Football
The Times
August 07, 2006
La Liga to tag along on socks
By Nick Szczepanik
WHERE THE Nationwide Conference leads, La Liga could follow. When clubs in the top tier of non-League football kick off their season next weekend, their players will be sporting a new item of equipment that could soon be worn by Ronaldinho and David Beckham.
will spark a sense of déjà vu among readers who recall the numbered sock tags that Leeds United wore in the 1970s. However, although those blue plastic tags bore only a number, the new generation serve a dual purpose one practical, another commercial.
*
The tags are attached to a new garter designed to improve players comfort. Players currently use a rigid tape to hold their socks up which allows no movement whatsoever. This new product will move up to two centimetres with a players muscles and help players avoid cramp, Russell Pointon, the former Port Vale winger who is behind the product, said. And the pennant part of it enables you to put sponsorship on it.
Ah yes, socks have been the only area of football kit free from sponsorship, but no more. A logo on referees is worth £5 million over three years, Pointon said, so whats my product worth? And the fact that it can be taken off, autographed and given away to supporters at the end of the game has got to be worth a fortune for football clubs.
The Conference has spotted that, and Sockatyes has the rights to sell the advertising for all 20 teams in La Liga. An advertisement on Ronaldinho and Beckham is worth a fortune. La Liga will make it a mandatory part of players kit if we can deliver them a certain amount of money. Were now looking for that sponsor.
The FA Premier League has been approached, but has deferred a decision. Football League clubs, though, have been given permission to wear the tags and seek sponsorship, with Doncaster Rovers expected to lead the way. In fact, eagle-eyed spectators at Old Trafford for the England v Northern Ireland World Cup qualifying game last season had a sneak preview of a prototype, as did regulars at Vale Park.
David Healy wore them with a No To Racism message, a Northern Ireland badge and an Umbro logo.![smile.gif]()
So theyve been worn in the World Cup. Weve come up with a billboard on some of the most expensive legs in the world.
The Times
August 07, 2006
La Liga to tag along on socks
By Nick Szczepanik
WHERE THE Nationwide Conference leads, La Liga could follow. When clubs in the top tier of non-League football kick off their season next weekend, their players will be sporting a new item of equipment that could soon be worn by Ronaldinho and David Beckham.
will spark a sense of déjà vu among readers who recall the numbered sock tags that Leeds United wore in the 1970s. However, although those blue plastic tags bore only a number, the new generation serve a dual purpose one practical, another commercial.
*
The tags are attached to a new garter designed to improve players comfort. Players currently use a rigid tape to hold their socks up which allows no movement whatsoever. This new product will move up to two centimetres with a players muscles and help players avoid cramp, Russell Pointon, the former Port Vale winger who is behind the product, said. And the pennant part of it enables you to put sponsorship on it.
Ah yes, socks have been the only area of football kit free from sponsorship, but no more. A logo on referees is worth £5 million over three years, Pointon said, so whats my product worth? And the fact that it can be taken off, autographed and given away to supporters at the end of the game has got to be worth a fortune for football clubs.
The Conference has spotted that, and Sockatyes has the rights to sell the advertising for all 20 teams in La Liga. An advertisement on Ronaldinho and Beckham is worth a fortune. La Liga will make it a mandatory part of players kit if we can deliver them a certain amount of money. Were now looking for that sponsor.
The FA Premier League has been approached, but has deferred a decision. Football League clubs, though, have been given permission to wear the tags and seek sponsorship, with Doncaster Rovers expected to lead the way. In fact, eagle-eyed spectators at Old Trafford for the England v Northern Ireland World Cup qualifying game last season had a sneak preview of a prototype, as did regulars at Vale Park.
David Healy wore them with a No To Racism message, a Northern Ireland badge and an Umbro logo.
Verner
tHe LiTtLe YeLlOw DaFfOdIl @}-,-'--
