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Arsenal wonderkid, 14, makes history by becoming youngest scorer in Uefa Youth League as fans gush ‘future is bright’

ARSENAL fans rejoiced as their latest wonderkid became the Uefa Youth League’s youngest-ever goalscorer.

The Gunners were dealt an almighty blow on Wednesday when captain Martin Odegaard was ruled out for “a while” with an ankle injury.

a soccer player with the number 27 on his jersey
Getty
Max Dowman scored for Arsenal in their Uefa Youth League tie at Atalanta[/caption]
a soccer player with the number 21 on his back
Getty
The attacking midfielder struck aged just 14 years, eight months and 19 days[/caption]

But on Thursday, there was plenty of reason for celebration.

That is because teenage star Max Dowman was on the scoresheet for the Arsenal Under-19s away at Atalanta.

And in doing so, he broke the record as the youngest player to find the net in the competition.

England U17 international Dowman was aged just 14 years, eight months and 19 days when he fired home from a cross.

The attacking midfielder – born on December 31, 2009 – broke the previous record held by Borussia Dortmund sensation Youssoufa Moukoko, who was 14 years, 11 months and three days at the time of his first Youth League goal.

They are the only two players to have struck in the U19s tournament – a youth version of the Champions League.

Among the other youngest goalscorers is Ryan Gravenberch.

The Liverpool midfielder was just 15 years, four months and ten days old when he fired home for Ajax.

FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS

But Dowman’s effort bumps him out of the top five down to sixth on the list.

According to Scouted, Dowman also became the youngest-ever starter in the Youth League and second-youngest debutant against Atalanta.

And fans were quick to heap praise on the teenager for his impressive exploits.

One said: “Spectacular talent.”

Another wrote: “A proper baller.”

A third commented: “Max Dowman is truly a rising star! Excited to see what the future holds for him and the Arsenal academy!”

A fourth typed: “Another incoming wonderkid from Hale End.”

A fifth labelled him “Talent of the Century”.

A fifth added: “You just know he’s gonna be the youngest player starting for us in the premier league. I see him getting his debut within the next two years.”

And a final user replied: “He is following in the footsteps of Ethan Nwaneri.”

Nwaneri became the Premier League’s youngest player when he came on for the Gunners against Brentford in 2022.

The schoolkid was just 15 years and 181 days old when he made his senior debut in West London – and is now part of the first-team set-up under Mikel Arteta.

So much so that he was brought on in the closing minutes for Arsenal in Sunday’s North London Derby win at Tottenham to help see out victory.

However, despite Dowman’s success against Atalanta today, Arsenal supporters will be hoping there is no repeat of the scoreline when the senior sides face off in the Champions League.

The junior Italians ran out comfortable 4-1 winners – racing into a 3-0 lead by half-time before Dowman pulled one back early in the second and then the home side grabbed a fourth late on.

a soccer player wearing a emirates fly better jersey dribbles the ball
Getty
There are high hopes for the playmaker[/caption]
three soccer players are walking on a field with a sign that says uefa youth lea
Getty
Dowman will hope to follow in the footsteps of Ethan Nwaneri[/caption]
a soccer player with the number 10 on his jersey
Getty
Dowman is already an England U17s international[/caption]

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Little-known housing scheme that helps you rent a home with a 50% discount

TENANTS could get up to 50% off renting bills with a little-known housing scheme.

The Affordable Homes Programme is available to social and private renters – and distributed by local authorities.

a red brick house with a sign on the side that says ' for sale '
Find out about the government backed programme to help you save 50% on rent
Andrew Price / View Finder Pictures

Councils have been given £11.4 billion of funding, which is being split between England (£7.4 billion) and London (£4 billion) but the scheme is due to end in 2026.

The programme is for people on lower incomes, and people with disabilities or special needs.

How to find your new home?

So, for social renters, you will need to reach out to your local authorities, as in most cases they are responsible for allocating rented affordable housing.

To check your eligibility, they request that applicants demonstrate a local connection to the area, usually asking for those applying to have lived locally for a minimum of two years.

On the other hand, private renters looking to capitalise on the programme can try looking for homes registered under the London Living Rent scheme.

You will be able to search for these through the Mayor’s Homes for Londoners property search tool. You can also check your eligibility and book open day viewings.

To be eligible, you must live or work in London, either have a formal tenancy or live in an informal arrangement due to costs, and have a maximum household income of £67,000.

An applicant must also not own any other residential homes, and be unable to buy a home, including through shared ownership, in your local area.

How much affordable housing is being delivered?

Right now, there are around 4.1 million social and affordable rented homes in England, which is about 16% of the total housing stock.

Of the 63,600 units of affordable housing delivered in 2022/23, around 14% were produced by local authorities, with the remainder supplied by other social housing providers.

Around 15% of new affordable homes were for social rent, 49% were other forms of low cost rent, and 36% were affordable home ownership.

How much more affordable housing is needed?

BELOW we reveal how much more affordable housing is actually needed.

The housing shortage across the country is something widely publicised, and is emphasised by the number of households in temporary accommodation and on local authority housing waiting lists.

It is estimated there is a need for 145,000 new affordable homes per year, with 90,000 of them being for social rent, says homelessness charity Crisis and the National Housing Federation.

The call for 90,000 new homes per year for social rent has been further endorsed by the Affordable Housing Commission, which urges the government to seek a ‘steep change in affordable housing supply.’

The Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Committee also agrees with the need for more social rent homes, and calls on the government to address the ‘chronic shortage.’

What other rental support schemes are there?

Local rent deposit schemes

It is worth checking to see whether your local council has a rent deposit, bond, or guarantee scheme to help with your deposit. 

Your local council will also be able to point you in the direction of any schemes run by local charities that could give you money to help with a deposit and rent in advance. 

Some schemes give grants that you do not have to pay back, while others have interest free loans that you pay back in small instalments.

Discretionary housing payment

If you receive Housing Benefit or Universal Credit, you may be eligible for a discretionary housing payment. 

This payment is designed to help with rent and costs like a tenancy deposit. You also do no need to have the fee back.

Redbridge London Borough Council, and Tower Hamlets London Borough Council have both been approached for comment for additional details of the programme.

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BBC confirms lineup of smash-hit war drama along with first look of series two after rave reviews

THE BBC has confirmed the lineup of a smash-hit war drama.

After receiving rave reviews for the show, the broadcaster has given fans along with a first look of the second series.

a group of men in military uniforms pose for a picture
BBC
SAS: Rogue Heroes will return for a second instalment[/caption]
two men in military uniforms are talking to each other
BBC
Set three years later, the elite unit will fight on a whole new terrain[/caption]
a man in a tuxedo sits at a table with a woman in a red dress
BBC
Jack O’Connell, Dominic West and Rebel Moon star Sofia Boutella will reprise their roles[/caption]

Sex Education star Connor Swindells, Jack O’Connell, Sofia Boutella, and The Crown‘s Dominic West led the cast of the first series of SAS: Rogue Heroes.

Set in 1941 followed British Army officer David Stirling (Connor Swindells).

After a failed training exercise in the midst of World War II, he was admitted to a hospital in Cairo and he had an ingenious idea.

During his stay, he thought about creating a special commando unit that would stage operations behind enemy lines.

The acclaimed drama made its debut in October 2022 and was a near instant hit after six gripping episodes.

Series one also starred the likes of House Of The Dragon star Tom Glynn-Carney.

Now the corporation has announced that Bohemian Rhapsody’s Gwilym Lee and Blood Brothers star Con O’Neill will join the cast.

They will also be joined by The Witcher personality Mark Rowley and Poor Things actor Jack Barton.

The new series promises to be more thrilling than ever as the regiment face their next battle in a completely new environment.

It will be set in the spring of 1943 following David Stirling’s capture where Paddy Mayne (Jack O’Connell) has now taken control of the SAS.

As the allies turn their attention from North Africa to mainland Europe, GHQ have doubts over the future of the commando unit.

A second unit has been created, complete with an influx of new arrivals which are set to make things more difficult than ever.

Will they be able to prove that the SAS are essential to the war effort? And if so, how?

SAS: Rogue Heroes: The full cast of series 2

Jack O’Connell – Lieutenant Paddy Mayne

Connor Swindells – Lieutenant David Stirling

Sofia Boutella (Eve Mansour)

Dominic West – Lieutenant Colonel Dudley Clarke

Gwilym Lee – Bill Stirling, founder of the 2SAS regiment

Theo Barklem-Biggs – Sergeant Reg Seekings

Corin Silva – Sergeant Jim Almonds

Jacob Ifan – Sergeant Pat Riley

Jacob McCarthy – Lance Corporal Johnny Cooper

Stuart Campbell – Second Lieutenant Bill Fraser

Bobby Schofield – Corporal Dave Kershaw

Con O’Neill – General Montgomery

Mark Rowley – SAS member Jock McDiarmid

Jack Barton – SAS member John Tonkin

BBC
Events are set to become more difficult than ever[/caption]
a man is looking through a broken glass window
BBC
The hit World War II drama will return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer[/caption]
a group of men in military uniforms are walking down a street
BBC
Theo Barklem-Biggs and Bobby Schofield will reprise their roles as Reg Seekings and Dave Kershaw respectively[/caption]
a man wearing a beret with the letter u on it
BBC
The likes of Poor Things actor Jack Barton join the star studded cast as a new recruit[/caption]

The second series of SAS: Rogue Heroes will be available to watch on BBC One and BBC iPlayer soon.

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B&M shoppers are rushing to buy festive chocolate treats that are perfect for Christmas Eve boxes

B&M shoppers are rushing to buy festive chocolate treats that are perfect for kids’ Christmas Eve boxes.

The bargain retailer’s festive selection box has social media users going wild as they plan ahead for Christmas.

a poster that says it 's christmas eve on it
Scroll to find out how you can save money on buying chocolate

The find was posted on the NewfoodsUK Facebook group and it quickly amassed over 3,000 likes and 1,000 comments.

One user wrote: “I love these and will definitely buy two for my sons’ Christmas Eve boxes. I love creating their boxes.”

Another said: “Great for Christmas.”

A third added: “I think these look great I would buy for my adult kids.”

And a fourth cried: “Yaaaay!! Christmas is finally here. I’m away to get the tree out of the loft.”

The box is available in stores for £5 and includes some chocolate favourites: Galaxy, Smarties, Wispa, Chomp and a Twirl.

While we couldn’t find the exact hamper to view on the website, so you may have to head to your local store to pick it up.

You can find your nearest B&M using the store locator tool on its website.

Of course, it always pays to compare prices so you know you’re getting the best deal.

Prices can also vary day to day and by what deals are on at the time, plus remember you might pay for delivery if you’re ordering online.

You can compare prices on platforms like Google Shopping and Trolley.

Cadbury sells a Christmas eve chocolate box on its website for £14, which is significantly more than B&M’s offering.

It includes Christmas Puds, chocolate bauble tree decorations, Cadbury drinking chocolate, Snowy Fingers biscuits and a Cadbury Selection Pack.

You could also pick up bags of chocolate and make your own box at home.

For example, Asda is currently selling a Cadbury Family Treatsize Chocolate Bag which is 216g for £3.

It includes a Twirl, Flake, Chomp, Fudge, Curly Wurly, and a Crunchie.

Or, similarly, the supermarket is also selling a Treat Size Chocolate Bar Variety 21 Pack for £3.95, which is 344g.

This includes a caramel biscuit bar, whirly bar, nutty bar, caramel chew, and a milk chocolate bubble.

What are Christmas Eve boxes?

So, what actually is a Christmas Eve box? It is a collection of small gifts and treats given to loved ones on Christmas Eve.

It is thought that the tradition began in Germany, where people open presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day.

This has since been adapted in the UK, with the boxes used as a way to start the festivities early.

How to save money on chocolate

WE all love a bit of chocolate from now and then, but you don't have to break the bank buying your favourite bar.

Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how to cut costs…

Go own brand – if you’re not too fussed on flavour and just want to supplant your chocolate cravings, you’ll save by going for supermarket’s own brand bars.

Shop around – if you’ve spotted your favourite variety at the supermarket, make sure you check if it’s cheaper elsewhere.

Websites like Trolley.co.uk let you compare prices on products across all the major chains to see if you’re getting the best deal.

Look out for yellow stickers – supermarket staff put yellow, and sometimes orange and red, stickers on to products to show they’ve been reduced.

They usually do this if the product is coming to the end of its best before date or the packaging is slightly damaged.

Buy bigger bars – most of the time, but not always, chocolate is cheaper per 100g the larger the bar.

So if you’ve got the appetite, and you were going to buy a hefty amount of chocolate anyway, you might as well go bigger.

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Top secret nuclear bunker left untouched for decades hits market for bargain sum – & even comes with a chemical toilet

A TOP secret nuclear bunker that has been untouched for decades has hit the market for a bargain sum.

The shelter is buried 14 feet underneath a field near the spa town of Buxton, Derbyshire – and is one of just 1,500 of its type ever built.

a bunker with the door open and a ladder leading to it .
SDL Property Auctions
The bunker had been built for the Royal Observer Corps[/caption]
a bedroom with a bed and a painting on the wall
SDL Property Auctions
Inside features a bed, log burner, and curtained walls[/caption]
a room with a stove and a painting on the wall
SDL Property Auctions
It has a guide price of just £15,000[/caption]
a red telephone sits on a table next to two gold candles
SDL Property Auctions
Some of the original furnishings have remained in place[/caption]

The bunker is steeped in history and has attracted a wealth of interest online.

It had been built in the 1950s for the Royal Observer Corps (ROC) and was designed to provide “protective accommodation for three observers to survive a nuclear attack.”

The dugout is right on the edge of the Peak District and is described as being “in excellent condition, clean and dry” along with some “interesting original items” that still remain.

The site also features an unused chemical toilet.

The building has been advertised on Rightmove with a guide price of £15,000 by SDL Property Auctions.

It’s set to go to online auction on September 26.

The listing reads: “Fantastic opportunity to buy a piece of past war British history.

“The once in a generation opportunity is to buy a ROC Nuclear Bunker otherwise known as A Royal Observer post.”

It continues: “This particular site was one of many built in the 1950s and was designed to provide protective accommodation for three observers to survive a nuclear attack, they were expected to report on the nuclear bursts and on the fall out of a nuclear attack.

“They were provided with enough food and water for fourteen days and had a landline and radio communications available to them.

“Most of these sites were decommissioned and sold off in 1993 and we have been informed that many were bought up by telecom companies and now are sites for mobile phone masts as they were built as telecommunication posts so they are positioned in very favourable locations.”

Inside features wall to wall velvet curtains, a cream carpet, a made bed, a log burner, storage and even a rug to “make it as homely as possible.”

The sleeping area spans 14 foot by 7 foot whilst the storage area is 7 foot by 2 foot.

SDL Property Auctions adds: “The bunker is secure, dry and in its original condition, the current owner has refurbished and decorated it in readiness for its new owner.

“The owner has advised there is an unused and still boxed chemical toilet, they also recommend for the wood burning stove to be serviced before being used due to safety purposes.

“Viewings are available but also click on the virtual tour to watch our National Valuer Jims video with commentary too.”

A post of the bunker on the Reddit page SpottedonRightmove garnered plenty of attention.

The community, which has over 253,000 members, were quick to comment on the fallout shelter.

The post read: “Anyone fancy a nuclear bunker.. y’know, just in case…”

One social media user replied: “Not even close to big enough to be of any real use unfortunately.”

Another said: “The pictures are one thing, but the key features really sell it. They had me at ‘Unused Chemical Toilet’.”

Other commenters were quite impressed by the property, describing it as “pretty cool” and suggesting it could have great potential as an Airbnb.

One eager Redditor proposed buying it and doing it up as an “off grid getaway.”

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PZ Cussons progress with plans to sell its African business after receiving expressions of interest 

Hello This post PZ Cussons progress with plans to sell its African business after receiving expressions of interest  was first posted on Naijaonpoint.com.ng and is written by naijaonpoint.

Soap maker and household item manufacturer, PZ Cussons has hinted at plans to sell its African business stating that it has received a number of expressions of interest. The company disclosed this in its result presentation for the year ending May 31, 2024, where revenues declined by 19.6% to £527.9 million. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), […]

Hello This post PZ Cussons progress with plans to sell its African business after receiving expressions of interest  was first posted on Naijaonpoint.com.ng and is written by naijaonpoint.

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Lebanon Hit By Second Wave Of Explosions, Reports Of Explosions In Walkie-Talkie Radios, Mobile Phones, Laptops And Even Some Solar Energy Systems

After the deadly Pager explosions, Lebanon has been hit by another wave of explosions, this time the walkie talkie which was used by the members of Hezbollah exploded. What is even more intriguing in this second wave of explosions is that two solar also exploded in the Hezbollah stronghold on Wednesday. There have been no …

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20 Killed And More Than 450 Wounded In A Second Wave Of Explosions, Walkie Talkie Sets Used By Hezbollah Members In Lebanon Explodes

20 people have been killed and more than 450 wounded in a second wave of explosions, this time in walkie-talkie sets in Lebanon. More than 450 people have been wounded. According to media reports, Walkie-talkies which were used by Hezbollah members exploded in the southern suburbs of the capital Beirut, the Bekaa Valley, and southern …

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‘It’s not my fault you can’t afford one’ blasts beauty fanatic as jealous trolls spot ‘problem’ with her facelift

A BEAUTY fanatic has blasted green-eyed trolls who claim her facelift has been botched – and insisted it’s looking picture-perfect.

Scottish life coach Amanda, better known by her online alter ego Dugheed, jetted out to Istanbul, Turkey, for the procedure almost two weeks ago.

a blonde woman wearing a bandage on her head
tiktok/@dugheedoffcial
Amanda had a facelift in Turkey earlier this month[/caption]
a woman wearing a white tank top with the word chanel on it
tiktok/@dugheedoffcial
Trolls have cruelly mocked Amanda’s post-op results[/caption]
a woman with blonde hair and blue eyes looks at the camera
tiktok/@dugheedoffcial
But the influencer’s face is already healing remarkably since her procedure[/caption]

The 51-year-old, who does Only Fans and modelling jobs, is already delighted with the early results after suffering almost no bruising or swelling.

Speaking after her op at Dr Yalcin Bayram‘s clinic, which she booked through the New Look Guide, Amanda joked: “Now I don’t need to use filters because I’ve had a facelift, I am the filter.”

The blonde beauty has been documenting her recovery journey on TikTok and has already been able to remove her bandages.

Many people have rushed to compliment her new look and insisted she looks 30 years younger.

One gushed: “You look 20 I really want one can’t wait to see your results, skin looks beautiful. I’m 40 can’t wait for mine.”

“You look about 22 speedy recovery”, echoed a second.

Someone else chimed in: “Not me jealous to death that you look 25.”

But some cruel trolls have insisted they can see a problem with the results and mocked her “wonky” results.

“If I had a facelift and could only blink with one eye, I’d want my money back”, said one person.

A second wrote: “Omg your surgeon didn’t stretch it evenly so your eye is wonky.”

A third cried: “The eye!!!! Stop it. Every day it gets worse.”

“The one eye blinking though”, echoed a fourth.

A fifth added: “Poor you, they’ve really f***ed up your eye.”

Meanwhile, a sixth nastily insisted: “They’ve really messed that eye up, there’s no way that deep down you’re actually happy with what you’ve done to yourself.”

But defiant Amanda has insisted her recovery is bang on track and that her eyes will heal evenly in time.

The Scots influencer has a hematoma, a pool of mostly clotted blood, around one eye which has resulted in nerve damage and a longer healing process on that side.

She said: “Somehow my eyes are giving people the fear because they look different.

“Don’t worry about my eyes, they’re going to go exactly the same way. It just takes time.

“It’s called a healing process, it takes three to six months.”

She added: “People just want to see me fail but I’m always winning

“I’ll never use filters again and I’ll never need to use fillers.”

We told earlier how Amanda was cruelly dubbed “the other Katie Price” after unveiling her bandaged, post-op face.

Hitting back at the haters, she said: “I don’t copy her or anyone. I wanted this in August and booked for September.

“It’s my life, my money, my body.

“She [Katie Price] has had loads. It’s my first facelift. Let people be who they want to be.”

She added: “Your whole face blows up, it swells, it bruises. My eyes are fine. You can’t get a facelift and still look the same straight after it.

“They’ve pulled my whole face apart. They pulled my face from my knees. But in two weeks it will look absolutely amazing.

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