output" and has requested a meeting with the news organisation to discuss compliance practices.
The broadcast was the most complained about show of 2023 and as of September 2023, Ofcom had at least 12 investigations into the organisation.
Apple fined £1.5bn for breaking EU law over music streaming
Apple has been fined by regulators in Europe for not allowing music streaming apps to tell customers they can subscribe to cheaper alternatives outside the App Store.
Swedish music giant Spotify filed a complaint to the EU in 2019 which claimed that Apple limits choice and competition by charging a 30% fee on purchases made through the App Store.
The European Commission said that the global tech giant, who offers Apple Music to its customers, had "abused its dominant position in the market for distributing music streaming apps, and had broken EU antitrust rules in the process."
Ongoing sewage dumps and chemical pollution lead to “poor” health grade for River Don
A new report on UK rivers has found Sheffield's River Don is in “poor” health, with ongoing pollution from sewage discharge and urban runoff the main concerns.
The pollution poses an urgent threat to wildlife, particularly aquatic plants such as algae.
“It’s disappointing," said Geoff Guy, Manager of Riverlution, which restores River Don habitats. "If the system that exists for sewage isn’t putting the right thing in the right place, it’ll end up in the river.”
Yorkshire Water, which manages sewage in South Yorkshire, resorts to discharging sewage overflow during times of heavy rain and flooding. In 2022, a storm sewer managed by Yorkshire Water next to the Sheffield Wednesday football stadium in Hillsborough overflowed 100 times for a total of 665 hours. That sewer overflow went straight into the River Don.
Last autumn, Yorkshire Water announced they would raise water bills in South Yorkshire by £150 a year until 2030 to pay for the sewer network improvements needed to reduce discharge.
A Yorkshire Water spokesperson said: “We’re investing £180m in overflow improvements in the next two years, some of which operate in South Yorkshire.”
The company also plans to spend £1.4bn between 2025 and 2030, including some of the revenue from increased water fees, to reduce sewage overflows by 35%.
In addition to sewage, pollutants in the Don include high levels of flame-retardant chemicals, fabric stain protectors, mercury, ammonia, and pesticides. This is largely caused by urban runoff, such as chemicals and oil from cars washing from the roads into the river.
Ed Shaw, Managing Director of Don Catchments Rivers Trust, warned about the pollution caused by flea treatments people give to their pets. He said: “We’re particularly worried that dogs love jumping in rivers, and as a result that insecticide washes into the streams and the rivers and has a powerful effect.”
The State of Our Rivers report, published annually by The Rivers Trust, exposed that only 15% if Britain’s rivers are in good health. According to the report, none of the Sheffield’s five rivers are in good health.
Despite the Don’s overall poor health, one bright spot is the river’s fish. Brown trout are doing well in the river. Though the river’s weirs, built during Sheffield’s industrial past, are a barrier for fish traveling upstream to breed, restoration groups have been building fish passes into them that allow them to migrate.
“There’s no reason why salmon can’t live in the River Don,” said Mr Guy.
One advocacy group, the River Don Project, is even campaigning to have the river granted legal personhood, in the hopes it can help legally protect the river from pollution.
Alban Krashi, a rights of nature advocate who co-founded the project, said: “It doesn’t have to be this way. We have the understanding to support the River Don not only to survive, but to thrive.”
Sheffield student beats Chaser in dramatic showdown
Among the team of three that beat the Chaser last Friday was a student who used the money to pay for his rent and utilities.
The team faced The Dark Destroyer in the final chase with a score of only 14 and won a whopping £17,000 between them, meaning they left the studio with £5,666 each.
University of Sheffield student Tom Burton was part of the team and he used his winnings to return to university to study for his Masters in Journalism.
He said: "I told Bradley Walsh I would use it for university, and that's what I've done."
Although he saved most of his money to pay for his rent and bills while he was studying, Tom said he did treat himself to a new shirt and trousers.
On Friday, Tom gathered with his university friends to watch the episode as it aired.
The 28-year-old from Oswestry in Shropshire has previously applied to be on Pointless and Bargain Hunt.
He said: “It’s always been a bit of a dream of mine to get on daytime TV.
"I never saw myself as being an amazing contestant, but I always averaged about five or six thousand in my cash builder so I figured I wouldn’t embarrass myself too badly.”
Tom said he applied online and had to pass both a phone and online audition before being put into a casting pool for the TV show.
He said one of his teammates waited in the casting pool for three years before being called to go on the show, but he only had to wait for seven months.
Tom played it safe by taking the middle offer of the £7,000 he earned from his cash builder, he said he had practiced taking the higher offer at home but often lost.
He said: “I could feel my pulse in my throat.
“I barely slept a wink the night before, I was up all night with anxiety and palpitations and when I got into the studio my whole body was just shaking."
Chippenham to get new rail factory
The Victorian era rail factory in Wiltshire is set to be closed and a new facility opened after Siemens announced plans for a £100m replacement.
The factory, which designs and manufactures railway signalling and control systems, employs over 800 people, all of which will be transferred to the new building which is expected to be open by 2026.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, who was in Wiltshire, said: "This new commitment from Siemens is a big boost for Britain’s world-class manufacturing sector and shows our plan for the UK to be the best place to invest and grow a business is working."
Why do we celebrate World Book Day?
This Thursday marks the 27th World Book Day in the UK, an annual celebration of books and reading.
For many children, the event is a chance to wear costumes to replicate their favourite book characters, but for others, it’s the only chance they have to own a book.
According to the National Literacy Trust, one in five children aged between five and eight don’t have a book of their own at home. The cost-of-living crisis has caused a 1.9 percent increase in the number of children in the same age bracket who don’t own a book - the highest it has been since 2019.
Cassie Chadderton, CEO of World Book Day, says: “With fewer children and their families enjoying reading, it is vital we reach more children than ever, so that every child can benefit from the improved life chances that reading for pleasure brings. Our aim for World Book Day 2024 is to bring the fun of reading to more children, to celebrate their choices and encourage everyone to Read Their Way. Encouraging children to love reading for pleasure is our charity’s mission."
World Book Day aims to help children, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, to form a life-long habit of reading for pleasure. Each year, school children receive a £1/€1.50 book token to exchange for a book, eliminating financial barriers to reading, and this year, there are 15 books to choose from, catering to all reading levels.
Caryl Hart, a Sheffield-based children’s author, says: “World Book Day is not just about dressing up. It's about having fun with books and establishing a love of reading. Studies show that children who read for pleasure do better at school and have more career choices as adults - so showing our children how much we value books is vital."
The books on offer this year include Creepy Creations by Jennifer Killick, Can You Get Jellyfish in Space? by Dr Sheila Kanani and Dinosaur Club: On the Trail of the T.rex by Jane Clarke.
Children's author, Jane Clarke, who's latest collection of books are based on a dinosaur club, spoke of what it means to be selected to write a World Book Day book.
Cathy Cassidy, a best-selling children’s author of titles such as Cherry Crush and Summer’s Dream, spoke about why World Book Day matters to her. “I didn't own a book of my own until I was twelve - my family just didn't have the money.
“World Book Day is a chance to celebrate the awesomeness of books and reading. Of course, those things are awesome every day of the year, but having one day where schools and families across the UK celebrate is pretty cool."
Cathy has previously been asked to write one of the little World Book Day books, and for several years took part in the Biggest Book Show on Earth. She says: “These were roadshow events organised by the World Book Day organisation where hundreds of schools would bring students along to a big venue to see five or six authors talk about books. It brought the fun, magic, and drama of books to just about every corner of the country and it was fun to perform to such big audiences. I've just had an email from a reader who is dressing up as me for World Book Day!"
How is Sheffield celebrating World Book Day?
World Book Day celebrations across Sheffield have already begun, with retailers across the city stocking their shelves with £1 books, including independent bookshops Rhyme & Reason on Ecclesall Road, and La Biblioteka, which is located on Eyre Street near the city centre.
Kat Mills, a Sheffield parent, says: “World Book Day is fantastic for my children. It’s about more than just a book, it’s a day that allows them to express themselves through costume.”
The University of Sheffield Residence Life are marking World Book Day with a free book exchange to encourage sustainability within the book industry. Greg Hewitt, Student Engagement & Development Coordinator, says: “If we can encourage staff and students to swap and exchange books, we can help to do our bit to address issues such as unread books in landfill.”
Schools across South Yorkshire are also preparing for their World Book Day Celebrations.
One parent of a child at Archdale Specialist school says: “This year, the school is having a sea themed day, followed by a mad hatter’s tea party. My boys love it because they have their favourite story read and they get to have cake at the coffee morning.”
Steph Fogg, an English teacher at Doncaster School for the Deaf, says: “World book day is really important as it helps to foster a love of reading. For many of our students, reading can be challenging but World Book Day helps to bring the fun and pleasure back into it.
“It is wonderful to have dedicated time devoted to the enjoyment of reading and it is a great opportunity for adults to share some of their favourite books with our students in the hope that we can broaden their reading horizons."
Mr Richard Pease, principal at Maltby Lilly Hall Academy, says: “World Book Day is an integral part of raising the profile of reading engagement with children. Not only does it bring new texts and authors to light, but it brings to life the joy of reading and how the imagination can inspire new worlds and possibilities.
“The day often involves engagement with authors, discussing how they create characters and where their inspiration comes from, this ignites a passion for writing and reading in children, both in schools and encouraging reading for pleasure at home. World Book Day is crucial in not just raising the importance of reading as a lifelong skill, but also highlighting the enjoyment and empowerment it brings.”
Daisy Johnson, English Lead at Athelstan Primary School, says: “As a school, we go for costumes and a day off timetable to celebrate reading. Our children will tune into some of the live lesson resources provided by the BBC and Scholastic, as well as having down-time to read and talk about their books, or even create books of their own.
“However, World Book Day isn't a stand-alone event. Reading for Pleasure is already a big focus in our school; we have dedicated Reading for Pleasure sessions weekly where we share new reading with children, work on our reading aloud or memorising poems, and generally celebrate books of all kinds. World Book Day is amazing, but a costume doesn't make a reader.”
Visit the World Book Day website for more information about World Book Day and to see the full list of £1 books and stockists.
Peak District festival organisers talk plans to grow after being “so close to success” in previous years
As the start-up drum and bass festival enters its fifth year, the organisers discuss plans to grow its grass rooted success.
Rosa Festival was set up during lockdown by its seven core organisers who saw a gap for an electronic music festival in the Peak District.
Organisers of the festival, based near Middleton-by-Youlgrave, explained the major jumps the festival has experienced each year.
Joe Meehan, 27, Co-director of Rosa, said: “We went from one tent in a field to two stages with 500 people and then had to move off our site because we’d outgrown it.”
The festival, which takes place on the 7th to the 10th of June, has since grown to accommodate 650 people in its fourth year.
Thomas O’Keeffe, 24, Co-director of Rosa Festival, said: “If we had funding, the first thing we would start to do is booking out proper bands with a proper set up and really invest in advertising.
“At the minute it is pretty much all organic. It is something that I’m proud of that we have done it all organically.”
Despite the appearance of financial success, the organisers explained that their aim has been to break even each year.
Mr O’Keeffe said: “We are so close to success. We’ve got 600 people there but the extra 400 people would make the event.
"Once you get 1000 people there the event isn’t expensive to run anymore and it goes straight into the production.”
The organisers explained plans to incorporate unique things and places to relax in order to create more of a maze and detail to the site.
Mr Meehan, coordinator for logistics and infrastructure said: “Our ultimate goal is to have a bit of theatre to it. The festivals like Boomtown have full production scale theatre which is something that we definitely take inspiration from. We hope to grow that aspect.
“The core component will always be what can be considered underground music.”
Deadbeat UK, from Sheffield, has been a DJ for over 10 years, he closed the festival on Friday night at the Vibes Marquee Stage last year.
He said: “It seems like a good bunch of people running it and I can see the potential for it to grow and evolve as a festival as they do more. I would love to come and play there again in the future.”
The organisers have created a launch event for Rosa 2024 on March 16th at Dryad Works showcasing some of their DJs.
Ameya Khan-Forbes, 19, has attended Rosa two years running and will be attending the launch event.
She said: “My experience of volunteering was amazing, everyone was really welcoming and I still had loads of time to enjoy Rosa, so it was definitely worth it.”
The production and marketing co-ordinator for Rosa, said: “Our ethos is to make something which stands the test of time.
“We want people go because it is a cultural happening that runs every year, getting to that point is what we want to create.”
For tickets to Rosa Festival visit the site.
Brixton Academy to reopen following deaths
The O2 venue in North London is set to reopen its doors on 19 April after it a deadly crush killed two people in December 2022.
Gaby Hutchinson, 23, and Rebecca Ikumelo, 33, were killed at the venue when fans without tickets attempted to force their way in to a Asake concert.
The venue will host a host of tribute acts upon its reopening, including Nirvana UK, The Smyths and Definitely Mightbe.