EVA Air Queensland Champions Cup Postponed

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Despite plans to push ahead with the tournament this coming July, Football Queensland have announced the inevitable postponement of the EVA Air Queensland Champions Cup.

The tournament consists of three teams. Brisbane Roar and two London-based Premier League clubs in West Ham United and Crystal Palace Football Club.

The tournament made international headlines upon the first news surfacing, with many football fans excited to see two strong English clubs travel Down Under for a pre-season tournament.

The excitement was palpable. But unfortunately, as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the tournament has been postponed until further notice.

The tournament was going to be a big hit for fans in Queensland, especially those with vested interests in the Premier League.

Football has become a huge attraction in the Sunshine state in recent times and it’s quite saddening to see that this event has been postponed. Although at the same time, we’re thankful that precautions have been taken to stop the spread of COVID-19.

Brisbane Roar head coach Robbie Fowler has made a bold entrance into the A-League this season, taking the Roar into fourth position on the table.

Although Liverpool weren’t scheduled to travel to Australia, it’s a great prospect to see Fowler, in a way, mix it with Premier League teams once again.

West Ham United released a statement on their website on Wednesday:

“West Ham United regret to confirm that, due to the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the inaugural EVA Air Queensland Champions Cup has been postponed.

The Hammers were scheduled to be travelling to Australia in July to take part in the tournament alongside fellow Premier League side Crystal Palace and A-League outfit, Brisbane Roar.

However, given the social distancing measures in place across the world to prevent the spread of the virus, along with the suspension of the 2019-20 Premier League campaign until further notice, the decision has been taken to cancel the event, with the health and safety of players, officials and supporters an absolute priority.

The Club will continue to work with tour organisers TEG Live and there is a commitment from both sides to try and find a date to reschedule the tournament.

Manager David Moyes said: “It is a real shame that we will no longer be able to make it over to Queensland this summer, however, it is the right decision to postpone given the circumstances. The players and I were really looking forward to seeing our fans and the people of Australia, especially as there was great excitement and support for the tournament.

“This is a situation that has affected the entire world, though, and the only thing that matters at this time is that people stay safe and well. We hope the tournament can be rearranged at a later date once things are back to normal, and we look forward to visiting Australia in the future.”

Existing ticket holders should have already received an email direct from Ticketek, the official ticket operator for the tournament, outlining their options.

West Ham United would like to thank our supporters, particularly those out in Australia, for their understanding in this matter.”

ENDS

Crystal Palace also released a similar statement with chairman Steve Parish describing the decision as “bitterly disappointing”. However, Parish would go on to postface that football was merely secondary when compared to the current situation of the world.

As disappointing as it is that we won’t get to see two of England’s powerhouse clubs play in Australia, the decision was all but made once borders were closed. Depending on how the Premier League reschedules their fixtures and potentially their fixtures next season, it may be more of a cancellation than a postponement.

However, we hope that is not the case as it would be fantastic for the game of football in Queensland if this competition could go ahead.

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Caelum Ferrarese is a Senior journalist with Soccerscene. He reports widely on micro policy within Australasia and industry disruptions at grassroots level.

Football West unveils Football Australia Academy

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Image credit: Football West website

Football West has confirmed its excitement about launching the Football Australia Academy for 2025.

The Football Australia Academy will serve talented boys aged 12 to 15, with a primary focus on player development.

It is in line with Football Australia’s new 10-Year National Technical Strategy and is incorporated into the advanced pathway program nationwide.

The Football West-operated Academy has been created with contributions from various levels of football governance and is aimed at preparing young talent for advancement to higher levels, such as the A-League and national representation.

It has received endorsement from the Football Australia Board, national team Head Coaches, as well as the Football West Board and Game Development Committee.

The full-time boys’ program will run alongside Football West’s girls’ NTC program, which has recently produced graduates like Georgia Cassidy, Ruby Cuthbert, and Ischia Brooking who have competed in the A-League Women’s league and earned selections for junior national teams.

Football Australia Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick stated that the Football Australia Academy provides a clear pathway for identifying and developing Australian talent.

“The timing for the Football Australia Academy to be implemented in Western Australia as a full-time program has never been more important,” he said via press release.

“This aligns with the National Technical Strategy and direction with the launch of the Football Australia Academy model integrated with our Member Federations.

“Working with young players, Football West, supported by Football Australia, can create a positive developmental environment for both coaches and players that will assist this cohort in progressing their football journey and continuing the strong record of development in Western Australia.”

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell mentioned that the new Academy would provide talented boys with the best chance to elevate their game to the highest level.

“Football West is thrilled to launch the Football Australia Academy and we look forward to working directly with Football Australia in developing the next generations of West Australian talent,” he said via press release.

“This wasn’t a decision made lightly but made with the best interests of the game as a whole, both for WA and Australia.

“The Football Australia Academy will operate to enhance the technical skills, tactical understanding and high-performance behaviours of players in WA. There is a clear development focus throughout the program. The Football Australia Academy also allows for the identification and progression of coaches, both those in the program and those with the local clubs.

“The Football Australia Academy will expand opportunities for young players across metropolitan, regional and rural areas, ensuring a broader and more inclusive pathway for talent. This approach is designed to complement, not compete with, local club programs.”

To find out more information about trials, click here.

AC Milan and New York Yankees unveil exclusive lifestyle collection

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Image credit: Christian Pulisic Instagram

AC Milan and the New York Yankees, two of the most famous sports teams globally, have teamed up to launch an exclusive lifestyle collection called the ACM x New York Yankees. The collection includes outerwear, headwear, youth items, and accessories.

Both teams are globally recognised not just for their sporting achievements but also as cultural symbols of huge cities in Milan and New York.

The collection features the iconic logos of both clubs, with sleek designs showcasing the Yankees’ “NY” logo and AC Milan’s red-and-black crest. The items blend Milan’s elegant style with the street-savvy vibe of New York, appealing to a broad international audience.

Fans can purchase the collection at Yankee Stadium, MLB Flagship Store in Manhattan, San Siro Stadium, AC Milan stores, and both of the clubs online store as well as the MLB website.

This collaboration builds on the connection between AC Milan and the Yankees’ ownership group, RedBird Capital Partners, founded by Gerry Cardinale. Yankee Global Enterprises acquired a minority stake in AC Milan in August 2022.

AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani emphasised the significance of the collaboration.

“With the introduction of the ACM x New York Yankees collection, we celebrate a unique moment in the history of our two iconic brands… The entirety of this collaboration is an homage to the transcendent impact that the cities of Milan and New York maintain on fashion and culture around the world, and we are eager to see that cross-cultural spirit reflected as people enjoy the collection,” Furlani said in a joint press release.

Yankees President Randy Levine echoed this sentiment.

“The New York Yankees and AC Milan are each synonymous with their respective sports and cities… Bringing them together for this project made sense on so many levels, especially considering how our brands resonate among fans of both sports and fashion,” Levine mentioned in a press release.

“We are also thrilled to deepen the ties between our teams and congratulate those who provided input in the design for making a collection that has style and substance.”

The collection’s standout piece is a varsity jacket, along with other items like t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, cardigans, and New Era baseball caps and beanies.

Co-branded items such as baseballs, playing cards, and notebooks are also available for both sets of fans.

This is an extremely smart business decision by RedBird Capital Partners who utilise their partnership connection for the first time in the two years it’s been acquired.

Combining two of sports’ most iconic teams and brands from sports that are extremely historic and prestigious is going to be popular amongst not only just the fans of the two clubs but of pop culture where the branding is seen in everyday streetwear.

Being from two iconic cities in the world and New York’s very heavy Italian heritage, it capitalises on major markets that will certainly sell these limited edition items in bulk.

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