Football in Stoke

For those couples who adore watching sports, especially football, Stoke is a great place for that holiday vacation. There are two teams in Stoke-on-Trent that compete in the Football League: the Stoke City Football Club and the Port Vale Football Club.

Stoke City Football Club
The Stoke City Football Club is regarded as the second-oldest British football league club. It was established in 1863 and was initially called the Stoke Ramblers. The first players of the team were students from Charterhouse School. The Stoke Ramblers had their first documented game on October 1868 at the grounds of the Victoria Cricket Club when the team battled EW May XV.

Chelsea FootballClub

The first captain of the club was Henry Almond, who was also its founder and the first player to score a goal for the team. In 1875, the Stoke City Ramblers transferred from their initial location in Victoria Cricket Ground to a new location near Sweetings Field due to the increasing number of spectators at their games.

In 1878, the Stoke Ramblers were merged with the Stoke Victoria Cricket Club and the new team became known as the Stoke City Football Club, the same name the club carries to this day. The team also moved to a new playing venue at the grounds of the Athletic Club, which would later be known as the Victoria Ground. Soon, the club would adopt their traditional red-and-white colours.
The Stoke City Football Club entered the professional arena in August 1885, some15 years after the team was formed.

In 1888, the club became one of the 12 founders of the Football League. Unfortunately, their first performances were dismal as the team struggled in its initial two seasons, from 1871 to 1873, finishing at the bottom of league standings during that time.

The Football League was suspended for four years during World War I and games resumed in August 1919. During the wartime lull, the Stoke City Football Club competed in the Lancashire Primary and Secondary Leagues.

Despite its initial lack of success, the club also had its share of victories in the Football League, particularly in 1992 and 2000 when they captured the league championship.

The Stoke City Football club also had a taste of success in the country's primary football competition, the Premier League (also known as The Premiership). They won their first major trophy during the League Cup Final of 1972, defeating the Chelsea Football Club in the championship game, thanks to the outstanding efforts of players Terry Conroy and George Eastham. Conroy still works with the club to this day, while Eastham took up residence in South Africa.

Unfortunately, the team hasn't played at the highest level since the 1984-85 season, when they posted their record-low score of 17 points, which would earn the dubious distinction of being the lowest score in the league for 21 years.

Port Vale Football Club
Based in Burslem, Staffordshire, the Port Vale Football Club currently competes in Football League One. Their local rivals are Crewe Alexandra and the Stoke City Football Club. There is slight confusion on whether the club was named after a geographical location in the city or something else. For instance, a Port Vale existed on maps before the club was formed in 1876, but whether the club was named after this location is still under debate. That Port Vale was known as a place within the ports of the Trent and Mersey Canal, which is located in the East Midlands, North West of England.

Martin Foyle was an important manager for the Port Vale Football Club, steering the club to the pinnacle of its success during his tenure. He was replaced by Lee Sinnott on November 2005.

One of the well-known nuggets of trivia about the Port Vale Football Club is that pop star Robbie Williams is one of its biggest fans and a major shareholder. Williams, who was born in Stoke-on-Trent, purchased thousands of shares in the club. The remaining shares were snapped up by Castle Comfort and Stairlifts, the other major sponsors of the team.

This was not the only contribution of Williams to the team. For the computer game called FIFA 2000, he created an original song called "It's Only Us." He did so with the stipulation that Port Vale should be included in the said game.

Other sports clubs in Stoke
Football is not the only sport that couples can watch in Stokes. There are also amateur teams that compete in rugby and cricket as well as competitive water polo games courtesy of the local Paragon Water Polo Team, considered as one of the top British teams.

Football in Stoke

Football Shirts

The world of football shirts seems to have gone a little mad in recent times since the whole scam to do with supermarkets and cheap prices, but make no mistake about it, it's still massive business.

Football is a business these days, we all know that and the shirts have a massive impact on profits for clubs, so getting things just right in terms of design and sales must rank highly in terms of importance.

Chelsea Football Club

Why is it then, that so many teams have so many awful football shirts? I mean event the teams at the very top, will all the money and resource in the world seem to fall victim to some of the most god awful tops you could ever hope to see.

This season, let's take Chelsea for instance. They've won two Premiership titles and countless other trophies and plaudits over the last three or four seasons and this year they're being paraded round in fluorescent green tops that make them look like traffic wardens.

Is it just the fact that manufacturers think they have to come up with designs for football shirts that stand out from the crowd in order to be considered worthy? There is one kit manufacturer who seems to have things down however, and that's Nike.

No matter who they're asked to design for, they always seem to come good and they've been doing that same high class job for years now. Arsenal, Celtic and Man Utd are just three teams to benefit from the quality of their shirt designs in recent times and I'm sure there's a line of others waiting in the wings.

But what are Nike doing that all of the other manufacturers aren't? Well, they're keeping it simple. Most real football fans are just everyday people who don't want a tight fitted pink shirt with a white round neck collar. They want their teams colours represented in a simple manner so they can wear the shirt with pride on a Saturday.

A lot of manufacturers seem to be forgetting this and I hope dearly that football shirts are given the attention they deserve in the future.

Football Shirts

Chelsea Revives Title Challenge

Chelsea roar on with a decisive 2-0 win at home to Man City. This was a pivotal "six-pointer" game. City started the game in 3rd spot with Chelsea chasing two points behind. The win now puts Chelsea a point ahead of City and with a game in hand - potentially just six points behind United. The title chase is not over for Chelsea as they seek to defend their crown with a late charge.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

Chelsea FootballClub

Chelsea's two goals came late in the game - on 78 mins courtesy of inspirational defender David Luiz, and then in stoppage time from their other new Brazilian star Ramires. The game really was heading for a stale 0-0 draw. Chelsea boss Ancelotti opted for an experimental strike force of Malouda, Torres and Kalou and Chelsea didn't really raise their game until Drogba and Anelka were introduced on 70 mins.

David Luiz showed again what great value he is even at his hefty price tag. He has fitted into English Premier League football seamlessly and provided energy, poise and a cutting edge to the team. He really is one of the star finds of this season. His second goal of the season proved what a superb two-way threat he is. Chelsea have to hope that he is a durable player because he is going to be a linchpin player for them for seasons to come. Ramires on the other hand - has often struggled with the pace of the league but his last minute goal indicates that he has found his rhythm and endurance in a physically punishing league.

MAN CITY

Boss Mancini will be disappointed that his team failed to show up in this critical swing game against Chelsea. They have now lost their 3rd spot and on current form, will have a hard time getting ahead of Chelsea - AND have to battle Tottenham for that 4th spot. Its looking like another soft ending to a season for City who appear to be also running out of steam and ideas. For all the money they have spent, building team chemistry has been a big struggle. The team does need some time to gel so this part is understandable. Whether the owners have enough patience to wait is another issue. If Jose Mourinho becomes available in the summer, I expect City to make him a substantial offer to run City. So lots of potential drama await City in the off-season. Stay tuned on this one.

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Its abundantly clear that Chelsea now have the momentum to take up the chase for United. Arsenal appear to be losing steam. They are not sound defensively and their keeper Almunia is hitting an erratic patch. At this rate, Chelsea will overhaul Arsenal for 2nd and be the team to apply the heat on United. I'd love to be proved wrong because Arsenal have a great chance of ending their trophy drought and are still in a great position to strike. But they have major problems right now with team dynamics and confidence. This is the point in the season when the team should be shifting into high gear for the stretch run. Arsenal are sputtering along.

THE LAST WORD

Chelsea captain John Terry has been in the news this week as England boss Fabio Capello makes a hash of figuring out the England captaincy. It has now gone BACK to John Terry. My opinion is that its the right move. Terry is a better captain than either Rio Ferdinand or Steven Gerrard. I never thought a year suspension from the captaincy was required. Perhaps a few games to send a message about his off-field indiscretions. Terry is the right man for the captaincy for what he does on the field. Decision long overdue.

Chelsea Revives Title Challenge

Soccer Songs That Make the Game More Exciting

Soccer songs are well-known all over the world. They bring more intensity to the sport which has long been associated with thrill and excitement. Football chants are combined with lots of gimmicks to boost the confidence of the various football teams. Soccer is the most watched and followed sport in the world so that every fan wants to be a part of it in any way they can.

In Argentina, Brazil, France, United Kingdom, Japan, Korea and many other countries, people play soccer, watch soccer games, and even sing football songs in public places. Soccer is often the topic friends discuss over meals and soccer news is read in every street corner. Practically, soccer has been a constant part of the people's lives and in several countries the game has even become a part of their culture. Football right now is already more than just a leisure activity. It is a way of life.

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The loud singing and cheering inject a unique form of excitement and exhilarating suspense to the out field. A die-hard fan enjoys soccer games more when he or she shares something in common with the crowd. A soccer chant or song can express a fan's devotion to his/her favorite soccer team. The songs featured in the game inspire not only the players but the spectators or fans as well. Such a state makes every second of the game special and worthwhile.

Soccer songs are fun. These songs are mostly in the form of pop songs which talk about football success or sport success in general. They make the game a more exciting sport. They make soccer more fascinating.

Soccer Songs That Make the Game More Exciting

Pacesetter Soccer Club

The Pacesetter Soccer Club focuses on the development of their player. They accept kids starting at a young age and enhance their skills and how to be a part of a team. There coaches are responsible for encouraging kids to be more active and participate on competitions and trainings. They both engage on strategies and theories of the sport.

As kids grow they became more oriented on the sport and have already played on competitions and be very well deserved to be a part on their school team. They will love football and be a better player. When they turn college for sure they will be accepted on scholarship programs and in that sense their education will be insured and with the help of course by the Pacesetter Soccer Club who motivated them to do good.

Chelsea Football Club

For kids who are eager to know more about football, PSC is very much fit for them. The Club is intended to make your sport life a difference, by giving there best to teach children. They have professional coaches that are well-trained and knows the in and outs of the game and help beginners to make good.

PSC has a complete facility and friendly environment for a soccer camp. They not only focus on the game itself but have also fun activities like traveling during important tournaments and you can find lots of good friends there too. With a good training and handling players, there is nothing more you want to ask for. Part of there mission is to make players more comfortable and to make them feel at home.

Pacesetter Soccer Club

TOP 10 Moments in Football History

10. Luis Figo, a world famous football star, who played for FC Barcelona from 1995 till 2000. He was arguably the fans' most favorite player in FC Barcelona, until 2000. That's when "it" happened, Barcelona's biggest rivals, Real Madrid, decided to splash the cash and break the transfer list fees record by getting Luis to Real Madrid.

The move caused outrage among Barcelona fans, Madrid got him for a world record fee of 38 Million Pounds. And that's when the fun begins, during the match between FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, when Luis Figo stepped up to take the corner kick, a pig's head was thrown at him from Barcelona's side. Another incident took place during the 2004 EURO Cup Final between Greece and Portugal. A Portuguese fan ran out on the field, managed to outrun the police, and heading towards Luis threw a Barcelona jersey at him, as the whole world was watching.

Chelsea FootballClub

9. 1996 - African Challenge.
1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, The most surprising gold medals went to the hands of Nigerian football stars after they overcame Brazil in thrilling semi-finals, with a 4-3 score. The finals was between Argentina and Nigeria, well over 2 billion people were watching it, of course most of them thought that Argentina will have no problems getting the gold medal, but most of them were wrong. Argentina was in the driver's seat after leading 1-0. The goal came on a 3rd minute, scored by Claudio Lopez, on the 28th minute Nigeria managed to equalize, as Babayaro scored a perfect finisher. So it was 1-1 on half-time. In the early second half Hernan Crespo gave Argentina the lead again and Argentina was on the way to get the gold medals, but "not so fast" said Amokachi as he scored the equalizing goal and again gave Nigeria hope. Match was almost over and everybody thought it was going to be decided by the penalty shoot out. 90th minute and Amunike gave the lead to Nigeria, it was a shock for Argentina, time was almost over, Argentina had no chance, so it ended with a final score 3-2. Nigeria won the gold medal, for the first time in Olympic Games history.

8. 1960, First ever UEFA European Football Championship (EURO) held in France. It was won by the USSR, beating Yugoslavia 2-1 in a tense final in Paris. It is however quite interesting to note that earlier in the competition Spain had withdrawn from its quarterfinal match against the USSR due to political reasons. As an interesting fact, USSR also scored the first goal in the EURO history, during the qualification games.

7. 1998/1999 English Premier League season, Manchester United got all trophies possible that season. They became the first ever team in football history to do so in one season. First they got the Premier League title, finishing first in the league table, then they took the F.A. Cup title by beating Newcastle United 2-0, and of course the most famous UEFA Champions League final, when United managed to come back from a 1-0 defeat, and score not one but two goals in an injury time beating Bayern Munich 2-1; it was considered to be one of the greatest comebacks ever witnessed.

6. 2002 World Cup, Korea/Japan. Korean fans will never forget that historic moment, when Guus Hiddink took them all the way to the Semi-Finals of 2002 World Cup. Korean national football team became the first ever Asian national football team to reach semi-finals of World Cup. Nobody expected the underdogs to go that far, as they beat Portugal 1-0 in a group stages, then a famous 2-1 win over Italy, drawing with Spain in a quarter-finals and then beating them 5-3 on penalties. In the end however they couldn't take on Germany in semi-finals, and they lost 1-0. In the game for the third place Korean team met Turkey, but again they lost. Eventually the Republic of Korea finished 4th in the 2002 World Cup, which was still a great success for the country's football team.

5. June 2003, Chelsea FC was bought by the Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich for a record fee of 140 million pounds. Back then it was the biggest sale of an English Football club. Straight away Roman wanted to make Chelsea the best and strongest club in the world. He began buying players for a record braking transfer fees. First season with a new owner Chelsea FC finished as a runner-up. But next year, the 2004/2005 English premier league season, Chelsea became champions of England, for the first time since 1954/1955 season. 2005/2006 Season they took the premier league trophy again as they were crowned the champions of England for the second time in a row. These 2 seasons were the most successful 2 years in the club's history.

4. January 11th 2007. It was confirmed that David Beckham will be leaving Real Madrid to play for the United States "soccer" club, Los Angeles Galaxy. Beckham's decision was a shock to many, as one of the world's best football players moves to United States of America, where "soccer" is not that popular. He was the first big player to enter Major League Soccer.

3. 6th February 1958, the Munich air disaster. It was the darkest day in Manchester United Football Club history. On the board of the plane was Manchester United football team along with the club supporters and journalists. 23 of the 44 passengers on board died. Captain James Thain, the pilot tried to take off twice, but both attempts were aborted due to engine surging. When a third take off was attempted, the plane failed to gain adequate height and crashed into the fence surrounding the airport and then into a house. Now every year on this day Manchester United holds a memorial to the people who lost their lives in the Munich air disaster.

2. 2006 World Cup Final produced one of the most famous moments in football history, when Zidane's head-butted on Italian defender Marco Materazzi. It was Zidane's last international appearance for the French national team and 3 billion people around the world were watching it. The next day newspapers all over the world were not writing about how Italy won their 4th World Cup title, but they were writing about how Zidane pulled the "stunt" on Marco. Definitely that was one of the biggest moments in the history of football.

1. Edison Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pele, the world's most famous name in football. Football is probably the most famous sport in the world, and Pele is the man who made it what it is today. Pele made 669 appearances in club football, scoring 626 goals. He also made 92 appearances for Brazilian National football side and scored 77 goals. He made his first club appearance when he was just 15 years of age. He made his first international appearance for Brazil when he was 16, and won his first World Cup when he was just 17. Pele is hailed in Brazil as a national hero. The number one moment in football history is when Pele managed to score his first international goal for Brazil, just three month before his 17th birthday.

TOP 10 Moments in Football History

10 Things You Didn't Know About Espanyol Football Club

1. RCD Espanyol de Barcelona is said to be the sixth most successful football team in Spain, despite being continually overshadowed by the ever-popular FC Barcelona.

2. This was the first club to be formed exclusively by Spanish fans, unlike clubs like FC Barcelona, which were founded by immigrants. Ángel Rodríguez founded the club with the help of his school mates from the University of Barcelona.

Chelsea FootballClub

3. The blue and white stripes on the shirt colors that were adopted in 1910 were inspired by the colors on the Catalan Admiral Roger de Lluria's shield. The admiral had sailed the Mediterranean during the Middle Ages in protection of Catalonia's interests.

4. The team has won a total of four cup titles through the years 1929, 1940, 2000, and 2006.

5. The current team of Espanyol FC started out playing in a large field near the Sagrada Familia before it moved to Sarnia and later to the Olympic Stadium. A new four star stadium, which will become the permanent home of the club, is currently under construction. The new stadium will have all the latest modern amenities including steps toward energy efficiency and handicapped accessibility.

6. In 1912, King Alfonso XIII awarded the club his patronage, giving them the right to use the "Real" (Royal) title as well as to depict the crown in their crest. The club changed its name to Real Club Deportivo Espanol, but changed it again several times due to external influences arising from the conflict in Spain.

7. Espanyol FC won its first Spanish Cup in 1929 when playing against Real Madrid in a 2-1 victory. History repeated itself in 1940 when they won their second Spanish Cup, once again while playing against Real Madrid, scoring a 3-2 victory.

8. When the Professional Football League, La Liga had just been formed in 1929, Pitus Prats scored the first goal in the competition's history. This was reminiscent of the first goal scored in Spanish Cup history, a victory achieved by Ponz.

9. In 1992, Espanyol Club became a sportive joint stock company.

10. In the summertime, Espanyol FC opens the doors of its Sporting City, where the players train and play matches, to the children of Turbula School for a sporting summer camp. The Club also runs a football school where children train and engage in competitions for internal trophies.

10 Things You Didn't Know About Espanyol Football Club

South Africa World Cup Prediction of Games - Saturday 26 June Afternoon Game - France V Nigeria

Two weeks in to the world cup we get to the first knock out games of the tournament. This is where tournament football is at its best. Extra time and penalties come into play if the teams are drawing and the excitement cannot be contained as both teams go for it from the start. No more bore draws. No more parking the bus in front of the goal.

The Winner of Group A will take on the Runner up of Group B.

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Group A consists of South Africa, Mexico, Uruguay and France. My prediction is that France will top the group with South Africa coming in second ahead of Mexico.

Group B consists of Argentina Nigeria South Korea and Greece. My prediction is that Argentina will head the group and Nigeria in second place.

The 15:00 game will be between France and Nigeria. What a game this is going to be. I can see this being a classic with attacking football from both the French and the Nigerians. Form says that France will win and I have to agree. It always seem that the big teams get the rub of the green. Maybe its an unconscious decision by the referee. France have great players in Frank Ribery and Thierry Henry. With those two on form I can see them having a great game against the Nigerians. France, winners of the World Cup on home soil in 1998 will have a lot of work to do in order to get past this excellent African team. We will have to wait and see. I predict that France will win in extra time.

South Africa World Cup Prediction of Games - Saturday 26 June Afternoon Game - France V Nigeria

Find the Best Cheap Soccer Jerseys

Football fans are extremely passionate and are obsessed with the beautiful game. For any true football fan, wearing their club or countries latest soccer jerseys are a popular trend. However the price of replica kits is now extremely high so football fans search online in the home that they can find great bargains to buy cheap soccer jerseys.

There are many stores who sell soccer jerseys for cheap towards the end of the season, but this is normally because they are soon to be replaced by a brand new football shirt for the following season. Another good way to get discounts on your football kits is to become a member of a soccer fan club or team, so you can get a discounted price enjoyed by their members. Often you can find cheaper prices on soccer kits by following this method.

Chelsea Fanclub

Or you can search online for stores who sell cheap football shirts at lower prices. Here, you can save up to 50% on the price of replica soccer shirts by buying wholesale soccer items and factory second items. Here, you can find the newest released football shirts with great service, including custom soccer jerseys for both kids and adults.

These stores will ship the item direct to your door so you don't have to spend time searching in shops. You can find kits for all the best teams including Barcelona, Roma, Sampdoria, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, AC Milan, Juventus, Liverpool, Inter Milan, Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur.

Find the Best Cheap Soccer Jerseys

Samsung - Way Into Sports With the Olympic Games Sponsorship

Samsung is not just about mobile phones and electronic gadgets. Lately, it is also into sports. Not that it has branched into making sports apparels and equipment as well. It has been a major sponsor of the world Olympic games since 1998 and in every summer and winter Olympics thence culminating in the Vancouver Winter games this year. For more than 10 strong years, it has been behind the Olympic movement. A new contract binds Samsung with the Olympic well into every games until 2016.

This goes to show that the company is strongly into making the brand a part of the entire global community by being a major part of this global event. It is committed in making Samsung a durable global brand for every consumer around the world. It fist made its presence felt in the Nagano Winter Olympics in 1998. Since then, it has been a fixture in the following Olympic games namely: the 2000 Sydney summer Olympics, the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics, the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics, the 2006 Winter Olympics, the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics. It is also expected to be behind the upcoming 2012 London Olympic Games, the 2014 Winter Olympics, and the 2016 Rio de Janiero Summer Olympics.

Chelsea FC

Samsung's long - term commitment to these upcoming global events is sure to cement Samsung brand awareness around the world, as it strides to expand its market and overtake rival maker of mobile phones and other electronic gadgets.

Aside from the Olympics, it has also been ubiquitous in many sports events around the world. Europe is no exemption. It entered into a sponsorship contract with the English Premiership Team Chelsea FC, which is reported to be the second costliest English football sponsorship in the league's history. In France, there is the Samsung Super League which it holds in partnership with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports. And there is the FEI Nations Cup sponsorship. The Nations cup is the oldest and most renowned equestrian sporting event worldwide.

In football - crazy Latin America, Samsung is behind the Brazilian Team Palmieras and the Mexican Football Team, Club Deportivo Guadajalara. In the US, there is the Samsung 500 as Samsung logos blaze around the Texas race track. Down under, it is behind the Sydney Roosters, a professional Rugby Team in Australia's National Rugby League. It is also the sponsor of the Melbourne Victory Football Club.

Back at home, it is owner of the professional Baseball team, Samsung Lions, the Football team Suwom Samsung Bluewings, the Basketball Team Seoul Samsung thunders, the Women's basketball team Samsung Bichumi, and the volleyball team Samsung Blue Fangs.

It is also very active in Asia where it plans to start a cricket league and build sports stadiums in people - rich India. The Asian Games is also host to a number of Samsung sponsorships.

Samsung's presence is not limited to race tracks and playing fields. In the cyber wars, Samsung sponsors the professional Star Craft team, Samsung Khan, the winner of the 2008 Shinhan Bank Pro League. It is also among the major advertisers in the World Cyber Games.

Samsung - Way Into Sports With the Olympic Games Sponsorship

Premier League Review - Chelsea Beat Bolton

Chelsea secured their first Premier League win in seven games as they beat Bolton 1-0. The Blues worst run of form for more than ten years was brought to an end, as they continue to pursue Manchester United in the race for the Premier League title.

There was little evidence of their former glories, as Chelsea were made to fight for every ball, had their normal flowing play disrupted and they will probably consider themselves fortunate to have secured all three points.

Chelsea

Florent Malouda was on hand to score the only goal of the game, and his first goal in the league for two months, which was enough to send the Blues back to fourth place in the table. The Blues are now four points adrift of leaders Manchester United and City, and two points behind Arsenal, who beat them 3-1 a few days previously. In what could conspire to be one of the closest title races for many years, Chelsea, who top the league by five points a few weeks ago, could already be home and dry had they not endured such a woeful spell of form.

On a rain soaked pitch, Chelsea again struggled to find their free flowing game and they failed to secure one shot on target during a miserable first half. Bolton on the other hand were competitive and strong in the tackle, showing a resilience that the hosts would have welcomed themselves during the last few weeks.

Bolton started to look like the side more likely to score and some desperate defending from John Terry and a few near misses denied the visitors. A section of the home crowd booed their team off at half time, growing increasingly frustrated by the lacklustre display.

After a slow start to the second half, Chelsea suddenly sprang into life and a fantastic pass from Lampard, who has been badly missed this season, set Drogba free and he hit the inside of the post with his shot.

The Blues could sense a goal and they increased the pressure on the visitors, which finally paid off in the 61st minute as Malouda scored his goal, which was followed by jubilant celebrations by both players and fans.

Bolton, determined as ever, made every attempt to score an equaliser, on another day they may have been successful, some desperate defending and a goal line clearance from Drogba was all that spared Chelsea, who did have opportunities to extend their lead late on in the game, and Essien had a goal ruled out for offside.

The win just about keeps Chelsea in the title race and will ease the pressure on manager Carlo Ancelotti, although the performance overall did leave much to be desired.

Premier League Review - Chelsea Beat Bolton

Blackpool FC Demonstrates a Masterclass in Negotiation

Blackpool Football Club bosses pulled off a master stroke on transfer window deadline day for British football.

For many months, there's been speculation surrounding Mr Adams and the keen interest being express by clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United and Chelsea. OK, there's been 'speculation' and that's very different from a genuine offer being made to Blackpool FC to secure Mr Adams' services. On a day when Fernando Torres left struggling Liverpool to join Chelsea FC (who are also struggling but still in the top 5 league positions) for an astounding £50 million fee, youngster Andy Carroll leaves Newcastle FC to join Liverpool for a staggering £30 million - remember that Mr Carroll has played less than 45 minutes for the England national side and his transfer fee is only £10 million less than that paid for master footballer Zinezine Zidane over a decade ago, don't you just wonder where, in an environment of austerity and cutbacks, how much does one club have to pay for a player from a competitor?

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The master stroke from Blackpool FC? It's a wonderfully simple, if not perhaps unethical approach to retaining the services of a very influential player. What did they do? Well, Sky News reported that an offer for Adams had been received from high-flying Tottenham Hotspur (remember, it's deadline day and more 'last minute' deals get done on this day than at any other time during the transfer window), but a deal was not able to be done due to the fact that several Blackpool FC shareholders weren't available to sign documents which would have approved the deal before the 11pm transfer deadline.

Isn't this a fantastic strategy? A well established negotiation tool is to 'refer to a higher authority' if you want to get something done more quickly and easily. But Blackpool FC turned this approach on its head. They appear to have ensured that the 'higher authorities' were unavailable, whether they be in different locations or just not contactable by phone. Well done Mr Holloway, you've kept the player you never wanted to sell and let other clubs know what challenges they'll face in future when you don't want to sell one of your players.

Can't we all learn something from this that relates to the world of business?

A key tool when influencing another person or group is the element of scarcity. Whether it's a scarcity of funds, resources or time, creating the illusion of something or someone not being available for long tends to create an element of urgency in the other party. Look at how Ian Holloway played out this drama. And he did it fantastically well! He started with the approach of 'Don't ask us to sell our player as he's not for sale.' In an interview a few weeks later he stated that in his opinion, his player could be worth up to £48 million. How crazy is that valuation? and that's possibly what he wanted his intended audience (other Premiership managers) to think. And are you guessing what's next? Even though £48 million is ridiculous as a transfer fee, if you do want to buy the player and you get him for £20 million - doesn't it then look like more of a bargain?

Remember, in business, whether you're a leader, manager, sales person or customer service agent, you are ALWAYS negotiating. And if you're not using effective negotiation and influencing tools and techniques, you could lose out. And, with great respect for Mr Holloway, if you don't want to sell out, make it amazingly difficult for the other party to access the relevant resources (in his case, the shareholders) to approve such a deal.

Blackpool FC Demonstrates a Masterclass in Negotiation

The Strange Tale of the Jules Rimet Trophy

The golden trophy that is awarded to the eventual winners of every FIFA World Cup tournament is the most prized award in soccer. But the trophy that will be awarded to whatever team eventually is victorious in South Africa in 2010 will not be lifting the original trophy, first awarded in 1930, but instead a replacement that has been in use since the original, the Jules Rimet trophy, was awarded in perpetuity to Brazil in 1970, in recognition of their third World Cup Victory.But the story behind the fate of the Jules Rimet trophy is a far stranger one than you might imagine.

The trophy itself was first created for the first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930. At that time it was officially known as the "Victory", it was not until 1946 that it was renamed for man whose vision had beget the competition in first place. It was a true work of art. Designed by Abel Lafleur, its blue lapis base held a solid gold representation of the goddess Nike, the ancient Greek patron of victory.

Chelsea FootballClub

In January of 1966 the Jules Rimet trophy made its way to London, so it could be displayed prior to the World Cup, scheduled to take place in England later that year. The trophy was placed under the care of the English Football Association, who kept it at their headquarters in Lancaster Gate, showing it publicly only on a few, well organized occasions.

In February however the Stanley Gibbons Stamp Company requested permission from the FA to "borrow" the trophy, to be used as the central attraction for their Stampex exhibition the following month. The company promised that it would be well guarded and it was covered by a ,000 insurance policy, even though it was only valued at ,000.

In March the exhibition opened in the Central Hall in Westminster. Two guards were employed to stand near the trophy day and night, joined by two plainclothes policeman during the day. But still, it was later admitted that none had their eyes on the prized cup at every moment.

On Sunday 20th March the security guards making their noon inspection discovered that the cabinet that held the Jules Rimet trophy had been pried open and the prize was gone.

Scotland Yard took over the investigation immediately but early leads fell flat. Then on Monday March 21st, the chairman of the FA, Joe Mears, received an anonymous phone call at his office. The caller stated that Mears could expect delivery of a package, addressed to him, to Chelsea football club the next day.

But the package actually arrived at Mears' home. It contained the removable lining from the Jules Rimet trophy and a note demanding fifteen thousand pounds in small bills. The note further instructed the FA to place a coded advertisement in the personals column of The Evening News. If they followed subsequent demands, the note continued, they would have the trophy back by Friday.

The events of the following days resemble something out of an old gangster movie. Mears contacted Scotland Yard who began to put a plan into place. Bundles of counterfeit cash were created and two officers were assigned to be with Mears at all times. In the meantime he was sent home to wait for another telephone call.

When the phone call did finally come the terrified Mears was in the throes of an asthma attack. His wife handed the phone to his assistant McPhee (who in real life was Detective Inspector Buggy). "McPhee" was instructed to proceed, cash in hand, to the nearby Battersea Park.

Buggy proceeded, shadowed by a number of Flying Squad colleagues in unmarked cars. At the gate he met up with a "Mr. Jackson" Buggy showed the man the suitcase, and he failed to notice that the currency was counterfeit. Buggy demanded to see the trophy before he handed over the money. Jackson agreed, stepping into Buggy's car promising to lead him to the trophy.

Somewhere along the way "Jackson" realized that they were being followed and became nervous. He instructed Buggy to stop at the next traffic light so that he could go and retrieve the trophy from its hiding place. After he exited the car, he fled. Buggy pursued him and eventually found him hiding in a private garden. At the police station he was identified as Edward Betchley, a local car dealer and petty thief. He was charged with the theft and the subsequent extortion attempt but the Jules Rimet trophy was still missing.

On March 27th a local man, David Corbett and his dog Pickles were walking in the Beulah Hill area of South London, as was their custom. The dog discovered a package, wrapped crudely in newspaper. Corbett opened it and recognized its contents immediately. He turned the Jules Rimet World Cup trophy into the local Gypsy Hill police station immediately. Your browser may not support display of this image.

Although initially under suspicion, Corbett had an iron clad alibi for the time of the theft and after FA officials positively identified the trophy as genuine, the news of its recovery was released and Pickles found himself hailed a national hero.

Corbett received a ,000 reward and Pickles even went on to have brief career in movies. In the summer of 1966 England won the World Cup, so the Jules Rimet trophy remained, hidden away, in England for another year. A replica was created immediately after the recovery of the original to be displayed for public purposes.

In 1970, per the man himself's instructions 40 years earlier, when Brazil triumphed in the competition he conceived for the third time they were awarded the Jules Rimet trophy to keep. A brand new trophy was created to be awarded to future victors. Your browser may not support display of this image.

In 1983 the Jules Rimet cup was stolen once more, and has never been found. Investigators believe it was melted down for its gold value immediately, and Pickles the dog was no longer around to help them look for it.

The Strange Tale of the Jules Rimet Trophy

Liverpool Football Club - A Positive Outlook

LFC

LFC - You'll Never Walk Alone

Chelsea FootballClub

Welcome to the first edition of The LFC Times which is a new, independent view of the events at Liverpool FC.

I have written a number of blogs on a wide range of subjects related to LFC, as well as being a regular contributor to posts in the LFC website fans forum, simply because Liverpool Football Club is my passion and just like millions of other fans worldwide, I have very firm views on everything to do with this world sporting icon that I happen to love very much.

However, this new project is designed to be more than just another blog and more than can be achieved within existing forums. The purpose of this new, online voice is to counter the vast amount of negative material that is being written and spoken about Liverpool FC by presenting an honest, forthright viewpoint of events at Anfield. The Story So Far.........

Let me see. It goes a little like this:

* The tactics are wrong

* The manager is old school, whose failed ideas are rooted in a previous generation that is not compatible with football today

* Our team is too old

* Our players are not good enough

* We have no chance of winning anything

* We were outfought and outclassed by Manchester City when we played them

* We need another striker

When you consider all the 'expert opinion' that has been written and spoken about LFC since the start of the season, it is a wonder that we are bothering to even turn up this season.

On top of all that, there is the ongoing saga of 'The Takeover' which is currently an issue that has gone very quiet but which seems to be a source of so much depression amongst LFC supporters.

It seems that whenever I pick up a newspaper or tune in to the television or radio, someone is voicing an opinion that amounts to "The King is dead. Long live The King"

Well, if you don't all mind, I think that rumours of the death of LFC are a little premature. We are alive and well and I have every reason to believe that L4 will soon be buzzing again.

The media have an agenda, or several agendas, actually and the trouble at the moment is, that so many people are being sucked in by the poisonous words that they are spouting.

Let us look at the first 10 games that we have to play, in the Premier league, this season. Arsenal and Chelsea at home plus Man City, Birmingham, Everton and man Utd away, that's 6 really tough away fixtures in the first 10 matches, not to mention Bolton, a notoriously difficult away fixture for any team. If you count that one as well, that makes 5 tough, uncompromising away fixtures plus 2 very tough home fixtures.

Given that sort of start to a season, I would be happy if, at the end of that run, we had only lost a couple of matches and were within 6 to 9 points of a top four place. Currently we are 2 points from that goal!

Let me repeat that.

After what the pundits are describing as a wretched start to the season, we are just 2 points away from 4th place. Hmmm.... awful start eh?

Shankley

How come, I wonder, no one seems to be writing about the early demise of Spurs and free spending man City? Have you had a look at their league position? Taken a peek at how many points they each have?

Well, just in case you haven't, let me enlighten you.

Man City and Spurs both have 5 points, which is exactly the same as....... erm...... Liverpool! And Villa have 6. Add in to that the fact that Everton have 2 points and you can see that, apart from Chelsea and Arsenal, none of the expected top 8 clubs have yet performed this season.

I don't, however, see or hear the same terminal diagnosis for any of the other slow starters.

Liverpool, though, have become the number one, easy targets and so, this onslaught is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. Allow me to explain why...

Firstly, they make an easy story. Journalists don't even have to think. All they need to do is rewrite all the old stories, over and over again. Stories about the failings of LFC are easy to write but have you noticed, when you read and listen to this stuff, that there is nothing new or original about any of it?

* Torres has never recovered from his injury

* Torres is lazy and disinterested

* Liverpool are short of quality and have a weak squad

* The manager doesn't seem to know what he is doing

* Our players are lacking in motivation

These same old phrases keep getting written and rewritten by every Tom, Dick and Harry without any thought, research or imagination whatsoever.

Let's have a look at Liverpool's strongest 11:

Steven Gerrard

Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Skrtel, Koncheski, Kuyt, Gerrard, Meireles, Maxi, Cole, Torres.

Then let's look at the choice of subs: Agger, Kyrgiakos, Aurelio, Lucas, Poulson, Pacheco, Kelly, Ngog, Babel, all of which are either established full international players or Under 21, promising and talented young players and I have left a few out, too.

That makes 20 players who are somewhere between good and brilliant.

So, spare me the rubbish about the quality of our players. They are more than good enough for the top 4 this season.

Next we have the backlash from 4 successive decades of being one of the top sides in England, and for 2 of those decades we were THE top side in England, Europe and, truth be told, probably the world, at club level. During that time, in fact, we probably would have beaten most international sides.

So, there are a lot of reporters and ex players out there with an axe to grind, who have been waiting 20 to 30 years for Liverpool to stumble, just so they could gloat and exact some revenge. Most of those are part of the southern press machine.

And finally, we have the awful PR job that we have carried out these past 3 years, meaning that some of what we are currently receiving is to be expected.

Our owners have made a right pig's ear of overseeing club business matters, we had a chief executive (Rick Parry) who just made matters worse by being inept in the transfer market and then we had Rafa, the subject of some sort of misplaced and misguided folklore status by so many of our supporters.

Rafa, with his smug, self serving media attitude did us a lot of harm and brought a lot of the poor perception of LFC down upon us himself. Had he been a bit more media friendly, I am convinced the press image of us would be much better than it has been.

Having said that, lets look at what we have won during the past 5 years:

* Champions League

* FA Cup

* Super Cup

* Charity Shield

Then, on top of that, we have been League Cup runners up, Premier League runners up, World Club runners up and Champions league runners up as well, plus Champions League semi finalists and Europa League semi finalists.

How bad is that, eh?

Last season we lost 19 matches in all competitions and so is it any wonder that we have started off in an uncertain manner? The squad has had to exist through endless rumours of takeovers, a new manager, the loss of 2 very influential players, plus continual speculation (again, magnified by the media) about key players and then, we have new players who need time to settle into the team and the team is having to get used to new personnel on and off the pitch, new ideas, new ways of doing things.

You don't go from losing 19 matches to suddenly playing great football all in one seamless movement. It takes time.

The first thing is that a team needs to tighten up and become hard to beat, which we are in the process of achieving, in my view and then, from that comes confidence. Then, bit by bit, that confidence grows and shows itself in the type of football that is played.

On top of that, new players have to bed in and the manager has to discover, through trial and improvement, through experimenting, which combinations of players is the best suited to achieving what he wants.

It just takes time.

But be in no doubt. The players are plenty good enough. The manager is good enough. The fans are good enough.

Let's give the team and the manager a break. Let's be patient and see out the first 10 matches and then, once they are out of the way and once the early season international fiasco is over, maybe we will start to see the revival become stronger.

I am most certainly not walking alone. Remember, we are LFC. We are proud, we are strong, we are knowledgable and we are passionate.

Bring it on!

Liverpool Football Club - A Positive Outlook

Find the Best Cheap Soccer Jerseys

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There are many stores who sell soccer jerseys for cheap towards the end of the season, but this is normally because they are soon to be replaced by a brand new football shirt for the following season. Another good way to get discounts on your football kits is to become a member of a soccer fan club or team, so you can get a discounted price enjoyed by their members. Often you can find cheaper prices on soccer kits by following this method.

Chelsea Fanclub

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Find the Best Cheap Soccer Jerseys

Arsene Wenger's Double Victory With Arsenal FC

Achievements prior to the Double victory

Wenger worked meticulously to ensure that he did the best for his team from the start. He changed Arsenal's old school methods of training and dietary regime. He introduced drastic changes, which were thankfully met with very little resistance. In no time, the team adjusted to Wenger's training and nutrition programs. The Arsenal manager not only made changes to his team's way of functioning but also in the infrastructure they used. He essayed a crucial role in getting a new training ground constructed for his team. Wenger also played a major role in the building of the Emirates stadium.

Chelsea FC

The Double win

Under Wenger, the Arsenal team achieved a number of victories. One such victory was their first Doubles with him as the manager. It came 10 months after he joined the club. Wenger's team had the skills of players like Nicolas Anelka, Emmanuel Petit and Marc Overmars. Their 1997-1998 title did not come easily. At the outset of the championship, the Arsenal team had to face inconsistencies in their team. Nevertheless, on December 13 1997, the team defeated Blackburn 3-1. From there on, the team played 26 games without being defeated. These unbeaten victories led to the Highbury team securing the Premiership League trophy for the first time.

On April 29, the Arsenal team defeated Derby County. The team only required three points for a victory. Unfortunately, the team lost the following matches with Aston Villa and Liverpool. Because of this, their next match with Everton on their home ground in Highbury became very important. Slaven Billic, Everton's defender was not successful in defending his post and Marc Overmars' two strikes led the Arsenal team to victory. The last few seconds of this game are notably memorable for Arsenal fans. During the last seconds of the game Tony Adams, the team's expert center back sped from the Arsenal half and raced on to get Steve Bould's, his defensive partner's pass. By blocking the ball and ramming it in a corner, Arsenal won the Premiership League game 4-0.

Two weeks later, Wenger's team won the FA Cup. The team was not in their best form when playing the FA Cup games. Yet, their two goals against Newcastle helped them secure the cup.

After the Double win

Though the following years were disappointing for the team, in 2002 they won the Old Trafford title. In 2003, Arsene Wenger's team lifted the FA Cup yet again. This was followed by the manager's best achievement - he led his team through a season of 49 undefeated games, a record in the League's history. Under Wenger's guidance, Arsenal tasted victory once again, winning the FA Cup in 2005. In the following year, his team was close to securing the Champions League trophy, but missed out by a few points.

Arsene Wenger's Double Victory With Arsenal FC