Babe of the Month - From Glamour Model to FA referee!

Amy Christophers was born on 6th October 1986 in Truro, Cornwall, England and is a British TV sports columnist and presenter on Sports Tonight Live, a qualified Football Association Referee and an international model.

She attended stage school and worked as a travel agent and night club assistant manager.

At the age of 18 Amy went from commercial modelling into the world of glamour, under the stage name Brandy Brewer. In 2008 she won Loaded magazine's 'Rear of the Year' - which really shot her to fame with the lad mags.

Amy went on to become a page 3 girl for The Sun newspaper and the Daily Star, and in her ten years in the industry she graced the covers and pages of all the top men's magazines in Great Britain and abroad including FHM, Loaded, Nuts and Zoo to name but a few.

As a teenager Amy was also signed as a solo artist to a German independent label, she then went on to have a number one record for six weeks in the Swedish dance charts with a song called 'Cheaterz' with her band Cashbeatz.

Amy's Cornish roots resulted in her being 'branded' the 'Hottest export since the pasty' by former men's magazine FHM.

But it isn't all about stripping off for the cameras.

In the Summer of 2014, Amy retired from the magazines and dropped her stage name to pursue a career full time in Sports.

Amy always had a huge interest in sports, especially football; she's a huge Chelsea FC fan. She followed her passion for sports and made a career in the sporting industry and started presenting on 'Sports Tonight Live' focusing on football and hosted her own show called '90 MFS' (90 minute football show) and reporting sporting news as lead anchor.

Amy's late Grandad founded Mawnan Football Club, of the Cornwall County Football Association back in the 1960's, and it has been a big part of her life, growing up at the club, so when her grandmother Jean (The President) passed away in February 2015 I applied to be on the committee and carry on the family name.

My part in the club is running their social media and helping organise events such as fundraisers and end of season do and also helping with sponsorship deals.

Miss Christophers is also a Level 7 qualified Referee for the FA, When news got out about this she received international press coverage about her pursuits in the game.

In early 2016 Amy had a spell on Radio at 'The Hub 106 FM' co-hosting her own Saturday Sports show. Then returning to London in summer of 2016 she hosted her own Sports Radio show on YDN called 'Starting 11' along side her TV and radio presenting Amy is also concentrating on writing and is studying journalism, and is due to graduate in July 2017, but  Amy has already had her first published article with the 'Daily Star Sunday' in June 2016 with her guide to the euros, since her first article she has been snapped up by Yahoo Sport for her writing talents and has also written for popular websites such as JOE.CO.UK and the Huffington Post, she recently became the sports columnist for U.K. Men's lifestyle magazine 'Front.'

Amy is currently freelance but working with major media brands including newly formed 'Sport Convo' a new social media network owned by Gareth Bale and Indian cricket hero Virat Kholi. The company headhunted Miss Christophers, stating they knew that she was their girl! She interviews fans, sports stars and films a weekly sports round up. Amy had to learn some Hindi to film certain videos for their Indian cricket audience.

Now, Amy is also a FA qualified football referee, meaning she is allowed to take charge of local matches and youth games.

Although she is still a number of levels away from being a top-tier official, Chelsea fan Amy is desperate to progress – even if the men she’s officiating don’t always know what to make of her.

Amy said: “I think when guys see me walk on to the pitch in my make-up they don’t always think 'Oh she knows what she’s doing’ but they’re always shocked when I know more than them. I absolutely love it and I’m improving with every game. The Premier League would be a dream but I’m just excited to see how far I can get.”

The babe is following in the footsteps of lineswoman Sian Massey-Ellis, an official in the Premier League. Amy said: “Sian is an inspiration to all women thinking about getting involved in the game."

Previously speaking about her love of the beautiful game, Brandy said: "I’ve always loved football and thought becoming a referee would be a great way to get closer to the action."

“There aren’t enough women being represented and it’s fantastic to show that girls can do it just as well. This isn’t just a hobby, it’s a passion. I take this very seriously."

You can follow Amy on Twitter and Instagram or visit her website.

Will Dr Eva Carneiro accept Chelsea's invitation to return?

Dr Eva Carneiro, who was banned from the Chelsea bench after being criticised by manager José Mourinho, has been told to report for work at the club’s training ground today.
Carneiro has not been seen at Chelsea since the incident on 8th August, possibly through the legal advice she has taken from law firm Mishcon de Reya, but has been informed that she needs to return to duty now.

Whether Carneiro turns up at the Cobham training ground in Surrey remains to be seen – although physio Jon Fearn, who also had his duties cut, has continued to work during the intervening period with the first-team.

The Football Association has confirmed it is investigating a complaint that Chelsea manager José Mourinho used abusive language during the incident in the opening game against Swansea that saw club doctor Eva Carneiro and first-team physiotherapist Jon Fearn stripped of their matchday duties.

Fearn has not, as yet, resumed his place on the Chelsea bench but is expected to eventually do so. Whether Carneiro is able to do the same would appear to remain in doubt although there have been claims the duo will be in place for Saturday’s Premier League match at home to Arsenal.
Chelsea have previously insisted the issue is an "internal staffing matter" and say they do not intend to comment although Mourinho has publically said that Carneiro might be reinstated.

According to a report in the Independent, the Football Association received a complaint after the match on 8th August and the governing body’s compliance department are now studying video evidence.

Carneiro (right), born in Gibraltar is understood to have already taken legal advice with the possibility that Chelsea might be seeking to re-deploy her within their medical department and away from being first-team doctor. Some lawyers have suggested she may have grounds for constructive dismissal.

The Chelsea manager lost his cool towards the very end of his team’s 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge, when Eden Hazard went down in the third minute of stoppage time and Carneiro and Fearn ran on to treat the winger and it was revealed last month that Carneiro and Fearn had been told they would not sit on the Chelsea bench after the incident with Mourinho accusing the pair of naivety and failing to "understand the game."

Under FA rule E3, players and coaches can be penalised for using "offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures," with Mourinho facing up to a five-match ban if he is found guilty.

It subsequently emerged that not only did referee Michael Oliver twice gesture the medics to come on, but that he had also checked with Hazard that he wanted to receive treatment. This led to further criticism of Mourinho from medical professionals.

Sky Sports released video footage of the moment Mourinho lost his temper with his medical staff which appears to show the Portuguese boss calling one or both of them “son of a bitch”.
According to the report, Carneiro has not returned to Chelsea’s Cobham training ground since being withdrawn from matchday duties, with Doctor Chris Hughes and physiotherapist Steven Hughes having replaced her and Fearn.

Mourinho’s treatment of Carneiro and Fearn has already been discussed by world football governing body FIFA. Another influential body, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine (BASEM) has also raised the matter with the League Managers Association of which Mourinho is a member.

Chelsea play Arsenal on Saturday 19th September at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League, kick-off 12:45 BST.

Will Eva be on the bench tomorrow in her capacity as Chelsea first-team doctor?

The Resurrection of the Home Internationals!

The Football Association will confirm today (11th January) that Vauxhall has signed a four-year deal to be the new sponsor of the England football team, which could in turn lead to the revival of what was the oldest international competition before its demise over a quarter of a century ago - the 'Home International Championships.'

Vauxhall has also signed sponsorship agreements with the three other home nations, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Discussions between the home nation associations are ongoing and could lead to a tournament played over three international windows and some seven months, from November 2012 to June 2013, to coincide with the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations. There are aspirations to make it a regular event thereafter, although today FA general secretary Alex Horne poured cold water on the idea it could become a permanent arrangement. "We're talking to the home nations about a possible one-off round of matches with them in 2013, to mark our 150th anniversary," said Horne

The annual competition, last contested in 1984, was a regular fixture on the football calendar for about 100 years.

The interruption of the 1980-81 competition by the troubles in Northern Ireland did not help the championship's cause, nor did repeated bouts of hooliganism.
When England and Scotland fielded weakened teams in 1983-84, the British Home Championship was effectively finished.
Although the England versus Scotland fixture continued for another five years, the extended season and the importance of other tournaments had finally taken its toll.

Over recent years, there have been calls for its return, with only the English FA remaining opposed. However it looks like things are about to change. One of the main reasons for the the English FA's U-turn is seemingly financial.

The FA's finances have been hit hard in recent years by the expense of rebuilding Wembley and the implosion of its broadcast partner Setanta. This has come at a time when the governing body has spent heavily on the likes of Fabio Capello and making an unsuccessful bid for the 2018 World Cup.

Back in 1884 England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland were all playing international football. So the idea that they should all play each other in an annual league was a logical step.

Of the 89 tournaments, Wales won the tournament outright seven times and Northern Ireland three, while England and Scotland were far ahead with 34 and 24 wins respectively. Until 1979 titles were decided only on points, and not goal difference. 20 titles were shared as a result, and on one occasion, in 1955-56, the four nations split the title after they all finished on three points apiece.

In 1980-81 there was no winner because England and Wales refused to travel to Belfast owing to civil unrest.

In 1949-50 and 1953-54 the championships were used to decide World Cup qualifiers, with the top two teams going to the finals. However in 1950 Scotland, despite finishing second, opted to stay at home and withdrew from what would have been their first-ever World Cup appearance, a tournament held in Brazil that year.

The 1976-77 Championship came down to the final game between England and Scotland at Wembley. Scotland won the game 2-1, making them champions. A huge pitch invasion by the overjoyed Scottish fans ensued, causing extensive damage ensued as the pitch was ripped up and taken back to Scotland in small pieces, along with one of the broken crossbars!

Nonetheless, the games between these two fiercest of nations provided some of the happiest stories in Scottish football, including the 5-1 victory in 1928 in London and the 3-2 victory on the same ground in 1967, just nine months after England had been crowned World Cup winners.Scotland also suffered some shocking hidings down the years, including a 7-2 defeat in 1955 and a 9-3 hammering in 1961.