When it takes me a while to drop off at night (as is happening more frequently at the moment) I have discovered, as with trying to subdue an unwanted erection, that football can be my friend. Trying to mentally rattle off the last 10 League Cup winners, compose an inter-SPL team to take on the Old Firm, recollect Aston Villa's managers from the last 15 years etc usually does the trick.
Last night, for some bizzare reason, it was shirt sponsors. Starting with the Premiership. The big four were depressingly easy. What about the rest? Villa are that kids charity. Bolton, Wigan & Stoke are straightforward due to their stadium tie-ups. Newcastle is straightforward since rarely can a sponsor's fortunes appeared to have mirrored their club so aptly. But the others?
Tossing and turning, I found myself more awake as I mulled over questions that really should not task the mind of a mature adult. Are Everton still that Chinese beer thing?(yes.) When did Sunderland stop being Reg Vardy? Did West Ham get another sponsor? Think they did. Who was the old one? Blackburn? Nope. Portsmouth? Nein. Spurs? Nada.
Man City? Come on. Robinho on the WSC cover a few months back. He's holding the fucking shirt! Nope it's gone. Fulham? Bizarrely I can remember four previous sponsors but not the present one.
Let's try closer to home then. Killie obviously. The Old Firm have had the same sponsors for years. St. Mirren stick in the mind for having a shopping centre. But no more?
Inverness were Flybe at one point - are they still? Aberdeen? Falkirk? Hamilton? Hearts? Hibs? Motherwell? Dundee United for fucks sake. You were watching them a couple of hours ago! Nope, no idea.
Is this a common experience, or does it just denote my own pathetic observational skills. I've watched just about every Match of the Day this season. I read the Scottish sports pages each day. I'm never off the BBC football website. I suppose it should probably seen as a good thing that this corporate advertising passes me by, but it unnerves me somewhat that I can probably remember more of the Dancing on Ice contestants after catching (accidentally) one 15 minute preview show on the radio a few weeks back.
Possibly it's down to shorter sponsor deals (historical kits seems to largely verify this) but I wonder if shirt advertising has now blended so much into the football backdrop that fans hardly notice it now. With West Brom notably failing to find a sponsor this year, is this a sign that advertisers have realised it's no longer a profitable exercise?
Last night, for some bizzare reason, it was shirt sponsors. Starting with the Premiership. The big four were depressingly easy. What about the rest? Villa are that kids charity. Bolton, Wigan & Stoke are straightforward due to their stadium tie-ups. Newcastle is straightforward since rarely can a sponsor's fortunes appeared to have mirrored their club so aptly. But the others?
Tossing and turning, I found myself more awake as I mulled over questions that really should not task the mind of a mature adult. Are Everton still that Chinese beer thing?(yes.) When did Sunderland stop being Reg Vardy? Did West Ham get another sponsor? Think they did. Who was the old one? Blackburn? Nope. Portsmouth? Nein. Spurs? Nada.
Man City? Come on. Robinho on the WSC cover a few months back. He's holding the fucking shirt! Nope it's gone. Fulham? Bizarrely I can remember four previous sponsors but not the present one.
Let's try closer to home then. Killie obviously. The Old Firm have had the same sponsors for years. St. Mirren stick in the mind for having a shopping centre. But no more?
Inverness were Flybe at one point - are they still? Aberdeen? Falkirk? Hamilton? Hearts? Hibs? Motherwell? Dundee United for fucks sake. You were watching them a couple of hours ago! Nope, no idea.
Is this a common experience, or does it just denote my own pathetic observational skills. I've watched just about every Match of the Day this season. I read the Scottish sports pages each day. I'm never off the BBC football website. I suppose it should probably seen as a good thing that this corporate advertising passes me by, but it unnerves me somewhat that I can probably remember more of the Dancing on Ice contestants after catching (accidentally) one 15 minute preview show on the radio a few weeks back.
Possibly it's down to shorter sponsor deals (historical kits seems to largely verify this) but I wonder if shirt advertising has now blended so much into the football backdrop that fans hardly notice it now. With West Brom notably failing to find a sponsor this year, is this a sign that advertisers have realised it's no longer a profitable exercise?
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