h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

First of all, congratulations on getting this excellent Entry accepted into the Guide!
There is just one thing about the League of Wales that disturbs me, though. We footie fans have had to come to terms with the corporate sponsorship of team strips, competitions, sections of stadia or even whole stadia (e.g. Bolton's Reebok Stadium).
But I do think it's just too much when teams actually change their club names to accomodate sponsors, as some have done in the LoW. Could you support a team called "Total Network Solutions FC" or "Inter Cable-Tel"? What do the fans chant? "Come on you Solutions"? "Up the Cables?"
Some things just simply shouldn't be sold, and I hope this trend isn't allowed to spread to other leagues.

Congrats on making the front page

Thanks Nitpicker!

I agree with your comments Ormondroyd, and trust me, it is a big debate in Welsh footy circles too.
Some feel it makes a mockery of the league ...

The only thing I will say is that Llansantffraidd FC would not exist today without the sponsorship of Total Network Solutions, and they certainly would not be competing in Europe next season for the third time in the club's history! It is also no coincidence that Inter Cardiff were relegated this season, two years after their sponsorship deal with Cable-Tel ran out ...

Having said that, I hope no other club will follow TNS's lead!

Is there not a precedant for this with PSV Eindhoven - I believe the PSV stands for Phillips Sound & Vision; granted at least the city gets a mention unlike some of the Welsh ones!

I do agree with you that Inter Cable-Tel is going too far - the day Liverpool FC becomes Carling Liverpool is the day I look for another sport! I would have thought that having a team named after a company would limit fan base; that said how many Manchester Utd fans actually have any affinity with Manchester? Going back to PSV, perhaps the whole of Eindhoven takes pride in Phillips - who knows? I guess the guide needs to send a researcher to Holland!

I'm waffling now, so I'll shut up before I stop making any sense at all!

I have to agree, without the sponsorship LoW would have lost a side. Worth checking out the TNS pages at [URL removed by moderator]

Ironic, don't you think, that they can find a sponsorship deal to change the whole identity of the club, but they're still struggling to find a shirt sponsor for next season!