The Football Season so far - League Two

With this weekend marking the first use of the 2012/13 season's yellow winter ball and with this weekend being not only gameweek 9 but also containing this season's first title battle. So there is no better time to sum up the start to the season in the Premier League and Football League in England over the next four days. In a season where we have had racism, protesting, violence, diving, fights, managerial casualties, financial takeovers and catastrophes all before the Halloween pumpkins have had faces carved into them.

Lets start in League Two. And its already looking like a case of the usual suspects this season for promotion. Currently Mad Dog Martin Allen's Gillingham top the table with a now 5 point lead over second placed Port Vale after they suffered defeat on Saturday at Northampton. At times this season Gillingham have looked the real deal, even though its so early on they are starting to emulate sides like Chesterfield and Shrewsbury in previous seasons by laying down markers early and not really looking like being caught. However this can all change, should they go on a run playing like they did at Torquay a mere week ago then it could all come crashing down and open up for the trailing pack. If the season were to end tomorrow then joining Gillingham and Port Vale in promotion would be last season's play off runners up Cheltenham Town. Cheltenham who haven't hit the form they showed last term but are still lighting up the league and will be hoping their promotion bid doesn't fizzle out and end up in Wembley heartbreak again. League newcomers Fleetwood are sitting pretty in 4^th, a position they won't take for granted but watch this space for them as back to back promotions wouldn't be the strangest thing to happen in this day and age.

Bradford, Rotherham and Torquay make up the rest of the play off positions but sides like Exeter and Burton Albion will be hoping they can recover from recent poor results to mount a serious challenge this season. Down at the bottom and the bottom side currently is Barnet. Barnet who survived on the final day last season will be hoping that the inclusion of Edgar Davids (..yes the Edgar Davids!) will help them to fight off the prospect of relegation for the second time in as many years. Other teams who need to start winning are Aldershot – the other side currently in the bottom two- Wycombe Wanderers who early on promised more than what they are showing. AFC Wimbledon, Bristol Rovers Plymouth and Dagenham & Redbridge will be hoping they have enough about themselves this season to ensure League safety for another season and can then go onto build.

Port Vale's Tom Pope has fired in 14 goals in 15 League Matches This Term

Talking points to have hit League Two so far is what looks like will finally be the on going financial saga at Port Vale. Wirral businessman Paul Wildes' Alchemy Investment Group look set to become the clubs new owners and once the £1.25 million takeover bid gets ratified by the Football League, the Staffordshire based club can finally look ahead and push for promotion and regaining League One status. The side who without the 10 point deduction for going into administration last year would have only missed out on the play offs by a point will be determined to make it this time around. The football Micky Adams' men are playing is backing up the claims the Vale faithful have made saying this is the year and in front man Tom Pope they have a striker who has more than enough ability to fire the Vale into League One this season.

To end this edition of the season so far, following the Price of Football Survey 2012 League Two showed some interesting results. For the cheapest day out you should be heading to Plymouth Argyle where the cheapest day out lies at only £19.60 with the most expensive in the division being at Gillingham where for a day out you will have to spent £28.90 but with the football they are playing it must be worth it at the moment.

Ryan Butler 

Sponsorship In Sport. Moving On?

Here is a challenge, can you name your favorite sports team main sponsor in 5 seconds? GO

The question I would like to answer is, who's fault is it in a bad relationship?

 

English Premier League side Newcastle United last week unveiled a sponsorship deal with loans company wonga.com, sparking criticism and concern because of the firm's reputation for charging sky-high interest rates. 

Should Newcastle United have agreed to such a deal knowing what could happen to their fans?

The interesting thing about sponsorship is, it is a business partnership in which both companies benefit from the others audience. In this case wonga.com could benefit from Newcastle fan, an area of England which is prone, especially in this climate, to financial troubles.

So what is an appropriate sponsorship? 

Huddersfield Town 11/12 sponsored by a local college

In my opinion a sports team, particularly a massively influential sport such as football, has a duty to promote well being through their image, and their brand.  

The perfect example? Charities, schools and anything promoting well being in the local communities in where the club are. 

The days are over when the majority of the sponsorship was the most of the income. Clubs, sports, governing bodies have the opportunity to promote invisible well being through their club. 

Long gone be the alcoholic  gambling, loan companies be gone, companies in debt and a bad omen, big money sponsorship  Come on clubs, be the local heroes!

Do you care for your clubs sponsor? LET US KNOW!