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My dream of being a footballer took me from the US to Croatia at age 11 so Galway United isn’t much of a culture shock

GALWAY UNITED’S Vince Borden had no qualms about moving a long way from his upstate New York home for football — having decamped to Croatia for the game as a kid.

The Tribesmen’s 26-year-old American has become a fixture in John Caulfield’s midfield since joining the club for their 2023 promotion-winning season.

And Borden has settled in easily after swapping the east of the US for the west of Ireland as his willingness to travel for the sport started younger than most — spending three years with the Dinamo Zagreb and HASK academies from the age of 11.

He told SunSport: “I was 11 when I first went to Croatia and I stayed there three years.

“My coach in the US growing up — from Under-10s — was a Croatia guy who played for Dinamo Zagreb as a goalkeeper and he had some connections.

“The aim for me growing up was to play at a higher level and that was hard in upstate New York. So I headed to Croatia for three years.”

His coach was Nenad ‘Ziggy’ Ziganta, who now works for Cornell University but played for Dinamo in the 1980s before joining the NASL Indoor League.

And moving thousands of kilometres away from home as a kid was a learning experience.

Borden added: “My family came over but I was with a guy called Nate Bell who was also a coach in my first year. He was the age I am now when he went.

“He coaches a college in New York City as well as the Brooklyn academy now, which is a highly-rated academy.

“I probably wouldn’t do it again. I’d wait until I was older if I could do it again. You don’t really know what’s going on when you’re a kid.

“Some pressures get to you when far from home without some family support.

“Dinamo Zagreb was probably one of the best academies in Europe when I was there, along with Ajax. I was the only overseas player in my age group, so it was hard to get game time.

“I moved to another academy and played more after a couple of years. But I came home after three years. It was OK. I learned the language within six months and still speak it now.

“That helped later when I went to Slovenia as you can get by with Croatian there.”

He returned to the Balkans with Rudar Velenje in 2021 after completing his education back in the USA, having studied criminal justice at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

17 February 2023; Vince Borden of Galway United during the SSE Airtricity Men's First Division match between Finn Harps and Galway United at Finn Park in Ballybofey, Donegal. Photo by David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
The 6’3″ midfielder is loving life out west

And after a season in Slovenia he was asked if he would be interested in prolonging his stint in Europe with Galway United in 2023.

He added: “I love Galway. My missus is always trying to get us when there is the mid-season break to go somewhere sunny but I’d rather stay in Ireland.

“We went to Donegal a few weeks ago. She wasn’t too happy because it was raining most of the time but I got to see some of the sights.

“We stayed in Letterkenny but headed around, saw the Giant’s Causeway and a few of the beaches. We went to Kerry last year and the weather was better.

“But there is nowhere better than Galway when the weather is good.”

And he has enjoyed some good times on the pitch as Galway romped to the First Division title in his first season. The Tribes were also pushing for Europe last term and are in contention again.

Currently seventh, United would be third if they won their games in hand. They host St Patrick’s Athletic at Eamonn Deacy Park tomorrow night.

Borden continued: “You could say about any team in the league, anyone will feel they have a chance and you rarely see games where it is 4-0 or 5-0.

“We just take it game by game. I think that’s the best way to do it in this league. We can beat everyone on our day. But I think that a lot of the league would say the same.”

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Katie Price almost bursts out of barely there strapless bikini as boozy holiday to Ibiza continues

KATIE Price pulled on a revealing pale pink bikini as she continued her boozy Ibiza getaway.

The former glamour, 47, mode opted for a strapless bandeau top adorned with hot pink stitching which clung to her curves.

Katie Price and a man in a pink shirt, with the text "Love ya sis" overlaid.
instagram
Katie Price donned a barely there strapless bikini top as her boozy holiday to Ibiza continues[/caption]
Conor McGregor with Katie Price at Wayne Lineker's Ibiza beach club.
INSTAGRAM @thenotoriousmma
She has partied with Conor McGregor and Tottenham star Kevin Danso on the wild trip[/caption]
Katie Price in a pink bikini taking a selfie in Ibiza.
Instagram
Katie, 47, has opted for a series of pink swimwear on the White Isle[/caption]

Katie hit a pool party in her sexy swimwear, accessorising with gold chain necklaces and pendants.

She pulled her dark locks up in a high ponytail to show off the snatched results of her recent £10K facelift, while keeping her make-up natural.

The mum of five posted her sunny snap, which saw her posing with a male pal, to her Instagram Stories, before he added the caption: “Love ya sis.”

It came just days after she opted for a red two-piece as she partied with MMA fighter Conor McGregor and Tottenham star Kevin Danson.

She also flashed her bum in Barbie-print swimwear as she again hit Wayne Lineker‘s iconic O Beach Club.

In a snap shared on EastEnders star Dean Gaffney‘s Instagram page, Katie could be seen partying with the former soap actor.

Standing in between Dean and pal Jamie O’Hara, Katie posed and pouted as the two men beamed.

She was then snapped alongside Wayne in a photo, with the pair looking friendly while she donned a bikini.

FAN CONCERN

Yet after showing off her plastered-up bum following recent surgery, as well as her slender frame, fans have questioned if the reality TV star is “OK.”

It came after another vacation image saw her posing in a pink halterneck bikini top and sunglasses. 

She showed off her tiny frame and surgically enhanced breasts – and fans rushed to comment, sharing concerns over former glamour model Katie’s weight loss. 

One wrote: “Soo soo sad to see Katie like this.. I hope she goes and gets the help she needs.”

Another said: “Oh sweetheart, you seem so unwell. Wish you’d seek help.”

And a third added: “Why isn’t someone providing support to Katie .. this is so sad to see.”

Katie Price's Surgery: A Timeline

1998 – Katie underwent her first breast augmentation taking her from a natural B cup to a C cup. She also had her first liposuction

1999 – Katie had two more boob jobs in the same year, one taking her from a C cup to a D cup, and then up to an F cup

2006 – Katie went under the knife to take her breasts up to a G cup

2007 – Katie had a rhinoplasty and veneers on her teeth

2008 – Katie stunned fans by reducing her breasts from an F cup to a C cup

2011 – Going back to an F cup, Katie also underwent body-contouring treatment and cheek and lip fillers

2014/5 – Following a nasty infection, Katie had her breast implants removed

2016 – Opting for bigger breasts yet again, Katie had another set of implants, along with implants, Botox and lip fillers

2017 – After a disastrous ‘threading’ facelift, Katie also had her veneers replaced. She also had her eighth boob job taking her to a GG cup

2018 – Katie went under the knife yet again for a facelift

2019 – After jetting to Turkey, Katie had a face, eye and eyelid lift, Brazilian bum lift and a tummy tuck

2020 – Katie has her 12th boob job in Belgium to correct botched surgery and a new set of veneers

2021 –  In a complete body overhaul, she opts for eye and lip lifts, liposuction under her chin, fat injected into her bum and full body liposuction

2022 – Katie undergoes another brow and eye lift-and undergoes ‘biggest ever’ boob job in Belgium, her 16th in total

2023 – Opting for a second rhinoplasty, Katie also gets a lip lift at the same time as well as new lip filler throughout the year

2024 – Katie has her 17th boob job in Brussels after revealing she wanted to downsize. She performed at Dublin Pride just days later and surgeons warned the lack of recovery posed a risk of infection

Earlier this year mum-of-five Katie was forced to shut down claims she was using Ozempic to lose weight. 

She later insisted: “I’m healthy and I do eat.”

Katie Price and a man in Ibiza.
Instagram
Fans have expressed concern about the star, seen here with Wayne Lineker[/caption]
Katie Price in a red bikini top, heading to the beach with her son and friends.
katie-pricey/Snapchat/Backgrid
Katie recently clapped back at claims she had used weight loss jabs[/caption]
Katie Price and JJ Slater posing for a photo together.
@katieprice/Backgrid
Her man JJ Slater is nowhere to be seen on the vacation[/caption]

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8,000 tonnes of illegal waste found in Prachin Buri factory raid

A secret industrial dumping ground packed with over 8,000 tonnes of toxic waste has been uncovered in Prachin Buri, exposing a massive illegal recycling racket run by foreign nationals in defiance of Thai law. The shocking discovery was made during a joint raid led by the Industry Ministry and its so-called “Sudsoi Team,” a taskforce …

The story 8,000 tonnes of illegal waste found in Prachin Buri factory raid as seen on Thaiger News.

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Get the trendy Wimbledon look with £14 Primark summer dress – it covers upper arms and flatters shoulders 

WIMBLEDON is just around the corner and the perfect chance to enjoy some Pimms and tuck into strawberries and cream. 

If you want to steal the effortless style at home without forking out a fortune, Primark is selling a gorgeous summer dress for just £14.

Woman in a white short-sleeved dress.
Primark
Primark is selling a £14 summer dress which is the perfect Wimbledon vibe[/caption]
White dress with puff sleeves and cinched waist, viewed from behind.
Primark
The dress has a flattering waist tie and small sleeves[/caption]
Spectator at Wimbledon eating strawberries and cream while watching a tennis match.
AFP - Getty
Wimbledon attracts the cream of the crop when it comes to society[/caption]
Woman walking past a Primark store window display.
Getty
Primark is selling the bargain dress for the summer[/caption]

Whether you are attending the world-famous tennis tournament itself or watching at home, this mini dress with puffed sleeves could be for you. 

Primark’s Bodice Detail Tea Dress comes with a flattering drawstring waist and chic button front bodice detailing offers “subtle structure.”

It also has small sleeves which after flattering on upper arms.

It also is said to be perfect for the heat, as the mini dress has been designed to have a “relaxed fit and soft shape.”

Primark says the dress is “perfect for dressing up or down, it’s a go to piece for warm days or layered looks.”

Wimbledon is the oldest tennis tournament in the world and attracts royalty and A-listers alike.

As well as being steeped in tradition with the refreshments served, the day also has a typically prim and proper dress code.

Often people wear crisp white outfits, or pay homage to the championship’s signature green and purple colour. 

Typically there isn’t a strict dress code, but smart casual is recommended, particularly for those with tickets for Centre Court or Court No 1.

Fascinators aren’t traditionally worn, but summer hats are encouraged to provide some relief from the sun.

There’s hope that style icon Princess will be attending this year’s event, alongside other fashionable royal favourites such as Zara Tindall and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.

Ben Roberts, Managing Director of British jewellery brand Clogau, shared: “You don’t get into the royal box at Wimbledon unless you’re dressed to impress. However, the dress code is still far more relaxed than you’d find at an official royal event. 

“This means members of the Royal Family can embrace a more dressed-down but still luxe look, with Kate, Zara and Sophie all adept at blending traditional royal fashion with more modern trends, mixing high street names we all know and love with unique jewellery to truly elevate their look.

The Duchess of Cambridge applauds at Wimbledon.
Paul Edwards - The Sun
If white at Wimbledon is good enough for the Princess of Wales, it is good enough for us[/caption]
Margot Robbie and Tom Ackerley at Wimbledon.
Getty
Margot Robbie, pictured with husband Tom Ackerley, was also seen wearing white[/caption]
Woman in white dress taking a selfie in a bathroom.
Instagram
Molly Mae also got the white memo when she went to the tennis tournament[/caption]
Amanda Holden and her daughter walking together, one in a white dress and the other in a lime green suit.
Splash
Amanda Holden looked chic in Wimbledon whites stepping out with lookalike daughter Lexi[/caption]

“Kate has mastered every colour, style, and print, but green has emerged as her signature colour for the tournament.

“Kate could switch things up this year; polka dots have made a comeback, a pattern she has always loved. It wouldn’t be surprising to see her incorporate this into her look.”

“Kate is often seen wearing pearl earrings for engagements as they compliment her stand-out, impressionable style; a classic touch like her beloved Annoushka pearl earrings make for the perfect accessory.”

While we may not have Princess Kate’s wardrobe budget, the Primark dress could do the trick.

What it's like to be a Wimbledon ball kid

By Alison Maloney

WHILE the likes of Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff and Andy Murray keep us entertained during this summer’s Championships, spare a thought for those unsung heroes that keep the tournament going.

Personal trainer Alex Crockford, now 33, served as a ball boy at Wimbledon in 2005 and 2006, and has lifted the lid to SunSport on what it’s really like.

“Standing still for hours is one of the toughest parts of being a ball boy,” he says.

“It’s quite strict and you don’t want to let your team down or feel like you’re doing a bad job.

“I remember one really hot day, I clearly hadn’t fuelled or hydrated myself appropriately.

“I did have a very faint moment, and started seeing blurry stars.

“There are six BBGs on the court and a captain, which was me, so I was standing to the left of the umpire chair and I was away from my water.

“I had to go outside of my position, get some water and re-balance myself before I could continue.”

Click here to read Alex’s ball boy story in full.

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Thai father arrested for assaulting daughter with bamboo stick

A Thai father in Chachoengsao province has been taken into custody for allegedly assaulting his young daughter with a bamboo stick. The incident occurred after the daughter, a primary school student, was too scared to use the bathroom at night due to a fear of ghosts. The situation came to light when a teacher visited …

The story Thai father arrested for assaulting daughter with bamboo stick as seen on Thaiger News.

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