Category Sports News

Following Monday’s second-round draw, two teams from the sixth-tier of the English football pyramid are guaranteed to advance to the FA Cup third round.

The first team to leave the National League South will face Macclesfield of the National League North.

Chelmsford City will face fellow National League South side Weston-super-Mare in a home match against local rivals Braintree Town 4-1 over the weekend to advance to the second round.

In another instance, National League side Gateshead host League Two leaders Walsall while Rovers of Bristol boss Darrell Clarke visits his former club Port Vale.

Luton Town travel to the north-western coast for a tie at Fleetwood Town following their dramatic 4-3 victory over Forest Green Rovers on Friday.

Wealdstone visit Grimsby Town while League One Burton Albion travel to Brackley Town.

League Two Barrow will face Division 3 champion Wigan Athletic, who needed a penalty shootout to defeat Hemel Hempstead Town in the opening round.

National League North club Buxton moves to League Two rival Cheltenham Town after their heroics in extra-time.

The ties will be played over the weekend of December 6 through December 7.

Mansfield Town vs. Accrington Stanley

Carlisle United vs. Blackpool

Newport County vs. Boreham Wood

Burton Albion vs. Brackley Town

Weston-super-Mare vs. Chelmsford City

Buxton vs. Cheltenham Town

Rovers of Doncaster vs. Chesterfield

Wycombe Wanderers vs. Exeter City

Luton Town vs. Fleetwood Town

Gateshead vs. Walsall

Wealdstone vs. Grimsby Town

Oldham Athletic vs. MK Dons

Barnsley vs. United of Peterborough

Rovers of Bristol vs. Port Vale

Leyton Orient vs. Salford City

Macclesfield vs. Slough Town

Cambridge United vs. Stockport County

Shrewsbury Town vs. Sutton United

Bolton Wanderers vs. Swindon Town

Mary Earps claims that her book has not been “tear anyone down” and that its response has been “distorted.”

After making comments about former Lionesses team-mate Hannah Hampton and manager Sarina Wiegman, the former England goalkeeper, who was a key player in their Euro 2022 victory, faced criticism from the fans and Chelsea boss Sonia Bompastor.

This week, Earps’ autobiography is out, but excerpts from extracts have been published in the Guardian.

Earps claims in the book that she told Wiegman that she was rewarding “bad behavior” by bringing Hampton back to the England squad after she was “disruptive and unreliable.”

Bompastor responded that Wiegman had shown “class” in Chelsea’s Hampton and that she thought Earps had disrespected him.

Earps told BBC Sport, “It’s been really overwhelming to see how some things have a little bit been distorted.”

I didn’t intend for anyone to betrayed by writing this book in any way. That makes me a different person. This is the real world. It has consequences. It is not a drama, either.

Your life is sometimes sucked together for the entertainment of other people because “women’s football has entered a space that has become a bit like entertainment.” But you know it’s not amusing, right?

“I don’t believe I thought the reaction would be what I wanted it to be. If I’m honest, I’m not surprised by what I’ve seen on my algorithms [on social media], if I had drawn the same conclusions as other people. However, I don’t believe I wrote that.

Earps declined to comment further on her relationship with Hampton in the interview, but she did mention losing her position as England number one prior to Euro 2025 and how that strained her relationship with Wiegman.

She claimed that the relationship was “just a different perspective, and she still holds onto Wiegman’s legacy.”

Of course, there were things that happened over the summer that I wish hadn’t. She says, “We’re like family;” she says at the end. I hope that hasn’t been altered by the noise in this circumstance, “added Earps.”

The 32-year-old, who is currently a member of Paris St.Germain, stated that she has no regrets about her career or choices.

Earps said, “I don’t think I have regrets, but hindsight is beautiful, and I could use the information I have now to make adjustments.”

Regrets are difficult because they are outcome-driven. In one person’s eyes, you can be a hero and a villain.

Earps discussed the bullying she experienced at school, claiming that reading the book once more was “really hard” because it brought on previous trauma.

“It most likely planted a seed,” it said. She continued, “My life has been about trying to find that strength to stand up for myself.”

“I just assumed that people would dislike me the majority of my life and career.” Because I always assumed that, I found the team dynamics to be very challenging.

I was taught that no one really cares. In that way, I felt withdrawn. I’ve always hated not being liked. People picked on me if I spoke, so I had to get used to being quiet.

According to Earps, she “felt really misunderstood” because of those emotions.

She also struggled with body image, and she turned to alcohol to deal with her depression and anxiety while drinking to limit her food during the Covid pandemic.

It was undoubtedly conscious. I’ve always felt like I wasn’t slim enough or athletic enough, according to Earps, who aside from the recent few years where I’ve had a much healthier relationship with food.

I was told that my body fat was too high and that I wasn’t fast enough or strong enough. Because I’m an athlete, it comes with the territory.

“But it’s not nice when you’re told you need to reduce your fat and feel uncomfortable in your own skin.”

I can recall being very young and not liking who I was.

As Earps’ popularity on the football pitch increased, so did the number of photographers who travel to prestigious events and the number of invitations to lavish events.

You’re getting all these photos taken in a room, and you think that’s a terrible angle, she continued.

She claims that Wolfsburg’s 2018-2019 experience helped her see things differently, and she is proud of their partnership despite how confusing it was when she met Kitty.

“I don’t think that sexuality is linear,” she said. I don’t categorize things. Being sincere and telling the truth, “yes, this is my relationship, and I’m proud of that – I’m not ashamed,” added Earps.

When writing a book of integrity and authenticity, “I have always tried to keep my relationships private,” but that isn’t possible.

Earps reveals in the book that Kitty had a row with the goalkeeper’s father after being informed of “disgusting things” about their relationship during the Women’s World Cup in 2023.

In that moment, Earps worried about whether her family would accept Kitty.

Both my relationship and family are important to me. We had some challenges to navigate, but we’re now, thankfully, over them, she continued.

Earps has frozen her eggs for use in fertility treatment, and having a family of her own has been something she has been thinking about for a while.

It was an invasive, crazy procedure. Earps said, “I would love to be a mother and have a family, but I also enjoy football.”

Some players “go off and become pregnant,” which is their right, and they do just that. That is something I’d prefer not to do. If the universe allows it, I’d like to have a child someday.

“I had a few questions that I couldn’t respond to. After the procedure, you are given X days of hormone therapy.

Valentin Royer defeated Cameron Norrie to advance to the Moselle Open second round, but Jacob Fearnley, a fellow Brit, suffered an early exit in Athens.

The in-form Royer, who had dominated a second-set tie-break, led the way for the 27-year-old Norrie, who won 6-3, 6-7 (2-7) 6-3 after the French open.

Norrie, the second-ranked British player, won the Moselle Open final last year and said it was his biggest career victory last week over then-world number one Carlos Alcaraz.

In his quest for his first ATP Tour title since 2023, he next faces Arthur Cazaux, a native of his own.

Norrie remarked, “The entire match was not easy.

“Royer’s] first full year on the tour is almost in the top 50,” he said. I had to work hard.

Lorenzo Sonego defeated Jan Choinski of Great Britain at the same tournament earlier in a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 loss.

With the eighth and final place still to be decided at the season-ending ATP Finals, Lorenzo Musetti’s progress will receive a lot of attention in Athens.

The ninth-ranked Musetti must win the title in order to advance to the Finals after world number eight Auger-Aliassime was forced to withdraw from the Moselle Open with a left knee injury.

Elena Rybakina becomes the first woman to reach the semi-finals on Monday in Riyadh as part of the ongoing WTA Finals.

Five British players will aim for success in the doubles competition on Sunday in Turin for the men’s Finals.

In earlier this month, Henry Patten, who plays with Finland’s Harri Heliovaara, and Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash, Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, were all ranked in the top ten.