RalphC 30 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 As part of a financially vital sponsorship deal with Paddy Power, the Conference South side's players and manager have all changed their names to greats in their positions Non-league outfit Farnborough FC have signed legends of the game including Lionel Messi, Pele and Diego Maradona ... in a way. As part of an unusual sponsorship agreement with bookmakers Paddy Power, the Conference South side have not only renamed their ground and updated their kit – all of their players, as well as their manager, have legally changed their names to those of footballing icons. Players such as Alan Inns, Matt Ball and Dave Tarpey have swapped monikers by deed poll with greats who played in their respective positions, from Franz Beckenbauer to Paul Gascoigne. Even their boss, formerly known as Spencer Day, has adopted the new identity of Jose Mourinho. "The end result is that, on paper, the Conference South team will be without doubt the best combination of playing talent that has ever been assembled," a Farnborough press release boasted. "It's not just the Farnborough FC faithful, all Conference South fans now need only to travel to Paddy Power Park, and not Camp Nou, to see some of the world's best players." As well as attracting the biggest names in football to the sixth tier, the deal secures Farnborough's financial future, having been in administration since April. Full Squad List:Kevin Ainsley SCRIVEN - Gordon BANKS - GoalkeeperJoshua Adam HUGGINS - Lothar MATTHAUS - DefenderOliver George TREACHER - Silva Rocha ROBERTO CARLOS - DefenderAdam Hugh DOYLE - Paolo MALDINI - DefenderAlan Francis INNS - Alan HANSEN - DefenderPaul Jinnah MASSAQUOI - Marcos Evangelista de Moraes CAFU - DefenderDjibril FOFANA - John TERRY - DefenderThomas Andrew McGARRY - Franz BECKENBAUER - DefenderReece Nicholas JONES - George BEST - MidfieldStephen Thomas LAIDLER - Paul GASCOIGNE - MidfieldMerrick Anthony JAMES-LEWIS - Zinedine ZIDANE - MidfieldTyrone Michael Justin BERRY - Johann CRUYFF - MidfieldDaniel BENNETT - Lionel MESSI - StrikersReece William CONNOLLY - Gary LINEKER - StrikersDavid Charles TARPEY - Diego MARADONA - StrikersElvis Zark HAMMOND - Edson Arantes do Nascimento PELE - StrikersSpencer DAY - José MOURINHO - ManagerLeigh James Thomas DYNAN - Paddy POWER - Assistant ManagerSimon John GARDENER - Sir Alex Fergurson - First-Team CoachRoger Leslie PEIRCE - Terry Venables - Kit Man Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FITBhighlights 21 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 This is pretty embarrassing, shame their financial troubles had to result in humiliation like this HayleyKimberley 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Idiots HayleyKimberley 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Does anyone know how much money Paddy Power have put into Farnborough?. If its a decent sum, and they get the publicity this crazy idea deserves, then I think its brilliant and commendable that they have come up with such a unique idea. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 It just about sums up the club,you can't have it both ways Alan,a few weeks ago you was moaning about the amount of money them and their likes went bust with owing to local business' ,I doubt very much this money will go towards paying back those debts in full Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 It just about sums up the club,you can't have it both ways Alan,a few weeks ago you was moaning about the amount of money them and their likes went bust with owing to local business' ,I doubt very much this money will go towards paying back those debts in full Until we know how much Paddy Power are putting into Farnborough its probably not fair to comment on whether they hope to pay off their debts. The idea is so completely bonkers though, it may well generate enough interest in the club to get them back into Conference National and perhaps even higher. The truth is Rob, your probably as jealous as I am, and wish you had thought of it first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Just looked at the Farnborough forum and a six figure sum has been mentioned. It also seems possible this is the greatest wind up of all time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 No,not at all,it's a ridiculously stupid publicity stunt and just about sums up that club and the idiot manager/owner whatever his position is within that club nowadays. You are right with one thing,it is completely bonkers! I am all for way out ideas but this just smacks of farmborough once again laughing at the footballing authorities along with paddy power who will no doubt be in admin within 5 years!! HayleyKimberley 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 12, 2013 Share Posted August 12, 2013 Even if it is a wind up,it's obviously aimed at attracting people to the club,there are other ways Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Alanjp 2 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 It's a bonkers publicity stunt, I cannot take the whole thing seriously. In a way I have to say fair play to Farnborough for securing their financial future, but you would think there were other ways of a) increasing publicity for the club, and bringing money into the club. I saw this start to blow up on Twitter yesterday actually, someone mentioned that these names would be on the back of the shirts, however upon further investigation it appears that they are not allowed, as per Conference South rules. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 They are a joke of a club Had Hornchurch of tried this pathetic stunt in 2004,a young Alan Fenn would of no doubt been pulling his hair out Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 They are a joke of a club Had Hornchurch of tried this pathetic stunt in 2004,a young Alan Fenn would of no doubt been pulling his hair out Your wrong there Rob, I just love it, and only hope its not just some massive wind up. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 13, 2013 Share Posted August 13, 2013 It appears it is and even if they was serious I would expect it to be a very short term answer Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cup of tea 699 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I think that Farnborough will have to concede at some point that they are struggling financially to cope with the BSS. Stunts like this (even if it is true) isn't a long term solution to their underlying problems. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I think that Farnborough will have to concede at some point that they are struggling financially to cope with the BSS. Stunts like this (even if it is true) isn't a long term solution to their underlying problems. This story has been in quite a few national newspapers today, and coupled with a joint statement from Paddy Power and the club, it seems to all be true and above board. IMO this is the first time for many years a club has come up with an original idea, and because it is so unique and bonkers it will never ever be copied. I for one think its fantastic, and hope Farnborough have a great season. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Eastside Urchin 991 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I just understand your stance on this,given your usual stance on such clubs,I think you are on a wind up now too lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cup of tea 699 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 This story has been in quite a few national newspapers today, and coupled with a joint statement from Paddy Power and the club, it seems to all be true and above board. IMO this is the first time for many years a club has come up with an original idea, and because it is so unique and bonkers it will never ever be copied. I for one think its fantastic, and hope Farnborough have a great season. If it works, then fair enough - I have my doubts though. I believe that the Ex-Billericay chairman said on one of these forums words to the effect that football clubs have to grow naturally at this level through hard work Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 14, 2013 Share Posted August 14, 2013 I just understand your stance on this,given your usual stance on such clubs,I think you are on a wind up now too lol Wrong there Rob, the only thing I don't like about any of this is that its not Romford that got there first. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Karen Browne 576 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 The official @paddypower video announcing their sponsorship of @FarnboroughFC - a team full of renamed superstars http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jt4WSEwL5E Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 I wonder how many of the players have actually changed their names by deed poll, because unless its a conference rule that your registered name with the league should correspond with whats on your birth certificate, its totally unnecessary, and we can legally call ourselves whatever we like. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cup of tea 699 Posted August 16, 2013 Share Posted August 16, 2013 Seems like it's not working with the recent news about Farnborough Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zippy 7 Posted August 17, 2013 Share Posted August 17, 2013 Is it true that they are now sponsored by OXO - or just a laughing stock? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
missunderstood 170 Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 (edited) Is it true that they are now sponsored by OXO - or just a laughing stock Adam Guten Morgen Adam Edited August 18, 2013 by missunderstood Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Big J R 726 Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 More likely to be sponsored next by Exlax...... cos, it seems they are well and truly in the sh1t ! Zippy 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Zippy 7 Posted August 18, 2013 Share Posted August 18, 2013 Hi Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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