2013 Red Bull v Houston Dynamo

2013.06.30 Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

A sunday afternoon game saw the Red Bulls defeat the Dynamo 2-0 on goals from Fabian Espindola and Jonny Steele, to move into second place in the Eastern Conference. Red Bull's substitute Peguy Luyindula made some exciting plays in the second half...

The sold out game (attendance - 25,483) was broadcast on ESPN2. The Red Bulls gave away a red t-shirt "all in for red" before the game and kept announcing that fans should put on the shirt for the ESPN broadcast. Although not a great design, it is a cool experience to sit amongst everyone in red cheering for the home team. The "x" on the ticket was how the staff knew you were handed a t-shirt...

We could not find a game program, I guess they assume everyone attending has a smart phone and can look up the game information. Although my son did that, he said he preferred having game program to look at...

After the game promotional cards (4.5 x 6") with Thierry Henry announcing upcoming games were handed out. The back promotes a viewing party under the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Budweiser Commemorative Bottles

TORONTO, Feb. 21, 2013  - To kick off the 2013 Major League Soccer season, Toronto FC and Labatt Breweries of Canada have announced a new, exciting partnership under the Budweiser brand, the official beer partner of Toronto FC and BMO Field. The partnership, among other things, gives Budweiser - along with Bud Light, Stella Artois, Alexander Keith's and Michelob Ultra - the pouring rights at BMO Field.
To help celebrate this new partnership, Budweiser will launch a commemorative Toronto FC-branded Budweiser aluminum bottle at LCBO locations in the GTA beginning February 25.

A special edition, commemorative Budweiser bottle in collaboration with Vancouver Whitecaps FC will be available this summer. This limited edition aluminum bottle is specifically designed with influences from Whitecaps FC’s 2013 kit and will appeal to every passionate ’Caps fan. It incorporates Whitecaps FC’s color scheme, mountain peaks from the logo, stripes from the kit, and the ‘Caps slogan, “Our all. Our honour.”

The official launch party for the limited edition Budweiser Whitecaps FC bottle will be at the away match viewing party this Saturday, June 29 at The Pint Pub

New England Revolution - Kevin Alston : 2013

2013.06.08
A limited number of bobbleheads will be distributed at the entry gates Sunday June 8 when the Revolution face DC united. Fans are encouraged to enter the stadium early!

The Soccer Man - Sports Illustrated

Sports Illustrated June 10, 2013...It is not unusual for SI to have some small soccer blurb in the magazine, but this issue features 4-stories. As part of the scorecard portion of the magazine mention is made of Brian McBride's goal in the 2002 World Cup against Portugal. Next is a fine article on Jurgen Klinsmann selection of Clint Dempsey as US team captain in "Captain In a Crunch" by Grant Wahl. then there is the Dan Patrick Interview "Just My Type" with LA Galaxy's Robbie Rogers.

By far the most touching story comes on the back page Point After feature by Phil Taylor "The Inspiring, Tragic Journey of The Soccer Man". Richard Swanson had planned to dribble a soccer ball from the Space Needle in Seattle to Rio for the World Cup, using a One World blue soccer ball. The walk came from the passion of the game and to promote the One World Futbol Project. Unfortunately 14 days into his journey, in which he found generous public support, he was killed when he was hit by a truck on the roadside...

A sad ending to a hopeful dream, one that will touch the lives of may people for years to come...

Los Angeles Galaxy - Landon Donovan : 2013

May 5 Los Angeles Galaxy v Houston Dynamo at the Home Depot Center, fans received a Landon Donovan Bobblehead...

Philadelphia Union - Star Wars T-shirt

Join the Philadelphia Union

as we go galactic with our Star Wars theme game,

Saturday May 4th at 4PM

"May the Force be with DOOP!"

As we take on the Emerald Empire of the Seattle Sounders

2013.05.04 - The Union host a Star Wars theme night - with the purchase of 4 tickets, fans get 4 limited edition Union-Star Wars t-shirts. A limited number of shirts also available for purchase at PPL Park with profits benefiting the Philadelphia Union Foundation

Metrostar fan club patch

Back when my boys were younger they were members of the Mighty Metros fan club. This was a great promotional tool for the clubs to bring kids to the stadium. Members could earn points by attending games and earning jerseys, soccer balls, training sessions, autograph sessions, player trading cards or stickers. The Metrostars were not the only club to have a kids based club.

Currently a review of the MLS clubs show that the Chicago Fire offers a free kids club for fans 14 and under.

The Philadelphia Union offers a Junior Supporters Club at three prices ranging from $35 to $130.

Real Salt lake Kids Club with a $5 membership fee for a signed player photo and birthday greeting. Members receive a promotional item on Kids Club game nights...

Old man rant: I personally think it is a shame that the MLS clubs forget the kids, the foundation of their future fans. Their web-sites seem to focus on their academy teams (which will accommodate a very small percentage of kids going to see a game), their supporters (adult fan clubs that offer great support for the teams) and their training camps... I understand that these are businesses out to make money, but I always wonder why they only focus on the big dollar and not the little guys who will be their future fan base...

Pele - Pepsi patch

Promotional patch from Pepsi featuring Pele's signature (from around 1975) measures around 3.75 x 4.5 inches. have not been able to find out any information on this item, other than Pele did advertising for Pepsi...

Found this ad on several web searches...

2012 - LA Galaxy Championship Ring promotion

2013 - LA Galaxy are offering a commemorative 2012 MLS Championship Ring to 17,000 attendees to their game against Sporting KC on April 20, 2013. the rings are distributed courtesy of Konica Minolta, Time Warner Cable Sportsnet and Time Warner Cable Deportes.

2013 NY Red Bull v DC United

2013.03.16 Red Bull v DC United, Red Bull Arena, Harrison, NJ

The Red Bull opening day for the 2013 season brought the sparse crowd little excitement amid the snowy afternoon. Although Red Bull had more opportunities outshooting DC 24-4, including 2 crossbars, both from Fabian Espindola, neither team could get the goal that would give them the win. Bill Hamid was in goal for DC and Luis Robles was in goal for the Red Bull.

The game started with the traditional game ball being delivered by the Red Bull Air Force parachuting onto the field. Although by now this felt old when it was announced, there is still a thrill of seeing these parachutists landing on the pitch, while watching from the helmet cams as they descend.

As the game started the snow started as well. A light but constant snow that did not effect the play. The game however proceeded to degrade as the players continued to play the body even after the first yellow card was issued against the Red Bulls in the 25th minute. Red Bulls would collect 3 yellow cards to none for DC.

We talked about the inconsistency of the Red Bulls organization and their inability to build a cohesive team. I pointed to the fact that the 2013 team only has Henry, Dax McCarty and Roy Miller who have been with the organization since 2011. Red Bull always seems to be cleaning house, but they have yet to build the foundation.

The Red Bulls no longer provide a game program, instead they offered a scorecard (9x5.5 inches) that has a very plain design. The inside features the roster of both teams, providing number, position, games played and goals/assists, and Red Bull Facts like this is Mike Petke's first home game as head coach.

The back of the program did offer a nice profile and photo of Thierry Henry. Should anyone get the chance to meet him and obtain an autograph this is a nice item to have signed.

The 2013 game schedule again offers a limited (boring design) and is posted with other Red Bull schedules. Even the ticket stubs design offers little in the way of style...

2004 MetroStars Coaches Club

2004 the MetrtoStars announce the Coaches Club, for all our us aspiring youth league coaches, who needed all the help they could get. Upon joining membership included the Official Membership Card and a set of practice cones.

Events were scheduled which included an "In-Game Training Session" which consisted of a 90-minute session at Giants Stadium conducted by MetroStars Player Development Coaches, followed by an analysis of the training session.

Another event was a behind-the-scenes look at a Metros training session as conducted by Coach Bob Bradley...

1989 Hillsborough Disaster Charity Record

I received a text from Mike, who is away at college, asking if I knew about the Liverpool 96. I had some idea but not enough. Now the news was breaking that the truth the British police and other public agencies covered up and misrepresented how 96 Liverpool supporters were crushed to death due to overcrowding at Hillsborough...

In April 15 1989 Liverpool was playing Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough, Sheffield, England. Shortly after kick-off, an influx of Liverpool supporters caused a barrier to break resulting in a massive crush of people. 96 supporters would die from the resulting crush, only 14 were admitted to the hospital. At the time of the incident the blame was placed on the unruly fans. The Taylor report from 1990 concluded the main reason for the disaster was the failure of police control...

2012 Hillsborough Independent Panel reported that 41 of the 96 might have been saved, due to failures by emergency services and public bodies which contributed to the death toll

In May 1989, a charity version of "Ferry 'Cross the Mersey", written by Gerry Marsden, was released in aid of those affected by the Hillsborough disaster. the song was recorded by Liverpool artists The Christians, Holly Johnson (Frankie Goes to Hollywood), Paul McCartney (The Beatles), Gerry Marsden (Gerry and the Pacemakers) and Mike Stock, Matt Aitken, Pete Waterman (SAW). The single held the #1 spot in the UK for 3 weeks.

I searched ebay to find a copy, which I was lucky enough to do. The 45rpm record arrived today. Although this has nothing to do with American based soccer, I wanted to share this amazing piece of soccer history...

The reverse side features the song "Abide with Me" - Terence Duffy on organ, Philip Duffy, master of music. Sung by the Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral Choir.  Liverpool and Everton football teams and representatives were in the congregation..April 16, 1989 Sunday evening mass at Liverpool's Catholic Cathedral...

2012.12.17 A new charity single was released to assist the Hillsborough families' fight for justice. Participating in the recording sessions of the song "He Ain't heavy He's My Brother" were Kenny Daglish, Paul McCartney, Gerry Marsden, Glenn Tilbrook, Holly Johnson John Bishop, Alan Hasen, Robbie Williams, Beverly Knight, Mel C, Paloma Faith, Rebecca Ferguson, Peter Hooton, John Power, Dave McCabe, Robbie Williams, Eliza Doolittle, Ren Harvieu, Jon McClure, Shane MacGowan...

Daglish hoped the single would provide tremendous reassurance to the families, if the public got behind the single...the families have suffered enough...

Originally posted 2012.10.22, updated 2013.01.13

Mighty Metros Fan Club

2001 Fan Club Membership Card...

2002 Fan Club Membership Card

side of the card had punchouts for promotional events - Team Poster (4 dates), Modell's T-shirt (3 dates), Snickers boot bag (3 dates) and autograph session (2 dates)...

2003 Fan Club Membership Card

bottom of card has punchouts for promtional events - Modell's T-shirt, replica jersey, replica shorts, replica socks...

2004 Fan Club Membership Card

bi-fold card - inside of card had placements for stickers to earn points to collect promotional items -

Poster, club patch, T-shirt, on field during warm-ups, ball-kid for a day, practice with a Pro...

A table was set up at each game for members of the fan club to check in and receive player trading cards or stickers as well as other promotional items...
Thought the Metros did a great job of promoting the game for kids...

KoDoTo mini figurines

David Beckham - LA Galaxy mini figure

Recently notice that the local soccer shop was carrying these KoDoTo mini figures, featuring the likes of Wayne Rooney, Stephen Gerrard, Messi, Buffon, Iniesta, Balotelli, van Persie, Ronaldo, Giggs, Lampard, Kaka, Fabregas, Xavi, Robben, Tevez, Ribery, Bale and others. Players come in club or national team uniforms. The figures are about 2.5 inches with the head almost half the size of the overall figure.

There are 2 David Beckham figures that I have located on-line, both the only figures to wear the MLS LA Galaxy uniform. The first, which feautres Beckham smiling,  in an all white Galaxy shirt.  The second features a more serious Beckham in a white with blue striped Galaxy jersey.

Kodoto Football Figure facebook page

Shenzhen Kodoto Toy Co. is a manufacturer from China, specializing in design and production of popular sports figures ( I have seen basketball players and a special Steve Jobs figure).  

2012 FC Dallas - Halloween

2012 - FC Dallas is offering Halloween pumpkin stencils on their website at FC Dallas Pumpkin Pitch.
Designs include the FC Dallas steer logo (above), the FC Dallas word-mark and a soccer ball design from Better Homes and Gardens.

I know there are many Halloween tournaments out there, so good luck and good haunting!