r—nuc ‘ur r—nuc ‘u15 meddling that would be —— getting a medal, that'll be a dream comeback. ifi medal, that'll be a dream comeback. if i end up pulling it off, you will see one of the greatest celebrations ever. i am fighting for that dream andi ever. i am fighting for that dream and i willing to go all the way i do i have to stop but i'm hoping that, on that given day on the 27th of august, i could beat crohn's disease just for one day. hopefully i will just for one day. hopefully i will just have it on that day. for all those who dream of making it as professional footballers, only a tiny percentage ever succeed. academies can take young players to the brink of a lucrative career — but how difficult is it when you're at the make or break moment? this week on sportsday, we're looking at the academy system and tonight we visit liverpool, where a new play focuses on young players thrust into the spotlight of elite football — and the struggles that come with it. adam samuel reports. boys can't really speak to each

other. you have banter with your friends but it is the idea that the deeper subjects of stuff is washed under the carpet. you just have to bea man under the carpet. you just have to be a man about it. academy football is often envied but for many, racism and class differences have inspired this play and we want to highlight them. i went to the theatre to find out more. i grew up in south london quite close to crystal palace and had a couple of friends that played at the crystal palace academy. it was really interesting as it would happen to their lives on the edge of the system. they were taken out of full—time schooling to be a full—time schooling to be a full—time footballer. it was interesting to see theirjourney. that is a theme of races a minute and try to pick out racism in football since it is not gone yet. with that discussion, what can we do to progress the sport further. every black person you speak to has got a story of being abused at some point

in the game. 8096 of respondents in a recent survey say they have suffered racism while playing football in an academy march. this play, developed in the city known for its diversity, is trying to tell a story that's important to the writers, the actors and audiences. it is really important when young boys learn about what being a minor is a a good man means. i think it is really interesting in the setting of a foot ball interesting in the setting of a football academy. football is still something that has a hyper masculine area. some of his young boys are growing up into these systems are getting the special education from these 23—year—old footballers that are living a life that is completely separate what normalises for normal people. how does this background affect that young person living to london? we, as a cast, represent the

different class backgrounds and we show how these backers intermingle with each other. also racially, being in the space is more racially diverse than they are used to, and i think that any kid from that sort of age range would find a character like this and could relate to them. today especially, today's social media culture has made more of this exposure possible. it can lead to greater disappointment. exposure possible. it can lead to greater disappointmentm exposure possible. it can lead to greater disappointment. if football academy system is the perfect representation of that, this thing that promises all the world's riches and fame but the reality is it is a lot more difficult to attain. this isa lot more difficult to attain. this is a modern play that reflects the modern game. and voting is well underway for this year's bbc womens footballer of the year. don't worry you still have time to vote. the five nominees were announced last week. and today we have the second

of our individual profiles — the usa and chicago red stars midfielder, julie ertz. my my proudest moment was on my wedding day, can you be proud to be married? people are probably like, what is wrong with you? honestly, you block it out a little bit, in the sense that i was so much in the moment i was just waiting for us in the moment i was just waiting for us to score the whole time. i was thinking we were in this, we had this, i was so confident. all 22 of my team—mates are wonderful. i could properly recite order please do as i watched the game so much, that is not the members of the field, it is

watching the screen. is it to the middle, and julie ertz has headed! they take the lead thanks to julie ertz! my parents do let me watch tv that much, on top of that the —— there was not a lot of woman sports on tv, not like the arno. it was most awesome appearance that got me going. ourfamily, most awesome appearance that got me going. our family, others most awesome appearance that got me going. ourfamily, others cheesy, because he jay and i going. ourfamily, others cheesy, because hejay and i am... going. ourfamily, others cheesy, because he jay and i am... who charges me, i can vent with him, i do know is that sometimes you just need to have some tough love. he gets that, the title of world we are in. hejokes that i am ahead of him in terms of world cup wins, i didn't see as a challenge, but if you want toi see as a challenge, but if you want to i will challenge it. i was pretty

sta rstruck to i will challenge it. i was pretty starstruck at being in the top ten in the last year. the mistakes, i see world soccer players all the time. being in the presence of players i admire, that was a real treat. probably my wedding day? can you be proud of you wearing a? people will be like, what is wrong with you? that day was probably be best day of my life. i would probably throw in the world cup. that was an amazing moment for me for multiple reasons. i have been through a lot in my career. i thought i'd been through a lot, but four years later it shows you could be through a heck of a lot more! to my perspective on it, i truly soaked in every moment and second but you can any tournament and tried to do

with it as little to as possible because i truly was so excited to be there. i loved having a new challenge every day, regardless of what it was. and here's a reminder of the four other nominees alongsidejulie ertz. she'sjoined by england and lyon defender lucy bronze, australia and chelsea striker sam kerr, netherlands and arsenalforward, vivianne miedema and her fellow usa star teammate, megan rapinoe. voting closes on monday the 2nd of march. and, finally we've already heard aboutjose mourinho's injury woes. he's now worried that heung—min son and harry kane could be sidelined for the considerable future. well, after hearing that barcelona have been allowed to make an emergency signing to try and solve their injury crisis. mourinho was asked if he'll be bringing in a new striker... or perhaps bring back a familiar face? i was not aware of that possibility.

i don't think it is possible. peter crouch. well, peter crouch has been quick to respond — he's tweeted "i'm readyjose." hashtag ‘the return'. we'll keep an eye on that one! don't forget kick off in the game between atletico madrid and liverpool is nowjust an hour away — there will be full commentary on radio 5live. but that's all from sportsday. have a lovely evening. jane will have more for you throughout the evening. bye for now. let us go back to the use no, more on the flood affected parts of england and south wales in the aftermath of storm dennis. 163 flood warnings remain in place, six of

them in —— severe, meaning danger to life. the meds to service our energy to be trying to rescue people from their homes. in gloucester, somewhere in the 60s was saved after being on top for part of the 211 hours. it was dragged due to a river flood. the conditions made attempts to rescue her difficult. we had a car that the lady had driven across elaine and she was not local. you got stopped and was there from eight o'clock yesterday morning. we got there today, she had been there for 204i there today, she had been there for 2041 was. it is a case of the car being submerged will be. it was lucky that she was spotted. we had to then get the boat out. it was quite a... how issue because mark she is potentially the hyperthermia

there was no phone signal because she couldn't, there was no phone signal, we had to figure out again to assist. it was pretty difficult job. but a success, she is ok. she is on job. but a success, she is ok. she isona job. but a success, she is ok. she is on a windy hospital and hopefully she makes full recovery. do's first major structural contribution to the international space station was delivered this morning. —— the uk's. taking off in virginia, a communications staff is being taken up communications staff is being taken up there. it was made in oxfordshire and designed to connect it better to be proper of the earth. the earth. the brit awards are taking place this evening at the 02 in london. mr paoli is tipped to take top honours. his main competition because of the london born rapper dave lewis. colin

patterson spoke to best british male nominees on the red carpet. we brits are like one big party to celebrate british music but i think it is important for that reason that it is a place where us brits can really celebrate what we are doing and i think england and the uk have a unique... you always have your unique... you always have your unique approach to your art community and british people are a lwa ys community and british people are always ha rd community and british people are always hard that. we have a good edge to our approach and want to push boundaries and challenge, so it is really important to give you without space to build on that. now, a chinese student set off on a hike in australia as you have no idea checkpoint and in high drama. she spent five years being lost, being

separated, locals went to search for. she was located near a waterfall. she had been sleeping in caves and drink from streams to survive. despite her ordeal, police said she was in good spirits on the fighter. no time for a look at the weather. to date we have seen the river is reacting to all that rain we had over the weekend from storm dennis. that has led to some record river levels up, part of the river trent and the river severn. there have been serious flood warnings and evacuations. this was the scene earlier on, you can see the extent of the flood defences, and this is the flooding that we have had on the trent in nottinghamshire. that is despite the weather turning more sherry. we are switching a lot of

the showers of overnight, many points becoming dry in the skies will tend to clear. there is a threat of icy conditions, because like last night temperatures are going to be close to freezing. notice towards the south—west that year it is not good to be as cold because, by b morning, we have got cloud and rain which were quickly moving to wales and northern ireland after a bright start for eastern pa rt after a bright start for eastern part of england and scotland. it will climb over a graduate with some patchy rain. the wetter weather will be over the worst, over the hills, which captures around nine or 10 degrees. it will be a windy day and the rain will cause concern. particularly in the north—western pa rt particularly in the north—western part of england and wales. it increases chances of flooding. we have got several weather front on the scene and the second one is arriving overnight and will bring heavy rain because we have now south—westerly winds in front and behind colder west of the air. a

band of heavy rain overnight into thursday, some snow over the scottish hills. that band of rain will move very quickly south eastwards and then the wind direction changes, the sun comes out, so was developed particularly in the north, and it will get increasingly wintry, and the wind will be good order. looking ahead to friday, there are more strong winds, boring to come, looks like it will be mainly north wales northwards and further south areas. good chance it was stay dry during the day. it will be windy. widespread strong to gale force winds are likely but it will at least be milder. temperatures will be around 11 or 12 celsius. more rain on top of what we have had is not good to be good news.

you're watching beyond 100 days. can money buy the american presidency? michael bloomberg is putting it to the test. the former mayor of new york has just qualified for the next democratic debate. it'll be the first time hejoins the stage. it will also be the first time the billionaire businessman comes under face to face attacks from the other candidates. how will he stand up to scrutiny? the fate of ex—hollywood mogul harvey weinstein now rests in the hands of 12jurors — as they begin their deliberations. also on the programme: china releases the largest study into 114,000 cases of covid—19, while apple warns that disruption caused by the coronavirus will hit