Chieftains And Warriors Earn Good Wins

It's been a fortnight or so since Pete Lewis has updated us on the Chelmsford Chieftains and their second-string team the Warriors.

Thankfully he's back this week to give us the latest news to do with the teams as they both gained good wins. Chieftains were hosts to the MK Thunder from Milton Keyens. Thunder were looking to improve on their calamitous 16-3 home thrashing by league leaders Invicta Dynamos on Saturday night.

Looking to build on their hosts nerve's, Chieftains started the quickest and quickly camped themselves around the Thunder net, ably guarded by Mark Woolf. Chelmsford were peppering Woolf's net with shots from all over the ice but none found their way past the excellent goalie.

Against the run of play, the Thunder took a shock lead when some poor defending and some mix-ups around the net allowed Connor Goode to slot home into the almost empty net to silence the Riverside crowd. The lead was short-lived though as the impressive Darren Brown quickly equalised on 10:43 with a lucky bounce off Woolf's pads and the post. That was the end of the scoring in a first period which Chieftains dominated.

The second period began brightly for the Chieftains with Danny Hammond taking the lead for the home side at 26:08 when Brown slid the puck to Hammond to fire home from in front of the net. Just over 4 minutes later it became 3-1 when Aaron Connolly rifled his shot into the net thanks to the hard-working duo of Richard Whiting and Ross Brears setting up the youngster.

Alex Staples continued to be a solid and dependable defenceman throughout the game and made some nice saves to turn defence into attack. BT Williams stationed himself in front of Woolf around the 37minute mark and when the puck fell to him, he made no mistake in slotting it home. The Chieftains superiority showed in abundance this period with a shot count of 28-4 in the Essex sides' favour.

Into the third and final period Slovak Jerry Pavlus notched his 18th goal of the season thanks to Brown once again and also Blaho Novak who battled hard throughout the game and was unlucky on many occasions not to be amongst the scorers. With just under 10minutes to go in the game, comical defending from Matt Roberts who tried to check Ross Brears into the boards and missed his hip check entirely, allowed Brears to skate in on Woolf from centre ice and he coolly finished with some ease to end the scoring at 6-1.

After the game head coach Dean Birrell had this to say: "We got 65 shots in on Woolf tonight and he played a blinder against us, as he always does. He would have been low on confidence after their drubbing the night before, but he bounced back tonight and ended with a save percentage of 90. Having said that, some of the shots we did put in on Woolf were not great and we've got to work on that as we head into the play-off run-in and the play-offs themselves.

I thought we dominated the Thunder across the ice and there were some good individual performances tonight that brought the team together. It would be unfair to single anyone out tonight as right across the team the boys performed pretty well after a bit of a stutter to start with".

Meanwhie the Warriors were down in Lea Valley to play the Lions. Due to commitments to the under-18s team the Warriors arrived in East London with only 11 players, however this did not faze the team as they raced into a 3-1 lead at the end of the first period with Ben Osborne, Sean Martin and Tom Foskett netting. The remainder of the game was dominated by the Warriors as Foskett and Lee Hounslow grabbed hatricks. Further goals were scored by Martin and Adrian Woodyard with the Lions scoring three goals to try and limit the damage already done..

Man of the match Foskett said after the game "I give my all whenever I get the chance. A lot of the guys on the ice tonight really stepped their game us as we knew we hadn't had a game for a few weeks and were a bit rusty. We're a good bunch and it's nice to take a man-of-the-match award in games like this where players have to step up to the mark".

Catching Up With The 'Side: Overcoming Winter Postponments!

It has been quite a while since we've heard from Barkingside FC, one of SportTrades adopted clubs this season. Thankfully SportTrades Adam Dennehey is able to give us an update on the team this month.

Last time that I updated you on the team in December, it came in horrific circumstances which involved captain Alex Carter broke his fibia, tibia bones as well has dislocating an ankle during a game away to Clapton FC in league competition. He was admitted to Newham General Hospital and after a stay there has now been discharged. As expected he's been ruled out for the season but is omptimistic that he'll be able to play football again. Of course this will be a massive goal for him to do, but everyone at the club is fully behind him and wish him the best.

On the pitch not alot as happened for the team since December as alike alot of non league football clubs they were affected by the poor weather and have had what seems like millions of postponments for their games. Their Oakside stadium, which also plays hosts to Redbridge FC matches has had alot of games postponed by the weather. The ground is situation at the bottom of a hill so there is often more draingage that you'd imagine on a pitch at non league level.

This month finally saw some football at the Oakside when Barkingside beat Bowers & Pitsea 3-2 in the league. Due to family issues I didn't see that match, but was present for their thrilling 4-2 win againgst Southend Manor when Sean Thomas scored a hatrick as a second half sub to cap a memorable victory for the team. It was all the more remarkable given the fact the team were 2-0 down at half time and the quality of play in the second half was probably as good a 45 minutes that you're see all season. Side's midfield worked wonders with Liam Burgess, Abs Thompson and Fabian Batchelor not missing one pass in the second half. Side's goalie Jason Willis also pulled of some tremendous saves with the score at 2-2 with 20 minutes to go so he should get some credit.

Although 'Side have gone out of the league cup that they won last season, they are still in with a chance of winning the Gordon Brasted cup which they have been losing finalists twice in the last five years. Sitting currently 6th in the Essex Senior League, they have three games in hand againgst leaders Burnham Ramblers, so should be looking to make up the ground on Burnham over the next month.

In other news regarding the club, on the afternoon of the club's home game with Clapton, Saturday 10th April 2010, The Testicle Tour will visit Oakside to perform their own unique version of a penalty shoot out using large pink fluffy testicles.

The Testicle Tour is a testicular cancer awareness campaign that was created by Darren Couchman and Richard Miller. Their aim is to raise the profile of this illness in a funny, light hearted way and also raise monies for the Everyman Male Cancer Campaign.

At half time during the game against Clapton, The Testicle Tour, along with some of the clubs players, will stage a penalty shoot out competition but they will use one of the large fluffy testicles instead of a football. It promises to be a spectacle but at the same time it will deliver an important message to the fans; men should be more aware of testicular cancer and carry out regular self checks.

For more on this check out Barkingside's official website @ http://www.barkingsidefc.co.uk/. To find out information on The Testicle Tour go to the campaigns official website http://www.onelumportwo.org.uk/.

Sol y Futbol: The Rojillos Run Ends

Ian Lane reports as The Rojillos fall at Conquense. The lack of Sun on their backs proved to make things difficult as their good run of late came to end.

CONQUENSE 2 LANZAROTE 0

22nd February 2010

A goal in each half put an end to Lanzarote´s great run of form. Without Captain Vladimir, striker Jonathon Torres and midfield maestro Rubén Rodriguez as well as longer term injuries of strikers Rosmen and Ian Robinson the journey 200 kilometres from Madrid was always going to be a difficult task.

The Rojillos are not good travelers. Lanzarote´s daytime temperatures rarely fall below 20 degrees, so to be greeted on a cold Sunday morning with rain and a howling gale with pockets of snow dotted around the pitch did not particularly suit the Conejeros.

Enough excuses. Since the January transfer wheeling and dealing Lanzarote now have a squad capable of living in Spain’s third tier of football. They were simply outplayed by a side pushing for promotion, and indeed with this win Conquense have moved within one place and one point from the play offs.

From the first minute the home side took control of the match and the Lanzarote goalkeeper Vilches knew he was in for a busy morning. In the seventh minute Lanzarote´s defence frailties rose to the surface once more. A corner swung in from the left bobbled around the six yard box and the Rojillos had three opportunities to clear the ball but Conquense didn’t hang around for the fourth, as midfielder Cubillo blasted home from close range to put his side at ease with an early 1-0 lead.

In the 33rd minute Vilches saved brilliantly with his feet preventing striker Gato doubling his sides lead with a strike from eight yards. Vilches came to the rescue again just before half time with another great save from centre forward Oscar Silva when the Conquense striker found himself with just the keeper to beat.

Lanzarote came out for the second half with a completely different attitude and Conquense were forced to retreat. Defender Juachi put through new boy Raul Torres but his good strike was well saved by the local keeper Martinez.

On the hour mark striker Carlitos header inches over and a few minutes later defender Moncho found himself with a free header from a corner but his powerful effort fell straight into the keepers arms.

The recalled winger Toñito had a good shout for a penalty waved away midway through the second half and in the 83rd minute the home side eased their worries with the all important second goal. Good combination play from the forwards gave Martins a clear strike and with just the Lanzarote keeper to beat the centre forward comfortably gave his side a 2-0 lead.

That goal completely deflated the spirits of the Rojillos and with seven minutes remaining there was no way back against a side who on average concede a goal a game.

On the positive side fellow relegation strugglers did not fair any better. Lanzarote still remain second from bottom but are still only a point from safety. The next few weeks will prove decisive as the Rojillos will be up against a host of teams in and around relegation trouble. First up is a home game against Cacereño who lie in 14th position three points above Lanzarote with 30 points. If any other incentive is needed then the 5-0 thrashing Lanzarote suffered to the hands of Cacereño in the first round of games should be sufficient.

The good news is that Vladi, Jonathon Torres and Rubén Rodriguez all look set to return and if all play well then Cacereño will be in for a tough day.

Where the Turf meets the Surf.

SportTrades are delighted to announce a partnership with Brighton Racecourse. We will be helping Brighton sell advertising at track side, along the winning straight and just beyond the winning post. Prime locations without doubt!

Racing at Brighton goes under Starter’s orders on the 20th April right through to October, including the very popular 3 day August Festival which expects to attract over 100,000 visitors. The track will hold 22 meetings this season and advertising costs only £2000 + VAT, which is exceptional value. The course has welcomed approx 350000 visitors each season in recent years, with attendances growing year on year. Predicted figures for 2010 are 43000 per meeting, throughout the season. Racing at Brighton is also covered by Satellite Broadcasters, which will add another 6 million viewers to the list of people watching racing by the surf.

Brighton Racecourse celebrates 227 years of racing in 2010. Racing and the course have progressed a long way since the first meeting on White Hawk Down in 1783. The opportunity is there for you and your organisation to be a part of the continued growth of Brighton racecourse, while at the same time developing your own brand’s awareness to a vast number of racegoers and television viewers across the UK and beyond. With the purchase of an advertising board in a prominent location along the final furlongs of the course, that is open 365 days a year for a variety of events, your company will certainly be amongst the favourites for the horse racing public. For further information and to discuss these fabulous opportunities in more detail, please contact us at sales@sporttrades.co.uk

Sunderland Ladies Super League Place Unlikley

SportTrades are fans of Women's Football and through our dealings with the organisation Girls In Football, led by Polly Courtney know that there is great potential in the Women's game.

The popularity of the sport is probably at an all time high with the England women's team doing well on the international and european scale. Added to that there is a Super League coming in next year which will help pump more money into the women's game and help the overall standard of football improve.

Another of the requirements is that clubs must match the £70,000 a year that the FA is prepared to give each team for the first two years of the league's operation. "We can't afford to pay our players expenses, let alone £30,000 a year," said the Sunderland chairman, Maurice Alderson. "We run our whole club on less than half of that. I love the concept of the league and I'd love be part of it, but it's going to be very difficult."

The FA wants each club to pay its top four players an annual salary of £20-30,000, a demand that the new league's project leader, Sally Horrox, admitted might deter some of the prospective founder members a couple of months ago.

"My one concern," said Horrox, "is that we might be scaring a few of the clubs off. But we are raising the bar for the women's game and we are serious about player payments and other minimum requirements."

The Premier League leaders, Sunderland, have been given a “kick in the teeth”, said their chairman, Maurice Alderson, after learning that his club’s hopes of becoming a founder member of the Football Association’s Super League have been dashed.

“With the help of Sunderland FC,” said Alderson, “we put in a very strong bid and not for one moment did I think we wouldn’t get in. We’re top of the league, we reached last season’s FA Cup final and we've got nine current internationals at various age levels. To have all that on top of a bid backed by a Premiership club and get turned down is devastating. We've been kicked in the teeth.”

Sunderland’s neighbours Newcastle United, who play in the Northern Division, have also been informed that they will not be one of the Super League’s eight clubs, the identities of which will shortly be revealed by the FA.

The north-east will therefore not be represented in the league, which is set to start next year. “At a meeting about the league two and a half years ago,” said Alderson, “the FA showed a big map of England but the northern-most city they highlighted was Leeds. When I pointed it out I was told it was ‘just an oversight’, but I'm wondering now if we were ever intended to be included.”

The FA declined to respond to Alderson’s comments. “We are still at the adjudication stage of the application process and at this time we will not comment on any individual club’s application,” a spokesman said.

Sunderland were not in action on tuesday, having been knocked out of the FA Cup by Arsenal, who progressed to the semi-finals with a 5-0 win against Doncaster. Everton also reached the last four, beating Blackburn 2-1. The other quarter-finals will be played next Sunday.

It's a big blow for Sunderland who have performed well this year. In terms of the north-west region it's a big blow as it's vital that the money from the league gets spread around the country and ideally the clubs awarded places in the competition should be spread around the country. It will also be a big blow to teams who should be getting the support from the FA and it will mean that they will find it hard to compete in the game and hold onto any good players if they're not given the opportunity to step up.

The Super League is a great concept and it will be giving the women's game a great platform to showcase itself. With several television companies rumoured to be intrested in wanting to broadcast matches, there will be television money going to those clubs in the league. What this could mean is that instead of helping the game, rather sadly some clubs could get left behind and the gaps between the top and lower teams will get even bigger. In any sport there will be casualties but it's imperative that clubs who don't get into the league are still kept financially secure so that when more places are open, clubs can fill them with confidence.

USF1: A Big Opportunity Lost for Formula 1?

With the news of the last few nights that the USF1 Formula 1 team, led by Peter Windsor and Ken Anderson, looks doomed, I thought that I would round up the full ratifications of the teams expected failure to make the grid this season.

First, the whole USF1 concept gathered a lot of European skepticism ever since Windsor announced the team on Feb. 24, 2009, because they could all see the difficulties that the team has had over the last couple of months.

Foolishly perhaps, I wanted to see the team make the grid. Therefore, I have followed its progress (or lack there of) throughout the offseason just as much as I've followed the progress of the other new teams who have also suffered problems.

Campos Meta, run by Adrian Campos, also has had their problems. But according to creditable sources, they have been rescued by a new investor that is rumored to have secured the team's place for the new season. This new investor, ironically, is rumored to be Chad Hurley: the founder of YouTube. Hurley is one of the main investors in USF1 with the millionaire annoyed at the team's lack of progress looking to move onto the struggling Spanish team.

The main criticism of USF1 was always the fact that being based in America would hurt them in the long run. Why? Because they would be away from F1's European heartland, and would be behind other teams in car development. I think that’s a valid argument. But at the same time, after the initial announcement in February when the team was launched, they had a few more months even before they were announced as one of the new teams.

That being said, both Windsor and Ken Anderson have lots of connections in the world of Motorsport. And knowing that the team was going to be based in America, when they were announced as one of the new teams, they still had plenty of time to pull things together.

One of the main problems was the fact the team was called "USF1," which implied that the team would be fully American despite the fact that Windsor, of course, is British. Although the team said it wouldn't favor American drivers, with the team having '"US" in the title it would (and has) make the team look slightly weaker if they didn't have an American driver in their lineup or at least an established name in the sport.

Of course, a driver’s nationality is not the most important thing to an F1 team. However, it's good for national pride if you have a driver from the same nationality as the team.

Perhaps looking back, the team should not have called its USF1: it could still have maintained its "American" background, but not as boldly as it did. Looking around the Internet over the last couple of weeks, there are not too many American/North American drivers with an FIA Super Licences.

Every driver needs a Superlicense in order to race in the sport, although in recent years when push comes to shove (eg. Kimi Raikonnen in 2001) a driver does not necessarily need one to compete.

In fact today, Lotus Racing's test driver, Fairuz Fauzy, qualified for his FIA Super license by completing a required amount of laps driving the team’s 2010 car at Jerez. With that in mind, it shows that had the team got its car finished on time, it could have turned up for the tests. Also, the team's driver(s) could have completed sufficient laps to earn that license.

The signing of Jose Maria Lopez brought a few snickers from the media. Lopez had been racing in Argentina for the last couple of years at Touring Car Level after being released from the Renault Drivers Development scheme in 2006.

Lopez is not necessarily a bad driver, but with USF1 even at the time of Lopez's appointment looking shaky of making the grid in Bahrain, perhaps the team should have appointed an older wiser driver. It would have given the team some credibility in the face of the media and fans.

With drivers like Jacques Villeneuve, Giancarlo Fisichella, and Christian Klien all on the market, the team perhaps should have taken a risk and gone out for one of them. Having someone of that caliber would have been good for development of the car, which is so important for a new and small team. But it would also have made things easier in attracting sponsors to invest into the team. With a creditable driver leading the team, it would have attracted more national and local media exposure.

Villeneuve would have been the team's dream-driver, and with his popularity in the states, Europe, and in F1, would have brought immediate income to the team. Also, with an established driver on board, it would have made it easier to sign a second driver for the team.

Of course, the team never had the money to sign an established driver and it had to go for the "pay driver" in Lopez, who was backed by the Argentinian government and other minor sponsors. Had the team planned the project better, it would never have gone for someone of Lopez's quality and would have ensured that their driver choice would have been focused more on quality than 'money' quantity. That's not to say the team didn't try that though.

The team also promised that its car was going to be designed and built with innovative on the car that would be different to the other teams. It was claimed that they would be bringing in concepts that had been used on Indy/Champ Cars and that they would be using these within the rules.

Formula 1 is a sport that showcases itself as the most technically advanced sport in the world. In terms of the sport, it is always interesting to see different ways of building a team car and not only potentially be interesting for the sport, but for the automobile industry which has strong relationships within the sport.

In terms of the American market, which for years Bernie Ecclestone has never been able to master: it’s a big blow, as American companies might not want to get involved. The news also means that any future bid by an American owned F1 project will just be laughed at and won’t gather any support worthy to get selected as a future F1 team. It’s a shame for the American public who have been treated badly, as have the workers at the factory in Charlotte, N.C.

Windsor promised that the team would look to have a great relationship with the fans and as well as the team having a website, they have also stepped into social media like Youtube, Facebook, and Twitter.

Videos of the development of the car and interviews were put on YouTube whilst photos and short messages were put on Facebook and Twitter to help gather the team some support. Even with that, very little has been heard on those networks in the last couple of weeks when it looks from the outside that the team does not care about the supporters, who are losing interest in the team. That, of course, does not look good for prospective investors in the team, who may see little real need for the team to exist.

With Formula 1 looking to move away from its historical European base, this was a great opportunity missed for the sport to increase its profile in the 21st century. There could have been countless big American-based multinational companies looking to get involved in the sport and of course with USF1 involved the chances of a US Grand Prix would also have greatly improved.

The sport has never really recovered after the disaster that was the 2005 Grand Prix at Indianapolis, Ind. In that Grand Prix, Michelin had tire issues and only six cars raced in front of almost a sold-out crowd.

There are more than a few American drivers waiting in the wings for a chance in the sport like JR Hildebrand, Jon Summerton, and Alexander Rossi. Rossi is clearly a future star and is doing well in the GP2 Asia series.

Ex-Torro Rosso driver Scott Speed should not be forgotten either. He is experienced and now, as a mature driver, could have been tempted back in the future.

Following in the footsteps of Villenueve, is the young Canadian Robert Wickens who is racing in the FIA F2 Championship. He is an option for the sport in the near future as well.

However, perhaps all the blame shouldn't rest on Windsor and Anderson's shoulders. The selection process that the FIA used in selecting the new teams should also come into question as with Campos and USF1 struggling, it appears that other candidates such as Lola, Prodrive, and Epilson Euskadi should have been accepted.

Another problem that all the new teams had to deal with was the fact that the actual regulations for the 2010 season were not finalized until the FOTA/FOM argument was settled over the summer. This definitely did not help USF1 or Campos and certainly set them back. There were also issues with Cosworth engines not being delivered on time.

Overall, it looks like it is going to be a sad and complicated end to the USF1 project that looked slightly flawed at the start. It is a real shame for the American public who I am sure would have taken great pride in seeing a car designed and built in the United States representing them on the world scale.

If the team does fold, it's a shame for the sport, which will, as a result suffer in the short and long-term in the States. Fans unfamiliar with the sport will lose interest, and sponsors will not be willing to get involved. There are small rumours that the team could be merged with Campos and that they could just buy a chasis from Dallara. If there is any truth in that, that would still be a failure in most people's eyes and tarnish the original concept of the team.

It's also a huge blow to the FIA, who will have missed out on a huge opportunity as well, which will embarrass them greatly. Regardless of USF1, I hope that an American driver does get involved in the sport. The whole escapade should though be remembered and should always be thought about for any future investment/team looking to get involved in the sport to learn from.

Sol y Futbol: Lanzarote Fight for Survival Continues

Sol y Futbols Ian Lane reports from Arrecife on UD Lanzarote's fight for survival, which is looking a better prospect now than at any time over the course of the season.

LANZAROTE 3 RACING SANTANDER B 0

15th February 2010

Thirty seven minutes was all it took to blow away the Primera Liga sides B team and to carry on this astonishing turn around of form for U.D. Lanzarote. The opening goal came after only five minutes. Carlitos received the ball near the penalty spot and on the turn cleverly passed the ball into the right hand corner of the net beating the outstretched Racing keeper Pablo and giving his new club a 1-0 lead.

The Rojillos were not content and went in search of a second. In the 14th minute Rubén Rodriguez split his opponents defence with an inch perfect pass and Ayoze Pérez blasted goal bound from 12 yards, the goalkeeper couldn’t hold his stinging shot and Jonathon Torres as ever was there doing what a striker should do and toe poked home giving his side a comfortable 2-0 cushion.

The visitors almost caught Lanzarote off guard in the 24th minute when a quick break saw right winger Uri with a possible one on one with the Rojillos keeper but his first touch let him down and his shot drifted aimlessly across the goal.

The passing and movement from the home side was at times electric and manager Carmelo Hernández was urging his side to put the game to bed before half time. Rubén Rodriguez was having another outstanding game and nutmegged his opponent with a pass to Torres who in turn released Ayoze but his powerful strike went wide hitting the side netting.

Carlitos was proving to be a real handful for the Santander defence and never more so than in the 35th minute when he latched onto a through ball and was brought down inside the area, the Ref immediately ordered a spot kick. The sweet left foot of Rubén Rodriguez sent the keeper the wrong way as he buried the ball into the bottom right hand corner and Lanzarote were flying with a 3-0 lead.

The visitors had a great chance to reduce the deficit five minutes before the break. Uri beat his defender and cut the ball back from the right wing to his centre forward Docal. His strike was powerful and accurate but the Lanzarote keeper Vilches saved brilliantly with his feet making sure his side went into the break with their three goal advantage in tact.

As expected the Rojillos were a little more subdued after the interval though just before the hour mark Lanzarote were presented with four very good chances within the space of ten minutes. Rubén hit the first high over but five minutes later he caught the ball cleanly on the volley and only a fantastic save from Pablo denied his 20 yard strike from going into the top left hand corner.

A minute later and this time Torres was denied from eight yards as the Racing keeper saved well tipping the ball over the bar. Two minutes later and Rubén put through Torres. An accurate chip from 30 yards was all that was needed as the keeper had been caught in no mans land but unfortunately Torres chipped over but well wide.

With 20 minutes remaining Lanzarote decided enough was enough and took off their inspirational captain Vladi who had been carrying a knock then Rubén and Torres were also rewarded with an early shower as the game fizzled out with Lanzarote comfortable winners.

Lanzarote could live to regret not scoring a fourth. Racing beat the Rojillos by the same score line early on this season and should it go down to points and goal difference between the two sides Lanzarote would be relegated. If Lanzarote would have scored four they would have been safe as these are the rules that apply in Spanish football.

The Rojillos form of late has been devastating and over the last seven games they lie second in the form guide only bettered by the runaway leaders and Copa del Rey giant killing experts Alcorcón by a single point. Nevertheless the Rojillos still remain second from bottom but are now just two points from safety.

Next week Lanzarote will travel to the Spanish capital to face sixth placed side Conquense. The Madrid side are also in good form with only one defeat in their last seven outings and are sitting only two points off the play offs.

Wasps Swarm Lions In Front Of Record Crowd

After their win last week over the Tee Valley Sonics, Hull Wasps continued their step in the right direction with a victory over the Middlesborough Lions. It was a tense affair which saw the hosts triumph 69-63 to keep their desire of a top four finish in the division going.

The game was played in a huge crowd of just over 850 fans in attendence, which was a great reward for the Wasps who in the weeks leading up to the game had been giving away a thousand free tickets to the game in order to build up their fanbase. The fact the gate was 850 fans is brilliant and should more than make up for the gate lost for the club that they would have gained from the Merseyside Spartans game on what was the final game of the season.

For those wondering what the Wasps previous record crowd was, it was 308 which came in the final game of last season. The Gemtec Arena can hold 1500 people so for everyone involved at Hull to get just over 850 people turning up is a great credit indeed. The team will be looking to build on this and reaffirm to current fans that the club is hungry to move forward and make the city proud. With victory in the game, Hull took a huge step towards a top-four finish in National Basketball League division four north, which would be a great achievement for the management.

Deep into the last quarter, with less than two minutes left with nothing splitting the sides at 62-62, the Wasps stepped up. Their defence kept firm to seal a win that keeps them in fifth spot. Polish guard Kamil Pilarski netted a three-pointer with 10 seconds to go to ensure victory. He finished with 18 points to lead all scorers.Forward Jamie Goodwin added 13 points and guard Adrian Blatherwick hit 12. More from the Wasps next week

The Skolars become our Latest Signing

London Skolars, one of the two professional Rugby League sides in London, has joined the register of SportTrades partners.

SportTrades have signed a media partnership agreement with the Skolars and will have responsibility for Stadia Marketing and Perimeter fence advertising.

We look forward to working with Howard Kramer and the staff at the Skolars. Please contact info@sporttrades.co.uk for more information on the opportunities available.

Fulham March on in F.A.Cup Tracker

Fulham make it through to the next stage of the SportTrades F.A.Cup Tracker and the Quarter Final. Their 4-0 defaet of Notts County, see them move up to 4th place in the Merit Table. Fulham will make their 3rd appearance in the competition when they take on either Spurs or Bolton in the next round.

Notts County, who last week parted company with Sven and were bought for £1 by Lincoln businessman Ray Trew, fought bravely but faded in the second half against their premiership opponents. First half goals by Simon Davies and Bobby Zamora took Fulham into the interval. They doubled the scoreline with goals by Damien Duff and Stefano Okaka to secure the 4-0 win. County put in a brave effort and Manager Dave Kevan was proud of their performance.

Sonics Stung By Wasps

HULL WASPS bounced back from last week’s heartbreaking yet memorable defeat against the Bury Blue Devils with a 90-81 victory over Tees Valley Sonics at the Gemtec Arena last weekend.

It was yet another close game from start to finish with both sides coming out and putting some points on the board. A sloppy few minutes from the Wasps toward the end of the first period put them 18-28 behind but an Adrian Blatherwick 3 pointer and 2 points from Kamil Pilarski pulled the deficit to 5 points at the end of the quarter.

The second quarter proved much of the same from both sides with the Wasps outscoring the visitors 19-16 to narrow the gap even more to 42-44 going into the half-time break. The Wasps found themselves as much as 7 points behind in the third quarter but a late rally from the home side brought the scores level at 70 points each.

It was clear that yet another close finish was going to happen but this time, the Wasps didn’t relinquish. An 8 point unanswered run from the Wasps put victory in sight at 86-79 with just 90 seconds remaining. The Sonics weren’t finished however and a 3 pointer from the Sonics’ Burton put the home crowd on edge for the second week in a row.

Two successful free-throw shots from Anderson and Pilarski and a quick break-away lay-in from Fawcett brought the first victory for the Wasps in 2010. James Rayner top scored for the Hull Wasps with 15 points, Jon Kelsey scored 14 and Michal Kucmierczyk scored 11.

And don't forget the free ticket give away tonight at the Wasps game against Middlesbrough Lions at the Gemtec Arena. Hull Wasps Geoff Brown stated that at least800 tickets had been requested. We will find out how the evening went later.

This promotion has provided a great opportunity for people in and around the city to go and experience a Basketball game and support their local team. There's no catch, simply apply online via the Wasps website , and you will receive a voucher via email. Just print and bring along with you to the game. Go to http://www.hullwasps.co.uk and then click on Ticket Give Away for details. It's an opportunity that you wouldn't want to miss out on!

Revolution Stars Prepare for World Championships

We love our Cycling at SportTrades with us following Team Sky and Andy Phillips but we also bring you British Cycling news and there's a great tournament British track sprinting stars will line up at Revolution 28 on the 27th of February against a host of international talent in preparation for the World Track Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark. It's a great night out for fans as the stars compete againgst each other.

The UK’s premier track cycling event - attracting over 15,000 dedicated fans every season and now entering its sixth year, Revolution has entered the vernacular of the British cycling fraternity. A family night out designed, since its conception, to deliver high octane fun, from the world’s best cyclists with a strong presence from the UK’s many World, Olympic and Commonwealth Champions.

Star of the show, Sir Chris Hoy, will head up the British contingent racing for Sky+ HD in the Revolution sprint events and team Flyers in the Revolution Championship. It will be the first appearance in the UK for Hoy since the Manchester World Cup so his performance will play a crucial part of his Worlds preparation. “It could go either way; I could gain psychological points by winning but could lose those points if I get beaten,” he conceded.

“I tend not to worry too much about the competition and just focus on my own performance,” he added. However, Hoy, Ross Edgar and Jason Kenny will have to keep an eye on strong opponents from Germany, especially World Kilo Champion Stefan Nimke, who could cause an upset.

Great Britain Head Sprint Coach Iain Dyer is well aware of the threat that the Germans pose at the Revolution and World Championships. “They’ve shown that they can do it at the highest level and we know they’ve got a great team sprint squad,” he praised. “They’ve got two exceptional Team Sprint start riders which gives them a good chance at the World Championships. It’ll be a very hard event for us to do well in, they’re a quality and respected sprint nation.”

There’ll be a notable absence at Revolution 28 of another leading track nation, the French. While the Germans appear keen to race against the British ahead of the World Championships, Dyer played down suggestions that the French want to avoid confrontation before the big event in Copenhagen. “The French guys have had the Grenoble six day and have kept busy leading up to the event. Some of them also did the Beijing World Cup, so I don’t think any team’s doing any more or less than another, it’s just their timing and their choice of preparation,” explained Dyer.

With only four weeks separating Revolution 28 and the World Championships, Dyer also insisted that there’s no risk of showing Great Britain’s hand too early. “Whatever condition we hit the Revolution in we are confident there’s a bit more to come. The team will be coming off the back of an important training camp in Australia; their taper will be starting so you’ll see a bit of that form come through at Revolution.”

In the women’s racing, Victoria Pendleton will lead the Brits against tough opposition from the Germans and also the Dutch, with Willy Kanis likely to be strong competition. Pendleton will be looking to fine-tune her sprint performances in the competitive Revolution sprint environment, before tapering towards the World Championships.

Tickets for Revolution 28 are sold out, but there will be an opportunity to watch Hoy and Pendleton in action in the sprint qualification as part of an extra afternoon session which also features the National Madison Championships. Racing runs from 12.00 to 15.30 and tickets are priced £6 for adults, £3 for concessions and £15 for families of four. Please visit the website www.cyclingrevolution.com for further details, or contact Manchester Velodrome on 0161 223 2244.

Tragedy during Training For Winter Olympics

Our thoughts tonight are with the family, friends and teammates of Georgian Luger, Nodar Kumaritashvili. The 21 year old was killed in an accident, while training for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver today.
We understand the Georgian team are considering withdrawn from the competition. I'm sure they will reach the right decision to respect and honour the memory of their Team Mate. I am also positive that whatever decision they reach will be supported by the IOC and the whole sporting world.

England Unveil Away Kit for 2010/2012

After quite a long wait, we have official confirmation from Umbro about the new away shirt that the English team will wear for the upcoming World Cup and for the qualifying stage of Euro 2012. The shirt matches the theme of the home shirt, where Umbro decided to give the English shirt a touch of retro and keep it as simple as possible on the outside, with extensive research in the development of the shirt. Umbro has supplied Fabio Capello’s World Cup team with a world class shirt. Despite all the criticism it may receive now, the shirt will certainly become very popular as the World Cup gets nearer, and true England fans will be hoping that the team can repeat the success of 1966 with this similar shirt. A World Cup group can never be easy, and the opponents will do everything within their power to stop Capello’s men from winning. England will start their World Cup campaign with a match against the United States on the 12th June, followed by matches against Algeria (18 June) and Slovenia (23 June).

Sol y Futbol: Fantastic Rojillos Win In Capital

Sol y Futbol's Ian Lane reports on a magnificent win in the Capital for Lanzarote. Fortune has changed since the introduction of the mascot. Come on Rojillos!

ATLÉTICO MADRID B 1 LANZAROTE 2

8th February 2010

Another mighty result for U.D. Lanzarote. Last season the Rojillos were thrashed 6-0 in Madrid and were also humiliated this season suffering a 0-4 home defeat to the hands of the Rojiblancos (red and whites).

Lanzarote are now top of the form table over their last eight games played, underlining their intention of avoiding relegation, which is a real dramatic turn around for the Rojillos.

Lanzarote got off to a flyer. The moment the Ref blew his whistle Lanzarote looked determined to go in front. After only five minutes Rúben Rodriguez whipped in one of his special left footed corner kicks and right back Moncho flicked on and new boy Carlitos stuck the ball home giving the Rojillos a shock 0-1 lead.

The game plan for the home side went up in smoke as Lanzarote did not relent and were first to every tackle giving the fourth placed side no time on the ball.

In the 19th minute another superb cross from Rúben Rodriguez was met by Ayoze Pérez and from the centre of the area he drilled Lanzarote into a 0-2 lead.

The Rojillos battled for every ball and did not let their opposition any time to settle. The home side could only offer a long distance shot through midfielder Indiano which flew over and a strike from centre forward Perea which was comfortably dealt with by the Lanzarote keeper Vilches. The Rojillos looked good value going in for their half time cuppa with a two goal advantage.

Only 10 minutes into the second half and the home side reduced the deficit. A cross floated in from defender Regalón fell to Javi Cantera and the midfielder made no mistake blasting home giving his side plenty of time to go in search of an equalizer.

Instead of heads dropping, this setback only inspired the eleven men of Carmelo Hernández who went in search of a third goal. The game was being played at a frantic pace and only a goal line clearance prevented Jonathon Torres from restoring the two goal cushion.

In the 79th minute centre back Faruk picked up his second yellow card and Lanzarote were forced to play the final ten minutes or so with only 10 men. Lanzarote immediately brought on their eighth and last signing of the January transfer window, defender André Luiz.

The expected bombardment from Atlético arrived as they launched ball after ball into Lanzarote´s danger zone. The Rojillos defence stood firm and in the closing minutes a brilliant block by Rojillos keeper Vilches ensured that Lanzarote travelled home from Madrid with their first victory this season in the Spanish mainland.

Lanzarote have now moved off bottom spot which they have occupied since the 11th October albeit by only one place. Next week Real Racing Santander B will be the visitors and their recent form is terrible with no wins in nine games and are only three points ahead of the Rojillos sitting in the relegation play off position with a third division club. This is a true six pointer.

More Dissapointment For Chieftains

After losing their last 2 games to the Wightlink Raiders, the Chelmsford Chieftains needed to bounce back this weekend againgst the Oxford Stars. Here's the IceMan Pete Lewis's take on the game:

The Stars came at the Chieftains hard and early in this game and it seemed to throw the Chieftains off their game and the Stars took full advantage early on with a goal less than 2 minutes into the game when Alan Green and Andrew Shurmer were free in front of Ben Clements and Green slotted it home. The Chieftains hit back quickly though through Darren Brown who backhanded the puck high over James Skaife in the Oxford net. The period looked to be ending with the scores tied, but a mistake on the Chieftains defence left Dean Francis with space and he slotted the puck home with ease.

The second period started brightly and it was fairly even with both sides creating chances, but both netminders were playing well and shut a lot of chances down. Out of the two, Skaife looked the more vulnerable and gave up a lot of rebounds. However it was the Stars who extended their lead when Darren Elliot found the smallest of gaps at Clements's near post and the puck crept in.

The third period saw a traditional early goal and this time it was thanks to a lucky bounce after the puck looped high in front of Skaife and there was Aaron Connolly to poke the puck over the line thanks to some good work by Ross Brears to create the chance.

The two official system had worked fairly well up until this point however Rene Ross and Nick Stephenson began to blow up for a lot of infringements and both sides found themselves on the powerplay a number of times throughout the period. Things were bubbling along nicely and the tension was building and then the eruption happened at 56:56 when the puck was fired in on the Oxford net and it had bobbled around a bit and all three of Jerry Pavlus, Danny Hammond and Blaho Novak were digging at the puck and it appeared to have crossed the line off the crossbar. The crowd were delighted to see the team back in the game at 3-3, however the officials, after much protest from Oxford, then decided to overturn their decision and say the puck hadn't gone in and the game remained at 2-3.

Andrew Shurmer from the visitors then took a 2+10 minute penalty late on as frustration and tension reached boiling point, joining his team mate Richard Wojciak in the box also on a misconduct. After a bit of a scramble in front of the Oxford net, Paul Gore and BT Williams had words and the local hero floored Gore in one gloved punch, much to the delight of the Chieftains crowd and players who were buoyed by the re-energisation of the team. Sadly it was too little too late and the game played out with the home side suffering a 1 goal home defeat for the second week running.

After the game defenseman Reece Covington said "It's frustrating at the moment. We just can't buy a win. However you make your own luck and we've got to turn things around and soon".

A Cyclist In France: Hills, Climbing And French Humour

You may remember that a fortnight ago, we announced that we'd be following a Cat 2 cyclist in France called Andy Phillips.

Well after introducing us to himself in his first post, Andy gives us a insight into his early cycling days and about the lessons he thinks he'll learn going into the start of his season starting on March 13th.

Andrew: When I started training in 2008 I hated hills! I weighed about 85 kilos and I remember the first time I was introduced to the hills of the Charente in the south west of France. God did I struggle. I was taken to a place called Nanteuil-en-Vallee and the hill my cycling friends made me climb was long and steep. I got up it though about 5mins after everyone else, which obviously made them laugh! I hated the hill, and although I rode up it a few times that year I tried to avoid it at all costs.

As I lost weight my climbing capabilities increased and I also learnt that you could pull up on your pedals. Now that sounds stupid to most of you I am sure but I had never ridden a bike with shoes that clipped into the pedals before. So when you are out of the saddle dancing up the hills pulling up on the pedals it's easy. Two weeks ago we went back to that hill in Nanteuil and I was first up racing to the top with a 1st cat rider from the club. That was a great moment for me and proved that through a little weight loss, i have really improved my climbing skills.

There was a funny incident earlier on which i've just remembered whilst speaking about hills.A couple of months ago i was climbing up a hill not too far from where i live with my cycling friends. As i was passing a young looking cyclist i heard him shout something that sounded like 'Grandad Grandpa'. I couldn't work out why he would be calling me this, considering i was going up the hill quicker than him. going up this hill quicker than him.

10 seconds later and he's at it again 'Tu est un Grand Pere' it sounds like, which means 'you are a great father'. That may well be the case as i'm a family man, but i just dont understand the French sense of humour! When we got to the top of the hill, this guy caught me up he said 'Tu est un grimpeur.' Ah I get it he reckons I am a climber! Interesting when I first started riding with him he said I was a rouleur (a good all rounder) and then when I got a bit fitter he said I was a sprinter and now he says I am a climber. Really I don't know what I am? What i do know is that the more i train and prepare myself the better i can become.

In terms of spritning, it's something i can do but i don't think that I am an out and out sprinter as I don't particularly enjoy the bunch sprints. However, I did get one of my second places last year in a bunch sprint, which came as a nice suprise. I have got a lot to learn with sprinting and the positioning on the road and when to go and when to wait etc. I wish I had started riding years ago as some of the guys have years of experience and know all the tricks including some rather underhand ones!

So the season is fast approaching. The training is going ok or at least I think it is. I am new to this and I dont know if I am traning too much or not enough.What should I be doing at this time of year? I don't ride as much with the club as I did last year as I prefer to do my own thing . They are also a bunch of nutters and it usually ends up going mad and ending up as a race and I find it hard to control myself and and up joining in!

I am the same in a race - I just waste too much energy riding at the front. If I am not attacking (usually too soon), I am chasing down others who attack. I have got to learn to let others do it. I would say that I am an attacking allrounder. However, this year I have got to use my head more and try and control myself.

As ever if you want to keep in touch with me over the season, remember you can do so via becoming a fan of ‘The English Cyclist In France’ on facebook or just join the facebook group ‘Help me Win in France’. I can also be found on Twitter @ http://twitter.com/cyclistinfrance where i will try and reply to any comments during free time i get from pratice and my work. Lastly you can also follow me right here on SportTrades Report. I will get back to you guys in a fortnight or so where my training would have really picked up.

Team Sky Looking To Continue Bright Start

As some of you should know by now, it's been a good start for Team Sky so far as they managed to win two stages during last month's Tour Down Under in Australia. It was a fine start for the team and one that had the team's chief principal Dave Brailsford througly delighted, never mind the riders and the growing fanbase of the team.

After all, the team are in the sport to win and would have been quietley confident of a good start. That being said it's still quite impressive when any new team gets of to a good start (in any sport to be fair) and for the team to made their mark so soon is great credit to Brailsford and everyone involved with the team. The Tour Down Under was great for the team as it helped the team see just how good the team was in race conditions. There were good reports coming out of the training camp in Valencia that the team was working well and that Brailsford's target of doing well over the season was not just fighting talk.

Victory in the Cancer Council Helpline Classic in Adelaide, the prelude to the Tour was a great bonus for the team. It was a good win for the team and came on a day of great attendences around the city. It was particulary impressive given that Team Sky dominated the front of the peloton making it hard for any other moves from the opposition to evolve and come to the front.

Team HTC Columbia, a team well known for winning stages and races over the last couple of years (of course famously with Mark Cavendish over the last 2 years) could not break through. With the peloton whizzing around the circuit on the last lap, it was left to Greg Henderson to take advantage of the tremendous lead out by the team to win the stage ahead of fellow Team Sky rider Chris Sutton to claim a famous 1-2 for the team.

The Tour itself was a good experience for the team and they experienced another victory, this time on the final and sixth stage of the tour which also happened to be a 1-2 as well. Sutton this time getting the victory on the line ahead of Henderson, who finished on the podium with a derserved 3rd place in the GC. Henderson a proud Kiwi would have been delighted with his performance and I have to say the bits of highlights I saw on the tv on SkySports showed that the team looked organised and ready for a goos season. Speaking of tv, it was good to see more coverage of the sport and especially on Sky. Eurosport and ITV4 of course do great coverage of the Tour and some of the other grandtours. That being said it's important the lesser known tours get shown on tv, as not only will it keep the old fans happy but bring in newer ones further raising the profile of the sport.

Over the last couple of days, Team Sky have been competiting in the Etoile de Besseges race. This race is usually the first race of the European Season and the team's riders particulary John-Lee Augustyn, Nicolas Portal and Michael Barry all shone on the fourth stage of the race yesterday. Augustyn the talented South African is just one of the young riders on the team that British cycling fans should be keeping tabs on and along with the team today were placed well, which will no doubt please the team so early on.

Barry who was involved in the final descent on the stage with Augustyn as well as fellow Team Sky rider Nicolas Portal feels so far the team have learnt from this experience so far. "As a team we were able to test our legs on some hard climbs and the team was present at the hardest moments, so far this race has given us a chance to learn more about each other and been a real stepping stone for us to gel as a team." Augustyn by the way is the highest placed of the team's riders in 62nd place going into the final stage of the race which finishes today with a sprint finish.

Also starting today is the Tour of Qatar which marks the debut of Team Sky's marquee signing Bradley Wiggins. Qatar is probably one of the last places you'd think when you think of cycling, but has grown in popularity and the 2010 event will mark it's ninth competition. With the market in the Middle East growing since the turn of the decade it's important that cycling follows sports like football and formula 1 in having a step in the middle east and racing in Qatar is a great way to attract new sponsors and new intrests in the sport. Incidently you can catch coverage of the 6-day event on Eurosport, so it should be worth tuning in to see not just Team Sky but the other teams like Team HTC-Columbia and Lance Armstrong's RadioShack outfit.

But back to Wiggins. Wiggins and Team Sky came under fire after his signing for bullying their rivals into getting their riders with David Millar, Wiggin's team mate at Garmin and Jon Vaughters, the american's team director being critical of the team for their hard approach to sign the Olympian. Wiggins however has hit back saying "People are trying to attach a stigma to us, but it is a load of b*****s, I think there is a lot of jealousy around from certain riders because they are not in this team."

Wiggins of course is looking forward to racing in Qatar. "The expectation to win is always there with us, to stand here and say we're not that bothered would be a lie. It's a big objective for us tomorrow which will hopefully put us in good focus for the year ahead." The first stage started early this morning and it was intresting to watch as the team worked well getting the fastest time out of the other teams to win the stage.

The eight riders contesting the Tour of Qatar for Team Sky are: Kurt-Asle Arvesen, Edvald Boasson Hagen, Russell Downing, Juan Antonio Flecha, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins. For an outside bet look out for Sky's Hagen to do well, after all he is one of the stars of the future and will be learning all the time alongside experienced heads like Arvesen and Flecha around.

Responding to more rumours about Cavendish linking up with the team when his contract with Team HTC-Columbia Wiggins said that the move at the moment is highly unlikley. Reffering to the team ethic at Sky and the difficulty of a team managing with two elite sprinters Wiggins said that it would be difficult. "Our riders that came from Columbia came to Sky to get more of a chance for themselves, as i know that Dave Brailsford is quite keen that if Cav were to come, that there won’t be a team built solely round him."

That comment i found quite intresting and it summs up what Team Sky are about, in the fact that it's obvious that Brailsford is looking for that right balance to make the team successful. But depending on how Columbia perform this season, as Wiggins proved over the winter if a rider wants to join a team, the rider will get his move so Cavendish -> Sky shouldn't be ruled out completly. Though it's something that at the moment is highly unlikley. More from the team in a fortnight's time.

Posted by Adam Dennehey

Shout! Issue 3 - Finances, World Cup and Rugby

Welcome to the third posting of Shout.

I have recently been in conversation with Geoff Brown of the Hull Wasps Basketball Club. He provided me with some startling news as to the amount spent on administration. I had no idea as to the cost of a player’s registration, but if asked to guess would not have been close to the actual price. I am familiar with many of the organisations and schemes that provide funding and assistance for grassroots clubs and I admire the work they do and they are necessary for the development level of sports and participators. In 2012 sport is put into the spotlight. Individual athletes can be funded through UK Sport and similar organisations. Traditional sports are funded at development level and a number of schemes are available to pyramid clubs to develop training, facilities etc. The financial situations can be improved with a greater chance of sponsorship for teams in mainstream sport.

The sports that have less national exposure, including some with strong branding in other parts of the world, seem unable to improve financially when they move through the levels of their sport. We should look after the development of clubs as well as developing general participation. Foundations of any sport must be solid but we must provide funding and support at every level to sustain growth. So why don’t we provide a fund that will assist in administration costs by subsidising player and club registration costs at least? This would give clubs more money to promote their sport and organisation in the local community, still allowing the sports governing organisation to continue to promote the sport nationally.

At the time of writing this post John Terry is in talks with Fabio Capello. I hope the outcome is that John Terry resigns the England Captaincy or at the very least accepts a break. Many have commented on the moral issue, I suspect my thoughts mirror that of the majority of the nation. I have great sympathy with the innocent, Toni Poole, their children and Wayne Bridge and I imagine Mr Terry himself feels a bit of a fool. We must get this back to a football matter for England. The other side of the fall out is now private. Resignation is the best way for John Terry to move forward. He still can go to the World Cup on a years suspension of his captaincy. OK he would still not captain England through the World Cup, but it is an option. It is important for Mr Capello to make the decision as the England football manager on football issues only. Three questions have to be answered. 1) Has or will JT’s form suffer? He is one of Europe's best centre backs after all. 2) Will team morale be affected by his inclusion? 3) Is our cover better at centre back or left back to cope with squad withdrawals. Depending on the answers to these questions I hope Fabio will base his decision on football, which I imagine would be to take John Terry to South Africa.

The Superleague began last week. Crusaders have moved from Bridgeend to Wrexham. They hosted, champions Leeds Rhinos last weekend and kept in touch with them for an hour of the game before losing. The game was a sell out at the Racecourse Ground when 10000 people turned out to see for themselves rugby league in North Wales. I hope that Crusaders grow and advance the growth of rugby league to new areas. The RFL went to long lengths before awarding new licenses. These steps included financial stability to location. So questions have been asked about a breach of conditions just a year after awarding the licences. That said, Crusaders look on course to be a success at their new home. The next round of Superleague licenses is 2012. The RFL is unsure of the club but accept that it would widen the availability of rugby league. It should be giving licenses to compete in the National Championship, affectively becoming Superleague 2. This would give clubs a probation period and time to increase fan base and secure their financial footing.

Football clubs precarious financial situation is still prominent in the news. Crystal Palace reacted to administration with encouraging displays on the pitch, including an F.A.Cup win against Wolves, with a perfect hat trick from right back Danny Butterfield. Notts County have a stay of execution with the best chants coming from Dagenham & Redbridge fans ‘Your grounds been sold to IKEA’ as Sven took his seat. Portsmouth continue to be a soap opera, a new owner just this morning, who already wants to sell it on. I hope it’s sorted soon for Pompey, the fans deserve it. Lack of business before the transfer window must mean Portsmouth have a chance of survival.

Turning to rugby union and Danny Cipriani is turning his back on England heading to the Super15 new boys Melbourne Rebels in October. The deal being clinched on the eve of the 6 Nations. Our predictions are Ireland to retain the championship with France pushing them. No truth in the rumour that, following his handling skills, Thiery Henry will be available for selection at centre for France.

This month at SportTrades we have secured deals at a number of racecourses, including Cheltenham, Ascot and Kempton Park for sponsorship of individual races or entire cards. You can get more information on our ‘Racing for Success’ campaign by contacting us at info@sporttrades.co.uk. We will be in a position to name the backer for our Girls in Football Premier Sponsorship package very soon, but there is still the Regional and Development packages available. SportTrades are finalising details regarding three new major clients, we will release more details by mid February. SportTrades Report continues to grow, with new features ‘Kevin and Paddy on Rugby League’ and ‘Who let the Dogs out?’. Our F.A.Cup Tracker will feature Fulham v Notts County in the next round, with Accrington Stanley leading the Merit Table with 4 appearances.

And of course we continue to follow the Iceman and his Chieftains team as they head towards the end of season run-in and the countdown to the post-season play-offs.

See you in March.

Rob McAvoy

Since writing this post, John Terry has been stripped of the England Captaincy

Hull Wasps Ticket Give Away!

1000 FREE TICKETS TO GIVE AWAY!

As you should know on the blog by now we have been following the Hull Wasps Basketball team and have been helping them in terms of promoting the team better. Anyway there is a fantastic opportunity for new fans as the Wasps are giving away 1,000 free tickets for their game againgst Middlesbrough Lions at the Gemtec Arena on Saturday 13th February.


So far around 130 free tickets have been snapped up by Wasps fans so there is a great opportunity avaliable for people in and around the city to go and experience a Basketball game and support their local team. There's no catch, simply apply online via the Wasps website , and you will receive a voucher via email. Just print and bring along with you to the game.


WHY THE GIVE AWAY?

We love our sport and think that the passion and excitement is second to none. We want to build Hull’s club and profile making game nights both entertaining and great value. Everyone should have the opportunity to experience the fun, so take advantage and come along on Saturday 13th February and experience a night of end-to-end action like never before!

Go to http://www.hullwasps.co.uk/ and then click on Ticket Give Away for details.

Think Sport !

Promoting your company’s services and products needs a game plan, clarity of vision. The innovations of this new media age, has provided companies with a diverse selection of opportunities for advertising.

The most successful advertising campaign must be when a product or service is associated with a part of our everyday life. At SportTrades we call this ‘Active Advertising’.

Your aim is to consistently reach your target audience, to increase awareness and development of your company. You need to continuously promote your business, in line with your marketing strategy. Just THINK SPORT.

Sport is the ultimate in ‘Active Advertising’, where products and organisations are associated with clubs or events. Your corporate identity will be visible whenever they watch or participate in sport. The most productive time for successful promotion, when the target audience is relaxed and at leisure.

The bonding that the business will have with a sports organisation or event. When a team is winning, you share their glory. When a team is going through difficulties, you are seen by supporters as a friend, and your loyalty will be rewarded. This unity through sport can enhance your company profile both nationally and within the local community. It is unique to sport.

THINKSPORT think SPORTTRADES contact us now and discuss the world of possibilities we have available, to promote your company through sport.

SPORTTRADES

SPORTS MEDIA AND MARKETING COMPANY

http://www.sporttrades.co.uk/

Sol y Futbol: Lanzarote Earn Point Against League Leaders

Sol y Footballs Ian Lane reports from Arrecife, as the league leaders are held to a draw. Mr Lane endured soaring temperatures to bring SportTrades Report news.

LANZAROTE 1 ALCORCÓN 1

1st February 2010

U.D. Lanzarote fought back from a goal down against the league leaders and giant killers of Real Madrid in the Cup to earn a valuable point in a highly charged and entertaining encounter on a hot Sunday morning in Arrecife.

The Conejeros (locals) began the match looking the more offensive of the two teams. In the 6th minute neat footwork from Rubén Rodriguez set up striker Rosmen. The tall centre forward struck the ball well from eight yards but his shot rose a foot too high over the bar.

Strikes from Rubén Rodriguez and a long distance effort from Jotha came close but a shot from midfielder Cascón for the visitors came closest, hitting the woodwork.

The Rojillos (reds) held the majority of possession and the build up play was excellent with new signing Carlitos being a constant annoyance to the Madrid side’s defence. The Amarillos (yellows) big threat came on the counter attack. In the 29th minute the visitors broke quick which led to them receiving a free kick on the edge of the Lanzarote box. Striker Ernesto sweetly curled the ball wide of the outstretched arm of the Lanzarote keeper Vilches and into the top right hand corner giving the visitors a 0-1 lead.

Only a couple of minutes later and Alcorcón should have been two up. A ball launched through the centre saw keeper Vilches race off his line only for Cascón to beat him to the chase. The midfielder chipped the advanced keeper but centre back Faruk read the script and beat the midfielder to what would have been an easy tap in and cleared the danger.

The Lanzarote keeper made another good save moments before the break from Ernesto and the Rojillos went into the half time break a goal down but definitely still in the game.

The Rojillos looked sharp after the break and their first opportunity came after only two minutes. Rosmen controlled the ball on the edge of the area and immediately struck a fierce drive, the Madrid keeper Juanma could only parry the ball but there was no one following up for the tap in.

Ten minutes into the second half and Rojillos manager Carmelo Hernández introduced crowd favourite Jonathon Torres. Seconds after coming on and the striker almost had an instant impact. A goal bound overhead kick from six yards was brilliantly saved from Juanma. The return fell to the head of Rosmen who could only nod the ball onto the bar and over.

Lanzarote were now rampant as Alcorcón seemed happy to sit behind the ball and hit Lanzarote on the counter. Torres again came close and then in the 72nd minute the Rojillos got their just reward. A free kick from the identical position that Alcorcón scored from was set up by Rojillos midfielder Jotha. The ex Real Madrid star blasted the ball low and hard which found its way through the wall and beat the keeper sending the Conejeros level at 1-1.

In the 79th minute Carlitos had a wonderful chance to mark his debut with a goal. A clever cross from Rosmen found the striker in the six yard box but he looked surprised to have received the ball and fluffed his header wide.

Amidst the red attack the league leaders looked deadly on the break. In the 87th minute a header from sub Iñigo López was brilliantly saved from Vilches but the rebound fell kindly to his team mate Mario Sanchez, who, from point blank range blasted the ball for a certain goal only to strike the Lanzarote keeper straight in the face and miraculously away to safety.

Both teams went in search of a winner and in the 92nd minute the Alcorcón midfield robbed possession from Lanzarote and sub Bravo had a clear run on the Lanzarote goal. Lanzarote sub Ian Robinson who had only been on the pitch three minutes had dropped off anticipating the danger. What a good decision that was! The Barnsley boy sprinted diagonally across the pitch and his timely challenge pushed the ball wide restricting the angle of the shot. The strike was pushed wide by the Lanzarote keeper ensuring a point in an outstanding match.

The point was not enough for Lanzarote to move off the bottom as fellow relegation candidates also picked up points. The Rojillos remain four points away from safety and next week will travel to the Spanish capital for a tough match against the B team of Atlético Madrid who occupy fourth position which is the final play off spot.

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Worksop Town fans campaign for new home

This article was created by the Football Supporters Federation (FSF). Information on how to join the Federation please go to www.fsf.org.uk. Help football remain with the people. Help Worksop Town, Support your Local.

Worksop Town fans campaign for new home

Worksop Town has a long and proud tradition. The club, who play in the Unibond Premier Division, was formed in 1861 and spent the next 147 years in playing Worksop, aside from a brief three year ground share with Gainsborough Trinity in the early 90s.
100 of these years were played at the club’s Central Avenue ground and included famous cup runs that were only ended by the likes of Chelsea, Spurs, and Burnley.

Sadly Worksop Town now finds itself homeless and stuck with a local council that is not only unwilling to help but seems to be actively preventing the club from finding a new home.

Not that the Tigers’ support is about to take that lying down:
• Join Worksop Town fans’ Facebook campaign here.
• Email your messages of support to 1861tigers@gmail.com.
• Download their petition and get your mates to sign.
We’re loving the handwritten petition too, it appeals to our retro tastes, if you choose that route mail it back to the FSF via this address and we’ll send it on to the 1861 Tigers Trust.

An open meeting with John Mann MP, who backs the club’s fans, is also going ahead this Friday 15th January at The Crossing (Newcastle Street opposite The Liquorice Gardens) starting at 7pm. All interested parties are welcome.

The club’s problems can be traced to property developer Howard Raymond who, in 2005, took over the club and its assets (via a company named 1861 Leisure Ltd) as it went through a period of financial difficulty. Raymond, incidentally, is the son of famous porn baron Paul Raymond who was behind such literary treasures as Razzle, Men Only, and Mayfair.

A slump in form followed and the club was eventually relegated from the Conference North. In 2008 Raymond decided to kick the club out of their Sandy Lane stadium, still retaining ownership of the club’s assets (i.e. ground) through 1861 Leisure, without ever bothering to explain himself to the club’s support. Since then the club has played its fixtures at Watnall Road, in Hucknall, and Ilkeston Town’s New Manor Ground.

Good news looked to be around the corner though when planning officials at Bassetlaw Council, the club’s local authority, recommended that a planned development on the local Vesuvius site (fans erupted etc.) be given the go ahead. The plans also included other sports facilities, a supermarket, and industrial units.

However, in a very unusual move the council’s planning committee rejected the application leaving Worksop Town reeling. Chairman John Hepworth said he was “appalled” by the decision and blamed it on local party politics as a rift appeared in the planning committee.

The club’s fate now lies in the hands of a planning inspectorate who could overturn the committee’s decision – if enough fans and members of the local community make their voice heard.

Sign their petition and help Worksop Town find a new home

Weekend to forget for Chieftains

It was a weekend to forget for the Chelmsford Chieftains as they were defeated twice by the Wightlink Raiders, here's the IceMan Pete Lewis's take on the weekend:

A broken piece of plexi delayed the start of the game on the Isle of Wight this evening and as the evening progressed things began to go wrong for the Chieftains.

The shortbenched side went 1-0 just over 10minutes into the game when Danny Hughes netted for the home team to get the crowd going. The Chieftains battled hard and did their best to keep the scoreline within reach as the game headed into the first break. In fact the Chieftains had the majority of the shots and outshot the Raiders 12-9 in the first period.

Just under half way into the second period and it was 2-0 when Alex Murray fired past Ben Clements with Hughes getting the assist. Ross Brears gave the away fans something to cheer about on 32:55 with a nicely taken powerplay goal with Alex Green and Aaron Connolly picking up the assists. Sadly that was the end of the scoring for the Chieftains this evening.

Player-coach Jeremy Cornish then netted on a powerplay to make it 3-1 and then early in the third period Murray netted his second of the game with former Chieftain Hughes notching his second assist. Another former Chieftain killed off any hopes of a valiant comeback as Luke Reynolds made it 5-1.

James Ayling was the star of the show for the Chieftains as he picked up the man of the match award while young Matt Colclough in the Raiders goal took home the award for the home team.

The next day the teams met again, this time at Chelmsford. After the defeat on Saturday, much was expected for the Chieftains to bounce aback. The hosts got off to a dream start as Danny Hammond notched an early goal just 99 seconds into the game. The game was end to end and the extra large crowd of almost 500 almost saw Hammond make it 2-0 but his shot went just wide. Late in the period and the Chieftains did double their lead thanks to man of the match BT Williams being in the right place at the right time in front of the net and poked the puck home thanks to Blaho Novak and Aaron Connolly's build up work.

26 seconds of the second period was all it took for the Chieftains to go 3 up when Ross Brears capped a fine performance with an excellent solo effort that he tucked past Matt Colclough in the Raiders net at the second attempt. Darren Brown almost made it 4-0 a few minutes later but was denied by Colclough. A few moments later and it was Ben Clements's turn to be a hero as a good save denied Stewart Tait a goal. Clements was finally beaten though on 32:46 when a near post goal from player-coach Jeremy Cornish found it's way past Clements in what looked to be an impossible angle. Youngster Ruairidh Garrett threaded through a great pass for Hammond but Hammond slipped when he was 1on1 with Colclough and the score remained 3-1.

The Raiders pulled another one back at 46:58 when Dan Scott rifled in a shot from the top of the circle, although there was some debate about whether the puck did cross the line or not. Hammond again went close moments later when a good pass from Alex Staples, who later picked up player of the month award, found it's way to the hard-working forward but the crossbar came to the rescue and the score remained nicely poised at 3-2 with just under 10 minutes to play.

The Chieftains hearts were broken on 54:05 when Scott combined with Danny Hughes to give the former Chieftain a game tieing goal. The Chieftains players were rocked and then the game turned right against them when Hughes turned provider for Tait to score the winner with just under 4 minutes left. It was quite ironic that Tait would be the game winner for the Raiders as he had spent the best part of both games getting under the skin of both players and fans of the Essex side, so it was no surprise to see him and his teammates celebrate in the manner they did.

A disappointed and frustrated head coach Dean Birrell said after the game "Sometimes you look at games and think 'did they win that or did we lose it?' Tonight we definitely lost it. We competed with them early on and were the best team for the first half of the game, but then we got lackadaisical and sloppy at times and gave the Raiders chances to get back into the game and they did. We stopped hitting, we stopped forcing issues, we were dominating early on and then just slipped away. We've been in this position before and we've got to learn from it. We are a young side and they are still learning, but if we want to play with the big boys we've got to start playing like big boys".

Birrell continued "It's a weekend to forget. There are positives to take from it though and we will, but it's frustrating that it's overshadowed by a big negative that we've not scored any points this weekend and all the teams around us have picked up points.

"Looking ahead to next week when Oxford come to visit us, they've obviously lost their coach recently (Simon Anderson left the City Stars to take up a coaching role at Premier League side Swindon Wildcats) but they've brought some guys in who can play and will play and we have to be aware of that. Oxford are never a simple side to beat and we haven't had any easy games against them. We've got to pick our game up again, as we head towards the play-offs, and I hope we can start with a win over the Stars as we play game 2 of our 6 home games in a row series".