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May 2022
48m 50s

When the European Cup was stolen

Bbc World Service
About this episode

As Liverpool prepare to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris, we head back 40 years to the 1982 competition. Aston Villa ruled Europe that year, and on their return to Birmingham went on a tour to show fans the trophy. That's where the trouble started. Shari Vahl tells Caroline Barker about how the European Cup was stolen... and retrieved!

Ahead of the Championship Play-off final at Wembley, we hear from footballer Dominic Ball. Playing in the Premier League is the ultimate goal for most footballers, one that drives them from an early age. In that regard Dominic Ball is not that unusual, nor any of his five close friends, all of whom started their footballing journeys together. Dom has got closer than most, for the past three years he's played for Queen's Park Rangers in the Championship, and his goal is still in reach, but what about his friends? Dominic has written "From Winning Teams to Broken Dreams" a book which not only tells that story, but is a guide to those who want to follow the same dream, and what challenges and pitfalls lie in await.

Sunday sees the 106th running of the Indianapolis 500 with 33 drivers, 200 oval shaped laps and 500 hundred miles. One woman who knows exactly what it requires to take on the challenge of Indianapolis Motor Speedway is Sarah Fisher. Sarah is not only the fastest woman in Indy 500 history, she is a former team owner and this year will be back on the track as the pace car driver.

(Photo: A banner of the Champions League trophy in front of Aston Villa fans prior to kick off of the Aston Villa v Crystal Palace match at Villa Park, 15 May, 2022, England. Credit: Marc Atkins/Getty Images)

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