Tag: sport

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

The National Anthem Debate

I’m a little bit late to the party, talking about whether the England football manager should sing the national anthem. For me, it’s a matter of choice and if I’m honest I don’t care if you belt it out or remain silent, I just want to see us win a trophy! 

If you didn’t know the current interim England manager is Lee Carsley, who was born in Birmingham, but by default he’s actually Irish and qualified for the Republic of Ireland through his grandmother, who was from Dunmanway, County Cork. He played 40,games for them in total between 1997 and 2008. So all this pile on about he should be singing our anthem or be fired is totally over the top and let’s face it, he’s not actually English. Was it questioned when Swede Sven-Goran Eriksson or Italian Fabio Cabello didn’t sing it whilst in charge of England? Probably not.

In times of triumph and trouble, on royal or state occasions and on the sporting pitch, these anthems lay bare the beating hearts of a nation, united in song. But If you really want to hear an anthem sung the best, then I suggest you go to an international rugby match. 

It made me think of compiling a top 10 of the World’s best anthems. I’ve gone for the most passionate ones, and in true chart style I’ll do it in reverse order. 

Spain: I have to include the country I have lived in for the past 34 years. Although interestingly, “La Marcha Real” is one of only 4 national anthems that doesn’t have any words.

Australia: What I like about their anthem is that from the first two lines, “Australians all, let us rejoice, for we are young and free.” It sounds upbeat and modern and continues on that theme all the way through.

New Zealand: Like Australia this a modern sounding anthem and what I like about it is, it is sung in both Māori and in English. Showing the heritage of the country. If you are at a New Zealand All Blacks rugby game, you’ll also be treated to their traditional “Haka” after the anthem. 

Ireland: They have two anthems, ‘Ireland’s Call’ and “Amhrán na bhFiann” (Soldier’s Song). Their decision to sing two different anthems is a result of the historic divisions in the nation. It is good to see though a united Ireland playing sport together. 

Scotland: It’s an unofficial anthem, but a powerful tune that commemorates the victory of the Scots after Robert the Bruce defeated England’s Edward II at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Normally at the rugby, a lone piper will play the first verse and the crowd are left to sing the second verse on their own.

England: Surely being English, our anthem should be my number one? Whilst I do find it uplifting, it’s a little slow for my liking. I think, like all the other home nations, England should have its own anthem. “Jerusalem” for instance, a hymn that we had at our wedding, would be perfect. 

Italy: You’d be hard pushed to find a more passionate anthem. The lyrics were written by Goffredo Mameli in September 1847, but it was not until 2017 that the Constitutional Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies approved a bill to confirm the “Canto degli Italiani” an official hymn of the Italian Republic.

USA: The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem of the United States.

To celebrate their victory over British forces during the War of 1812, U.S. soldiers raised a large American flag at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, on September 14, 1814. When we took Pirates to Miami in 2006/7 one of the things we did was raise the American flag on the galleon at the end of the show, whilst playing the national anthem. It was always a great ending. I don’t think I’ve seen this anthem sung any better than when Whitney Houston did it in 1991 at the Super Bowl. 

France: “La Marseillaise” is bold, catchy and revolutionary in every sense of the word as it was created during the French Revolution. I think the French just shade the Italians in their passion for their anthem. 

Wales: “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” is my number one choice. Even as an Englishman, you can’t help but be moved by this anthem. Especially when it is sung at the national stadium and Wales are playing England at Rugby. The crowd along with the Welsh choir create an unbelievable sound that still makes my hairs stand on end. 

No matter which country they belong to, national anthems are all sung with fervent passion and patriotism. It’s your choice whether you sing them or not.

Please note, I have started a weekly podcast with my good friend Martin Makepeace. It is called “Talking Balearics”. I have been in Mallorca for 34 years and Martin in Ibiza for 33 years, so between us, we have a good knowledge of current affairs across the islands. You can listen on all the normal podcast platforms, and we welcome your input and feedback. 

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the island’s number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos. Subscribe to receive his blogs at http://www.dadtaximallorca.com

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

It’s a Public Vote

I grew up watching Sports Personality of the Year. It was one of the programmes I always looked forward to at the end of the year. Now I’m showing my age here as this was before satellite tv was invented. So you could watch most sporting events on terrestrial tv. My earliest memory of a winner was probably John Curry the ice skater who won in 1976. By the way I was 10 years old for those asking. 

Since the invention of Sky it became harder for the BBC to show highlights of sport that they didn’t televise. This meant the programme wasn’t as good as it used to be and as I’ve got older I’ve tended not to watch it so much.

I have to be honest and look up who won last year’s event and it was England women’s footballer Beth Mead. She was the player of the tournament and top scorer at Euro 2022, where the Lionesses defeated Germany in the final at Wembley to win England’s first major women’s football trophy.

The 27-year-old also became the first women’s footballer to win the award.

This year another England women’s footballer won, their goalkeeper Mary Earps. Leading to a few people criticising why she won if she and England didn’t actually win the World Cup after losing to Spain in the final. 

Before we look at whether she was deserving or not let’s look at the criteria and the panel who drew up the shortlist as it’s something I had to look up.

The criteria of the shortlist should be that they,

• Reflect UK sporting achievements on the national and/or international stage;
• Represent the breadth and depth of UK sports; 
• Take into account the ‘impact’ of the person’s sporting achievement beyond the sport in question.

The industry panel for this year’s BBC Sports Personality of the Year included former Lioness and Euro 2022 winner Ellen White, ex-Olympian Colin Jackson, Paralympian Ellie Simmonds and former Scotland rugby union international Chris Paterson.

Sports journalists David Coverdale (Daily Mail), Rob Maul (The Sun) and Charlotte Harpur (The Athletic) were on the panel alongside Olympian Katherine Grainger, now Chair of UK Sport.

Representing the BBC were director of sport Barbara Slater, head of sport content Philip Bernie and Sports Personality of the Year executive producer Gabby Cook.

The Panel were given an extensive list of the top sportspeople from 2023 Including information on their achievements, provided by the production team of Sports Personality of the Year. The Panel were also able to consider other potential candidates who were not on the list. 

They chose, Stuart Broad (cricket), Frankie Dettori (horse racing), Alfie Hewett (wheelchair tennis), Katarina Johnson-Thompson (athletics) Rory Mcllroy (golf) and Mary Earps (Football)

On the night itself the award goes to the sportsperson whose sporting actions have most captured the UK public’s imagination during 2023. There’s an important word in that last sentence “public”. Let’s not forget it’s a public vote and they decide who wins. It’s a bit like a general election if you feel so passionately about something then use your vote. Two of the people who’ve been so critical of the winner have been Journalist Piers Morgan and former footballer Joey Barton. I wasn’t surprised about Barton as his views on pretty much everything are left field but I was surprised about Piers. Everyone as always is entitled to their opinion as long as you don’t get personal, which Barton in particular did. Interestingly though when asked, neither did vote so that sums it up for me. 

Back to the winner Mary, she also won the World Cup tournament’s Golden Glove, the Best Women’s Goalkeeper at FIFA’s The Best awards and was named England Women’s Player of the Year. She stood up against Nike who wouldn’t release a replica shirt with her name on and when they eventually bowed to pressure she sold out twice in both October and December.

A thoroughly deserving winner in my eyes. 

Take care everybody and can I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Happy New Year. 

Richie is the MD at Pirates, the islands number one night out featuring Adventure, Reloaded and Gringos.

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