Rugby League Merchandise » English Premier League http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com Everything you need to know about Rugby League Merchandise! Sun, 27 Dec 2009 13:50:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 A Front Row Ticket to the Game http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/a-front-row-ticket-to-the-game http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/a-front-row-ticket-to-the-game#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:11:28 +0000 admin http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/a-front-row-ticket-to-the-game If there’s one reason to invest in good quality television, it’s the opportunity to watch some of the world’s best sports events live. Sports channels air interesting events from around the world, and now more than ever sports fans are choosing to stay at home to watch the game. Recent research has found that the emotion of exciting matches is not lost on those who watch from home. And it’s an exciting time to tune in to the world of sports. The RBS Six Nations Championships are currently underway, and more than ever fans are crowding into pubs and staying home to watch the rugby matches on television. Add to that the excitement that surrounds football, including the English Premier League, and there’s more reason to tune in to exceptional coverage of football on HD television. The Premier League season runs each year from August to May, and digital television brings crisp quality and outstanding visuals to fans – helping them enjoy the games even more. The Champions League also proves to be a big attraction for sports fans alike. The opportunity to see some of the best football teams from Europe play is sure to draw many sports fans to their television screens to cheer on their favourite team. Digital and satellite television also boasts the ability for sports fans to watch games and tournaments that happen elsewhere in the world. Many channels offer prime coverage of baseball and cricket, and the popularity of sports like Formula One racing are sure to increase when viewers catch the races on high definition television. Sports fans of all kinds will feel like they’re right in the crowd when they tune in to matches and games featuring their favourite teams on high definition television. And sports fans who don’t currently receive all the channels they need to watch their favourite sports, will be happy to know that the current plan for digital switchover brings more television channels into the home – meaning more sports to enjoy. Sports fans will surely see a difference when they choose to watch the game through digital television. Digital TV provides sports fans with unparalleled access to the match through HD television. And you won’t have to worry about conflicting game times either if you choose to invest in a digital video recorder. Digital recorders record everything you want to see in order to let you watch it later, so why not tune in and cheer along when you’re watching your favourite teams play live again on digital television?

]]> http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/a-front-row-ticket-to-the-game/feed 0 Footballâ??s coming home http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/footballa%c2%80%c2%99s-coming-home http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/footballa%c2%80%c2%99s-coming-home#comments Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:27:07 +0000 admin http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/footballa%c2%80%c2%99s-coming-home Football isnâ??t just the most popular sport on Earth, it is also one of the most lucrative sports too. To take the English Premier League (EPL) as an example, revenue soared to almost £2billion in the 2007/08 football season, with 11 of the top 20 teams posting an operating profit. Furthermore, the EPL is generally considered to be the most watched sporting league in the whole world, with some reports suggesting that itâ??s followed to some extent by around one billion people. This is of course the beauty of television. A top of the table Manchester United versus Chelsea match can be beamed to every corner of the earth, meaning that a football fan on the southernmost tip of Patagonia, can watch it just as easily as a sports fan sitting in a pub across from the stadium. Football and TV go hand-in-hand in the 21st century and to a certain extent, they are mutually dependable. The revenue generated by TV rights allows English clubs to buy the crème-de-la-crème of the worldâ??s footballing talent, which in turn means that footie fans are glued to their screens each week to watch the scintillating skills unfold before them. Everyoneâ??s a winner, it would seem. The only potential issue for some people is traipsing to the pub every Saturday or Sunday lunchtime to watch whatever the match of the day may be. Add into the mix the plethora of Champions League matches, international matches and even domestic matches from other top leagues such as Spain and Italy, then football fans can end up forking out rather a lot of cash in the pub. Two visits to the pub a week, at an absolute minimum of £6 each visit (probably more, howeverâ?¦) equates to almost £50 a month. Thatâ??s a lot of money to spend when all a fan really wants to do is watch their beloved football. This helps to put the cost of satellite TV into perspective. The relative cost of subscribing to Sky television on a monthly basis might just work out less than what it costs to go to the pub twice a week. Throw into the mix the plethora of other sports that are included such as golf, tennis, rugby and boxing, then it really starts to look like a sweet deal. Of course, there is the social aspect to consider too. However, football fans may be surprised to discover that many of their mates are actually quite keen for a bit of home comfort for the weekly showcase games, as it will save them money too. So a small gathering and a few quiet drinks at home could be just the tonic for fans the country over, meaning that football has well and truly come home.

]]> http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/footballa%c2%80%c2%99s-coming-home/feed 0 Brendan Hallab : Soccer Star of the Future http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/brendan-hallab-soccer-star-of-the-future http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/brendan-hallab-soccer-star-of-the-future#comments Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:48:32 +0000 admin http://rugbyleaguemerchandise.com/brendan-hallab-soccer-star-of-the-future Brendan Hallab is a Registered Player of Australian Football Players and a student at Westfields Sports High School. We would like to let you know what a typical week consists of for this talented 14 year old defender and his family. 

 

Brendan started his high school years at Westfields Sports High School in year 7 (2007). 

 

Westfields Sports High has a reputation for producing some great sports stars, in particular; Harry Kewell, Brett Emerton, Danny Vukovic & Mark Bridge to name a few.  

 

So what’s it really like to go to school with such a reputation? Let’s have a look at a typical week in Brendan’s schooling and football life.  

 

Brendan starts school at 8.48am and finishes at 3.10pm (normal school hours)  

 

There are 2 intense testing sessions per year, one at the beginning of the year and the other towards the end of year. This testing includes such things as sprints, beep test etc and the boysreceive a soccer evaluation result as per their training and testing results to indicate areas that need attention.

 

 Monday: Brendan does his normal school work and during the day also trains for 1.45 hours. He also plays his Premier Youth League football at Blacktown City Demons under coach Leo Carle. Monday nights he also trains for over 2 hours with his team.

 

 Tuesday: Brendan trains 1.45 hours before school with Westfields Sport High.

 

 Wednesday: Brendan trains 1 hour before school and does extra work on the bars and after school he trains with his Premier Youth team for over 2 hours.

 

 Thursday: Brendan trains 1.45 hours before school and has the night off.

 

 Friday: Brendan trains for 1 hour in the swimming pool as part of his own regime after school at Homebush Aquatic Center and has the night off.

 

 Saturdays is game day for the Blacktown City Demon’s defender.

 

 That’s a committed 14 year old! Now you know his schedule. We asked Brendan and his parents some questions to get into the minds of a future professional football player and his parents.

 

 How important is education to you Brendan? As I am getting older I now know that education is very important. It would be great to play football at the highest level and get paid lots of money but now I understand that I have to try to balance my school work with my soccer commitments.

 

 Mum & Dad? As far as my wife Karen and I are concerned education must presides over sport. I can tell you it was atough call when Brendan was accepted to Westfield’ Sports under the soccer program. Brendan’s schooling has always been with the Catholic education system. Karen and I supported Brendan’s decision to attend on the proviso that his school results wouldn’t suffer (so he smashed that theory achieving dux last year) allowing him to continue his secondary education at Westfield’s Sports to follow his dreamand passionthroughthe correct pathway of becoming an elite soccer player. Having played Rugby League myself at an elitehigh level I could empathise with Brendan’sgoals and seeing him go from being a sheep follower in the under 5’s (laughs), to developing throughthe ranks with a lot of hard work and being selectedin most ofall the development pathways available, I for one could see the passion in his eyes. He may notbe as flamboyant as most buthis commitment, application, dedication,work ethics, and brains on the paddock is second to none.

 

 Best part of going to the school Harry Kewell and many socceroos attended?It feels really good to know that people like Kewell, Emmerton and many others in a variety of different sportshavebeen to the school that I am at and fulfilled their dreams witha lot of hard work.I hope to do the same.

 

 Brendan’s father Fred is a Retired Police Officer and his mother Karen must be the busiest, most organized super mum. Brendan has a brother Luke aged 11 and a sister Emma aged 7, all of them sports mad!

 

 As parents, obviously you drive him to all the above, how much time/effort is required?Without doubt it is extremely difficult and without Karenit would definitely – nearly be impossible. Karen and I must communicate on a daily basis to logistically coordinate who is taking who and what time does he/she have to be somewhere! We as parents are totally committed to our kids activities whetherit’s at the highest level or not. Combining education with sport develops intelligent athletes.

 

 What is Brendan’s ultimate ambition(s)?I hope to make it overseas as a professional football player and play with some of the best players around. I would also like to achieve good academic results just in case I don’t make it and I will have something to fall back on. I want to keep training hard and work on my weaknesses and somedaymaybeI mightachieve my dream.

 

 Favourite player? Favourite team? Favourite food? Favourite TV show?My favourite football playerthat I like to watch because of my position would have to be John Terry or Rio Ferdinand. But Ialso enjoy watching Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosiveness and using his fast feet to beat opponents. My favourite team is Manchester United.My favourite food is chicken schnitzel. My favourite TV show is Simpson’s.

 

 Brendan is also off to China with Westfields Sports High School as part of his education of other cultures and of course to play football.

 

 Below are some impressive playing stats:

 

 2008 Re commences Year 8 Elite Soccer Program for 2008 – Westfield’s Sports High School.

 

 2007 Letter of retained for 2008 Blacktown City Demons U/14’s Premier Youth League.

 

 2007 Selected to represent boys U/13’s NSW Futsal Thunder Team. Football NSW Futsal State National Championships. Canberra 7-11 January 2008.

 

 2007 Selected to represent Sydney City Eagles – Football NSW State Futsal Championships – Condell Park Indoor Centre.

 

 2007 Selected to represent Metropolitan West U/13’s – NSW State Titles, Soccer NSW Albury – Wadonga.

 

 2007 Selected to represent Blacktown City Demons U/13’s Premier Youth League. Minor Premiers – Grand champions.

 

 2006 Selected to Enter Year 7 Elite Soccer Program for 2007 – Westfield’s Sports High School.

 

 2006 Selected to represent Inner West ‘All Stars FC’- Football NSW Futsal Premier League.

 

 2006 Selected to represent Metropolitan West U/12’s – NSW State Titles, Soccer NSW. Bathurst.

 

 2006 Selected to represent NSW CPS Mackillop Boys’ Football Team at the State NSW PSSA Boys’ Championships. Nelsons Bay 6 – 8 June 2006.

 

 2006 Selected to represent Parramatta Catholic Diocese.

 

 2006 Selected to represent Bankstown U/12’s Metropolitan Attack Competition. (Team Captain).

 

 2005 Selected to represent Metropolitan West U/11’s – NSW State Titles, Soccer NSW. Parkes.

 

 2005 Selected to participant Regional Excellence Program (R.E.P) – Soccer NSW.

 

 2005 Selected to represent Parramatta Catholic Diocese.

 

 2005 Selected to represent Bankstown U/11’s Metropolitan Attack Competition.

 

 Coerver Sydney Elite Squad.

 

 We would like to thank Brendan and his parents Fred and Karen for their honesty and allowing us to document a small piece of their lives to show others just what it takes to be a great sports person at a young age. We wish Brendan every success academically and in his football.

 

 

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