Atlético Baleares have a great chance of promotion to La Liga 2. They’ve been in the second division for just four seasons of their history which started in 1920 when they were known as Mecánico FC. The last time they were in La Liga 2 was in the 1962/63 season so it’s been a long wait. They’ve been close on a couple of occasions, back in 2012 when they lost a two legged play-off 3-1 to Mirandes in front of 8,500 spectators in the old Estadio Balear. I remember taking my eldest Jake to the game and really enjoying the atmosphere. Also last season where they went out on away goals against Racing Santander after drawing 0-0 away, a 1-1 draw at home meant they were out.

They finished top at the end of the lockdown, playing 28 games, winning 18, drawing 4 and losing 6. Some might say they were lucky to finish champions but they led the table 18 out of the 28 games so were probably worthy winners. Their opponents in the play-offs are FC Cartagena who finished top playing 28 games, winning 15, drawing 9 and losing 4. They conceded just 19 goals in those 28 games so it sounds like their defence is pretty solid. The game will be played on Sunday the 19th of July at the Estadio de Rosaleda the home of Malaga FC. This is a one legged affair so it’s an unbelievable opportunity to get promotion. If they fail they’ll join the loser in the other game and the six teams that win their play-off games. Then eight teams will scrap for the final place. That includes UD Ibiza who are playing Cornelia and Pena Deportiva who play Marbella. Those games are both on July 18th. It’s very confusing like always but the idea is to win your game!

Real Mallorca are falling victim to some very dodgy refereeing decisions since the lockdown. Firstly there was the clear foul on Dani Rodriguez before Real Madrid’s first goal last week and then on Saturday a very dodgy penalty decision gave Athletico Bilbao a great start in a game which they went on to win 3-1. I said last week it’s not like they’re playing badly and so it proved when they beat Celta 5-1 this week. It was a win they’ve thoroughly deserved and they didn’t look like a team in relegation trouble. With 5 games to go they still need a miracle but they’re now 5 points behind Celta and 6 points behind Eibar and Alaves. You never know!

Antonio Raillo has renewed his contract with the club this week until 2024 which is a piece of good news. This comes on the back of Dani Rodriguez last week and the club seem to be tying down the contracts of their most important players in readiness for a possible return to La Liga 2. Goalkeeper Fabricio on loan from Fulham and South Korean free agent Ki Sung Yueng have left the club after their contracts finished at the end of June. There was talk this week of what would happen to the Coach Vicente Moreno at the end of the season. In the trigger happy world of Spanish football I would stick with him and his back room team even if they do get relegated. They’ve proved that they can get the team promoted once so should be given the opportunity to do it again. It was never going to be easy with the lowest budget in La Liga but I think Mallorca have done as well as they could. It’s not over yet though so let’s hope that’s something we don’t have to talk about.

Mallorca continue to break new ground on social media as they finished in third position for the most YouTube views in La Liga throughout the month of June with a record 2.4 million views.

Blinkfire Analytics’ latest data revealed they had increased their viewership by one million in comparison to May. The 84% escalation saw them leapfrog Real Betis into the third-most watched channel in the division behind just Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively. In fact if you add the numbers of 4th to 8th which includes Real Betis, Sevilla, Real Sociedad, Athletico Madrid and Valencia. They don’t add up to Mallorca’s total number of viewers.

Engagement totalled across Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube platforms also ranked them in fourth position throughout the entirety of La Liga with an average of 3,500 interactions per post – leaving them behind just FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

The newest figures further underlines the incredible fanbase the club boasts in addition to the exposure it can offer its sponsors.

Take care everyone, I’m back at the Weekend.

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online atwww.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Three weeks ago I wrote, Where’s the Plan? Three weeks later I’m still asking the same question. The Government have been trumpeting that Mallorca is open for business and whilst I think that is the right message to be sending let’s be honest it’s not really open is it? The only place on the island I see “open for business” is Palma and even that’s not fully open. I’ve been around the main tourist resorts and the streets are empty. Hotels, bars, cafes, restaurants and shops are all closed and there doesn’t seem to be a sign of them opening.

There’s about 150,000 workers in the Balearics on the ERTE at the moment with majority of them in the tourist industry and just 5% of hotels are open. I was sent a list of hotels that were opening, considering opening and wouldn’t open in the Magaluf, Palma Nova and Santa Ponsa areas and it doesn’t make good reading. The main tour operators are saying that if and when they get the go ahead don’t expect there to be a sudden rush to the beaches like there was at Bournemouth this week.

But even if the tourists do come what will be open? We need to be careful that this doesn’t turn into a complete negative and actually harm tourism here on the island. All we need is for people to come and send videos back saying the suns out but nothings open.

A lot of people seem to be waiting to see if the quarantine will be lifted in the UK. Which I’m sure it will but then will people travel?

I’ve come up with a list that says they won’t and a list that says they will and at the moment the won’t list is slightly bigger than the will.

The Won’t list.

They don’t feel safe on a plane.

They don’t have the money.

The weather in the UK is hot and sunny.

It’s only a few weeks before the kids go back to school.

The rules and regulations that resorts will have to put into place thus removing the fun element of the holiday.

The Will list

Mallorca is only approximately 2 hrs away.

There’s a price war and packaged and flights are really cheap.

The weather in the UK is wet and windy.

We’ve been on lockdown for 3 months get me to the sunshine.

The other worrying development in the past week is in regards to nightlife. Remember the ban on excessive drinking that was passed in January? Well after moving the goalposts twice over them being allowed to open, clubs are now being told they can’t until a vaccine is found. Which sounds to me pretty severe. I’m now convinced this Balearic Government are anti nightlife and I don’t see any reason to change my mind. I’m all for curbing excessive drinking but there is a better way to do it than is being shown right now. It’s labelled “drunken tourism” and the resorts of Magaluf, Playa de Palma and San Antonio in Ibiza seem to be feeling the brunt of the Government crackdown. It’s in their view part of cleaning up the resorts and making them more desirable. So are we saying the people who drink in more upmarket hotels and posh beach clubs don’t get drunk? I think we know the answer but it will cost you more money.

I don’t get it personally we should be encouraging all businesses to open as they not only adding a service to people arriving on the island but of course employ a lot of people too. Also think about all the other industries behind these clubs who rely on them for future employment. Light and sound, Staging, drinks companies, food companies, glass suppliers, even the ice makers to name just a few. Think what the Super clubs in Ibiza like Ushuaia, Hi, Amnesia and Pacha would do through a summer, that must be eye watering.

So let’s keep them all on the ERTE and all us tax payers will pick up the bill in the future. It doesn’t make sense does it?

Remember that this isn’t a majority government either, they’re working in a minority and need to be seen to be helping everyone right now.

I’m worried for all businesses both big and small being sold something that isn’t quite what it seems and suffering the consequences. The ERTE has now been extended from the end of June until the end of September across Spain but I’m not sure that’s enough for us here. They are going to have to extend it longer here for tourism I’m sure but will that be enough for businesses to survive? It’s a difficult time for everyone and i would urge caution right now.

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend!

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11http://www.radioonemallorca.com.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Let’s start by looking back at this week last year when Mallorca came back from 2-0 down to Deportivo La Coruña to win promotion back to La Liga. When Abdon Prats hit an 84th minute screamer the whole stadium went completely nuts and the celebrations went long into the night.

Fast forward one year and Mallorca are now staring down the barrel of relegation and a return to La Liga 2. A disappointing 1-1 draw at home to fellow relegation strugglers Leganes meant that there’s now a 3 point gap between them and fourth bottom Eibar.

A 2-0 loss away at Real Madrid last night wasn’t unexpected but it’s another game gone with no points picked up. Mallorca are still playing well but can’t put the ball into the onion bag and right now goals are what they need. It was great to see Luka Romero making his Mallorca debut. He becomes the youngest player ever to play in La Liga, aged 15 years and 219 days. Romero beat the record held for 81 years by Francisco Bao Rodriguez, known as Samson, who played on December 31st 1939 aged 15 and 255 days for Celta Vigo against Sevilla.

Born in Mexico, to Argentine parents, Romero moved to Andalusia, Spain, at the age of three. He moved to Formentera at the age of seven, and started to play for Ibiza team Penya Esportiva Sant Jordi.

In 2011, Romero had a trial with Barcelona but could not sign as he was under 10 and did not live in the area. In 2015, he signed an eight-year youth contract with Mallorca at the age of ten. In his first four years at Mallorca, Romero scored 230 goals in 108 matches. Hopefully when he turns 16 Mallorca can sign him to a professional contract and get decent money for him before a big club comes in.

Only 7 games to go for Mallorca and it’s hard to see them getting out of the mire.

Home: Celta Vigo, Levante, Granada,

Away: Athletico Bilbao, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla, Osasuna.

Good news for Mallorca this past week was Dani Rodriguez signing a new contract with the club until 2023. For me he was the player of the year last year and the goal he scored against his old club Albacete in the play-off semi final was an absolute screamer.

One thing that is probably effecting Mallorca more than other clubs is the lack of fans as there’s no doubt they helped with the promotion push last year.

La Liga sent clubs a protocol detailing how to manage fans returning to games this season. Included in the measures are 5 arrival slots, from 1.5 hours to 15 mins before kick-off and fans will leave according to their row, with those closest to exits allowed out first.

All will have to have temperature checks, wear masks and stay in their seats. They’ll also be given specific toilets to use. All stadium retail outlets will be closed and Clubs will decide which fans use up their allocations.

Atlético Baleares will find out this evening how they can progress to La Liga 2 in the Segunda B play-offs draw. Sad news from the club this week was that Scottish U-21 International Jordan Holsgrove has had to go back to his parent club Reading and therefore can’t play in the play-offs. We’ll also be looking out for the opponents of UD Ibiza and Pena Deportivo who are also looking to get promoted.

My two, Jake and Jude signed their contracts this week with CD San Francisco. Jake entering his fifth season with the club and Jude his third. Exciting news from the club this week was last year they won a competition set by Palma City Council to get their facilities upgraded. This week the Council came to settle the last of the plans and so it looks like a new pitch will be laid in September.

Great news for all the players as right now the surface isn’t the best.

Take care everyone, I’m back at the Weekend.

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online atwww.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

This week my kids officially broke up from school, although unofficially they’ve been off since March 14th when the lockdown started. During this time they’ve been given work by each of their schools, we’ve paid for extra teaching and my Wife and I have tried our hands at homeschooling. My Wife having a lot more success than me it has to be said.

I thought this would be a good time to speak to a teacher and find out her views on what has been going on during the lockdown and what is planned in the future.

Huge thanks must go to Josie Grant who I’ve known for a few years and have interviewed on the radio. She works for a state school called CEIP Na Caragol in Arta – its the only school in Mallorca (there are 68 in the whole of Spain) that offer a project with the British Council- started in 1996, to give the kids a better chance in life (they mainly chose less fortunate areas). They normally teach half of their schooling in English (well a third here because of catalan). It’s not just teaching English – its a mix of the British and Spanish curriculum’s and she teaches in English.

I asked Josie a series of questions and you can see her answers in bold.

Lots of parents have had to home school their kids with varying degrees of success. They probably understand more now the pressures teachers are under So how would you say from what you’ve seen and heard how well the parents have done? Personally I would say the parents have done an amazing job.  Many parents were having to work from home at the same time as helping their kids with learning- so that of course, was a major problem for many families.  Some age groups meant that the kids could get on with the work that the teachers provided without much help ( i guess more just checking the kids were actually DOING the work and not playing some online game), whereas the younger years really do need someone beside them to help them with the given tasks.  For some parents it has been impossible – could be that they don’t have access to computers (our school did actually supply those families with a laptop) or it could be that they have 3 kids and only one device etc etc.And for sure there are those parents who just felt unable to do it – its a world they don’t know and they maybe don’t have the headspace/or felt they were constantly fighting with their child rather than actually getting anything done (I am sure there have been parents who just did the work for their child to have an easy life!)  Parents are NOT teachers so it has been hard for them.  We give constant feedback and help the parents who are struggling as best we can.  We would speak to the parents (individually) once a week to check how things were going and then could help to fix any problems their child was having.  We also speak once a week to each child.  Then there are also the zoom sessions and online virtual classes where they all participate.

Parents moan every year at the time kids have off in the summer normally but this year I’m sure it will be worse as it will be nearly 6 months away from school. What Would you say to them? ha ha Have patience.  Yes the summers are longer than the UK but you have to also take into account we dont have any half terms – so I think at the end the Spanish kids only actually get 2-3 weeks more of holidays than the kids in the UK.  The summers are the long ones because it is so hot – many state schools have no air conditioning etc  And now with it being nearly 6 months in total , and it seems many summer camps have also been cancelled – its very hard for the families.  To keep children entertained can be exhausting and costly, and I know there are many families who are having major struggles with this – especially when the tourist industry opens the doors again and many parents will have to work.  This could mean that the kids get dumped with grandparents or older siblings to be looked after.  I wish i had a solution to this problem but there are so many different cases for families that it is hard to find a solution. 

Do you think the lockdown will have an effect on kids of certain ages? Definitely.  Especially for the younger years.  The children who start school at 3 (first year infants) always have a period of adaptation into school life etc.  Now ALL three infant groups will have had so much time off school at home with their parents that they will all need to re-adapt to school again. That will obviously slow the learning process down as we will need to re-teach all the rules of the school/classrooms etc and they will need to re-adapt to being away from their parents again…….  The older kids, although they have worked hard, its not the same as being in school – however I feel they will adapt easier and it wont take them as long to “get back into the swing of things”.  Its also a concern that the kids could have developed bad studying habits which we will have to fix.

Who would you say organised home schooling better, public or private schools? I can only speak of the public sector but i would say pretty much the same – maybe the private schools were at an advantage in that they have better equipment and used the computers more when they were in school.

Is there a protocol set yet for the return of the kids in September? At the moment we are setting up the school to start in September with reduced classes (they would all go to school but each class would have max 15 kids) obviously this puts a lot of pressure on the schools with limited staff etc And still nothing is completely confirmed as we dont know for sure what the situation with COVID will be in September. It could be that everything is back to normal (we WISH) but we have to set up as if it wont be.  Also the amount of work this takes means that it is likely to be that way for the whole academic year 2020-2021 as its a major job that can’t easily be undone without  another whole reconstruction of the school – its not as simple as “just go back to what it was”, timetables have been put in place, groups have been made etc etc

How will the schools manage social distancing? with extreme difficulty.  The older ones will be able to adapt as they have a better understanding of the whole situation.  But the early years is virtually impossible – how can you tell a 3 -6 year old child to not hug/hit/play with his classmate? If the child is upset are we not allowed to hug and console them? These are questions we are also still waiting to see what the Conselleria will advise.  We will obviously all have to wear masks/sheilds and the older children will have to wear masks too

How long do you think it will take schools to get back to normality like it was before the lockdown? like i said in a previous answer it will probably be the whole year – it will at least be the first term, but my school is preparing for the whole year given the amount of re-organisation involved.

Once again a massive thanks to Josie for answering the questions in such an honest manner. I for one have learnt a lot from what she’s said. In reference to her PS, I’ll stick to what I know thanks and tip my hat to all school teachers out there and look forward to you taking my two back in September!

When you’re reading this Ayesha and I will be halfway through our 36hr Radiothon so don’t forget to support us in any way you can to help our amazing charities, thank you!

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend!

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca
Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11http://www.radioonemallorca.com.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

To be honest only the most diehard fan like me would have predicted a Mallorca win over Barcelona at the weekend. A home win against Real Madrid earlier in the season gave us some hope but unfortunately that hope was to last just 65 seconds. Give a team like Barca that early advantage and you’re dead and so it proved. I was slightly unsure of the starting eleven. Sastre at left-back was given the run around in the first half. Understandably out of position but didn’t look comfortable and was substituted at half time for Fran Gamez who looked a little more capable. Pedraza instead of Baba didn’t work either in midfield. I know Baba was coming back from injury but fit enough for the bench fit enough for the game for me. He ran the midfield against Real Madrid and might just have closed down the pass that led to the first goal. Upfront we were toothless with neither Budimir or Cucho posing a threat. Kubo was our most dangerous attacker and had two good chances in the first half. Let’s face it we’re not in their league, all you have to do is compare the two playing budgets. Barcelona’s is 671 million euros and Mallorca’s is 30 million euros(the lowest in the league).

I’m sure questions were asked about how in a stadium that is closed a fan managed to get on the pitch? Apparently it was a dare from his mates and he managed a selfie with Barcelona player Jordi Alba before finally being caught by security. His aim was a selfie with his idol Lionel Messi as he was wearing a Messi Argentina shirt but he’ll have to make do with a 3,000€ fine and a football stadium ban.

I liked the way the tv had superimposed a crowd and added in crowd noises it made the experience more lifelike and better than the Bundesliga.

Be interesting to see what the Premier League does differently to the Germans and the Spanish.

Sky Sports have announced that they have created a range of optional crowd noises and chants for viewers ahead of the Premier League’s return tonight.

With matches set to take place behind closed doors for the foreseeable future, there have been plenty of discussions over how to improve the spectacle for supporters. They will introduce a crowds feature in partnership with FIFA 20, which will give viewers the choice between added supporter or stadium noise along with commentary. In addition, a ‘Choose a Chant’ feature will allow fans the opportunity to vote on what song should be played, with the ability to opt between club anthems or player-specific chants.

Fans on big screens and specific cameras to celebrate towards are some of the other “broadcast enhancements” that will be used too. Sky have always been ahead of the game when looking at enhancing the game for the armchair fan so I’m looking forward to see what they do.

Last night Mallorca played away in Villareal, less than 72 hours after their Barcelona gubbing. Vicente Moreno shuffled his squad by making 5 changes from the starting line-up on Saturday. Sedlar came in at left back with Fran Gamez moving to right back. The midfield was completely different, Dani Rodriguez was banned after a yellow card so in came Lago, Febas, Baba and Pozo. Kubo moved up front with Cucho and Budimir dropped to the bench.

Also on the bench was Luka Romero the 15 year old dubbed the Mexican Messi and one of the most exciting young talents in Spain. He can’t sign a professional contract until he’s 16 in November so Mallorca are currently paying him a monthly salary and have rented an apartment on the island for him and his family.

Mallorca were unlucky not to go ahead after a dipping shot from Baba from outside the box hit the bar. Not long after though they went behind when they again failed to cut out a cross that was scrambled home by Bacca. Mallorca dominated the second half making 5 changes at varying times including taking off Kubo which I didn’t understand as he’s been our best player in both games. Another dipping shot from Baba came back off the bar and Cucho missed a far post volley into an empty net which summed up their night. A draw probably would have been a fair result but a 1-0 loss puts pressure on the Manager and his team. Attention turns now to Friday at 19.30 and a home game against relegation rivals Leganés. Now if ever you wanted to describe a game as a six pointer then this is it.

Jacob my eldest was invited back to his club last week to find out the schedule for their return to action. They’ve been given a training plan from now until week beginning July 27th when they are expected to return to pre-season training. All down to how the virus behaves over the coming weeks of course but it gives him something to look forward to. In fact I’ve agreed to join both of the boys on their pre pre-season so if you see me running up the hills of Santa Ponsa then please stop to check I’m ok!

Take care everyone, I’m back at the Weekend.

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online atwww.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Because of the Lockdown we had to move the Radiothon from May into June. Next Friday the 19th at 7am Ayesha and I will begin our 36hrs of non-stop broadcasting finishing at 7pm on Saturday evening. Our aim is to beat last years total of 25,363.11€, which in the current situation will be difficult but we’ll give it a good go. One thing I’ve learnt during my time here on the island is there are lots of very generous people out there. I’m pleased to say we have every hour sponsored , so a big thank to The Anchor Bar, ElectroMarine, A2Dental, Pelion Consulting, Herbalife, The Boathouse, Nauti Parts, Bosuns Locker, Crocodile Properties, Corner Bar, Something Borrowed, Delicioso, Real Homes, Paella Lover, Stick No Bills, Phil & Jamiee, Natur Cavall, Peter Ledwidge, Tot Fruti, La Casita Del Mar, Threadworks Palma, Premier Design & Build, Dreammakers, Calvia Vet, Sea Shuttle, El Toro Foods, Palma Jump, Premier Pools & Gardens, Bray Marine, Lee the Barber, Liquid Nano, Pauline Quirke Academy, World of Wine, The Meat & Fish Society, HSJ Clinic and Deep Blue Sea Training.

The Radiothon was set up in 2015 when Jo from our office asked the Breakfast Show if we would consider broadcasting for 24 hours for charity. This challenge was duly accepted and the Radiothon was born. For the first 2 years we raised money to help the Pirates Charity Premiere and their charities. When the Premiere stopped in 2016 we decided to keep the fundraising going by setting up The Jacques Sasson Foundation. Jacques will be best remembered for his invention of the Pirates Adventure show in Mallorca and employed me in 1994 and i’ve worked there ever since. Now we can’t do this without your help so they’ll be plenty of ways you can support us. For a minimum of 5€ you can pay for a song to be played, you can challenge us to do something, buy raffle tickets at just 1€ each, bid on an auction item or just make a donation. If anyone would like to donate an auction or raffle prize then we would be delighted to hear from you.

The following charities have benefitted from our previous Radiothons;

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

2016:  Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, The Paediatric Ward of Son Espases Hospital, Calvia Lions, Help 4 Heroes.

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

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

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

The total raised in our Radiothons so far is 106,200.59€.

This year’s Charities will be Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and their COVID Emergency Appeal, Son Espases Intensive Care Unit, Yachting Gives Back and the Cancer Support Group Mallorca.

Pirates and the Radio at a later date have been supporting GOSH for 15 years now.  So far we have raised 748,804.50€ and in that time the money has been put to many different projects including a Pirates treatment room. More recently the money has been spent in four main areas: rebuilding and redevelopment of the Hospital; research (GOSH are currently embarking on a 5-year research strategy to target rare diseases in childhood); latest and replacement medical equipment; parent accommodation and support services for families and patients. This year the money will go towards their COVID Emergency Appeal and we are very proud that we will pass the three quarters of a million euro mark for GOSH.

We have been working with Son Espases for 5 years now and this year we are helping the only Child Intensive Care Unit in the Balearics. Our first donation to the Paediatric Ward of Son Espases Hospital was used the money to redecorate the doors of each room with cartoon characters making them look less like hospital bedrooms. Something we learned very early on our many visits to Great Ormond Street was the biggest challenge was to make the hospitals look less like hospitals so the children could relax. The second year we helped redecorate a new pirate ship-themed CAT scan in the Paediatric Department. Some 350m² of decorative vinyl wrapping gave Son Espases entry into a very select group of hospitals to implement such an idea, alongside the Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York, the Hospital Municipal Jesus in Rio de Janeiro and Hospital San Juan de Dios in Barcelona. In each case they’ve proven that this fantasy décor creates a warm, inviting, relaxing atmosphere and reduces levels of anxiety – making life easier for patients and professionals alike. Over the last three years we have been helping the intensive care unit firstly with murals above the beds of the children. And for the last 2 years we have helped build a rest room for the parents of the children being treated by the intensive care unit.

Cancer Support Group Mallorca (CSG) is a registered association that was formed to help the expat community in Mallorca. Being told you have cancer, or that your cancer has returned, can leave you feeling shocked, upset and very isolated. There are so many questions to be answered and so many feelings to deal with. So their aim is to help patients, carers and anybody who has been affected by Cancer. Mainly by reducing stress, increasing your sense of control over your own life, improving your self-esteem, reducing loneliness and providing practical help. Krista, Rebecca and their team do amazing work and one of things main things I got back from them is please can you spread the word to let people know that they exist.

For more information please go to www.cancersupportmallorca.com

Yachting Gives Back started a year ago as a food-raising campaign in which the yachting industry, including yachts, service companies and anyone else, could help to alleviate the serious problems of poverty and hunger in the Balearics. As well as food, Yachting Gives Back now collects clothes (adults and kids), bedding, toiletries, cleaning products and toys. They work with several local charities, including Associación Tardor, a social dining room serving 300 meals a day which has recently opened a new homeless shelter in Palma, Mallorca Sense Fam, a food bank which delivers foodstuffs to underprivileged families, Shambhala Fundación which works with vulnerable young adults and JoyRon Foundation helping Mallorca’s children in need.”

Nick and his team have done an amazing job in a short amount of time.

For more information please go to www.yachtinggivesback.com

We have an incredible list of auction and raffle prizes which are listed below.

Second Hand Chevrolet Aveo 1.2 Car. Daisy & Mike, Quality Used Cars Son Bugadellas

A days Charter 10-6pm for 8 people with Skipper(Food & drink not included) Azzura Yachts in Conjuction with Tristan at Prosperity Real Estate

1 hour sightseeing flight over Mallorca for up to 3 passengers Jonny Balearic Helicopters

Golf resort voucher for 2 x 3 days accomodation and golf unlimited(Flights not included)  James Arnold & the National Golf Resort in Lithuania.

Jeroboam of UP Ultimate Provence Rose wine from France. Elissa & Mikey World of Wine

RAD 4 Inflatable Clair & Russel Nauti Parts

A table for up to 10 people with a Magnum of Champagne Martyn Social Club Palma

A day with Golf Pro Peter Ledwidge Peter Ledwidge

A day in the life at Radio News Hub in Leeds UK Radio News Hub Team  

Meat Lovers Basket Simon at The Meat & Fish Society

4 nights in Villa Blanco in Cala Murada (available Oct 2020 – March 2021) James at Mallorca Villa Management

1 day learning to Jet-Ski with the use of a Jet-Ski Clair & Russel Nauti Parts

You can bid on auction item by sending a message via our Facebook page or by texting me on 670 704 311.

2 Return flights to UK Tui Flights

2 Return flights to UK Jet2.com

6 months satellite TV subscription GNTV

Family Passport for 2ad & 2ch Katmandu

1hr Physio or Acupuncture treatment Mallorca Physiotherapy

50€ Voucher Dunns Butchers Santa Ponsa

Pedicure Spa with Shellac Mes Per Tu

Hot Stone Massage  Mes Per Tu

Pirates Adventure 2ad & 2ch Maindeck Pirates Adventure

Pirates Reloaded 2 adults Maindeck  Pirates Reloaded

Gringos 2 adults Standard Gringos

Anti-Ageing Facial plus Manicure & Pedicure Denise Beauty Salon

2ad 2ch Entrance to Western Water Park

2ad 2ch Entrance to Marineland

2ad 2ch Entrance Aqualand

1 Months Free Subcription  PQA

3 x 1 hour Private Lessons  Renegade Martial Arts

3 x 1 Hour Kick Boxing Classes Shinkai Gym Santa Ponsa

Newly embroidered Soft Shell jacket  Threadworks

Newly embroidered Soft Shell jacket  Threadworks

2ad 2ch Entrance to Palma Aquarium  Palma Aquarium

2ad 2ch Entrance to Palma Aquarium  Palma Aquarium

1 Hour Elasko Stretch Fitness Class  Louise Middleton

Paella for 4 + 1 bottle Armero Adrover Rosé Restaurante Can Biel Felanitx

1 Hour Wake Boarding Lesson Mallorca Wake Park

50€ Voucher TotFruti Palma Nova

50€ Voucher  Hornblower Embroidery

50€ Voucher Mr Lee the Barber

Raffle tickets are available at just 1€ each from the Radio Station & various places around the island. Ask us and we’ll point you in the right direction. We can also deliver them to your home or workplace. The draw takes place two weeks after the Radiothon on Friday July 3rd.

You can come and join us at the studio at the Wave House Hotel if you wish or listen into the fun on all the ways below.

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend!

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11http://www.radioonemallorca.com.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

After taking a little break from talking Tourism last week, I have to return to it this week. You may or may not know this but right now this island is in a mess. We’re now in the first week of June and despite us being out of permanent lockdown for 6 weeks I still don’t see a plan. On Monday we’re going to be in phase 3 and most big tourist industry businesses are still not open or are even planning to be open. Worrying numbers I’ve read this week are firstly that in the Balearics in May, unemployment rose 92% compared with May 2019. There were 35,792 more unemployed, and the percentage increase was the highest in the country. Also that just under a quarter of the islands hotels were planning to open in July. That’s 300 out of a total of 1300. My optimism of a couple of weeks ago has turned to pessimism because of the situation we’re in right now. We went into lockdown on March 14th and now 3 months later there is no clear plan going forward. What exactly have our Government been doing? I’m not having the well their hands have been tied by central Government excuse. I’ve told you before that whilst Spain’s GDP for Tourism is 12%, ours here is 44% and if you take in all other industries indirectly connected we’re talking 85%. So many businesses that rely on Tourism still aren’t open and are no clearer when they will be open because there’s no plan. Well that’s not true there is a sort of plan but right now it doesn’t make business sense to open. Look around the main tourist resorts and you won’t find anything open apart from family run businesses. It reminds me a little of the winter situation. The hotels won’t open because there’s no planes coming, the bars, restaurants and cafes won’t open as the hotels aren’t open so you end up back to square one.

I told you last week one of the biggest hold ups is the Social Security law that says if you take only 1 person off of the ERTE(furlough) you have to pay 45% of the social security for the rest of the staff you employ. That runs into thousands of euros a month for businesses employing a lot of workers. If they relaxed that law right now I guarantee you’ll see more businesses taking a punt on opening this month. I’ve spoken to bar owners, restaurants, hoteliers and excursion suppliers and they’re all saying the same thing. I’m no economist or politician but if I was, in the 3 months since we’ve been on lockdown my sole thoughts and efforts would be. These islands depend on tourism, how do I get the people off the ERTE, back into work, paying back into the system and also making sure that I’m not adding in any difficulties that would ultimately stop them doing so.

I repeat that’s been 3 months and still no one is any the wiser. There’s no winter season to fall back on here, we’ve flogged that campaign enough. So if we don’t get going soon how are businesses going to survive until next Easter?

The other problem is the ERTE(furlough) scheme. I’ve spoken to a few employment lawyers this past week and they all say there’s total confusion.

A report last week said that 30,000 people hadn’t been paid their ERTE money. The official service looking after this is called the SEPE and they weren’t prepared for what was coming. They’ve received 21,307 claims affecting around 150,000 workers in the Balearics and they can’t cope. So they employed lots of part-time people to relieve the strain, the problem is those people aren’t qualified in dealing with these problems so in actual fact the problems become greater.

Most big businesses will need 2-3 weeks in order to get open. I can give you first hand experience at Pirates and what we are waiting for.

The quarantine to be lifted in the UK.

Tour Operators and airlines to let us know predicted numbers they are flying in.

What hotels are open and where.

The ERTE social security payments before we open to be taken away.

What Aforo(capacity) we can open up to.

What other restrictions are going to be placed on us.

I know the Government can’t answer all of those but the last three would be helpful.

If we are coming out of phases at different times across the country then surely plans for tourism here could and should be fast tracked. Although all deaths are regrettable, there have been 226 fatalities across the Balearics which is 0.8% of the total deaths in Spain. Madrid and Catalunya account for 53% and are currently in phase 1 whilst we are in phase 2. They are asking to go to phase 2 on June 8th while we will be moving into phase 3 on the same date. With the final state of alarm now extended to June 21st, it won’t be until near the end of the month before flights start arriving. So for most businesses it’s going to be the middle of July before they’ll be ready to open. It’s a very difficult call with so much uncertainty as I imagine most businesses are looking to survive into 2021 and the wrong decision now could be very costly.

I’m doing my very best to be positive here but I feel we’re being let down badly.

Let’s leave you on a positive note. One of my favourite restaurants reopened on Wednesday. I can’t recommend Can Pedro in Genova enough and I’m looking forward to going again.

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend!

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11http://www.radioonemallorca.com.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Having got some great feedback when I’ve concentrated on Mallorca and tourism I’ve decided that I would do a midweek blog covering all the football here on the island and keep my weekend blog to talk about the island and more particularly tourism.
La Liga has announced their return on Thursday June 11th with the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis. Real Mallorca will restart their league campaign with the small matter of defending Champions Barcelona at the Son Moix on Saturday June 13th at 10pm. Like all games across Europe they will begin behind closed doors. Denying us here on the island the chance to see Messi, Suarez and Griezmann live. The boys and i went to the away game in December where Mallorca got gubbed 5-2. It was a Messi masterclass, he scored a hat-trick and made everything look so easy. It was a pleasure to be there even though we were on the end of a good hiding. I suppose if there was ever a good time to play them then it would be after a 3 month gap of lockdown. We might just catch them off guard a little like we did against Real Madrid at home and a point would be like a win to be honest.

I wonder if there will be anyone who will try to get near the ground as there are areas of the car park you can actually see part of the pitch. I’m sure the police won’t allow it but let’s see.

We play at 10pm Saturday evening and less than 72 hours later we’re in Villareal for a 7.30pm kick-off. Organisers have only released scheduling details for the first two rounds of fixtures, although La Liga chief Javier Tebas confirmed there will be matches behind closed doors every day of the week until the season is completed on the 19th of July. The heat is going to be a problem for all teams, Weekday matches will kick off at 19.30 and 22.00, while weekend games will begin at 17.00, 19.30 and 22.00, with an extra slot at 13.00 if it is not too hot! I think that’s a given.

I read this week that there is a plan to bring back crowds to La Liga, not in the 11 games left of this season but at the beginning of next season. The plan I hear is 30% capacity at the beginning of next season (starting 12th Sept), 50% in November and 100% in January. How are they going to choose who gets to go and who doesn’t? My idea is give first refusal to the season ticket holders who have been with the club from the barren years in Segunda B 3 years ago. Not the glory hunters who started this season. 30% is around 6-7,000 and the boys and me would qualify.

Mallorca have offered season ticket holders a 25% refund for the 2019/20 campaign or you can opt for alternative including a 15% discount on merchandise at official club stores, name engravement on the ‘Fan Wall’, future matchday experiences such as VIP access and ‘Meet & Greet’ events or facility rentals for birthdays or matches.

With no fans allowed at grounds it’s Interesting that the President of Las Palmas in Gran Canaria, Miguel Ángel Ramirez believes that their Segunda division game against Girona on June 13thcould be the first game in Europe attended by fans since the pandemic began. He believes that because of the low infection rate on the island could make it safe for fans to watch the game. There’s been 2,326 cases across the Canary Islands and 151 deaths. If that happens then surely there’d be an argument here as across the Balearic Islands there’s been 2,191 cases and 226 deaths.

If it can’t happen in La Liga then it would be something that Atlético Baleares might look into. Having been made Champions of Segunda B Group 1, Baleares are waiting to see who they will play in the play-offs. They boast 3 players from the UK, the Shashoua brothers have just returned to Mallorca from their quarantine in the Uk. Armando is on loan from Tottenham and Sam is on loan from Tenerife. Hopefully Jordan Holsgrove the Scottish U-21 International on loan from Reading will be back from injury. Whoever they get it’s a huge game for the club and it would be great for the island if they could get promotion. They’ve been in this position 3 times previously in 2012, 2017 and last season agonisingly losing to Mirandes on away goals.

I told you that last week my two were going back to CD San Francisco in Palma and we have already begun their pre-season training together. I’ll keep you posted on their progress and all local football here too.

Take care everyone, I’m back at the Weekend.

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com

Pedro Sanchez announced last weekend that tourists would be allowed back into Spain from the 1st of July. It’s a huge turnaround from where we’ve been over the last few weeks and great news for the island. However more needs to be done to encourage the bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels and excursions to open here on the island. You may have noticed that we may be in phase 2 but the main tourist resorts are dead. Number one of course there’s no tourists but at the moment there’s no incentive for businesses to open. One of the main factors is social security. Right now if you are a company that employs 100 people who are all currently on Erte(furlough) and you want to start cleaning your premises with say with 1 person. The Government are currently saying you have to pay the social security not just for the 1 that you’ve employed but you have to pay 25% in May and 45% in June for the other 99 too! That’s a crazy situation to penalise companies employing people. You are not only removing them so the Government doesn’t have to pay them but you will be paying back into the system too. Companies have suffered enough already so don’t make it even more difficult for them.

This week I wanted to pick up on something else the Prime Minister announced last week. As long as everything goes well in the coming days and weeks then we will see the return of La Liga on June 8th, with the first match expected to be the derby between Sevilla and Real Betis on Thursday June 11th. All matches will be played behind closed doors, there are 11 games to play this season, with leaders Barcelona two points ahead of Real Madrid at the top of the division.

More importantly at the bottom of the league it’s a chance for Real Mallorca to get themselves out of the relegation places. They currently lie third bottom on 25 points with Leganés and Espanyol below them on 23 and 20 points respectively. Above them are Celta Vigo on 26, Eibar on 27 and Real Valladolid on 29 points. I’d say these are the six teams scrambling to avoid relegation.

Mallorca’s remaining games are;

Home: Barcelona, Leganés, Celta Vigo, Levante and Granada.

Away: Villareal, Real Madrid, Atlético Bilbao, Atlético Madrid, Sevilla and Osasuna.

Like last season their home form is much better than their away form but just before we went into lockdown they got their first away win of the season 1-2 at Eibar which also pulled them into the relegation battle. I think they can win 4 out of 5 of their home games except of course Barcelona. Away though is very hard to call looking at the fixtures but if you take last season as a guide they are going to have to get at least 1 away win bearing in mind they do win the 4 at home. That would put them on the 40 point mark. Last season Celta Vigo finished fourth bottom with 41 points to avoid relegation and Girona finished third bottom on 37 points and were relegated. It’s a tough ask especially with no fans at any of the games. Without doubt the players were inspired last season on their way to promotion by the home support but it’s the same for all teams.

Looking at the experience of the German Bundesliga who are two weeks into their return. I would say they need to pipe the crowd atmosphere into the stadium. You need someone with a football knowledge who can see when things are happening in the game and add pre-recorded crowd reaction. It’s a bit like a DJ who knows what to play at certain times in a nightclub but using crowd singing and noise. I’m happy to volunteer! Another idea used in Germany by Borussia Monchengladbach fans was to buy 12,000 cardboard cut outs of themselves and place them in their stadium to make it look busy. A slightly better idea than the South Korean team FC Seoul who were forced to apologise this week after they used sex dolls instead of mannequins to fill seats during a K League match at their empty stadium on Sunday.

Seoul’s match against Gwangju was being played without spectators due to ongoing measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

Some of the dolls had been dressed in the club’s colours while others were holding placards supporting the team. But eagle-eyed fans watching the match on television immediately took to social media to raise doubts about the inflatable spectators. The club issued a statement on saying the supplier had told them the dolls were not “adult products” but apologised for failing to check. Sounds like an episode from Only Fools and Horses, you couldn’t make it up!

Congratulations to Atlético Baleares who this week were made Champions of Segunda B Group 1. There were still 10 games to go but the League have decided to end things immediately and go straight to the play-offs. Remember that winning your Segunda B group doesn’t give you automatic promotion, you have to play a play-off two legged game against one of the winners of one of the other regional groups. Baleares posible opponents are UD Logroñes, CD Castellón or FC Cartagena. Logroñes seem to be the team to avoid, they were 13 points clear having only lost twice. Win your play-off you go up, lose your play-off and you drop back into the play-offs with the teams that finished second, third and fourth. Interestingly they contain two teams from Ibiza, UD Ibiza and Pena Deportiva. I think Baleares have a great chance and can build on the disappointment of not going up last year. It would be great for the island if Real Mallorca stay up and Atlético Baleares get promoted.

One element of football I’ve missed more than anything is watching the boys play. Last week we got news that both of them have been asked to go back to CD San Francisco. Jacob into Cadete B & Jude into Alevin A. Jake will resume training at the beginning of August and Jude will start at the end of August. Both of them were really happy to receive the call and so were we, we’re counting down the days!

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend!

Richie presents the Radio One Mallorca Breakfast show Monday to Friday07.30-11.00am on 93.8fm in Mallorca and 102fm in Calvià, online at www.radioonemallorca.com on mobile through their free App for IPhone & Android, The Tunein Radio App, iTunes, the Spanish TDT TV service and all smart speakers. If you can’t hear him on the radio then you’ll find him working at Pirates Adventure the islands number one night out and every now and again he may make an understudy appearance!

Follow him on Twitter @DadTaxi1 & Instagram @dad.taxi or feel free to email him at rprior@globobalear.com