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Football

More Female Coaches Than Ever Before; FIFA Women’s World Cup – FCN

written by Hugh

There are more female Head Coaches at this years FIFA Women’s World Cup than ever before.

Out of the 32 teams, 12 are headed up by women

The teams include:

New Zealand – Jitka Klimova
Norway – Hege Riise
Switzerland – Inka Grings
Canada – Bev Priestman
Republic of Ireland – Vera Pauw
Costa Rica – Amelia Valverde Villalobus
China – Shui Qingxia
England – Sarina Wiegman
Brazil – Pia Sundhage
Italy – Milena Bertolini
South Africa – Desiree Ellis
Germany – Martina Voss-Tecklenberg

Details supplied by Female Coaching Network – https://femalecoachingnetwork.com/

18th July 2023 0 comment

Football

FSA and Toyota to support England fans at the Women’s World Cup 2023

written by Hugh

The Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) and Toyota have joined forces to support fans at this summer’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The FSA’s Free Lionesses team will be down under helping fans with free services which include a supporters’ guidebook, pre-match meet-ups and on-the-ground Fans’ Embassy help – all powered by Toyota.

Free Lionesses is put together by fans, for fans, and follows a successful Fans’ Embassy service run by the FSA at France’s 2019 World Cup and last year’s Euro Championships.

Deborah Dilworth, head of women’s football at the FSA, said: “We are delighted to partner with Toyota GB for the Free Lionesses Women’s World Cup Fans’ Embassy. Thanks to Toyota’s valuable support we can ensure travelling supporters are looked after and supported across the tournament by providing them with a supporters guide, a hotline fans can call and help on-the-ground.

“We can’t wait for this summer’s World Cup to inspire new fans and we look forward to the continued growth of the women’s game as supporters get behind the Lionesses.”

Emma Lane, General Manager of Brand Communications at Toyota GB said: “It’s fantastic to know that we are playing a part in ensuring England supporters, either making the journey to Australia/New Zealand or watching on from the UK, can access the information and support they need to maximise their interaction and enjoyment of the tournament.

“As both a fan and a player myself, I have seen first-hand the positive impact that the growth in the women’s game is having on our communities, and I have no doubt that this summer’s World Cup will continue to inspire the next generation of fans and players from grassroots up.”

Toyota is a perfect partner for Free Lionesses as it continues to lead support for gender balance within the automotive industry, with Agustín Martín, Toyota (GB) President and Managing Director, recently becoming a patron of the Automotive 30% Club.

The Club is a network of industry leaders from UK-based automotive manufacturing aiming to achieve a better gender balance by filling at least 30% of key leadership positions with diverse women by 2030.

Providing support for England fans on the other side of the globe during the tournament is only part of the FSA’s wider aim to help develop women’s football as a whole and ensure supporters are represented in key decision-making processes.

The FSA will continue to push for positive change in order to give women’s football the profile it deserves.

Follow Free Lionesses on Twitter @FreeLionesses

23rd June 2023 0 comment

Football

Jimmy Murphy:- Honoured with a Statue – Ged Noonan

written by Hugh

“People are easily forgotten. Statues are there forever.” In the case of Jimmy Murphy, the phrase could not be more apt. Seventy five years to the day after Jimmy Murphy led Manchester United out at Wembley for the 1958 FA Cup Final, a memorial was being unveiled at the stadium.

A part of the training facilities at the outpost of Carrington had been named after Jimmy Murphy but this wasn’t the level of respect this great man deserved. Most United supporters felt that a fitting tribute must be accessible to all the match day supporters. It has been too long in coming.

Due mainly to a collaboration between the various supporters organisations, initiated by Pat Burns, along with collaborations with the ex-players of Manchester United, this long overdue tribute was finally constructed and unveiled at Old Trafford on the 3rd May 2023.

A crowd of over 700 supporters, old and young, turned up at Old Trafford to pay their respect to a much loved and sometimes undervalued and underappreciated member of the club and its history.

There was a banner at the celebration that asked the question “Who will carry the flag?” alluding to the tragic disaster at Munich. It continued ‘Jimmy Murphy said “I will” with a tear in his eye’

In bright Manchester sunlight on a gorgeous afternoon, those present were treated initially to a rendition by Pete Martin of the song that has been fine tuned over the years as a tribute to Jimmy Murphy.

Sculptor Alan Herriot then explained the detail to attention that had to be undertaken so that the structure could be created.

With Jimmy now deceased, Alan had to work with a multitude of photographs taken from different angles, supplemented with details remembered by family members.

This included the ripped collar, replicated in the statue, along with Murphy’s clenched fist of defiance. Often forgotten is the fact that Murphy was a much in demand coach in his own right. Coaching the youth team to five successive trophies, led to approaches from Juventus and even Brazil, approaches that were eventually rebuffed by someone who wanted to stay where he was and continue the love affair at United .

Whilst there was the well known triumvirate of Best, Charlton and Law that led United towards the European Cup victory in 1968, the equally effective trio of Sir Matt Busby, Jimmy Murphy and Walter Crickmer were just as potent in building teams over many years in order to get to Wembley in 68.

Some of the most electrifying commentary came from Jimmy Murphy Jr. who recited the time of a household having one phone. Youngsters with a mobile handset glued to their hand 24/7 will find that hard to contemplate. It constantly rang with support from other teams as Jimmy tried to find and field 11 players at a time when a squad was a fraction of those in the Premier League nowadays.

At the time, some people wanted United to take a season off in order to regroup and re-build, Jimmy was having none of that.

Jimmy Jnr. outlined how his mother, Winifred, was the rock of the family, unseen and happy to keep in the background. Yet she was the glue that kept Jimmy Murphy and their six offspring’s together, along with the millions who supported Manchester United.

The event was closed with a poem from Tony Walsh, aka Longfellow. In order to create his work, he sat with the family, listening to details in order to create a 10 minute long memorial that had the person next to me wiping the tears away.

As everybody disappeared away from the stadium with the sunlight on their back, we all reflected how wonderful and warm the occasion it was and how I was honoured to be in attendance.

Words and Images – Ged Noonan (Gedcamera)

Videos

Tony Walsh aka “Longfella” @ The Jimmy Murphy Statue Unveiling Old Trafford 3-5-23 https://www.facebook.com/ged.camera/videos/651242220348187/

Pete Martin playing @ The Jimmy Murphy Statue Unveiling Old Trafford 3-5-23 https://www.facebook.com/850695610/videos/162925359776848/

Jimmy Murphy Jnr. @ The Jimmy Murphy Snr. Statue Unveiling Old Trafford 3-5-23 https://www.facebook.com/850695610/videos/953692278970475/

Sir Alex Ferguson recording @ The Jimmy Murphy Statue Unveiling Old Trafford 3-5-23 https://www.facebook.com/850695610/videos/732204465353782/

4th May 2023 0 comment

Football

Why are British football fans banned from matches? Exploring the most common reasons

written by Hugh

Sports-related violence and rioting have existed for at least 1500 years, with rioters destroying half of Constantinople during the Nika revolt of 532. Its modern form, however, emerged several centuries ago in England, and today, football hooliganism, although on the decline for the past two decades, is still a significant problem for authorities. Last year alone, 1,308 fans were forced to surrender their passports, preventing them from travelling to Qatar for the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Apart from the travelling sanctions, these fans were also banned from attending any regulated football match within the UK. The team at SportingPedia decided to look at the reasons behind the banning orders issued against fans since this is not a precedent. In 2018, more than 1,300 fans were banned from attending the World Cup in Russia, and in 2014, roughly 2,200 hooligans from England and Wales were barred from the World Cup in Brazil. The figure was even higher for the previous World Cup – some 3,200 fans were banned from travelling to South Africa in 2010.

Full article – https://www.sportingpedia.com/2023/01/18/why-are-british-football-fans-banned-from-matches-exploring-the-most-common-reasons/

19th January 2023 0 comment

Football

A Taste of the World-Cup!’ – Brendan Murphy

written by Hugh

IF YOU LOVE GREAT FOOD, COOKING, TRAVEL AND FOOTBALL, THEN THIS IS TRULY THE BOOK FOR YOU!

This is a book that is not only a TASTE of the WORLD in FOOD, but also, another big ingredient thrown in the pot: FOOTBALL!

Food, Football and Travel. What a combination!

Brendan Murphy- ‘The Chef Explorer’ has spent the last 40 years cooking, traveling, teaching and writing about food and culture from around the world. He has also been teaching Commercial Cookery at Technical Colleges in Western Australia and the UK as well as his own ‘Taste of the World’ Cooking Classes for Adults and Kids at School.

He wrote a regular Cookery Column for 10 years and published his first book ‘A Taste of the World’ in 2010. That book was a successful ‘recipe’ of true Chef and Travel short stories, set in 12 countries where he has worked or travelled, including info on their culture and cuisine and an authentic recipe.

This book is the same format but with the extra ingredient of country football facts, to go hand in hand with the 2022 World Cup.

He profiles all 32 countries, including true travel stories, food highlights and a tasty recipe to prepare and enjoy during the tournament. In addition, he summarises each qualifying countries World Cup history to deliver a truly Tasty World Cup & Cuisine Experience!

A perfect companion to the FIFA WORLD CUP 2022.

Buy it here – https://www.amazon.com.au/TASTE-WORLD-2022-CHEF-EXPLORER-ebook/dp/B0BLLR38FC

To support Brendan and keep up to date with all his adventures and recipes: www.chefexplorer.com.au

26th November 2022 0 comment

Football

Football stars come together with Movember to call full time on male suicide

written by Hugh

10^th November 2022: Every minute, somewhere in the world, a man dies by suicide. That’s 90 sons, husbands, brothers and fathers for every 90 minute game of the Football World Cup. By the full-time whistle of the final and 64th match, over 5,760 males will have died by suicide.

In the UK, the situation is dire. Three out of four suicides are by men and around 13 men take their life every day. The rate of registered suicides in England and Wales has risen to pre-pandemic levels, with more than 5,500 in 2021.

The world’s largest men’s health charity, Movember, has teamed up with a host of stars from the football world to highlight these shocking statistics, and to encourage fans to ‘go beyond the banter’ whilst watching the games and check in on a mate.

With the help of a mixture of current and ex-international footballers that include current England player Eric Dier, and Germany’s Bernd Leno along with Micah Richards, Teddy Sheringham, Stuart Pearce , John Fashanu and Antonee Robinson, Movember has created a powerful video to inspire men to talk about the tough stuff.

Watch the video: https://vimeo.com/769116169/94a528a373

Current England and Tottenham Hotspur player Eric Dier said – “Football is definitely getting better in terms of players being encouraged to open up more, but the game and men in general still have a long way to go in terms of acknowledging it is ok to open up and talk. It is terrifying to think every time I play a game of football, 90 men across the world will die by suicide, I can’t emphasise enough how important it is for boys and men to just talk about their troubles and worries and for us all to be checking in on our mates.”

Former England, Tottenham, Man United and West Ham striker Teddy Sheringham said – “When I was playing, showing any sort of emotions or feelings was not really encouraged and we were just expected to be strong and tough at all times, on and off the pitch. You could see it then how bottling stuff up effected some players’ mental health so it is good to see that changing in the game now, but we can all play our part – it is so important to be honest with your friends about how you are feeling whether that is over a pint, watching the footy or playing a round of golf.”

Former England and Man City defender Micah Richards said – “The global statistic of a man taking their own life every minute is really shocking to me. I know men are not always that good at talking about how they are feeling, but the fact suicide sometimes feels like the only way out for someone is just not right. We need to do more to make sure all men feel comfortable to chat and its great that Movember are funding projects that do just that.”

Former England and Wimbledon striker John Fashanu who lost his brother Justin to suicide, said – “I unfortunately know first-hand what the effects of suicide can have on the friends and family left behind and the guilt we feel for not just talking to that person more and checking-in to see how they were feeling. The stats on male suicide are still so high and with life not being easy for a lot of people right now, it has never been more important just to say ‘Are you ok’ to the men in your life.”

Former England and Nottingham Forest defender Stuart Pearce, said “Footballers are often stereotyped as being tough or if they show any emotion are told to ‘man up’, which is often how it is for all men. We need to change these attitudes and perceptions and encourage boys from a young age to talk openly about their feelings, troubles and worries. Those conversations could be life-saving.”

Movember is committed to ensuring less men die for this largely preventable reason.

Money raised by the charity help fund their ‘Ahead of the Game’ programme, which uses the sporting environment to teach young athletes, parents and coaches within community sport how to talk and approach mental health. Delivered through a series of partners including Everton and Fulham Football Clubs, athletes learn how to build resilience and overcome challenges in sport and life.

The Ahead of the Game programme is proven to decrease stigmatising attitudes towards mental health problems/challenges, increase intentions to seek help for yourself, intentions to help others and improve overall wellbeing of the participants. It is the most evidenced sport-based program in the world.

For more information and to donate, visit Movember.com/football.

10th November 2022 0 comment

Football Pick Your Sport

II Grande Torino – John Ludden

written by Hugh

They were a team of hearts who sadly few people alive today saw play live. Now just a fading black and white team portrait on a half-ripped postcard. Post-war, Torino won five Serie A titles on the run and were set for many more. Led by their magnificent Captain, and arguably the finest Italian footballer of all time. Valentino Mazzola.

Tragically, on 4th May 1949, whilst returning home from Portugal, after a testimonial match, the airplane carrying Torino football team, became lost in a thick fog and a ferocious storm, tragically causing it to crash into the Basilica Superga, (a large church on a hill) on the outskirts of Turin, killing everybody on board.

Thirty-one people in all, including eighteen Torino footballers. So died a dream. A catastrophe both on a human and football level for all Italy. (Ten Torino players made up the national side with the goalkeeper from Juventus.) This books tells the story of a club ravaged by tragedy since its early days of inception, right up until the modern day.

A dark tale of how life is beautiful until death comes unexpectedly calling. From the terrible days of two World Wars. Of Superga and the sad times that followed. A list of characters that litter the pages with astonishing exploits of both human courage and Fascist cruelty. Torino footballers fighting as Partisans.

Then the Garibaldi boys! Denis Law and Joe Baker bought by Torino to help them recover from the disaster, but all goes haywire one night in Turin, when both men are nearly killed in a car crash. Followed in the mid-sixties by the extraordinary winger Gigi Meroni. The Butterfly! A footballer of such beauty who captured the hearts of all both on the pitch and off. A fifth Italian Beatle. Tragically, he too was taken far too young, in what appeared to be a curse on Torino Football club.

There is more, so much in this astonishing tale of what is nothing less than a real life,
Italian tragedy.

2nd August 2022 0 comment

Football

Andriy Shevchenko makes emotional visit to Ukrainian refugees

written by Hugh

Ukrainian football legend Andriy Shevchenko called for more mental health support for young refugees on Monday after a surprise visit to meet children who have fled the horrors of war in his home country.

He visited a summer school in Warsaw that is helping children from Ukraine catch-up on missed learning and play. Since the war escalated five months ago, at least 5.8 million refugees from Ukraine have been recorded across Europe, half of whom are estimated to be children with many having no access to education for weeks.

Save the Children’s summer schools for children from Ukraine in Poland are providing a safe haven where young refugees can boost their education and mental health and psychosocial wellbeing.

Shevchenko, 45, former captain and coach of the Ukraine national team and striker for AC Milan and Chelsea, spent time at the school where he visited TeamUp, an intervention designed to improve children’s mental health and psychosocial wellbeing through play. TeamUp was developed and delivered by War Child and Save the Children and is supported by Laureus Sport for Good, for which he is an ambassador.

Shevchenko said: “Nearly three million children from Ukraine have been forced to flee their homes in the past five months as a result of the conflict. The physical impact of the war is clear to see, but we cannot forget about the psychological impact on these young people. It is not enough to take a child out of the war. We need to take the war out of children.

“Sport has an incredible power to break down barriers and create hope in times of despair. Today in Warsaw, we saw the best of sport and play in action during the fun and uplifting TeamUp activities. I’m proud and thankful that Laureus is supporting initiatives like this, working in partnership with War Child and Save the Children, to help these children and their families. We must continue to work together for the future of these children.”

Shevchenko, won the Ballon D’Or award in 2004 and retired from professional football in 2012. He returned to the sport in 2016 as assistant coach of the Ukraine national team and was appointed head coach in 2016 until 2021, leading the nation to the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 2020.He was most recently head coach of Serie A club Genoa.

Many of the children Shevchenko met are experiencing uncertainty, fear and distress on a daily basis. Even when finding safety in another country, they are often silent and withdrawn or can become overbearing. Summer schools give these children the opportunity to explore and process their emotional experiences with sports and play, while ensuring they don’t fall behind in their learning.

TeamUp is an innovative, scientifically proven method of movement, play and sports, that helps conflict-affected children, aged six to 18, to deal with their emotions and relieve the stress in their bodies. TeamUp sessions are also fun, encouraging children to move, play and laugh together so they make new friends and find a more positive outlook.

Every TeamUp session consists of activities that have a specific goal related to a theme such as dealing with anger or stress and interacting with peers. The sessions are implemented according to a set of fixed principles: ‘same place, same face, same time’ and take place at least once a week.

Frank Velthuizen, programme director of TeamUp at War Child, said: “Children are naturally resilient, but they need our support to be like children again. We are grateful for the opportunity that Laureus is providing to do just that with TeamUp; not only in Poland but across Europe.”

Basile Ema Ebede, Save the Children’s Response Team Leader in Poland, said: “Children from Ukraine have experienced so much in just five months. Being forced to flee your home is a life-changing event that often results in negative consequences that can persist for years. Our teams continue to witness the psychological and emotional impacts this war is having on the children.

“The most important thing is offering children a safe and secure space where they can express their fears and worries. Our summer school programmes in Poland and across Europe, provide a supportive and nurturing environment where children from Ukraine can maintain a sense of normalcy while engaging in supportive play and learning activities. Activities like sports and play can help children release their stress and anxiety. Children in Ukraine are seeing things that no child should ever have to see.”

Earlier this year, Laureus set up its ‘Sport for Peace and Humanitarian Action Fund’ to help alleviate the humanitarian disaster unfolding in and around Ukraine. The fund allows Laureus to respond faster and with determination to support the world’s most vulnerable when faced with crises. Thanks to this fund, Laureus was able to provide early support to the TeamUp programme.

Laureus Sport for Good works with more than 250 community sports organisations globally that use the power of sport to combat violence, discrimination and disadvantage faced by young people. Together with our partners, Laureus Sport for Good has reached and helped change the lives of more than six million children and young people since 2000.

Image courtesy of Team Up

26th July 2022 0 comment

Football

Italy vs Iceland – 14 July, Manchester City Academy Stadium – Women’s Euros 2022

written by Hugh

If you hold fast to the belief that it is better to take part than to win, and you only intended taking in one game of this tournament, then this was the game for you. A lot of earnest endeavour and application but the game cried out for a player from either team with the guile necessary to open up the opposing defence. Bar the final 15 minutes when it looked as if the game was Italy’s for the taking, it was slim pickings in terms of skills and thrills. In hindsight, Iceland’s early goal – slotted home adroitly by Vihjálmsdóttir – was probably not what the neutral would have wished for. Until Italy equalised an hour later, Iceland drew their horns in and defended their lead, confident no doubt that Italy were not up to the task.

For the best part of the following hour, they were justified in that belief. But then the complexion of the game changed entirely. Italy broke down Iceland’s left, Bonansea cut back from the by-line and Bergamaschi – for me Italy’s best player – rifled home. Both teams had golden chances in the final quarter to win the match, Simonetti coming close when she should have scored and Vihjálmsdóttir scuffing an easy chance wide of the post. The latter was withdrawn shortly afterwards and was to be seen on the stadium screen being consoled by her team mates. So it goes.

Not the best of games then and it’s unlikely that any of the favourites will be quivering in their beds at the prospect of meeting either of these teams in the knockout stages, should either of them make it. But the pre-match steak pie was wonderful.

Words & Images – Howard Brooks

15th July 2022 0 comment

Football

Feminists call for Women’s Euros 2022 legacy to be on tackling misogyny in football

written by Hugh

Women’s Euros 2022 legacy should be on football tackling misogyny and gender-based violence at all levels of the game, says a coalition of feminist campaigners and Violence Against Women and Girl’s (VAWG) experts.

The call comes on the same day as yet another Premier League player is arrested on suspicion of rape.

The 3 Hijabis, Level Up and the End Violence Against Women Coalition have been campaigning since the start of the year calling on the Premier League and the Football Association (FA) to urgently fund, develop, and implement a gender-based violence programme across football delivered by VAWG specialists.

Now the group are calling on the Premier League and the FA to show its commitment to tackle gender-based violence by announcing ring fenced funding and a timeline for action to coincide with the kick off of the Women’s Euros this week.

The group says this would be “a fitting legacy showing football is serious about tackling misogyny and gender-based violence across the game and wider society. Football has the power to force transformative change. It has a responsibility to act. We urge the Premier League and the Football Association to not waste this huge moment in history and instead to lead from the front. We need systemic change across football and society to tackle misogyny and gender-based violence. The Women’s Euros offers this opportunity.”

The groups’ petition demanding action has secured support from fans, the public, individuals involved in sports and MPs.

In February, the group wrote an open letter to the Premier League demanding they take action on gender-based violence in football.

Following this intervention, the Premier League invited the group to a “Listening Day” at the Premier League Head Quarters on 27 June 2023 to discuss a gender-based violence policy.

As outlined in the open letter, The 3 Hijabis, Level Up and End Violence Against Women coalition demanded implementation of the following:

Mandatory gender-based violence training for all players, managers, coaches and owners at clubs and academies
Clear sexual misconduct policies and protocols with the power to impose appropriate consequences and disciplinary action on players
The introduction of a Tackling Gender-Based Violence Charter signed by all clubs
Academies to introduce prevention programmes for young people that take a “Whole Club Approach”

In a statement online, the group said: “The listening day was encouraging, but one day will not transform the deeply entrenched power, violence and impunity within football. We know this work will take time.”

“We hope the Listening Day is the beginning of a deep, authentic and transformative process which culminates in the implementation of the above policies.”

“This is also a valuable opportunity for The FA, who are still yet to engage with our coalition, to follow the Premier League’s lead and begin its own internal work to tackle gender-based violence in football.”

“We know fans of football want to see a change, so it’s vital that both organisations use this chance to lead in transforming the harmful culture that, without conscious disruption, they will maintain.”

“What better legacy for the 2022 Women’s Euros than a meaningful public commitment to ending gender-based violence from both the Premier League and The FA.”

6th July 2022 0 comment

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