Gay footballers not an issue for fans, says report

THE attitude of football fans towards the presence of gay players has changed dramatically in the last 25 years, according to a Loughborough University academic.
Dr Jamie Cleland’s research has revealed that 93 per cent of fans say that a player’s on-field performance, not his sexuality, is the most important thing to them.
And that shows just one example of a cultural shift in attitudes since Justin Fashanu came out in 1990 and was ostracised by former team-mates, fans, the media and even his own brother John.
Dr Cleland has done three studies into homosexuality in football – an analysis of 3,500 fans’ views towards the presence of gay footballers with Professor Ellis Cashmore of Staffordshire University, an analysis of 2,500 posts surrounding homosexuality on fan message boards, and an analysis of the print media’s reaction to Anton Hysén coming out in March 2011.
Dr Cleland said: “The conclusion from all three studies is that the environment in football is a lot more inclusive towards sexuality than is being reported.
“It’s changed dramatically since the 1980s and 1990s, but there is always a vocal minority – and they are very vocal.”

Fans needed to tell their stories to FIFA and co.

AN ACADEMIC is calling for football fans to have their say on the bodies that run the beautiful game.
Dr Borja García, from Loughborough University School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, wants about 35 supporters from clubs all over the UK to keep audio/visual diaries this year.
He already has about 16 volunteers to use a specially designed smartphone app to record their thoughts, but he needs more from the Championship and lower leagues to create a more balanced sample, to find out if fans feel sidelined by the way the sport is managed, from club boards up to the FA, FIFA and UEFA.
Real Madrid and Nottingham Forest fan Dr Garcia said: “Sport, and football in particular, is an important part of our European identity.
“By understanding how supporters engage with existing governance structures, and what they think of them, we hope to develop a picture of the changing face of football in Europe.
“Supporters should be an asset for their clubs and they deserve to be listened to.”
Anyone interested in getting involved should visit www.supporters-direct.org/homepage/research/free-project/

Nike Academy finds permanent home in Loughborough

LOUGHBOROUGH has been chosen as the base for one of the biggest sport brands in the world to host an academy for potential professional footballers.
The previously-nomadic Nike Academy is a full time squad of U20 players who have been selected to train together and play against numerous teams from the academies of professional clubs.
They hope the players will impress professional clubs enough to take them on themselves – which has already happened to graduates Ryan James at Oxford United and Tom Collins at Stevenage Borough.
The 22 players in the Academy are from across the UK, and for the first time are joined by international team mates from Belgium, France, South Africa, Ghana, Korea and Australia.
Many have been on the books of professional clubs including, Tottenham Hotspur, Peterborough United and Watford but have been released. The Academy is being seen as the way to get them back into the game.

International job for Loughborough coach

A COACH is making the step up from the non-league Midland Football Alliance to a World Cup Qualifying campaign.
Tom Curtis, head football coach at Loughborough University FC, has been appointed Technical Director and Head Coach of the Antigua and Barbuda FA, ranked 101 in the world.
Rather than battling it out with the likes of Coalville Town, Dunkirk and Tipton Town, Curtis is charged with qualifying for Brazil 2014, taking part in the Caribbean Cup, and running the islands’ professional side, Antigua Barracudas, which will competing for the first time this year in the American professional leagues.
He said: “It is a wrench to go but the chance to lead and shape the football future in an ambitious country like Antigua and Barbuda is a once in a lifetime exciting opportunity and a professional challenge which it is impossible to pass up.”

No charges over Ashley Cole shooting

POLICE have dropped their investigation into England defender Ashley Cole’s accidental shooting of a town student on a Chelsea work experience placement at the club’s training ground.
Cole allegedly shot Loughborough University student Tom Cowan with an .22 air rifle on February 20, and Surrey police officers visited the Cobham facilities and interviewed club staff to get to the bottom of the matter last week.
Cowan did not press charges and left-back Cole has escaped a police charge, according to reports.
Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has said “appropriate action” has been taken – believed to be a fine in the region of £250,000.

Loughborough student shot to fame by Ashley Cole

A LOUGHBOROUGH University student has been shot to fame after England footballer Ashley Cole accidentally gunned him down at Chelsea’s training ground – to the amusement of his friends back in the town.
Work experience placement student Tom Cowan, 21, who is studying sports science at Loughborough University, was shot by England and Chelsea left-back Cole at the club’s Cobham training ground in Surrey on Sunday, February 20.
According to reports the footballer had accidentally discharged his .22 air rifle with a muzzle and nightscope air rifle in the dressing room and shot the work experience placement from five feet away.
Chelsea medical staff treated the gunshot wound at the club, and a hospital visit was not required. Police have said they may investigate the incident.
Although Tom has been keeping a low profile since the incident, friends have been making light of the situation. Ewan Paterson said: “I haven’t spoken directly to Tom but he’s alright, it must be quite overwhelming for him.
“I played football with him last year, and the guys on the team are finding it quite amusing.”
Lucy Hopkins, Students’ Union President, said: “We’ve contacted him to check he’s alright. Chelsea have asked him to keep quiet about the whole incident, but it’s been quite amusing to all his friends – they’ve all been posting jokes on his Facebook wall.”
It has been speculated by national newspapers that a £250,000 fine has been imposed on Cole, while Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has said “appropriate action” has been taken.
A spokesperson for Loughborough University said: “We are in contact with both the Club and Tom and have offered him and his family every possible support from the University.
“We understand that Tom is recovering well.”

Socking it to metatarsal injuries

A LOUGHBOROUGH graduate believes he has lifted the curse of the broken metatarsal with a revolutionary new sock.
The likes of David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Xabi Alonso and Michael Owen have all ­suffered the injury, but thanks to the Metasox invention from Chris ­Niesiolowski the bone fracture may become a rare thing.
The brainchild from Chris, who broke a metatarsal while an academy player at Derby County, sees football socks padded with rubber silicon pads.
The footwear is already being used at Wolves and Barnsley.
Wolves physio Alan ­Peacham said: “They’re like shin pads for feet.
“It’s not just about players being available for matches – a lot of potential training days are missed through bruised feet.
“A lot of the players have welcomed them. Jelle van Damme wore it on international duty with Belgium.”

Final whistle yet to blow on football match’s fund-raising

A RECORD-breaking football match held in Loughborough has raised a minimum £18,000 for charity.
Organisers of the 60 hour slog for Breast Cancer Campaign – which saw the Black Eagles beat the Pink Panthers 746-656 last month – targeted £18,000 and have smashed that total, with a full figure expected around Christmastime.
Ricardo Braganza said: “We’ve definitely got £18,000. We’re so happy to reach our target, and any more that we collect will be great.
“We’ve got a signed Crystal Palace shirt which we will be auctioning online, and all the 36 players’ online donation websites run until December, so we dont know how much more we’ve got to collect yet.”
Karen Lambert, Events Executive at Breast Cancer Campaign, said: “I’m so proud of Ricardo and his team for smashing the previous world record and for raising so much money to help us continue our mission to beat breast cancer.
“They all trained for months to be physically ready for this and it’s good to see their hard work and determination has paid off.”
And another good cause is set to benefit from the match. Outdoors supplier Blacks had donated 10 sleeping bags and sleep mats for the players tro use during the event, and these were collected by Myo-Therapy, who provided massages to the players.
Now Andy Tait of Myo-Therapy would like organisations who can put the equipment to good use to get in contact before November 21.
If you would like to contact Mr Tait, call 01509 263044, and to donate to Breast cancer Campaign, visit http://www.virginmoneygiving.com/ricardobraganza

World record success after 60 hour football match

IMAGINE playing an entire Premier League campaign’s worth of football matches back to back, and then playing on for three more hours.
Two teams of 18 footballers from Loughborough did just that to smash the Guinness World Record for the longest football match ever played , completing a 60 hour goalfest last weekend in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign.
The game kicked off at Loughborough University at 9am on Friday, October 22, and when the final whistle blew at 9pm on the Sunday, The Pink Panthers had won beating the Black Eagles 756 to 746.
Organiser Ricardo Braganza, 21, said: “My team mates and I can’t believe we’re world record breakers, it’s such an amazing achievement for us.”
To contribute to the fund-raising visit www.virginmoneygiving.com/ricardobraganza

Future’s rosy for Jabulani in America

A PINK version of the Loughborough University-designed Jabulani football will be used in professional matches in America by the likes of David Beckham and Thierry Henry to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness.
The MLS league’s 16 clubs will be playing with pink balls during October, donating part of their matchday money, and decking out stadiums with pink paraphanelia from advertising boards to goalkeepers’ gloves to ballboys’ towels.
JoAnn Neale, executive vice president of MLS, said: “Breast cancer is a serious disease that affects both men and women.
“Major League Soccer is proud to collaborate with our clubs, players and corporate partners to raise awareness and support the fight against breast cancer.”