MailOnline's Stuart Fraser tweets:, external "Qualification period for tennis at Rio 2016 begins today. Top 56 - with no more than four players from same country - on June 6 next year get in."

Stuart also points out a clause in the qualification criteria that would allow previous Olympic gold medallists or Grand Slam winners a place as long as they are within the world's top 200 and their nation's quota has not already been filled.

What's Pat Rafter doing with himself nowadays?

BBC Radio Gloucestershire's Bob Hunt at Bristol:

"A fascinating battle at the end of the morning with 41-year-old Glen Chapple bowling to Geraint Jones, a sprightly 38, as the Gloucestershire captain tried to counter-attack to get his side out of trouble.

"Lancashire player-coach Chapple picked up his 976th wicket, and first of the season, by bowling Ian Cockbain after he and Michael Klinger had led the resistance from a perilous 27-4."

Image source, Getty Images

Further to Darren Bent, news reaches us that he has signed for Derby County after being released by Aston Villa.

The former England striker scored 12 goals in 17 appearances during a loan spell at the Championship club last term.

Derby have also confirmed the signing of Republic of Ireland international defender Alex Pearce from Reading.

Surrey seamer James Burke took a wicket with his first ball in Championship cricket as they fought back on the second morning at Grace Road.

The 24-year-old from Devon ended an opening stand of 100 by having Matthew Boyce caught behind and bowled Angus Robson for 68 in his next over.

Mark Cosgrove and Ned Eckersley both went cheaply as Leicestershire reached lunch 106 runs in arrears.

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The Football Association has agreed a four-year title sponsorship deal with energy firm SSE for the Women's FA Cup.

It is the first major sponsorship of the tournament, which will now be known as the SSE Women's FA Cup.

Chelsea Ladies and Notts County Ladies will compete in this year's final at Wembley on Saturday, 1 August.

The tournament is the largest cup competition for female footballers in England, with 259 teams entering the 2014-15 edition.

BBC Radio Kent's Matt Cole at Canterbury:

"It has definitely been the home side's morning, but the shine has been taken off by Daniel Bell-Drummond's run out just before lunch, going for a risky second run against the arm of Tom Taylor.

"Earlier, Ivan Thomas clinically mopped up the Derbyshire tail with wickets in each of his first three overs of the day to finish off the visitors 86 all out."

Paul Nixon: Short shorts, Milla, Baggio, Skuhravy, Pavarotti, Lineker, Schillaci, that South Korean free kick...loved it!

Anthony White: Parents missed Ita-Eng playoff to see 11yo me in am dram show. Dad groaned as result read out at interval - he'd taped it!

Mark Handley: Has no-one mentioned Benjamin Massing yet? Not quite Harald Schumacher, but still top-notch cynical fouling

Darren Bent has posted his thanks to Aston Villa on Instagram, external after the club released their record signing.

"Want to say thanks to Aston Villa football club for allowing me to play for such a great club. Have had fantastic times playing for this great club.

"Thank you to there [sic] fans who have stuck by me through hard times. It has been a pleasure to play for you."

Image source, Getty Images

Here is the late England manager Sir Bobby Robson with Italia 90 mascot Ciao.

The tournament was also famous for Luciano Pavarotti's version of Nessun Dorma, which was used by the BBC as the theme tune for our coverage.

While England had perhaps arguably the greatest World Cup song with New Order's World in Motion and John Barnes' infamous rap.

The greatest? Clearly never heard "We have a Dream"by Scotland's Spain 82 squad.

BBC London 94.9's Kevin Hand at Headingley:

"Yorkshire still trailed by 47 runs at lunch on day two of their County Championship match after a dramatic start to the second day's play.

"Four wickets fell in the morning session, with Toby Roland-Jones picking up two of them in the first three balls.

"Jonny Bairstow is unbeaten on 67 and is holding the innings together in a low-scoring match on a pitch that is offering plenty of seam movement and occasional variable bounce."

BBC Essex's Nick Gledhill at Northampton:

"Essex fought back on the second morning by virtue of a disciplined seam bowling performance under cloud cover.

"David Masters broke the opening stand at 55 when he had Rob Newton caught at mid-wicket for 27. Ravi Bopara then struck twice in his first eight deliveries removing Alex Wakely for 11 and Stephen Peters, who hit seven boundaries in his 44.

"Rob Keogh and Richard Levi will resume after lunch with Northants 155 still behind."

Tom Goddard: Italia 90 Memories. Argentina's keeper - Goycochea... from the bench to the final saving countless pens along the way!

Lee Pearson: A young Roberto Baggio weaving through the Czechs to notch a pearler and earn a mountain bike off his parents.

David Slemen: I was 11 years old. Watched every minute bar first half of Belgium v South Korea as had clarinet lesson.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson at Chester-le-Street:

"Batting has been tricky under heavy skies this morning, with seven wickets falling.

"Chris Rushworth finished with 4-54 as Somerset were all out for 225 - a lead of 36 - after losing their last six wickets for 71 runs.

"Durham had to bat for 13 minutes before lunch but could not do it without losing a wicket as Keaton Jennings played on to Tim Groenewald."

BBC Sussex's Adrian Harms at Hove:

"The Hampshire lower order have seized the initiative at Hove, with wicketkeeper Adam Wheater 64 not out at lunch from just 50 balls.

"After struggling to 197-7, Wheater has received good support from Gareth Berg - these two having added an unbeaten 67 for the eighth wicket.

"The depleted Sussex attack has struggled this morning, conceding 148 runs as Hants have established a lead of 13."

Image source, Getty Images

On Saturday night, Andrea Pirlo was the latest in a long line of footballers to be reduced to tears on a football pitch.

At Italia 90, England's Paul Gascoigne's weeping was among the most talked about. Watch him blubber here.

The talented youngster was instrumental in England reaching the semi-finals, but was booked in the last-four tie with Germany and played a chunk of the game knowing he would miss the final.

He would not be the only one. England were beaten on penalties by the Germans, who went on to win the trophy.

Image source, Getty Images

Oscar Pistorius could be free on parole by 21 August after a recommendation from South Africa's correctional services department, according to reports.

The Olympic athlete was jailed last year for the culpable homicide of his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp.

The prosecutors' appeal against his acquittal on murder charges is due to be held in November.

The double amputee was given a five-year sentence for the shooting.

M: Lothar Matthaus goal v Yugoslavia.

Alex McGilp: Memories of Italia 90 include squeezing two games into ten days. Scotland versus Sweden and Brazil.

Adam Lewis: Paul Parker's attempt to block Brehme's free kick and the highlights at half-time of the final to Glen Frey's The Heat is On.

David A Burns: Watching the US play in the World Cup. The American broadcast even had commercial breaks during the matches.

Rochdale have agreed to sign Plymouth striker Lewis Alessandra on a two-year contract from 1 July.

Alessandra, 26, scored 13 goals in 2014-15 as the Pilgrims reached the League Two play-offs.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Salford Red Devils scrum-half Theo Fages has requested to leave the club, but owner Marwan Koukash says it would take a bid in excess of the world-record £700,000 that New Zealand Warriors paid Wigan for Sam Tomkins two years ago to convince him to sell the 20-year-old France international.

"Theo did hand in a transfer request," said Koukash. "But if anybody wants to buy him, it would have to be for a world-record transfer. He is the hottest property in Super League."

Fages's current deal concludes at the end of the 2016 season and he has rejected the offer of a new contract. St Helens and Catalans Dragons are reportedly interested in signing the player.

Image source, PA

Harry Redknapp thinks Rio Ferdinand should become West Ham manager, and says he would join him as director of football.

Redknapp managed centre-back Ferdinand at West Ham and then signed him for QPR last summer. Both are unemployed after leaving the Loftus Road side.

"Rio Ferdinand's doing his coaching badges and has got a great football brain. I'd like to see him as manager of West Ham, I'd go with him as director of football, that would be a good partnership," Redknapp said in his Kicca blog., external

"I'm also a Paolo Di Canio fan, I'd like to see him go back to West Ham. I know everybody's slaughtered him but he was fantastic at Swindon."