Club Football by Alchemy Contract Publishing

CLUBFOOTBALL www.clubfootball.org.uk

ISSUE 1

Premier League Fixtures Preview of all the action Could you be our Football Club of the Year 2017? Use this QR code to enter or turn to page 34.

From the sidelines – the players to watch Hey big spenders – which clubs are paying top dollar? Brands Report – top performing club brands revealed Behind the Bar – quirky quizzes and footie facts

2017 FOOTBALL CLUB OF THE YEAR

OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Enter the 2017 Football Club of the Year email info@hsma.biz

REGISTRATION HOTLINE 01753 272022

WELCOME

Welcome

Contributors

Everything to play for Welcome to the very first issue of Club Football, the latest and largest 2017 launch from ACP, publishers of Club Mirror, Club Cricket, Club Rugby, Sports Club Management and Clubhouse Europe. With football as its heart, this issue features a Premier League Special which includes pundits’ predictions of the season ahead, the fixtures, the players and who’s got their eyes on the prize. (Haven’t they all!) And let’s not forget the drama that unfolded during the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 – hats off to Holland for a tremendous tournament and well done to the Lions who roared big and loud on their way to the semis. Our Behind the Bar section aims to make sure your bar team is the best-informed in town. Rammed with quizzes, quirky facts, who’s spending what and two pages of football jokes, you’ll find this fun-packed section at the back of the issue. There are also Awards to get involved with and, as if that isn’t enough, you’ll also find expert advice on everything from our Legal Eagle’s latest to the launch of a new HQ Business Building advisory service. And don’t miss the annual and exclusive Top Club Brands Report in association with CGA Strategy which reveals club stalwarts and new favourites. We hope you enjoy the issue and look forward to working with you in the coming months. Do get in touch. NICK SELLENS

Mike Braidwood

Chris Colverd

Sean Ferris

Karen Foreman

David Foster

Larry Hardcastle

Jonathan Hardy

David Lucas

Leigh Ann Ogilvie

Justin O’Regan

Victoria Romero-Trigo

Caroline Scoular

Editor Nick Sellens Design David Foster Editorial Chris Colverd, Caroline Scoular, Justin O’Regan Events Karen Foreman, Jill Slingsby Display Advertising Margaret Doherty Sales & Marketing Leigh-Ann Ogilvie Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Andrew Soles Publishing Director Sean Ferris

Club Football is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing (ACP) Ltd. Club Football is a sister title to ACP’s Club Mirror, Club Rugby, Club Cricket, Sports Club Management and Clubhouse Europe. ACP Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berkshire SL4 1TX UK t. +44 (0)1753 272022 f. +44 (0)1753 272021 e.info@alchemymedia.co.uk www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk

The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publishers. Club Football does not verify the claims made by advertisers regarding their products.

CLUB FOOTBALL 3

Contents 42

6 News A round-up of the latest news from the football scene.

9 The story so far – 2017 Club Football is the latest launch from ACP. A short introduction to the club-supporting publisher and club events organiser.

25 Call for entries – Social Media Awards Social media is one of the biggest tools for clubs in all their guises. Could you be our Football Club of the Year?

38 The men with the money

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL

A look at the richest football club owners of the Premier League, the level of their wealth and how much they have invested.

12 Premier League predictions It’s set to be another thrilling football season. Club Football crystal-ball gazes with pundits.

42 It’s Oranje Boom time The UEFA Women’s European Championships saw capacity crowds and record viewing figures. The lions roared loudly but it was Holland who eventually seized victory.

14 Eyes on the prize With several contenders lining up to wrest the Premier League title away from reigning champions Chelsea, Club Football looks ahead to the upcoming title chase.

44 Taking a peek behind the scenes There’s a huge team-effort going on behind the scenes to bring football action to club screens around the UK.

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18 Contenders ready... The Top 20 teams plus who’s playing, where and when.

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

CLUB BRANDS REPORT The annual and exclusive Top Club Brands Report in association with CGA Strategy reveals club stalwarts and new favourites.

70 The top 10 club spirits brands 72 The top club packaged beers,ciders and ready to drink brands. 74 The top club draught cask and keg beer brands. 76 Wine – premiumisation and polarisation Over the last couple of years the wine category has all been about sparkling wine. But what of the rest of the category?

78 All Hail the Ale Research shows that clubs that build a reputation for keeping excellent ales are more likely to experience an upturn in all trade, including food sales.

BEHIND THE BAR 83 Welcome to Behind the Bar Want to be the most footie-fact-packed club in the area? Then this section is for you!

84 Hey Big Spenders

46 News from HQ Is your club ready for the £1 coin change over? Use it or lose it. Also: security top tips, viral marketing and top tips on maximising revenues from the Premier League.

ASK THE EXPERTS 60 Web advice Slow running websites, content and conundrums.

48 HQ Legal Eagle

61 It’s all about the Apps

Our resident Legal Eagle offers advice on how to enjoy a safe, legislative-free summer.

Seven top tips for App Design.

62 Due diligence 50 HQ – FREE service for clubs Sign up to our free-to-clubs Building the Business service and find out how much money you can save your club.

Defense of litigation claims aided by real-time solution.

64 Personnel challenges

87 Did you hear the one about...? It’s a chuckle a minute behind the bar, with football-focused jokes at your finger tips.

90 Who’s on the ball? So your members think they know their football? Time to test them out with this tricky footie quiz.

92 In the nick of time Brush up on club nicknames to prove you’re on top of the beautiful game.

Look after your staff to look after your members.

94 This month on social media...

66 A word with...

What’s up? A whirlwind tour of 2016’s Football Club of the Year finalists.

54 Club Awards – Football Club of the Year Last call for entries plus details of how you can join us at the 26th Club Awards in Doncaster – and why you should.

Who’s spending what and on which players? Plus: see the lengths some players will go to to get into the right club – and the jawdropping transfer fees they command.

Toro’s Andy Brown takes time out to chat with Club Football about fleet management, buying practices and industry trends.

68 A word with... Simon Gray, Heineken Smart Dispense Commercial manager, shares HEINEKEN UK’s vision for clubs.

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News from the sidelines Sky Sports adds two new channels to line-up Sky Sports has launched a new programming line-up and two extra channels in a major re- jig to how it shows sport. The broadcaster has opted to relaunch with sports-specific channels rather than numerical channels as was previously the case. The new line-up of channels and Sky EPG channel numbers are: 401 – Sky Sports Main Event 402 – Sky Sports Premier League 403 – Sky Sports Football 404 – Sky Sports Cricket 405 – Sky Sports News 406 – Sky Sports F1 407 – Sky Sports Golf 408 – Sky Sports Action 409 – Sky Sports Arena 121 – Sky Sports Mix For more information, visit: business.sky.com/clubs

Let battle commence! Club Football’s Nick Sellens, Sean Ferris and Chris Colverd met up with BT Sport football pundits at the BT Sport’s studios to celebrate the start of the new Premiership Season.

Dele Alli identified as the world’s most valuable U21 Dele Alli has been named the most valuable U21 player in world football.

Tottenham Hotspur and England midfielder Dele Alli has been identified as the most valuable Under-21 player in world football by this year’s Soccerex 20 U21 report by Prime Time Sport. Alli is valued at £73.6m in the Soccerex study, which uses Prime Time Sport’s Football Value Index to rank footballers born on or after January 1, 1996. The 21-year-old English star, who was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for

the second season in a row this April, comfortably pips AS Monaco’s Kylian Mbappé to the accolade due to the number of minutes played for his club – Alli clocked an impressive 3,044 minutes, more than double that of the Frenchman’s 1,499. Mbappé, who is valued at £55m after a standout season for the 2016/17 Ligue 1 champions, scored the first hat-trick of his first-team career in the 7-0 rout of Stade Rennais in the Coupe de la Ligue round of 16 -

the first hat-trick scored by any Monaco player in the competition since Sonny Anderson in 1997 – and has caught the eye of Arsenal, Real Madrid and Paris Saint- Germain this transfer window. Borussia Dortmund’s Ousmane Dembélé completes the top three, after the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year was valued at £54.3m. The Soccerex Report takes into account the player’s age, position, current club, contract length, market value perception, international caps, minutes played, goals, injuries and technical quality from a variety of sources to arrive at a final valuation. Dele Ali (1st) is one of two rising England stars to make it into the Soccorex Top 10, the other being Marcus Rashford, rated in 7th place. The valuation of Alli has risen considerably since last year, where he was valued at £28.8m on the back of consistently high standards for club and country, For more details of the list and to read the full report, visit www.soccerex.com

Everton FC sign deal to serve Carling at Goodison Editor Nick Sellens tries his hand at the presenting.

Retired footballers Jermaine Genus and Rachel Brown-Finnis join in the action.

BT Sport pundits Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard discuss the upcoming season.

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Everton Football Club has signed a partnership agreement with leading UK brewer Molson Coors to provide Carling at Goodison Park from the start of the 2017/18 season. The multi-year partnership with Molson Coors will see the brewing company have exclusive pouring rights at Goodison Park and enjoy prominent branding at Everton’s home league and domestic cup matches. Carling lager will be available in bottle and draught from all kiosks within Goodison Park for the Blues’ last pre-season friendly fixture against Sevilla on Saturday 6 August. Carling’s new partnership with the Blues is the latest in its long-standing association with football. Carling was the first ever title sponsor of the Premier League, which it held for eight seasons from 1993 to 2001,

before returning as its Official Beer Partner at the start of the 2016/17 season. Carling was also the title sponsor of the Carling Cup for nine seasons from 2003 to 2012. Through its partnership with the Premier League, Carling is aiming to maximise its relevance and connection with football and mainstream lager drinkers. Alan McTavish, Head of Commercial at

Everton, said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with such an iconic British brand in Carling, as they become the Club’s Official UK Beer Partner. “At Everton we take great pride in building long-lasting relationships with our partners and are committed to ensuring they achieve maximum value from their association with the club.”

AFC Wimbledon launches its very own beer – Wimbledon 1889 lager Wimbledon AFC Manager Neal Ardley (left) with Wimbledon Brewery founder Mark Gordon.

Calling all clubs! Presented at a prestigious Awards ceremony held at Doncaster Racecourse in November, the Football Club of the Year Award recognises the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who ensure a healthy future for their clubs.

• Play an important role at the heart of the community? • Promote the game of rugby? • Have a popular food menu? • Keep up-to-date with the latest drinks on the market?

Why enter? Apart from letting members and local press know that your club is setting a gold standard in best practice in the club sector, finalists will also have the chance to win a number of prizes, including tickets to topflight football matches.

Whatever the size of your club, if you agreed with three or more of these statements then you could be a finalist and the Awards team wants to hear from you. Individuals and committees are also eligible for separate Awards categories.

Does your club have/do THREE OR MORE of the following? • A turnover of £100,000 or more? • Provide regular entertainmen • Have a busy bar? • Have a thriving junior section? • Encourage new members?

So if you think your club’s achievements deserve recognition, the deadline for entry is August 25, 2017. Get your entry in and you could be picking up a trophy in November in Doncaster. Turn to page 54 for details of how to enter and why you should!

League One club AFC Wimbledon has launched its own lager. Named Wimbledon 1889, the beer is brewed by the Wimbledon Brewery at its site on Prince Georges Road just down the road from the club. The year 1889 is significant because it is the year Wimbledon Football Club was founded and the year the original Tower Brewery in Wimbledon Village was burned down. Today, the Wimbledon Brewery logo features a phoenix rising from the flames of the old brewery. Mark Gordon, founder of the present day brewery, said: “We like to think that the chaps who formed Wimbledon Old Central FC in 1889 would have been very familiar with the beer produced by the original Wimbledon Brewery.

“They played on the Common and the Brewery Tap pub in the Village would have been a very convenient stop off on the way home. “Jump forward 128 years of twists and turns for the club and that association between Wimbledon Football and Wimbledon Beer is stronger than ever.” He added: “Wimbledon Brewery is very proud of its association with AFC Wimbledon. It’s a sponsorship we aim to maintain and grow for perpetuity. Both club and Brewery have a shared history and a bright future. It’s a beautiful thing.” All proceeds from the scale of the first 2,000 bottles will go towards the club’s running costs. The beer was launched officially at the pre-season friendly at home to Burton Albion on July 21.

New Spurs stadium set to be the ‘most technologically advanced in the world’ Tottenham have announced a partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) which they say will make their new ground ‘one of the most technologically advanced stadiums’ ever built which will enhance event day experiences for all visitors once the stadium opens in 2018. With construction currently being undertaken at White Hart Lane until the end of the 2018/19 season, Spurs have moved to Wembley this season as they look forward to moving back to a new 61,559-seater stadium. A statement released by the club read: “Since planning for the new stadium began, the club has been committed to driving innovation and using modern technology to enhance the invenue experience for every visitor. As a result, the stadium’s IT infrastructure is being incorporated from the ground up, enabling connectivity across the entire venue for visitors and flexibility to cater to future demands.” CLUB FOOTBALL 7

REFRESHING

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UNDERSTANDING YOU, FIRST... Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority

2017 REPORT

The story so far – 2017 Club Football is the latest launch from ACP, publisher of Club Mirror and many other club titles. At the beginning of the year in our annual Club Report we outlined what we as club publishers and club events organisers will be up to. Well we’ve been busy – and we hope you’re able to take advantage of what we’re up to on your behalf! The story so far for 2017...

his year we’ve been exceptionally busy with new club launches – notably this issue of Club Football – and new events in advance of celebrating Club Mirror’s 50th birthday. Our titles, Awards and events are all geared up to providing all of the support to clubs of all types that we possibly can, helping our thriving industry continue to grow.

CLUBCRICKET

clubmirror A u g u s t 2 01 7

AT THE HEA R T O F TH E C O M M U N I TY

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 8

SPORTSCLUB MANAGEMENT ISSUE 2

Mission impossible? The British & Irish Lions head to New Zealand

Premier League 2017-18 The ICC Champions Trophy

Let battle commence

50th birthday celebrations We’re busy planning events for the whole of next year across the country, joined by club-supporting suppliers, by readers and by club associations. Events will embrace the many different club sectors and importantly the majority of these activities will be hosted in clubs.

AT THE HEART OF THE CRICKET COMMUNITY

ISSUE 1

Insights, interviews and the ones to watch

CLUBFOOTBALL Could you be our Cricket Club of the Year 2017?

H Q • N E W S • R A C I NG C L UB • L E G A L • AT T H E B A R

Summer Tour Preview: England to Argentina

Attracting and keeping junior members

www.sports4bars.com

The top new products to boost your club’s bottom line

Hospitality Social Media Awards - enter now

Club Awards host annouced John Inverdale looks forward to meeting you

Sporting fixtures – who’s showing what and when

Entries now open for ‘Rugby Club of the Year’

Better Buying – HQ Building the Business

Exclusive interview with England’s Stuart Broad

We talk to Sky Sports commentators Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison

Could you be our Manager of the Year 2017? Enter the Club Awards to find out.

Better business – free service for sports clubs Personnel matters – motivating your staff Education – gaining with training Social Media Awards – calling all sports clubs

www.clubfootball.org.uk

ISSUE 1

Planned activities Sportsman lunches, golf days, two conferences, three new sets of Awards, comedy nights, a boxing night, club racing days, wine tastings, cookery demonstrations and celebrity get togethers are all on the drawing board. We also have a National Campaign designed to turn up the volume on the club sector, helping to highlight the value of clubs up and down the country. Under wraps for now, more details will be revealed later in the year.

Premier League Fixtures New launches We’ve launched a number of new magazines targeting specific sports clubs and – importantly for you the readers – all of the new magazines are free to you. Club Football is the latest and largest launch of the year to date. In this issue you’ll find expert advice on everything from club management to the launch of a new advisory service. With football as its heart, the magazine includes Premier League previews, fixtures, analysis of the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 and a Behind the Bar section which will make your team the best-informed bar team in town. Rammed with quizzes, quirky facts, who’s spending what and two pages of football jokes, you’ll find this fun-packed section at the back of the issue. There are also Awards to get involved with and, as if that isn’t enough, you can take a look at the exclusive Club Brands Report to see which brands are remaining at the top of the club tree. Also: watch out for the video clips embedded in the issue. Club Cricket has also been launched this year with Club Tennis and Club Bowls soon to follow,

Preview of all the action Could you be our Football Club of the Year 2017? Use this QR code to enter or turn to page 34.

From the sidelines – the players to watch Hey big spenders – which clubs are paying top dollar? Brands Report – top performing club brands revealed

CLUB REPORT Sound business advice for club professionals

CLUBHOUSE

Behind the Bar – quirky quizzes and footie facts

2017

Positive perspectives for 2017 Club Mirror’s annual guide with expert advice for the year ahead

EUROPE

HQ Building the Business – Page 18

ISSUE 11

CMAE Sports Day – join the fun CMAE European Conference – register now! Club Awards 2017– calling all clubs HQ Building the Business – improving the bottom line

sitting alongside existing sports titles Club Rugby, Clubhouse Europe and Sports Club Management. Let’s get digital In the digital world, 2017 sees our Sports4Bars.com going from strength to strength. This is the definitive online guide to all the live sport screenings available to all types of licensed premises in the UK. On the pan-sector theme, clubs and licensed premises of all types can also get involved with the

pan-industry Hospitality Social Media Awards this year. From the back of these we are busy planning webinars, training sessions and expert advice on building the business through the power of social media. Details of how to enter and coverage of last year's event can be found at 25-35. HQ Building the Business Another major activity we’ve been accelerating this year is the new HQ Building the Business advisory service, free to clubs. This is a quick way to ensure you’re getting the best possible purchasing power for your club with no fees, no contracts and no obligations, just the opportunity to save your club money and improve efficiencies – ideal for time-strapped committees and clubs who feel they could be getting better value. We’re very proud to have launched this for clubs, so take a look at page 50 for details. Racing Club launch Last month we launched our Racing Club, offering all readers the opportunity to enjoy a day at the races with as many members as they care to take, all at specially negotiated rates. This is a completely free service (of course) and we expect it to be enjoyed by thousands of club members across the land. Can’t picture it all? Then turn the page...

CLUB FOOTBALL 9

2017 REPORT

Clubs? We’ve got you covered It’s been a busy year to date, publishing all of the magazines you’ll see on these pages. Next year? We're celebrating the 50th birthday of Club Football’s sister title Club Mirror. Since launching in 1968 it has championed the Club Sector and continues to do so, with Club Football, Club Rugby, Clubhouse Europe, the Club Report and Sports Club Management joining in the torch-bearing. We’re also proud to contract publish Club Journal – 105 years young – on behalf of the CIU. Clubs, we salute you!

clubmirror

Licensing Act 2003

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clubmirror

Time to shine

Election special

Join us at the races!

Call for entries

Plus – Awards deadline looms

Last call for entries

H Q B U IL D ING TH E B U S INES S • L EG A L EA G L E • AT THE B AR • NE W S

HQ BUI LDI NG THE BUS I NE S S • LE G AL E A GLE • AT THE B AR • NE W S

HQ BUI LDI NG THE BUS I NE S S • NE W S • AT T H E B A R • C OC K TA IL S

Ma y 2017

AT T HE HE ART O F T HE CO MMUNITY

Select Committee announces findings

AT TH E H EART OF TH E C OM M UN I T Y

June 2017

AT T HE HEAR T OF T HE C OM M UN I T Y

AT T HE HEA R T O F T H E C O M M U NI T Y

July 2017

Working together – Club Association Special Club Awards – now open for entries H Q • A SK THE EXPER T S • BT SPO R T SPECIA L • L EG A L EA G L E

CLUB REPORT Sound business advice for club professionals

clubmirror August 2017

AT T H E H E A R T O F T H E C O M M U N I T Y

2017

Premier League 2017-18 Let battle commence

Positive perspectives for 2017 Club Mirror’s annual guide with expert advice for the year ahead

Racing Club

HQ • NE W S • R A CI NG CL UB • L EG A L • AT T H E B A R

CIU Events

DRANSFIELDS CIU GREYHOUNDS RACENIGHT, SHEFFIELD

Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday Saturday, November 18, 2017

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

CLUBCRICKET AT THE HEART OF THE CRICKET COMMUNITY

ISSUE 1

CLUBFOOTBALL www.clubfootball.org.uk

ISSUE 1

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 7

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

ISSUE 8

Mission impossible? The British & Irish Lions head to New Zealand

The ICC Champions Trophy

Premier League Fixtures

Insights, interviews and the ones to watch

Preview of all the action

Could you be our Cricket Club of the Year 2017?

Exclusive interview with England’s Stuart Broad Better Buying – HQ Building the Business

CLUBHOUSE Attracting and keeping junior members

Hospitality Social Media Awards - enter now

ISSUE 9

EUROPE

Could you be our Football Club of the Year 2017?

The 2017 Six Nations Full TV schedule and ‘players to watch’

From the sidelines – the players to watch Hey big spenders – which clubs are paying top dollar?

CLUBHOUSE Use this QR code to enter or turn to page 34.

Brands Report – top performing club brands revealed Behind the Bar – quirky quizzes and footie facts

ISSUE 11

EUROPE

Sporting fixtures – who’s showing what and when

Could you be our Rugby Club of the Year 2017? Expert tips on running a beer festival at your club Why social media is so crucial to your members

Summer Tour Preview: England to Argentina Sporting fixtures – who’s showing what and when

Entries now open for ‘Rugby Club of the Year’

www.sports4bars.com

The top new products to boost your club’s bottom line

SPORTSCLUB MANAGEMENT

We talk to Sky Sports commentators Stuart Barnes and Miles Harrison

www.sports4bars.com

ISSUE 2

Club Awards host annouced John Inverdale looks forward to meeting you Sign up for the CMAE’s latest career-building courses – Page 7

50th MDP – celebrating a CMAE educational milestone 2017 resolutions – top 10 tips CMAE-style Tribal Tuesday – a new take on traditional driving ranges

Club Journal January 2017

HQ Building the Business – Page 18

The magazine for all CIU members

CMAE European Conference – register now! Club Awards 2017– calling all clubs HQ Building the Business – improving the bottom line

INSIDE...

Club Journal April 2017

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9 Club of the Month . . . 10 HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Several Union clubs were honoured at the 2016 Club Mirror Awards, held at The Principal Hotel in Manchester at the end of November. Joint winners in the CIU-sponsored ‘Traditional Club of the Year’ category were Pitts Hill Victory WMC in Stoke on Trent and Old Hendon Ex-Servicemen’s Club from London. Pictured above are members of Pitts Hill Victory WMC being presented with their Award on stage by Union President George Dawson CMD (far left) and Awards host, Sally Nugent (far right). For more information on the other winners, see page 6.

With Blackpool 2017 now just two months away, Union members are being urged to attend what will be a busy weekend of clubrelated activities. The centrepiece of the weekend is the Annual Meeting on Saturday, April 8 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel. Daily Mirror Political Correspondent Paul Routledge has been confirmed as the keynote speaker and is sure to give delegates a fascinating insight into his many years covering the corridors of power at Westminster. Delegates also have the opportunity to attend the 126th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition on the afternoon of Friday, April 7 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel. This event allows clubs and suppliers to swap notes on the latest legislation affecting clubs, as well as learn about the latest products and service available, all in an informal, friendly atmosphere. Among the suppliers who have already confirmed their attendance for the 2017 Keynote speaker Paul Routledge

Club Journal The magazine for all CIU members

Union President urges clubs to take advantage of new rates relief rules The 154th Annual Meeting of the CIU took place on Saturday, April 8 in Blackpool with 415 delegates attending the event held in the Ballroom of the Norbreck Castle Hotel. In his address, Union President George Dawson CMD urged clubs to take advantage of the new legislation concerning rate relief for small businesses. He said: “We now have a greatly increased threshold for small business rate relief which will be a great benefit to most of our clubs in England. “If you have a rateable value of below £12,000, then you will be paying no rates, and if you have a rateable value below £15,000, you will get a percentage of relief one percent for every £30. “Some Councils have given this automatically, some require a declaration form and some will sort it out over the phone. “If you haven’t received your small business rate relief, please enquire at your local rates office because if you don’t ask, you won’t get it!” Mr Dawson also argued the case for maintaining the Union’s Head Office at its current location in central London and that a move under current financial circumstances would be ‘a dereliction of our duty to safeguard the assets of the Union.’ He added: “The NEC has been talking to the firm who took over the 999-year lease for the ground floor. For your information, the ground floor was leased for 999 years in the 1999/2000 period for just under £1m. “I’m sure the NEC at the time did it for the right reasons. As a result of this, we have a floating freehold, and this greatly affects the value of the property. “The original leaseholder did not give us an opportunity to buy the lease back, but sold it on to another property firm in London for £4.5m. “We asked the new firm to give us an idea of what options were available to us should

show are: Ace Furniture, Aon, BT Sport, CAMRA, Heineken, Dransfields, Smart Energy Projects and Rijo42. Alongside the specialist business advice, there will be free refreshments courtesy of Heineken and special prizes on offer throughout the afternoon. Rounding off the weekend, immediately following the conclusion of the Annual Meeting, will be the Dransfields CIU Quiz Final, where the winners and runners-up from each of the Regional Heats will compete for the prestigious trophy and cash prize. All attendees are welcome to join in on a 'just-for-fun' basis with sport prizes being given out. The Union has negotiated a special delegate rate with the Norbreck Castle Hotel for CIU members and have 20 double sea view rooms, 20 double standard rooms, 20 twin sea view rooms, 20 twin standard rooms and 20 single rooms on hold. The rate is £42.50 per person per night with dinner and B&B, based on two sharing a twin/double or £35 per person per night B&B, based on two sharing a twin/double. There is a £15 per night addition in the case of sole occupancy and the deal is for minimum of two nights. If you would like to take advantage of this offer, please book direct with the Norbreck Castle Hotel on 01253 352341, quoting the code: ‘WMCI 17’.

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INSIDE...

See page 5 for the final scores and more photos from the day

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Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club News. . . . . . . . . . . . 3

CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

Club of the Month. . . 10

HQ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Nick Byram, Bar Manager of Dartford WMC

Club of the Month: Dartford WMC Dartford Working Men’s Club in Kent has won national recognition from the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) for its cask ale offering. The club has reached the last four of CAMRA’s ‘Club of the Year’ competition, the only CIU club named in the final shortlist for the award. “Real Ale is at the centre of everything we do at the club and it’s very pleasing to gain recognition from CAMRA,” said Dartford WMC Bar Manager Nick Byram. “It’s a great testament to the passion and hard work that our staff have when it comes to providing a perfect pint of cask beer.” For the full article, see page 10.

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

The Union’s Annual Meeting takes place on Saturday, April 8

CIU members are being urged to ensure their club is represented at the Union’s Annual Meeting which takes place in Blackpool next month. The Annual Meeting is on Saturday, April 8 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel and the 26th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition is happening the day before at the same venue. “Conference Weekend is the most important time of the year for the Union and a great opportunity for all our clubs to come together to discuss and debate the key issues which matter to us,” said Union President George Dawson CMD. “As usual we have organised a full weekend of club-related activities with the Beer & Trades Show on Friday and the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final on Saturday afternoon straight after the AGM. “I would urge all clubs to make sure they’re represented in Blackpool during Conference Weekend in order to give their members a say on the future of the Union.” The Beer & Trades Show has proven a very popular draw in the past two years and attendance figures are expected to increase once again. The event takes place for the third successive year at the Norbreck Castle Hotel’s huge Norcalympia venue. Among the suppliers attending in 2017 are: Ace Furniture, Aon, Avensure, BOC, BT

Sport, CAMRA, Heineken, Dransfields, Red Tooth and Smart Energy. The trade show gives club members a chance to get specialist business advice in an informal setting, as well as to enjoy free refreshments and fun activities. Rounding off the weekend, immediately following the Annual Meeting, will be the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final, where the winners and runners-up from each of the Regional Heats (completed in January and February) will compete for the prestigious trophy and £500 first prize. As revealed last month, Daily Mirror Political Correspondent Paul Routledge will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Meeting. He said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be invited to the CIU gathering in Blackpool, where I’ve been many times as a Political Correspondent for different national newspapers. “I’m a member of two clubs – the Empire and the Brookside in South Elmsall – and expect to have joined Skipton Working Men’s Club by the time I arrive, so I am genuinely ‘one of you.’ “It’s a bit daunting to be ‘the turn’ in front of such a critical audience but I imagine the Chairman will call ‘order’ while I do my bit. I’m really looking forward to joining you in Blackpool on April 8.”

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Club of the Month: Trades Club, Doncaster The Trades Club, Doncaster is this month’s Club of the Month. In 2008, the club moved into a brand-new, purpose-built premises within the Frenchgate shopping centre and has not looked back since with over 1,800 members enjoying the spectacular 20,000 square foot premises. As well as a large Lounge, the club has a Games Room, Concert Room and three bars, plus a number of Conference and meeting rooms which can be hired out. Entertainment is also very important to the club with regular live music taking place throughout the month. For the full article, see page 10.

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18 The Union’s Conference Weekend will take place in Blackpool this month with the Annual Meeting scheduled for the morning of Saturday, April 8 at the Norbreck Castle Hotel and the 26th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition is being held the day before at the same venue. “Conference Weekend is without a doubt the most important date in the Union calendar,” said Union President George Dawson CMD. “This is the one time in the year when all our clubs can gather together in one place to debate the key issues facing our members and celebrate the fact that our clubs continue to have a really positive influence in the communities which they serve. “I’m really looking forward to meeting Union members from all over the country and hope that as many of them as possible attend the Beer & Trades Exhibition on Friday afternoon and the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final on Saturday afternoon straight after the AGM. “We’ve had a fantastic turnout for the Exhibition since relaunching it two years ago and atttendees can be certain that they will receive the best possible advice on boosting business in their club from a number of major suppliers.” Among the suppliers attending in 2017 are: Ace Furniture, Aon, Avensure, BOC, BT

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Sport, CAMRA, Dransfields, Heineken, Red Tooth and Smart Energy. The Trades Exhibition gives club members a chance to receive specialist business advice in an informal setting, as well as to enjoy free refreshments and fun activities, including several bingo sessions run by Preferred Supplier Dransfields, who will also be showcasing their latest gaming and entertainment machines. Rounding off the weekend, immediately following the Annual Meeting, will be the Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final, where the winners and runners-up from each of the Regional Heats (completed in January and February) will compete for the prestigious trophy and £500 first prize. CIU members are invited to come along and take part in the Quiz Final in the ‘just for fun’ category where they can win a number of ‘spot’ prizes.

BLACKPOOL 2017 SCHEDULE Friday, April 7, 1pm 26th CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition Saturday, April 8, 10am Annual Meeting Saturday, April 8, 1pm Dransfields CIU National Quiz Final

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CIU branches attend Heineken racing event Last month saw members of four local CIU branches attend an event at the John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield – home of Huddersfield Town FC and Rugby League side Huddersfield Giants – organised by the Union’s Preferred Supplier of Beer and Cider, Heineken UK. As well as enjoying the latest Heineken products at the bar, guests were treated to live televised racing from the Cheltenham Festival and were able to place bets with an on-site bookmaker. Attendees also took part in a live ‘Q&A’ session with former Huddersfield Giants Rugby League star Eorl Crabtree, nephew of legendary wrestler Shirley ‘Big Daddy’ Crabtree.

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Club Journal

Club Journal August 2017

Could your club be the ‘CIU Traditional Club of the Year’ at prestigious national awards? Enter now...

Sport on TV. . . . . . . . . . 22

Newbottle WMC, Tyne and Wear, have won their second successive Dransfields CIU National Quiz title after winning the final held at the Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool on the Saturday of Conference Weekend. The winning quartet – Tony Gold, Clive Dunning, Mick Frith and Tony Walmsley – won the £500 top prize and a widescreen television. In the runners-up spot was the ‘A’ team from the Clarence Sports & Social Club in Newport, South Wales, while Sydney Street WMC, Accrington, came third in a highly competitive event.

The Norbreck Castle Hotel in Blackpool will host the Union’s Annual Meeting in April

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Newbottle WMC win CIU Quiz title

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CIU members set for a warm welcome in Blackpool

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June 2017

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Union President George Dawson CMD

we want to change the venue of Head Office. “They came up with three options: swapping the building within London for another building; sale of the building with leaseback, or a sale of £2.5m and 12 months for us to vacate the property. “We also asked what the value of the freehold would have been had we not had an extended lease on the ground floor, and a conservative estimate was £7.5m. “It is quite clear that if the current NEC took any of these options, it would be a dereliction of our duty to safeguard the assets of the Union. “This situation is being monitored and, if there is a beneficial change in circumstances, then it will be looked at again.” The Annual Meeting also saw a Motion to transfer a member’s Union Associate Card to their new club when their former club closes defeated by 203 votes against to 173 votes for. For the full report of the 2017 Annual Meeting see pages 8-15

The magazine for all CIU members

Members urged to make their voice heard at AGM

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May 2017

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CIU clubs honoured at Club Mirror Awards

Social Media Awards – calling all sports clubs

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Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool

Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Education – gaining with training

March 2017

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Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

originally intended, but generally it is working well.” Concluding his appearance in front of the Committee, Mr Dawson assured the assembled peers that CIU clubs, along with those clubs affiliated to other major associations, remain highly relevant in the context of the modern on-trade. He said: “We have had a considerable amount of difficulty, but we are still a significant part of the on-trade. “There is £21 billion in the on-trade in beer. CIU probably accounts for five per cent of that by itself and the Association of Conservative Clubs (ACC) has 900 clubs. “There are also British Legion clubs. We are still a significant player in the on-trade. The on-trade has shrunk, but it is not all depression and everybody closing down. “We are looking at different avenues to keep our clubs open. Do not think that we are all going to close down tomorrow.” The Select Committee, which is chaired by Baroness McIntosh of Pickering and includes ACC Chief Executive and CORCA Chairman Lord Smith of Hindhead CBE, has been tasked with reviewing the effectiveness of the Licencing Act 2003. The Committee has taken evidence from a cross section of interested parties, including representatives of clubs, pubs, the police, the off-trade, legal experts and think tanks.

Personnel matters – motivating your staff

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Union President George Dawson CMD

Enter the Club Awards to find out.

Better business – free service for sports clubs

February 2017

Planning for Blackpool 2017 reaches final stages

Union President gives evidence to House of Lords Select Committee on the Licensing Act Union President George Dawson CMD has told the House of Lords Select Committee examining the Licensing Act 2003 that he believes that there are too many inconsistencies in the way that different local authorities approach licensing. Mr Dawson, who appeared before the Committee on Tuesday, November 22, said: “The only problem that the Union has with different authorities is inconsistency. Different authorities interpret the law in different ways. “We have a difficulty with advising our clubs in one area about something that we feel is not part of the Licensing Act, and trying to educate the licensing officer in that respect. “In other areas, we have no difficulty whatsoever. If you have no trouble in your club, they just leave you alone to get on with it. The inconsistency is the worst part of the Act.” But Mr Dawson did concede that the Licensing Act was “generally” working well. He said: “There has been a bit of row-back on the flexibility that was originally intended – the 24-hour opening – especially with the late night levies, etc. “When we applied for our licences in 2005, all eventualities were covered by having licences until two o’clock. Most of my clubs claim for eight in the morning until two in the morning, every day of the week. “They do not use it all the time, but they do it to have flexibility over periods of celebration – 100 years of the club, etc. “A lot of clubs – it is only in some areas – now have to do a variation, because six authorities decided to do the late night levy. “They get charged a late night levy if the Club Premises Certificate says ‘until two o’clock’, even though they may not use it all the time, and they may use it on only two occasions in the whole year. “Then they have to apply for a Temporary Event Notice (TEN). The flexibility seems to be going from the idea of what was

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The 2016 joint winners of the ‘CIU Traditional Club of the Year’ award, Pitts Hill Victory Club, receive their trophy from Union President George Dawson CMD (far left) and ceremony host, BBC broadcaster Sally Nugent (far right)

Entries are now open in the ‘CIU Traditional Club of the Year’ category for the 2017 Club Mirror Awards. The annual Awards are now in their 26th year and recognise the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who ensure a healthy future for their clubs. There are several categories in the Awards covering the full spectrum of clubland, with the CIU-sponsored ‘Traditional Club of the Year’ category one of the most hotly contested. Last year’s worthy joint winners of the Award were Pitts Hill Victory Club in Stokeon-Trent and Old Hendon Ex-Servicemen’s Club in London, The Awards Judging Panel recognised that these two Union clubs are positively thriving thanks to their forward-looking committees,

active memberships and excellent ties with their local communities. “Winning the Award was a great testament to all the members who have helped to turn things around at the club,” said Pitts Hill Victory Club Committee Member Dan Capewell. “Attending the Awards in Manchester and going up on stage to receive the trophy was a fantastic experience.” If you would like to follow in the illustrious footsteps of the 2016 winners and believe that your club deserves national recognition as a beacon of best practice in the sector, then get your entry in before the June 30 deadline. If you would like your club put forward for the 2017 Club Mirror Awards, please contact justin@clubjournal.co.uk

Date set for Dransfields CIU Racenight in Sheffield Sheffield’s Owlerton Stadium will be hosting the Dransfields CIU Greyhound Racenight on Tuesday, September 19. This annual event is a great opportunity to witness some top-class dog racing on one of the country’s best tracks while enjoying a good night out with club colleagues. We’ll be publishing further details of the night and how to get tickets in future issues of Club Journal.

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Sky Sports restricts price increase to 5% for clubs

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BT Sport raises its club subscription price by 3.5% Manchester United play Real Madrid on Tuesday, August 8, live on BT Sport

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Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

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CIU Racing Club. . . . . . . 9

Club of the Month. . . 10

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Timeline for Election of National Executive 2017 The timeline for the 2017 Election of the National Executive of the CIU will be as follows: Tuesday, September 5 Issue Letter and Nomination Form Thursday, October 5 Deadline for forms to be received at Head Office Tuesday, December 5 Deadline for Ballot Papers to be received at Head Office Friday, December 8 Ballot Count at Head Office Friday, December 8 Notification to Candidates and NEC Friday, December 8 Official Release to Branch Secretaries, Club Journal and Head Office

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The new Premier

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18

League season begins on Saturday, August 12

Sky has announced that it will be increasing its subscription costs to clubs from August 1 but has guaranteed that no club will see an increase of more than 5%. The company has committed to helping clubs by using the lowest Rateable Value (RV) from either 2010 or 2017. It means that the price of many clubs’ subscriptions will drop while those which are facing an increase will be restricted to 5% or less. “We know licensed premises are facing cost uncertainties and we want to help them manage that as well as ensure their return on investment,” said David Rey, Managing Director of Sky Business. “The Government’s changes in RVs from 2010 to 2017 were no small part of this and we want to put customers first so that they can depend on their investment in Sky. “As we invest more and sports rights costs to Sky rise too, we must also review our pricing like all businesses do. But we absorb what we can. This year, no club’s bill will rise by more than 5%, and many bills will go down as we commit to using the lower of the two RVs when calculating bill for the next 12 months.” Sky Sports will be showing 126 live Premier League games during the 2017/18 season as well as 127 live games from the Football League, in addition to live rugby,

Formula 1, golf and cricket, including the upcoming four-Test series between England and South Africa. The new Premier League season kicks off on the weekend of August 12/13 and will see reigning champions Chelsea beginning their title defence with a home tie against Burnley. Runners-up Tottenham, meanwhile, start their campaign with an away trip to St James’ Park to take on newly promoted Newcastle United. The Premier League season is set to finish on May 13, 2018 - a week earlier than last season - with the World Cup finals in Russia starting on June 14, 2018. The Football League season gets underway on Friday, August 4, as Sunderland host Derby County at the Stadium of Light, live on Sky. In total, Sky will be showing three fixtures from the Championship on the opening weekend with Aston Villa v Hull City and Bolton Wanderers v Leeds United also being broadcast. Rey added: “Clubs can look forward to kicking off the new football season with some fantastic matches to entertain their members. Over the course of the 2017/18 season our customers can look forward to showing 126 exclusively live Premier League matches, 127 Sky Bet EFL games, SPFL Premiership action and much more.”

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Club of the Month: Bradwell WMC Bradwell & District Working Men’s Club in Staffordshire is our ‘Club of the Month’ for July. Among the club’s recent achievements was the completion of a £40,000 refurbishment of its upstairs Function Room to add to the club’s already impressive facilities. The club has also started a new football team which has generated huge interest in the local community and helped the club to boost its membership, as well as making more young people aware of the club and what it has to offer. Bradwell WMC continues to offer a full array of activities and live entertainment for its members. For the full article, see page 10.

Editor’s Letter. . . . . . . . . 2

Club Outings. . . . . . . . . 18 BT Sport has announced that its club subscription prices will increase by 3.5% from September 1 with the broadcaster continuing to use the 2010 business rates to calculate the amount paid by venues. New for the 17/18 season, BT Sport will be giving clubs the chance to tailor promotional posters to appeal to their members’ key interests by selecting specific fixture posters across a range of sports including football, rugby and boxing. The broadcaster will also be making social media assets available for clubs to download and use on their Twitter and Facebook pages in order to publicise the live sport they have on offer. Bruce Cuthbert, Director commercial customers, BT Sport, said: “As we enter our fifth season we are incredibly proud to be offering customers our strongest line-up of exclusively live sport ever. “And what a season it will be. Together with the Premier League and the FA Cup, we are the exclusive home of all the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League, and with five English teams in the UEFA Champions League for the first time, including the return of previous European winners Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool, the season will be our strongest yet. “In addition to our exclusive domestic and

European football, we also have Aviva Premiership Rugby plus for the first time Ashes cricket this Christmas and all new BT Sport Fight Nights featuring world-class boxing. “We think BT Sport continues to offer our customers incredible value for money. "We will also be launching a free tailored point-of-sale service, giving clubs the opportunity to choose from a number of different poster packs or alternatively they can opt to compile their own by selecting specific fixture posters from a range of sports that work best for them and their members. “Together with a comprehensive range of quality social media assets to help promote fixtures and sports through social media, our customers will always get the support they need to get the most from their subscription.” BT Sport’s Premier League coverage starts on Saturday, August 12 with Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City, while the season's traditional curtain raiser – the Community Shield between Arsenal and Chelsea at Wembley Stadium – will take place on Sunday, August 6 at 2pm. Another early season highlight for BT Sport is the UEFA Super Cup clash on Tuesday, August 8 which sees Europa League winners Manchester United taking on Champions League holders Real Madrid.

Crossword. . . . . . . . . . . 21

Club of the Month: Fleetwood WMC Fleetwood Working Men’s Club in Lancashire is our ‘Club of the Month’ for August. During the past 18 months the club has fought its way back from a devastating break-in which saw thieves ram a car through the front doors of the building and ransack the premises, costing the club a total of £47,000. But with the full support of their members, the club’s Committee has embarked on a number of fundraising efforts to ensure that the club is back on a firm financial footing and looking to the future with confidence. For the full article, see page 10.

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CLUB FOOTBALL 11

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – PREDICTIONS

Premier League Predictions So what’s in store for the 2017-18 season? Looks like Man City and Chelsea will be battling it out for the top spot with Man United up there in the top four. But could Liverpool and Tottenham throw in a curve ball? Read on... MSN Sport MSN Sport has used the Football Manager database for their predictions:“Using some clever jiggery pokery, we used the world’s most accurate football game to run a simulation of the 2017/18 season, with the squads as they currently look. The results: unless they bring in some new signings over the next three weeks, Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle are all set to be massively disappointed come next May.” • Manchester City will reclaim the Premier League crown as they finish top of the pile on 84 points. • Chelsea’s defence of their title ends in disappointment as they finish in second spot, six points off the top. • Manchester United end the season in third spot, a further two points back from Chelsea with Arsenal returning to the top four on 75 points to earn the final Champions League place. • Liverpool finish in fifth spot, missing out on

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fourth spot by just two points while Tottenham’s interim season at Wembley ends in a sixth place finish. • At the foot of the table, it’s a mixed story for the promoted sides as Huddersfield finish bottom and Newcastle are relegated in 18th place but Brighton secure another season in the top flight by finishing 17th. • Swansea are the other side relegated to the Championship, missing out on survival by two points. • Harry Kane claims the Golden Boot for the third year in succession as he finds the net 27 times over the course of the campaign. Paul Merson,ex-footballer and Sky Sports pundit Paul’s top 10 predictions include a win for Man City with Chelsea, Tottenham and Man United in 2nd, 3rd and 4th place respectively.

1. Man City “Going forward they are very strong, and they have bought players at the back. Pep Guardiola has bought well, bought a lot of pace in the team at the back, including Kyle Walker. But if they do not win the league this year, it’s Guardiola’s fault. It’s as simple as that for me. I think the manager didn’t adapt to the Premier League last year; he played the same way every game, and you’ve got to be adaptable in certain matches. Jose Mourinho will set up to go to grounds and get a result, but Pep will set up the same way whether playing at Manchester United away or a lower-end team at home.” 2. Chelsea “I am interested to see whether they put all their eggs into the Premier League basket or in the Champions League. They’ve won the title two out of the last three years. In the year Antonio Conte left Juventus, the Italian side didn’t get out of the group stages of the Champions League. One year later they got to the final in Berlin, and I wonder if he feels he’s got something to prove there.

The players will look at it and think they’ve got a chance in the Champions League. I don’t think their squad is big enough to do both, if I’m being honest. They played once a week last year. They’ll be good enough in the league, don’t get me wrong, but I think they might focus on Europe.”

9. Leicester “I like Craig Shakespeare and think the players will work hard for him. If Kelechi Iheanacho and Jamie Vardy gel up front they will be a massive handful with two in attack, with Islam Slimani to boot too. I think Leicester will be fine and won’t have a season like last season.”

3. Tottenham “If Tottenham were playing at White Hart Lane I’d have them as champions. They’ve got the best team, they haven’t had to buy anybody. They will miss Walker surging forward, but Kieran Trippier is a great replacement. I just think of them playing away from home for 38 games; they didn’t have the greatest away record last year but had a superb home record. They worry me in that sense, but I still think they could finish third. They do need a couple more squad players before the end of the window, however.

10. West Ham “Javier Hernandez is better coming off the bench, in my opinion, and West Ham are obviously going to start him. He made a huge impact coming on for Manchester United. If they can get Andy Carroll fit and they play the big man-small man combo, it could work really well. You wouldn’t want to be a defender against those two.”

4/5. Manchester United; Liverpool “I’m going fourth now for United, but that could change by the end of the transfer window. I say that because I think Philippe Coutinho will leave Liverpool. In football, if Real Madrid or Barcelona come in for you, you’re leaving. It’s very rare someone rejects them, and that’s my worry for Liverpool. If Coutinho stays, I think Liverpool could finish above Manchester United, and be in the top four. But I say top four, I really think there won’t be many points between any of these teams. It’s phenomenal this year, any team can go and do something. 6. Arsenal “I think they’re a long way off still, I really do. I don’t see Alexis Sanchez staying at Arsenal by September, and when you look at the rest of the team, I don’t see it happening. Alexandre Lacazette is a good player, but not everybody else was going after him. If you’re good and playing in France, PSG will be after you, or Monaco, who lost a lot of their players. That’s my worry. He plays that one-two, which will be good for Arsenal, but he’s not going to beat three players. People talk about Arsenal in the Europa League, maybe suggesting they won’t bother trying in it, but Arsene Wenger still has to fly out somewhere on the Wednesday, won’t get back until the Friday. It is still tiring. Therefore, I would tell Steve Bould to be in charge of the Europa team, and Wenger could work at home with the Premier League team.” 7. Everton “You look at it, the £30m spent on goalkeeper Jordan Pickford; if he saves them seven or eight points, they’re still going to finish seventh. If they can get Gylfi Sigurdsson that would be a big boost, but at the moment I think this team needs to gel.They’re another team in the Europa League, and they will be really going for it, because fans want silverware at Goodison Park. For me, they consolidate this year and go for silverware, but the future is looking bright for them.” 8. Southampton “Virgil van Dijk should stay, I don’t see him going to Liverpool. They’re solid, the best of the rest.”

Phil McNulty, Chief football writer, BBC Sport “Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Etihad Stadium last summer was greeted with an excitement and expectation which was ultimately unfulfilled as they finished the season without a trophy and in third place in the Premier League. There were flashes of the scintillating attacking style the Catalan wants but too often City were fragile in defence. Guardiola has embarked on some spectacular - not to mention costly - renovation work on his defence...City’s attacking riches are already in place and look for Gabriel Jesus to emerge as a Premier League superstar this season. This makes City the champions.” Chelsea is put at 2nd place, Man U at 3rd, Liverpool at 4th and Arsenal at 5th. Newcomer Brighton is put in last place. Michael Owen, ex-footballer and BT Sport presenter “Chelsea were the best team last season. They won the league by seven points and with the signings they have made they will have more than enough to retain their title, despite having the extra matches that UEFA Champions League qualification will bring. Manchester City are probably the most difficult to predict. They have addressed the full-back issue from last season and player for player they are the best side in the league. Despite that, they might take time to click as a team and they’re not a machine like Chelsea who can grind out results when playing badly. Liverpool will have to go through the qualification rounds for the UEFA Champions League which adds extra matches, but Jurgen Klopp has addressed this by adding both quality and quantity to the squad. A good run in Europe and another top-four finish will be seen as a good season. Manchester United were well off the pace last year, but they maybe took their foot off the gas towards the end of the season with one eye on the UEFA Europa League final. I suspect they will be closer this time. Jose Mourinho has added talent to an already strong squad and, as you would expect with a Mourinho side, I am sure they will be hard to beat.”

PADDY POWER Odds and predictions* Man City Man Utd Chelsea Tottenham Liverpool Arsenal Everton Leicester Southampton West Ham Stoke Newcastle Crystal Palace Brighton Bournemouth Swansea West Brom Burnley Watford Huddersfield

15/8 10/3 7/2 9/1 11/1 11/1 70/1 250/1 250/1 250/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 750/1 750/1 750/1 750/1 1000/1 1000/1 2500/1

*As at 9 August, 2017.

Owen Hargreaves, ex-footballer and BT pundit Owen predicts that Eden Hazard will win the EA SPORTS Player of the Season award for 2017/18. “Hazard, for me, was the player of the year last season - if he’s here this season then he’ll win it. Kevin De Bruyne looks like he’s playing with kids; he makes it look that easy. He’s my outsider but I think Hazard on his day is the best player.” Phil Neville, ex-Man U player and coach “The two Manchester clubs will fight it out for the league, but Jose Mourinho’s track record of winning titles in his second season and the buys they’ve made this summer mean I am going for United. I think playing at Wembley will be a major challenge for Tottenham Hotspur. The big wide open pitch will be totally different to White Hart Lane. Everton will be my surprise package. If they get off to a good start they could break into the top six!” Phil predicts that Arsenal and Chelsea will join the Manchester clubs in the top four. And the Golden Boot? “Either Harry Kane or Romelu Lukaku. I can’t choose between the two!”

CLUB FOOTBALL 13

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – NEW SEASON Manchester City and Manchester United are sure to be among the top contenders for the Premier League title in 2017/18.

Eyes on the prize It’s set to be another thrilling football season with several contenders lining up to wrest the Premier League title away from reigning champions Chelsea, not least Tottenham, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool. Club Football looks ahead to the upcoming title chase in 2017/18.

t barely seems like any time at all has passed since Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side secured the Premier League title with their 1-0 win at West Bromwich back in May. It was quite some achievement for a manager in his first year in charge of a team, not to mention his first year in English football, but now the Italian is set on masterminding the Blues title defence. Critics will point out that last season Chelsea enjoyed a significant advantage over their closest rivals by virtue of the fact that they had no involvement in European competition to distract them from the domestic title chase and this season will be more of a level playing field for the leading contenders. But Conte is looking forward to the twin challenges of the Premier League and Champions League – not to mention the FA Cup and League Cup – and believes his club has the resources to

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cope with the marathon slog across some of the great sporting cathedrals of Europe. “To play Champions League next season, it is great for us and right for the club, the players are enthusiastic to play the Champions League,” he says. “We have one competition more but we are working very well to prepare the team in the right way, to find our feet as well as possible. We will put ourselves fully into these four competitions next season.” Chelsea had a busy summer on the transfer market to bolster their playing resources with the likes of Willy Caballero, Antonio Rudiger, Tiemoue Bakayoko and Alvaro Morata heading to Stamford Bridge. The latter player, in particular, is someone who Conte believes could be a key man for the Blues during the coming months. “He is a young player who has a lot of experience

in his career. He played for two big teams Real Madrid and Juventus and played difficult games in the Champions League and won the last Champions League,” says Conte. "He can have a good impact in the Champions League for sure. The Premier League is different if you compare with the other countries' leagues as this is very tough, it is physically strong, but Morata is ready. He is ready to have a good impact in the Premier League.” Of course, there are several rivals eager to wrest the title away from Chelsea with last season's runners-up Tottenham, as well as Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool all gearing up for their own title challenges. Their fans are expecting big things from Manchester City as Pep Guardiola’s project reaches its second season with no silverware yet to show for the team's sky-high budget and massive ambitions.

City were in imperious form in the early part of the season, winning their first six Premier League games before slumping to six league defeats on the bounce, a dip in form that effectively put them out of contention for the title. As you’d expect, Guardiola has strengthened his squad considerably since the end of last season, bringing in Bernardo Silva from Monaco, Ederson from Benfica and Kyle Walker from Tottenham and will be under pressure to deliver some glory to the Etihad. City finished third in the Premier League and were eliminated from the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage but Guardiola felt he inherited an ageing team and the squad for 2017/18 is now of his own making. “It was one of the league’s oldest squads, a team that had achieved many successes but had grown old,” says Guardiola. “I played with eight or nine of Pellegrini's players – they are good, but we had to rejuvenate the team.” With increased goal scoring power up-front now clearly a priority, City are certain to be a tough proposition this season as Guardiola, a renowned hard taskmaster, cracks the whip in search of glory. Having recorded a 4-1 win over Real Madrid in a pre-season friendly in Los Angeles, City will certainly start the season in confident mood, boosted by the form and fitness of some of their key men over the summer, most notably Belgian international Kevin De Bruyne.

Following a fantastic display against Real Madrid, Guardiola paid tribute to his midfielder, saying: “It is difficult to find a player with his quality, this is a guy who fights, passes, does many things. “Since I arrived, I think Kevin, when his mood is optimistic he makes a performance like this and it is difficult to find a player with his quality – a guy who fights, passes and assists. He can do whatever he wants.” Liverpool enjoyed a good pre-season, notably beating German champions Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in July, but now must produce highquality performances consistently if they are to bring the Premier League trophy to Anfield. The Merseyside club were in early title contention last season, just six points behind leaders Chelsea at the halfway stage, but faded in January to finish 17 points behind the champions in fourth place. “Yes, we will be playing for the title,” says Klopp. “We don’t start a season by not having any ambitions. We have to have our goals and I think we have a very good team now. We did have a bit of bad luck last season but I think we can play a little bit better. “Let’s hope everything will work very well and that there isn’t much more to improve. We have to work very hard on it and we’re doing that.” Meanwhile, it's the start of a new era at Manchester United with Wayne Rooney heading back to his beloved Everton and manager Jose

Mourinho bringing in such luminaries as Nemanja Matic, Victor Lindelof and Romelu Lukaku. United won the Europa League and League Cup last season but now have their sights firmly set on the upper tier competitions, although Mourinho admits that the club lacks the resources of some of his rivals. “We are not the best squad in the world and don't have the best players in the world, or if we do then we have some, not eight or nine or ten like some other big clubs have,” says Mourinho. “I’m not going to analyse individually all of our opponents, but I think they all have great conditions also to win the title. Everybody speaks about the dimension of the investment at Man City, but there is another team that I feel the dimension of their investment is also phenomenal – Tottenham. “So every club makes different kinds of investments, but all of them are investing a lot to win the title.” And what of last season’s Premier League runners-up Tottenham? Certainly, they played some very exciting football last season but it remains to be seen whether their young side can make the same sort of impact again this term, particularly after a somewhat quiet summer with few marquee signings. Indeed, Spurs manager Marcello Pochettino has admitted that his side could struggle when pitched against the big guns of English football. “When you play in the Premier League and

Reigning Premier League champions Chelsea face a tough task to hold on to the title.

CLUB FOOTBALL 15

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – NEW SEASON Harry Kane will be spearheading Spurs’ assault on the Premier League title.

Champions League, you need quality and numbers,” says Pochettino “To create a winning team and try to win trophies, you need to feel the pressure. If I’m Harry Kane, Dele Alli or Christia Eriksen, if there’s no competition behind, it’s normal to drop your motivation, it’s normal to drop everything that you do. “We are not a club today that can compete with Manchester United and City for a player. “We cannot fight. We are in a different way. But the thing is Chairman Daniel Levy is very keen to sign like me. These type of players we are talking about they are not easy to find.” Of course, Spurs will be playing all their home games at Wembley Stadium as White Hart Lane is

redeveloped and their off-field team will be working hard to ensure that there is a genuine ‘home’ atmosphere at the home of English football on matchdays. So, who is the smart money on to take the honours in the Premier League this season? Top bookmaker Ladbrokes Coral recently released information on which teams punters are backing for the title. Despite plenty of money being put on Chelsea to defend their title, Manchester City leads the odds to win the league title at 15/8. Manchester United are second at 10/3 and Chelsea follow at 7/2. Liverpool are 12/1 while Merseyside rivals Everton, despite being boosted

Football fans will get the chance to see last season’s Premier League top six in BT Sport's opening selection of eight exclusively live Premier League games this coming season. Live matches include the clash between title contenders Chelsea and Manchester City in September, plus Arsenal and Manchester United taking on Stoke City at the Bet365 Stadium. BT Sport's Premier League coverage begins on the south coast as league debutant's Brighton & Hove Albion take on Pep Guardiola's Manchester City at the Amex Stadium on Saturday, 12 August. Bruce Cuthbert, Director Commercial Customers, BT Sport, says: "What a fabulous start to the new season with newly promoted Brighton hosting Manchester City on the south coast on the opening day. “And by the 1st October, BT Sport will feature Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal no less than five times competing in Premier League and European competitions.guaranteed to pull in the crowds.”

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by the return of Wayne Rooney, are a long shot for the title at 80/1. Unsurprisingly, Huddersfield have the longest odds going into the new season. The newly promoted team sit at 2000/1 odds to win the Premier League title. Huddersfield may have the longest odds to win the competition, but the team are nailed on to be relegated at 4/6. Another cheeky market has Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez down as the favourite to be the first Premier League to be sacked this season. It’s certainly shaping up to be another enthralling season, one that is guaranteed to have club bars up and down the country buzzing from now until May 2018.

Sky Sports venues will be able to show all of the top six teams from 2016/17 – Chelsea, Tottenham, Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United – in the first two weeks of the Premier League campaign. Clubs can also look forward to showing all 20 Premier League sides by the end of September, with Sky Sports visiting 18 different grounds and bringing fans some massive head-to-heads, including Tottenham’s first league match at Wembley Stadium, against champions Chelsea. David Rey, Managing Director of Sky Business, says: “These great fixtures, including huge showdowns like Spurs v Chelsea and Liverpool v Arsenal, are the first of 126 Premier League games we’ll bring to Sky Sports clubs this season. “In the first fortnight alone we’ll show matches featuring all of last year’s top six teams, kicking off with Arsenal on Friday Night Football. The opening weekend promises to be an unmissable three days of football with some massive names in action.”

Fans are ready for the return of football... Are you?

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – THE CONTENDERS ARSENAL Winners of two memorable league and cup doubles and known for their attractive passing football under long-standing manager Arsene Wenger, the Gunners won their most recent silverware in the 2014/15 FA Cup, and finished as BPL runners-up last season. Established Emirates Stadium Nickname 1886 (capacity 60,260) The Gunners _________________________________________

AFC BOURNEMOUTH Founded in 1899, Bournemouth were promoted to League One at the end of the 2009-10 season, to the Championship at the end of the 2012-13 season, and, after winning the Championship title in the 2014-15 season, earned promotion to the Premier League. Established Goldsands Stadium Nickname 1899 (capacity 11,700) The Cherries _________________________________________

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club make their Premier League debut in the 2017–18 season after sealing automatic promotion from the EFL Championship. The team reached the 1983 FA Cup Final, losing to Manchester United after a replay. Established Falmer Stadium Nickname 1901 (capacity 30,750) The Seagulls _________________________________________

BURNLEY The Clarets were the winners of the Football League Championship last term and, thus, promoted to the top flight under Sean Dyche. The Turf Moor side first entered the Premier League in 2009, becoming the smallest club playing in the competition. Established Turf Moor Nickname 1882 (capacity 21,401) The Clarets _________________________________________

CHELSEA Barclays Premier League winner in 2015 and 2012’s European Champions this is one of the most successful English teams of the modern era. The Blues have won the FA Cup seven times and the League Cup four times. They won their first league and cup double in 2009/10. Established Stamford Bridge Nickname 1905 (capacity 41,798) The Blues _________________________________________

CRYSTAL PALACE Crystal Palace originally played in the grounds of London’s Crystal Palace and were nicknamed The Glaziers. Last season saw them cap an impressive campaign by finishing as beaten finalists against the mighty Manchester United in the FA Cup. Established Selhurst Park Nickname 1905 (capacity25,747) The Eagles _________________________________________

EVERTON Everton has competed in the top flight for a record 112 seasons, and won the League Championship nine times, winning the FA Cup in 1995. The team come on to the

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theme tune of 1960’s police series Z Cars. Established Goodison Park Nickname 1878 (capacity39,571) The Toffees _________________________________________

HUDDERSFIELD TOWN Huddersfield Town was the first to win the English League title three times in a row in 1924, 1925 and 1926; only Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have repeated this feat. Established John Smith’s Stadium Nickname 1908 (capacity 24,500) The Terriers _________________________________________

LEICESTER CITY The team shocked the footballing world by winning the Premier League title, to the immense pride of its ecstatic supporters and huge respect worldwide. The club currently plays under Italian wizard Claudio Ranieri. Established King Power Stadium Nickname 1884 (capacity 32,312) The Foxes _________________________________________

LIVERPOOL Liverpool are one of the most successful English teams of all time, with 18 league titles, seven FA Cups and five European Cups in their bulging trophy cabinet. Anfield Stadium is about as iconic as you can get, however, the club has still never won a Premier League title. Established Anfield Nickname 1892 (capacity 44,742) The Reds _________________________________________

MANCHESTER CITY Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's, they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894. League Cup winners and Premier League Champions in 2013/14, the Sky Blues added another League Cup trophy to the cabinet last season. Established Etihad Stadium Nickname 1880 (capacity 55,097) The Citizens _________________________________________

MANCHESTER UNITED Old Trafford, AKA the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ is the largest club ground in Britain. During the 26-year tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson, the Red Devils won 38 trophies, including 13 premier league and two UEFA Champions League titles. Jose Mourinho is their new boss and last season saw them lift the FA Cup for the 12th time. Established Old Trafford Nickname 1878 (capacity 75,653) The Red Devils _________________________________________

SOUTHAMPTON Southampton moved to St Mary’s stadium in 2001. The club won the FA cup in 1976 and finished second in the first division in 1983/84. They’d spent 27 years in the top flight before being relegated in 2005, returning to the Premier League for the 2012/13 season. Established St Mary’s Nickname 1885 (capacity 32,505) The Saints _________________________________________

STOKE CITY Stoke city are said to be the second oldest professional club in the world after Notts County. They won the 1972 League Cup, after beating Chelsea 2-1 in the final and have successfully made it into the FA Cup semi-finals three times. Established Britannia Nickname 1863 (capacity 27,902) The Potters _________________________________________

SWANSEA CITY Swansea were the first Welsh club to play in the Premier League since its inception in 1992. They finished 11th in their first season (2011/12), 9th in their second season (2012/13) and 12th in their third season (2013/14). Established Liberty Stadium Nickname 1912 (capacity 20,909) The Swans _________________________________________

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR Tottenham Hotspur AKA Spurs, was the first club in the 20th Century to win the League and FA Cup double in 1960/61. They have won the FA cup eight times, the League Cup four times and the UEFA Cup. Established White Hart Lane Nickname 1882 (capacity 36,284) Spurs/Lilywhites _________________________________________

WATFORD The club, founded in 1881, first entered the FA Cup in 1886/87. It rose to top tier English football in 1982 and reached the FA Cup Final in 1984. The club has redeveloped its Elton John Stand. Established Vicarage Road Nickname 1881 (capacity 21,500) Hornets _________________________________________

WEST BROMWICH ALBION West Bromwich Albion was one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. The club has been Champions of England once (in 1919/20) and have won the FA cup five times. Established The Hawthorns Nickname 1878 (capacity 26,852) The Baggies _________________________________________

NEWCASTLE UNITED Newcastle United Football Club joins the Premier League after winning the Championship title in 2017. The club has won four League Championship titles, six FA Cups and a Charity Shield. Established St James’ Park Nickname 1892 (capacity 52,401) The Magpies

WEST HAM West Ham was formed in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC, hence the hammers on the club crest and nickname ‘The Hammers’. Established Olympic Stadium Nickname 1895 (capacity 60,010) The Hammers

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PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – FIXTURES

FIXTURES

ARSENAL

BOURNEMOUTH

BRIGHTON & HOVE

August TBC Everton Fri 11 Leicester Sat 19 Stoke Sun 27 Liverpool September Sat 9 Bournemouth Sun 17 Chelsea Mon 25 West Brom October Sun 1 Brighton Sat 14 Watford Sat 28 Swansea November Sun 5 Manchester City Sat 18 Spurs Sun 26 Burnley Wed 29 Huddersfield December Sat 2 Manchester Utd Sun 10 Southampton Wed 13 West Ham Sat 16 Newcastle Sat 23 Liverpool Tues 26 Crystal Palace Sat 30 West Brom January Mon 1 Chelsea Sat 13 Bournemouth Sat 20 Crystal Palace Tue 30 Swansea February Sat 3 Everton Sat 10 Spurs Sat 24 Manchester City March Sat 3 Brighton Sat 10 Watford Sat 17 Leicester Sat 31 Stoke April Sat 7 Southampton Sat 14 Newcastle Sat 21 West Ham Sat 28 Manchester Utd May Sat 5 Burnley Sun 13 Huddersfield

August Sat 12 West Brom Sat 19 Watford Sat 26 Manchester City September Sat 9 Arsenal Fri 15 Brighton Sat 23 Everton Sat 30 Leicester October Sat 14 Spurs Sat 21 Stoke Sat 28 Chelsea November Sat 4 Newcastle Sat 18 Huddersfield Sat 25 Swansea Wed 29 Burnley December Sat 2 Southampton Sat 9 Crystal Palace Tue 12 Manchester Utd Sat 16 Liverpool Sat 23 Manchester City Tue 26 West Ham Sat 30 Everton January Mon 1 Brighton Sat 13 Arsenal Sat 20 West Ham Wed 31 Chelsea February Sat 3 Stoke Sat 10 Huddersfield Sat 24 Newcastle March Sat 3 Leicester Sat 10 Spurs Sat 17 West Brom Sat 31 Watford April Sat 7 Crystal Palace Sat 14 Liverpool Sat 21 Manchester Utd Sat 28 Southampton May Sat 5 Swansea Sun 13 Burnley

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A H A H A A H A H A H H A A H A H H A H A A H A H A H H A H A H A H A

CHELSEA

BURNLEY August Sat 12 Chelsea Sat 19 West Brom Sun 27 Spurs September Sun 10 Crystal Palace Sat 16 Liverpool Sat 23 Huddersfield October Sun 1 Everton Sat 14 West Ham Sat 21 Manchester City Sat 28 Newcastle November Sat 4 Southampton Sat 18 Swansea Sun 26 Arsenal Wed 29 Bournemouth December Sat 2 Leicester Sat 9 Watford Tue 12 Stoke Sat 16 Brighton Sat 23 Spurs Tue 26 Manchester Utd Sat 30 Huddersfield January Mon 1 Liverpool Sat 13 Crystal Palace Sat 20 Manchester Utd Wed 31 Newcastle February Sat 3 Manchester City Sat 10 Swansea Sat 24 Southampton March Sat 3 Everton Sat 10 West Ham Sat 17 Chelsea Sat 31 West Brom April Sat 7 Watford Sat 14 Leicester Sat 21 Stoke Sat 28 Brighton May Sat 5 Arsenal Sun 13 Bournemouth

A H H

A H A A A H A H A H A H H A A H H A H A A H A H A H A H H A H A A H A H A H

August Sat 12 Burnley Sat 19 Spurs Sat 26 Everton September Sat 9 Leicester Sun 17 Arsenal Sat 23 Stoke Sat 30 Manchester City October Sat 14 Crystal Palace Sat 21 Watford Sat 28 Bournemouth November Sat 4 Manchester Utd Sat 18 West Brom Sat 25 Liverpool Wed 29 Swansea December Sat 2 Newcastle Sat 9 West Ham Tue 12 Huddersfield Sat 16 Southampton Sat 23 Everton Tue 26 Brighton Sat 30 Stoke January Mon 1 Arsenal Sat 13 Leicester Sat 20 Brighton Wed 31 Bournemouth February Sat 3 Watford Sat 10 West Brom Sat 24 Manchester Utd March Sat 3 Manchester City Sat 10 Crystal Palace Sat 17 Burnley Sat 31 Spurs April Sat 7 West Ham Sat 14 Southampton Sat 21 Huddersfield Sat 28 Swansea May Sat 5 Liverpool Sun 13 Newcastle

August Sat 12 Manchester City Sat 19 Leicester Sat 26 Watford September Sat 9 West Brom Fri 15 Bournemouth Sun 24 Newcastle October Sun 1 Arsenal Sat 14 Everton Sat 21 West Ham Sat 28 Southampton November Sat 4 Swansea Sat 18 Stoke Sat 25 Manchester Utd Tue 28 Crystal Palace December Sat 2 Liverpool Sat 9 Huddersfield Wed 13 Spurs Sat 16 Burnley Sat 23 Watford Tue 26 Chelsea Sat 30 Newcastle January Mon 1 Bournemouth Sat 13 West Brom Sat 20 Chelsea Wed 31 Southampton February Sat 3 West Ham Sat 10 Stoke Sat 24 Swansea March Sat 3 Arsenal Sat 10 Everton Sat 17 Manchester City Sat 31 Leicester April Sat 7 Huddersfield Sat 14 Crystal Palace Sat 21 Spurs Sat 28 Burnley May Sat 5 Manchester Utd Sun 13 Liverpool

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CRYSTAL PALACE H A H A H A H A H A H A A H H A A H A H H A H A H A H A A H A H H A H A H A

August Sat 12 Huddersfield Sat 19 Liverpool Sat 26 Swansea September Sun 10 Burnley Sat 16 Southampton Sat 23 Manchester City Sat 30 Manchester Utd October Sat 14 Chelsea Sat 21 Newcastle Sat 28 West Ham November Sat 4 Spurs Sat 18 Everton Sat 25 Stoke Tue 28 Brighton December Sat 2 West Brom Sat 9 Bournemouth Tue 12 Watford Sat 16 Leicester Sat 23 Swansea Tue 26 Arsenal Sat 30 Manchester City January Mon 1 Southampton Sat 13 Burnley Sat 20 Arsenal Tue 30 West Ham February Sat 3 Newcastle Sat 10 Everton Sat 24 Spurs March Sat 3 Manchester Utd Sat 10 Chelsea Sat 17 Huddersfield Sat 31 Liverpool April Sat 7 Bournemouth Sat 14 Brighton Sat 21 Watford Sat 28 Leicester May Sat 5 Stoke Sun 13 West Brom

Please note: Matches may be subject to change or alteration.

EVERTON H A H A H A A H A H A H H A A H H A A H H A H A A H A H H A A H A H A H A H

August TBC Arsenal Sat 12 Stoke Mon 21 Manchester City Sat 26 Chelsea September Sat 9 Spurs Sun 17 Manchester Utd Sat 23 Bournemouth October Sun 1 Burnley Sat 14 Brighton Sat 28 Leicester November Sat 4 Watford Sat 18 Crystal Palace Sat 25 Southampton Wed 29 West Ham December Sat 2 Huddersfield Sat 9 Liverpool Wed 13 Newcastle Sat 16 Swansea Sat 23 Chelsea Tues 26 West Brom Sat 30 Bournemouth January Mon 1 Manchester Utd Sat 13 Spurs Sat 20 West Brom Wed 31 Leicester February Sat 3 Arsenal Sat 10 Crystal Palace Sat 24 Watford March Sat 3 Burnley Sat 10 Brighton Sat 17 Stoke Sat 31 Manchester City April Sat 7 Liverpool Sat 14 Swansea Sat 21 Newcastle Sat 28 Huddersfield May Sat 5 Southampton Sun 13 West Ham

H H A A H A H H A A H A A H H A A H H A A H A H H A H A A H A H H A H A H A

FOR 2017-2018

HUDDERSFIELD August Sat 12 Crystal Palace Sun 20 Newcastle Sat 26 Southampton September Mon 11 West Ham Sat 16 Leicester Sat 23 Burnley Sat 30 Spurs October Sat 14 Swansea Sat 21 Manchester Utd Sat 28 Liverpool November Sat 4 West Brom Sat 18 Bournemouth Sat 25 Manchester City Wed 29 Arsenal December Sat 2 Everton Sat 9 Brighton Tue 12 Chelsea Sat 16 Watford Sat 23 Southampton Tue 26 Stoke Sat 30 Burnley January Mon 1 Leicester Sat 13 West Ham Sat 20 Stoke Tue 30 Liverpool February Sat 3 Manchester Utd Sat 10 Bournemouth Sat 24 West Brom March Sat 3 Spurs Sat 10 Swansea Sat 17 Crystal Palace Sat 31 Newcastle April Sat 7 Brighton Sat 14 Watford Sat 21 Chelsea Sat 28 Everton May Sat 5 Manchester City Sun 13 Arsenal

LEICESTER CITY

LIVERPOOL

August Fri 11 Arsenal Sat 19 Brighton Sat 26 Manchester Utd September Sat 9 Chelsea Sat 16 Huddersfield Sat 23 Liverpool Sat 30 Bournemouth October Sat 14 West Brom Sat 21 Swansea Sat 28 Everton November Sat 4 Stoke Sat 18 Manchester City Sat 25 West Ham Tue 28 Spurs December Sat 2 Burnley Sat 9 Newcastle Wed 13 Southampton Sat 16 Crystal Palace Sat 23 Manchester Utd Tue 26 Watford Sat 30 Liverpool January Mon 1 Huddersfield Sat 13 Chelsea Sat 20 Watford Wed 31 Everton February Sat 3 Swansea Sat 10 Manchester City Sat 24 Stoke March Sat 3 Bournemouth Sat 10 West Brom Sat 17 Arsenal Sat 31 Brighton April Sat 7 Newcastle Sat 14 Burnley Sat 21 Southampton Sat 28 Crystal Palace May Sat 5 West Ham Sun 13 Spurs

August Sat 12 Watford Sat 19 Crystal Palace Sun 27 Arsenal September Sat 9 Manchester City Sat 16 Burnley Sat 23 Leicester October Sun 1 Newcastle Sat 14 Manchester Utd Sat 21 Spurs Sat 28 Huddersfield November Sat 4 West Ham Sat 18 Southampton Sat 25 Chelsea Wed 29 Stoke December Sat 2 Brighton Sat 9 Everton Wed 13 West Brom Sat 16 Bournemouth Sat 23 Arsenal Tue 26 Swansea Sat 30 Leicester January Mon 1 Burnley Sat 13 Manchester City Sat 20 Swansea Tue 30 Huddersfield February Sat 3 Spurs Sat 10 Southampton Sat 24 West Ham March Sat 3 Newcastle Sat 10 Manchester Utd Sat 17 Watford Sat 31 Crystal Palace April Sat 7 Everton Sat 14 Bournemouth Sat 21 West Brom Sat 28 Stoke May Sat 5 Chelsea Sun 13 Brighton

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A H A H A H A H A H A A H H A A H H A H A H A H A A H A A A H A H A H

August Sun 13 West Ham Sat 19 Swansea Sat 26 Leicester September Sat 9 Stoke Sun 17 Everton Sat 23 Southampton Sat 30 Crystal Palace October Sat 14 Liverpool Sat 21 Huddersfield Sat 28 Spurs November Sat 4 Chelsea Sat 18 Newcastle Sat 25 Brighton Tue 28 Watford December Sat 2 Arsenal Sat 9 Manchester City Tue 12 Bournemouth Sat 16 West Brom Sat 23 Leicester Tue 26 Burnley Sat 30 Southampton January Mon 1 Everton Sat 13 Stoke Sat 20 Burnley Wed 31 Spurs February Sat 3 Huddersfield Sat 10 Newcastle Sat 24 Chelsea March Sat 3 Crystal Palace Sat 10 Liverpool Sat 17 West Ham Sat 31 Swansea April Sat 7 Manchester City Sat 14 West Brom Sat 21 Bournemouth Sat 28 Arsenal May Sat 5 Brighton Sun 13 Watford

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H A H A H A H A A H A H H A A H H A A H H A H A A H A H A H A H A H A H A H

August Sun 13 Spurs Sat 19 Huddersfield Sat 26 West Ham September Sun 10 Swansea Sat 16 Stoke Sun 24 Brighton October Sun 1 Liverpool Sat 14 Southampton Sat 21 Crystal Palace Sat 28 Burnley November Sat 4 Bournemouth Sat 18 Manchester Utd Sat 25 Watford Tue 28 West Brom December Sat 2 Chelsea Sat 9 Leicester Wed 13 Everton Sat 16 Arsenal Sat 23 West Ham Tue 26 Manchester City Sat 30 Brighton January Mon 1 Stoke Sat 13 Swansea Sat 20 Manchester City Wed 31 Burnley February Sat 3 Crystal Palace Sat 10 Manchester Utd Sat 24 Bournemouth March Sat 3 Liverpool Sat 10 Southampton Sat 17 Spurs Sat 31 Huddersfield April Sat 7 Leicester Sat 14 Arsenal Sat 21 Everton Sat 28 West Brom May Sat 5 Watford Sun 13 Chelsea

August Sat 12 Brighton Mon 21 Everton Sat 26 Bournemouth September Sat 9 Liverpool Sat 16 Watford Sat 23 Crystal Palace Sat 30 Chelsea October Sat 14 Stoke Sat 21 Burnley Sat 28 West Brom November Sun 5 Arsenal Sat 18 Leicester Sat 25 Huddersfield Wed 29 Southampton December Sat 2 West Ham Sat 9 Manchester Utd Tue 12 Swansea Sat 16 Spurs Sat 23 Bournemouth Tue 26 Newcastle Sat 30 Crystal Palace January Mon 1 Watford Sat 13 Liverpool Sat 20 Newcastle Wed 31 West Brom February Sat 3 Burnley Sat 10 Leicester Sat 24 Arsenal March Sat 3 Chelsea Sat 10 Stoke Sat 17 Brighton Sat 31 Everton April Sat 7 Manchester Utd Sat 14 Spurs Sat 21 Swansea Sat 28 West Ham May Sat 5 Huddersfield Sun 13 Southampton

A H A H A H A H H A H A A H H A A H H A A H A H H A H A H A H A H A H A H A

SOUTHAMPTON

NEWCASTLE UTD

MANCHESTER UTD A H H

MANCHESTER CITY

H A H A H A H A H A H A H A A H H A A H H A H A H A H A A H A H A H A H A H

August Sat 12 Swansea Sat 19 West Ham Sat 26 Huddersfield September Sat 9 Watford Sat 16 Crystal Palace Sat 23 Manchester Utd Sat 30 Stoke October Sat 14 Newcastle Sat 21 West Brom Sat 28 Brighton November Sat 4 Burnley Sat 18 Liverpool Sat 25 Everton Wed 29 Manchester City December Sat 2 Bournemouth Sun 10 Arsenal Wed 13 Leicester Sat 16 Chelsea Sat 23 Huddersfield Tue 26 Spurs Sat 30 Manchester Utd January Mon 1 Crystal Palace Sat 13 Watford Sat 20 Spurs Wed 31 Brighton February Sat 3 West Brom Sat 10 Liverpool Sat 24 Burnley March Sat 3 Stoke Sat 10 Newcastle Sat 17 Swansea Sat 31 West Ham April Sat 7 Arsenal Sat 14 Chelsea Sat 21 Leicester Sat 28 Bournemouth May Sat 5 Everton Sun 13 Manchester City

H H A H A H A H H A H A H A A H H A H A A H A H H A H A H A A A A H A H A H

CLUB FOOTBALL 21

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – FIXTURES

SWANSEA CITY

STOKE CITY August Sat 12 Everton Sat 19 Arsenal Sun 27 West Brom September Sat 9 Manchester Utd Sat 16 Newcastle Sat 23 Chelsea Sat 30 Southampton October Sat 14 Manchester City Sat 21 Bournemouth Sat 28 Watford November Sat 4 Leicester Sat 18 Brighton Sat 25 Crystal Palace Wed 29 Liverpool December Sat 2 Swansea Sat 9 Spurs Tue 12 Burnley Sat 16 West Ham Sat 23 West Brom Tue 26 Huddersfield Sat 30 Chelsea January Mon 1 Newcastle Sat 13 Manchester Utd Sat 20 Huddersfield Wed 31 Watford February Sat 3 Bournemouth Sat 10 Brighton Sat 24 Leicester March Sat 3 Southampton Sat 10 Manchester City Sat 17 Everton Sat 31 Arsenal April Sat 7 Spurs Sat 14 West Ham Sat 21 Burnley Sat 28 Liverpool May Sat 5 Crystal Palace Sun 13 Swansea

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August Sat 12 Southampton Sat 19 Manchester Utd Sat 26 Crystyal Palace September Sun 10 Newcastle Sat 16 Spurs Sat 23 Watford Sat 30 West Ham October Sat 14 Huddersfield Sat 21 Leicester Sat 28 Arsenal November Sat 4 Brighton Sat 18 Burnley Sat 25 Bournemouth Wed 29 Chelsea December Sat 2 Stoke Sat 9 West Brom Tue 12 Manchester City Sat 16 Everton Sat 23 Crystal Palace Tue 26 Liverpool Sat 30 Watford January Mon 1 Spurs Sat 13 Newcastle Sat 20 Liverpool Tue 30 Arsenal February Sat 3 Leicester Sat 10 Burnley Sat 24 Brighton March Sat 3 West Ham Sat 10 Huddersfield Sat 17 Southampton Sat 31 Manchester Utd April Sat 7 West Brom Sat 14 Everton Sat 21 Manchester City Sat 28 Chelsea May Sat 5 Bournemouth Sun 13 Stoke

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR A H A H A H A H H A H A H A A H H A H A A H A H H A H A H A H A A H A H A H

WEST HAM

WEST BROM August Sat 12 Bournemouth Sat 19 Burnley Sun 27 Stoke September Sat 9 Brighton Sat 16 West Ham Mon 25 Arsenal Sat 30 Watford October Sat 14 Leicester Sat 21 Southampton Sat 28 Manchester City November Sat 4 Huddersfield Sat 18 Chelsea Sat 25 Spurs Tue 28 Newcastle December Sat 2 Crystal Palace Sat 9 Swansea Wed 13 Liverpool Sat 16 Manchester Utd Sat 23 Stoke Tue 26 Everton Sat 30 Arsenal January Mon 1 West Ham Sat 13 Brighton Sat 20 Everton Wed 31 Manchester City February Sat 3 Southampton Sat 10 Chelsea Sat 24 Huddersfield March Sat 3 Watford Sat 10 Leicester Sat 17 Bournemouth Sat 31 Burnley April Sat 7 Swansea Sat 14 Manchester Utd Sat 21 Liverpool Sat 28 Newcastle May Sat 5 Spurs Sun 13 Crystal Palace

FIXTURES CONTINUED

H A H A H A H A A H A H A H H A A H A H H A H A A H A H A H A H H A H A H A

August Sun 13 Manchester Utd Sat 19 Southampton Sat 26 Newcastle September Mon 11 Huddersfield Sat 16 West Brom Sat 23 Spurs Sat 30 Swansea October Sat 14 Burnley Sat 21 Brighton Sat 28 Crystal Palace November Sat 4 Liverpool Sat 18 Watford Sat 25 Leicester Wed 29 Everton December Sat 2 Manchester City Sat 9 Chelsea Wed 13 Arsenal Sat 16 Stoke Sat 23 Newcastle Tue 26 Bournemouth Sat 30 Spurs January Mon 1 West Brom Sat 13 Huddersfield Sat 20 Bournemouth Tue 30 Crystal Palace February Sat 3 Brighton Sat 10 Watford Sat 24 Liverpool March Sat 3 Swansea Sat 10 Burnley Sat 17 Manchester Utd Sat 31 Southampton April Sat 7 Chelsea Sat 14 Stoke Sat 21 Arsenal Sat 28 Manchester City May Sat 5 Leicester Sun 13 Everton

A A A H A H H

August Sun 13 Newcastle Sun 20 Chelsea Sun 27 Burnley September Sat 9 Everton Sat 16 Swansea Sat 23 West Ham Sat 30 Huddersfield October Sat 14 Bournemouth Sat 21 Liverpool Sat 28 Manchester Utd November Sat 4 Crystal Palace Sat 18 Arsenal Sat 25 West Brom Tue 28 Leicester December Sat 2 Watford Sat 9 Stoke Wed 13 Brighton Sat 16 Manchester City Sat 23 Burnley Tue 26 Southampton Sat 30 West Ham January Mon 1 Swansea Sat 13 Everton Sat 20 Southampton Wed 31 Manchester Utd February Sat 3 Liverpool Sat 10 Arsenal Sat 24 Crystal Palace March Sat 3 Huddersfield Sat 10 Bournemouth Sat 17 Newcastle Sat 31 Chelsea April Sat 7 Stoke Sat 14 Manchester City Sat 21 Brighton Sat 28 Watford May Sat 5 West Brom Sun 13 Leicester

WATFORD

A H H A H A A H H A H A H A A H H A A H H A H A H A H A H A H A A H A H A H

August Sat 12 Liverpool Sat 19 Bournemouth Sat 26 Brighton September Sat 9 Southampton Sat 16 Manchester City Sat 23 Swansea Sat 30 West Brom October Sat 14 Arsenal Sat 21 Chelsea Sat 28 Stoke November Sat 4 Everton Sat 18 West Ham Sat 25 Newcastle Tue 28 Manchester Utd December Sat 2 Spurs Sat 9 Burnley Tue 12 Crystal Palace Sat 16 Huddersfield Sat 23 Brighton Tue 26 Leicester Sat 30 Swansea January Mon 1 Manchester City Sat 13 Southampton Sat 20 Leicester Wed 31 Stoke February Sat 3 Chelsea Sat 10 West Ham Sat 24 Everton March Sat 3 West Brom Sat 10 Arsenal Sat 17 Liverpool Sat 31 Bournemouth April Sat 7 Burnley Sat 14 Huddersfield Sat 21 Crystal Palace Sat 28 Spurs May Sat 5 Newcastle Sun 13 Manchester Utd

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A H A H A H A A H H A H A A H A H H A H A A H H H A H A H A H

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Pedigree number 2 cask ale brand in 2016*

• 3 beers in the Top 100 Drinks List*

• Consumers want to see these beers on the bar • 3 great new looks

*The MA Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

Shipyard number 2 craft beer brand in 2016*

For more quality brands & services to drive your business, call Marston’s on 0800 587 0773

Reviewing and Previewing the

CLUB FOOTBALL 25

Hospitality Social Media Awards

Social media is one of the biggest tools for the on-trade in all its guises, whatever the outlet and wherever it happens to be. It allows outlets to reach out via an up-to-the minute – and extremely cost-eﬀective – means of communication. Most importantly it’s proving one of the most eﬀective weapons in drawing people out of their homes and into the hospitality arena.

Awards Judges

The Awards were launched to encourage and applaud this, with ﬁnalists across all areas of the hospitality industry, from football and golf clubs to pubs, hotels and restaurants coming under one roof to share successes and learnings. “Every one of our finalists is clearly an ambassador for the use of social media,” said ACP MD Sean Ferris (pictured above right). “But there are many, many outlets that need more help. And we’re hoping that these success stories will become part of that inspiring process.”

To enter the 2017 Awards, turn to page 42

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

26 CLUB FOOTBALL

Thank You

DINNER MENU To Start

The ﬁrst ever Hospitality Social Media Awards were are brought to you with the support of the following:

Heirloom Tomato & Buﬀalo Mozzarella Salad, Mixed Seeds, Olive Powder, Pea Shoots, Balsamic Vinegar & Smoked Maldon Sea Salt

Main Course Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder Conﬁt, Pistachios, Apricots, Mint, Almonds, Cous Cous, Baby Aubergines, Baby Courgettes & Red Pepper Sauce

Dessert Peach and Lavender Panna Cotta, Toﬀee Sauce, Berries & Shortbread

And Then... Freshly Brewed Coﬀee & Petit Fours

Wines on the Table Crown Cellars presented a number of Pedley’s 2016 Picks selected from the following... Aimery Merlot, Vin de Pays d’Oc

France

Lyric Pinot Grigio, Venezie

Italy

Castillo de Pedra, Viura Vin del la Tierra Castillo

Spain

Seppelt Moyston Unoaked Chardonnay

Australia

Las Ondas Sauvignon Blanc, Valle Central

Chile

Box of Budgies, Sauvignon Blanc

New Zealand

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB FOOTBALL 27

Pre - Awards

The Hospitality Social Media Awards are all about engaging, networking and driving business. And behind every Facebook page or Instagram gallery are committed individuals and teams who value interaction at all levels and on all platforms – including face-to -face fun with like-minded peers.

Sport, who Shine on BT h the to join us wit r e v o d e d a he up. ier League C m re P d te e v co ic with this class s e lfi se f o ts Lo by re, followed a rw e lv si f o bit tion and awe p e c re s k n ri ad ainment from rt te n e g in ir insp n chie magicia mystifying te . Tom London

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

28 CLUB FOOTBALL

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB FOOBALL 29

Let the Awards Commence!

Welcome to sports presenter and host

John Inverdale...

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

30 CLUB FOOTBALL

And welcome to our other celebrity guests who joined us on that special night... Craig Doyle

Steve Cram

Tessa Sanderson

Austin Healy

e.info@hsma.biz t. 01753 272022

CLUB FOOTBALL 31

FOOTBALL CLUB OF THE YEAR

COMMUNITY FOOTBALL CLUB OF THE YEAR

Leek Town FC

Colchester United FC

Farsley Celtic FC

Grantham Town FC Mossley AFC

Nantwich Town FC

Rushall Olympic FC

Scarborough Athletic FC Sheffield FC

Stafford Rangers FC Warrington Town

32 CLUB FOOTBALL

Bradford City FC Cardiff City FC

Plymouth Argyle Football Club Tramere Rovers FC Yeovil Town FC

CLUB FOOTBALL 33

ENTRY FORM The Hospitality Social Media Awards (HSMA) look forward to your entry and/or nomination. From the smallest football club to the largest stadia, we want to hear from you. Just tick which categories you’re interested in, fill in a couple of details and we’ll do the rest.

INTRODUCTION From websites to Facebook, and everything in between, the Hospitality Social Media Awards will be seeking out those of you who are busy using social media to engage with your customers.

THE AWARDS Info@hsma.biz will get your entry underway. Alternatively use this QR code.

Hospitality

JUDGING PANEL The judging panel includes leading professionals in marketing, communications, advertising and digital communications as well as leading lights from the pub, club and hospitality world.

Football Club of the Year Golf Club of the Year Rugby Club of the Year Community Club of the Year Sport & Leisure Resort of the Year

Name: Position: Business Name: Address:

Sports Club of the Year Bar of the Year Hotel of the Year Restaurant of the Year Club Chain of the Year Hotel Chain of the Year

Telephone:

Restaurant Chain of the Year

Email:

Other - Please State:

Website: Social Media Accounts: Twitter: Facebook: Instagram: Others:

Deadline: September 30, 2017

We look forward to hearing from you!

Sean

Best regards

Sean Ferris Publishing Director www.hsma.biz | info@hsma.biz sean@alchemymedia.co.uk | 01753 272022

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THE ONES TO WATCH

The menmoney withthe

A look at the richest football club owners of the Premier League, the level of their wealth and how much they have invested.

38 CLUB FOOTBALL

CLUB FOOTBALL 39

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL

40 CLUB MIRROR

CLUBFOOTBALL www.clubfootball.org.uk

ISSUE 1

T U O

W O N k u . rg

o . l l ba

t o o bf

lu c . ww

Premier League Fixtures Preview of all the action Could you be our Football Club of the Year 2017? Use this QR code to enteror turn to page 34.

WOMEN’S EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS Holland beat Denmark 4-2 in the UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 Final.

It’s Oranje Boom time The UEFA Women’s European Championships were a fine advertisement for the sport with capacity crowds and record viewing figures throughout the tournament. It was Holland who were eventually crowned the queens of Europe as they beat Denmark 4-2 in a superb final at FC Twente stadium.

eld in Holland in July and August, the 16-team Women’s Euros really caught the imagination of sports fans - as the extraordinarily high TV viewing figures and ticket sales prove – no doubt helped by the stunning form of the home side who dominated the tournament from start to finish, beating Denmark 4-2 in the sellout Final at FC Twente’s stadium. The women in orange were simply superb as they put on a display of total football in front of 28,000 spectators to secure their first major trophy, their opponents also playing their part in a fitting climax to the tournament. Dutch striker Vivianne Miedema was unquestionably the star of the show on the night, finding the net twice for the Oranje, but she was ably supported by her team-mates throughout a pulsating game. It was actually Denmark who drew first blood, Nadia Nadim scoring a penalty in the first five

42 CLUB FOOTBALL

minutes, but the Dutch struck back quickly as Miedema found the net following a lovely pass from Shanice van de Sanden. Lieke Martens then put the home side in front by curling in a bouncing shot, but Pernille Harder equalised before the break, cutting in from the right and firing a left-footed kick into the goal. Buoyed by the cheering of their home crowd, the Dutch finished strongly however, Sherida Spitse scoring a free kick early in the second half before Miedema put the result beyond doubt with a brilliant run and finish in the 89th minute. “The players have developed over the past couple of years - more and more are playing at a high level,” said Holland coach Sarina Wiegman in the euphoric aftermath of the final. "Before the finals we spoke about our aims: we want to show who we are, what we can do and that we play together. “We’re going to party really hard, then we’ll

think about the World Cup qualifiers because we want to get there.” Miedema was delighted with the win and what it means for the women’s game in her home country. “We’ve seen already in this tournament if we had a day off and we went on the street that a lot of girls and a lot of other people recognised us,” she said. “The tournament has been really big, with all the little fans, it’s just amazing that they wear the little t-shirts with Miedema and Martens on their back.” Martens was named ‘Player of the Tournament’ by UEFA after her consistent performances throughout the tournament. The 24 year old, who this summer moved from Rosengård to Barcelona, burst on to the scene in the opening minutes of the first game against Norway and never looked back as she dominated

down the left wing throughout the hosts’ victorious run. She scored the winner in the 2-1 group stage defeat of Belgium and added a free-kick to set the Dutch on their way to a 2-0 win against Sweden in the quarter-finals. Of course, there was disappointment from a British point of view with the Lionesses falling at the semi-final stage against Holland but Jodie Taylor did finish the tournament with the Golden Boot after scoring a total of five goals. Aside from Taylor’s finishing ability, there was plenty more fine play in England’s campaign to suggest that they will be key contenders for the World Cup in two years hence, even if they were shattered by the 3-0 defeat by Holland. “They’ve given their all, they couldn’t have given anything more. I am very proud of the team,” said England coach Mark Sampson. "Over the last year, they have given absolutely everything to try and help us win this tournament and they can look themselves in the mirror, go and see their family and friends and give them a good hug and tell them that they love them." Sampson believes that the overall standard of the international women’s game is continuing to rise. “Ten years ago, there was a significant physical difference between the best teams and the rest of the teams,” he said. “What’s happened in the recent years is that the teams physically have matched up so the tech-

Holland’s Lieke Martens was named as ‘Player of the Tournament’.

nical skills, the game and the standing have become incredibly important.” No wonder then that the official TV figures in the UK went through the roof with the audience peaking for the England v Holland semi-final clash. Some 3.2 million viewers watched the action unfold on Channel 4, up 66.7% on the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup semi-final between Japan and England on BBC1. The game also set a record for a Women’s European semi-final in terms of attendance with

27,093 spectators watching the action live at the stadium. Such outstanding figures bode well for the future of the women’s game and there is likely to be another step up for the World Cup to be held in France in 2019 with 24 teams convening for the eagerly anticipated tournament. With unprecedented interest and new funding flooding into the women’s game as never before, it would appear that the 2017 European Champonships have kickstarted a golden era for the sport.

England’s Jodie Taylor won the Golden Boot award as the tournament’s top goal scorer.

CLUB FOOTBALL 43

TELEVISING THE ACTION

Taking a peak behind the scenes There’s a huge team-effort going on behind the scenes to bring football action to club screens around the UK.

ive sport is more important than ever, with football coverage driving footfall and boosting trade throughout the year. The perfect excuse then for Club Football publisher Sean Ferris and colleague Justin O’Regan to hop on a plane and join BT Sport at their broadcast of the UEFA Champions League tie between Bayern Munich and Arsenal earlier this year. “It was fascinating to arrive at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena to witness the backroom army in action. From technicians, engineers, producers and floor managers to make-up artists, presenters and pundits, it was a real eye-opener to see just how many people are involved in each and every broadcast,” says Justin. Of course, the activity in the studio is just the tip of the iceberg with hundreds more personnel spread throughout the stadium, many of them installed in several OB (Outside Broadcast) trucks parked outside. A few hours ahead of kick-off the duo joined presenters in a surprisingly small room high up in the stadium which was serving as the BT Sport studio for the match. Familiar faces included Gary Lineker and fellow former footballers Rio Ferdinand, Martin Keown, Owen Hargreaves and Howard Webb. “Despite being hard at work preparing for the upcoming broadcast they were more than happy to have a quick chat about Arsenal’s prospects in the UEFA Champions League last 16 tie,” says Sean. “I felt Gary’s prediction of 4-1 to the home side was slightly unkind and unlikely to be accurate. As it turned out he was wrong – it was 5-1!)

44 CLUB FOOTBALL

1. Bayern Munich’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena. 2. BT Sport presenter Gary Lineker double checks the running order for his upcoming live broadcast. 3. As kick-off time approaches, the presenters and pundits have their make-up applied. 4. Club Football’s Publisher Sean Ferris gives Gary Lineker a few reasons why Arsenal are certain to win against Bayern Munich. Gary didn't agree; Gary was right! 5. Pundits Rio Ferdinand and Martin Keown relax in the BT Sport studio ahead of kick-off. 6. Former Germany midfielder Michael Ballack prepares to broadcast from pitchside at the Allianz Arena.

2017 FOOTBALL CLUB OF THE YEAR

OPEN FOR ENTRIES

Enter the 2017 Football Club of the Year email info@hsma.biz

REGISTRATION HOTLINE 01753 272022

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

In this month’s HQ the Royal Mint and HM Treasury are calling on clubs and businesses to ensure that they are prepared for the £1 coin change over (use it or lose it). Also: security top tips to avoid cyber crime, the value of social media and viral marketing, tips on maximising revenues from the Premier League and our resident Legal Eagle’s advice on how to enjoy a safe, legislative-free summer. PLUS: don’t forget to sign up to our free-to-clubs Building the Business service to find out how much money you can save your club.

Clubs must get ready for £1 coin changeover With the old pound coin going out of circulation on October 15 this year The Royal Mint and HM Treasury are encouraging all those businesses that are yet to prepare for the new 12-sided one pound coin to do so now.

here will be more new 12-sided pound coins in circulation than round pounds by the time you read this says the Royal Mint. Some businesses have been waiting for the changeover period before upgrading their gaming and vending machines. However, businesses across the country are being urged to check equipment to ensure everything is in place as the October 15 deadline approaches. Clubs are encouraged to: • Upgrade any remaining equipment to accept the 12-sided £1 coin. Any equipment which continues to accept round pounds will be at risk of being targeted with counterfeit coins. • Bank round and 12-sided pound coins in separate bags. • Bank their round pound coins first, when possible. • Encourage their customers to spend their round pounds before the October deadline.

• • •

Facts and Stats • Over 600 million of the new 12-sided £1 coins have now been issued. • Over 800 million round £1 coins have been

returned – some of them will be melted down and reused to make the new £1 coin. There were more new £1 coins than round pound coins in circulation by late July. The Royal Mint will make 1.5 billion of the new £1 coins. The Royal Mint has produced over 2.1 billion round pound coins since 1983 – that’s the same weight as nearly 6,000 elephants. 25 different designs have appeared on the old pound coin, from dragons to trees. Over 1 billion new £1 coin have been produced Consumers are being encouraged to spend, bank and donate their old pound coins before 15 October 2017.

For more information visit: www.thenewpoundcoin.com or email newonepoundcoin@royalmint.com.

Sharing the good news We are now a society that likes to share good experiences as well as bad ones, according to latest research commissioned by Yonder Digital Group. That’s great news, but how does that work in practice for clubs?

onder Digital's research showed that 38% of consumers will actually post about a positive social media experience; that’s more than those who will broadcast a negative one (31%). When a leisure provider does come across an unsatisfied customer, the research showed that their capacity to respond quickly to negative reviews can have a positive impact. Traditional ways of communicating positive experiences to friends and family are still vital however, says the report, with a far greater proportion of people telling friends and family about their good

46 CLUB FOOTBALL

experiences (89%) than posting about them on social media (38%). So how can clubs make sure members are sharing the good times with those who matter? Having a clear understanding of the customer journey is important, says Yonder Digital, and must avoid agestereotypes. It must be based on a rigorous, objective analysis of customer data. Good practice data handling and analysis will help clubs understand their members, therefore helping to serve them better and market to them more effectively. In addition to demonstrating a solid under-

standing of the customer, clubs need to offer consumers channel choice. Attempting to transfer all contact to online and automated channels can often drive customers away, says the report. The report concludes that clubs need to ensure that members are sharing good experiences, are being analysed, understood and – ultimately – encouraged or facilitated. Live contact, for example friends sharing a great club experience, is far from surpassed, ‘and combining customer data with excellent live agent support could be critical to turning customers into ambassadors’.

Instilling a security culture According to a recent survey conducted by security systems specialists Expert Security UK, almost a third of the UK public are not aware of the safety and security policies implemented by the company or club that they work for.

ith cyber crime making headline news on an alarmingly regular basis – the NHS ‘WannaCry’ cyber-attacks being amongst the most recent headlines – it is imperative that all businesses introduce a robust security culture and ensure that staff abide by them – from securing the premises to avoiding cyber crime. Danny Scholfield, Managing Director at Expert Security UK and a team of business experts have compiled a Top Tips list on how to establish the best ways to encourage staff to embrace security and put in place robust security processes. 1. Be transparent with the team Build trust and secure buy-in from your team by sharing your objectives and communicating clearly on the processes you are implementing to achieve them. This level of transparency is key to build trust, according to James Hall, creative director at HeX Productions: “The way of ensuring that all staff abide by the security policy is making sure that they understand the importance of the procedures and how they protect the clients,” says Hall. “Businesses can improve security really easily and it’s about asking around if unsure. Don’t always go for the cheapest developer because they might not have as much security as those who charge a little bit more.” 2. Use the right tools for the job New techniques harnessing the potential and power of ever more advanced technology pose a major threat to business security, and the consequences can be devastating. Businesses should take steps to know what tools are available and best suited to enhance security and combat threats. David Pinches, marketing director at Oak, recommends a “single sign-on” for users and system managers with varying level of secure access. For Harshini Carey, regional director at Neupart, the key is to invest in a tool that provides you with ongoing control. “You need to have a clear overview of all your necessary processes: who’s involved in each process, and what stage they’re at,” she says.” One of the best ways to do this is to carry out a gap analysis. Figure out where you stand in relation to security standards such as the GDPR, and which areas you need to improve in order to be fully compliant.” It’s best that you don’t view this as an annual job to be carried out by an external consultant, but rather invest in a tool that allows you continual control and a better understanding of your organisation’s compliance.” 3. Don’t forget physical security With high-profile cases of digital threats and your smartphone never far from your thoughts, it would be all too easy for clubs to neglect the physical security of

Total

Gender

Age

‘agree’

Male

Female

18-24 25-34 35-44

45-54 55-64

65+

If I have a good customer experience with a company I usually tell my friends and/or family

89%

87%

92%

84%

88%

91%

88%

91%

92%

If I have a bad customer experience with a company I usually tell my friends and/or family

84%

83%

86%

78%

82%

87%

86%

87%

If I have a good customer experience with a company I usually post something about it on social media

38%

39%

38%

49%

60%

45%

32%

23%

22%

If I have a bad customer experience with a company I usually post something about it on social media

31%

32%

30%

38%

46%

41%

27%

22%

14%

the premises. For Expert Security UK’s Danny Scholfield this should continue to be assessed and improved as part of business’s plans to implement an effective security culture. “As we go forward, it’s imperative that we’re using every possible method to our advantage. This means

being open to new solutions (provided that they’re fully tested and operative, of course) and making sure there is a balance between physical and cyber security,” he says. “For businesses, there are plenty of new solutions that are being designed to prevent security breaches – from bi-folding speed gates and crash-tested bollards.”

Making the Premier League work for the club coffers Sky Sports offers up the following advice on attracting in football fans for 2017-18 Premier League season. (See pages 25-30 for details.) • Marketing before an event is key so make sure you advertise fixtures early to attract even more customers through the door –take advantage of free posters and promotional materials from your provider to help with this. • Build a community – social media is a great way to reach out to your members so get active on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Use them to encourage members to chat about their favourite teams and build a buzz around your venue so your club is the number one spot to enjoy the Premier League this season. • Start the weekend early with Friday Night Football. Attract members in early for drinks and a bite to eat and then keep them in your club for

longer with some exciting Premier League action. • Make a day of it – create a whole match-day event on a Saturday or Super Sunday by decorating your club with football colours and memorabilia, offering live entertainment before and after the matches and putting on special offers for football fans. • Offer deals on drinks and food to make matchdays an even bigger success, tailoring menus to keep football fans satisfied. • Make the most of your free multiple viewing cards to show action from other sports as well to help keep fans in for longer and make your club the venue of choice for live sport. • Add to the experience for members by adding creative touches like member competitions which complement the action on screen, or encouraging fans to share their photos and comments on the club’s social media platforms.

CLUB FOOTBALL 47

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Legal eagle HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

What authorisation is required under the Licensing Act 2003 in order to consume alcohol in an external area of the premises? No authorisation is needed in order to consume alcohol outside the area covered by a premises licence or club premises certificate. If the external area is not included within the area covered by the licence or certificate, it will be necessary to ensure that the licence or certificate authorises the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises. As mentioned in the previous edition of Club Mirror, it will also be necessary to confirm that there are no conditions attached to the licence or certificate which restrict the use of an external area. For example, there may be a condition which prohibits the use of a beer garden or patio after a specific time.

48 CLUB FOOTBALL

With a reasonable amount of fine weather being enjoyed around the country, Club Football’s Legal Eagle David Lucas considers a number of questions which are particularly relevant at this time of year. What are the statutory conditions applicable to a club premises certificate which authorises the supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises? The Licensing Act 2003 contains several conditions which will apply to any club premises certificate which allows alcohol to be supplied to members for consumption in an area which is not covered by the certificate. The conditions are: 1. The supply must be made at a time when the premises are open for the purposes of supplying alcohol, in accordance with the club premises certificate, to members of the club for consumption on the premises. 2. Any alcohol supplied for consumption off the premises must be in a sealed container.

3. Any supply of alcohol for consumption off the premises must be made to a member of the club in person. A cricket club with a certificate that only covers the pavilion but which authorises alcohol to be supplied to members for consumption off the premises (for example, to spectators watching a game) must comply with all three conditions. Because the conditions are very restrictive, the solution is to ensure that the area covered by the certificate includes the external areas of the ground as well as the pavilion. If that is not currently the case, I would suggest that consideration is given to applying for a variation of the extent of the area which is covered by the club premises certificate.

Can live musical entertainment be provided in an external area without any authorisation under the Licensing Act 2003? As a result of deregulatory changes no licence is required for the following activities:

“

To cater for increased demand in a beer garden or patio area, it is possible to provide a temporary bar servery in an external area provided that the area where the sale of alcohol takes place is authorised by the premises licence or club premises certificate.

1. A performance of unamplified live music between 8.00am and 11.00pm in any place (internal or external) on any day. 2. A performance of amplified live music between 8.00am and 11.00pm on any day on premises authorised to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on those premises, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. 3. A performance of amplified live music between 8.00am and 11.00pm on any day in a workplace that does not have a licence, provided that the audience does not exceed 500. Unamplified live music can therefore be provided during the hours mentioned in an external area such as a beer garden or patio without any limitation on the size of the audience. If the external area is included within the area covered by the licence or certificate and there is an authorisation to sell or supply alcohol for consumption on the premises, amplified live music can be provided during the specified hours subject to the limit on the size of the audience. If the external area is not covered by the licence or certificate it will in all probability constitute a workplace and amplified live music may be provided during the specified hours subject to the limit on audience size. Please remember your neighbours and monitor noise levels form any external entertainment. You last thing you would want is a complaint which may lead to a review of a premises licence or club premises certificate. Can a temporary bar be sited in an external area? To cater for increased demand in a beer garden or

patio area, it is possible to provide a temporary bar servery in an external area provided that the area where the sale of alcohol takes place is authorised by the premises licence or club premises certificate (as shown on the plan) includes the external area in question. Otherwise, it would be necessary to give a temporary event notice in order to authorise the sale or supply of alcohol in an area which is not covered by a licence or certificate. As a temporary event notice is subject to limitations a permanent variation of the licence or certificate may be a more practical solution.

CONTACT DETAILS Fraser Brown Solicitors 84 Friar Lane, Nottingham NG1 6ED e. dlucas@fraserbrown.com t. 0115 959 7139 mob. 07973 899398

CLUB FOOTBALL 49

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Want to cut club spend while increasing efficiencies? Well now you can. Introducing HQ Building the Business. Completely free to football clubs this new service involves no contracts and no costs, just better buying and better club business.

Welcome to HQ Building the Business F

rom utilities and energy savings to procurement and financial services, HQ Building the Business works with your club as a surrogate head office, helping you to boost club business. And by working with carefully selected club-supporting partners and suppliers, HQ Building the Business will save you valuable time and resources in the quest to save your club money, freeing up you and your committee to run an even more efficient club. You’re just three steps away from saving money.

Step 1 Free no-obligation audit – just call us or email us.

Step 2 Following our audit and discussions, if we believe we can help your club we will source the best deals available.

Step 3 Your club starts saving money. This is what we call a win win! So get in touch now and help us help you to make 2017 an even better year for your club and your members. You can call on 01753 272022, email enquiries@hqbusiness.com or use the form opposite.

Frequently Asked Questions

business, but if we can help we will.

Q. What do I get when I become a member? A: You get a free and confidential audit of your club in those areas where you would like to find savings and efficiencies. This could be anything from utilities to phone bills and from food to club equipment.

Q. What are your club credentials? A. We’ve been working in the club sector for over 30 years in various roles. The launch of HQ Building the Business is the culmination of many years working with clubs and suppliers, from brewers and telecoms suppliers, to energy and water companies.

Q. What are the costs? A. There are no costs. HQ is free to join. Q. If I become a member, what are my obligations? A. There are no obligations for you or your club and no contracts. All we ask is that when we work with you, you are open about your current supplier situation. Q. Does the club need to have a minimum turnover? A. Our services are most suited to clubs with a minimum turnover of £100,000. This is because to secure the HQ Building the Business deals with suppliers we need to prove the value of a club to their

50 CLUB FOOTBALL

Q. Do I need a face to face meeting? A. Not necessarily. A lot of the ground work can be done over the phone/email. Q. How do I become a member? A. Just email enquiries@hqbusiness.com, call 01753 272022 or use the form on the opposite page.

MEMBERSHIP FORM Yes I am interested in joining the no-cost, no-contract, no obligation HQ Building the Business club. Your name: _____________________________________

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Role in club: _____________________________________ Club name and address: _____________________________ _____________________________________________ _____________________________________________ Tel no: ________________________________________ Email: _________________________________________ Number of members: ______________________________ Turnover*:______________________________________

n All n Other (please list): _____________________________

Particular areas you are interested in?

_____________________________________________

*Turnover - this information is entirely confidential and is not shared with any other companies/agencies etc. It is HQ Building the Business’s measure as to how we can help you save money.

CLUB FOOTBALL 51

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Maximise midweek trading opportunities

Enjoy the great range of HEINEKEN draught brands

Become the ultimate sports venue for your customers, Call HEINEKEN on 0344 556 0109 to nd out more details Open to UK trade customers who are not a member of a managed group. Premises must be licensed under applicable legislation. A 12 month stocking agreement with Heineken and new 12 month agreement or 12 month renewal with BT are required. Discounts are for 12 months. Please speak to your RSM regarding which brands will best t with your outlet in order to get this deal, brands must be stocked throughout 12 month agreement to keep BT Sport discount. DEAL 1 - Existing BT Customer add 2 Heineken Brands 35% Discount on BT Sport Total. DEAL 2 - Existing BT Customer add 4 Heineken Brands 50% Discount on BT Sport Total or BT Sport 1. DEAL 3 - New BT Customer add 2 Heineken Brands 50% Discount on BT Sport Total. DEAL 4 – New BT Customer add 1 Heineken Brands 50% Discount on BT Sport 1. Promotion open until 30.06.18. BT Agreement must be nalised by 30.06.18. Promoter: Heineken UK Limited, 3-4 Broadway Park, South Gyle Broadway, Edinburgh EH12 9JZ

CLUB AWARDS 2017

Last call for entries Have you entered the Club Awards yet? If not, here’s why you should! The Club Awards recognise the commitment of clubs, committees and individuals who work to ensure a healthy future for their clubs. IT COULD BE YOU Do you think you could be a finalist? Do you have what it takes to beat the best and stand out from the rest? WHY ENTER? Clubs use their success to: • Raise the club’s profile • Gain coverage in the local press and media • Encourage new members • Thank existing members for their support • Demonstrate that the club is spending members’ money wisely

HOW TO ENTER ON LINE: www.clubmirror.com/awards BY POST: Club Awards, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX BY EMAIL: Email your details to info@clubmirror.com BY PHONE: Call in your details to 01753 272022 BY FAX: Fax the entry form (opposite) to 01753 272021

DEADLINE: AUGUST 19, 2017 – Tel: 01753 272022 54 CLUB FOOTBALL

EXPRESS ENTRY FORM

IS THIS YOU?

THE CLUB AWARDS Are you proud of your football?

THREE QUESTIONS AND YOU COULD BE ON YOUR WAY TO THE CLUB AWARDS 2017 1. Number of members: ___________________________________________ 2. Year founded: _______________________________________________

Are you proud of your teamwork?

3. Club Turnover (if known / approximate) ___________________________________ (NB: This information is strictly confidential and for judging purposes only – not for publication.)

Just fill in your club details and we'll get in touch – simple as that Your Name: ___________________________________________ Are you proud of your bar team?

Job title/role: __________________________________________ Club Name: ___________________________________________ Address: ____________________________________________

Are you proud of your catering?

______________________________ Post code: _____________ CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBERS: Daytime: ____________________________________________

Are you proud of your entertainment?

Evening: ____________________________________________ Mobile: _____________________________________________

STOP P DEAD RESS: LIN FOR ENTR E IES –

Email address: _________________________________________

Are you proud of your management?

Then you should enter the Awards

SEND IN YOUR ENTRY NOW. HERE’S HOW: BY POST:

Club Awards, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX

ONLINE:

www.clubmirror.com/Awards

BY EMAIL:

Email your details to info@clubmirror.com

BY PHONE:

Call in your details to 01753 272022

BY FAX:

Fax this page to 01753 272021

AUG

Fax: 01753 272021; Email: info@clubmirror.com CLUB FOOTBALL 55

CLUB AWARDS 2017

JOIN US FOR THE CLUB EVENT OF THE YEAR The Club Awards, now in their 26th year, are well known for providing the perfect informative – and fun – way to network with suppliers and fellow clubs. This year, as well as attending a sponsors’ drinks reception and three course Gala Dinner, you could be joining us at the races on the following day, December 1 – we’ve secured complimentary tickets to Doncaster Races for Club Awards attendees. Need more tickets for the Gala Dinner? Or want to invite key members to cheer your club on? Then complete the form below, or email us on caroline@clubmirror.com

TICKET BOOKING FORM 30 November, 2017, Doncaster Racecourse • Complimentary drinks reception

NAME: ________________________________________________________

• Three-course gala dinner

POSITION IN CLUB: ___________________________________________

• Entertainment with celebrity host

CLUB NAME AND ADDRESS: ____________________________________

• After dinner entertainment

______________________________________________________________

• Complimentary ticket to Doncaster Racecourse the following day for each guest

______________________________________________________________ CONTACT TELEPHONE NUMBER: _____________________________ EMAIL ADDRESS: _______________________________________________

n I would like _______ (STATE NUMBER) tickets @ £52 + VAT (Total inc VAT: £62.40).

n I would like ________ (STATE NUMBER) table/s for 10 @ £494 + VAT (Total inc VAT: £592.80).

SEND COMPLETED FORM TO CLUB MIRROR: BOOK ONLINE: www.awards.clubmirror.com BY EMAIL: info@clubmirror.com BY POST: Club Awards, Gainsborough House, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX BY FAX: 01753 272021 OR CALL: 01753 272022

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CLUB AWARDS 2017

John Inverdale’s professionalism and personality make him one of the best awards hosts in the business. And that’s why we are delighted that he’s joining us once again to host the Club Awards in 2017.

Introducing

John Inverdale Club Awards Host 2017 J

ohn Inverdale is the latest in Club Mirror’s series of high-profile sports presenters to host the Club Awards whose Hall of Fame includes Clare Balding, Hazel Irvine, Steve Rider and Chris Hollins. John is well known for his breadth of sports coverage, from the Ryder Cup to the Olympics. In the beginning... John began his career as a reporter on the Lincolnshire Echo before moving to BBC Radio Lincolnshire in 1992. His first job with network radio was in 1996 as a sports reporter for BBC Radio 2 and a news reporter for Radio 4 on ‘Today’. Radio times In the late ’90s John became presenter of ‘Sport on 2’ which he hosted for six years until the advent of

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CLUB AWARDS 2017

Radio 5 Live when he moved to a daily news programme. During his career, John has presented many Olympic Games, football and rugby World Cups, Wimbledon Championships, Open Championships, plus numerous other major sporting events both at home and abroad including the World Athletics Championships, the Champions League and FA Cup Finals. He has been named Broadcaster of the Year at the Sony Awards, as well as being voted Radio Personality of the Year by the Variety Club. TV Times John’s television career began with BSkyB in 1990 as a presenter of rugby and football, and on the BBC he fronted ‘Rugby Special’ from 1994 until 1997. He hosted his own BBC1 sports chat show ‘Onside’ for seven series, and became a regular presenter on Grandstand amongst many other sports programmes. He was part of the multiaward winning team that covered the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the London Olympics in 2012 and the Rio Olympics in 2016. He has also hosted ‘The World’s Strongest Man’ on numerous occasions, which regularly attracts audiences in excess of 10 million, and fronted a three-part investigation into the history of gambling for BBC1.

To book tickets turn to page 20. Alternatively book online at www.awards.clubmirror.com

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ASK THE EXPERTS – WEB ADVICE

Slow running websites, content and conundrums A website is at the forefront of your marketing; 85% of your visitors judge your website within the first 10 seconds of landing on it. Our resident IT experts explore the nature of a good website and also explain why multiple domains may not be such a good idea!

hat entails a good website feel? Style, content and how responsive on mobile devices it is. The real question is how do you know when your website is due a refresh?

The rise and rise of the mobile demands ever more responsive sites.

Responsiveness We have previously mentioned the impact of the initial ‘Mobilegeddon’ and the affect that it has on non-mobile-friendly sites. It’s worth considering that the total number of users researching on their mobile devices have considerably increased over the last couple of years. If your website is non-responsive not only is website visibility likely to be poor, but your visitors are immediately going to be leaving if it’s hard to use. No tools for creating content A blog is more than a tool for pumping content out. For many businesses it’s a way of showcasing that you are an expert in your field. So, if all your competitors are using blogs to develop a credible reputation how will that impact on your club? Having a blog is also a great resource for improving your SEO performance. Indexing your blog posts will develop more opportunity to be found through search engines. Slow loading pages Nowadays, when you land on a website that either takes ages to load, or sometimes fails to load altogether, you instantly click off it. User experience is a pivotal aspect that makes or breaks if a visitor stays on, or clicks off a site. Page loading time therefore is closely linked with user experience! A slow loading website can be attributed to numerous factors but essentially it stems down to poor website design and image optimising. Updating causes problems We have a number of clients that we work with who are using old content management systems (CMS). Temperamental content management systems can cause major problems which can result in time consuming and expensive fixes. If your CMS is old or if you haven’t got a quick and efficient way of adding new content to your site the chances are your content is outdated and needs to be refreshed. All of the above will be exacerbated if your club has gone the route of multiple domains.

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Throughout the years businesses have been looking for ways to beat the search engine algorithms. In reality, this is near enough an impossible task. We get a lot of clients asking us if having multiple domains with the same content will bolster SEO rankings. The answer plain and simple is… NO! In fact, having multiple domains for your website can actually result in problems. The defensive domains tactic The first common theme we tend to find is that businesses are worried that competitors will buy keyword orientated domains which will thereby hinder their own sites rankings. While there is some logic to this tactic, having a keyword orientated domain will not automatically result in being #1 in Google for that keyword. Duplicated content One of the biggest problems of having multiple domains is the fact that the vast majority of content is duplicated. This doesn’t improve your SEO rankings; it actually causes an adverse effect. Google algorithm works by showing varied content on search results. So, if multiple domains encompass duplicated content only one of the sites will show up.

First page domination approach If you are a brick-and-mortar site with one physical location, having a duplicated site with the same location can cause confusion for your visitors. Similarly, Google algorithm doesn’t rank multiple sites from the same business highly as it’s considered as spam. The only exception to multiple domains is when your business is operating in different countries, therefore you will need to have specific domains for different countries. Finally, if you are going to adopt a multiple domains approach, you will have to double your SEO input. A new domain tends to be significantly harder to rank highly within a shorter period of time.

CONTACT DETAILS If your website is struggling to perform well on search engines and you are running out of ideas on what you can do to improve this, get in touch with the friendly Larrytech team to talk it through. Larrytech Ltd 44 Newton Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 1RU • t. 01892 888 011 • www.larrytech.com

ASK THE EXPERTS – APPS

Seven top tips for App Design Featuring in the top 4 trends at the recent CMAA World Conference in Orlando, apps are becoming one of 2017’s hottest properties. Jenni Biggs uses the example of golf clubs to highlight apps in action.

pps are serious business tools capable of generating income, repeat business, golfer loyalty and converting causal interest into a fully engaged member. By following these seven top tips the smart, business savvy GMs will be on course to creating the app that is right for their business. 1. What do you want the app to do? Apps can be used to both enhance user experience and to generate income which means the balance will be tipped upon how your golf business operates. This determines the focus: increased experience versus increased income. Will you focus more on the member experience or a mix of great golfing with the ability to collect usable data and promote events, special offers, etc? 2. Select your app type Do you need a native, hybrid or web app? Native apps are specially coded to work on a phone’s operating system and because of this they are the most reliable, stable and flexible to work with. Your app will have its own set of coding for each platform, can access all features of the phone and work offline. Web apps are simply an app that pulls data directly from your website and has a ‘wrapper’ put around it so it can be put on the respective stores. Functions are limited, but you can have add-ons like push notification modules. (These will not work off-line.)

Hybrid apps are essentially web apps with more functionality. However, because they have a one size fits all approach they tend to be basic. Again, like the web apps, modules can be written to perform certain tasks. These have the ability to hold already downloaded data, but most areas of a hybrid will not work without a signal. (Be careful as sometimes unscrupulous developers pass hybrids off as native apps.) Consider both function and connectivity. Native apps are superior, but if your app only requires basic functionality and your end users have good connectivity, then a hybrid might fit the bill. 3. Image is everything Apps are a reflection of your business and it will only look as good as your graphics. You would never throw a brochure or website together using any old images and content; neither should you do so with an app. 4. Don’t forget your members! Golden rule – always remember the end user. You might want to have an app that generates income for your club or retail business, but if there is no incentive for them to download it why would they? Ask yourself if you would personally download and consistently use the app and why? 5. Don’t popup everywhere There are a few different ways to advertise on your

app and a method that has got people turning off in their droves is popup adverting. It can be tempting to get your app made for free ( with the cost being covered by the app supplier’s own sponsors), but beware. Often the most common placement of these adverts is where the golfers will be using it most – the course guide and scorecard - which means that they are subjected to waiting for the popup to go at every hole. 6. Speak directly to your users – for their benefit (and yours!) This is the smart way to market and advertise your club. Most members want to hear from you and communication options range from direct selling, push notifications, promotions, suggestive selling, events and fixture dates. Include some thought into app-only offers. 7. Into the future and beyond Consider future usage. Ensuring you have the correct type of app and one that can be added onto can save your club a lot of time and money in the long run. Finally, remember that an app is a part of your overall image. Just like any marketing tool, it needs to look the part as well as service its purpose. Apps can look as amazing or a functional as you wish. Make an app that you can be proud of for years to come.

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ASK THE EXPERTS – DUE DILIGENCE

Defense of litigation claims aided by real-time solution Club Insure strives to innovate and lead the way in leisure-focused insurance products, says the company's Victoria Romero-Trigo. Here she explains the company's latest partnership.

“

The unique, real-time solution was developed to create a system that is robust enough to stand up to the evidence thresholds required in court.

e are pleased to announce that Club Insure is working with real time checklist systems Isitchecked. This is a brand new, real-time solution for our clients. Using Isitchecked can effectively aid the defence of litigation claims which may be let down by missed or poor quality paper checklists. What is it? Isitchecked is a unique, real-time checklist system with timestamp and GPS capabilities. It can be customised to any business, from a small bar or social club to an extensive hotel or catering business, and many more. Isitchecked was developed following a failure to provide sufficient compliance and evidential value to defend against slip/trip and many other claims using paper checklists. The unique, real-time solution was developed to create a system that is robust enough to stand up to the evidence thresholds required in court. Developed over a two year period it was extensively tested in a fully operational venue (capacity of approximately 2000) with several thousand customers per week. One of the actions that became apparent was that where paper checks were being completed every 30 minutes, with Isitchecked the same checks were recorded by different staff every 4-7 minutes. This was a dramatic improvement over paper. Recent example of defence of Premises Licence In Merseyside, a series of test purchases took place where actors impersonated intoxicated customers.

62 CLUB FOOTBALL

Screen capture of redacted report. This was part of the ‘Challenge 21’ programme and enabled licensing officers to identify premises which may be in breach of The Licensing Act 2003 (not selling alcohol to already intoxicated customers). The premises used in this example was an independent bar that had, for a number of years, used a Compliance Management system to conduct staff training and had been using Isitchecked for nine months. Not only was the test purchaser refused service by a member of staff, but a QR code had been used to record the ‘Refusals’ – a ‘refusal record’ is a requirement and is essential – Paper records can be lost, Isitchecked cannot. This report had 46 entries in a six month period where bar staff had refused to serve alcohol as the customer appeared too intoxicated. A further 52 people were recorded by security staff at the

”

entrance as ‘refused entry’ as they appeared too intoxicated. Having spoken to the venue’s specialist licensing solicitors, they agreed that even if the test purchase had failed, the evidence of refusals would have demonstrated that the premises had a solid system in place. This would have enabled the premises to use the ‘due diligence defence’ should the license have been subject to review. When claims are made it is crucial that personnel perform with efficiency, diligence and speed. This can play an important part in the process and the outcome. The successful defence of a claim requires that fully documented procedures are in place and are adhered to. Each company check list needs to be retained should it become appropriate to provide them as evidence. Claimants that wish to pursue any matter have a three year period from the date of the incident in which to do so. Having checklists to hand three years on is easy with Isitchecked which is why we’re delighted to introduce it to Club Mirror readers.

CONTACT DETAILS Club Insure covers all aspects of club insurance from start to finish, with Account Handlers and Claims Managers under one roof. Club Insure Ltd are multi award winning insurance brokers specialising in tailor made insurance policies for sports and social clubs in the UK. Victoria Romero-Trigo, Director Club Insure Ltd, Romero House, 8 Airport West, Lancaster Way, Yeadon, Leeds LS19 7ZA e. Victoria.romero-trigo@club-insure.co.uk t. 0844 488 9204 www.club-insure.co.uk

ASK THE EXPERTS – PERSONNEL CHALLENGES

Look after your staff to look after your members The personal savings and insurance gap in the UK has been well publicised. It’s now clear that successive governments want to transfer some responsibility for addressing this onto employers. Bright Wealth Management Director Ian Crombleholme explores some of the issues that all employers will need to address.

et’s face it, when it comes to managing a club there are always too many things to do on a daily basis and not enough hours in the day. This means that club managers may have little time to think about their own financial objectives, or protecting their club from the many risks that may derail their progress. Taking a step back to look at the longterm situation is not always a priority. As a result, planning your own and your employees’ financial security can become daunting, neglected or completely overlooked. However, help is never too far away. In addition to looking after personal finances there are many aspects of corporate financial planning for club managers to consider. Tax mitigation, managing the club’s cash balances and protecting against various risks are all good examples, but two areas in particular are of key significance. Employee benefits Rather than being a ‘nice to have’, an effective employee benefit strategy should be viewed as a tool to help retain key personnel and recruit new talent. There is a wide range of options under the heading of employee benefits. You should take time to discuss these with an expert. Find out which employee benefits are appropriate for your staff. Flexible benefits – allows employees to create a benefits package that meets their own individual needs. This enables you to respond flexibly to the requirements of potential recruits. Salary sacrifice arrangements – this allows employees access to tax-efficient benefits and helps reduce employers’ National Insurance costs at the same time. Private Medical Insurance – This can help protect your employees’ health and wellbeing thereby reducing their potential absence from work when, for example, waiting for medical treatment. Group Life, Income Protection and Critical Illness – these are important benefits that not only form a key part of a comprehensive employee benefits package but could also enable you to manage your club more effectively by: • Providing the means to support your employees

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and their families financially during a particularly difficult time. • Allowing you to recruit temporary employees. • Providing access to a range of rehabilitation services, employee assistance programmes and absence management services that assist you to meet your statutory obligations and manage employee absence more effectively. The Workplace Pension It’s likely you’ve seen or heard the adverts regarding the Workplace Pension, but despite all the coverage there continues to be questions and uncertainty. In simple terms, if you employ at least one person you will need to comply with the automatic enrolment legislation. This means you have a legal obligation to offer a pension scheme. You will have to enrol certain employees into that pension scheme auto-

matically and also pay money into their pension pots. You are also obliged to let your other employees know they can join too. It sounds straightforward but it can quickly become complicated. The process begins once you have found or been sent your ‘staging date’ via the Pensions Regulator. At this point the clock is ticking. You will need to comply with the legislation by this date or you could receive a fine. Put into context, a small business with 20 employees that doesn’t comply on time would be fined £400, and for continued non-compliance could attract further fines of £500 a day. So to avoid incurring any penalties, planning is essential. It is possible to set up a scheme yourself, but it’s not recommended unless you have experience in this field. The sheer number of hours that this kind of undertaking can leach from you and your team’s schedules can be quite staggering.

Five steps for automatic enrolment How to set up your Workplace Pension for automatic enrolment so you can get on with what’s important to you – running your club. 1. Find out your staging date The date you need to comply with your automatic enrolment duties is called your ‘staging date’. The Pensions Regulator will write to you telling you what your staging date is. Alternatively you can find this out yourself on their website – all you need is your company’s PAYE reference. 2. Check your payroll software is up to speed Most payroll software is compatible with automatic enrolment and will work out who you need to put into a pension scheme for you. In some cases, you may need to make some changes to your payroll software. 3. Select a pension provider This can be complex and time consuming. You can attempt to research the myriad of options yourself or alternatively appoint a Financial Adviser with automatic enrolment experience to research, recommend and set up the scheme on your behalf. 4. Communicate the changes to your employees You’ll need to tell your employees what’s happening. This includes those who don’t need to be put into the pension scheme automatically, as they’ll still have the option to join if they want to. 5. Complete your declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator The final step is to complete the declaration of compliance with The Pensions Regulator within five months of your staging date. You’ll find the pension scheme details you need to do this by logging into your Online Services account.

With government pushing companies to close the personal savings and insurance gap, now is the time to act. Selecting a pension scheme, checking your payroll software, communicating to staff and finally submitting your declaration of compliance to the Pensions Regulator can all pose their own challenges and cause delays if not tackled correctly. Once you have set up the scheme for your employees there’s also the matter of ongoing maintenance to ensure the scheme remains compliant and that the underlying investments are performing to an acceptable standard. The Workplace pension and automatic enrolment can be a challenge but with careful planning, time and the correct support it is something that all clubs should take in their stride. Of course, many clubs will have already implemented pension/employee benefits schemes in the past. Regular reviews are recommended to ensure you are providing the best possible solutions to your employees and that the costs to the club remain competitive.

Finally, but most crucially, it is vital to ensure that your staff genuinely understand any employee benefits provision that you may operate. If employees don’t understand their employer’s provisions for pensions and insurances, it’s possible they could be wasting money on unnecessary private arrangements or be unaware of potential tax issues further down the line. Ensuring that staff properly understand their employer’s pension/employee benefit provision will also make sure the employer gets value for money on their spend in this area. If your staff do not understand what is being provided they will not attach much value to it. The value of the pension can go down as well as up. The member may get back less than they invested. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time and depend on individual circumstances.

Bright Wealth Management* Bright was established in 2003 and became a Partner Practice of St. James’s Place Wealth Management in 2013. As a multi-office practice, Bright Wealth Management service a client bank spread throughout the UK. “We have continued to grow by always putting people at the heart of everything we do. This is why we have confidence that our clients receive the best possible advice and support for their long-term financial futures,” says Ian. “As a proud new Corporate associate of CMAE, the Bright Wealth Management team and I extend our expertise to all members to help you achieve your financial goals.” To discuss your financial situation, review your existing finances or to start planning the financial future of your club, feel free to contact Ian Crombleholme. t. 07796 442 669 e. i.crombleholme@brightwm.co.uk www.brightwm.co.uk

*Bright Wealth Management is a trading name of Bright FS Limited. The Partner Practice represents only St. James’s Place Wealth Management plc (which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority) for the purpose of advising solely on the Group’s wealth management products and services, more details of which are set out on the Group’s website www.sjp.co.uk/products. The ‘St. James’s Place Partnership’ and the titles ‘Partner’ and ‘Partner Practice’ are marketing terms used to describe St. James’s Place representatives.

CLUB FOOTBALL 65

ASK THE EXPERTS – TORO

Awordwith...

Andy Brown Toro’s Andy Brown takes time out to chat with Club Football about fleet management, buying practices and industry trends. At what point does it make sense to give up the ghost on maintaining old equipment and invest in new? Obviously clubs will make decisions based on their own individual circumstances. What we generally find is that, for example, golf clubs which are looking to maintain the standard of their course will probably be looking at changing their machinery once it costs them more to maintain it than it’s actually worth. It does depend on the piece of equipment and machines that are used more frequently – day-in, day-out. Greens mowers, for example, will most likely be changed at about the four-year mark on average. That’s the point at which the maintenance bills match the value. Fairway mowers and other equipment that is used less frequently will probably be changed around the six-year mark, although it does depend on the circumstances. Then you have specialist equipment which might be kept for longer. There are no hard and fast rules on this but clubs will often analyse the cost of maintaining equipment against its value. If the products are owned by the club, that becomes an individual decision. If they’ve leased the product over a period of time, often that will be a five-year lease and the piece of equipment will be traded out at that point. The critical thing is for clubs to take advice from experts in the field, whether that’s their local dealer, representatives of manufacturers, or discussions with other clubs in similar situations. Every club is unique in the way they operate and maintain their grounds. Their business and accounting practices will be unique to themselves as well and so the decision to buy equipment and machines outright and use a CAPEX procedure or to consider leasing, is very much down to how they run their operation. With new investment from manufacturers all the time, how can clubs be sure that they’re buying the best machine for the job? There are several factors at play here. Obviously manufacturers are bringing out new models or vari-

66 CLUB FOOTBALL

Andy Brown

ations on machinery and clubs will want to see a machine demonstration on their own premises so that they can see it in operation. It would be very unusual for someone to buy a machine without having tried it first. There’s a lot of advice out there from the main manufacturers as well as other industry consultants. But the majority of clubs deal directly with their dealer or distributor and they would have detailed demonstrations and operation training at the same time so they can see how the machine operates on their own premises. What about the trade-in market? If you look at the analogy with cars, if you were buying a new one you’d be looking to trade in your old one to offset the cost and it’s similar with machines. Unless of course you’re buying a machine to add into your fleet. Trade-in values are important and when you are considering which machine to purchase the trade-in value of a machine after a certain time is important. Most of the manufacturers will offer a guaranteed trade-in value after three years,

four years and five years – that’s obviously dependent on the hours of use and that it’s been maintained to the manufacturer’s standards. The second-hand market is very important in the UK. We have a lot of clubs that are not always looking to buy new equipment and often look for machinery which is coming out of another club but has good life left in it. You’ll also see machines being taken on at amateur level and being kept going for a number of years. This is very common in cricket where you’ll see amateur clubs purchasing a secondhand ride-on greens mowers, surround mowers or hand mowers to maintain their facility. If a club has bought a machine outright and an updated version of the machine comes out, it’s not sensible to swap it out, but if that machine is on a lease then it does become more of an option. There would possibly be an increase in the lease payment but often an existing machine can be swapped out for the updated version. What we would try to do, of course, is to advise clubs about what new models are coming in at a particular point in time and if they wanted to hang on until that particular model became available, then they could do so. Also, machines can be rented for short periods in the interim until the new machine is available on the market. Biggest issue clubs face when choosing new equipment? The biggest issue is cost. Greenkeepers are being asked to do more with less resources, whether that’s people or whether that’s machinery. So, over the last decade our focus has very much been on productivity while ensuring that the standard of quality of cut is maintained; there’s no point in managing to cut the grass very quickly if the quality of the cut at the end of the process is not what you’re looking for. When we design a new machine, we start with ‘what is the quality of cut that is required’ and focus on that first and then we go back and build the machine that allows you to do that in the most productive time that you can. We spend a lot of time talking to operators about what their needs are. It’s

Toro in action at Manchester United, Manchester City and the Roehampton club.

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL Summary of your career pathway? I’m Head of Sales for Europe, Middle East and Africa for all of Toro’s golf and sports businesses and municipalities. My role covers golf equipment and irrigation. I’m an Irrigation Engineer by profession and, after University, started my career in the agricultural development world, working in Egypt training irrigation technicians across the country so that they could start growing food in the desert. Then I ran my own landscape irrigation contracting and distribution business, before eventually joining Toro in 1999. Best thing about your role? I love the variety of the job, meeting people in different countries and cultures, all trying to do the best that they can in the world they’re involved in, whether that be golf, other sports or parks, etc.

important from both sides – they get an understanding of what we’re doing and also get to put their own fingerprints on some of the things that we’re going to do. Common problems you witness at clubs? The most common problem for clubs is being asked to do more with less resources. If a golf club, for example, is not developing the revenues that they need to maintain the standards or to continue to invest, then over time that will build up to a point where they will be starting to lose members, green fees and corporate business because their standards are not being maintained to the same level as their competitor golf clubs. The challenge for the course manager is to make the case. For the general manager and other people in the club the challenge is to understand where the value is and where the priorities lie. A classic dilemma would be do you buy a new carpet for the clubhouse or do you buy a new greens mower? There comes a point when you have to do both but which is the priority is based on the current circumstances. What do you see as the biggest revolution in equipment in recent years? The big issues are fossil fuels, hybrid technology, the move to electric vehicles and machinery. That is happening now at a rapid pace with new models coming out every year trying to resolve the issue and we’re at the forefront of that. Labour is a huge issue for clubs with large ground and there’s a move towards robotics for autonomous mowing. These are areas that we’ve recognised over a number of years but it’s only now that the technology is start-

ing to become available, efficient and cost-effective. There are a number of robotic solutions which are out there, such as mowers which will mow within a particular area on the same principle as those vacuum cleaners which go around a room. There are other versions which use GPS locator systems which can be retrofit on a greens mower. Irrigation technology is also rapidly advancing with the use of soil moisture sensors and weather stations to provide real time data to the central control system, allowing for highly detailed water management. How can landlocked clubs with residential neighbours combat noise pollution? This goes back to the question of technological advances in equipment. We’ve developed hand mowers which are fully powered by Ni-Cad Lithium batteries in the past five years and clubs are using them specifically to counter noise pollution if they have housing nearby and need to use them early in the morning. We’re also producing hybrid mowers. That technology will continue to develop. What about the issue of fleet management? When we talk about fleet management it’s basically a strategic plan to manage the investment and maintain the product to the right standard to allow you to produce the results that you need within the restrictions you have. So, if you have a certain amount of staff and a certain amount of money you manage your fleet accordingly to match those parameters. The key is to plan, to understand what machines you’ve got, what its lifespan is, whether you’re buying or leasing. The key is to sit down and make a detailed plan for your particular grounds.

Worst thing? Spending too much time in front of spreadsheets and also keeping up with emails and admin, particularly when I’m travelling, which is often. Important diary dates? The Open Championship is always a big date in the diary as there will be a lot of industry people there to catch up with. Going towards the end of the calendar year – October/November – when customers are thinking about what their needs are for the next year. Sport and government? I’d like the industry to have more communication with the government so that they understand the value that our world brings to the country. How do you relax? Golf, family trips abroad and gardening. First record you ever bought? It was the original Eagles album back in the mid-1970s. Last live event you attended? The Who at the Royal Albert Hall where my son was working with the sound crew. Do you belong to any clubs? Frilford Heath Golf Club.

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ASK THE EXPERTS – HEINEKEN UK

Awordwith...

Simon Gray Simon Gray, Heineken Smart Dispense Commercial Manager takes time out to share HEINEKEN UK’s vision for clubs. HEINEKEN works with partners, like BT Sport, to create footfall-driving opportunities built around major sporting occasions. As the only provider with screening rights for all UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football along with its 38 Barclays Premier League matches, the BT Sport and HEINEKEN partnership gives clubs a great opportunity to encourage consumers through the door during mid-week evenings and at the weekends. As well as televised sports, members are also looking for other reasons to come into clubs, whether it’s a quiz night, live music or a darts competition. Events like these are a great way for clubs to differentiate themselves and increase footfall. HEINEKEN offers a range of POS and marketing support to help clubs enhance the consumer experience and encourage more people to spend more in outlet more often. We also offer our customers expert advice on ranging targeted specifically to their business. Having the right breadth in your range allows you to maximise profits by stocking more brands that appeal to more

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Simon Gray consumers at different prices. This creates greater choice and encourages people to trade up to more premium options at higher profit margins. As the number one supplier in the beer and cider

category in the UK, HEINEKEN is able to offer clubs an extensive portfolio of leading brands. As well as the classics such as Strongbow, Foster’s and John Smith’s, we have a range of world beers (Heineken®, Amstel, Birra Moretti, Desperados, K1664, Tiger, Red Stripe and Sol), craft beers (Maltsmiths, Lagunitas and Coast to Coast) and more premium ciders such as Bulmers, Orchard Thieves, Old Mout and Blind Pig. Trading up consumers to more premium brands allows your business to develop and grow, as there is more margin to be made. With 45% of consumers readily admitting they don’t know what they’re going to order until they get to the bar, there is everything to play for. So if any of our customers aren’t sure what is the best range for their outlet, I’d strongly encourage them to contact their local HEINEKEN

UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL What clubs do you belong to? I’m a member of our local Sports and Social club – no surprise, they have SmartDispense installed, so I know they will serve great quality pint every time. I’m also a Forest supporter and hope they can return to their European winning ways… some day! What was your first job? I was a free trade sales manager for John Smith’s back in the early ‘90’s, visiting clubs and pubs in North Nottinghamshire. Great times… Best bit about your current role? Seeing the smile on people’s faces and hearing the positive customer comments when they experience a perfectly poured SmartDispense pint for the first time. What makes you leap out of bed in the morning? Working in such an exciting and ever changing industry means I learn something new every day. Biggest influence in your working life? My first boss at John Smith’s (now retired) was a supportive and respectful manager who loved to win but also have some fun along the way. A great example and a true recipe for success. What book are you reading? Archangel by Robert Harris. What is the first record you ever bought? Denis Denis by Blondie. team to find out which of our extensive range of beers and ciders can help to grow their sales. One of my main responsibilities is to manage the team which looks after our quality draught beer dispense system, SmartDispense – and it’s an area that I am particularly passionate about. In the UK, enjoying a draught beer is a cultural institution, but one tradition that needed updating was the old-fashioned equipment used to cool and serve the beer and cider. We developed SmartDispense to improve beer quality and drive operational efficiency. As well as guaranteeing that every pint is great quality, SmartDispense reduces waste and costs and is more environmentally friendly. In addition, the support we offer takes away some of the operational headaches of running a busy club, such as line cleaning.

The quality of the first pint is a big factor in whether a customer will choose to buy a second, so it’s crucial that clubs are offering the highest quality experience to their consumers, consistently. Clean, branded glassware and correct pour also play a vital role in creating the perfect drinking experience, helping boost sales and profits. We’re getting brilliant feedback from our SmartDispense customers and they in turn are getting a really positive response from their customers. People clearly enjoy the consistently cold fresh beer and cider that SmartDispense delivers; not only does it help the club’s reputation, but it means they sell more. Club management also love the fact that line cleaning is done by HEINEKEN every four weeks, saving time and hassle.

Last live event you attended? The Retro Festival – bands from the 80s and 90s bought back fond memories. Favourite tipple for relaxing after a hard day? A COLD and crisp pint of Strongbow – nothing better after a long day, then maybe sip and savour a lovely pint of Heineken®. How do you unwind/relax? I love to go hiking with family and friends, especially if the destination involves a pint or two – Cheers!

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BRANDS REPORT 2017 – SPIRITS

TheUK’s top10 – club spirits brands

The annual and exclusive Top Club Brands Report in association with CGA Strategy reveals the club stalwarts and the new favourites, starting with the UK’s Top 10 club spirits brands. Mark Newton and Ashley Cairns report*.

he Spirits sector continues to be a key driver for the total UK on trade – and football clubs are no exception to this. While the market here may continue to be dominated by mainstream brands, there is no doubt that the innovations seen throughout the category helps to focus customer interest irrespectively. In the broader trade premiumisation continues to be a buzz word, cocktails remain important too as are the continuing developments within premium mixers. Innovation is a core factor and micro distilleries and unique in house serves are all helping to keep

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interest in the category high. For sports and social clubs further rebranding, and new brand extensions, are likely. The top brands listed in this report are ranked based on total current GB MAT volume performance over a combined two year period for each brand shown – along with their UK distributor (or owner). With the overall 10 brands remaining the same as previous – albeit with some minor movement – showing the continuing power of the big brands within the segment and the importance of brand recognition and value for money for many club drinkers. *Details as at January 2017

#1 Smirnoff Red

ABV: 37.5% Diageo GB

#2 Famous Grouse

The biggest vodka (and spirit) brand in clubland. Visibility continues to be increased with the help of exposure at festivals last summer with ‘House of Smirnoff’ and the ‘we are open’ campaign on TV.

#3 Gordon’s

ABV: 37.5% Diageo GB

The largest Scotch in the GB on-trade, it continues to be a major success in the club market. The brand brought back the iconic ‘The Bird’ advertisements on TV over the Christmas period and is targeting millennials with the Naked Grouse variant.

#4 Bell’s

Gin as a category is continuing to go from strength to strength. Gordon’s launched a new bottle in autumn 2016 that has been rolled out in the on and off-trade to give the brand an update and a slicker look.

#5 Bacardi Carta Blanca

ABV: 37.5% Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands

ABV: 40% Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands

#6 Courvoisier VS ***

ABV: 35% Cellar Trends Jagermeister is the most popular non-cream liqueur in the club sector by a considerable margin, mirroring its continuing success in the wider on-trade. Innovation in serve continues to be key and the ‘Ice Cold’ shot is currently flying the flag for the brand.

ABV: 40% Maxxium The 10th biggest spirit in the GB on-trade, this is the biggest cognac in the sector. More recently, its ‘Toast of Paris’ cocktail competition has returned bringing even more focus to the brand.

#8 Captain Morgan Spiced Rum

Still the most well-known bourbon brand in the UK on-trade. Jack Daniel’s enjoys solid support from the club market with variants such as Honey also now becoming well established, and new developments such as Jack Daniel’s Fire adding to the portfolio.

#9 Jagermeister

ABV: 40% Diageo GB One of the most easily recognisable brands in the traditional club spirits market, the profile of Bell’s remains high, especially with its continued work with Help for Heroes. This has now raised over £1 million for the armed forces’ charity.

While Bacardi may be focusing more on the late night, high tempo area of the market with the mojito serve, many club drinkers still enjoy this flexible rum, which goes down well with a wide variety of mixers.

#7 Jack Daniel’s

ABV: 40% Maxxium UK

ABV:35% Diageo GB

Golden/ spiced remains the fastest growing rum style and Captain Morgan is undoubtedly the biggest brand in this sector. More recently, the introduction of a new white variant has provided customers with the option of a complete brand rum range from which to choose.

#10 Baileys

ABV: 17% Diageo GB This iconic cream liqueur is moving forward by driving association with cocktails and coffee as a means of diversifying the brand. The flat white martini is its main cocktail, however simple Baileys and coffee is also being pushed as a different option.

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BRANDS REPORT 2017 – PACKAGED AND RTDS

TheUK’s top – club packaged beers, ciders and ready to drink brands Packaged drinks remain hugely important to many sports and social clubs with the fridge as crucial a focus to customers as the back bar and the beer font.*

hile the makeup of the fridge itself has evolved over time, tradition and big brand recognition remains crucial for many club drinkers. This is reflected in the continued success of the vast majority of key brands within the following lists. The report splits out the key sub categories from packaged world lager to RTDs, stout and low/ nonalcoholic beers. The top brands listed within each are ranked based on total current GB MAT volume performance (CGA Strategy On Premise Measurement Service P12 2016) in each of the key packaged sub-categories over a combined two year period for each brand shown – along with their UK distributor (or owner). Where applicable, either a Top 3 rank or a single key brand – depending on overall category size – is included.

PACKAGED READY TO DRINK (ALCOPOPS/SPIRIT MIXERS)

#1 WKD

#2 VK

WKD continues to innovate to maintain interest in the category. In 2016, this revolved around some new extensions to the range called ‘NKD’. Same ABV as WKD but less than half the calories and a lighter taste profile, so can be enjoyed alongside food.

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*Details as at January 2017

VK still offers a wide range of flavour options helping it to remain a popular and competitively priced choice for those looking for a classic vodka based RTD.

#3 Crabbie’s While Crabbie’s sponsorship of the Grand National may have ended, the brand is still sponsoring high profile sports across the board. This year they are sponsoring the Scottish Rugby team until the end of the 2017 season. They also sponsored TFI Friday in 2016 when it returned to Channel 4.

PACKAGED CIDER

#1 Kopparberg

#2 Magners Kopparberg enjoys a broad appeal through the wide selection of flavoured packaged variants available. This position is likely to be consolidated with further product innovation such as their recent move into a fruit flavoured premium packaged lager option.

#3 Bulmers

This ever popular Irish cider has continued to maintain a dominant position in the packaged cider market. The brand’s new ‘hold true’ campaign combined with a packaging re-design has helped to cement Magners’ place in the top rankings.

While the broad flavour range of Bulmers is key to success the brand is offering further innovation with the availability of 500ml bottles, and the release of a new ‘Orchard Pioneers’ range of two premium apple ciders in 2017.

PACKAGED WORLD LAGER

#1 Corona

#2 Peroni Nastro Azzurro Regular large scale marketing campaigns help ensure that Corona remains at the front of drinkers’ minds and package innovations such as the smaller 21cl Coronita bottle help to broaden appeal further.

#3 Tiger While Mexican beers are still very popular in the club sector, this year Tiger has brought a little bit of Far Eastern exotica to the world lager sector courtesy of continued support from UK brand owner Heineken.

The overall popularity of Peroni in the wider trade means that it continues to enjoy good sales across the club market. Peroni have also launched a gluten free variant catering to the growing ‘free from’ beer market.

PACKAGED PREMIUM LAGER

#1 Budweiser

#2 Beck’s Budweiser continues to focus strongly on football within its promotional campaigns but has also broadened its outlook into music/festivals and a classic US/GB link to BBQs.

#3 Desperados Although no longer in major growth in a crowded fridge, the draught Desperados distribution rolling out will take the brand on to the front of the bar in a bid to entice consumers into staying in the beer category later into the night.

While Beck’s Vier may have cornered the brands draught market across the UK on-trade, there is no doubt that many packaged lager drinkers still look to the more traditional branding and taste of Beck’s original packaged in clubland.

PACKAGED STANDARD LAGER

#1 Coors Light

#2 Carlsberg Jean-Claude Van Damme is still the figurehead of Coors’ highly successful TV campaign. The brand has also focused additional marketing towards the younger end of the market over the last 12 months.

PACKAGED STOUT

#1 GUINNESS

#3 Foster’s

PACKAGED ALES

#1 NEWCASTLE BROWN A lot of current packaged Guinness activity is still being driven by innovation - with increased interest in the brand helped by the launch of its Hop House 13 lager variant and Guinness Rye.

Foster’s has moved away from its comedy associations to sponsor the English Cricket Board in 2016, running activity particularly over the summer months.

Remains one of the highest profile brands in the club sector. Always close to major sports events, the last year saw extra high visibility as sponsors of the Euro 2016 football championships whilst 2017 brings a limited edition bottle inspiredby Danish design.

This iconic beer remains extremely popular in clubland and innovation in the form of Brown Ale on Draught (currently being trialled) could bring it to a wider audience still.

PACKAGED LOW/NO ALCOHOL BEERS

#1 BECKS BLUE Beck’s Blue remains the most popular low/non-alcohol beer brand in the club sector by a considerable margin. It is an ideal option for the designated driver, or the drinker wishing to avoid too much alcohol.

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BRANDS REPORT 2017 – CASK AND KEG

TheUK’s top10 – club draught cask and keg beer brands Draught beer – whether cask or (more particularly) keg – remains in a strong position with many drinkers in the sports and social club sector, and this is reflected in its continuing popularity across all styles in football clubs across the country.*

he massive explosion of interest in ‘craft beer’ within the wider UK on-trade over the last few years has helped to ensure that the category retains its importance, even if the key brands remain big name national and ‘super regional’ offerings. The list here is ranked based on total current GB MAT volume performance (CGA Strategy On Premise Measurement Service P12 2016) for each brand by aggregated cask and/or keg variants over a combined two year period.

TOP 10 TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR CASK ALE IN PERFECT CONDITION AS YOU PASS IT ACROSS THE BAR Steps

Why?

1. Take pride in your cellar – ensure that the cellar and all equipment is scrupulously clean

Beer is classed as a food product. Poor hygiene is one of the biggest causes of infected beer and wastage

2. Ensure you order the correct size of casks that you can sell through within three days of being put on sale

After three days the quality of cask ale deteriorates very quickly resulting in off flavours and aromas. Reduce your range in off-peak times

3. All beer should be stored in a temperature controlled cellar, maintained at between 11°C and 13°C Either way, flavour is always affected resulting in returned beer

Too cold: Casks are slow to condition and can appear ‘hazy’ – a chill haze Too warm: Casks over condition and the shelf life is shortened

4. Stillage casks as soon as they are delivered. Use self tilting stillages if possible

This gives the beer plenty of time to settle before you start conditioning the beer. Self tilts improve yields

5. Clean the beer lines every seven days between regular weekly line cleaning and improved sales

Yeast build up in the lines results on fobbing and off-flavours. There is a direct correlation

6. Do hard peg cask ales at the end of the night

This ensures cask ale will be kept in perfect condition for three days

7. Always do the CAT test on cask ale in the cellar before pulling through the lines – check Clarity, Aroma and Taste

If the beer is not fully conditioned the beer in the lines may have to be disposed of

8. Using a thermometer, regularly check the temperature of the liquid in the glass. Cask ales should be 11-13°C, standard lagers and smooths should be 5-8°C, extra cold products 2-5°C

Don’t let your customers become your Quality Control department – they vote with their feet and won’t return if the temperature is inconsistent

9. Clean the glasswasher thoroughly once a week and don’t put anything other than glasses in the machine. Renovate glassware regularly

A good product can be ruined by a dirty glass – and it can affect your yields

10. Train staff how to dispense the beer correctly without over-spilling

Overpouring or incorrect dispense techniques can ruin the product and result in massive stock losses

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*Details as at January 2017

#1 John Smith’s

ABV: 3.8% Heineken UK

#2 Guinness

Although the Gold variant launched in 2015 is no longer part of the John Smith’s range this iconic bitter is still the dominant keg and cask ale brand in the club sector by far.

#3 Worthington’s

ABV: 3.6% Molson Coors

A lot of draught Guinness activity is still being driven by innovation with increased interest in the brand helped by the launch of their Hop House 13 lager variant and continued success of the ‘surger’.

#4 Tetley’s

This classic Midlands bitter remains one of the most popular keg beers in the sports and social club category with its Creamflow format retaining a large following.

#5 Greene King IPA

ABV: 3.6% Greene King

ABV: 4.0% Molson Coors

#6 Fuller’s London Pride

ABV: 3.6% Charles Wells The Charles Wells owned McEwan’s brand continues to find a healthy niche in the club sector. Best Scotch remains the biggest seller on the back of its continuing popularity in the North East of England.

ABV: 4.1% Fuller, Smith & Turner PLC Sports remain an important connection for London Pride. While the South East remains its heartland, additional visibility is being further developed country-wide through sponsorships with organisations such as England Golf.

#8 Brew XI

This highly successful Molson Coors brand is still the biggest selling cask ale in GB. Sports sponsorship and events tend to be of a nautical flavour to reflect the beer’s Cornish heritage and even include sponsoring the annual London Beach Rugby event.

#9 McEwan’s Best Scotch

ABV: 3.6% Carlsberg UK Tetley’s is the quintessential Yorkshire brew and is still extremely popular in sports, social and working men’s clubs across the north of England.

Greene King IPA’s continuing success has been helped by the further sporting links that have been cemented in 2016 with the deal to make it the official beer of England cricket on a five year agreement.

#7 Sharp’s Doom Bar

ABV: 4.1% Diageo

ABV: 3.6% Molson Coors A one-time Mitchells & Butlers brand, this traditional best bitter, now in the Molson Coors portfolio – once upon a time “brewed for the men of the Midlands” – retains a hard core following in that area of clubland.

#10 Marston’s Pedigree

ABV: 4.5% Marston’s Pedigree or ‘P’ as it was originally known, is an iconic amber ale brand that has seen some significant contemporary re-branding in recent times to focus interest in a younger club-land demographic.

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WINE REPORT

Wine – premiumisation and polarisation Over the last couple of years the wine category has all been about sparkling wine, particularly Prosecco. This remains very much a trend of primary importance. However, there are a number of other moves within the category that should also be brought into the spotlight. CGA’s Mark Newton and Ashley Cairns report.

remiumisation has been something of a buzzword in the wine sector. But now there’s an extra dimension to add to this – polarisation. It is not the mainstream, budget end of the market that is seeing the greatest effect from this move towards more expensive, higher quality wines. The middle market is now the major battle ground where share is being lost. Old and New World wine also remains a clear battle front as traditional countries such as France

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still make the most of the move away from budget wine brands which are more the mainstay of countries such Australia, and South Africa. The ever increasing focus on casual dining and the out-of-home eating sector has also re-focused the traditional relationship with wine and food and this makes its presence felt across the whole GB on-trade. Finally, there is a new buzz in the category which is all about the serve. The success of Prosecco has reignited interest in draught wine,

but this is only part of the story. Relatively new technologies such as Coravin and Enomatic wine dispense systems are becoming more accessible and affordable, which offers a whole new lease of life to the ‘by the glass’ serve. Polarisation and premiumisation The whole ‘quality not quantity’ ethos is very much at play here – especially for special occasions. Equally there will always be a safe place sales wise for value wines; some people just cannot afford to

As customers have become more educated about wine, there has been a slow but sure re-emergence in Old World styles – particularly good news for France and Italy.

spend more, and/or are reassured by cheaper, mainstream brands (many of which they will also drink on promotion from the supermarket). This area of the market remains reasonably strong at the moment. It is, therefore, the middle mainstream £15-£20 bracket that is getting squeezed more and more – hence the added concept of polarisation. Sparkling wine – the (continuing) Prosecco effect Over the last 12 months talk about sparkling wine and Prosecco has continued to hit trade headlines – indeed the category is still enjoying growth of over +40% volume and value year on year. Much has been made of the legal moves by Prosecco producers regarding the rights to use the name. Equally there have been scaremongering stories regarding lack of supply based on overwhelming demand and struggling production. Ever greater choice – from both Old and New World alternatives – appears to be the outcome and as a result the market will no doubt become ever more competitive, with price (balanced with quality/ value for money) likely to become a key cornerstone going forward. Old vs New World As customers have become more educated on wine, there has been a slow but sure re-emergence in Old World styles. This has been particularly good news for France and Italy, with a greater

selection of good quality, but competitively priced, wines becoming more easily available across the on-trade and providing a volume and value uplift of c.+2% against New World options. Mainstream branded New World wines remain highly popular in the off-trade, especially when on supermarket special offer. But this is no longer enough for many on-trade consumers. If they have to pay more in their local club than when making a trip to the off licence they want a different, better experience. Many now see the Old World as providing that opportunity. Draught and by the glass Draught wine in the traditional sense is at a strange crossroads. We don’t see the old still wine draught dispense gaining broader traction outside traditional ‘heartland’ retail operations such as mainstream branded food – the concept is still too firmly ingrained as too mainstream, low quality in the eyes of many customers (whether this is deserved or not). This, of course, isn’t the case for sparkling as the huge success of Glera/Frizzante, the legal name for draught Prosecco, has shown. Many suppliers are also seeing some considerable success with new alternatives into that side of the market and it is likely we will see new sparkling wine successes during 2016/17. In still wine the concept of the Coravin and Enomatic style wine dispense systems appears to be getting a lot of support from suppliers right

now. This being so, the potential to expand the more premium ‘by the glass option’ is significant. Up until now the capital investment in such systems might have scuppered the deal for many, but now more retailers can have the opportunity to bring added appeal to customers and the potential additional margin they can put into the till. For those not in a position to take advantage of these new technologies just yet, 187ml single serve bottles are still seeing +9.2% volume increases year on year. Wine and food The popularity of casual dining has further boosted the interest in food and drink combinations. Whilst many consumers and producers are looking to new pairings, such as craft beer and cider, to provide alternatives there is no doubt that wine remains at the forefront for many customers. This is something that retailers can take advantage of with sensible matching and competitive pricing options. It is some years since so many factors have influenced the on-trade wine category all together. This suggests that opportunity exists across all segments of the market – where one trend does not apply, another may very well fit perfectly. As the cost of adopting new serve technology likely drops in the medium/ long term, this may very well be a perfect chance for some sports and social clubs to increase both storage convenience and profit margin in the future. *All data shown is CGA Brand Index 2015.

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RUNNING A BEER FESTIVAL

All Hail the Ale A quality cask ale offer reflects well on any football club. It is often seen as a benchmark for the club’s overall quality; research shows that clubs and pubs that build a reputation for keeping consistently excellent ales are more likely to experience an upturn in all trade, including food sales.

he cask ale drinker has remained loyal to the licensed trade, continuing to head out for a sociable drink. Meeting their needs and recruiting more of them is therefore an essential and logical way to increase sales and generate sustainable business for your club. Cask ale popularity is growing and out performs all other beer categories, now accounting for 57% of all on-trade draught ale (versus 43% keg)1 – and it’s set to achieve 20% of on-trade beer and 70% of ontrade ale by 20202.

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1 2

Cask Ale Report 2015-16 Cask Ale Report 2015-16

Range and beer styles As demand and interest in cask ale continues to grow, cask beer drinkers are looking for more premium, quality drinks, crafted with natural ingredients and genuine regional provenance, leading to a trend in seeking out different taste and flavour experiences. So you can understand why more and more beer drinkers are enjoying the variety of flavours that can only be found in a delicious pint of real ale.

Aim to have a balanced range of familiar ‘tried and trusted’ brands to re-assure new or occasional drinkers, alongside less familiar ‘guest’ brands that provide something a little different to encourage choice and experimentation for more experienced drinkers. It’s all about quality If you want to build a reputation for cask ale you need to deliver quality beer. It’s as simple – and as difficult! – as that.

loyal ones who keep coming back, and it’s repeat custom that keeps any business alive. Train staff and the customers will follow For your customers, the care and attention your staff pay towards pouring and serving has a large impact on their impression of your overall offer. Helping your staff to learn and develop a passion for what they are serving will also have a big impact on your sales. Even if you only have three beers on your bar, if your staff know what each beer is and what it tastes like they can encourage trial, upsell and make trusted recommendations that give your customers confidence. In fact last year, 30% of drinkers cited staff knowledge as increasing their confidence in a venue. Often drinkers will not know which beers are hoppier, and which are maltier for example – so any gentle nudges staff can provide will be helpful. The more ales you have and the more knowledge your staff have about them, the more confident your customers will feel in buying them.

1. Ordering – order the correct size of cask and aim to sell it within three days.

Make it an event With so many benefits to serving cask ale it only makes sense to create events and activities to encourage your non-cask drinkers to try cask ale for the first time – and with 41% of people saying the best place to try real ale is at a beer festival4, it’s the perfect event to show off your range and to impress. Cask Ale and beer festivals cash in on what customers want – an experience that cannot be replicated at home. Beer festivals are a great way to boost footfall and build a reputation for quality cask ale. Some ideas include:

4. Pegging & venting – all casks should be vented with soft porous pegs 2-6 hours after delivery. Check casks frequently and change peg if it becomes blocked. When strong fermentation has finished insert a hard, non porous peg. Remove that when serving and replace at the end of the session.

• TASTING PLATERS – a great way of encouraging experimentation and delivering a real tasting experience. • FOOD MATCHING – get your kitchen team involved to create a range of food or snacks to accompany each beer. • INVOLVE YOUR MEMBERS – hold a vote and let your members influence what they want to see on the bar on the big day. • REWARD – run a loyalty scheme to encourage return custom with prizes for attending the multiple events. • SAMPLING – offering ‘try before you buy’ from a small bespoke glass (shot glasses work well) drive interest and engagement. • LOCAL BEERS – choosing a regional or local beer can help create a sense of community. Yes it’s true that cask ale needs a lot of work, but it’s worth it. You need impeccable quality standards right from cellar management, to cleaning and maintaining the line equipment through to keeping your glasses clean. But all that effort is reflected in the rewards. While the value of a single visit of a cask ale drinker may be slightly lower, with 50% of cask ale drinkers visiting a venue once a week or more3, the value of their custom over their lifetime is considerably higher. Cask ale customers also tend to be very 3

Cask Ale Report 2015-16

TOP TIPS FOR THE PERFECT PINT

Publicising your club and events It may seem obvious but unless your members know what’s going on they won’t get involved. • POINT OF SALE – keep POS up to date and relevant with personalised banners, posters and flyers (and always advertise the next event before the first one is over!). • GO DIGITAL – 69% cask ale drinkers use Facebook once a month or more5 and social media is quick, easy and cost effective to tell your 4 5

Cask Ale Report 2015-16 YouGov survey for the Cask Report July 2015

2. Storage – check your cellar temperature. Casks must be stored in a temperature controlled cellar between 11-13°C. 3. Stillaging– all casks should be stillaged securely for at least three days before sale. If some have to be stillaged later, roll them first to allow the finings to work. Cask beers will usually drop bright within 48 hours, some brands may take a little longer.

5. Tapping – tap all casks 1-2 days before they go on sale. Always use a clean tap. 6. Sampling – sample beers for clarity, aroma and taste after tapping, and before serving each day. Always sample from the cask. 7. Serving – once on sale the beer is exposed to air, which begins to deteriorate the quality of the beer. Ideally, therefore, empty a cask within three days. 8. Tilting – gently tilt the cask when it’s between 1⁄2 and 2⁄3 full, either by raising the back or lowering the front by about three inches, whichever is easier. 9. Cleaning – clean the beer lines and equipment every week, using methods recommended by your cask supplier. 10. Don’t compromise – follow these tips and you will serve the perfect pint of cask ale.

members what’s going on. • LOCAL PRESS – create a press release or photo call about your event and send to local journalists. • CAMRA – Make your local group aware of your event. (Find contact details at www.camra.org.uk).

CLUB FOOTBALL 79

A portfolio that includes the

top 2 cask ale drinks * brandS in 2016

Wainwright number 1 cask ale brand in 2016*

Pedigree number 2 cask ale brand in 2016*

• 3 beers in the Top 100 Drinks List*

• Consumers want to see these beers on the bar • 3 great new looks

*The MA Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

Shipyard number 2 craft beer brand in 2016*

For more quality brands & services to drive your business, call Marston’s on 0800 587 0773

Behind the bar – time to shine

BEHIND THE BAR

So do you know your Rams from your Rovers and your Terriers from your Tigers? Up to speed on who’s spending most in the transfer stakes? Club Football proudly presents facts and figures to impress your members and astound supporters.

Food for thought

ver the coming pages we hope to turn you from a charming host to a charming host that knows more football trivia, facts and figures than your members and supporters on the other side of the bar. We look at players who’ve had food and drink named after them, examine who’s hot for FIFA 18, dig deep into the world of transfer fees and flag up who’s travelled what distances to keep their career alive and well(paid!). On the jokes side we’ve got some cracking one liners and some really lengthy ones with not a tumble weed in sight. And if you still can’t prove that you’re the biggest footie geek in town, turn the tables and grill members and supporters with a quirky quiz or two. And whilst you’re at it, check out their knowledge of club nicknames – obviously after you’ve swatted up on them all. Enjoy!

FIFA 18 – it’s only a game! FIFA 18 is heading our way soon. So who will be the highest rated players in the game? Will Ronaldo keep his crown? Goal.com predicts the ratings of the top 10 players.

Who’s been honoured by having food and drink named after them? Here’s a taster.

Flonaldo – a pistachio-flavoured ice cream named after Tore Andre Flo. Grillos – a sausage brand named after Egil Roger Olsen, AKA Drillo. The Beast – a sausage brand in Burnley named after Burnley goalkeeper Brian Jensen after a memorable performance against Arsenal which saw a local butcher create ‘The Beast with the Big Hands’. Radabeer – named after former Leeds United and South Africa captain Lucas Radabe. Gazza's Tears – a 12% cider created to commemorate that moving moment. Stewy Byrnes cocktail – a treble vodka, a Smirnoff Ice and half a can of Red Bull. The ‘Andy Porter’ – brewed during the late 1990s by the Titanic Brewery in honour of the Port Vale midfielder who made 357 appearances for the club. Poominator Ale – created to honour Sunderland goalkeeper Mart Poom. Chimblonda Ale – named after Pascal Chimbonda, the one off 4.3%,ABV brew used Challenger and Cascade hops. Faxe – a Danish lager in honour of Denmark and Arsenal midfielder John Jensen, nicknamed (you guessed it) Faxe. Salt & Lineker and Cheese & Owen – Walker’s crisp flavours named after – no prizes for this one! – Gary Linneker and Michael Owen.

Neymar (PSG) FIFA 17 – 92; FIFA 18 projection – 92 Neymar was given a 92 rating in FIFA 17. His ratings are pretty much the same in FIFA 18 too.

Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) FIFA 17 – 93; FIFA 18 projection – 95 Ronaldo is already the best player on the game, but after bagging another Champions League title and becoming FIFA's cover star Ronaldo can surely expect a little bump to his rating.

Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich) FIFA 17 – 92; FIFA 18 projection – 91 Manuel Neuer was given a 92 rating in FIFA 17 but after a poor performance in the Champions League last season we project a decrease in his rating in FIFA 18 – but he will still be the highest rated Goalkeeper in the game.

Lionel Messi (Barcelona) FIFA 17 – 93; FIFA 18 projection – 94 Though it has been Ronaldo’s year Messi has posted his best goals-to-game ratio this year since 2012-13 in all competitions. We can expect a rise in his rating in FIFA 18.

Luis Suarez (Barcelona) FIFA 17 – 92; FIFA 18 projection – 90 Suarez had a 92 rating in FIFA 17 and he hasn’t done anything wrong in the last season but he is turning 30 and bringing him on par with Lewandovwki in FIFA 18 seems anything but fair.

David de Gea (Manchester United) FIFA 17 – 90; FIFA 18 projection – 90 David de Gea had a 90 rating in FIFA 17 and he had a great season at Manchester United. He is improving each season. We project his rating to be the same in FIFA 18. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) FIFA 17 – 90; FIFA projection – 90 Lewandowski was given a 90 rating in FIFA 17 and we expect it to stay the same. He had an amazing year at Bayern Munich last season but the club’s poor performance in the Champions League may be the reason for no increase in his ratings in FIFA 18. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) FIFA 17 – 89; FIFA 18 projection – 90 Thibaut Courtois had 89 rating in FIFA 17. He had an

amazing season at Chelsea winning the League with Conte. He can have a little bump in his rating in FIFA 18. Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus) FIFA 17 – 88; FIFA 18 projection – 90 Well Buffon keeps reminding us that age is just a number. He keeps performing incredibly well each season. After Juventus’ great run in the Champions League he is expected to get a rating bump in FIFA 18. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) FIFA 17 – 90; FIFA 18 projection – 89 Bale had 90 rating in FIFA 17. After going through injuries last season he can expect a decrease in his rating in FIFA 18. We hope the Welsh man comes back stronger this season.

CLUB FOOTBALL 83

BEHIND THE BAR

Location, location and Fancy yourself a bit of a globe trotter? Well have a look at the 2017 Footballer Relocation Index to see the lengths some players will go to to get into the right club – and cry (in despair, mirth or downright awe) at the jaw-dropping transfer fees that they command.

razilian forward Neymar has become the world's most expensive footballer following his record £200m move from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). This means the 25 yearold has now amassed the highest amount in transfer fees paid for any footballer ever. Neymar will earn £40.7m a year and has famously been disappointed that his departure to PSG is seen as chasing the money. “What I say to these people is they don't know anything about my personal life. I was never motivated by money,” he said. “If I was following the money, I would be somewhere else, with other clubs in other countries. I'm really sad that people still think that way and I'm glad that PSG believe in me.” Neymar is not alone in his global gallivanting as the 2017 Footballer Relocation Index reveals in its study of over 170 football stars around the world, showing which players have relocated the furthest distance and which have accumulated the highest transfer fees.

Top five highest transfer fees Rank

Player

Years Active

No. Cities Countries Continents Overall Transfer Clubs Relocation Fees Total Played Distance (km) (Mill. EUR)

Neymar

9,635.50

300.20

Ángel di Maria

12,120.27

179.00

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

4,303.23

169.10

Gonzalo Higuaín

12,251.11

141.00

Romelu Lukaku

659.57

138.56

Top 10 footballers who have relocated furthest are: Rank

Player

Nationality

Status

Years Active

No. Clubs Played

Club Trophies

Cities

Countries

Continents

Overall Relocation Distance (km)

Lutz Pfannenstiel

German

Retired

234,306.12

George Best

Northern Irish

Retired

153,600.83

Sebastián Abreu

Uruguayan

Active

141,366.60

Mario Jardel

Brazilian

Retired

139,555.57

Juninho Paulista

Brazilian

Retired

76,478.06

Danny Allsopp

Australian

Retired

75,280.96

David Carney

Australian

Active

69,165.57

Adrián Czornomaz

Argentinian

Retired

62,959.88

Rivaldo Ferreira

Brazilian

Retired

62,092.01

Hugo Sánchez

Mexican

Retired

59,139.94

84 CLUB FOOTBALL

WHA T ON

relocation As the findings illustrate, there is a huge disparity between how far certain footballers relocate during their careers. The nationality of a player, the position they play and the amount of trophies they win can prove proportionate to their overall relocation distance. Nevertheless it’s not an exact science; retired Brazilian Rivaldo Ferreira and Italian Paolo Maldini both played for 24 years and both won over 20 club trophies. But while Ferreira has relocated a distance of 62,092.01 km playing for 14 different clubs, Maldini has never needed to relocate, having spent his whole career in one single team. Movinga (www.movinga.de/en) is Europe’s online provider of moving services. More details at www.movinga.fr/en/footballrelocation-index.

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Heybigspenders So you’re starting up your Top Flight Premier League 11 from scratch. Do you go for an all-English team at a bargain £26.4m? Or will you hop on Eurostar to pick up a Belgian squad for four times that amount? Just how do Premier League clubs spend their money?

f you think Belgium is only famous for Tin Tin and chocolate then think again. Premier League football clubs spend more per player on Belgians than anywhere else in the world according to a new study by Free Super Tips. The average cost of a Belgian player is £11.3m, pushing Brazil into second place at £10.2m per player. The average cost of an English player? A lowly £2.4m, despite over £1.2bn having been spent on home-grown talent over the last decade. England in fact is tearing ahead in the investment stakes with France in second place (£670m), Spain in third (£630), Brazil in fourth (£458m) and Belgium – yes here it is again! – in fifth (£440m). An interesting set of figures then, when you compare England’s investment and value per player – £1.2bn/£2.4m – versus Belgium’s £440m investment and £11.3m value per player. Back on the home turf and Tottenham is leading the way when it comes to said homegrown talent with over a fifth of signings being English players and exactly half of all signings being bought from within the English leagues. Chelsea, on the other hand, has made just five English signings, a percentage of 6.6% of all

Among the title challengers, Manchester United spends the most on players per transfer – an average of £16.9m per signing.

transfer activity. This is by far the lowest across the 20 sides. So where do the majority of Premier League signings come from? La Liga is the hot favourite with 107 players, more often than any other league outside England, while Italy’s Serie A has also seen almost

100 players make the move. Among the title challengers, Manchester United spends the most on players per transfer with the club averaging £16.9m per signing across the last decade, while a quarter of Arsenal’s signings hail from France.

CLUB FOOTBALL 85

BEHIND THE BAR

Did you hear the one about...? It’s a laugh a minute in this issue’s Comedy Corner. Enjoy. om home fr walking s a a w I d As notice t week I s la ons rk a o e w pur s am Hots ought th I . e Tottenh e d to a tr e il a ’ ‘cos n t! t a ticke aving th lf ‘I’m h e h s g y u m o n to ave e never h A you can n you? pound coin was nails, ca thrown onto the pitch at Ibrox. Police are trying to determine whether it was a missile or a takeover bid.

Three old football fa church praying for ns are in a The first one asks, their teams. will Manchester City“Oh Lord when stop buying the refs?” God Replies, “In th e next five years.” “But I’ll be dead by then,” says the man. The second one as when will Manches ks, “Oh Lord, buying the refs?” ter United stop The Good Lord – next ten years.” answers, “In the “But I’ll be dead by then,” says the man. The third one as will Barcelona stopks, “Oh Lord when bu God answers, “I’ll beying the refs?”. dead by then!”

Have you heard about the new Arsenal Bra? It has a lot of support but no cups. who granted I met a fairy today me one wish. r,” I said. “I want to live foreve “I’m not iry, “Sorry,” said the fa like that.” s he is w allowed to grant t to die an w “Fine,” I said, “I the Premier when Liverpool win League.” id the fairy. “You crafty ****!” sa

A guy pulls alongside a small boy on the pavement, “I’ll give you some sweets if you get in the car.” “No, leave me alone,” the boy replies. “Come on, I’ll take you for ice cream later as well,” he insists. The boy stops and turns to the man and says:“Get lost Dad, I’m not going to White Hart Lane again no matter what you offer me.”

Bob receives a free corporate ticket to the FA Cup Final from his company. Unfortunately, when Bob arrives at the stadium he realises the seat is in the corner of the stadium giving him a terrible view of the other end of the pitch, and his view is obstructed by a TV camera. About halfway through the first half, Bob notices an empty seat 5 rows up from the pitch right on the halfway line. He decides to take a chance and makes his way down the stands to the empty seat. An elderly gentleman is sitting next to the empty seat. “Excuse me, is anyone sitting here?” asks Bob. The man says no. Now, very excited to be in such a great seat for the match, Bob again inquires of the man next to him, “This is incredible! Who in their right mind would have a seat like this for the Cup Final and not use it?” The man replies, “Well, actually, the seat belongs to me. I come every year with my wife, but she passed away this year. This is the first Cup Final we haven’t been to together since we got married in 1962.” “Well, that’s really sad, I’m so sorry.” says Bob, “Still, couldn’t you find someone to take the seat? A relative, a close friend?” “No,” the man replies, “they’re all at the funeral.” CLUB FOOTBALL 87

BEHIND THE BAR Back in the day Sir Alex Ferguson was curious to know how Arsène Wenger’s team went on such a magnificent unbeaten run, so he decides on a visit to Arsenal’s training ground to see how Wenger trains his players. After one day he is not really impressed by the training practices, so he asks Wenger how he gets his players so sharp. “Well, it is simple. I sometimes ask my players a difficult question, and that way they stay really sharp mentally”. Of course Fergie wants an example, so Wenger asks Thierry Henry to come over. He asks: “Henry, he is not your brother, but still he is your father’s son. Who is he?” “That is not difficult,” Henry answers immediately, “Of course that is me.” “You see? That’s the way you keep them sharp,” Wenger says to Ferguson. Fergie, who wants to be the next “Invincibles”, decides to bring this into his training the next day. He calls Ruud van Nistlerooy over. “Ruud, I have a question for you,” he says, “He is not your brother, but still he is your father’s son, who is he?” “My God, Ferguson,” is van Nistlerooy’s reply, “That is a tough one to answer, can I sleep on that for one night?” Ferguson agrees with the onenight postponement. So that night RvN decides to call Jaap Stam. He has been at Manchester United, so maybe he knows something about these questions. “Jaap Stam, maybe you know the answer to this question: he is not your brother, but still he is your father’s son. Who is he?” “That is easy, that is me!” says Stam. So the next day RvN walks full of confidence to Fergie. Fergie asks: “Ruud, do you know the answer to my question now?” “Yes it was actually very easy,” he says, “Is it Jaap Stam?” Ferguson answers, “No of course not you stupid bastard. It’s Thierry Henry.”

verton to the E broke in rs e la th rg Bu stole om and trophy ro …. ontents entire c men g for 2 re lookin a e c li t. o e P arp a blue c carrying

Football players are the only people who can dribble and still look neat.

Just got a new football for my wife. Great trade. Paris snubbed a move to David Beckham has ge to an is a hard langua St. Germain: “Germ n ar finish trying to le learn and I want to American.” Which football team makes the worst half-time sandwiches? Oldham.

Foo whicthball is a g men a hand ame in one run ar ful of watchand a hoaund for peo ed by lf hour reallpy le who cmillions os f use th ould e exe rcise.

How many City fans does it take to change a light bulb? – “None, they’re all happy living in United’s shadow” A United fan, a Liverpool fan and a Arsenal fan were caught by SaudiArabian police and were sentenced to death. However, after many months and with the help of very good lawyers they were able to successfully appeal their sentence down to life imprisonment. By a stroke of luck, it was a Saudi national holiday on the day their trial finished, and the extremely benevolent Sheikh decided they could be…. Released after receiving just 20 lashes each of the whip. The Sheikh allowed the fans a wish before taking the lashes. The Arsenal fan asked the Sheikh to tie a pillow in his back, but the pillow lasted only for 10 lashes. The Liverpool fan asked the Sheikh to tie two pillows in his back though it only lasted for 15 lashes. The Sheikh then turned to the Man Utd fan and said: “You are from a most beautiful part of the world, your city has some of the best and most loyal football fans in the world. For this, you may have two wishes!” “Cheers mate, your Most Royal and Merciful highness”, The ManUtd fan replies. “In recognition of your kindness, my first wish is that you give me not 20, but 200 lashes. ” “Not only are you an honourable, handsome and powerful man, you are also very brave,” says the Sheikh with an admiring look on his face. “If 200 lashes is what you desire, then so be it. And your second wish? What is it to be? ” the Sheikh asks. “Please tie the Liverpool fan to my back.”

COMEDY COMPETITION Got a favourite footie joke? Send it into info@alchemymedia.co.uk by September 7 and you could win four tickets to a comedy night in your area. 88 CLUB FOOTBALL

Jokes from the delightful www.footballjokes.co.uk/

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BEHIND THE BAR

Who’s on the ball? Members think they know their football? Time to test them out with this tricky quiz, courtesy of myfootballfacts.com

1 2

Q. Which six Football League Clubs have only ever played in the Fourth Flight? A. Scarborough, Morecambe, Boston United, Kidderminster Harriers, Maidstone United and Forest Green Rovers. Q. Which four players won full England caps while playing for German clubs? A. Owen Hargreaves (Bayern München), Kevin Keegan (SV Hamburg), Tony Woodcock (1.FC Koln) & Dave Watson (Werder Bremen).

3 4

Q. Which five English clubs became Top Flight League Champions immediately after being promoted? A. Liverpool (1905-06), Everton (1931-32), Tottenham Hotspur (1950-51), Ipswich Town (196162) and Nottingham Forest (1977-78). Q. Which current football clubs were once called Dial Square, Ardwick and Newton Heath? A. Arsenal, Manchester City and Manchester United.

5 6 7 8 9 10

Q. Which four original members of the Football League have yet to win a Top Flight Championship? A. Accrington (folded in 1893), Bolton Wanderers, Notts County & Stoke (City). Q. Which was the first UEFA Super Cup to be played as a single match? A. Juventus 2-0 Liverpool in 1984 at the Stadio Olimpico di Torino.

Q. Which eight Brazilians had Premier League goals or assists in 2016-17? A. Philippe Coutinho (20), Roberto Firmino (18), Gabriel Jesus (11), Willian (10), Fernandinho (3), Lucas Leiva (3), Oscar (1) and David Luiz (1). Q. Which eight Argentinians won Premier League medals? A. Carlos Tevez (3), Pablo Zabaleta (2), Sergio Agüero (2), Juan Sebastián Verón, Hernán Crespo, Gabriel Heinze, Martin Demichelis and Leonardo Ulloa. Q. Which five current Premier League managers played for FC Barcelona? A. Frank de Boer (Crystal Palace), Ronald Koeman (Everton), Pep Guardiola (Manchester City), Mauricio Pellegrino (Southampton) and Mark Hughes (Stoke City). Q. Who were the first Asian team to qualify for a FIFA World Cup Finals tournament? A. The Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) at the 1938 World Cup in France.

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18

Q. Which club did Huddersfield Town beat in an FA Cup Final? A. Huddersfield Town beat Preston North End 1-0 in the 1921-22 FA Cup Final.

Q. Which four players won England caps with Real Madrid? A. David Beckham (36 caps), Steve McManaman (13 caps), Michael Owen (11 caps) and Laurie Cunningham (3 caps). Q. Which three players scored the most Premier League goals for Stoke City? A. Jon Walters (43 goals), Peter Crouch (40 goals) and Marko Arnautovic (22 goals).

Q. Which 10 Dutchmen played Premier League football with Manchester United? A. Daley Blind, Alexander Büttner, Jordi Cruyff, Memphis Depay, Timothy Fosu-Mensah, Raimond van der Gouw, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Robin van Persie, Edwin van der Sar and Jaap Stam. Q. Who was the last player to score six goals in a Top Flight League match? A. Geoff Hurst for West Ham United in their 8-0 win against Sunderland in Football League Division One on 19th October 1968 at Upton Park.

Q. Which six Newcastle United players participated in the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals? A. Tim Krul (Netherlands), Cheick Tioté (Ivory Coast), Mathieu Debuchy (France), Moussa Sissoko (France), Loïc Rémy (France) and Shola Ameobi (Nigeria).

Q. Which three Austrians won UEFA European Cup / Champions League medals? A. Franz Hasil (Feyernoord 1970), Marko Arnautovic (Inter Milan 2010) and David Alaba (Bayern Munich 2013). Q. Which 1970 FIFA World Cup Finals England squad player had yet to win a full cap? A. Leeds United's striker Alan 'Sniffer' Clarke.

19 20 21 22 23 24

Q. Which five English Clubs have won UEFA Super Cups? A. Liverpool (3), Chelsea, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

Q. Who were the last four players transferred from Tottenham Hotspur to Chelsea FC? A. Neil Sullivan (August 2003), Micky Hazard (September 1985), Colin Lee (January 1980) and Johnny Brooks (December 1959). Q. Which three Danish players won Premier League medals? A. Peter Schmeichel (Manchester United, 5), Anders Lindegaard (Manchester United) and Kasper Schmeichel (Leicester City).

Q. Which two clubs were awarded the most and fewest Premier League penalties in 2016-17? A. AFC Bournemouth were awarded 10 penalties in 2016-17 while West Bromwich Albion were awarded just one. Q. Which three CONCACAF Nations are called La Marea Roja, Reggae Boyz and Los Chapines? A. Panama, Jamaica and Guatemala.

Q. Which three players scored the winning goals in the past three FA Community Shield matches? A. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Manchester United 2016), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal 2015) and Santi Cazorla (Arsenal 2014).

25 26 27 28 29 30

Q. Which four Japanese players appeared at FIFA World Cup Finals with English clubs? A. Junichi Inamoto (Arsenal 2002 & West Bromwich Albion 2006), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Portsmouth 2002), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United 2014), Maya Yoshida (Southampton 2014). Q. Which were the five most expensive Summer 2016 Premier League Player transfers? A. Paul Pogba (Juventus-Manchester United £89m), John Stones (Everton-Manchester City £47.5m), Leroy Sane (Schalke 04-Manchester City £37m), Granit Xhaka (Borussia Monchengladbach-Arsenal £35m) and Lucas Perez (Deportivo La CorunaArsenal £35m). Q. Which club scored the most Premier League goals in the past two seasons? A. Tottenham Hotspur scored 155 goals (86 in 2016-17 and 69 in 2015-16).

Q. Which four USA players scored at the 2014 FIFA World Cup Finals? A. Clint Dempsey (2 goals), Julian Green, John Brooks and Jermaine Jones.

Q. Which four Pauls won Premier League medals? A. Paul Ince (2 Manchester United), Paul Parker (2 Manchester United), Paul Scholes (11 Manchester United) and Paul Warhurst (1 Blackburn Rovers). Q: Which three 2017 FIFA Confederation Cup players are affiliated to Scottish Clubs? A. Tom Rogic (Australia & Celtic), Arnaud Djoum (Cameroon & Heart of Midlothian) and Bruno Alves (Portugal & Rangers).

CLUB FOOTBALL 91

BEHIND THE BAR

What’s in a name? How well do you know your club nicknames? Grill members and supporters with this short, sharp test. Arsenal – The Gunners Aston Villa – Villa Barnet – Bees Barnsley – The Tykes Birmingham City – Blues, Brummies Blackburn Rovers – Rovers Bolton Wanderers – Trotters Bournmouth – Cherries Bristol City – Robins Bristol Rovers – The Pirates, The Gas Bradford City – Bantams Brentford – Bees Bristol Rovers – Pirates Burnley – Clarets Burton Albion – Brewers Charlton Athletic – Addicks Chelsea – Blues, Chelski Chester City – Blues Chesterfield – The Spireites Coventry City – The Sky Blues Crewe Alexandra – The Railwaymen Crystal Palace – Eagles Dagenham & Redbridge – Daggers Darlington – Quakers Derby County – Rams Doncaster Rovers – Rovers, The Vikings

Everton – Toffees Fulham – Cottagers Gillingham – The Gills Grimsby Town – The Mariners Hartlepool United – Monkey Hangers Huddersfield Town – The Terriers Hull City – The Tigers Ipswich Town – Blues, The Tractor Boys Leeds United – The Whites, The Peacocks Leicester City – Foxes Liverpool – The Reds Luton Town – Hatters Macclesfield Town – The Silkmen Manchester City – Citizens, The Blues, City Manchester United – Red Devils Middlesbrough – Boro Millwall – Lions Milton Keynes Dons – Dons Newcastle United – Magpies, The Toon Northampton Town – Cobblers Norwich City – Canaries Nottingham Forest – Forest, The Reds Notts County – Magpies Oldham Athletic – Latics Peterborough United – The Posh Plymouth Argyle – Pilgrims

Portsmouth – Pompey Preston North End – The Lilywhites Queens Park Rangers – Hoops, R’s, QPR Reading – Royals Rochdale – Dale Rotherham United – Millers Scunthorpe United – The Iron Sheffield United – Blades Sheffield Wednesday – Owls Shrewsbury Town – The Shrews, Salop Stoke City – The Potters Southampton – The Saints Southend United – The Shrimpers Sunderland – Black Cats Swindon Town – Robins Torquay United – Gulls Tottenham Hotspur – Spurs Tranmere Rovers – Super Whites, Rovers Walsall – The Saddlers Watford – Hornets West Bromwich Albion – Baggies West Ham United – The Hammers Wigan Athletic – Latics Wolverhampton Wanderers – Wolves Wycombe Wanderers – Chairboys Yeovil Town – Glovers

Daily Telegraph columnist Alan Tyers uncovers some of football’s strangest monikers.

The World’s weirdest nicknames? Deportivo Morón Legendary Argentinians, they play in the Buenos Aries suburb of Moron and their club emblem is a cock.( Like a chicken, that is.) Semen Padang One of the top teams in Indonesia (playing in red below). And what a delightful name. Named after the place they are from, Padang, and their erstwhile sponsor, who were

92 CLUB FOOTBALL

the country’s largest cement producer. Also sounds like the worst possible sort of takeaway curry.

Deportivo Wanka The team is based in Huancayo in the Peruvian Andes, leading to the popular fan chant “Andes where we can see them, you Wankas”. They are named in honour of the indigenous Wankas people that used to live in the area. They were in the first division until 2004. In that season, the struggling Wankas moved their home stadium to Cerro de Pasco, which is at an altitude of 4,380m (13,973ft) above sea level. In a sort of maxi version of the

Luton plastic pitch, it was hoped that altitude sickness and a lack of oxygen would be a big handicap for visiting sides. Sadly, the Wankas were relegated anyway. Fotballaget Fart Based in Vang, in the North of Norway, the men’s team of Fotballaget Fart yo-yo between the country’s third and fourth division, although the women’s team is a perennial fixture in the top flight. The team’s name means “football team speed” in, well, Norwegian, obviously. In 2014, a bloke called Erling Andreassen died aged 91 and left his entire estate to Fart; it was worth around half a million quid. Not to be sniffed at. The Strongest They play in La Paz, Bolivia. In Bolivia’s 1932-1935 war with Paraguay, players and staff of the club made up a division of the army and did so well that the Batalla de Cañada Strongest was named after

them. This makes them the only football club in the world to have a battle named after them. Hearts of Oak They come from Ghana, they play in Accra, they are the country’s oldest still-existent club, and as if the club name was not cool enough, they’re also known as Phobia (and have an ace kit: the red one, below).

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