KentOnline

Former Gillingham footballer Jason Brown says now is the time to take tough action to tackle racism in football.
The ex-goalkeeper suffered abuse as a player and has spoken after some of the England team were targeted following their defeat to Italy in the Euro2020 final.
More than a million people have signed a petition calling for racists to be banned from games in England for life.
Jason, who now lives in America, thinks things could go even further.
He also chats about life in the states and the possibility of one day returning to the Gills.

Thousands of people have signed a petition calling for anyone who racially abuses players to be banned from all football matches in England for life.It follows comments made towards Bukayo Saka, Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho after they missed penalties in the Euro2020 final against Italy.Hear from Gurvinder Sandher from the Kent Equality and Cohesion Council and Carol Stewart who heads up the Medway African and Caribbean Association.We’ve also been asking on socials what you think and have some of your comments.Also in today’s podcast, the boss of a Kent theatre says he can’t wait to welcome full audiences back not that ‘freedom day’ has been confirmed.Social distancing will be scrapped from Monday, July 19 so auditoriums can be packed out again.There’s a treat in store for stargazers tonight – if the cloud stays away.A professor in astronomy from the University of Kent explains what we should be looking out for.And there’s Covid disruption in sport for the Gillingham squad and Kent’s cricketers.

Police had to be called in to deal with hundreds of England fans who gathered in Maidstone after their Euro2020 defeat to Italy.
Flares are said to have been set off as supporters converged on Jubilee Square following the final whistle.
Meantime, Dover’s MP has come in for criticism after suggesting England’s Marcus Rashford should have concentrated more on practicing football than getting involved in politics.
He campaigned for free school meals during the pandemic and missed a penalty last night. Our political editor has more on a leaked message by Natalie Elphicke.
Also in today’s podcast, the boss of a Folkestone hotel says Covid measures will stay in place there even after ‘freedom day’ on July 19.
Kent’s police and crime commissioner has vowed to crack down on fly-tippers who blight the countryside.
And away from some of the controversy, we hear what fans thought of last night’s Euro2020 final and have the thoughts of our sports editor.

Met police officer from Kent has admitted murdering Sarah Everard.Wayne Couzens, who lived in Deal, appeared via video link at the Old Bailey earlier.The 48-year-old had previously admitted kidnapping and raping 33-year-old Sarah who disappeared while walking home in London in March.Her body was found in woodland near Ashford a week later.Hear from Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick and the Crown Prosecution Service.Also in today’s podcast, we’ve been for a look around Kent’s nuclear power station, Dungeness B, as work gets under way to take it offline.Summer camps are going to be running in Kent to make sure children don’t go hungry when they’re out of school.And we’ve been chatting to a Harry Kane lookalike and an Italian who lives in Kent ahead of the Euro2020 final between England and Italy this weekend.

England fans across Kent have been celebrating the team reaching the final of Euro2020.It the first time since 1966 that the national side has made the final of a major football tournament.Hear from supporters in Medway and also former footballer and chief executive of the Street Soccer Foundation, Keith Mabbutt.England face Italy in the final on Sunday.Also in today’s podcast, the boss of a pub chain in Thanet says a form of table service will remain in place even when Covid restrictions are lifted.Hear from Phil Thorley and we’ve got some of your views.Rag ‘n’ Bone Man is going to be playing a gig in Kent this summer as part of an initiative to boost music venues after the pandemic.We’re joined by Mark Davyd from the Music Venue Trust.

People so fed up with fly-tippers dumping waste on their land or where they live have taken matters into their own hands.Investigations are now under way after people were caught red handed disposing of rubbish near Chatham and in Meopham.Hear from the son of a farmer who helped his dad stop a truck from being driven away after waste was left on their property.Also in today’s podcast, we look ahead to England’s semi-final against Denmark at Euro2020.A farmer says he feared someone would be killed when a massive field fire broke out on his farm in Broadstairs – he’s spoken out to raise awareness during the summer month.And Kent tennis star Emma Reducanu reveals why she had to pull out of her last-16 tie at Wimbledon.

Two bin men have been sacked after being filmed fighting in Chatham.The footage shows one of them being knocked to the ground unconscious after the brawl broke out on Military Road near the junction with High Street.Also in today’s podcast – will you still wear a face mask after Covid restrictions are lifted in England on July 19?We’ve been speaking to a Uni of Kent virologist and shoppers in Medway.School bubbles are going to be scrapped – hear from the Education Secretary and the chair of the Kent Association of Headteachers.A mum and daughter who were scammed out of £148,000 have described the impact it’s had on their life after the fraudster was told to repay just £1.It’s hygiene awareness week and we’re being encouraged to donate essentials like shampoo and toothpaste.And in sport, there’s reaction after Kent’s Emma Raducanu was forced to retire from her last-16 game at Wimbledon.

A man who threatened firefighters and police with a hammer after setting a house in Edenbridge on fire has been jailed.
Hear the moment 48-year-old Daniel Rutter from Wellingtonia Way in the town was tasered.
Also in the podcast, a Kent MP says she can’t wait to ditch face masks.
Helen Whately has been speaking ahead of an announcement by the Prime Minister on ‘freedom day’ on July 19.
You can also hear from Thanet’s Sir Roger Gale who is hoping bubbles in schools will be scrapped.
The dad of a little boy who drowned after falling into the River Stour at Sandwich is urging us all to have more knowledge of water safety.
Lucas Dobson slipped while on a family outing in 2019.
His father Nathan has been speaking as the RNLI fear more call outs this summer as we staycation on the coast.
The RSPCA has launched a new campaign as Kent is named as one of the worst places in the country for animal cruelty.
And, hear from Kent tennis sensation Emma Raducanu ahead of her last-16 game at Wimbledon.

England fans heading to Margate’s Dreamland for tomorrow’s Euro2020 quarter final will be searched for flares.
Some supporters stormed the stage while tables and benches were overturned at the amusement park when England beat Germany on Tuesday.
Bosses say they’ve identified some troublemakers who will now be banned from watching the match on the giant screen.
Also in today’s podcast we’ve got reaction to the number of people who’ve crossed the channel to Kent in small boats so far this year.
Bosses of a foodbank in Medway are concerned they’ll see even more people needing their services as the furlough scheme starts to come to an end.
We’ve been chatting about the future of Kent’s high streets after Gap became the latest big name store to disappear from our town centres.
And a Kent teenager has made it through to the third round at Wimbledon.

A man claims he was grabbed by security guards after buying suitcases at Kent’s biggest shopping centre, because he is black.
Cephas Williams, who funded the Black British Network, filmed the encounter at Bluewater’s House of Fraser store.
Hear the encounter in full and the response from centre bosses.
Also in today’s podcast, campaigners in a rural part of Medway say plans for a new road and flyover will damage important wildlife.
The family of a German student left brain damaged following an attack in Canterbury have thanked everyone who has donated to an online fundraiser.
More than £12,000 has been raised to help Daniel Ezzedine – hear from our reporter who set up the appeal.
And, we’ve been speaking to a Rochester woman who’s received a Diana Award on the day a statue of the late Princess is unveiled at Kensington Palace on what would have been her 60th birthday.