http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/ Football Industry and Community News http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1818/title=champions+league+final+reaches+300m+fans Chelseas victory in the Champions League Final over Bayern Munich reached a live global audience of 300m. The 2012 UEFA Champions League final took place in Munich, Germany, on 19 May and was delivered to fans all over the world through UEFAs cutting edge digital strategy. In addition to the projected audience of over 150 million with a global live reach of over 300 million watching the final on TV, football supporters were also able to receive digital content from the event and... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1817/title=sapca+appoints+new+technical+manager SAPCA, the Sports and Play Construction Association, has appointed Mike Cox as its new Technical Manager. Chris Trickey, CEO of SAPCA said, "One of the most important areas of SAPCAs activity is the technical programme, including its quality assurance role and the new Pitch Track Registration Scheme. Mike will be pivotal in driving the programme forward to ensure quality and standards continue to be raised across the industry. He has a perfect background for this having worked at... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1816/title=ebbsfleet+united+appoint+new+chairman MyFootballclub have announced today that Jessica McQueen has been appointed as Chairman of Ebbsfleet United Football Club for the coming year following a member vote. Jessica, a member of MyFootballclub since 2007, was a member of the first MyFC Society Board in 2008, later moving onto the EUFC Board of Directors as a MyFC Rep. She received a 93% yes vote from members in the election voted for by MyFC members and will take over the role from Phil Sonsara who became chairman in late 2009. Keith... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1815/title=david+dein+confirms+for+soccerex+seminar+lagos David Dein, former Vice Chairman of Arsenal FC and the Football Association, has joined the line up for the inaugural Soccerex Seminar Lagos, 27 28 September 2012. David will call upon his vast local and international experience to deliver a masterclass on the hot topics in football today, with particular focus on the market in West Africa. David has been a regular visitor to the region and a strong advocate of its business potential. Commenting on the Soccerex Seminar Lagos, David said:... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1814/title=gary+neville+becomes+football+foundation+ambassador Gary Neville has become the Football Foundations latest signing after he agreed to become one of its ambassadors. The Football Foundation is the countrys biggest sports charity and funds the development of better community sports facilities with money provided by the Premier League, The FA and government (via Sport England). The former England and Manchester United star said he made the decision to help promote the Foundations cause as investing in more facilities of higher... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1813/title=liverpool+fans+call+for+end+to+%26%23039%3Bchaos%26%23039%3B Liverpool owners have been challenged to publicly explain their strategy for the club by a leading fans group. Spirit of Shankly, who led the protests against the despised former regime of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, have written to principal owner John Henry and chairman Tom Werner. As the Reds' search for a manager, which has had a couple of public rejections, continues the group have asked for some clear direction and communication from Fenway Sports Group to dispel the growing perception... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1812/title=manchester+city+%26%23039%3Bbest+value+for+money%26%23039%3B+for+fans Manchester City have won the Premier League title and are also top of the league of value for fans, according to the ING Direct Value table. The bank chart compares club season ticket costs with Premier League performance and entertainment value and getting the most points for your pound. ING places QPR, who just avoided relegation, at the bottom of the table. Wigan, who had a great escape from relegation, are second best value, and West Bromwich Albion third. Second bottom were Liverpool, whose... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1811/title=manchester+united+remain+world%26%23039%3Bs+most+valuable+football+brand Manchester United remain the worlds most valuable football brand with a value of 672.9 million (543m), despite ending the 2011-12 campaign without a trophy. The Brand Finance Football 50 finds Sir Alex Ferguson's side top of the pile again, even though it has been a season of disappointment for the Red Devils, with rivals Manchester City edging them to the Premier League title. Despite losing the Champions League final to Chelsea on Saturday, Bayern Munich enjoy this... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1810/title=gold+welcomes+financial+benefits David Gold admits West Ham would have been in big financial trouble had they failed to make an immediate return to the Premier League. Gold reckons that Ricardo Vaz Te's goal three minutes from time to seal a 2-1 victory over Blackpool in the npower Championship play-off final at Wembley on Saturday has saved the debt-ridden club around 50million. However, Gold is still prepared for a summer of spending as he believes manager Sam Allardyce will need in the region of 20million... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1809/title=audi+sets+chelsea+on+the+road+to+champions+league+glory Chelsea received a commercial boost ahead of its UEFA Champions League triumph on Saturday after agreeing a three-year sponsorship deal with Audi. The deal, announced on Friday, sees the German automotive giant become the Barclays Premier League clubs new global official car partner. Audi branding will also feature on the Stamford Bridge LED boards at Chelseas home matches, with racing-style Audi seats to be incorporated into the dugouts. Audi further enhances Chelseas... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1808/title=lee+carsley+joins+grass+roots+football+show Midlands legend Lee Carsley will be one of the head coaches at this years Grass Roots Football Show at the NEC in Birmingham this month. The former Coventry, Birmingham, Derby County, Everton and Blackburn Rovers midfielder makes his coaching debut at Europes biggest grass roots football show which takes place between 25 th and 27 th May. Carsley, who is now coach of Coventry City under 18s, joins Robbie Savage, Phil Brown, Dean Holdsworth and a host of celebrity coaching... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1807/title=airasia+renew+sponsorhip+deal+with+qpr Queens Park Rangers Football Club announced today that AirAsia have signed a new contract as an Official Playing Kit Sponsor and Main Club Partner. AirAsia initially announced that the airline will be the Official away and third kit sponsor of QPR for the 2011/12 season. The relationship has developed and grown over the past season in the Premier League, and it was a natural progression to become the full kit sponsor. QPR Marketing Director, Becky Grote, told www.qpr.co.uk "We are delighted to... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1806/title=strictly+grass+roots+football+with+robbie+savage+and+russell+grant Strictly Come Dancing contestants Robbie Savage and Russell Grant will be teaming up again at the NEC in Birmingham later this month, all in the name of grass roots football. The two Strictly Come Dancing stars, who have become good friends following their chance meeting on the popular BBC primetime show, will be appearing at The Grass Roots Football Show between the 25 th and 27 th May. Grant, whos first ever job was an unpaid archivist and statistician for the Middlesex FA, will be... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1805/title=synthetic+turf+top+of+the+agenda+for+football+league The European Synthetic Turf Organisation (ESTO) has pledged its commitment to profiling the benefits of synthetic turf in sport, as it champions a positive decision in advance of the Football Leagues review into the use of artificial surfaces next month. The results of the consultation period, which closed on 30 April 2012, will be released as part of a report to all Member Clubs, when the issues will be debated at Football League Board meetings and at the Chairmens Conference on... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1804/title=southgate+calls+for+investment+in+grassroots+facilities Gareth Southgate, Head of Elite Development at The FA, believes investment into the countrys grassroots football facilities is crucial to the technical development of the next crop of English talent. Southgate was speaking as part of an online podcast with Football Foundation CEO Paul Thorogood. The show, hosted by Jonathan Joseph, discussed the results of the Foundations first ever Monitoring and Evaluation Report published earlier this year, and the impact that improving the... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1803/title=lincoln+city+offer+fans+chance+to+rename+stadium Lincoln City will offer fans the chance to rename the clubs Sincil Bank Stadium in a unique competition aimed at raising finaces to boost the clubs playing squad. The clubs Board of Directors have announced details of a special prize draw, with a package worth over 50,000 including the naming rights of Sincil Bank Stadium going to the lucky winner. For an entry fee of just 50, companies and individuals will have the chance to win the following package for the... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1802/title=manchester+city+checks+in+with+foursquare Manchester City have become the first Barclays Premier League club to partner with Foursquare, the location-based social network. The unique partnership allows City supporters to check into Foursquare at the Etihad Stadium, City Square, City Stores and official Heart of the City venues to take advantage of special Club offers on merchandise, food and drink. Theres also sharing of photos, tips and lists with fellow fans on where best to catch City in action on televised away-days. To mark... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1801/title=uefa+champions+festival+breaks+digital+ground UEFA takes Champions Festival to global football fan base through first-ever multi-channel digital activity The 2012 UEFA Champions Festival is taken to a larger global audience than ever before through innovative digital activity, including live streaming of the Ultimate Champions match for the first time. During the free four-day football celebration leading up to the UEFA Champions League final, UEFA will use key digital platforms such as Google+, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Foursquare as... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1800/title=afc+bournemouth+reveal+new+shirt+sponsor AFC Bournemouth have announced a new three year shirt sponsorship deal which will begin on 1 st July. Energy Consulting Group will be the shirt sponsor for the 2012/13 season, as well as the following two campaigns, as an integral part of substantial financial investment being made to the club by the EC Group. AFC Bournemouth's current shirt sponsor, Focal Point Fires Plc, has agreed to terminate its shirt sponsorship contract two years early, at the request of the club, in order to facilitate... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1799/title=soccerex+launch+rio+conference+concept+ Soccerex have announced the Conference Concept for this years Soccerex Global Convention in Rio de Janeiro, 24-28 November 2012. Spread over two designated studios, the conference will bring together the biggest names in football business to tackle the industrys most important issues. Topics on the agenda in Studio 1 include goal line technology, Olympic/World Cup legacy, the future of sports rights, third party ownership and transfers, player development and the power of image in... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1798/title=qpr+reveal+plans+for+new+training+ground Following a dramatic final game of the season in which they secured their Premier League status at Manchester Citys Etihad Stadium, Queens Park Rangers have announced details of a new state-of-the-art training ground facility. The Warren Farm site will be developed into a full multi-purpose First Class Professional Elite Training Facility and Community Sports Complex, which will have state-of-the-art facilities that are second to none. QPR were successful in securing the 63 acre site in... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1797/title=holdsworth+makes+grass+roots+football+show+debut Former Premier League striker and current Aldershot Town Manager, Dean Holdsworth, will make his debut at this years Grass Roots Football Show. Holdsworth, who managed Aldershot to an 11 th place finish in League 2 this season, will be taking coaching master classes and seminars at Europes biggest grass roots football event at the NEC in Birmingham from the 25-27 th May. The former Wimbledon, Brentford and Bolton Wanderers striker will be appearing at the show as part of his role... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1796/title=lma+conduct+review+of+technical+areas+ A review of Technical Areas at football grounds will be presented to members of FIFA and UEFA. The review was commissioned by the League Managers Association (LMA) in direct response to feedback from managers regarding the Technical Area. The LMA's members asked the association to produce a report identifying the inconsistencies in Technical Areas around the grounds, inconsistencies in the management of those areas and to put a series of recommendations to the game's stakeholders, the... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1795/title=arsenal+to+open+flagship+store+ Arsenal Football Club is to open its first flagship store in a major retail location after securing a 2,270 sq ft first floor unit at Brent Cross Shopping Centre. The store, which is due to open in July and will be situated on the upper mall of the centre adjacent to Fenwicks Department Store, will be the first Arsenal space to incorporate the Clubs new retail concept, which is set to be rolled out across its other outlets this summer. Located in a traditional heartland of Arsenal... http://www.fcbusiness.co.uk/news/article/newsitem=1793/title=director+of+communications+to+leave+lfc Fenway Sports Group are continuing their overhaul at Liverpool after announcing director of communications Ian Cotton is to leave the club. Last month the departures of director of football Damien Comolli and head of sports medicine and sports science Peter Brukner were announced. FSG and the club issued a joint statement confirming the long-serving Cotton will leave on Sunday, the final game of the league season, by mutual consent. "We would like to thank Ian for the important contribution he...