Wharfedale Observer: Sports news in Wharfedale and all around West Yorkshire

Benteke won't be forced to stay at Villa

8:46am Friday 24th May 2013

Striker Christian Benteke has told Aston Villa he "won't necessarily accept" it if they tell him he cannot leave the club.

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Button eager to hit qualifying pace

8:30am Friday 24th May 2013

Jenson Button is hoping McLaren can unlock qualifying pace ahead of Saturday's one-lap showdown around Monaco if his new-found happiness is not to be shattered.

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City target five trophies in five years

8:13am Friday 24th May 2013

Manchester City's new manager will join a club expecting to win five trophies in the next five years - a period that could represent his shelf-life in the job.

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Prince William to address UEFA

7:56am Friday 24th May 2013

Prince William will address UEFA's Congress in London on Friday in his role as president of the Football Association.

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Garcia still keen to speak to Tiger

7:56am Friday 24th May 2013

Sergio Garcia has reiterated his desire to apologise in person to Tiger Woods after European Tour chief executive George O'Grady unwittingly reopened the racism row which has overshadowed the BMW PGA Championship.

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Donald not giving up

7:56am Friday 24th May 2013

Luke Donald today went into the second round of the BMW PGA Championship insisting his hopes of a third win in succession at Wentworth were not already over.

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City strike back for Chelsea triumph

7:13am Friday 24th May 2013

Manchester City recovered from three goals down to thrill an enthusiastic American crowd with a 4-3 last-gasp friendly victory over Chelsea.

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Moyes delighted by Ferdinand deal

7:13am Friday 24th May 2013

David Moyes had no hesitation in rubber-stamping Rio Ferdinand's one-year contract extension because he believes the Manchester United defender has just had one of his best seasons ever.

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Cook rallies top order

7:13am Friday 24th May 2013

Alastair Cook leads England into battle against New Zealand today in the knowledge that one of his side may have to give up their Ashes dream to accommodate Kevin Pietersen.

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Tipuric ready to fight for spot

11:35pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Justin Tipuric hopes Sam Warburton's selection as British and Irish Lions captain will not harm his chances of earning a Test spot against Australia.

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Donald's hopes disappear in the cold

10:30pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

South Africa's James Kingston claimed the clubhouse lead in the weather-disrupted BMW PGA Championship as Luke Donald's bid for a third straight victory suffered a potentially fatal blow.

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Kingston holds clubhouse lead

5:43pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

South Africa's James Kingston claimed the clubhouse lead in the BMW PGA Championship before bad weather caused play to be suspended in the first round at Wentworth.

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UEFA create Europa League incentive

5:31pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Changes to Champions League rules agreed on Thursday could see Europe's top nations having up to five teams in UEFA's top club competition.

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O'Grady issues apology

5:20pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

European Tour chief executive George O'Grady has issued an apology for using the word "coloured" when defending the decision not to sanction Sergio Garcia for a controversial remark about Tiger Woods.

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Ferdinand targets further trophies

4:40pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Rio Ferdinand has set his sights on winning more silverware under David Moyes after signing a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

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Rosberg quickest again in Monaco

3:38pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Nico Rosberg is threatening to claim a third successive pole position after twice emerging the quickest man in practice for this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

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Rauf withdrawn by ICC

2:41pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Pakistani umpire Asad Rauf has been withdrawn from next month's Champions Trophy by the International Cricket Council following media reports that he is under investigation by Mumbai Police.

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Bramble confirms Black Cats exit

2:34pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Titus Bramble has confirmed he will be leaving Sunderland when his contract expires at the end of next month.

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Hodgson plea to fans over chants

2:34pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Roy Hodgson has heaped praise on England fans while urging them not to sing "religious or political" songs in next week's friendly with the Republic of Ireland.

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Vettori ruled out of second Test

2:09pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

New Zealand spinner Daniel Vettori has been ruled out of the second Investec Test against England after he was unable to guarantee his fitness over five days.

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Ilonen on song

2:08pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Finland's Mikko Ilonen survived everything the British summer could throw at him, including a brief spell of hail, to set the clubhouse target in the first round of the BMW PGA Championship.

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Mata hoping for Mourinho return

1:59pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Spanish playmaker Juan Mata would be thrilled to see Jose Mourinho return to Chelsea.

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Martinez future remains unclear

1:59pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

The future of Wigan manager Roberto Martinez will not be decided until next week but chairman Dave Whelan is positive about holding on to the Spaniard.

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Ferdinand signs new United deal

1:59pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Rio Ferdinand has signed a one-year contract extension with Manchester United.

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Get behind my successor - Pulis

1:22pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Tony Pulis has urged Stoke fans to get behind whoever succeeds him as the club's manager.

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Froch sorry over Kessler comments

12:59pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Carl Froch has apologised for threatening to "kill" Mikkel Kessler in their IBF super-middleweight fight in London on Saturday night - but will still face an investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control.

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Simeone will back Falcao's decision

12:10pm Thursday 23rd May 2013

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone says he will not bear any grudge if star striker Radamel Falcao decides to seek a new challenge.

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Rose and Ilonen lead the way

11:44am Thursday 23rd May 2013

England's Justin Rose, twice a runner-up in the BMW PGA Championship, wasted little time in getting to the top of the leaderboard as the European Tour's flagship event got under way at Wentworth.

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Rosberg sets the pace in practice

11:25am Thursday 23rd May 2013

Nico Rosberg underlined why he may again be the man to beat over one lap ahead of this weekend's Monaco Grand Prix.

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No early cold comfort for McIlroy

9:38am Thursday 23rd May 2013

Rory McIlroy missed two good chances to get among the early leaders when the BMW PGA Championship got under way at a chilly Wentworth today.

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Fergie to retire at end of season

9:29am Wednesday 8th May 2013

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has confirmed he is to retire at the end of the season, ending his history-making spell at the club.

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Okoye to join 49ers

7:54am Sunday 28th April 2013

British Olympian Lawrence Okoye has announced he will sign for NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers.

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Wane pained to see Richards go

6:37am Saturday 27th April 2013

Pat Richards kicked Super League leaders Wigan to a win at Hull and coach Shaun Wane admitted that he had done everything he could to try and keep the winger at the club.

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Mancini: Victorious City were poor

6:10am Thursday 18th April 2013

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini admitted his side had been below par after labouring to a 1-0 win over Wigan at the Etihad Stadium.

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Allardyce: Decision cost Hammers

6:10am Thursday 18th April 2013

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce believes his side were denied a "famous victory" over Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United after Robin van Persie scored a late equaliser from an offside position.

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Howley 'proud to be Welsh'

7:44am Sunday 17th March 2013

Rob Howley admitted it was the best day of his coaching life after Wales recorded an historic 30-3 victory against England at the Millennium Stadium to clinch the RBS 6 Nations title and deprive their opponents of a Grand Slam to boot.

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Mall finish for Tour's UK leg

10:50am Thursday 17th January 2013

The 2014 Tour de France will aim to recreate the excitement of last year's London Olympics by having a stage finish in the Mall, it has been announced.

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Harrington lifts Grand Slam title

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Padraig Harrington stormed to a £375,000 victory in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda on Wednesday, his first win for two years.

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Huddersfield snap up Kopczak

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Huddersfield have announced the signing of Wales captain Craig Kopczak, who quit Bradford in controversial circumstances just before the end of the 2012 season.

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Uncapped duo named in England squad

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Uncapped forwards Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs have been called into the England squad for the QBE autumn internationals.

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Mancini: Ajax defeat was my fault

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini took the blame for his side's defeat at Ajax which left them struggling to keep their Champions League campaign alive.

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Bolton confirm Freedman as boss

11:33am Thursday 25th October 2012

Bolton have confirmed Dougie Freedman as their new manager.

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Bould feels fans' frustration

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Arsenal assistant manager Steve Bould sympathised with disgruntled fans after Wednesday night's 2-0 Champions League defeat by Schalke at the Emirates Stadium.

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Ferdinands: We want to help

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

The Ferdinand brothers want to work with Kick it Out to make it more relevant.

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Fortune 'understands frustration'

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Former Manchester United midfielder Quinton Fortune says he is not surprised Rio Ferdinand reacted the way he did to John Terry's four-match ban for racially abusing Anton Ferdinand given he was suspended for eight months when he missed a drugs test.

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Tour route will prove tough for Wiggins

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

The route for the 2013 Tour de France was announced on Wednesday and it will not lend itself to Bradley Wiggins staking a claim for consecutive wins.

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Brown could skipper Scotland

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Kelly Brown could succeed Ross Ford as Scotland captain for the Test with New Zealand, with head coach Andy Robinson to announce his skipper next week.

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I'll be true to myself - Cook

10:50am Thursday 25th October 2012

Alastair Cook is determined to be his own man as he leads England on his first tour as the official Test captain in India.

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Jenas set for Forest return

3:49pm Wednesday 26th September 2012

Tottenham midfielder Jermaine Jenas looks set to return to his first club Nottingham Forest.

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Nine renovated and new businesses open on same day in St Margarets

12:28pm Friday 14th September 2012

Confidence seems to be lifting in St Margarets after nine new and refurbished businesses opened their doors on the same day.

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