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World Cup 2006 Blog

From our reporters in Germany

How we get the footy fixtures to you

LONDON - I know this is the World Cup blog but it's also a notable day for domestic football in that all next season's fixtures were published.

I asked Mark Mitchener, one of the stalwarts of our team of football journalists here in London, to blog about what it takes to get them to you.

To outside observers, the fixtures may seem to appear magically at the appointed hour of 1000 BST on the 大象传媒 Sport website and on Ceefax - but the preceding hours are a hive of activity here at 大象传媒 Sport Interactive Towers (inside Television Centre in London's White City district).
We are sent the fixtures under strict embargo from the Press Association (PA), around an hour and a half before the publication time, so we can get them ready for 10am. Luckily, we made it - just!
Stories are often sent to media organisations under embargo, to allow preparation of material so that all media outlets can then publish or announce them at the same time. It's standard practice for the British honours system, for instance.
So, the fixtures arrive around 0830, which is our cue to spring into action. Key fixtures from each division are typed out for Ceefax, and held on off-air pages that we can activate on the dot of 1000.
At the same time, our stats gurus will check that the automatic feeds from PA are ready to roll on our club and divisional fixture pages on the website.
Meanwhile, we also get stories ready for each division, highlighting the early games of note, that can be published on the website once the clock chimes 10 and we can frantically publish everything.
It's one of the few days of the year when we can guarantee fans of all 92 clubs have something new to look for.
, while in a match that immediately caught my eye, new manager Ronnie Moore will begin his reign against Oldham - the club that .
Once the opening game has been mentally noted, many fans' eyes dart down the fixture list to Boxing Day (26 December) - always a popular day on the calendar. To their credit, the fixture compilers have been fairly successful this year in keeping travel times down on this day.
Most clubs have a reasonably reachable journey - with the longest this year being Milton Keynes (to Torquay) and Swansea (to Crewe).
As I understand it, the clubs do have some input, as do other authorities such as the police. Close geographical rivals like Arsenal and Tottenham will not play at home on the same day. Clubs who ground-share with rugby teams such as Stockport or Watford need to dovetail their fixtures accordingly. Other potential clashes - from political party conferences to horse racing festivals - are also taken into account.
We state that "all fixtures are subject to change" because almost immediately, matches will be moved - either for television coverage, clashes with internationals or other reasons.
Inevitably, fans may dread travelling to the furthermost outposts in their division. (Yes, , that means you). However, I suppose the realistic view is that you have to play everyone else in your division at some point - the longest trip of all being Sunderland to Plymouth in the Championship.
Mind you, spare a thought for the faithful at Millmoor. Because of , even three straight wins over Brighton, Huddersfield and Blackpool at the start of the season will still see them prop up League One...

Comments  Post your comment

  • 1.
  • At 06:09 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • Raj wrote:

It appears the clubs know of the fixture list a couple of days before hand. West Brom's fixture against Hull was leaked on to WBA fan message boards on Tuesday

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  • 2.
  • At 07:40 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • Pablo McFanque wrote:

"It's one of the few days of the year when we can guarantee fans of all 92 clubs have something new to look for."

So why no mention of the Scottish fixtures which came out today for their 42 clubs?

I would have thought their fans would be looking for the info as well.

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  • 3.
  • At 07:50 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Although we're in World Cup heaven right now, I'm thoroughly looking forward to the beginning of the 2007/2007 Premiership season.

Sheffield United at home against Liverpool should be a tricky match. Stuart Pearce's lads will want to make a good impression in their away fixture against Chelsea, while Man Utd play home against Fulham (I wonder if it'll be as controversial as last year's match, where Chris Coleman was ejected after complaining about one of United's goals).

More info about the EPL season is at .

Cheers,
The Gaffer

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  • 4.
  • At 08:30 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • Reg Waller wrote:

Why cant we have fixtures available for download to our mobile phones. Its the 21st century why cant we import all our teams fixutres into our calendars or diaries on our phones.
Forget the ring tones, graphics and crap content give us the fixtures

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  • 5.
  • At 08:38 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • jenny wrote:

So in summary it takes X amount of people an hour and a half to -

A Type out key fixtures from each division on Ceefax

B Get Stories ready for each divisions for the website (the same stories that appear on the Ceefax?)

C Check the automatic feeds are ready.

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  • 6.
  • At 09:23 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • Stevie wrote:

Thanks to the Premier League for giving Arsenal a guaranteed 3 points to start off the Emirates Era.

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  • 7.
  • At 10:18 PM on 22 Jun 2006,
  • RANDOM GUY wrote:

Fulham: we can never get 3 points to start with and this year seems to be no exemption. However do you think Fulham v united will be a TV cert. I definately think so.

COME ON YOU WHITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  • 8.
  • At 03:30 PM on 23 Jun 2006,
  • Michael Brookes wrote:

This is the most pointless and boring blog I've ever come across.

I feel cheated for having clicked on the link

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  • 9.
  • At 06:27 PM on 23 Jun 2006,
  • i am me wrote:

i completely agree with the above statement

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  • 10.
  • At 06:48 PM on 23 Jun 2006,
  • wrote:

Many tings have been under consideration while making the fixture of the next season鈥檚 domestic football of England. It seems that the bosses are very concerned with the convenience of the fans and also players. So, it might have some positive impact on the premiership.

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  • 11.
  • At 02:36 AM on 24 Jun 2006,
  • Waseem wrote:

I also agree with the above.

The fact that our comments are moderated, is a saviour to said blog.

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  • 12.
  • At 07:00 AM on 26 Jun 2006,
  • Ted Ball wrote:

So you went to all of that work...

...then I just ignored it all, flicked to the Everton fixtures and looked for the Merseyside Derby dates.

Sorry.

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  • 13.
  • At 10:38 PM on 26 Jun 2006,
  • Cleveland wrote:

I also agree with the above - remove this please - you've not impressed

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  • 14.
  • At 06:05 PM on 27 Jun 2006,
  • Africa wrote:

Ghana-Brazil Referee dispaying racism on the football field.

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  • 15.
  • At 07:08 PM on 27 Jun 2006,
  • Africa wrote:

This is a big SHAME to FIFA and its RACIST REFEREES. This football match officiating is only possible in Europe.

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  • 16.
  • At 07:10 PM on 27 Jun 2006,
  • Africa wrote:

I wish i could have the e-mail of address of the referee and his assistants.

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  • 17.
  • At 04:29 AM on 28 Jun 2006,
  • Rob wrote:

What are you a retard.

So Brazil have no black players descended from African slaves? So he's biased against a team with all black players in favour of a team with mostly black players?

At least stick with the big team -small team bias, which is more than likely true than slandering a referee.

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