Brighton have apologised after plans to remove a tribute wall at Amex Stadium were criticised by fans.
The club announced plans to remove their Heritage Tile Wall, which contains more than 2,500 tiles paid for by fans, after saying it was “falling foul of time and weather conditions”.
Brighton intended to replace it with a virtual ‘Fan Wall’ – which fans could upload a photo on to for £45 – to celebrate their 125th anniversary.
“We are aware that the club’s decision to find a new format to recreate and preserve the messages on the heritage tiles has caused distress to some fans and confusion for others. We are very sorry for this,” Barber wrote in a letter to fans.
“We are fully aware that many tiles represent significant sentimental and emotional moments and connections in people’s lives, hence our desire to protect and preserve the messages.
“In looking at all new options, we have listened very carefully to the heartfelt feedback we have received in the past few days and we will not merge the heritage messages with the new 125 wall as originally proposed.”
Brighton aim to have the new installation in place during the 2026-27 season, and have said that all current messages on tiles will be transferred for free.
Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was injured as she made a clandestine dash to collect her Nobel Peace Prize last week, her spokesperson has said.
Claudia Macero said late on Monday that the right-wing opposition figure fractured a vertebra during a choppy boat ride that had formed part of a risky cloak-and-dagger journey to reach the Norwegian capital, Oslo, for the Nobel award ceremony.
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Machado has been in hiding since she was banned from running in Venezuela’s July 24 presidential election, fearing that her life is under threat from long-time Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“The vertebra fracture is confirmed,” Macero told the AFP news agency, adding that no further details would be released beyond what had been reported in the Norwegian daily Aftonbladet.
The newspaper had earlier reported that the 58-year-old Machado sustained the fracture while crossing the sea in a small fishing boat battered by high waves.
The opposition leader was examined by doctors at Oslo University Hospital during her time in the city.
Dangerous dash
Media reports in the United States said Machado’s escape last week involved wearing a disguise, including a wig, and travelling from a small Venezuelan fishing village on a wooden boat to the island of Curacao, before boarding a private plane to Norway.
Machado has said she feared for her life during the voyage, which saw US forces situated in the Caribbean alerted to avoid a strike on the vessel.
Several similar boats have been attacked in recent months in a campaign that the Trump administration asserts is a bid to avert drug smuggling into the US.
Maduro has accused Washington of seeking to engineer regime change in the hope of seizing Venezuela’s large oil reserves.
The leader of the opposition Vente Venezuela party was attempting to reach the ceremony at which she was due to be presented with the Nobel Peace Prize.
She was announced the winner of the prestigious award in October, with the selection committee praising her role in the country’s opposition movement and her “steadfast” support for democracy.
‘Broken soul’
Despite her speedy trip, Machado failed to reach Oslo in time for the ceremony. Her daughter received the award on her behalf and delivered a speech that slammed Maduro and warned of the need to fight for democracy.
Hours after the ceremony, early on Thursday morning, Machado greeted supporters from an Oslo hotel balcony in what was her first public appearance in a year.
Despite the fracture, she climbed over a barrier to greet supporters outside the hotel, AFP reported.
Machado said authorities in Venezuela would have attempted everything possible to prevent her journey to Norway.
Appearing set to challenge Maduro in the vote, the opposition leader was barred from running in the country’s presidential election in July last year.
She then announced that she would be going into hiding within Venezuela due to fear for her life while Maduro is in power.
The Venezuelan president commented dismissively on the reports of Machado’s injury on television on Monday.
Sir David Jason has insisted ‘the love for Only Fools has never faded’ after reuniting with cast members from the beloved sitcom for a new documentary series
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Only Fools and Horses stars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst amassed millions of fans around the world
Only Fools and Horses stars David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst amassed millions of fans around the world playing brothers Del and Rodney Trotter.
The award-winning actors will forever be famed for their portrayal of the hapless, but loveable Trotter brothers from Peckham. And now fans can revisit all their capers in a new documentary series, to mark the show’s 45th anniversary.
It’s been reported that David is trying to get Nicholas onboard for Only Fools And Horses: The Lost Archive – which will air behind-the-scenes footage, -after insisting his love for the show – and its cast – “never faded”. It’s been a rocky road for the Trotter brothers stars, following feud rumours, family tragedy and the Touch of Frost icon sadly admitting that he and Nicholas ‘don’t see much of each other…’ these days, in a huge blow to fans of the beloved sitcom.
READ MORE: David Jason announces new Only Fools and Horses series as love ‘never faded’READ MORE: Strictly bosses ‘thinking seriously’ over huge move for BBC dance contest
‘Don’t see much of each other’
In 2017, Goodnight Sweetheart star, Nicholas, insisted he and David always ‘had each other’s back’ as he told Red Carpet News of his co-star “We had a very similar work ethic and ethos – that we wanted to do our best as quickly as possible. You didn’t have very long to record an episode […] We didn’t have much time to rehearse it so we had to have each other’s back.”
David, however, has been much more upfront about the reality of their relationship. Claiming the Rodney Trotter star was ‘much more self-contained’, he told the Mirror in 2022: “He’s much more, how can I say, self-contained, perhaps, than he used to be. So, unfortunately, we don’t see each other as much as I’d like to. But that’s how things work out sometimes.”
Feud rumours
In his memoir, My Life, David addresses rumours of a ‘feud’ between the actors, which he suspects originated from an anecdote he once recounted.
He revealed that the so-called dispute between the Trotter brother star was actually a staged altercation aimed at amusing the pair during a lull in filming, which took the production team by surprise.
This prank reportedly later became misinterpreted by some as evidence of a genuine conflict. David directly addressed the mix-up, stating: “With Nick, I feel slightly to blame for some of this fake ‘feud’ news, because what’s often used as supporting evidence in these stories is a tale I told in an earlier volume of these memoirs, about Nick and me having an enormous fight during a location shoot for Only Fools.”
Insisting it was a “play fight”, he concluded: “It was a play fight, a wind-up, a practical joke we played on the rest of the cast and crew.”
Family tragedy
After the heartbreaking loss of his son, Archie, at just 20 years old, it was reported that David had been a pillar of support for Nicholas and his wife, Lucy.
An source told The Sun at the time: “He’s [David] been in regular touch [with Nicholas] ever since and like everyone else who cares for Nick and his family is just trying to provide whatever support he can.”
It was widely known that Nicholas had chosen to live quietly after the unexpected death of his 20 year old son Archie in 2020. The young man died after a brain haemorrhage brought on by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Representing the heartbroken parents, Nicholas said in a statement at the time: “Lucy and I are utterly grief stricken and respectfully request privacy.”
‘Genuinely good friends’
During a Channel 5 documentary, which celebrated the success of Only Fools and Horses over the festive period. David heaped praise on his former co-star.
Insisting the pair were ‘genuinely good friends’, he said: “You couldn’t have had a better co-partner than Nick. We liked and respected each other so much, we were genuinely good friends. You couldn’t have had a better co-partner than Nick.”
* Two-part series Only Fools and Horses: The Lost Archive will be airing on U&GOLD in 2026.
It provides satisfaction, comfort and expertise. It is much easier to dissect a decision than to make it. Talking and writing about sport in hindsight is more straightforward than playing sport in real time.
England are at the point of confronting hindsight. At 2-0 down in this Ashes series, anything other than a win over Australia in Adelaide will lead to a lot of recrimination on the journey to Melbourne, Sydney and beyond.
Hindsight is not casting a favourable light on England’s Ashes warm-up plans or preparations for the pink-ball game in Brisbane.
There was the decision not to try a specialist opener when Zak Crawley got injured in 2024, dithering over Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell at number three, not bringing a specialist back-up keeper to the Ashes, or another frontline spinner alongside Shoaib Bashir.
Hindsight would suggest a specialist fielding coach might have been useful in Paul Collingwood’s absence from the backroom staff, and that putting Brydon Carse in a Perth hotel attached to a casino was not the best move 18 months after he served a ban for historic betting offences.
And there is the mid-series break in Noosa. Hindsight has yet to catch up with that one. It could prove to be a stroke of managerial genius, or turn out to be English cricket’s equivalent of the football team in Baden Baden during the 2006 World Cup.
Perhaps hindsight has slapped England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum in the face.
In the aftermath of the defeat in the second Test in Brisbane, there was talk of weak men and glass jaws.
But Stokes and McCullum have made their bed with the culture of this England team, and now they must raise their sleeping team from it.
How often have we heard the leaders speak of “removing the pressure” from Test cricket, hoisting an umbrella over their men to shield from the reality and expectation of international sport.
Sometimes the only way to deal with bad weather is to get wet. Now England are soaked to the bone.
1 day ago
Bar Stokes, Joe Root and Jofra Archer, every England player in Australia was either saved by, given a debut by or dragged out of the wilderness by the Bazball regime.
Therefore, this culture is all they know. Good vibes, running towards the danger, golf courses. McCullum has regularly said that these players should be having the time of their lives representing England, which is a fair point. Enjoying Test cricket is great, but so is winning.
Stokes has suggested that part of England’s struggles has been a result of players new to touring Australia not coping with the challenge of playing in this country. Is that another issue the management could have predicted?
Remember when the Australia squad was written off as ageing, creaking and over the hill? In hindsight (there’s that word again) they look crafty veterans.
England made a raft of changes to their personnel 18 months ago with this tour in mind.
At the time, selections of Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Bashir were justified not only by their performances, but also a collective temperament that seemed like quiet steel. Now neither Atkinson nor Bashir are in the XI for Adelaide, and Smith must somehow find something after a desperate display in Brisbane.
Two years ago, England found themselves 2-0 down in the home Ashes. They prepared for that series with a golf trip in Scotland – one wonders if they would change that decision, given the chance.
As England gathered for the third Test at Headingley, smarting from the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord’s, Stokes addressed his team with a word that cannot be printed on the BBC. It worked. England fought back and would have won the Ashes had it not rained in Manchester.
Back then, the England team was filled with battled-hardened soldiers, willing to fight in the Ashes trenches. Bairstow, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood. None of those men are in Australia now.
It is not too long ago that England were happy to get in a battle with India in the home summer. There were flashpoints at Lord’s and Old Trafford, and Stokes’ men looked a better side with fire in their bellies.
Did they think they could bully India, only to then wilt in Australia?
There is a nagging suspicion that the current team leaves too much to Stokes and Root, the captain present and past. Adelaide means plenty to both men. Root played club cricket here, Stokes made his Test debut in this city.
5 hours ago
23 hours ago
Both were part of the Andy Flower team that fell apart in 2013-14. Root has played 16 Tests in this country without a win, Stokes has played 11. On this tour, Root has England’s only century, Stokes their only five-wicket haul. They are in danger of being let down by their team-mates.
Pope has 63 Test caps – more than Ted Dexter, Steve Harmison and Robin Smith. Crawley has played 61 Tests – the same number as Jack Hobbs and Raymond Illingworth. Have either of Pope or Crawley matured yet?
Ben Duckett is usually a key Stokes lieutenant, buzzing around in the field, never shy of a word. So far his highest score is 28 and he dropped two catches in Brisbane.
England have patiently waited for Archer, primarily with this tour in mind. He has more losses than wins in his 17 Tests. How they need him to produce the lightning pace from the closing stages of Brisbane again in Adelaide.
Perhaps the player with the most making up to do is Harry Brook, who is yet to show the responsibility befitting his elevation to vice-captain. “Shocking” was the way he described his dismissals in Perth and Brisbane. If Brook scores as many runs as he sunk beers in Noosa, he will be fine.
So, this is it. The forecast is for the temperature in Adelaide to reach 39 degrees. The stakes for England are even higher.
Win, and it’s a Christmas cracker of a live fourth Test on Boxing Day in Melbourne. Lose and some careers will be over or put on hold.
England have made all the right noises and done all the right things since arriving in Adelaide. They appear sincere in their understanding of the mistakes made so far.
Is it too late? From now on, the consequences are very real.
It provides satisfaction, comfort and expertise. It is much easier to dissect a decision than to make it. Talking and writing about sport in hindsight is more straightforward than playing sport in real time.
England are at the point of confronting hindsight. At 2-0 down in this Ashes series, anything other than a win over Australia in Adelaide will lead to a lot of recrimination on the journey to Melbourne, Sydney and beyond.
Hindsight is not casting a favourable light on England’s Ashes warm-up plans or preparations for the pink-ball game in Brisbane.
There was the decision not to try a specialist opener when Zak Crawley got injured in 2024, dithering over Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell at number three, not bringing a specialist back-up keeper to the Ashes, or another frontline spinner alongside Shoaib Bashir.
Hindsight would suggest a specialist fielding coach might have been useful in Paul Collingwood’s absence from the backroom staff, and that putting Brydon Carse in a Perth hotel attached to a casino was not the best move 18 months after he served a ban for historic betting offences.
And there is the mid-series break in Noosa. Hindsight has yet to catch up with that one. It could prove to be a stroke of managerial genius, or turn out to be English cricket’s equivalent of the football team in Baden Baden during the 2006 World Cup.
Perhaps hindsight has slapped England captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum in the face.
In the aftermath of the defeat in the second Test in Brisbane, there was talk of weak men and glass jaws.
But Stokes and McCullum have made their bed with the culture of this England team, and now they must raise their sleeping team from it.
How often have we heard the leaders speak of “removing the pressure” from Test cricket, hoisting an umbrella over their men to shield from the reality and expectation of international sport.
Sometimes the only way to deal with bad weather is to get wet. Now England are soaked to the bone.
1 day ago
Bar Stokes, Joe Root and Jofra Archer, every England player in Australia was either saved by, given a debut by or dragged out of the wilderness by the Bazball regime.
Therefore, this culture is all they know. Good vibes, running towards the danger, golf courses. McCullum has regularly said that these players should be having the time of their lives representing England, which is a fair point. Enjoying Test cricket is great, but so is winning.
Stokes has suggested that part of England’s struggles has been a result of players new to touring Australia not coping with the challenge of playing in this country. Is that another issue the management could have predicted?
Remember when the Australia squad was written off as ageing, creaking and over the hill? In hindsight (there’s that word again) they look crafty veterans.
England made a raft of changes to their personnel 18 months ago with this tour in mind.
At the time, selections of Jamie Smith, Gus Atkinson and Bashir were justified not only by their performances, but also a collective temperament that seemed like quiet steel. Now neither Atkinson nor Bashir are in the XI for Adelaide, and Smith must somehow find something after a desperate display in Brisbane.
Two years ago, England found themselves 2-0 down in the home Ashes. They prepared for that series with a golf trip in Scotland – one wonders if they would change that decision, given the chance.
As England gathered for the third Test at Headingley, smarting from the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord’s, Stokes addressed his team with a word that cannot be printed on the BBC. It worked. England fought back and would have won the Ashes had it not rained in Manchester.
Back then, the England team was filled with battled-hardened soldiers, willing to fight in the Ashes trenches. Bairstow, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood. None of those men are in Australia now.
It is not too long ago that England were happy to get in a battle with India in the home summer. There were flashpoints at Lord’s and Old Trafford, and Stokes’ men looked a better side with fire in their bellies.
Did they think they could bully India, only to then wilt in Australia?
There is a nagging suspicion that the current team leaves too much to Stokes and Root, the captain present and past. Adelaide means plenty to both men. Root played club cricket here, Stokes made his Test debut in this city.
5 hours ago
23 hours ago
Both were part of the Andy Flower team that fell apart in 2013-14. Root has played 16 Tests in this country without a win, Stokes has played 11. On this tour, Root has England’s only century, Stokes their only five-wicket haul. They are in danger of being let down by their team-mates.
Pope has 63 Test caps – more than Ted Dexter, Steve Harmison and Robin Smith. Crawley has played 61 Tests – the same number as Jack Hobbs and Raymond Illingworth. Have either of Pope or Crawley matured yet?
Ben Duckett is usually a key Stokes lieutenant, buzzing around in the field, never shy of a word. So far his highest score is 28 and he dropped two catches in Brisbane.
England have patiently waited for Archer, primarily with this tour in mind. He has more losses than wins in his 17 Tests. How they need him to produce the lightning pace from the closing stages of Brisbane again in Adelaide.
Perhaps the player with the most making up to do is Harry Brook, who is yet to show the responsibility befitting his elevation to vice-captain. “Shocking” was the way he described his dismissals in Perth and Brisbane. If Brook scores as many runs as he sunk beers in Noosa, he will be fine.
So, this is it. The forecast is for the temperature in Adelaide to reach 39 degrees. The stakes for England are even higher.
Win, and it’s a Christmas cracker of a live fourth Test on Boxing Day in Melbourne. Lose and some careers will be over or put on hold.
England have made all the right noises and done all the right things since arriving in Adelaide. They appear sincere in their understanding of the mistakes made so far.
Is it too late? From now on, the consequences are very real.
A iconic county singer has died months after announcing his crippling heath struggles.
Joe Ely, who toured with both The Clash and The Rolling Stones whilst being at the forefront of the 1970s progressive country music movement, has died at the age of 78, it has been announced. His family released a statement revealing the pioneer had passed away with his loved ones by his side.
“Legendary songwriter, singer, and raconteur Joe Ely died today from complications of Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s and pneumonia,” it read. “His beloved wife Sharon and daughter Marie were at his side at their home in Taos, New Mexico. Ely was born February 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas.
Joe Ely’s death has been announced ( FilmMagic)
“He was a leader of the extraordinary parade of artists raised in Lubbock who later settled in the live music capital of Austin. Ely signed with MCA Records in the 1970s and spent more than five decades recording and performing around the world. A full obituary and more information will follow in the coming days.”
The musician died with his wife and manager, Sharon, and daughter, Marie, at this side. He had only announced his Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia diagnosis in September this year.
Alongside his work with greats the Stones and the Clash, he also performed with Bruce Springsteen, Uncle Tupelo, Los Super Seven, The Chieftains, James McMurtry, Lyle Lovett, and Guy Clark.
The singer-songwriter ‘helped drive a new wave of music that united rock and country’ ( Getty Images)
His heartbroken fans raced to social media to remember Joe and pay their respects. One wrote: “When I was deep in the Texas music scene in the 80s and early 90s, Joe Ely’s influence on everyone was just a given. The music he inspired is immeasurable. My heart goes out to his family and loved ones.”
Another posted on X: “”Rest in peace and light with the angels Joe. Condolences to his family and all those whom loved him. It was such a privilege seeing him play in Australia with The Flatlanders at a small intimate show in Melbourne. He was everything I thought he’d be, a gentleman, an incredible storyteller and musician. Thank you for the music.”
As the tributes flooded in, a third fan said: “He was such an amazing singer and songwriter. I loved his music and had the pleasure of watching him perform many times. I’m sending much love to Sharon and Marie…I’ll miss you Joe, and I like to think that you are up there with Joe Strummer and all of your musician friends in Heaven. Rest In Peace Sweet Joe. You were so special.”
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