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’.”

New entrants for 2010 but the mighty Five needs no introduction…

I say football, you say…

“Any excuse to leave the office early”

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

“The proximity to strip joints”

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

“Cameroon 1990. We regularly get players sent off, we’ve got a number of players who lie about their age and our best player is nearing his 40’s”

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

“Robinho, or the “Ice Man” because he freezes in front of goal, and he looks like a strange amalgamation of the popular 60’s four piece, The Monkees.”

Do you have a mascot?

“See above”

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

“Roundhouse”

What’s your team’s favourite tipple?

“Blue WKD with Ladyboy chasers.”

Elephants are the only mammals that can’t jump. Tell us a little-known fact about your team or one of your players:

“James Robinson is a RADA trained hand actor, having starred in hits such as Hand that Rocks the Cradle, The Hand that Time Forgot and a musical remake of Cool Hand Luke.”

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)”

This is the third year of our annual 5-a-side football tournament for advertising sales teams, cited as the best annual sporting tournament in the media industry.

The date is set for Friday 21st May and this year promises to be even bigger and even better than the last.

We are proud to welcome on board our new sponsors – Media Week – and hope that they enjoy the event as much as we do, and everyone else does.

If you’ve not played before, click here for some background info…

We are also pleased to confirm that we are keeping our prices the same as last year: just £400 for a team of 7 players.  Our unique package includes all you need to turn up and play, plus food and drinks throughout the night… click here for the full package details.

To reserve your team or ask a question email us at lee@themediasalescup.co.uk or call Lee on 07984 133 008.

Entrants are confirmed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Looking forward to seeing you on the night!!

Congratulations to Times Online - winners in 2009

Times Online – The Media Sales Cup Champions 2009

The Telegraph – The Media Sales Cup Runners Up 2009

Milkround Online – The Media Sales Plate Winners 2009

Think Publishing – The Media Sales Plate Runners Up 2009

Other trophy winners…

Balfour  (Top Goalkeeper)

Titan  (Winner of Penalty Shootout)

JCDecaux  (Top Goal Scorer)

And the rest…

Clear Channel  (2008 Champions)

Doubleclick

IDS

Loot

Newsquest

Yahoo! UK & Ireland

Smooth, confident, courageous and of French origins… are we talking about Zidane?  Cantona?  Deschamps?  Nope, Decaux.

Late entrants and newbies to the 2009 tournament, JCDecaux appear to show a level of promise but only time will tell if the final team in our Outdoor line-up can hold their own against their more experienced competitors.

2008 was Clear Channel’s year – can the JCDecaux team stop the champions doing it again?

1. What famous or professional team are you most reminiscent of?

South Korea in the 2002 World Cup, we want someone to watch us in the Semi’s and think ‘How the f@ck did they get there??’

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

Jaigerbombs mixed with Berocca

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

To score, preferably off a deflection

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

Apart from the free private health, onsite gym, a beer tap by the printer, 11am – 2pm office hours and the 5th floor doubling up as a strip club?

Just the people.

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

Unless there is free alcohol on offer I don’t think you need to worry about building a second tier.

6. Player to watch and why?

Barry Whelan – he’s the missing link

Newsquest Media Group: the 2nd largest regional media group in the UK …so one would think that it shouldn’t be hard to find 7 football players of some reasonable standard.  Our scout reckons that this team could be the dark horse of the competition, hiding behind humour and nonchalance, there was a distinct buzz in the air and it wasn’t the photocopier.

Are the Newsquest boys as passionate about the beautiful game as they are about delivering to their 4,000+ advertisers?

1. What famous or professional team are you most reminiscent of?

You know those charity matches where they get old legends of the game to show they still have it, well……we’re nothing like that.  Our MD (Chris White-Smith) and Head of Sales (Graham Ellis) would like to think we are like Stoke City but surely that means we are just awful players, that rely on our quarter back and lump it forward but on a positive note get the job done.

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

We tend to drink whatever the hospital recommends when we collapse not only from exhaustion but surprise if we actually win.

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

Play boring and dirty – soak up the pressure and get a break away goal leaving no time for a reply, using our secret weapon – the fat cat.

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

Because we have a very famous ex band member of the Filth.

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

They are invisible and will show their support through silence.  As our other fan couldn’t make it as his dog was sick.

6. Player to watch and why?

We all are highly entertaining in a comical sense.  But look out for Crazy Legs Blake Seabrook – if he turns up.  He reckons he can bang goals in for fun – we’ll see and hope it does – but won’t be sticking around to listen to his annoying voice describing his goal.

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.

Runners up in the Associated Cup last year, Loot are a 5-a-side team with a proven track record.

They did admit however that this achievement taught them that 7 games in an evening is one too many for people with their fitness levels…

There are 3 new players on the squad this year, will that change everything for the better or for the worse?  Here’s what they have to say:

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

Generally anything we can get our hands on.

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

Our gaffer’s famous 0-0-4 formation should mean a fantastic spectacle of end to end footy.

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

We’ve been the leading classified paper for over 24 years – we know our stuff.

We’re currently recruiting talent so if you believe your sales skills are equal to or surpass those on the field please feel free to get in touch.

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

A strange bunch, who, with it being a Friday will support us by downing lashings of Stella and White Lightning, whilst shouting inane ramblings at the players.

5. Player to watch and why?

Last year’s player of the year Mike has retired, so it could be anyone.  With 3 new players we could be unearthing the next Ronaldo, or alternatively the next Ronald McDonald.

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

Dom Pérignon 1993 vintage

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

Celebrate that we are still drawing with 2 minutes remaining.

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

The company is growing at a rapid pace and we all work together to ensure that our green credentials and high standards are met. Today we are the industry leader in environmental, charity and membership magazines.

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

Distinctly average. They will probably support the team we are playing.

5. Player to watch and why?

Tom ‘I’m amazing at everything I do’ Fountain because apparently he’s amazing at everything he does.  Apparently.