Sport magazine Issue 279

Issue 279 | October 26 2012

The stars, the suits, the salesmen: we bring you the 50 most powerful people in British sport...

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FEATURES

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AUTHENTIC ACTION

BEST IN CLASS ENGINE

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From rescuing hostages in Abu Sayyaf’s stronghold in Basilan, Philippines to assaulting Al-Shabaab’s “Pirate Town” on the Somali Coast, gamers step into the boots of Tier 1 Operators as they hunt down the global threat of PETN. Written by U.S. Tier 1 Operators while deployed overseas, Medal of Honor Warfighter has a dotted line to real world events and provides players a view into these situations and lets them experience the action as it might have unfolded.

NATIONAL PRIDE ONLINE WITH GLOBAL WARFIGHTERS ..............................................................................

Allied military forces also possess their own elite Special Operations units with similar capabilities.

With Medal of Honor™ Warfighter, gamers experience unprecedented variety featuring multinational Tier 1 Operators on a global battlefield. For the first time, the Medal of Honor brand introduces a new mode where these global warfighters go head-to-head in online competition.

Showcasing 12 different Tier 1 units from 10 nations including the British SAS, Australian SASR, German KSK, Canadian JTF2 and Polish GROM, Medal of Honor Warfighter lets the best of the best warriors from around the world battle it out online.

Leveraging the power of tomorrow’s technology on today’s platforms, the ground-breaking Frostbite 2 engine delivers incredible video and audio fidelity to enhance the intensity of the battle and deliver this year’s most authentic war experience.

FIGHT TODAY’S GLOBAL TERROR THREAT ...............................................................................

As with every Medal of Honor game, the soldier’s story is at the heart of the experience. Medal of Honor™ Warfighter tells the story of U.S. Tier 1 Operator, “Preacher” as he returns home from overseas only to find his family torn apart from years of deployment. Trying to pick up the pieces to salvage what remains of his marriage, Preacher is reminded of what he’s fighting for - family. But when an extremely deadly explosive (PETN) penetrates civilian borders and his two worlds collide, Preacher and his fellow teammates are sent in to solve the problem. They take the fight to the enemy and do whatever it takes to protect their loved ones from harm.

uk.medalofhonor.com

Medal of Honor Warfighter

£39.99 out today

pay nothing when you trade in any two of our most wanted titles* for details see in-store or at available on XBOX 360 & PS3

in-store | online *Titles and prices subject to availability while stocks last at participating stores/online. Prices may vary online. *‘Pay nothing’ offer refers to zero payment when the trade in value of the two selected hmv most wanted titles is deducted from the retail price of the game Medal of Honor: Warfighter on XBOX 360 or PS3. Offer ends 1 November.

See in-store for full terms and conditions of our pre-owned games offer. Titles include: 007 Legends, Borderlands 2, Dead or Alive 5, Dishonored, FIFA 13, Metal Gear Solid HD Collection, Pro Evo 2013, Resident Evil 6, Sleeping Dogs, XCOM:Enemy Unknown. © 2012 Electronic Arts Inc. EA, the EA logo and Medal of Honor are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY CREDITED, NO NATIONAL ARMED FORCES, MILITARY UNITS OR WEAPON OR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER IS AFFILIATED WITH OR HAS SPONSORED OR ENDORSED THIS GAME.

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issue 279, october 26 2012 radar 07 Golden moments

There’s 29 of them to enjoy on the Beeb’s London 2012 boxset, plus Bert le Clos’ beautiful boy

08 Cycling smartens up With le coq sportif’s new range.

This is how you make some effective changes Pat, fyi...

10 Wham, bam, thank you Rams

St Louis Rams bring their A game to Wembley on Sunday. The NFL holds a fan rally to celebrate

oFeatures this coming week

16 With great power... ... comes great responsibility.

We bring you, then, our definitive list of the most responsible people in British sport. And Sepp Blatter

31 Heather Watson She’s broken into the top 50, and is the first Brit to win a WTA title in 24 years. Here’s what she has to say about it all

34 Watch this space Draw attention away from your withered face with a handsome new one that tells the time from our watch special

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extra time 54 Kit

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Stick two fingers up to the cold this winter through the sleeves of one of these baselayer tops

56 Ashley W

The St Louis Rams cheerleader takes a break from studying law to cheer up London

58 Gadgets

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Torn between a laptop and a tablet? We bring you a harem of hybrids to confuse you further

60 Entertainment Our pick of the Wii U’s launch titles in our games special, plus Halo returns on the 360 | October 26 2012 | 05

Radar

p08 – Real Football: easy to pick up, harder to put down

p08 – le coq sportif sets cycling back 50 years... in a good way p10 – The NFL: throwing Hail Marys – and a London party

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rankly, the chance to relive 2012’s glorious Olympic summer whenever we want means we’d have invested in this hotly anticipated DVD set even if all the BBC’s original commentary had been replaced by analysis from Trevor Nelson. Auntie has, however, been far kinder to us than that.

Treats include a specially edited opening ceremony – with the option of watching it accompanied by commentary from Danny

Boyle and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce, as they reveal the vision behind all that magical madness. The seven hours-plus of sporting highlights include ‘Super Saturday’ (as Jess Ennis, Greg Rutherford and Mo Farah painted Wembley gold), Usain Bolt burning up the track, Nicola Adams punching her way to a pioneering victory and Andy Murray’s emphatic triumph over Roger Federer on Wimbledon’s courts.

Big hitters aside, it’s the little moments that warm our cockles – such as Clare Balding’s interview with Bert le Clos, as he blows kisses at his “beautiful boy”, Olympic swimmer Chad. Surely there’s still time to give that man the gold medal for most embarrassing dad of the Games.

Pool/Getty Images

Eternal flame London 2012 Olympic Games five-disc set – on DVD and Blu-ray from October 29

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Radar

Real deal C

ontrol every aspect of your football club, from arranging sponsorship and signing star players to showing your silks on the pitch, in this immersive football sim. Now in its tenth incarnation, Real Football 2013 allows you to pick a club from across Europe, from Barcelona to Barnsley.

However, you’ll start with a very average squad that you add to with big-name signings (we got Edinson Cavani first up – and we can only hope the Uruguay striker is loving life at Watford). While the off-the-field management is fun enough, though, it’s the on-pitch action that’s the main appeal. With the slick, comfortable control system and stylish visuals, it’s the classic case of a game that’s easy to pick up and play, yet is a challenge to fully master.

That’s probably thanks to the beefed-up AI – and 700 motion-capture animations – that make it a step up from the 2012 version.

Add in the personal names and portraits of more than 3,000 top players (thanks to the developer Gameloft snaffling themselves an official FIFPro licence) and you have a genuine rival to FIFA’s mobile crown.

Real Football 2013 is free to download now on Android and iOS

Playing the pro game F

Coq of the walk I

t’s not been the best of months for road cycling’s reputation, but this dashing new range of retro clothing from le coq sportif is a welcome reminder of a happier era. Unveiled this month to coincide with October’s vintage tour of Tuscany, known as L’Eroica, the outfits draw their inspiration from the cycling attire of the 1960s. We particularly

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like the range of knitted merino wool jerseys that come in a range of tasteful autumnal colours with bold, contrasting stripes. Much like Lance Armstrong’s updated CV, there isn’t a Yellow Jersey in sight in this range – but it’s altogether a far classier cycling proposition.

Jerseys £80, caps £13 and gloves £28, available via oipolloi.com

ootball is a world that has its share of dodgy agents. Unfortunately, not all of them are good enough to sport neon suits and yell “monster!” down an oversized mobile phone so you can easily pick them out. That’s perhaps the reason why the experienced, FA-licensed agent Matt Kleinman has written an insider’s guide on becoming a professional footballer.

His book covers the process of finding a responsible agent, football scholarships, how to speak to managers, plus every other aspect of making it in the game. If you’re reading this in, say, your late 20s and are the back-up right back for a Sunday league team, it might have come just a bit too late for you. But if you have a nephew, pal’s kid or similar who’s already nutmegging you, then this book – full of practical, succinct advice broken down in an easy-to-follow way – is essential reading. Not as colourful as the Match annual, but it might prove a lot more useful in the long term.

Show Me The Mon£y! by Matt Kleinman, out now

MARTIN CASTROGIOVANNI

meccanicheveloci.com

Brand Ambassador

QUATTRO VALVOLE 48 FOUR STROKES LIMITED EDITION OfďŹ cial sponsor of THE PLAYER RACING TEAM - Ginetta Supercup 2012 For more information contact: DJJ Distribution Limited, 2 - 6 Minster Gates, York, YO1 7HL - T: +44 (0) 1904 679 707 mail@djjdistribution.co.uk - www.djjdistribution.co.uk

Radar

Rams raid

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he NFL touches down for its annual visit to London, as the St Louis Rams v New England Patriots regular season game is played at Wembley this weekend. All but the most premium of stadium seats are sold out for Sunday‘s sacking, nickelbacking and mousetrapping – but the good news is that you can still sample the all-American atmosphere with the NFL Fan Rally in Trafalgar Square on Saturday. And entry is free.

Up to 40,000 fans are expected to attend the stage show, featuring performances by the Rams and Patriots cheerleaders, the San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars drum lines, interviews with players and coaches and appearances from NFL legends. There will also be interactive NFL games going on around the rally, DJs, food and merchandise stalls.

So by the time the game kicks off, you should have a vague idea of what a nickelback and a mousetrap are.

NFL Fan Rally, Saturday, Trafalgar Square, 12-5pm

DJ E Z STANTON WARRIORS THE NEXTMEN RAF DADDY (THE 2 BEARS) DEEKLINE MURKAGE WOLF MUSIC BONDAX PBR STREETGANG WOOKIE ELIPHINO DUKE MAJORLOOK PLANAS & NIGHTOWL SWAMI BARACUS SMILER SNATCH THE WAX DJs URBAN KNIGHTS REBEL BINGO RUBBER BANDITS ASTROID BOYS PETE JORDAN THE BEAT MEDICS & BENNY TENOSHI JAY DA FUNK PLASTIC THUMBS PHUTURE FUNK BEARFACE NATTY CROOKED CATS

FOR FULL LINE-UP VISIT: WWW.FREEZEFESTIVAL.COM FREEZE ALPINE VILLAGE INCLUDING: Relentless Energy Drink Stage Après Ski Bar Desperados Factory Metro Lodge O’Neill Cinema Ft. Exclusive Ski & Snowboard Movies Authentic Alpine Food & Drink Outlets Shopping Village

SNOWBOARD AND SKI BIG AIR COMPS 105 m REAL SNOW JUMP

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Radar Editor’s letter Stand and deliver: Ferdinand opts to plug parcel collection and transport instead www.sport-magazine.co.uk @sportmaguk facebook.com/sportmagazine Free iPad app available on Newsstand

Sport magazine Part of UTV Media plc 18 Hatfields, London SE1 8DJ Telephone: 020 7959 7800 Fax: 020 7959 7942 Email: firstname.lastname@ sport-magazine.co.uk Editorial Editor-in-chief: Simon Caney (7951) Deputy editor: Tony Hodson (7954) Associate editor: Nick Harper (7897) Art editor: John Mahood (7860) Deputy art editor: William Jack (7861) Digital designer: Chris Firth (7624) Subeditor: Graham Willgoss (7431) Senior writers: Sarah Shephard (7958), Alex Reid (7915) Staff writers: Mark Coughlan (7901), Amit Katwala (7914) Picture editor: Julian Wait (7961) Production manager: Tara Dixon (7963) Contributors: Simon Knights, Adam Goldstein

Action, not T-shirts Best of intentions? Of course. But the call for players to Kick It Out last week met controversy

T Editor-in-chief Simon Caney @simoncaney

he issue of racism in football remains one that has left the authorities perplexed.

And the furore over the simple wearing – or non-wearing – of T-shirts last weekend has only intensified the matter.

Now, we can see what the FA and Premier League were trying to do: show a united front against the evil of racism in the game. All well and good – on the face of it, at least.

But clearly, to several notable black players, it was not all well and good. Their view would appear to be that not enough has been done; that wearing a T-shirt would have no positive effect; and that they didn‘t want to simply toe the line.

Surely that is their prerogative. Sir Alex Ferguson‘s knee-jerk comment about Rio Ferdinand (“He‘ll be dealt with, don‘t worry about that,“ he said) was bizarre and

swiftly retracted. From a proud Govan dockworker who surely, all his life, has stood up for the notion that the workers have a right to protest, it did seem odd.

But then, football doesn‘t like its players to express independent thought – especially if it‘s political. Remember Robbie Fowler being hauled over the coals for his support of the Liverpool dockworkers?

I should say I‘ve met some of the people from Kick It Out, and they are utterly honourable and decent. They desperately want to eradicate racism, and any form of prejudice, from football. Yet much of their funding comes from the FA – so they are, in effect, an arm of that organisation.

And the Ferdinand brothers, Jason Roberts, Kenwyne Jones et al have a problem with the way the FA has behaved recently. Those who run the game need to address the heart of the concerns: wearing T-shirts is not the answer.

The toe-curling UCI press conference earlier this week did at least get one thing out of the way. Officially, Lance Armstrong has no Tour de France titles to call his own, and “has no place in cycling”, according to president Pat McQuaid. Good. There are still a multitude of questions that remain unanswered on this terrible episode – not least, whether cycling can actually ever, properly, recover. Such a shame for Bradley Wiggins in the year he won the Tour de France, but it is going to take his sport years to get its name out of the sewer.

Finally, a word on Frankel. Very few sportsmen or women in my lifetime have given me the same thrill in watching them as this amazing thoroughbred, who now retires to a life as a gigolo, earning £100,000 for every rendezvous. He has earned his retirement; we were lucky he was kept in training this year, and I suspect we‘ll never see his like again.

Commercial Agency Sales Director: Iain Duffy (7991) Business Director: Kevin O’Byrne (7832) Advertising Manager: Steve Hare (7930) New Business Sales Executive: Hayley Robertson (7904) Distribution Manager: Sian George (7852) Distribution Assistant: Makrum Dudgeon Head of Online: Matt Davis (7825) Head of Communications: Laura Wootton (7913) Managing Director: Adam Bullock PA to Managing Director: Sophia Koulle (7826) Colour reproduction: Rival Colour Ltd Printed by: Wyndeham Group Ltd © UTV Media plc 2012 UTV Media plc takes no responsibility for the content of advertisements placed in Sport magazine £1 where sold

Cover of the Year

Reader comments of the week @Sportmaguk Cracking read this morning chaps, well bowled! #SportOnTheTube #FridayFeeling

@Broadinator Twitter

@Warneswinners Twitter

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@sportmaguk brilliant piece on the majestic Frankel by @tonyhodson1 today, good work.

@superflynntendo Twitter

@simoncaney @tonyhodson1 #Frankel article is top quality.

Highlight of four hour train journey last night. #OneMoreWin

@NAGabriel @simoncaney @tonyhodson1 Enjoyed that and the mention of Cazorla singing and dancing ‘Macarena’ – buried in the Giroud article.

@NAGabriel Twitter

@Goonerreed Twitter

LAUNCH OF THE YEAR

2008

Total Average Distribution: 305,676 Jan-Jun 2012 Don’t forget: Help keep public transport clean

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Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

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Int in @Sportmaguk with Sharapova, totally brilliant. What a fighter, could’ve given up when injured but came back to the top! #inspiration

Frozen in time

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Howay Princess!

In his playing days, Alan Pardew could be found getting his groove on aboard Newcastle’s legendary Tuxedo Princess, a night spot on a boat renowned for its revolving dance floor and wall-to-wall skirt. Sadly, the old Princess closed her doors for good in 2007, but Pards hasn’t stopped dancing. Every so often, his body sparks back into life and the old moves flow like Broon Ale. Here, last Sunday, we find him busting out his signature move at Sunderland: the ‘Howay Man Pet’. Pity he pulled it during the minute’s silence, but hey.

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THE POWER LIST 2012 The Power List

Welcome, once again, to Sport’s annual Power List, a 50-strong celebration of the men and women who control British sport as we stand on the cusp of 2013. These are the superstars, the suits and the salesmen who exert their influence in various ways over each and every one of us. Here then, in descending order, is how we rank them...

Ricky Hatton, Boxer, promoter, idol (New entry) With a single press conference on September 14, every boxer in Britain instantly went down one notch in popularity – because Britain’s most beloved fighter since Franklin Bruno announced his comeback. With that, Sky, BoxNation, Channel 5 and every TV company in the business knew that there was only one show in 2012 that mattered: Ricky ‘The Hitman’ at a sold-out Manchester MEN. Hatton is now also a promoter – and any network that signs him may also be expected to showcase his stable of promising young fighters.

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Warren Gatland Lion namer (New entry) Whether Irish, English, Scottish or Welsh, every rugby player in the British Isles will be looking to catch the eye of Mr Gatland in 2013 – because he’s the man tasked with picking and leading the latest pack of Lions to Australia. After abject failure in New Zealand in 2005, a return to the ‘good old days of Lions tours’ in South Africa in 2009 reinvigorated the Lions brand. It is now down to Gatland to continue on that same path with a victorious run in Oz. With the likes of HSBC, adidas, Microsoft and Qantas named as official sponsors, rugby’s very own Warren G will have plenty to regulate in the months ahead.

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The Formula One Teams’ Association president Grid power (33) After three years in the role, Martin Whitmarsh has decided to edge away from Bernie Ecclestone’s slimy tentacles by stepping down as the FOTA president.

The group represents seven of the 12 F1 teams’ interests in discussions with the FIA over rule changes and money, thus having a large say in the future of the sport – and they are after a new leader.

Whoever he (or she) is, one of the major tasks will surely be to bring harmony to an ever-fracturing group, and present enough of a balance to lure Red Bull, Ferrari and the three other missing teams back to FOTA.

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Simon Fuller Sporting Svengali (New entry) The ‘artist manager’ behind Brand Beckham and Andy Murray now appears to be pulling some, if not all, of the strings for Lewis Hamilton. “I felt Simon Fuller along with his team at XIX Entertainment not only wanted to help me become an even better racing driver, but they also shared my ambitions for the longer term,” said the McLaren man. Those ‘ambitions’ have seen him end his 14-year association with McLaren and sign for Mercedes, who reportedly allowed XIX greater control in striking personal endorsements for their client.

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Nicola Adams Box fresh (New entry) Whether she knew it or not, few people did more for the advancement of women’s sport in 2012 than Nicola Adams. And not only because she now resides in the history books as Olympic boxing’s first female gold-medallist; but also because her all-action fighting style, sunshine smile and winning personality grabbed the attention of media and public alike at London 2012. A down-to-earth Yorkshire girl who said she’d celebrate her historic victory with a trip to Nando’s, Adams now has the potential to become a potent voice within not just boxing, but women’s sport in the UK as a whole.

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Football agents The middle men (New entry) The press called it a victory for Sir Alex Hairdryer when he put Wayne Rooney in his place during the striker’s 2010 contract saga. But as Wazza sloped off with what he really wanted (a £100,000 per-week pay rise), this was actually a triumph for his agent, Paul Stretford.

And while we’re now used to the ‘super-agent’ grabbing headlines, it’s the breadth of agents’ power that’s shone in the past year. Even outside the Premier League, £21.7m was spent by Football League clubs on agent fees last season (up £5m on 2010-11). This, when many clubs can barely afford transfer fees.

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Boris Johnson Legacy king (13) From his brilliantly bedraggled closing ceremony performance in Beijing to his sensational zipwire shenanigans in the midst of the London Games, Johnson’s mucky paws were all over London 2012 – and they’re not likely to let go any time soon. Last month, the Mayor of London was installed as chairman of the legacy company charged with ensuring the £500m Olympic Stadium is given a meaningful post-Games existence.

Expect an 80,000-seat wiff-waff arena accessible only via Boris bike and the return of BoJo’s booming voice advising you to “plan your journey home in advance” over the stadium speakers.

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Dietrich Mateschitz The Golden Bull (New entry) The Austrian multimillionaire has spent a good chunk of the fortune he made inventing Red Bull establishing a series of events for the clinically insane. Extreme cliff diving, extreme free-ride mountain biking, extreme enduro off-road motorcycling... you get the picture. Extreme is his business. And business is booming; so much so, he also owns several football teams – most notably the New York Red Bulls. We list him not only because he has Milton Keynes-based F1 team Red Bull Racing under his wing, but because he’s convinced a generation of British youngsters that throwing yourself to earth from space is a valid career option.

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Moz Dee The director (47) As talkSPORT becomes officially the biggest sports radio station in the world – having secured the rights to broadcast the Premier League everywhere outside Europe – it is Dee who is responsible for delivering its content around the globe.

As programme director, Dee has overseen huge changes at the station, which now delivers sport 24-7 and continues to chip away relentlessly at the nation’s established home of live sport, Radio 5 live. While the Beeb mopped up with its Olympics coverage in 2012, talkSPORT responded by securing yet more live football – and its audiences have grown dramatically in recent years.

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Roger Draper Smashing the status quo (41) The chief executive of the Lawn Tennis Association has grown accustomed to being pilloried in the press for Britain’s failure to produce more than one Andy Murray, and falling participation figures meant the LTA’s funding was slashed in April. But Olympic success for Murray and Laura Robson, followed by the former’s maiden Grand Slam win, changed the mood around British tennis.

Further success for Robson and Heather Watson means Britain can now lay claim to having as many women in the top 52 of the world rankings as Spain and France.

However, as well he knows, Draper’s work has only just begun.

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Chris Robshaw Leader of the pack (New entry) Having led Harlequins to their first Premiership title, and been at the forefront of English rugby’s rejuvenation after a disastrous 2011, the England captain is the man all the big-brand sponsors want to see their logos emblazoned across. BMW, Canterbury and Etihad have recognised the value, which doesn’t even take the Lions sponsors into account. A good display in the Six Nations, coupled with more domestic success, and Robshaw could become Warren Gatland’s Lions leader – and thus find himself the target of a new army of media and money men.

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Kevin Pietersen KP’s not nuts (New entry) Despite still being deep in a period of ‘reintegration’ with England, Pietersen’s broad shoulders will have a fair load to bear in the next 18 months. He may not be the archetypal ‘team player’, but he remains England’s most talented batsman – and with the Test side now deposed from their number one status, and with series against India and Australia (home and away) on the horizon, they need his mercurial talents more than ever.

Pietersen’s response on Twitter to his leaving the doghouse was emphatic: ”BOOOOOOOOM!! The happiest days of my career have been playing cricket for ENG...

Long may that continue!” Indeed, KP.

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Alastair Cook Skipper, KP soother (New entry) Reintegrating your best batsman and his affronted ego into the England cricket team. Following in the footsteps of a much-respected, successful captain.

Taking your team on a tour of India, followed by back-to-back Ashes series in 2013. All while making sure you keep churning out the runs at a prodigious rate. It’s fair to say that a lot is riding on England’s new Test and continuing one-day captain over the next 18 months.

Let’s just all be thankful that Cook famously doesn’t sweat – because we’re sure that if we were in his role, then we would be sweating like Samit Patel chasing a runaway Malteser.

David Sheepshanks Man with The Plan (New entry) Built at a cost of £105m, England’s shiny new St George’s Park complex in Burton-on-Trent is home to all 24 England teams, from the juniors to the millionaires.

It will hothouse future generations of talent and is designed to turn England into Spain as quickly as possible. The coaches will be key here but, in terms of a man with the ultimate power and responsibility, we’re suggesting Sheepshanks, chair of St George’s Park.

This year’s lowly position reflects the fact that it will take several years – a decade at least – for the hard work to actually pay off. If indeed it ever does.

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BBC/John Rogers/BSkyB/Rex Features. All other images: Getty Images

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Clare Balding National treasure (New entry) You can count the number of broadcasters capable of mixing horse racing, rugby league, religion and Paralympic sport on, well, one finger really. Although ‘capable’ doesn’t really do Balding’s presenting skills justice.

Her expertise and enthusiasm on the racecourse transfers into the TV studio and, from January, she will also be coming through the airwaves as she gets her own show on Radio 2. With another new role as the face of Channel 4’s horse racing coverage also beginning in the New Year, Balding’s influence is spreading fast – and wide.

The Power List

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Marc Watson Shooting at the Sky (new entry) Just what is BT Vision? We’ll let you know if we ever work it out, but in the meantime we can tell you that, as of next year, it will be broadcasting 38 live Premier League games a season for a three-year-period. The deal, which cost BT a cool £738m, was quietly brokered by Watson, the former barrister who heads up BT Vision and who has his sights set firmly on the big dogs at Sky. He has some way to go before unsettling Murdoch and his mates, but that the rights will include high-profile fixtures – the likes of which Setanta and ESPN could only ever dream of – augurs well for Watson’s ambitions.

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Wayne Rooney A man on the wane? (19) A recent Nike ad featuring Rooney runs through famous commentary from his career while the camera pans in on his face before the slogan ‘MY TIME IS NOW’ appears. His time, however, feels like it is ebbing away. He’s good, but he’s not the truly great player England expected. He is still a valuable ambassador to a number of premium brands, though this year marks the first time in six years he has not fronted EA Sports’ FIFA series – a reliable barometer of football’s key men.

In his place is arguably a far bigger hero to English schoolkids – Lionel Messi – and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a man whose time really is now.

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Usain Bolt Self-proclaimed legend (20) Despite proving at London 2012 that he’s still the fastest man in the world – and arguably the greatest athlete ever – the Lightning Bolt slips down 13 places from our last list. Why? The problem is that, without an Olympic Games to showcase his talent, Bolt’s marketability has to dip.

That said, we still have the intrigue of seeing if he can reclaim his 100m World Championship crown from young pretender Yohan Blake to look forward to next year – plus, he’s still probably the most famous, beloved and charismatic sportsman in the world. Puma will not be demanding their trainers back off him just yet, we wouldn’t think.

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Bradley Wiggins Speed demon (New entry) Britain’s first ever winner of the Tour de France is now so celebrated that he’s recognisable by his facial hair alone.

Despite a penchant for fags and vino, whippet-thin Wiggins is a superhuman on the bike who manages to remain relatively human off it – a rare quality that has helped elevate him beyond cycling circles and into the nation’s heart. Set to be Team Sky’s main man again in 2013, the ‘modfather’ of British Cycling can cement his place in history as the greatest British rider ever if he repeats last summer’s Tour win. Providing he steers clear of the Armstrong shitstorm threatening to destroy the world of professional cycling, that is.

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Michel Platini Le suit (10) A significant drop of 20 places for the president of UEFA, who is starting to look less like Sepp Blatter’s long-term replacement and more like his short-term marionette. The past 12 months have seen the former French great defend his role in the awarding of the 2022 World Cup to Qatar; put forward the notion of a multi-country European Championships, riling environmentalists by suggesting fans could travel from game to game on low-cost airlines; and, inexplicably, continue to oppose goalline technology.

Questionable motives, crackpot ideas and a retrograde stance at odds with the game he runs... Sepp must be over the moon at how his protege is progressing.

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John W Henry & Tom Werner Being Liverpool (42) The men tasked with returning one of the grand old institutions of British football back to its perch have had a mixed 12 months, but Henry and Werner have responded to every setback – the Luis Suarez racism disaster, the eventual failure of the King Kenny project, the club’s worst start to a top-flight season for about a million years – with the largely swift and decisive action you would expect from men who have previous at turning around failing teams. The wage bill has been slashed, key players retained and uncertainty over the club’s home resolved with a commitment to develop Anfield. Heading in the right direction.

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Antony Jenkins Big cheese (New entry) To your lay football fan, ‘Barclays banker’ is just the cockney slang for the gesture aimed at Ashley Cole from the sanctity of the stands. From a wider perspective, however, Barclays most notably sponsor the Premier League to the tune of £40m a season – and the man who this year became the Barclays banker in charge of the big decisions, replacing the now disgraced Bob Diamond, is new chief executive Antony Jenkins. He’s a ‘safe pair of hands’, apparently, while Reuters notes that ‘Jenkins dislikes football’.

Whether this could have a bearing on the flow of lucre into football, we will watch with interest to find out.

Dave Brailsford Spinning the wheels (new entry) It’s been some year for Brailsford, who in dual roles of British Cycling performance director and Team Sky general manager masterminded British dominance at both the Tour de France and then the Olympics.

Bradley Wiggins’ victory in the former represents the fulfilment of a long-held dream for the 48-year-old, and helped establish Brailsford as one of the world’s most influential sports administrators.

He is not without his critics – cycling writer Paul Kimmage has repeatedly asked about his hiring of the indirectly tarnished team doctor Geert Leinders, and the French don’t much like him – but for now his stock remains (ahem) sky high.

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Edge-to-edge blockbusters.

Edge-to-edge speed.

Edge-to-edge performance.

Say hello to the full-screen phone.

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The Power List

27& 26

Herbert Hainer & Phil Knight Businessmen (31 & 35) Hainer sits in charge of adidas, Knight controls Nike, and between them they dress the whole world over in stripes and swooshes. From the global superstars and their clubs paid to wear their kits in every sport worth worrying over, to the impressionable kids in the playground who demand the boots off their feet and the shirts off their backs – everyone owns or has owned at least one adidas or Nike product. Often both. Even fat people who have never run a mile in their life. Everywhere you look, the swoosh and the stripes are visible, eating up the world.

The second-quarter profits for adidas in 2012: £130m. Nike’s profits for the quarter ended February 29 were lower than expected – but don’t fret, that still amounted to £354m. And that’s taking into account a considerable rise in marketing expenses for Euro 2012 and the London Olympics. Those figures illustrate clearly why we have Nike ahead here, particularly with the recent revelation that they will design the England kit from next spring, having replaced and effectively eaten Umbro, the company they bought in a £285m deal in 2007. Between the two of them, Hainer and Knight effectively have sporting apparel sewn up. It’s their world. You – and everyone else – just happen to be wearing it.

25

Lewis Hamilton Celebrity driver (39) Since winning his single driver’s title in 2008, Hamilton has spent his time sacking his manager-dad, playing the big celebrity It and forgetting that he is, first and foremost, a racing driver. And a very talented, very in-demand one. Last month, after 14 years, he ditched McLaren for Mercedes, who gave his management greater control over his endorsement deals. Cynics would suggest this will mean more lucrative endorsements. But, having complained at his sponsorship workload at McLaren, it might mean fewer but better deals – leaving him more time to concentrate on the day job. Either way, he remains F1’s greatest draw.

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The Paralympians Golden boys and girls (New entry) Grouped together here because, in a sense, they could have taken up the list in its entirety. It’s hard to conceive of one group of people who have been more directly inspiring. If there is one obvious legacy to emerge from London 2012, it is that disabled people in this country now have genuine, awe-inspiring role models to whom they can look to emulate in sport. Take David Weir and his four-gold haul, Jonnie Peacock’s 100m victory, Ellie Simmonds’ two golds in the pool (to add to her golden Beijing brace)... the list goes on. Our Paralympic heroes deserve every gong going. And a prominent position on our Power List.

22

Roman Abramovich Spendthrift oligarch (29) A year or so ago, as Chelsea’s squad aged and Manchester City’s power grew, it was speculated that Abramovich’s interest in his Premier League plaything was beginning to wane. However, following a somewhat unexpected Champions League victory, the signings of Eden Hazard (£32m) and Oscar (a rumoured £25m) point to a man with long-term plans and renewed ambition.

With City sweating more than most over the Financial Fair Play regulations and Manchester United’s hefty debts draining their resources, Abramovich’s Chelsea, looking down from on high in the Premier League, are primed to be the financial big swinging dongs once more.

Jessica Ennis Golden girl (25) Immensely talented, aesthetically pleasing and with a personality that pays no attention to either of those things, the Olympic heptathlon champion is almost too good to be true. Sponsors can’t get enough of the Ennis package, which combines athletic prowess with a winning smile. Neither, predictably, can the press.

In the lead-up to the Olympics, she graced magazine covers ranging from Cosmo to Time to the very prestigious publication you hold in your sweaty palms right now.

Next year brings a World Athletics Championships and the chance for Ennis to add more gold to her growing pile, while further enhancing her position as Britain’s best-loved athlete.

26

Niall Sloane Tour de force (40) While the BBC has spent 2012 hoping its outstanding Olympic coverage would mask the fact that it was shedding sports deals at an alarming rate elsewhere, one former employee continues to build their chief rival’s sporting portfolio in ominous fashion. As director of sport for ITV, Niall Sloane inherited Champions League and FA Cup football – but he has added a deal to broadcast all England home World Cup qualifiers, and can look back with some satisfaction at the 3.6 million people who tuned in to watch Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France victory in July. ITV is punching above its weight when it comes to sport – and Sloane is the man wearing the gloves.

Malcolm Glazer Gambling man (30) Despite rumours of his death sparking a Twitter frenzy earlier this year, Glazer remains in ultimate control of the world’s richest and most popular football club.

Worth £1.4bn and with a global fanbase of 659 million, Forbes Magazine listed them this year as ‘the most valuable team in any sport’. Questions remain, however, over Glazer’s policy of saddling the club with astronomical debts and the impact that has on performance levels on the pitch. Wayne Rooney’s criticism of the club’s lack of spending, in 2010, remains a valid concern, but the more serious issue is that the Red Devils’ real owners – the entities that have title to the assets of the business – are the banks.

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The Power List

19

Jack Wilshere The Saviour? (New entry) For all his undoubted talent, Wilshere has become an even greater footballer by not kicking a ball for the past 14 months – the time he’s been out nursing ankle and knee problems. In absentia, we’ve been depressingly reminded of the gaping hole at the heart of England (and, to a lesser extent, Arsenal) that only Wilshere seems capable of filling – that of a box-to-box, playmaking midfielder with the touch and vision quite at odds with every other option Roy Hodgson has. Experienced beyond his years and with the natural talent to influence on and off the field, he could well be the reincarnation of Paul Gascoigne, minus the baggage.

18

Messi and Ronaldo El Galacticos (New entry) Thanks to the dual influence of Sky Sports and the Champions League, the biggest, most influential footballers in English football are no longer Englishmen playing in England. Instead, they are two young superstars from another planet, plying their trade in a different league, scoring at will and projected into our homes on a twice-weekly basis. Ask any impressionable young child who he’d like to grow up to be, and the answer will either be Lionel Messi or, if he’s a precocious, pouting little brat, Cristiano Ronaldo. The advertisers of everything know this and have acted accordingly, making them global, solid-gold superstars.

17

Roy Hodgson Mr England (24) As we head into a non-tournament year, the influence of the England manager arguably tails off – and yet we have Hodgson seven places higher than his predecessor, Fabio Capello, in last year’s list. This is because, while Capello was ticking off the days before he cleared his desk, Hodgson has an eye on redeveloping an ageing squad at the same time as navigating safe passage to the World Cup in 2014. What looked a simple route to Brazil is now less certain. Away games in Montenegro and Ukraine will go a long way towards dictating the mood of the nation through 2013, into 2014 and perhaps beyond. No pressure, Roy.

16

Michael Gove A politician (New entry) The education secretary has the unenviable task of extracting something palpable from the endless debate over how to create a lasting legacy from London 2012. A coherent school sport policy has been glaringly absent from the Government’s legacy plans, with the ending of the requirement for all pupils to have at least two hours of PE per week only adding to the public sense of WTF. If, as promised, a generation is to be inspired by the Games, then Gove has to find the right way for schools to play their crucial role in doing just that. Having previously slashed funding for school sports, we include him more in hope than expectation.

14

Rory McIlroy Boy wonder (28) The mop-topped wonderboy can still do no wrong. It’s hard to remember a golfer so loved – not just admired, but loved – all around the world. Even his last-minute dash in a police car to the Ryder Cup was straight out of Boys’ Own. He can command appearance fees and sponsorships to rival Tiger Woods (by all accounts, a long-term Nike contract that will blow all other golf deals out of the water is on the table) but, crucially, he is still getting better and better as a player.

Last year’s US Open victory and the PGA Championship in August make that two majors in two seasons. More will surely follow – and quickly.

13

Andy Flower A lone pillar (23) England’s cricket success from 2009 to 2011 owed much to the twin pillars of Andrew Strauss’ captaincy and Andy Flower’s coaching. However, after a poor 2012 involving three wins in 11 Test matches, the ECB’s bungled handling of Kevin Pietersen’s big strop and Strauss’ departure, Flower is the man to whom everyone is looking to turn things around.

Eyebrows were raised when he took time off at the end of South Africa’s summer tour to recharge his batteries, but we approve. English cricket will need all of Flower’s power if they’re to get back on track in time for next summer’s Ashes.

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Paul Bittar Racing certainty (new entry) Thanks to the heroic exploits of Frankel, horse racing is enjoying something of a revival; but with the great beast now retired, the responsibility for maintaining momentum – and increasing revenue – falls elsewhere. Step forward Bittar, the Aussie who has impressed many with his straight talking since taking the reins as chief executive of the British Horseracing Authority at the start of this year. His job, to bring together the many conflicting interests in a sport prone to damaging introspection, is not an easy one – but in his desire to develop a sleeker, sexier, streamlined version of the current racing calendar, he is doing things the right way.

Lord Coe The good Lord (2) In less than two weeks, Lord Coe will be elected unopposed to the role of chairman of the British Olympic Association – and with him will ultimately rest responsibility for how Team GB perform in Rio in four years’ time.

The good Lord did an astounding job of leading the bid, winning and organising London 2012. Now, unsurprisingly, he has been asked by David Cameron to advise on how best the Games might have a long-term legacy for the country.

And, with the Prime Minister referring to Coe as London 2012’s “head and heart”, nobody is better placed – or better equipped to deliver it.

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22 | October 28 2012 |

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The Power List

11

Sir Alex Ferguson The boss (7) Despite choking the league title last May, in a season in which they failed to get past the Champions League group stage, few would question the enduring ability of the old maestro to terrify a large group of young millionaires into performing to a high standard. He remains the fiery beating heart of the world’s most powerful sporting brand (according to Forbes Magazine, see entry 20), but he’s 71 this December, you know? With his hands tied (to an extent) by the club’s heavy debts, and the noisy neighbours in blue growing stronger by the season, he must know he’s fighting a losing battle. Ferguson has threatened to retire before, and his close friend Dave Whelan claims he’ll call time at the end of this season.

For the sake of his own legacy, we hope he does.

His appetite, however, shows no sign of waning, and we include him here in such a high position for the influence he’ll continue to have while he remains in charge – and for the fact that any successor will no doubt need his seal of approval.

10

Roberto Mancini The Big Boss (New entry) Personally, we can’t see Mancini lasting beyond this season, especially if he doesn’t make a far better fist of the Champions League than last time around. But this entry is not about him, but his position as the man in charge – in pure footballing terms – of the richest, most powerful club in England. Because, as long as Sheikh Mansour remains interested in building a footballing empire and conquering Europe (and we see no sign of him walking out in the next 12 months), whoever manages Manchester City will be handed the keys to the fastest car in the garage. Even if the suits cannot find new ways of circumventing UEFA’s new FFP rules, the foundations are in place: spending almost £1bn on the club in the three years since taking control has elevated City to another league. It is doping within the rules, designed to achieve Mansour’s aim of “winning European honours” and dominating English football for years to come. Mancini may well achieve that aim. But if he doesn’t, Mansour will soon enough find a man who can.

09

Maria Miller Sporting culture creator (11) Sport might only form one third of the Culture Secretary’s department (arts and the media also come under her remit), but Miller is ultimately responsible for keeping minister for sport Hugh Robertson in the loop and in line, so deserves her spot in the upper reaches of this list. Her recent announcement that, as a condition of receiving lottery funding, Britain’s top athletes will dedicate a total of 500 hours a year to interacting with young people and inspiring them to participate in sport, was an easy win. But once the stardust settles from London 2012, she might have to think a bit harder on how to keep the sporting legacy alive. Encouragingly, though, she affirmed in one of her first public engagements her commitment to “ensure that school sport thrives and healthy competition is promoted”. We eagerly await her words being put into action.

07

Andy Murray Mr Major (New entry) As Andy Murray stood blubbing on Centre Court this summer, vanquished once again in a men’s final at the hands of Roger Federer, he at least shot up in the estimations of the nation, who looked on admiringly at a man for whom winning it (or nearly winning it) clearly meant so much. We still suspected that he’d forever fall short of the very top level, however, and the Olympic gold he grabbed back on Centre Court did little to alter that.

But then came that first Grand Slam title, won heroically on the hard courts of the US Open against Novak Djokovic, and everything changed. Finally, Britain had a world-class winner. Murray’s success, allied to a management team that knows exactly how to extract the most value from it (see entry 49), secures his place at a very respectable number seven. And if he continues at the current trajectory, he may go higher still.

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Barbara Slater Auntie’s Babs (15) BBC TV has been a waning sporting force in recent years, losing half its live F1 races to Sky and nearly all its live football while, in 2012, its horse racing bolted to Channel 4. However, London 2012 proved a glorious reminder that, when it comes to the big sports events, nobody does it better than Auntie. In addition, the blubbing public response to the Games was a message back to the BBC that live sport matters intensely to its licence payers. So, was the Olympics one final sporting blow-out before the BBC all but bow out? Or, despite ever-increasing competition, will we see the public service broadcaster recommit itself to sport in the coming years? Step forward Barbara Slater, the former international gymnast who competed for Great Britain at the Montreal Olympics in 1976 – and who, as the BBC’s director of sport, has made it her mission to protect the corporation’s sporting ‘crown jewels’. We’re talking events such as Wimbledon, here, and we don’t envy you your task, Babs. But we wish you the best.

Sepp Blatter The untouchable (3) It’s been a quiet year for the 76-year-old FIFA president, now in his fourth term at the head of professional football’s ruling body – providing you ignore the booing he received at the women’s football Olympic final, renewed claims that he’s abused his power and position, and any suggestion that he’s doing sweet FA to rid the game of racism. Blatter will shrug it all off and keep on running football as he sees fit. But that’s the problem: the awarding of World Cups to unsuitable nations, deciding when (and if) goalline technology will arrive and the ultimate call over the size of fines all fall at Blatter’s door.

So he’s the man who rubber-stamped the £80,000 fine Nicklas Bendtner received for flashing his pants on the pitch, and the man who agreed that Lazio should be fined £48,000 less for their fans racially abusing Tottenham’s players recently. None of it adds up, Sepp.

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08 24 | October 26 2012 |

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The Power List

05

Bernie Ecclestone The great dictator (8) At the age of 81, when most men are rightly proud if they can simply go to the toilet unassisted, Bernie Ecclestone retains an iron grip not just on his bladder control, but on Formula 1, one of the world’s most marketable and aspirational sports. Far from resting on his laurels, Ecclestone has spent 2012 attempting to further increase F1’s global reach and power. A second Grand Prix in the lucrative US market – the Port Imperial circuit, situated on the bank of the Hudson River at Weehawken and West New York in New Jersey – now looks likely to take place in 2014, while a race around the streets of London remains an ongoing discussion. He may not be popular – the decision to go ahead with the Bahrain Grand Prix, despite the questionable human rights record of the Gulf country, drew criticism – but you can’t deny that he has an almost total control of his sport that few other, if any, individuals can match. F1 is worth an estimated £5.7bn, which Ecclestone says “shows how seriously Formula 1 is treated in the financial world”. That’s a lot of money, no matter what world you’re living in. Bernie undoubtedly lives in a different one to most of the rest of us, but he still retains an awful lot of power in those liver-spotted hands.

04

Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Sultan Al Nahyan Great sheikh (6) With UEFA’s Financial Fair Play rules starting to take a grip on European football, it would be tempting to suggest that the Manchester City owner’s power and influence on the game will now begin to loosen. Tempting – but wrong. The FFP may curb the type of excessive spending that saw City splurge £452m of Mansour’s billions on 22 new players, but big clubs such as City will find a way to circumvent the rules. Even if they don’t, by spending more than £1bn since taking over in 2008, Mansour has built a monster that can dominate English football for as long as he retains an interest – and sources suggest he is in for the long haul. By spending so big before the FFP came fully into force, Mansour has put all the pieces – state-of-the-art facilities and at least two world-class players in every position – in place for the long game. Having won the Premier League in 2012, he will view it as a stepping stone to European success – with or without Roberto Mancini at the helm. With the stated aim being to use Manchester City to project the positive image of Abu Dhabi around the globe in what is effectively a giant, long-term PR exercise, failure in Europe will not work. Despite all he’s achieved in four short years, Mansour’s work has only just begun.

03

Jeremy Darroch Sky go (4) For the chief executive of Sky, the summer of 2012 could easily have been a time for sitting quietly in a darkened room, trying desperately to ignore the Euro 2012 and Olympic carnival of sport being broadcast by his usually impotent terrestrial counterparts over on the Beeb and ITV. Not so Jeremy Darroch, who marked his fifth year in the hotseat with a deal to underline just why Sky is by some distance the most important and influential sporting broadcaster in the UK. The £2.28bn they have paid to show 116 live Premier League games a season – the maximum allowed for one station – for the next three years represents a staggering financial commitment of £6.5m per game. But, as the man sitting one place higher on this list than Darroch knows fine well, the Premier League is the single most important sporting commodity that these shores has to offer. As such, the man who opens the purse strings to guarantee his employer the rights to broadcast the lion’s share of said commodity can have few rivals in a list like this. With BT only just starting to flex their substantial muscles in this field, there will be challenges to come for Darroch in the future – but for now he remains a man in power, and that’s enough to earn him our bronze medal.

04

03 05 26 | October 26 2012 |

The Power List

02

Richard Scudamore Premier deal-breaker (1) This summer, Scudamore oversaw a domestic Premier League TV deal worth £3bn over three years (that’s a cool £1bn a year, our calculator tells us – up an eye-watering 70 per cent on the previous deal). So you could forgive the Premier League’s chief executive for popping his feet up on his desk, lighting up a cigar the size of a cucumber and feeling pretty damn pleased with himself. But apparently this is just the start for Scudamore.

At the end of this season, Sir Dave Richards – last seen crawling around in a suit in a Qatar water fountain – stands down as chairman of the Premier League.

The hot rumour doing the rounds is that Scudamore will take on some of those responsibilities, possibly in a new role – ‘executive chairman’ or some such – that will further increase his power in the English game.

It may not come to pass, as there’s an understandable worry that this would be handing over too much control to just one man, albeit one who has proved himself as savvy in the football business as Richie Rich. There’s no doubting, however, that this is the most important figure in the mostwatched football league in the world – a position he has done much to help the Premier League to obtain. For that reason, he beats out even Sepp Blatter as the man wielding the most gargantuan stick in football.

01

David Cameron The top man (New entry) In the end, it all comes down to Dave, doesn’t it? Everything that this year has stood for in sport, and everything that should follow from it, rests on the shoulders of the man at the very top. Of course, the Prime Minister, whoever he or she may be, could top this list every single year – what with holding the purse strings that fund all of sport. But never before has the role been so crucial. London 2012, and indeed everything else that has happened in this remarkable year, have provided a once-in-a-lifetime springboard. We will never again have this chance to get more people involved in sport – and, as a logical conclusion, to create more world-class sportsmen and women.

Cameron has taken the obvious step to appoint Lord Coe (see 12) as adviser on how to deliver the Olympic and Paralympic legacy. But Coe’s advice will mean nothing if the Government doesn’t endorse it (and let’s not forget that Coe knows politics and the financial limitations here – there are no excuses). Let’s not forget also that there are plenty in politics who don’t see the benefits of sport and must have wondered what all the fuss was about this summer; this is a time for Cameron to show real leadership and deliver.

On the face of it, he gets it: “As well as the facilities and money, what we need is a change in culture in our schools and in society that says sport is good, competitive sport is good, schools games are good,” he said in August. To that end he has committed to reintroducing competitive sport for all primary school pupils – but set against that was the decision to scrap a target of two hours’ sport for every pupil. The odd soundbite won’t suffice. Instead, he needs to get on the front foot and start delivering better facilities, equipment, coaching and opportunities for everyone in the country to play sport.

Anything less would be a shameful dereliction of duty.

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01 28 | October 26 2012 |

Heather Watson

On the board Winning her ďŹ rst WTA Tour title in Japan this month ensured Heather Watson ends 2012 as British number one. But she has far bigger prizes in her sights...

| October 26 2012 | 31

Heather Watson

“You can’t teach somebody to be competitive or to want something badly. You either have it or you don’t”

Spurred on Watson had earlier been a more than interested observer as Robson – two years her junior – was lauded as the next great British hope, having reached the fourth round of the US Open last month. And Watson admits that, when one of them succeeds at such a level, it‘s motivation for the other one to step up their game. “Previously at Wimbledon I got to the third round – I was very pleased with that and I hope that spurred her [Robson] to do so well in the US Open,“ she says. “Then when she did well in getting to her WTA final, I wanted that to spur me on. And it did.“ After her success in Japan, Watson is now top of the British rankings, and at a career-

32 | October 26 2012 |

high number 49 in the world. It‘s a promising breakthrough for the girl who took her sport so seriously as a youngster that, at an age when most children see independence as being allowed a trip to the cinema without parents in tow, she was leaving her Guernsey home to join the Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida.

Run by the now 81-year-old Nick Bollettieri – a permatanned former paratrooper from New York who still rises at 5am most days to exercise – the academy has been a birthing ground for the careers of Andre Agassi, Monica Seles, Jim Courier and Maria Sharapova.

It was into this famously competitive environment that 12-year-old Watson strolled fearlessly some eight years ago, having left family, friends and home far behind in favour of this finishing school for future champions.

“I was so excited to get over there,“ she explains. “Even though 12 is so young, back then I already felt grown up and independent.

My roommate from the first year was English, too. So I didn‘t feel too far away from home.

“They throw you straight into the hard work there though; there‘s no breaking you in slowly or anything. It‘s very full-on, but I think that‘s what‘s great about that place. Because no matter what age you are, you‘re all doing the same thing, all trying to run the same distance and play for the same hours, and it‘s so competitive – it‘s a great environment for athletes to be around.”

That is, providing said athletes are strong enough characters to handle it – not something Watson ever worried about.

“I‘ve always been a fighter,“ she says. “You can‘t teach somebody to be competitive or to want something badly. You either have it or you don‘t. And I‘m just one of those people who always wants to win and come out on top.

It‘s something I get from my dad‘s side – he‘s extremely competitive.”

From heroes to foes A bonus of developing at Bollettieri‘s academy is the constant presence of highly ranked players who show up every time they‘re in need of a hard block of training. So while Watson says she grew up idolising Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams – players who credit Bollettieri with playing a key role in their success – her time in Florida has ensured she isn‘t overawed when she faces them.

“I see them more as my competition now, rather than my heroes,” she says. “When it comes to the court, I don‘t care who‘s on the other side – I‘m going to treat it the same way.

“I‘m not the type to get intimidated, so no one scares me. We‘re all human, and tennis is just a game. I can see how someone like Serena might intimidate other players, but she doesn‘t do that to me.”

Strong words from a young woman still with plenty to prove. But when Watson takes that attitude on to the court, she gives herself every chance of leaving it as the winner – something she clearly relishes being.

Sarah Shephard @sarahsportmag Heather Watson is the brand ambassador for K-Swiss

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D

are to suggest to Heather Watson that her first WTA Tour title has come earlier than expected, and it quickly becomes clear she‘s not the type to wallow in her success.

“It actually came later than I thought it would,” she says firmly. “I felt like I was playing really well in a few tournaments this year and last, but I wasn‘t able to convert and didn‘t know how to deal with being in the later stages of the draw. But I‘ve learned from my mistakes, and finally I was able to get through and do it.”

It was at the Japan Open earlier this month that 20-year-old Watson saved four match points before triumphing to become the first Brit in 24 years to win a title on the women‘s tour. And it came just weeks after compatriot Laura Robson fell just short of doing the same, losing in the final of China‘s Guangzhou Open.

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Time for a change?

In the market for a new watch but need a helping hand? Look no further than our latest five-page selection of the newest and most impressive timepieces out there

Photography: James Lincoln

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6 1. Casio Men’s Premium G-Shock Gravity Defier

2. Boss Orange The Diver

£300 | watchshop.com

£150 | store-uk.hugoboss.com

Lighter than it looks but pretty damn sturdy, this impressive new piece from Casio is water-resistant to 200m.

The high-visibility green dial will please nature lovers, too.

Contrast abounds in this diving-inspired watch from Boss Orange, whose classic analogue time format sits neatly over a special circular digital display. Sporty, sleek and full of class.

34 | October 26 2012 |

3. TW Steel Cool Black TW900 £395 | twsteeluk.com The anthracite numbers and yellow detailing stand out on this rock-solid effort from TW Steel, which features OS20 chronograph movement and is water-resistant to 100m.

4. TechnoMarine

5. Tutima Pacific 300

£495 | technomarine.com

An uncompromising sports watch for use in ultra-tough conditions, this baby is water-resistant to 300m and comes in a case made of skin-friendly pure titanium. Should even survive a daily London commute.

Cruise Night Vision II

The all-black design of this TechnoMarine model serves only to highlight the visibility of the coloured luminova dials – ideal, as the name implies, for a bit of late-night timekeeping.

£895 | 01904 679707

6. Chronoswiss Timemaster Big Date £3,800 | 01904 679707

Raid the savings for this striking new piece from the Timemaster family of Chronoswiss watches.

The sporty design comes replete with power reserve indication placed prominently at 12 o‘clock and, yes, a ruddy big date.

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7. Tissot Racing Touch

£395 | 0845 296 2446

It‘s not just the bright orange strap that makes this Tissot number so striking, although that does help. A stylishly simple black dial features chronograph, alarm, date function and backlight.

Good start, good finish.

8. Perrelet Turbine Diver £4,900 | 01904 679707

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A diving watch out of the top drawer, this model from Perrelet is water-resistant to 300m and features an 11-blade upper rotor that subtly evokes a submarine propeller. At this price, mind, subtlety is the least you‘d expect.

9. Meccaniche Veloci Quattro Valvole Limited Edition £3,250 | 01904 679707

The familiar four-valve piston of the Quattro Valvove is back in this limited-edition model, which has been restricted to a mere 250 pieces and designed, so they tell us, ‘for the most exuberant male wrists‘. How exuberant are you feeling?

10. Ice-Watch Ice-Chrono Electrik Black Orange Big Big £150 | ice-watch.com

This may not be the most expensive watch in this feature, but it definitely has the best name. Fear not if you don‘t much care for orange; it also comes in blue, turquoise and purple.

11. Corum Admiral’s Cup Challenger 44 Chrono Rubber £6,150 | 020 3372 0108

Combining the characteristic 12-sided design of the Challenger 44 collection with a vulcanised rubber case and velvet-finish matte strap (you can choose your colours), this Corum watch screams modernity yet whispers class.

12 8

10

12. Nautica NSR 11

£179 | watchshop.com

When dark descends on this eye-catching design from Nautica, the luminous hands, markers and hour points combine to create a 3D effect the manufacturer describes as ‘functional and unique‘. That‘s quite the green strap, too. >

| 35

Watch Special

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2

4

3

5

1. Citizen Calibre 8730 BU0030-00A

2. Thomas Sabo Classic

£239 | citizenwatch.co.uk

£179 | thomassabo.com

Three distinctive interlocking subdials star in this handsome watch from Citizen, which also features a moon phase indicator, month-daydate and non-reflective spherical crystal glass.

Classic by name, classic by nature – this Thomas Sabo model, featuring silver dial with sunray finish and a fetching brown leather strap, is a more than decent value dress watch.

3. Rotary Jura

4. Hamilton Intra-

5. Certina

A nicely detailed piece from Rotary, with the deep brown strap offering ‘comfort and durability‘ against the stylish black face.

You will find it only at Ernest Jones, for your information.

£680 | 0845 275 2900

£220 | 0845 899 1888

Oh, we like this one.

The domed black dial plays host to two lightly curved hands, with slender indices marking all 12 hours and a black leather strap with vintage finish rounding it off nicely. Elegant stuff from Hamilton.

Certina have always impressed with their ability to combine luxury Swiss watchmaking with affordability – and this latest gents‘ watch from their DS Caimano line is no different. Stylish yet eminently durable. >

£395 | ernestjones.co.uk

36 | October 26 2012 |

Matic Automatic

DS Caimano

1. Pulsar Men’s Chronograph PT3103X1

2. Seiko Premier SRX008P1

£79.95 | 01628 770988

A most attractive timepiece from Seiko, in which the leading-edge modernity of Kinetic Direct Drive fuses nicely with the most traditional of time indicators: the moon phase. A distinctly pleasing wear.

The stainless steel case of this Pulsar piece is set around a silver multidial face with date function, chronograph and slender gold hour markers.

Consider your bank unbroken, too.

1

£795 | seiko.co.uk

2

3. Timex World Time with Intelligent Quartz

4. Dreyfuss & Co

£124.99 | timex.co.uk

£1,595 | dreyfussandco.com

Ever wanted to simultaneously know the time in 24 cities around the world? Then this is the watch for you; it also features a subtle globe design on the dial, rose gold tone accents and a brown leather strap with croco pattern.

1925 Half Skeleton Rose Gold

This stunning handmade Swiss watch features a unique half-skeleton dial and date window, along with rose gold indexes on a white dial and genuine leather strap.

One of our favourites, for sure.

5. Rotary Jura

6. Guess WW0040

£445 | ernestjones.co.uk

£149 | 01604 678940

Another one featuring a skeleton dial to display its inner workings, this watch from Rotary‘s popular Jura range also comes crafted with gold-plated case and classical Roman markers. Neat.

It‘s the brown dial that stands out on this value alternative from Guess, not to mention the rose gold-coloured steel case and crocodile print brown leather strap.

Definitely one for fans of brown. >

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∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙ ∙

Chro n o gra p h Wo r l d Ti m e Alar m Back- l i g ht 10 B a r Wate r R e s i s t a n ce Fro m t h e N a i ro b i Co l l e c t i o n PV 4 0 0 5 X1

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1. Rotary Les Originales Verbier £325 | rotarywatches.com

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An unobtrusive white case watch that comes with stainless steel bracelet, silver index dial and date window at 3 o‘clock. There‘s no need to be flashy all the time.

2. Storm Blake

£139.99 | stormwatches.com

Featured here in white but also available in black and brown, the Storm Blake is a relatively classic piece with day, date and 24-hour functions. It‘s also water-resistant to 50m, which is good to know.

3

4

3. Diesel Men’s Baby Daddy

£279 | watchshop.com

One of the chunkier models out there at the moment, the Baby Daddy is part of Diesel‘s SBA range. That stands for Super Bad Ass – if you are not one of those, maybe this isn‘t the watch for you.

4. 88 Rue du Rhone

5. Omega Seamaster

6. Maurice Lacroix

Gents Stainless Steel Bracelet

£3,950 | 0845 272 3100

Planet Ocean

Les Classiques Moon Phase

A stylish effort featuring sleek black dial, stainless steel case and bracelet, with the red second hand providing that subtle but very welcome flash of colour.

Omega has long been a watchword for quality, and this model is simply the latest in a long line of watches that are as attractive as they are functional. Will set you back a fair bit, but then it might be a watch for life.

£375 | thewatchhut.co.uk

40 | October 26 2012 |

£970 | beaverbrooks.co.uk

The black dial featuring moon phase function contrasts nicely with the silver case and bracelet on this new piece from Maurice Lacroix. A tidy finale to five pages of timepiece heaven.

6

Info T. 421243631301

Advertising Feature

The kids are alright?

With Round Four of the Capital One Cup approaching this week, it brings with it a dilemma for the big clubs. Age or experience – to stick or to twist?

W

hat started out, for the big guns at least, as a chance to experiment with youth and

give promising youngsters their first taste of first-team football has now taken on a more serious tone. Wembley and the season‘s first silverware now looms large on the horizon, presenting the likes of Ferguson, Wenger, Di Matteo and Rodgers with a predicament: should they stick with the young stars who have helped carry the team this far, or take no risks and bring in the big guns? Recent history would suggest that the answer lies somewhere in between.

In 2007, Arsene Wenger illustrated that youth can take a club far in the League Cup. Long an advocate of using the competition to blood his next generation of stars (Cesc Fabregas took his bow against Rotherham in 2003), Wenger went further four years on by sending out his kids.

That season, a team of boys barely old enough to shave saw the likes of Mark Randall, Ryan Garry and Matthew Connolly introduced, and the squad that travelled to West Brom in the fourth round featured nine teenagers. ”It is maybe one of the greatest satisfactions a manager can get to see young players develop," said Wenger as his young guns overpowered first the Baggies, then Everton, Liverpool and Tottenham en route to the final. ”I‘ve got a group of boys who want to achieve something, and it‘s fantastic to help them try and do that.”

But Le Professeur knew when to stick and when to twist – and, as the competition progressed, he showed his hand by reintroducing his more experienced stars to assert a greater, more calming influence on the game. By the time the final arrived – where Jose Mourinho‘s uncompromisingly full-strength Chelsea awaited – his team had evolved into a more recognisable XI. They still

lost 2-1, but from defeat came the sense of a greater victory.

Wenger‘s willingness to mix youth with experience has continued; in recent seasons Bischoff, Rodgers, Lansbury and Merida have seen League Cup action – a veritable who‘s who of who to the casual observer. This season, the starting XI that beat Coventry City 6-1 featured Martinez, Angha, Miquel, Coquelin and Yennaris. On the bench sat Bellerin, Eisfeld and Serge Gnabry – the fast, powerful wide man who came on to make his debut in the competition. Tipped to be the next Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gnabry was introduced on 72 minutes – replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Now, Wenger is a clever man, but by no means pioneering. Youth has always found its feet in the League Cup. In 1997, Liverpool boss Roy Evans gave Jamie Carragher his first competitive start. In 1998, future England and Chelsea captain John Terry made his debut as a substitute in the League Cup, a 4-1 victory over Aston Villa. And, in 2002, Wayne Rooney scored his first goals in football in the League Cup – two of them for Everton against Wrexham.

Most famously of all, David Beckham kicked off his career by making his Manchester United debut at Brighton‘s Goldstone Ground in September 1992, a second-half substitute for Andrei Kanchelskis. “Young David Beckham coming on,“ noted television commentator Brian Moore that night, the tone of his voice suggesting he knew little of this boy among men. The most insightful information he could muster was: “Young midfield player.“ Nowadays, every manager is at it. Brendan Rodgers made Jerome Sinclair Liverpool‘s youngest ever player in the third-round win at West Brom. Ryan Mason took his Tottenham bow in the win at Carlisle last round, while Ryan Tunnicliffe‘s debut for Manchester United against Newcastle won his dad

£10,000 for a bet staked when his son was just nine. The youngster was just one of four boys making their debut for United that night, as Sir Alex Ferguson continued a policy that has stood both him, his youngsters and the club in good stead for more than two decades.

But Ferguson understands that there comes a time when youth must give way to experience in pursuit of silverware. Will he do that this time, when his Manchester United travel to Chelsea in the tie of the round?

The romantic would like experYouth vs to think he‘ll keep faith wouldience: wh with his kids. The realist you d at begs to differ. o #

? capit alone cup

Capital One Cup fourth round draw (all 7.45pm)

Tuesday October 30 Leeds United v Southampton Reading v Arsenal Sunderland v Middlesbrough Swindon Town v Aston Villa Wigan Athletic v Bradford City Wednesday October 31 Chelsea v Manchester United Liverpool v Swansea City Norwich City v Tottenham Hotspur

Capital One, Official Credit Card of the Football League.

For further details, see

facebook.com/capitaloneuk

| October 26 2012 | 43

Advertising Feature

Pride of Lions The British & Irish Lions complete next year’s tour of Australia in Melbourne and Sydney. You could be there to support them, before sampling all that these two vibrant cities have to offer hink of Australia, and Melbourne and Sydney spring immediately to mind. The Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground is one of the most iconic of sporting traditions, while there are few people on earth who would fail to recognise Sydney’s twin peaks: the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. They are two cities at the heart of the nation’s heritage, culture and tourism – but next summer, when the British & Irish Lions come to town, it really will be all about the rugby.

The Lions play two games apiece in Melbourne and Sydney, but the main attraction will be the second in each. Warren Gatland and his men travel to Melbourne’s Etihad Stadium for the all-important second Test on Saturday June 29, with a potentially deciding tie against the Wallabies all set for Sydney’s ANZ Stadium the following week. It should prove a captivating and dramatic seven days of sport, and you could be there for both games – with an opportunity to experience the very best of Australia’s coastline in between.

T

Victorian verve Melbourne isn’t just the capital of Victoria – it is also a vibrant hub of style, culture, dining and, yes, sport.

44 | October 26 2012 |

Formula 1’s Australian Grand Prix, the Australian Open in tennis and horse racing’s world-famous Melbourne Cup all add to the sporting legend of a city well known for its cricket and rugby heritage, but travel there with the Lions and you will be amazed at the sheer variety of its attractions.

Wander off the city’s grid of streets to explore the maze of gothic laneways behind them. Spend your day visiting quirky fashion boutiques or art studios before settling down for the evening in a late-night jazz bar; or enjoy the city skyline with a drink in one of the balcony bars situated among the Melbourne rooftops.

Take a gentle stroll around the Royal Botanic Gardens before heading over to Little Bourke Street for some top-rate fresh Australian dining – this is a city in which you can make every day as different as it is enjoyable.

The 12-hour drive can be broken beautifully across the week between the Test matches; with the ocean to your right and a whole host of pretty seaside towns, historic villages and national parks inland, it will act as the perfect prelude to a stay in Sydney.

No trip to the former capital would be complete without a visit to the Opera House, or a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge (both above), but there is so much more to do. Hop on a ferry to Manly, swim at Icebergs on Bondi or relax with a beer among the cobblestone streets of the Rocks – Sydney is the perfect destination to bring your Australian adventure to a wonderful end. It’s time to book, no?

Driving you wild If you are planning to follow the Lions from Melbourne to Sydney, then there is no better way to make To find out more about the British & Irish Lions Tour of Australia, head online to the trip than along the meandering coastal road between the two.

www.australia.com/lions

While you’re there...

Melbourne and Sydney The all-important second and third Tests take place in Melbourne in the last week of June, and in Sydney on the first weekend of July – giving you time either side or in between to experience the many delights of the surrounding areas. This is our selection...

phillip island To readers of this magazine, Phillip Island is well known as home to the Australian MotoGP Grand Prix – but it is also a wildlife haven of some renown. See koalas and waterbirds at Rhyll, marvel at Australia’s largest fur seal colony among Seal Rocks... or head to Summerland Beach at dusk to see one of the world’s most

endearing routines – the nightly parade of little penguins waddling up the beach to their sand dune burrows (top right).

GET THERE Melbourne to the fishing town of San Remo is a 90-minute drive – after which it’s a short but spectacular bridge drive across to Phillip Island.

great ocean road Winding along the wild and windswept Southern Ocean, from Geelong to Portland, is the Great Ocean Road – undoubtedly one of the most iconic drives in Australia, if not the world.

The route takes in surf beaches, including the renowned Bells Beach, and also incorporates whale lookouts,

mountain ranges and dramatic rock formations such as the Twelve Apostles. You could look them up, but they’re much better in the flesh.

GET THERE Head west out of Melbourne and look for the coastline – there you will find the Great Ocean Road.

hunter valley If you’re keen on wine and based in Sydney, the Hunter Valley should be on your hit list. Best known for its iconic semillon, the Hunter also produces wines including shiraz and chardonnay. Away from the vineyards, take a scenic cruise down the

Hunter river or enjoy a leisurely ride on one of the Hunter Valley steam trains.

GET THERE At a couple of hours by car, the Hunter Valley is an easy day trip from Sydney.

It’s also accessible from Newcastle.

blue mountains One million hectares of forests, cliffs, canyons, waterfalls and bushland – the Blue Mountains is an area of World Heritage-protected natural beauty on the doorstep of Sydney. Take in the breathtaking panoramas on a bushwalk, explore the underground rivers and

chambers of Jenolan Caves or walk the Six Foot Track to Katoomba... there are many ways to see this amazing area.

GET THERE The Blue Mountains are 100km west of Sydney – you can drive there in under two hours.

British & Irish Lions in Australia 2013

Next summer’s Lions Tour of Australia comprises nine games, including the big three Test matches, played across six major cities.

You can plan your big trip around the following schedule: Tour match 1 Lions v Western Force, Perth, Wednesday June 5 Tour match 2 Lions v Queensland Reds, Brisbane, Saturday June 8 Tour match 3 Lions v Combined NSW & QLD Country, Newcastle, Tuesday June 11 Tour match 4 Lions v HSBC Waratahs, Sydney, Saturday June 15 Tour match 5 Lions v ACT Brumbies, Canberra, Tuesday June 18

First Test Lions v Australia, Brisbane, Saturday June 22 Tour match 6 Lions v Melbourne Rebels, Melbourne, Tuesday June 25 Second Test Lions v Australia, Melbourne, Saturday June 29 Third Test Lions v Australia, Sydney, Saturday July 6

| 45

7 Days OUR PICK OF THE ACTION FROM THE SPORTING WEEK AHEAD

OCTHIGHLIGHTS 26-NOV 1 » Premier League preview » p48 » F1: Indian Grand Prix » p50 » Baseball: World Series Game 3 » p51 » MotoGP: Australian Grand Prix » p52 » Best of the Rest » p52

SUNDAY NFL | ST LOUIS RAMS v NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS | WEMBLEY STADIUM | SKY SPORTS 2 5PM

Since 2007, the NFL has brought two of its teams over to do battle at Britain’s home of football, and this Sunday sees the Rams take on the Patriots at Wembley Stadium.

The Rams are considered the ‘home’ team because they sacrificed a game at home in St Louis to come to Wembley, which was nice of them. Don’t expect a big homefield advantage, though. The high-scoring New England Patriots have a big following in the UK, and they have been here before. They are fresh off an overtime win against the Jets last week and they bring their superstar quarterback, Tom Brady, with his three Superbowl rings – and supermodel wife – to town. On the other side of the pitch, the

46 | October 26 2012 |

unfavoured Rams are coming off a loss to the Green Bay Packers. Look to their star running back Steven Jackson to provide the points and, possibly, the upset.

Come game day, NFL games are famous (and that much more fun) because of the Tailgate. This is a social phenomenon in which fans go to the car park several hours before the game to hang out – and it’s no different at Wembley. Starting at 11am, NFL UK have organised performances from bands and cheerleaders, appearances from former players as well as having historic artefacts such as the Vince Lombardi Trophy on show.

So, by kick-off at 5pm, the crowd should be well versed in the ways of the NFL.

League commissioner Roger Goodell has been so impressed by the success of previous games at Wembley that he’s confirmed two games for London next year, with Minnesota Vikings taking on Pittsburgh Steelers on September 29 before Jacksonville Jaguars play San Francisco 49ers on October 27.

“Since we started playing regular-season games in London five years ago, we have heard very clearly from our UK fans – they want more football,” said Goodell. Game on.

By Adam Goldstein, who will sign copies of his book Tailgate To Heaven: A British NFL Tackles America on Sunday at the Green Man pub, by Wembley Stadium, 1pm-4pm

Occasions this season on which a Patriots game has been decided in the final two minutes – they have won only one

Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

Super Brady’s in town

“A seamless feast of quality” 9/10

PRE-ORDER NOW NEEDFORSPEED.COM

™

© 2012 Electronic Arts Inc, EA, the EA logo, Need for Speed and the Need for Speed logo are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3”, “Ã’’ and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. The names, designs, and logos of all products are the property of their respective owners and used by permission. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

7 Days

Premier League

sunday chelsea v manchester united stamford Bridge | sky sports 1 4pm

The Merseyside derby promises fireworks on Sunday, while Stamford Bridge prepares itself for a feast of goals sunday everton v liverpool | goodison park | sky sports 1 1.30pm

The league’s top two teams meet the week after both ran out 4-2 winners in their previous domestic outings. It’s Chelsea boss Roberto di Matteo who’ll be the happier manager, though, after the Blues proved there’s steel to their creativity in coming from behind to end Tottenham’s nine-match unbeaten run. United endured an up-and-down 90 minutes against Stoke, occasionally looking vulnerable before Wayne Rooney’s 200th club goal secured three points. The goals have been forthcoming for both teams so far this season, with United having scored 21 in their first eight games and Chelsea just two behind. And there was no shortage of them in this game last season either, when United hit back from 3-0 down to snatch a point. More of the same, please.

Feeling blue

saturday aston villa v norwich | villa park sky sports 2 12.45pm

Everton’s fine start to the season must have felt like a lifetime ago as they struggled to cling on to a point at Loftus Road last weekend. Missing the influential Marouane Fellaini and reduced to 10 men after the controversial sending-off of Steven Pienaar, David Moyes’ side too often failed to provide decent service to striker Nikica Jelavic.

Conversely, Liverpool go into Sunday’s Merseyside derby on the back of their first league win at Anfield this season. It was over Reading, granted. And the winning goal, by 17-year-old Raheem Sterling, might have spared Luis Suarez’s blushes after the Uruguayan hit the target with just one of his 10 shots. But a win’s a win, as all the best (and possibly desperate) managers say.

There remains a gulf between the local rivals, though, with Everton six points and eight places above Liverpool in the table. The Toffees will have to do without the suspended Pienaar on Sunday, however, with Moyes hopeful Fellaini will be recovered from his knee injury in time to return.

48 | October 26 2012 |

Liverpool’s trip across the city last season was eased by another Everton red card – for Jack Rodwell, after just 23 minutes. Then, goals from Suarez and Andy Carroll secured a 2-0 victory for the Reds. But with Carroll now busy elsewhere and striker Fabio Borini expected to be out for three months with a broken foot, Rodgers is relying on Sterling to fill the boots of Liverpool’s £35m man.

He impressed against Reading last time out, linking up well with Glen Johnson. But if the teenager is to add to his goal tally on Sunday, he’ll have to overcome the equally impressive Phil Jagielka, who almost singlehandedly prevented QPR from recording their first league win of the season last Sunday.

15

goals is Everton’s best ever return after eight games of a Premier League season

How Paul Lambert must have been dreading this one. With his Aston Villa side languishing one point above the relegation places, Lambert’s old team Norwich visit Villa Park on the back of a morale-boosting win against Arsenal. Grant Holt’s winning goal against the Gunners means he’s now scored three goals in three successive Premier League appearances – a return that might make Lambert wish he could swap his trio of Darren Bent, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Christian Benteke for the portly Norwich striker. Villa have scored just six goals in eight games; while Lambert continues to make positive noises about his squad, a defeat this weekend to the team he left behind might just be enough to leave him concerned about being pushed out the door.

The Gunners gave one side their first league win of the season last weekend, but will hope to avoid giving QPR the same boost on Saturday. Arsene Wenger’s side failed to create much of anything at Carrow Road in their 1-0 defeat, with the Frenchman admitting they perhaps underestimated their opponents. They’ll be wise not to do the same this weekend, with QPR desperate to get their first win on the board.

saturday man city v swansea etihad | espn 5.30pm

You know what they say about champions winning without playing well? City were on a mission to prove it last weekend, when they squeaked a win at the Hawthorns. Their visitors at the Etihad tomorrow will need little reminding of City’s credentials, having taken a 4-0 pasting there last season. They did, though, record a shock win over City in the return fixture and are fresh off a first win in six. Get your bets on.

saturday reading v fulham madejski stadium | 3pm

Winless Reading will see Saturday’s visit of Fulham as a prime opportunity to finally scrap that depressing prefix.

The Cottagers have won just once away from home so far this season and let in nine goals on the road, too. But, having welcomed Dimitar Berbatov (above) and Mahamadou Diarra back from injury for last weekend’s scrappy 1-0 win against Villa, Fulham boss Martin Jol will expect better from his side at the Madejski.

sunday newcastle v west brom | st james’ park | 3pm

A total of nine goals were scored in games between these teams last season.

At St James’ Park, it was the Baggies who triumphed 3-2, but they’ve not been good on the road this term – with no wins in three. Cheick Tiote’s dismissal in the Tyne-Wear derby means Alan Pardew will be without him on Sunday, but he’ll be boosted by captain Fabricio Coloccini being declared fit after the defender hobbled off at Sunderland.

saturday stoke v sunderland britannia stadium | 3pm

Tony Pulis blamed ‘sloppy defending’ for Stoke’s defeat at Old Trafford last weekend . He’ll be relived to see Sunderland pulling up at the Britannia, then – a side that has managed just 12 strikes on goal in the league so far. Steven Fletcher is still the only Sunderland player to have scored for them in the league this term; if Pulis is smart, he’ll know exactly how to stop the Black Cats from scoring.

sunday southampton v tottenham | st mary’s | 3pm

These are worrying times for Saints boss Nigel Adkins, with Southampton the only top-flight side to have trailed in all of their eight games at some point. They have now conceded 24 goals, too – a statistic that will have Jermain Defoe (above) chomping at the bit to get started on Sunday. Missing Gareth Bale for last weekend’s defeat to Chelsea, Spurs will welcome his pace and creativity back for the trip south.

saturday wigan v west ham dw stadium | 3pm

“We couldn’t defend a fish supper tonight,” surmised Sam Allardyce after West Ham’s 4-1 defeat to Wigan in the League Cup last month. Tomorrow is the Hammers’ chance to avenge that, and they can do so with players on a high from an impressive 4-1 win over Southampton last weekend. Wigan, meanwhile, are searching for a first league win since August – with the threat of yet another relegation scrap.

Premier League table 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

P Chelsea 8 Man Utd 8 Man City 8 Everton 8 Tottenham 8 West Brom 8 West Ham 8 Fulham 8 Arsenal 8 Swansea 8 Newcastle 8 Liverpool 8 Stoke 8 Sunderland 7 Norwich 8 Wigan 8 Aston Villa 8 Southampton 8 Reading 7 QPR 8

W 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0

14

D L 1 0 0 2 3 0 3 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 3 3 2 2 3 4 2 3 3 5 2 5 1 3 4 2 5 2 5 1 6 3 4 3 5

F 19 21 17 15 15 12 12 16 13 14 9 10 8 6 6 8 6 13 8 7

A 6 11 9 9 12 9 9 11 6 12 12 12 9 8 17 15 13 24 14 17

Pts 22 18 18 15 14 14 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 8 6 5 5 4 3 3

No team has won the Premier League with fewer than 14 points after eight matches. Our money is on West Ham

| 49

All pictures Getty Images

saturday arsenal v qpr emirates stadium | 3pm

7 Days

Vettel on the home straight

50 | October 26 2012 |

This weekend’s Indian Grand Prix brings with it an end to the early-morning starts for race fans, and a new twist in the title tussle between Fernando Alonso and Sebastian Vettel.

Vettel’s dominance two weeks ago in Korea has swung the championship battle in his favour, and now puts him six points ahead of Alonso with just four races to go. While speculation last week centred around a potential ‘dream team’ pairing of Vettel and Alonso at Ferrari for the 2014 season, the reigning world champion will need to stay focused on the here and now if he is to retain his drivers’ crown.

Vettel has won the past three races, but with Alonso starting to replicate his earlyseason consistency and Felipe Massa riding high since being rewarded a fresh one-year contract at Ferrari, Red Bull will find it difficult to keep Vettel in pole position this weekend.

With Lewis Hamilton conceding defeat in his own title charge and Kimi Raikkonen 48 points off of the lead, it looks like it will be a two-horse race for the championship. Raikkonen says he still has a shot, though, citing his end-ofseason heroics to win the title in 2007.

Elsewhere on the grid, the likes of Williams will be aiming to salvage their season with an improved team performance, while Kamui Kobayashi will hope to avoid further incident after wiping out both Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg on the first lap of the last race.

He will hope to last longer this weekend.

Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images

SUNDAY Formula 1 | INDIaN GraND PrIX | BuDDH INTErNaTIoNal CIrCuIT, NEW DElHI | SKY SPorTS F1 9.30am

THURSDAY GOLF | WGC-HSBC CHAMPIONS | MISSION HILLS GC, CHINA SKY SPORTS 1 3AM

Mission accomplished Ah, Martin Kaymer. He played like a sick dog for most of 2012, but every European golf fan loves him more than is decent because he holed that Ryder Cup putt when it mattered.

So, as Kaymer returns to Mission Hills in China this week for the WGC-HSBC Champions tournament, those same European fans will be willing him to be inspired back to his very best at the scene of his most remarkable victory.

Twelve months ago in this event, Kaymer produced one of the more outlandish final rounds you’ll see.

He began his round five shots off the lead and started ordinarily, with six straight pars. But a holed bunker shot at the seventh opened the floodgates, and Kaymer was on the march; he reeled off nine birdies in his closing 12 holes to shoot a 63 and beat Freddie Jacobson by three.

Since then, Kaymer has slumped down the rankings to 35th. But, when he gets it together, few can live with him. This week would be a good start, with Luke Donald, Lee Westwood and two-time winner Phil Mickelson among his opposition.

SATURDAY BASEBALL | WORLD SERIES GAME 3: DETROIT TIGERS v SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS | COMERICA PARK | ESPN AMERICA 12.30AM

Jim Watson/AFP/GettyImages, Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Giants and Tigers do battle The San Francisco Giants head to Motor City tonight for game three of the World Series against the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers made light work of the New York Yankees to advance to the World Series, sweeping them 4-0 in the American League Championship Series.

Starting pitcher Justin Verlander was in dominant form, and this year they have had the bats to back him up in Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera and slugger Prince Fielder (pictured) batting three and four; they also have Austin Jackson in the

lead off role and Delmon Young at DH (designated hitter).

While the Tigers had five days off before the World Series started on Wednesday, the San Francisco Giants had just one after taking all seven games to beat the St Louis Cardinals.

When they perform to their full potential, the Giants have a solid pitching rotation. Ryan Vogelsong, Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner all have the ability to dominate teams; if Tim Lincecum and Barry Zito pitch at anywhere near their best, this should be a very close World Series. | 51

7 Days sunday MotoGP | AustrAliAn GP | PhilliP islAnd | BBC tWo 5AM

BEsT OF THE REsT

FRIDAY

GolF BMW Masters: day 2, lake Malaren Golf Club, shanghai, sky sports 1 5.30am FootBAll sPl: Motherwell v hibernian, Fir Park, EsPn 7pm

SATURDAY ruGBY union Aviva Premiership: Bath v Exeter, recreation Ground, sky sports 1 2pm

Mirco Lazzari gp/Getty Images

Lorenzo’s toil With two races to go in the MotoGP World Championship, it is, as a certain red-nosed Scottish football manager might say, ‘squeaky bum time’ for Jorge Lorenzo (pictured). Why? Because his lead at the top of the drivers’ standings is being chipped away with every passing week; another win for Dani Pedrosa in Malaysia last week – his fifth win in six races – has closed the gap at the top to just 23 points.

Lorenzo, though, remains in pole position, and knows that victory this weekend will

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be enough to win him the title for 2012.

The riders head to Australia this weekend, where the fascinating battle at the top of the championship will be no more than a sideshow. That’s because Sunday is all about Casey Stoner.

The Australian has won on his past five appearances at his home track, and with his retirement confirmed for the end of the season he’ll be desperate to sign off in style. Especially because, by the time the race begins, Phillip Island will have named Turn 3 after Stoner – it is, he says, one of his favourite corners in the world.

Expect him to give it all he’s got.

ruGBY union Aviva Premiership: Gloucester v leicester, Kingsholm stadium, sky sports 1 4.30pm

SUNDAY GolF Asia Pacific Classic: day 4, MinEs Golf Club, Kuala lumpur, Malaysia, sky sports 2 8.30am FootBAll sFl: Clyde v rangers, Broadwood stadium, sky sports 4 12.45pm ruGBY union Aviva Premiership: london irish v harlequins, Madejski stadium, EsPn 1.45pm

tEnnis WtA Championships: Final, sinan Erdem, istanbul, British Eurosport 1 hd 2.30pm nFl new York Giants v dallas Cowboys, Metlife stadium, sky sports 2 8.30pm

MONDAY tEnnis AtP Paris: day 1, Palais omnisportsdeParis,Bercy,ss110am FootBAll league one: sheffield united v Portsmouth, Bramall lane, sky sports 1 7.45pm

TUESDAY FootBAll Capital one Cup: reading v Arsenal, Madejski stadium, sky sports 2 7.45pm

WEDNESDAY FootBAll Capital one Cup: Chelsea v Manchester united, stamford Bridge, ss2 7.45pm

THURSDAY snooKEr international Championship: Quarter Finals, sichuan international tennis Centre, Chengdu, British Eurosport 2 6am

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P60 Halo 4: for when your online adversary requires not just punishment, but gunishment

Extra time Kit

Making the most of your time and money 4 1

Keep your core content Warning: page nullifies any excuse for not training this winter. Except laziness

Up Collar Running 1 ODLO 4 Puma Half Zip Chamber Top Windbreaker If you’re worried about being seen in the dark, this should do the job. It’s not just about being seen, though, as the windproof light midlayer (the yellow bit) protects you from the chill and offers adjustable ventilation to prevent overheating, while the free move cut in the arms means you can swing ‘em away to your heart’s content. £100 | 0845 603 7289

Reduced from £100 on the Puma website, this is perfect for the winter nights ahead, thanks to WindCELL tech that increases protection from the elements and retains your core body heat. With a chinguard and high collar, as well as extended cuffs featuring thumbholes, you’ll be set for anything the British winter has in store. £60 | puma.co.uk

Dri-Fit 2 Nike Wool Crew Shirt

Sequencials 5 adidas Adiviz Vest

We’re not saying Nike used this top alone to try to tempt Rory McIlroy to turn his head their way, but it can’t have hurt.

Made with a Merino wool blend for maximum comfort, it also features strategically placed flat seams to reduce irritation, and thumbholes to offer more cover for your hands in the cold.

It’s the little things that count. £48 | nike.com

Whatever you want to run in, this is an excellent addition to slip over the top and help you stand out in the dark, thanks to its reflective details and glow in the dark piping. The Climaproof tech promises to keep you warm and dry, while the front zip pockets are ideal for carrying your front door key. £45 | adidas.com/running

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Gore X-Run Ultra Long Shirt

One for the more serious trail runners out there, Gore’s X-run top offers an ultra-lightweight option that you will barely feel combined with moisture wicking to ensure total comfort throughout your run.

It might be at the pricier end of the scale, but it’s worth it for those longer outings. £68 | prodirectrunning.com

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Mizuno Drylite LS Tee

Mizuno’s smart top promises a comfortable and dry run thanks to its BlindStitch anti-abrasion seam, while the top’s reflective logo and piping will ensure the cars don’t miss you – hopefully not literally.

And don’t worry if you’re not a fan of the colour; the top’s also available in black or lichen (that’s yellow, to us simple folk). £35 | mizuno.co.uk

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Advertising Feature

Protect your family N

ext week’s cup games will give fans of some of the bigger teams a chance to see the next generation of players coming through, as tried and tested names are rested to give some youngsters a chance. Just like protective parents, managers are always mindful of the need to protect young talents early on – and, while they have to rely on referees and agents to keep their charges grounded, you can use the power of Trend Micro Titanium Security and its Parental Controls.

Safety first The internet is, of course, a fantastic tool for children to have at their disposal – educational and entertaining in equal measure. There is, unfortunately, a dark side to it. If you’re uncomfortable with letting your kids browse the web unsupervised, but don’t want to constantly be looking over their shoulders, perhaps Trend Micro’s Parental Controls can help. It’s the online equivalent of the Family Section at your favourite football ground – all the entertainment is still on offer, but in a safer environment. You can select from a range of presets recommended by online safety experts and fixed to the age of your child. Trend Micro’s Online Guardian can

Keep an eye out for some stars of the future in the football this week, and keep your own future stars safe with Trend Micro

also monitor your kids’ social networking activity, and actively prevents the sharing of personal information such as email addresses, credit card details and passwords, therefore protecting you and your family from online predators and cyber criminals.

Playing to the whistle As we’ve already mentioned, there’s a world of legitimate entertainment available through your computer – and sometimes it’s hard, even as an adult, to tear yourself away from it and do something productive. So, if you’ve ever sent your kid upstairs to do their homework only to find them playing games or chatting to their friends on Facebook, Trend Micro might prove useful. It lets you set usage limits or time windows during which the internet can be accessed, and can even block particular programs.

We would have found that last feature quite useful ourselves, while in the grip of our addiction to a certain football management simulator.

Scouting reports Detailed activity reports are another weapon in your arsenal when it comes

to keeping track of your family’s online activity.

They can include tracking of the keywords searched or sites visited, as well as videos or pictures viewed or uploaded on sites such as YouTube and Flickr. It extends even to social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace, and lets you monitor wall posts, messages and chat logs if you choose to.

Tailored training Just like a grizzled centre half and a flaky winger might require different motivational techniques, your kids might need different levels of protection when they’re using the web. Trend Micro Titanium security includes the option to set up completely different accounts for each of your children, so you can give your teenager a bit more (or less!) leeway than your eight-year-old, for example. This all takes place in a clean and easy-to-use interface that makes customising your family’s protection as easy as tapping the ball into an empty net.

Trend micro is protecting kids online made easy

Trendmicro.com/titanium | 55

Extra time Ashley W

A civil action e’ve been eating his fast food and drinking his coffee for years, but Uncle Sam just keeps on giving: this weekend, he’s sent the NFL to London – with the St Louis Rams set to take on Tom Brady’s New England Patriots at Wembley on Sunday.

With them, in his wisdom, the old chap has dispatched both teams’ cheerleading squads, including Rams captain Ashley W. As a rule, NFL cheerleaders’ surnames aren’t made public, so you will just have to use your imaginations (like you’re not already).

Were we to divulge such details, Miss W has the legal wherewithal to address such a misdemeanour – she is

W

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currently in her second year of law school at Saint Louis University, and spends her days away from the football (their football) field interning at the circuit attorney’s office in downtown St Louis.

Her long-term goal is to serve as a judge – and we thought anyone looking like this working in law was confined to the scripts of Ally McBeal. So thanks, Uncle Sam, for sending your sport and your cheerleaders over for the weekend. A very civil action.

The St Louis Rams play the New England Patriots in the NFL’s PepsiMax International Series, Sunday 5pm.

For ticket details of London’s two NFL games in 2013, visit nfluk.com

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(Lap)top tablets A host of hybrids have been launched to coincide with Windows 8, which has been optimised for tablets. Best of both worlds?

Sony Vaio Duo 11 Weighing in at 1.3kg, Sony’s hybrid offering uses a sleek sort of hinge to convert from laptop to tablet. It has an 11.6-inch HD touchscreen and comes with a stylus that can be used in either tablet or laptop mode, which compensates for the lack of mouse trackpad. Instead there’s one of those midkeyboard nub things you might remember from the 1990s.

From £1,000 | sony.co.uk

Dell XPS Duo 12

HP Envy x2

The rather odd-looking mechanism gives you two possible configurations – the 12.5-inch full HD display is a flippy screen that can face either in or out of the lid for tablet or laptop use. We can see getting your fingers trapped in the hinge becoming a very common, and modern, ailment.

From £999 | dell.com

If you don’t want to lug your keyboard around when you only need the tablet bit, then HP’s offering might be for you.

It’s completely detachable and the tablet bit weighs just 680 grams, so it’s definitely a portable option. It also comes with NFC technology, so you’ll even be able to use it to pay for your sandwiches in a couple of years... £TBC | hp.com/envy

Toshiba Satellite U920T Likely to be a more budget option than the others on this page, Toshiba’s variation packs a powerful punch nonetheless, and even fits a trackpad on to the keyboard section.

It tips the scales at a hefty 1.79kg, though, and the 14-inch screen could be sharper. £TBC | toshiba.com

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Download the free Sport iPad app from the Apple Newsstand

Advertising Feature

AFL footy will return to London on Saturday, November 3.

The Elastoplast AFL European Challenge between the Western Bulldogs and Port Adelaide is the first match to be played in the UK since 2006, when more than 15,000 people packed The Oval to celebrate the spectacular game.

A flying start Both clubs are looking to kick-start their 2013 campaigns and a win will set the tone for their season ahead. Earlier this month, Port appointed Ken Hinkley as its new senior coach.

Hinkley, who played 132 matches for Fitzroy and Geelong and was an assistant coach at St Kilda, Geelong and Gold Coast, is widely admired in the industry and he is expected to make an immediate impact at the club. The London match will be his debut at the helm of an AFL team.

The Bulldogs started the 2012 season with a new coach, Brendan McCarthy, who set out to rebuild the club and develop its stable of young players. The likes of Mitchell Wallis, Luke Dahlhaus and Tom Liberatore showed plenty of promise and will play key roles in the next few years.

Photo: Getty

Global appeal The sport created 154 years ago to keep cricketers fit in the winter months – hence the shape of the field – is now Australia’s number one sport and is spreading globally.

The decision to bring the game back to London is a reflection of the growth of the game in the UK and Europe under the direction of AFL Europe. The Elastoplast AFL European Challenge will be preceded by a match between the JLT Group All-Stars and Continent that will feature the best Australian Rules players from throughout Europe.

More than 100,000 people play the game outside Australia and pathways for aspiring young players to further their careers are being forged. The AFL’s international development manager Tony Woods has attended testing

sessions in China, the United States, Ireland and the Pacific over the past 12 months. “We know the athletic talent is there and we now need to demonstrate to athletes from other countries that there is a genuine pathway to ultimately play at the highest level in Australia,” Woods says.

Woods points to Canadian rugby player Mike Pyke, who joined the Sydney Swans fours year ago and was one of his team’s best players in their Grand Final win over Hawthorn in September. “Mike was outstanding and what he has achieved is extraordinary. We hope his story, along with the likes of Irishman Tadhg Kennelly (who also played for the Swans), will inspire young men throughout the world,” Woods says.

Get involved The UK has a thriving AFL community with five leagues, 40 clubs (six in London) and more than 2000 players. Venues such as Hyde Park, Clapham Common and Motspur Park have the distinctive AFL goalposts up on weekends from April to August and, while Australian expats feature in every team, many locals have fallen in love with the game.

Former Wandsworth Demons president Mark Wallace, back in Melbourne after several years in London, says: “The AFL community in London brings all types together and is a home away from home for many people. The standard in London is constantly improving and it compares to suburban leagues in Melbourne.

“Many locals are attracted to the game when they are looking for something different. They find rugby and soccer one-dimensional and they enjoy free-flowing style of play.

But in the end it’s just the greatest game.”

The Elastoplast AFL European Challenge at Kia Oval (bounce at 3.30pm), preceded by the curtain-raiser at 1pm, on Saturday, November 3. Adults £20 and children £5. Corporate packages are available at £999 per table of 10. Contact asharp@epgroup.com.au for bookings. Tickets from kiaoval.com

Extra time Games

Made for U

In association with 360

Mario, Mickey and flesh-hungry zombies (literally) want to take your hand through the pick of November’s Wii U launch titles Wii U

New Super Mario Bros U

Halo 4

The Wii U becomes the first Nintendo home console to launch with a 2D Mario game since the SNES 20 years ago. Mario’s classic platform magic now comes with modern twists – such as a squirrel suit, which allows you to soar through the air and grapple on to walls, and a new breed of Yoshi capable of expanding like hot air balloons and lifting you from harm. Gorgeous HD visuals serve as a reminder of the Wii U’s increased graphical grunt.

Release date November 30

Everyone’s favourite space marine, the Master Chief, returns after a five-year absence to reclaim his throne as king of all things Xbox. In an attempt to reclaim an audience that has had its head turned by Medal of Honor and Call of Duty in the meantime, Halo 4 introduces a new enemy race called the Prometheans (no relation to

Wii U

Zombi U This is a survival horror in which just one bite spells curtains and, adding to the tension, the only way to brandish a weapon is to take your eyes off the action and rummage in your rucksack, as depicted on the GamePad screen. If you do die, your old character becomes a zombie and you’ll have to hunt him or her down with a new survivor to win back all your gear. A surprise hit of the Wii U launch line-up.

Release date November 30

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PS Vita

the giants from the Ridley Scott film of nearly the same name), a race of man-mountains capable of crushing a human skull with their bare hands. Halo may not be the genre-defining game series it was five years ago, but there’s plenty to like here for those who like a dash of sci-fi with their shooter.

Release date November 6

PC, PS3, 360, Wii, Wii U, Mac

Wii U

Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation

Batman: Arkham City Armored Edition

The first full-fat Creed game to appear on a handheld, Liberation takes us back to the dawn of the American Revolution. Wrestle with alligators and partake in touchscreen canoeing – plus all the sneaking and stabbing you’ve come to expect from the series.

Release date October 30

We’re delighted to see the greatest game of its generation on Wii U, even if using the GamePad as an inventory screen is uninspired. Nonetheless, the inclusion of all the downloadable content to date makes this the definitive version.

Release date Nov 30

Disney Epic Mickey: The Power of 2 Mickey Mouse and his older sibling Oswald the Lucky Rabbit (don’t ask) return in a riotous co-op romp through the Wasteland, where failed cartoon characters are put out to pasture.

The developmental team had full access to Disney’s vaults, and the result is a wondrous platformer that will bring a tear to the eye of anyone who loves all things Disney.

Release date November 23

TM

EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY CREDITED, NO NATIONAL ARMED FORCES, MILITARY UNITS OR WEAPON OR VEHICLE MANUFACTURER IS AFFILIATED WITH OR HAS SPONSORED OR ENDORSED THIS GAME. © 2012 Electronic Arts Inc, EA, the EA logo, Medal of Honor and Danger Close are trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. Frostbite is a trademark of EA Digital Illusions CE AB. “2”, “PlayStation”, “PS3”, “Ã’’ and “À” are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. KINECT, Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox Live, the Xbox logos, and the Xbox Live logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. * AVAILABLE WHILE STOCKS LAST. ACCESS TO BETA, THE HUNT MAP PACK, NAVY SEAL SNIPER AND SWEDISH SOG SPEC OPS GOOD ONLY FOR NEW PURCHASES OF MEDAL OF HONOR WARFIGHTER LIMITED EDITION (“PRODUCT”) AT WWW. ORIGIN.COM AND PARTICIPATING RETAILERS. THE HUNT MAP PACK AVAILABLE TO DOWNLOAD WEEK COMMENCING 17 DECEMBER 2012 SEE WWW.MEDALOFHONOR.COM FOR UPDATES. VALID WHEREVER PRODUCT IS SOLD. BETA ENTRY AND RELEASE DETAILS AVAILABLE AT WWW.BATTLEFIELD.COM/UK/BATTLEFIELD-4. YOU MUST BE 18+ TO PARTICIPATE IN BETA. BETA PARTICIPATION REQUIRES ACCEPTANCE OF BETA AGREEMENT. OFFER MAY NOT BE SUBSTITUTED, EXCHANGED, SOLD OR REDEEMED FOR CASH OR OTHER GOODS OR SERVICES. MAY NOT BE COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER OFFER, GIFT CARD, REBATE OR DISCOUNT COUPON. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED, TAXED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.