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Welcome to The Clubhouse - April 2011

Hi everyone. It's been a big month for women's football with the new WSL kicking off so we're taking a look at 10 reasons why the WSL is good for the women's game, whilst we chat to the BBC's Jacqui Oatley about all things football.

We've got the latest on our new club website design, details of the FA's roadshow on youth football in England - complete with positive feedback for CW members from the man at the helm - plus we give you the chance to win a shirt signed by your favourite football icon. All that and plenty more besides. Enjoy the issue.

in the spotlight this month...

WSL heralds “massive year” for women's football


Women's football entered a new era this month as the inaugural Women's Super League got underway. The UK's first ever semi-professional women's league aims to attract new fans and encourage more girls to take up the game.

Encouraged by the positive mood shown by those at the heart of the WSL's launch - players, managers, FA officials and broadcasters alike - we take a look at 10 reasons why the women's game is ready to step up to the next level.

Read more >>

The FA WSL logo
Football & Me - Jacqui Oatley


As women's football raises its game with the launch of the WSL, we chat to a woman who's already at the top of hers. Meet Jacqui Oatley, freelance football commentator and reporter best known for her work on BBC Radio 5 Live.

We caught up with Jacqui this month and learnt about her journey from being a football-mad schoolgirl to becoming the first female commentator on Match of the Day. It's football all the way but, with horrific injuries, media feeding frenzies and sexism up for discussion, we find out why it's not always a beautiful game.

Read more >>

Jacqui Oatley
Step into the spotlight


The Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly III. Nike's most explosive boot yet.

Super light, super strong with adaptive stud technology for maximum speed and traction.

The neon heel graphic increases visibility for instant decision making and deadly passing from your team mates.

Be Fast. Be Seen. Be Superfly.

Find out more >>

Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly III
FA launches Your Kids Your Say roadshow


When Club Website outlined the FA's proposals for youth football back in Febrary, a fantastic debate on the issues raised ensued - one which grabbed the attention of the team behind the proposals. Now the FA are travelling the country with a roadshow all about the future of youth football and they want you involved.

Find out more >>

The FA: Your Kids Your Say
Win a shirt signed by a football icon

 

Fancy being the proud owner of a football shirt signed by a legend of the game? Club Website has teamed up with icons.com to bring you a fantastic prize - a shirt signed by a football icon of your choice!

Whether a current Premier League star like Wayne Rooney or Luis Suarez or an all-time legend of the game such as Geoff Hurst or Gordon Banks, a personally hand-signed shirt worth up to £200 could be yours!

Enter here >>

A signed Wayne Rooney shirt from icons.com
Is your team up for the Keele International Cup?


Britain’s number one international football tournament, the Keele International Cup, is on track again for another record breaking year.

A record number of overseas teams have already applied for this year’s festival of football, with teams from the USA, France, Norway, Canada, Switzerland and Ireland among over 200 teams already confirmed... and you could join them!

With tournaments for boys, girls, men and women all taking place between 23 July and 7 August, there's something for every team. Bookings are coming thick and fast so make sure you reserve your place in this fantastic tournament!

Find out more >>

Keele Cup logo
New club website - beta testing update


The beta testing of our new club website design continues to go well. We've ironed out the vast majority of issues that have been brought to our attention and have also added a number of new sections to the beta website in the last week.

Once again, we'd like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has provided feedback on the beta website so far. It's been great to get such a positive response and your feedback continues to prove a vital part of the beta testing process. Not long to go now until the site is in tip-top shape and ready for the live rollout.

New Club Website design
Are you a Club Website competition winner?


We tested your refereering knowledge last month as we gave away 10 copies of You are the Ref, the cult classic comic that asks: what would you decide?

You’ve awarded a penalty. Just as the penalty taker is about to strike the ball, an opponent shouts out a remark about the penalty taker’s wife (click here). In his fury, the taker slips and miskicks the ball wide. What action do you take?

A. Caution the player and restart play with a goal kick
B. Take no action and restart with a goal kick
C. Caution the player and restart with a retaken penalty

As well as our 10 winners, three lucky runners-up win a £15 iTunes voucher.  So did you get the answer right? And were you one of our lucky winners?

Answer & winners >>

You are the Ref
And another thing...


A donation from John Terry saved his old grassroots club Senrab FC from folding this week. We spoke to Senrab chairman Tony Carroll about the club's financial problems and how the donation has given them a much-needed lifeline.

We brought you news of the launch of the new Women's Soccer League and a report by our editor Dan Pope from the big kick-off as Arsenal took on Chelsea in the first ever WSL match.


We had a bit of fun on April Fools Day with our piece on goal-line technology for grassroots football and, although it came out on the same, our news of the Premier League's plans for a clampdown on bad behaviour was not an April Fool!

On that issue, we examined whether Wayne Rooney's ban will mark a watershed moment for the FA's hopes of improving player behaviour - a subject which, as usual, got the debate going amongst Club Website members, 65% of whom expect no improvement in behaviour with the FA's punishment being just a one-off.

However, 53% of CW members believe the issue of Respect can only be sorted at grassroots level if the professional game sets the right behavioural example.

There's always loads to debate on Club Website, whether it's on our news section, or one of our social media sites. Don't forget to look us up on Facebook and, if you or your football club is on Twitter, make sure you drop us a line at @clubwebsite.

Club Website logo
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Yours in football,

The Club Website Team

April 2011
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