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Posts from the ‘Turkey’ Category

May 10

Kocaelispor

Come on Kocaeli

It was great to catch up with my Turkish Team last time in Izmit.  Just like County, in that Country I cannot find it in my blood to adopt a so-called ‘Giant’, favouring, the Club that I first went to see with my Father In Law some 16 years ago.  I guess it’s “the scarf my father wore syndrome”.

The Ground was somewhat sparse apart from one bustling Stand where fans known as Hodri Meydan showed their support.  These inspired by ‘amigos’ sang their hearts out from start to finish but to no avail as the Team went down 1-0.

Everyone was friendly, we made no attempt to hide our British Nationality – and in usual style were permitted to go on the pitch to meet the players; my Son having his picture taken in the dug-out, just as he had with Fatih Terim ex-Galatasaray on last watching ‘Cim Bom’.

Similarities to County continue with the side now stabilizing; and indeed missing out on promotion after a defeat to Tekirdag (known for its’ Raki – Turkish National drink of alcohol!).  Despite a lower league and amateur status, a hard core continue to attend and cheer in hope of a return to the Football League.

Commercialisation was absent – no perimeter board, no programme sellers, no real sponsorship of mention – and this amateurism off field also stretched to an inferior web presence and no e-commerce.

The Day will be remembered for some atmosphere, sunshine, welcoming on the pitch and ‘ticker tape’.  Who’ll return first to headier heights, Kocaeli or County.  I guess the former!

Feb 17

Turkish Fan S'PORT

MANSTANBUL

Brilliant – combines two cities I love: MANCHESTER and ISTANBUL and features client I introduced Manchester Taxi Tours.

Jan 10

I O County I AM CHARLIE

Loads of famous Charlies and recollections of that dealer that approached me to sell stuff during my Caribbean honeymoon. Well here’s another one!

Football is often an example of positivity, as well as the more often reported ills. Fresh from an example of rival clubs respect and acknowledgement of the right way to behave – despite preparing for battle today – the Wrexham supporters are singled out for conducting a mutual applause pre-match against County in remembrance of a recently deceased life long Stockport supporter. An appreciated example of behaviour, where despite differences in opinion and loyalties, people did right.

Not for any comparative purpose, but a lead into commenting on this week’s atrocities across the Channel. I of course, refer to the raid and bloodshed in the shooting of the French cartoonists – now acknowledged by hashtag ‘Je suis Charlie’ (I am Charlie).

I do not make the mistake of saying that it is a Muslim or Islamic attack. The perpetrators may have followed that faith, but the actions are not those of rationale brethren. I have since reviewed the targeted publication and have to say the content is often raw and offensive. But such attacks in the name of religion are wrong and I feel if this being any attempt to curtail radical press or freedom of expression should be avoided at all costs.

As my Wife says, you don’t have to read it or if that upsets you so much then you can protest. But the resorting to criminal actions or terrorism are unforgivable. This message may not be heard in all quarters with fatwas instigated for any challenge or perceived derogatory remark against a religious character – revenge be they Biblical, Torah or  Koran.

Let us remember the victims and their nearest and dearest with reflection on a few images available on the web, where football has reflected on this French tragedy:

 

 

 

Gomis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mar 22

Greek Giants

I watched Olympiakos FC’s fans hanging banners and scarves on the main gate at Anfield this Week.  Purely, a photograph opportunity before travelling the M62 to the ‘Theatre of Dreams” (home to Manchester United FC).  It made me wonder if any attention had been given to the fact that both Galatasaray (Turkey) and Olympiakos (Greece) had entered our little Island for European fixtures this same week?

I’m only guessing there must have been some rivalry over the years between these big teams of sometimes opposing Nations.  Certainly, in basketball a recent fixture kicked off – after an angry, reaction by a Brit.

Football rivalry abounds worldwide. In Greece, “Olympiakos v Panathinaikos – As well as the political tension between the two sides, Olympiakos are regarded as a working-class club, and Panathinaikos are billed as eternal enemies with feuds existing across Athens as well as on the pitch”. 

Well I’ll need to learn more about any protocol both in Turkey-Greece relations; but also across the City of Athens.  I have just been appointed Global Associate for Panathinaikos FC.  The role particularly applies to Turkey and United Kingdom where I will be responsible for assisting the Club in strategic marketing and especially securing new sponsorship partnerships with significant corporates.  Panathinaikos FC is a Greek Club based in Athens. Founded in 1908, it plays in the Super League Greece and is one of the oldest and most successful teams in Greek football. It has won 20 Greek Championships and 17 Greek Cups and is the best Greek club in terms of achievements in European competitions.

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