Archive August 8, 2025

The Prince of Wales has written to Truro City captain Connor Riley-Lowe to wish the club well ahead of their first season in the National League.

Prince William, who is also Duke of Cornwall, has sent his message as the club becomes a fully professional side for the first time.

The club were promoted last April in their first season back in Cornwall, having played out of the county for almost four years as they awaited a new ground to be built in Truro.

The Prince of Wales is a keen football fan – he is an avid Aston Villa supporter and is president of the Football Association.

He was among the party that presented England with the Euro 2025 trophy last month having watched the final against Spain in Switzerland with Princess Charlotte.

“Prince William has asked me to pass on his warmest congratulations in getting promoted to the National League as Cornwall’s first professional team.

“This comes with the Duke of Cornwall’s very best wishes. Good luck to The Tinners.”

Truro City begin their season with a trip to Wealdstone on Saturday before their first home league game of the a season a week later against York City.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nice striker Evann Guessand for £26m plus £4.3m in add-ons.

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored 12 goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France’s Ligue 1.

The France-born attacker boosts Unai Emery’s striking options at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins the only recognised centre forward in the Spaniard’s squad.

Emery was keen to reinforce his attack following the departures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio following the expiry of their loan spells at the end of last season.

“When I heard the club wanted me I didn’t think twice”, Guessand said.

Villa’s summer transfer window has been impacted by the club’s need to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial rules.

The club were fined by Uefa earlier this summer for breaching the European governing body’s squad cost ratio rules.

Guessand has made steady progress towards the highest level in recent years.

After a slow start, he took a significant step forward in the 2024-2025 season under the direction of Franck Haise at Nice.

He showed speed and the ability to beat people on the right flank, but also made great progress in finishing when used as a centre forward. His heading game is also improving, even if it’s not his first rate at the moment.

His form dropped off a little at the end of the season, but that didn’t impact his progress. Only Paris St-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi beat him to the Marc-Vivien Foé Award for Ligue 1’s best African Player of the Year 2025.

Guessand’s style of play and nationality has led to inevitable comparisons with Didier Drogba. There are similarities, given Guesand’s combination of power and technical quality.

Guessand promises to be a versatile acquisition that can help replicate Rashford’s role in Emery’s squad.

Like Rashford, Guessand can play across the front line, as well as at number 10.

Only 10 of his 30 Ligue 1 starts last season came at centre-forward, but he also made eight starts on the right wing and nine as a support striker.

As a result, Guessand provided eight assists in addition to scoring 12 times, all from open play last term. Only five players were involved in more goals in the French top flight.

The nine-cap Ivory Coast international’s numbers compare well to those of Watkins and Rashford, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa Park.

Guessand outperformed his expected goals tally by more than either Watkins or Rashford, but the key point of difference is that he is a more prolific dribbler, leading to significantly more involvement in terms of touches on the ball.

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nice striker Evann Guessand for £26m plus £4.3m in add-ons.

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored 12 goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France’s Ligue 1.

The France-born attacker boosts Unai Emery’s striking options at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins the only recognised centre forward in the Spaniard’s squad.

Emery was keen to reinforce his attack following the departures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio following the expiry of their loan spells at the end of last season.

“When I heard the club wanted me I didn’t think twice”, Guessand said.

Villa’s summer transfer window has been impacted by the club’s need to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial rules.

The club were fined by Uefa earlier this summer for breaching the European governing body’s squad cost ratio rules.

Guessand has made steady progress towards the highest level in recent years.

After a slow start, he took a significant step forward in the 2024-2025 season under the direction of Franck Haise at Nice.

He showed speed and the ability to beat people on the right flank, but also made great progress in finishing when used as a centre forward. His heading game is also improving, even if it’s not his first rate at the moment.

His form dropped off a little at the end of the season, but that didn’t impact his progress. Only Paris St-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi beat him to the Marc-Vivien Foé Award for Ligue 1’s best African Player of the Year 2025.

Guessand’s style of play and nationality has led to inevitable comparisons with Didier Drogba. There are similarities, given Guesand’s combination of power and technical quality.

Guessand promises to be a versatile acquisition that can help replicate Rashford’s role in Emery’s squad.

Like Rashford, Guessand can play across the front line, as well as at number 10.

Only 10 of his 30 Ligue 1 starts last season came at centre-forward, but he also made eight starts on the right wing and nine as a support striker.

As a result, Guessand provided eight assists in addition to scoring 12 times, all from open play last term. Only five players were involved in more goals in the French top flight.

The nine-cap Ivory Coast international’s numbers compare well to those of Watkins and Rashford, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa Park.

Guessand outperformed his expected goals tally by more than either Watkins or Rashford, but the key point of difference is that he is a more prolific dribbler, leading to significantly more involvement in terms of touches on the ball.

Football fans are being urged to beware “ruthless” fraudsters when buying match tickets online after a study showed an estimated £2.5m had been lost to scammers in the past two years.

Lloyds Bank estimate at least 12, 000 supporters have fallen victim to ticket fraud across the past two campaigns, with their own customers losing around £500, 000.

When extrapolated nationwide, it’s estimated that more than £2.5m has been lost to ticket scammers.

The ‘ Stop! Think Fraud ‘ campaign has been established to raise awareness of online purchase scams, which tend to offer match tickets for sold-out matches and often at discounted prices.

“More than three quarters of football ticket scams last season started on social media, with what seem like genuine ‘ first come, first served ‘ offers all too often designed to rip off desperate fans”.

Hanson says supporters should “only buy directly from clubs, their official partners and legitimate resale outlets”.

Liverpool supporters were the most likely to be targeted, followed by fans of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Supporters aged 25-34 were the most frequent victims of ticket scams, making up 28% of cases, followed by those aged 18-24 (26%).

Football fans are being urged to beware “ruthless” fraudsters when buying match tickets online after a study showed an estimated £2.5m had been lost to scammers in the past two years.

Lloyds Bank estimate at least 12, 000 supporters have fallen victim to ticket fraud across the past two campaigns, with their own customers losing around £500, 000.

When extrapolated nationwide, it’s estimated that more than £2.5m has been lost to ticket scammers.

The ‘ Stop! Think Fraud ‘ campaign has been established to raise awareness of online purchase scams, which tend to offer match tickets for sold-out matches and often at discounted prices.

“More than three quarters of football ticket scams last season started on social media, with what seem like genuine ‘ first come, first served ‘ offers all too often designed to rip off desperate fans”.

Hanson says supporters should “only buy directly from clubs, their official partners and legitimate resale outlets”.

Liverpool supporters were the most likely to be targeted, followed by fans of Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.

Supporters aged 25-34 were the most frequent victims of ticket scams, making up 28% of cases, followed by those aged 18-24 (26%).