End of the line for the “Eagles”? A new beginning? : Thu Apr 01, 2010 6:53 am
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Article by Tom Fuellery – Star Sport Reporter
Sheffield Eagles could be about to announce a lucrative sponsorship deal which involves Sheffield’s own mega rock band Def Leppard. The unlikely link up has come about after a chance conversation in the sponsors lounge at Bramall Lane during a recent Sheffield United home game between Leppard’s singer Joe Elliott and the Eagles chairman who is a self confessed fan of the band. It is believed that ex Tapton schoolmates and key band members Joe Elliott and Rick Savage have been keen to support a local sporting team based in South Yorkshire but with Joe being a confessed “100% True Blade” and Rick being an “ardent Wednesdayite” a link with either football club has never really been possible. Both Joe and Rick have become fans of Rugby League after being invited to a game at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane during a band tour down under back in 2008. Earlier this year Joe Elliott discovered that the local hotel, pub and shop in the village close to his mansion in Ireland was run by none other than the father of Eagles Irish International John Coleman and after a few pints of the black stuff followed by a few JD and cokes the possibilities of the band being able to offer support began to take shape. Subject to RFL approval the Eagles will be changing their name to “Sheffield Leopards” for the next 3 seasons at least and will initially carry the logo of the band as the main shirt sponsorship along with the band’s record label as collar sponsors. A delighted Mark Aston says that the team will also have the band’s music blaring out on the team ghetto blaster prior to home games which he says will be a real inspiration although he admits that the current Jamaican team coach and Dizzy Rascal enthusiast Dean Thomas may have a problem with this! Mark also added that he hoped fans will embrace the rebranding of the club even though some were around when the Eagles were first formed. The basic shirt colours of red gold and white will remain unchanged but on match days Bramall Lane will be known as “The Leopards Lair” in an attempt to capture the atmosphere similar to when Wheldon Road (Castleford) became known as The Jungle. The ground will still be referred to as Bramall Lane for Sheffield United games and other corporate events. One sad casualty of the link up will be long standing mascot Kid-E who will be replaced by “Leo the Leopard”. Leo will be a larger than life character whose repertoire and interaction with the supporters will include playing air guitar when Def Leppard’s tracks are played over the PA system at Bramall Lane following Eagles tries. The Eaglettes dancers will also take on a different name and fans will be invited to come up with suggestions. The actual financial package remains a tight lipped secret but it is believed that the band are willing to support the club to a tune of £1M with this being divided between building the first team squad for a serious push towards Super League while also creating a strong foundation at academy and within the South Yorkshire community. Comments from Eagles supporters seem positive. (Full names have not been reproduced due to copyright© reasons) James W, a teenage fan from Thorpe Hesley was quoted in saying that although the name of the team would change that Sheffield still remains and that there would be the odd chants of “Eagles” similar to Huddersfield who still shout “Fartown”. David M, a long standing veteran supporter from Oxspring Bank in Sheffield stated that other teams like Doncaster and London have changed names in the past but then joked that he was happy so long as the playing strip didn’t include any leopard skin trim as it would make certain players look like Bet Lynch. While the club’s statistician has also passed a lighted hearted comment that although he welcomes the link up as one of the leading educational establishments in South Yorkshire “ex-Tapton school pupils ought to be able to spell deaf and leopard correctly”. For all the up to date news please check www.eaglestv.co.uk © This article is not to be reproduced without prior approval from the Editorial Team |
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Article by Tom Fuellery – Star Sport Reporter
Sheffield Eagles could be about to announce a lucrative sponsorship deal which involves Sheffield’s own mega rock band Def Leppard. The unlikely link up has come about after a chance conversation in the sponsors lounge at Bramall Lane during a recent Sheffield United home game between Leppard’s singer Joe Elliott and the Eagles chairman who is a self confessed fan of the band. It is believed that ex Tapton schoolmates and key band members Joe Elliott and Rick Savage have been keen to support a local sporting team based in South Yorkshire but with Joe being a confessed “100% True Blade” and Rick being an “ardent Wednesdayite” a link with either football club has never really been possible. Both Joe and Rick have become fans of Rugby League after being invited to a game at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane during a band tour down under back in 2008. Earlier this year Joe Elliott discovered that the local hotel, pub and shop in the village close to his mansion in Ireland was run by none other than the father of Eagles Irish International John Coleman and after a few pints of the black stuff followed by a few JD and cokes the possibilities of the band being able to offer support began to take shape. Subject to RFL approval the Eagles will be changing their name to “Sheffield Leopards” for the next 3 seasons at least and will initially carry the logo of the band as the main shirt sponsorship along with the band’s record label as collar sponsors. A delighted Mark Aston says that the team will also have the band’s music blaring out on the team ghetto blaster prior to home games which he says will be a real inspiration although he admits that the current Jamaican team coach and Dizzy Rascal enthusiast Dean Thomas may have a problem with this! Mark also added that he hoped fans will embrace the rebranding of the club even though some were around when the Eagles were first formed. The basic shirt colours of red gold and white will remain unchanged but on match days Bramall Lane will be known as “The Leopards Lair” in an attempt to capture the atmosphere similar to when Wheldon Road (Castleford) became known as The Jungle. The ground will still be referred to as Bramall Lane for Sheffield United games and other corporate events. One sad casualty of the link up will be long standing mascot Kid-E who will be replaced by “Leo the Leopard”. Leo will be a larger than life character whose repertoire and interaction with the supporters will include playing air guitar when Def Leppard’s tracks are played over the PA system at Bramall Lane following Eagles tries. The Eaglettes dancers will also take on a different name and fans will be invited to come up with suggestions. The actual financial package remains a tight lipped secret but it is believed that the band are willing to support the club to a tune of £1M with this being divided between building the first team squad for a serious push towards Super League while also creating a strong foundation at academy and within the South Yorkshire community. Comments from Eagles supporters seem positive. (Full names have not been reproduced due to copyright© reasons) James W, a teenage fan from Thorpe Hesley was quoted in saying that although the name of the team would change that Sheffield still remains and that there would be the odd chants of “Eagles” similar to Huddersfield who still shout “Fartown”. David M, a long standing veteran supporter from Oxspring Bank in Sheffield stated that other teams like Doncaster and London have changed names in the past but then joked that he was happy so long as the playing strip didn’t include any leopard skin trim as it would make certain players look like Bet Lynch. While the club’s statistician has also passed a lighted hearted comment that although he welcomes the link up as one of the leading educational establishments in South Yorkshire “ex-Tapton school pupils ought to be able to spell deaf and leopard correctly”. For all the up to date news please check www.eaglestv.co.uk © This article is not to be reproduced without prior approval from the Editorial Team |
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