The Actif 24/7 blog on the latest news and ideas from north wales's leading coaching and consultation firm.

Friday 30 November 2007

Wales World Cup : Update

Wales World Cup 2010 Qualifing Group Update:

Finland : -Roy Hodgson has resigned as coach of Finland following their failure to qualify for Euro 2008.

Russia : - Guus Hiddink says he is almost certain to remain as Russia coach until 2010, but has not ruled out the possibility of becoming England's new manager.

The Dutchman is due to hold talks with the Russian Football Union about extending his contract beyond 2008.

His agent, Cees van Nieuwenhuizen, told BBC Sport: "I am almost sure, like 95 or 99%, that Guus will stay in Russia.

Other Footballing Update's:

Euro 2008 Finals

The seedings for the Euro 2008 finals

Pot One: Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Holland
Pot Two: Croatia, Italy, Czech Republic, Sweden
Pot Three: Germany, Romania, Portugal, Spain
Pot Four: Poland, France, Turkey, Russia

This has thrown up the possibility of Holland, Italy, Germany and France all being drawn in a single group. Would'nt we all love to see this!!!!!!

Wednesday 28 November 2007

In need of a manager?!!!




Have you heard the story about the English, Irish and the Scotish Football teams?

  1. England = No manager
  2. Sctoland =Alex McLeish has gone to Birmingham
  3. Republic of Ireland = No manager
  4. Northen Ireland = Nigel Worthington - doudts about his commitment to international football!

I have just noticed the situation which leaves Wales as the only home nations with a secure full time manager and back room staff.

It's a really weird and surreal situation to be in! I know we still have our problems here in Wales and within the FAW, but it is still a wierd situation to be in. It is at least somthing we can be proud of and gloat about!

As a nation we can be proud of having a manager which has brought some footballing potential and pride back - i wouldn't go as far as saying his era has been a successful one. Tosshack has brought back structure to the national game and through this we now have the chance to develop as a country.

It really begins now for Wales, the manager and his back room staff. From our next game to the end of the World Cup Qualifiers then we can judge that the appointment of Tosshack has been a successful one.

Tosshack has proven he can develop the youth but now he needs to show us as a nation Wales can use this potential to win games and important games as that.



So the reall fight begins now!

Monday 26 November 2007

Celtic Cup' set to start in 2009


And so a busy and entertaining week in Welsh sport continues with the announcment in principle of the Celtic Cup. This follows the draw v Germany, Wales Undr 21's win over France, Wales South Affrica, The World Cup 2010 draw and BBC Wales sport personality of the year nominations. What else can we ask for??


The Celtic Cup

The Celtic Cup statement was signed by Howard Wells, chief executive of the Irish Football Association, FAI chief executive John Delaney, Scottish Football Association chief executive Gordon Smith and Football Association of Wales general secretary David Collins.

Which will bring in Wales, Scotland, Northen Ireland and Republic of Ireland together. And in my opinion is what is needed, I am happy that England are not involved from the beggining as it will help the tournament grow in stature first.
With the tournament set to start in 2009 this will be perfect timing for the Welsh youngsters to gain valuable experiance if evrything is going fine in the World Cup qualifiers before the crutical final games of the qualifiers.

How the tournament will work

Very simular to the 6 nations

The tournaments will work on a league basis.
Home and away games will be rotated from one tournament to the next

Each team playing three matches in each of the competitions.
Commercial Arrangments

BBC Sport have announced that the Commercial arrangements and fixture dates are now being finalised. Nationwide have been quoted of offering £500,000 to the winners - Western Mail

And the nomination's are?

The five candidates for BBC Wales' Sports Personality of the Year 2007 have been unveiled.

They list

Golfer Becky Brewerton,
Boxers Joe Calzaghe
Boxer Enzo Maccarinelli
Footballer Ryan Giggs
Cyclist Geraint Thomas

As many would predict the winner is a for gone conclussion with Joe Calzaghe beeing the front runner.

But I am really intrested who will finish second?!

Golfer Becky Brewerton has had a highly succsessfull year on the Ladies European Tour with 17 top 20 finishes this season alone! This includes wins at Golf Punk Ladies English Open and the Catalonia Masters Pro-Am for the St Asaph born golfer. Brewerton has also finished second at the Catalonia Ladies Masters and third at Northern Ireland Ladies Open.

With this she we certenly rise from the 15th place position on the European Tour Order of Merit.

Enzo Maccarinelli, the 27 year old Swansea boxer who stands at 28 wins (20 KOs) and 1 lose is no wonder the WBO cruiserweight king and regarded as one of the most exciting talents in boxing.

This year he has come into his own and has come out of the shaddow of stable-mate Joe Calzaghe with wins over Bobby Gunn (TK01) , Wayne Braithwaite (W12) and Mohamed Azzaoui (KO3). Maccarinelli has a bright future but maybe it's a few years too early for him.

Ryan Giggs OBE. What can be said for Wales's most gifted football player! He lead by example as Wales's captain and has had one of his best seasons at Manchester United last season, and is now chassing Bobby Charlton's record of most appearences at the club. He recived an OBE from the Queen this year to add to his ever growing collection of medal's and trophies.

Geraint Thomas, not many would of hered of the cyclist from Cardiff but it has been an intresting year for him. He was the youngest cyclist in the Tour De France where he finished 140th. On track he came 1rst in the UCL, Track Cycling World Championships. While in 2006 he managed two 1rst places, three 2nd places and three 3rd places. Maybe in two years time he may be his year.

My Prediction for second is

Becky Brewerton


The title will be decided by viewers' votes with the winner announced live on BBC Two Wales, 2W and BBC Radio Wales on Sunday, 2 December

Sunday 25 November 2007

A busy week in Welsh Football

Development of Welsh Football

It has been a strange and busy week in the life of every Welsh football fan. From the results of Cyprus and San Marino in October which lead to many to dissbelive in John Tosshack and his regime, to now many seeing the fruit's of his labour with highly reccomendable results v Ireland and Germany.

As many know it is either John Toshacks way or the high way, see Robbie Savage and co for that?! When it comes down to his style of management - he is well known for his youth development and he has carried it on here in Wales. Tosshack has re-structured the development stream Welsh football with Bryan Flynn, Ian Rush, Neville Southall and many other ex Wales players helping to develop the future footballing talent. Even injured Wales Captain Craig Bellemy came to talk to the under 21's before there game v France last week.

Through this hard work and commitment we are now seeing the positive change in all age range's. Working bottom up it has created a bright future for Wales. England take notice!

It was only a few years ago when Wales under 21's had gone somthing like 19 games without a win!! Now they stand high and proud with wins over France, Bosnia, Malta and Sweeden in the past year- With the Wales team having an average age of 18 against France under 21's.

Celtic Cup

We can not stop at this, there is allways a need to improve. From the results of Wales and Wales under 21's this week was'nt enough for every Wales Fan, the calls for a so called Nations Cup, or should i call it Celtic Cup between Wales, Ireland, Northen Ireland and Scotland have grown and looks enreasingly likely with Gordon Brown, Nationwide and many others getting behind the idea.

In my opinion this will be great and what is needed in British football, but with the amount of football fixtures nowerday's, i would call for the so 'Celtic Cup' to be a under 23's international. This would then help develop and increase the international experiance of the younger generation and would then help each home nations chances in the European Championships and World Cup's.

World Cup Draw

And so the week come's to an end, and here we have the 2010 World Cup Draw!!
If the idea of the future of the Wales football team and the Celtic Cup was'nt enough, the World Cup brings somthing extra!!

Germany, Russia, Ffinland, Wales, Azerbaijan, Liechtenstein

Was the names pulled out of the hat!

Not the best draw but could of been so much worse. In my heart I can see Wales finishing second but in my head a creadle Third. The draw brings back memory's from the play off's with Russia, and then for some reason we keep on getting Azerbaijan- i think there might need to open a Welsh Embessey in Baku!

So i predict

Azerbaijan - 6 points
Liechtenstein - 6 points
Ffinland - 4 points
Russia - 3 points
Germany - 1 point

Wales finishing with 20 points.

But has the World Cup draw come too early for the youth of Wales, or can the Celtic Cup help develop and bring us a step closer to reach our goal and qualify for the World Cup in 2010?

Sunday 11 November 2007

Welcome to the life of Actif 24/7

Helo. Bonjour, Ciao, Hallo, Olá i'r blog cyntaf Actif 24/7.

Hopefully this blog will be one of many by the Actif 24/7 staff over the coming months - until the launch of the company next summer(2008). The main aim of the company is put in three words 'developing sporting potential'. This could be done through coaching, fitness consultation or healthy eating lessons.

So what is Actif 24/7?

Here at Actif 24/7 we provide sport coaching for children aged 5 to 14 years old. This can be in or outside the school enviroment. We have coaches qualified in various sports from football, rugby (tag or contact), netball, basketball, dragon sports and athletics.
  • In school time -
In term time we provide structured P.E. lessons in primary schools covering teachers PPA time. These lessons are taken by qualified sports coaches, are set to the curriculum and are a cost effective way of ensuring teachers spend the correct amount of time out of the classroom. From this the teacher will receive progression and assessment reports. At the end of each school placement which can last from 4 weeks to 10 weeks (depending on the school needs). Each child will receive a Actif 24/7 certificate with appropriate level of improvement in each/ one sport and will also receive healthy eating advice at each session. This coaching has proven to help raise standards of the school teams. While coaching at school we can stick to one sport or offer to do a wide range of sport (depending on school needs) .
  • After school clubs -

We are ready to provide after school clubs in a variety of different sports suiting the needs of each individual school. These can include coaching school teams!!!

  • Sport Camps -
We are providing many sport camps over this summer.
  • Birthday Parties –
We are available to come and coach at birthday parties of any age. Our birthday parties’ package consists of qualified coaches with equipment ready to deliver fun filled sessions with a special prize’s given out on the day.
  • Community Coaching –
We are available to coach for community based organisations, charities and town/local council’s. This can consist as part of fun days, events, summer activity programmes.