Ferguson's perfect Bobby Charlton tribute and the best sporting quotes of 2023
From seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady announcing his retirement, again, to the fallout from an Ashes stumping controversy and England’s heartbreaking defeat in the Women’s World Cup final, there have been some memorable soundbites over the past year.
Here, the PA news agency looks back at some of the best sporting quotes of 2023.
“One man misses, does the other man get? I have never seen the like. Come on Bully Boy. Yes! Double 12… That is the most amazing leg of darts you will ever see in your life. I can’t speak, I can’t speak.” – Darts commentator Wayne Mardle is lost for words after Michael Smith’s stunning nine-dart finish in the PDC World Championship final immediately after Michael van Gerwen had missed his own attempt at darting perfection.
“One thing I’m looking forward to is for my kid to watch one of my matches and tell someone, ‘that’s my mom’.” – Four-time grand slam champion Naomi Osaka shared news of her pregnancy on social media during January and vowed to be back competing at the 2024 Australian Open.
“I know the process was a pretty big deal last time, so when I woke up this morning I figured I’d just press record and let you guys know first. It won’t be long-winded. You only get one super emotional retirement essay and I used mine up last year.” – Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady announcing his retirement “for good” during February.
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“There is a huge amount of talent. We tried to entertain and we certainly did that. We will come back stronger.” – England captain Heather Knight after an agonising six-run defeat by hosts South Africa in the Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final.
“I must admit, I had a tear in my eye. It just moved me, it was beautiful.” – Gary Lineker reflected on pundits and fellow presenters having dropped out of a host of football shows in solidarity with the former England striker, who was briefly taken off air as host of the BBC ’s Match of the Day following a social media post criticising the language used by the Government to promote its asylum plans.
Gary Lineker was briefly taken off air by the BBC, resulting in a boycott of Match of the Day (PA)“I believe that when Harry stops playing he will leave the England record in a place where it will be very difficult for someone else to break it.” – Wayne Rooney after Harry Kane passed his international goalscoring record.
“My coach passed away a few days ago and it was really unexpected, so this one is definitely for him. He had a lot of belief in a little 10-year old me, so that medal is for him and everyone at home. I hope to make him really proud, and I hope he is up there watching.” – Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson retained her 800m title at the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul during March and dedicated the stylish victory to her late former coach.
Keely Hodgkinson retained her title in Istanbul (Getty Images)“The fear of losing drives me more than the will to win. This has definitely been the hardest year. I’m relieved that it’s over, for lots of reasons.” – Chelsea manager Emma Hayes after her side celebrated a fourth successive Women’s Super League title.
“I feel like I’ve completed football.” – Long-serving Luton midfielder Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu after helping the Hatters win the Championship play-off final on penalties to secure promotion to the Premier League.
“I never had any dreams or aspirations to do what I’ve done, I only ever wished to make my family proud of me, and what I’ve achieved has gone way beyond that. Of the trophies and titles I could have wished to achieve, I have reached them all, but my greatest achievement is the happiness that I have found in Nat.” – Katherine Sciver-Brunt announced her retirement from international cricket after an extraordinary 19-year career in which she took more wickets than any other woman for England.
“After two years of disruption and distraction, this is a historic day for the game we all know and love.” – PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan following the shock announcement in June that the PGA Tour, DP World Tour and LIV Golf had agreed to merge commercial operations under common ownership.
“I got the call, tried to play it nice and cool – but I hung up the phone and screamed the house down.” – Tottenham forward Bethany England on being recalled to the Lionesses squad ahead of the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
“If there was an opportunity to get a stumping (again), I definitely would. To see how much has played out since then, it’s been a little bit surprising. There’s been some nasty stuff been said, but it is the Ashes.” – Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey on the backlash from his controversial dismissal of England batter Jonny Bairstow during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
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Alex Carey controversially stumped Jonny Bairstow at Lord's (Getty Images)“I don’t know what’s happening now. After everything I’ve been through, I had a cast on this time last year, and now I can’t believe I’m holding this trophy.” – Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded player to win the Wimbledon women’s singles title after beating Ons Jabeur in the final on Centre Court.
“It is the first and it’s great – but I don’t want to be the only. This isn’t a gimmick.” – Hannah Dingley on her appointment as caretaker Forest Green head coach during pre-season, the first woman to take charge of an English Football League club.
“It’s been a wonderful ride, a huge privilege to wear the Nottinghamshire and England badge as much as I have.” – Stuart Broad after announcing he would retire from cricket following the Ashes.
“It’s obviously going to bruise a little bit. I think it was maybe one game too far to be able to reproduce the form that it took to be able to get to the starting line of the World Cup final.” – England head coach Jess Thirlby’s side saw hopes of Netball World Cup glory crushed after a 61-45 final defeat to Australia in Cape Town.
Harry Kane has shone since joining Bayern Munich (Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images/REX/Shutterstock)“I’ve always said that I want to compete and prove myself at the highest level during my career. This club is defined by its winning mentality – it feels very good to be here.” – Kane after completing his £100million move from Spurs to German giants Bayern Munich.
“Does it get any better than this? This is a dream come true. We had a massive challenge ahead of us. These girls are legends.” – Europe captain Suzann Pettersen after her side retained the Solheim Cup thanks to a dramatic 14-14 draw with the United States at Finca Cortesin in Spain.
“We did everything, we gave everything and we have overcome lots of challenges. It feels really bad, of course, and very disappointed, but still very proud of the team.” – England boss Sarina Wiegman following the 1-0 defeat by Spain in the Women’s World Cup final.
“We formed a bond from day one and they gave me everything. They trusted me and they delivered for me.” – Europe captain Luke Donald on his team after regaining the Ryder Cup from the United States with a 16.5-11.5 victory in Rome.
“(I) gave it a run. Hopefully be the catalyst for change. Sometimes you have to eat s**t for others to eat caviar further down the track.” – Eddie Jones after departing his role as Australia head coach following the Wallabies’ failure to reach the knockout stages of the Rugby World Cup.
“It’s no surprise to me that we’ve seen tributes to Sir Bobby from everywhere in the world, on every TV channel and in every newspaper, because he was without question the greatest English player of all time.” – Sir Alex Ferguson paid his own heartfelt farewell to Manchester United great Sir Bobby Charlton following the death of the World Cup winner at the age of 86.
England were dreadful at the Cricket World Cup (AFP via Getty Images)“It’s certainly a low point. We haven’t done ourselves justice. We have let ourselves down. We have let people down at home that support us through thick and thin.” – England captain Jos Buttler after the defending champions suffered an early exit from the Cricket World Cup in India.
“The players made sure I didn’t break a promise. After the (qualifying) draw I had to have a board meeting. I told them that this group would qualify directly for Euro 2024. No play-offs, I said they would go straight there.” – Scotland boss Steve Clarke on securing qualification for Euro 2024 with two matches to spare.
“My little boy has been extraordinary to allow me to do (this job), but it’s important for him. We have lives and I have to think about others. This is not a selfish decision, it’s a selfless decision. It’s about putting first other things in my life and I’m ready for that.” – Hayes on her decision to stand down as Chelsea boss at the end of the WSL season
Mikel Arteta was in a fiesty mood after Arsenal lost at Newcastle (MI News/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock)“I feel embarrassed. I have to now come in here and try to defend the club and please ask for help because it is an absolute disgrace that this goal is allowed.” – Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on yet another controversial VAR decision which saw his side slip to a 1-0 defeat at Newcastle.
“We are absolutely devastated to miss out by such small margins. Unfortunately, it wasn’t meant to be and that’s football.” – Arsenal forward Beth Mead after England’s 6-0 win over Scotland at Hampden Park was just not enough to reach the Nations League finals, and with it the chance to qualify for the Olympics for Team GB.
“I love Vegas, but not to drive in a Formula One car. (It is) 99 per cent show and one per cent sporting event. I think Monaco is like the Champions League, this is National League.” – World champion Max Verstappen was not impressed during the build-up to Formula One’s £500million debut race on the Las Vegas Strip in November…
“It was a lot of fun there, (with) a great crowd. I hope everyone enjoyed it. We definitely did, so, yeah, (we are) already excited to come back here next year.” – …but the Dutchman changed his tune after winning the grand prix.
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