It’s funny how things change, isn’t it? Ashley Cole was initially one of our most unpopular signings ever when he arrived from the Marble Halls of Mordor as part of the William Gallas deal in 2008.

West Ham fans have been ranked top of the league when it comes to witty terrace chants.

Three members of girl group The Saturdays are battling it out for the title of ‘Celebrity Mum of the Year’.

The Saturdays star Frankie Sandford has become a mother, with a son called Parker.

The Saturdays singer took to Twitter to announce the news, after changing her moniker on the social networking site.

Frankie Sandford is missing alcohol.

The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford is pregnant.

Luis Suarez’s name was booed twice at the Professional Footballers’ Association Player of the Year awards.

Mollie King is dating pop producer Jordan Omley.

Ho hum. This column has touched before on sport’s propensity to be sidetracked by events which have little or nothing to do with the events taking place inside the white lines, or whatever the equivalent parameters may be in the various codes that demand our attention, and here we are again.

Saturdays star Frankie Sandford has joined up with mental health charity Mind, only months after admitting her own struggle with depression.

Brighton 2 Newcastle 0

John Terry will today go head to head with the FA after taking the “heart-breaking” decision to end his England career.

John Terry sensationally ended his England career last night.

Robin van Persie tops the Premier League transfers so far this summer. Here are this summer's confirmed deals so far:

John Terry faced another fight to be cleared of using racist language towards Anton Ferdinand after the Football Association last night decided he still had a case to answer.

Chelsea captain John Terry was cleared of racially abusing an opponent during a Premier League match after one of the most high-profile trials involving a football player.

Footballer John Terry has been cleared of hurling a racist obscenity at Anton Ferdinand. Here are some of the highs and lows of his career.

Former England captain John Terry has often been close to controversy during his career.

England defender John Terry will continue giving evidence today when he returns to his trial for allegedly racially abusing Anton Ferdinand.

John Terry reacted with anger at claims he racially abused footballer Anton Ferdinand, a court heard today.

Former England captain John Terry said he was not prepared to be called a racist, his trial heard today.

Footballer John Terry was goaded about an alleged affair before throwing a racist insult at Anton Ferdinand, a court has heard.

Footballer John Terry was goaded about an alleged affair before throwing a racist insult at Anton Ferdinand, a court heard today.

Footballer Anton Ferdinand told a court today that he found alleged racist abuse by John Terry "very hurtful".

Manchester City's Wayne Bridge has dropped down to the npower Championship and joined Brighton on a season-long loan deal.

Roy Hodgson or Harry Redknapp? Sober tactician or wise-cracking rabble-rouser? Cosmopolitan technocrat or salt-of-the-earth motivator? The question is largely irrelevant, or certainly less important than the far bigger issue of why on earth England found themselves in the position of appointing a manager six weeks before a major tournament.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is among nine players to be released by Sunderland.

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill is unlikely to make many changes for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash against Tottenham.

Striker Nicklas Bendtner is expected to be fit for Sunderland’s FA Cup quarter-final trip to Everton tomorrow.

Sunderland 1 Liverpool 0

Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill will be without suspended duo Lee Cattermole and Stephane Sessegnon for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League clash with Liverpool.

Nicklas Bendtner could return to the Sunderland squad for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to West Brom after recovering from a facial fracture.

It was a sunny afternoon last June when I got a call that set alarm bells ringing.

Loan signings Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos return to the Sunderland squad for tomorrow’s Premier League clash with Arsenal.

Fabio Capello last night plunged England into crisis by resigning as the national team manager just four months before the start of Euro 2012.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will be without loan signings Wayne Bridge and Sotirios Kyrgiakos for tomorrow night’s FA Cup fourth round replay at Middlesbrough.

Stoke 0 Sunderland 1

Stoke manager Tony Pulis made three changes to his team for this afternoon’s Barclays Premier League clash with Sunderland at the Britannia Stadium.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill will be without defender Wes Brown and midfielder David Vaughan for tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League trip to Stoke as the pair face up to weeks on the sidelines.

QPR were the standout big spenders as the transfer window slammed shut last night.

Sunderland boss Martin O’Neill tonight completed his second deadline-day swoop when he signed defender Sotirios Kyrgiakos on loan for the remainder of the season.

Martin O'Neill today clinched his first signing as Sunderland manager by landing Wayne Bridge on loan until the end of the season.

Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge was on his way to Wearside this morning as he closed in on a loan move to Sunderland.