Alternative Soccer Viewing

Most people associate watching football in the 21st century with going to a soccer stadium, listening to the commentary on the radio or watching the match live on TV, but people rarely mention other alternative viewing. Is this because it is seen as uncool and not classed as following a soccer match properly?

Since the introduction of Ceefax in the 1970s and other technological improvements in the 1990s (like sky/cable television and the internet), there have been other alternative ways to keep track on how a team is getting on which has a kind of ?cult? feeling to it.

The oldest alternative viewing to the traditional avenues is Ceefax (phonetic for ?See Facts?), which was introduced by the BBC in 1974 (who at he time were working on ways of providing television subtitles for the deaf). Their system was the first teletext system in the world. It was a basic information system with the absence of sound, pictures, or anybody giving your basic information.

It was basically simple pages of blue-and-white text that you could access via your television remote. But what does this have to do with football? Well the Ceefax service holds information on a wide range of topics, such as News, Sport, Weather, TV Listings and Business and these pages are kept up to date (usually being the first to report a breaking story or headline).

Most people in the British Isles that you speak to have in the past used Ceefax on a match day (especially before the development of the internet). Everybody looks at football scores on Ceefax as it is the original internet. People will leave Ceefax on in their living rooms on a Saturday afternoon to keep track of how their team is doing and will wait anxiously for the blue-and-white text on the screen to refresh hoping that their team holds on in the dying minutes or scores that dramatic last minute equaliser. Some people are anxious whilst starring at the blue-and-white text and I have know people to spend a large part of the match sat in front of their TV waiting for the black rectangles to change in favour of their team.

Some people would argue that it is sad to sit in front of your TV waiting for the screen to refresh, but it is surprisingly engrossing. If all you are interested in is the score, then it is the ideal medium. Think about it this way, you have no annoying adverts, no annoying analysis from inapt soccer commentators and just the scores which you are interested in. With the plans to replace all analogue TV signals with digital in the British Isles for 2008, sadly this alternative viewing is going to disappear.

A similar version to Ceefax has developed on the internet over the past decade due to technological improvements. There are many versions of the TV Ceefax system on the internet in one form or another and usually comes under the form of ?Live Scores?. If you do a simple search on the internet for soccer Live Scores you will be amazed at how many sites are returned in the results. In essence it is just a modern day version of Ceefax.

Instead of sitting in front of your TV watching Ceefax refresh you are sat in front of your computer watching an internet site refresh. There is no real difference in the service which is provided, just the fact that it is coming from a different medium. Like with the Ceefax service, if you ask most soccer fans in the British Isles who use the internet, they will be able to name a site they use to keep track of their team on match day. If you were to pick out differences between the two it would be the fact that websites take advantage over the number of people accessing the site by placing advertisements alongside the scores.

During the 1990s, Sky Sports was launched in the British Isles and their introduction was to have a massive impact on soccer. Sky revolutionised soccer with their live matches, showing live games on Friday?s, Sunday?s and Monday?s. Sky also introduced a live manned version of Ceefax called Sky Sports Saturday. Their service is just an advanced version of Ceefax on a match day, with an anchorman and various ex professional soccer players talking about the action as it happens.

All that Sky have done is taken hold of Ceefax and expanded on it. They use ex professional soccer players to provide key moments from one of the matches they are watching and they then report back to the anchorman, telling him that player X has just won a free-kick but it?s still 0-0 at Old Trafford. Admittedly it is more interesting then sat watching blue-and-white text refresh as it tells you more, but at the end of the day it is still a basic score service. I would say their service (which is similar to the one that the BBC run) is an overly-manned version of Ceefax with a human face.

The last alternative version to watching soccer is live commentaries which various websites provide. Again this is just another basic version of Live Scores and Ceefax. You will visit a website and have the option to watch live commentary on a match of your choice. It will give you details of the match action as it happens like ?attacking throw-in Chelsea Cole right channel?, but like the other services the score will remain the same.

Soccer fans will class watching Ceefax, Live Scores and Live Commentary as not properly following a soccer match, but to some people this alternative viewing adds more entertainment to the match day. Instead of watching a dire 0-0 match being played out on TV, it is sometimes more entertaining listening to the moans and groans of an ex professional on Sky Sports Saturday as he describes players missing chance after chance. Also alternative viewing gives fans of lower leagues clubs a chance to see how their team is getting on as they are not given the same TV/radio coverage as the more illustrious clubs. Alternative viewing might be seen as uncool by certain fans, but to many it is still cult viewing.

Steven Gore is the editor of SoccerManager.com, the free online soccer game

Are You Soccer Mad?.. Soccer Crazy?.. Then try these Rome Soccer Tours.

If you are fanatical about soccer, as you read through this article you're going to learn that it's easier than you think to travel to Rome, and see a classic soccer match, with the fans of Roma or Lazio at your side. Wouldn't it be amazing to tell your friends that you were there, in the Stadio Olimpico, when the winning goal was scored!

Whether you are coming to Rome on vacation or business, you simply have to experience the thrill of a football match! Rome soccer tour packages give you tickets to AS Roma or SS Lazio home games, hotel accommodation and breakfast daily. But don't delay, tickets sell out quickly because both teams attract fanatical support.

The Stadio Olimpico is home to both Roma and Lazio and was built for the 1960 Olympic games. An impressive 82,000 plus venue it has housed European Cup Finals and the 1990 World Cup Final. It is also the first choice home of the Italian national team, and a great venue for these Rome soccer tours.

And you can be reassured... it's easy to get there. Rome's principal airport, Fiumicino, lies 30kms south of the city and connects to Rome's major train station, Termini by regular hourly trains. The second airport, Ciampino, lies 15km south east of the city and is connected to the centre by bus to Anagnina metro station, where a direct train and then a tram will quickly get you to the stadium.

You can even save time and money and book your airport transfer services before you go! You can use a shuttle service that will take you from Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci International Airport to your Rome Hotel, without the hassle of picking up a rental car, negotiating unfamiliar traffic and maps.

The history of both Roman Football Clubs is equally littered with glory and frustration.

AS Roma were born in 1927 from the fusion of three different clubs - Alba, Fortitudo and Roman. A fine record in the 1930s eventually led to the first Giallorossi Scudetto in 1942.

Difficult years followed until their one and only relegation in 1951. With an immediate return to the top flight, Roma quickly captured a third place and the 1961 UEFA Cup. The Coppa Italia came in 1964, the first of seven in this competition.

Roma's most glorious years were the 1980s as aside from the two Italian Cups, the club's second Scudetto was lifted by Coach Nils Liedholm in 1983. The following year only a penalty shoot-out against Liverpool at the Stadio Olimpico kept them from winning the European Cup.

Fabio Capello's Roma led the 2000-01 Serie A table from start to finish for their third Scudetto and the club's first medal in a decade.

Rivals Lazio were founded in 1900 as Societa Spotiva Lazio, a multi-purpose sports club. The Biancocelesti began football full-time in 1906. Winning one wartime Roman title in 1944, the club lifted their first national trophy - a Coppa Italia - in 1958 but were relegated three seasons later.

Several trips up and down the Divisions preceded Lazio's first Scudetto in 1973-74 when they were led by the legendary Giorgio Chinaglia. But within five years came the club's darkest hour as Lazio was relegated for financial irregularities and only a play-off prevented the club from slipping into Serie C in 1987.

Sergio Cragnotti took over the club in 1992 and with his financial backing Lazio have become a force both in Italy and Europe. Since 1997 the Biancocelesti have won their second Scudetto, a Cup-Winners' Cup, an Italian and European Super Cup and two Italian Cups. However, only massive sales and a restructuring of contracts allowed the club to avoid bankruptcy.

Both clubs continue to ride close to the top of Italy's Serie A, and the rivalry is intense, especially during the annual "derby" matches where the teams and tifosi face each other. So, if your passion is football, then don't miss the opportunity to see your favorite Roman team play a home game this season, and be there with The Ultras!

Why book ahead?.. Well, here are my thoughts: * The most popular matches can sell out well in advance. Don't risk being disappointed! * Reduce stress! Don't waste time haggling with the hotel concierge for matchday tickets. * Lock in your price! Currency dips & price hikes won't effect you. * Save vacation time! Plan & book now, not when you're there. * Balance your vacation budget! Charge tours on this month's credit card bill.

Believe me (and I've been in Rome during a major soccer tournament!) there's nothing like the atmosphere of a match day, and the city buzzes with excitment. So, try one of these great value Rome soccer tours. Take the easy way - and book this efficient service online now and save time in Rome. You could have your match tickets secured in the next fifteen minutes!

As an extra resource for readers, I have posted this article onto my website, and provided quick links to these great tours.

Lets-Travel-Rome.com/RomeSoccerTours

I hope you'll agree that these special Rome soccer tours offer real value, and I know that you'll return home with some special memories of your stay in the Eternal City.

Best wishes for a great trip, and let me know the score!

Les Sheppard's website gives essential information about planning your trip to Rome, including flight deals, Rome accommodation tips, Apartment and Villa rentals,tour planning and tips on all the top Rome attractions: Lets-Travel-Rome.com You can also grab our free hotel guide and newsletter from the homepage, and keep up to date at our Travel Rome Blog: http://www.lets-travel-rome.com