My neighbour Keith Telfer was a match day steward at Wembley Stadium for a number of games during the 1966 World Cup finals and had been promising for some time to share his memorabilia including his programmes stewards passes and badges. We spent a very enjoyable hour reading his superbly well preserved programmes from the tournament and listening to stories of other big games at which he volunteered and ushered people to their seats.
Aside from discovering that England full back Ray Wilson was actually named Ramon, and that stewards had to be on site 4 hours before kick- off, the biggest discovery was the English FA’s Acknowledgements page- the mid sixties version of sponsor accreditation- in which they thanked the tournament Sponsors which for the sake of accuracy I copy here:
The Football Association World Cup Organisation wishes to acknowledge assistance it has received from many firms and organisations. The promotional success of the eighth Jules Rimet Cup competition has been aided by valuable contributions of services and facilities from many sources including:
The Royal Garden Palace Hotel, for making available the location for the FIFA Secretariat
The Imperial Typewriter Company, Limited for the provision of 750 typewriters for use in Press Centres and Press Working Rooms in all the staging towns and cities
Roneo Limited for the loan of duplicators
Umbro International Sportswear, for supplying the shirts, shorts and hose, and Adidas the football boots, worn by the 320 boys representing the 16 participating countries during the opening ceremony, each boy will retain his equipment as a momento of the occasion
Bridport-Gundry Limited, for providing the specially designed goal nets being used on all grounds staging World Cup final series matches
W.D & H.O Wills for supplying the briefcases and portable desks for the use of officials, press radio and television personnel
Note the loan of the photocopiers and the fact that the briefcases were supplied by a cigarette manufacturer
Compare this with the multi-million dollar 8 year, category exclusive sponsorship programmes, global activation, brand integration activities now operated by FIFA for South Africa 2010 and Brazil 2014 and smile at the simplicity and pragmatism of it all and how much our industry has grown in a mere 44 years!
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Friday, 14 August 2009
the vices of sports stars, new depths plumbed by Michael Vick
In the UK , we are used to sports stars excesses, e.g. drink driving, spending gazillions on a team ates birthday party,thousands on the horses, playing hide the sausage with page three girls etc etc...all fairly routine and boring News of the World fodder....imagine the headline "Premier League player vows to give organising Dog Fights and to campaign for dog welfare"
step up Michael Vick of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
Vick Vows To Help End Dogfighting –, Michael Vick spoke out and told the world that he will now be an advocate to help stop dogfighting. He continued on to apologize once more for all that he has done wrong and admits that he was at fault for running an illegal dogfighting chain. Later this week CBS Sports’ James Brown who interviewed Vick commented that he felt Vick’s apology was sincere and that he was deserving of another chance on the field to prove so. Now keeping in mind that Vick has officially signed a short-term contract with the Philadelphia Eagles
and that the NFL is giving him another chance, do you think we will ever see Vick land a solid sponsorship agreement in the future? The Eagles think Vick will be a positive face for preventing animal cruelty in the community.
Sir, we salute you for Celebrity Innovation....you could not make it up
step up Michael Vick of the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles
Vick Vows To Help End Dogfighting –, Michael Vick spoke out and told the world that he will now be an advocate to help stop dogfighting. He continued on to apologize once more for all that he has done wrong and admits that he was at fault for running an illegal dogfighting chain. Later this week CBS Sports’ James Brown who interviewed Vick commented that he felt Vick’s apology was sincere and that he was deserving of another chance on the field to prove so. Now keeping in mind that Vick has officially signed a short-term contract with the Philadelphia Eagles
and that the NFL is giving him another chance, do you think we will ever see Vick land a solid sponsorship agreement in the future? The Eagles think Vick will be a positive face for preventing animal cruelty in the community.
Sir, we salute you for Celebrity Innovation....you could not make it up
Friday, 7 August 2009
Ashes Alcohol sponsorship bandwagon frenzy
Disappointing to see serious sports journalists in the UK jumping on the Silly Season bandwagon screaming that alcohol sponsorship should be banned because a few beered up English cricket fans gave the Aussie Cricket captain a bit of stick at the Birmingham Test.
A couple of thoughts:
The media can't have it both ways...righteous indignation at exuberant fans after weeks, no months, of over hyped media build up, from Beefy to Jerusalem to 2005.
The Aussies thrive on confrontation on and off the pitch. Ricky Ponting is a master of the mind games and a bit of stick from a pissed up Brummie isn't going to offend him.Google him to see how many sportsmanship issues over the year.
Australia is the home of cricket sledging, they invented that part of the game. Professionals of any sport that has taken them to Australia will attest to the lively interaction with fans.
Lastly, every organisation in the sport welcomes beer and other sponsors with open arms, from the media corps to the players to national federations to the global governing body.
Does having beer sponsors involved with the teams change the fan behaviour, not a jot.
Drinks sponsors are a key part of our industry.....not their fault, so jump off the bandwagon guys.
A couple of thoughts:
The media can't have it both ways...righteous indignation at exuberant fans after weeks, no months, of over hyped media build up, from Beefy to Jerusalem to 2005.
The Aussies thrive on confrontation on and off the pitch. Ricky Ponting is a master of the mind games and a bit of stick from a pissed up Brummie isn't going to offend him.Google him to see how many sportsmanship issues over the year.
Australia is the home of cricket sledging, they invented that part of the game. Professionals of any sport that has taken them to Australia will attest to the lively interaction with fans.
Lastly, every organisation in the sport welcomes beer and other sponsors with open arms, from the media corps to the players to national federations to the global governing body.
Does having beer sponsors involved with the teams change the fan behaviour, not a jot.
Drinks sponsors are a key part of our industry.....not their fault, so jump off the bandwagon guys.
Wednesday, 22 July 2009
The Harlequins Blood Injury Mystery
I was at the Quins v Leinster Heineken Cup game which recently resulted in a one year ban for the player involved, winger Tom Williams and a £215k+ fine for Harlequins.
I recall the animation on the Leinster bench when Williams did his Ronaldo style wink to his bench as Nick Evans re-entered the fray at a point in the game when his kicking could have swung the game Quins' way. I put it down to a technical rules argument about whether a player who had already been replaced could re enter the game.
Little did we know that it would result in a huge fine for the club and a year long ban for the player.
It begs some interesting questions.....if he was using fake blood, did the coaching/medical staff give it to him? in which case why punish the player so harshly, surely it wasn't his call to use the alleged fake blood, presumably in capsule form?? Is fake blood a standard item in a physio's kit bag?
If the infringement did take place, why not punish the doctor or the physio, both of whom have been exonerated? and finally does it matter that much? Have the European Rugby Cup overreacted in trying to protect the integrity of the game, .....the penalties are indeed draconian....
I suspect an appeal will see reductions all round.
I recall the animation on the Leinster bench when Williams did his Ronaldo style wink to his bench as Nick Evans re-entered the fray at a point in the game when his kicking could have swung the game Quins' way. I put it down to a technical rules argument about whether a player who had already been replaced could re enter the game.
Little did we know that it would result in a huge fine for the club and a year long ban for the player.
It begs some interesting questions.....if he was using fake blood, did the coaching/medical staff give it to him? in which case why punish the player so harshly, surely it wasn't his call to use the alleged fake blood, presumably in capsule form?? Is fake blood a standard item in a physio's kit bag?
If the infringement did take place, why not punish the doctor or the physio, both of whom have been exonerated? and finally does it matter that much? Have the European Rugby Cup overreacted in trying to protect the integrity of the game, .....the penalties are indeed draconian....
I suspect an appeal will see reductions all round.
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
when your football team are suddenly the rich kids
A slightly odd feeling as Manchester City splash another £25m on Carlos Tevez, a great buy as he is a real footballer, combining top class skill with the right attitude but it reinforces the barely credible position that we are now the financial powerhouse in the Premier League.
Zabaleta, SWP, Santa Cruz, De Jong, Kompany, Bridge, Given, Tevez, possibly Adebayor and goodness knows who else before the window slams shut in August.....compare this to not very long ago when we were in the old third division playing(and losing twice to) Wycombe Wanderers, with stars like Big Bob Taylor, God Bless Him!.
The debate over City and the new money is futile, it is what it is, our owners are the owners and they can if they so desire have a multi million pound star in every position.
Will we City fans for whom the phrase long suffering was coined, be comfortable as the new Chelski, who sooner or later everyone will resent as we (hopefully)start winning things and delivering against the current owners business vision and a few hundred thousand people's dreams?
How will we cope emotionally with the rich boys label? Will winning things make the spend irrelevant, especially if we do so in a cavalier style? or will we be a tad embarrassed a la Blackburn Rovers at buying success.
Being a City fan for 40+ years has presented many challenges.....let's see how this phase of being a Blue plays out....Interesting times.
Zabaleta, SWP, Santa Cruz, De Jong, Kompany, Bridge, Given, Tevez, possibly Adebayor and goodness knows who else before the window slams shut in August.....compare this to not very long ago when we were in the old third division playing(and losing twice to) Wycombe Wanderers, with stars like Big Bob Taylor, God Bless Him!.
The debate over City and the new money is futile, it is what it is, our owners are the owners and they can if they so desire have a multi million pound star in every position.
Will we City fans for whom the phrase long suffering was coined, be comfortable as the new Chelski, who sooner or later everyone will resent as we (hopefully)start winning things and delivering against the current owners business vision and a few hundred thousand people's dreams?
How will we cope emotionally with the rich boys label? Will winning things make the spend irrelevant, especially if we do so in a cavalier style? or will we be a tad embarrassed a la Blackburn Rovers at buying success.
Being a City fan for 40+ years has presented many challenges.....let's see how this phase of being a Blue plays out....Interesting times.
Monday, 29 June 2009
The British & Irish Lions Phenomenon
I have watched several Lions Tours as a general sports fan,but with with my 9 year old son's increasing passion for the game giving me an opportunity to learn the game from the basics with him, plus a low level involvement in mini rugby administration I have come to appreciate the sport as a game rather than an excuse for a social beer.
Understanding the basic rules of a sport makes a difference to your enjoyment, and understanding the very particular spirit of rugby makes a massive difference.
A great example of this spirit is the current Lions tour, the best players from four countries sent off to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa knocked into a team over a very short period of time,and asked to take on a team that has been playing together for years in a high intensity three test series. On balance , they lose more than they win, making a series victory all the sweeter.
As a sporting spectacle the first two tests against the Springboks were top drawer, drama, physical battles, flowing rugby, big hits, injuries, referring errors, gouging, last minute mistakes and a last second winning penalty. Huge sporting drama on the field but it is the off the field impact of the Lions brand that has impressed me.
Media pundits claim a Lions tour will generate in excess of £100m in revenues in the host country, a phenomenal number for a tour by one team. Add to that replica merchandise ,sponsorship and television revenues in the home markets and the zeros keep cranking up.
After 20 years in sports marketing I am usually averse to the U word, unique- my usual line is that there is nothing in sport that is unique, it has all been done before- but this is different, I can't think of a similar concept in any other sport other than the European Ryder Cup team , which, whilst enjoyable for 3 days, doesn't have the same impact as a Lions tour on any level, emotional,sporting, marketing,or financial.
I tip my hat to the Lions business management team they have done a great job in driving revenues whilst protecting the incredible essence of the Lions brand at home and away.
Roll on 2013.
Understanding the basic rules of a sport makes a difference to your enjoyment, and understanding the very particular spirit of rugby makes a massive difference.
A great example of this spirit is the current Lions tour, the best players from four countries sent off to Australia, New Zealand or South Africa knocked into a team over a very short period of time,and asked to take on a team that has been playing together for years in a high intensity three test series. On balance , they lose more than they win, making a series victory all the sweeter.
As a sporting spectacle the first two tests against the Springboks were top drawer, drama, physical battles, flowing rugby, big hits, injuries, referring errors, gouging, last minute mistakes and a last second winning penalty. Huge sporting drama on the field but it is the off the field impact of the Lions brand that has impressed me.
Media pundits claim a Lions tour will generate in excess of £100m in revenues in the host country, a phenomenal number for a tour by one team. Add to that replica merchandise ,sponsorship and television revenues in the home markets and the zeros keep cranking up.
After 20 years in sports marketing I am usually averse to the U word, unique- my usual line is that there is nothing in sport that is unique, it has all been done before- but this is different, I can't think of a similar concept in any other sport other than the European Ryder Cup team , which, whilst enjoyable for 3 days, doesn't have the same impact as a Lions tour on any level, emotional,sporting, marketing,or financial.
I tip my hat to the Lions business management team they have done a great job in driving revenues whilst protecting the incredible essence of the Lions brand at home and away.
Roll on 2013.
Sunday, 21 June 2009
European Athletics Shambles
With a young daughter recently interested in athletics, I tuned into the European Team Chamionships from Portugal this weekend and had the misfortune to watch a couple of the distance races where the European Athletics Association had decided in their wisdom to introduce a ' devil take the hindmost' concept at regular intervals in the long distance races, where the last placed athlete after x laps is hooked off the track.......incredible, shambolic, embarrassing and dreadful were the words that came to mind.
Athletes used to pacing themselves over 3000, 5000, or 10,000 metres are suddenly asked to sprint like...well actually, sprinters..... in the middle of a supposedly international class event....woeful television and shocking mistreatment of athletes.
next idea please, this one didn't work!
Athletes used to pacing themselves over 3000, 5000, or 10,000 metres are suddenly asked to sprint like...well actually, sprinters..... in the middle of a supposedly international class event....woeful television and shocking mistreatment of athletes.
next idea please, this one didn't work!
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