Tito Vilanova

I was shocked to hear that Tito has had another cancer attack and that he must be operated on tomorrow. As a Real Madrid fan, I send him my very best wishes for a prompt and full recovery. He has done a magnificent job since he took over from Pep and my thoughts at this time are with his family and friends.

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Real Sociedad

Nothing to do with me but an interesting story from Inside Spanish football.

Real Sociedad will wear unique shirts bearing the names of fans for their match against Sevilla tonight.

On Tuesday morning, Real Sociedad presented the kits they will wear for their home match against Sevilla, with each player’s shirt uniquely bearing the name of a season ticket holder.

The idea behind the incentive and the homage paid to supporters, was explained by Club President Jokin Aperribay: “The fans are the soul, the nourishment and the reason for Real Sociedad. For this reason, we’re uniting the names of our members with the shirts.”

Aperribay continued to explain that the basis of the idea: “It’s for the history, because the fans are the of the club and this is a tribute to those that have supported us for many years. When we went down to the Segunda, we overcame that difficulty because we retained 20,000 members. For the present, because the fans show enthusiasm, which the team receives and returns to them. We want to achieve bigger objectives, but we can’t do that without the fans. For the future, because that will be determined by the fans.”

“It is very important that fans feel they are necessary for the club to function. For that reason, we decided to unite two of the most important things at Real Sociedad – The fans and the shirt.”

Player Xabi Prieto, who has also been a member at the club since 1992, added: “We’re fortunate that we can play every week. Against Sevilla, we’ll have our members playing with us.”

Each player will bear the name of a different supporter on their shirt, recognising the many years of support each of those fans has given the club. Asier Illarramendi concluded: “The crowd is always there and is a very important part of the club.

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Moo Moos

Oh, this is getting exciting. News is out of my trip and the sponsorships are flowing in. Remember that the idea is to get the maximum PR and NOT just to get one mega sponsor. Although if Tesco or Mercadona came along….! Seriously, there were three new names today but to be fair to Costa Ticket, Costasite and Moo Moos, I will detail them separately.

Moo Moos is quite simply one of my favourite bars on the coast. It’s not the biggest but you are always assured of a warm welcome. When I told Mine Hosts what I was planning, I was offered a generous figure without even asking. Thanks, both!

They have a great evening coming up this week and if you are on the Costa del Sol, please do get down to support two of the nicest people on the coast who are trying to “KEEP MUSIC LIVE”.

THE DATE – THURSDAY 20TH DEC 2012 – 7PM TO 1AM

This is going to be one amazing night! To miss it would be a mortal Sin! Acts that will entertain your socks off all night, include…

Jazz Davies
Sam Oliver
Tony Watson
Kyle Rolph
Estaban Barnhardt
Chloe Lawrence
Martin Philip
Jonny Unplugged
Rob Sas
Steve Hughes
Lorraine Kingham
Barry Mac

Singers, guitarists and some of the leading acts on the Costa del Sol, with acts from as far away as Nerja and Estepona, come hear some new voices and watch some seriously good talent! The Venue is Moo Moo’s the little live music bar in Los Boliches, Fuengirola.

Any more acts wishing to perform, contact costadelparty.com asap. Beginners are more than welcome to “have a go” – pros join us for a Christmas bash. Costa del Party will also provide a little extra promotion for the new year, to all acts that attend this Christmas function.

The information above was kindly supplied by Mark Borrow at CostaDelParty . In the spirit of Christmas, I’ll add him as a sponsor also! Top guy who works non-stop to “KEEP MUSIC LIVE”

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I was happy to hear from our friends at Intebs who wanted to become involved. Instead of the usual shirts, it’s mini boots from them! Great gifts. Thanks!

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My name is David and I work for one of the world’s largest insurance companies, Generali Seguros.

When I heard my long-standing friend, Steve Hall, was embarking on an epic challenge I just had to help out.Previously being an athlete myself, I know allowing him to be free mentally, free of worry, will enhance his performance.

So after some thought I decided, the best way I can help Steve is with two ways.

Firstly I am very pleased to provide Steve with Insurance to keep his mind at ease, knowing one of the world´s largest insurers Generali Seguros will take great care of him if the worst should happen on his 5000 km journey. We specialize in a variety of Insurance products, there is very little I cannot insure! I Will also be very pleased to pledge 5% of my policies towards the nominated charities when you mention “Steve´s incredible challenge.”

Secondly teaming up with I COVERT SOLUTIONS who specialize in the very top end security solutions, a very special tracking device that will not only allow folk to track his movements, but if something was to occur that caused him distress, he will be able to press a button on the device which will alert 5 mobile phones of his exact location. The device is lightweight, waterproof, and is no bigger than a small matchbox. The device also incorporates a website for visually tracking the device.

If I can help you with any insurance at all, or require more information regarding insurances or these very smart trackers, please contact me:

By email

Tel: 603 142 786

GOOD LUCK, STEVE

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Perez Legal Group

Whether I want to admit it or not the chances of things going wrong on such a journey are high. In 2010, I was chased through the streets of Watford by a gang, robbed of my camera in Chesterfield, knocked off my bike near Newcastle and, of course, I lost every possession I own when my storage centre was burnt down. All situations resolved themselves but I suppose I must admit, that trip was on a bit of a wing and a prayer. This time I am delighted to confirm that I have Perez Legal Group behind me. As soon as I approached the principal, Raquel Pérez immediately agreed to offer legal advice for the trip. Thanks.

So, who is she?

PEREZ LEGAL GROUP – GESTORIA SERVICES

We have been formed to meet the growing need to assist individuals and businesses with their fiscal, tax, legal and administrative obligations.

We are many highly qualified advisors, all of who work in English and Spanish.
Moving to a new country, purchasing a Spanish Property, or setting up a new business in Spain, can all be extremely complex and stressful if you cannot speak Spanish and do not have knowledge of our system as it is unlikely that you will be fully aware of the range of administrative and legal procedures to be followed and completed.

We offer managed service that makes our organization unique in providing you the best value for money solution on the Costa del Sol.

We include the following departments:

ACCOUNTING AND FISCAL SERVICES (BOOK KEEPING INCLUDED)
PREPARATION OF SPANISH WILLS
INHERITANCE PROCCESS
CONVEYANCE SERVICES
PREPARATION OF ANY KIND OF POWER OF ATTORNEY
PREPARATION OF MORTGAGE CANCELLATION DEEDS OR MORTGAGE DEEDS
NIE APPLICATION
CERTIFICATE OF RESIDENCY
RENTAL CONTRACTS
CAPITAL GAINS TAX CALCULATION
DIRECT DEBITS
CANCELLATION OF DEBTS
And many more services

For further information, please call us on (+34) 952 83 31 69.

www.perezlegalgroup.com

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Posted: 20th 11 2012

As soon as I announced my little “joy-ride”, my friend David Long from 4Com PLC in the UK was quick to wish me well. Today, it’s my turn to wish him well as he gets on his bike but does not get wet or run down by “White Van Man”. He’s a bit busy pushing the peddles but sent me this:

4Com have a long standing relationship with Variety the Children’s Charity. As a company we have sponsored a Sunshine Coach, with another on the way soon. Our staff also give up time to help at events such as the big day out at Bournemouth Pier recently, and raise money for local projects.

On the 29th and 30th of November, a team of 4Com employees, will attempt to cycle 1,000 kilometres in 30 hours.

Not even Sir Chris Hoy or Bradley Wiggins could do that!

So how will we achieve it? Well, we are cheating a little bit. We have two top of the range exercise bikes that have been loaned by the fine folks at Wattbike www.wattbike.com (big thanks to Ben at Blue Soup Communications, one of our customers, for sorting that out) and we will be using both bikes in a non-stop relay through the night to try and achieve our target.

“Why are you doing this?” I hear you ask.

Well, it’s really quite simple. We want to raise £2,777 to buy a car seat, a very expensive car seat. It’s for a special young lad called Liam who lives in the Bournemouth area, who earlier this year was just a normal 4 year old, running around and causing mayhem – it’s what they do best. But then he became sick, very sick. He was rushed into hospital six months ago with a perforated bowel which turned into septicaemia leaving him with severe brain injuries.

Liam has since lost all his motor skills which the doctors do not believe he will get back, as the part of his brain for motor skills has been damaged. Liam also has to be fed through a gastro tube. He just lays in bed all day now unless his Mother can take him out in a specialist car seat which at the moment he doesn’t have. Liam understands everything that is said to him but cannot respond other than by smiling or crying.

So, as you can see, 1000km in 30 hours is not a big ask for us, to try and help this local family.

But here comes the big ask.

Would you help us to try and raise some cash towards this target?

We have set up a page on Just Giving

Thank you, from everyone at 4Com

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Before the project was announced I was beavering away in the background. I met Steve Claridge recently and he was delighted to sign the first shirt for the 2013 journey! Steve and I have a lot in common. We’ve been to almost every ground in the UK. The difference is that Steve has scored at most of them. Thanks, Steve. There will be more on Steve’s involvement soon.

Steve was introduced to me by Gina Marks at the successful Estepona exhibition. Gina was keen to assist and happily signed an England shirt. Not sure that I will get 5000 signatures on that!

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Charity Cycle Ride from Spain to Norway

In February 2013, I will undertake another charity cycle ride.
This time it is Marbella to Oslo.

1) I will leave Marbella on 6th Feb and arrive in Oslo on May 17th.

2) Nothing else – easy isn’t it?

OK, some more meat on the bone!

Route:

5000kms, 500 football grounds, 100 days in the saddle

1) I will leave Marbella on 6th Feb with a series of “starts” for different PR/marketing/sponsorship purposes along the Costa del Sol
2) I will cycle “direct” (via Almeriá) to be at the FC Torrevieja v Dénia game on 17th Feb. A stay of 10 days in Torrevieja is a focal point of the journey. I lived there for 7 years and have many friends and contacts there – this tour is ALL about PR/marketing/promotion/fund-raising. It is NOT about the journey. That must almost be played down.
3) I continue on through Valencia, Barcelona, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen and Gothenburg.
4) I aim to arrive in Oslo on 17th May – Norwegian National Day.

(Then MAYBE – TBC with sponsors – I will fly to England to cycle to the 4 clubs that have been promoted to the Football League since I was there in 2010. These are York, AFC Wimbledon, Crawley and Fleetwood. I would also visit Brighton’s new stadium plus the two teams that will get promoted this season) See www.theshirt2010.co.uk for details of the ground on the 2010 tour. My ULTIMATE intention is to cycle from New York/Toronto to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup.)

Why?

In 2009 I supported Bjørn Heidenstrøm with PR/marketing and Social Media www.bjørnheidenstrøm.com as he cycled from Norway to South Africa. So inspired was I that I cycled to the 92 football clubs in the UK. As always I will be looking to collect football shirts along the way. Bjørn already has some 2000 shirts sewn together and this is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest shirt of its kind in the world!. The shirt has been seen by literally millions of people throughout the world and has been signed by presidents, sports stars, pop legends and thousands and thousands of “ordinary people”. Famous clubs such as Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, Roma have all eagerly been involved in the project. The Shirt symbolises the family of football coming together for the common good.

Charity:

We always support a charity.

I am considering AECC, Cudeca (Costa del Sol Charity) and MABS (Costa Blanca North Charity) – three Spanish cancer charities. Several local charities will also be supported.

Accommodation:

I am hoping that CouchSurfing will prove its worth. If not, I will beg/steal or borrow beds/couches and bus-shelters. Worst case scenario – 30 euros gets a room in most of Spain. It does NOT in Scandinavia!

In Spain, I am less concerned about accommodation. I am deliberately taking the Levante route as 50% of my contacts in Spain are along the coast from Marbella to the French border (That is the major reason that I will be at least 2 weeks on the Costa Blanca and almost 6 weeks in Spain). I will be travelling SLOWLY through Spain to get maximum exposure and then much faster through France.
I will be longer in Belgium/Netherlands where I have some good friends, faster through Germany and then a nice slow 1000 kms up the West Coast of Sweden where my route is almost completed with friends/family etc)

Sponsorship:

The idea is to complete this as a crowd-funded trip. I am looking for 5,000 sponsors at 1 euro/pound/dollar. I have revenue share numbers organised in the UK and am trying to get them throughout the trip. We will take Paypal and JustGiving as well as bank transfer etc etc

I will get ONE shirt signed by every single person I meet in return for their 1 euro. I will also wear a sponsored shirt – 10 sponsors at 100 euros? I am open to proposals re sponsored caps, training equipment etc.

ANY/ALL ideas for fund-raising/sponsorship are welcome BUT (as per above) I am much more interested in getting 100 sponsors at 50 euros than one at 5000.

Sponsors will be loved and cherished. I will give them maximum exposure in ThisIsSpain, HotCosta etc and of course they will be in www.theshirt2012.info(coming soon) See www.theshirt2010.co.uk as to how we promote friends, supporters, sponsors etc

I normally charge 150 euros for a page in www.thisisspain.info – any sponsor of (say) 50 euros + will get a free page. Any hotel etc would also get a free page.

There are unlimited fund-raising/sponsorship opportunities. Years of experience in this tells me that it is MUCH easier to get support/sponsorship “in kind”, pro bono or as pledge/endorsement rather than in hard cash. That is absolutely acceptable. Please let me have your suggestions and/or register for email updates below.

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Yesterday I wrote about a meeting I had with Mark Catlin from Bury FC whilst the team was on tour in Spain and Gibraltar. Today he was kind enough to send me this article from Total Football. Yes, I know it’s a great site – don’t blame me if you spend all day on it!

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