Soccer question

[WillieW]

Why do players walk on the field with children? What is the significance of that?

[GCP]

1. I think it's a way for the soccer clubs making (more) money

Apparently the parents of these kids pay a lot for them to do this - at least that's what my Mum told me the last time I was in the UK.

[EOTE]

2. Ummm, what does this have to do with Gates-Gate and/or healthcare? NT

[virgogal]

4. :-)

[WillieW]

5. Absolutely nothing. Is this board exclusive to the gate/healthcare issue discussion?

[EOTE]

22. I was trying to bring some levity.

As of late, it seems that all the OPs I've seen have been about those two subjects. I wasn't trying to suggest you couldn't bring up something else.

[WillieW]

31. Understood. Thanks

[virgogal]

3. I've always wondered that too----looking forward to the replies.

[Gwendolyn]

6. It's a long standing tradition.

Some say it's for luck. As the first poster says, people pay a lot of money to get their kids into the circle, and they get to meet the players and take pics. Sometimes they put a whole bunch of kids' names into a hat and it's luck of the draw. Other times terminally sick kids get to go through charitable institutions.

[WillieW]

8. You know this for a fact?

[redqueen]

9. Different teams do it differently, but yes, those are facts. (nt)

[WillieW]

10. I am watching Goltv a lot and every (international) team is doing the same.

[redqueen]

12. Yes, every team does it...

but they use different systems. i.e. Drawing names, charging fees (never heard of that before, myself), etc.

[WillieW]

15. I asked that question to GOLTV, but they have not responded to my email

It is bugging me. So I will inquire at ESPN or FSC

[redqueen]

7. Two reasons: fun for the kids, and reminds the players that they're role models.

At least that's how I understand it.

[Curtland1015]

11. Important thing to remember: GO GUNNERS!

That is all.





:P

[redqueen]

13. Correct!

:)

Did you read about Nasri?

[Curtland1015]

16. Is it bad news? I'm still depressed over losing Adebayor.

:cry:

Also, what the hell does it take to get Wenger to loosen the purse strings!?

[WillieW]

17. Off topic.

[redqueen]

19. lol

[Curtland1015]

20. I wish I could roll eyes in a subject line...

...instead, I'll do it here.

:eyes:

:P

[redqueen]

21. Yeah... he broke his leg.

x(

I'm not depressed about Adebayor anymore. I was for like a day... now I just wish him the best of luck, cause he'll be competing with Tevez and Santa Cruz and the rest for a chance to score some goals. I wouldn't mind so much if he'd left the Premiership but oh well.

Wenger does what he likes, that's all there is to it. I hope we buy another player too... but I wouldn't bet on it happening. That's just how he is. I sure hope he does though.

[WillieW]

14. Who are the gunners? Never heard of them.

[GCP]

23. One of the all-time great UK soccer clubs

AKA The Arsenal - named after an arsenal in London (I believe).

[WillieW]

27. Well, I give in. Personally, I like FC Bayern. IMO Bundesliga's finest.

[WillieW]

38. FC Bayern Muenchen won again today 5-1 Hannover.

I don't know why they bother LOL

[WillieW]

18. Please stay on topic! I asked a question.

[enlightenment]

24. The answer is that those are the 'ball boys' (and girls)

There job is to make sure that there is a ball available for play - sometimes they get kicked out, sometimes they get too wet or dirty to handle . . . there are a lot of reasons.

Most UK and European clubs have internal systems that start training promising players at a very young age - some of the kids are in that system. Some have applied for the honor (and it is an honor for them) to do the job. Sometimes the kids are related to the players or managers. Sometimes they are (as someone mentioned) children in special circumstances - again, this could be a dream opportunity for them to help 'their' club and wear their strip.

Having said that -

Up the BLADES!







edited to correct spelling

[Curtland1015]

25. Isn't Sean Bean a Sheff U supporter?

I think I read that somewhere at some point...

[enlightenment]

26. A totally bonzo supporter.

Used to be on their board of directors but stepped down - a little too passionate about things, I think . . .

Michael Palin (Monty Python) is also a Blade.

[WillieW]

29. Thanks for the explanation. It makes sense.

[WillieW]

36. Do you know what country started the "tradition"?

[redqueen]

33. People having a chat in your thread keeps it kicked for more answers.

Relax.

It works differently at different clubs.

[Hutzpa]

28. Oh yeah! Red Devils

[redqueen]

32. Ugh, no... that's Utd.

Bleah.

[Naturyl]

30. No.

[Mudoria]

34. I've wondered about that myself..

Always looked stupid and contrived to me when they do it but I guess they have some reason for it.

[MellowDem]

35. It's to shame the fans into acting respectable...

There have been a lot of incidents of fans shouting racist things at soccer games, and not just one or two, but thousands and thousands, especially when they first walk onto the field. So the children are there to shame them into not doing that, or at least waiting until the game starts. Racism in soccer competitions around the world is a huge factor compared to games you may watch in the US.

[WillieW]

37. Racism in Soccer in Europe? Never heard off it. But fights do break out if

a losing team thinks that they should have won the game. People are very passionate about Soccer in Europe.