One Direction, two careers: Can Louis Tomlinson be a pop star and a footballer at the same time?
Related articles
Dreams. Most of us never fulfill any. But now One Direction star Louis Tomlinson has aced two of the most common boyhood desires - to be a footballer and a member of a globally successful boy band - in one fell swoop (and at the tender age of 21).
In what appears to be a shameless publicity stunt for Sky Sports' programme of visiting all 92 Football League clubs in one day ahead of the new season, it was announced that Tomlinson had signed for his home club Doncaster.
The X Factor alumni (along with Niall, Zayn, Harry and Liam), who hails from Doncaster and is an avid fan, has been awarded the club's number 28 shirt after signing a contract on the eve of the new Football League season.
Doncaster's season gets underway on Saturday when they host Blackpool, although the chances of Tomlinson actually playing are thought to be around zero. However, spies tell us he may play in a reserve match in September or October.
So, should a pop star professing to be going in One Direction, be allowed to take this football diversion? Take our poll, above.
Boy band One Direction
-
Jonathan Romney on Only God Forgives: Ryan Gosling's revenge... a dish best not served at all
-
Jodie Foster rushes to aid of Jamie Lee Curtis who is hospitalised after car crash
-
Funny business: Meet the women running comedy
-
TV review: I Love My Country - Be patriotic and turn off your set right now
-
All bets off as BBC prepares to unveil new Doctor Who
- 1 Is the Muslim call to prayer really such a menace?
- 2 Channel 4 to 'provoke' viewers who associate Islam with terrorism with live call to prayer during Ramadan
- 3 US army doctor returns arm to Vietnamese soldier fifty years after he took it as a souvenir
- 4 Police seize possessions of rough sleepers in crackdown on homelessness
- 5 Demand for food banks has nothing to do with benefits squeeze, says Work minister Lord Freud
How will you make today delicious?
Tell us how you plan to make today delicious and you could win a £50 M&S gift card.
Win a three-night weekend break for two in Stockholm
Hesperus Press are offering the chance to win a three-night weekend away for two to Stockholm.
Summer food reader survey
Take our grocery shopping survey for your chance to win a £100 M&S store gift card.
See Norway’s spectacular coastline
There is no finer way to discover and explore the dramatic Norwegian coastline than aboard an authentic Hurtigruten cruise.
Where's Wallonia?
War and peace: history revisited in the cities of Southern Belgium - a travel guide in association with the Belgian Tourist Office.
Win first-class inter-rail passes
Win first-class rail passes to explore the sights and sounds of Europe with redspottedhanky.com.
Celebrate the joy of reading with NOOK®
You can buy a NOOK Simple Touch Glowlight at £69, or the NOOK HD 8GB Tablet for just £99 - until 3 September.
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Special report: How my father's face turned up in Robert Capa's lost suitcase
The unmade speech: An alternative draft of history
Funny business: Meet the women running comedy
DJ Taylor: Who stole the people's own culture?
Guest List: IoS Literary Editor suggests some books for your summer holiday
Rupert Cornwell: What if Edward Snowden had stayed to fight his corner?
Comedian Tig Notaro: 'Hello. I have cancer'
Bill Granger's Asia-influenced egg recipes





