• Vinnie Jones was a key figure for Wimbledon’s “Crazy Gang” in the late 1980s

• The former Wales captain has featured in a number of movies and television shows

• Estimates value Vinnie Jones net worth figures at around £8 million

Born in Watford, Hertfordshire, on 5th January, 1965, Vincent Peter Jones has enjoyed a rich and varied career that has taken him from building sites all the way to Hollywood.

In between lies 15 years playing at the highest level of football, captaining Wimbledon, Leeds and Sheffield United, before terrorising opposition midfielders for Chelsea.

On leaving school in the mid-Eighties, Jones became a hod carrier, turning out for Wealdstone on a part-time basis, until eventually his physical style of play attracted the Dons, a club that had swiftly risen through the footballing pyramid and become a top-flight side against all expectation. 

At Plough Lane he became a key member of the famed ‘Crazy Gang’, a wild collective who kept Wimbledon up among the big boys and defied the football betting by winning a FA Cup in 1988. 

That latter success helped solidify Jones’ reputation as a hard man. It made him a household name. 

On retiring from the game in 1998 nobody could have possibly predicted what was to come next, an unlikely detour into film.

Jones’ debut performance as ‘Big Chris’ in Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels was well received and set him on a path to movie stardom where he has often played characters of dubious repute. 

The names of some of these characters give the game away. “Bullet Tooth Tony”. “Mad Maynard”. “The Extractor”.

By 2024, Jones boasts a body of work consisting of 87 films, some cameos, several of which have grossed highly at the cinema. 

No stranger to controversy as a player, Jones is now a respectable country gent, living on a farm made up of 2000 acres in West Sussex. He is also a very wealthy individual. 

How Much Is Vinnie Jones Worth?

It’s pertinent to remember that Jones played the bulk of his football prior to the Premier League and lucrative broadcasting rights bringing ridiculous fortunes into the English game. 

Still, with signing on fees, decent wages, and numerous sponsorship deals across his playing career, it’s a given that the combative midfielder was at least a millionaire twice-over before he hung up his boots.

It was through his film-work however where the big bucks was found and Vinnie Jones currently has an estimated net worth exceeding £8m.   

Leading roles in Mean Machine and She’s The Man has largely attributed to this while the actor has also appeared in box-office hits, not least Swordfish and Eurotrip. 

In 2006, he joined the Marvel fraternity, playing Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand.

Cleverly avoiding typecasting – and at times playing with his tough guy persona – Jones has additionally done voice-over work for Garfield and Madagascar 3, gigs that typically pay extremely well.

Moreover, beyond top-flight football pitches and Tinseltown there is also Vinnie Jones the businessman.

A recent ambitious endeavour saw the creation of a production company named 4G Vision that launched in 2020 with $100m of external backing.  

Last year meanwhile Prime Video released ‘Vinnie Jones In the Country’, a series that showed a different side to the celebrity, flat-capped and restoring Land Rovers, even making homemade cordial on his farmstead. 

For a similar venture with Amazon, Jeremy Clarkson was paid £2.9m.

Wife

Vinnie met next door neighbour Tanya Terry at just 12 years old but the couple went separate ways for a period of time – with Tanya having a child with her first husband.

However, Vinnie and Tanya tied the knot in 1995 and were happily married for 24 years before Tanya sadly passed away from cancer in July 2019.

Tanya had suffered health complications throughout her life, requiring a heart transplant at 21 years old before bravely beating cervical cancer twice.

Belying his hard man persona, in September 2020, Vinnie Jones spoke movingly about his wife on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories, stating that he has no plans to remarry in the future.

Cancer

While Tanya’s cancer tragically spread and took her life, Vinnie is a cancer survivor.

He was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma under his eye in 2013 but his treatment was successful.

Vinnie Jones has done various bits of work and appearances for cancer charities over the years while pledging to give proceeds to charity if he won the Celebrity version of the X Factor in 2019.

On a related matter, he also received widespread praise for teaming up with the British Heart Foundation in 2021, showing the public, via a series of advertisements, how best to perform CPR.

Children

As previously mentioned, Vinnie is a stepfather to Tanya’s daughter from her first marriage while the couple also went on to have a son of their own.

Vinnie’s son is called Aaron and he has served in the Blues and Royals regiment of the British Army and Jones was captured proudly watching his son’s passing out parade back in 2008. 

Jones has previously admitted to spoiling his children, compensating for a strict upbringing himself. 
Wimbledon

Four seasons spent at Plough Lane can be condensed into a single photograph, one that has become iconic down the decades.

Caught by a fortunate photographer, Jones was snapped grabbing Paul Gascoigne in a highly sensitive area, the image instantly making stars of both of them.

Furthermore, the unusual tactic mirrored Wimbledon’s approach to competitive football, seeking to intimidate the opposition, front up to them, and triumph against the odds by any means necessary.

If you bet on football in the Eighties so often you would come unstuck, under-estimating their ability to thrive as the underdog.

Jones epitomised this ethos, making over 100 appearances for the Dons and leading them to an entirely unexpected FA Cup success in 1988. 

Vinnie Jones Movies

Vinnie Jones has matured into a well-respected actor, featuring in some of the greatest football films around. He is impeccable as Coach Dinklage in She’s The Man, for example.

Often playing fearsome and confrontational characters, Jones has capitalised on his tough image as a footballer by taking on similar roles in sports films.

However, Jones is not one-dimensional when it comes to acting. The former Wimbledon star has showcased his acting qualities as a wide range of characters over the years.

Vinnie Jones Singing

Vinnie Jones’ talent has no boundaries. Not only is he a star on the football pitch and on the cinema screen but he has also enjoyed success as a singer.

Wooly Bully was his first hit in 1993 before Jones released the album ‘Respect’ in 2002. It may be hard to imagine but Jones has an excellent signing voice.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

Here at the 888sport horse racing blog we have compiled a list of ten horses of varying ages, which we believe will be winning at some point or another during the 2024 Flat season.

You may want to pop these in your horse racing trackers for convenience.

AL MISBAR (Charlie Appleby)

Team Godolphin will be hopeful this bay colt will be able to emulate what his father Blue Point was able to achieve on the track.

The sire is already making his mark on the breeding scene with Group 1 winners coming last season in the shape of Big Evs and Rosallion, who took home the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint at Santa Anita last November and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp’s Arc meeting.

He should make up into a Group performer this season.

ELNAJMM (William Haggas)

This well bred four-year-old has done very little wrong in his career to date and William Haggas has a nice horse to go to the big handicaps with.

He will be competitive over a mile to ten furlongs, however based on his pedigree he holds the potential to step up to a mile-and-a-half in time.

EMBESTO (Roger Varian)

Embesto finished off last season with a very credible fourth in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at Longchamp finishing just two-and-a-half lengths behind the winner.

There’s plenty more to come from this son of Roaring Lion and the rather shrewd Roger Varian will plot him along nicely to unleash his potential.

FALLEN ANGEL (Karl Burke)

Karl Burke issued a positive bulletin surrounding Moyglare Stud Stakes heroine Fallen Angel just before the season started.

She is no bigger than 8-1 in our horse racing odds for the 1,000 Guineas and will make her seasonal reappearance in the Classic itself.

GOD’S WINDOW (John & Thady Gosden)

Winner of a Doncaster maiden, God’s Window then went on to finished third in the Kameko Futurity, just two lengths behind Ancient Wisdom and a head behind the second.

Being out of a Nathaniel mare he should develop into a top class middle-distance three-year-old.

ISLANDSINTHESTREAM (Joseph O’Brien)

Joseph O’Brien’s runner ended his last campaign with a second in the Group 1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud, beaten just a neck by Los Angeles.

Prior to that he won a decent sales race at Longchamp in smart fashion His most recent effort came in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh. Watch out for him as a St Leger hopeful this year.

NASHWA (John & Thady Gosden)

Nashwa hosed up in the Falmouth Stakes last year to gain her third win at the very top level. She also placed in the Nassau Stakes, Juddmonte International and the Irish Champion Stakes.

Her owner keeps her in training for 2024 and she will be contesting all the top one mile and ten furlong races this season.

ROSALLION (Richard Hannon)

Rosallion could prove to be one of the top three-year-old milers this season with the St James’ Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot being one of the main targets.

A storming victory in the in the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere proved he will be a force to be reckoned with this term.

TASK FORCE (Ralph Beckett)

Finished second behind the brilliant Vandeek in the Middle Park Stakes and could well go for the 2000 Guineas this term.

Has the potential to be one of the best three-year-olds around if things go to plan.

YLANG YLANG (Aidan O’Brien)

The 1000 Guineas will be the first port of call, which should then set her up nicely for the Oaks.

There is plenty of stamina in the dam-side of the pedigree to suggest she will cope adequately at distance races in time.

Check out all our latest Grand National odds here!

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

• Which player has been sent off the most times in Champions League history?

• Three players are tied with four Champions League red cards

• Juventus players have received 28 Champions League red cards – more than any other club

Red cards in football are always a dramatic event. That intensifies ten-fold when it occurs in the Champions League.

The biggest and most prestigious club tournament is designed to showcase the very best talent around but even at this elite level players can sometimes lose their heads and lash out.

They see the trailing ankle of an opponent who is clean through on goal and, in a moment of madness, listen to their inner demon. 

When it comes to ill-discipline there is really only a sliver of difference between Real Madrid v Bayern Munich and the Red Lion versus the Dog and Duck, played out on a quagmire of a pitch.

A safe football prediction therefore is that more Champions League dismissals await us between now and the end of this season. 

Should that fate befall Bayern it will put the German giants just one sending off behind the competition’s worst miscreants, that being Juventus.

Since the Champions League was formed in 1992/92, the Old Lady has seen red on 28 occasions which equates to 0.9 per season. It’s perhaps little wonder then that Juve have only lifted the famous jug-eared trophy the once.

As for players, it will come as precisely no surprise to learn that Sergio Ramos tops the tournament’s hall of shame, level-pegging with two other behemoths of world football.

The ruthless defender was presumably booked for being born.

So let’s get to it, as we highlight – without judgement – the teams and players who have most often seen the red mist, followed by a red card, in the Champions League. 

Players With Most Champions League Red Cards

Three players have been sent for an early bath on four occasions in the competition, one of whom has already been identified. 

Across two illustrious decades Sergio Ramos was considered by many to be the best centre-back and leader of his generation. A pivotal presence for Real Madrid, he led Los Blancos to a remarkable four Champions League triumphs and five La Liga titles. 

Yet along with the silverware there was always a distinct edge to Ramos’ style of defending, and that’s putting it mildly, making the non-nonsense stopper a favourite in the betting markets to not last the full duration of a game. A career total of 28 red cards justified that bet many times over.

Edgar Davids is another to see red four times in the competition. Nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’ the midfielder’s combative approach meant it was inevitable some challenges would awry, depriving Juventus several times of their outstanding star on the biggest of all stages.

And last but by no means least, there is Zlatan Ibrahimovic, a player who did everything by extremes. No doubt our Champions League betting offers back in the Swede’s prime focused on the extravagantly gifted forward either scoring a worldie or getting sent off. 

Run-of-the-mill was not a term Zlatan recognized. 

Just bubbling beneath this trio are 13 players who have been dismissed three times and from this group there are only two who are still playing their trade at the highest level presently.

There is still time for Atletico Madrid’s Stefan Savic and Dortmund’s Emre Can to join a very select shortlist alongside three of the greatest ever exponents of European football. 

Sergio Ramos Red Cards

It is not exactly a huge shock to see Ramos feature on this Champions League red cards list. Showcasing his long-standing dedication to the dark arts, these dismissals all took place over 15 seasons.

• 28th September 2005: Olympiacos 1-2 Real Madrid

• 23rd November 2010: Ajax 0-4 Real Madrid

• 27th November 2013: Real Madrid 4-1 Galatasaray

• 26th February 2020: Real Madrid 1-2 Manchester City

Edgar Davids Red Cards

Dominating midfield battles for the likes of Ajax, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Juventus it is notable that all of Davids’ red cards were made up of two yellows.

Each time the Pitbull bit, then bit again. 

• 24th October 2000: Juventus 1-3 Hamburger SV

• 18th September 2001: Juventus 3-2 Celtic

• 27th February 2002: Deportivo La Coruna 2-0 Juventus

• 22nd April 2003: Barcelona 1-2 Juventus

Zlatan Ibrahimovic Red Cards

It is odd to acknowledge that one of the finest players to grace the modern game hung up his boots in 2023 having never won a Champions League honour.

He still managed to leave his mark on the tournament however, as well as Oscar’s calf at Stamford Bridge in 2015. The Swedish legend’s late challenge left the Chelsea midfielder writhing in agony. 

• 2nd November 2005: Juventus 2-1 Bayern Munich

• 27th September 2006: Inter 0-2 Bayern Munich

• 12th February 2013: Valencia 1-2 Paris Saint-Germain

• 11th March 2015: Chelsea 2-2 Paris Saint-Germain

Which Teams Have Received The Most Red Cards In Champions League?

With the likes of Juventus, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich competing in Europe’s elite club tournament almost every year, it’s almost inevitable to see these teams appear on this list.

What excuse then for Arsenal, who are only a few reds shy despite not participating on 12 occasions. 

Another English giant, Manchester United, is prominent too and it surprises that only one of their 19 is attributed to Roy Keane. 

But it’s Juventus who lead the way, the most ill-disciplined team in Champions League history with a record 28 red cards. Far too often a combination of a brutish back-line and an industrial midfield has resulted in their trademark catenaccio going wrong. 

Here, you can see the Champions League clubs who have had the most sending offs in the competition’s history.

• Olympiacos - 18

• Galatasaray - 18

• PSV – 18

• Atletico Madrid – 18

• Dinamo Zagreb – 18

• Dynamo Kyiv – 18

• Manchester United - 19

• Benfica - 20

• Arsenal – 20

• Inter – 23

• Real Madrid - 24

• Porto – 26

• Bayern Munich - 26

• Juventus – 28

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

The FA Cup is one of the premier football betting competitions. From the qualification rounds through to Wembley, the FA Cup has been home to all-time surprises and some epic encounters.

It’s a notoriously difficult competition to forecast. Upsets are the fabric of FA Cup betting.

Whether a Championship team falling to non-league opponents or one of the competition favourites getting toppled by a struggling League One side, there are FA Cup upsets every single year.

Some will go down in history, creating heroes as teams make an against-the-odds run into the latter rounds.

It’s a competition with more history than any other. The trophy is as recognisable as they come. Here’s a run through of some FA Cup trophy history, records and a winners’ list.

When Was FA Cup First Awarded?

The first FA Cup was awarded in 1872. Early years of the competition were dominated by names unfamiliar to those regularly scouring football prediction tips in the 21st century.

The English Football League wasn’t formed until over a decade after the FA Cup started – the Football League was founded in 1888.

It is the oldest cup competition in world football. The FA Cup has been contested in every year since 1872 apart from the during First and Second World Wars.

It has been tweaked. The use of replays has been altered throughout. Various venues have hosted the finals, with the Kennington Oval being used for the majority of finals in the first couple of decades.

Wembley has been the FA Cup final’s home in recent decades, but the Millennium Stadium took over while the new stadium was being built in HA9.

FA Cup Trophy Design

The FA Cup is made of Sterling silver, and the most recent edition was produced by Thomas Lyte. This was first presented in 2014 and took over 250 hours of craft.

The first FA Cup was passed between the winners for 20 years. This cost £20 to make in the late 19th century, but while in the hands of Aston Villa, it was stolen and never seen again.

A replica of this original trophy was made. This was in use for the next 15 years until a new piece of silverware was designed in 1911.

This trophy, designed by a jeweller from Bradford, is familiar to all football fans. It remained in use until the early 1990s. At which point, the FA decided it was time to protect the 1911 trophy and commissioned a replica.

The next version only lasted just over two decades. Natural wear and tear from celebrations had taken its toll, and the FA made the trophy we have seen the FA Cup winners lift in recent seasons.

Thomas Lyte made a heftier iteration of the 1911 trophy. This silverware is heavier, and generally thought to be more durable to cope with the increased workload it goes through with fans allowed to lift it as it gets toured around the country.

Crucially, the FA Cup design has not altered in over a century. The shape is distinctive, the handles on either side are almost identical to those on the trophy created in Bradford before the First World War.

FA Cup Trophy Size

All year long, football fans are making FA Cup predictions, dreaming of seeing their club lift the famous trophy. While iconic, it’s not the most eye-catching silverware in sport.

The FA Cup stands at 61.5 centimetres. This is considerably smaller than the Premier League trophy, which is over a metre tall and about the same width as the FA Cup is high.

It’s not as large as other hardware, and at 6.3 kilograms, it is considerably lighter, too. The Champions League trophy is 7.5 kilograms, while the Premier League trophy is over 20 kilograms.

Most FA Cup Trophy Wins

Arsenal have won the FA Cup 14 times. They are the most successful team in FA Cup history. Seven of these triumphs have come since the turn of the century, also making them the most successful FA Cup team over the last two decades. 

The Gunners first won the competition way back in 1930. That was their second final, and they have appeared in another 19 since then (also a record).

Manchester United are their closest rivals to be considered FA Cup kings, having lifted the trophy 12 times. Plenty of football fans will have seen the Red Devils lift the FA Cup trophy over the years...

Despite being the dominant force in English football throughout the Alex Ferguson era, Manchester United did not enjoy the same success as Arsenal have done in the FA Cup.

They have lost three FA Cup finals since the turn of the century, the most recent being to Chelsea in 2018.

Across the 150 years of the FA Cup, 23 clubs have won the competition more than once. Only three teams have won the FA Cup three seasons in a row, and both of those clubs did so before the start of the 20th century.

Unsurprisingly, Arsenal dominate the FA Cup records throughout. They are tied with Manchester United for most seasons winning the FA Cup and the league title (three each).

Arsene Wenger is the most decorated manager in the history of the competition, winning it seven times. The Arsenal legend is a topic of debate in chatrooms - could he be the greatest manager to take charge in the Premier League?

No player has enjoyed more FA Cup success than Ashley Cole. The former England international has seven FA Cup winners’ medals, three with Arsenal, four with Chelsea.

FA CUP MILESTONES

First FA Cup Final

The inaugural FA Cup Final took place on 16th March 1872. Wanderers edged Royal Engineers 1-0 attracting a humble attendance of 2,000 at Kennington Oval in London. Morton Betts netted the decisive goal after 15 minutes.

Wanderers went on to lift the national Cup five times across the opening seven seasons. Their unique kit was variously described embracing three repeating hoops of black or grey, then pink, cerise or violet and yellow, orange or gold.

Alas, the team swiftly faded into oblivion due to a lack of players and eventually folded in 1887.

However, Wanderers were relaunched in 2009 and now compete in the Surrey South Eastern Combination Junior Division Two. They possess two Saturday men’s teams, a Sunday side and a women’s team based at the Griffin Sports Ground in West Dulwich.

Modern day club secretary Mark Wilson represented Wanderers at the 150th anniversary FA Cup Final in 2022 and carried the iconic trophy out on to Wembley Stadium’s pitch ahead of kick-off.

First FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium

Bolton Wanderers defeated West Ham United 2-0 in the first FA Cup Final to be staged at newly built Wembley Stadium on 28th April 1923.

The official attendance was 126,047. Yet the actual figure was reputed to be anywhere spanning 150,000 to 300,000 with thousands of people spilling on to the pitch from overcrowded terraces.

Mounted policemen, including one famously on a white horse, were deployed to clear the playing surface. It therefore became known as the “White Horse Final” in football folklore.

Best FA Cup Final Goal

I was fortunate enough to be present at Wembley Stadium witnessing this in person! It illuminated the FA Cup Final Replay between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City on 14th May 1981.

I stood amidst the huge semi-circular terrace behind one goal. Spurs won 3-2 whereby their truly immortal winner arrived on 76 minutes.

Argentina international Ricky Villa dribbled around four flailing defenders before shooting crisply under goalkeeper Joe Corrigan. It was later voted Wembley’s ‘Goal of the Century’ and I wouldn’t dispute that.

First FA Cup Final Red Card

Everton versus Manchester United was another FA Cup Final I attended on 18th May 1985. In the 78th minute, Everton midfield dynamo Peter Reid ran forward and was upended once he prodded the ball past last defender Kevin Moran.

In consequence, Moran became the first player ever to be sent-off in an FA Cup Final. Nevertheless, Norman Whiteside curled home in extra-time to secure 10 man United’s 1-0 triumph.

First Penalty Save In An FA Cup Final

Funnily enough, I was also inside Wembley for the first ever FA Cup Final penalty save. An outstanding occasion featured Liverpool facing underdogs Wimbledon on 14th May 1988.

Lawrie Sanchez had already given the Dons a shock first half lead courtesy of a looping header when they conceded the spot kick on 60 minutes.

A correct decision because Clive Goodyear slid along and tripped John Aldridge racing into the box. Aldridge dusted himself down to take the penalty but goalkeeper Dave Beasant dived full length to his left clawing the ball away.

Wimbledon subsequently held on for a momentous 1-0 victory. BBC1 commentator John Motson superbly summed up the drama at full-time by saying: “The Crazy Gang have beaten the Culture Club!”

Fastest FA Cup Final Goal

The fastest goal in FA Cup Final history was registered by Ilkay Gundogan for Manchester City versus Manchester United after only 12 seconds on 3rd June 2023.

Following muscular Erling Haaland aerial approach play, Gundogan magnificently struck a quicksilver 25 yard volley rising into the right hand corner.

City proceeded to win 2-1. Gundogan supplied their second goal too six minutes beyond half-time.

FA Cup Winners List:

• 1872 – Wanderers

• 1873 – Wanderers

• 1874 – Oxford University

• 1875 – Royal Engineers

• 1876 – Wanderers

• 1877 – Wanderers

• 1878 – Wanderers

• 1879 – Old Etonians

• 1880 – Clapham Rovers

• 1881 – Old Carthusians

• 1882 – Old Etonians

• 1883 – Blackburn Olympic

• 1884 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1885 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1886 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1887 – Aston Villa

• 1888 – West Bromwich Albion

• 1889 – Preston North End

• 1890 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1891 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1892 – West Bromwich Albion

• 1893 – Wolverhampton Wanderers

• 1894 – Notts County

• 1895 – Aston Villa

• 1896 – The Wednesday

• 1897 – Aston Villa

• 1898 – Nottingham Forest

• 1899 – Sheffield United

• 1900 – Bury

• 1901 – Tottenham

• 1902 – Sheffield United

• 1903 – Bury

• 1904 – Manchester City

• 1905 – Aston Villa

• 1906 – Everton

• 1907 – The Wednesday

• 1908 – Wolverhampton Wanderers

• 1909 – Manchester United

• 1910 – Newcastle United

• 1911 – Bradford City

• 1912 – Barnsley 

• 1913 – Aston Villa

• 1914 – Burnley

• 1915 – Sheffield United

• 1920 – Aston Villa

• 1921 – Tottenham

• 1922 – Huddersfield Town

• 1923 – Bolton Wanderers

• 1924 – Newcastle United

• 1925 – Sheffield United

• 1926 – Bolton Wanderers

• 1927 – Cardiff City

• 1928 – Blackburn Rovers

• 1929 – Bolton Wanderers

• 1930 – Arsenal

• 1931 – West Bromwich Albion

• 1932 – Newcastle United

• 1933 – Everton

• 1934 – Manchester City

• 1935 – Sheffield Wednesday

• 1936 – Arsenal

• 1937 – Sunderland

• 1938 – Preston North End

• 1939 – Portsmouth

• 1946 – Derby County

• 1947 – Charlton Athletic

• 1948 – Manchester United

• 1949 – Wolverhampton Wanderers

• 1950 – Arsenal

• 1951 – Newcastle United

• 1952 – Newcastle United

• 1953 – Blackpool

• 1954 – West Bromwich Albion

• 1955 – Newcastle United

• 1956 – Manchester City

• 1957 – Aston Villa

• 1958 – Bolton Wanderers

• 1959 – Nottingham Forest

• 1960 – Wolverhampton Wanderers

• 1961 – Tottenham

• 1962 – Tottenham

• 1963 – Manchester United

• 1964 – West Ham

• 1965 – Liverpool

• 1966 – Everton

• 1967 – Tottenham

• 1968 – West Bromwich Albion

• 1969 – Manchester City

• 1970 – Chelsea

• 1971 – Arsenal

• 1972 – Leeds

• 1973 – Sunderland

• 1974 – Liverpool

• 1975 – West Ham United

• 1976 – Southampton

• 1977 – Manchester United

• 1978 – Ipswich Town

• 1979 – Arsenal

• 1980 – West Ham United

• 1981 – Tottenham

• 1982 – Tottenham

• 1983 – Manchester United

• 1984 – Everton

• 1985 – Manchester United

• 1986 – Liverpool

• 1987 – Coventry City

• 1988 – Wimbledon

• 1989 – Liverpool

• 1990 – Manchester United

• 1991 – Tottenham 

• 1992 – Liverpool

• 1993 – Arsenal

• 1994 – Manchester United

• 1995 – Everton

• 1996 – Manchester United

• 1997 – Chelsea

• 1998 – Arsenal

• 1999 – Manchester United

• 2000 – Chelsea

• 2001 – Liverpool

• 2002 – Arsenal

• 2003 – Arsenal

• 2004 – Manchester United

• 2005 – Arsenal

• 2006 – Liverpool

• 2007 – Chelsea

• 2008 – Portsmouth

• 2009 – Chelsea

• 2010 – Chelsea

• 2011 – Manchester City

• 2012 – Chelsea

• 2013 – Wigan Athletic

• 2014 – Arsenal

• 2015 – Arsenal

• 2016 – Manchester United

• 2017 – Arsenal

• 2018 – Chelsea

• 2019 – Manchester City

• 2020 – Arsenal 

• 2021 – Leicester City

• 2022 – Liverpool

• 2023 – Manchester City

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

For music fans around Europe, the Eurovision Song Contest is a massive event.

First held in 1956, it is one of the biggest events of the year and millions of music lovers from across the continent tune in to watch the annual competition.

Betting on Eurovision has become very popular in recent years, with bookmakers offering a range of odds on the famous singing contest.

From backing the outright Eurovision winner to betting on a nation to score no points, odds on the Eurovision Song Contest can be found with most of the top bookmakers.

Eurovision Song Contest 2024 Odds:

Sweden were crowned 2023 Eurovision Song Contest champions after a stunning performance from Loreen.

She was one of the leading contenders in Eurovision odds for 2023 and justified the hype, finishing some 26 points clear of runners up Finland.

Attention now turns to 2024 Eurovision betting markets – could we be set for a major shock?

Only time will tell but Eurovision 2024 betting news will be available in the build-up to the event. For now, scroll down for our top Eurovision betting tips and advice.

How To Bet On Eurovision

There are a few factors to consider when placing a bet on the Eurovision Song Contest. It is vital to check bookmaker prices across the board in order to ensure that you get the best Eurovision odds possible.

Each year, there are some early movers. When songs are released, you can usually tell if a specific song is going to do well at Eurovision.

Some songs will be popular in music betting tips while others will drift massively. In addition, Eurovision tend to upload clips to the official YouTube page and punters can see which videos are most popular.

This isn’t a direct indicator for success but viewing figures, likes and comments can give punters a hint at possible Eurovision glory.

As is the case with betting, punters can place an in-play bet on Eurovision. The later you bet, the better chance there is of a clearer picture on who is likely to win.

While odds may not quite be as high, viewers should have a better indication as to which nation has been well supported in Eurovision tips.

The format of Eurovision has changed in recent times, so there is now a jury vote as well as a televote from the public.

This is to combat political voting which, although it still exists, has helped to increase tension and excitement when it comes to Eurovision results betting.

*Credit for all of the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

For the much of cricket’s history, India were unable to compete at the top. They lacked the fast-bowling firepower, their batsmen were skilled, but often overmatched against the best England or Australia had to offer.

By far the most populous cricket nation on the planet, India’s standing in the sport has changed. They are now a perennial online cricket betting favourite in all formats.

Top 10 Greatest Indian Cricketers:

1. Kapil Dev

2. Sunil Gavaskar

3. Sachin Tendulkar

4. Virat Kohli

5. Anil Kumble

6. Rahul Dravid

7. Virender Sehwag 

8. MS Dhoni

9. Javagal Srinath

10. Bishan Bedi

Compiling this group of Indian cricket legends was not easy – there are so many wonderful candidates that missed out. All 10 players were among the best cricket players in the world during their respective careers.

One of these players is still featuring in cricket betting, many of the others have retired in the last decade. Other active players could well work their way onto this list, with Jasprit Bumrah, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will all be in the top 10 by the time they hang up their boots. 

Famous Indian cricketers are loved in a way that would seem alien to their counterparts in the other major cricketing countries.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

​Academies are the centre of much football debate.

Premier League clubs are often criticised (or, occasionally, praised) for their use of homegrown talents – football's governing bodies are frequently looking for ways to encourage teams to use their academy products.

Best Football Academy In England:

• Chelsea

• Southampton

• Liverpool

• Manchester United

• Manchester City

Many tournaments require teams to name a certain amount of academy graduates in their squads. Youth football isn’t all about producing for your own first team, however, particularly in the age of financial fairplay.

Developing talent that can be sold on is useful to teams, even if the players never get near your own first team. There are no surprise 888 predictions here - this article looks at the best academies in British football…

Chelsea

The most talked about academy in British football at the moment, Chelsea have had plenty of Youth Cup success over the last decade or so and have finally seen the benefit in the first team. 

Roman Abramovich invested heavily in the academy – Chelsea have won the Youth Cup seven times since 2010 and finished runners up in 2013 and 2020. It's still early to judge how Todd Boehly's regime treats the academy. 

John Terry remains the most well-known Chelsea graduate, and the Blues’ difficulty converting their academy stars into first team contributors since Terry has been well publicised.

With the help of a transfer ban, Chelsea had an influx of academy graduates under Frank Lampard. The Blues have handed out debuts at an impressive rate in recent years, but the majority have been sold on, with Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount, Marc Guehi and Fikayo Tomori being among the biggest names to depart. 

Reece James, Levi Colwill and Conor Gallagher are the most notable success stories from Cobham in recent years, but the influence of Chelsea's academy can be seen across Europe. 

Southampton

The revenue generated by Southampton’s academy sales has been extraordinary. It’s not some lucky football betting tips fluke, either - the Saints genuinely have one of the best football academies in England.

Southampton have a track record for producing some of the best young players in the country, and they continue to deliver on that promise.

Southampton stick to a style of play through the age groups and place an emphasis on classroom work as much as getting out to the practice fields.

The academy played a significant role in their rise from League One to the Premier League; the club places faith in its academy products.

Alan Shearer broke through at Southampton before leaving for Blackburn a few seasons later. Matt Le Tissier came through at the club and spent his entire career there.

Gareth Bale, who was the most expensive player in the world, was a Southampton graduate, as were Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, Calum Chambers, Theo Walcott and Luke Shaw.

Liverpool

Liverpool have always prioritised homegrown talent. Sometimes it’s been to their detriment, but often it has reaped the greatest of rewards.

From Phil Thompson through to club legends Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher, many of Liverpool's most iconic players were homegrown talents. 

Michael Owen and Steve McManaman – now frequently seen/heard on TNT Sports – both came through at Liverpool before heading to Real Madrid. Robbie Fowler, one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers, joined the club soon after leaving school.

Since the turn of the century, Raheem Sterling exploded onto the scene at Anfield before moving to Manchester City and then Chelsea. Trent Alexander-Arnold and Curtis Jones are fixtures in the first team for years to come. 

Alexander-Arnold is a perennial contender to top the Premier League assist charts – check out the latest odds and 888 football prediction tips for the latest Liverpool best bets.

Manchester United

Manchester United’s place on this list is guaranteed thanks to the achievements of the Class of ’92 alone.

David Beckham, the Nevilles, Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes represent one of the greatest academy graduate classes in all of football, let alone Britain.

The group starred at one of football’s biggest stadiums for years, dominating the English game.

Since then, production has been hit-and-miss aside from Marcus Rashford. The Red Devils boast one of the best youth teams in England, yet there have been plenty of underwhelming academy graduates. There is hope Stockport native Kobbie Mainoo can buck that trend.

Having been signed from Atletico Madrid at 16 years old, Alejandro Garnacho is in a bit of a grey area when it comes to giving the academy credit.

Unsurprisingly, Manchester United are the most successful team in Youth Cup history with 11 titles. Notably, though, they have only made the final four times since 1995.

Manchester City

The academy has been part of the vision of Manchester City’s owners.

With such a high standard in the first team squad, it takes a special academy player to break into Pep Guardiola's core group. Phil Foden has been that man, with the England international starring as City won the treble in 2023. 

Others have begun to earn Guardiola's trust, with Rico Lewis and Oscar Bobb making numerous appearances in 2023-24. 

City have won the Youth Cup on three occasions, and have made the final five times since 2015. 

Other high-profile City graduates include Shaun Wright-Phillips, Kasper Schmeichel, Kieran Trippier, Micah Richards, Jadon Sancho, Brahim Diaz and Denis Suarez.

*Credit for the main photo belongs to Alamy*

• Jason Kenny is the most decorated British Olympian of all-time

• Team GB has enjoyed a surge of Olympic success in the 21st century

• Read below for the list of the most successful British Olympians ever

The Olympics are a chance for sports fans to engage in something new. It gives names that aren’t usually at the forefront of betting a chance to shine.

Whether in the pool, velodrome or on the water, the Olympics is an opportunity for athletes to become national heroes. Success at the Olympics is the ultimate goal for so many sportspeople around the world.

Only taking place every four years, the tension of Olympics live betting is hard to beat. There are only so many shots at Olympic glory, and it’s a long wait if the outcome isn’t as hoped.

Compared to the wild riches in football, basketball and Formula One, Olympians are often lesser-known, less-well paid public figures.

Rebecca Adlington net worth, for instance, falls far short of many of her peers in other sports. Here are the 10 most successful British Olympians of all-time.

Mo Farah – four medals

Quite simply one of the greatest distance runners of all-time, Mo Farah did the double-double by defending his 5,000 and 10,000-metre titles in Rio.

Farah is also a six-time world champion. He waved goodbye to the track to take on marathon running, and he set a European record with a time of 2:05:11 in the 2018 Chicago Marathon. 

Named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2017, his Mobot celebration is an everlasting image from the 2012 Games, and he’s cemented himself as a British icon for decades to come.

We may never see another distance runner like Farah in the colours of Team GB.

Matthew Pinsent – four medals

Matthew Pinsent won four medals between 1992 and 2004, all of which were gold.

The duo of Pinsent and Steve Redgrave was dominant, picking up gold in the coxless pairs in 1992 and 1996, followed by another brace of first places in 2000 and 2004 in the coxless fours.

Also a 10-time world champion, Pinsent retired in 2004 and moved into a career in the media. He’s frequently been seen on BBC’s sports coverage, and even had a go at Celebrity Masterchef in 2020.

Paolo Radmilovic – four medals

A name you’re less likely to have heard of, Paolo Radmilovic was a Welsh swimmer and water polo player who competed in four Olympics.

All four of Radmilovic’s medals were golds, three of which came in water polo in 1908, 1912 and 1920.

At the home games in 1908, Radmilovic was drafted into the 4x200 relay squad when a swimmer was unwell. He swam the second leg as the Brits won in sensational fashion, overtaking the Hungarians on the anchor leg.

Radmilovic’s haul of four golds was a British record until he was toppled by Steve Redgrave in 2000. Alongside his success, Radmilovic broke numerous records for longevity, including competing at six Olympic Games.

Adam Peaty – five medals

All-conquering swimmer Adam Peaty has five medals to his name already (three gold, two silver), and at just 29 years old, he’s bound to add more to his collection. The 2024 Games in Paris are an opportunity for the Uttoxeter native to add to this medal collection.

Peaty holds the breaststroke world records over 50 and 100 metres, and he’s the two-time reigning Olympic champion in the 100-metre breaststroke.

Ben Ainslie – five medals

Four of Ben Ainslie’s Olympic medals are of the gold variety. He’s unquestionably the greatest British sailor of all-time and has the rare distinction of having medalled in five consecutive Games.

With 11 World Championship golds to his name too, Ainslie was near enough unstoppable from the 1990s through to the 2012 Games in London.

The increase in Ainslie’s profile among the British public shows what the Olympics can do for niche sports – he would be recognised around the country.

Steve Redgrave – six medals

You’ve got to have done something special to be the flag bearer at two separate Olympics. Steve Redgrave was the most successful British Olympian of all-time from 1996 until 2012.

He finished with five golds and a bronze and became the first Brit ever to medal at five consecutive Olympic Games between 1984 and 2000.

Redgrave has remained involved with rowing post-retirement, including assuming a director’s role with the Chinese Rowing Association in 2018.

Laura Kenny – six medals

Laura Kenny is a sensation. Her tally of five golds and one silver makes Kenny not only the most successful female British Olympian, but the most decorated female cyclist in the history of the Games.

Then known as Laura Trott, she burst onto the scene at the 2012 Games in London, landing golds in the Omnium and Team Pursuit. Both titles were defended in Rio before adding a fifth gold in the Madison in Tokyo.

After the birth of her second child in 2023, Kenny announced her decision to retire from cycling in spring 2024. 

Chris Hoy – seven medals

Succeeding Steve Redgrave as the most decorated British Olympian, albeit for a short period, Chris Hoy won seven medals between Sydney and London, the last six of which were all gold.

Hoy was in many ways the face of the dominant Team GB cycling group.

He was the senior figure in the team sprint golds in 2008 and 2012, but he thrived in individual competition too, winning the sprint in Beijing and going back-to-back in the Keirin.

Since retiring from cycling in 2013, Hoy has tried his hand at motorsport and has often been seen on BBC's cycling coverage. 

Bradley Wiggins – eight medals

Although Bradley Wiggins’ legacy is most closely tied to his Tour de France triumph in 2012, he also collected eight Olympic medals, five of which were gold.

The time trial gold in the same year as his Tour victory is perhaps most memorable.

Wiggins also had enjoyed glory at the previous two Games, winning a gold and a silver in Athens and standing atop the podium for the team and individual pursuits in Beijing.

Jason Kenny – nine medals

Jason Kenny was always in line to succeed Hoy atop the British medal table. He won a gold and a silver in Beijing, followed by a pair of sprint golds at London 2012.

A hat-trick of gold medals at Rio and another first place in Tokyo secured Kenny as the greatest British Olympian in history.

He always seemed to find his best form when the Olympics come round – he won seven Olympic golds in the velodrome compared to three golds at the World Championships. 

Kenny retired in 2022, despite stating that he had hoped to 'carry on' until the Games in Paris in 2024. He took up a position as a podium sprint coach with British Cycling, and was knighted in the 2022 New Years Honours list. 

*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*

The greatest coaches in NBA history must tick numerous boxes to feature in the best NBA coach of all time conversation.

There must be team success, they must remain at the top for a long time, and more often than not, there’s a fair bit of innovation involved, either from an X’s and O’s standpoint or as a motivator.

These ten all-time coaches will be familiar names to those who bet on basketball regularly. They are iconic names, people who changed the way the sport is paved and led dynasties.

Best NBA Coach Of All Time - List:

1. Phil Jackson

2. Gregg Popovich

3. Red Auerbach

4. Pat Riley

5. Chuck Daly

6. Steve Kerr

7. Don Nelson

8. Erik Spoelstra

9. Jerry Sloan

10. Lenny Wilkens

Narrowing it down to 10 names wasn’t straight forward. There are great coaches who haven’t won championships, and several who have a ring but perhaps don’t warrant a spot on this list.

Without a shadow of a doubt, this is certainly a tougher debate than the greatest NBA players discussion...

• Manchester United have the longest unbeaten Champions League run of all-time

• The Red Devils have three of the seven longest undefeated streaks in competition history

• Read below for the 10 longest CL unbeaten runs ever

The same clubs are often at the forefront of Champions League betting. Unsurprisingly, those big names are also the ones that have built many of the longest unbeaten Champions League runs.

Manchester United have three of the seven longest undefeated stretches in the competition, and only one other English club features on this list. Here are the 10 longest unbeaten streaks in Champions League history.

Chelsea 2008-10 – 14 matches

Winners of the 2021 Champions League, Chelsea have been a persistent contender for Europe’s greatest club honour. Back in 2008, the west London club embarked on a 14-match unbeaten run in the Champions League, which stretched to 2010.

This was the period when Chelsea were arguably at their strongest. They endured several near misses in the competition, including controversies against Barcelona and a final heart break at the hands of Manchester United.

Of course, the Blues went on to defy all Champions League predictions when they lifted the big-eared trophy in 2012.

Barcelona 2005-06 – 15 matches

Including their 2006 win over Arsenal in the final, Barcelona rattled off a run of 15 matches unbeaten in the Champions League.

This was the pre-Pep era for the Catalan club, albeit this wasn’t a team lacking star power.

Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o led the way, with the Brazilian scoring seven times in the 2005-06 edition of the competition. This isn’t the Barca team with the greatest legacy, but its success shouldn’t be forgotten.

Real Madrid 2016-17 – 15 matches

After witnessing Barcelona dominate the Champions League around the turn of the decade, Real Madrid owned the competition from 2013 through to 2018. Included in that streak was a 15-match undefeated run for Los Blancos.

Real won three successive Champions Leagues. This span increased their lead in numerous categories.

Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo continued his ascent up the Champions League top scorers list in this spell, too.

Manchester United 1998-99 – 16 matches

Only a loss in the 1999-2000 group stage ended this unbeaten Champions League run for Manchester United.

The dramatic night against Bayern in 1999 is one of the most remarkable matches in the club’s history and helped to secure an unprecedented treble.

After progressing from Group D ahead of Barcelona at the start of 1998-99, the Red Devils saw off Inter and Juventus in the knockout rounds before Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer secured their status as Old Trafford legends in the final.

Manchester United 2001-02 – 16 matches

Not long after their 1998-99 run, Manchester United put together another 16-game unbeaten streak. There was no Champions League win in the midst of this one, however.

In fact, Alex Ferguson’s side had to wait almost another decade before they would appear in the final again.

They fell to eventual runners-up Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001-02 edition of the competition and were knocked out by Real Madrid in the following campaign.

Barcelona 2011-12 – 16 matches

Perhaps the greatest club side we’ve ever seen, Barcelona were perennial betting favourites to win the competition around this period. Lionel Messi was at his peak, and Pep Guardiola’s side were a relentless winning machine.

They picked up 16 points and scored 20 goals in the 2011-12 group stage before hammering Bayer Leverkusen and then Milan.

The winning run, though, was brought to an abrupt end thanks to a Didier Drogba goal and a resolute Chelsea rear-guard in the last four.

Bayern Munich 2001-02 – 19 matches

Winners of the competition in 2000-01, Bayern Munich built on that success by going unbeaten in both group stages in 2001-02.

They even beat Real Madrid in the first leg of the quarter-final but succumbed to a 2-0 defeat in the second match to end their unbeaten streak and knock them out of the competition.

The 2002-03 Champions League brought the Bavarians crashing back down to earth as they took just two points from six group stage matches.

Ajax 1994-96 – 19 matches

Champions of Europe in 1995, Ajax are one of 10 clubs to go all the way without suffering defeat.

The run continued long beyond lifting the trophy in 1995, however, with de Godenzonen not losing a match in the competition until the first leg of the 1995-96 semi-final.

A joy to watch with big names galore, this Ajax team didn’t stay together as long as many in Amsterdam would have hoped, but the key players went on to enjoy successful careers all over the continent.

Bayern Munich 2019-21 – 19 matches

While Bayern’s 2020 Champions League triumph was in unusual circumstances, they still managed to build the joint-second longest unbeaten streak in competition history.

They were the first team to win a European Cup or Champions League with a 100% record in 2019-20.

Dominating their group in 2020-21 too, Bayern then made light work of Lazio in the last 16 to add to their run. PSG ended the stretch with a 3-2 win in the first leg of the quarter-final.

Manchester City 2022-Present -- 21 matches

The only active run on this is courtesy of Manchester City. Treble winners in 2022-23 after defeating Inter in the Champions League final, Pep Guardiola's team have continued their unbeaten streak in the Champions League in 2023-24. 

Winning all six of their group matches, City then dispatched Copenhagen over two legs in the last 16. They will be eyeing Manchester United's record in the upcoming knockout matches. 

Manchester United 2007-09 – 25 matches

Manchester United’s 25 matches unbeaten between September 2007 and May 2009 is the longest unbeaten streak in Champions League history by a comfortable margin.

It featured 10 wins and five draws, one of which was the 2008 final, which Manchester United won on penalties against Chelsea.

They weren’t at their best in the 2008-09 group stage but remained undefeated. Knocking out Inter, Porto and Arsenal, the Red Devils took the run to 25 before suffering a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Barcelona in the final.

*Credit for the main photo in this article belongs to Alamy*