Skip to content

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.

Mar 22

Creative PR

Always appreciate creative activation in implementation of sponsorship campaigns.  This brand association between a Turkish Beer and Basketball Team appealed to me…….

Feb 1

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds

The name repeated three times and justifiably so.  The Club, with recent events, offer a comedy three times the butt of humour of any other club possibly.  Just what is going on at this once famous Club?

A potential, new majority shareholder (circa 75%), Italian in origin,  may have had a role in suggesting one of their nationals sit alongside then Manager, Brian McDermott.  Constructive dismissal and certainly undermining authority in my book.  Then McDermott is announced as having left the Club 24 hours before kick-off against Huddersfield Town. I’m guessing the mid-week article in which he spoke about the need for the right investors didn’t do him any favours.  “Leeds must be owned ‘by right people’ says in-limbo McDermott” read the headline in the Yorkshire Post.

Far be it for me to suggest the Management should be censored.  The Harry Hill lookalike, despite recent results, appears to have the fans onside.  They chanted his name for the 90 minutes. Did he pick the Team – who knows? In the morning of the game, SKY Sports reported two different people picked two different teams.  One, McDermott’s assistant, Nigel Gibbs and one that same proposed bench-warming Italian.  The former took final control of the team orchestrating a 5-1 victory at ER.  The latter allegedly taking a seat in the Stand and recording player notes on pages with illustrations of each Leeds footballer.

Rumours suggest this Italian investor was the only suitor to come up with quick cash.  But there is more than a possibility that the new Investor(s) will be referred and have concerns to pass the ‘fit and proper’ person. I’m guessing “We are Leeds, Leeds, Leeds” will be whispered until the debacle ends!

Dec 27

1 Comment

All I want for Christmas

Is this newly published book…….and I got it!

“Last season a Stockport team, which in turns is inspired, petrified and tickled pink by the little man with the funny accent, at last made soccer sit up and take notice by climbing out of the Fourth Division where they had wallowed for over 20 years. That in itself was testament to Bergara’s passion and commitment to a game that he cheerfully admits dominates his life 24 hours a day. But if lifting County out of the bargain basement was a monumental feat, what he has created since has been well-nigh unbelievable.” [Manchester Evening News, 1992]

The diminutive Uruguayan remains in our hearts – and now has a Stand named after him at EP.  He still remains responsible for one of my favourite quotes: Danny Bergara (R.I.P) when asked about Jim Gannon by another Manager……”I hear he’s a bit volatile”.  Danny’s reply: “Oh yes, very volatile, he can play anywhere”.

Buy your copy of The Man From Uruguay.

← Older Entries
Newer Entries →