Olympic Stadium takeover to be announced soon

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Olympic Stadium takeover to be announced soon This argument has been brewing for a long time and finally there’s an end to it that’s near at hand. We should know the results of who’s going to be taking over the running over of the stadium for the Olympics after the games of 2012 in Stratford. There are only two, aggressive competitors, West Ham and Tottenham Hotspur.

While they have both handed in their plans, Tottenham has caused the most stir. They want to move nearly 5 miles and remove the athletic track and this has everyone up in arms, from the guy at the corner pub to the man upstairs, in the government top tiers.

There is even a rumbling of a parliamentary debate.

The alternative plan is to renovate White Hart Lane. However, the difference in cost is not insignificant. Estimates have it that the difference is £200 million. Before you slough it off as just another sports figure that’s too large for mortals to comprehend, consider that it is almost 100% more expensive for the Hart Lane project than to move the stadium.

Money is a different beast when it comes to football. It doesn’t just talk. It’s shouting and yelling, while it’s running around wild. Finally it won’t stop until its throat is worn out and bleeding. The game today depends more on money than ever before, and on more money than ever before, that’s for sure. A trivial amount gets done without big money being swapped to do it. This is exactly the reason Channel 5 and ITV have been given the go ahead to air the matches.

It’d be a sad sight to see Tottenham lag behind Chelsea or Manchester City, simply due to lack of financial punch to nab the top players. Changing stadiums fro White Hart Lane might seem a pity, but it doesn’t have to elicit such sad emotions as some are expect to yield. It is a huge step forward and that’s for sure.

Crawley Town Youth get renewed van sponsorship

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Crawley Town Youth get renewed van sponsorship A Crawley Van company, Eurovans, has continued to put it faith in devloping the youth of Crawley Town Football Club, who are currently riding high in the Blue Square Premier League.  The Crawley Town Youth Team was launched two years ago and works in conjunction with Central Sussex College. The team is required to attend the college to further their education and train at the club two days a week.

The company is helping help out by providing the team with a seventeen seat minibus for transportation to training and match games.

Crawley Town’s chairman, Vic Marley, said: “We are delighted and privileged that Eurovans is continuing to sponsor the youth team for another season. Crawley Town is thriving at the top of the Blue Square Premier League and it is very pleasing to have the ongoing support of local businesses.”

England’s cutest football supporter, Carlisle United supporter, Freddie Tilley

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England's cutest football supporter, Carlisle United supporter, Freddie Tilley

Carlisle United star Tony Kane is pictured with Trophy Tot Freddie and his mum and dad, Lauren and Steven

Young Carlisle United fan Freddie Tilley celebrated his new found fame as England’s cutest football supporter with a trip to his favourite team with his mum and dad.

The Johnstone’s Paint Trophy’s official ‘Trophy Tot’ was whisked up the M6 with his parents to receive his award, before watching his side beat Southampton at Brunton Park 3-2.

The trophy has been asking supporters to help create a ‘young and hungry’ fan base by launching an appeal to find its official ‘Trophy Tot’ for the year, and Freddie won after receiving hundreds of votes.

He received a £50 voucher for the Carlisle United clubshop and a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy goody bag, filled with Johnstone’s Paint Trophy memorabilia including a runner-up medal from last season’s final.

The trophy tot competition was created in a light hearted effort to engage with clubs up and down the country.

Freddie’s dad Steven is a lifelong Carlisle United fan and travels from his home in Coventry to Brunton Park for every home game.

Freddie and his mum and dad received their award at Carlisle United’s weekend game, which ironically was the fixture for last season’s Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final at Wembley.

Freddie’s mother Lauren said: “We had a wonderful day out and would like to thank the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy and Carlisle United for their hospitality.

“The result was just the icing on the cake and to be able to wave to all the fans before kick-off was a dream come true.”

For the latest news on the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy please click on www.johnstonespainttrophy.com

Croatia bans gay footballers

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Croatia bans gay footballers Vlatko Markovic, head of the Croatian football federation has said, unequivocally, that gay men will not be allowed to play football for his country.  In s statement that only further enflamed gay rights activists all over Europe, he said that only healthy men were allowed to play for Croatia.

Of course, gay organizations the world over are calling for his immediate ouster.  His outburst has gone so far as to endanger his country’s application for membership in the European Union.  One of the EU standards clearly states that applying countries implement anti-discrimination rights.

Since his pronouncement, Markovic has withdrawn the statement, saying that he was misquoted and misunderstood.  One gay rights organization has suggested that in order to prove his remorse Markovic have the team fly the rainbow flag at their next match.

Markovic’s actions have opened up a long avoided discourse on gay players in football, with gay organizations urging players to come out of the closet.  The standard in international football has long held that no one asks and no one tells.

Of course, gay rights advocates find this sort of tacit acceptance to be less than they would like to see, which is an all out exposure of gay men in this sport or any other sport, for that matter.

It is estimated that as many as 10 per cent of professional footballers are gay men.  However, the sport has such a macho personification, say authorities that it would be career suicide to openly admit to being gay.  It has been rumoured that some gay players in Italy and Germany even have arranged fake weddings in an effort to hide their sexual preference.

Australia is serious contender for 2020 FIFA World Cup

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Australia is serious contender for 2020 FIFA World Cup Australia is making a strong bid to host the 2020 FIFA World Cup.  The country has even solicited actress Nicole Kidman and actor Hugh Jackman to appear in video ads as ambassadors for the country’s efforts.

In its campaign, Australia pitches its strong tourist appeal and its close location to Asia as marketing points.  It will be fighting a U.S. desire to hold the games for what would be a second time.

There are drawbacks, however, to allowing Australia to be the host of the tournament.  It would be winter when the games take place there.  The Australian time zone is not friendly to television viewers in Africa, Europe, or the Americas.  Thirdly, it is a very long trip for many fans and players.

Of course, the enthusiasts from Australia attempt to downplay the negatives by declaring that by 2020 Asia will have the largest television audience and broadcasting companies will want to reach them on their time zone, which they will with live broadcasts from Australia.

Australia, like many other possible venues has stadium issues.  Australian Football is in the position of denying use of their stadiums without gainful financial compensation.  So, it is unknown where the games would be played.  This is where the U.S. enters the fray, with access to all sorts of huge arenas and stadiums; this problem is nonexistent if the tournament were held in America.

This seems the major problem for Australia, as it appears that right now they will fall shy of the FIFA requirement for 12 stadiums.