I'm going to my first football match tomorrow...

I'm going to see my boys Liverpool play Arsenal in the Youth-Cup Final First Leg at The Emirates Stadium tomorrow night. Exciting I know. Pixel, Jack, Ben, Tego & Bosh went to the Semi-Final between Arsenal and Manchester City which ended 3-1, this time I think 12 of us are going so it should be a party. I've never been to an actual football match before as I don't generally give a shit about the game but over the last couple of years I've developed a certain understanding and appreciation for it and am hoping tomorrow's game will make me a proper fan in the eyes of the lord or whatever. I might even start a team. I got those teckers!

Arsenal Vs Hull tonight

Can you believe it will be my first trip to The Emirates? I'll take photos.

Setanta doesn't owe you s***!

Editorial by Tego.

As a football fan (possibly the biggest and greatest football fan on the planet but that's neither here nor there) I feel I have a responsibility to stand up for Setanta Sports; the channel that (thanks to the EU) managed to break the stranglehold BSkyB had on British football for well over 10 years. When the EU announced that BSkyB had a monopoly over Premier League football it ruled that another network must be allowed to screen a percentage of yearly games. Setanta stood up and paid almost £400Million for the right to televise Premier League football over 10 years. Their charge for fans would be £10 a month on a non-contract basis. On top of Premier League football Setanta subscribers would receive live German League football, live Scottish League football, live French league football, coverage from all the other major European leagues (apart from Spain) and a host of other sports including Boxing, UFC, Cricket (they carried the controversial IPL), Rugby League, Golf and Aussie Rules football. After a steady period of declining interest in the English national team, Setanta forked out £5Million per game for England's away World Cup Qualifiers with Andorra and last night's amazing game with Croatia. BBC and ITV attempted to purchase highlight packages from Setanta to screen later in the evening. Baring in mind that England have been booed off the pitch in their last 3 games and that viewing figures have been on the wane for 5 years Setanta didn't feel they had to offer a cut price package for either terrestrial broadcaster as it would impact their own viewing figures (no offence BBC but they actually rely on those), Setanta actually ended up unlocking their subscription channel on Freeview for all Ditigal viewers to see the highlights for free later on in the evening.

"It is perhaps a little unfortunate that large numbers of people were not able to see the match live,"

Gormless Brown declared today "And that is something that I think a lot of supporters will want to have answers to." well you can talk to the courts Mr Brown. Setanta bought a product outright. They have the right to do with it what they wish. The people who may have wanted to watch the game and not visit a pub or subscribe themselves (1 million less viewers on Setanta than similar games on the BBC last season, a drop in the ocean to be frank) have a right to complain of course but that's where it stops. We're talking about a national team that failed to qualify for the European Championships over the summer, we're talking about a viewing package that was made available to every broadcaster and Setanta forked out the finance. The Evening Standard have a two page spread today announcing "The most loathed TV sports channel", the article itself does very little other than speculate as to the financial wellbeing of the company through rumours and conjecture. I think it's appalling that such an issue is being made of this. As a child I was unable to watch any live football. Any. Sky had a complete monopoly. My family couldn't commit to £35 a month for a minimum 12 months. Very few families could. Setanta offer a non-contract subscription service at an affordable price and goes out of its way to satisfy its customers by spending big on football. In an especially competitive industry such as football, to have the Prime Minister and a respected daily newspaper challenge the enterprise of a small broadcaster for perfectly legal and legitimate practice is despicable. It stinks of the Labour classist agenda to me.

London 2012

Like most people with a TV this summer I've enjoyed The Olympics a lot. Beyond all the politics and bullshit (of which there was much), the actual games were a lot of fun, particularly when the track and field got going in the later stages. I definitely felt a lot of pride for the Team GB sportsmen and women, there were some quite incredible feats achieved in Beijing. Not just by the winners and medalists but those who reached quarter, semi and finals in record breaking disciplines. Now without getting into the politics of hosting the games in London (I will do but frankly I have 4 years) it has to be said that the opportunities afforded our poorest potential sportsmen and women in this country is not good enough. I heard a debate on the radio where a lot of people claimed that Britain was only successful in the "Toff Sports". I don't agree with that, you could argue that the boats are a bit out of the reach of the common man, but to be honest, every sport is out of the reach of the common man as things stand, there appears to be no effort to unearth a sporting gem in the deprived areas of London (South London certainly). It's the same thing with football, if Fulham Football Club weren't so commendably involved in local football in South London there would be no communication from the game at all, or the government who I think has a responsibility. Jeremy Paxman's TV, The Brit School's music industry and the Toff's Olympics? "All us blacks got is sports and entertainment, until we're even" Not hardly. This government's general disdain for sports among youth has been pretty clear for all to see though. Nobody loses at sports day any more, rugby and boxing are all but illegal and good luck trying to find a school with proper outdoor field facilities in the major cities.

Sepp Blatter: "Footballers are like slaves"

Somebody get Nas on the phone!

Next Level

I'm not even into football that much. I'm a Liverpool fan, probably because of old Johnny Barnes and my Jamaican blood but I don't follow it like some people I know. I watch Match of the Day when I can and I'll always try to catch Liverpool games. But this is a great advert and since Soccer AM used 'Superfriends' the other day I figured I should keep the football content on my site up. I want to go partying with Cesc Fabregas he seems like a good guy. I want to punch Ronaldo in the lips, but god damn do I like watching him play...when he's not playing Liverpool.