Recently, Bert has begun working with the US Women's National Team program to provide comprehensive video analysis of their games. Congratulations, Bert ,and keep Georgia Soccer proud of your efforts!
original post from gasoccer.org
Damarcus Beasley hopes his World Cup dream can be resurrectedPremium Article !Your account has been frozen. For your available options click the below button.
Options
Premium Article !To read this article in full you must have registered and have a Premium Content Subscription with the The Scotsman site.
Subscribe
Registered Article !To read this article in full you must be registered with the site.
Sign InRegister
« Previous « PreviousNext » Next »View GalleryPublished Date: 11 December 2009
By Lisa Gray
DAMARCUS Beasley is hoping his efforts in the Champions League clash against Sevilla can help him resurrect his Rangers career with the World Cup looming this summer.
The United States international's first team opportunities have been limited this season and the 27-year-old was recently quoted on a website saying he wanted to quit the Scottish champions in search of first team football elsewhere.
He has held t
ADVERTISEMENTalks with manager Walter Smith over his future but refused to be drawn on the comments attributed to him about wanting a move elsewhere.
Instead, he is hoping his involvement in the final European match of the season can prove to be the catalyst for the remainder of the campaign ahead of South Africa in the summer, where he is set to come up against club-mate Madjid Bougherra's Algeria, as well as England.
"It's always a bonus to start and to play," he said.
"I've always said that I want to play and I've always said I want to stay. The gaffer and I have had a talk and what was said remains between me and him.
"He knows I want to play and hopefully over the next month if I keep working hard and training hard, I can try to get back in the team. Personally, I will take it one game at a time and hopefully I can retain my position for Saturday.
"I don't have anything to prove. I'm confident in my own ability.
It's just about me playing well and playing for the team. Obviously I want to show my best. I want to show that I belong in the team, that I belong at the World Cup. It's an important six months for myself."
Rangers ended their Champions League campaign without a single win and with just two points picked up during the group stage.
Beasley admits the Glasgow giants will look back on the European season with some regrets but insists it is more important to focus on the future now – and retaining the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title.
"We played better away from home than we did at home," he said, reflecting on matches against Stuttgart, Unirea Urziceni and Sevilla.
"The teams we played, we gave them the games, we didn't make them work hard enough for the wins. It's tough when you look back on it and think about that.
"We didn't come through this round but now we just focus on the SPL. I think there will be a difference, there will be more time to rest in between games for the boys who are playing.
"December is going to be a very tough month, we have Dundee United and Hibs and Celtic away. If we can get through these games, I think we will have a good chance of retaining the SPL title."
A Frederic Kanoute penalty after eight minutes proved to be the difference between Sevilla and Rangers, with the Ibrox side failing to trouble their hosts until the final minutes of the match.
Beasley said:
"It was just unlucky that we gave a penalty away in the first few minutes. All in all, I think we did pretty well."
Page 1 of 1
Last Updated: 10 December 2009 10:33 PM
Source: The Scotsman
Location: Edinburgh
Related Topics: Rangers FC
Bookmark:
Del.icio.us Digg Facebook reddit StumbleUpon
Delivery formats: RSS, Atom, Javascript & Email
Email a friend
Print article
Increase text size
Decrease text size
More Sport
Tony Mowbray ducks referee debate, saying decisions made 'with integrity'
Referees under attack from SPL managers demanding answers
The Rumour Mill: Friday's football transfer news and gossip
Madjid Bougherra set to miss Old Firm clash
Stephen Thompson's charity offer fails to halt Bain feud
Calls for Vlad to ease fears of Hearts fans
High-flying Edinburgh warned not to underestimate wounded rivals Bath
Hibs urged to make a fist of bunch of five
Nevio Scala says he would do a 'good job' for Scotland
Manchester United rule out move for Sol Campbell
Hearts skipper Stewart free for United clash after red card is reduced
'There's a big talking point in every game, every week'
Csaba Laszlo denies Hearts have discipline problem and urges officials to curb unnecessary cards
Next six matches will be make-or-break for Hibs predicts John Hughes
Rugby: John - We're ready to Rec home fans' hopes
More Sport >> More Rangers FC
Madjid Bougherra set to miss Old Firm clash
Damarcus Beasley hopes his World Cup dream can be resurrected
Rangers' Euro misery completed by Sevilla
In pictures: Sevilla 1 - 0 Rangers
Rangers chief executive Martin Bain praises supporter behaviour in Seville
Sevilla 1 - 0 Rangers: Frederic Kanoute strike enough as Sevilla cruise home
David Weir admits it was a case of damage limitation
Smith foresees lean times ahead for Scottish teams
Sevilla 1 - 0 Rangers - match report
Walter Smith reveals he was on brink of leaving Rangers
The Rumour Mill: Wednesday's football transfer news and gossip
Smith praises his assistants for 'brave' decision to stay
Tom English: 'Rangers can't afford to be emotional over Ibrox name'
Sevilla coach backs team to win group despite injury crisis
Boyd says he knows nothing of contract talks
More Rangers FC >> Features
Drink Driving - Don't Risk It Paperboy Customised news
Hey Soccer Fans --
The inevitable happened in the World Cup draw last week - The Old Empire was set on a collision course with the New; England were drawn to play against America in the group stage of the tournament but fortunately were also drawn with Slovenia and Algeria, two weaker teams so regardless of the result, both teams are expected to progress into the knock-out stages of the tournament.
This isn't the first time the teams have met in the World Cup. In 1950, America beat England 1-0 in one of the biggest upsets in Football history.
The draw was met with great fanfair and acclaim here - more than you would think actually; and treated with a seriousness that I have never seen given to Football with in the US. That said, the sports news announcer on 1230 ESPN2 The Fan in Atlanta couldn't resist a dig, announcing that the US would be playing Merry Olde England and her hooligans on June 12th. I composed a well-thought, measured and succinct reply via email which ended with an ultimatum to cease and desist all such untrue xenophobic comments at once lest I come round to the studio and slam a copy of The Collected Works of Shakespeare off his bonce.
Every US football fan I know is ecstatic and excited about taking on the Motherland and home of Football and finally getting the chance to test their progress and prowess against one of the giants of the world game. Every England fan I know is delighted with the easy draw and the idea that we might be even to rest players before the end of the groups to remain fresh for the second phase.
The US have made great strides as a team in the past few years, as well as qualifying for consecutive World Cups, they made the final of the Confederations Cup last year, beating reigning European Champions, Spain, on the way and losing a 2-0 lead in the final to Brazil. A genuine big fish in their own pond, the US have now surpassed a declining Mexico as the leading football power in the North and Central Americas and will be looking to impose their young physical presence on the world. Sadly, a lack of key personnel and ability in certain positions will let the team down. Star defender Oguchi Onewu, unbelivably of AC Milan, embodies all the grace and finesse of a pantomime horse after a session on the Jack Daniels and attending a World Cup Finals with Jozy Altezode, Hull City reserve, as your main attacking threat is the equivalent of turning up to the OK Corral armed with a spork.
One area the US are catching up with and possibly surpassing the old world is in support. The Guardian reports that the US are going to be the most well-supported team at the tournament, with the exception of the hosts and the ubiquitous Orange dutch with their colonial ties.
Personally, I am looking forward to six months of trash talk, craic and anticipation of 2.30pm EST on Saturday June 12th, 2010 where a corner of some foreign bar that is forever England is rocking to both The Star Spangled Banner and The Great Escape - one side looking for proof that a New World Football Order is in the ascendancy and that a nation that is not used to being second best to anybody at anything, isn't - and the other looking for the constant comforts of 1945 and 1966, that everything that was, is and forever will be - that England (shorthand for Great Britain) is the Greatest.
We shall meet on the field of battle with no quarter given and none asked save this,
How would you like your asses served sir, flambeed, roasted or rare?
Chile's World Cup dream is intact
FIFA had given Chile's football association (ANFP) 72 hours to make Rangers drop a court case that disputed their relegation from the Clausura championship, or else risk a FIFA suspension and the prospect of forfeiting their World Cup berth.
Rangers took action after they were docked three points for fielding one too many foreign players under the Clausura's 6+5 rule. This consigned them to automatic relegation, but their dispute caused the play-offs for relegation and promotion, plus the championship's semi-finals, to be put on hold.
FIFA strictly forbids any government or civil interference in football matters, and wrote to ANFP demanding the situation be resolved. This ultimatum has proved enough for administration-struck Rangers to back down.
"Following the arrival of the FIFA communique, the creditors ... called on me to withdraw the case filed in the courts of justice in order not to prejudice the club," the club's administrator Cristian Herrera told the Chilean CDF channel.
Fans of Chile, who qualifiied for South Africa 2010 after finishing second behind Brazil in the CONMEBOL zone, will be relieved that what appeared to be a long-shot bid by Rangers to stay in the top division won't jeopardise their first World Cup finals campaign in 12 years.
FIFA's letter to ANFP president Harold Mayne-Nicholls had warned of the possible consequences if the action was not withdrawn.
"We beseech your association to call on your affiliated club ... to withdraw the case it took to the Chilean courts of justice within the next 72 hours or ... announce the pertinent sanctions against your affiliated club," a FIFA letter sent to Chile's Football Association (ANFP) said.
"If your association does not adopt the necessary measures as we have indicated, the case will be put to FIFA's executive committee in its session of Dec. 3, 2009 in Cape Town... so it considers imposing a suspension against (the ANFP)," the letter said.
By Soccernet staff
Diego Maradona arrives in Zurich for his hearing
The ban, announced by a FIFA disciplinary committee after a hearing with Maradona, extends to any "football-related activity" and is effective immediately, meaning the Argentina manager is suspended from November 15 to January 15.
"The committee reached this decision following a three-hour meeting at the Home of FIFA in Zurich,'' a statement from FIFA read. "The head coach of Argentina was heard by the committee during 40 minutes and apologised to FIFA and the world football family.
"The committee took into consideration the apologies and the sincere remorse shown by Maradona in its decision, which was communicated to him at the end of the meeting. The sanction, which was taken on the basis of article 57 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, applies from 15 November 2009 to 15 January 2010.
"The committee stressed that any breach of this decision or any repetition of a similar incident would mean that stronger sanctions would have to be imposed in the future.''
In practical terms it means that Maradona will not be able to manage his side when Argentina face Czech Republic in a friendly on December 12 although he will return for their following fixture - a friendly against Germany on March 3.
Maradona, who has had a succession of brushes with authority during a controversial career, was also fined £14,800 at Sunday's hearing in Zurich despite making an apology for his behaviour on October 14.
Following a 1-0 win over Uruguay in Montevideo that confirmed Argentina's place at the World Cup finals, Maradona rounded on his critics in the press, using sexually-explicit language to denigrate journalists who had scrutinised his team's poor performance during qualifying.
It is not the first time that the 1986 World Cup winner has been punished for an altercation with the press. In 1994 he shot at journalists with an air rifle outside his home in Buenos Aires, injuring four people, and was given a suspended jail sentence of two years and ten months.
Beckham played his part in their qualifying campaign, although is not guaranteed a place in the final 23-man squad and Kaka, who played alongside the L.A. Galaxy star with AC Milan earlier this year, believes his experience and quality are invaluable.
"David Beckham is one of the most intelligent players I have ever played alongside," said Kaka. "I am pleased he is going back to Milan, even though I am no longer there.
''I see that as a great move by Milan to take him again because he will be important to them, as he showed last season. But Milan will also be important to him with the World Cup coming up.
"Through playing in Milan in Serie A and Europe, David will be in the right condition next summer, and that is certain to help England at the World Cup.
"That's why Capello must include David in his squad. There is no-one else who has the experience and quality of Beckham."
It was 1983, I was ten years old, David Bowie was number one with “Let’s Dance”, Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray were bustin’ Ghosts at the Stockton Classic, The Minipops were blissfully entertaining dodgy middle-aged men on the fledgling Channel 4, and while ostensibly a Boro (Middlesbrough) fan, my trips to the old Ayresome Park were sporadic at best.
I mainly used to spend Saturday afternoons at my nanas in
I had been threatened by my Uncle on occasions, “If your naughty, your dad will take you to see the Boro” and working on the premise that a problem shared is a misery halved, my dad informed me that not only were we going, but that I was going to be the mascot in two weeks time! At home to a struggling
My first difficulty was when the club wanted some information about me for the programme. What were my interests? This was a problem. I couldn’t honestly admit in print that my interests solely consisted of eating mars bars, watching cartoons and playing Manic Miner so in a desperate attempt to please my dad I said Golf and Fishing.
A bigger problem was that I was crap at football. Not totally hopeless, I could kick a ball properly but being the owner of a robust Rochembackesque physique, not as fit as I might have been. It wasn’t critical, I wasn’t playing but I still didn’t want to make an arse of myself in the kick in when I’d have a chance to score in front of the Holgate. I had appeared as a sub in a school match earlier that year, the games teacher taking pity on me and bringing me on when we were 4-0 up with quarter of an hour to go so I could also accurately tell the programme that I played for the school team. This talent for stretching l'actualité would serve me well in my adult career as a spin doctor.
My biography submitted, we now had to get me a kit. This was before your chain sport stores so off to Jack Hatfield’s. It was the year after McLean Homes had pulled the plug so we had a pristine, sponsorless silky red home shirt, with authentic Addidas stripes down the sleeves. Like a footballing Starsky and Hutch design. We also wore white shorts and socks that season. It looked as distinctive as a Ford Cortina and would probably be worth a few bob if you had one now (the kit, not the Cortina).
I wasn’t allowed to wear the kit to school but still told the few Boro fans that were there that I was going to be leading the lads out on Saturday. Out of a school of 200 in
The big day dawned and I even had a shower, so important was this event. I didn’t really want to but I was assured that Heine Otto showered so that swung the deal. We got to the ground just after dinnertime and after wishing me luck my folks went off to their seats. Leaving me in the capable hands of a PR guy.
Looking back, you could see the writing was on the wall for the club because they were cutting corners everywhere. The programme was a six page newspaper that season called Boro News. It had a picture of Paul Daniels on the front proclaiming that the “Boro Bonanza was magic“. They were also scrimping on the mascots. I wasn’t the only one. I met the other lad, Vince Potter from Eston, an hour before kick off. While both disappointed we wouldn’t be the centres of attention, we decided that if we scored four or six goals, we would share the credit for them equally. You can tell we weren’t regulars in the Chicken Run.
We sat in an ante room and said hello to a frazzled-looking Mike McCullough as he was passing through. Looking back, he should have called his company Atlas because he had the world on his shoulders. We had a mini tour of the North Stand including the ill-fated Sports Centre where we were told that it would soon open to the public. 24 years and counting Charlie.
The time came for us to get ready. We changed out of our tracksuits, walked up the steps and through the tunnel and stood on the side of the threadbare pitch. It was not in the best of condition. We had our photo taken with the latest in a long line of saviours with sellotape knees – in this case, Kevin Beattie. We also got to meet Radio Tees’ rising star – a young Me Mark Page.
For reasons I still don’t fully understand, Mark was dressed as a high court judge with a black cape and white wig. We had to pose with him holding our ears. The headline in the next home programme, and I am not making this up, said “Ear, Ear says the Judge! – he gives mascots a good wigging (but it’s all in good fun)”. I still don’t get it.
We went back into the tunnel and awaited the teams. We met the ref, the wonderfully named Trelford Mills from
I have never been able to boo Titus Bramble with any degree of conviction for precisely this reason. I’ve been there, to his world, you want your legs to move and your head to meet the ball but your body won’t do what you tell it to. It’s not nice.
I eventually regained some composure when I realised that most of the crowd hadn’t come to see me, (Uriah still hasn’t worked that out). I took a deep cleansing breath, looked towards the Holgate and thought “This is it Guy, your big moment, your big chance. You’re the Boro captain, and you’re leading us out at home. This is destiny. Let’s roll!”. I could see there was an unattended ball 20 yards away. I could run on and take it on, easily go by two uninterested defenders, draw Pearsy and slip it inside the right hand post. I could already see myself wheeling away in front of the crowd with a couple of ironic cheers reserved for when the tapped lad scored from three yards during the half-time draw.
I put one foot on the pitch about to break off to the right and fulfil the dream when a large, heavy hand clamped down on my shoulder. It was the PR guy. “Come on son, photo’s now”. I was frogmarched to the centre circle where I met Vince and posed for photos with the captains and the officials. We shook everybody’s hand and we turned to go back to the tunnel. I still harboured thoughts of a quick breakaway to score when Darren Wood I believe, ran up to it and wellied it back to the dugouts. My chance gone, I slouched back up the tunnel. I could never bring myself to warm to Darren Wood after that.
My dad met me, camera in hand, and we walked up the steps to our seats. “Why didn’t you have a shot?” he asked. I couldn’t answer him then and I can’t answer him now. If I had told him that I was scared shitless I’d have got a backhand. Where’s the justice?
We sat down just in time to see the Boro go 2-0 down fairly quickly but in the second half we pulled it back to 2-2. We put the pressure on the
The ball drifted in from the right hand side, Otto rose powerfully and directed his header downwards. The ball bounced up and against the shin of a
Despite the result, we still went and had fish and chips at Rooneys on
The season petered out, we were safe, and despite their win,
I hope to be a father myself one day, and whether they like it or not, my son or daughter will join me in the East Stand to watch us huff and puff against a mid-ranking midlands team and hopefully one day, they will walk out alongside Roary, pigbag blaring in their ears as they shake hands with Lee Cattermole and as they look around quizzically afterwards I hope they will remember my soft words of fatherly advice.
BREAK THE BLOODY NET OR YOUR WALKING HOME!
| ||
|
- Friday, Nov 13: The Harp Irish Pub II, Duluth (10305 Medlock Bridge Rd, Duluth, GA 30097) 8-1230
- Saturday, Nov 14: The Harp Irish Pub I, Roswell (1425 Market Blvd, Roswell, GA 30076) 4pm-7pm This is a celebration of the anniversary of the Harp Pub's founding. Music starts with me at 4 and continues with a band afterwards. Then, I continue on to Los Arcos to play Sat eve!!
- Saturday, Nov 14: Los Arcos Mexican Cantina, 3101 Roswell Rd # M2n, Marietta, GA - (678) 560-8222 As always - family-friendly and smoke-free. 730-1030
Jeff Cooper's St. Louis Soccer United will join with owners of the Atlanta Silverbacks, Carolina Railhawks, Miami FC, Minnesota Thunder, Montreal Impact and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Most of the clubs have been affiliated with the United Soccer Leagues. The new league is hoping to begin play in April.
The owners applied Monday for sanctioning as a Division II Men's Outdoor Professional League by the United States Soccer Federation. A similar petition to the Canadian Soccer Association is pending.
Montreal Impact's president Joey Saputo is the league's chairman. Cooper is a Madison County personal-injury lawyer and the league's spokesman.
The league still must tap a commissioner and a name.
In 1990, as a Peace Corps volunteer in Gabon, Africa, I had my first taste of World Cup fever. In my small village every man, woman and child crammed into what ever room had a TV. I will never forget the sound of the cheers when Cameroon beat the mighty Argentina! That sealed my fate as a soccer fan. Or there's Marc from Texas, an Army soldier who told this story about an operation his unit conducted at a Baghdad soccer park during Operation Iraqi Freedom: After about an hour of searching through living areas and accounting for everyone in the area, I found myself waiting to wrap things up. An Iraqi kid, maybe 10 years old, was holding a Soccer ball in the area we made everyone go to. I motioned for him to toss me the ball (my Arabic isn't very good), and he immediately understood that I wanted to see his Soccer ball. He tossed it and (while wearing about 75 pounds of Army gear), I "caught" the ball with a thigh and immediately juggled the ball 10-12 times before the weight of my gear, or lack of skill:)...let the ball fall to the ground. The eyes of almost every person there lit up...I guess they didn't expect an American Army Soldier to be able to juggle a ball! We passed the ball around and I made friends that day...although I will probably never see them again, we were bonded by the beautiful game. We couldn't communicate with words...but the game was all we needed to see each other as equals...as players, as friends. As you can see, the power of soccer is very real -- and the Game really is in all of us. Join Staci and Marc -- write your letter today, and get your chance to be featured in the official USA Bid Book to FIFA: http://www.gousabid.com/bidbook |
Soccer in the Streets kicked off on November 11, 1989. Over the past 20 years, over 125,000 kids have participated in life skills training programs, developing skills such as goal setting, respect, decision making, and teamwork. Please honor this occasion by donating today to continue this legacy of, in the words of Andrew Young, "wholesome and constructive activities," promoting "well-rounded growth and development," and "encouraging good-spirited competition and fellowship among our young people." Or, in the words of Lauren DuBois, a Soccer in the Streets program graduate, "we're used to winning... whether it's a game or winning a child from the streets." Help us keep this "winning tradition." Make November 11, 2009 Soccer in the Streets Day by helping the next generation of youth. Donate to Soccer in the Streets Join Soccer in the Streets on Facebook Follow Soccer in the Streets on Twitter Soccer in the Streets 678-993-2113 www.soccerstreets.org |
Last updated at 1:42 PM on 12th November 2009
Comments (31) Add to My Stories In a remarkable show of charity, ferocious Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has pledged a £3million donation to build a hospital. Drogba is handing over the fee he will receive for becoming the new face of Pepsi.
Chelsea, his employers, should have been entitled to a cut from his sponsorship fee as a result of an image rights clause in Drogba's contract.
Sources close to the remarkable deal also claim there will be a further generous donation by Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in a personal show of support for Drogba.
Super pledge: Didier Drogba will donate £3m to build a hospital in the Ivory Coast
Sportsmail understands Abramovich may even have offered to match the donation pound for pound.
The project in the Ivory Coast, Drogba's homeland, will shock those who consider Drogba the unacceptable face of the Barclays Premier League because of his aggressive demeanour, diving antics and foul-mouthed rant in the Champions League last season that saw him banned for three games by UEFA.
HAVE YOUR SAY...
Have we got Didier Drogba all wrong?
Sportsmail has revealed that Didier Drogba has donated £3million to a hospital in his native Ivory Coast. The Chelsea star is often depicted as a snarling striker who enjoys the odd dive but do you think he deserves more credit for his role on and off the pitch? Or is it difficult to warm to the giant forward? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK There is, however, another side to the prolific centre forward.
He launched the Didier Drogba Foundation two years ago, bought land in his hometown of Abidjan and committed to raise funds to build a hospital with the aim of opening the facility by the end of 2010.
He set up the Foundation after a close friend, Stefan, died from leukaemia and the project gained momentum after 19 fans died and 132 people were injured when a wall collapsed in Abidjan's Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium before a World Cup qualifier between Ivory Coast and Malawi in March.
The first aim of the Foundation is 'to build and fund a hospital giving people basic healthcare and a chance just to stay alive'. Later this month, the Didier Drogba Foundation Charity Ball will take place at London's Dorchester Hotel and has already sold out.
Drogba, 31, will be the latest in a long line of global stars from the worlds of sport, music and entertainment to represent the soft drinks giant Pepsi.
Changing man: Drogba will raise funds to improve conditions in his homeland
David Beckham, 34, ended his 10-year association with Pepsi in December last year. Brazilians Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos, Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Thierry Henry, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Drogba's Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard have also featured in Pepsi television commercials.
For some, Drogba may seem an odd choice to follow in Beckham's footsteps, but Drogba's charity work and role with the United Nations sets him apart from other candidates.
In January 2007 he joined Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and Maria Sharapova as a UN Goodwill Ambassador and has since endorsed the organisation's Millennium Development Goals project, aimed at setting targets to try and halve world poverty by 2015.
The striker was the first Ivorian to be crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2006.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1227047/EXCLUSIVE-Chelsea-striker-Didier-Drogba-pledges-3m-build-hospital-Ivory-Coast-homeland.html#ixzz0WfdNZsOa
For those who have not yet gotten involved, how would you like your club to be associated with Manchester United and England legend Paul Scholes?
In June 2010, Midwest Soccer Academy is working with Paul Scholes to bring to Florida the Paul Scholes Academy, where Paul himself will work with and coach the players, giving them the opportunity of a lifetime to play with a true legend. He will be working at two camps at the world class Austin-Tindall Regional Park complex in Kissimmee, Florida. The camps will run June 14th- June 17th and June 21st - June 24th, between 8am - 2pm.
As a youth soccer organization, MSA wanted to let you know about such an exciting opportunity to ensure that your players could register early and have every chance of getting a place in one of the camps. This is an opportunity that without a doubt could be a great success for both you and the organizers. If your club were to send a whole team to one of the camps, such a marketing tool would generate great local publicity and also do well in attracting a high caliber of players to your club in the future. Not to mention the memories and experience it would give the players who attended.
If you would like some more literature on the camp, MSA would be happy to send you the Paul Scholes Academy Press Release - some great text which can easily be copied and pasted onto your website or newsletter. Or if you really see the benefits of such an affiliation for your club you could consider hosting your own MSA soccer camp next summer. Once players associate MSA with Paul Scholes, hosting your own MSA camp will be a certain success! Seeing as the club who hosts the camp also receives 10% back of each player's camp fee, it really is a great opportunity.
If you have any further questions regarding the Paul Scholes Academy, how you can help or how you could host your own MSA camp, do not hesitate to get in touch. You can reply to this email or alternatively call 810-714-5575 and ask for Will.
Thanks for taking the time to read, and we hope that you can help us in making this next step in the development of youth soccer a success!
Study features three prototype markets and estimates economic impact of
$400-$600 million per city during 31 days of potential FIFA World Cup™ held in the USA
NEW YORK (Oct. 27, 2009) – The USA Bid Committee today released a study conducted by an independent consulting firm that estimates a conservative domestic economic impact of five billion dollars if the United States is chosen to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022. The analysis also estimates that between 65,000 and 100,000 total new jobs would be created in the various host cities during the preparation and operation of the tournament in the year of the event.
The study was undertaken by the Economics practice at AECOM, formerly Economics Research Associates (ERA), the world’s leading international sports and entertainment attraction consulting firm. The research firm previously conducted the economic and community impact analyses for the 1994 FIFA World Cup™ in the United States and multiple studies for the Olympic Games, beginning with the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The findings of the study indicate that the total economic impact projected for any one host city ranges from approximately $400 million to $600 million at today’s dollar value. That figure is based on 12 host cities staging five to six matches, along with ancillary venues such as the International Broadcast Center (IBC) in one city and FIFA Fan Fest™ in each city. The study also estimates 5,000 to 8,000 jobs would be created in each host city during the event’s operation.
“The numbers delivered by this study fully support our initial estimations,” said David Downs, the USA Bid Committee Executive Director. “While the economic impact to our country and our cities during the World Cup will be of vast significance, our goal is to have an even greater impact during the eight to 12 years leading up to the event that will stimulate the development of the game and the soccer economy, both at national and international levels.”
The USA Bid Committee worked with the Economics practice at AECOM to identify three prototype FIFA World Cup™ candidate markets – Phoenix, Atlanta and Washington, D.C. – to serve as guides for the potential economic impact of the FIFA World Cup™ hosted in the U.S. For this specific study, the identified cities correspond to examples of three predefined market types representative of the 27 metro areas under consideration as host cities. Atlanta was used as the prototype for a market that could host the IBC while Washington, D.C. served as an example of a host for the Opening Match or Final Match. The economic impact on the three cities was then factored by analyzing the following six characteristics: resident market demographics, tourist market factors, competitive market dynamics, climate, regional accessibility and prominence as a soccer and overall sports market.
A list of the finalist cities and stadiums, all of which are vying to be included in the USA Bid Committee’s formal bid book to FIFA on May 14, 2010, can be found on the bid’s official Web page, goUSAbid.com. Numerous U.S. markets that did not host matches during the FIFA World Cup™ in 1994 remain under consideration, including Philadelphia, Cleveland, St. Louis, Denver, Seattle and Miami.
From New York City to Los Angeles and Jacksonville to San Diego, the 27 remaining U.S. candidate cities range widely in size and community offerings. The cities are highlighted by 32 stadiums that average nearly 78,000 seats in capacity and represent a wide spectrum of facilities, including venues typically used for college and professional football, featuring open-air, domed and retractable roof venues. All 32 stadiums currently exist or are under construction with eight accommodating between 80,000 and 108,000 fans.
FIFA’s criterion requires a candidate host nation to provide a minimum of 12 stadiums and a maximum of 18 capable of seating 40,000 or more spectators. To host the Opening and Final Matches, FIFA requires stadiums have a minimum capacity of 80,000. The U.S. used stadiums in nine cities when it hosted the 1994 FIFA World Cup™.
The total potential impact estimates to each region as a result of a FIFA World Cup™ held in the United States in 2018 or 2022 incorporate several factors, beginning with venue and Fan Fest operations (staffing, utilities and maintenance). The figure also includes projected tourist expenditures surrounding the tournament (accommodation, food and beverage, transportation and retail), plus resident and tourist expenditures attributable to the FIFA Fan Fests. Expenditures made by media personnel in regards to the IBC are included as well, along with temporary stadium overlay expenses.
The IBC will be located in one World Cup host city and serve as the headquarters for national and global media leading up to and during the World Cup. It is estimated that more than 9,000 media and staff will be working out of the IBC for the World Cup, producing an estimated direct impact of more than $80 million for that host city. That figure includes more than 325,000 visitor nights during the operation of the IBC by accredited media from around the world and employees of FIFA’s designated host broadcast coverage provider.
The FIFA Fan Fest™ made a successful debut at the 2006 FIFA World Cup™ in Germany. These public viewing parties enhanced the atmosphere around the 64 tournament matches in 2006 by giving fans an opportunity to experience the community of the FIFA World Cup™ without purchasing a ticket. FIFA Fan Fest™ will continue to be staged in each host city in cooperation with FIFA and its major corporate partners. It is estimated that 18 to 21 million people attended the Fan Fest events in the 12 German host cities over the 31 days of the 2006 tournament. According to the Economics practice at AECOM economic impact study, the prototype U.S. cities would generate from $29 million to $37 million each from their Fan Fest events.
The economic impact, earnings and employment figures included in the study are assumed to occur in the calendar year in which the FIFA World Cup™ would take place (2018 or 2022). These numbers do not incorporate additional expenditures and impacts that would occur in the years leading up to the tournament, as the cities and local organizing committees prepare for the event. The analysis also presents its data for 2018 and 2022 based on today’s U.S. dollar, but an expected annual inflation of three percent could appropriately be applied to the figures.
“While the quantifiable results of this research are quite impressive, they do not begin to calculate the enormous goodwill and international advertising exposure that each city would receive by means of the billions in cumulative television audience that will tune in for the event worldwide,” added Downs. “We have shared this report with all 27 candidate host cities and envision it serving as a guide for them to develop their own proprietary analysis. Representatives from each candidate city have been encouraged to examine the data and draw their own conclusions based on their city's internal forecasts and economic predictions.”
The United States, Australia, England, Indonesia, Japan and Russia have formally declared their desire to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022. Netherlands-Belgium and Portugal-Spain have each submitted joint bids for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments, while Qatar and South Korea have applied as candidates to play host only to the tournament in 2022.
All candidates must have their bid applications to FIFA by May 14, 2010. FIFA’s 24 member Executive Committee will study the bids, conduct site visits and name the hosts for the 2018 and 2022 tournaments on December 2, 2010, completing a 21-month bid and review process.
ABOUT U.S. SOCCER:
Founded in 1913, U.S. Soccer has helped chart the course for soccer in the USA for more than 95 years as the governing body of the sport. In this time, the Federation’s mission statement has been simple and clear: to make soccer, in all its forms, a pre-eminent sport in the United States and to continue the development of soccer at all recreational and competitive levels. To that end, the sport’s growth in the past two decades has been nothing short of remarkable as U.S. Soccer’s National Teams have continually succeeded on the world stage while also growing the game here in the United States with the support of its members. For more info, visit ussoccer.com.
ABOUT THE USA BID COMMITTEE INC.:
The USA Bid Committee is a non-profit organization created to prepare a successful application to host the FIFA World Cup™ in 2018 or 2022 on behalf of the United States Soccer Federation. The Bid Committee will submit its comprehensive bid to FIFA by May 2010, with FIFA’s 24 member Executive Committee making a decision in December 2010. Members of the USA Bid Committee in alphabetical order include Houston Dynamo and Los Angeles Galaxy owner Philip Anschutz, comedian and Seattle Sounders FC part-owner Drew Carey, former Goldman Sachs Vice Chairman (Asia) Carlos Cordeiro, U.S. Men’s National Team player Landon Donovan, Executive Director David Downs, U.S. Soccer CEO and General Secretary Dan Flynn, U.S. Soccer Foundation President Ed Foster-Simeon, Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber, U.S. Soccer President and USA Bid Committee Chairman Sunil Gulati, U.S. Women’s National Team former player Mia Hamm, Walt Disney Company President and CEO Robert Iger, former U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger, New England Revolution and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, University of Miami President Donna Shalala and Univision CEO Joe Uva. For more info, visit goUSAbid.com.
ABOUT ECONOMICS AT AECOM:
The Economics practice at AECOM (formerly Economics Research Associates) is the world leader in real estate consulting services. They advise clients on economic and financial planning issues for a myriad of commercial land uses, including sports venues and major events, tourism, theme parks, hotels and resorts, complex mixed-use developments as well as economic regeneration schemes. The Economics practice at AECOM has made important contributions to some of the world’s most innovative and successful projects. AECOM (NYSE: ACM) is a global provider of professional technical and management support services to a broad range of markets, including transportation, facilities, environmental, energy, water and government. A Fortune 500 company, AECOM employs nearly 45,000 people and serves clients in more than 100 countries and has annual revenue in excess of $6 billion. For more info, visit www.aecom.com
It’s no secret that the man formerly known as Chad Johnson loves soccer. He grew up playing the game in Florida and is friends with AC Milan star Ronaldinho. Here’s what he told Sports Illustrated about his soccer days:
"I played soccer before football, and I was good. That’s where I get my quick feet — my feet are unbelievable. When I got to high school [Miami Beach High], I had to choose between the sports because they were in the same season. I chose football because I saw more opportunity, but it broke my heart. I still follow soccer; I watched every minute I could of the World Cup. I like to think I play football like Ronaldinho, with the trick moves and the anticipation. When he plays soccer, he looks completely different from everybody else. I try to do that too."
In a twitter exchange with ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Ochocinco revealed his plans to potentially join Italian Serie A team AC Milan. So he may join his buddy Ronaldinho in early 2011 if the NFL can’t get a deal done.
The most hilarious part of Ochocinco’s potential international soccer career? Chad Ochocinco would become just the THIRD American to ever play in the Italian Serie A. Alexei Lalas was the first when he joined Padova in 1994 and Oguchi Onyewu (out with a torn knee tendon) is currently signed with AC Milan.
It doesn’t seem like a bad idea. Playing in the Italian league would probably pay better than the UFL (or CFL?) and pose less of an injury risk. Ochocinco would also substantially expand his fanbase internationally. Though, one has to wonder if he’d actually make an impact on one of the best teams in the world. He’d be lucky to earn minutes as a substitute considering he hasn’t trained or played in years. And there are still question to be answered about Chad’s move to Italy. Will he change his name to Otto Cinque? Will I have to pay for a new Ochocinco iPhone application? Only time will tell.
By the OCD: Published: 21 October 2009 6:47 PM EDT