Category: Sport

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COMMUNITY ANCHORS: Paget Rangers return to the Vale

Words and lead image supplied by The Pioneer Group / Supporting pics by Ed King

Birmingham-based Paget Rangers have come home to Castle Vale, playing on Saturday afternoons at Castle Vale Stadium as per league fixtures.

Since leaving the estate in the late 90s, the football club are already re-engaging with the local community by welcoming them to their home games.

The team are also preparing to provide free football training at the stadium, for those living in Castle Vale and surrounding areas.

Dave Travers, Stadium Manager at Castle Vale Stadium, said: “We are delighted to have brought back Paget Rangers to the stadium, as a new club with a big community focus.

“With a junior section of teams from ages 7 to 18, they have a clear pathway into first team football and are producing their first own team players.”

Lee Woods, Stadium Duty Officer, added: “It’s exciting to welcome Paget Rangers back home and see how the club drives forward.

“All of us at the stadium and wider organisation, The Pioneer Group, look forward to the future of this new, bright partnership.”

Almost 25 years ago, Paget Rangers moved to their home, Vale Stadium in Castle Vale, for the start of the 1998/1999 season, after five seasons ground sharing with Sutton Coldfield Town.

Unfortunately, this did not work out – however, The Pioneer Group bought the stadium, maintaining a community sport and social hub for Castle Vale residents.

Sean Feeney, Chairman of Paget Rangers, said: “We believe that Castle Vale Stadium can be the heartbeat of this football club and residents of the local community can be our 12th man.

“We look forward to supporters joining us, so we have decided to offer all residents from Castle Vale a discounted season ticket this year.”

For more from Paget Rangers visit www.pagetrangers.co.uk

For more information about Castle Vale Stadium, visit  www.castlevalestadium.co.uk or follow the venue on Facebook @Castle Vale Stadium

For more on The Pioneer Group visit www.pioneergroup.org.uk and for more on Compass Support visit www.compass-support.org.uk

The Pioneer Group, Castle Vale Community Housing, and Compass Support are key partners in the Erdington Local COMMUNITY ANCHORS programme – supporting independent local and community journalism.

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NEWS: Erdington’s MMA rising star Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair wins crucial fight by first round knock out

Words by Erdington Locsal editorial team

Erdington’s Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair scored an astonishing first round knock-out victory in a crucial MMA fight last weekend, spectacularly announcing his entrance to professional MMA fighting.

On Saturday 1 June, Mo Zubair headed to Darlington for the second fight in his burgeoning professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) career – to challenge hometown favourite Liam Thomas.

After taking the fight after only eight days notice, Mo stepped up a weight to take on the more seasoned opponent but stunned The Dolphin Centre crowd by knocking Thomas out stone cold.

It took the Erdington fighter just 13 seconds to win, which quickly went viral across MMA websites across the world.

Mo Zubair, a Team Renegade trained fighter, caught Thomas flush on the chin with a counter punch which sent him crashing to the canvas and the referee scrambling to protect him from anymore punishment.

Mo told Erdington Local: “It was a successful night. We left Birmingham at 2pm, got up there around 5.30pm, registered, had a coffee and then fought around 10pm.

“I won after 13 seconds in the first round. There was a huge noise with the shock, I think. We were back in Birmingham by 2.30am.

“I was up the next day to meet my manager for a sauna and was back training again this morning (Monday).”

In a sport which more than any other relies on an athlete’s ability to excite fans as well as winning, Mo’s devastating finish will make him a more attractive proposition to promoters’ match makers.

He continued: “People love to see a knock-out, especially other fighters; I had Leon Edwards message me straight after the fight saying great finish. And he was buzzing in the gym this morning, it was great seeing the team again after a win like that.

“One of videos has already had 80,000 views and I’ve noticed some veteran UFC fighters’ comments saying great knock-out which is brilliant exposure for me.”

The route to the top table of the sport involves being invited and then excelling in various MMA tournaments and championships.

UFC world champions and stars like Leon Edwards and Conor McGregor were champions in promotions like Cage Warriors and Bellator before catching the eye of the most powerful man in the sport Dana White.

In March this year, Mo Zubair won his first professional MMA fight again Nestor Santana, beating the Spaniard by corner stoppage in the first round.

Last weekend’s fight was part of Unity Fighting Championships, Mo’s second professional MMA appearance, and has already set his sights set on climbing the ladder.

Mo added: “I think this was my first and only fight on a Unity bill, my team will take stock and look at our options.

“I am a prize fighter, I will fight anywhere, anytime, providing the money is right.

“I want another two fights this year. I want to end 2024 4-0.”

Click on the links to follow Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair on Instagram and Facebook.

For more form Unity Fighting Championships visit www.facebook.com/unityfighting

 

 

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NEWS: Erdington’s Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair looks to climb the professional MMA ranks with second fight on 1 June

Pics supplied by Mo Zubair

Erdington fighter Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair is looking to climb the ranks of professional Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), accepting the high profile bout with eight only days notice.

Mo is taking on hometown favourite Liam Thomas in Darlington tomorrow night (Saturday, 1 June) in what will be a massive jump in class from his first fight – where he beat Spain’s Nestor Santana on 2 March this year.

(Click here to read more on Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair’s first professional MMA fight.)

Mo is also jumping up a weight to share a ring with fancied feather weight Thomas.

However, a victory would accelerate Mo’s ascent to the top table of the sport – the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

To achieve his dream Mo will have to excel, excite, and impress in a succession of other MMA tournaments.

The 23-year-old told Erdington Local: “I am fighting in the Unity Fighting Championships against Liam Thomas.

“He is more experienced than me and had an impressive boxing career before switching to MMA.”

He added: “I took the fight with just eight days notice and I am going up a weight. But I am a full time professional fighter so I am fit enough to compete.”

Mo’s confidence stems from being a respected long-standing member of Team Renegade. The Northfield based MMA gym boasts a stable of fighters renowned across the world including UFC welterweight champion Leon Edwards, a fellow Erdingtonian.

He said: “I train with the best in the world, every day I am learning from the best and competing with the best.

“The Team Renegade mindset is a winning one, so of course I would accept a fight which will be massive for my career if I win.”

He added: “I will have Team Renegade cornermen with me for the fight, they have seen it all.”

Mo hit the weight ahead of the bout, tipping the scales at 65.8 kg and believes his eight day preparation might even give him the edge. He is also hopeful of any hometown support whilst fighting up north.

Mo added: “If there are any Brummies or Erdington people in and around Darlington then come down and support me!”

The Unity Fighting Championship is at The Dolphin Centre, Darlington, on Saturday 1 June. Doors open at 6pm.

To follow Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair on Instagram visit www.instagram.com/mozubairmma

For more on The Dolphin Centre visit www.facebook.com/HealthyDarlington

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NEWS: Erdington’s Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair wins MMA professional debut

Pics supplied by Mo Zubair

An Erdington MMA fighter has begun the long road to international UFC glory with the backing of world champion Leon Edwards.

Mo Zubair spent five years in the amateur MMA ranks and entered the professional arena by winning his bout in Wolverhampton on 2 March in spectacular fashion.

The 23-year-old has trained with fellow Erdingtonian Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards, who proved to every fighter in the UK it was possible to win world titles without being trained in America.

Mo told Erdington Local: “Leon is a big inspiration to me, he has been really supportive. He has let me join him in training camps and join him on the circuit.

“He proves what can be achieved. We are alike, we both came from the streets and just turned up to the gym and changed our lives.”

Mo first began contact sports with a visit to Tyburn Boxing Club as a child. He loved the smells, sounds, and sense of belonging that boxing could bring.

However, like many boxers, fighters, and fans alike, Mo had his head turned by MMA – Mixed Martial Arts. And in Erdington, the catalyst was the popular Ultimate Training Centre (UTC) gym at the old Blockbuster building on the High Street. UTC was the first in the region to have a full size octagon and quickly became a magnet for combat sports athletes from across Birmingham.

Eventually, after being forced to vacate the old premises and several false dawns, UTC left Erdington with its talented trainers scattering to the winds – until a group of trainers began Team Renegade, at a purpose built gym in Northfield.

The rising stars of the Erdington fight scene were Leon Edwards and his brother fighter Fabian, and they followed their trainers to Team Renegade in Northfield. American UFC experts and fighters mocked the facilities and quality of coaching in the UK, let alone Birmingham.

However, Leon ‘Rocky’ Edwards stuck with his training team and recorded one of the greatest knockout finishes in sporting history – clinching the welterweight championship by knocking out champion Kamaru Usman in the final seconds of the bout, whilst losing on every judge’s card.

The gym shot to global fame when Joe Rogan showed the new champion a clip of a live video of the gym celebrating back home. Mo said: “I was in the room that night, it was incredible, life changing. I know want to be fighting in the UFC just like Leon. Because of his success there are some UFC fighters training at Team Renegade and West Midlands has become a real hotbed of MMA.”

After winning the biggest amateur competitions possible, including Cage Warriors and Gladiator UK, Mo turned professional on the advice of Team Renegade.

He said: “You can’t just turn professional, you have to be ready and I think I am.

“I am coming up to six years as an amateur so it’s time. I started in small shows and ended up winning the biggest amateur events in the country.”

As an amateur, Mo fought as a flyweight but has begun his tilt at professional glory as a bantamweight.

Fighting on the Golden Ticket Promotions bill at KK’s Steel Hangar in Wolverhampton, Mo won his first professional victory in early March – facing off against Nestor Santana, who already had six professional MMA fights before finished in the first round.

Former John Wilmott School pupil Mo said: “I won with a first round corner stoppage which is a great way to start my professional career. My manager and trainer are just weighing offers and options.”

He added: “I train twice a day, I go home, and do the same the next day. I don’t go to any nightclubs, or any of that. I want to fight in the UFC. That is where the action is and I will not settle for anything less, it is the Premier League of MMA.

“And it would be great to have two fighters from Erdington as champions. It can be done.”

To follow Mo ‘Terminator’ Zubair on Instagram visit www.instagram.com/mozubairmma

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NEWS: Professional Kingstanding boxer Niall Farrell gets ready for September fights

By Erdington Local news team

Kingstanding boxer Niall Farrell is “loving” life as a professional and keeping busy with two fights this month – his first taking place at Planet Ice in Solihull on Saturday 9 September.

Fighting in the All of the Lights tournament, presented by Tommy Owens Promotions LTD, Farell will appear as an undercard on a bill of lightweight boxers from across the country – including Nottingham’s Delmar Thomas and Dudley’s Ryan Griffiths.

For more information and links to online tickets sales for All of the Lights, click here.

Niall Farell, a former Team GB member, swapped fighting for his country across the world to enter the professional ranks earlier this year and made an impressive start with unbeaten 2-0 record.

The 25-year-old is still training at Second City Boxing, Kingstanding, and has appointed Birmingham veteran John Pegg as his manager to navigate the notoriously slippery world of the fight game.

He told Erdington Local: “I hopefully will be 4-0 by the end of the month, and then hope to fight another twice before the end of the year.

“I am loving being a pro-fighter now; I always have a date to fight, and I am learning every day and I am keeping busy.”

He added: “The lightweight division has some of the best pound for pound fighters in the world and I am just starting out, so I am just concentrating on the next fight.”

Niall is fighting on Saturday 9 Septemebr at Solihull’s Planet Ice. A key component of being a pro-fighter is being a “ticket seller” and ‘Wacka Farrell’ has already amassed a big following from Kingstanding.

He said: “I am not sure how many I’ve sold but I know there is a coach leaving Kingstanding for Solihull. I am so grateful to everyone who supports me, now I am professional people will be able to see me locally instead of me flying all over the world in amateur tournaments.”

Saturday’s opponent was meant to be Niall’s toughest test yet, Logan Paling, but he has had to rearrange the bout for Thursday, 28 September at Cannock’s Bar Sport.

Niall said: “I am not sure who my opponent is on Saturday (9 September), but I can’t wait to get back in the ring. The difference from amateur three bout fights and longer professional fights is it’s not such a big rush, I can take my time.”

Niall decided to turn professional after a controversial decision ended his dream of winning gold at last year’s Commonwealth Games in his own city.

He said: “I had a great amateur career, fighting for your country all over the world is a great experience. It gave me a profile which is helping me as a pro and the bonds I made with the boxers who were my teammates are still there.” 

Niall still helps out at Black Country homeless charity The Good Shepherd regularly and enjoyed running Second City’s summer children’s camp in the school holidays.

He said: “We will be doing more summer camps because it was a real success, it was not just about boxing but it was nice to see some of the children join the club afterwards.”

Click on the links to follow Niall Farrell on social media including Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

For more on Second City Boxing visit www.facebook.com/Second-City-Boxing-Club

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NEWS: Kingstanding’s 16 year old Gene Smith wins bronze medal at Muay Thai WBC Junior World Championships in Italy

Pics supplied by K-Star Academy

Kingstanding’s Gene Smith has won the bronze medal at the WBC World Muay Thai Festival championships in Italy, after his final fight on Saturday 24 June.

The 16-year-old, his father Roland Smith, and his Collage Road based K-Star Academy trainer Steve Logan flew to Venice earlier this month to join 600 elite adult and youth athletes.

The national junior champion, who became the WKA British Champion (under 60kg) earlier this year – after a last minute call to compete, joined Team England for the opening ceremony in which 90 countries from across the world were represented.

Gene missed out on the gold medal bout after suffering a brutal injury during the semi-final on Friday 23 June, against Scottish fighter Kyle Donnelly. Then on the Saturday, the Kingstanding Thai boxer beat Michael Rambert from the French Atlantic outpost Reunion Island to take home the bronze.

His father Roland said: “Gene fought a great fight, easily taking the first round and impressing his coach – seemingly like the fight would easily be in the bag. Sadly, at the beginning of second round Gene took a sharp groin kick witch he couldn’t recover from and in turn lost the fight.

He added: “He displayed high levels of ability as a world class junior fighter. His opponent came out to try and take his head off, but Gene controlled the speed and direction of the fight putting his opponent of the deck four times during the bout.

“As WBC introduced some rules taking away some of the Thai boxing options with sweeps etc, to maintain athletes’ safety and ensure no dramatic injuries occurred during this mammoth event, Gene still managed huge composure with a fantastic display of ability and skill winning on a unanimous decision to achieve bronze.

“Ever since Gene won the English championship away, with six hours notice, we have had a lot of fighters pull out of bouts which has been very disappointing.

“But coming to Venice will really improve him as an athlete.”

Mixing with the world’s best Muay Thai athletes – some of which recognised and greeted Gene throughout the festival – attending WBC seminars about a whole host of issues surround the sport, and representing his country, will a lasting impression on the young fighter.

Gene said: “It was great being part of such a big international sporting event. But I especially love representing my country and the team dynamic. We are all supporting each other and watching each other’s fights.”

Founder of K-Star Academy and Gene’s trainer, Steve Logan, believes Gene’s international odyssey will inspire the next generation.

He said: “Gene bringing the bronze medal back to K-Star Thai Boxing Academy in Kingstanding will expand their horizons.

“He showed a lot of skill and bravery.”

Any sponsors interested in helping Gene Smith should email [email protected]

For more on K Star Academy visit www.k-starthaiboxing.com

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NEWS: Kingstanding K-Star Academy prepares 16 year old Muay Thai British champion for world title contest

Pics supplied by K-Star Academy

A talented Muay Thai fighter from Kingstanding’s K-Star Fight Academy is undergoing his final preparations for the WBC Junior World Championships in Italy.

Gene Smith, now WKA British Champion (under 60kg), and his team fly out on Tuesday, June 20, to Venice to compete with the world’s best fighters.

However, the dedicated 16-year-old is required to pay his own way to the two week overseas competition and fund his own hotel and training facilities.

In March, Gene notched up the most impressive win of his fledgling career when he won his recent British title after taking an away bout against an opponent with just six hours notice.

After a last minute call to compete, and squeezing in a family party and a morning at work before heading to the championship in Warrington, Smith defeated his opponent with grit, determination, and some excellently placed reverse elbow shots.

Since that win Gene has had several opponents pull out of bouts, so testing himself against the world’s best in Venice is key to his development.

Gene’s father Roland said: “Venice is an amazing opportunity as he will meet the best elite fighters from around the world at his weight to compete against.

“As he moves forward being part of such a prestige team like the England WBC proves his ability at the level he’s at.

“He competed to be part of it and he will be alongside the best of the best of the country’s Muay Thai fighters from the UK.

“However, we need sponsors so anyone who is interested in helping will get named on his fight shirts and on social media as he moves forward to his professional future in the sport. Being an elite athlete costs money whether it is his diet or training facilities.”

Gene, who is currently awaiting his GCSE results after finishing at Barr Beacon School, has taken confidence from his British title win.

He said: “I still can’t believe I took a fight with six hours notice against a world champion quality fighter and won. So, I am going to Venice on a bit of a high.

“It shows you have to be ready for anything in elite sports, fighting for my country is a really special feeling and I can’t wait to meet up with the rest of my teammates in Venice.

“This is an individual sport so when the opportunity comes to have that team dynamic it is really special, we all support one another.”

Gene previously fought in Canada and gained valuable experience despite not winning the tournament.

Gene’s trainer, Steve Logan, first started teaching Muay Thai back in 1989 out of the 610 Community Centre, Kingstanding.

His first gym was College Road in 1993 where Gene now instructs fighters as well as training for his own fights.

K-Star now has gyms in the city centre, Quinton, Sheldon, and Solihull – and are preparing to open a new training centre in Walsall this summer.

The now WKA British Champion Gene Smith has received sponsorship from Green Power Plant Hire, Jacksons Recovery, Foxstar Clothing, Beeches Recovery, Ucan Car Credit, 24/7 Exhibition Services, Dronesafe UK, Butler and Daughter Removals, and Level Group.

Any sponsors interested in helping Gene Smith as he prepares for the WBC Junior World Championship should email [email protected]

For more on K-Star Academy visit www.k-starthaiboxing.com

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FEATURE: League champions Erdington United bring home a double trophy haul

Words and pics by Liam Smith

Erdington United are celebrating another successful season in the Sutton & District League, bringing home a double trophy haul, finishing as champions of both Division One and the George Cup.

The league season has been a massive success, with United topping the table by four points. In the 16-game season, 12 wins and two draws saw the local side pick-up 38 points. Promotion from Division One will see them enter the Sutton & District Premier Division, the highest tier of the league ladder.

The league was sealed with a game to spare, with Erdington United only needing to win one of their remaining two games, after a tight 1-0 victory to league runners-up Romulus FC. This secures a trophy double for the season as well as back-to-back league titles.

Earlier in the season Erdington United claimed the George Cup. In February at Cole’s Lane, Erdington United took on Rosey Macs, another local club, in a fiercely contested final in front of a strong crowd. It was a hard-fought victory for Erdington which saw a late goal secure the cup winning 3-2.

It was not the only cup final Erdington United reached this season; a defeat at the Birmingham FA headquarters in the County Cup final to Trooper FC was disappointing for the players and supporters, however the bad result had a tough task of putting any dampeners on the season overall.

Erdington Local spoke with Tyler Ward, the club’s manager, who said: “Overall, the season has been very positive. The league and cup double is not something to be sniffed at. I said from the start that the league was a minimum for this season.”

Tyler added: “We wanted to win the County Cup, so obviously it was disappointing to lose in that final. However, it was a good learning experience for the lads.”

Oran Grigg, defender for Erdington United, told Erdington Local: “It was a good season, we had a lot of up and down results; had more have gone our way we could have secured the league earlier. Injuries, illnesses etc made this difficult also.

“The success we had in the George Cup final beating Rosey Macs coupled with the league win overall has made it a very successful season for us.”

In terms of their aspirations for next season, Erdington United will need to be playing at the top of their game, as the Premier Division will boast new difficult challenges.

Tyler continued: “We don’t want to just take part in the Premier Division next season. I think we’re good enough to mount a challenge and we will give it a good go.”

Thomas Gardiner, midfielder for Erdington United, added: “In terms of next season we are aware of the quality that is in that league.

“We know we will need to be at our best week in week out to compete with the step up in quality. Hopefully the core group of players sticking around for next season will support us in doing that.”

Erdington United will have a friendly pre-season tournament against several local rival teams in the summer, before beginning their Premier Division campaign in September. Home games are played at Holly Lane and information on their fixtures can be found on both their social media pages and the Fulltime FA website.

For more on Erdington United visit www.erdingtonunited.org

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NEWS: Bagot Arms Golf Society hope to raise over £5000 for men’s mental health charity

Words & pics by Liam Smith

Preparations are being made by the Bagot Arms Golf Society ahead of their charity golf day on 21 July 2023, where organisers hope to raise over £5000 for a men’s mental health charity.

The event, which is taking place at Bromsgrove Golf Centre in Worcestershire, is in support of ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ – a nationwide campaign ‘which uses sporting themes to encourage people, particularly men, to talk about how they feel.’

According to the charity’s website, 5% of men in the UK are suffering from one of the common mental health disorders, for example anxiety or depression. The website further states suicide is the second leading cause of death amongst males aged 15 to 29, and that three out of four of all suicides are men.

The Bagot Arms Golf Society, now operating out of Hollyfields Conference & Sports Centre in Pype Hayes, formed in 2009 out of the old Bagot Arms pub less than a mile away from Pype Hayes Golf Club.

The society have a history of organising and being a part of fundraising events and charity days, including a ’72 holes in one day’ challenge in aid of MacMillan which saw four members raise over £5,000 for the cancer charity.

They have also raised money for the Make-a-Wish Foundation and the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund.

Tony Roche, founding member of the Bagot Arms Golf Society told Erdington Local: “Mental health issues can affect anyone and can be caused by several factors. Suicide continues to be three times more common in men than in women.”

Steven Smith, also a founding member and Pype Hayes resident, told: “Since our inception in 2009, we have always felt it important that we try to raise money for charities. It is an important part of our society.

“We have a day upcoming in July, which is fully booked, with 60 golfers in attendance and all 18 holes of the course generously sponsored by local businesses.”

The society are still actively raising as much as they can as the event nears.

Steven added: “We have recently set up a JustGiving page. We set an initial target of £1,000 and we have already hit £735 and it would be great if any of your readers could help.”

The Pype Hayes golf group hope to raise over £5,000 with all the money raised from the event along with online donations. A JustGiving page can be found here: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bagotarms-golfsociety

For more on the Bagot Arms Golf Society visit: www.bagotarmsgs.com

For more on the ‘It Takes Balls to Talk’ campaign visit: www.ittakesballstotalk.com

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NEWS: Erdington United still “odds on to win the league” despite losing 5-1 to Trooper FC in County Cup final

Words & pics by Liam Smith

Heartbreak for Erdington United after suffering defeat in the County Cup final on Sunday 23 April, in a match which saw them lose 5-1 to Chelmsley Wood side Trooper FC.

The tournament finale took place at the Birmingham Country Football Association Headquarters in Great Barr, with a sizeable crowd present to watch the two clubs battle it out for the County Cup prize.

The game started evenly, with both teams sizing each other up in the early stages. The deadlock was broken in the 20th minute with Erdington being unable to clear their lines.

Another goal seven minutes later, and a few chances from Erdington Utd late in the first half, saw the half time whistle blow with Erdington 2-0 down but far from out of it.

Sadly for the local team from there it went downhill, as a third from the Trooper left winger, who had been a persistent threat all game, meant heads began to drop.

A 90th minute penalty smartly tucked away served very little in terms of consolation for Erdington, with Trooper FC finishing 5-1 up.

Erdington Local spoke with Tyler Ward, Erdington United’s manager after the match.

He told: “I’m obviously disappointed with the result, but the better team did win on the day. We didn’t really start to play until the match became an uphill battle, which is always difficult.

“It was a competition we had earmarked from the start of the season that we wanted to get far in. There were far more nerves heading into this one, as we knew how good a side Trooper are.”

Tyler added: “Once we started to play and create chances, we caused problems. It’s always a tough ask to claw back a 2-0 deficit in a final.”

Erdington United are still happy with their season, having earned silverware in the George Cup, and are eager to not let Sunday’s defeat deflate them.

The manager added: “we’re still odds on to win the league, and it was a good test for us to play against decent opposition.

“Full credit to Trooper FC who managed their game well and took their chances when they got them.”

For more on Erdington United visit www.erdingtonunited.org