Phoenix 93-78 Sheffield Sharks- British Basketball League
The Sharks went down after a 52 point first half against Cheshire in an exciting back-and-forth battle.
The head-off between Cheshire Phoenix and Braun Sheffield Sharks at the Cheshire Oaks Arena last night was intense and resulted in a win for the disadvantaged Phoenixs.
Although the Phoenix's lost their first game of the year on Friday, the team came back swinging, winning 93-78 over the Sharks who are currently sixth in the BBL Championship.
Sharks’ Malek Green and RJ Eytle-Rock made a strong start creating a 7-0 lead in the first minutes.
Phoenix’s Skyler White recovered the team from the early punch by scoring three three-pointers in only two minutes, to push the match into a stalemate.
Laquincy Rideau scored a basket early in the second half, putting the Phoenix in the lead, until Jordan Ratinho scored and the Sharks went ahead again.
In the second half, the roles were reversed as the Phoenix got eight points early on. White then fired a further two three-pointers early in the second half, solidifying the lead.
Green pushed the Sharks forward by scoring several jump shots in an attempt to regain momentum.
In the final ten, the Sharks got close to clinching a result as Cheshire started to tire, but they took over in the final six minutes.
Sheffield gained ground with Rai making crucial shots but White carried his team to a comfortable victory.
Overall, Sharks’ Malek Green and RJ Eytle-Rock stood out scoring 21 and 18 points respectively.
The next game for the Sharks is against Surrey Scorchers, on Thursday March 7th 2024 at Canon Medical Arena, 7.45pm tip off.
Church of England investment fund called ‘too small and slow’
A new report has called the £100 million investment fund set up to address the Church of England’s links to transatlantic slavery "too small and slow".
The report said instead the target should be instead be £1bn, calling for a "fund for healing, repair and justice."
The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the report was “the beginning of a multi-generational response to the appalling evil of transatlantic chattel enslavement”.
Announced in January last year, the funding programme was created for investment, research and engagement to address past wrongs of the Church.
Does Henderson’s relish belong on a chicken korma?
Heinz, Hellmann's, HP or Worcestershire? For Stephen Burke, it's Henderson's relish.
In 2006, whilst working as a Royal Navy Sailor, he began his mission to share Sheffield's staple sauce, and has since spent upwards of £2000 on the stuff.
Mr Burke, now a Civic Office manager, estimates he had delivered Henderson's to at least two thirds of the 151 countries he visited during his time in the Navy.
He said: “Other than jelly and ice cream, it goes with pretty much anything.
The question remains, does Henderson's belong on a chicken korma? Vote now on our Sheffield Wire X page.
Sheffield takes back ‘real ale capital of the world’ status
The city, which is home to 58 breweries, retained its title as the best beer town in the world, a report found.
With four breweries per 100,000 people, the steel city blew competing cities away in their bid to become the top of the hops.
Sheffield is thought to be the birthplace of craft beer and previously won the award in 2016.
The Sheffield Beer Report said "Sheffield’s brewing industry is a direct continuation of the city’s industrial heritage," and its thriving business both during and after the pandemic is a testament to the city's resilience.
Owls Glide by Millers in South Yorkshire Derby
The Owls made it three in a row after a comfortable 1-0 away win against Rotherham United.
Sheffield Wednesday needed three points against out-of-form Rotherham United to keep their survival dreams alive.
Pre-match, Wednesday boss Danny Rohl said: “We know the situation is still serious and it goes very quickly in this league in the other direction.
“But at the moment, we are going in the right direction.”
Although only seven miles and one league position separate the clubs, the gulf in class between the two sides was evident at the New York Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Wednesday spent the majority of the first half camped inside the Millers’ final third but lacked composure in and around the box.
This was evidenced after 21 minutes when Owl’s winger Poveda flashed a shot around the post after a positive run, cutting inside from the right.
The visitors did have the ball in the net from Akin Famewo but it was disallowed for offside in a questionable decision by the officials.
The goal didn’t come for Wednesday in the first half, but they were certainly on top, boasting 60% possession and 11 shots to Rotherham’s solitary effort.
Leam Richardson’s side started the second half with more intensity during the first ten minutes and had a few flurries around the away side’s area, but they didn’t create any clear opportunities.
The lack of quality in the Millers’ attack was met by a collective groan from the home fans on the 64th minute, when a seemingly promising counterattack culminated in a 30 yard back pass to their goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.
Danny Rohl’s men finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Ike Ugbo swept the ball in from close range after a quick passing exchange from the Owl’s on the edge of the box.
The last half an hour was fairly straightforward for the Owls, despite Barry Bannan clearing an effort off the line to keep the clean sheet intact.
Second half substitute Mallik Wilks also hit the post for the visitors with a headed effort in added time.
After the match, Rohl said: "From the beginning we were on the front foot, and we created a lot of chances and at half-time I had a clear message.
I said to my team it was great what we were doing, but it was about what we did in the box.”
The win for Wednesday was crucial and has pushed the Owls to within three points of safety.
When Rohl took the helm in December, they were struggling on 13 points at the foot of the table.
Wednesday play host to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow for another ‘six pointer’ in the relegation scrap.
Teenager hospitalised after early morning stabbing
A teenage boy has suffered serious injuries after being stabbed in Sheffield.
Police were called to Shirecliffe Road in the Burngreave area at around 6am today.
The boy, 17, is currently in hospital after having suffered serious injuries, but, according to South Yorkshire Police, "they are not life-threatening or life-altering."
Part of Shirecliffe Road, between Longley Avenue West and Musgrave Road is still closed whilst police carry out their investigation.
No arrests have been made, police said.
More updates to follow.
Preloved fashion event highlights the importance of sustainability
An evening event where old clothes will get a new lease of life is being held by The University of Sheffield accommodation services in collaboration with St Luke's Hospice.
There will be a sustainable fashion show hosted by Residence Life along with Accommodation and Commercial Services Green Impact, tonight, at The Edge in Endcliffe.
It will promote responsible ways of shopping for clothing and textiles, with students modelling personally selected outfits from the St Luke’s store on The Moor.
Prior to the show, there will be a Makers Market, where students, staff and local residents will be selling their items all made from preloved products.
There will also be clothes swap where people can exchange old garments for something new.
Sustainability Coordinator, Andrew Woffindin, who has worked closely with students and staff on the show, said it will be bigger and better last year's successful night.
When asked on the decision to partner with St Luke’s, he said: “It’s a local charity for local people. The hospice is absolutely second to none in giving care to those in their last moments.”
The show will be co-hosted by Social Media Influencer, Faye Wagstaffe, who runs the Instagram page Charity Shop Gal, that offers advice on how to style preloved and vintage items.
Wagstaffe gave up purchasing new clothes in 2019 after feeling that the fast-fashion industry was out of control.
She said: “This show really showcases the best of preloved clothes and sustainable outfits and shows people that you don’t need to buy new clothes.
“We’ve got to the stage of over consuming cheap and poorly made clothes. Buying second hand means these garments get a new lease of life don’t end up in landfill.”
Statistics published by Clothes Aid showed that 350,000 tonnes of unwanted clothing goes to landfill each year in the UK.
Wagstaffes’ own mother received care from St Luke’s Hospice, and she described that helping with the event was her way of giving back. St Luke’s is the only stand-alone adult hospice in Sheffield.
Jemma Dalton, Gift in Kind, at St Luke’s on The Moor said: “We touch a lot of people’s lives in the city and we’re so well supported, it’s fantastic.”
By getting involved with the event, Dalton hopes that St Luke’s will become more accessible to the wider community in Sheffield.
The event is running from 5-9pm at The Edge High Tor. Tickets are now sold out. A waiting list can be joined here.
Sheffield given £67m boost to build two new neighbourhoods
Homes England have announced that it will be kickstarting the transformation of Furnace Hill and Neepsend with a £67m boost.
The project is expected to provide 1,300 homes in the city centre.
The developments will also include a network of public spaces and streets to improve connections between the city centre and Kelham Island.
Tax cuts expected in new budget
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce tax cuts in the upcoming budget on Wednesday, including a further cut to national insurance.
The Conservative government are under significant pressure to regain confidence in voters following another by-election loss in Rochdale.
The New Economics Foundation has warned that Hunt's measures could push a further 55,000 people into poverty.
Other measures such as removing non-dom tax status are also being considered.
“We’re probably Sheffield’s best kept secret”: Charities to help disadvantaged families with childcare costs
Two charities have launched a new partnership to subsidise the cost of a week's sports camp in the school holidays for families in need.
Kings Active Foundation has partnered with Mums In Need, a charity that supports women who have left abusive relationships, to subsidise 90% of the cost of a week’s sports camp for 20 families.
A week-long sports camp at Kings Active Foundation normally costs around £240 a week but this subsidy will make the total cost under £20 per child.
Membership Manager, Caroline Coulthard, 34, said the charity aims to make sure children can come to a camp regardless of their financial situation.
She said: “It’s such a pleasure for us to see the difference that it is making in children’s and families’ lives and knowing we’re an option for them every school holiday.
“It’s an incredible thing to be a part of.”
Both charities hope these camps will give mothers the respite they need, while giving their children the chance to develop their confidence and new skills.
To apply for a subsidised place, families would normally need to fill in a form about their circumstances and income and then a panel would discuss their application, but this new partnership means Mums In Need will be referring families.
Case co-ordinator at Mums In Need, Nicola Rickwood, 40, said some of the women that come to the charity have suffered economic abuse and been left in debt by their ex-partners, so would not be able to afford this otherwise.
She said: “The women we’re supporting, we want them to thrive.
“We want to be that hope and that freedom to better themselves and their children, to start moving on and thinking about their future.”
While originally formed in Sheffield, Kings Active now has camps nationwide, and have been running their Supporting Families program for 15 years, aiming to help disadvantaged families access their camps.
Their goal is to have 3.5% of their UK camp places funded through the program and they are also trying to provide around 10,000 children a year with free activity sessions in schools across the country.
CEO Andrew Busby, 44, said: “It’s why we exist and it’s just what we do every day.
“We’re probably Sheffield’s best kept secret.”
Sheffield man travelled the world giving out hundreds of bottles of Henderson’s relish
A man from Sheffield spent £2,000 giving out free bottles of Henderson’s relish to people he met, from Norway to China.
Stephen Burke started his mission in 2006 to share the Sheffield staple whilst working as a Royal Navy Sailor.
Mr Burke, a 43-year-old Civic Office Manager, said: “There’s a lot of Henderson’s knocking around the world now thanks to me.”
During his first deployment, he visited 21 countries and decided to stockpile several hundred bottles of Henderson’s on the ship.
At every stop, all around the Mediterranean, Black Sea, through the Suez Canal and into the Arabian Gulf, he gave as many people as he could a bottle of the relish.
He said: “There was always a box of it in my locker or in my cabin.”
He decided to take Henderson's with him on his deployment because it’s one of the things he associates with growing up in Sheffield.
He said: “It was always a staple on the dining table, and I attach Henderson’s with the sentimental idea of being warm and cosy.
"It’s something you can talk about, which then allows you to talk about the city, which I am incredibly proud of.
“I totted up just before I left the Navy in 2021, I visited 151 countries and I’d say at least two thirds of these have had a bottle of Henderson’s Relish delivered to them by myself.”
He has continued his mission to share Henderson’s in his new job at the Civic Office.
Three bottles of the relish can even be found in the “Made in Sheffield” cabinet in the town hall, thanks to Mr Burke.
"Made in Sheffield" cabinet at Town Hall
He said: “Without having them in there, it wouldn’t be right."
As part of the Lunar New Year celebrations, he gave some bottles of Henderson’s to a delegation from Chengdu in China.
He also gave some to a South Korean delegation and a mayor from a Norwegian town.
Mr Burke said he has given out close to 1,000 bottles of Henderson’s relish over the years.
He has only been in his current role for four months but has already given out around 60 bottles.
When asked the cost of this, he said: “Not a small amount, I dare say, but in the grand scheme of things, it’s money well spent as far as I’m concerned.”
He admitted he had likely spent upwards of £2,000.
“I don’t even look at the price, I just buy the stuff," he said.
His favourite meals to have with Henderson’s relish are Shephard’s pie, spaghetti bolognese, and his most recent discovery of Henderson’s in mushy peas. He recommends everybody tries Henderson’s relish with a korma.
He said: “Other than jelly and ice cream, it goes with pretty much anything.
"It’s quite fun to be able to meet lots of different people in this job, like I did previously, and still get to tell people about the amazing things Sheffield has.
"I could spend the rest of my life talking about how amazing Sheffield is, and how amazing some of the people who live here are."
Sheffield rent and council tax increases impact those who are struggling the most
Sheffield City Council has confirmed a tax increase of 4.99% along with several other changes to commence from April 2024.
These changes include 7.7% increases in council rent, rent for temporary accommodation and garage plots and sites. The burglar alarm charge, sheltered housing service charge and furnished accommodation charge will also be raised by 6.7%.
A mum-of-two from Foxhill, who has been living in a rat-infested council home for the last two years, expressed frustration at the increase. She spoke to the Sheffield Wire on the condition of anonymity.
She said: “It is a joke getting charged more when the majority of council properties are in disrepair."
“I would prefer not to be in a council property but unfortunately I have no choice."
In January, Shelter England and HSBC produced a blog that revealed that “40% of people fear housing pressures will worsen in 2024”.
The report also found that families with children are more likely to have experienced a housing concern in the past year compared to adults without children.
Sharon Weatherstone, a local resident, expressed her disappointment, stating: "It’s disgusting, especially for older folk who can hardly live as it is.
“We could end up being homeless. That is what happening today. With children as well, it’s not fair on them."
A research report published by Shelter documented the scale of homelessness in England in 2023.
It stated: “Homelessness in England is at a record high and is continuing to rise."
One type of homelessness included in the report was 'people who have been accepted as homeless and are now living in temporary accommodation arranged by their local council'. This coincides with the temporary accommodation rent increase of 7.7%.
An anonymous source expressed their concern for those struggling to make ends meet. They said: “I am sickened that the central government is strangling councils like this."
“There are people just on the cusp, they’re not eligible for house benefit or council tax benefit and even a tiny percentage increase is not budgetable and something else will have to give."
Local resident Sue said: “I feel bad for those people who are badly affected by the cost of living but somebody has to pay for the services, and that got to be us."
