Amsterdam

Football to Amsterdam 2019

Leave your rivalries on the pitch and join our 145 mile pedal pilgrimage to Amsterdam to stop prostate cancer being a killer

On 7-9 June 2019, more than 500 football fans will unite to cycle 145 miles over two days, finishing at Amsterdam’s Johan Cruyff Arena.

It’s an opportunity to meet like-minded people and most importantly raise money to beat a disease killing one man every 45 minutes.

A game of two halves

Prostate cancer kills 1 man every 45 minutes – that’s two men during a football match – but it doesn’t have to be this way.

Our aim is turn the game around for men everywhere – to stop prostate cancer being a killer.

Why sign up?

Help us raise over £600,000 to fund research to stop prostate cancer being a killer
Represent your favourite club
Join hundreds of football fans and enjoy the banter on the ride
Transport, accommodation and food costs covered
Enjoy a celebration dinner and night out in Amsterdam
Receive a Prostate Cancer UK cycling jersey
Help us turn the game around and relegate prostate cancer forever.

SIGN UP FOR LONDON TO AMSTERDAM SIGN UP FOR YORKSHIRE TO AMSTERDAM REGISTER YOUR INTEREST

What’s the route?

There are two routes to choose from – you can either kick-off from the Lee Valley VeloPark or start from Barnsley’s Oakwell Stadium. Both routes will take an overnight ferry from Harwich and Hull respectively before converging in Holland on Day Two.

Day Two is a flat and scenic ride along the Dutch canal paths before finishing at Ajax’s Amsterdam ArenA to celebrate your achievements and get ready for a big night out

How do I get signed up?

*Registration fee is £175 but if you sign up with our limited discount, you can register for just £125 using code: EARLYBIRD50.

There are two options when it comes to taking part.

Option 1: Minimum sponsorship

Pay a £175 non-refundable registration fee (£125 with the EARLYBIRD50 discount code)
Pledge to raise a minimum of £1,200 in sponsorship (excluding Gift Aid)
Option 2: Self-funder

Pay a £175 non-refundable registration fee (£125 with the EARLYBIRD50 discount code) and then pay a further £520 if doing the London route, or £615 for the Yorkshire route by 1 April 2019 to cover your full event costs.
We’d then ask you to raise as much as you can with a recommended minimum of £350.
Fundraising can seem quite daunting but we’ll be there to help you smash your target with tips, fundraising advice and resources and materials, plus the earlier you sign up the easier it is to exceed your sponsorship goal.

What’s included?

We’ll look after you and your bike throughout the event, from the moment you arrive on Friday morning, to the moment you say farewell on the Sunday. The support we provide includes:

Two nights accommodation
All meals plus plenty of snacks at the food stations to keep you going
All travel including return Eurostar or flights depending on which route you do and coaches back to start point (this includes bike transfer)
Fully signed route, cycle guides, mechanical and medical support
Finishers Medal and orange F2A wristband
Your own Prostate Cancer UK cycle jersey

Will I be fit enough?

This ride is designed to be a challenge but achievable with the right training. We’ll provide you with training guides, put you in touch with cycling experts and link you up with fellow riders in your area.

Many past riders have found the training has made them healthier and helped them shed the pounds (right in time for their summer holidays!)

For full details and to register visit the Prostate Cancer UK website.

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Tibet

Tibet National Team Collection

Since 2011, Copa has been the kit sponsor of the Tibet National Team, one of the world’s most interesting and unusual football nations. For the CONIFA World Cup tournament which took place in London, we created a brand new collection which is now available for fans from all over the world.

The Tibet home kit is based on the iconic Tibetan flag and the away kit is inspired by the typical colours as worn by monks and the Tibetan community.

We share a common bond thanks to our love of the game and fondness of the underdog. Our sponsorship plays a part in helping support the ambitions of the TNSA to further develop sporting interests within the Tibetan community.

The complete Tibet National Team collection can be found online through copafootball.com, in our Flagshipstore in Amsterdam and via selected resellers.

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Retrofootball.co.uk

Here is another website that I have not featured for a while. I saw some Roma shirts and was impressed with how being their choice is now.

They say, “RETROFOOTBALL ®, your reference in football fashion. Online shop specialised in football shirts.

Welcome to Retrofootball ®, the online shop for retro and vintage style football shirts. Retrofootball ® is a European Company dedicated to the design, fabrication and merchandising of football clothes and football kits; we highlight our special collection of old football shirts, representative of the greatest moments throughout football history.

20 years ago the founder of Retrofootball® walked around Camden Town in London when his eyesight caught in the distance an orange vintage football shirt. It was the shirt with which Johan Cruyff played during the World Cup in Germany 1974, one of his favourite players with the number 14 engraved. It was precisely at that moment that the idea of building a Company turned into a dream come true.

The company was finally founded in 2007. We are pleased to welcome you to Retrofootball ®, the online shop for retro and vintage style football shirts. Founded in October 2007, Retrofootball ® is a European Company dedicated to the design, fabrication and merchandising of football clothes and football kits; we highlight our special collection of retro football shirts, representative of the greatest moments throughout football history.

Retrofootball ® is a Company led by our fans and most loyal supporters, inspiring us to make and offer classic football shirts. We want to bring back football biggest legends and moments, through the unique replicas shirts similar to the Originals that were used in those games. We fulfill our client’s passion, by providing a broad range of football shirts for all fans. At Retrofootball ® we sell fashion related football clothes so that you can relive historical football times.”

Worth a look, without any doubt

Find out more at their excellent website

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Royal British Legion

The Premier League has been proud to support The Royal British Legion for many years, making a significant contribution to raise much-needed funds to help people in the Armed Forces community.

During Premier League matches played in the period leading up to Remembrance Sunday players will wear shirts embroidered with a poppy and then will sign and donate them to the Legion to be auctioned.

The matchworn and signed shirts will be auctioned throughout November and December with the funds raised going to The Royal British Legion.

You can be notified of when the auctions will start by clicking on the “Register your interest” button of the relevant club shirts below and sending an email.

This year bespoke commemorative coins from the Royal British Legion will be used for the coin toss at each of the Premier League matches paying tribute to all those involved in the First World War.

These coins will also be put up for auction with funds raised going to the Royal British Legion. You can register your interest in bidding for these coins in an email to ThankyoucoinATbritishlegionDOTorgDOTuk

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The Brentford Family

One of Brentford’s oldest fans will lead The Bees out this weekend, as well as one with a special reason to celebrate his birthday this year. Brentford FC has invited two fans to be mascots for the game against Bristol City tomorrow, Saturday 20 October, and lead out The Bees for their first match under new Head Coach Thomas Frank. And it will be a special birthday present for both.

John Dean turns 93 today, Friday 19 October, and will be the Brentford FC mascot at the game tomorrow. Alongside him will be Brandon Kear, who turns 13 today. And Brandon has more reason than most to celebrate becoming a teenager.

Earlier this year the 13-year-old contracted Stevens-Johnson syndrome, a rare but serious disorder of the skin. He was in intensive care and his family were told he may not survive. The Kear family were given lots of support on social media by fellow Brentford fans and Brandon managed to pull through. Brandon’s family have been invited to the Bristol City game as guests of the Club and will display a banner at half time thanking Bees fans for their support. The Club has also asked Brandon to be a mascot on the day. He had his kit delivered by Buzz Bee and Buzzette earlier this week and was at the Club’s Training Ground today to meet Thomas and the players.

Walking out alongside Brandon will be someone who remembers Brentford playing in the top tier of English football. John first went to Griffin Park in 1931 when he was six-years-old and was at some of the great days of the Club’s Golden Era in the 1930s and 40s. Born in Isleworth, John was at Wembley Stadium when Brentford won the London War Cup in 1942 and is still attending matches today.

Mark Devlin, Brentford FC Chief Executive, said: “It will be a great pleasure for the Club to welcome Brandon and John to Griffin Park on Saturday, as it was for Thomas and the football staff to have Brandon and his family at the Training Ground today. We believe in being open and accessible and in remembering where we have come from and we wanted to do something special for both families when we became aware of their stories.
“Brandon’s family want to thank all Brentford fans for their support and that was something we could facilitate and help give them some great memories after a difficult year. And John’s story is an amazing one. As we come close to the end of Griffin Park being able to celebrate someone who remembers some of the oldest days will fill us all with joy. I hope they both have a great day.”

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3 Retro

Delighted to catch up with a founder of 3 retro this week. Danny says, “3RETRO was born from the love of the game, from historical nights on a cold terrace, from the love of vintage shirts of a by gone era, from looking back at the football club you love, the greatest and worst moments, from remembering your heroes and their jerseys as they once were – from the pain, from the glory. Keep an eye out on our social pages for new releases.”

They offer worldwide shipping from their site www.3retro.com

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Beanies

Some of the most iconic football shirts of all time deserve more than just a retro shirt. It’s no surprise that many of these are associated with classic moments in history, or with football’s most extravagant characters.

Not only was René Higuita famous for his scorpion kick, he also wore some striking shirts during his carreer. Just like Jorge Campos. Revered for his style of play – acrobatic, expressive, risky – and for his donned neon-coloured kits with dazzling geometric patterns.

Our other new beanies are inspired by some amazing and famous shirts from the past, now being immortalized into COPA beanies.

Launched earlier, and also back in stock: the Schmeichel and Sòcrates beanies. Our complete collection can be found online through copafootball.com, in our Flagshipstore and via selected retailers and online resellers.

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Brentford in the Community

Not one but two TREMENDOUS stories were forwarded to me by Brentford FC this week. It is easy for us all to be hyper-critical of the over-paid and under-performing stars or clubs whose only interest seems to be getting another sponsor or a naming rights deal in some far-flung Asian land with a billionaire president. Stories like this make me proud to be a football fan …and a human being.

The full story of how Brentford FC gave a six-year-old ‘the best day of his life’

When Ezri Konsa led Brentford out on to the pitch for their Sky Bet Championship game against Reading on Saturday, he was making a dream come true for the young man next to him. Woody, six, only found out a few hours before kick-off that he would be Brentford’s mascot for the game, which ended in a 2-2 draw, as The Bees looked to restore his faith in the beautiful game after he had been unable to join in with a local club. And it was a day to remember for the young Brentford fan, who has Down’s syndrome.

Brentford had been alerted to the fact that Woody was looking for a way to get involved in his favourite sport, joining in with organised sessions or playing for a team. The Club linked him up with Brentford Penguins – a football programme for those with Down’s syndrome run by former player Allan Cockram, supported by Brentford FC Community Sports Trust as well as DS Active. The Trust can also cater for footballers with disabilities and will be aiming to get him playing soon. But the Club wanted to do more.

Fan Engagement Manger Ryan Murrant made contact with Woody’s mother – Natalie O’Rourke – early on Saturday morning. Woody was available to lead the team out before the game against Reading and, dressed in a full Brentford kit, walked out in front of 10,000+ fans a few hours later. He got the chance to meet the players, walk on the turf and had his picture taken before kick-off.

Natalie, Woody’s Mum, said: “It all happened so quickly. I shared that he had been unable to join in with a local club and on Friday night my comments were being shared. By Saturday morning it had gone so wide that Brentford had seen it and I had a call asking if Woody could come down and be the mascot. Normally there is lots of red tape but Ryan just made it happen.

“Woody can’t talk but he uses Makaton sign language. He was so excited when I told him, he was jumping up and down. From start to finish, the day was amazing. I can’t explain how good everyone was to us. Woody was on cloud nine, it was the best day of his life. Everyone at Brentford just made sure he was included, sadly that doesn’t always happen.

“Football is all he talks about. Brentford is our local team and I made the decision that we would support The Bees. We bought him a shirt and showed him about Brentford on the internet. He knows he is a Brentford fan and can sign it. It’s all he has talked about ever since. For Christmas we will buy him tickets to a match and we will go when he can. It is all he is interested in and I want to get him to Griffin Park as much as I can.”

Best of all, Natalie explained that she had been put in touch with people who could help get Woody on the pitch. She said that he plays and school and at home but wants to play more. 21 & Co, a charity that supports children with Down’s syndrome and their families, has a football club he can join in with and there will be other opportunities for him as offers of help have flooded in.

Mark Devlin, Brentford FC Chief Executive, spoke to BBC Radio London about what the Club had done. He said: “Fans brought it to our attention on social media and within hours we had a phone number and made contact with the family. A lot of credit goes to the fans that told us about it and then Ryan and those who helped in the Community Sports Trust who made it happen. Our fans know our DNA and that we will do something like this, it is what makes us a bit different from other clubs. Most clubs have good hearts and clubs do lots of good things and this sort of thing is at the heart of our philosophy.

“It is important to us to put a smile on the face of young people and their families. Woody brings a smile to your face and there is an open invitation for him to come here as often as possible. Football is a game for everyone and you can’t fail to be moved by the joy that was brought to Woody and his family.” You can hear the full interview here.

Amy Crook, Brentford FC CST Matchday Co-Ordinator, looks after our mascots at Griffin Park. She said: “It was great to be able to be a part of Woody’s day. I knew how important it was to lift his spirits and made sure we supported the lad and restored some of his faith in football. To see his face and the smile getting bigger makes this such a great job and to see him have a memorable day is the best feeling.

World Mental Health Day – Professional coaching for Hounslow Hawks team at Brentford FC training ground

Yesterday proved no ordinary training session for Assistant Coach Richard O’Kelly and Brentford winger Sergi Canós. To mark World Mental Health Day, the duo ran a unique football coaching session for adults with mental health problems at Brentford’s training ground.

The adults are members of the Hounslow Hawks FC & West London FC Football project, which provides football as therapy for patients who are living with a mental illness. The initiative, run in partnership with West London NHS Trust and Brentford FC Community Sports Trust, has been credited with improving the patients’ wellbeing and supporting their mental health recovery.

Playing on Brentford’s hallowed turf at Jersey Road, the players from Hounslow Hawks and West London FC were thoroughly impressed with the expert training they received from Assistant Coach Richard O’Kelly.
Loni Cericola, who has been part of Hounslow Hawks for about four months, said: “Coming down to Brentford’s training ground today and not feeling embarrassed or judged about my illness means a lot to me. “If this event today can make just one person realise that they are not alone and that there is help out there, then we have achieved something.”

Commenting on the impact the Hounslow Hawks project has had on his mental health, Lori said: “Being part of a football group with a group of guys in a similar situation to me is great because I am never judged. “One day I might be running around energetically the next day I might feeling down, but that doesn’t matter. The guys in my football group understand because they have days like that as well.” With one in four people experiencing a mental health condition at some point in their life, the session aimed to tackle the stigma around mental health and highlight how sport can be instrumental on the road to recovery.

Assistant Coach Richard O’Kelly, who led the session, said: “It was fantastic to be involved with an initiative like this for World Mental Health Day; all the players had loads of energy and enthusiasm. “It was a first-class event and the players were excellent at supporting each other throughout the training session.” And with the EFL launching a new partnership with the mental health charity Mind this year, the championship club are leading the way in raising awareness of mental health both on and off for the football pitch.

Michelle Nielsen, Occupational Therapy Technician at West London’s NHS Trust, said:“We have been running the Hounslow Hawks project for eleven years now and it’s amazing the impact it has had on players’ lives – improving their confidence, self-esteem and overall wellbeing. “By playing a ‘team sport’ the players have been able to share experiences and make new friends – reducing the sense of loneliness and isolation so many people with mental health conditions experience.”

The Hounslow Hawks project has already cemented its pioneering reputation within the footballing world; the project won the FA’s Community ‘Best Inclusive Project Award’ back in 2017.

About Brentford FC CST:

With community work spanning three decades, Brentford FC Community Sports Trust has established itself as a pioneering organisation for the local community. It uses the power of sport to educate, motivate and inspire people from all walks of life.

Working in partnership with Brentford FC, the Trust offers a portfolio of programmes in education, health, sports participation and community engagement.
The Trust has won the ‘Football League Community Club of the Year’ award four times and now employs more than 100 members of staff.

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West Ham United

Visit the Official West Ham store.

…and this is me at the 92nd and last ground on my tour of the 92 clubs in September 2010.

The shirt is from Kings Lynn.

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Charlton Athletic

Charlton Athletic’s brand new, 90s inspired home kit for the 2018/19 season has been revealed.

Just as they did with the club’s new away shirt, kit manufacturer hummel have taken inspiration from a popular strip worn in the 1990s.

Influenced by the home kit worn by the Addicks during the 1989/90 and 1990/91 seasons, the new shirt includes a similar shadow chequerboard pattern to that of the original incarnation.

hummel were also keen to introduce more white back into this season’s strip and have included teardrop mesh side panels which hark back to another very popular kit worn during the successful decade – the white panels bringing back memories of the shirt which was worn during 1998’s play-off final at Wembley and the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons.

The shirt, modelled by Jason Pearce and Lyle Taylor, as well as women’s team players Charley Clifford and Gemma Bryan, features hummel’s distinctive chevrons running down the sleeves and was once again chosen following consultation with supporters’ groups. It is complemented by white shorts with red trim and red socks with white trim.

Adult shirts will be priced £45, while shorts will be available for £25 and socks £12.

Meanwhile, kids’ shirts will be priced £35, with shorts priced at £18 and socks £10.

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