Melissa Fenlon

FA Cup rant 2/2 Having highlighted how the finance can be a lifeline to some clubs, that is secondary to the chance of holding one of the big clubs and then getting a second crack, be it home or away. The announcement, as if it's doing the EFL a favour, that the FA Cup Final will be on the penultimate weekend of the season with no EPL games on that day is also a nonsense. What happens if a Championship club gets to the final as nearly happened today? Put all the Championship games back a week or tuck the Cup Final away on a Thursday night and ignore it? How, in the words of Kevin Keegan, I would "love it" if next season two Championship clubs reach the final. "OK lads, St George's Park, pitch six and we'll kick off in five minutes. No-one's interested as it's not Premier League clubs." Maybe the answer is for the EPL to become a closed shop and staging matches all around the world. I believe the so-called "39th game remains on some people's agenda - maybe the Community Shield or perhaps the FA Cup Final. Veteran (sorry) journalists Brian Glanville and Rob Shepherd have renamed the Premier League the "Greed is Good League" and the "Greed is God League" respectively. The FA and Premier League have been uncomfortable bedfellows but someone from the FA needs to have a wird to remind them who runs the game in the game in this country. Are they afraid to? The sooner the football regulator is created and appointed the better. I know what should be top of the "In-tray". #FACup #replays #FootballAssociation #PremierLeague #EPL

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My column: For the 2024 battle for the Governor’s Cup, the heat on both coaches is high https://lnkd.in/e2KdHB25

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I am always surprised by the amounts businesses pay for marketing and advertising... and sponsorship or advertising with a football club has never been a consideration! Even a club like ours, we can deliver an audience in the millions for what is on paper a very small investment! Sport is often either not thought about when choosing a method or too expensive, as it is only the the "big" clubs who can deliver the audience required! We have a video on TikTok which gained over 3million views! #devonbusiness #exeter #exeterbusiness #northdevon #business #football #entertainment #hospitality #digitalmarketing #marketing #socialmedia #branding #advertisingandmarketing

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An experimental article from me today on The Sports Gazette, as I attempt to link the ongoing ‘Barclaysmen’ trend to the England team and how Lee Carsley has approached the job so far. Let me know what you think! #England #PremierLeague #sportsmedia #sportsjournalism

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It's a big week...Looking forward to a couple of days at Leaders in Sport talking about how the business of sport is shaping up with Neil Daugherty #LeadersWeek #LeadersInSport #BusinessOfSport

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Who else is here? A day of top level football industry talk and networking at The Etihad Stadium. Supporting the Fair Game UK cause with Niall Couper, who is on panel discussing the Football Regulator, less than a day after the second reading of the Bill in parliament. Looking forward to hearing Gareth Farrelly and Ear to the Ground amongst others. Other topics will cover Fan Engagement and Women's Football. #football #footballindustry #publicrelations #iscmanchestersummit2024

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🎩 So, what do we actually do in winter? 🏏 Ah, the classic off-season question: “What happens at a cricket club when the crowds go home and the sun disappears?” Well, here’s the thing – when the season’s over, the real work begins. Winter at Worcestershire County Cricket Club isn’t downtime; it’s where the teams on and off the field gear up to make next summer unforgettable. 1️⃣ Strategic planning mode: full throttle. This is the time for brainstorming the partnerships, experiences, and events that keep everyone excited to return. We’re not just dreaming big – we’re putting the wheels in motion so every interaction feels really welcoming. 2️⃣ Pitching. And pitching. And pitching. With partners. With local businesses. With anyone who wants to make an impact and work with us and our amazing brand. The groundwork we lay now is what ensures packed stands, unique experiences, and great sponsorship activation. 3️⃣ Event brainstorming – from concerts to sponsor activations. Winter is when we think beyond the game itself. We’re creating experiences that fill the calendar year-round and build a lasting connection with our community. 4️⃣ Ground care (and yes, dealing with the weather… and flooding). Just because the pitch is quiet doesn’t mean it’s low-maintenance! Winter is when the grounds team pulls off their own kind of magic. From monitoring every blade of grass to dealing with whatever Mother Nature throws our way, including the ever-present challenge of flooding. While others might be cozy indoors, our groundskeepers are braving the elements, keeping water at bay and ensuring the ground is ready for the players (and supporters) come summer. Winter’s constant battle with the river is a reminder that, in cricket, preparation is truly a year-round sport! 5️⃣ Team building. Winter means huddling (literally and figuratively) as a team to set our game plan, support one another, and ensure every department is aligned for a seamless season. The off-season is when we get more innovative and closer as a team. So, while it may look quiet from the outside, winter is when we work hardest – to ensure that when the first ball is bowled next season, everything is ready to go off without a hitch. Here’s to an off-season of putting the pieces together for an unforgettable summer of cricket!

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This is an iconic deal in the landscape of English cricket and possibly world cricket. GMR Group and Hampshire County Cricket Club and its assets, currently owned by Rod Bransgrove, have agreed to an aquistion! Rod has been such a huge contributor to the game in the UK. I personally think this deal will be the catalyst to opening the gates to further Indian investment into English cricket (not new news) which points towards a bigger holistic future of players being centrally contracted by franchises (not countries). There will be mixed views on this deal and the the future of state of world cricket. https://lnkd.in/gFKvGPsN

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Excellent exclusive in The Times showing MI6 were informed of talks about Saudi Arabia purchasing Newcastle United. Raises further concerns about the clause in the Conservative version of the Football Governance Bill that insisted the new regulator must take "foreign policy and trade" issues into account. Here's the quote I gave: “The clause always raised red flags. This latest FoI serves to confirm those fears. The new government needs to take a red pen to the clause and remove it or if it chooses to keep it in then it must at the very least ensure that the regulator has to take into account the UK’s legal obligations in respect of human rights and the environment; and outright exclude the possibility that an owner of a club could be a state or a state-owned person or entity. "You can't have a club operating on a different set of rules to another purely on the whim of the Government of the day." https://lnkd.in/exqkiXjk

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A textbook ‘catwalk’ sequence for anyone interested in television journalism or any journalism students out there ⤵️ • The director would have told Dan where to stand: watch where his left elbow is in relation to the edge of the St George’s cross. • The graphics are bold and crystal clear: you almost don’t need to hear what Dan’s saying, the pictures are half of the story. • The graphic designer’s choice of imagery is perfect: Southgate’s expression is neutral. • The lighting is subtle: above and below the catwalk. Your eye isn’t drawn to it but if it wasn’t there you’d think there was something missing • The script is simple: less is more. It’s 1 minute 30 in duration • Rules of threes: three animates from the title page to two other sequences, and then three managers domestic and foreign. Three is always perfect as it’s not too much and not too little • Dan’s interaction with the catwalk is well considered: just a gentle nod or hand gesture • The way the camera crew zooms in: it’s slow and barely noticeable but it adds movement and guides the viewer towards the end of the story • Looks like it was recorded in Salford • There’s a lot of work that goes into these and a good number of talented colleagues to bring it all together 👏👏👏

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Back when the first phase of voting began in this year's Indian general election, Enzo Maresca was under pressure as Leicester City manager having overseen two back to back defeats in the Championship, there was a three-way tussle for the Premier League title, and Mumbai Indians won a game! What a difference a few weeks make. (Leeds United were third in the Championship table at the time where they would remain for the rest of the season before going full Leeds in the playoff final but that's a story for another day...) Election results will finally be out next week with the potential to spark far-reaching changes in the world's fifth-largest economy. But just as a lot has happened in the sporting world in the past six weeks, do investors in India also need to brace for a radically different environment? For this week's newsletter, Ganesh Rao looks at how Indian markets are trying to prepare for the election outcome and examines if the recent increase in volatility is a red herring or if it portends a revaluation of Indian markets.

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Interesting that the EPL is going to review whether to retain VAR for next season. It would certainly place them out of kilter with the trend towards increasing it across the football world. I could imagine tweaking the process and returning to the principle of overturning clear and obvious mistakes (ie if you cannot tell immediately you move on). In what has been a long season, it is fortunate that the controversial Newcastle goal against Arsenal (a 1-0 result) cost Arsenal only a point. With City two points clear, this decision did not decide the league but in other circumstances could have. Interestingly the Telegraph table indicated City had a balance of +3 VAR decision whereas Arsenal were -1. (Note Forrest are at +4 despite all their protestations.) This demonstrates bad decisions don't necessarily even out over a season. In a two point race was a net four VAR decision variance enough to decide the League? Pre-VAR of course we would not have kept track of referee mistakes, though I am sure Sir Alex Ferguson did! Food for thought. Declaring an interest - I am an Arsenal fan, with a soft spot for City as my daughter supports them. https://lnkd.in/eDNPR7UG

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Highlighting the challenges in elite / Olympic sport. Having working in and around this sector for nearly 20 years how important funding these programmes are not just to enable great things…but to enable great things for all who have the potential, not just those that can afford it

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🤔 Today's thought ⚽️ It is day four of the Football Governance Bill Committee in the House of Lords Fair Game UK will be watching closely. Lots of big things expected to be covered that matter to the future of our National Game: 🫂 Support for lower league football clubs. Will the Government commit to providing training, staff and finances to help implement changes? 📜 The frequency of the State of Game report. Will the crucial barometer of English football come out soon and more than once every five years? 🏃‍♀️ Women’s Game. Will it be in or out of the Regulator's remit? Will the Government commit to considering it? 🏟 Multi-club ownership. Will the Bill look at the financial implications to the pyramid of owners having more than one club? 🤕 Player welfare. Will the impact of heavy fixture congestion be considered? 💰 Removal of rogue owners. Will the Bill define how fans and the Regulator can remove bad owners? 🏡 Putting domestic competitions first. Will the Bill end once and for all the European Super League or indeed a World Super League and insist domestic cups and league get the prestige they deserve? Could be a big day 🗣But will Karren Brady's Tories filibuster once again? 🕑 Watch out for peers speaking for more than five minutes, unnecessary interventions and of course the Premier League phrase of choice "unintended consequences" Kelly Simmons OBE Lisa Pool Yvonne Harrison Ian Mather Alex Tunbridge Liam Scully Clive Nates Jason Stockwood Mark Devlin John Croot Sam Mackenzie Damian Irvine Oliver Ash Ruth Miller Stephen Radley Nic Shoults maryan broadbent Miguel Delaney Dan Roan

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Great leaders do what is right when nobody is watching. Jamal Shead was recently named Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year 🏆 But what he did years prior says everything about his character. After his teammate angrily pushed over a rubbish bin on his way to the changing room following a loss... Shead stopped, grabbed the bin, set it back upright and began to refill it with the spilt rubbish. The ripple effect this had on everyone else who walked past highlights the impact one great leader can have on a team. Always remember... The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own example. ----- ✍️ What is the best leadership example you've seen recently? ♻️ Repost this to your network to inspire more great leadership #EliteTeamTalks #Leadership #Sport

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Check out JMP's latest case study in collaboration with EA SPORTS and That's Football. This video series not only generated impressive social media performance but was an enjoyable project for the entire team. For more details, check out the link in the comments!

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UCFB has dual campuses, Manchester and Wembley, with most undergraduate courses run at both sites, with programmes and assignments aligned. There are some differences for practical purposes. Guy McCrea and I teach on Sports Commentary (3rd yr) and Audio Storytelling (2nd yr) modules which are totally aligned. Different days of the week so we can have the same live guests on Teams or in person, who bring so much extra value to the lectures. Similar structure to sessions with great co-operation and sharing of materials. Two heads are better than one and the students certainly get the benefit. Most of the planning is done with regular Teams calls, usually at least once a week. This week we met for the first time - a very productive (non-alcoholic) lunch in London. Recommend Mildreds on Pentonville Road if you like vegan food (or just fancy trying it), but why no apostrophe?🤔

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