Pompey Celebrate 110 Years

Portsmouth launched the new 08/09 blue kit, with gold trim, which will be worn for one season only to mark the club’s 110th anniversary.

This special shirt includes an embroidered redesigned team crest with 110 years, CCC logo, and sponsor logo on center chest.

Blues chief operating officer Bruce Vandenberg said:
“The all-blue strip will commemorate the 110th anniversary of Portsmouth Football Club.

“When the club reached 100 years, difficult financial circumstances meant it was not possible to mark such a historic date significantly.

“But the huge advances the club has made in the last two-and-half years mean we can now do that for our 110th year.

“The all-blue strip already has fantastic connotations. We won our FA Cup semi-final against West Brom – played on the exact 110th anniversary of the club – wearing all blue.

“And then, back at Wembley, we won the FA Cup final against Cardiff wearing all blue.

“The club understands the importance of colours to fans. That’s why we consulted with supporter groups before the decision to wear all blue for one season was made.

“For the 2009/10 season, we will go back to our traditional home colours of blue shirts, white shorts and red socks.”

Bayern Adds a Star to Their Galaxy

In ‘07/08 Bayern stocked up on players like Franck Ribery and Luca Toni and they all came together to return Die Roten to the top of the Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal, and perhaps most important of all, got back to UEFA Champions League competition. They’ll do it in deepest blue, although the Reds reckon their new kit has nothing whatsoever in common with the color preferred by city rivals, the Blues of TSV 1860. "We went for this colour because we thought it was fantastic," commented general manager Uli Hoeneß.

Bayern inspired by Man U

"Manchester United, whose club colors are red and white, have a similar range of kit. And they have fierce local rivals who play in light blue, namely Manchester City. That was always somewhere in the back of our minds, and when adidas showed us this kit, we fell in love with the colour. And now, here it is," Hoeneß continued, going on to shed some light on the selection process for a new kit.

"adidas present us with a recommendation, which we discuss at board level. We then share our thoughts with the coach and fan club representatives.“ In the current case, 13 months passed between the first presentation and the kit becoming available in fan shops.

Bayern boast four stars

Bayern have now worn adidas kits for the last 40 years. Some years ago, the Herzogenaurach-based sports equipment manufacturer took a ten percent stake in holding company FC Bayern München AG. "It's a perfect partnership, even more intense now that it ever has been, and characterised by huge mutual trust," commented chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.

A new design element on this jersey, and also on the existing red-and-white hooped home shirt, is a fourth star above the club crest, uniquely allocated to Bayern as the sole club to have won the Bundesliga title on 20 occasions. "It's something we're very proud of," commented Rummenigge, "I don't believe any other club will make it even as far as three stars in the next decade.“

This new shirt also features a super sleek diagonal mesh weave down the front, plus it’s made with ClimaCool® - the advanced material engineered to reduce heat and moisture build-up, allowing increased comfort and performance.

The jersey looks pretty darn good, as you can tell. It won’t look as good on you (or any of the Bayern players) as it does on the dancing models in the video, but who does?

[The Offside]

‘Gers Are Ready for the ‘08/09 Season

Scotland's Rangers FC, the other half of the Old Firm, recently released their new home kit for the 2008/2009 season made by Umbro. The new shirt is traditional royal or Rangers Blue with an embroidered Rangers 5 star scroll crest on the heart, an Umbro logo on the right, and is anatomically cut to emphasize the athleticism of the modern soccer player.

It also features a hybrid neckline with no exposed seems for added comfort and a twill mesh body fabric which makes it lightweight and breathable. On the back of the shirt there’s a trilogy back panel - a new version of Umbro's lead fabric technology specifically developed to include a zonal body map mesh design - and also features a Saltire on the back neck. Also available are authentic SPL letters and numbers, so you’ll be ready to step in for the team any time.

Will Ferrell Shows the Blues Some Love

On Tuesday Night, while hocking his new movie, Step Brothers, Will Ferrell was sporting a 2003-2004 Chelsea Home Jersey on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. By the way, Jon Stewart is no stranger to the game either. But Will Ferrell is listed on Chelsea's website as being a celebrity fan so I guess it should come as no surprise that he's a fan of the game. Not to mention the movie Kicking and Screaming, in which he plays a Soccer Dad who is forced to fill in as coach for his son's team of misfits. Charming, I know. Anyway, enjoy the clip from Comedy Central...




[Unprofessional Foul]

Juve celebrate Champions League Return with New Away Strip

How will David Trezeguet and Pavel Nedved look in yellow? We’ll soon find out.

Juventus are celebrating their return to the UEFA Champions League by launching a new yellow kit. The strip will be the Serie A team’s away one when it is not possible to wear their traditional black and white stripes. The color was said to represent victory. Since returning from Serie B Claudio Ranieri’s men – or Old Ladies – have had plenty of victories, and that’s why they made a quick climb (like in the Italian Alps) back to the upper echelons of Italian soccer, where they’ve always been. Will the victorious yellow be enough to contend with The Special One and Ronaldinho in the Serie A? That’s just one of the many questions answered in the upcoming ‘08/09 season.

Kick it in the Premier League

The Barclays Premier League doesn’t kick off until next month, and who knows who will be playing there with all the wild rumours going ‘round. Speaking of going ‘round, the brand new Total90 Omni Premier League Soccer Ball is here! So, no need to wait, play in the Premier League now (or as soon as the ball comes in the mail).

The official ball of the Barclays Premier League. Designed to perfectly distribute pressure across the entire ball for a consistent, accurate and powerful strike no matter where you hit it. As close to a perfect sphere as you will ever find! The Official Total90 Omni Premier League Soccer Ball from Nike offers a cover made up of 3 layers. 1: compressed polyethylene that stores energy from impact and releases it at launch. 2: cross-linked nitrogen-expanded foam for shape retention and durability. 3: polyester support fabric for stability. And a bladder consisting of a six-wing carbon latex air chamber for explosive acceleration. This is a top-notch, premium match ball, the same ball they’ll be kicking around at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge and Anfield, thus the $129.99 price tag, well worth it you’ll see.

Gunners New Home Shirts

Arsenal have many questions during this transfer season. Are they selling or are they buying? What’s Adebayor going to do? Not even Wenger knows. One thing we do know, however, is what home shirt they’ll be wearing at the Emirates come the start of the Barclays Premier League ‘08/09 season. Yes, it’s the beauty above. I’ve always liked Arsenal’s jerseys, as they always featured some of the coolest lines, and contrasts between the red and white. This one’s no different.

http://www.worldsoccershop.com/shop-by-team-arsenal-fc-arsenal-08-09-home-soccer-jersey.html

The Official Arsenal FC 08/09 Home Short Sleeved Soccer Jersey from Nike. Hey there all you Gooners! It's time to check out the new-look Arsenal Home strip for '08/09 and this is it! The new Gunners jersey has the traditional bold red with a new touch: a cool solid white stripe down the shoulders. Spanish champion, Cesc Fabregas will look great wearing it and so will you! With the team badge embroidered in its usual location: over your heart. The Fly Emirates logo is on the center and Nike's Swoosh is embroidered on the right chest so you know this is the legitimate team article. With Nike's advanced Fit Dry for total comfort and performance, even when you're cheering on your Gunners from your couch.