John Sharples

Retired from the world of formal education. Leads HOBY UK, youth leadership development. Loves family, food, fitness, football and fun!

[Henry Winter @henrywinter]

Mo Salah is leaving Liverpool but Liverpool will never leave him. He made clear as much in his emotional statement revealing he was moving on this summer. Salah has a bond with Liverpool, the club, the fans, the community and the city, that distance cannot break. Liverpool supporters and their Egyptian King have too many shared memories: some painful like his shoulder injury in the 2018 Champions League final, but many more beautiful like his nerveless early penalty in the 2019 final.

Salah's return of 255 goals in 435 games is an immense deposit in the memory bank. He is so much more than a goal machine to Liverpool. Salah entertained, brought hope and joy, and how important are those qualities this season? The Premier League has been a show but not a spectacle.

He won with style, often a smile. He scored unforgettable goals. Bursts of pace, changes of direction, dashes of panache and effortless balance defined one particularly special goal in 2021. Salah slalomed in from the right against Manchester City, weaving past Foden and Cancelo, then drifting away from Bernardo Silva as he dived in, finding only thin air.

Salah was gone, turning Laporte inside out, before shooting right-footed past Ederson. He left a trail of tangled limbs and scrambled senses in his wake. And these were seriously good players he was running rings around. Salah, at his best, could do that.

His style and demeanour, his aura, made him incredibly popular. Raheem Sterling's daughter used to send her father videos of her singing the Salah "running down the wing" song. When Raheem was at City.

Salah has been a maestro capable of solo magic and a team player, too. 119 assists highlights that. Along with Mane and Firmino, Salah formed one of the most formidable attacks in Premier League history. He's up amongst Liverpool greats, behind only Dalglish. He’s up amongst Premier League greats, behind only Thierry Henry.

Salah is more than a player. He transcends football. He’s a sporting role model, a cultural figure, an inspiring representative of his faith, and great ambassador for his country. Away from the game, Salah lives a simple life, dedicated to his family and his faith, and to his extensive community and humanitarian work.

At one PFA event, Salah walked up to collect an award, stopping to talk to a fan in a wheelchair on the way. He walked back the same way to show the award to the fan. He's not only a class act as a footballer but as a human being, too.

At 33, Salah leaves with his legacy intact, before the legs slow further, before any tensions arise with Arne Slot again. It’s the right decision at the right time for both parties, as Liverpool save a fortune on a year's wages and Salah leaves with the crowd wanting more.

His farewell tour could conjure up more memories, maybe even a trophy. Liverpool will be galvanised by this news, saddened but wanting to send one of their greats off in style. Salah will want to leave on a winning note. He will certainly leave with his ears ringing with acclaim. This means Mo. #LFC

[The Global Goals @TheGlobalGoals]

Yesterday was #WorldYouthDay!
Young people are not the leaders of tomorrow.
Young people are the leaders of today.
Young people are the change-makers of today.
Young people are the hope of today.

[Andy Heaton @Andrew_Heaton]

Alisson's tribute to his father

One of the most beautiful, heartbreaking and life-affirming pieces of writing I've ever read

https://t.co/voX0Y0dovB

[John Sharples @john_hobyuk]

@StuartMaconie @frankcottrell_b Outstanding show!!!!😎🕺

[John Sharples @john_hobyuk]

Rewarding and inspiring for our wonderful team of volunteers to be recognised in this way. Very proud! #HOBY #HOBYUK #KAVS #kavs2024

[John Sharples @john_hobyuk]

Our very own @BenSharples2 and @WeAreMicLowry lighting up @thevoiceuk ! #rnb #liverpool
#harmony #vocals

[MiC LOWRY @WeAreMicLowry]

MiC LOWRY | 'The Boy Is Mine' | The Semi Finals | The Voice UK 2024 https://t.co/ZKzQD4zkiy

[MiC LOWRY @WeAreMicLowry]

Choose your fighter!

We will be back on your screens this Saturday on #thevoiceuk see you there 🙏🏾🖤

📸: @callumshots

[Andy Burnham @andyburnham]

To mark #BlackHistoryMonth2024, I took a group of amazing students from @RCDivineMercy on a tour of our city-centre to learn about how, in 1862, the humble cotton-workers of Manchester took a stand and refused to handle slave-picked cotton.👇🏻

[Omid Djalili @omid9]

The Sturmabteilung known as “SA” literally "Storm Division" or “Storm Troopers”, was the original paramilitary wing of the Nazi Party.

They were basically Civilian militia. In 1930s Germany before Hitler came to power, the SA's job was to impersonate angry citizens and intimidate and attack Jews in the street.

That's what we've seen on the streets of England over the past few days: a civilian militia, designed to look like angry, local citizens who've had enough, but in reality, they are sent into the area from elsewhere.

These are orchestrated demonstrations, those involved are acting under orders, to be violent, and to attack Muslim targets and the police. But as the article below states “large numbers of people are engaging in activity online but there’s no membership structure or badge - there are not even formalised leaders, but directed by social media influencers. It’s like a school of fish rather than traditional organisation.”

We are expected to believe spontaneous protests by concerned local citizens sprung up simultaneously in several cities at once. The truth is, these are coordinated events. Those involved are ‘foot soldiers’. Whether they know it or not.

The Southport suspect is now believed to be a Christian. This information is irrlevent. The attack on Islam has begun. And those involved are world-wide. This is why we see so many social media posts spreading false information about what is happening in England from foreign bot accounts and they’re all pushing the same common narrative: Get the Muslims. Get the immigrants. Everything is their fault.

It’s an old tactic. But the question is: who is laying the eggs?

https://t.co/dtD6igMdrm

[Munya Chawawa @munyachawawa]

Forget riots - why not compete in the The EDL-ympics! 🎾🥋🏓

A safe space to express your misdirected hatred 😃

[John Sharples @john_hobyuk]

Come along and see us. It will put a smile on your face!

[Over The Water Choirs @OverTheWater_]

#Tweetthemedia Fresh from performing this show on the main stage at Malmo's Eurovision Village in May, Over The Water Choirs are so excited to present their 'Eurovision Binge at The Fringe' next Wednesday at #EdFringe
We are performing two shows only!
https://t.co/KxCqJsypwF

[Tracey Thorn @tracey_thorn]

This thread a heartening reminder of what most people are really like. Coming together, supporting each other, being human.

[Homebaked Bakery @HomebakedBakery]

We’ve been a bit quite working away on something…. Our Frozen Pie Delivery is BACK!

#BuyLocal & ORDER NOW FOR FROZEN PIE DELIVERY ALL ACROSS THE LIVERPOOL CITY REGION!!!

Shop Now: https://t.co/QQAbqwjiNQ

#MoreThanAPie

[John Sharples @john_hobyuk]

@frankcottrell_b : bringer of joy!

[BookTrust @Booktrust]

⭐ We're delighted to announce that Frank Cottrell-Boyce is the Waterstones #ChildrensLaureate 2024-2026! ⭐

Watch the full video to find out about Frank's plans for the role & his new #ReadingRights campaign:

https://t.co/IMVu6CgstF

@ace_thenorth @UKLaureate @frankcottrell_b

[Over The Water Choirs @OverTheWater_]

Not long now until OTW Show Choir’s #EurovisionBingeAtTheFringe shows on Wed 7th August! Fresh from taking the show to Malmo during this year’s Eurovision including a main stage performance at the Eurovision village, we are so excited for our fringe debut! https://t.co/KxCqJsypwF

[Electoral Commission @ElectoralCommUK]

Are you registered to vote?

❗ There is only 1 week left to register to vote in the UK Parliamentary general election on 4 July. ❗

The deadline to register is Tuesday 18 June by 11:59pm.

It only takes 5 minutes.

Register now 🔽
https://t.co/f3iZY0E8Kn

[Eddie Izzard @eddieizzard]

There is only a week left to register to vote in the UK election. If you’re not registered by 11.59pm on the 18th June, you cannot vote on 4th July. To register just click on https://t.co/5au3gPGPXR and then just share this post with anyone and everyone @justvote24

[Over The Water Choirs @OverTheWater_]

We were told we were mad to try raise £20,000 to take 34 singers to Sweden for Eurovision. BUT WE DID IT!!! Our choir was so proud to represent Liverpool City Region in Malmö. We might keep our sequins on forever…
@CultureLPool @LivEchonews @WIRRALGLOBENEWS @BBCNWT

[John Sharples @john_hobyuk]

@OverTheWater_ all set to show their support for @alexander_olly at #eurovision2024 in Malmo next week! #liverpool #merseyside #wirral #sweden

[Over The Water Choirs @OverTheWater_]

Rehearsing our arrangement of @alexander_olly ‘s track ahead of our trip to Malmö! Reckon this one will go down well when we sing it at Euro Village…
@scott_mills @bbceurovision @Rylan @CultureLPool @CopenhagenESC @uk_eurovision @wiwibloggs @UKinSweden