soccer bible

United Against Malaria (UAM) is a community of organizations and individuals that has joined together ahead of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa to unite in the fight against malaria.

With the tournament now well under way, UAM wants you to ‘Sign the ball’ to show your support for the cause. Add your name and join the winning team that will beat malaria.

Supporters of the cause include Cameroon legend Roger Milla, USA striker Landon Donovan, Manchester City and Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure, Malian striker Frederic Kanoute and French World Cup winner Patrick Vieira.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is Africa’s World Cup and is being used as the perfect occasion to help UAM to raise international awareness of the disease. By acting now, an unprecedented increase in mosquito net coverage across Africa can be achieved by the end of 2010, saving millions of lives by the next World Cup in 2014.

Join the team at UAM by signing the ball on facebook and becoming a supporter of the campaign. Also, you can follow UAM on Twitter, like them on Facebook and check out the latest news and updates at the United Against Malaria website.

Pledge your support to end malaria and sign the ball here.

The Football League have pulled out some of the interesting stats from over the course of the season. Here are a few relating to Leeds…

44 – The number of goals Leeds United and Millwall conceded during the season, the only teams to average less than a goal a game during the league campaign.

303 – The number of shots Leeds United had on target. They were the only team to break the 300 barrier for both shots on and shots off target.

38,234 – The highest attendance in the division for Leeds United’s match with Bristol Rovers on the last day of the season.

For more stats, see the full story on The League site

Leeds United have cancelled Jermaine Beckford’s contract early following reports that he is set to join Everton.

Beckford’s current deal with Leeds was set to expire at the end of June.

But the decision appears to pave the way for the 26-year-old, last season’s 31-goal top scorer for Leeds, to seal a first move to the Premier League.

Having first said he wanted to leave at the end of last year, Leeds turned down a reported £1.5m offer from Newcastle during the January window.

London-born Beckford withdrew his transfer request soon after, but was then understood to have signed a pre-contract agreement with Everton.

Full story – http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/leeds_united/8711429.stm

HUGHES ON PODCAST

A quick note for you, Andy Hughes is on the Football League podcast talking about how it feels to gain promotion to the Championship. Listen for free HERE.

Hughes played a key part in guiding Leeds to second place in League 1 and we find out what promotion really feels like.

Hughes said: “Psychologically it is draining. We had to fight until the end, nobody said it would be easy and to be honest we didn’t want it to be.”

Leeds United striker Jermaine Beckford is named in attack after he scored the all important goal, which sent Leeds back into the Championship. Beckford’s 63rd minute strike took his tally for the season to 31 and ensured Leeds’ promotion with a 2-1 win over Bristol Rovers.

For the full League 1 Team of theWeek, click here

Manager Grayson has a fight on his hands to keep the striker who has expressed a wish to move away from Elland Road this summer.

Leeds manager Simon Grayson has not yet given up hope of being able to persuade Jermaine Beckford to stay at Elland Road.

Grayson said: “The lads have gagged Jermaine and put a contract in front of him so I don’t know if he will have a change of heart.

“If there’s a chance of keeping Jermaine within our financial constraints then we will try and keep him because he’s a fantastic player. We turned down good money in January because we wanted to win promotion. His goals have proved that was the right decision.

“He has become a hero. Whether he leaves as one is a question for another time. If we can offer him the right deal I would love him to stay.

“But if you are competing against teams from the Premier League it’s a different ball game. If he does move on he’ll do so with my best wishes because he’s been a fantastic player for us.”

The end of the season is nigh, and the final of UEFA’s newest competition is almost with us. Roy Hodgson’s Fulham have gone all the way!

To mark the occasion, UEFA have launched their new online magazine – http://uelimag.uefa.com/en/

The UEFA Europa League has proved in its debut season that many teams, and many wonderful fans, across the continent can share in the desire, adventure and glory of European football. And now Fulham FC and Club Atlético de Madrid, two of Europe’s strongest teams, meet in Hamburg. UEFA hopes this new online magazine – combining action footage, fans’ adventures and player interviews – will whet your appetite for Wednesday night.

In addition to all the other great content, the site also contains a competition to win tickets to next season’s final http://uelimag.uefa.com/en/content/#id=9.

Best of luck to the Cottagers!

The English Premier League and Championship considering standardising rules and Leeds United may have to reveal its ownership if it gets promoted. Until now only Premier League clubs have had to reveal their owners information and so Leeds in League One has managed to keep its ownership structure under wraps.

Now Premier League has proposed that the Football League should align the Championship’s rulebook with the Premier League’s as part of the plans to improve the solidarity payments and parachute settlements. Shareholders with more than 10 per cent stake will have to be listed in the respective clubs’ websites. This proposal will be put forth to the clubs by the Football League in June. The Premier League is planning to increase the parachute payments to GBP 48 million over four years from the present GBP 23.4 million over two years and there is also going to be a increase in the solidarity payments to Football League clubs.

Read more – http://www.eufootball.biz/Clubs/8190-leeds_united_ownership_may_revealed.html

Luciano Becchio has been included in this weeks League One team of the week for his performance against MK Dons.

The Argentinian set Leeds on their way to a 4-1 victory with the first goal, his fifth in four games since returning from injury. He is partnered up front in the team by Huddersfield Town’s Jordan Rhodes.

For the full team of the week, click here

Mitre reveals new Football League ball for 2010/11 season

Mitre has launched the brand new Tensile ball – the most advanced football in the world.

The Tensile is a revolution in football design and technology, comprised of just 10 panels and has over 30% less stitching. This optimises power and efficiency, improving airflow and reducing drag on the ball. This increases the average speed of a shot, making it a striker’s dream – hopefully more goals for Leeds strikers!!

The ball is the first of its kind and will be used in all Football League and Scottish Premier League matches from the beginning of the 2010/11 season.

Tensile’s graphic design is completely unique; with each of the 72 Football League clubs and 12 SPL Clubs for the new season each having their own Tensile matchballs printed in club colours and their club badge.

For more details, and to see the video, please visit – http://bit.ly/cPWSo7

After four successive defeats, Richard Naylor has done us proud with his performance against Yeovil – two headed goals in the first half secured a 2-1 victory, and those all important three points.

Each week, the Official Football League website brings you the Team of the Week. Produced by the Press Association, the Team of the Week features the eleven top performing players from each division from this weekend’s matches.

The full team can be found here