Category: Blog

Real Mallorca’s Growth: A Community Football Vision

This weekend sees the return of La Liga here in Spain, and for fans of Real Mallorca, it’s another season where the first aim is to avoid the drop. Having finished in a very impressive 10th place last year, you’d think relegation wouldn’t be on our minds—but we all know Mallorca too well. This season will be their fifth consecutive one in La Liga, and the growth in interest in the club has been enormous. Since their promotion in the 2020/21 season, they have gone from 14,471 season ticket holders to 23,044 this season.

You cannot help but applaud the American owners for what they have done since buying the club in 2016. One sticking point in the sale of the club, however, was that the ownership of the stadium is not directly tied to the club’s ownership structure. While RCD Mallorca has a long-term agreement to use the stadium, the facility is owned by the local government, specifically the Consell de Mallorca. The club has a 50-year agreement with the city council to use the stadium, which they have occupied since 1999.

Where I think the Americans have been very clever is in getting their stadium improvements approved by the government in return for agreeing to open the stadium year-round. Both parties are working together to ensure it is not just a football venue but a place that serves the local community throughout the year. The broader aim is to increase the stadium’s accessibility and utility for residents of Mallorca, promoting it as a place for recreation, events, and social interaction.

Last month I had a tour of the stadium to see the improvements and to learn about how the La Liga salary cap works and how they manage ticketing. They had just finished a series of outdoor concerts on the pitch, which was being dug up and replaced. At that point, you would have thought it impossible to host La Liga matches just a month later.

The stadium is very impressive these days. With the running track gone, fans are much closer to the pitch, making the atmosphere far more intense. But it’s also behind the scenes where you notice the biggest changes. They have gone all-in on corporate hospitality, adding a tunnel experience, private boxes, and various lounges where you can enjoy food and drink both before and after the game. While I was there, stadium tours were running, the Mallorca Sports Bar was open, and a new sports clinic had just launched. The club shop has been transformed into a state-of-the-art space that does a roaring trade, not only on match days. Conference facilities of various sizes are now available around the stadium.

Every one of these extras contributes to how the salary cap is calculated for the club. La Liga’s salary cap, known as the Squad Cost Limit, restricts how much clubs can spend on player and staff wages, amortised transfer fees, and other related expenses. This limit is determined by each club’s projected revenue and expenses for the season, including debt repayment and overheads. So, all this investment ultimately supports the entire playing structure of the club, from the first team right down to the youth levels.

There’s little to criticise the owners for, but one thing I don’t understand is why the club doesn’t yet have a women’s team. You’d think that with Spain and the USA ranked number 1 and 2 in the world, respectively, they would. The other professional team on the island, Atlético Baleares, does have one, and they play in the second tier of women’s Spanish football.

Mallorca has produced outstanding women’s talent. Three players from the island were in Spain’s national team at the European Championships: goalkeeper Cata Coll from Pòrtol, midfielder Patri Guijarro from Palma, and forward Mariona Caldentey from Felanitx. All three started in the final against England. So, the talent is definitely here.

I’m hearing that Mallorca will finally launch a women’s team ahead of the 2025/26 season. It will initially compete in the Alevín eight-a-side category, for players aged 10 and 11. The club has emphasised a long-term commitment to the women’s programme, ensuring it will be a serious project with dedicated staff and resources.

Prior to this launch, the club focused on stabilising the men’s team and building a solid foundation for growth. The women’s team will be fully integrated into the club’s football structure, with shared facilities and staff. Hopefully, that will evolve into a full programme for women, giving girls on the island the chance to pursue their dreams here rather than having to go elsewhere.

The wait is over for the first team—and tonight they face the small matter of current La Liga champions Barcelona in their opening match.

Visca Mallorca!

Navigating Car Hire Insurance: What You Need to Know

With all the travelling I do, I take out insurance that covers me for all the cars I rent. It is without doubt the cheaper way to do things. A year’s cost is usually about the same as taking out two fully comprehensive insurances that you pay as an add-on at the rental desk when you arrive. Most car hire companies will put you on third-party insurance and then add the fully comprehensive cover when you collect the car.

By taking out your own insurance, you avoid that cost—but you have to be aware that the excess charge is usually quite hefty. Obviously, this takes away the opportunity for car hire companies to make extra money from customers, so they try to make it as difficult as possible.

To deter people from doing this, they’ve now increased the excess charge from £1,000 to £1,500. Another thing I’ve noticed on my last two visits to the UK in recent weeks is a change in how they operate when giving you your car. It used to be that, after completing all the paperwork and signing the contract, they would lead you out to the car. Once there, they’d show you around and point out any damage to the vehicle. However, on both recent occasions, they’ve stayed behind the desk and said, “Please check the car over yourself by either videoing or taking pictures and making a note of any damage.”

Basically, they’re putting the onus on you to identify any issues with the car. I’ve rented from two different companies in the UK over the last couple of weeks, and both behaved the same way. I wonder—if you do take out their insurance, do they still bother to come out with you? I’d be interested to know if this has happened to anyone else.

Now, this is fine when the sun is shining and it’s warm because you can see everything. But what are you supposed to do in winter when it’s cold, dark, and raining? If you don’t report something, they’re likely to blame you for the damage. My hunch is this is a way of clawing back the money they lose when customers don’t take their insurance. I’d be happy to be proved wrong, but the way they now ask the question at the desk, it’s almost as if they assume you already have your own cover. Still, they seem determined to find other ways of squeezing as much money out of you as possible.

It reminds me of the check-in staff at low-cost airlines who inspect whether your bag fits into those size checkers. Reports have surfaced this week claiming they receive around €1.50 for every bag they identify as oversized. I think it depends on the airline and how motivated the staff are—on my last two trips, they didn’t bother checking at all.

Low-cost airline fares and cheap car hire are fast becoming a thing of the past, if I’m honest, and it seems we’re all going to have to pay more in the future.

The Ultimate AC/DC Concert Experience in Madrid

Back in February, we asked our youngest son, Jude, what he wanted for his 16th birthday, which was in July. We were expecting the usual football boots or goalkeeping gloves. What we weren’t expecting was his answer:

“I want to go see AC/DC in Madrid!”

Very left-field, but we said OK and began our quest to find tickets. The day the tickets went on sale, we went online — and we were 34,374th in the queue! Not a chance, I said, and then the computer blinked — and two tickets came up. Restricted view tickets, they said, but seeing as it was AC/DC, if viewing was a problem, hearing definitely wouldn’t be. The tickets were booked, along with our 75% resident-discounted flights and a hotel.

Last weekend, we both headed off to Madrid — my son very excited, and me looking forward to it, but not sure if I would enjoy it or not. The Riyadh Air Metropolitano Stadium is home to Atlético Madrid football club. We’d been there before to see my team, Arsenal, play a Europa League semi-final in 2018, and I remember the atmosphere being electric.

It’s a very impressive stadium on the outskirts of the city and dominates the skyline as you leave the airport. Outside, there were AC/DC t-shirts everywhere, with black being the colour of the day. These were being worn by people of all ages — both men and women. The merchandise, food, and drink stalls were doing a roaring trade as we wandered around the perimeter. We got inside just before the support band started. They were called The Pretty Reckless, and the female singer had a great voice.

As the stadium filled, the atmosphere grew, and at 9:30 p.m., you could see two golf carts driving up to the back of the stage, bringing the band. A great video opening played — and we were off, with their opening song: “If You Want Blood (You’ve Got It)”.

This was followed by all the hits, including “Thunderstruck,” “Hells Bells,” “Highway to Hell,” “Back in Black,” “Whole Lotta Rosie,” and “Rock and Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.”

The “restricted view” we were sold was hardly restricted, to be honest — it was a sound and camera tower that blocked a small part of the stage, but you could still see the rest, and with the big screens too, we were fine.

You can’t help but be impressed by the whole band: lead singer Brian Johnson, who is 77; lead guitarist Angus Young, who is 70; rhythm guitarist Stevie Young, who is 68; drummer Matt Laug, who is 58; and bass player Chris Chaney, who is a sprightly 55.

AC/DC were formed in 1973, making this their 51st year of making music. Brian Johnson’s first words were: “Tonight we’re just going to party and make rock ‘n’ roll.”

Interestingly, Brian Johnson very nearly missed the opportunity to become their lead singer after the tragic death of former frontman Bon Scott in 1980. Johnson was recommended by a fan and was asked to go to an audition in London by a German woman who refused to give the band’s name. All she would say was that the initials were ACDC! He feared he wouldn’t be good enough, but went along anyway, as he was doing an advert for Hoover that was paying good money — and it would cover his expenses.

He sang Tina Turner’s “Nutbush City Limits” and the band’s “Whole Lotta Rosie.” The band all agreed he was the man — and within weeks, they were in the Bahamas recording the album Back in Black, which has become one of the best-selling albums of all time, with estimated worldwide sales of 50 million copies.

Back to the gig — and the band rocked the stadium for a full two and a quarter hours, with the crowd eating out of their hands. The finish was “For Those About ago Rock we Salute You.” Which we and the whole crowd certainly did. 

I have to say, it was probably one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to — and my son said it was one of the best days of his life.

Why Tourism is Crucial for Mallorca’s Economy

We live in a democratic world, thankfully, and that gives us the opportunity for free speech and the right to protest. So, I have no problem with the people who were protesting in Mallorca a few weeks ago. Where I do have a problem is with the mixed messages that seemed to be coming out.

My understanding was that they were there to protest about tourist overcrowding and the lack of affordable housing. But there were also people waving Palestinian flags and calling for Mallorcan independence. When the messages start to become mixed, the actual purpose of the protest, in my opinion, loses credibility.

The protesters claimed there were 30,000 people, while the police said there were 8,000. Who do you believe? Well, even if you go with what the protesters claim, that’s just 3% of the overall population. Hardly a majority, is it?

In my opinion, they shouldn’t be protesting against tourism or tourists. The issue lies with the government—and more importantly, with previous governments—and their lack of investment in social housing. You could also argue that some of the protesters are being hypocritical. Why, you ask? Well, for two reasons: one, you can almost guarantee that each and every one of them has a family member or friend who earns their living through tourism. And two, do these people not go on holiday themselves? If they do, they are contributing to the very thing they are protesting about!

The question is: if you’re really pushing back against tourism, what else are we able to offer? We’re not exactly in the heart of the manufacturing world, are we? Like it or not, tourism is a major pillar of our economy, contributing approximately 45% of our total GDP. Some analyses suggest that tourism’s influence extends even further, potentially impacting up to 90% of the island’s economic activity.

We should be embracing what we have and looking for solutions to the problem. We have a great example of how holiday destinations can evolve right on our doorstep. Magaluf is, in my opinion, a shining example of how a resort once much derided can reinvent itself. If you don’t believe me, go and see for yourself.

Top Performances at Glastonbury 2025: A Festival Recap

The older I get, the more I seem to be taking notice of—and an interest in—the music industry. Maybe it’s because I’m enjoying being back on radio and sharing what I see and hear with the listeners.

Last weekend, I took an active look at Glastonbury over Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and I thoroughly enjoyed what I saw.

On a very positive note, Lewis Capaldi has announced he’s heading on a UK and Ireland tour this year, following his triumphant return to Glastonbury. He left music lovers thrilled as he took to the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm on Friday—two years after his battle with Tourette’s left him unable to finish his set.

Days after his emotional return to the festival, Lewis thrilled fans once more as he revealed he’s set to hit the road in September, humorously noting on Instagram that it’s “about time I got back to work.”

The Someone You Loved hitmaker will play 10 dates later this year, performing in cities including Sheffield, Aberdeen, Birmingham, and Nottingham. Lewis also confirmed on Instagram that these would be his only shows in the UK and Ireland.

On a less positive note, police are investigating after hip hop group Kneecap and punk duo Bob Vylan led Glastonbury crowds in separate “Free Palestine” chants. Why artists feel the need to impose their politics on a festival crowd is beyond me. Perhaps it’s because it gives them maximum exposure—but why can’t they just stick to the music?

From a new artist point of view, I turn to an old rep friend of mine called Jason Jones from way back in the ’90s here in Mallorca. Alessi Rose is his daughter, whose rise this year has been meteoric. She’s been touring with Dua Lipa and opened the Other Stage on Friday.

I really enjoyed En Vogue on Friday afternoon—their voices were unbelievable. No help needed as far as they were concerned, as they belted out hits like Hold On, Free Your Mind, My Lovin’, and Don’t Let Go.

Also on Friday evening, Alanis Morissette delivered a performance where her energy matched her on-point vocals. Another artist who needed no help whatsoever.

You can’t get more legendary than Rod Stewart, who at 80 years of age can still rock it with the best of them. To be honest, he struggles a little with the faster-paced songs, but his band and backing singers certainly support him. His unmistakable gravelly tone, though, shows he can still deliver a ballad when it counts. He was joined by other legends: Ronnie Wood, Lulu, and Mick Hucknall.

I know a family that lives here in Mallorca and goes to the festival every year. I asked them for their feedback.

Sarah said:

“My highlights were Alanis Morissette, En Vogue, and Prodigy. This is our 7th time, and the whole experience was the best yet—even though we’ve seen bigger artists. A little less sun, please, next time—if Emily Eavis has that power!”

Yasmin said:

“For me, the best Glasto I’ve ever been to—and this was our 7th time. Lots of exciting surprise sets, from Pulp to Lewis Capaldi, who made his first public appearance after having to leave the same stage at Glasto two years ago—so an emotional comeback.

Personal highlight was Raye—unbelievable voice, set, full band, and all-round brilliant performance. She’s one of those artists where you don’t mind if they play a song you don’t know—her voice is amazing to listen to for days.

No improvements to the festival needed, actually—the festival had already made improvements. Following the overcrowding at Avril Lavigne on the Other Stage last year, they increased the field space in anticipation of the large crowd predicted for Charli XCX, and the crowd was managed brilliantly.

Best weekend of the year, as always.”

Glastonbury Festival will be taking a temporary hiatus in 2026. Every five years, the organisers take a fallow year to allow Worthy Farm to recover and the natural environment to regenerate.

Rob Croll’s Sporting Son Ferrer Joins Dortmund Academy

Probably one of the biggest things to happen in youth football here in Mallorca for a very long time was announced 2 weeks ago — and I was lucky enough to be there.

Many of you on the island will know Rob Croll and his very successful Russell Martin Academy, which is named after his foster brother — the former footballer, Southampton Manager, and now the Rangers Head Coach. What you might not know is that Rob also runs the football club Sporting Son Ferrer and Mallorca Pro Training. So, he’s a busy man. But before I tell you more about the announcement, let’s find out a little more about Rob.

Born and raised in Brighton, where he went to school and college, Rob realised at that time that he wasn’t going to make it as a professional footballer. He went on to study sports and marketing at university in Southampton. He did some coaching in the UK and the USA and then spoke to his foster brother, Russ, about starting his own academy. The Russell Martin Academy was already an established brand in the UK, and Rob thought it would be a good idea to bring it to Mallorca, where he’d put down roots since moving in 2011.

In the winter of 2018, he began the Academy. He admits the first three months were difficult and that he wondered if it was all worth it. But after offering free football coaching sessions for local schools, things started to kick off (excuse the pun!). He began to be the go-to academy for non-federated kids to learn the technical side of football.

The pandemic was a crushing blow to most small businesses, and Rob was unfortunately no exception. But he managed to build it back up. Being a non-federated player means you don’t play as a team, as you’re not permitted to — but as the academy grew, the need for a team became greater. Around that time, he was playing for a team called Sporting Son Ferrer and was offered the chance to take it over. This gave him the ability to start building teams and retain players who would previously have left to play competitive football elsewhere.

They went from one to two teams in the first and second seasons and gradually grew. Last season, they had six teams — and the hope is that next season this will become ten.

Now, back to the big announcement.

I was invited to the Sporting Son Ferrer trophy presentation night at Oceans Beach Club. My eldest son, Jacob, has been coaching there for a year, and I’ve also been doing some work with Rob through Mallorca Pro Training. It was announced that Sporting Son Ferrer had signed a partnership deal with the German side Borussia Dortmund! From now on, it will be known as Club de Fútbol Borussia Dortmund International Academy Mallorca.

This is something Rob had been working on for months, and after visiting all their facilities in Germany, a deal was agreed. It is an unbelievable opportunity for Rob — but I also believe it’s a great coup for Calvià and the island of Mallorca to be linked with such a prestigious club.

Borussia Dortmund has partnered with youth programs and established academies in 16 countries, including Germany, Japan, Poland, and the USA. In the US alone, they have multiple locations, including Florida, Texas, Washington, Arizona, and Louisiana. They also have five academies in China.

Dortmund sent over two representatives for the presentation. One was Roman Weidenfeller, a goalkeeper and club legend, who made 453 appearances for Dortmund between 2002 and 2018. He won two Bundesliga titles and two German Cups with the club. He is highly regarded for his loyalty and dedication to BVB and now serves as a brand ambassador.

Christian Diercks, Head of the BVB Evonik Football Academy, also attended. He explained that their football philosophy remains the same wherever they are in the world:

• Embrace and create the training environment and attitude of the finest quality that produces real opportunities for players to reach their potential

• Understand and replicate the methodology and training focus needed at the highest levels

• Demand excellence and quality in all aspects of the game

• Create professional pathways for our players at different age levels

• Offer the opportunity for players to be identified early in their career and then monitored for progression year to year by coaches from Borussia Dortmund’s academy

• Develop coaches to their highest potential with exchange and learning opportunities

• Implement playing style and player milestones like the professional environment

• Use resources directly from the academy

• Represent nationally the Borussia Dortmund brand, the club’s history, and its outstanding reputation for player development

Rob stresses that although this partnership has moved the club to another level, the pathway for players doesn’t change. He adds, “Whilst we are aligned with a professional brand now, it’s still football for all. From the very first day that we started RMA and moved on to Sporting Son Ferrer to today, it’s always been about football for all. I don’t want anybody to think that they’re not good enough for this club.”

On a personal note, I look forward to seeing my son Jacob begin his coaching career at the club — and also to witnessing the impact this partnership will have on the future of youth football here on the island.

If you are interested in your child joining the club, please contact Rob on 0034 691 173 265.

Wave Mallorca Radiothon: 36 Hours for Charity

Friday the 20th and Saturday the 21st of June are the dates for our Wave Mallorca Radiothon. We start at 7 a.m. on Friday morning and won’t stop until 7 p.m. on Saturday evening. That’s 36 hoursthat Ayesha and I will broadcast live and non-stop.

In 2015, Jo from our then radio office asked Ayesha and me on the Breakfast Show if we would consider broadcasting for 24 hours for charity. The challenge was duly accepted, and the Radiothon was born. For the first two years, we raised money to support the Pirates Charity Premiere and their chosen charities. When the Premiere ended in 2016, we decided to keep the fundraising going, and in 2019, we extended the hours of broadcasting from 24 to 36 hours.

The money we raise each year is equally divided among our chosen charities.

The following charities have benefited from our previous Radiothons:

• 2015: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Ward of Son Espases Hospital, Salvation Army, and Shambhala Foundation.

Total raised: 18,100.20€

• 2016: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Paediatric Ward of Son Espases Hospital, Calvia Lions, and Help for Heroes.

Total raised: 24,474.18€

• 2017: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Son Espases Intensive Care Unit, SOS Animal Mallorca, Fundacion Nazareth, and Club Vidalba.

Total raised: 23,384.60€

• 2018: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Son Espases Intensive Care Unit, Asociacion Ondine, and Feliz Animal Andratx.

Total raised: 14,878.50€

• 2019: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Son Espases Intensive Care Unit, ASPANOB, and ASDICA.

Total raised: 25,363.11€

• 2020: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Son Espases Intensive Care Unit, Yachting Gives Back, and Cancer Support Group Mallorca.

Total raised: 30,948.82€

• 2021: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Son Espases Rehabilitation Centre for Children, Yachting Gives Back, Santa Ponsa Food Bank, and SOS Calvia.

Total raised: 33,217.02€

• 2022: Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, Son Espases, Cancer Support Mallorca, and Help for Ukraine.

Total raised: 27,163.49€

Total raised so far: 197,529.92€

We took a break for a couple of years, and I’m pleased to say we are back, aiming to pass 200,000€and raise as much money as possible.

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Charities We Support Every Year

Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital (GOSH)

My relationship with GOSH dates back to 2004 through my work with Pirates and the Pirates Charity Premieres. When the Premieres ended in 2016, I continued our support for GOSH through the Radiothons. I’ve “run” the London Marathon twice for them, in 2008 and 2010, raising £10,867.00.

Through the Premieres and Radiothons, I am very proud to say we have now raised a total of 763,185.10€ for GOSH, which has supported many important projects over the years.

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Son Espases Hospital

Our support has focused on the paediatric department and the children’s intensive care unit. Our most recent project helped fund the construction of a new rehabilitation unit for children. Other contributions include:

• Decorating an MRI scanner and its room

• Adding cartoon characters to the ward doors

• Creating a new waiting room for parents of ICU patients

• Funding numerous smaller projects

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Cancer Support Mallorca

Cancer Support Group Mallorca (CSG) is a registered association supporting the international community in Mallorca. Their mission is to help patients, carers, and anyone affected by cancer by:

• Reducing stress

• Empowering people with a sense of control

• Enhancing self-esteem

• Combating loneliness through connection

• Providing practical assistance

Rebecca, Bronwen, and their team of volunteers do an outstanding job supporting cancer sufferers on the island.

If you or a loved one is facing cancer, please reach out — they’re here to help.

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Yachting Gives Back

Yachting Gives Back is a registered charity that enables the yachting industry — including both yachts and service companies — to help alleviate poverty and hunger in Mallorca.

They support at least 10 different charities, including food banks and shelters. Thanks to your help, we’ve raised money, collected food at supermarkets, and even provided Christmas trees to shelters. Nick and his team do amazing work, and we’re proud to support them again.

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6Points Cycling Challenges

6Points Cycling Challenges was conceived by Bryan Visser in 2016 as a personal charity ride around Mallorca. The aim was to complete a challenging but enjoyable route around the island, taking in stunning views, countryside, mountains, and sea.

They focus on supporting a small number of charities to ensure a big impact:

• Asdica: Supporting young disabled people and their families in Calvià to help them live as normal a life as possible

• Shambhala: Providing education, opportunities, and growth for young people at risk of social exclusion

• SOS Animal: A long-standing non-profit helping stray dogs and cats in Mallorca since 1995

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How You Can Help

There are plenty of ways to get involved and support our chosen charities:

• Sponsor an hour and join us in the studio

• Challenge us to do something for donations

• Challenge yourself to do something for donations

• Offer a prize for our auction or raffle

• Bid on our auction

• Buy a raffle ticket

• Request a song for a minimum of 5€

• Or simply Just Donate!

We would love to see as many people as possible at our studios in Palma.

We’re located at:

Francisco Rover 1, 07003 Palma

It’s on the outskirts of the city centre, and there is usually parking available.

If you’d like any more information please call or what’s app me on 0034 670 704 311. Thank you. 

Iconic Ad Campaigns That Sparked Debate

The advertising world is not an easy space to work in. An idea that you think is going to blow people’s minds can completely fail—and likewise, a campaign you think isn’t going to work can do exactly the opposite.

There’s also a fine line between what’s okay and what becomes controversial. But sometimes, controversy can actually work in your favour. When you look back on ad campaigns of the past, you do wonder if they would survive in this so-called “woke” era.

Probably one of the most famous ad campaigns of the last 50 years was the “Hello Boys” campaign by Wonderbra in 1994, featuring Eva Herzigová. It ticked pretty much every box in the advertising world.

It increased sales, raised brand awareness, gained iconic status, caused controversy and public discussion, and finally, inspired imitation.

Likewise, another brand around in the ’90s that caused a lot of controversy was Club 18-30 and its ad campaign, which was put together—believe it or not—by Saatchi & Saatchi. Club 18-30 had gone bust along with ILG and a company I was working for at the time called Intasun. It was resurrected by its former directors, but under the name The Club Holidays, as the brand Club 18-30 was banned for three years.

In 1995, it was due for relaunch as Club 18-30, so it went with a very brash and in-your-face campaign:

“You get two weeks for being drunk and disorderly,” “Beaver España,” and—with a picture of a man in boxer shorts—“Girls. Can we interest you in a package holiday?”

Complaints were few at the beginning, and the management team were clever in keeping it away from London, where all the newspapers were based at the time. After eight weeks, it was banned by the Advertising Standards Authority—but by then, the “damage” was already done. Bookings increased by 30%, and I remember being in Magaluf, where all the talk was about people wanting to be on a Club 18-30 holiday.

These are examples of when taking a risk worked in advertising. Again, there’s a fine line between what’s okay and what becomes controversial. A company’s ad becomes controversial when it crosses boundaries or touches on topics that provoke strong, mixed reactions from the audience. This usually happens when the content challenges societal norms, pushes against cultural sensitivities, or sparks debate over ethics, values, or taste.

Quite a lot of companies these days use social media to get their message across. In 2020, Burger King did just that. They tweeted, “Women belong in the kitchen.” Why would a company as big as the one behind the Whopper say that?

What they were trying to do was draw attention to the fact that, at the time, only 20% of chefs were women. They hoped to empower women with the opportunity to pursue a culinary career. Unfortunately, they failed to realise that people often just scroll through their content feed rather than actually reading the full post or any follow-up comments.

Thousands of complaints later, they removed the tweet.

This brings me to an ad campaign by Kensington International Estate Agents here in Mallorca. They had a billboard which said “Game of Homes.” At first glance, it didn’t look too controversial—I read it as a play on words from the popular TV drama Game of Thrones.

But the Spanish press picked it up and claimed it was an offensive message to the people of Mallorca, who are finding it increasingly difficult to secure housing in the current climate. I saw one comment that blamed the company for massively inflating prices for corporate greed. But what happened to the phrase, “Something is only worth what somebody else is prepared to pay for it?”

With all the backlash, they agreed to remove the billboard.

Finally, there’s an example of a product that had no need for publicity, was highly controversial and provocative, and was banned by the country’s biggest radio station at the time—Radio 1. Ironically, the ban helped the song gain further notoriety, increased its popularity, and it went on to become one of the most commercially successful records of the 1980s, with sales of over two million.

That was Relax by Frankie Goes to Hollywood. It is widely considered a strong example of effective marketing, particularly due to its innovative approach to merchandising. The “Frankie Say Relax” t-shirt became a viral sensation, worn by countless fans and even appearing in popular media like the TV show Friends.

Oscar Wilde once said, “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about.”

Discover Pre-Season Training Benefits in Mallorca

The saying “the best business ideas come from…” has been heard many times. Some ideas come from personal experiences—problems observed in your own day-to-day life. Others stem from a passion or hobby, where you’re leveraging your own knowledge and experience.

I would say mine came from a combination of both. I’ve mentioned on here before that, after working for 30 years at Pirates in Mallorca and wanting to continue living on this beautiful island, I needed to find something to do.

It was a natural step for me to move into the world of concierge, considering the number of contacts I’ve acquired over the years. I was constantly being asked for a variety of things, and turning that into a business felt like the perfect progression. I knew it was key, though, to be as diverse as possible and to build a team of professional people I could trust to deliver the quality and service required for such a business.

One of those diversifications came when I was out walking my dog in Son Ferrer early one morning. I saw some footballers training on the pitch there. These guys didn’t look like ordinary players, and I recognized the people training them. When I got home, I messaged one of the trainers to ask what he was doing. He explained they were running pre-season training sessions for professional footballers who were here ahead of their own clubs’ pre-season. That trainer was Rob Croll, along with his business partner and former professional footballer Sergio Torres. They run a business called Mallorca Pro Training, which does exactly what the name suggests.

I asked Rob if he needed a goalkeeper, as my son Jude was available. He said yes, and for the next few weeks Jude gained invaluable experience training with Rob, Sergio, and the professional players.

Once all the training had finished, the football season had started, and the winter nights were closing in, Rob and I sat down and put together a plan—not only to train the players, but to look after them while they were here. Rob and Sergio focus on the training, and that’s where I came in. We now offer a full service to the players, so not only do they train while they’re here, but they also get to enjoy everything the island has to offer.

Rob and Sergio are both fully qualified coaches, offering training sessions on the 3G pitches in Son Ferrer or on the grass pitches at Real Mallorca’s training ground. They also make use of the swimming pool by the pitch in Son Ferrer and the many beaches that surround us.

You might ask: why does a footballer need to do pre-season training before their actual pre-season? Well, it’s becoming harder and harder to succeed in the football world, so players are always looking for that extra edge to stay ahead of their opponents. Proof of that definitely came with the players who trained last summer with Mallorca Pro Training:

  • James Maddison – Tottenham Hotspur midfielder, Europa League winner
  • William Osula – Striker, Newcastle United, Carabao Cup winner
  • Dennis Cirkin – Defender, Sunderland, promoted to the Premier League
  • Alex Gilbert – Charlton Athletic, promoted to the Championship
  • Charlie Crew – Doncaster Rovers, promoted to League One

There’s your proof that hard work pays off.

I’d also like to add that the progress my son Jude has made over the last year is undoubtedly thanks to Rob, Sergio, and the professional players he has trained and played with.

You don’t have to be a professional, by the way—many semi-pro and amateur players have also benefited from Rob and Sergio’s expertise.

If you know a footballer who would be interested in this, please get in touch.

Email:

info@mallorcaprotraining.com

richie@prioritymallorca.com

UK-EU Deal: Impact on Mallorca Travelers and Businesses

There seemed to be quite a lot of backlash this week following Sir Keir Starmer’s UK Government agreement with the EU. Now, depending on which paper you read—and its political leaning—you’ll see varying reports on the reaction. The Labour-supporting Mirror said, “Deal is Win-Win,” while The Guardian reported, “EU deal puts Britain back on world stage.” On the other side, the Conservative-supporting Mail declared, “Starmer’s Surrender,” and The Daily Telegraph (or “Torygraph” as it’s sometimes known) ran with, “Kiss goodbye to Brexit.”

With any deal, there are always going to be winners and losers—it’s pretty much impossible to keep everyone happy. As I always say, the devil is in the detail. While there are various headlines surrounding what’s been discussed, a lot of it is still in the planning stage and should have a large TBC written next to it.

Purely from a selfish point of view, and focusing on the parts that matter to us here in Mallorca, I think it’s a great deal for travellers and businesses.

The food deal—or to give it its full name, the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement—would eliminate some of the trade barriers erected during Brexit. This would provide provisioners, supermarkets, and their suppliers with the opportunity to import more UK produce more quickly and easily. I imagine this could result in cost savings, so hopefully we’ll see a drop in prices too.

Also, for businesses here wanting to sell their produce in the UK, the previous barriers should now be removed, making it easier and cheaper to export.

Using e-Gates-There is a suggestion that holidaymakers could avoid “huge queues” at airports through an agreement allowing British travellers to use e-Gates at European airports. The agreement states that there will be “no legal barriers to e-Gate use for British nationals travelling to and from member states”—but nothing firmer yet. It’s up to individual member states to implement this. I’m not sure if Palma Airport’s owner, AENA, will be too happy, after redesigning Terminal A to cater solely for British tourists and passengers from non-Schengen countries. But still a positive step for UK travelers around Europe.

A youth mobility scheme—which the government has now rebranded as a “youth experience scheme”—also appears to be in the works. The terms must be mutually agreed, as the final numbers, how the cap will apply, and the time limits all still need to be worked out.

If it does happen, I think it will be great news not only for young adults who want to travel and work, but also for businesses here, which are crying out for young workers. I do hope the Spanish Government acts quickly on this. It benefits not only young Brits wanting to come here, but also Spanish young adults, who should have a reciprocal arrangement.

As I said above, all these so-called deals still need some meat on the bone—they need to be fully negotiated. But in my opinion, the ones that affect us represent a positive step in the right direction. I had that opportunity as a young person, and I didn’t look back. I, for one, would like my children to have the same opportunities.