Precision teams up with McDonald’s to supply its community football programme

Precision announce a new partnership with McDonald’s to supply kit and equipment for its community football scheme.

The partnership will see Britain’s fastest growing sports brand, Precision, supply football kit and equipment to support McDonald’s restaurants and their relationships with local grassroots football clubs across the UK.

As part of the agreement Precision will also supply football strips to McDonald’s restaurants that take part in the annual McDonald’s Cup Finals – an internal five a side competition that has over 650 participating teams.

Founded in 2005, Precision has become Britain’s number one choice for specialist sports training aids and apparel - from elite professional through to grass roots level.

David Sanderson, Brand and Marketing Director at Precision, said; “We are delighted to have partnered with McDonald’s to help to support its community football scheme.

“Precision and McDonald’s are both synonymous with grassroots football across the UK, so it is the perfect match.”

For more information about Precision go to www.precisiontraining.uk.com

For more information about McDonald’s support of grassroots football across the UK visit www.mcdonalds.co.uk/kickstart

Premier League Tops Europe's Big Spenders

The English Premier League has flexed its financial muscles in the transfer market and comes out on top of the big spenders across Europe.

The Soccerex Transfer Review by Prime Time Sport has, this morning, released figures showing that the Premier League clubs spent a mammoth 52% of the total investment on players across the top 5 leagues in Europe this winter.

Premier League spending topped €150 million compared to €53 million in French Ligue 1, €42 million in Italian Serie A, €33 million in the Bundesliga and just €12 million in Spanish La Liga.

The confidence given from the new collective broadcast deals for English clubs is highlighted by the fact that the spending is also spread across more clubs in England than any other in Europe.

Whilst Chelsea and Manchester United top the European spending, with €52.8 million and €45 million respectively, Fulham (€16.3 million) and Hull City (€15.2 million) also feature in the top 10 of the biggest spenders in Europe.

Interestingly 7 of Europe’s biggest names, Arsenal, AC Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona made no investment during the winter window.

Indeed, it is the third consecutive year that Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona have made no purchases.

Chelsea – Kings of the Winter Window

The Soccerex Transfer Review by Prime Time Sport, also shows Chelsea to be the “Kings of the Winter Window”.

In the last 5 seasons Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea have had both the highest expenditure (€180 million) and most sales (€82 million) during the winter window.

This year Chelsea topped both tables again spending €45 million on players whilst recouping €62 million.

They also released the highest number of players in Europe at 13.

Importance of the loan market

The importance of the loan market is highlighted in both Serie A and the Premier League.

In Serie A 76% of the players leaving the league went out on loan to other clubs.

The Premier League recruited 41% of the new players on loan, a significant growth from 29% in 2012.

Squad sizes

As UEFA Financial Fair Play comes in to full effect, the net decrease of players in the Premier League has also reached an all time high.

The net figure of -83 in 2013 is more than double the figure for the Premier League in 2012 (40).

Italy remains the highest, however, with a net figure of -177. This is the fourth consecutive year that both leagues have shown an increasing net decrease.

Parma released the highest number of players with 40 leaving the club this winter.

The total number of players signed by the top 5 leagues in Europe was down by 14% to 257.

Overall

European spending is down 4.3% to €290 million in 2014.

However, total spending in the 2013 transfer windows is up to a record high of €2.4 billion – an increase of 32% on 2012.

Investment seems to equal improved performance – the top 6 spending clubs in the Premier League have increased their points ratio so far this season.

Esteve Calzada, former CMO, FC Barcelona and CEO, Prime Time Sport said;

“What our data reinforces is just how important the English Premier League is to global football. The fact that spending is spread across more English clubs than any other in Europe is arguably testament to the quality of football being played up and down the country and the worldwide interest in viewing it.”

Other key stats revealed in the review include;

• Manchester City is the top scoring side in Europe with an average of 2.84 goals per game, slightly ahead of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona (2.79).
• The Premier League is the most competitive league so far during the 2013/14 season with the top 3 teams collecting 71.9% of the points on average).
• Investment in new players brought better pitch performance, as all 6 top 6 spending sides of the summer in the Premier League have improved their points rate. 

Read the full Soccerex Transfer Review by Prime Time Sport go to http://mysoccerex.com/Soccerex_Transfer_Review_2014_winter_edition.pdf

Running your first London marathon like Mo Farah? Perform SGP can help!

This year, the Virgin Money London Marathon will be more hotly anticipated than ever as long distance running's biggest star and London-local Mo Farah will compete across the 26.2 mile race for the first time.

The London 2012 double gold medallist won't be the only one running his first London Marathon, however. Thousands of amateur runners will also be taking to the streets of London for their biggest physical challenge yet. Many will be fulfilling a personal goal, raising money for charitable causes or even racing in fancy dress!

Whether you will be aiming for a world record pace or simply just making it round the course, careful preparation is key.

Paul Williamson, lead physiotherapist at Perform St George's Park explains how runners can avoid illness and injury prevention by tailoring their marathon training programme. Paul highlights how nutrition, hydration, varied training programmes and sports massage are all crucial in feeling your best on race day. Read the full blog here.

In their cutting-edge Burton facility the Perform team offer a range of services tailored just for marathon runners, including a 2.5 hour Train-Monitor-Recover package.

Follow @PerformSGP on Twitter.

Find out more about all Perform St George's Park services on their website.

Trio of Wembley games sell out as NFL chief reveals UK franchise looms nearer.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell confirmed  this week, that the three NFL International Series games at Wembley are completely sold out.

Speaking at his annual address ahead of Super Bowl XLVIII, Goodell also admitted that London is ‘further down the road’ to having a permanent team.

‘I believe that the response to the third game in the UK, and the way that the fans have embraced that, sold that out in such a short period of time is just another indication that the more we give fans in the UK, of NFL football, the more they want,’ said Goodell. 

‘That's a great tribute to the fans there, and their passion.’

Read the full Daily Mail article - click here.

Follow @NFLUK on Twitter.

Find out more about the NFL in the UK here.

Are you Northern Ireland's Ultimate Fan?

As official sponsors of Home Nations football, Vauxhall are giving away the chance to become Northern Ireland’s Official Blogger for 2014!

The blogger will get the chance to publish their views, comments and opinions for 2014, as Michael O’Neill’s boys look to kick-start their Euro 2016 Qualifying campaign.

As Vauxhall’s Northern Ireland blogger they will become the official voice of the fans with their work published on Vauxhall’s dedicated football website.

For full details of how to enter, click here.

Follow @VauxhallNI on Twitter.

Like Vauxhall Northern Ireland on Facebook.