Sport

The Sharks will be hoping to build upon last season’s sixth-place finish, considered by many to be something of an over-achievement having narrowly avoided relegation the year before, as they take on Bath on Saturday.

A new £620,000 state-of-the-art football pitch it is hoped will help earn Manchester the prestigious honour of being named ‘City of Football’.

Manager David Flitcroft says his team’s mentality to not go home after training has been the reason the side are challenging at the top of League Two this season.

With losses to Chelsea in the Women’s Super League (WSL) and the FA Cup, City are determined not to make it a third defeat as they enter uncharted waters on Sunday.

Rochdale play Crawley Town for the first time this weekend with manager Keith Hill in need of a result rather than a pretty performance.

The visitors sit second in League One, 15 places higher than the Latics, although the home side have momentum on their side having won two games in the past week.

The Phoenix will commence battle in the annual War of the Roses games at Sheffield Steeldogs on Friday night despite a limited amount of pre-season training.

The Argentine, 24, who can play either at left back or centre back, was snapped up from Sporting Lisbon in a deal worth £16million, but has yet to play for the club because of an ongoing visa application

Medium-fast bowler Hogg was forced to announce his retirement this morning due to a severe back injury.

Oldham’s all-female roller derby team are gearing up to be crowned champions of the North.

Book joined the Citizens in 1966 after moving from Plymouth Argyle and duly became their most decorated captain – taking them to a First Division title, FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.