Becks and Landon, friends again?

When he returned to the US in July and put his LA Galaxy soccer uniform back on after an extended and controversial loan term at AC Milan, David Beckham did not exactly get a warm welcome. He was boo-ed by his own fans and had to be restrained by security when he invited one jeering fan to come down onto to the pitch to “discuss” matters further.

The soccer media were also fascinated to see how he might interact with teammate Landon Donovan who had publicly criticized his commitment to the LA Galaxy in a newly published book (as well as suggesting that Becks was a bit of a Scrooge when it came time to pay up at team dinners.)

Fast forward a few weeks and the boys in the white blue and yellow soccer uniforms have won five of their last six games, the sixth resulting in a tie. Attendance at the game against the New England Revolution at Foxborough Stadium was 26,623, more than double the average crowd, and after scoring what could only be described as a brilliant goal, one Landon Donovan was seen leaping into Beckham’s arms in celebration.

So it’s looking like things might be getting better for both the LA Galaxy and David Beckham’s US soccer career. He is still looking at a return to Europe in the winter. Although he was named to the England national squad for the next friendly game England manager Fabio Cappello once again sent Becks a message – via the press- that if he wants to be considered to wear the fabled England soccer uniform in Johannesburg next year he needs to get back into what Capello considers “top flight” soccer.

Billy Meredith, Soccer star and uniforms designer

These days soccer players get paid millions of dollars every season and get some very fancy soccer uniforms to play in. But back in 1909 one of the first real “stars” of English soccer earned just $8 a week and designed his team’s soccer uniforms in his spare time.

Billy Meredith was the original Manchester United idol, as well known for taking to the pitch with a toothpick in his mouth as he was for his speed and skill. In 1909 Manchester United qualified for their first ever FA Cup final, and as Meredith was a partner in a clothing company he was called upon to design new soccer uniforms for the game.

The soccer uniform that the Welshman designed was the inspiration, 100 years later, for Manchester United’s new 2009-10 home soccer uniforms. The same large black V, which some say he designed as a V for victory while others say he was a true fashion designer, creating a soccer jersey that highlighted the athletic male torsos of his colleagues, and the same striking red color. The new soccer uniforms will likely net the club millions, while Meredith got nothing in return for his design.

Meredith was a controversial figure, imagine Ronaldo one hundred years ago and Welsh. He fought tooth and nail with his club to raise player wages and working conditions, forming the first player’s union. He also fought to keep the ladies out of the stands, as he believed women should not watch soccer.

After 10 glorious years at Manchester United, including the 1909 FA Cup win, Meredith went off to fight in the first World War. Despite years as a Manchester United coach he died penniless in 1958 at the age of 83. For decades his body lay in an unmarked grave until the PFA (the modern version if the union he created) and Manchester United paid for a memorial headstone to be erected.

Now his design has been resurrected and the new soccer uniforms are a tribute to Meredith and his teammates who blazed the path for the likes of Rooney and Owens, who when they take to the pitch in their new soccer uniforms, are providing Meredith with an even larger tribute.

]]> http://socceruniformsguide.com/2009/07/new-soccer-uniforms-pay-tribute-to-a-long-ago-hero/feed/ 0 http://socceruniformsguide.com/2009/07/everton-fc-roll-out-new-0910-soccer-uniforms-to-mixed-reviews/ http://socceruniformsguide.com/2009/07/everton-fc-roll-out-new-0910-soccer-uniforms-to-mixed-reviews/#comments Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:49:26 +0000 Mel http://socceruniformsguide.com/?p=541

The new, pink, Everton soccer uniform

Real men wear pink. At least that’s what Everton FC management is trying to convince their legions of die hard fans. The brand new 2009-2010 away soccer uniforms were just released and the black and pink design is raising more than a few eyebrows.

According to Everton brass, the new design is both a nod to the original “Blackwatch” soccer uniforms worn by the first ever Everton side and a look to the future, looking for a bolder design that stands out from the Premiership crowd.

The new soccer jerseys are a solid black with a horizontal, very pink stripe. A pink club logo and piping are featured on the soccer shorts as do the soccer socks. It certainly is a different look but the fan reaction so far has been less than enthusiastic so far. Some Toffees fans feel it is even worse than the much maligned yellow and orange soccer uniforms revealed by Newcastle United last month.

Everton have dubbed their new soccer uniforms “ A Flash of Brilliance” and they will go on sale to the public on August 6^th, together with the new home soccer uniforms which have already caused some debate among fans too. The new design there gives the appearance of two layers, on e blue and one white, which is certainly a depature from the norm.

Tevez and Mark Hughes, a man with money to burn

Today saw the unveiling of Carlos Tevez in a blue soccer uniform, which he swapped for the red soccer uniform he has worn across town at Manchester United for the past two seasons. The Argentine national was a huge fan favorite at Old Trafford and there are still plenty of people who feel that Sir Alex Ferguson and the board at United made a huge mistake in letting him go. But even today, as he got ready to join his new teammates playing on a friendly tour of South Africa, he still cannot quite let go of how slighted he felt by the management at Man U. He said that in two years Sir Alex only spoke to him directly once and had certainly never reached out to persuade him to stay at Old Trafford.

But Manchester City are not done yet. Having also lured away Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry from the club where he had spent his whole professional career, Mark Hughes and the board are now setting their sights on John Terry, the man who had been at suiting in up in a Chelsea soccer uniform since childhood and is the anchor of the team. New Stamford Bridge boss Carlos Ancelotti is insisting that there is no way Terry will leave, but so did Aston Villa manager Martin O’Neill, right up until Barry signed on for the Hughes squad. And Cristiano was staying at Old Trafford, even as he was being measured for his new Real Madrid soccer uniform.

At the Tevez press conference Hughes was asked about the John Terry situation, with whom he once played at Chelsea when Terry was still a teenager. His reply? “I have huge respect for him. I think any manager would covet a player of the type of John Terry, but at this moment in time he’s a player for Chelsea so we have to respect that.”. Key word at the moment?

The current Scottish team soccer jersey

The poor state of the global economy is still even affecting the game of professional soccer (even though Real Madrid seems to be flush enough.) The Scottish national side has found themselves in search of a new soccer uniforms supplier after their current supplier, Italian based Diadora, has gone into bankruptcy and all British operations have been shut down.

The Diadora deal is paid up until 2010, so the Scottish side will still be wearing Diadora soccer uniforms until the end of the World Cup Qualifiers, and into the World Cup Finals in South Africa, should Scotland make it that far.

According to a spokesman for the SFA (Scottish Football Association) they are not at all worried about finding a new soccer uniforms supplier, and are already in talks with several companies. According to that spokesman, one Rob Shorthouse ,”we’re in a good position , Scots fans are very loyal to their national team and buy shirts in huge numbers”. He also reassured fans and players alike that they had a large stock of soccer uniforms on hand so the team was in no danger of being left short of the odd pair of soccer socks.

This is not a great time for Scottish soccer in general, especially the clubs that make up the Scottish Premier League. The television station who owned the rights to broadcast SPL games, Setanta, is in huge financial trouble itself and was unable to pay for the rights to broadcast 2009/10 games. There are still talks going on to make sure that someone broadcasts these games, but the decrease in revenue that will inevitably come with it could cause serious financial trouble for the league clubs themselves.

Cristiano takes to the catwalk in his new soccer uniform

They paid a world record breaking $136 million to get him into it, so it is little wonder that Real Madrid wanted to make it a big occasion when Cristiano Ronaldo was first photographed in his new soccer uniform, and about 80,000 fans obliged today when he was presented at the Bernabeu .

The pitch itself is being re sodded so it was a green asphalt catwalk that Ronaldo made his way down, showing off his new soccer uniform like a professional model all the way. The 80,000 seat stadium was packed to capacity for the introduction, with old men and swooning young girls alike desperate to get their first glimpse of the world’s most expensive soccer player in person.

Cristiano, who will be shifting from the number 7 he wore for Manchester United to the number 9 soccer jersey that once belonged to Real Madrid’s great hero Alfredo di Stefano ,who was there to greet the new kid on the block, seemed to be loving it all. He had annoyed the English press earlier in the day by saying that La Liga was superior to the Premiership, but in the evening he kept it low key, merely stating that to play for Real Madrid was the realization of his childhood dreams.

One man who might have words of wisdom to offer the young star is Michael Owen. Back in 2004 he too left the Premiership for Real Madrid in search of more. He did not arrive with such fanfare, but the team had high hopes of the man who had created a legend for himself in a Liverpool soccer uniform. Less than a season later, disillusioned by La Liga, Owen went home, but Liverpool did not take him back as he had hoped. He struggled with Newcastle for two years but now in a strange and surprising twist, he has been signed to Manchester United, as Sir Alex’s quest to fill Ronaldo’s golden boots begins.

Beckham and Donovan - Not so friendly now?

Amid all the Real Madrid mania David Beckham had been forgotten perhaps for a few weeks. But no longer. Becks is due to return to the LA Galaxy in ten days, as his soccer uniform timeshare deal with Inter Milan is over for the season. He may not be coming back to best reception from some though, including his own teammates.

Landon Donovan, who has been wearing the LA Galaxy captain’s arm band in Beckham’s absence, has been having a great season himself. Not only is his play in an LA Galaxy soccer uniform solid but his goal against Brazil in the hard fought Confederations Cup Final last week was one of the best goals ever scored by a US team player. He is normally a mild mannered guy, but in his new book he takes quite a pot shot at his famous team mate.

In excerpts already printed in Sports Illustrated Donovan paints Beckham as a bad team mate, and admits he was annoyed when his own club pressured him to give away his captaincy of the side to Beckham when he arrived in 2007.He also seems to claim that the Beckham camp has more than a little influence on the running of the team, suggesting that Beckham’s long time agent and friend Terry Byrne had more to do with Ruud Gulit being appointed team manager than general manager Alexi Lalas. (both of whom have now left the club.) In a little lighter but as catty,barb Donovan complains that Beckham wouldn’t even pay for dinner for his teammates.He also suggests that Beckham should be benched if he fails to put on a better show than he did last season while playing in an LA Galaxy soccer uniform.

Now that Beckham is back any day, Landon Donovan has no official comment. But it may make watching the LA Galaxy even more interesting for the rest of the season.

A Sponsor Logo can be placed anywhere

Anyone who is involved in amateur soccer knows it isn’t always an inexpensive affair and that fund raising has to be an ongoing effort to keep a soccer side afloat. Finding a sponsor to help offset the costs on the players and their families can be a great help. By offering a local business a spot on your team’s soccer uniforms you could create a relationship that is beneficial for you both.

A really good soccer uniforms supplier can print the logo (or logos) of your choice anywhere on the soccer uniform you desire, so adding your sponsor’s name or logo is not a problem, and is often very inexpensive. But when seeking a sponsor what businesses are likely to be willing to sponsor your soccer club?

Totally Soccer is a soccer uniforms supplier that has been around for years and the staff has long experience with helping teams create custom soccer uniforms that feature sponsor logos and names. They do not even charge for the first logo printed on a soccer uniform. According to the guys at Totally Soccer, who have provided soccer uniforms for soccer teams across the US and beyond, they have noticed over the years that certain types of businesses are more likely to sponsor amateur soccer clubs than others.

Apparently pizza parlors, lawyers, real estate companies and banks are all big soccer supporters. Bars and restaurants sponsor a number of adult teams too. On the flip side, national gas station and food chains are rarely featured on the shirts and shorts ordered through Totally Soccer, and car dealers don’t pop up very often either.

So how do you convince a local business to sponsor your side? Enthusiasm is key; sell the advantages of sponsorship to your potential sponsor. Their logo will be seen on every player’s soccer uniform all season. Assure them you are willing to feature their logo potentially, just like the big professional clubs do (what do you see first on an Arsenal soccer jersey? Fly Emirates of course).

These men are being paid to smile!

It is not a great time to be a Newcastle United fan. Relegated in a humiliating manner from top flight soccer, a club up for sale but no one is buying and the only star left, Michael Owens is in a hurry to go anywhere that is not Tyneside.

So the disgruntled fans have no idea what to make of the new away soccer uniforms that were revealed by the club this week. The general consensus from both fans and the media alike seems to be that these are the worst league soccer uniforms since Hull experimented (briefly) with tiger print in the early eighties(the same Hull team that Michael Owens hopes to join to save his Premiership career.)

The new soccer uniform is a yellow and orange striped affair that will certainly ensure that Newcastle players will be noticed by their new Championship League Colleagues. Difficult at a time when most of the players probably want to blend into the background for a while.

Normally Newcastle fans have a good sense of humor but after such a terrible season it seems to be a little lacking at the moment. One fan told a national British newspaper that “It’s not as though we fans have been made to look stupid enough without being asked to fork out good money to wear something as awful as that”. Another fan suggested that the new soccer uniforms were old stock from Newcastle owner Michael Ashley’s discount clothing store chain (not known for its quality).

There is a serious side to the fans extreme reaction to the new soccer uniforms. Newcastle, like many soccer clubs both professional and amateur, need all the cash they can get at the moment. Sales of replica soccer uniforms usually make up a sizeable chunk of a professional club’s revenue. If an entire line of away soccer uniforms is so awful there really is very little chance that the fans are going to be willing to pay to wear them.

Charlie Davies Scored First for the US

Things did not start well for the USA soccer team at this year’s Confederations Cup, with the boys in the US soccer uniforms dropping the first two games of the competition and looking as though they may be down and out. The team really showed up to play against Egypt at the weekend though and with a little bit of help from Brazil find themselves in the semi finals against Spain on Wednesday.

Given the dismal performance of the US team so far in the competition it may be that Egypt, even without their star striker Mohamed Zidan, felt they had the semi final place in the bag already.

Early play was fairly even, with Charlie Davies striking first for the US in the 22^nd minute. In the second half however, with the news that Brazil were decisively beating Italy 3-0, it seemed the Egyptians became confused as to whether they should attack or defend, as should the 1-0 score remain they would still advance on points.

The under dogs took advantage of the confusion of those in the red soccer uniforms and despite being denied a rather obvious penalty the US team added 2 goals in 30 minutes to advance at the expense of both Egypt and Italy.

The US now advance to face a strong Spanish team spear headed by the incredible David Villa, who has scored in each of the 3 matches that Spain have played so far. Villa has been much in the news this week outside of his amazing international performance. He is currently being courted by a number of uber rich club soccer sides vying to get the talented striker into their soccer uniform. Last week it seemed he would be leaving current club Valencia to join the increasingly expensive Real Madrid side, but Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City are all still in the hunt and Villa will make no decisions until the Confederations Cup is over.