BIRMINGHAM CITY have launched an ambitious £10million deadline day bid to sign Fulham striker Jay Stansfield.

The 21-year-old was a huge hit with Blues fans when he scored 13 goals while on loan last season.

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Birmingham have launched a £10m bid for Fulham striker Jay Stansfield[/caption]

Stansfield added another goal at St Andrews when he scored AGAINST Birmingham for Fulham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

Blues boss Chris Davies is now hoping to smash the League One transfer record by paying more than double the £3.48m he paid for Christophe Klarer earlier in the window.

But according to the Telegraph reporter John Percy, the Cottagers have rejected the £10m bid from Birmingham for the striker.

The striker memorably scored a 95th-minute winner against Plymouth Argyle on his Championship debut for the club.

He then went on to make 47 appearances for Birmingham becoming a popular figure amongst the St Andrews faithful.

If Fulham decide to deal it would take Birmingham’s spending to an eye-watering £24million in this window alone.

The Blues were relegated from the Championship last season after going through five managers including Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.

And the club’s new American ownership has done some big spending on the players and staff which made dropping into the third tier more heartbreaking.

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With Stansfield’s arrival, it seems the spending has not stopped with Birmingham desperate to make it back to the Championship for the first time of asking.

This summer they signed prolific striker Alfie May from Charlton, with the Blues paying £768,000 as an initial fee and a reported £16,000 salary to the player.

Centre-back Klarer arrived from German side Darmstadt, while Lyndon Dykes left Championship side QPR to move to St Andrews for £1 million.

Scott Wright has arrived from Rangers on deadline day, while a series of loan deals have been brokered.

Davies’ side have won two and drawn one of their opening League One games this season.

FORMER Premier League star Chris Basham has announced his retirement after failing to recover from a horror injury.

The versatile defender, 36, has not kicked a ball since breaking his leg in Sheffield United’s clash with Fulham last October.

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Rex

Basham’s ankle gave way in a freak movement as he attempted to cross the ball.

And he received emergency treatment from medics, including oxygen, while still on the field.

Basham had hoped to recover in time for the start of United’s new Championship campaign.

However, his ankle has still not fully healed, leading to the expiration of his Blades contract.

And Basham has now called it a day in an emotional social media post.

It read: “This is a post that I think many knew was coming, but it has been easier to accept after the past few months as I still recover from the injury last October at Craven Cottage.

“I would like to thank everyone who has made my career in the game a special one including those that taught me important lessons. 

“The highs and lows of football since being a teenager, getting released and then having the drive, along with opportunities, and belief from another club to go again.

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“Newcastle United give me the pedigree, the coaching and the chance to be able to play with the best players of my year. They gave me the structure and the mindset of being a player. 

“They taught me the sacrifices that I would have to make in order to have any chance of a successful career in the game.

“Bolton Wanderers, who nurtured me and gave me the opportunity that I dreamed of from being a young lad. An appearance in the Premier League, and a Premier League goal. 

“To be part of a team full of footballing icons, and train along side with, was incredibly surreal, and one in the past that I could only imagine. 

“But this experience gave me so much determination, which little did I know at the time would be monumental for my future achievements.

“Blackpool FC, for believing in me to be part of a working culture and team. I was taught the importance of team work at this club. 

“The dressing room was filled with hard working lads and staff that had experienced promotions. Everything they did emphasised the importance of working together as a team and becoming a unity.

“Sheffield United, wow, a club that I never expected to play for. A club that I quickly fell in love with and for ten years. 

“I found the real me as a footballer here, they inspired me and pushed me as a player which brought on a whole new drive and passion for the game, giving me my best years of football. 

“I gave everything to the club and got everything back, from the staff at the club, to the amazing fans that will forever be in my heart and most of all the successes, and the fantastic memories that came with it. Thank you!”

Various former teammates paid tribute to Basham online.

Callum Robinson said: “Congratulations Bash on your amazing career. What a player and an even better teammate.”

Tommy Doyle declared: “Legend of the game! All the best Bash.”

Conor Hourihane noted: “Incredible career, wishing you all the very best moving forward.”

Former club Sheffield United added: “Congratulations on an outstanding career.”

Basham started his career in Newcastle’s academy before switching to Bolton’s youth system in 2006.

After loans at Stafford Rangers and Rochdale, he made his Premier League debut for the Trotters in 2008.

21 games and two years later, Basham secured a move to Blackpool.

He played 94 times in four years before dropping to League One with Sheffield United.

Basham became a stalwart at the club, featuring 394 times and helping them to Premier League promotion on two separate occasions.

He was also crowned the Blades’ Player of the Year in 2020.

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COPS have issued an urgent warning over “suspicious” meat after experts warned it could cause “serious health issues”.

Three medicated sheep were burgled from the village of Chaddesley Corbett, Worcestershire, over the Bank Holiday weekend, say West Mercia Police.

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Meat eaters could be in danger if they consume the meat[/caption]

Shoppers are urged to stick to reputably sourced meat, as the sheep in question are unfit for human consumption due to the medication they were on.

Although the incident took place in Worcestershire, police also extended the warning to residents across Herefordshire and Shropshire.

PCSO Kate Easthope said: “We’re concerned that if the meat from these sheep has entered the food chain it could cause serious health issues for those who consume it.

“As always, for your safety we would only advise buying and consuming meat from reputable sources. 

“As well as being unsafe for consumers, illegal butchery is a serious offence which can cause unnecessary suffering to the animal. Rural crimes like this also have serious emotional and financial impact on our farming communities.

“We’ve launched an investigation into this incident and I would ask, as always, that people contact us if they think someone is selling illegal meat.”

The news comes after a similar incident earlier this year, in which two Reading businesses were found in possession of 400kg of illegal meat products.

The meat, which included sheep heads, cutlets, leg joints and offal – some of which was more than a year old – was found to be in breach of food hygiene standards.

Two weeks ago, the National Sheep Association (NSA) also warned of an “alarming rise” in illegal sheep meat imports – with sheep being transported from abroad without adequate checks.

NSA chief executive Phil Stocker said this could introduce new diseases to the UK food system, and urged the Labour government to roll out “swift and effective measures.”

Anyone with information about the theft of the sheep, or who may have been offered meat for sale in the last few days which may be suspicious, is asked to contact PSCO Kate Easthope on 07773046202 or kate.easthope@westmercia.police.uk quoting incident number 453i of 25 August.

SPENCER Matthews has revealed the staggering amount he’s raised for charity after completing a record-breaking endurance challenge.

The TV star ran 30 marathons in 30 days across the Jordanian desert in aid of Global’s Make Some Noise, which supports small charities across the UK.

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Spencer Matthews has raised half a million pounds for charity[/caption]

Instagram/spencermatthews

Two of his children – Theo and Gigi – joined him as he broke the record in the Jordanian desert[/caption]

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Spencer is a very different man today than he was in his reality TV days[/caption]

So far, the tally is a seriously impressive £512,000k and looks set to grow even further now he’s back in the UK.

Appearing on Heart Breakfast today, he said: “That’s insane. To be honest, the whole time that I was out there running, the charities were such a massive driver for me.

“And, as I said earlier, the support and the generosity shown throughout the challenge was completely overwhelming. And even just the messages on socials, I’ve never felt anything like that level of support for anything in my life.

“So, I can’t thank you all enough. You know, I see this very much as – we only just finished this, I’m hoping for another few weeks of fundraising now. I’m going to think about ways to continue to raise money for these incredible causes and the great work that Global’s Make Some Noise do.

“So, if you haven’t yet donated, please consider donating, all your money makes such a big difference to incredible families and children who really deserve the help, so please consider it.”

The desert challenge pushed Spencer to the limit and his body changed dramatically between the first marathon and the last – some 1,274km in total.

He spoke to us from the desert prior to breaking the record and revealed how he would spend the days after crossing the line.

“Life just needs to go back to normal for a bit, I think, before considering anything else,” he said. “I’ve really missed pizza. I can’t wait to have a pizza and a nice cold shower. A normal bed with some air conditioning would be nice.”

He reunited with his adoring wife Vogue Williams and their two eldest children – Theo and Gigi – at the finish line.

The trio gave him a hero’s welcome and lots of kisses and cuddles as he completed his goal close to the Dead Sea.

As unthinkably difficult as the gruelling feat of endurance was, it paled in comparison to the grim conditions he experienced between runs.

However, Spencer’s smile was unwavering as he recalled eating flesh from a boiled goat’s head, battling swarms of flies and sleeping on sweat-soaked mats. 

He said: “The biggest low, I suppose, is that it’s Groundhog Day. It’s exactly the same every single day. 

“The marathon has actually become my favourite part of the day because the rest of it is at the best of times pretty grim.”

Each day a camp of sorts was erected close to the end of the planned route – though they were all far removed from the sites you may pitch up in around the British Isles. 

He continued: “By camp, I mean a covering like a tent, no air conditioning, no toilets, no running water, rough grounds.

“We each have a mat. They are fluffy and furry. In 40 plus degrees [Celsius], they’re not very comfortable.

“You lie on them with as few clothes on as possible because it’s very, very hot. You sweat profusely into your mats on a daily basis.”

Holding up the mat to camera, Spencer explained it’s about two metres by 50 centimetres and not too dissimilar to a lilo.

“You eat on those. You relax on those. You sleep on those. You nap on those. That’s where you spend the bulk of your day. About 18 hours a day you spend in camp. Obviously, you sleep in that time as well.”

Sleep was difficult to come by at times, with Spencer getting as little as two hours of shut-eye some nights before having to get up and run another marathon.

Though he found little sympathy, telling me: “No one gives a sh*t if you sleep for two hours.”

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Spencer and his team were all smiles after finishing the challenge[/caption]

instagram/spencermatthews

The sheer scale of the desert and its remoteness surprised him, with up to 100km between towns and villages, while the local cuisine was of an acquired taste meaning he went hungry for long periods of time.

“It’s not like there is nothing in these towns,” he said. “We’ve come across the odd chicken shop that’s all right, but there’s nothing. There’s no supermarkets.

“It’s quite a difficult place to exist unless you’re from here. It’s certainly very new to us. We were served a goat’s head for dinner, which of course is an interesting dish, but it was a goat’s head that was boiled and then put on a tray with some rice around it.

“That’s it. You’re just picking its face off its skull and eating it. I’m starving a lot of the time.

“I don’t want to make it sound like a terrible experience because it’s been one of the best experiences of my life. Camp is something I hadn’t really accounted for. It is not nice.”

The camp conditions were so bad that Spencer banned Vogue and their kids from joining him days ahead of the finish.

“This is no place for kids,” he said.

“Vogue would last less than five minutes in one of these camps. That’s no poor reflection on her. It’s deeply unpleasant.

“Contrast that with the earlier camps in Wadi Rum Desert. Insane, amazing, no flies, beautiful, canyons, sunsets, sunrises, insane stars, shooting stars. All that’s been gone for a little while now.”

It was the relentless harassment from flies that proved particularly troublesome deep into the challenge.

“There’s a real fly issue in some camps if you’re near a plantation,” he said. “I don’t know what they do, by the way, like grow or whatever, but they call them plantations.

“I mean you’re racing around outside, eating your food. If you sat still, there’d be all of your food all over you.

“You can’t nap because you’re just repeatedly slapping yourself in the face to get rid of them. It doesn’t sound like it would be a big issue, but I actually can’t tell you the level of frustration that comes with these flies.

“They disappear at 6.30pm on the dot. It’s like they’re late for something. They literally just vanish.”

The military precision of the whole operation, which was eight months in the making, is what Spencer credits with helping to keep that smile on his face, as well as the knowledge that his efforts were raising a huge sum of money for Global’s Make Some Noise charity, which helps people all over the UK.

Instagram/spencermatthews

The endurance athlete looked delighted to be back with his wife[/caption]

He was also joined by a stellar team without which the challenge would not have come to fruition. Those men are running coach Chris Taylor, physio Jonny Heath,  Dr. Joshua Alisson, and videographer Matt Stone.

Then there was guest runner, celebrity chef and founder of British butter company All Things Butter, Thomas Straker, who decided to join Spencer for the 22nd leg of his Great Desert Challenge after an encounter at his West London restaurant earlier in the year.

The slick plan was also responsible for Spencer receiving messages from some awestruck followers who claimed he was making it look easy.

“I personally don’t think that these challenges have to revolve around pain and misery and jeopardy,” said Spencer. “Jeopardy is the antithesis of good preparation.

I’ve really missed pizza. I can’t wait to have a pizza and a nice cold shower. A normal bed with some air conditioning would be nice.”

Spencer Matthews

“If you’re well prepared for something, in an ideal world, there won’t be any jeopardy. I’m getting a few messages saying, you’re making this look really easy. It’s good.

“That means I’m doing a really good job. When I get a message like that, it just makes me think the team are professional, the plan is working.

“Every day is the same, but we are grinding through a plan that we created earlier this year. This challenge for me started in January. This isn’t a 30-day thing.

“I’ve been getting as prepared as I humanly can be to succeed. I don’t want to come out here and fail. So I’ve done everything I can to make sure that I don’t.”

STAYING POSITIVE

Among the supportive messages he received was one from ‘The Hardest Geezer’, Russ Cook, who earlier this year became the first person to run the entire length of Africa.

It meant a lot as Spencer had followed Russ’s Africa run with interest and was impressed by his mental fortitude. 

“I think I engaged with Russ’s efforts more because of his energy,” said Spencer. “Obviously, his athletic achievement was crazy as well, but the thing that I was more taken by with him was his enthusiasm for life. 

“His general nature made me very interested in him as a person, instead of what he could have been doing. I’m sure he had tons of issues along the way, but he chose to focus on energetic, positive messaging.

“Which is exactly how I would want to be in this situation, and I think how I have been.”

The driven family man Spencer is today is unrecognisable from his 20-something self.

Back then he was a party-loving Made In Chelsea star who had an alcohol problem so severe that he could have died had he not taken drastic action.

These days he runs the successful non-alcoholic beverage brand Clean Co. and very rarely drinks.

“Running’s really changed my life,” he said. “I’ve come a really, really long way from where I was a few years ago. I’m really proud of myself, which is a beautiful feeling to have.

“I’ve lived for many years in shame of my own behaviour and my own actions. So, to feel like I’ve come out of that and, touch wood, all being well, have managed to achieve this completely unprecedented, wild task will be a new chapter in my life.

“I really don’t know what will come of it, but there will be more of it, I think, because I think I’m pretty good at it. It’s a nice thing to feel sometimes.”

MORE TO COME

Though he’s no stranger to endurance events having already completed the Marathon des Sables and a Jungle Ultra Marathon, Spencer believes this record-breaking feat could spur him on to even greater achievements.

He said: “I’ve really loved this, the adventurous side of it and the pushing yourself to extreme limits. I hope it inspires some other people to start running or increase their velocity of running or their distance or their mileage and push themselves to do that thing that they might feel is impossible. Because I can tell you that from where I was to where I am now, I believe that anything is possible at this stage.

“I find it really annoying when people say, anything is possible, but I can’t tell you where I was five or six years ago compared to now. So, I do feel like with a bit of dedication, hard work and action, you can really make positive change in your life. I hope this inspires somebody to go out there and do something cool.”

There’s no doubt he has achieved that goal and then some.

Donations  

Donating £30 – £1 for every marathon – could mean a vital support session for a pre-school child with a physical disability from a dedicated specialist worker.   

  To donate £30, text SPENCER30 to 70766.  

  100% of your donation will go to Global’s Make Some Noise.   

  16 and over only. Please seek bill payer’s permission. Standard network charges may apply. Ts&Cs are at  https://www.makesomenoise.com 

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By Modupe Gbadeyanka Plans are underway for a new state-of-the-art pasta production facility in Ghana by Olam Agri, a global leader in food and agriculture. The new factory, planned in two phases, is expected to transform the pasta market in Ghana and meet the demand for the product in the country. A statement from the […]

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