After starting the season as one of the teams likely to be relegated, Blackpool FC has secured a place in the Premier League next season. The team will be playing with the ‘big boys’ for the first time in 29 years, bringing a whopping £90 million to the club.

Blackpool beat Cardiff 3-2 at Wembley at the weekend, after trailing behind for the majority of the match. Blackpool’s Charlie Adam and Gary Taylor-Fletcher scored goals, but it was the deciding goal by veteran striker Brett Ormerod that shot the team into the dizzy heights of promotion.

The team has had the financial backing of Valeri Belokon a Latvian millionaire, which has enabled them to climb the arduous ladder from League One to the Premiership in just four years. Speaking after the game, manager Ian Holloway said, “I’m so proud, not just for my team but for the area we come from. I cannot tell you what a difference this is going to make for the people in Blackpool. They’re going to get so much money now from the Premier League. I can’t put this into words. I’m bursting with pride.”

Now it will be time for the players to really step up their game and prove that they are worth it. It’s nice to have a smaller team rubbing shoulders with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. It’s sure to bring another dimension the game and Blackpool will be hoping that they can go from strength to strength.

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Robbie Williams and Russell Brand have teamed up and released a new version of Three Lions, for next months World Cup. Now there’s a slightly deranged combination! The pair have both had battles with alcohol and drugs and had their wicked way with many ladies! Not who you’d immediately want your face painted children singing along to, but why not? They’ve both cleaned up their act and have proved that there is success after failure.

Williams, a notorious football fan said, “I’ve always been approached to write football songs but have always declined as I thought Three Lions could never be beaten – so I am really happy to be part of this record. I am counting down the days until the start of the World Cup.”

The song was originally released in 1996 and subsequently in 1998. Written by The Lightning Seeds and with comedy due Baddiel and Skinner adding their dulcet tones, the song was a massive hit and had fans singing all over the country. The original team has had major input into the current single. It does not have FA backing, but is sure to do well nonetheless.

Brand told reporters, “I was embarrassed by how emotional I felt singing this song; I literally nearly cried. It brought me back to 96 – spice boys, dentist chairs and Gazza’s last hurrah. It’s the only good England song – I look forward to singing it as we crash out on penalties – then I will be crying.”

Lets hope that’s not the case and both the single and England can hit the number one spot.

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With all the developmental ups and downs of the London Olympics, it’s hard to even think about bidding for another grand sporting event. But bidding is exactly what England is doing, this time for the 2018 World Cup tournament. Business moguls such as Lord Alan Sugar and Willie Walsh, the chief executive of British Airways, are showing their support and backing the bid.

Analysts predict that hosting the World Cup would boost the British economy by £3.2 billion, a figure that has put weight behind the bid.

In a letter to the Daily Telegraph, the signatories said, “It would be a tremendous boost for the country. An economic impact assessment by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimates a net positive impact of £3.2 billion to the economy in the summer of 2018.”

They continue, “The tournament will create revenue and jobs, helping to transform communities in many cities. It will open up opportunities for young people to learn about teamwork, competitiveness with integrity and other skills needed in business.”

It’s not clear what the public reaction to the bid is at this time or how much the taxpayer will be expected to contribute. Perhaps with backing from such wealthy and powerful businessmen it will be of less importance, who knows? I guess only time will tell.

Candidate files must be presented to Fifa on Friday with a final decision being made by Fifa’s executive committee in December. England is up against bids from Russia as well as joint bids by Spain/Portugal and Holland/Belgium.

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Old rivalries still exist amongst the top sporting nations according to the Online Consumer Index survey of sports enthusiasts, with 21% of England sports fans nominating Germany as the country they would most like to beat in international sporting events.  The Online Consumer Index, released once a month by iCD Research, interviewed over 8,000 English sporting enthusiasts and found the USA was the second most envied sporting nation on 19%, while Australia came in third with 12% of the vote.

Sporting rivalry however is specific only to a few prominent sports and those who play it, the survey also identified:

• People who regularly played football were 33% more likely to nominate Germany as the team they wanted to beat
• Swimmers nominated the USA as the nation they wanted to beat
• For rugby league participants, it’s Australia as the nation they want to most beat

Age and gender differences were also apparent when looking at the Online Consumer Index results – with women significantly more likely to want to beat the USA on the international stage, while the 35-44 age bracket were the most likely to see beating the Germans as the pinnacle.  The older you are, the more likely you are to want to beat the Aussies on the international stage, while the younger generation are more likely to want to beat nations like Brazil and India when compared to the average.

The Online Consumer Index measured the same reactions for sporting enthusiasts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, where it’s all about beating England regardless of their sporting preference.  54% nominated England as the nation they most wanted to beat, followed by the USA in a distant second with 10% of the vote.

Regardless of region, the ten most popular sports and activities that the UK regularly participate in according to the survey are as follows:

Most Popular Sports Activities in the UK

1. Walking
2. Swimming
3. Cycling
4. Jogging/Running
5. Rambling/Hiking
6. Football
7. Aerobics
8. Weight Training
9. Golf
10. Snooker/Pool/Billiards

Source: Online Consumer Index, March 2010.

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The Professional Footballer’s Association Player of the Year awards (PFA Awards) honoured Wayne Rooney with the prestigious accolade, making him the first English winner in four years. The twenty-four year old football sensation paid homage to his manager at Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson saying, “Sir Alex is a great manager who has really brought me on as a player since I joined United. His hunger passes through to the players. It’s great to see that he’s pushing 70 and hasn’t changed a bit. I’m sure he’ll be here for a long time yet.”

It’s been a season of highs and lows for the player, with Rooney scoring thirty-four goals for United and eight for England, despite being blighted by injury. His ankle is said to be healed, however now he is recovering from a groin injury he sustained during training. The whole country held their breath while both Beckham and Rooney recovered from their injuries. While Beckhams Achilles tendon will see him taking a side line role as a coaching assistant, Rooney has promised to be fit for the World Cup. “The groin will be fine for the World Cup, there are no worries about that.” he said at the ceremony.

Rooney was also nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year, missing out to Aston Villa’s James Milner. He was however extremely happy with his own award.

“It’s something I’m really proud of and it’s a great honour. I remember coming here in 2005 and 2006 to win the young player of the year. I saw the players winning the main one and it’s something I’ve aimed for since.”

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David Beckham is set for a starring role during England’s 2010 World Cup finals, as a coaching assistant on the England bench.

David Beckham is out of competitive football until September due to his injured Achilles tendon, the former England captain sustaining his injury playing for AC Milan in the Italian Premier League last month.

But England Coach Fabio Capello values Beckham so highly; especially his mentoring role for younger players, both on and off the pitch that Beckham looks set to go to South Africa this summer as part of the England coaching set up.

Capello has also been impressed by Beckham during his return in an England shirt since ‘Becks’ was dropped by Steve McClaren, having seen Beckham shine in his bit part roles for England. Capello also knows the player well from their stint together at Real Madrid where Beckham was one of the key players helping Capello’s Real Madrid land the La Liga title.

It is thought Beckham is waiting until the England management have clearly defined his role before he makes an official announcement but the position in the England coaching camp for South Africa is thought to be ‘bolted on’, with the patriotic Beckham unlikely to turn down any chance of helping his country.

England’s 2018 World Cup bid team and FIFA are also thought to be enthusiastic about seeing Beckham involved in the South Africa finals.

There are now 45 days to go before the festival of footballing excitement that is the World Cup 2010 begins!

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