Smoking Chimonga!

That’s an expression that’s always got my attention - I first got it from my mate Tajinder Gill, who works at the NUT central London office.

What’s also getting my attention is this: the Premier League, for the first time in its 17 year history, has gone through the £1billion sales barrier.

Worldwide TV deals have played its role for this figure, as clubs were paid a set fee, money each time they were shown on TV and payment based on which position they ended up last season.

The Premier League itself received £2.7billion by selling TV rights for three seasons, from 2007 to 2010.

Looking at the success soccer has in getting both men and women in their grounds and in visiting neighbouring pubs, it’s more than likely the Premier League will get more in the future.

Furthermore the Premier is clearly not showing signs of being affected by the recession. The League’s turnover is up at least 6 per cent from last year’s figure of £951.6million.

Rather than list the results alphabetically, here’s a breakdown of the broadcast payments the football clubs received, according to where they finished last season
- I assure you, I did format this so the lines wouldn't go wonky but for some reason, it never sticks when I publish work on a PC!

1 Manchester United...............£51.5million
2 Liverpool.......................£50.3m
3 Chelsea.........................£47.7m

The top three get automatic entry to the UEFA Champions League Group stage.

4 Arsenal.........................£46.5m

This fourth placed London team goes through to the UEFA Champions League Play-off round.

5 Everton.........................£44.8m
6 Aston Villa.....................£44.5m

These two central England teams go through to the UEFA Europa League Play-off round.

7 Fulham..........................£40.1m

This London club goes through to the UEFA Europa League Third qualifying round.

8 Tottenham Hotspur...............£42.5m
9 West Ham United.................£40.4m
10 Manchester City................£40.1m
11 Wigan Athletic.................£37m
12 Stoke City.....................£36.3m
13 Bolton Wanderers...............£35.5m
14 Portsmouth.....................£34.8m
15 Blackburn Rovers...............£34.4m
16 Sunderland.....................£33.2m
17 Hull City......................£32.5m

These 10 clubs have either:

a. Received the misfortune of missing out on playing in the UEFA Leagues
b. The privilege of remaining in the Premier League
c. Been fortunate not to be relegated to the less lucrative Division One
because - as QPR, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest show - once you’re
out, it’s hard to get back into top flight football since the formation of
the Premier League.
d. All of the above, particularly when looking at the fate of the following
three teams.

Here's the unfortunate ones who didn't make it:

18 Newcastle United................£36.3m
19 Middlesbrough...................£30.9m
20 West Bromwich Albion............£31.1m

These three were relegated to Football League Championship – i.e. Division One – but at least got a financial sweetener from the broadcast payments to comfort the blow.

£££££££

Congratulations to former professional footballer and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker and model Danielle Bux on their marriage in Ravello, Italy.

I wish both the bride and groom everlasting happiness.

To get more information, click onto this BBC link: news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8235433.stm

£££££££

Further evidence of the success the Premier League provides can be found in Ashley Cole signing a new four-year deal at Chelsea, with increased wages.

Although many others weren’t happy at the way he engineered his move from Arsenal, like fellow teammate and former Arsenal player Nicolas Anelka – who was the highest scorer during last season, scoring 19 goals, not Cristiano Ronaldo – he’s clearly very happy at Stamford Bridge.

For more information, I found this link from The Guardian newspaper to be very effective, which also talks about current players in his former club signing contracts: www.guardian.co.uk/football/2009/sep/02/ashley-cole-chelsea-contract1


Don’t forget to visit my other internet site: www.andriagreaves.com

Until next time, peace.

Andria

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