Sports Finals

What do you think of the current standard of the football referees in the English Premiership? Do you think a system of video replays should be introduced to help these referees and to stop what are some important mistakes being made? These two questions are things which myself and my friends debate on a regular basis, especially after a few beers.

Do not get me wrong; I am fully aware that I have never been involved in professional football in any shape or form; I am actually involved in various projects to do with Voucher Codes, cheap mobile calls and about training for foster carers.

There was a match a number of seasons ago which sticks in my memory, a bad memory at that. It was a very important match between my favourite team Birmingham City and one of their local rivals Stoke City. It was an important match because Birmingham really needed to win the game as they were in danger of being relegated in that particular season. The three points for the win would certainly have helped them in their quest to survive.

With only around ten minutes of the match remaining Birmingham were leading a tense match by one goal to nil. At this stage one of the Stoke City footballers clattered into the B’ham City goalkeeper, who had the football firmly in his grasp, over. The ball slipped from his grasp and one of the other Stoke players kicked it into an unguarded net.

It was a mystery to many of the home supporters as to why the referee had not blown up for a free kick to Birmingham, I for one was fuming. I could not believe it and nor could any of the other Blues supporters, when the referee let the goal stand. I am normally quite a calm person but became so angry it was untrue. The next thing that happened was one of the Birmingham fans ran onto the pitch and fully punched this referee in the face. The players were taken off the pitch while order was restored.

I remember thinking at the time that this referee had deserved to be hit, but I later changed my mind, once I had had time to calm down. We are all capable of making a mistake of course.

I personally think that the overall standard of referees in the Premiership is very good and that we should start to get off these peoples back. I would however like each referee to be interviewed after each match in the same way as the football managers are. This would help the fans to understand why the referee made various decisions etc.

related article: dimensions of a football field

Soccer field is a rectangular area split in half by a center line. A circle drawn in the middle of this line which is 10 yards in diameter. According by player ages, soccer field categorized in different dimensions. This was regulated by Football Association, the first soccer organization and then followed by Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). They also standardized the soccer field dimensions that appropriate to all modern pitches.

Categorized by ages, the following are the different soccer field dimensions
read more: Different Dimensions of Soccer Fields

6-7 years old: The field is 20 yards in width by 30 yards in length. The touch line is 18 feet in length, this is the distance between goal area boundary line and the half way line. The distance from the goal area boundary to the goal line is 27 feet. The corner arc has 3 feet of radius, while the center circle has 9 feet, three times the radius of te corner arc.

8 years old: The field is 25 yards in width by 35 yards in length. The touch line dimension is 21 feet. From goal line to the goal area boundary line, the distance is 31 feet and 6 inches. The center circle is 10 feet in radius and corner arc is 3 feet.

9 years old: The field is 30 yards in width by 45 yards in length. The touch line dimension is 24 feet. The distance between goal line and goal area boundary is 43 feet and 6 inches. The center circle has a radius of 12 feet. The corner arc is 3 feet in radius.

10 years old: The field is 40 yards in width by 60 yards in length. The circle and penalty arc radius is 24 feet. Corner arc is 3 feet in radius. Penalty arc is 72 by 36 feet. The goal area sizes is 36 by 12 ft, while the distance from the penalty spot to the mid-goal is 24 feet.

11 years old: The field is 50 yards in width by 80 yards in length. Penalty arc and the circle radius is 30 ft. Corner arc is 3 feet. The penalty arc is 80 x 50 feet. Goal area is 52 x 18 feet, while the penalty spot is located 30 feet measured from the mid-goal.

12 years old and above: The field is 70 yards in width by 100 yards in length. Penalty arc and the circle radius is 30 ft. Corner arc is 3 ft. Penalty arc is 72 x 36 feet in dimensions. Goal area dimensions is 60 x 18 feet, and the penalty spot from mid-goal is 36 feet.

The playing field is marked with lines called field markings. These lines are at least 4 inches (10.16 cm) in width, and not more than 5 inches wide.

Do you think Michael Owen is past his best? Should Michael still be playing for the English national side? Has Michael Owens injuries affected him too much? Has Michael lost some of his passion to the play at the top level of the game? In this article I give my own opinion about these questions, I hope you enjoy the read.

Michael Owen burst onto the international football stage with what can only be described as a wonder goal against Argentina in the World Cup. He sure was fast at this stage of his career and could leave the majority of defenders for dead. Many people believed that the future for Michael, his football club and the national team was a bright one.

At this stage I should point out that I am not and have not ever been involved with professional football. In my working life I am involved with offering therapy stuttering, selling composite front doors and also offering advice on jobs in foster care.

Going back to Owen, he played for Liverpool for many years and scored lots and lots and goals. A couple of years ago he moved clubs to Real Madrid. At Madrid he did not in my opinion seem to get much a chance, however his goals to games ratio was still very impressive. During this period Michael started to have a few problems with niggly injuries. For whatever reason this player has been unable to stay free from injury for any great length of time~For whatever reason this player has been unable to stay free from injury for any great length of time}. Last season he moved clubs again with a big money move to Newcastle United. This renewed the famous partnership that he had in the English national team with the one and only Alan Shearer. Owen however has played only a handful of games for his new club due to his fitness levels.

It seems that Owen is now on his way back and think that Michael is way past his best, I think that due to the fact that he is not getting any younger and all of the injuries he has sustained, that he has without doubt lost some of his electric pace. He is however and should remain for a number of years to come a potent and top striker but whether he is still world class remains to be seen.

Michael Owen has never in my opinion let England down. Michael just seems to have that nack of being in the right place at the right time; that is of course what has made him into the World class striker that he once was and what some people still think he is - just ask Sir Alex Ferguson for example. I would prefer to see Michael come off the bench for say the last thirty-five minutes of matches instead of starting the games. I think England should have lanky Peter Crouch with another pacy striker such as Theo Walcott to really rough up and bruise the opposition. Michael could then come on when they are starting to become a bit weary.

I do not think Michael Owen has lost any of his passion or desire to play for club or country. In fact I think the opposite is true. He will be itching to get back to somewhere near his best and will be very determined to help his country to win the World Cup.

Acquiring  Manchester United tickets for a home game not only lets you to see one of the most exciting clubs in Europe play live, but also lets you experience the atmosphere at Old Trafford, also known as the Field of Dreams, home ground of the Red Devils, parade ground for the Red Army.

Fans have been buying Manchester United tickets to their home games at Old Trafford, since 1910 (except for 8 years after it was bombed during World War II).

The stadium was named Field of Dreams by one of its most renown players Bobby Charlton.   

In 1966, Sir Robert “Bobby” Charlton, won the World Cup and was also named European Footballer of the year, in part because of his famous midfield attacks and his ferocious long-range shots.

Able to seat over 76,000 Manchester United ticket buying supporters, Old Trafford is the second-largest football stadiums in England and it is one of the two stadia in England to have been given a  “UEFA elite stadium” five-star rating by UEFA.

Old Trafford has hosted many FA Cup semi-final matches as a neutral venue and a few “English national football team” England international fixtures.

It has also hosted matches during the “1966 FIFA World Cup”  and  “UEFA Euro 1996″  and the “2003 UEFA Champions League Final”.

The Old Trafford pitch is surrounded by four stands, officially known as the North, East, South and West Stands.

Three out of the four stands have at least two tiers, except the South stand which has just a single tier.

The lower tier of each stand is split into Lower and Upper sections, the Lower sections having been converted from standing room only terraces in the early 1990s.

The West Stand at Old Trafford is the most famous, and is known as the  Stretford End.

Originally designed to hold 20,000 fans, the Stretford End was the last stand to be covered and also the last remaining all-terraced stand at the ground before the forced upgrade to seating in the early 1990s.

Stretford End is where Manchester United’s most die-hard supporters, known as The Red Army are located.

Most of the noise and atmosphere at Old Trafford comes from this stand, and once the roar from the fans there was measured as louder than that of a jumbo jet lifting off.

Unless you’ve been subscribing to your season Manchester United ticket for many years  it is impossible to get a seat in the Stretford End, even for the most die-hard fan.

Manchester United’s Red Army was once the biggest and most infamous group of followers British football has ever seen.

When the Red Army followed Manchester United to an away game, the town would fall into chaos: large numbers of fhe Red Army would travel en-mass by train, coach, car or even by foot if necessary, doing whatever it took to get to the game.  

During the mid-seventies when Manchester United had been relegated from the top flight of English football and played in the  “Football League Second Division” Second Division for one season, the Red Army caused such chaos at games around the country when visiting stadiums where they would often outnumber the home fans, that it led to the introduction of segregation and fencing between of home and away fans at football grounds throughout England.

These days, the Red Army is quite different to what it was in the 1970’s & 80’s.

This Manchester United supporters club, now has a fan base of over 300 million fans across the world.

The huge number of Manchester United supporters, all of whom would like to visit Old Trafford, both to see a live game and to experience the atmosphere there, result in it almost always being difficult to buy Manchester United Tickets.

For many years youth football has been around. Both of my boys play on a youth football team in a small town in Ohio. Their father coaches their team. Their grandfather coached their dad when he was young and played on the very same football team.

Our football teams practice every night during the week and a game every Saturday. Why I allow this sport to consume me for two months during the fall sometimes amazes me, but then I really know why. The lessons that my boys learned playing football can’t be taught in the class room or by rough housing at home. These lessons the boys learn are lessons the boys will carry with them all their lives.

Hard Work Pays Off

Every night my boys are pushed to work hard and do their very best. Their coaches make it very clear that those who work hard will get to play and those who goof off wont. The boys learn quickly that the coaches mean business when they stick to their guns. At season end, it is almost impossible to find a child at practice who is not trying his very best. This is because they know that if they are doing their best at practice, they will get more time to play in the game.

You Don’t Always Win, but Winning Feels Good!

Sugar coating life to my kids is not something I do because it really does not help them in the long run. Success in life can be accomplished when parents comgratulate their kids for accomplishing something. Have you ever been congratulated by your boss for almost making a sale?

Not winning every time is a precept that my boys understand. Losing is not something that they like. A lesson my boys have learned is to strive to win. Learning this lesson is one the the most valuable lessons they could ever learn.

The Value of Teamwork

Youth Football h as taught my boys the value of team work. They have learned that is takes a group of people to make things happen. My kids have learned that is they need help with something, they need to ask for help.

My kids can use this principle now, and in their adult lives. Working well with others is an important aspect of many jobs. Teamwork is a skill that is valued highly in the work place. Many companies could be more profitable if their employees could learn teamwork.

Be Accountable For your Actions

Many children have a hard time being accountable for their actions. They always have an excuse for their actions and blame others for their actions.

Through football, my kids have learned to be accountable for their actions. If they cause the team to get a penalty, it is something they need to own up to. There is no blaming others.

Responsibility

Football has taught my children that they must be responsible. For practice and games, they need to show up every day in full equipment. If not they will have to suffer consequences (i.e. Jumping Jacks). This is another awesome lesson that will pay huge dividends as the child matures into adulthood.

To encourage the team for their hard work and dedictaion, the coaches usually give the team football team gifts at the end of the season.The kids usually poole their funds to purchase a personalized football coaches gift as a thank you for the coaches.

Lessons learned in football are lessons that can be taken and used in everyday life.

NFL fans from California are familiar with a lot of Oakland Raiders trivia, as they are one of the older and more established teams in professional football. Originally a part of the AFL, an Oakland Raiders quiz will show that they were part of the merger that created the NFL as we know it in 1970 when the AFL and the NFL joined, and they now play in the AFC West division.

The first few years of the Oakland Raiders were a little bumpy, but Al Davis was going to represent the turning point in the organization. An interesting piece of Oakland Raiders trivia is they had the youngest general manager and head coach to date in pro ball, and that Al David who at only 33 years of age took over those positions for the Raiders. This is when the team also adopted their famous silver and black color scheme, which remains their colors today. His first year was rough as he implemented his new policies, and his new offense, but his second season showed an impressive 8-5-1 record.

Another Golden Era for the Raiders was under the head coaching of John Madden, who was their coach during the seventies, and they would win their division six times during that decade.  It was in 1976 that the Raiders would win their first post merger Super bowl, as Super Bowl XI was a win by 32-14 over the Minnesota Vikings. Their next Super Bowl would come in 1980 over the Eagles. The third came in 1983. The ‘83 win is important to note as it was a Super Bowl win by the Los Angeles Raiders, as the team had moved to L.A. By then and would stay until its return to Oakland in 1995.

Unfortunately, an Oakland Raiders quiz today will not show many positives for the trouble plagued team. The last decade has been a long string of losing seasons, coaching and player turnovers, and many other problems for the team. 2002 was their last great year, in which they played in their last Super Bowl to date, and in which they went 11-5 in the regular season. In the seasons from 2003-2008, they have finished last in their division every year, except for 2008. They have two dubious records, one being the team to win the fewest games in those six years, and to be the only team to lose 11 games or more in six straight seasons.

The Super Bowl is now known as essentially the ultimate sporting event in the world. Super bowl trivia will show that it was created as a championship game between the two professional football leagues in the US when they finally merged the rival leagues. The original football leagues were the NFL (National Football League) and the AFL (American Football League). The two leagues had to constantly battle for viewers, supporters, and overall personnel, in an attempt to capitalize on the popularity of both teams. Finally, the decision was made to merge into the NFL in 1966. The new league would still be called the NFL, and a Super Bowl quiz will show that the first game was played in 1967.

The game was originally a championship game between the two leagues. The merger wasn’t fully completed until the seventies and each previous league became one conference in the NFL. The Green Bay Packers were the most dominant team in the early years of the merger, and would win the first two super bowls. No one was sure if an AFL team was going to be able to compete against the more established NFL teams, but the third Super Bowl would see an AFL team, the New York Jets, take home the ultimate prize.

Although Super Bowl trivia will show that the date of the game has changed several times over the years, the game is now scheduled for the first Sunday in February. This is known as Super Bowl Sunday, and is practically a holiday in the US. The actual Super Bowl game ranks as the most watched television show of the year in most years.

A Super Bowl quiz will show that the trophy which is won by the team who wins the Super Bowl is known as the Vince Lombardi trophy. Vince Lombardi was the coach of the dominant Green Bay Packers during the early days of the Super Bowl, and most would argue the most well known coach of all time in the NFL.

The NFL, and Super Bowl wins, has been dominated in turns by a few of the more legendary franchises in the history of the NFL and many teams have yet to win one. After the Packers, the Steelers, the 49ers, the Cowboys, and the Patriots have all enjoyed dominant years. There are five teams that haven’t even made it to a Super Bowl and are still playing, the Browns, Texans, Jaguars, the Lions, and the Saints.

Is Michael Owen past it? Should Michael still be playing for the English national side? Have the many injuries that Michael Owen has suffered throughout his career affected him too much? Has Michael lost some of his passion to the play at the top level of the game? In this article I give my own opinion about these questions, I hope you enjoy the read.

Michael Owen burst onto the international football stage with what can only be described as a wonder goal against Argentina in the World Cup. He sure was fast at this stage of his career and could leave the majority of defenders for dead. The future was very exciting for his club, country and of course for himself.

At this stage I should point out that I am not and have not ever been involved with professional football. In my working life I am involved with stuttering therapy, DVD authoring and also offering advice on becoming a foster parent.

Going back to Owen, he played for Liverpool for many years and scored lots and lots and goals. A couple of years ago he moved clubs to Real Madrid. At Madrid he did not in my opinion seem to get much a chance, however his goals to games ratio was still very impressive. During this period Michael started to have a few problems with niggly injuries. He has found it quite difficult to have a sustained period free from injury. Last season he moved clubs again with a big money move to Newcastle United. This saw the prospect of him teaming up again with Alan Shearer. Owen however has played only a handful of games for his new club due to his fitness levels.

It seems that Owen is now on his way back and think that Michael is way past his best, I think that due to the fact that he is not getting any younger and all of the injuries he has sustained, that he has without doubt lost some of his electric pace. He is however and should remain for a number of years to come a potent and top striker but whether he is still world class remains to be seen.

Michael Owen has never in my opinion let England down. Michael just seems to have that nack of being in the right place at the right time; that is of course what has made him into the World class striker that he once was and what some people still think he is - just ask Sir Alex Ferguson for example. I would prefer to see Michael come off the bench for say the last thirty-five minutes of matches instead of starting the games. I think England should have lanky Peter Crouch with another pacy striker such as Theo Walcott to really rough up and bruise the opposition. Michael could then come on when they are starting to become a bit weary.

I do not think Michael Owen has lost any of his passion or desire to play for club or country. In fact I think the opposite is true. He will be itching to get back to somewhere near his best and will be very determined to help his country to win the World Cup.

Getting their hands on some Manchester United football tickets is something every fan of the Red Devils hopes for. No fan will ever forget their first visit to Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United since 1910. With a capacity of 76,212, the stadium (nicknamed “The Theatre of Dreams” by Bobby Charlton) is the second largest English football stadium.

It is not easy to buy Manchester United Football tickets because of their huge following and ticket demands are always much higher than the supply. Fans who join the One United fan club can apply for tickets through a lottery which gives every member the same chance to obtain tickets for a match. Ticket brokers or ticket agencies offer an alternative to those fans who do not win tickets in the One United lottery.

Where  is the best place to sit in Old Trafford? The kind of experience offered depends on where one sits. The Stretford End (West Stand) is where the most passionate fans cheer on their beloved Red Devils.  If you are interested in singing and cheering on the team for the whole game, you will want to be in this section. The opposite end, (East Stand) hosts the visiting fans so it is a little quieter and less popular among Manchester United fans.

If you prefer to sit along the side of the pitch, the best options for you are the North and South Stands. Players and coaches are located in the South Stand which is much smaller than the North Stand and so provides a more intimate atmosphere. This is also the stand in which visiting VIPs and the media are hosted. The North Stand is quite different, standing three tiers tall and holding about 26,000 spectators. Because it is newer, it has more modern facilities including the Manchester United theme restaurant and bar. {The North Stand is popular, but if you are seated on the 3rd level {section starting with the number 4}, you are seated a good distance from the pitch.~If you are sitting on the 3rd level of the popular North Stand, in the section starting with the number 4, you will be seeing the game from quite a ways from the action.~The North Stand is popular, but if you are sitting in the section starting with the number 4, you will be on the 3rd level and will see the game from quite a distance.} You’ll also have to climb quite a lot of stairs to get to  your seat in the 3rd level.

Visiting the museum during an educational tour of the stadium (offered on non-match days only), provides a nice trip down memory lane that no Red Devil fan should miss.

Get your sporting events tickets at your concierge for global sporting events, www.premiumtickethub.com.

Manchester United Ticket prices vary depending in which section of Old Trafford seats are located. For home matches in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carling Cup, and the Champions League home matches, adult ticket prices start at 27 GBP (Great Britain Pounds) for seats behind the goal on the West and East Stands. {Great Britain Pounds for home matches in the Premier League, the FA Cup, the Carling Cup, and the Champions League for an adult ticket behind the goal on the West and East stands.} Seats in the North and South stands are priced higher, up to 49 GBP. Seniors get a big discount on tickets, paying 20 GBP for the most expensive seats down to only .50 GBP for the most affordable seats. Juniors can get seats anywhere in the stadium for 10 GBP. Because games so rarely go on sale to the general public, all prices assume the purchaser is a member of the One United fan club.

Hospitality seat tickets are available to non-members and costs range from 110 GBP to 450 GBP for one of the top matches. These tickets are usually inclusive of a program, Champagne reception and a three course meal including a complimentary bar before the game.

The secondary market charges significantly higher prices for Manchester United tickets. Manchester United tickets are usually sold for significantly higher than the face value of the tickets by most ticket agencies and ticket brokers. Before purchasing Manchester United tickets online, it is essential to research the seller, as not all of them are trustworthy. Often, those brokers which advertise the cheapest prices, are unreliable, offering tickets for sale that are not even in their inventory. Before buying any tickets, confirm with the broker that the tickets are in hand, and find out exactly when they will be delivered. Tickets for Manchester United games usually start around 100 GBP in the secondary market and can easily approach 300 or 400 GBP for great seats at one of the top matches such as the games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, or Manchester City.