With the division struggling to grow, the Welsh Premier League could be set to move to the summer, writes Owen Amos
Summer – great, isn’t it? Warm air, green trees, and light nights. Marvellous. But there’s one problem: no football.
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What are the expectations for the team?
If it weren’t for a scrappy qualifying campaign it would have been the semi-finals. Although it is a tough group, Turks are expecting their team to go through.
Are there any players who have appeared in TV commercials?
It doesn’t take much for a Turkish player to appear in a TV commercial. Any player with a half-decent face who plays for Fenerbahce, Galatasaray or Besiktas is in a TV ad. A group of players appear in a domestic cola brand’s commercials, while Villarreal’s Nihat Kahveci is doing an ad for the energy drink Powerade.
Is the coach popular?
Fatih Terim is officially the most successful football coach in the country’s history. But he hasn’t won any silverware for some time and he’s eager to prove himself on the international stage. One of those efforts came at a press conference a few months ago, when he decided to address the foreign reporters’ questions in English. This included the possibly philosophical observation that “Everything is something happened”.
Which players are good interviewees and who are the worst?
Should he make the squad, Leyton-born Colin Kazim-Richards, now with Fenerbahce, will come up with some interesting story about his supposed gangsta roots in London. Midfielder Tümer Metin is always an honest interviewee who tries to say something other than cliches, which very few other Turkish players are able to do.
Are then any players with unusual hobbies or business interests?
Defender Servet Cetin likes to sing Turkish folk songs during team camps. Most Turkish players have brothers who open kebab houses which the player finances, effectively making them the partner. Hobbies rarely go any further than playing on the PlayStation and backgammon.
Will there be any rehearsed goal celebrations?
None at the moment. The classic celebration is running to the bench to hug the coach or kissing the substitute who had said before the game that the player would score.
Are there any players involved in politics?
None directly, but some are known to have certain affiliations. There are a number of Galatasaray players, most notably Hakan Sukur, who are followers of a neo-Islamic teacher, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Philadelphia as he is wanted in Turkey for conspiracy to overthrow the secular state. Galatasaray’s success in the 1990s, which culminated in their UEFA Cup triumph, was based around a number of players from conservative backgrounds in rural Anatolia. Club officials never made an issue of Sukur’s beliefs and the team struggled for a while when he left. Such players are unlikely to flourish at Fenerbahce, who have close ties to the military, which is ardently opposed to religious movements.
What will the media coverage be like?
The television coverage of the championship is likely to be poor as the rights were won by ATV, a privately owned channel that is closely linked to the conservative Islamist party currently in power. ATV has little experience of broadcasting top tournaments and currently hold no rights to broadcasting a domestic competition. Selçuk Yula, a former Fenerbahce striker in the 1980s, is among their pundits. He has a good understanding of the fabric of football, but he’s a huge Fener fan and it becomes way too apparent on some occasions. He’s likely to enter a confrontation with the channel’s other critic, Kazim Kanat, a Besiktas supporter whose comments in the past have bordered on anti-Serbian racism, when he criticised Fenerbahce’s purchase of Serbians while they already had Bosnian and Croatian players in the squad.
Alp Ayhan
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General football sites
A Football Report Colourful insight on the game
A2Z Soccer Irish soccer news and fixtures
Better Football Coaching blog with technique, tactics, drills and games for grassroots coaches
Better Soccer Coaching Free soccer coaching tips and advice newsletter
Danger Here Humorous Irish football site
Early Bath Football soaps for fans of almost every team
Elcentrocampista A fresh perspective on the game in Spain
Elephants Online All the news and info on Ivory Coast
European Football Statistics Figures (including attendances) from across the continent
Flashscore Live scores and results from 500 leagues
Football books News and reviews
Football Crests Their history and meaning
Football Fans.eu Logging and sharing your match and stadium visits
Football Filter Only the best football sources
Football Management Commentary on the management of clubs by Dr John Beech
Footballness Trivia quizes every week
Football Pakistan Coverage and development of the game in Pakistan
Football Perspectives Analyses of issues surrounding the game on and off the pitch
Football Portugal Daily-updated review of the Portugese football scene
Football Programmes Lots of stuff for collectors
Football Squads Statsfeast for squad news junkies
Football Target News on all the big leagues
Goalkeepers are Different Interesting custodian-based fact site
Golazo Argentino Concentrating on Argentinian football
Groundtastic Everything you could possibly wish to know about football grounds
Hasta El Gol Siempre All about the game in Argentina
In Bed With Maradona The Home Of World Football
Inside Left Scottish football, not just the Old Firm
Junk Archive Liberate your loft and leave a legacy
La Celeste Blog The only English-speaking blog for the Uruguay national team
Les Rosbifs English players abroad, at every level
Must Read Soccer The day’s best soccer writing
Nigel’s Webspace Galleries of English Football Cards 1965/66 – 1979/80
90:00 Soccer Magazine The first magazine of its kind in the US
Nordic Football News The game in northern Europe
Old Football Games Almost 200 nostalgic football games
Peter Upton’s Subbuteo Tribute Website Nostalgia, news and comment
Pitch Invasion Football culture around the world
Played in Britain Retrospectives of Charles Buchan’s Football Monthly and more
Roy of the Rovers Roy, Blackie, Tubbie, the other bloke – all your faves are here
Political Economy of Football Insights into matters of business
Soccerbase Comprehensive facts, figure, data and information about football
Soccerphile.com News and opinions
Sporting Life UK football news, betting info and live match updates
Sportingly better Predictions and fantasy football tips
Sports Books Direct Online sports book shop
Sports Pubs Useful little site with reviews of TV sports pubs in the London area
Statto.com A major internet resource for the football statistician and betting enthusiast
Subbuteo World The online home of table football
Terrace Bint Attempting to address some of the issues of girls and women who go to football
Twohundredpercent Daily insight, particulatly strong on the lower leagues
The Soccer Observer American soccer leagues and the US national teams
The Swiss Ramble Detailed breakdowns of football and finance
The Two Unfortunates The non-partisan blog for everything to do with the English second tier
Voetbalblog Dutch and international football news site
Welsh Football The independent voice of Welsh soccer
Clubs
AFC Bournemouth Court Offside
AFC Wimbledon WISA, SW19’s army
Aberdeen Aberdeen Mad
Accrington Stanley Vital Stanley, Stanley Mad
Airdrie Utd The Stomp
Ajax Ajax Showtime
Albion Rovers AlbionRovers.com
Aldershot Town Shotsweb
Alloa Athletic The Duffle
Annan Athletic Official Website
Arbroath Official Website
Argentinos Juniors The Hand Of Dan
Arsenal The Gooner
Aston Villa Heroes & Villains, VillaTalk
Ayr Utd The Honest Men Trust
Barnet Barnet Mad, BFCSA
Barnsley Barnsleyfc.org.uk
Berwick Rangers Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust
Birmingham City Small Heath Alliance, Keep Right On
Bishop Auckland Bishop AFC
Blackburn Rovers BRFCS
Blackburn Utd Blackburn United FC
Blackpool AVFTT
Bolton Wanderers The Wanderer
Borussia Dortmund BVB09
Bournemouth Court Offside
Bradford City City Gent
Brechin City Official Website
Brentford Griffin Park Grapevine
Brighton & Hove Albion North Stand Chat, The Plight of the Seagull
Bristol City BCST
Bristol Rovers BRSC
Burnley Clarets Mad
Bury The Shakers
Cardiff City Bob Bank Hero
Carlisle Utd CUFC Online
Celtic TalkCeltic.net
Charlton Athletic Addicks Championship Diary, Charlton Life, Addickted
Chelsea CFCnet, Chelsea 2D
Cheltenham Town Cheltenhamshire
Chester City Deva Chat, Chester City
Chesterfield Official Forum, Chesterfield
Clyde Official Website
Colchester Utd The U’sual
Coventry City Gary Mabbutt’s Knee
Cowdenbeath Cowdenbeath.net
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Mad
Crystal Palace The Holmesdale Online, The BBS
Dagenham & Redbridge D&R Forum
Darlington Quakers Mad
Derby County The Rams
Djurgårdens Djurgårdens
Doncaster Rovers Viva Rovers, Unofficial Website
Dumbarton On The Rocks
Dundee The Dees
Dundee Utd TheArabian.co.uk
Dunfermline Athletic Pars Fans
East Fife Away From The Numbers
East Stirlingshire Shire Shout
Elgin City Elgin City Mad
Exeter City Exeweb
Falkirk Falkirk Mad
Forfar Athletic Forfar Athletic Mad
Fulham Fulham Web
Gillingham Brian Moore’s Head
Greenock Morton Greenock Morton Supporters’ Trust
Grimsby Town GTST, Cod Almighty
Halesowen Town Bright Golden Haze
Hamilton Academical Hoops Apocalypse, Accies Mad
Hartlepool Utd The Poolie Bunker
Heart of Midlothian Jambos Kickback
Hereford Utd Bulls News, Bulls Banter
Heriot-Watt University FC HWUFC
Hibernian Easter Road
Huddersfield Town This Is The Barmy Army, Terrier Bytes
Hull City Amber Nectar
Inverness Caledonian Thistle Caley Thistle Online
Ipswich Town TWTD, Pride of Anglia
Kilmarnock Killie FC
Leeds Utd Marching On Together, LUFC talk
Leicester City Foxes Talk, Talking Balls
Leyton Orient Official Forum
Lincoln City The Forgotten Imp
Liverpool Well Red Magazine, Red and White Kop, This Is Anfield
Livingston Livi Lions
Luton Town Luton Outlaws
Macclesfield Town Maccfans
Manchester City Blue Moon
Manchester Utd IMUSA, Red News, Red Cafe
Mansfield Town StagsNet
Merthyr Tydfil Martyrs To The Cause
Middlesbrough ComeOnBoro, Miniboro
Millwall House of Fun, MISA
Montrose Montrose Mad
Morecambe Morecambe Supporters’ Club
Motherwell Steelmen Online
Newcastle Utd Talk of the Tyne
Northampton Town Cobblers Mad
Norwich City CarrowRoad.net
Nottingham Forest Forest Forum
Notts County Up the Maggies, Notts County Mad
Oldham Athletic Latics Mad
Oxford Utd Rage Online, Minchery Farm Web
Partick Thistle One Team in Glasgow
Peterhead Peterhead Mad
Peterborough Utd London Road
Plymouth Argyle PASOTI, Greens On Screen
Port Vale One Vale Fan
Portsmouth Pompey Fans
Prescot Cables The Sons of Slacky Brow
Preston North End Lilywhite Magic
Queen of the South The Only Team in the Bible
Queen’s Park Queen’s Park Spiders
Queens Park Rangers Independent R’s, QPRNet
Raith Rovers Raith Rovers Mad
Rangers Follow Follow
Reading Hob Nob Anyone?
Rochdale RochdaleAFC.com, May Contain Football
Ross County The Jailender
Rotherham Utd RUST
Scunthorpe Utd Irn-Bru.net
Sheffield Utd The Crossed Blades
Sheffield Wednesday Owlstalk
Shrewsbury Town Amber and Blue
Southampton Saints Web
Southend Utd ShrimperZone
Spartans spartansfc.com
St Johnstone St Johnstone Mad
St Mirren Black & White Army
Stenhousemuir Stenhousemuir Mad
Stirling Albion stirlingalbion.com
Stockport County Yellow Board
Stoke City The Oatcake , Stoke City Blog
Stranraer Stair Park Online
Sunderland Salut! Sunderland, Ready To Go, A Love Supreme
Swansea City SCFC.co.uk
Swindon Town The Washbag, Swindon Town Forum
Tottenham Hotspur Come On You Spurs, TheSpursWeb
Tranmere Rovers White Review
Tring Athletic TAFC
Walsall Up The Saddlers
Watford BHaPPY, Glory Horns
West Bromwich Albion Boing Boing Baggies
West Ham Utd Knees Up Mother Brown
Wigan Athletic Wiganer
Wolverhampton Wanderers Wolves Blog, Wolves Web Fan Club
Wrexham ONTTSS
Wycombe Wanderers Chairboys
Yeovil Town Ciderspace, The Green Room
Other stuff we like
Al Jazeera 24 hour news coverage from around the world
The Avengers Everything there is to know about the one of the best British TV series
Book Scans US pulp paperback covers of the 1950s and 60s
Classic Cafes A celebration of London’s vintage formica cafes
Framley Examiner The UK’s top local newspaper since 1978
Garageband Stick your song up and let the world review it
I Like Part of the industry of human happiness
Internet Movie Database Find that Anna Karina filmography
J-List All manner of products to be bought from Japan
Kennedy Assassination Home Page Lone nut or conspiracy?
London Review of Books The UK’s leading literary magazine
The Mausoleum Club Forums packed with information and opinion on classic TV
Naomi Klein Anti-capitalist books and articles
Nice Cup of Tea And A Sit Down Essential biscuit reviews
The Onion America’s finest news source
OTA Berlin Berlin blog and serviced apartments
Popbitch Who did what to whom
PopCult Mag Taking emphemera seriously
Red Meat Surreal cartoons drawn by monkeys
Republic The campaign for an elected head of state
Sexy Execs Meet the silver-foxes and their lovely lady friends who rule our corporate world
Smoke A small, peculiar, magazine about London life
The Straight Dope Essential information
Things Magazine An online journal about objects and meanings
Trash Fiction Reviews of paperbacks covering horror, sex, music, film and TV tie-ins, Sherlock Holmes pastiches and lots more
Trash Palace Your one-stop shop for genre films from around the world
TV Cream Resurrecting long-dead British TV classics
Advertisers
BetVictor offer the best odds on Premier League football and have a great range of markets, specials and offers
The Soccer Store Authorised seller of Samba Football Goals
Dear WSC
I have read and reread your comment in Newswatch (WSC 254) that “almost everywhere else in the football world, the tackle is largely considered a last resort” just to make sure that it wasn’t a misprint. If I have nothing else to do on a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, I may just watch the utterly compelling drama that I’m told is the Champions League. I see any number of ugly, mistimed and malicious challenges and plenty of good honest physical challenges. The idea that everyone else in the world is neatly passing in balletic patterns while we clog seven shades out of each other doesn’t withstand any sort of scrutiny. Furthermore, let’s not forget one other thing. We love tackling in this country. The one thing guaranteed to get a crowd going during a dull game is someone deciding to crunch in with a couple of hefty challenges. Pardon us for being unreconstructed, but it’s an intrinsic part of a game whose charm is that it combines skill and grace with physical prowess.And the cause of all of this breast-beating ? The collective assaults of Keane, Rooney, Carvalho, Gerrard and Essien as they jump into challenges with both feet off the ground and their eyes not looking at the ball? Oh, no. An incompetent, mistimed tackle, ending with disastrous results, from a player who has made only a handful of Premiership appearances – because he’s not very good. It ill behoves a publication like yours to jump on this particular bandwagon – and, incidentally, there is no “reinvention”: his nickname has always been “Tiny”, it has been a constant source of irritation to Birmingham fans that a man with his build never “puts himself about” and the fact that he’s studying for a degree should be something of an example to be applauded rather than the object of the sneering dismissiveness you afford him.There may be plenty of things wrong with the game at the top level, but to put Martin Taylor’s tackle at the centre of the argument is to miss the point.
Jon Berry, St Albans
* Though there was room for confusion, the reference to Taylor being “reborn” referred to his being cast as “a victim”, rather than the perpetrator, using those facts.
East Stirling have a new investor who is hoping to transform their forutnes after six consecutive seasons at the bottom of the Scottish league. Neil Forsyth reports
It would be expected that the recent travails of Gretna, in administration and facing daily reports predicting their imminent demise, should stand as stark warning against investment in Scotland’s minor clubs. Recent developments at the country’s worst professional football team, however, would suggest that hope springs eternal.