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FOOTBALL
FREESTYLE TRICKSTER WOWS THE CROWDS AT BIRKENHEAD SHOPPING CENTRE
ONE of the world's top
football freestylers who has performed alongside the likes of Steven Gerrard and Cristiano Ronaldo will be sharing the secrets of his
skills in a special summer holiday workshop.
Youngsters visiting the Grange and Pyramids shopping centre in
Birkenhead on Saturday, 4 August 2012 will have the chance to learn
some impressive new football skills under the watchful eye of Colin
Nell.
Colin, 27, has wowed crowds all over the world with his impressive
range of football tricks since he was spotted by Nike
officials aged just 15.
His wizardry with the ball has earned him the respect of some of the
world's biggest footballing superstars and he recalled one of his
proudest moments in his career to date.
Colin, from Feltham, south west London, said:-
"Sitting in a changing room in Madrid with the Brazilian football
team was an amazing opportunity and I was pretty excited. These are
players I have looked up to all of my life and I could hardly
believe I was sitting there with them. I have such respect for the
way they play; but what is really great is that a lot of these guys
saw what I could do and they have respect for my abilities too."
Colin has travelled the world, including America, Asia, most of
Europe and all over the UK taking part in adverts, shows, music
videos and hosting workshops such as the one at the Grange and
Pyramids.
He has shot an advert for Lucozade with Liverpool striker Steven
Gerrard and features in top US rapper Timbaland's music video for
his smash hit The Way I Are.
Derek Millar, Commercial Director for the Grange and Pyramids
shopping centre, said:- "Colin is one of the world's top
football freestylers and we are very excited to welcome him and his
skills to Birkenhead for the first of our summer holiday activities.
I am looking forward to seeing his wizardry with a football and I
expect our visiting families will be too! The workshop is just one
of a range of activities we have organised over the summer break to
make shopping at the Grange and Pyramids fun for everyone."
Shoppers will also find a huge, inflatable football pitch at the
event which will take place between 11am and 4pm.
Children will be encouraged to have a kickabout on the 20ft by 12ft
pitch and if they manage to beat the goalie, they'll
be a special prize.
On the following 3 Saturdays in August, there will be other
events to mark the long summer break including a games challenge,
circus skills workshop and a day of dance.
There will also be a sport's star trail to celebrate London 2012
which will be on offer.
Faces of famous sports stars will be on show in various store
windows. Families will be encouraged to pick up a form and follow
the trail to be in with a chance of winning some fantastic prizes.
Colin said he was looking forward to his own trip to the town and
added:- "I am looking forward to performing in Birkenhead
which has a rich footballing history with Tranmere Rovers and also
the big Liverpool clubs nearby. I will be looking to involve people,
especially the youngsters, as much as possible and I find that
people really do enjoy watching me perform. It is something
exciting, something fresh, a different way to approach football and
anyone can have a go at learning the skills. You just need to
practice hard and be dedicated and that is true of a lot of things
in life."
To find out more about the Grange and Pyramids packed schedule of
summer events go to:-
grangeandpyramids.co.uk.
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To acts head to
Preston in September for G-Fest 2012
SOME of Britain's biggest
urban and soul artists are coming to Preston, on 8 September 2012,
to star at the Guild music extravaganza, G-Fest. A host of
chart-topping stellar acts are confirmed to appear at the all-day
music festival, with soul star Maverick Sabre headlining a stunning
bill along with iconic urban performer Labrinth, former N-Dubz
front-man Dappy and feisty R&B girl group Stooshe.
Richly inspired by soul and urban sounds, Maverick Sabre is famed
for his eerie vocals and hypnotic guitar skills. The artist
maintains broad appeal, including everything from singing on Chase
and Status's No More Idols to performing on Later… with Jools
Holland, and his peerless album Lonely Are The Brave reached no.2 in
the UK charts earlier this year. Maverick Sabre is a sensational
soulful performer, who headlines G-Fest with a rousing climax to the
show.
Like fellow huge stars Labrinth and Dappy, Maverick Sabre's
appearance at G-Fest follows a stand-out performance at BBC Radio
1's Hackney Weekend in June, and promises to be one of the
highlights of the Preston Guild City Festival which begins on 31
August 2012, and lasts for 10 days. The full line-up also features
the genre-splitting collective Clement Marfo & The Frontline,
Northern Soul band The Milk and alternative hip-hop act Abandoman.
Preston Guild takes place once every 20 years. It is the world's
only year-long festival with a history dating back more than 800
years, and is the only Guild still celebrated in the UK.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased from the Guild Hall box
office, over the phone:- 0844 345 2012, or online at:-
prestonguild2012.com. Tickets
are priced at £18 if booked before 23 August and £23 after this
date. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
So do not forget:- G-Fest, Saturday, 8 September 2012, 12.30pm to
10.30pm, at Avenham Park, Preston, PR1 8JT
Acts:- Maverick Sabre; Labrinth; Dappy; Stooshe; Clement Marfo and
The Frontline; The Milk; Abandoman.
Birkenhead loan shark
convicted following trial
A Birkenhead man has been
convicted of illegal money lending and money laundering following a
6 day trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Gerald Daord, 52 ran the
illegal business from his home in Hampton Close for almost 4 years.
He was arrested in August 2011 following a warrant by the England
Illegal Money Lending Team working in partnership with Merseyside
Police and Wirral Council, in which cash and documentation was
seized. He started his sentenced on Tuesday, 28 August 2012. Cllr
Brian Kenny, Wirral Council Cabinet member for Environment, said:-
"We are pleased with the outcome of this case and credit goes
to everyone involved in the successful investigation; it proves once
again the value of our partnerships with the dedicated England
Illegal Money Lending Team and members of our community."
Derek Payet, Head of Wirral Council's Trading Standards, added:-
"We are working closely with the England Illegal Money Lending
Team and we recognise that the community plays a vital role in
identifying and reporting these criminals, who prey on the
vulnerable and cause real misery to their victims. We have recently
formed a Trading Standards Empowerment Partnership which will help
us better engage the community, raise awareness and provide the
consumer protection that people need."
Tony Quigley Head of the England Illegal Money Lending Team said:-
"Loan sharks are a scourge on our communities. They may appear
friendly at first but they cause nothing but misery. We would urge
anyone who is involved with a loan shark to call us in confidence
on:- 0300 555 2222"
Nationally the Stop Loan Shark Project has secured over 212
prosecutions for illegal money lending and related activity, leading
to 132 years worth of custodial sentences. They have written off
almost £40 million worth of illegal debt and helped over 18,000
victims.
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