Knocked out in the Plate semi final last year they have vowed vengeance and may just have the team to back it up…  Here’s what the Scout Found out by hanging round their training ground, rumours that Michael Stanfield has designed their team strip are unconfirmed at this time.

I say football, you say…

“Beers after?”

Apart from having a football team, what’s the best thing about working for your company?

“We are the Independent Publishing Company of the year 2009 and the APA Grand Prix Winner 2009 – the table never lies…”

Which World Cup team are you most like, and why?

“New Zealand – how we’ve put a team together I’ll never know.”

Player to watch? (and reason for watching him..?)

“Sam Gallagher – he’s the white Carlton Palmer”

Do you have a mascot?

“NO, no we have not.”

Where’s your regular home ground (meaning pub, obviously…)

“The Fat Badger, Portbello Road”

What’s your team’s favourite tipple?

“Real Ale or Berocca effervescent tablets”

A group of ravens is called a murder. Tell us a little-known fact about your team or one of your players:

“Since he was 14, Michael Stanfield has been trying to invent a fabric to rival corduroy. So far all his attempts have ‘made him itchy’.”

Milkround are always solid performers – in 2008 they reached the Cup semi final, won the Penalty Shootout and took the Top Goalkeeper prize too.

Last year they won The Plate competition and rumour has it that some recent changes to the squad have given them a strong chance of taking the Cup this year.  Ones to watch…

I say football, you say…

“Elephant Polo”

Apart from having a football team, what’s the best thing about working for your company?

“Having a croquet team.”

Which World Cup team are you most like, and why?

“Norway – There’s Norway we’re winning this tournament. Yes, they’re not in the World Cup, get over it.”

Player to watch? (and reason for watching him..?)

“Our captain, he regularly blocks shots with his head.”

Do you have a mascot?

“Yes – he’s only got one leg.”

Where’s your regular home ground (meaning pub, obviously…)

“Blue Lion”

What’s your team’s favourite tipple?

“Lagarita”

Married men revealed that they change their underwear twice as often as single men.  Tell us a little-known fact about your team or one of your players:

“Our entire team is left footed (probably)”

Last year’s triumphant winners, Clear Channel are looking strong and ready to give the rest of the pack a run for their money.  Will the confident headless chicken strategy do them justice a second year running?

1. What did you learn from last year’s tournament that will help you this year?

Form is temporary…class is permanent.  Having played terribly in the group we went on to win!

2. What’s your team’s celebratory drink?

Pints of lager straight afterwards seemed to be the theme in the photos last year

3. The score’s tied and there are 2 minutes left, what’s your plan?

Game plan never changes regardless of the score…we all continue to run round like headless chickens.

4. Apart from entering The Media Sales Cup, why does your company rock?

We get an hour and a half lunch break….so plenty of time to go to the pub…I mean workout at the gym and talk team tactics.

5. Describe your fans and how they’ll show their support:

We have no fans.  But we do rate ourselves a bit too much so that seems to address the balance.

6. Player to watch and why?

Alan (striker)… He’s had 8 million leg operations but he’ll still score 40 goals.

A solid team last year, but with shaky luck on the day, losing in the Plate final to BBC Magazines – their battle cry was “Remember the Titans!” – will they perform more memorably this year?

1. What did you learn from last year’s tournament that will help you this year?

That asking ringers from other companies to play is a far better strategy than pressurising maybes from here!

2. What’s your team’s celebratory drink?

Champagne out of the cup

3. The score’s tied and there are 2 minutes left, what’s your plan?

[captain] Take myself off and shout loudly at the rest to work harder

4. Apart from entering The Media Sales Cup, why does your company rock?

One word, posters.

5. Describe your fans and how they’ll show their support:

Supportive emails on a Friday explaining their absence

6. Player to watch and why?

One of our ringers… Farhan “coming atcha” Cachra.  Pace, power and a smile that turns any man.

After a bullish pre-tournament stance last year:

May god have mercy, because we won’t…

…the Times Online team were knocked out in the Plate semi-finals by BBC Magazines (3-2), overall scoring only 6 goals during the evening.

This year, the team’s manager Jonny Hill takes a less aggressive stance making us wonder whether this is a cunning tactic to knock the other teams off their guard.

Have the TOL boys have been training in secret for the last 12 months?  Or are they planning to rely on their wit and banter like last year?

1.  What did you learn from last year’s tournament that will help you this year?

As manager I feel that actually going to the tournament would be a good start.  As I was not there last year I feel it hard to answer this question thoroughly.

2.  What’s your team’s celebratory drink?

I hear that my team may have been drinking before the tourney, and I also believe we did not score one goal.  So I hope no-one was celebrating.

3.  The score’s tied and there are 2 minutes left, what’s your plan?

Score an own goal so we don’t have to go to extra time

4. Apart from entering The Media Sales Cup, why does your company rock?

Several reasons:

a) We get 3 hours for lunch
b) We are actively encouraged to take sickies
c) We get massages at our desk on request

5. Describe your fans and how they’ll show their support:

Define “fans”

6. Player to watch and why?

If you want to laugh then just watch any of us

Losing out in the semi-finals to Clear Channel who went on to take the cup; winners of the Penalty Shootout and Top Goalkeeper awards… what do Milkround have to say for themselves?

1.  What did you learn from last year’s tournament that will help you this year?

If we get a penalty, let the penalty king take it, not the star player…

2.  What’s your team’s celebratory drink?

Whatever is cheap and plentiful

3.  The score’s tied and there are 2 minutes left, what’s your plan?

Go all out attack and probably concede

4.  Apart from entering The Media Sales Cup, why does your company rock?

Young, vibrant and up for the fight against the recession.  That and being the official number 1 graduate recruitment website

5.  Describe your fans and how they’ll show their support:

They will show their support by not turning up and embarrassing us

6.  Player to watch and why?

Adam, because he always manages to smash the ball into his own face

www.milkroundonline.com

An early Internet player Milkround Online have lost none of their passion since becoming part of News International as our scout discovered.

Small and agile but with big back up so don’t mess with them unless you can bring it…

Biggest goal threat (tactical or player)?

Chad “The Cat” Falla

Team most reminiscent of?

Gretna

Favourite goal celebration?

We probably won’t score cause Clarkey’s up front…

Achilles heel?

Our debilitating wasting disease

Gauntlet to other teams?

Give a damn!!

www.titanoutdoor.co.uk

Titan:

noun

One that is extraordinarily large and powerful: behemoth, giant, Goliath, jumbo, leviathan, mammoth, monster

Well, we’ll have to wait and see whether they can truly live up to their name.  Opponents – should you be shaking in your boots?

General team strategy?

Run hard, shout loud, drink fast. Oh and keep Saunders on the bench.

Biggest goal threat (tactical or player)?

James Thornton – he’s a former Yugoslavia international.

Team most reminiscent of?

Aston Villa 93/94 with the pace and trickery of Saunders (“Hedders” Hedley), Atkinson (“Get in there” Gibbo) and Daley (Jim) up top and wily experience of Stauntan (Matt “Back of the net” Batch) and McGrath (Watchout or I’ll kick you” Kieron) at the back.

Favourite goal celebration?

The “Winbow Windmill”

Achilles heel?

Rob “skeletor eyes” Saunders

Gauntlet to other companies?

Remember the Titans!

General team strategy?

All out attack. The dutch philosophy of “Total Football”.

Biggest goal threat (tactical or player)?

With our ensemble of attacking options, not seen since the 1990 AC Milan team, we have the tools to unlock the most miserly defence.

Team most reminiscent of?

AC Milan golden era of 1987 – 91

Favourite goal celebration?

With so many goals flying in, we simply do not have time to celebrate all of them.  A hearty pat on the back of the accredited goal scorer is customary, although all goals are a perfectly crafted team master piece.

Achilles heel?

Our modesty.

Gauntlet to other companies?

After the inevitable victory, we shall invariably toast our success.  We would like all teams to come along and applaud the best team in the tournament, us.

www.bbcmagazinesadvertising.com

BBC Magazines – a publishing powerhouse, but on the pitch…? We found out:

General team strategy?

Shock & Awe, Hearts & Minds

Biggest goal threat (tactical or player)?

Dickson Dean

Team most reminiscent of?

The A

Favourite goal celebration?

The Charlie George

Achilles heel?

Booze & Women………..Booze