This evening pretty much the entire team that disgraced their nation in South Africa this summer, take to the pitch once more competitively when they kick off their Euro 2012 qualification campaign. Whilst the generally considered overpaid bunch of ‘stars’ on the pitch will be trying to make ammends (hopefully) a large number of long suffering fans are likely to be proudly wearing their sparkling new England shirt, having forked out another £50 so soon after the last ‘new’ shirt.
This time however they will be sporting the minimal graphic detailing of a certain design legend by the name of Peter Saville. Design opinion is split it seems. Personally as I am pretty much in the creative business because of the wonderous early work of said Mr Saville, my Saville tinted glasses like the simple colourful detail, alas I also know enough about standing/sitting on the terrace to know that your average England fan ain’t going to get it.
Just 3 shorts days to go until the festival of football begins, and in 4 days England start there (hopefully successful) campaign. In light of this I thought it was only fair I shared the finest football song of all time.
Last Sunday I was lucky enough to witness the sublime Lionel Messi score a hattrick whilst sitting behind the goal at Camp Nou, Barcelona. Above are a few ‘flag’ pictures I managed to take
Liking the sustainable direction Nike is heading with the refreshingly bold move of manufacturing all their forthcoming 2010 World Cup supporters shirts, from recycled plastic bottles. Each shirt will also come nicely packaged in (of course) a recyclable bottle. Click here to learn more about NikeConsidered.
When I first read or heard (I don’t remember) about this 32 page brochure, I thought it must be a wind up.
However now that images of said brochure have found there way on t’internet, it quite obviously isn’t somebody having a laugh, Mr Owen’s profile has obviously sunk to new depths where somebody felt compelled to create a brochure outlining his talents and attributes, which (for me) immediately resonates with a comparison to other things slightly less human that need help to be sold, like homes maybe.
Being a designer and a keen football fan, in fact a supporter of one of the clubs heavily linked with Mr Owen, I find the whole concept quite bizarre, and am left wondering whether it will be a one off, or whether international caps, goals and playing experience in the spotlight of an increasing maddening football media is no longer enough alone, that a brochure selling a person becomes deriguer?
So, ticket details have been announced for the FA Cup Final next month, and though not entirely surprising, the cold hard facts about allocation has left one very bitter taste in this Everton supporters mouth.
The official site made an announcement early last week with initial news on the clubs disappointment about the 25,000 tickets allocated to them. Having been given over 32,000 for the semi final win against Manchester Utd, 7,000 less tickets was obviously going to have an enormous effect on fans wanting to cheer their team on in their first final this decade.
It was noted also that Chelsea who get the same 25,000 also complained and highlighted the fact that they were unable to guarantee even their season ticket holders with tickets for one of the biggest games of the season.
Which leads me to today, and a dream immediately quashed by the what in my eyes is an enormous and disgraceful mistake by the F.A.
Like Chelsea, Everton are unable to even provide all their season ticket holders with tickets, and instead are holding a lottery for those that do in fact hold said season ticket and even then there is strict rules about percentages of games attended before you can even enter the lottery.
I am of course not a season ticket holder, in part due to the fact for the last decade I have chosen to live in various locations, hundreds or even thousands of miles away from the hallowed Goodison turf.
If my life had taken a different route and I had remained where I grew up, there is a high chance I would today be looking forward to entering said lottery, alas I have had to make do with being as ardent a supporter as I can whilst not living in the UK.
Whilst I do not lay claim to being the largest or best Everton supporter in the world, all I will say, is that since my first match in 1985, Everton Football Club has been a very, very large and ever-present part of my life.
Whilst living in the Middle East, Far East, Down Under and now Denmark, I have barely missed a game. In times gone past at the very least their result has been a must see no matter where or what I was doing. When and where possible however, via tv or long wave radio I have tuned in and watch great games, average games, mediocre games, and witnessed a fair share of terrible games.
In more recent times I have embraced how easy the internet makes it for me to listen or watch games usually twice a week. Thanks to the Danish love of football, I have even managed to see the boys on a Saturday afternoon quite frequently on my telly.
Though I have for reasons explained above not blessed Goodison or any other ground around the UK and Europe any where near enough, I have when possible visited pretty much every London ground from Selhurst Park and the Valley to Stamford Bridge and Highbury, many, many times in the 90′s; followed them when they came near ‘home’ in the 80′s and early 90′s, venturing to Valley Parade, Elland Road, Bramall Lane and Hillsborough on many an occasion. I even cheered them on pre-season against Drogheda many years ago, when they came close to me in Ireland. Wherever I have lived, I have also tried as best I can to tie in at least a couple of visits a season to Goodison, when I flew ‘home’.
I ramble …
… whilst of course non of the above gives me any feelings of entitlement to get my hands on one of these tickets, regardless of the blue running through my veins, when a season ticket holder and somebody that every year visits every home game and probably a whole lot of away games in England and overseas, cannot even get a ticket. It does raise my ire to know that when you Google ‘FA Cup Final ticket’ you are given a long list of ‘Events’ companies offering tickets for between £325 and £725 a ticket.
The simple and blatant fact exemplified above, puts focus on the reality that the F.A. who are hosting this final at the new Wembley and have close to 90,000 tickets to distribute, have given less than 50% of the ground to the supporters of the two teams that make up the showpiece event. And instead have shared the greater amount of tickets with other parties not associated with either of the two teams represented.
Whilst I can sadly appreciate in this day and age, when football has become more than just a game, and more a corporate circus, that the clamour for tickets for people, not supporters who want to experience a ‘Cup Final’ is high, the simple fact that by allowing a lifelong supporter like myself to be so limited in getting the opportunity to witness the recently sadly rare event like a Cup Final; but instead openly allows soulless corporate entities, and ticket agencies to swallow up the lions share of the allocation, leaving those fans like me, and thousands more like me with no option other than to pay / be robbed by an agent offering a ticket for a price 100 hundred times greater than the face value, the F.A. should hang their heads in shame.
This issue is obviously a sad indictment of the way money now rules football, but seems even more disgusting in the current financial melt down the world is witnessing.
So come May the 30th, there will of course be disappointment that I will not be experiencing the atmosphere first hand, but whilst I know the lucky 25,000 that will be there, will sing and make the occasion one to remember I am (bitterly) glad that I will not have to stand waiting for a drink shoulder to shoulder with somebody who is neither an Evertonian or a Chelsea fan, but more than likely some corporate wanker who has simply paid an extorniate amount of money to tick another box in his or her’s to do list.
Instead, I will do my best to surround myself with what real fans, real Evertonians I can find exiled in Denmark.
Rant over.
COYB.
Since posting, Everton’s CEO Robert Elstone has also made a relevant statement, about the ridiculousness of the situation. Here.
I have been more than a lttle intrigued about the new England home shirt. I first heard there was another one on its way a while ago, with mention of it paying homage to the ’66 kit etc, but nothing that made me tink beyond just another new shirt and way for the FA to fleece the supporters.
However I found an article on Highsnobiety earlier in the week which got me a little more interested. The Reed Space in New York is hosting the official launch. This alongside the heavy pushing of the fact the shirt has been designed by uber cool UK fashion designer Aitor Throup also know for collabs with Stone Island, certainly seems to be pushing the shirt beyond merely a football shirt, towards something more street fashion. The video above explains the links between traditional English tailoring and fashion, and the intent behind the shirt.
Anyways, having just seen the real thing in its natural environment at Wembley, I am quite liking the classic minimal looks.
… you would maybe think, but still to the blue half of Liverpool a very very important and (sadly) long over due goal and moment to cherish. Certainly one that had me jumping around the flat by myself, probably waking up the neighbours, at 23.30ish last night.
Anyways, I want to share the magic (as its so rare?) and though the quality is shithouse for which I apologise, as the composure the lad had is well worthy of much better, it is the italian? commentary that is also a pleasure to an Evertonians ears.
Furthermore and interestingly the game has gone beyond mere bragging rights in England today, because of the controversy iTV have caused in most areas of the UK, by airing a TicTac ad at precisely the moment young Gosling did his magic. Apparently TicTac ad finished viewers returned to see the Everton players and supporters celebrating, having completely missed the quality cross from Shandy Andy, and the oh so sweet finish.
I happily watched on with Danish commentary, and though the squeezing in of numerous ads the millisecond the half time, full time whistle was blown did irritate me slightly, it is nothing compared to the annoyance caused to millions of watchers in the UK.
The bad news is we are missing the mercurial Spanish wizard Mikel Arteta, which is not a good start, but hopefully we can cause a nuisance as we did last week, and get a winner not just a draw. Fingers crossed, a cup run would be nice. Go on Everton!
A Monday and a Merseyside derby, very strange, but I guess no surprise in these Sky driven days.
Tonight is the first of two in a week, both games at Analfield, this evenings game is a chance for Everton to continue their superb away form and put a dent in the bad tasting pursuit of the Premier League by Liverpool, whilst cementing Everton’s position just below Arsenal.
Next Sunday is part 2, and a FA Cup 4th round tie, after we were incredibly drawn out of the hat second, after Liverpool.
Normally, it is one of the biggest games of the season, and form books go out of the window. The loss of Mr Fellaini and his incredible Afro is a big blow, and being honest Evertons record is not good in recent times against Liverpool, but I hope we get something out of one of the games, a draw tonight, a win on Sunday? Am I asking too much?
My first football post, somewhat surprising for those who know me, but so far I have kept this blog about mainly all things creative, but as with my odd post about the world and its current affairs, I thought I would mention the Manchester City circus and the ridiculous bid tabled for AC Milan’s brazilian international, Kaka.
I am the first to admit as an Everton fan, that I have stared admirably in the past at multibillionaires that have been linked to my beloved club, dreams of the money that could be ploughed into the club, and the players who could wear the magnificent blue should this ever happen etc.
But today, and inlight of how the rest of the world is struggling with money, the simple figures being thrown around for Kaka, 500,000 of the queens pounds (sorry can’t find the pound symbol) a week, or 25 million a year, and finally 130 million over the period of a proposed contract, I forget how frustrating how Everton can be at times, but am proud of the progress they have taken in these times. They currently sit quite comfortably in 6th, and have hopes of once again qualifying for Europe, and who knows maybe the Champions League, hey who knows anything is possible and we are currently playing our best football of the season minus any of our recognised strikers.
Anyways, as much as I would love to see Everton break into the top 4 on a regular basis, I am grateful I am not a supporter of the club that is willing to pay the money quoted simply to get one player into a struggling team.
This article, articulates where I am coming from perfectly, 2 decades ago 100 million pounds would have been simply unimaginable, and this quote from the legendary Brian Clough amplifies how football has changed, ” I can’t even spell spaghetti never mind talk Italian. How could I tell an Italian to get the ball? He might grab mine.” Somehow I can’t imagine his Portuguese being much better!
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