ONE of Lord Sugar’s latest boardroom victims hopes to see her close pal Usain Bolt when she returns home to the Caribbean.
Ex-Miss Jamaica April Jackson, fired from The Apprentice last night, reportedly had a romance with the Olympic sprint legend.
Old flame ... April reportedly dated pal Usain Vantage News
She told TV Biz: “When I go home in January I will probably go say ‘Hi’.”
April is also friends with singer Shaggy and former footballer Sol Campbell but said: “I spoke to Sol a couple of days ago. I don’t think he watches The Apprentice.”
Despite her exit, April said: “I was interesting before The Apprentice and I will continue to be interesting afterwards.”
Several scandals have emerged in the athletics world in 2015, with both governing body IAAF and several independent athletes under the scanner for what sources (and several authorities) allege is an evidentially supported involvemenet in doping.
The athletics world became shrouded in controversy when, earlier this year, English newspaper The Times said it had been given data by an anonymous whistleblower, examined by its own panel of forensic experts, that allegedly proved several IAAF athletes who participated in the London Marathon had done so under the influence of performance-enhancing drugs, putting the results of the marathon into question.
At the time, authorities behind the marathon had responded saying it had a “strict no-tolerance policy” against doping, but the doubt had already been cast. Organi.
This August, the IAAF released a statement rejecting the allegations outright, although suspicion has persisted ever since.
Several of athletics’ most iconic names came into the spotlight as a result – among them Justin Gatlin, Usain Bolt and Mo Farah.
Farah and American Olympic athlete Galen Rupp came under immense scrutiny after their coach, seasoned marathon champion Alberto Salazar, was subject to a BBC investigation alleging he had been involved in the doping of several athletes who trained under him at the Nike Experience Project, of which several runners – including American marathon icon Kara Goucher and her husband were a part.
Salazar’s second-in-command and several athletes who trained under him bore testament to the allegations, with Salazar issuing several denials. The accusations also led at the time to Farah withdrawing from competition for a short period, as UK athletics conducted their own independent investigation against the athlete.
During these investigations, it was revealed Farah had also missed two drug tests prior to the 2012 London Olympics, where he won Gold.
Although he was eventually exonerated, Farah went on to say that the accusations had taken a toll on his physical and mental health.
Gatlin and Bolt went on to be cleared as well, but organisers of several events – most notably the London Marathon, criticised the IAAF for what they described as a significant “lack of transparency” in dealing with samples.
Now, it has emerged that the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) have mounted a full-blown investigation into allegations of doping by a number of Russian athletes – doping the independent body says were “state-sanctioned”. According to the investigation, the drug use had not only been ‘systematic’, but samples that had been cleared in Moscow over the years had passed through labs that, as per the report had “zero credibility.”
Former WADA head Richard Pound was at the helm of the investigation, and described the team’s findings as “worse than we thought” and “pretty shocking.” The panel has recommended that Russia be suspended by the IAAF from all international competition with immediate effect.
IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe has now responded to the WADA panel, saying the organisation had given Russia until the end of the week to address the allegations in the report, although Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko has claimed the incident is an attempt to malign Russia politically.
Top officials from the World Anti-Doping Agency will meet in the United States of America to figure out a new course of action against Russia.
The country has been under the scanner since last year, however, when a German television documentary alleged that as many as 99% of athletes had been involved in serious doping, and that high-ranking officials had been accepting bribes to provide athletes with banned substances, and hide results that proved athletes had been using.
Russia does not have a clean slate – 2010 London Marathon winner Liliya Shibulkova confessed to the makers of the programme that she had been using performance-enhancing drugs ahead of her participation, and admits paying the Russian Athletics Federation €450,000 to cover up a positive doping test.
She is far from alone – discus thrower Yevgeniya Pecherina also admitted that several athletes were using drugs, telling the BBC ”anything an athlete wants” is available. Currently serving a 10-year ban for doping in 2013, Pecherina had earlier been handed a 2-year suspension for a similar offense.
Although officials from the country – including its President Vladimir Putin – have strenuously denied claims, Russia’s record appears to speak for itself.
Doping may be a recurrent feature in the athletics world – but it appears that 2015 has been one of its darkest years.
A raft of medallists from the recent athletics world championships in Beijing will appear in the Belgian capital on Friday night. Usain Bolt, who won three golds in China, should have been in Brussels. But he withdrew saying he was tired after his record-breaking races in China.
Less than two weeks after the world championships, some of track and field's top stars will be in action in Brussels for the final Diamond League meeting of the season.
The American sprinter Justin Gatlin will contest the 100 and 200 metres. The 33-year-old won silver in both events in Beijing behind the Jamaican Usain Bolt who pulled out of the 200 metres citing fatigue.
Last season, Gatlin clocked the year's fastest times in both races. This year he will face a stern examination from the South African Wayde van Niekerk, who claimed the 400m gold in Beijing worlds in 43.48 seconds.
The 23-year-old has notched up a 200m best of 19.87 seconds. The 100m also features a strong field including Jamaican duo Nesta Carter and Asafa Powell, American Mike Rodgers and France's Jimmy Vicaut.
The highlight of the women's sprint races will be the showdown between Dafne Schippers and Allyson Felix from the United States.
When Schippers crossed the line on 28 August in 21.63 seconds - ahead of the Jamaican duo of Elaine Thompson and Veronica Campbell-Brown - she became the first European to win the title since the Russian Anastasia Kapachinskaya claimed the gold medal in 2003.
In the interim, Felix has won it three times followed by Campbell-Brown and her fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.
Schippers' mark was the fourth-fastest time.
"It is exciting to see new talents coming up in the event and I love new challenges," said 29-year-old Felix. "Yes, the 200m was an impressive race in Beijing, they ran very fast.
"It was hard not to be a part of that, because races like that don't often come your way."
Felix said ahead of the race on Friday night that her goal was to qualify for the US teams for the 200 and 400 metres for next year's Olympic Games in Rio.
"As far as the Olympic time schedule is concerned I can't say anything about that; things can always change. But I would love the opportunity to compete in both events."
Schippers said the world championship gold medal had changed her life.
Since winning in Beijing, Schippers has found that she is far more in demand now back home in the Netherlands.
“It’s a crazy world now for me. It’s all new,” she added. “It’s nice, but it takes a lot of energy. A gold medal is very important to the Netherlands. It’s no longer possible to walk down the street with my dog because a lot of people come up to me. I like it, though."
KINGSTONE, Sept. 11 (Xinhua) -- Jamaica's government is working on a project to open a sports school, which will be called "Usain Bolt", in a stadium located in the Jamaican star's birthtown.
The school aims to honor the national athlete and to give a greater use to the sports complex built in 2007 in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica's Sports Minister Natalie Neita-Headley told Cuban news agency Prensa Latina on Friday.
The project is a priority for the Jamaican government and 220,000 U.S. dollars have been set aside to kick-start the project, according to Neita-Headley.
Jamaican authorities expect many international athletes to endorse the new sports complex's work and to support the training of new Jamaican athletes.
The announcement about the new sports complex was made after Jamaica's Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller created a bipartisan committee to define Bolt's recognition and the recognition of other medal winners in International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Beijing 2015 World Championships.
Jamaica came in second in the final ranking with seven gold medals, two silver and three bronze.
Usain Bolt was spotted on Tuesday morning making his way through London Heathrow on a hoverboard and appeared to have no worries in the world.
Just days after winning his fourth 200-meter title, the world’s fastest athlete glided through the airport in a grey sweatsuit and pair of sunglasses. Which we have to say, is mad gusty considering the athlete’s career almost came to an end after being taken out by a photographer on a segway … the same family as a hoverboard.
It’s also safe to say that the new trend is to ride not walk through airports around the world. And apparently, you can get away with it if you obey orders by airport officials.
You might remember last month, Wiz Khalifa was restrained by law enforcement for refusing to get off of his hoverboard. Three officers took the rapper down at LAX before eventually letting Amber Rose’s ex-husband go.
But just six days later, Wiz made his way through LAX via the handless segway with no complaints. So we guess the rule is … ride at your own risk … but if asked to ditch the new piece of technology, ditch it.
Six-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt was snapped riding a megaboard through Heathrow Airport in London this week after touching down from Beijing.
The Jamaican sprinter, who won three gold medals at the recent World Championships, is the latest famous face to join the megaboard craze.
Bolt has not had the best luck with similar gadgets though, as he was knocked over by a cameraman on a segway while celebrating a gold-medal triumph in Beijing last week.
The 29-year-old won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m events in China.
The New York sketch artist’s courtroom drawing of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (above) at his federal court hearing to try to get his “Deflategate” suspension reduced is a viral sensation. The sketch has been criticized as making Brady look like an aging cartoon villain or like his face is melting. It’s been superimposed upon “E.T.,” Michael Jackson performing “Thriller” and the figure inEdvard Munch’s “The Scream,” depictions that make Rosenberg laugh. But the scores of nasty e-mails do not. “I’m really having a rough time. This is so not my life,” Rosenberg said. “I thought I might crawl under a pillow and never come out.” She said, “It wasn’t my goal to make a photograph of him in the building but to show the feeling of what was going on.”
Usain Bolt
The Olympic gold medalist is returning to the stadium in which he became a star when the world track and field championships begin next Saturday at the Bird’s Nest in Beijing. The $450 million, 91,000-seat stadium, latticed with steel beams, was the centerpiece of the 2008 Beijing Games. Bolt, a 6-foot-5 Jamaican, redefined what is possible at the Olympics by winning gold medals and setting world records in three events — the 100 meters, 200 and the 4x100 relay. Now 29 and the man to beat at the Rio Games next year, he says he’s made lifestyle adjustments to stay on top: fewer parties, more vegetables. “I have to be real careful, have to be aware of everything around me to make sure I’m on point,” said Bolt, who made Chicken McNuggets his dinner, and lunch, of choice at the 2008 Olympics.
Usain Bolt, winning 200-meter gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where he will compete in the world championships.
They burst onto the sports scene together, seven summers ago.
In their own ways, the Bird’s Nest and Usain Bolt redefined what was possible at the Olympics.
A stadium could be a star. The $450 million, 91,000-seat Bird’s Nest, latticed with steel beams, was the centerpiece of the Beijing Games, and it shined in a spectacular opening ceremony that featured a skywalking gymnast, fireworks and a cast and crew of more than 15,000.
Then came Bolt.
The 6-foot-5 Jamaican raced in three events. Won gold medals and set world records in all. He returns to the Bird’s Nest next Saturday for the start of world championships — helping the largely underused stadium brush off some cobwebs while possibly shedding some positive light on a sport that has been dogged, yet again, by ugly news on the doping front.
Since departing the Bird’s Nest the night of Aug. 22, 2008, Bolt has improved on his records, which stand at 9.58 seconds for the 100, 19.19 for the 200 and 36.84 for the 4-x-100 relay. He has won three more Olympic golds, and dealt, on and off, with a variety of injuries, new challengers and even a couple of car accidents.
Through it all, he has remained the man to beat with the next Olympics less than a year away. But he will turn 30 on the day of the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. It doesn’t come so easily anymore.
"I have to be real careful, have to be aware of everything around me to make sure I’m on point," said Bolt, who made Chicken McNuggets his dinner, and lunch, of choice at the 2008 Olympics.
He will use his next appearance at the stadium where he became a true, bona fide superstar as something between a tune-up for next year and the real thing. This is, after all, the biggest event he’ll race in until he gets to Brazil.
But this summer, Bolt has been beset by leg injuries, not running his best, rounding into form. He ran his top time of the season, 9.87 seconds, July 24 at a meet in London — at the other Olympic stadium where he has ruled. He called it an appearance that was "all about getting race ready."
How ready he is in Beijing this time around is almost beside the point. He will be the headliner, and will provide a respite for his sport when he appears at the nine-day meet, where he’s scheduled to run in the 100, 200 and 4-x-100 relay — the usual. The integrity of track has been battered this year under a doping cloud as thick and persistent as the haze that hovers over China’s capital.
In June, The Associated Press learned the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency launched an investigation into allegations that famed track coach Alberto Salazar encouraged Olympic silver medalist Galen Rupp and others in his stable of elite runners to skirt anti-doping rules.
More recently, reports from German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times newspaper in Britain examined results of 12,000 blood tests involving 5,000 athletes from 2001 to 2012. The reports concluded that 146 Olympic and world-championship medals in middle- and long-distance races — including 55 gold — were won by athletes who have recorded suspicious tests.
The IAAF has responded with a detailed denunciation of the reports and an equally robust defense of its own anti-doping measures, backed by Sebastian Coe, the middle-distance great who is running against pole vaulting icon Sergei Bubka for president of the IAAF before the start of world championships.
The winner will oversee a sport with only one true, worldwide star. It’s Bolt, who has steered clear of all the doping troubles, even as sanctions have been leveled against luminaries in his own track-crazy country, including former world record holder Asafa Powell and Olympic relay gold medalist Sherone Simpson.
They burst onto the sports scene together, seven summers ago.
In their own ways, the Bird’s Nest and Usain Bolt redefined what was possible at the Olympics.
A stadium could be a star. The $450 million, 91,000-seat Bird’s Nest, latticed with steel beams, was the centerpiece of the Beijing Games, and it shined in a spectacular opening ceremony that featured a sky-walking gymnast, fireworks, and a cast and crew of more than 15,000.
Then came Bolt, a 6-foot-5 Jamaican who raced in three events.
Bolt won gold medals and set world records in all. He returns to the Bird’s Nest on Saturday for the start of world championships — helping the underused stadium brush off some cobwebs while possibly shedding some positive light on a sport that has been dogged, yet again, by ugly news on the doping front.
Since departing the Bird’s Nest on the night of Aug. 22, 2008, Bolt has improved on his records, which stand at 9.58 seconds for the 100 meters, 19.19 for the 200 and 36.84 for the 4x100 relay. He has won three more Olympic golds, and dealt, on and off, with a variety of injuries, new challengers and even a couple of car accidents.
Through it all, he has remained the man to beat with the next Olympics less than a year away. But he will turn 30 the day of the closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. It doesn’t all come so easily anymore.
Fewer parties. More vegetables.
“I have to be real careful, have to be aware of everything around me to make sure I’m on point,” said Bolt, who made Chicken McNuggets his dinner, and lunch, of choice at the 2008 Olympics.
He will use his next appearance at the stadium where he became a true superstar as something between a tuneup for next year and the real thing. This is, after all, the biggest event he will race in until he gets to Brazil.
But this summer, Bolt has been hobbled by leg injuries, not running his best, rounding into form. He ran his top 100 of the season, 9.87, on July 24 at a meet in London, at the other Olympic Stadium where he has ruled. He called it an appearance that was “all about getting race-ready.”
How ready he is in Beijing this time around is almost beside the point. He will be the headliner, and will provide a respite for his sport when he appears at the nine-day meet, where he is scheduled to run in the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay.
The integrity of track has been battered this year under a doping cloud.
In June, The Associated Press learned that the United States Anti-Doping Agency had opened an investigation into accusations that the track coach Alberto Salazar encouraged Galen Rupp, the Olympic silver medalist at 10,000 meters in 2012, and others in his stable of elite runners to skirt doping rules.
More recently, reports from German broadcaster ARD and The Sunday Times of England examined results of 12,000 blood tests involving 5,000 athletes from 2001 to 2012. The reports concluded that 146 Olympic and world championship medals in middle- and long-distance races — including 55 gold — were won by athletes who have recorded suspicious tests.
The I.A.A.F., the sport’s international governing body, has responded with a detailed denunciation of the reports and an equally robust defense of its own antidoping measures, backed by Sebastian Coe, the middle-distance great who is running against the pole-vaulting icon Sergei Bubka for president of the I.A.A.F. before the world championships.
The winner will oversee a sport with only one true worldwide star. That is Bolt, who has steered clear of all the doping troubles.
Sprinter Usain Bolt has moved away from McDonald's chicken nuggets and junk food in preparation for next year's Summer Olympics.
Why fix what isn't broken?
The old saying has a lot of truth to it, but world-class sprinter Usain Bolt has made a personal change ahead of his preparation for next year's Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. Bolt has admitted on numerous occasions that he has a love for junk food — especially chicken nuggets — but will give his beloved foods up for healthier alternatives.
"Food wise, I have to eat a lot more vegetables," Bolt told CNN. "I have to cut junk food out. I think that's one of the biggest things for me, because I get a lot of urges at late nights, just to eat junk food. For me, that personally is one of the biggest sacrifices.
"Sometimes you do think about just going out or just not training, or just eating a million hot wings. It's hard sometimes, because you crave it, because you're used to doing a certain thing.
"It's hard to just walk away and not slip up sometimes. So it happens, but I try to not make it happen on the regular. I try to just contain myself as much as possible."
He estimated in his autobiography "Faster than Lightning," that he ate 1,000 McDonald's chicken nuggets during his 10 days in Beijing, which, if you're doing the math, is an astonishing 5,000 calories a day. This all happened because he found Chinese food "odd."
Bolt, now 28, is ready to eat healthier, but won't be preparing his own meals anytime soon.
"I can't cook, that's the one thing I can't do, though I can make scrambled eggs," he said via CNN.
Bolt, a six-time gold medalist, will be competing in his final Olympics next year.
"I think the closer it (Rio) gets, I think about it way more," he said. "Initially, it wasn't that much, I didn't think about it. But now it's really been on my mind. I think it's because it really means so much to me, I really want to go to Rio and do so well.
"It's going to be all work next season. I think there's going to be zero fun next season for me. That season is very important to do the Olympics back-to-back. For me, that's the biggest thing in my career. So I know what it will take and I know what I have to do."
NEW DELHI: From England's crushing 405-run defeat at the hands of Australia in the second Ashes Test to Usain Bolt's return to form with a 9.87 seconds finish to win the 100m at the London Diamond League, the last week gone by threw up some interesting stats.
On one hand Indian golf protege Shubham Jaglan won his second junior world golf title in as many weeks while on the other Bangladesh cricket team continued their fine form to post their highest Test total against South Africa.
World 100m and 200m record holder returns to the track with his season's best performance
Bolt was running his first 100m in over three months [Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports]
Usain Bolt answered questions over his fitness ahead of the world championships with a season's best of 9.87 seconds in the 100m with a workmanlike performance at the London Anniversary Games on Friday.
With just under a month to go before he defends his world 100m and 200m titles in Beijing, the Jamaican showed he had recovered from a pelvic injury that has disrupted his season, although he was left with plenty to ponder in the rain-lashed capital.
I am still number one and until I retire that's the plan
Usain Bolt, World 100m, 200 record holder
The world's fastest man shook off the rust from his layoff - this was his first 100m for over three months and first competitive race since mid-June - to win his heat and the final in the same time, putting him equal sixth in the world this year.
But he had to eat up the ground in the second half of both races, winning the final by three-hundredths of a second ahead of American Mike Rodgers (9.90) and fellow Jamaican Kemar Bailey-Cole (9.92).
"I am still number one and until I retire that's the plan," said the double world champion.
"I was happy with what I did," added the six-time Olympic champion.
"I'm ready to go and I'm ready to win. In the final I got a really bad start, I kind of lost focus but I got it back. I know I could have gone faster if I had just got my start."
Meanwhile, Britian's Mo Farah received a huge ovation before and after winning the 3,000 metres in 7:34.66, the fastest time in the world this year.
Farah has been dogged by the doping allegations surrounding his coach Alberto Salazar but has not been accused of any wrongdoing.
"You can only do what you do best and that, for me, is running," he said.
There are a host of famous personalities who are devoted followers of Premier League sides, we take a look at the top celebrity fans in the English top flight
The countdown to the new Premier League season is underway - and it's not just normal fans who are looking forward to August.
England’s top flight is the most watched in the world - and it's also got some pretty high profile supporters.
From Snoop Dogg and Jay Z to Prince Harry and Catherine Zeta-Jones, celebrities the world-over have revealed their club alleigances.
Here, we take you through a selection of each team's most famous fans.
Arsenal
Getty
Gunner: Prince Harry and the royal family's interest in Arsenal has been well-documented
Prince Harry - Prince Harry is a renowned Arsenal fan, and the Queen apparently met Cesc Fabregas in 2007.
Piers Morgan - Twitter's favourite son has four season tickets at the Emirates.
Spike Lee - A friend of Thierry Henry and a "big fan of my man Wenger" the legendary film director has even helped launch the Gunners kit in the past.
Idris Elba - Former DJ and star of The Wire, Elba said he once took Charlize Theron to an Arsenal game but she didn't take tot he club.
Jay-Z - He was rumoured to be a Manchester City fan but he set the record straight during an interview in 2010.
Gunners: Rapper Jay-Z and Chris Martin of Coldplay at the Emirates
Aston Villa
Prince William - William told Gary Lineker in an interview for BBC Sport last month that he decided to support Aston Villa because of their great history and to be different to his friends. Having not won a single thing since 1994, it’s fair to say that since Prince William started supporting the men in claret and blue in 1996, there hasn’t been a lot to shout about.
David Cameron - The British PM is a Villa fan (in the broadest sense of the word). Just take a look at this video. Cringe.
Tom Hanks- The Oscar-winning actor revealed that he chose to support Villa because he liked their name.
Ozzy Osbourne - In fact, Osbourne's bandmates Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler are also Villa fans.
Villan: Tom Hanks with former Aston Villa boss Paul Lambert
AFC Bournemouth
Jayne Middlemiss - The CFelebrity Masterchef winner and former Top of the Pops presenter is reportedly a fan of the Premier League’s fairytale new boys.
Christian Bale - Alright, this one might be debatable. We don't actually know if Batman is a Bournemouth fan, but he definitely used to live there.
Chelsea
Jeremy Clarkson - The TV presenter regularly attends games at Stamford Bridge and was most recently present at the game where the side were knocked out of the Champions League by PSG.
Michael Caine - Unlike his Batman co-star Bale, Caine is a big fan of the Blues.
Looking blue: Jeremy Clarkson at Stamford Bridge
Ben Ainslie - The most successful Olympic sailor in history is Blue.
Damon Albarn - Frontman of Blur, Gorillaz and other bands, the legendary Brit Pop singer is a huge Chelsea fan.
Crystal Palace
Eagle: Eddie Izzard is a Crystal Palace fan
Eddie Izzard - An avid Palace follower since 1969 he became a director in 2012.
Bill Nighy - Described in an interview earlier this year as having a "fairly manic obsession" with football and Palace in particular.
Maxi Jazz - Rapper and lead vocalist for English band Faithless, he was even named an Associate Director of the club in 2012.
James Buckley - When he's not boasting about fictional girlfriends, the Inbetweeners star likes to spend his time at Selhurst Park.
Everton
Blue: Sylvester Stallone holds up an Everton scarf
Dame Judi Dench - a member of Everton in the Community charity and big fan of the Toffees.
Sylvester Stallone - Rocky Balboa rocked up at Goodison Park for a 1-1 draw between Everton and Reading in January 2007. He has been a fan ever since.
Sir Paul McCartney - He said: "I went occasionally to watch football. My family team was Everton and I went to Goodison Park a couple of times."
Leicester City
Gary Lineker - the BBC Match of the Day presenter makes no secret of his affection for his former club, and was actively involved in praising last season’s great escape against relegation on social media.
Basil Brush - OK fine not the puppet himself but the man whom operated him was a huge Foxes fan, so Basil is by association.
Crisp flogger Lineker supports Leicester, who were once aptly sponsored by Walkers
Liverpool
Gary Barlow - the Take That star recalls his favourite memories are on the Kop with his Dad Colin as he and his family grew up in the city.
Dr Dre - the global rap star once referred to ex-Reds midfielder Patrick Berger as "the bomb!". Incredible.
Gary Barlow enjoyed his trips to Anfield as a child
LeBron James - possibly the world's biggest sports star is an avid Red and has talked about buying a stake in the Anfield club.
Mike Myers - Star of Austin Powers and numerous other comedies, Myers has been pictured at games wearing the shirt.
Daniel Craig - More than a plastic fan, the James Biond actor goes to games whenever he can.
Fans: Kenny Dalglish with Daniel Craig and Mike Myers
Manchester City
Noel Gallagher - Last month the famous musician announced he’d let David Silva sleep with his wife - a bold statement, but an indication of his love for the club and the Spaniard’s admirers at least. Images of the former Oasis frontman in the plush seats at the Etihad stadium are now commonplace.
Ricky Hatton - The former world champion boxer is a huge blue. He staged one of his fights at the Etihad in 2008.
Andrew Flintoff - He once said: "'I'm a Manchester City supporter. I go to see them, but it's more about a day out with friends than the game."
Sky Blue: Andrew Flintoff admitted he occasionally went to City games
Manchester United
Usain Bolt - Famously renowned for once claiming he ‘wanted to play’ for Manchester United once he had retired from athletics, the Jamaican Olympic gold medal sprint sensation then changed his mind earlier this year claiming that England was ‘too cold’ - an astute observation. In August 2012 the athlete was presented to the Old Trafford crowd with his medals from the London games, and he also took part in Rio Ferdinand’s testimonial too - likely to be the only two circumstances where he’ll find himself on the hallowed turf.
Wayne Rooney of Manchester United meets Olympic Champion Usain Bolt (pic: Getty)
Floyd Mayweather - Famously taunted Hatton before their huge Las Vegas bout in 2007 by donning a United shirt at a pre-fight press conference.
Rory McIlroy - World No.1 McIlroy is a big United fan and is occasionally seen at Old Trafford.
Nice suit: Rory McIlroy poses at Old Trafford
Justin Timberlake - The American singer revealed he had been converted to a United fan by his bodyguard Eric.
Harry Styles - One Diretion singer and per-pubescent heartthrob Harry Styles has posted pictures online of him wearing United shirts.
Newcastle United
Ant and Dec - Famous Geordie TV presenting duo spoke out in support of the boycott by fans in May 2015
Sting - Lead singer of The Police, we're not sure how often he makes it to St James' Park, but he's a Newcastle fan.
Geordie boys: Ant and Decin their younger days (obviously)
Graeme Swann - The former England cricketer is a big Newcastle fan, but seems to get little joy out of them if his Twitter feed is to be believed.
Tony Blair - Former UK Prime Minister Blair used to repeatedly state his affection for the Geordies. He probably still does.
Norwich City
Stephen Fry - The likeable TV presenter has been a board member at his beloved Canaries since 2010, and the lifelong fan has used his status to generate interest in the Norfolk side over the last few years.
Delia Smith - Britain's favourite celebrity chef isn't just a fan, she's the owner.
Hugh Jackman - No, really. He's even spoken in interviews about how much he loves the club.
Howler: Hugh Jackman loves Norwich, apparently
Southampton
Craig David - The singer is from the Hampshire city and has supported the Saints since childhood.
Holly Valance - The actress and singer's mother was from Southampton and she is rumoured to be a Saints fan. This one is probably in the 'maybe' pile.
Will Champion - Drummer from the band Coldplay, Champion is an avid Southampton fan.
Remember me: Holly Valance is a Southampton fan
Stoke City
Sugar Ray Leonard - American former professional boxer attended a game at the Britannia Stadium in 2008 where the Potters lost 2-0 to Chelsea.
Busta Rhymes - Rap star who was picture wearing a Potters top in Los Angeles back in 2010. In 2015, the club offered to send him the new shirt.
Jeremy Bates - Former Tennis player who won the mixed doubles titles at Wimbledon in 1987. Lifelong Stoke fan who can be heard on a couple of Stoke podcasts.
Unlikely: The boxer donned a Stoke Shirt when he visited the Britannia in 2008
Sunderland
Paul Collingwood - Former England one day cricket captain who was hooked after his Aunty took him to a game at the old Roker Park when he was 11 because they ‘couldn’t afford to go to St James' Park.
Katie Adie - Veteran war correspondent who grew up in Sunderland and is a devoted Mackems fan.
Richard Short - LA based actor hailing from South Shields, who has appeared in Law & Order, American Horror Story and more. Sunderland fan by nature.
Swansea City
Catherine Zeta-Jones - Swansea-born actress celebrated the League Cup triumph at the 2013 Academy awards on the red-carpet.
Michael Douglas - Has Cath's Swansea's enthusiasm been passed on to her famous husband? Probably.
Swans: Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones arrive at the Oscars
Watford
Sir Elton John - The famous singer became chairman of the club in 1976, and is now shareholder. He has had the new stand at Vicarage Road named after him, and it was opened during the height of last season’s promotion winning campaign.
Anthony Joshua - Dominant heavyweight boxer who has previously called one of his fights to be staged at Vicarage Road
Jennifer Aniston - Friends star who was delighted when presented with a Watford shirt in an interview with Radio 1's Chris Stark.
Hornets mad: Sir Elton John is a life honorary president at Watford
Tottenham
Adele - Tottenham-born singing sensation has Spurs running through the family.
John Cena - WWE sensation who has confessed to being a huge Spurs fan. Invited to the ground in 2008 for a tour and presented with a personalised shirt.
Jason Biggs - American Pie star who has stated his allegiance to Spurs on many an occasion, including on an episode of 8 out of 10 cats.
Tottenham: Jason is a Bigg Spurs fan, apparently
West Brom
Adrian Chiles - The TV presenter’s Grandad used to take him to games in the 70’s and he’s followed the Midlands side ever since.
Liam Payne - One Direction heart-throb is a big Baggies fan, despite coming from Wolverhampton.
Goran Ivanisevic - 2001 Wimbledon with a strong love for Albion. Attended his first match against QPR at Loftus Road in 2011.
Delight: Goran Ivanisevic celebrates the Baggies' last-day survival in 2005
West Ham
Barack Obama - A 2003 trip to London is cited as being the watershed moment when the US president decided to nail his claret and blue colours to the mast and support the east London side.
He claims to watch the Premier League whenever his schedule allows, although it’s hard to envisage Obama settling down for a Monday night football clash between Stoke and Sunderland isn’t it?
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