Club Rugby by Alchemy Contract Publishing

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Contents NEWS, VIEWS, CLUB LIFE AND LEGISLATION

6 News Latest legislation, advice and updates.

8 Club life Club Rugby takes a whirlwind tour of clubs around the country in the fastest way possible – by social media.

18 Our Portfolio It’s been a busy year so far with four new weekly Bulletins, daily tweets, new websites and electronic titles. Read all about it!

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS 22 HQ Building the Business Are you match fit for kick off? Plus: digital ordering and how to keep children and young people safe in sport with a simple self-assessment tool.

25 Free reader service

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL

Is your club coming out of lockdown in fighting fit shape? Check out our free energy comparison site.

33 Premier League 2020/21 kicks off

28 Business and Planning Act 2020

The new Premier League season is a cause for celebration for fans across the land.

Pavement Licences and off sales. Club Rugby’s Legal Eagles, TLT Solicitors, examine how to apply and explain what conditions are involved.

34 Premier League Predictions So what’s in store for the 2020-21 season? Pundit predictions on the top club contenders.

30 Outdoor events guidance during COVID-19 36 The chase is on...

The Local Government Association (LGA) provides an overview of the current position.

ASK THE EXPERTS

There will be no shortage of passion on the pitches as reigning champions Liverpool are chased by a number of ambitious rivals for the title.

16 All Hail the Ale The art of running a beer festival.

56 COVID-19: changing the face of the hospitality sector

40 Contenders ready Snapshot of the Top 20 teams as they prepare to do battle.

To say COVID-19 has disrupted the UK hospitality sector would be to understate the severity of the situation. says Tsewang Wangkang.

46 For richer, for poorer

57 Avoiding legal pitfalls

48 BT Sport Promotion

Keeping the club’s social media presence on the right side of the law.

BT Sport reveals how it is helping clubs put their customers in the picture.

59 Looking after volunteers

50 Football’s richest players

How do you keep them onside? Any what are your responsibilities?

Top-of-the-league players are earning sums well out of the league of most of us. So just who are the 20 richest soccer players of all time?

The Premier League attracts billionaire businessmen across the globe. So who are they?

60 Low and no-alcohol The Low and No Alcohol boom is here to stay, led by young people.

61 Spotlight on ice makers

52 Who’s really on the ball? Test out your members’ knowledge of the beautiful game with this tricky quiz from www.pubquizquestionshq.com

Ice can potentially become a source of food poisoning if it’s poorly made, stored or handled.

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LEADER

Contributors

Onwards and upwards It’s been an exceptionally busy year to date, thanks in no small part to COVID-19. We’ve been answering your many calls, sifting through the plethora of information and analysing exactly what the details mean to clubs. During this period we’ve also teamed up with specialist legal partner TLT Solicitors who have provided a myriad of statements and insights which we’ve posted online, tweeted and sent out in our bulletins. On the subject of bulletins, thanks for your kind comments and we’re all glad that they’re proving so valuable. That was indeed our aim when we first launched them back in February, as it became clear that the pandemic wasn’t going away any time soon. We needed the ability to pass on up-to-the-minute details on regulations and guidelines as quickly as possible, and the bulletins, daily tweets and constantly updated websites have enabled us to do that. (If your inbox hasn’t been treated to Club Bulletin, Sports Club Bulletin, Free Trade Buyer or OnTrade Bulletin just drop us a line to info@clubmirror.com and we’ll get you on the list.) While there’s no obvious end in sight for the pandemic, there are, however, some new beginnings to look forward to. Yes, it’s the start of the Premiership League 2020/21. Even the advent of social distancing won’t put off the most ardent fans from watching this football favourite in the club, so in this special edition you’ll find facts, figures, fixtures and quizzes to help you and your members enjoy what will surely be one of the most anticipated seasons yet. It’s a big injection of much needed excitement with a hint of normality in the mix. You’ll also find promotional materials available from broadcasters to help you shout about the screenings. (Turn to pages 48-49 for a BT Sport promotion with personalised posters and page 7 for links to both BT Sport & Sky Sports offers.) Fixtures publicised well in advance, big screens advertised, well-priced mealdeals, strategically placed posters in the club, competitions, promotions, all help to spread the word that the club is the place to be for all-things Premier League. Enjoy!

Sean Ferris Editor, Club Rugby

Chris Colverd

Toby Evans

Karen Foreman

David Foster

Phil Gray

Jonathan Hardy

David Lucas

Justin O’Regan

Victoria RomeroTrigo

Doug Rubashow

Caroline Scoular

Jill Slingsby

Editor Sean Ferris Design David Foster Events Jill Slingsby, Karen Foreman, Guy Brennan Display Advertising Margaret Doherty Sales and Marketing Manager Leigh-Ann Ogilvie Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Andrew Soles Publishing Director Sean Ferris

Club Rugby is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing Ltd, Gainsborough House, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor SW4 1TX. Tel: 01753 272022. Fax: 01753 272 021 Email: caroline@clubmirror.com; sean@clubmirror.com; leigh-ann@alchemymedia.co.uk; info@clubmirror.com

ACP Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berkshire SL4 1TX UK t. +44 (0)1753 272022 f. +44 (0)1753 272021 e.info@alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Club Rugby does not verify the claims made by advertisers regarding their products. CLUB RUGBY 5

CLUB NEWS

WANT MORE INFORMATION? For more info visit www.clubrugby.org.uk or use this QR code.

Occupyd launches to help monetise extra capacity Clubs with spare capacity could monetise wasted space thanks to a newly launched scheme. Described as an Airbnb for Business, Occupyd aims to connect businesses and individuals searching for workspace with venues looking to monetise their extra capacity. Occupyd caters to a number of industries across the UK including hospitality and event spaces. Founder Callum McPherson says that his vision is to make physical space more accessible and less burdensome for businesses regardless of sector, size or location. • More details at this QR code.

Co-located trade shows announced for March 2021 European Coffee, Tea & Soft Drinks Expo, the only hospitality industry show 100% devoted to the profitable service and sales of coffee, tea and soft beverages has announced it will take place over three days from 2224th March 2021 at ExCeL London, colocated with the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Show (HRC, and formally Hotelympia), The International Food & Drink Event (IFE), IFE Manufacturing Solutions, London Produce Show and Festival of Enterprise. • More details at this QR code. 6 CLUB RUGBY

Legal advice on reassessing licences and permits Reopening premises in the teeth of the Covid pandemic has been challenging. One notable factor is the need to comply with costly conditions on premises licences, in particular, the provision of door supervisors, warned Club Mirror’s Legal Eagle partners at TLT Solicitors. “We have had success in persuading police and council licensing officers that this is a matter requiring some urgency and that with most premises trading to reduced capacities and sometimes reduced hours, these conditions are often no longer proportionate,” said TLT’s Legal Director Piers Warne. “Of course, any proposals must be considered on a premises- by-premises basis, but in theory where there have been restrictions on capacity or hours brought about by the new Covid guidelines for operating, there should be recognition that the conditions on your

licence should reflect this.” With clubs and licensed premises looking at a prolonged period of the guidelines applying – legislation for the simple pavement licence procedure runs to

September 2021, for example – it makes sense to make any necessary changes now, Warne advised. • t: +44 (0) 333 00 60692 • www.TLTsolicitors.com

Digital ordering a firm favourite Positive stats New research shows that 80 percent of guests who have used digital ordering want to be able to continue ordering remotely even after COVID-19 guidelines change. The research, commissioned by Flipdish polled 516 UK respondents who have used digital table ordering when visiting bars/pubs since lockdown. Almost two-thirds of respondents (63%) said they are now more likely to visit a venue with a digital app and over half (55%) would actually miss ordering drinks via an app if it stopped. Customers that have experienced digital table ordering since lockdown say the top benefits are: not needing to queue (54%), not losing table and chairs (31 percent), not needing to remember a drinks order (30%), less interaction with

from State of Spend report Cardlytics, who track one in 4 of all UK card transactions, released its latest State of Spend report for July, showing that UK consumer spending experienced its first year-on-year increase since the beginning of the lockdown. staff and other members of the public (25%) and more time speaking to friends/family (23%). The worst aspects about ordering at a bar pre-lockdown include: long queues (46 percent), people being unfairly served first (46%) getting sticky elbows from a wet bar (31 percent) and needing to shout over loud music (29%).

Discounts available as BT and BBG join forces BT Sport has joined forces with Budweiser Brewing Group. New customers who take a minimum 12-month BT Sport subscription and add one or more Budweiser Brewing Group products to their venue will be eligible for a 50 per cent discount. Existing customers are also eligible for extra money off their monthly BT Sport charges when they add extra products to their bar. •More details at this QR code.

Key findings include: • First year-on-year increase in consumer spending since lockdown during the Summer, peaking at +5% in the middle of July. • Dining shows positive signs of recovery in August thanks to Eat Out to Help Out with both spend and number of visits up 11% week-on-week in the first week of the scheme. • Total spend in the dining sector grew consistently throughout all three weeks of the scheme. • Pubs recovered to pre-pandemic levels, with visits up 11% year-on-year in August. • www.cardlytics.com

Social distancing at football grounds Crowd dynamics consultancy Movement Strategies was commissioned by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority (SGSA) and the English Football League (EFL) to assess the application of social distancing at professional football grounds. This work has now been carried out. Two EFL grounds, Charlton Athletic FC’s Valley Stadium and Cambridge United FC’s Abbey Stadium, were selected as the case studies, based on the age of the grounds and the mix of seating and terracing.

The project also provided the opportunity to stress-test the SGSA’s recently published guidance, SG02: Planning for Social Distancing at Sports Grounds, at these clubs. A “how to” guide for EFL clubs was then created to develop social distancing plans and provide a process for calculating safe capacity that other clubs can replicate. • More details at this QR code.

Alcohol-free spirits echoes UK craft beer and gin booms

STOP PRESS: Premier League kicks off Both BT Sport and Sky Sports have announced their fixtures for the 2021/21 Premier League season. Full details of fixtures, predictions and commentary can be found on pages 33-53.

For PoS from BT Sport use this QR code.

For Sky Sports promotional tools use this QR code.

Suppor ted

All for charity

Prostate Cancer UK New nationwide data shows the number of men dying from prostate cancer in the UK has exceeded 12,000 in one year for the first time ever. This is unacceptable, says Prosatate Cancer UK.

Sales of alcohol-free spirits are up 30% year-on-year according to Neilsen data, cementing Britain’s place as the world’s biggest producer and consumer of the booze-free drink. Alcohol-free spirits are the British drinks sector’s latest success story, with sales up 30% year on year, echoing the craft beer and gin booms of recent years, according to research by Bax Botanics. Retail sales reflect this, with consumers having spent £5.4million on 171,000 litres of alcohol-free spirits so far this year in supermarkets[1], according to data from

Nielsen. Sales in 2019 hit £37million, a figure which is expected to hit £74million by 2024[2]. Sales of the overall ‘No-to-low’ category, includeing zero and low-alcohol beers, wines and spirits, are worth £188million, up 23% year on year[3]. The growth comes as younger generations drink less alcohol and older people increasingly moderate their consumption. • More details at this QR code.

In January this year, Prostate Cancer UK renewed its MANifesto to unite the brightest minds in science and healthcare and the most passionate and caring people,’ to deliver the future men deserve’. “Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the UK and is set to be the most commonly diagnosed cancer overall by 2030, as the ageing population grows. Overall a man diagnosed in 2020 has a much-improved chance of survival compared to a man diagnosed 10 years ago, but with the number of affected men increasing, UKwide data for 2017 showed the highest ever recorded yearly deaths from the disease. “This is despite medical advances in

diagnosing and treating prostate cancer and increased national interest in recent years. Now we're urging action and renewed focus on tackling the problem, with ambitious research plans and a refreshed strategy. “We have the plans and the expertise, but we need a much bigger team of supporters to fund the work to make our vision a reality. Join the movement. Men, we are with you.”

CONTACT DETAILS • Specialist nurses for help, questions and advice -0800 074 8383 •All other contact details are at https://prostatecanceruk.org CLUB RUGBY 7

CLUB NEWS

Clubnews

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Club Rugby takes a whirlwind tour of clubs around the country in the fastest way possible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; by social media.

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ASK THE EXPERTS – RUNNING A BEER FESTIVAL

All Hail the Ale A quality cask ale offer reflects well on any 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.

pecialist cask venues are outperforming the rest of the market when it comes to cask beer sales, says the 2019 Cask Ale Report, and those who do cask well continue to reap the benefits. Range and beer styles As demand and interest in cask ale continues, 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. The advice is aim to have a balanced range of

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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 as that. 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 more, the value of their custom over their lifetime may be considerably higher. Cask ale customers also tend to be very 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

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. 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 Some ideas include:

TOP TIPS FOR THE PERFECT PINT

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

Storage – check your cellar temperature. Casks must be stored in a temperature controlled cellar between 11-13°C.

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.

• SAMPLING – offering ‘try before you buy’ from a small bespoke glass (shot glasses work well) drive interest and engagement.

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.

Tapping – tap all casks 1-2 days before they go on sale. Always use a clean tap.

• LOCAL BEERS – choosing a regional or local beer can help create a sense of community.

Publicising your club and events It may seem obvious but unless your members know what’s going on they won’t get involved.

Sampling – sample beers for clarity, aroma and taste after tapping, and before serving each day. Always sample from the cask.

• 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!).

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.

• 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 members what’s going on.

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.

Cleaning – clean the beer lines and equipment every week, using methods recommended by your cask supplier.

• TASTING PLATTERS – 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.

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

• 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).

10. Don’t compromise – follow these tips and you will serve the perfect pint of cask ale.

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OUR PORTFOLIO

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 as well as our weekly electronic bulletins – Club Bulletin, Sports Club Bulletin, Free Trade Buyer and On Trade Bulletin, our websites and our events. Since launching in 1968, sister title Club Mirror 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 – 107 years young – on behalf of the CIU. Clubs, we salute you!

CLUBHOUSE EUROPE

JULY 2020

CLUBFOOTBALL JULY 2020

OPEN FO

www.clubfootball.org.uk

S BUSINES

Golf Clubs continue to fly in the face of COVID-19. Advice, information and updates.

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A whilwind tour of clubs around the UK as they welcome back members and players

SPORTSCLUB MANAGEMENT JULY 2020

Missed your weekly bulletin? Find the links inside this issue.

CLUBHOUSE EUROPE

JULY 2020

Sports Club Bulletin news service UK sports clubs open for business

Clubs reach out via social media

Golf Clubs continue to fly in the face of COVID-19. Advice, information and updates.

clubmirror AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

Club Mirror’s 2020 checklis t Join up, join in Keep up to dat e at

www.clubmirro r.com twitter.com/clu bmirrormag Post on www.fa cebook.com/clu bmirroruk Awards open for entries – Februa ry 14 House of Com mons – Septem ber 10 CLUB HOUSE Entry deadline – June 30 New year, new supplier? Nominate the club’s best live acts Check out the free service for cos t savings Rugby Tonight screening – sign up Watch out for awards announ cement New club for club s – join up Share news on

Awards ’20

JULY 2020

AT THE HEART OF THE RUGBY COMMUNITY

A whirlwind tour of the UK as clubs continue to tackle social distancing

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OUR PORTFOLIO

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Interested in saving up to 50% on your club energy costs? Energy is a big part of the running costs for any club. Nationwide Energy Consultants are the industry experts at helping clubs save energy and money by highlighting areas where savings can be made. We have compiled some of the best and most effective energy saving tips for the licensed trade which could help you slash your energy costs in half!

Download our Free Energy Saving guide for your club at:

www.nationwide-energy.co.uk/ciu

Includes tips on • Cellar management • Insulation & Lighting advice • Equipment Maintenance

Want to know just how much your club can save? For a free energy survey and bill validation contact Darren on 02476 328995 or email: darren.pridmore@nationwide-energy.co.uk

s the leisure industry specialist

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

With sport now back and high on the agenda, club screenings have never been more welcome. Clubs are busy ensuring that social distancing and table service mechanics are firmly in place. Plus: The intricacies of Pavement Licenses, HQ’s free-to-clubs Building the Business Service and a reminder from the NSPCC on how to keep children and young people safe in sport by using a simple self-assessment tool.

Sport – back on the club screens With the Premier League kicking off this month and the return of sport to the club equation, now’s the time to ensure that your club is the viewing venue of choice. Marketing matters Communicating the date and start time of the screenings is as blindingly obvious as it is essential. Place signs and posters at strategic points around the club, e-shot your membership base and make use of materials available from suppliers.

TOP TIPS FOR BIG SCREEN SUCCESS • Make sure your projector is well maintained • Use a reputable company to install your equipment • Get advice on positioning

Guest players Don’t forget to bring the word-of-mouth tactic into play. Ask members to spread the word, and invite them to draw in guests for the activities. Make the club the venue of choice for viewing. Hi tech, hi performance The quality of screens should rank highly on any check list. Funds permitting now could be the time to invest in a new system. Consider screening sports alfresco on all- weather screens while you’re at it. Perfect siting Inside, and siting is an obvious issue; all spectators

• Carry a spare bulb • Market your venue effectively • Maximise screen time during down time • Use the screen for other activities will want a perfect view which means screens need protecting from direct sunlight. Quality sound systems will also add to the atmosphere. And obviously test out the volume levels pre-match. Food and drink Consider offering ‘all-in’ deals, such as jugs of beer, buy one get one free, free hot dog with every four

• Plan digital posters and point of sale promotions • Cater for your non-sporting customers • Before and after the match, use your big screen to promote fixtures and matches

pints and so on. Tactical top ups during the last 10 minutes of the game will help to keep members in the clubhouse rather than heading home for food when they’re hungry. Speedy service No one wants to miss the action while trying to catch the attention of the busy staff. Maybe ask members to pre-order? Before the match and again for half time? Pitchers and jugs of beer are a good ally here.

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Safeguarding children in sport

– NSPCC guidance I

s your club doing everything it could be to keep children and young people safe in sport? An online self-assessment tool from the NSPCC can help you find out. The tool takes you through the Standards for safeguarding children in sport. There are simple questions for each of the nine standards elements which will help you assess what your organisation still needs to do. “We have produced an information pack to guide you through each step in a bit more detail. The pack will open as a PDF document (see download below), so you can refer to it at any time without losing your place in the tool,” says the Child Protection in Sport Unit. “If you want to save your progress, please click ‘Save and email myself’. This will create a unique hyperlink which you can email to yourself. You can use this link at any time to take you back to your saved overview page.” • Visit https://thecpsu.org.uk/selfassessment-tool/ or use this QR Code.

Will digital ordering remain in place post COVID-19?

ew research shows that 80 percent of guests who have used digital ordering want to be able to continue ordering remotely even after COVID-19 guidelines change. The research, commissioned by Flipdish and conducted by Censuswide polled 516 UK respondents who have used digital table ordering when visiting bars/pubs since lockdown. Allmost two-thirds of respondents (63 percent) said they are now more likely to visit a venue with a digital app and over half (55 percent) would actually miss ordering drinks via an

app if it stopped. The preference for digital ordering intensifies among younger demographics and women. Only one in seven (14 percent) of 18 - 24 year-olds surveyed prefer queuing at the bar and women are half as likely to do the same compared to the men (24 percent versus 11 percent, respectively). Customers that have experienced digital table ordering since lockdown say the top benefits are: not needing to queue (54 percent), not losing table and chairs (31 percent), not needing to remember a drinks order (30 percent), less interaction with staff and

other members of the public (25 percent) and more time speaking to friends/family (23 percent). The worst aspects about ordering at a bar pre-lockdown include: long queues (46 percent), people being unfairly served first (46 percent), getting sticky elbows from a wet bar (31 percent) and needing to shout over loud music (29 percent). “Landlords across the country turned to digital ordering to keep customers and staff safe. But, as the benefits become clear, what was first a lockdown safety measure is fast becoming the locals’ favourite,” said Flipdish CEO Conor McCarthy. “Covid-19 will pass too but it will undoubtedly leave its mark on the way we order food and drink. Punters are calling time on queuing at the bar. They want to spend less time jostling for space and frantically trying to make eye contact with staff, and more time with friends and family.” Licensee Steve Wynne said: “App ordering enabled us to quickly get back on our feet after lockdown. Since using the technology, staff feel safer and more confident coming to work. Locals and new customers alike easily grasped the system and love it. There will always be a place for locals to sit and talk with staff but for those that prefer to stay seated, it’s a great option.”

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ENERGY BILLS: DON’T DROP THE BALL Energy can account for around 30% of running costs in a typical sports club. Saving on your energy

a score for your bottom line.

Smarter Business can compare energy contracts and ﬁnd you a cheaper deal. We do the hard work; you do the winning!

® John De Mierre House | Bridge Road | Haywards Heath | West Sussex | RH16 1UA

t: 01444 220060 e: info@smarterbusiness.co.uk w: ww.smarterbusiness.co.uk

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS – FREE SERVICE TO CLUBS

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

HQ Building the Business – free UK reader service Is your club set to come out of the COVID-19 crisis in fighting fit shape? Now is the time to review that all-important bottom line. We’re here to help with all your purchasing queries. In this issue we focus on energy, and UK clubs can check out the new energy comparison site.

Free EV Car Charging Why should I install Free EV chargers at my organisation? • Lower your club’s carbon footprint and improve your green credentials. • Free or low-cost EV charging is an extremely affordable perk to offer as part of an attractive benefits package for staff. • Run your club’s vehicles in the most cost-effective and environmental way. • Clearly and obviously demonstrate your commitment to climate change. • Create an additional revenue stream by charging for your EV charging services. (T&C’s Apply.)

Tips for Savings There’s no denying that clubs are expensive to run. The Carbon Trust estimates that the annual energy costs for the small businesses exceeded £1.3 billion as of 2018. So if you’re one of these feeling the pinch. Here are a few ways that you can reduce your costs.

“David and the HQ team have been very successful in reducing costs for our members. They specialise in the field of energy management, however, within the company they also are able to reduce costs in other key areas as well. Find the time to have a conversation with David. It will pay dividends!” Dave Edmundson, Chair, Spring North

Lower your heating costs Try to avoid overheating your corridors and offices. You should be aiming for a temperature between 19-21°C. Any higher and it can become uncomfortable for your staff and members. Grants and funding schemes are still available subject to survey, credit and application process, please contact us for more details. Get Smarter with lighting Cut the cost of lighting by installing occupancy and

daylight sensors. Smarter lighting will ensure that your lights are only on when they are required. Take this tip to the next level by replacing your lights with energy-saving equivalents – such as T5 tubes or compact fluorescent or LED lamps. Doing so could reduce your electricity consumption by up to 80% as well as lower wasted heat.

How to contact Us For cost saving reviews for your business, please contact us via +44 (0)1753 272022 or email info@clubmirror.com. www.hqbuildingthebusiness.com

Our services include: Energy management & compliance• Office supplies • Telecoms • IT & digital support • Waste management • Fire equipment & maintenance • Boiler & air-conditioning replacement and maintenance • Renewable technologies • Health & Safety • HR • Transaction Handling • Food & Drink • Business insurance • ANPR/Parking facilities • Refurbishment • LED projects

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

f you haven’t yet applied for - or needed to apply for - a Pavement Licence perhpas now’s the time? You can now place removable furniture on the public highway, without the need to obtain Planning Permission. The licence enables you to sell or serve food or drink or consume food or drink. The fee for the application must not exceed £100. Applications must contain the following details: • The premises and, the part of the relevant highway to which the application relates. • The purpose (or purposes) for which the furniture will be used, which must be to sell or serve food or drink, and/or for use by other people for the consumption of food or drink. • The days of the week and the hours between which it is proposed to have furniture on the highway. • The type of furniture to which the application relates, for example: tables, chairs, and/or stalls (This should include details of the number of tables/chairs/other street furniture it is proposed to place on the highway). • The date on which the application is to be made. • Evidence of Public Liability Insurance in respect of anything to be done pursuant to the Licence as the Authority may require. • Such other information or material as the Local Authority may require, for example how national and local conditions have been satisfied. • The distance between the edge of the proposed area and the kerbside should be not less than 1.5m. Having a plan Whilst this is not a formal obligation in law, we anticipate that local authorities may require a plan. To avoid any delay in the processing of your application, we recommend providing a plan showing the following details. (i) Dimensions of area. (ii) Distance between edge of proposed area and the kerb edge. (iii) Furniture inc. barriers. (iv) Position of any other street furniture (lampposts/bus shelters etc). (v) An area set aside for non-smokers.

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Legal Eagle The much anticipated Business and Planning Act 2020 provides relaxations for licensed premises in relation to Pavement Licences and off sales. Relevant to your club? Then our Legal Eagles, TLT Solicitors, examine how to apply and explain what conditions are involved. The Non Obstruction Condition Any Licence granted will be subject to a Non Obstruction Condition and a Non – Smoking condition. In deciding whether or not the Non Obstruction Condition is met the Authority will consider the following: 1. Clear space between the edge of the Pavement Licence area and the edge of the footway/kerb edge. In most circumstances 1500mm clear space should be regarded as the minimum acceptable distance. 2. Any need for a barrier to separate furniture from the rest of the footway so that the visually impaired can navigate around the furniture, such as colour contrast and a tap rail for long cane users. In some cases, it may be appropriate to use one or more rigid, removable objects to demarcate the area to which the licence applies, for example wooden tubs of flowers. 3. Any conflict with street furniture with the principal lines of pedestrian movement (taking in to account for example lamp posts/bus stops) particularly for disabled people, older people and those with mobility needs. The positioning of furniture should not discourage pedestrians from using the footway. The available route must be entirely clear and not pass through an area with tables and chairs. 4. Where possible furniture is non-reflective and of reasonable substance such that it cannot easily be pushed or blown over by the wind, and thereby cause obstruction – for example, the Local Authority could refuse the use of plastic patio furniture, unless measures have been taken to ensure it is kept in place. The Non-Smoking Condition The Smoke-Free Seating Condition seeks to ensure customers have greater choice, so that both smokers and non-smokers are able to sit outside, in order to protect public health by reducing risks of COVID transmission. The condition requires a Licence Holder to make reasonable provision for seating where smoking is not permitted. Factors the Authority will consider will be: 1. Clear ‘smoking’ and ‘non-smoking’ areas, with ‘no

smoking’ signage displayed in designated ‘smokefree’ zones. 2. No ash trays or similar receptacles to be provided or permitted to be left on furniture where smokefree seating is identified. 3. Licence Holders should provide a minimum two metre distance between non-smoking and smoking areas, wherever possible. If an applicant is unable to satisfy the No Obstruction or Non-Smoking Conditions, then the application will be refused. Where you are unable to provide a smoking and non-smoking area we would advise that the whole of the outside area be defined as non-smoking so as to avoid the application being refused. Local Conditions In addition to the above the Local Authority can impose their own conditions. These include conditions that might be needed to make it possible to approve an application which would otherwise be unacceptable. These include: • Public health and safety including security – for example, ensuring that uses conform with the latest guidance on social distancing and any reasonable crowd management measures needed as a result of a Licence being granted and businesses reopening. • Public amenity – will the proposed use create nuisance to neighbouring occupiers by generating anti-social behaviour and litter? • Accessibility – taking a proportionate approach to considering the nature of the site in relation to which the application for a Licence is made, its surroundings and its users, taking account of: i. Considerations under the NoObstruction Condition, in particular considering the needs of disabled people. ii. Any other temporary measures in place that may be relevant to the proposal, for example, the reallocation of road space. This could include pedestrianised streets and any subsequent reallocation of this space to vehicles. iii. Any other social distancing measures in place, for example any queuing systems that limit the space available on the pavement. iv. Whether there are other permanent

street furniture or fixed structures in place on the footway that already reduce access. v. Other users of the space, for example if there are high levels of pedestrian or cycle movements. The Local Authority can, with clear justification, impose further additional conditions which may limit the maximum number of chairs and tables, or type of furniture, time and days of operation. Consultation period The Local Authority has 10 working days from the day after the application is made (excluding public holidays) to consult on, and determine the application. This consists of five working days for public consultation, and then five working days to consider and determine the application after the consultation. If the Local Authority does not determine the application within the 10 working day period, the application will be deemed to have been granted. Duration The Local Authority can specify the duration of the Licence, subject to a minimum duration of three months. The expectation is that Local Authorities will grant Licences for 12 months or more unless there are good reasons for granting a Licence for a shorter period such as plans for future changes in use of road space. We propose to apply for 12 months in all cases, unless local policy considerations prevent it. A Licence granted or deemed to be granted will not be valid beyond 30 September 2021. Appeal There is no right of appeal against a refusal to grant a Pavement Licence. We would recommend that a

sensible approach is taken when identifying the size of the possible area to be covered by the Pavement Licence so as to avoid a refusal. We can always apply to extend the area if necessary. Enforcement The Local Authority can either issue a notice requiring any breach of a Pavement Licence to be remedied or revoke the Licence, If a remedial notice is not complied with the Local Authority can take steps to revoke the Licence. The Local Authority can take action to cover any costs. The Local Authority may revoke a Licence in the following circumstances: For breach of condition, (whether or not a remediation notice has been issued) or where: 1. There are risks to public health or safety – for example by encouraging users to breach government guidance on social distancing by placing tables and chairs too close together or where it comes to light that there are significant security risks which have not been sufficiently considered, or addressed in a proportionate fashion (this should be reassessed as necessary, particularly in the event of changes to the terrorism threat level). 2. This use of the highway is causing an unacceptable obstruction, breaching the Non-Obstruction Condition – for example, the arrangement of street furniture prevents disabled people, older people or a wheelchair users to pass along the highway or have normal access to the premises along-side the highway.

nuisance – for example, the use is increasing the amount of noise generated late at night and litter is not being cleaned up. 4. It comes to light that the applicant provided false or misleading statements in their application – for example they are operating a stall selling hot food and had applied for tables and chairs on which drinks could be consumed. 5. The applicant did not comply with the requirement to affix the notice to notify the public for the relevant period. The Local Authority may also revoke the Licence where all or any part of the area of the relevant highway to which the Licence relates has become unsuitable for any purpose for which the Licence was granted or deemed to be granted. For example, the licensed area (or road adjacent) is no longer to be pedestrianised. It is good practice for Local Authorities to give reasons where these powers are used.

HELP & INFORMATION If you wish to make an application for a pavement licence, or know more about this subject, then please do not hesitate to contact: piers.warne@TLTsolicitors.com or ewen.macgregor@TLTsolicitors.com Ewen Macgregor D: +44 333 006 1251 M: +44 7718 099664 www.tltsolicitors

3. The use is causing anti-social behaviour or public

CLUB RUGBY 29

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

e know that there has been some uncertainty about the extent to which outdoor events, particularly large events, are currently permitted to take place, with both councils and business organisations raising this issue with the LGA. We also know of concerns among councils at the prospect of festival type or very large events being organised in their areas. These notes are intended to bring together relevant guidance on this, given the different regimes that apply and sectors that are affected, and set out what we understand to be Government’s overall approach towards events. Please note that this sets out the current position as it applies to parts of the country not impacted by specific local regulations and is subject to change depending on the prevalence of the virus in a particular area. Overall position We have liaised with the Business for Energy, Innovation and Skills (BEIS) who have confirmed that the Government’s intention is that outdoor events should go ahead where they can do so safely – recognising that some planned easing of the lockdown (eg, weddings etc) were paused on 1 August.

30 CLUB RUGBY

Outdoor events guidance during COVID-19 There has been some confusion regarding which outdoor events can take place, so in August the Local Government Association (LGA) has bought together relevant guidance on outdoor events to provide an overview of the current position. Many outdoor events are already permitted provided they have carried out a thorough risk assessment and taken all reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance (see guidance published for performing arts and sports and recreation). Where those steps have been taken outdoor events that are organised by businesses, charitable organisations, and public bodies, are not restricted to 30 attendees although it is against the law for group sizes to exceed 30 people, except for a limited set of circumstances set out in law. Event organisers should always speak to local authorities as soon as possible to discuss plans for outdoor events and how they can be managed safely. Through this process, councils can advise on safe working practices, support events to comply with relevant requirements and help address any concerns early on and advise on any local restrictions. Most councils will have a Safety Advisory Group (SAG) which brings together representatives from the LA, emergency services and other relevant bodies who can help advise event organisers on the safety of very large events taking place in their areas. Given the current impact of COVID-19, it will be

helpful to include environmental health services in these discussions. This is an important step especially for larger events. COVID-19 secure guidelines With the exceptions of large sporting events, current government guidelines allow for outdoor events that are organised by businesses, charitable organisations, and public bodies to take place provided they have carried out a thorough risk assessment and taken all reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of viral transmission, taking into account that risk assessment, in line with COVID-19 Secure guidance. This includes ensuring that social distancing between different households or support bubbles, and between those working at events and customers is maintained. The Events Industry Forum has published some useful guidance (pdf) on outdoor events which has been developed with input from DCMS. Although the COVID-19 Secure guidance itself is not legally enforceable, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HSWA) provides a framework for considering the steps businesses should take to ensure they are operating in a way that is safe and can help to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

During an event as enforcing authorities under the HSWA councils have powers to act if there are concerns about the extent to which an event is compliant with the guidance on being COVID-19 secure. The approach to doing so will mirror how businesses manage other health and safety risks in the workplace usually starting with advice and guidance to support compliance, but could also mean a fine, prohibition notice or prosecution.

Licensing Act 2003 Large outdoor events may apply foror have an existing licence under the Licensing Act 2003. In the absence of a health objective councils’ powers to refuse or revoke a premises licence on the basis of concerns about COVID-19 may be limited, as the refusal would need to relate to one of the Act’s licensing objectives: • the prevention of crime and disorder • public safety • the prevention of public nuisance and • the protection of children from harm. In some cases, event organisers have applied for Temporary Event Notices (TENs). While this gives councils the opportunity to review an application for an event, the short timescales present a challenge for authorities. Environmental Health and the police can object to a TEN, although as set out above, objections would need to relate to the four licensing objectives. Situations where councils may be able to refuse permission/request cancellation of an event There are limited circumstances where a council can clearly refuse permission for or request organisers to cancel an event. The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (England) (No. 3) Regulations 2020 give county, unitary and metropolitan councils powers to restrict access to, or close, individual premises or public outdoor places as well as prohibit certain events from taking place where there is a serious or imminent threat of transmission of coronavirus, for example where there is a local spike and a large event going ahead would risk further transmission of the virus. Regulations set out three conditions which need to be met before a direction can be issued. These are:

• That giving a direction responds to a serious and imminent threat to public health, • That the direction is necessary for the purpose of preventing, protecting against, controlling or providing a public health response to the incidence or spread of infection by coronavirus in the local authority’s area, and • That the prohibitions, requirements or restrictions imposed by the direction are a proportionate means of achieving that purpose. The Secretary of State needs to be notified of any directions made by councils and they must be reviewed every seven days. There are also rights of appeal to a Magistrates’ Court and the Secretary of State also has power to intervene, both to require an authority to make a direction but also to require the authority to revoke a direction. Directions should therefore only be issued where councils can successfully demonstrate it has met relevant criteria in order to resist any challenges. When considering whether this power could be applied in relation to a planned event, councils will clearly need to discuss this with local public health leads, and potentially the police. Where the council is the landowner, they could refuse permission to allow the use of the land for an event without the need to issue a direction. Beyond this, however, it seems broadly that the intention is that outdoor events should take place where it is safe to do so with the focus on these being supported to operate safely, rather than blocked. The original document from August 10 can be found here: https://www.local.gov.uk/covid-19outdoor-events-guidance

CLUB RUGBY 31

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL

Premier League 2020/21 kicks off There may be plenty of more weighty matters competing for everyone’s attention right now – not least the small matter of the continuing global pandemic – but from rugby clubs to cricket clubs and everything in between, the return of the new Premier League season is a genuine cause for celebration for sports fans across the land.

mpty stadia or not, the passion and skill that will be on display in the coming months is sure to help bring members into clubs to watch the campaign unfold on TV screens with an unprecedented amount of live games showing this season on Amazon Prime, BT Sport and Sky Sports. After their runaway title run last season, all eyes will be on Liverpool and their totemic manager Jurgen Klopp who has built a world-class team that has bestrode both the domestic and European stages in recent seasons. Despite the success of his project thus far, Klopp believes that there is plenty more to come for Liverpool, a statement that is sure to fire up his team’s closest rivals this season as they set their sights on the fabled Premier League trophy won in such comprehensive style by the Anfield crew in 2019/20.

As they embark on their title defence, Liverpool know that they will be the most analysed team in the league this season as every team tries to learn from the tactics and techniques which have put them at the top of the tree. Given the resources enjoyed by their closest rivals, there is every reason to think that this season’s Premier League title race will be a far more competitive affair that last time out which saw Liverpool winning by an 18-point margin. That will mean even more excitement for fans, many of whom will be heading to their local clubs to watch the action unfold during the 2020/21 season in order to savour the special atmosphere provided by the club environment, whatever the sporting persuasion.

Matt Le Tissier Pundit for WhichBookie.co.uk “Liverpool pretty much strolled it last season but over the years it’s been notoriously difficult for teams to back up a Premier League win with another one – It takes a special manager and set of players to be able to do that. “With the pressures being the champions brings, I have a feeling that they may struggle to retain the title and I’d expect Man City to be a far closer challenger than they were last season. “With the players and depth of squad that they have and their attacking threat, they should perform better than they did last season. A big factor for City will be keeping their defenders fit. “They lost Laporte for a large chunk of last season which was a huge blow to them but if they can keep him fit, I’d expect City to go on to win it. He’s that important to them. “Man United and Chelsea both finished in the top four last season but I think they’ll improve on the 33-point gap from the leaders this time around. “United finished the season strong and Cheslsea have invested heavily heading into the new season and it would be nice to see both these teams in contention for the title going into February/March time.”

Welcome to the new season! CLUB RUGBY 33

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – PREDICTIONS

Premier League Predictions So what’s in store for the 2020-21 season? After Liverpool’s stunning heroics last season, many top pundits are tipping them for glory once more while others believe that it could be Manchester United or Chelsea who will be lifting the fabled Premier League trophy come May 2021. Robbie Savage, BT Sport Pundit Former Wales and Manchester United midfielder Robbie Savage believes that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team could challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title this season. United endured a slow start to proceedings last time out but began to hit top form in the latter stages of the season, a trend which Savage expects to continue in 2020/21. “I can't wait to see United's midfield three of Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba and new signing Donny van de Beek supplying the ammunition for Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood and Anthony Martial,” he says. “Add a world-class centre-back and a top-class goalscorer and they will be the real deal.” But he concedes that the champions are unlikely to stagnate under their dynamic management team

34 CLUB RUGBY

headed by Jurgen Klopp, one of the most lauded managers in recent history and someone unlikely to ever rest on his laurels. “Klopp is not the sort of manager to let the grass grow under his feet,” says Savage. “Liverpool have stockpiled 196 points over the last two seasons and that defensive unit, with Virgil van Dijk at its heart, will be the foundation for more success. “They have only lost four games out of the last 77 in the Premier League – that’s some going.” In terms of other sides he expects to be making an impact this season, Savage points to big-spending Chelsea who have made huge strides under manager Frank Lampard in the past 12 months. “Owner Roman Abramovich means business – he's given manager Frank Lampard £230 million to spend this summer and Chelsea have brought in serious quality," he says. “Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Thiago Silva and Malang Sarr will build on Lampard's excellent first season in charge – but he

needs a world-class goalkeeper.” As for last season’s runners-ups, Manchester City, Savage is not convinced that they have the personnel to present a major threat to Liverpool, particularly after their audacious move for Lionel Messi was thwarted by Barcelona. "If Messi wasn't staying at Barcelona, all bets would be off,” he says. “City's suspect back line has been shored up by £41m Nathan Ake and the 18point gap to champions Liverpool last season looks a bridge too far.” As for new boys Leeds United, Savage is looking forward to seeing what the Championship winners can do in the top flight after a 16-year wait to return to the big time. “Marcelo Bielsa coaching in the Premier League will be one of the most fascinating subplots of the season and, as an attacking force, record signing Rodrigo will give Leeds a focal point,” he says. “I hope they do well, and they could finish anywhere between the top six and the bottom three, but I suspect it will be somewhere in the middle."

Jamie Carragher, Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher is hoping that fans will witness a far closer fight for the title this season, rather than the unstoppable trajectory achieved by Liverpool last season. “I’m a Liverpool man and I want to see them win the league again, but maybe not in the manner they did it last season,” says the Sky Sports pundit. “We want and we need to see a competitive title race I want to see the other teams get closer to Liverpool because we need it to be more competitive. “We don’t want any team to be 20 or 30 points ahead and while I want Liverpool to win the league, I’d like to see them in the tight title race and winning it on the last day of the season in exciting fashion, going down to the wire and with less points than they got last season."

Rio Ferdinand, BT Sport Pundit Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has installed defending champions Liverpool as his favourites for the title this season, closely followed by Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United. He believes that with players of the quality of Virgil van Dijk, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane in the squad, Liverpool have every chance of repeating their feats of 2019/20 in the upcoming campaign. “No one can say Liverpool had a freak season because they finished so far ahead of their rivals, but they did have one big factor on their side that they cannot guarantee going forward,” he says. “The key for them has been having their key players fit for the best part of two seasons. “It has been massive and what we have yet to find out is how they will cope if they are to lose a few big names for an extended period. “Virgil van Dijk has played nearly every game for two seasons and it’s hard to keep that going. Mo Salah has been fit for all the big games and so has Sadio Mane. “If they lose one of two of their players with big injuries, then we will see something else from them. ‘What have they got in reserve to come in for these proven stars and maintain this level of consistency? That’s what we are waiting to see. “Questions will be asked of this Liverpool team and their recruitment from this point forward. ‘Their front three have been fit consistently and they might need to look at having some better quality in reserve if Salah or Mane, in particular, are out for a long period. ‘When I look at the teams I played in when we were winning titles every season at Manchester United, we never had two seasons when all the top players were fit for the big games, so Liverpool have had some fortune there and obviously do things right on the medical side to get their players right.”

Gary Neville, Sky Sports pundit Despite the fact that Manchester United finished in third spot last season, former player Gary Neville has predicted that the Red Devils will finish higher in the table than Liverpool in 2020/21. When asked for his top four predictions for the coming season, Neville says: “I’m going to go Man City, Man United, Liverpool and Chelsea, but that’s with a little bit of hope rather than science. “Finishing third last season was a big moment for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. That demonstrated progression. “I think he has to break that top-two or get close to that top-two and get close to the title. The fans want to see progression and Manchester United have to continue to progress.”

PADDY POWER Odds to win title outright Man City Liverpool Chelsea Man United Arsenal Tottenham Wolves Leeds United Leicester Everton Southampton Newcastle West Bromwich Fulham Sheffield United Brighton West Ham Crystal Palace Aston Villa Burnley

8/11 15/8 9/1 11/1 33/1 60/1 175/1 225/1 225/1 250/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1 500/1

Harry Redknapp, Former West Ham Manager Harry Redknapp thinks Liverpool will retain their Premier League crown next season despite improvements from other sides. Liverpool finished 33 points clear on third-placed Man Utd last term as they romped to the Premier League title, finishing 18 points ahead of nearest rivals Man City. Chelsea, who finished fourth, have brought in Ben Chilwell, Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech, Malang Sarr and Thiago Silva in this window, while the Reds have brought in just Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiacos. However, Redknapp is confident that Liverpool will be the team that comes out on top again this term. “Chelsea have performed well, Man United are getting stronger, Man City are going to try and win it back this year but I’m still going to go with Liverpool. They look like the winning team to me.”

Manchester City swings the advantage back to Anfield,” he says. "As it stands, the evidence points to Liverpool. "Everything about the team works, everyone understands their jobs from full-backs to up front. To use a car analogy, you know they’ll pass the MOT before going into the garage. "Some will question the lack of transfer activity but I'm sure Klopp believes the old saying: 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'."

Danny Murphy, BBC Sport Pundit Former Liverpool man Danny Murphy is backing his old team to win a second successive title in the upcoming season. He believes that Manchester City will finish as runners-up with Chelsea securing third place and Manchester United finishing fourth. Liverpool won a first title in 30 years last season, preventing Man City from making it three championships on the trot. City have strengthened both their defence and attack this summer ahead of trying to win back their crown, and were recently linked with the world's best player, Lionel Messi. “I think either Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola will be champions again in May but I believe the latest twist in Lionel Messi's on-off move to

Graeme Souness, Sky Sport Pundit The Liverpool legend is firmly in the corner of his former team. “As it stands, Liverpool are the favourites for the title, but I don’t see them running away with it again,” says Souness. “I would have loved to have seen Lionel Messi come in at Manchester City. “I expect a bigger challenge, though, from United and Chelsea this time. United will be better with Donny van de Beek, but the goalkeeping situation may be an issue. “Chelsea have signed well, but let’s see how quickly Timo Werner, Hakim Ziyech and Kai Havertz settle in. “Beyond that, I don’t see a title challenger. People are making noises about Arsenal, but I don’t see them being strong enough.”

*As at September 6, 2020

CLUB RUGBY 35

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – NEW SEASON Will Liverpool be able to make it two titles in a row this season?

The chase is on.. The new season may kick off in a different atmosphere to the normal fervour which traditionally greets the start of the Premier League but there will be no shortage of passion on the pitches as reigning champions Liverpool are chased by a number of ambitious rivals for the title. Just a little over six weeks since the delayed 2019/20 Premier League season concluded, the new season is here and the sense of anticipation amongst fans is as high as ever. All eyes will be on reigning champions Liverpool as they attempt to win consecutive titles after a stunning campaign last time out which set them apart from their challengers and cemented Jurgen Klopp’s reputation as one of the most innovative managerial minds in world football. e story of Liverpool’s season is told in a suite of stellar statistics - played 38, won 32; goals for 85, goals against 33 meaning they ﬁnished with a total of 99 league points, 18 points ahead of runners-up Manchester City. Indeed, the 3-1 win over City at Anﬁeld in October was probably the best all-round Liverpool performance of the season as they

36 CLUB RUGBY

ruthlessly put their rivals to the sword and dealt them a hefty psychological blow - Fabinho, Salah and Mane scoring freely in a high-tempo game which delighted the home crowd. Now, having secured the title – the precursor to one of the biggest celebrations seen in recent years in the city of Liverpool (despite the Coronavirus restrictions being in force at the time) - Klopp’s men have it all to prove again as they embark on a title defence. And they will have to do it without the full momentum of the Liverpool support behind them during games given that there are likely to be heavy restrictions to the size of stadium crowds for some time to come. e magnitude of the task facing the team is not lost on Klopp, especially given that the coming season will be more concentrated than usual, and the fact that the FA decided against

keeping the ﬁve substitute rule that was implemented during the delayed back-end of last season. “We have 38 Premier League games in a fourweek-shorter season, that says it all,” he said in the Press Conference following his side’s 5-4 defeat on penalties to Arsenal in the Community Shield. “It is really, how can we get through the season?” Liverpool began their Premier League title defence on September 12 when they claimed a gripping 4-3 victory over newly-promoted Leeds. It will be fascinating to see how Liverpool continue to build on the achievements of last season. Clearly, one of the their main challengers will be last season’s runners-up, Manchester City, a side of dazzling talent which is well used to winning silverware with two back-to-back Premier League titles in the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons.

Make no mistake, last season was a bitter disappointment for City who started the campaign with the genuine ambition of winning both the Premier League and the Champions League. at they failed in both aims - their only trophy of the season coming in the form of the League Cup – is sure to drive them on in the coming months. Aiding them in that mission will be the inspirational midﬁelder Kevin De Bruyne, recently named as PFA Player of the Year - the ﬁrst Manchester City player to achieve this honour. De Bruyne has established himself as one of the most consistent performers in the Premier league since completing a £55 million move to City from Wolfsburg in 2015. e 29-year-old has accumulated 57 goals in 222 appearances for the Light Blues, while also providing 89 assists, 20 of which were recorded in last season’s Premier League. Now City will be hoping that the Belgian international’s stats can mesh with the overal team performances to help wrest the Premier League trophy away from Liverpool. Also being talked up as potential champions are Frank Lampard’s Chelsea who have spent upwards of £250 million during the transfer window, bringing in the likes of Hakim Ziyech from Ajax, Timo Werner from RB Leipzig and Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen. Another new addition is 35-year-old Brazilian veteran iago Silva, who joins after eight years at PSG. "With iago Silva, we are looking at a player I know very well, pretty much as we all do," said Lampard. "He brings great experience for us, he is still

playing at a massively high level, as we saw in the Champions League final and games towards the final, so I expect him to come and bring that, bring his experience, leadership and his qualities. It is going to be very important for us. "We have a relatively young squad, we saw that last year, there were games afterwards when I was probably asking for more voice and some more leadership in different ways and he brings that naturally straight away, and also on the pitch he can help talk and be the player that he is which means affecting others. "On those levels I hope he brings that. I am pretty sure he will with the qualities we know he has, so I am excited for when he joins up." Last season, the Blues managed to string together a number of impressive performances with a cast of fairly inexperienced young players and will now have the challenge of integrating their new personnel without losing the team ethic which brought so much positivity last time out. ere has been something of a trophy drought during the past two seasons and many Chelsea fans will expect the team to be challenging for silverware on a number of fronts this season, not least in the Premier League. No doubt this attitude is also felt by the Old Trafford faithful who have had to endure several seasons in the shadow of their nearest geographical rivals. Manchester United made huge improvements during the second half of last season, with new arrival Bruno Fernandes inspiring a major upturn in performance. eir third-place finish in the Premier League table last season represented major progress for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and he will now be ready to raise the bar even further. e addition of Ajax midfielder Donny van de

Beek is a major filip to the squad, but the team’s fans will be hoping that United can extract some further talent from transfer market before the deadline on October 5. Leicester City, who finished fifth last season, said farewell to Ben Chilwell over the summer and could struggle to match their achievements of 2019/20 unless they can bring in some fresh faces to revitalise the team. Tottenham are another side with huge potential and they will be looking to improve on their sixth-place finish last season. ere do not appear to be many marquee signings in the offing for Spurs during the current transfer window, although Manager Jose Mourinho has added some seasoned pros in the form of Southampton midfielder Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Wolves defender Matt Doherty, players who should be relied on to play to Mourinho’s system. Meanwhile, Arsenal, who finished in eighth spot, have reinforced their defence with the signing of Willian from Chelsea and have also managed to secure the services of skipper PierreEmerick Aubameyang for a further three years, a huge relief for Gunners fans given his influence last season. As for the new faces in the Premier League, there is much excitement about the return of Leeds United to the top flight after a 16-year absence. eir manager Marcelo Bielsa – known as ‘El Loco’ after the time he reportedly faced down a group of angry fantaticos on his doorstep in Argentina by brandishing a hand grenade – is regarded as one of the most thorough tacticians in the game and he has assembled a squad that looks ready to hit the ground running.

Kevin De Bruyne recently became the first Manchester City player in history to receive the PFA ‘Player of the Year’ accolade.

CLUB RUGBY 37

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – NEW SEASON Liam Cooper is looking forward to Leeds United’s return to the top flight.

ey have signed Spanish striker Rodrigo from Valencia and defender Robin Koch from Freiberg to bolster the squad which won the Championship in good form last term and hopefully consolidate their place in the Premier League. Leeds opened their account against Liverpool on the opening weekend and it was fascinating to see which tactics Bielsa came up with to counter the reigning champions, scoring three thrilling goals in the process. One man who is revelling in the opportunity to show what Leeds can do in the Premier League is club skipper Liam Cooper, speaking before the inaugural September 12 match. “Promotion has deﬁnitely not sunk in,” he said. “I don’t know whether it will when we play

the first game at Anfield or when I’m looking back on my career in 10 years. “Six years ago I signed for the club and it’s unbelievable to see where we have come from, writing ourselves into history forever.” He added: “e last two years have been the best of my career. To play under Marcelo and be guided by him every single day and to see the group improve like we have, reaching levels some of us never thought we could, really is unbelievable. “Even though in recent games they haven’t been there, hopefully sooner rather than later they will be back to drive us on to stay in the Premier League. “It’s going to be a different mentality this year and we all know that, we’re not stupid, we don’t

BT Sport – which will be showing 58 games during the season – has announced its first set of live Premier League fixtures for the 2020/21 Premier League season and will kick off with Fulham v Arsenal at Craven Cottage. The London derby is the first of five games to be broadcast on BT Sport in September as the 2020/21 season gets under way. A week later the BT cameras head to Liverpool to see another promoted outfit in action as West Bromwich take on Carlo Ancelotti's Everton at Goodison Park. The coverage continues just 24 hours later as Southampton host Jose Mourinho's Tottenham side. Seven days later, the BT team head back to the south coast to the where Manchester United will go toe-to-toe with Brighton. BT's September line-up of live Premier League action concludes on Sunday 27 September as Leeds United face Sheffield United.

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think we are going to go and win the Premier League. "I think every fan being honest would take 17th place, we want to stay in this league. “Obviously we want to go and ﬁnish higher and push maybe for the top 10, but in all honesty we would all take staying in the league. “We are going to lose a few more games than normal, but we will do it our way, we won’t change the way we play. “I know 100 per cent we won’t change the way we approach games or the intensity we play at, so strap in, it is going to be an unbelievable season and we are back where we belong.” Strap in indeed, whatever team you follow, as the title chase is now underway with everything to play for...

Sky Sports has announced its initial list of live Premier League fixtures for the new season which will see champions Liverpool taking on newly-promoted Leeds on Saturday, September 12 at 5.30pm. The first weekend of the new season will also see Leicester travel to West Brom and Tottenham host Everton in a Super Sunday double-header, before Brighton welcome Chelsea for the first Monday Night Football of the campaign. The first selection of live Premier League fixtures on Sky Sports during September also includes Manchester United's opener against Crystal Palace on September 19 and Liverpool's trip to Chelsea the following day. Overall, Sky Sports will be showing 146 Premier League matches live throughout the 2020/21 season. There will also be two additional midweek programmes – one will be played across the weeks commencing January 11 and 18 and the second will be in the week commencing May 10.

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – THE CONTENDERS ARSENAL Winners of two memorable league and cup doubles who have struggled in recent years to match their previous achievements, the Gunners won their most recent silverware in the 2014/15 FA Cup, and finished in eighth place last season in the Premier League. Established Emirates Stadium Nickname 1886 (capacity 60,260) The Gunners _________________________________________

ASTON VILLA Founded in 1874, Villa are one of the founder members of the FA and have achieved many notable successes over the years. Last season the team rallied in the final months, finishing 17th in the Premier League table and avoiding relegation on the very final day of the season. Established Villa Park Nickname 1874 (capacity 42,095) The Lions _________________________________________

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club made 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 finished in 10th place last term during their fifth consecutive season in the Premier League. Under manager Sean Dyche, the side have won plenty of admirers for their style of football which belies the club’s relatively modest budget compared to most other sides. Established Turf Moor Nickname 1882 (capacity 21,401) The Clarets _________________________________________

CHELSEA Last won the Premier League title back in 2016-17 and last season finished in fourth spot. Over the summer they have spent upwards of £200 million on fresh talent and will be expected to make a challenge for the Premier League title. 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 the team finished 14th in the Premier League table and continue this season under veteran manager Roy Hodgson. Established Selhurst Park Nickname 1905 (capacity 25,747) The Eagles _________________________________________

EVERTON Everton manager Carlo Ancelotti is in the early stages of a rebuilding project at Everton and attempting to bring in some quality players to Goodison Park during the

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transfer window. Established Goodison Park Nickname 1878 (capacity39,571) The Toffees _________________________________________

FULHAM Fulham are back in the Premier League after winning the Championship playoff final 2-1 against Brentford. They last featured in the top flight during the 2018-19 season and have an illustrious history in the Football League. Established Craven Cottage Nickname 1879 (capacity 25,700) The Cottagers _________________________________________

LEEDS UNITED Leeds have won three English League titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and two Charity Shields and also reached the 1975 European Cup Final where they lost in controversial circumstances to Bayern Munich. Established Elland Road Nickname 1919 (capacity 37,890) The Peacocks _________________________________________

LEICESTER CITY The team finished in 5th place last season as Jamie Vardy powered his way to the Golden Boot award. Depending on who they recruit, they could once again push for a top-four spot. Established King Power Stadium Nickname 1884 (capacity 32,312) The Foxes _________________________________________

LIVERPOOL Won their 19th league title last season and did it with plenty to spare, leaving their rivals trailing in their wake for the majority of the season. Jurgen Klopp has stated that there is plenty more to come from the team that has already become a major force on the home and European stages. Established Anfield Nickname 1892 (capacity 53,394) The Reds _________________________________________

MANCHESTER CITY Runners-up last season, City have a dazzling array of talent at their disposal and tried to add to their roster with an audacious bid for Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi. That move may not have paid off but they have recruited a couple of other quality players who will boost their chances of winning the title again. Established Etihad Stadium Nickname 1880 (capacity 55,017) The Sky Blues _________________________________________

MANCHESTER UNITED 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 but only managed a 3rd spot last time out. Established Old Trafford Nickname 1878 (capacity 75,653) The Red Devils

NEWCASTLE Newcastle United Football Club has one of the most passionate and vociferous support bases in the country but have struggled in recent years to bring silverware to St James’ Park and finished in 13th place last season. New ownership for the club failed to materialise last season. Established St James’ Park Nickname 1892 (capacity 52,401) The Magpies _________________________________________

SHEFFIELD UNITED Finishing in 9th spot last season, the Blades earned plenty of plaudits for their enterprising attacking play coupled with a mean defence which saw them finish the season with the fourth-best defensive record in the Premier League. Not bad for a side who had just acheived promotion. Established Bramall Lane Nickname 1889 (capacity 32,125) The Blades _________________________________________

SOUTHAMPTON Finishing in 11th position last time out, the Saints enjoyed a great end to their campaign, losing just one of their final nine matches. Ralph Hasenhuttl recently signed a four-year deal and the future looks bright. Established St Mary’s Nickname 1885 (capacity 32,505) The Saints _________________________________________

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR In 1960/61, Tottenham Hotspur were the first club in the 20th Century to win the League and FA Cup double. Last season they finished in 6th place, a position they will hope to better this term under manager Jose Mourinho. Established TH Stadium Nickname 1882 (capacity 62,303) Spurs/Lilywhites _________________________________________

WEST BROMWICH ALBION West Bromwich Albion were one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888. The club have been Champions of England once (in 1919/20) and have won the FA cup five times. Established The Hawthorns Nickname 1878 (capacity 26,850) The Baggies _________________________________________

WEST HAM West Ham were 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 _________________________________________

WOLVES One of the suprise packages of last season, Wolves have finished in seventh spot in the final table for the past two seasons, a major achievement given the relatively small squad assembled by manager Nuno Espirito Santo. Established Molineux Nickname 1877 (capacity 32,050) The Wolves

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FIXTURES

ARSENAL

ASTON VILLA

Dates to be confirmed Wolves Aston Villa Leicester Southampton Manchester Utd Spurs September Fulham Sat 12 West Ham Sun 20 Liverpool Mon 28 October Sheffield Utd Sat 3 Manchester City Sat 17 November Leeds Sat 21 December Burnley Sun 13 Everton Sat 19 Chelsea Sat 26 Brighton Mon 28 January West Brom Sat 2 Crystal Palace Tue 12 Newcastle Sat 16 Southampton Wed 27 Manchester Utd Sat 30 February Wolves Tue 2 Aston Villa Sat 6 Leeds Sat 13 Manchester City Sat 20 Leicester Sat 27 March Sat 6 Burnley Sat 13 Spurs Sat 20 West Ham April Sat 3 Liverpool Sat 10 Sheffield Utd Sat 17 Fulham Sat 24 Everton May Sat 1 Newcastle Sat 8 West Brom Wed 12 Chelsea Sat 15 Crystal Palace Sun 23 Brighton

Dates to be confirmed Arsenal Burnley Manchester City September Sheffield Utd Sun 20 Fulham Sun 27 October Liverpool Sat 3 Leicester Sat 17 Leeds Sat 24 Southampton Sat 31 November Brighton Sat 21 West Ham Sat 28 December Newcastle Sat 5 Wolves Sat 12 West Brom Sat 19 Crystal Palace Sat 26 Chelsea Mon 28 January Manchester Utd Sat 2 Spurs Tue 12 Everton Sat 16 Burnley Tue 26 Southampton Sat 30 February West Ham Tue 2 Arsenal Sat 6 Brighton Sat 13 Leicester Sat 20 Leeds Sat 27 March Sat 6 Wolves Sat 13 Newcastle Sat 20 Sheffield Utd April Sat 3 Fulham Sat 10 Liverpool Sat 17 Manchester City Sat 24 West Brom May Sat 1 Everton Sat 8 Manchester Utd Wed 12 Crystal Palace Sat 15 Spurs Sun 23 Chelsea

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BRIGHTON & HOVE A H A H A H A H H H A H A A H A A H H A A H H A H A H A A H A H H A H A A H

CHELSEA

BURNLEY Dates to be confirmed Aston Villa Manchester Utd September Sat 19 Leicester Sat 26 Southampton October Sat 3 Newcastle Sat 17 West Brom Sat 24 Spurs Sat 31 Chelsea November Sat 7 Brighton Sat 21 Crystal Palace Sat 28 Manchester City December Sat 5 Everton Sun 13 Arsenal Sat 19 Wolves Sat 26 Leeds Mon 28 Sheffield Utd January Sat 2 Fulham Wed 13 Liverpool Sat 16 West Ham Tue 26 Aston Villa Sat 30 Chelsea February Tue 2 Manchester City Sat 6 Brighton Sat 13 Crystal Palace Sat 20 West Brom Sat 27 Spurs March Sat 6 Arsenal Sat 13 Everton Sat 20 Leicester April Sat 3 Southampton Sat 10 Newcastle Sat 17 Manchester Utd Sat 24 Wolves May Sat 1 West Ham Sat 8 Fulham Wed 12 Leeds Sat 15 Liverpool Sun 23 Sheffield Utd

FIXTURES

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

September Mon 14 Brighton Sun 20 Liverpool Sat 26 West Brom October Sat 3 Crystal Palace Sat 17 Southampton Sat 24 Manchester Utd Sat 31 Burnley November Sat 7 Sheffield Utd Sat 21 Newcastle Sat 28 Spurs December Sat 5 Leeds Sat 12 Everton Tue 15 Wolves Sat 19 West Ham Sat 26 Arsenal Mon 28 Aston Villa January Sat 2 Manchester City Tue 12 Leicester Sat 16 Fulham Wed 27 Wolves Sat 30 Burnley February Wed 3 Spurs Sat 6 Sheffield Utd Sat 13 Newcastle Sat 20 Southampton Sat 27 Manchester Utd March Sat 6 Everton Sat 13 Leeds Sat 20 Liverpool April Sat 3 West Brom Sat 10 Crystal Palace Sat 17 Brighton Sat 24 West Ham May Sat 1 Fulham Sat 8 Manchester City Wed 12 Arsenal Sat 15 Leicester Sun 23 Aston Villa

Date to be confirmed Fulham September Chelsea Mon 14 Newcastle Sun 20 Manchester Utd Sat 26 October Everton Sat 3 Crystal Palace Sat 17 West Brom Sat 24 Spurs Sat 31 November Burnley Sat 7 Aston Villa Sat 21 Liverpool Sat 28 December Southampton Sat 5 Leicester Sun 13 Sheffield Utd Sat 19 West Ham Sat 26 Arsenal Mon 28 January Wolves Sat 2 Manchester City Wed 13 Leeds Sat 16 Fulham Tue 26 Spurs Sat 30 February Liverpool Wed 3 Burnley Sat 6 Aston Villa Sat 13 Crystal Palace Sat 20 West Brom Sat 27 March Sat 6 Leicester Sat 13 Southampton Sat 20 Newcastle April Sat 3 Manchester Utd Sat 10 Everton Sat 17 Chelsea Sat 24 Sheffield Utd May Sat 1 Leeds Sat 8 Wolves Tue 11 West Ham Sat 15 Manchester City Sun 23 Arsenal

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

September Mon 14 Southampton Sat 19 Manchester Utd Sat 26 Everton October Sat 3 Chelsea Sat 17 Brighton Sat 24 Fulham Sat 31 Wolves November Sat 7 Leeds Sat 21 Burnley Sat 28 Newcastle December Sat 5 West Brom Sat 12 Spurs Tue 15 West Ham Sat 19 Liverpool Sat 26 Aston Villa Mon 28 Leicester January Sat 2 Sheffield Utd Tue 12 Arsenal Sat 16 Manchester City Wed 27 West Ham Sat 30 Wolves February Wed 3 Newcastle Sat 6 Leeds Sat 13 Burnley Sat 20 Brighton Sat 27 Fulham March Sat 6 Spurs Sat 13 West Brom Sat 20 Manchester Utd April Sat 3 Everton Sat 10 Chelsea Sat 17 Southampton Sat 24 Leicester May Sat 1 Manchester City Sat 8 Sheffield Utd Wed 12 Aston Villa Sat 15 Arsenal Sun 23 Liverpool

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

Date to be confirmed Leicester September Sun 13 Spurs Sat 19 West Brom Sat 26 Crystal Palace October Sat 3 Brighton Sat 17 Liverpool Sat 24 Southampton Sat 31 Newcastle November Sat 7 Manchester Utd Sat 21 Fulham Sat 28 Leeds December Sat 5 Burnley Sat 12 Chelsea Sat 19 Arsenal Sat 26 Sheffield Utd Mon 28 Manchester City January Sat 2 West Ham Tue 12 Wolves Sat 16 Aston Villa Tue 26 Leicester Sat 30 Newcastle February Tue 2 Leeds Sat 6 Manchester Utd Sat 13 Fulham Sat 20 Liverpool Sat 27 Southampton March Sat 6 Chelsea Sat 13 Burnley Sat 20 West Brom April Sat 3 Crystal Palace Sat 10 Brighton Sat 17 Spurs Sat 24 Arsenal May Sat 1 Aston Villa Sat 8 West Ham Tue 11 Sheffield Sat 15 Wolves Sun 23 Manchester City

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

FOR 2020-2021

FULHAM Dates to be confirmed Brighton Leicester September Sat 12 Arsenal Sat 19 Leeds Sun 27 Aston Villa October Sat 3 Wolves Sat 17 Sheffield Utd Sat 24 Crystal Palace Sat 31 West Brom November Sat 7 West Ham Sat 21 Everton December Sat 5 Manchester City Sat 12 Liverpool Sat 19 Newcastle Sat 26 Southampton Mon 28 Spurs January Sat 2 Burnley Tue 12 Manchester Utd Sat 16 Chelsea Tue 26 Brighton Sat 30 West Brom February Tue 2 Leicester Sat 6 West Ham Sat 13 Everton Sat 20 Sheffield Utd Sat 27 Crystal Palace March Sat 6 Liverpool Sat 13 Manchester City Sat 20 Leeds April Sat 3 Aston Villa Sat 10 Wolves Sat 17 Arsenal Sat 24 Spurs May Sat 1 Chelsea Sat 8 Burnley Wed 12 Southampton Sat 15 Manchester Utd Sun 23 Newcastle

LEEDS UTD

LEICESTER CITY

Date to be confirmed Leicester September Sat 12 Liverpool Sun 20 Fulham Sun 27 Sheffield Utd October Sat 3 Manchester City Sat 17 Wolves Sat 24 Aston Villa November Sat 7 Crystal Palace Sat 21 Arsenal Sat 28 Everton December Sat 5 Chelsea Sat 12 West Ham Tue 15 Newcastle Sat 19 Manchester Utd Sat 26 Burnley Mon 28 West Brom January Sat 2 Spurs Tue 12 Southampton Sat 16 Brighton Wed 27 Newcastle Sat 30 Leicester February Tue 2 Everton Sat 6 Crystal Palace Sat 13 Arsenal Sat 20 Wolves Sat 27 Aston Villa March Sat 6 West Ham Sat 13 Chelsea Sat 20 Fulham April Sat 3 Sheffield Utd Sat 10 Manchester City Sat 17 Liverpool Sat 24 Manchester Utd May Sat 1 Brighton Sat 8 Spurs Tue 11 Burnley Sat 15 Southampton Sun 23 West Brom

Dates to be confirmed Arsenal Leeds Fulham Wolves Everton Sheffield Utd September West Brom Sun 13 Burnley Sat 19 Manchester City Sun 27 October West Ham Sat 3 Aston Villa Sat 17 November Liverpool Sat 21 December Brighton Sun 13 Spurs Sat 19 Manchester Utd Sat 26 Crystal Palace Mon 28 January Newcastle Sat 2 Chelsea Tue 12 Southampton Sat 16 Everton Tue 26 Leeds Sat 30 February Fulham Tue 2 Wolves Sat 6 Liverpool Sat 13 Aston Villa Sat 20 Arsenal Sat 27 March Brighton Sat 6 Sheffield Utd Sat 13 Burnley Sat 20 April Manchester City Sat 3 West Ham Sat 10 West Brom Sat 17 Crystal Palace Sat 24 May Sat 1 Southampton Sat 8 Newcastle Wed 12 Manchester Utd Sat 15 Chelsea Sun 23 Spurs

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

Date to be confirmed Aston Villa September Mon 21 Wolves Sun 27 Leicester October Sat 3 Leeds Sat 17 Arsenal Sat 24 West Ham Sat 31 Sheffield Utd November Sat 7 Liverpool Sat 21 Spurs Sat 28 Burnley December Sat 5 Fulham Sat 12 Manchester Utd Wed 16 West Brom Sat 19 Southampton Sat 26 Newcastle Mon 28 Everton January Sat 2 Chelsea Wed 13 Brighton Sat 16 Crystal Palace Tue 26 West Brom Sat 30 Sheffield Utd February Tue 2 Burnley Sat 6 Liverpool Sat 13 Spurs Sat 20 Arsenal Sat 27 West Ham March Sat 6 Manchester Utd Sat 13 Fulham Sat 20 Wolves April Sat 3 Leicester Sat 10 Leeds Sat 17 Aston Villa Sat 24 Southampton May Sat 1 Crystal Palace Sat 8 Chelsea Wed 12 Newcastle Sat 15 Brighton Sun 23 Everton

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H A H A H A 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 H A A H

Dates to be confirmed Burnley Arsenal September Sat 19 Crystal Palace Sat 26 Brighton October Sat 3 Spurs Sat 17 Newcastle Sat 24 Chelsea November Sat 7 Everton Sat 21 West Brom Sat 28 Southampton December Sat 5 West Ham Sat 12 Manchester City Tue 15 Sheffield Utd Sat 19 Leeds Sat 26 Leicester Mon 28 Wolves January Sat 2 Aston Villa Tue 12 Fulham Sat 16 Liverpool Tue 26 Sheffield Sat 30 Arsenal February Tue 2 Southampton Sat 6 Everton Sat 13 West Brom Sat 20 Newcastle Sat 27 Chelsea March Sat 6 Manchester City Sat 13 West Ham Sat 20 Crystal Palace April Sat 3 Brighton Sat 10 Spurs Sat 17 Burnley Sat 24 Leeds May Sat 1 Liverpool Sat 8 Aston Villa Wed 12 Leicester Sat 15 Fulham Sun 23 Wolves

September Leeds Sat 12 Chelsea Sun 20 Arsenal Mon 28 October Aston Villa Sat 3 Everton Sat 17 Sheffield Utd Sat 24 West Ham Sat 31 November Manchester City Sat 7 Leicester Sat 21 Brighton Sat 28 December Wolves Sat 5 Fulham Sat 12 Spurs Wed 16 Crystal Palace Sat 19 West Brom Sat 26 Newcastle Mon 28 January Southampton Sat 2 Burnley Wed 13 Manchester Utd Sat 16 Spurs Wed 27 West Ham Sat 30 February Brighton Wed 3 Manchester City Sat 6 Leicester Sat 13 Everton Sat 20 Sheffield Utd Sat 27 March Fulham Sat 6 Wolves Sat 13 Chelsea Sat 20 April Arsenal Sat 3 Aston Villa Sat 10 Leeds Sat 17 Newcastle Sat 24 May Manchester Utd Sat 1 Sat 8 Southampton Tue 11 West Brom Sat 15 Burnley Sun 23 Crystal Palace

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NEWCASTLE UTD

MANCHESTER UTD

MANCHESTER CITY H A

LIVERPOOL

A H 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 A H H A

September Sat 12 West Ham Sun 20 Brighton Sat 26 Spurs October Sat 3 Burnley Sat 17 Manchester Utd Sat 24 Wolves Sat 31 Everton November Sat 7 Southampton Sat 21 Chelsea Sat 28 Crystal Palace December Sat 5 Aston Villa Sat 12 West Brom Tue 15 Leeds Sat 19 Fulham Sat 26 Manchester City Mon 28 Liverpool January Sat 2 Leicester Tue 12 Sheffield Utd Sat 16 Arsenal Wed 27 Leeds Sat 30 Everton February Wed 3 Crystal Palace Sat 6 Southampton Sat 13 Chelsea Sat 20 Manchester Utd Sat 27 Wolves March Sat 6 West Brom Sat 13 Aston Villa Sat 20 Brighton April Sat 3 Spurs Sat 10 Burnley Sat 17 West Ham Sat 24 Liverpool May Sat 1 Arsenal Sat 8 Leicester Wed 12 Manchester City Sat 15 Sheffield Utd Sun 23 Fulham

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CLUB RUGBY 43

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL â&#x20AC;&#x201C; FIXTURES

SOUTHAMPTON

SHEFFIELD UTD Date to be confirmed Leicester September Wolves Mon 14 Aston Villa Mon 21 Leeds Sun 27 October Arsenal Sat 3 Fulham Sat 17 Liverpool Sat 24 Manchester City Sat 31 November Chelsea Sat 7 West Ham Sat 21 West Brom Sat 28 December Southampton Sat 12 Manchester Utd Tue 15 Brighton Sat 19 Everton Sat 26 Burnley Mon 28 January Crystal Palace Sat 2 Newcastle Tue 12 Spurs Sat 16 Manchester Utd Tue 26 Manchester City Sat 30 February West Brom Tue 2 Chelsea Sat 6 West Ham Sat 13 Fulham Sat 20 Liverpool Sat 27 March Southampton Sat 6 Leicester Sat 13 Aston Villa Sat 20 April Leeds Sat 3 Arsenal Sat 10 Wolves Sat 17 Brighton Sat 24 May Sat 1 Spurs Sat 8 Crystal Palace Tue 11 Everton Sat 15 Newcastle Sun 23 Burnley

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

WOLVES

WEST HAM September Sat 12 Newcastle Sat 19 Arsenal Sat 26 Wolves October Sat 3 Leicester Sat 17 Spurs Sat 24 Manchester City Sat 31 Liverpool November Sat 7 Fulham Sat 21 Sheffield Utd Sat 28 Aston Villa December Sat 5 Manchester Utd Sat 12 Leeds Tue 15 Crystal Palace Sat 19 Chelsea Sat 26 Brighton Mon 28 Southampton January Sat 2 Everton Tue 12 West Brom Sat 16 Burnley Wed 27 Crystal Palace Sat 30 Liverpool February Tue 2 Aston Villa Sat 6 Fulham Sat 13 Sheffield Utd Sat 20 Spurs Sat 27 Manchester Utd March Sat 6 Leeds Sat 13 Manchester Utd Sat 20 Arsenal April Sat 3 Wolves Sat 10 Leicester Sat 17 Newcastle Sat 24 Chelsea May Sat 1 Burnley Sat 8 Everton Tue 11 Brighton Sat 15 West Brom Sun 23 Southampton

Date to be confirmed Arsenal September Sat 12 Crystal Palace Sun 20 Spurs Sat 26 Burnley October Sat 3 West Brom Sat 17 Chelsea Sat 24 Everton Sat 31 Aston Villa November Sat 7 Newcastle Sat 21 Wolves Sat 28 Manchester Utd December Sat 5 Brighton Sat 12 Sheffield Utd Sat 19 Manchester City Sat 26 Fulham Mon 28 West Ham January Sat 2 Liverpool Tue 12 Leeds Sat 16 Leicester Wed 27 Arsenal Sat 30 Aston Villa February Tue 2 Manchester Utd Sat 6 Newcastle Sat 13 Wolves Sat 20 Chelsea Sat 27 Southampton March Sat 6 Sheffield Utd Sat 13 Brighton Sat 20 Spurs April Sat 3 Burnley Sat 10 West Brom Sat 17 Crystal Palace Sat 24 Manchester City May Sat 1 Leicester Sat 8 Liverpool Wed 12 Fulham Sat 15 Leeds Sun 23 West Ham

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

Dates to be confirmed Arsenal Leicester September Mon 14 Sheffield Utd Mon 21 Manchester City Sat 26 West Ham October Sat 3 Fulham Sat 17 Leeds Sat 24 Newcastle Sat 31 Crystal Palace November Sat 21 Southampton December Sat 5 Liverpool Sat 12 Aston Villa Tue 15 Chelsea Sat 19 Burnley Sat 26 Spurs Mon 28 Manchester Utd January Sat 2 Brighton Tue 12 Everton Sat 16 West Brom Wed 27 Chelsea Sat 30 Crystal Palace February Tue 2 Arsenal Sat 6 Leicester Sat 13 Southampton Sat 20 Leeds Sat 27 Newcastle March Sat 6 Aston Villa Sat 13 Liverpool Sat 20 Manchester City April Sat 3 West Ham Sat 10 Fulham Sat 17 Sheffield Utd Sat 24 Burnley May Sat 1 West Brom Sat 8 Brighton Wed 12 Spurs Sat 15 Everton Sun 23 Manchester Utd

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

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR

WEST BROMWICH

Date to be confirmed Arsenal September Sun 13 Everton Sun 20 Southampton Sat 26 Newcastle October Sat 3 Manchester Utd Sat 17 West Ham Sat 24 Burnley Sat 31 Brighton November Sat 7 West Brom Sat 21 Manchester City Sat 28 Chelsea December Sat 12 Crystal Palace Wed 16 Liverpool Sat 19 Leicester Sat 26 Wolves Mon 28 Fulham January Sat 2 Leeds Tue 12 Aston Villa Sat 16 Sheffield Utd Wed 27 Liverpool Sat 30 Brighton February Wed 3 Chelsea Sat 6 West Brom Sat 13 Manchester City Sat 20 West Ham Sat 27 Burnley March Sat 6 Crystal Palace Sat 13 Arsenal Sat 20 Southampton April Sat 3 Newcastle Sat 10 Manchester Utd Sat 17 Everton Sat 24 Fulham May Sat 1 Sheffield Utd Sat 8 Leeds Wed 12 Wolves Sat 15 Aston Villa Sun 23 Leicester

September Sun 13 Leicester Sat 19 Everton Sat 26 Chelsea October Sat 3 Southampton Sat 17 Burnley Sat 24 Brighton Sat 31 Fulham November Sat 7 Spurs Sat 21 Manchester Utd Sat 28 Sheffield Utd December Sat 5 Crystal Palace Sat 12 Newcastle Wed 16 Manchester City Sat 19 Aston Villa Sat 26 Liverpool Mon 28 Leeds January Sat 2 Arsenal Tue 12 West Ham Sat 16 Wolves Tue 26 Manchester City Sat 30 Fulham February Tue 2 Sheffield Utd Sat 6 Spurs Sat 13 Manchester Utd Sat 20 Burnley Sat 27 Brighton March Sat 6 Newcastle Sat 13 Crystal Palace Sat 20 Everton April Sat 3 Chelsea Sat 10 Southampton Sat 17 Leicester Sat 24 Aston Villa May Sat 1 Woves Sat 8 Arsenal Wed 12 Liverpool Sat 15 West Ham Sun 23 Leeds

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

WHAT Reelmaster 5010-H. ®

MATTERS Lower operating cost. MOST Hello, making budget. What Matters Most to You Matters Most to Us. The Reelmaster 5010-H Fairway Mower. Because fuel cost is a significant portion of your operating budget, Toro developed the industry’s first and only true hybrid drive system, saving up to 30 percent on fuel expense*, which lowers your operating cost, your carbon footprint, and your blood pressure. *Compared to conventional fairway mowers.

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LEARN MORE ABOUT THE REELMASTER 5010-H AT TORO.COM

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – WHO OWNS WHAT?

For richer, for poorer 2020PremierLeagueowners The Premier League is the wealthiest national league in football. It’s perhaps not surprising then, that it attracts interest from billionaire businessmen across the globe. So who are they? Rank

Owner

Premier League club

Est. net worth (2020)

Sheikh Mansour

Manchester City

$20bn

Roman Abramovich

Chelsea

$11.3bn

Stan Kroenke

Arsenal

$10bn

Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha (and family)

Leicester City

$6bn

Joe Lewis & Daniel Levy

Tottenham

$6bn

Nassef Sawiris

Aston Villa

$5.8bn

Guo Guanchang

Wolves

$5.6bn

Glazer family

Manchester United

$5bn

Joshua Harris

Crystal Palace

$4.3bn

Mike Ashley

Newcastle

$2.8bn

John W. Henry & Thomas C. Werner (FSG)

Liverpool

$2.7bn

Farhad Moshiri

Everton

$2.4bn

ROMAN ABRAMOVICH Chelsea – $11.3bn Russian businessman Roman Abramovich amassed his wealth predominantly through oil and steel. His investment in Chelsea began in 2003 and has seen wins by the Blues of both the Premier League and Champions League trophies.

SHEIKH MANSOUR Manchester City – $20bn Oil has been the foundation of Sheikh Mansour’s fortunes. He’s known to have spread his wealth across different investments, and that includes ploughing millions into Manchester City. He took over the club in 2008, heralding the start of a golden era for the club.

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STAN KROENKE Arsenal – $10bn American billionaire Stan Kroenke both owns and operates Arsenal through his Kroenke Sports and Entertainment Company. He also owns MLS side Colorado Rapids, the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, Denver Nuggets in the NBA and the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche.

AIYAWATT SRIVADDHANAPRABHA & FAMILY Leicester city – $6bn CEO of Thai business King Power, Aiyawatt Srivaddhanaprabha is the owner of Premier League club Leicester City, having taken over from his father Vichai, after he died in a helicopter crash in 2018.

GUO GUANCHANG Wolves – $5.6bn Wolves are owned by Chinese conglomerate Fosun International, whose business spans different sectors, including pharmaceuticals and research. Head of the conglomerate, Guo Guanchang, boasts a net worth of nearly $6bn. Wolves have had significant investment under Fosun International and under this tenure the club has seen promotion to the premier league and challenge for qualification to the champions league.

MIKE ASHLEY Newcastle United – $2.8bn Retail Magnate Mike Ashley still holds the fortunes of Newcastle United in his hands. The club was put up for sale in 2017 and a much mooted 2020 takeover by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF), headed up by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has failed to emerge.

JOHN W. HENRY & THOMAS C. WERNER (FSG) Liverpool – $2.7bn John W Henry is the principal owner of Liverpool alongside TV producer and businessman Tom Werner. The two-man team run Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and own the Boston Red Sox. They took on Liverpool 10 years ago in 2010, the club winning a Champions League title in 2019.

JOE LEWIS & DANIEL LEVY Tottenham – $6bn North London’s Tottenham Hotspur are owned by British businessmen Joe Lewis and Daniel Levy. Lewis heads up ENIC International and the Tavistock Group which boasts a diverse investment portfolio, ranging from oil, gas and energy to agriculture and logistics. Levy, part-owner of ENIC International, has been involved in a number of football investments. NASSEF SAWIRIS Aston villa – $5.8bn Egyptian businessman Nassef Sawiris earned his fortune in the construction industry and according to Forbes is one of the richest Africans in the world. He became involved in the running of aston villa relatively recently in 2018, taking over from Tony Xia.

GLAZER FAMILY Manchester united – $5bn In 2005 the Glazer family took control of Manchester United in 2005, ‘prompting an acrimonious split within the red devils fanbase, the tremors of which are still felt today’. The family’s extensive business portfolio includes banking interests, healthcare ventures and property.

Farhad Moshiri Everton – $2.4bn Farhad Moshiri acquired a controlling stake in Everton in 2016. The British-Iranian businessman’s fortune has been made predominantly from his activities in steel and energy. He also previously owned a stake in Arsenal.

JOSHUA HARRIS Crystal Palace – $4.3bn Joshua Harris is part-owner of Crystal Palace, along with Steve Parish and David S. Blitzer. He is a private equity investor who has worked with the Trump administration, has controlling interests in NHL team the New Jersey Devils and NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers.

Information courtesy of Goal magazine

CLUB RUGBY 47

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – BT SPORT PROMOTION

BT Sport – getting personal with posters The stories of Premier League newcomers, the title race and the relegation battle are now being played out in BT Sport’s biggest ever season of top flight football. With stadia still closed, clubs could be the best place to catch the action. Here BT Sport reveals how it is helping clubs put their customers in the picture.

here are plenty of reasons for football fans from all over the country to visit you with the new Premier League season now underway. With supporters unable to go to stadiums at time of writing, clubs and pubs are the best place to catch the live action. Point of Sale Let everyone know the sport you are showing with our eye-catching Point of Sale. This season we are upping our game so on top of receiving monthly packs you can also: • Personalise posters and social assets for your venue and your events. • Create, download and print posters yourself. • Use our Point of Sale Shop to buy extra items such as chalkboards, bar runners and staff t-shirts.

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Personalise posters and social assets As well as receiving our monthly packs, registered users can visit https://btsporthub.co.uk/ to create and tailor posters for their businesses. Our simple to use tools allow you to add venue details to posters and pick fixtures to showcase that are most relevant to your customers. Templates Templates include posters specific to top Premier League clubs. So if, for example, Arsenal are your team you can pick a template to match and make their fixtures a priority on your posters. You can do the same with sports, so if you have a rugby strong customer base, there’s a template for you. We’ll even help you add fixtures for games that are

being screened by other broadcasters so your posters will reflect your overall sports offer. More than sport We know that your business is multi-faceted so we have also created templates to help you promote other events that could be taking place in your pub or club. Perhaps, in the not too distant future, your pub quiz or karaoke night will return. You can create posters in our portal, adding details specific to your events. PoS Shop And it doesn’t stop there. We’ve also created a PoS shop so you can top up on extra items to promote live sport in your venue.

BT SPORT THE QUIZ 1. Who was the unlikely brace-netting match winner for Fulham in the Championship Play Off final? 2. Carlo Ancelotti has won the Champions League three times as a manager with two different clubs. Name the clubs. 3. How many Premier League goals did Danny Ings score last season? 4. In what year did Brighton and Manchester United meet in the FA Cup Final? 5. Eight teams from Yorkshire have played in the Premier League. Name them.

staff t-shirts and a whole lot more at our one-stop shop.Â â&#x20AC;˘ Visit https://btsportbusiness.com

1. Joe Bryan; 2. AC Milan, Real Madrid; 3. 22; 4. 1983; 5. Barnsley, Bradford, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday.

Whether it is extra beermats, bar runners or snap frames you can find just what you are looking for in the shop at great prices. You can even get your hands on branded pens,

CLUB RUGBY 49

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – RICHEST PLAYERS

Top-of-the-league players are earning sums well out of the league of most of us. Fact. So who are the 20 richest soccer players of all time? Any guesses?

Cristiano Ronaldo

Football’s richest players – who are you? 1. Cristiano Ronaldo Net Worth: $450 Million Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer, and he is known for being the best footballer of all time. In 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid from Manchester United for a transfer fee of $132 million, which made him the most expensive soccer player in the history of the sport. As of 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo’s net worth is estimated to be $450 million, making him the richest soccer player in the world.

David Beckham

6. Wayne Rooney Net Worth: $145 Million Wayne Rooney is an English footballer who played as a striker for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team. According to the 2012 France Football survey of the world’s bestpaid players, Rooney is ranked fifth in the world and No.1 in England. Wayne Rooney’s net worth is roughly $145 million.

2. David Beckham Net Worth: $450 Million David Beckham is a retired professional football player. He is known to be the first English footballer to become a league title holder in four different countries. Beckham spent 20 years playing football, and in 2004 he was named the highest paid football player. David Beckham’s net worth is roughly $450 million. 3. Lionel Messi Net Worth: $400 Million Lionel Messi’s status as the world’s best player has started to translate into endorsement opportunities. Messi is nicknamed “The Flea” for his diminutive stature, Messi is the world’s best soccer player. He has also been voted as the player of the year over the past two seasons. As of 2020, Lionel Messi’s net worth is approximately $400 million, making him the 3rd richest soccer player on the list.

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5. Alexandre Pato Net Worth: $145 Million Alexandre Pato began his career at the age of 16, and he was later on signed up by Sports Club Internacional to compete for the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub 20. In 2006, Pato led the team to win the FIFA Club World Cup. As of 2020, Alexandre Pato’s net worth is estimated to be $145 Million, making him the 5th richest soccer player in the world.

4. Dave Whelan Net Worth: $220 Million Dave Whelan is an English former footballer. During his football career, he played for Blackburn Rovers and Crewe Alexandra. Whelan is the owner of Football League Championship club Wigan Athletic. Dave Whelan’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $220 million.

7. Gareth Bale Net Worth: $125 Million Gareth Bale is currently playing for Real Madrid of the La Liga Club and is also the winger of the Welsh national team. Bale is known for his impressive left foot, speed, and physical qualities. He was named as the PFA Players ‘Players of the Year’ and in 2011, he was named as the UEFA Team of the Year. 8. Francesco Totti Net Worth: $101.6 Million Francesco Totti is an Italian professional football player, who started to join Fortitudo football youth

team when he was 8 years old. Totti gained recognition as Young Footballer of the Year during the 1998-1999 season. One year later, he was named as the “Italian Footballer of the Year” and received his nomination for Ballon d’Or. As of 2020, Francesco Totti’s net worth is $101.6 million, making him the 8th richest soccer player in the world.

Lionel Messi

9. Pele Net Worth: $100 Million Pele was born as Edison Arantes do Nascimento. Pele is a retired football player with an incredible net worth, and he is considered by many fans, players, and experts as among the best football players of all time. Pele’s net worth is approximately $100 million.

19. Willian Net Worth: $75 Million Willian is a Brazilian professional football player, who started his career in 2006. During his first season with the team Corinthians, he made five league appearances and breakthroughs in the following campaigns where he scored twice in 29 matches for the club. Willian’s net worth is approximately estimated to be $75 Million, as of 2020.

10. Eden Hazard Net Worth: $100 Million Eden Hazard is a Belgian professional football player who started his football career at the age of 4. He spent eight years with the Royal Stade Brainois and then transferred to Tubize. As of 2020, Eden Hazard’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $100 million, making him the 10th richest soccer player in the world. 11. Kaka Net Worth: $95 Million Kaka is a Brazilian football midfielder who plays for Sao Paulo FC. He studied at Colegio Batista Brasileiro, and he began his football career at the age of 8. The football star also played tennis, and it was not until he moved on to Sao Paulo FC and signed his first contract with the club at the age of 15 that he chose to focus on football. Kaka’s net worth is roughly $95 Million, making him the 11th richest soccer player on the list. 12. Samuel Eto Net Worth: $95 Million Samuel Eto is a professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for the Turkish club Konyaspor. Eto is the most decorated African player of all time, and he is a four-time winner of the African Player of the Year award. As of 2020, Samuel Eto’s net worth is estimated to be $95 million. 13. Didier Drogba Net Worth: $90 Million Didier Drogba has played for Chelsea in the Premier League, where he was deputy vice-captain. The Ivory Coast striker is Chealse’s top scoring overseas player of all time, a success that rewarded him with a£105,000 a week contract. As of 2020, Didier Drogba’s net worth is estimated to be roughly $90 million. 14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic Net Worth: $90 Million Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a Swedish footballer of Bosnian and Croatian descent. Barcelona paid a $94 million transfer fee to Inter Milan in 2009 for the rights to Ibrahimovic, which was the second-highest

18. Arjen Robben Net Worth: $80 Million Arjen Robben is a Dutch professional football player, who began playing football when he was a kid. Robben later joined in the youth system of Bedum. He began playing at a professional level in 2000 when started to play for the team, FC Groningen. As of 2020, Arjen Robben’s net worth is $80 million making him the 18th richest soccer player in the world.

transfer fee of all time. Zlatan Ibrahimovic net worth is approximately $90 Million, making him the 14th richest soccer player in the world. 15. Ronaldinho Net Worth: $90 Million Ronaldinho is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays for Flamengo and the Brazilian national team. He is considered to be one of the best football players of his generation. He is best noted for his overhead kicks, free kicks pass, and dribbling. As of 2020, Ronaldinho’s net worth is roughly $90 million. 16. Andres Iniesta Net Worth: $86 Million Andres Iniesta is a Spanish professional football player who began his career when he joined the Albacete youth squad at the age of 10. In 1999, Iniesta led the Barcelona Under-15 team to the win in the Nike Premier Cup and was named the player of the said tournament. Andres Iniesta’s net worth is estimated to be $86, Million, as of 2020, making him the 16th richest soccer player in the world. 17. Sergio Ramos Net Worth: $80 Million Sergio Ramos is a professional football player from Camas. He is a central defender, and he currently plays for Spain and Real Madrid. Ramos has participated in two European Championships and two World Cups, and he has also won two European championships and 1 World Cup. As of 2020, Sergio Ramos’ net worth is roughly $80 million.

20. Rio Ferdinand Net Worth: $75 Million Rio Ferdinand is an English footballer and has played as a center back for Manchester United in the Premier League. Ferdinand has amassed 81 caps for England in total and has been a member of three FIFA World Cups Squads. He is born in Peckham and attended Blackheath Bluecoat School. Ferdinand has over 2.5 million followers on social media. As of 2020, Rio Ferdinand’s net worth is estimated to be $75 million.

SUMMARY Here’s a quick recap of the 20 richest soccer players in the world: 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. David Beckham 3. Lionel Messi 4. Dave Whelan 5. Alexandre Pato 6. Wayne Rooney 7. Gareth Bale 8. Francesco Totti 9. Pele 10. Eden Hazard 11. Kaka 12. Samuel Eto 13. Didier Drogba 14. Zlatan Ibrahimovic 15. Ronaldinho 16. Andres Iniesta 17. Sergio Ramos 18. Arjen Robben 19. Willian 20. Rio Ferdinand

Facts and figures courtesy of www.wealthygorilla.com. Figures compiled from Celebrity Net Worth, Forbes and The Richest.

CLUB RUGBY 51

PREMIER LEAGUE SPECIAL – QUIZ

Who’s really on the ball? You may know it all when it comes to rugby facts and stats, but what about football? Test out your members’ knowledge of the beautiful game with this tricky quiz from www.pubquizquestionshq.com

1 2 3

4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

David Wagner led this club to promotion to the Premier League in 2017.

Lifelong supporter Elton John became chairman of this club in 1976.

In 1991, Teddy Sheringham became this club’s then record signing fee at £2.1 million.

Lee Johnson was sacked as this club’s manager on 4 July 2020 after a run of just one win in 10 league matches.

St Andrew’s has been this club’s home ground since 1906.

This club was relegated from the top flight for the first time in 34 years in 2001 and have not yet returned.

This club played their last ever competitive game at Elm Park in 1998 before switching to a new stadium.

Which supporters’ anthem of ‘On the Ball, City’ is said to be one of the oldest chants in the game.

Gjorgi Hristov became this club’s current day record signing in June 1997, during their only Premier League season.

Chris Waddle joined this club in 1992 after leaving Marseille.

The 2020/21 season will be the first time this club has played in the second tier of English football.

This club’s only major honour to date was winning the 2004 Football League Cup Final.

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

This club spent 10 years in the Premier League between 2008 and 2018, losing the 2011 FA Cup Final 1-0 vs Manchester City. This Welsh club called the Vetch Field home for decades.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær had a short spell managing this club in 2014.

Called Millmoor home for over 100 years.

17. AFC Bournemouth 16. Rotherham United 15. Cardiff City 14. Swansea City 13. Stoke City 12. Middlesbrough 11. Wycombe Wanderers 10. Sheffield Wednesday 9. Barnsley 8. Norwich City 7. Coventry City 6. Nottingham Forest 5. Birmingham City 4. Watford 3. Reading 2. Bristol City 1. Huddersfield Town

THE ANSWERS

This club’s major honour was beating Arsenal 3-2 in the 1988 Football League Cup Final.

19. QPR

England great Tom Finney played over 400 games for this club between 1946 and 1960.

18. Brentford

Famously reached the 2004 FA Cup Final from outside of the top flight, only to lose 3-0 to Manchester United.

20. Preston North End

Ian Holloway spent five years in charge of this club in the early 2000s, leading the club to a promotion.

22: Derby County

This club called the Baseball Ground home for over 100 years.

21. Blackburn Rovers

Ghanaian striker Lloyd Owusu scored over 70 goals for this London club between 1997 and 2008.

23. Millwall

Won the Premier League in 1995 under manager Kenny Dalglish. 24. Luton Town

21 22 23 24

Nathan Aké became this club’s £20m record signing in June 2017.

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ASK THE EXPERTS – COVID-19 TECH

COVID-19: changing the face of the hospitality sector To say COVID-19 has disrupted the UK hospitality sector would be to understate the severity of the situation. When the UK went into lockdown in mid-March, entire revenues for hospitality business completely dried up. Indeed, the sector reported losses of almost £30bn between April and June. This will, of course, shake the confidence of the three million people the sector employs, says Tsewang Wangkang, CEO and co-founder of Embargo. Additionally, this news will also be a blow to the UK’s prospects of economic recovery.

iven that the sector contributed £133.5 bn to the economy in 2019 the loss of £30 bn is a significant loss. Unsurprisingly, the Government has stepped in to stimulate recovery of the hospitality sector. Business rates relief, VAT cuts and August’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme have all been positive steps in the effort to drive customers back into clubs, pubs, bars and restaurants. However, these measures are temporary – the hospitality sector can’t afford to rely on Government efforts alone to drive recovery. Indeed, businesses must re-evaluate their own strategies and practices in order to safeguard long-term survival. Adapting to customer needs Consumer behaviours have unquestionably changed in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Practices such as remote working, localised travel patterns and, of course, social distancing, have all become entrenched in our day-to-day lives. So, for hospitality businesses, this will mean going beyond the “business as usual” approach to adapt to this new breed of customers. First and foremost, the bricks and mortar premises will require an overhaul. The Government has already published a document which outlines the new guidelines for health and safety practices of organisations. Measures including the removal of chairs and tables to better facilitate social distancing, the introduction of one-way systems, and the installation hand sanitiser stations, will likely be put in place to ensure that customers feel safe enough to visit restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Further to the physical changes to venues, it’s likely that the role of technology will grow in prominence amongst hospitality businesses. Contactless payments, for example, have become vital in the efforts to minimise human contact. What’s more, online booking systems enable customers to safely reserve spaces in establishments that are unable to run at full capacity. Such systems are also used to log customer contact details as part of the government’s “Track and Trace” initiative.

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Tsewang Wangkang

Positively, the efforts of the hospitality sector do not appear to be in vain; 96% of consumers who have returned to such establishments have been satisfied with the updates to health and safety policies. However, these measures only address short term issues. If businesses are to safeguard their long-term survival, it is absolutely vital to rebuild and nurture a dependable customer base. Customer retention Unlike clubs, an astonishing amount of bar, restaurant and café owners are unaware of who their customers are. Indeed, unless recognised by members of staff, loyal customers tend to fall under the radar. Thus, it is near-impossible for staff to effectively celebrate and reward such clientele; so, their loyalty will likely diminish over time. Additionally, many hospitality businesses tend to rely on outdated marketing tools to stimulate repeat custom, such as paper loyalty cards which can be easily lost. Additionally, rather than investing in a more sophisticated data collection tool, many organisations depend on online booking systems to capture customer data. It is glaringly obvious that smarter solutions must be adopted. And technology could be the answer. Tech-based loyalty solutions It is clear that hospitality businesses can no longer

afford to be complacent when it comes to customer loyalty. Encouragingly, we are seeing a gradual increase in the number of employers adapting tech-based solutions to build and strengthen their following. Indeed, smart solutions such as contactless loyalty apps are growing in prominence amongst restaurants, bars and cafes. For one, they can link up to a customer relationship management (CRM) system and actively who comes enters the premises and when. Thus, staff are able to immediately identify, market to, and reward a loyal customer. What’s more, loyalty apps provide an excellent prompt for customers as well. Apps on mobile phones can offer pop-up reminders to users of the rewards they are entitled to during their next visit to a local café, bar or restaurant. This personalised approach provides an excellent incentive for consumers to re-visit venues, and over time, this practice will gradually develop into customer loyalty. The post-pandemic era will be a challenging time for many hospitality businesses, but it also presents and excellent opportunity to modernise their business strategies. Embracing new technologies will enable organisations to build long-term solutions to longstanding issues, and help hospitality businesses to nurture their valuable loyal customers.

Tsewang Wangkang is the co-founder and CEO of Embargo, a loyalty platform that allows restaurants, bars, and coffee shops to recognise and reward their customers through the use of pioneering technology. Launched in 2017, Embargo is helping hospitality businesses embrace digital transformation by connecting them directly with their customers delivering bespoke loyalty rewards and enabling communication. • www.embargoapp.com

ASK THE EXPERTS – LEGAL ADVICE

Social Media accounts –avoidinglegalpitfalls The reduced opportunities to meet face to face during lockdown has highlighted how an active social media presence can help licensed businesses stay in touch with their customers and members. Nick Fenner, Partner at UK law firm TLT, explains.

social media account can help to keep members up to date with events, offers and news. However, the ease with which you can set up an account and the speed and informality of posting content means the legal risks can be easily overlooked. Content posted on social media creates a record that can spread extremely quickly to a wider audience, outside of the context in which it was originally intended. That content is also increasingly subject to scrutiny by the media, regulators and individuals. Clubs should be aware of their responsibilities for content that appears on their accounts and the main risk areas, which are detailed below. 1. Defamation Any comment about a person or business that is likely to seriously damage their reputation should raise a red flag as a potential defamation risk. The informality and immediacy of social media means that gossip, jokes and rumours are more likely to find their way onto accounts, sometimes separated from the original context in which they were made. These comments can then be shared, making it impossible for the original comments to be withdrawn or justified. In 2017, two footballs fans were found liable for making a post that wrongly suggested the club’s lawyer had been struck off. Despite evidence that the post had only been viewed by a small number of people and was shortly removed from the site, the court held that it constituted a serious libel and could not be dismissed as “mere tongue in cheek saloon bar banter”. Clubs are responsible for the content they post to their social media accounts. They can also be liable if they fail to take prompt action to remove third party postings once they have been notified that they may be defamatory. So while a club may not be liable for a post or comment made by a user where it was not aware it was defamatory, once it is on notice it must act quickly. 2. Copyright infringement Content and images that are posted online are not free to reproduce without the consent of the copyright owner. Individual social media users have become used to freely sharing content because social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram

individual may be happy for their contact details to be held by the club, they are likely to object to such information appearing in a social media post. The same considerations may apply to photographs taken at private club events or written accounts identifying individuals by name. There is also the risk of using social media to collect and use individuals’ personal data without appropriate consents. For example, unless consents are obtained, an individual who responds to a social media campaign in connection with a specific promotion will not have consented to their details being used for future marketing.

Nick Fenner encourage users to like and share posts. However, content owners generally will not have agreed to images and content being “cut and pasted” into a new format or used in a business or promotional context, or to reproducing content that otherwise sits behind a paywall. Content publishers and photographers are increasingly using digital watermarks and reviewing content posted online to help identify unauthorised copying. Bear in mind that content is not free to copy just because it is online. It’s not permissible to circumvent a paywall by providing a free link to content. There is also no implied licence to use a third party image even if the image features something associated with the venue, such as pictures taken at an event organised or featuring guests. 3. Privacy and data protection Tougher rules controlling the collection and use of personal data have been in force in the UK since May 2018. As clubs look for new ways to stay in touch with members, and for members to stay in touch with each other, there is a risk that individuals’ personal data will be used or shared in a way that breaches those rules. One risk relates to the sharing of an individual’s personal data via social media when the individual has not given their consent. For example, while an

4. Competitions, promotions and affiliate links Special offers, promotions and competitions are all regulated to protect individuals from being misled or mis-sold. The speed and informality of social media communications can lead to oversights when it comes to identifying content that is subject to these rules and ensuring it is compliant. The strict Advertising Standards Association rules around marketing and promotion apply as much to social media channels as they do to print media, and the same rules apply regarding the legality of lotteries and competitions. To ensure fairness and transparency, operators of social media channels need to make it clear where they receive a financial benefit by including links to sales of tickets or merchandise in what looks like editorial or news comment. In short: be aware of posting content that is regulated and take steps to ensure marketing and promotional content meets the rules. 5. Reputation damage Clubs, members or officers can suffer reputational damage as a consequence of inappropriate posts, whether on the club’s own social media channel or by comments posted elsewhere. For that reason, it is important to establish a policy that governs social media use.

CONTACT DETAILS Nick Fenner, Partner e. Nick.Fenner@TLTsolicitors.com www.tltsolicitors.com

CLUB RUGBY 57

ASK THE EXPERTS – INSURANCE

How to look after your volunteers It’s no secret that volunteers are an invaluable asset for clubs. They are a perfect representation of community spirit, happy to help and dedicated to ensuring their club succeeds. So how do you keep them onside? Any what are your responsibilities? Club Insure offers the following advice.

n return for the commitment of volunteers, clubs offer an invaluable opportunity to meet new people and give back to their local community. Always remember, however, that volunteers aren’t employees. You don’t pay volunteers and shouldn’t offer other reimbursements. On occasions this has led to volunteers trying to establish employee status. That doesn’t mean you can’t look after your volunteers of course, and there are many ways you can show your volunteers how valued they are. Simple examples could free refreshments, access to shows or events, thanking then personally after every shift and running training sessions or wellbeing classes to show your appreciation Obvious as it may seem, you can’t demand the same level of commitment as you can from a paid employee, and volunteers aren’t obligated to follow tasks, instructions or regulations you set out. Nevertheless, it’s important that guidelines, policies and procedures are put in place to keep your volunteers safe and engaged while helping out. Communication Most club volunteers will prefer to learn on the job and enjoy face-to-face training, gaining all the information they need to complete their role. This doesn’t just include the basics such as how to work a till.

It should detail safe working requirements too. And make sure volunteers know you won’t tolerate discrimination, bullying or harassment. Consider also creating a volunteer handbook that details your expectations, policies and procedures. That way, if a volunteer ever needs a refresher, they’ve got one to hand. Don’t make volunteers sign the handbook or any other type of contract, however. It’s important agreements can’t be considered legally binding. Know your volunteers’ value Finding and recruiting a great team of volunteers can be a challenge. You’ll want reliable, dedicated people who will listen to instructions well. Whilst great volunteers might seem initially easy to find, you’ll need to keep them engaged in order for them to stick around. Show your appreciation for their input. If a volunteer makes a suggestion that could work for your club, why not give it a go? Motivation Whilst some volunteers may want to give back to the community and/or and pass the time, others will hope to gain valuable skills and experience. If this is the case, help them to boost their skillset and improve their employability. Let them shadow more

experienced volunteers or employees until they’re ready to take on the challenge independently. Insurance requirements for volunteers Employers’ Liability Insurance is a legal requirement for any club that hires more than one employee. But does it affect your volunteers? Check that your Employers’ Liability Insurance policy specifically mentions protection for your volunteers and, if it doesn’t, talk to your broker about your options. Employers’ Liability Insurance will cover the costs of legal fees or compensation settlements should a volunteer make a claim against you. You should already have strong risk management structures in place to minimise the chance of an accident or incident happening. But you simply can’t predict what’s around the corner. That’s why it’s important to protect your club and its people.

CONTACT DETAILS Whether you’re looking for a top-notch insurance policy or want to give the wellbeing of club volunteers a boost, the Club Insure team is ready to help. www.club-insure.co.uk t. 0344 488 9204.

CLUB RUGBY 59

ASK THE EXPERTS – LOW AND NO-ALCOHOL

Low and no-alcohol report The Low and No Alcohol boom is here to stay, led by young people, says the Portman Group.

ne of the first surveys into attitudes towards low alcohol released by the alcohol social responsibility body the Portman Group highlights an explosion in popularity of low and no alcohol alternatives as a way to drink responsibly, with younger people leading the trend. Figures show that nearly a quarter (24%)? of British drinkers have either already switched some of their drinking to low alcohol alternatives or would consider doing so in the next six months. The YouGov polling into attitudes to low alcohol, the first of the Portman Group’s annual surveys into alcohol alternatives, showed that 7% of those surveyed have already switched some of their alcohol consumption to low or no alcohol alternatives, while a further 18% are likely to consider doing so in the next six months. This switch being led by the socalled Generation Sensible with almost one in ten (9%) aged between 18-24 having already switched and those between 18-34 being the most likely to consider switching (22%). The reasons given for opting for low alcohol beverages reflect increasingly responsible attitudes to drinking across all age groups in Great Britain. Nearly a third of those surveyed (32%) said that being able to drive home from social events was the main reason for opting for low alcohol beverages, while over a quarter (26%) said being social without drinking excessively was a key factor. 13% said they would drink lower alcohol drinks to stay within the low risk drinking guidelines. The survey also revealed demand for low and no alcohol products is high amongst those that drink at

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home as well as in pubs, bars and restaurants, with 60% of those who drink alcohol and would consider drinking low alcohol beverages saying they would consider drinking low alcohol alternatives at home, 59% at a restaurant and 55% at a pub. John Timothy, Chief Executive of the Portman Group, commented: “It’s fantastic to see so many people embracing low alcohol alternatives as a way to continue to enjoy a drink whilst doing so responsibly. For many people there are significant benefits to having a drink with friends – but at the same time it’s important that people don’t drink too much. These findings are a reflection of the positive trends we are seeing when it comes to declining binge drinking levels and the cultural shift that is happening in the relationship between young people and alcohol. “Many producers are already investing heavily in exciting low and no products. Given the importance of this sector to helping people make healthy choices about their drinking, more needs to be done to support its growth. Getting rid of confusing descriptors would support consumers and help lead to the development of more products.” The Portman Group is calling for the government to update the current system of labelling to unlock further growth in the sector. Currently there are four ways for a low alcoholic drink to be described. Polling undertaken by the Portman Group earlier this year highlighted that 68%3 of British adults thought it was clearer to have just one term to define a drink containing no more than 0.5% of alcohol.

LEADING INNOVATION Member companies have been leading innovation in this area, says the Portman Group, citing examples including: • AB InBev has a commitment that no or lower alcohol beer products will represent at least 20% of their global beer volumes by the end of 2025, as part of the brewer’s Global Smart Drinking Goals, which also include a pledge to spend $1bn on social norms marketing campaigns to encourage smart drinking behaviours. • Carlsberg have a commitment towards zero irresponsible drinking by 2030 and as part of this an aim to offer an alcohol-free alternative wherever their alcoholic options are sold. • Diageo have invested in non-alcoholic drinks company Seedlip and launched an ultra-low Gordon’s Gin & Tonic flavoured drink. • Heineken have partnered with Club Soda to support mindful drinking festivals, launched Old Mout 0.0 cider, and introduced Heineken ®0.0 draught beer to pubs through their Blade countertop draught system. • Molson Coors offers customers and consumers in the UK a range of quality no-alcohol and low-alcohol products and has a global target of offering no and low-alcohol choices in all countries they have brewing and selling operations in by 2025. • Pernod Ricard have launched non-alcoholic premium drink Ceder’s in the UK, the company’s first non-alcoholic alternative to gin to launch anywhere globally.

ASK THE EXPERTS – ICE HYGIENE

Why ice makers mean business Ice can potentially become a source of food poisoning if it’s poorly made, stored or handled. Although not always recognised as such, ice is actually a food which means that, as well as functionality, hygiene is crucially important. Hoshizaki, manufacturer of commercial ice making equipment, offers the following advice. Bad practice The most common form of ice contamination occurs after the ice has been manufactured. Dirty, unsanitised ice scoops filling a rarely cleaned ice bucket placed on top of a bar top for customers to help themselves leaves much to be desired. Few of us would eat any food that had been through such handling process, yet the deceptively cool, clean appearance of ice diverts our attention from the micro-organisms it can so easily harbour. Another dangerous practice which is not uncommon amongst people who are scrupulous in every other area of good hygiene, is to use the ice bin as a secondary ‘fridge’ storing bottles and even food – and here it is only education that will improve matters. These areas can, of course, be rectified by following proper procedures, but contamination can also occur within the ice maker itself and this can be caused by poor hygienic maintenance and lack of servicing. Machine design The only potential sources of danger at the ice manufacturing stage are air and water and it is therefore imperative to protect as far a possible against the harmful effects of both. The siting of an ice maker is important. Too often they are slotted into any available space – typically damp cellars or other unventilated areas which are where the environment is at its poorest and aero bacteria are most profound. If this is the only option it is important to ensure that the ice maker has a tightly fitting door, rendering it airtight. Without good insulation free bacterial growth can develop in ice storage bins. This manifests itself as a slimy deposit, which, unfortunately, is usually incorporated into the ice bin contents because of the abrasive action of the cubes as ice is collected. Water is already pre-treated with chlorine to reduce bacteria levels, but water that is held in an ice machine for any time can become dangerous. Although no machines re-use melted ice any more, old water may become trapped in certain machines,

providing the right conditions for bacterial growth to appear. So what can conscientious bartenders do? Thorough day to day housekeeping and regular maintenance, in combination with a high quality machine, are the most important factors. Reputable manufacturers will have ensured that their machines are as refined as possible and that their dealers and distributors are well informed in the installation, care and servicing requirements necessary to maintaining the highest quality. Guidelines include... 1. Select a machine with a tight fitting door compete with a gasket or seal. 2. Look for an ergonomically designed ice bin with radiused or rounded corners and with all areas visible and accessible. 4. Look for a machine offering a rinse and flush cycle between each ice cycle, thus helping to eliminate water residues. 5. Demand a substantial warranty. If a manufacturer is confident in a machine’s quality, this will be provided automatically.

Maintenance 1. Ensure all staff are aware of the dangers of contamination and understand how to prevent it. 2. Empty the ice bin completely at least once every week to clean and sanitise with a cleaning fluid and rinse thoroughly. 3. Ensure all objects in touch with the ice – such as scoops, tongs and buckets – are also treated. 4. Move ice storage vessels away from customer reach. 5. Keep regular checks to make sure the machine is in good condition – especially the door, as broken or loose fitting doors are one of the most common faults to occur on ice makers.

CONTACT DETAILS Hoshizaki UK, 2 The Technology Centre, London Road, Swanley BR8 7AG t. 0845 456 0585 e. uksales@hoshizaki.co.uk www.hoshizaki-europe.com

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