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Dec 27

What’s in a name?

The debate is topical – with focus on Asian owners.  I reported earlier in S’PORT about the lack of empathy in the Malaysian one changing the historic identity of Cardiff as ‘Bluebirds’.  More recently, the Owner at Hull City has requested a name change to ‘Hull Tigers’ apparently to maximize marketing and merchandising value.  I’m the first to appreciate heritage and thought a compromise could have been Hull City Tigers.  In fact a solution first aired on TALKsport.  I was taken to task by a young vociferous upstart, saying how would I like it if we became Stockport County Hatters.  Well that option wouldn’t have bothered me.  I retorted better than a former proposed ‘County Cobras’. Allegedly the Club’s worst sponsorship deal with a success fee only remuneration dependant on amount of Cobra Lager consumed in North West.  I was informed it was single figures of crates in a season – this before Cobra established itself in the UK.  The County Cobras quip was no doubt over his head – long before he supported our Club.

Fan ownership is gaining momentum.  Surprisingly as though its never materialised before at Stockport! I’ll always remain positive about supporters engagement but when I see the new Board at the Stockport County Co-operative I suspect hidden agendas by some.  Indeed, one source supposedly ‘in the know’ expects a rival bid from ‘same old faces’ (and manager) may derail the white knights from China.  I would genuinely be interested if a part-share arrangement can’t result would the true County fans want the supporters to try and run the Club again – or let the Chinese Consortium have a go?

Nov 3

Sacre bleu

A stereotypical curse associated with French people – when actually they never use it.  A bit like the guaranteed onions around the necks, striped sweat shirts and berets – somethings only non-French people think is typical of France.  Anyway now that I’ve got your attention let’s talk about football in France.  PSG as an outside bet on Champions League – No – we’re talking strikes, and believe me this population knows how to mount a strike!

Clubs in the Country are threatening to strike unless they are declared exempt from the 75%, so-called “super tax” on anyone earning more than one million euros in a given year.  The Tax, which would in fact be a liability of the clubs rather than the players, could cost 44M for the relevant two years period.  Government ministers say it is only fair to apply the tax to football clubs in the same way as any companies whose employees earn more than a million euros face that same levy.

The death of French football?

Nov 3

Mighty mighty Manchester

And now for something completely different – I am one of those fans possibly in the minority, whom like the ‘egg chasing’ as well as its ’round’ counterpart.

The Season has started and I thought I’d share a short piece written for the Manchester Rugby Club (based in Stockport!) Matchday Magazine.  The second oldest rugby Club in the World at 1840, holds all rights to the name Manchester Football Club, hence, ‘City’ and ‘United’ having to incorporate variations to ensure no ‘passing off’.   My Son, Kaya plays in the under 8s.

There’s no other way to refer to his Team, than with reference to the MMM label kindly initiated by parent, Nim Patel. It arose from a rendition of a song to the tune of US Marines marching lyrics “Every where we go……”  used frequently on last year’s warm ups. The boys (and girl) seem to enjoy it!

2013-14 brings new faces and new hopes. Former coaches who performed admirably Dave Morford and Alison Kelly remain with Under 7s whilst Commander in Charge now is Neil Cartwright – allegedly volunteering at a meeting when he wasn’t present. Nim has continued to be involved with new coaches, Dave Hale and Rob Sumner acting as worthy Corporals.

7s and 8s trained together throughout the summer showing much commitment. One Girl Evie, stayed in the lower age – whilst Noah’s Sister, Erin, has joined the older group fitting in straight away. The Season offers much optimism – and win, draw or lose we’ll always have that Mighty Manchester spirit. Gratitude to the Young family for carrying some of the essential administrative duties, Tim Williams for swelling Club funds through bacon butty purchases, and our ever present cheer leaders, another Erin, Alice, Eva and Tilly.

Please do come on down and support our small army of minions (you’ll understand what I mean if you watched Despicable Me!). Visit any weekend at Grove Park, Grove Lane, Cheadle Hulme.  Finally, some sponsorship opportunities remain……..and of course we’ve obliged on one package.

Oct 11

Cim Bom Call

Not a five-year, nor ten-year plan – the time is NOW for a Euro League exclaims the Chief of Galatasaray Football Club, know affectionately as “Cim Bom”.

Unal Aysal, President of the Turkish Giant hopes for a 20 strong League in 2018, to replace the current Champions League format.  He goes on to say: “It’s the future of football. It has to be created, and not in 10 years, but as soon as possible.  Football is a great industry, a growing industry. A European super league would bring a lot of support and energize football in general. I think it would be 20 big teams, with three to five teams changing every year. It can be fixed in a way to be useful to European football and bring new horizons by football. It can be controlled by UEFA or the clubs, preferably by the clubs.”

The European Club Association and UEFA naturally resisted any attempt to give the Turk’s lone voice any credence – giving the party line that a Euro League is already in place, “the Champions League”. Purely rhetoric, or a PR stunt, who knows? Aysal says that financial backers and sponsors are queuing up but anybody can say that. Show me the money or commitment from the other clubs to this proposition.

Who makes the cut off will be interesting. Naturally, Cim Bom expects to be there. Celtic is one such club that would be anxious to continue to gain a share of the European purse having banked circa £22M last year. Real Madrid, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain are allegedly plotting.

The proposed timeline synchronises with the expiry of the memorandum of understanding between UEFA and the European Clubs Association, a framework for European club and international football, which runs to the end of May 2018.

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