lookupsport

Following the solid and improved performance of the men who finished 5th in the Hockey World Cup, its good to see the ladies get off to a flying start too, beating China 3-2, although sterner tests lay ahead with Netherlands, Germany and India in the same group.  Let’s hope that this signals a resurgence in British Hockey following the decline over the last few years, and the debacle which saw the HA almost dissolve.

Hockey really needs to get its house in order though in order to be ready for the 2012 Olympics.  The current system of only picking International Players from the Premiership Clubs, means that it is stifling growth from within the sport.  In order to get noticed budding internationals must travel to one of 10 clubs in the UK and play on a waterbased pitch.  This means that many young players (and their parents) have to travel miles each week.  It also means that the smaller clubs lose good players early on in their careers, which lessens their own chance of attaining premiership status.  It also means that clubs are being forced to convert their pitches to waterbased  even though they may have years left in them, and will potentially lose revenue from football, which many clubs depend on for survival. (Waterbased pitches are not good for football).  Lets hope the HA sees sense and reverts to the old system whereby players were picked for their county, then if good enough for their region and then from the regional championships selected for international trials. 

Hiya

Thought I ought to introduce myself considering my name is in black and white and I can’t get out of this! I’m Anna, I’m 27, from Hull and a fan of F1 and Rugby League (have no clue about the Union element - played by those from the South and they are no match for us up north!!). I have realised that this is probably not the best time to join the blog team bearing in mind that there are 3 GP’s left and 4 RL games (including Grand Final). However, the end of the seaon is always a good bit!

Re F1 - Come on Alonso! I’m not a glory hunter (support Williams, always have deep down but realistically, they are not likely to win this season!) I just do not want Herr Schumacher to retire with an 8th World Championship. I sort of admire what he has done in the past but his dirty taxtics this season (esp Monaco) suggest that he is losing the plot and I do not want to see his smug smile on the front pages. Alonso has to get out there and prove his worth - stop mouthing off and just get on with it

Re RL - CO ME ON U ‘ULL - totally biased now - don’t care what anyone says!! After our amazing end to the season, we have to make Old Trafford and Grand Final Day. With Leeds out on Friday (how sweet was that game - losing to a drop goal again hahahahaha) and the potential for Warrington to knock out Bradford this coming Saturday, its all on. Granted we have to beat St Helens on Friday to go through automatically to final (and will have the potential to reach the final again as losers play winners of Bradford v Warrington to secure 2nd finalist spot). But why the hell not? We beat them at Knowsley Road earlier this season - one of the best games I saw (especially as that was the night I got Sky Sports at home and did not have to descend on the parents!). BRING IT ON!!

With the RL this Friday and Saturday night and GP on this Sunday - what more could a girl want!

Feel free to comment on any of the above - sticks and stones and all (but please remember I am a girl and can cry!!!)

See you soon xx

Just got back from a nice break in Portugal where I have to admit to spending Sunday in an Irish bar watching Sky’s Grand Slam Sunday with loads of other “brits abroad”.  I can use the excuse though that my girlfriend is fair skinned and needed to get out of the sun for the day, and luckily loves watching football so everybody was happy.  I was especially happy as the results meant that Pompey are still top of the league. Long may it last.

The good news on my return is that we have to new bloggers on the team.  Ally and Anna.  Ally is keen football fan and makes the journey regularly from Harrogate to Glasgow to watch his beloved Rangers (but I won’t hold that against him), and Anna is a Rugby League and F1 fan - quite knowledgable for a girl!

I’m off to watch the Europeans thrash the USA in the Ryder Cup and still banking on Darren Clarke to sink that winning putt.   

www.lookupsport.com

Well done to the England football team for thrashing the mighty Andorra 5-0 - McClaren and Terry must be wondering what all the fuss is about when people talk about the pressure of managing and captaining your country, with 9 goals in 2 games. Seriously though it was talked about on Saturday by Motson and Lawrenson, but there must be a case for having a pre-qualifier for the minnows of football e.g. San Marino, Faro Islands (well done Scotland by the way for avoiding that banana skin!), and Andorra obviously. It can’t be any fun for these guys to turn out knowing they are going to get thrashed - I guess there is an arguement for saying that like the FA Cup there is a chance of giant killing but I think at International level the gap is too great and it would be better for everybody involved to make them qualify.

Talking about pressure, how stressed did Ian Woosnam look at his Press Conference yesterday, when announcing his wild card picks? Now there is a guy who looks like he wont be sleeping much in the next 3 weeks. I personally don’t think he waited until a “few minutes before” to make his decision - my understanding is that he asked Westwood to play this weekend despite him having some kind of virus. That suggests to me that he wanted to pick him but though it might be difficult if he didn’t play - then bearing in mind the relationshiop he has with Clark it was a full gone conclusion that he would pick him as well. Morally given the circumstances as well as professionally this seems to me to be the right decision - what are the odds on Clark sinking the winning putt do you think?

After the excitement of the Ryder Cup announcement and the play off for the International Open (refreshing to see a competition for once!), I tuned in later that night to watch Murray qualify for the quarter final of the US Open. As much as I support and love to see British athletes in any sport succeed, am I the only one who finds it difficult to get behind Andy Murray? As I watched last night, I found myself torn although ultimately admiring his peformance. I tried to put my finger on the reason for this - I finally put it down to his anti-English comments during the World Cup. I can’t fault his patriotism one iota but I bet if asked he would call himself Scottish rather than British, and that is what I find hard to take. I personally have always got behind Scottish sports men and women, and even the Scottish football team, but find it difficult with Murray.

Fraser

www.lookupsport.com

Well done Northern Ireland for a remarkable 3-2 win over Spain, and for Scotland for a tricky victory on a difficult pitch in Lithuania.

The NI win was a definite triumph of hard work and determination to win against all the odds, expecially having gone behind twice.  Reminiscent of Sanchez’s Wimbledon side, but with the added ingredient of a touch of class.

For Scotland it was a must win game against some of the weaker competition in a strong group.  I thought the writing was on the wall when they started to complain about the pitch before the game, but in fairness they came through it comfortably despite a typical scary last 10 minutes.

Englands “ugly” 1-0 in Macedonia win was definitely that, but sees them top their group.  As the BBC team pointed out they will have to play like that again away to Croatia, Russia and Israel in order to qualify.  Can’t wait for that!  I was slightly amused by Alan Hansen waxing lyrical about how solid Terry and Ferdinand were last night and during the World Cup, and repeating that this was the solid foundation every team needs.  Although I do believe him that England do have 2 of the best centre halfs in the world, he seems to have forgotten about their complete inablity to defend from set pieces against Sweden and Portugal, and then made light of the panicky defending last night which saw the ball scrambled off the line by Ashley Cole. 

Nevertheless 3 wins for the home nations is something to cheer about.

I have to say I have mixed feelings regarding the appointment of Sir Clive Woodward as Director of Elite Athletes for the 2012 Olympics.  No doubt he worked wonders with England World Cup rugby squad but since then he seems to have had a bad fall from grace , having seemingly alienated the RFU and been overlooked for the top job there.  In addition there was his baffling move to Southampton where he has shown an inability to change sport and maintain respect.  Not so long ago there were reports of him threatening to sue SFC because he didn’t have the respect of the players in the dressing room - this from a guy who has one of his best qualities listed as “motivational”.  Strange way of motivating people in my book.  The brief he has been given is enormous - he is supposed to get to grips with the coaching methods and technique and technique for 35 sports.  Being able to understand what is required is only part of the issue as any sports player will know, and athletes tend to respect people who have done it rather than talked about it.  Team GB may not have the overpaid egotistic character of many footballers, but will still need careful handling.  I just hope Sir Clive listens to the people around him, and takes advice from the experts in each sport, rather than try and apply text book teaching across the board.  If he does I fear he, and Team GB are heading for disaster

Fraser

www.lookupsport.com

What does the increase in the super stores such as JJB Sports and the recent acquisition program of Sportsworld mean to the small independent sports retailer?

Having spoken to over 1500 such retailers during the initial set up phase of Lookupsport.com, I feel the need to sound the alarm bell.

I spoke to a number of small multi-sports shops who have been driven out of business by the likes of Sportsworld and were in the process of closing, and even more who were finding life difficult thanks to the opening of large stores in their towns.  However, this should not and must not spell the end of the independent sports retailer, but it will require a major shift in focus, and unfortunately I think that what’s required may prove too great for many.

The “problem”, (if it can be called that), with the larger stores is that they tend to focus on sports fashion rather than sports equipment -  the equipment they do stock tends to be large volume high discount, which has a market but is not suitable for everybody.  Sports retailers, who are trying to compete in this market have been and are continuing to be driven out of business, as they are unable to compete on price.

This “problem” however, presents an opportunity for the more astute sports retailer.  There has and always will be a need for small independent sports retailers willing and able to offer both specialist products and advice.  People who are serious about their sport, will always seek out these types of shop rather than go to a large chain, where the chances are the sales assistant will have little or no knowledge of the products they are selling. 

If these specialist retailers are able to embrace technology as well, they will not only be able to survive but will also be able to grow their business in the current market.  This is proven by the number of small profitable online businesses being set up selling everything from football flags to golf balls.  Many of these compete because they do not have the added cost of high street premises, while others see the internet as an extension of their current business.

Unfortunately, I have spoken to a large number of retailers, who refuse to accept the advance of the internet.  One retailer told me “Don’t speak to me about the internet, it’s ruining my business”.  Unfortunately this is symptomatic of the British nation’s attitude to change of any kind, no matter how big or small. From the switch to the metric system, to the introduction of chip and pin and more recently the change in the postal system, anything which challenges the way things “used to be” is met with horror and outrage.

Other retailers have admittedly accepted that the internet is here to stay and have decided they need to have a website of their own.  However, in the main they have committed the money and paid anything from £5000 and above for a website, but have not committed the time and energy to marketing it.  They either believe, or have been led to believe that once the site is launched it will be miraculously found by thousands of buyers anxious to part with their money.  This is simply not true as anybody with a successful online shop knows.  As with any other business the key to success is in the marketing.  Having an online store and not having a clear marketing strategy is like having a high street shop stuck in the middle of nowhere, and having it boarded up 7 days per week, so that nobody even knows what it’s called or that it’s even open.

So what’s the answer? 

It’s clear that the internet is here to stay and in the right hands is a powerful tool, helping retailers to keep up with the competition and potentially enabling business growth. 

However, retailers who have closed their eyes to the internet will need to open them quickly or face extinction.  The younger generation have grown up with the internet and see it as an integral part of their life, and as current research shows the trend of online sales is increasing year on year.  An attempt to resist this will lead to failure.

Those retailers that have already invested in a website need to put a clear marketing strategy in place.  This could involve employing a Search Engine Optimisation expert, or a consultant (and there are thousands around willing to take your money), or they could invest some of their own time and hard work into this quite complex area.  As a very minimum, they should be looking to take advantage to as much free or low cost advertising as possible.  Many directories for example, offer a free entry with an option to upgrade to an enhanced listing.  As with all marketing, the results should be measured and more time effort and money invested in those which bring in business.   They should also set aside a budget for a Pay Per Click (PPC) campaign. Again, PPC is a complex area, but once the basics have been mastered, the hard work will be rewarded, with an increase in business and significant Return on Investment.

One thing is clear.  It is the high street retailers, who understand the internet and see it as an extension of their business, who will succeed - especially if they are able to specialise within a certain sport or area of sport.  Unfortunately those retailers, who refuse to open their eyes and see that the internet is here to stay, or who do not develop a clear online marketing strategy are destined for failure.

www.lookupsport.com

Is it me or does anybody else get fed up when watching golf whenever our American cousins are in the crowd.  The constant shouting of “get in the hole” after every shot - even when its a drive on a par 5 - grates beyond belief.  It not only displays a complete lack of intelligence and imagination but is an assault on the ear drums of anybody else within earshot.  The excitement of the Ryder cup will only make this worse as the previous 2 have demonstrated.  The only upside is that Tiger himself gets annoyed with it and in his current form we need all the help we can get.

Fraser

www.lookupsport.com

I’m pleased to announce the launch of our first Free Prize Draw, giving sports clubs the chance to win £500 of Lucozade Sports products. 

We are also planning a number of other of fun competitions as well as some changes to the home page to make it more user friendly.  This will hopefully be up later this month.

Overall, August has been an excellent month with the statistics for the site increasing by 300% thanks to a successful google campaign.  Early stats for September show that we will smash through the August figures as well so all is going very well, and will only continue to improve thanks to the changes we are planning.

Fraser

www.lookupsport.com