The Times’ top 10 high school football rankings from the City Section:
1. CARSON (7-1). It’s Marine League title decision night on Friday vs. San Pedro.
2. CLEVELAND (8-0). Cavaliers produced two 100-yard rushers last week in win over Taft.
3. SAN PEDRO (6-1). QB Seth Solorio needs time to throw in showdown with Carson.
4. KING/DREW (5-3). Golden Eagles on verge of first Coliseum League title.
5. BIRMINGHAM (3-5). Patriots’ offense is starting to improve.
6. CRENSHAW (5-3). Cougars struggled in second half of loss to King/Drew.
7. KENNEDY (8-0). Matthew Quintanilla having big season rushing.
8. GARFIELD (7-1). Ceasar Reyes has passed the 2,000 yards rushing mark.
9. MARSHALL (8-0). Barristers are headed to showdown with Eagle Rock next week.
10. PALISADES (4-3). Dolphins in position to win Western League title.
DO you love the theatre, gigs and stand-up but the prices make you wince?
You don’t need to spend a fortune though – as there are bags of secret loopholes and clever hacks to experience all sorts of culture, from Shakespearean plays to comedy gigs and arena concerts for virtually nothing.
Before you know it, you could be gushing to your mates about the “must-see” West End musical or cool band you saw – and you don’t even have to bankrupt yourself. Here’s how to get the best deals…
This app lets people book highly discounted last-minute tickets to West End and off-West End shows.
It operates worldwide, so if you are on holiday in New York you could pick up a Broadway bargain, too.
Our reporter saw the hit play The Book of Mormon for a knockdown price in the Big Apple, booking in the morning, and it was problem-free. But we’ve also taken advantage of their “rush tickets” and “digital lotteries”.
Rush tickets go on sale inside the app on the day, usually at 10am, and get you seats for a fraction of the price – typically £25 to £30.
Shows including The Devil Wears Prada and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child are included among the options.
Lottery tickets are picked from a pool – the most famous example is Hamilton, which usually sells out months in advance. People can “win” them for as little as £10.
Our reporter won £10 lottery tickets to see Orlando Bloom get his kit off in Killer Joe in the West End in 2018 via TodayTix – so it really works!
This connects slow-filling productions and gigs with eager audience members… it’s win-win.
Called ‘papering’, it’s a technique theatre producers use to fill empty seats and create buzz.
However, while the app is free and used nationwide – you submit your county and where else you might like to watch things – we can’t actually tell you what could come up for grabs.
Because some audience members will have paid full price for tickets, you’re strictly forbidden from shouting out: “I’ve got a freebie!” so discretion is a must.
If you can be discreet, then Central Tickets will be perfect for you. Like SeatFillers UK, it’s free to join and it works on the same principle.
You get tickets to gigs, the opera, dance, shows and comedy shows for between £4 and £15. It’s got a 4.9 out of 5 Trustpilot rating with more than 3,000 reviews.
The cash goes towards an admin fee – but they also raise money for NHS Charities Together.
This costs £5 a year – or is free if you’re a Blue Light Card or Defence Privilege Card holder.
It’s largely London-based, but is perfect if you live in or near the capital or regularly visit and love the arts.
You can browse hundreds of shows, including West End ones. But it also offers quirky, niche plays – great if you love branching out a bit!
Founded in 2001, don’t let the name fool you – this isn’t just a movie seat-filler platform; they also offer theatre, comedy, music and days out.
Happily, it’s free to join and it’s not just London. You can find offers as far afield as Manchester, Birmingham, Bath, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Leeds, Bristol, Belfast, Nottingham, Brighton, Southampton and even more.
There’s only one catch – afterwards you have to fill out a quick survey… but that’s nothing for a free experience!
You can either choose a lifetime membership for £12.99 or an annual membership for £5. Once signed up, you’re offered seats through papering – usually paying an admin fee of around £1 to £5 per show.
They deliver access to more than 42,000 events, from burlesque to cabaret and even sports.
This initiative requires a small booking fee but gives free tickets to major events for NHS staff, contractors, students, teachers, education staff and charity staff.
It also gives tickets to volunteers and people associated with The Ticket Bank – those who might face barriers that make it trickier to access live events, for example, unpaid carers.
It operates across the UK, so people might see anything from West End musicals to stand-up comedy, and UK music festivals to live sporting events.
London’s National Theatre offers £10 tickets to 16–25-year-olds – and you don’t have to live in the capital. You can book online.
Additionally, every Friday the theatre issues a limited number of “friday rush” tickets for the subsequent week – even for sold-out shows!
With actors like Jodie Comer, Andrew Garfield, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller, Judi Dench, Ian McKellen, Andrew Scott and Hugh Jackman having trod the boards there, bargain tickets are a win.
If you’re Midlands-based, then a trip to Shakespeare’s birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon, might be in order.
The RSC offers £10 tickets for 14–25-year-olds for shows performed there.
The discount is available on its website here. Not Bard going!
Live near a major UK festival? Then check if they run residents’ lotteries for free shows or heavily discounted tickets.
Our reporter snagged free tickets to see Skepta and The Streets thanks to a lotto win in Crystal Palace, London, and bagged cheap tickets to see Blondie, Iggy Pop and Noel Gallagher for the same reason.
But similar schemes exist if you live close in other parts of London, Sheffield, Winchester, Oxon, Dorset and Bucks.
You can similarly volunteer at many festivals and receive free tickets.
Occasionally this offer is emailed directly to local residents, as with above, but bigger charities also offer it for events like Glastonbury.
Writer Becky Pemberton told how her friend watched Glastonbury in 2022 for free, having volunteered.
Meanwhile, she enjoyed the event too as she helped out at a toasted cheese sandwich stand which she found out about through “word of mouth”.
She said: “I worked on a cheese toasty stand and got a free ticket for Glastonbury in 2022 (plus fed during shifts!).
“I did it by Pyramid Stage and saw Billie Eilish and Diana Ross. My friend also volunteered for the charity WaterAid and got in for free too. We’d meet up after our shifts and danced the night away into the early hours without having paid a penny!”
Visit WaterAid here and Oxfam here.
This is all done by a random draw – but you might get lucky!
From Strictly to Bookclub, there are loads on offer and they come up all the time. Crucially, they take place all over the UK, with shows being filmed in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Leeds, London and Margate.
If you fancy your luck visit the Beeb’s site here.
A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 8:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking
1. SANTA MARGARITA (8-0) def. St. John Bosco, 21-7; vs. JSerra, Friday; 1
2. SIERRA CANYON (8-0) def. Chaminade, 41-0; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday; 3
3. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 21-7; at Servite, Friday; 2
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (5-3) def. Norco, 46-14; at Chaparral, Friday; 4
5. MATER DEI (6-2) def. Servite, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 5
6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) vs. San Clemente, canceled; at Los Alamitos, Friday; 6
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (5-3) def. JSerra, 48-13; at Servite, Friday; 7
8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) vs. Mission Viejo, canceled; at San Juan Hills, Friday; 8
9. JSERRA (4-4) lost to Orange Lutheran, 48-13; at Santa Margarita, Friday; 10
10. BISHOP AMAT (7-1) def. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 48-28; vs. Loyola, Friday; 12
11. SERVITE (3-5) lost to Mater Dei, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 11
12. LA SERNA (7-1) def. Cerritos, 57-7; vs. Mayfair, Friday; 13
13. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) def. La Habra, 35-28; at Corona del Mar, Friday; 14
14. INGLEWOOD (8-1) def. Redondo Union, 33-7; at Leuzinger, Friday; 15
15. PALOS VERDES (7-1) def. Mira Costa, 34-14; at Redondo Union, Friday; 16
16. CORONA DEL MAR (7-1) lost to Capistrano Valley, 21-17; vs. Crean Lutheran, Friday; 9
17. CARSON (7-1) def. Narbonne, 60-0; vs. San Pedro, Friday; 18
18. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-1) lost to Bishop Amat, 48-28; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday; 17
19. CHAMINADE (5-3) lost to Sierra Canyon, 41-0; vs. Gardena Serra, Friday; 19
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (8-0) def. Western, 34-14; vs. Troy, Thursday; 20
21. SAN JACINTO (8-0) def. Elsinore, 49-16; vs. Granite Hills, Friday; 21
22. GARDENA SERRA (4-4) def. Loyola, 26-0; at Chaminade, Friday; 22
23. ORANGE (8-0) def. Beckman, 51-14; vs. Irvine, Thursday; 23
24. SAN JUAN HILLS (7-1) def. Yorba Linda, 14-10; vs. San Clemente, Friday; 24
25. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (7-1) def. Corona del Mar, 21-17; vs. Villa Park, Friday; 25
As far as optimism goes, Rangers were blown full of positive energy as they made the Saturday-night trip to Dundee on the back of seven straight wins.
However, a Dan Neil error felt “like a balloon popping”, said manager Derek McInnes, resulting in the Ibrox side fluffing their chance to move back to the Scottish Premiership summit after a gripping 2-2 draw at Dens Park.
McInnes’ men were punished for a disjointed first half when the impressive hosts went ahead through Bradley Fink, but Badredine Bouanani fired in a leveller just before the break.
Rangers lifted their intensity and level of dominance after the interval and were heading for an eighth consecutive victory when Nicolas Raskin slammed in a long-range stunner.
But a mishit Neil backpass to goalkeeper Ivor Pandur was pounced on by Callum Jones to earn Dundee a deserved point, opening the door for Celtic to extend their lead at the top to four points when they welcome Hearts on Sunday (15:00 BST).
“We’ve made a mistake for Dundee’s equaliser and it was like a balloon popping,” McInnes told BBC Scotland. “We then had to dig deep and go again, and we never quite managed to get to the same levels.
“It does feel like a missed opportunity, but in fairness to Dundee they were good value in the first half – it shows you why they are where they are in the league.
“But we can’t come away from home and have to score three goals to win a game.”
A look at the top performers from high school football games across the Southland this week.
RUSHING
• Vaughn Reinert, Torrance: Rushed for 223 yards and five touchdowns in defeat of West Torrance.
• Maleek Nolley, Cajon: Rushed for 266 yards and four touchdowns in win over Beaumont.
• Coy Collins, Villa Park: Rushed for 109 yards and three touchdowns in win over Tustin.
• Jacob Gallegos, San Dimas: Rushed for 204 yards and four touchdowns in defeat of Chino.
• Jason Brown, Muir: Rushed for 111 yards and two touchdowns in win over Monrovia.
• Ceasar Reyes, Garfield: Rushed for 324 yards and seven touchdowns in win over South Gate.
• Cyrus Aviles, Fullerton: Rushed for 112 yards and two touchdowns in win over Portola.
• Edward Rivera, Compton: Rushed for 246 yards and five touchdowns in defeat of Long Beach Cabrillo.
• Matix Frithsmith, Hart: Rushed for 163 yards and three touchdowns in win over Castaic.
• Luke Zapko, Oak Park: Had four rushing touchdowns in win over Buena.
• Nico Funez, Valencia: Rushed for 215 yards and two touchdowns in win over Canyon Country Canyon.
• William Biddle, L.A. University: Rushed for 264 yards and scored five touchdowns in defeat of Fairfax.
PASSING
• Lincoln Jahn, Inglewood: Passed for four touchdowns in win over Redondo Union.
• Reagan Toki, Orange Lutheran: Completed 14 of 16 passes for 191 yards and one touchdown in win over JSerra
• Demarco Hernandez, Sierra Canyon: Passed for 201 yards and two touchdowns in defeat of Chaminade.
• Evan McCalister, Valencia: Passed for four touchdowns in win over Canyon Country Canyon.
RECEIVING
• Jalen Flowers, Palos Verdes: Caught three touchdown passes for 184 yards and had interception in win over Mira Costa.
• Ben Hanna, Villa Park: Caught six passes for 130 yards and passed for a touchdown in defeat of Tustin.
• Luke Frith, San Juan Hills: Caught eight passes for 128 yards and one touchdown in win over Yorba Linda.
DEFENSE
• Rayshawn Brandon, Santa Margarita: Returned and interception 51 yards for touchdown in win over St. John Bosco.
• Jayden Harris, Charter Oak: Returned and interception 80 yards for touchdown in win over Glendora.
• Eric Wright, South East: Had eight solo tackles in loss to Roosevelt.
• King Berry, Lawndale: Had interception and ran for a game-winning touchdown in win vs. South Torrance.
• Derrick Coleman Jr., Gardena Serra: Made two interceptions, including a pick six, in shutout of Loyola.
• King Rich Johnson, Orange Lutheran: Returned interception 20 yards for touchdown in win over JSerra.
• Noah Carter, Dana Hills: Had two sacks in defeat of Laguna Beach.
• Simote Tupou, St. John Bosco: Had consecutive sacks in loss to Santa Margarita.
• Bailey Hill, Hart: Had two sacks in defeat of Castaic.
• Zayne Reed, Agoura: Had three sacks in his first game of the season in win over Camarillo.
SPECIAL TEAMS
• Jaden Walk-Green, Corona Centennial: Made a 43-yard field goal and took a high snap on a field goal for a 16-yard touchdown in win over Norco.
• Noah Guillen, Bishop Amat: Made a school-record 52-yard field goal in defeat of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame.
• Galileo Chen, Portola: Had a 97-yard kickoff return for touchdown in loss to Fullerton.
• Alejandro Carranza, King/Drew: Made two field goals in the first half during King/Drew’s win vs. Crenshaw.
The Chargers will have their two top wide receivers back Sunday as they seek their first win of the season against the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs.
Ladd McConkey (foot) and Quentin Johnston (chest) are each off the injury report after missing the Chargers’ Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“Heck yeah. Fired up about that,” Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Really good week of preparation. … Excited for this opportunity.”
Harbaugh said he didn’t know whether McConkey or Johnston would have limited snaps.
The Chargers, though, could use all the reinforcements they can get. They enter Arrowhead Stadium averaging 16.8 points per game — third-worst in the NFL — eager to snap a nightmare five-game skid heading into their bye week.
Tre’ Harris, who led the Chargers’ banged-up wideout unit against the Broncos, is out with a hamstring injury; KeAndre Lambert-Smith (hamstring) is questionable with the same ailment.
Rookie wideout Brenen Thompson (quad), whose unparalleled speed helps open up offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel’s scheme, is also questionable after missing the last three games.
Quarterback Justin Herbert isn’t the type to complain about working with limited options.
“You have to try to keep the game the same,” Herbert said. “You can’t let it affect you too much.”
But it’s refreshing to have McConkey and Johnston back.
“Yeah, it was awesome to see those guys out there,” Herbert said Wednesday. “They’ve made so many plays for us. And, you know, we expect them to make more plays for us, too.
“To have those guys back out there — I know they’re doing everything they can to be out back out there for this team.”
Unfortunately for the Chargers, the offensive line is still severely hobbled.
Chargers offensive linemen, from left, guard Logan Taylor, guard Alex Harkey, center Jake Slaughter and guard Cole Strange run onto the field with quarterback Justin Herbert during a loss to the Denver Broncos on Oct. 11.
(Scott Strazzante / Associated Press)
Right tackle Joe Alt (neck) and left guard Kayode Awosika (fibula) remain out, meaning rookie center Jake Slaughter will continue to anchor a front that has featured several inexperienced players over the last two games.
The offensive line was already down left tackle Rashawn Slater (ankle), who is on injured reserve, and center Tyler Biadasz, whose season was over before it started when he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament tear in August.
McDaniel liked what he saw from the offensive line against the Broncos. He’s optimistic, really with no other choice, about the unit entering the matchup with the Chiefs, a team allowing the NFL’s seventh-fewest points per game (19.3).
“There [were] a lot of positives from the offensive line perspective,” McDaniel said. “I’ve never been a part of that many rookies playing at once. Fortunately, we drafted the right guys, and they [are] made of the right stuff. … There was a lot to build on.”
Kansas City, as usual over the last decade, will be a force to reckon with — especially at home.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes and new running back Kenneth Walker III have the Chiefs averaging the fifth-most points per game (29.5) and the second-most yards per game (412) amid a 4-0 start.
“Explosiveness, man,” Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack said. “[Walker is] breaking tackles. Just the ability to create plays between him and [Mahomes], man. That’s a special duo there in that backfield.”
One the Chargers will have trouble stopping, as they’ll also be without key defensive players like safety Derwin James Jr.
Winning in the NFL is already challenging enough. But for the injury-riddled Chargers, it’s been impossible so far, and it won’t be any easier Sunday.
“Communicating and keeping your poise and all those factors,” Harbaugh said of preparing for the loud environment in Kansas City.
By Los Angeles Times staff
A look at how the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland fared this week:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game
1. SANTA MARGARITA (8-0) def. St. John Bosco, 21-7; vs. JSerra, Friday
2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 21-7; at Servite, Friday
3. SIERRA CANYON (8-0) def. Chaminade, 41-0; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (5-3) def. Norco, 46-14; at Chaparrel, Friday
5. MATER DEI (6-2) def. Servite, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday
6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) at San Clemente, postponed; at Los Alamitos, Friday
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (5-3) def. JSerra, 48-13; at Servite, Friday
8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) vs. Mission Viejo, postponed; at San Juan Hills, Friday
9. CORONA DEL MAR (7-0) at Capistrano Valley, Saturday; vs. Crean Lutheran, Friday
10. JSERRA (4-4) lost to Orange Lutheran, 48-13; at Santa Margarita, Friday
11. SERVITE (3-5) lost to Mater Dei, 38-15; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday
12. BISHOP AMAT (7-1) def. Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 48-28; vs. Loyola, Friday
13. LA SERNA (7-1) def. Cerritos, 57-7; vs. Mayfair, Friday
14. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) vs. La Habra, late; at Corona del Mar, Friday
15. INGLEWOOD (8-1) def. Redondo Union, 33-7; at Leuzinger, Friday
16. PALOS VERDES (7-1) def. Mira Costa, 34-14; at Redondo Union, Friday
17. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-1) lost to Bishop Amat, 48-28; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday
18. CARSON (7-1) def. Narbonne, 48-14; vs. San Pedro, Friday
19. CHAMINADE (5-3) lost to Sierra Canyon, 41-0; vs. Gardena Serra, Friday
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (8-0) def. Western, 34-14; vs. Troy, Thursday
21. SAN JACINTO (8-0) def. Elsinore, 49-16; vs. Granite Hills, Friday
22. GARDENA SERRA (4-4) def. Loyola, 26-0; at Chaminade, Friday
23. ORANGE (8-0) def. Beckman, 51-14; vs. Irvine, Thursday
24. SAN JUAN HILLS (7-1) def. Yorba Linda, 14-10; vs. San Clemente, Friday
25. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-1) vs. Corona del Mar, Saturday; vs. Villa Park, Friday
ONE Roman city in the UK has made its way onto the list of the best places to visit in the WORLD next year.
Chichester in West Sussex is a must-see spot in amongst places in California, Canada, Italy and even Australia.
Expedia has revealed the trending hotspots for next year, which have seen a boom in searches.
Chichester has seen an increased interest of up to 30 per cent, the city itself dates back almost 2,000 years – and its main attraction dates back to 1075.
Chichester Cathedral sits right in the heart of the city and has done for over 900 years.
At 277 feet high, it’s the only medieval cathedral in England that can be seen from the sea.
Other popular spots for visitors include Fishbourne Roman Palace, the biggest Roman house in the UK, and the open-air Weald and Downland Living Museum.
Hopefully visitors will bump into friendly locals too as the city was voted the happiest place to live by The Guardian last year.
The location of the city means that it’s less than half an hour away from some of Britain’s beaches.
West Wittering Beach is a mere seven miles away from Chichester city centre and still in the district of Chichester.
The pretty beach has Blue Flag status and is backed by colourful beach huts, and the village itself is home to huge celebrities including Keith Richards and Kate Winslet.
Other nearby coastal spots include Selsey Beach and Bognor Regis – both of which are home to popular holiday parks like Seal Bay Resort and Butlin’s.
There is waterfront nearer to the city however as Chichester has its own harbour with sailing clubs, marinas and thousands of moorings.
One popular spot for visitors to enjoy lunch is The Boathouse in the marina which has indoor and outdoor seating.
Chichester also has lots of green spaces too as the area surrounding the city is part of the South Downs National Park.
For those who want to visit, Chichester has its own railway station with direct trains to London Victoria – these take around an hour and a half.
Also in Chichester is Bosham, a tiny village compared to Venice which is home to England’s best B&B.
It is even in the famous Bayeux Tapestry, as it was where King Harold lived.
Other locals say it looks like an ‘old fishing village‘ found in Devon or Cornwall.
Talking about Unpack ’27, Expedia Group CEO Ariane Gorin explained: “In 2027, travellers are being more intentional in choosing their next adventure, seeking experiences that are more personal and purposeful to them.
“We’re making it easier to discover, plan, and book the right trip, so travellers can spend less time managing the details and more time enjoying the moments that matter.”
The next closest spot for Brits, and the perfect destination for a holiday is Perugia in the Umbria region of Italy.
Flights with Ryanair are direct from London Stansted and start from as little as £20.
Found on the hilltop, the Umbria capital is one for the foodies, being famous for its chocolate (and annual chocolate festival).
There are also jazz festivals, historic fortresses and beautiful architecture to explore as well.
South Lake Tahoe, California
Hyogo, Japan
Punta del Este, Uruguay
Sedona, Arizona, USA
Busan, South Korea
Holbox, Mexico
Perugia, Italy
The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada
Chichester, UK
Gargolas/iStock via Getty Images
An unusual blast of warm weather across the U.S. Midwest and Mid-Atlantic has coincided with the middle of PJM Interconnection’s fall maintenance season, which prompted the Department of Energy to issue an emergency order for the October 13-16 period
14:23, 14 Oct 2026Updated 14:25, 14 Oct 2026
Discover the top bucket list destinations for 2027(Image: Getty Images)
The hottest holiday destinations for 2027 include South Lake Tahoe in California, Hyogo in Japan and Punta del Este in Uruguay, according to Expedia Group.
The global marketplace has analysed flight and accommodation search data to pinpoint where traveller interest is soaring. Between 1 September 2025 and 27 July 2026, compared to 1 September 2024 to 27 July 2025, searches for “South Lake Tahoe” in California, USA, jumped by 195%.
The resort city nestled in the Sierra Nevada mountains is described as ideal for adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, offering everything from skiing to picturesque hiking trails. Coming in second place is Hyogo in Japan, with searches climbing 95%, while Punta del Este, Uruguay secured third spot, with searches rising 65%.
The destinations form part of Expedia and Hotels.com’s “Unpack’27: The Trends in Travel” report, which details the destinations and travel behaviours expected to shape the year ahead.
Other locations making the top 10 include Sedona, Arizona, USA (up 55%), Busan, South Korea (up 50%) and Holbox, Mexico (up 45%). Perugia, Italy (up 35%), The Tweed, New South Wales, Australia (up 35%), Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada (up 35%) and Chichester, UK (up 30%) also made the list.
CEO of Expedia Group Ariane Gorin said: “Travel is about creating memories, and Unpack ’27 uncovers the destinations and experiences shaping those moments.
“In 2027, travellers are being more intentional in choosing their next adventure, seeking experiences that are more personal and purposeful to them.”
The report from the global marketplace also surveyed 26,000 respondents worldwide, including 2,000 from the UK, all of whom have previously been on holiday and plan to do so within the next three years.
Adults from 16 countries took part – including the UK, USA, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Denmark, France, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Mexico, Norway and Sweden.
Both the research and search data were used to determine 2027 travel trends, including the ‘2027 Destinations of the Year’, ‘Un-Adulting’, ‘Trip Snacking’, ‘Gothic Getaways’ and ‘The 2027 Set-Jetting Forecast’.
‘Un-Adulting’ emerged as a standout trend, with 57% saying they are “likely” to book an over 18s trip to an amusement park next year, a figure that climbs to 71% amongst Gen Z and Millennials.
For UK travellers in particular, these trips are all about having fun and enjoying a carefree day out (74%) and spending quality time with their partner, friends or other loved ones (64%). Escaping the pressures of everyday responsibilities (60%) also plays a significant role.
The ‘Trip Snacking’ trend has come to light as searches on Hotels.com for one-night stays between Thursday and Sunday soared by nearly 10% over the past 12 months compared to the previous year . The poll revealed that 79% of travellers are planning to book a one-night stay in the coming year, with this figure climbing to 83% amongst Gen Z and Millennials.
The surge in popularity is driven by a desire to attend concerts, shows and sporting events (49%), to mark life milestones (42%) and to enjoy a break between ‘normal’ holidays (23%).
‘Gothic Getaways’ have also emerged as a major trend, with 65% of respondents expressing a specific interest in booking a Gothic-style hotel in 2027 – rising to 71% amongst Gen Z and Millennials. Some 56% have previously chosen hotels purely for their atmosphere or aesthetic.
Amongst the 54% of UK travellers keen on booking a Gothic-style hotel in 2027, 51% favour historic hotels, castles, or properties steeped in a rich past.
Furthermore, 41% are drawn to destinations associated with folklore, legends or the supernatural, while 40% find the dramatic architecture and striking visual atmosphere of Gothic-style hotels particularly appealing.
Finally, ‘The 2027 Set-Jetting Forecast’ comes as searches for Monaco soared by more than 120% in the 30 days after Emily in Paris season six was confirmed to be filming there.
It also emerged that 18% have booked a trip to a destination after seeing it featured on television or in films.
Meanwhile, 46% of those who watch TV or films have researched or booked trips to locations featured in yet-to-be-released shows and films – rising to 58% amongst Gen Z and Millennials. On average, UK respondents said they would splash out £600 to visit a set location – rising to £629 for those with children in tow.
Gorin added: “We’re making it easier to discover, plan, and book the right trip, so travellers can spend less time managing the details and more time enjoying the moments that matter.”
Venice, Telluride and Toronto have wrapped, and the New York Film Festival is winding down. Ovations have been meticulously timed. Existential crises have been parsed, not including the trauma induced by Tom Cruise’s “Digger,” which prudently skipped the festivals to delay, if only for a couple of weeks, the poisonous word of mouth from seeping out. (It’s still well worth seeing.)
And there have been, of course, prizes, including a Netflix movie, the Spanish maximalist melodrama “La Bola Negra,” winning Toronto’s People’s Choice Award. That’s a first for the streamer, which means we will again be asking the question: Can a Netflix film finally win the best picture Oscar?
If you’ve seen “The Odyssey,” you probably know the answer to that question. But with more than five months (!) until the 99th Academy Awards, it’s a bit early for ironclad guarantees, even if it feels like it would take the winds of Poseidon to blow “The Odyssey’s” best picture campaign off course.
But it’s not too soon to roll out a first set of Oscar power rankings for best picture. With apologies to “Obsession,” “Fjord,” “Possible Love,” “You Can See Everything,” “Elsinore,” and whatever other movies you love (or look forward to loving), let’s start counting.
(Joseph Lynn / Thin Man Films / Bleecker Street)
Because of ongoing health issues, Mike Leigh has said that this warm and wrenching drama will be his last movie. If so, it’d be quite the capper to a career that has netted him seven Oscar nominations, five for his screenplays and two for direction. Yes, only one of his movies, “Secrets & Lies,” has been nominated for best picture. But “Tender Loving Care,” centered on two social service workers navigating the fraying social safety net and, in one case, anxiety about aging parents, possesses a bracing humanity full of compassion and urgency. It’s also quite funny. And it boasts a great cast, including newly minted Emmy winner Kate O’Flynn, as charming here as she is on “Widow’s Bay.” Leigh has more than earned a final curtain call with this one.
Jordan Firstman’s sincere, funny and genuinely moving debut feature has him playing a queer New York underground party promoter blindsided by the arrival of the 10-year-old son previously unknown to him. You could take issue with the uncomplicated perfection of the child, who has exquisite taste in music (Cocteau Twins, really?) and barely a trace of trauma despite the harrowing event that landed him in New York. But “Club Kid” is so assured and heartwarming that you can’t muster the energy to object. There’s probably going to be one feel-good movie nominated, and if it’s between this and “I Play Rocky,” I’ll cast my lot with the one that doesn’t rely so heavily on re-creating the familiar.
This 196-minute movie unfolds at, let’s just say, a leisurely pace, and includes a near-20-minute scene in which a character lays out the flaws of late-stage capitalism using a whiteboard. And it’s riveting. Or at least engaging. It’s certainly audacious, this drama about a hardworking director of a Parisian nursing home and the way a chance friendship changes her life. The Oscars’ best picture field now routinely includes two international movies, and Ryûsuke Hamaguchi’s dreamlike meditation on mortality and human connection feels like a sure bet to make the cut. Virginie Efira and Tao Okamoto shared the best actress prize at Cannes and merit attention from Oscar voters as well.
Spoiler alert: One awards-season shoo-in is Julianne Moore winning every lead actress prize for her bravura work in this delightful Jesse Eisenberg comedy. Moore plays Mona, a meek, thoroughly unseen wife and mother who impulsively decides to audition for a community theater musical despite having no experience. The movie earned a huge response at its Telluride premiere, though there were some quibbles about the surprising, surreal turns the story takes. C’mon. Isn’t that precisely what we want from a film? With Moore, co-star Paul Giamatti, Eisenberg’s screenplay and original song (Eisenberg wrote several numbers for the film’s fictional musical) assured spots, a best picture nod feels undeniable.
(Atsushi Nishijima / A24)
Olivia Wilde’s dinner-party dramedy boasts a killer quartet — Wilde and Seth Rogen as longtime marrieds nursing resentments, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton playing their upstairs neighbors — and expert direction from Wilde, who navigates the movie’s tonal shifts with authority. It’s wickedly funny and unsentimental and pulls off a bittersweet ending that’s ambiguous enough to keep you talking long after the film ends. One of the year’s most satisfying pleasures.
(Jonathan Olley / Amazon MGM Studios)
Speaking of endings, how many did “Project Hail Mary” have? Two? Three? I lost count. And it doesn’t matter. This was the upbeat end-of-the-world movie that audiences needed at a time when the possibility of human extinction feels uncomfortably real. In a year full of Spielberg knockoffs (and an uneven movie from the man himself), this will be the one left standing.
(Diego Araya Corvalan / Searchlight Pictures)
Martin McDonagh’s melancholy irreverence plays well with Oscar voters. His last two movies, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” earned best picture nominations and a combined 16 nods. “Wild Horse Nine,” a biting buddy dramedy about two mismatched CIA assassins (John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell), should continue the filmmaker’s success and may even catapult Malkovich to a long-overdue Oscar. At the very least, it gave him his best role in decades.
The filmmakers, Javier Calvo and Javier Ambrossi, are talented and charismatic, former romantic partners who still work together because that’s how Europeans roll. Los Javis (they even have a fun nickname) won the directing prize at Cannes, the first of several festivals that their movie conquered, culminating in that audience award at Toronto. With its three interconnected stories that follow queer men through nearly a century of Spanish history, “La Bola Negra” has an epic feel and emotional payoff that could carry it far. Netflix is all in, opening it in select theaters Oct. 16 and giving it an exclusive 46-day theatrical window, the longest it has afforded any movie. We’ll see if that puts it into the cultural conversation in a way that has eluded other Netflix contenders.
Can Denis Villeneuve’s third and final “Dune” movie, which hasn’t screened widely for press, take the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy path to a best picture victory? If there’s resistance to giving Christopher Nolan back-to-back best picture winners, the greatest threat might come from a movie occupying the same lane, an auteur-driven epic lauded by critics and embraced by audiences. The second (and superior) “Dune” won just two Oscars, compared to the six taken by 2021’s “Dune: Part One.” Perhaps voters were playing the long game.
(Melinda Sue Gordon / Universal Pictures)
Maybe you saw it when it opened in July, contributing to its $1.75-billion box office. Maybe you’re still trying to see it in Imax 70 mm, the way God (i.e., Christopher Nolan) intended. Maybe you agree with translator Emily Wilson, who thinks Nolan’s movie “lacks psychological, emotional, political and ethical depth” and that its writing is “abysmal.” Whichever side you’re on, “The Odyssey” is probably going to sweep through the Oscars, owing to its craft and thrilling showmanship, its stellar acting and that moment when Odysseus’ dog recognizes his long-absent master and wags his tail before heading off to Elysian Fields.
A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 6:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking
1. SANTA MARGARITA (7-0) def. Servite, 27-3; at St. John Bosco, Friday; 1
2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-1) def. Orange Lutheran, 28-14; vs. Santa Margarita, Friday; 2
3. SIERRA CANYON (7-0) def. Gardena Serra, 58-0; at Chaminade, Friday; 3
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (4-3) def. Murrieta Valley, 42-20; vs. Norco, Thursday; 4
5. MATER DEI (5-2) def. JSerra, 41-7; at Servite, Thursday; 5
6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) def. Yorba Linda, 27-26; at San Clemente, Friday; 6
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-3) lost to St. John Bosco, 28-14; vs. JSerra, Friday; 7
8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) def. Los Alamitos, 40-0; vs. Mission Viejo, Friday; 8
9. CORONA DEL MAR (7-0) def. Tustin, 28-14; at Capistrano Valley, Friday; 12
10. JSERRA (4-3) lost to Mater Dei, 41-7; at Orange Lutheran, Friday; 10
11. SERVITE (3-4) lost to Santa Margarita, 27-3; vs. Mater Dei, Thursday; 11
12. BISHOP AMAT (6-1) def. Chaminade, 28-7; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday; 13
13. LA SERNA (6-1) def. La Mirada, 56-19; vs. Cerritos, Friday; 14
14. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) def. Capistrano Valley, 30-22; vs. La Habra, Friday; 15
15. INGLEWOOD (7-1) def. Palos Verdes, 26-23; vs. Redondo Union, Friday; NR
16. PALOS VERDES (6-1) lost to Inglewood, 26-23; at Mira Costa, Thursday; 9
17. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-0) def Loyola, 49-21; vs. Bishop Amat, Friday; 23
18. CARSON (6-1) def. Banning, 41-3; at Narbonne, Friday; 16
19. CHAMINADE (5-2) lost to Bishop Amat, 28-7; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday; 18
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (7-0) def Dana Hills, 21-16; at Western, Thursday; 20
21. SAN JACINTO (7-0) def. Tahquitz, 48-7; at Elsinore, Thursday; 21
22. GARDENA SERRA (3-4) lost to Sierra Canyon, 58-0; at Loyola, Friday; 19
23. ORANGE (7-0) def. Segerstrom, 53-7; at Beckman, Friday; 22
24. SAN JUAN HILLS (6-1) def. Huntington Beach Edison, 28-20; vs. Yorba Linda, Thursday; NR
25. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-1) lost to Crean Lutheran, 30-22; vs. Corona del Mar, Friday; 24
The rivalry between Manchester City and Liverpool will be renewed when they meet in Sunday’s supercharged Premier League clash at Anfield.
History suggests Liverpool are often favourites in this fixture, but recent form heavily favours the Manchester club.
list of 4 itemsend of list
City, who have dominated headlines in recent weeks over serious financial breach charges, lead the league’s points table with 15 points – six ahead of Liverpool, who are sixth in the standings.
Sunday’s match will be the 202nd fixture between the teams across all competitions, with Liverpool firmly leading the head-to-head with 95 victories, while City have won 53 matches with 53 drawn.
As Enzo Maresca faces off with Andoni Iraola this weekend, Al Jazeera looks back at the top five clashes over the years:
Our list begins with this seven-goal league thriller from eight years ago.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain gave Liverpool an early lead that night at Anfield before Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah scored in a rousing eight-minute spell in the second half to build a staggering 4-1 lead.
But Man City struck twice in the final six minutes through Bernardo Silva and Ilkay Gundogan, forcing Liverpool to hold on for a nervous finish.
That result not only strengthened Liverpool’s top-four bid but also ended City’s unbeaten run that season.
Nonetheless, City went on to lift the title that term with a record-breaking 100 points, while Liverpool came fourth.
This game goes further back in history and it’s another laden with goals.
On the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster when 97 Liverpool supporters died, a 10-man Liverpool side beat City 3-2 in a dramatic title-race clash.
Early goals by Raheem Sterling and Martin Skrtel put Liverpool in control, but City fought back through David Silva and a Glen Johnson own goal before Philippe Coutinho struck the winner for Liverpool 12 minutes from time.
Coutinho pounced on a loose clearance by City’s Vincent Kompany in the box, drilling the ball into the bottom corner as Anfield went wild for the ‘Little Magician’.
The victory marked a huge step towards Liverpool’s title charge, but ultimately it was City who won the league that season, finishing two points ahead of the Merseyside club.
The next game on our list sees City on the winning side.
Sergio Aguero had given City the lead with his first-half strike before Firmino equalised four minutes from the hour -mark.
But Leroy Sane won the three vital points for the hosts, scoring the winner in the 72nd minute.
After a quick counterattack, Sterling picked out the onrushing Sane on the left side, just outside the box, before the German’s left-footed shot hit the inside of the post and the ball rolled into the bottom corner.
With that, Liverpool suffered their first loss of the season, ending a 20-game unbeaten streak.
City also went on to reduce Liverpool’s lead at the top to four points and eventually lifted the trophy, beating the Reds by just one point.
This match goes back to the season that was the first to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goals from Fabinho, Salah and Mane guided the Reds to a hugely impressive 3-1 home win over the title holders.
The match is best remembered by Liverpool fans for Fabinho’s stunning goal, as the Brazilian launched the ball into the net from about 25 yards (23 metres) out.
The result also opened up an eight-point lead at the top of the table and went down as a defining moment in Liverpool’s campaign as they ended their 30-year quest to win the league.
That season, Liverpool finished with 99 points, a whopping 18 points ahead of second-placed City.
Our top five list ends with a Champions League clash.
Liverpool fired three goals in the opening half-hour, ripping through their opponents in the first leg of this UCL quarterfinal clash.
Once again, Salah, Mane and Oxlade-Chamberlain were among the scorers as Liverpool took control of the knockout tie.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fierce finish – a thundering strike from outside the box – was the highlight of this fixture.
Liverpool went on to reach the final, where they fell to Real Madrid.
Zebre: Giovanni Montemauri, Mirko Belloni, Giulio Bertaccini, Damiano Mazza, Simone Gesi, Giacomo da Re, Alessandro Fusco; Sergio Pelliccioli, Tommaso di Bartolomeo, Juan Barboti, Matteo Canali, Leonard Krumov, Alessandro Ortombina, Samuele Locatelli, Davide Ruggeri.
Replacements: Francisco Minervino, Federico Pisani, Filippo Alongi, Giacomo Ferrari, Bautista Stavile Bravin, Patricio Baronio Gauna, Marco Zanon, Tommaso Allan.
Edinburgh: Piers O’Conor, Malelili Satala, Matt Currie, Moses Tuipulotu, Geordie Gwynn, James Grayson, Hector Patterson; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Ollie Blyth-Lafferty, Callum Hunder-Hill, Glen Young, Liam McConnell, Freddy Douglas, Magnus Bradbury.
Replacements: Harri Morris, Jamie Stewart, Paul Hill, Marshall Sykes, Tom Currie, Conor McAlpine, Cammy Scott, Rory McHaffie.
By Los Angeles Times staff
A look at how the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland fared this week:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game
1. SANTA MARGARITA (7-0) def. Servite, 27-3; at St. John Bosco, Friday
2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (6-1) def. Orange Lutheran, 28-14; vs. Santa Margarita, Friday
3. SIERRA CANYON (7-0) def. Gardena Serra, 58-0; at Chaminade, Friday
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (4-3) def. Murrieta Valley, 42-20; vs. Norco, Thursday
5. MATER DEI (5-2) def. JSerra, 41-7; at Servite, Thursday
6. MISSION VIEJO (6-1) def. Yorba Linda, 27-26; at San Clemente, Friday
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-3) lost to St. John Bosco, 28-24; vs. JSerra, Friday
8. SAN CLEMENTE (7-0) def. Los Alamitos, 40-0; vs. Mission Viejo, Friday
9. PALOS VERDES (6-1) lost to Inglewood, 26-23; at Mira Costa, Thursday
10. JSERRA (4-3) lost to Mater Dei, 41-7; at Orange Lutheran, Friday
11. SERVITE (3-4) lost to Santa Margarita, 27-3; vs. Mater Dei, Thursday
12. CORONA DEL MAR (7-0) def. Tustin, 28-14; at Capistrano Valley, Friday
13. BISHOP AMAT (6-1) def. Chaminade, 28-7; at Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, Friday
14. LA SERNA (6-1) def. La Mirada, 56-19; vs. Cerritos, Friday
15. CREAN LUTHERAN (5-2) def. Capistrano Valley, 30-22; vs. La Habra, Friday
16. CARSON (6-1) def. Banning, 41-3; at Narbonne, Friday
17. OXNARD PACIFICA (5-2) lost to Newbury Park, 21-16; at Bishop Diego, Friday
18. CHAMINADE (5-2) lost to Bishop Amat, 21-0; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday
19. GARDENA SERRA (3-4) lost to Sierra Canyon, 58-0; at Loyola, Friday
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (709) def Dana Hills, 21-16; at Western, Thursday
21. SAN JACINTO (7-0) def. Tahquitz, 48-7; at Elsinore, Thursday
22. ORANGE (7-0) def. Segerstrom, 53-7; at Beckman, Friday
23. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (7-0) def Loyola, 49-21; vs. Bishop Amat, Friday
24. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-1) lost to Crean Lutheran, 30-22; vs. Corona del Mar, Friday
25. YORBA LINDA (0-7) lost to Mission Viejo, 27-26; vs. San Juan Hills, Thursday
With Temecula Valley off to a 6-0 start in high school football, the Golden Bears can thank senior kicker and punter Colin Elia for making major contributions.
He’s 13 for 13 on PATs and six for seven on field goals, including a long of 49 yards, and averaging more than 36 yards on punts.
He didn’t play football until his sophomore year when friends asked him to join the team. He finally convinced his parents to let him play. Let’s say it was a compromise. He wanted to play receiver. He got permission to be the kicker.
The rest is history.
“I’m joking with my mom she’s happy to let me play now,” Elia said.
He made a game-winning field goal as a sophomore on varsity when the other kickers were unavailable. Last season as a junior, he made 10 of 11 field-goal attempts. He continues to improve as he uses his soccer background.
One thing is certain: Pressure moments don’t bother him. In fact, he looks forward to them.
He also credits his long snapper and holder for helping him succeed.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
Wakefield have matched 2025 champions Hull KR’s record grading score of 17.85 from 12 months ago, to continue their rise on and off the field under Matt Ellis’ ownership. In the same rankings last year they were eighth with a mark of 15.47, only just above the threshold for Category A status.
“Wakefield Trinity’s rise to the top of the 2026 club grading rankings is a fascinating story for rugby league, and a strong example of how sustained progress on and off the field can be recognised through the grading framework,” said RFL chief executive Ian Nolan.
“Their achievement sits alongside encouraging movement across the sport, from growing attendances and digital audiences to continued improvements in facilities and community delivery.”
Leeds Rhinos remain second, although their score of 17.03 is slightly lower than they achieved in the 2025 rankings.
Warrington Wolves have jumped from sixth to third on the back of a much stronger season which culminated in reaching the Grand Final at Old Trafford, only to lose to Wakefield.
It is fourth place again for Wigan, who won both the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders’ shield, just above Hull KR and Leigh Leopards. St Helens drop from third to seventh after a season in which they missed out on the play-offs for the first time in the Super League era.
Castleford Tigers complete the Category A clubs as they have risen from 11th in 2025 to eighth and move into the top-tier section despite finishing 13th in Super League.
Catalans Dragons and Hull FC are ninth and 10th, but both have fallen from an A to a B grade. Then come Bradford Bulls and Huddersfield Giants, with Toulouse Olympique and York Knights, occupying 13th and 14th, albeit with higher scores than last year.
However, only six of the 14 Super League clubs have scored higher than they did 12 months ago.
But there was a significant gap to the teams outside. York’s score of 13.24 was comfortably higher than the next best, Barrow with 9.85, while London only achieved 9.77, which was down on their mark of 11.65 from last year.
Overall, 26 clubs were graded on this system,, external split into three categories, A, B and C.
TEENAGE years were often consumed by the excitement of planning which festival to go to, met by the disappointment of not being able to afford (or even able to get) a ticket.
Fortunately, there is a way to get free festival tickets even as a now-adult.
Volunteering might remind you of litter picking in parks, but it looks a whole lot different at festivals.
With Oxfam, you can volunteer across a number of different roles while getting a free ticket to the festival.
Having done a number of festivals with the charity I can safely say that it is a lot more fun than you’d think, AND you get other great perks as well.
The role with the most positions available is to be a steward – you’ll carry out a range of roles across three eight-and-a-quarter- hour shifts including checking tickets on the gate, patrolling campsites or the arena and staffing accessibility platforms.
Read more on travel inspo
You will get all the training you need, as well as a meal voucher for every shift, free tea and coffee, crew camping (read, quieter campsites), hot showers and free phone charging.
Applications for the positions open in the new year and are served on a first-come first-served basis.
You will need to fork out the ticket price upfront but this essentially acts as a deposit to ensure you show up to your shifts – you will then get it back four weeks after the festival.
You will also need to be 18-years-old or over to volunteer by the time you arrive onsite.
Other roles include campaigning, which requires four, six-hour shifts ending before headline acts, and shop volunteers to run festival shops, with one six hour shift a day.
For the latter role, you will need to be a current shop volunteer, intern or member of Oxfam staff with at least three months of experience.
But in reality what does the work actually look like?
For my first festival, I volunteered at NASS although this sadly no longer runs.
As a smaller festival in the UK, I was only required to do two shifts and these both consisted of checking tickets into the festival – one on arrival day and another for second day arrivals.
It meant I missed NOTHING – not a single act.
Both my shifts were finished before music even started, which meant I had enough time to nip back to the spacious campsite with hot showers and freshen up before going and singing my heart out as Loyle Carner performed just metres from me.
The other festivals I volunteered at were much bigger and are household names – Boardmasters in Cornwall and Reading Festival.
Staff camping at Reading was a decent walk from the main arena and while that meant it was a bit of a pain to just ‘nip’ back to your tent, it did mean that I was away from ALL noise.
The campsite is spacious, peaceful, empty of drunken festivalgoers and has its own toilet block – which were actual toilets with no stench.
When I saw the toilets in the main campsites, I realised how appreciative I was of swapping some hours of my time for a free festival ticket.
I slept soundly each night with no thumping music or rowdy people around me.
As for my shifts at Reading, one of my three, eight-hour shifts was spent checking tickets on the first arrival day – before the festival had even properly started.
My second shift was patrolling campsites during the daytime, before any major acts were on.
And my third shift? Being right in the pit as Sea Girls played, handing out water to festival-goers.
None of these tasks, other than perhaps standing in the blazing sun, are strenuous and shift leaders are great at constantly making sure you have water as well as regular time in the shade if your shift involves being in the direct sun.
DEPUTY Travel Editor, Kara Godfrey has previously volunteered at Glastonbury Festival with Oxfam and here are her thoughts:
I am not a festival-goer – camping on the cold hard ground, traipsing through the inevitable mud and don’t get me started on refusing to use anything other than a standard, private bathroom.
And then being made to pay at least £400 just to be allowed in the gates? I never saw the appeal.
However, when I did work Glastonbury with Oxfam, I was very much converted.
Early access, so a more laidback first day without the huge crowds, three meals a day without having to pay extortionate amounts, and, of course, much nicer toilets and showers.
Being able to charge my phone and have a much quieter campsite – it felt like glamping without the cost.
The only downside was the shift patterns. I was on ticket checking duty, and you had to do a day, afternoon and overnight shift.
You in theory could swap with people, but good luck trying when there was a big performer (I was there the year of Dolly Parton).
But as long as you aren’t going just for one act, I had the best time hanging with my fellow Oxfam crew as we played our own party tunes at the entrance, shared snacks – and laughed our heads off at all the men dressed up as good ol’ Dolly herself.
Oh, and it barely cost me a penny once my ticket costs rolled back into my bank account. Win win!
Across these three shifts I only missed one act I wanted to see.
And last but not least, Boardmasters was a similar story – one of my three eight-hour shifts was spent checking tickets before the festival began, another was a day shift campsite patrolling and the third was an overnight campsite shift.
Again, with these I missed no acts I wanted to see and while the final overnight shift was tiring (and cold), it involved standing and sitting at the entrance to a campsite answering questions… hardly hard work.
Across all shifts you get a half hour break as well as a meal token which you can use at selected vendors across the festival.
These often include gourmet burger joints and pizza vans, so there is plenty of choice.
Depending on what festival you are at, you might get actual shower and toilet blocks too, a communal area on your campsite and quite often other goodies like free Coca-Cola from brand sponsors walking the festival ground.
There are other companies and charities you can go through for festivals too, such as Hotbox Events, My Cause UK and Festaff.
Though, I wouldn’t look further than Oxfam – everyone is there to have a good time and thanks to not having to pay a penny and camping with more space, I’d say I was happier than most paying festivalgoers each time I volunteered.
Teenage athletes have headlined some of the biggest Asian Games triumphs, leading their countries to historic gold medals, breaking records and cementing their legacy as formidable forces in the field.
Far from being intimidated by competitors double or triple their age, these schoolchildren remained cool and unfazed as they cruised to gold at their Asian Games debut.
list of 4 itemsend of list
Many are already familiar with the pressure and expectations of the world stage and have dominated their sport all season.
Al Jazeera Sport looks at some of the stars who left their mark in Japan:
China: Swimming
At just 13, Yu was named female Most Valuable Player (MVP), as she bagged three gold medals and broke as many Asian Games records in a fairytale debut.
The schoolgirl stormed to victory in the women’s 200m butterfly, 200m and 400m individual medley (IM) and had a comfortable lead over her competitors.
Her time of two minutes and 6.10 seconds (2:06.10) in the 200m IM stands as a world junior record and second-fastest time ever.
“I don’t think I am what people describe as a prodigy,” she said after being crowned MVP. “I will continue to train hard, push myself and work alongside young athletes across Asia to inspire more young people to love and take part in sports, especially swimming.”
China: Swimming
Zhang held up seven fingers after his 400m freestyle win to count out his gold medals at the Games – the most at this edition, and more than what 27 of the 45 participating nations had in their medal tally at the conclusion of the event.
He set Games records in the 400m and 800m freestyle, an Asian record in the 200m, and helped power China to gold and Asian records in the men’s 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle relays.
But the 19-year-old has bigger victories in sight.
“The Asian Games is not the goal. I’m still aiming for the Olympics and competing with the best,” he said.
The teenager’s haul helped China sign off from swimming with 30 golds out of 41 medal events in the pool, with chief rival Japan a distant second with seven titles.
Japan: Swimming
Ohashi broke the world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke (2:04.83) in front of a home crowd to become the first swimmer under the 2:05 mark.
The gold added to his title in the 100m breaststroke shared with China’s Dong Zhihao, bronze in the 50m breaststroke, and silver in the mixed and men’s 4x100m medley relays.
The teenager said he was surprised and honoured that Olympic champion Leon Marchand knew who he was, after the Frenchman described the 17-year-old as a “scary” prospect ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“I respect him because I know just how strong he is. But if I want to win, he’s someone I know I’ll have to beat.”
Ohashi’s world record performance came just a week after the teenager recovered from COVID-19.
China: Athletics
Yan was already javelin world number one and Asian record holder when she stepped onto the field for her Games debut – her first and only throw of 70.46 metres was enough for gold and a Games record.
It was the sixth-best of all time and well ahead of Olympic champion and home hero Haruka Kitaguchi’s 62.70m.
Yan is closing in on the world record of 72.28m set by Barbora Spotakova in 2008. In May, she hurled a world-leading, record-breaking 71.74m to open an unprecedented season.
China: Athletics
Chen stormed to a new Games record in the women’s 100m en route to her first gold as she announced herself as the new sprint queen in Asia.
“I have no limits,” was her response when asked how much faster she hopes to run.
She followed up her podium finish with a silver in the 200m and gold in the women’s and mixed 4x100m relays.
Japan: Athletics
Goto narrowly missed gold in the men’s 400m hurdles, but his 47.93s was enough for a world under-18 best time, Asian under-20 best time, and a new personal best.
The teen star has run sub-50 seconds eight times this season alone, an impressive feat for a 17-year-old. His Asian Games silver added to the World Under-20 one he bagged in August.
India: Archery
Mohod scripted history for India when she became the first Indian to win an individual recurve archery gold at the Games. The 17-year-old helped India to gold in the women’s team recurve, and partnered with Dhiraj Bommadevara for mixed team silver.
Mohod’s gold was no stroke of luck; she defeated South Korea’s reigning world champion and Olympic medallist Kang Chaeyoung in the quarterfinals before dominating China’s Zhu Jingyi in the semifinals.
“Ever since I’ve made it to the national team, I’ve been visualising this moment. I had visualised shooting an X, and that is exactly what happened,” she told reporters after the match, according to Indian media.
India: Squash
World junior champion Anahat Singh has been India’s finest in the sport for several years now. Despite only being 18, Aichi-Nagoya was Singh’s second Asian Games outing after competing at Hangzhou 2023, where she won two bronze medals in the mixed doubles and women’s team events.
This time round, she won a silver in the women’s singles against world number five Sivasangari Subramaniam of Malaysia. However, her semifinal match against Japan’s Satomi Watanabe was what she called the “best win” of her career after producing a stellar comeback to defeat the world number six.
Japan: e-sports
At just 11 years of age, e-sports prodigy Kurihara became the youngest gold medallist in Asian Games history when he won Puyo Puyo Champions.
“I’m really happy. The gold medal is really beautiful, shiny and heavy,” Kurihara said after his final, where he barely broke a sweat.
Kurihara started playing Puyo Puyo in his first year of primary school – where he still studies – and soon started competing and winning in tournaments. He obtained his pro licence in April this year and regularly beats adults, often triple his age.
![TOKONAME, JAPAN - SEPTEMBER 26: Gold medalist Yuki Kurihara of Japan poses on the podium at the medal ceremony for the Esports Puzzle [Puyo Puyo Champions] on day seven of the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya at Aichi Sky Expo on September 26, 2026 in Tokoname, Aichi, Japan. Kurihara becomes the youngest gold medalist at the Asian Games at the age of 11. (Photo by Toru Hanai/Getty Images)](https://i0.wp.com/www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/getty_6ac2424a21-1791115850.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
Taipei: Skateboarding
Ku took silver in the men’s skateboarding park with 87.33 points, and was just one of several teenagers – in his case, a pre-teen – who medalled in skateboarding at the Games.
Japan’s Izuru Nagahara, 15, took gold in the event. China’s Zhu Yuanling, also 15, won gold in the women’s street skateboarding competition.
China’s Cao Shiqi finished fourth in women’s skateboarding park and was the youngest athlete in China’s delegation at the Games.
Novak Djokovic to face Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals in Beijing after the Russian defeats Francisco Cerundolo.
Published On 5 Oct 20265 Oct 2026
Novak Djokovic has brushed aside ongoing injury-related struggles and produced a trademark comeback to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 for a place in the China Open semifinals, extending his unbeaten record in the tournament.
Playing the ATP 500 event in Beijing for the first time since 2015, the six-time champion was pushed to the limit by reigning French Open and US Open champion Zverev, who delivered 19 aces in the match on Sunday.
list of 4 itemsend of list
Meeting for the first time in nearly 16 months, Djokovic struggled to contain the German’s power in the early stages as the 29-year-old Zverev claimed the opening set, but the Serb gradually worked his way into the match and refused to let his opponent pull away.
“I had a terrible start – two double faults at the beginning. It was quite cold, and honestly, I didn’t feel warmed up, but my fault,” Djokovic said.
“I gave him an early break, and then it was hard to come back in the first set.”
The contest was briefly interrupted by a moment of controversy when Zverev argued that the electronic advertising signage had gone dark during a rally and requested a video review after losing the point.
Replays showed a section of the signage had switched off although not as Zverev was missing the forehand. The chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed, prompting a frustrated exchange from Djokovic.
The turning point came late in the second set when Djokovic broke at 5-4 to level the match, shifting the momentum in his favour after a tightly contested battle.
With little separating the pair in the third, the Serbian struck again at 5-4 on the Zverev serve, securing the decisive break to seal the victory in two hours and 35 minutes.
“I was trying to be aggressive and come to the net and change up the pace, not giving the same pattern,” Djokovic said.
“I am just glad that I held my nerves, played good shots at important moments, 5-4 in the second and third.”
The pair had not met since Roland Garros in 2025, where Djokovic won in four sets, and Sunday’s encounter again highlighted the Serb’s ability to deliver under pressure despite a season disrupted by physical issues.
With the victory, Djokovic moved a step closer to a seventh China Open title and an elusive first trophy of the year while denying Zverev another opportunity to strengthen his bid for the world number one ranking.
Djokovic will face Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals after the Russian defeated Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(4), 6-3 earlier.
World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from this month’s Wuhan Open due to a foot injury, tournament organisers said on Sunday, a day after the Kazakh suffered a shock defeat in her opening match at the China Open.
Rybakina, who lost to world number 118 Alina Charaeva in Beijing, said she would take time away from competition to recover.
“I’m very sorry to the fans who were looking forward to seeing me play,” Rybakina said in a story posted on the tournament’s Instagram account.
“I’ll take some time to rest and recover. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”
The 27-year-old has been managing a lingering lower leg and foot problem that also forced her to retire from her Cincinnati quarterfinal against Iga Swiatek in August.
Despite the setback, Rybakina recovered in time for the US Open, where she claimed her third Grand Slam title, rose to world number one and became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals.
Rybakina is next expected to compete this month in the Ningbo Open in China, where she will try to defend her title.
The Wuhan Open is scheduled to take place from October 12 to 18.
A look at the top 25 high school football teams in the Southland after Week 6:
Rk. School (record) result; Next game; last week’s ranking
1. SANTA MARGARITA (6-0) def. Mater Dei, 14-7; vs. Servite at Saddleback College, Friday; 1
2. ST. JOHN BOSCO (5-1) def. JSerra, 40-14; vs. Orange Lutheran, Friday; 2
3. SIERRA CANYON (6-0) def. Loyola, 41-0; at Gardena Serra, Friday; 3
4. CORONA CENTENNIAL (3-3) def. Vista Murrieta, 65-14; vs. Murrietta Valley, Friday; 4
5. MATER DEI (4-2) lost to Santa Margarita, 14-7; at JSerra, Friday; 5
6. MISSION VIEJO (4-1) def. Huntington Beach Edison, 42-14; at Yorba Linda, Thursday; 6
7. ORANGE LUTHERAN (4-2) def. Servite, 56-21; at St. John Bosco, Friday; 7
8. SAN CLEMENTE (6-0) def. Yorba Linda, 28-0; at Los Alamitos, Friday; 8
9. PALOS VERDES (6-0) def. Long Beach Millikan, 42-7; vs. Inglewood, Friday; 10
10. JSERRA (4-2) lost to St. John Bosco, 40-14; vs. Mater Dei, Friday; 11
11. SERVITE (3-3) lost to Orange Lutheran, 56-21; at Santa Margarita, Friday; 12
12. CORONA DEL MAR (6-0) def. Villa Park, 24-10; vs. Tustin, Friday; 13
13. BISHOP AMAT (5-1) def. Gardena Serra, 27-26; vs. Chaminade, Friday; 14
14. LA SERNA (5-1) def. Warren, 27-3; vs. La Mirada, Friday; 15
15. CREAN LUTHERAN (4-2) def. Tustin, 21-7; vs. Capistrano Valley, Friday; 16
16. CARSON (5-1) def. Gardena, 57-0; at Banning, Friday; 17
17. OXNARD PACIFICA (5-1) def. Oaks Christian, 38-17; at Newbury Park, Friday; 18
18 . CHAMINADE (5-1) lost to Sherman Oaks Notre Dame, 28-21; at Bishop Amat, Friday; 9
19. GARDENA SERRA (3-3) lost to Bishop Amat, 27-26; vs. Sierra Canyon, Friday; 19
20. HUNTINGTON BEACH (6-0) def. El Modena, 24-21; at Dana Hills, Friday; 22
21. SAN JACINTO (6-0) def. Temescal Canyon, 49-0; vs. Tahquitz, Friday; 24
22. ORANGE (6-0) def. El Dorado, 42-14; vs. Segerstrom, Friday; 25
23. SHERMAN OAKS NOTRE DAME (6-0) def. Chaminade 28-21; at Loyola, Friday; NR
24. CAPISTRANO VALLEY (6-0) def. La Habra, 42-20; at Crean Lutheran, Friday; NR
25. YORBA LINDA (4-2) lost to San Clemente, 28-0; vs. Mission Viejo, Thursday; 23
Completing his latest course highlights Azpilicueta’s thirst for knowledge and a desire for constant self-improvement.
It was something he learned at Chelsea, where he arrived as a relatively low-profile £7m signing in a dressing room full of established leaders such as John Terry, Frank Lampard and Petr Cech, alongside star names including Fernando Torres, Eden Hazard and Ashley Cole.
He explained: “I started as a right winger, moved to France, then moved to Chelsea. I wasn’t a star signing. I had to find my way. Left-back, wing-back, centre-back in a back three.
“It was about consistency. I had to work hard to stay fit, adapt to different managers and different positions.
“When you arrive at Chelsea, you feel the ambition straight away. Every three days you have to win. Every game and every trophy matters.
“That culture pushed me to the maximum and, especially when I left Chelsea, I felt that I had given everything I had for the club.”
Azpilicueta explained how his education away from the pitch helped him develop into a leader at Stamford Bridge.
It gave him the confidence to represent Premier League players during the Covid-19 pandemic, while also helping to organise initiatives and keep the club moving forward after owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
His defining moment came in that 2021 Champions League final victory.
There is little doubt that, having succeeded Terry and then Gary Cahill as captain, Azpilicueta ranks among Chelsea‘s greatest leaders. Yet he revealed that, since leaving the club in 2023, he has not returned to Stamford Bridge.
He was among dozens of players to leave after Chelsea changed ownership from Abramovich to the current American-led consortium in 2022.
“I left Chelsea, but Chelsea will always stay in my heart,” he said. “I follow every game and I hope the club comes back to where it belongs.
“There are some very strong teams around and football sometimes needs a bit of time. You need connections, people playing together and understanding each other.
“At a big club like Chelsea, the demands are high. But I think that’s normal. It should be demanding and ambitious because, speaking as a Chelsea fan, you always want to see the club winning trophies.
“I have confidence that [manager] Xabi [Alonso], the staff and the players will do good work. Hopefully they can bring a lot of happiness to the fans.”
He has been following Chelsea‘s latest captain Reece James, who he believes will grow into a better leader, since over-30 players Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Emiliano Martinez joined over the summer.
When it is suggested that he might return to Stamford Bridge in some capacity to be marked by a warm reception from supporters, Azpilicueta responds modestly: “I don’t know about that.
“I will come back one day. I won’t be putting on my boots, though.”
