TF - General Football TF General Football RSS Stream http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/index.php Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:51:34 +0000 60 John terry Song http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/57059-john-terry-song/
I am a long time browser of this forum and have finally decided to contribute to the lively discussion.

My mate has written a song inspired by JT's off field antics. It's worth a watch! Please don't worry, it is not JT hating in any way, just a genuinely good tune. If you've got three minutes to be entertained then please take a look..... http://www.youtube.c...h?v=Gbyj3MhPwys Perhaps you could leave a comment if you enjoyed it?!?

Anyway...Hope this is the first of many posts and hope that you enjoy the song!

Cheers,
Chris]]> Wed, 17 Mar 2010 18:51:34 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/57059-john-terry-song/ Your top five? http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56983-your-top-five/
I have always wonder this, what player is second behind Pele as the best Brazilian player and my thoughts are..

1) Garrincha -God of Dribbling
2) Zico- The Cristiano Ronaldo of the 80's
3) Ronaldo- One of the best profilic strikers. Since Muller, the only striker ahead of Ronaldo is RVN.
4) Rivaldo
5) Didi


Most underated players

1) Vargas-Fiorentina
2) Fletcher
3) Seedorf
4) Guardado
5) Arteta]]> Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:21:31 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56983-your-top-five/ Finances in football http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56975-finances-in-football/ Now i'm not entirely certain but there is no wage cap in the lower leagues of the English football pyramid. There is a reccommendation but that is all. Wouldn't it be ideal to have a full-on wage cap in all tiers below the Championship? Say 50/60% of income should cover it? Maybe some clubs should try and build ties with their communities again? Perhaps every club should fill a public audit that can be seen freely by any fan anytime? This way we can scrutinise every clubs finances and any in trouble can have help earlier. I mean admisitrators could do so much more for the team if brought in much earlier. I, as a Doncaster fan, know what bad financial management means but surely the likes of Peter Ridsdale and Peter Storrie who both have well document poor financial management pasts shouldnt be allowed in charge of a team. I'm in favour of seeing a fair share of club owned by the community and its fans, this could be beneficial to the leagues
Income sharing is something that could make a difference and affiliations in the football system could calso be of great benefit to the clubs


Surely its time Finances were sorted in the beautiful game?]]> Mon, 15 Mar 2010 10:22:22 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56975-finances-in-football/ Your loves/soft spots and hates for other football teams http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56930-your-lovessoft-spots-and-hates-for-other-football-teams/
soft spot-Arsenal and Barcelona.

Hate Manchester United and Everton]]> Sat, 13 Mar 2010 15:21:38 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56930-your-lovessoft-spots-and-hates-for-other-football-teams/ World XI right now http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56858-world-xi-right-now/ C.Ronaldo___Rooney___Messi
___________Xavi_________
______Iniesta____Fletcher___
Evra__Kjær___Pique___Maicon
_________Casillas ________

Pretty difficult choice for the second central defender, but was hard to look past Simon Kjær from Palermo- highly sort after right now.

Maicon edges it over Alves at right-back, while I think Fletcher will compliment Iniesta and Xavi well in midfield.
]]> Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:38:54 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56858-world-xi-right-now/ <![CDATA[BBC blocks Gordon Brown as 'MOTD2' guest]]> http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56827-bbc-blocks-gordon-brown-as-motd2-guest/ Match Of The Day 2 as it would be inappropriate so close to the general election.

Towards the end of 2009, Downing Street asked the corporation for Brown to feature as a guest on the Sunday night football show, which is presented by Adrian Chiles.

The Prime Minister had hoped to discuss England's bid to host the 2018 World Cup but the show's production team decided that it would be unfair so close to the election.

"We made the judgment it wouldn't be appropriate in the run-up to the election," said a BBC spokeswoman.

The corporation is bound by strict guidelines regarding appearances by political leaders in the months before an election, with the need to give balance to all parties

From Digital Spy

]]> Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:04:01 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56827-bbc-blocks-gordon-brown-as-motd2-guest/ Sky Sports host saucy tweets banned http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56806-sky-sports-host-saucy-tweets-banned/
The TV star was asked to take her Twitter profile down after Sky officials worried that her double entendre-filled posts may present the wrong image of the broadcaster.

Everton built up a fanbase on various social networking sites, who celebrated her use of innuendo when discussing sport.

One famous message read: "Still in bed, not seen any action, been hoping for a big wicket."

During a Stoke City football match, she wrote: "[Rory] Delap using a towel to mop up some of the wet ready for those long thrusting balls into the box.

"When those balls of Delap's go into the box it is definitely [Ricardo] Fuller."

A Sky source told The Sun: "It was all a bit of fun but some people high up in the company got concerned it presented the station in the wrong image. They asked her to take it down after a few complaints were made but most people found it hilarious."

From Digital Spy

]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:53:52 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56806-sky-sports-host-saucy-tweets-banned/ Duck invasion damages football pitch http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56805-duck-invasion-damages-football-pitch/
According to Reuters, the playing surface has been repeatedly damaged by feathers and droppings left by the birds.

Urawa's public relations chief Daisuke Maruyama said: "We have had problems with ducks for a while. They leave their mess on the pitch.

"We've taken a number of measures to clean things up, including falcons and putting out cones on the pitch. The things you have to do sometimes!"

He added: "It seems the ducks feel safe inside the fence which surrounds the training ground. But our measures look like they're slowly bearing fruit."

From Digital Spy

]]> Tue, 09 Mar 2010 23:53:01 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56805-duck-invasion-damages-football-pitch/ FIFA - No Technology for years http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56745-fifa-no-technology-for-years/
Disgusting. The FA need more independence from people who cost us millions of pounds and hold the sport back decades.]]> Mon, 08 Mar 2010 12:16:22 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56745-fifa-no-technology-for-years/ Firefox extension to keep up with scores http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56690-firefox-extension-to-keep-up-with-scores/
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ addon/725

If this is in the wrong section, please feel free to move it. :)]]> Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:28:20 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56690-firefox-extension-to-keep-up-with-scores/ English football hall of fame http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56648-english-football-hall-of-fame/ Anyone you think who doesnt deserve to be there or someone ( active player) who doesnt deserve to be there atleast not yet( Please don't say Bergkamp- He is God)

2002 Inaugural Inductees



2003 Inductees



2004 Inductees



2005 Inductees



2006 Inductees



2007 Inductees



2008 Inductees



2009 Inductees

















]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:50:56 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56648-english-football-hall-of-fame/ Sunday League player jailed for tackle http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56636-sunday-league-player-jailed-for-tackle/ Quote

Centre forward Mark Chapman, 20, tackled left back Terry Johnson, 26, from behind, breaking his leg in two places and ending his chances of ever playing again.

The tackle came seconds before the final whistle as Chapman's team Long Lawford were losing 3-1 to Mr Johnson's Wheeltappers side.

Chapman was jailed for six months after admitting Grevious Bodily Harm at Warwick Crown Court on Wednesday.

Mr Johnson said: "It's ruined my life, I will never be able to play football again."

Mr Johnson needed reconstructive surgery and must have a skin graft after the challenge during a Rugby and District Sunday league match in Rugby, Warks.

A steel rod was put into his leg to hold the bone pieces together.

Since the tackle the electrician has been unable to work and struggled to support daughters Ruby, four, Eliza, three, or partner Lydia Adams, 24.

Warwick Crown Court heard how Chapman, of Long Lawford, Rugby, tackled Mr Johnson studs-first during the match last October.

Iain Willis, prosecuting, said Chapman had been criticised by his teamates earlier on in the match for showing a lack of effort.

He added: "The ball was running out of play in the Wheeltappers' half and Terry Johnson was shadowing it out of play as it crossed the touchline.

"The defendant continued to close in and used a stamping motion with a raised right foot, with the studs showing, on the back and side of his right leg.

"The referee said it was a callous deliberate act with intent to cause injury to the player."

The court was told Chapman had no previous convictions, but had been disciplined a number of times for his behaviour on pitch - although not for violent conduct.

Lawrence Watts, defending, said injuries like Mr Johnson's were sometimes caused by the angle rather than the force.

He also attempted to draw parallels with a tackle during the Stoke City vs Arsenal game last Saturday where Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey broke his leg after a tackle.

But Judge Robert Orme rejected the suggestion and said it was a totally different situation.

He said: "This is a deliberate act, a premeditated act. A football match gives no-one any excuse to carry out wanton violence.

"What I am prepared to accept is that it was a quite crazy and mad challenge committed on the spur of the moment.

"The result of what you did was that Mr Johnson suffered a badly broken leg - it horrified those who saw it.

"I accept you showed very early remorse and there is substantial mitigation which can be put forward for you.

"But I have also had to consider the position of the victim and your very deliberate criminal act."

In the past footballers have been punished by the courts for on-field violence, but never jailed for a tackle.

One case involves current Sky News pundit Chris Kamara, who then as a Swindon Town player, caught Shrewsbury Town's Jim Melrose with his elbow.

Kamara was fined £1,200 for causing grievous bodily harm and also ordered to pay £250 compensation.

On November 11, 2006, during an FA Cup first round match Barrow defender James Cotterill punched Bristol Rovers striker Sean Rigg in the face.

On January 11 2007 Cotteril was jailed for four months after pleading guilty to causing grievous bodily harm.

Vinnie Bolina, spokesman for the Crown Prosecution Service, said cases like Chapman's were difficult to prosecute.

He said: "We say that this was a callous and intentional act and was quite deliberate."

A spokesman for the Football Association confirmed that the case was unique.

He said: "It's the first time anyone has been sent to prison for a tackle.

"There have been two cases where people were sent to prison for other incidents on the pitch, but nothing like this."


http://www.telegraph...eld-tackle.html ]]> Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:11:27 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56636-sunday-league-player-jailed-for-tackle/ Your second team? http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56615-your-second-team/
I've always liked Ajax and always check what score they get on, but over the past couple of months West Ham of all teams have grown on me. I'm not sure why, but I really like them now. I'd go as far to say they were my second team.]]> Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:55:45 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56615-your-second-team/ Highest Earning Clubs Top 20 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56595-highest-earning-clubs-top-20/ Quote

The Deloitte Football Money League profilesthe highest earning clubs in the world’s most popular sport. All ofthis year’s top 20 clubs are from the ‘big five’
European leagueswith England contributing seven clubs, Germany five, Italy four, andFrance and Spain represented by two clubs each. Deloitte has used thefigure for total revenue extracted from the annual financial statementsof the company or group in respect of each club, or other directsources, for the 2008/09 season. Based on the information madeavailable, Deloitte has split revenue into three categories, being revenue derived from matchday, broadcast and commercial sources.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 20. (17.) Newcastle United- €101.0m

The 2008-'09 season was a season to forget for Newcastle United as they failed to retain their Premier Leaguestatus and relegated to the Championship after a sixteen-season spellin England's top tier. Nevertheless, the Magpies still totalled a €101revenue to finish in the top 20 of Deloitte's Money Football League.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 19. (-) Manchester City- €101.2m

Last season was the first season of the Abu Dhabi United Group’s ownership of Manchester City and the Citizens finished the Premier Leaguein tenth position. Despute their slightly disapppointing performances,revenues increased by six percent to a total of €102.2 million, thussecuring nineteenth spot.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/DEU.gif 18. (20.) Borussia Dortmund- €103.5m

BorussiaDortmund have climbed two spots compared to last season's DeloitteMoney Football League top 20. BVB failed to qualify for Europeanfootball last term, but average attendances of almost 75.000 per homegame boosted their total revenues to €103.5 million.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/DEU.gif 17. (-) Werder Bremen- €114.7m

Werder Bremen are the first new team in this top 20 with revenues of €114.7 million. The Hanseaten made it into last year's UEFACup final and won the DFB Pokal, thus generating 26% more revenues thanthe year before. Broadcasting revenues were the major source of incomefor the Bundesliga side.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/DEU.gif 16. (13.) Schalke- €124.5m

Schalkeslipped three places down the ranking due to a reduction in totalrevenues of €23.9 million. The Gelsenkirchen side continued to sell outits Veltins Arena, but a different mix of games (UEFA Cup instead of Champions League) resulted in a reduction of matchday income.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 15. (14.) Tottenham Hotspur- €132.7m

Tottenham reached the Carling Cup final for the second consecutive season and finished eighth in the Premier Leagueafter a disappointing start to the season. The London side totalledrevenues of €132.7 million, only two percent lower than last season'srecord income.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/FRA.gif 14. (16.) Olympique de Marseille- €133.2m

Olympique Marseille climb two spots in the Deloitte Money Football League and close the gap to French rivals Olympique Lyonnaisto €6.4 million. Marseille only just missed out on the French titlelast year. Consistent Champions League qualification has kept the Ligue1 contenders among Europe's top 20 money-spinning clubs.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/FRA.gif 13. (12.) Olympique Lyonnais- €139.6m

OlympiqueLyonnais wer not crowned French champions at the end of last season forthe first time in seven seasons. The Ligue 1 titans still totalledrevenues of €139.6 million though and sit thirteenth in this ranking.Lyonnais revenues decreased by ten percent last season.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ITA.gif 12. (9.) Roma- €146.4m

Romalost three places compared to last season and have dropped from the topten. The Giallorossi had a disappointing season on the pitch finishingin sixth position in Serie Aand were eliminated in the Champions League in the Round of 16. Roma'srevenues dropped to €146.4, a decrease of seventeen percent.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/DEU.gif 11. (15.) Hamburger SV- €146.7m

Arather successful season on the pitch helped Hamburger SV increaserevenues by an impressive fifteen percent, despite not playing in theChampions League. HSV have almost doubled their revenues in the pastfive seasons and totalled an amount of €146.7 million last season.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ITA.gif 10. (7.) AC Milan- €196.5m

Milanfall three places in the money league following a disappointing2008-'09 season. The Rossoneri failed to qualify for Champions Leaguefootball and entered the UEFA cup instead. This cost Milan €26 million in UEFAcentral broadcasting distributions. Commercial and matchday revenuesincreased, but not enough to make up for the aforementioned loss.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ITA.gif 9. (10.) Internazionale- €196.5m

TheItalian champions post a €23.6m (14%) increase in revenue to€196.5million. Internazionale have been the dominant force in the Serie Ain the past couple of seasons, but still await Champions League glory.As with the other Italian clubs in the Money League, broadcastingprovides the majority of the club’s revenue (59%).

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ITA.gif 8. (11.) Juventus- €203.2m

Juventus’first Champions League campaign since 2005/06 helped drive a revenueincrease of €35.7million (21%) to €203.2 million. The Turin side'smatchday revenues remain the lowest of any Money League club. If theOld Lady is to increase revenue, they need to work on their attendances.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 7. (8.) Liverpool- €217.0m

Liverpool's second place Premier Leaguefinish last term resulted in an increase of broadcating revenue.However, the Reds are still only the fourth placed English side in theMoney League. Their quarter-final Champions League exit didn't doLiverpool any good financially.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 6. (5.) Chelsea- €242.3m

Chelsea’sfootballing fortunes were mixed in 2008/09. Managerial instabilityprovided a backdrop for a disappointing third place finish in the Premier League.However, they made up for this by winning the FA Cup. Off the pitchChelsea dropped out of the Money League top five for the first timesince 2002/03, as revenue fell to €242.3million.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 5. (6.) Arsenal- €263.0m

Arsenalreturn to the money top five after a one-year absence. Chief ExecutiveIvan Gazidis’ aim of running a financially ‘self sufficient’ club isassisted by repeatedly filling the Emirates stadium to its 60,400capacity. Additionally, Arsenal grew its commercial revenues to€56.5million.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/DEU.gif 4. (4.) Bayern Munich- €289.5m

Bayern Munichsaw revenues decline by two percent, but managed to hold to fourth spotin the Money League with a total revenue of €289,5 million. TheBavarians failed to win the Bundesliga, but did manage to win directqualification for the Champions League, thus securing a considerableamount of broadcasting revenues.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ENG.gif 3. (2.) Manchester United- €327.0m

English champions Manchester Uniteddropped to third spot following Barcelona's extremely successfulseason. Manchester saw commercial -, matchday - and broadcastingrevenue all increase and total a revenue of €327 million. Yet even thiswas not enough to retain last year’s runner-up position in the MoneyLeague, with further deterioration in the Sterling exchange ratecompounding the effect of Barcelona’s more rapid revenue growth.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ESP.gif 2. (3.) Barcelona- €365.9m

ChampionsLeague winners Barcelona will be absolutely deligthed with theirsportive successes last season. Additionally, they had a good seasonfinancially, too. The favourable Euro to Pound Sterling exchange ratesaw Barcelona leapfrog Manchester United into second place in the Money
League, with total revenues increasing by 18% to €365.9million.

http://www.goal.com/web/goal/current/images/ flags/three-letter-code/ESP.gif 1. (1.) Real Madrid - €401.4m

RealMadrid hold on to top spot in the Money League with ease and are thefirst sports team in history with revenues exceeding €400 million. LosBlancos might have failed to impress on the pitch last season, but theyhave every reason to be proud with their performances off the pitch.The club’s contract
with Mediapro combined with certain others,guarantees the club more than €1.1 billion over the seven seasons to2013/14.


Source]]> Wed, 03 Mar 2010 13:09:47 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56595-highest-earning-clubs-top-20/ Blatter wants rid of the offside rule http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56567-blatter-wants-rid-of-the-offside-rule/ :lol: :lol: :lol:

Quote

Fifa president Sepp Blatter has quizzed the sport of hockey on the benefits of scrapping their offside rule, amid talk that football could follow suit.

SkySports




Obviously wont happen but haha]]> Tue, 02 Mar 2010 15:34:15 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56567-blatter-wants-rid-of-the-offside-rule/ Pele or Maradona? http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56538-pele-or-maradona/ Who do you think was the better player? Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:39:39 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56538-pele-or-maradona/ The Garry Cook appreciation thread http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56385-the-garry-cook-appreciation-thread/ http://therepublikofmancunia. com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/garry-cook. jpg

For the best Football CEO in the business:

On former corrupt City owner Thaksin:

"Is he a nice guy? Yes. Is he a great guy to play golf with? Yes. Has he got the finances to run a club? Yes. Whether he's guilty of something over there, I can't worry too much about. Morally, I feel ­comfortable in this environment."

later backtracking:

"I have made some mistakes in my life," Cook said, "but I deeply regretted my failure to do proper research on Thaksin."

On the failure to sign Kaka - where he accused Milan.... of "bottling it"

when it was quite clear Kaka did not want to join City.

and one his better ones:




“This football club will be without doubt the biggest and best in the world,” Cook said. “People don’t like to hear it but I’ll make no excuses for saying it, and I will never stop saying it because I truly believe it with the resources and capabilities that we have – and when, not if, we’re at Wembley having beaten Man United yet again!”

and it gets better...

inducting former City striker Uwe Rosler into the Manchester United hall of fame.


finally....

http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Garry_Cook_% 28CEO%29&oldid=333139069]]> Thu, 25 Feb 2010 14:35:04 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56385-the-garry-cook-appreciation-thread/ The Bradford Fires http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56357-the-bradford-fires/
It was the last day of the season, and the game before Bradford City had just won the Third Division title which was fantastic for the club at the time. The ground was packed, many local supporters were so proud of their side that they invited there children, parents and grandparents along to the game to celebrate an achievement that many did not think was possible twelve months prior.

Infact this was there first piece of silverwere in 56 years. The grounds capacity was twice that day that it had been on average for the whole of that season. However what many of these people didn't know was the problems that were going on within the ground.

The main stand had remained unaltered since it was built in 1911. The club had been warned of a build-up of litter beneath the stand because of a gap between the seats. In July 1984 the club were warned again, this time by a county council engineer, because of the club's plans to claim for ground improvements from the Football Trust. One letter from the council said the problems "should be rectified as soon as possible"; a second said: "A carelessly discarded cigarette could give rise to a fire risk." In March 1985, the club's plans became more apparent when it took delivery of steel for a new roof after the ground was described as "inadequate in so many ways for modern requirements", this was believed to cost the club £400,000 - a lot of money for a third division club in the 80's.

After 40 minutes of the first half in what was described as a match with two teams that didn't look like scoring the score remained 0-0. At this point a glowing night was noticed three rows from the back of Block G. It was believed to be caused by a lit cigarette which fell through the holes in the stand to the rubbish which had built up for many years below.

Within three minutes the fire escalated and the flames became visible so the police began to evacuate the stand. Att his point the blaze began to spread in seconds, the roof and wooden stands were on fire. The material on the wood combined with the strong wind created the impression of a fireball which set the whole stand on fire. Parts of the roof begin to collapse blocking the spectators in. It took less than fur minutes for the entire stand to be in flames.

Fans ran onto the pitch fearing for their lives. Police, players, coaching staff and fans who had escaped climbed over to the stands to help those struggling to escape. However despite these heroic efforts 56 people still lost there lives. Two elderly people had passed away in there seats, three people had passed away after being blocked in the toilets. 27 people in exit K and turnstiles six to nine didn't stand a chance. One man, who can be seen in the footage posted, crawled on to the pitch covered in flames, the police and supporters were able to smother him to estinguish the flames, but he still later died in hospital. The former club Chairman Sam Firth was also one of the casualties at the age of 86. Some of those who died were still sitting upright in their seats covered by tarpaulin.

The tragedy received media attention and support from across the world, the prime minister Margaret Thatcher offered her sympathy, Queen Elizabeth offered her sympathy, even Pope John Paul II had his say on the matter by offering his condolences to families affected by the tragedy.

The inquiry known as the Popplewell Inquiry found that the club had been warned about the fire risk that the rubbish accumulating under the stand had posed. However, most people accepted that the fire was a terrible piece of misfortune. A discarded cigarette and a dilapidated wooden stand, which had survived because the club did not have the money to replace it, were considered to have conspired to cause the disaster. This led to the introduction of new legislation to improve safety at the UK's football grounds. One of the main outcomes of the inquiry was prohibiting the construction of new wooden grandstands at all UK sports grounds.

The Bradford Disaster Appeal fund eventually raised over £3.5 million. The most memorable of hundreds of fundraising events was a recreation of the 1966 World Cup Final, which began with the original starting teams of both England and West Germany was held to raise funds. England won once again but this time by 6-4.

A capacity 6,000 crowd attended a multi-denominational memorial service, held on the pitch of the burnt out stand at Valley Parade in July 1985. A giant Christian cross, made up of two large charred wooden members[23] that had once been part of the stand, was constructed in front of the middle of the stand and behind the pitchside speaker's platform. The next day work began on clearing the burnt out shell of the stand.

WARNING: ACTUAL FOOTAGE - NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2ic9_0oEWg ]]> Thu, 25 Feb 2010 01:57:51 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56357-the-bradford-fires/ 2010/2011 new kits http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56351-20102011-new-kits/
http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/ bayern-munich-10-11-adidas-110th-anniversary- kit.jpg

Lokomotiv Moscow home kit 10/11

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/ Lokomotiv-moscow-2010-adidas-home-shirt.jpg

2010 Zenit St Petersburg Nike kits

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/ zenit-2010-nike-kits.jpg

Ireland 2010 Home kit

http://www.footballshirtculture.com/images/ ireland-2010-umbro-home-kit.jpg]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:33:12 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56351-20102011-new-kits/ <![CDATA[UEFAs 'going concern']]> http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56347-uefas-going-concern/ UEFAs 'going concern'

A report compiled by UEFA, The European Club Footballing Landscape, that analyses the financial status of European football is set to be realeased and it does not make easy reading for the FA Premier League. The report which documents the finances of all 732 UEFA licensed clubs from the 2007/2008 season (the latest available accounts) calculates the current debt level of the Premier League to be £3.5bn. That doesn't even include the finances of Portsmouth or West Ham United who were refused a UEFA license due to their current financial state. The combined debt of the 18 other Premier League clubs makes up a massive 56% of the total debt of all 732 clubs, or in other words more than the combined debt of the rest of Europe.

Coming in the wake of the potential financial meltdown of Portsmouth it is yet another stark warning that the Premier League needs to introduce new financial regulations or face a bleak future. Unfortunately the message doesn't appear to be hitting home anytime soon. The report also concluded that the Premier League generated an average of £107m per club through TV and other commercial revenue streams and it was this that a Premier League spokesman pointed to as proof that the league was in good shape with debts that were 'sustainable'.

Despite having nearly four times as much debt as the next most indebted league (La Liga) apparantly everything is rosy and the new regulations requiring clubs to prove they are a 'going concern' are more than adequate. It is this kind of lax approach to the financial security of the game that has led the league back down the same garden path it followed with Leeds United. The fact that Portsmouth have crumbled in very similar circumstances seems to been completely lost on Mr Scudamore and co.

The League have also yet to do anything about the problem of leveraged buyouts, it was well noted by a UEFA's general secreatary that the leveraged buyouts of Manchester United and Liverpool accounted for nearly £1bn of the Premier League's debt and that in both cases the buyouts had proven to be a burden to each club. Yet the Premier League seems unwilling to change it's ownership rules for fear of dissuading the Shekih Mansours and Roman Abramovics of this World from investing in it's Global brand.

UEFA have itself moved to curtail debts by introducing it's Financial Fair Play rules for the 2012/2013 season. These will require clubs to break even in order to be eligable for European competition and would stop heavily indebted clubs from entering UEFA's elite competition, as well as effectively nullyfying the effect of wealthy benefactors. However, more action needs to be taken from the FA and Premier League. Portsmouth are not alone in their financial struggles as Hull City and West Ham United are both saddled with significant debts whilst the highly publicised cases of Manchester United and Liverpool could yet turn sour.

That is not forgetting the problems lower down the league pyramid either, Crystal Palace were put into administration a few weeks ago, Notts County avoided a winding up order by the skin of their teeth whilst Southend are on the brink as well, nto to mention dozens of clubs struggling to keep their heads above water. It has been 6 years since the demise of Leeds United and 18 since the liquidation of Aldershot yet little if anything has been done in that periord, it's time the powers that be woke up to the situation.

In finishing i'd like to cast your minds back to the mid 90s. The Elite Leageu back then was Italy's Serie A with all the World greatest stars, the best teams and the most cash. Serie A clubs threw their riches at each other with high profile transfers for massive sums of money being a regular occurance. However, after the turn of the century it all turned horribly sour. Ask any fan of Fiorentina, Lazio or Napoli about their trials and tribulations during the past decade and it won't be an easy listen. Unfortunately English football doesn't even seem capable of learning from it's own mistakes, let alone those of it's negihbours.]]> Wed, 24 Feb 2010 14:51:09 +0000 http://www.totalfootballforums.com/forums/topic/56347-uefas-going-concern/