The Region’s Number One Entertainment &
Crystal Peaks Cinema given the go ahead
Plans for a new cinema at Crystal Peaks shopping centre have been approved by Sheffield City Council.
The successful application on behalf of an experienced independent cinema operator will see four auditoria of up to 71 seats in a two-storey space utilising units that were previously home to the Crystal Peaks Time Cafe and a Clarke’s shoe store.
The Sheffield shopping centre was originally home to a 10-screen AMC and then UCI multiplex-style cinema, which opened in 1988 and operated until
2003, when it was replaced by the centre’s Sainsbury’s store.
“One of the questions we are most often asked by visitors is when a cinema will be returning to Crystal Peaks so we are delighted to confirm that our plans have been approved and work should be starting soon,” said centre manager Lee Greenwood.
“We certainly aim for a spring/summer 2025 launch, offering a more intimate boutiquestyle cinema, perfect for the Crystal Peaks family audience and making excellent use of available space within
the complex.
“The show timings will be tailored to provide a broad range of film choice from mid-week vintage showings to family mornings as well as the latest blockbusters.
“As well as strengthening the appeal of Crystal Peaks, the cinema will, of course, also create
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POP ROCK LEGENDS MCFLY & BUSTED GO HEAD TO HEAD AT THE ARENA
Pop rock legends Busted storm the stage at McFly’s sold out 21st birthday headline show at the iconic o2 arena in London to announce they will be going head-to-head on tour together in 2025! Fans got to hear first-hand the exciting news of, no doubt, one of the most highly anticipated tours of 2025. The Busted vs McFly Tour will see the two groups visit some of the UK’s biggest and best venues. They will kick the tour off in Birmingham and hit Sheffield on Friday, 26 September 2025. Speaking of the tour, McFly threw down the gauntlet and commented: “Busted gate crashed our show
last night (not cool) and challenged us to a VS tour next year. They’re old men now, and we are gonna blow them and their carers off the stage next year. We’ve had a great time celebrating our 21st birthday this week and next year is going to be even better - P.S Busted Suck. Busted fought back and added: There’s been a lot of talk recently.... This is where the talking ends....! Weare ready to show who is the better band once and for all. McFly suck and Busted Rock!” It’s been over 20 years since both band’s formed and they are still two of the most loved and successful British bands, inspiring
many other artists over the past few decades. Busted first bounced into the charts with the irrepressible pop-punk energy of their debut single ‘What I Go To School For’. It kickstarted a succession of hits for the trio, including the #1 smashes‘ Crashed The Wedding’, ‘Who’s David’, ‘Thunderbirds Are Go’, ‘You Said No’ and the Top 3singles‘Year 3000’, ‘Air Hostess’ and ‘Sleeping With The Light On’. Last year Busted’s ‘Greatest Hits 2.0’ crashed into the charts at #1 - remarkably achieving their first #1 album twentyone (!) years after debuting with ‘What I Go To School For’. Three of their four studio albums have peaked
at #2, with 4.5 million sales leading to eight Platinum certifications as well as a total of25weeks in the Top 10 and two 5x Platinum selling albums. They have won two BRIT AwardsBest Pop Act and Best British Breakthrough-while multiple sold-out arena tours have seen them sell more than 2 million tickets, including 26 sold-out UK arenas last year. It’s been 21 years since McFly first formed, a journey which has taken them from their breakthrough hit ‘Five Colours In Her Hair’ to last year’s full-force rock album ‘Power To Play’. Along the way Tom Fletcher, Danny Jones, Dougie Poynter and
16/10/1984 - Desmond Tutu is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
17/10/1933 - Albert Einstein flees Nazi Germany and moves to the United States.
18/10/1898 - United States takes possession of Puerto Rico.
19/10/1216 - King John of England dies at Newark-on-Trent and is succeeded by his nine-
Harry Judd have scored seven #1 singles including ‘Obviously’, ‘Star Girl’ and ‘All About You’, seven Top 10albums,10 million sales leading to multiple Platinum certifications, a BRIT Award for Best British Pop, sold-out countless arena shows and still remain the youngest band to ever have a debut album go straight to number 1, beating The Beatles. McFly have continued to push boundaries, last year’s ‘Power To Play’ was the album they always wanted to make-a larger-thanlife rush of hard rock and pop-punk thrills. The album, featuring standout singles ‘God Of Rock & Roll’ and ‘Where Did All The Guitars
Go?’ charted at #2 on the Official Albums Chart. Their touring in support of the album took them from two surprise shows in a day in London’s sweaty, intimate Underworld right through to the Royal Variety Performance via a massive sold-out headline show at Alexandra Palace. This year saw them sell outtwoO2 Arena’s to celebrate their 21st Birthday.
Tickets go on presale Thursday, 17 October 2024 at 9am (accessible by signing up to the Utilita Arena Sheffield newsletter) and general sale Friday, 18 october 2024 at 9am via www.utilitaarenasheffield. co.uk.
Crossword Clues
across
1) Bread dish (5)
4) Typical (7)
8) Judge (7)
9) Grilled bread (5)
10) Test (4)
11) Mexican hat (8)
13) Tablet (4)
14) Nautical shout (4)
16) Female leader (5, 3)
17) Nothing (4)
20) Angry (5)
21) Wine (7)
22) State crime (7)
23) Lecture topic (5)
DoWN
1) Serenity and silence
(5, 3, 5)
2) African horse (5)
3) Pretentiously Bohemian (4)
4) Cardboard box (6)
5) German road (8)
6) Imposing (7)
7) Ego deflated (3, 4, 2, 4)
12) Bridle screens (8)
13) Book introduction (7)
15) Warning device (6)
18) Bond machine (5)
19) Food (4)
Last Week’s Solution
across: 7) Area, 8) Short cut, 9) A la carte, 10) Pass, 11) Scare, 13) Comrade, 15) Drawing, 17) Adorn, 20) Buzz, 21) Laid back, 23) Detritus, 24) List
DoWN: 1) Oral, 2) Dancer, 3) Usury, 4) Boredom, 5) Stupor, 6) Outsider, 12) Carousel, 14) Inflate, 16) Wizard, 18) Dabble, 19) First, 22) Case
year-old son Henry.
20/10/1973 - The Sydney Opera House opens. 21/10/1854 - Florence Nightingale and a staff of 38 nurses are sent to the Crimean War. 22/10/1966 - The Supremes become the first all-female music group to attain a No. 1 selling album.
I cut down a Christmas tree today. My wife asked me if I was going to put it up myself.
I said: “Of course not. I was going to put it up in the living room.”
Based upon my shameful behaviour after drinking, I finally decided to quit drinking altogether. Now I drink alone.
My book on clocks finally arrived. It’s about time!
What kind of music do elfs listen to? Wrap music.
Which weighs more, a gallon of water or a gallon of butane?
A gallon of water. Butane is a lighter fluid.
I spent £80 on a belt that didn’t fit. My wife said it was a huge waist.
Did you hear about the butcher that sat on his meat grinder?
He got a little behind in his work.
I bet a butcher £20 that he couldn’t reach the meat on the top shelf... He said: “Sorry the steaks are too high.”
To this day, the boy that used to bully me at school still takes my lunch money.
On the plus side, he makes great Subway sandwiches.
I was at the museum and saw a painting of a bowl, with milk and some kind of food inside.
It was surreal.
To the two criminals that stole my calendar:
I hope you both get six months.
1. William I was the first of three kings from which House?
2. Canadian James Naismith invented which sport?
3. The Millau Viaduct, the tallest bridge in the world, spans the gorge valley of the River Tarn near Millau, in which country?
4. Rickets is caused by a lack of which vitamin?
5. In the book Winnie-the-poo, what was the name of the live rabbit that was Winnie-thepoo’s friend?
6. Which supereon is the earliest period of Earth’s history, making up roughly seveneighths of it?
7. On the banks of which river does Glamorgan County Cricket Club’s ground stand?
8. Sacramento is the state capital of which state in the USA?
9. Oil of vitriol is an old common name for which dangerous chemical? a) Sodium Hydroxide b) Nitric acid c) Sulphuric acid
10. Zealand is the largest island of which country?
News, Information and Advice
INdEpENdENT lIvING ClINIC
RE-sTaRT a HEaRT daY
TRaMs GET a ClEaN-Up
-
it easier for people with a long-term health condition to access equipment to support them to stay well and independent at home. The clinic is for those who need small aids and adaptations in their home. They can access an occupational therapy assessment and receive specialist advice regarding the most suitable equipment, which is then provided at no charge to the person. Providing this opportunity means that those who can attend the clinic are able to try out equipment to find out what is best for them and their home, so that they can carry out everyday tasks such as bathing, showering, and getting on and off their furniture more easily. ‘A small change made a big difference to me at home’ comment was given to the Occupational Therapy Team by a person they recently assessed, a sentiment that the team hears regularly.
Trying out what’s on offer can help a person see how different types of equipment can help them and avoids waiting on a list to be assessed at home for something that can be provided much quicker via the clinic and can be tried out first. Items such as bath boards, bath lifts, grab rails, raised toilet seats and bed grab rails were all on display at the launch for people to try. These pieces of equipment often mean the person can regain their independence with many everyday domestic and personal care tasks at home. If people contact the occupational therapy team, they are asked some questions and either signposted to other services where appropriate or given an appointment to visit the clinic if they are physically able to attend. Before their appointment at the clinic, an occupational therapy worker will talk to the person about what their home is like and tell them what measurements and photos of the interior of their home they need to bring to the appointment to ensure that the equipment prescribed is suitable for the home environment. It is hoped that giving this personalised, one-to-
one support at this point will prove to be very effective. After a visit to the clinic and trying out equipment, the Council places an order for what an individual needs and arranges delivery to their home. A follow-up call is always arranged to make sure that everything is satisfactory.
Councillor Angela Argenzio, Chair of Adult Health and Social Care Policy Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “We’ve designed this service for people who are accessing our occupational therapy services, and who can stay independent more easily by using the items that we can offer them. We look at what’s most important to the person and our assessments are based on need so that they can stay well and independent at home for as long as possible. This approach will allow us to see more people, resulting in fewer people having to wait for assessments. Of course, those who need assessing at home will still receive a visit from us and we do work to criteria so that those in the most urgent need of an assessments are prioritised. All of this work is aimed at doing what we can to change people’s lives for the better effectively. If this model works well we will prevent, delay, or reduce the need for a person to access formal care and support, promoting their independence and wellbeing.”
Over the past two years the Council has reduced the number of people waiting for an assessment from 2,900 people to a current position of 959 people, with the longest wait being four months.
Cllr Argenzio added: “This reduction in the assessment waiting list is despite a 120% increase in demand over the same period and with the addition of the clinic we expect the number of people waiting to fall further.”
The goal is to deliver all assessments for aids and adaptations within 28 days by February 2025 in the context of the increased demand for the service.
National Occupational Therapy Week runs from Monday 4th November to Sunday 10th November 2024. It is a national awareness-raising campaign dedicated to celebrating the lifechanging power of occupational therapy
Yorkshire Ambulance Service is hoping to improve cardiac arrest survival rates with its ambitious plan to teach CPR to more than 35,000 students on Restart a Heart Day. More than 750 offduty ambulance staff, Community First Responders and volunteers from partner organisations will visit 172 secondary schools - more than ever before - including 41 in South Yorkshire (see list below) to provide the life-saving lesson on Wednesday 16 October 2024. Yorkshire Ambulance Service has also provided five young people at Parkwood Academy in Sheffield with the skills to deliver their own CPR training session on the day, an initiative that will be rolled out across the region.
According to preliminary data from the University of Warwick, Yorkshire Ambulance Service clinicians were successful in restarting 974 hearts in 2023 (compared to 933 the previous year).
To help them restart even more hearts, it’s vital that members of the public act immediately to perform CPR when someone has collapsed and stopped breathing.
Jason Carlyon of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “What happens in the first few minutes after someone has suffered a cardiac arrest is vital. If bystanders can call 999 and start CPR while sending someone to retrieve the nearest defibrillator, that person’s chances of survival can triple. We know about three students who took part in Restart a Heart Day last year who have since used CPR to help save the lives of parents
which is incredible and really emphasises the importance of our campaign and knowing what to do.”
The 11th annual mass CPR training session is supported by cardiac arrest patients and life-savers including Ambulance Care
Assistant Mark Spedding who had a cardiac arrest while calling 999 for an ambulance. His life was saved by his colleagues. When someone calls 999 for a patient in cardiac arrest, the call taker will ask a series of questions at the same time as help is being arranged and will also provide instructions about how to perform CPR and the location of the nearest defibrillator. It’s vital that callers try to stay calm and give clear information. Helen Smith, Dispatch Team Leader added: “Learning how to perform CPR takes just a few moments and can give you the confidence and skills to act and change a life forever. However, if you do come across someone in cardiac arrest and are not sure what to do, when you ring 999 we will talk you through how to do effective CPR and how to access your nearest defibrillator. We are here to help and support you every step of the way. But whatever your skill level, it’s vital that you stay calm and act fast.”
Yorkshire Ambulance Service has provided free CPR training to more than 234,708 youngsters at the majority of secondary schools across Yorkshire since Restart a Heart Day began in Yorkshire in 2014. Currently in the UK, less than one in ten (8.6%) people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has praised the hardworking Supertram staff who have been delivering on plans to deep clean trams and stops across the network Thanks to investment from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), Supertram teams have been empowered and equipped to get out across the network and create a cleaner network that makes journeys more pleasant for passengers. In September, Mayor Coppard met with staff at Supertram’s Nunnery depot to personally thank them for all their brilliant work cleaning the trams and stops.
As Supertram came back into public control after 27 years in March, the Mayor pledged that customers would start seeing improvements quickly - including cleaner trams and tram stops right across Sheffield and Rotherham. The trams and tram stops were ingrained with dirt and graffiti. Many shelters had moss and dirt on the roofs with floor and panels covered in graffiti, grime and weeds. In addition to the deep cleaning operation, SYMCA is investing more than £33m in the Supertram network, fare evasion is down and revenue is up, new handheld ticketing machines have been introduced for conductors and a trial for more trams at peak times along key routes
to help commuters has been completed since March. The Mayor said: “My ambition is nothing less than a world class public transport network for South Yorkshire. Now we have the tram network back under public control, we are putting people and passengers right at the heart of our plans, and that means getting the basics right. So, we’ve now brought in a new team that will help us clean the trams, stops and facilities, to make the experience of travelling on our network just that little bit nicer. Our new team – including Dave and Steve who I met recently – are central to my ambition and approach for South Yorkshire’s Supertram, and I’m really proud to have them onboard for that journey. Please do look out for them on the network and say hello if you see them!”
As well as the new deep cleaning programme which is underway, Supertram also has a regular cleaning and ongoing maintenance programme in place to keep on top of the well-used network. This means that tram stops get a daily visit, deep clean monthly and all track litter is picked as well. A nightly cleaning programme is also in place for all trams. In the coming weeks and months customers will continue to see new tram seat covers being rolled out.
Supertram is proud to announce that it has successfully trained its first group of Mental Health First Aiders this month. This significant milestone forms part of Supertram’s ongoing commitment to enhancing colleague wellbeing and fostering a supportive community. The training, accredited by Mental Health First Aid England, equips colleagues with essential skills to support their peers’ mental health effectively.
The newly trained Mental Health First Aiders at Supertram are now prepared to:
• Act as a point of contact to reassure colleagues who are in need of support, experiencing emotional distress, or experiencing poor mental health.
• Listen non-judgementally and hold supportive, confidential conversations.
• Signpost colleagues to professional help when necessary.
• Identify the signs and symptoms of a range of mental health conditions.
• Use a five-step action
plan to assist someone experiencing a mental health issue.
“We are thrilled to see our first group of Mental Health First Aiders ready to make a positive impact,” said Megan Burns, Senior HR Manager at Supertram. Investing in this training demonstrates our commitment to the wellbeing of our colleagues and the wider community. We believe that having trained Mental Health First Aiders will create a more supportive and understanding workplace, encouraging everyone to talk openly about mental health and seek help when needed.”
Supertram’s investment in Mental Health First Aid training reflects a broader strategy to prioritise mental health and wellbeing across the organisation. By equipping employees with the tools to support each other, Supertram aims to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all.
SHEFFIELD GOES OUT OF THIS WORLD
Celebrating its tenth year, the free, city centre event that celebrates all things otherworldly will return to Sheffield on Sunday 27th October.
The event is spilt into zones across Sheffield Winter Garden, Tudor Square, the Town Hall, Millennium Square, the Peace Gardens, Barker’s Pool and along Surrey Street.
Spread across the city centre, the event attracts thousands of adults and children, who come to see and enjoy this weird, wonderful and wacky event.
The Winter Garden, Tudor Square and Peace Gardens will play host to the ever popular sci-fi, comic book, gaming and fantasy areas.
Visitors will encounter family favourite heroes and villains including Darth Vader, stormtroopers, ghostbusters and Short Circuit’s Johnny Five (I’m Alive!). Keep your eyes open for a few superheroes too.
At Millennium Square and the Peace Gardens, visitors will be able to step into a world of magic and illusion. From watching performers swallow
blazing flames, to witnessing the chainsaw juggling daredevil; some of the UK’s best magicians and illusionists can also be found in this zone.
Aspiring young witches and wizards will also be able to learn magic spells, design and make their own wands, and much more.
The Halloween Zone can be found spread across Town Hall Square, the Peace Gardens, Pinstone and Surrey Street.
Visit The Joker trapped in his Pumpkin Patch as he plays his tricks in the Peace Gardens, shiver your timbers with the OOHAARGH Pirates, or take a ride on the classic Ghost Train on Surrey Street. They’ll also be a range of performances, kid’s film and gaming costume characters, stalls and food to enjoy!
Maps and more information can be found at www.welcometosheffield. co.uk/visit/headline-events/out-ofthis-world
LIVE EVENTS AT THE PARAMOUNT
THE GODFATHER OF POLITICAL COMEDY RETURNS
Comedian, activist and general mischief-maker Mark Thomas brings his critically acclaimed show Gaffa Tapes to the Sheffield Memorial Hall on 10th November.
Mark’s now famous mix of standup, theatre, journalism and the odd bout of performance art has made him one of our oldest surviving alternative comics. Often referred to as the ‘godfather of political comedy’ (amidst many other things), Mark has been performing comedy for nearly 40 years. With a recent-ish step towards theatre in his last few shows, Mark is back to his finest stand-up form and antiTory sentiment in Gaffa Tapes as he sets out on the road this autumn.
If you don’t know what Mark does, ask your parents. In his time, he has won 8 awards for performing, 3 for human rights work… and 1 he invented for himself. He has
made 6 series of the Mark Thomas Comedy Product and 3 Dispatches for Channel 4, made 5 series of the Manifesto for Radio 4, written 5 books and 4 playscripts, curated and authored 2 art exhibitions with artist Tracey Moberly and was commissioned to write a show for the Royal Opera House. He has forced a politician to resign, changed laws on tax and protest, become the Guinness Book of Records world-record holder for number of protests in 24 hours, taken the police to court three times and won (the fourth is in the pipeline), walked the length of the Israeli Wall in the West Bank (that’s 724km), and generally mucked about trying to have fun and upset (shall we say) the right people.
Mark Thomas Gaffa Tapes Sheffield City Hall (Memorial) Sunday 10th November Tickets available from sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
SaT oCT 19Th ALAN TuRNER top male vocaliSt
SaT oCT 26Th
DAVEY ChAMPION
Star male vocaliSt
FRIDAY OCT 18Th
ChANTELLE LITTLE
SuPERB YOuNG VOCALIST
SATuRDAY OCT 19Th
ExCEL
SuPERB MALE FEMALE DuO
FRIDAY OCT 25Th
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SATuRDAY OCT 26Th
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FRIDAY 18TH OCT BRILLIANT MALE DUO
ADRENALINE II
SATURDAY 19TH OCT
20TH
karaoke • fun games • open the boX chinese bingo • play your cards right From 5.00 pm
Friday Nov 22nd
ADAGIO
Sheffield City Licensing Act 2003
A new premises licence application has been made by Majed Ali to licence 304 London Road, Sheffield S2 4NA. The application is to carry out the Sale of Alcohol 0800-0200 Daily. The application may be inspected at, Licensing Service Licensing Service Block C, Staniforth Road Depot Staniforth Road Sheffield S9 3HD. The representations must be in writing or by email to licensingservice@sheffield. gov.uk. Where a representation is
must be received no later than 05 Nov 2024. It is an offence for anyone to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application, the fine for which a person is liable on summary conviction is unlimited.
GOOdS VeHICLe OPeRatOR’S LICenCe
sahildeep singh t/a
nagra & Mettla transport ltd of leverton house 461-463 london road, sheffield s2 4hl is applying for a licence to use:
junction 31 haulage & secure parking ltd, Mansfield road, aston, sheffield s26 2bs as an Operating Centre for 1 goods vehicles and 1 trailers
Owners or Occupiers of land (including buildings) near the operating centre(s) who believe that their use or enjoyment of that land would be affected, should make written representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE, stating their reasons, within 21 Days of this Notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice.
A Guide to making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office.
Leeds, LS2 7UE, stating their reasons, within 21 Days of this Notice. Representors must at the same time send a copy of their representations to the applicant at the address given at the top of this notice.
A Guide to making Representations is available from the Traffic Commissioner’s Office.
SUNDAY
TUESDAY
Coronation Street:
Kit reveals to Lisa that Joel died from two blows to the head, inflicted by a heavy weapon, most likely a crowbar. Behind the factory, Mason disposes of the crowbar in a bin but is caught in the act by Kit. Sam prepares a romantic meal at the flat to try and get Leanne and Nick back together but disaster strikes when he uses a sharp knife to try and open some oysters. How will Nick and Leanne react when they discover his plans to get them together have resulted in him being injured? When Adam lets slip that Jesse may have overheard him and Daniel discussing Damon’s hidden loot, Sarah becomes adamant that Jesse took it and asks David to help her prove it. The doctor informs Lauren and Max that Frankie’s doing well enough to be discharged next month.
Emmerdale:
After making a snap decision about what to do with her mum’s ashes, Ruby heads straight for the Woolie and drowns her sorrows. Kim’s thrown when Will gives her flowers to comfort her following her friend Zak’s death. Will she accept them? The Dingles gather to face a difficult day as they lay Zak to rest. In the Woolpack, where Zak spent many an hour supping ale from his special tankard, Cain leads to a toast to his dear departed dad. But as the family mop their tears, there’s a shock in store which causes jaws to drop. Caleb sneaks away to talk to Will about their plan to take down Kim. Caleb has the bank breathing down his neck. As the funeral drama continues, the grieving siblings sneak away to Wishing Well Cottage, to talk about the long-lost relative who’s reappeared in their lives with an axe to grind.
Eastenders:
Eve has had some news that means she needs to rush up to her family in Yorkshire. Harry makes things very awkward after a misplaced comment while dad Teddy is trying to woo Sharon! Feeling bad for ruining things for his dad, Harry schemes to set up a date for the pair at The Arches. Chelsea has been holding out on telling the truth for months on her terrible secret that she caused the club crush. Wanting to do the right thing finally, Chelsea says a tearful goodbye to her young son Jordan before setting off for the police station. Avani reveals her secret boyfriend wants to take things to the next level. Lily warns Avani to be careful and encourages her not to sleep with him. When Tommy overhears the schoolgirls talking, he uses it to stir and tells on her to mum Priya.
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TRIBUTES FOR BLADES FAVOURITE GEORGE BALDOCK
Tributes were made from all over the footballing world for former Blades Defender Geroge Baldock who tragically passed away at the age of 31. Sheffield United Football Club is shocked and extremely saddened to learn of the passing of former player, George Baldock.
The defender left the club in the summer after seven years at Bramall Lane and was extremely popular with supporters, staff and teammates who pulled on a red and white shirt alongside him
The sincere condolences of everyone associated with Sheffield United are extended to George’s family and friends.
In a Joint statement Owner, Prince Abdullah, and Chairman, Yusuf Giansiracusa said:
“Like all Blades, we received the news of George Baldock’s tragic and premature passing with
RöHL
REFLECTS ON ONE yEAR
wITH THE OwLS
Last week saw the one year anniversary of Danny Röhl taking over as manager of Sheffield Wednesday. The former Bayern Munich and German national coach was appointed on this day in 2023 and went on to lead the Owls to Championship safety against all the odds. Upon his arrival, Wednesday were at the foot of the division with no wins from 13 games in all competitions. But all that would soon
overwhelming sadness.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, as well as his friends and all who knew him, not least the Sheffield United family.
George played every minute on the pitch with passion, commitment and the ability associated with our Football Club and his role in our campaigns to achieve two promotions will live long in our memories and the history of the Club.
George served United with distinction - he remains a Blade.”
Blades manager Chris Wylder, who brought Baldcock to Bramall Lane gave an emotional interview following the tragic event:
“Just stunned, really. Speaking to my wife, and I think it’s quite matter of fact, I think we’re getting to that age where we’re going to more and more funerals.
And obviously through your life, you lose people you
change. Röhl’s first taste of Hillsborough was sweet as the Owls posted a maiden victory of the campaign in a 2-0 win over Rotherham.
A rollercoaster of a season ensued with countless ups and downs and superb winning streaks to keep survival hopes alive.
Deflating defeats were met with strong comebacks and ultimately league survival was achieved after a barnstorming end to an unforgettable season.
Ahead of our 2-1 win over Coventry in the Midlands last weekend, Röhl reflected on a year like no other.
“Time goes quick,” he told swfc.co.uk.
“There have been a lot of games in one year and we have taken a lot of points.
“We have changed a lot of things, we have improved the squad,
love and you respect. But this just feels completely different to everybody, and everybody I’ve spoke to.
“Obviously pals of mine are massive Sheffield United fans, people that I’m working with, players, current players, ex-players that I’ve been in contact with, and they’ve been in contact with me, managers, managers out the Premier League, old managers that he played for, just everybody’s just absolutely stunned and numb, really.
“I think that’s the feeling that we’ve all got about it and less than 48 hours still feeling the same. You look at it really selfishly as well, I think. I managed George for a number of years. But really, I shouldn’t look at it from a selfish point of view. I should look at it from the devastation that it’s caused to his family, his young family, to Annabelle, to the Dignums, to Sam and his brother, to the Baldock family. What
we have changed the environments, have more staff, more coaches and I think the culture has changed but we are still not at the end of our journey.
“We start to change some things, we create profiles of what we want to do, what we have to do.
“Sometimes you want to make bigger steps, quicker steps and especially at the beginning of the season.
“But we keep working and for me, the last two weeks have been good steps and now it’s a case of consistently performing.”
they are feeling right now.
So if I’m feeling this, and players, ex players, staff and supporters are feeling this. What are they feeling at this particular moment? So it’s just just tragic.”
“Loads of things have been talked about and absolutely spot on by everybody, what they’ve said and how they they talked about him as a footballer, but most importantly, as a person, as a human being, so everything is spot on. What he was like as a player through that magical period that we had, and he wasn’t one to grab the headlines. [Billy Sharp] was scoring goals, and the other players were playing their part. But George was a huge personality in that, huge driver, a huge culture carrier, in everything that we did and how I wanted it to look, how the staff wanted it to look, how Sheffield United supporters wanted their team to look and how they wanted their
SUB
HURST
Kyle Hurst came off the bench to earn Rovers a share of the spoils in a fascinating encounter with Crewe Alexandra.
The visitors went ahead early in the second half through Max Conway but a change of approach in the aftermath put Rovers firmly on the front foot.
And Hurst raced through to finish off a rapid counterattack, with Rovers then pushing hard for a winner in driving rain at the Eco-Power Stadium.
Rovers had largely been in control of possession in a first half of few chances and although the pattern continued after the break,
players to act and represent them and the way they they wanted their players to go about their business.
“George just epitomised everything on the pitch and off the pitch. He was a humble person off of it. Listen, we had rows, we had bust ups, we had words. I think you would expect that between the two personalities that we’re talking about, but we’re all driving it forward and after the same outcome and after the same goal in everything that we did Monday to Friday. I’m a massive one in terms of standards, and how even training should look and he was ultra competitive, and as were the group. And he drove that.
He drove that with the other boys. Just even thinking about it now, a family’s lost a son. Players have lost a brother. Those boys that went to battle with George, and he stood up to every
challenge. Just over the last, sort of, say, 24 hours, remember the battles that he had on the pitch.
“When he first come to the football club, the promotion season, the end of season festivities, celebrations, he was front and centre of it all on the stage downstairs, the Ole, Ole, Ole song that him and John Egan, a few the other boys sort of designed and how that caught fire and then his performances in the Premier League, you know, week in, week out. It used to make me smile because one day it was Wilf Zaha, next it was Sterling. The next game it was Grealish, all these absolute top drawer players, and he just saw him off game by game, and they respected him. But when the whistle blew, he was after them, and he set the tone for everything along with the others, and he was an absolute pleasure to manage. As I said, we had
times where we fell out, we had words, but you know, we all knew that you’ve got to put it to bed pretty quickly. And the main ambition, and the main focus was being successful in his football club, and certainly was a massive success.”
“The culture, we tried to set in 2016 with the first year in League One, and then George came. I’d watched him. I’d known about him. He couldn’t get in MK Dons team, but they were very good at the time. Karl Robinson had an excellent side there. And he went on loan to Northampton, and then he went on loan to Oxford. And I watched him. I remember him was speaking to ‘Robbo’ and saying, you’ve got to recall George, because he’s absolutely ripping it up at Oxford. Him and Kemar Roofe came in, and I watched him and looked at him and thought, he’ll do for me.
He’s absolutely perfect in what we’re trying to achieve; athletic, physical
attitude, and could play as well.
“You don’t get to the stage of your career, what he did playing in the Premier League and then playing internationally, which was a fantastic achievement, by not having ability as well.
Wanting to learn, wanting to work hard, wanting to compete, wanting to play, and wanting to win most importantly. So it seems a small chunk of change that we paid for George in that period.
“There always be your TCs [Tony Currie] and your [Len] Badgers and your Brian Deanes and your other players through the periods; Sabellas, and even before my time, Grandad talks about Jimmy Hagan and players like that, Alan Hodgkinson, but George pound-for-pound was right up there. In everything he gave his maximum, in everything that he did. And as I said, that’s what every Sheffield United fan wants, and that’s what I want as well.”
SAVES THE DAy TO GAIN A POINT AT CREwE
Conway finished off a fine individual run to give Alex the lead.
But Rovers’ response was emphatic, with an ultra attacking approach matched with an upping of the tempo which reaped rewards in Hurst’s excellent equaliser.
Grant McCann made one change to the side that started the win over Grimsby Town a week earlier with Joseph Olowu returning to the starting XI following a back injury.
Jay McGrath poked an early effort on goal after a scramble in the box but it proved to be a simple stop for Alex keeper Filip Marschall.
Chances were hard to
come by and for a long period, a volley from Kian Breckin that pulled wide from the edge of the box was as dangerous as either side got.
Luke Molyneux drilled a low effort off target from 20 yards at the end of a fine Rovers move.
Rovers did have the ball in the back of the net just after the half hour mark only to be denied by the offside flag. Jordan Gibson drilled a free kick onto the crossbar with Billy Sharp turning home a header only for offside to be called.
Joseph Olowu turned a header straight at Marschall in the last act of the half.
Rovers remained in control of possession at the second half began but Crewe found the opener on 56 minutes. Conway pounced on an error in the middle of the park and raced forward before firing beyond Ted SharmanLowe to give his side the lead.
McCann immediately switched to a back three and sent on Hurst and Joe Ironside to overload attacking areas. Sharp fired wide from a low cross but it was the start of chances flowing for Rovers.
The equaliser came on 73 minutes. Clearing out from a long throw, Rovers raced forward with Molyneux
powering onto a through ball before playing inside to Hurst who finished with great composure. Rovers should have been ahead moments later. Ironside did well to bring a fierce pass under control but hooked his shot off target while Hurst fired over as play was recycled.
Zac Williams headed over the bar from close range in a rare chance for the visitors while Sharp planted a header wide at the other end.
Rovers continued to push for the winner and Broadbent went close as he diverted a ball narrowly wide.
But they had to be content with a share of the spoils.
