Michael Moreton's Blog

Special Guest 'Stadium' Announcer

June 18th - Annoucnement Number 18 of Classic June

Finals Day, the big and decisive day of the European Championships have secured the services of one of the countries greatest servants to be the announcer and present the closing ceremony.

With a significant history on the game, a former Nationals Champion at A Comp, the current GB Fastpitch Manager, and a man of many many stories, the Euros have secured the services of Mr Steve Fullan!!

Steve will be on the mic throughout the finals day, introducing players, talking to the crowd and putting on a good show. Steve will also present the closing ceremony.

Not only this, Steve will be the colour commentator when highlights of the Euros are broadcast on Sky Sports via the sports highlights show Sport Nation. Steve has experience with channel five, and his extensive knowledge of the game with his unrivalled enthusiasm, but still with the unique ability to convey the scene to the first time watcher will enhance the programme. For further information on this programme, please see the story on June 8th.

For further information on the European Championships, please contact Roger through the contacts section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/18/2008 | Permalink

Make Money for Charity and Enter the Pools

June 17th - Announcement Number Seventeen of Classic June

A game has been devised, in similar concept to the Pools, by predicting the results of all 20 games in this years Euros, and then attempting to predict the final 1st to 4th positions.

The entry forms, which will be available from this site in the next couple of days, will be £5. Exactly half of every entry will be donated to the Tom Prince Charity, one of our partners to this years European Championships. The other half will go to the overall winner, which will be announced on this website after the competition.

For those playing in the Pioneers Tournament or the Dave Allen tournament can get entry forms from me then and pay the money.

If you cannot wait to get this form, and would like to enter now, please E-mail me on roger.grooms@selexgalileo.com and I will supply you with an entry form.

Remember, its about fun, and helping a very well deserved charity.

For more information on this years Euros, please contact Roger Grooms from the contact section on the site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/17/2008 | Permalink

Stats Attack and Live Text Commentry

June 16th - Announcement Number Sixteen of Classic June

A full comprehensive stats collection will be kept during the European Championships and placed online each evening available for download. Stats will be broken down into individual performance and by team.

Also, we are working on an exciting prospect to try and deliver a live text commentry on the final. Similar to the MLB, (although not quite as detailed), a play by play service may be available on the website subject to technical details being overcome!!

Reports from all games, along with pictures and box scores should be available by close of play for the European Championships.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger from the contact area on this site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/16/2008 | Permalink

Euroball Tourny

June 15th - Announcement Number 15 of Classic June

The Euroball club tournament, taking place over the same weekend as the Euros is gathering momentum as we are now only 24 days away from the start of the Euros.

The Euroball is being run by the Solent League and is partnering up with the Euros to promote one of the best weekends of Softball in Britain. Playing on the same site, and being in the same presence as comeptitors all over Europe, the Euroball at Comp and Rec levels will be a great success.

Southampton University Sports Ground boasts some of the best pitches in the country, and the Solent league will be bringing in fencing for backstops and 1st/3rd base for all pitches.

This is coupled with a Saturday night party in the new clubhouse bar, together with student prices. The evening entertainment will be from a group called The Beatmakers, who have received rave reviews on the Southampton and Portsmouth area. Their website is www.beatmakers.org.uk

Places are still available to enter into this comeptition, but get your entry in soon! To reserve your place, you can contact Andrew Burgess by clicking on the Euroball section of this website.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger through the contact section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/15/2008 | Permalink

Picture It

June 14th - Announcement Number Fourteen of Classic June

A deal has been agreed with Christian Galbally to be the official photographer of the European Championships. In his capacity, Christian will be providing the following:

- Photography each day covering a large majority of games with photo's to be uploaded in the evenings. These will then be linked from the official website.

- A CD of the finals day in pictures will be compiled and sent to myself after the competition. This will then be copied and distributed to all teams in the competition for their use.

- Official photographs of all the teams which will also be included on the CD.

- Coverage of the opening and closing ceremonies.

Christian will be given a free reign to do what he wishes over the week and I will ask all teams compile with any requests he has.

For more information on Christian and to sample his photography, please have a look at his website through the sponsors area on this site.

For more information on the European Championships, please contact Roger through the contacts section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/14/2008 | Permalink

Stick At It

June 13th - Announcement Number Thirteen of Classic June

Banner Sticks, one of the most recent new crazes sweeping the country, will be sweeping their way into the European Championships.

The sticks are a great way to promote a competition, advertise sponsors, give away to children and most of all, make lots of noise.

Eight hundred pairs of these sticks have been purchased for the tournament, to give away to school children during the week and to give away during the finals day. The sticks, which include both the website address of our title sponsor, Voyager Solutions and the website address for this competition will be available for all to take throughout the week.

It is something a little quirky and different but if everyone takes them to heart will be a great addition to the European Championships. Pictures will be added very soon.

For more information on this competition, please contact Roger from the contact section on the site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/13/2008 | Permalink

Tournament Legacy

June 12th - Announcement Number Twelve of Classic June

The European Championships this summer will experience its 10th anniversary and whilst no doubt the quality of the competition over the years has increased, the number of teams hasn't. The dissapointment of losing teams who had applied for this competition is now in the past as the excitement builds up to what I firmly believe will be the best tournament yet.

However, what is the legacy that this tournament will leave - what is it achieving that will help with the future of the sport? The answer to that I believe is a great deal. Firstly, Belgium and Holland are sending over representatives to talk about slowpitch. These are two countries who either have or will be getting slowpitch leagues going in their countries. Switzerland were going to send someone, although the representative was required at the mens European Baseball.

Two years down the line from now, with the right planning, I believe we could see many more teams entering a European Slowpitch championships. Denmark were close, Belgium, Slovakia (if the timing permits), France, Switzerland, Croatia, Holland, Austria and Guernsey are all close to being there. Add in the five countries there this year and we are looking good to move up towards double figures of countries.

Bob Fromer is doing great work championing slowpitch on the continent and we do run clinics abroad. We are working towards integrating new countries towards the world series tournament held each year to give newer teams a more smooth introduction into the sport, on a more relaxed playing field. This policy should help the Euros build up as well.

The Euros this year will hopefully show other countries how to run a Europeans with the added extras around softball. It'll give many hours of video footage, an event programme which will be distrubuted around Europe, and a reputation of being a great version of our sport.

More information on the future of softball will be found in the event programme but for now, this tournament is in a prime position to leave a lasting legacy for the benefit of slowpitch softball.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger from the contact section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/12/2008 | Permalink

BSUK Coaching Kids

June 11th - Announcement Number Eleven of Classic June

As the ever approaching date to the Euros draws nearer - the work is intensifying ahead of the start date. Behind the scenes, and using the Euros as a platform for publicising the sport, Hayley Scott and her team of development coaches are doing a great job of bring softball to young children.

Beginning in early June, coaching in the local schools commenced. This will continue up until the Euros and during this week, it is hoped many of the schools will be watching games and receiving coaching from the qualified coaches and players of teams competing.

The presence of lots of children is a great appeal to the fact that this tournament is more than just a softball tournament. It appeals to all and will be a fantastic occasion. For more details on the schools taking part in the coaching, please click on the link to the article in the scrolling headlines section.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger from the contacts section on the site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/11/2008 | Permalink

Don't Miss Any Action

June 10th - Announcement Number Ten of Classic June

CRD Synergy have joined up with the Euros to provide some fantastic kit to provide an on-running camera footage of play from the main pitch during the competition.

Every game from the show pitch will be copied onto DVD and specific requests for DVD's can be made by players and teams after the tournament.

Not only this, but a wireless link up will mean every second that is filmed will be captured by a live link up to a television screen set up in the clubhouse bar. This means that when your buying food and drink from the clubhouse, not a single minute of action will be missed.

This is a great addition to the Euros, and we encourage all people to have a look at the CRD Synergy website through the link on the sponsors page.

For any information on the Euros, please contact Roger through the contacts section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/10/2008 | Permalink

Taking A Fence?

June 9th - Announcement Number Nine of Classic June

One of the common questions that gets asked are what type of fencing will be used for the Euros. Well, 2 metre high netting will be used, similar to what was used in Slovenia will be put up at the 275 feet line. This fencing will encompass the pitch all the way down to the 1st and 3rd bases where metal fencing will be behind these bases.

The same will apply to behind home plate with one metre high plastic fences used infront of the dugouts so as not to impede on anyones view from the dugouts or the bleachers.

The pitches will have a symmetrical view to them and we are looking forward to the high quality feel that will be generated.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger through the contacts page on the site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/09/2008 | Permalink

Softball on Sky Sports

8th June - Announcement Number Eight of Classic June

One of the amazing things happening with this years European Championships will be the television coverage, a first for softball in this country, that will be happening.

A Sky Sports television programme called Sport Nation, produced by a broadcast company called Tilling Productions, will have three cameras present at the tournament throughout the finals day all recording every out made and every home run hit.

The contract agreed for this package means the edited highlights will go out on the first episode of the new series, currently due for the end of August. Discussion are on-going with a familiar face in the softball world to be one of the commentators on this when it goes out. More details on this to follow in the upcoming weeks.

Keep an eye out for information on this website, and on BritishSoftball.org for transmission details.

For more information on the European Championships, please contact Roger from the contacts page on the site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/09/2008 | Permalink

Sponsors Roll Call

7th June - Announcement Number Seven of Classic June

One of the many great things about the Euros this year is the amount of support we are receiving from companies and people. One look at the sponsors page will show you just how many people are wanting to get involved. Therefore, I felt it was only time to do a list of the sponsors and what they are contributing to this years European Championships.

Voyager Solutions - Title Sponsor. Significant financial sponsorship but will be present for the whole week and many people from their staff will be joining in the fun and activities that are going on.

Redcliffe Imaging - Producing many banners, pop up displays, signs, adhesive labels to increase the appeal of the event.

BSUK - A financial investment from the development agency of softball and baseball.

Bassetlaw Trophies - The trophies for all teams and MVP's for the tournament including a fantastic winners trophy, which there will be a sneak preview of on here in a weeks time.

Mild Design - The creative brilliance of David Baird for the Euros Logo and many more designs you will see around at the competition.

Mike Moreton Web Design - For the time and effort put into running this website, completly free.

Adtec - For a financial contribution.

BASU - For a financial contribution to cover the cost of the BASU umpires selected for this event.

Cactus Language - For a financial contribution.

Christian Galbally Photography - For being the official photographer of the European Championships.

Tom Prince Charity - For the help and efforts they are putting in to enhancing the vision of this tourny.

Solent Softball League - For the help and time Andrew 'Beefy' Burgess and Nigel Davies are putting into this tournament and the Euroball tournament to make a great weekend.

Primate8 - For the official merchandise which will soon be available to buy online.

The Softball Shop - For producing equipment for the tournament and clothing for all volunteers to wear during the week.

CRD Synergy - For some fantastic technology which will enable all games on the main pitch to be recorded onto DVD and simultaneoulsy broadcast live on a television in the clubhouse.

Anglo European College of Chiropractic - For the free service they will be offering all competitors at this years tournament.

London Advertising Softball League - For the financial contribution to sponsoring the event magazine.

Mechanical and Electrical Fixings Limited - For the poles which will be used for the two metre high fencing at the Europeans.

Nigel Davies - For the amazing efforts of the event programme which in the upcoming weeks you will get to see sneak previews of.

Then on top of all these, there will be the amazing efforts of numerous individuals who will be credited in the event programme.

Posted by Roger at 06/09/2008 | Permalink

Free Chairopractic Service

June 6th - Announcement number six of classic June

All players at this years European Championships, will receive free Chairpratic services from the Anglo European College of Chairopractic.

The college are donating their time for free to the Euros and will be sending along their interns who will be using this as a valuable opportunity to become experienced in giving out treatment.

This will be a valuable opportunity for people to get a free treatment, for a service which normally attracts a higher price when paid for, and I ask all people to take advantage of this.

For more information on Chairpractic, please visit their website through the sponsors page on here.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger through the contact page on the website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/06/2008 | Permalink

Umpires Announced

June 5th - Announcement Number Five of Classic June

The team of ESF Umpires for the european Championships for 2008 has now officially been announced. The line up is as follows:

Umpire In chief:
Duncan McLean

Umpires :
Davide Bergatin
Karl Dytrt
Patrick Kinsella
Francois Mays
James O'Farrell
Tony Soteriou
Spencer Suckling

The ESF officials for this event have also been announced. They are as follows:

Chief Tournament Control:
Guller Eriksen

Tornament Control Assistants:
Brian Connolly
Mike Jennings

Umpire Control Assistant:
Mike Jennings

We look forward to all ESF officials arriving and having an enjoyable time whilst conducting their duties during this tournament.

For more information on the Euros, please contact Roger Grooms through the contact section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/05/2008 | Permalink

Hitting from the right T

June 4th - Announcement Number 4 of Classic June

Thanks to a sponsorship deal with The Softball Shop, all volunteers at this years European Championships will be given two free T-shirts, with the Euros logo on and luckily for them, the word 'Volunteer' on the back!

Thanks to the many volunteers who have come forward to date, one respective volunteer has been dedicated for each competing team in the tournament. This person will be available to them to ask questions and guide them around for the week.

The Softball Shop will also be supplying some practice equipment for the week for both the teams and the adults to use.

Many thanks to The Softball Shop for this sponsorship. If anyone would like any further information on the Euros this year, please contact Roger Grooms on the contact section of the website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/04/2008 | Permalink

Sit Down and Relax

Classic June - Accouncement Number Three

400 Seats are being bought in specifically for the European Championships this July. Throughout the duration of the Euros, and then for the Euroball club tournament on the Sunday, 200 seats each behind the 1st and 3rd base lines will be erectected for the competition.

A tournament of this nature will inevitably bring in many spectators on the finals day, and there will be school children Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in attendance.

So, grab a pint from the bar (Student prices!), grab something to eat, come down to the main pitch, and sit in the stands. It'll have an MLB game feel to it - nearly!

For more information on the Euros, contact myself through the contact section on this website.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/03/2008 | Permalink

Voyager Solutions sign up as Title Sponsor

June 2nd - Announcement Number Two of Classic June

The European Slowpitch Softball Championships are delighted to welcome Voyager Solutions as the Title Sponsor of the event. The competition, taking place at the Southampton University Sports Ground from the 9th July - 12th July, involves teams from across Europe. Great Britain are hoping to defend their title won two years ago in Slovenia.

The British Softball Federation (BSF,) who is hosting the Championships, is thrilled to have Voyager Solutions aboard. Roger Grooms, lead organiser of the event on behalf of the BSF, said of the tie-up with Voyager Solutions "This is brilliant. Without Voyager this event would be nowhere near as big as it is and may not have even happened – now with Voyager on board, and the level of support they are investing, we can make this competition a memorable occasion. Voyager has worked with some of the biggest companies out there. The fact they have chosen to work with us is a fantastic reflection on the time and effort the BSF are going to in organising this major European sporting event”.

Paul Taplin, Managing Director of Voyager Solutions, views the sponsorship of the Euros as an exciting opportunity; “We have been delivering successful organisational change programmes for the last 10 years and have more recently further expanded our European presence through some new critical relationships. We are delighted to sponsor a sport which brings together European teams and focuses on both individual and team performance. In our game, we are winning on exactly the same basis!”

With a fresh approach to organisational change management, Voyager Solutions has delivered over 25 major programmes to an International blue chip client base. Working with people at all levels to deliver successful process or technology based change, Voyager has access to the most talented organisational change Consultants around and has a dynamic team of professionals working to deliver focused, positive, and professional results. Voyager delivers every day with the passion of a start-up company, but the experience of a consulting firm with 10 years in the industry.
Voyager provides:

Change Programme Management
Organisational Development
Sponsorship and Leadership support
Training and Education
Job and Role development
Cultural and Behavioural Programme support
Process Performance

“Great clients have great aspirations. We like that a lot.” For a fresh approach to your project delivery please visit www.voyagersolutions.co.uk

The official press release will be going up in PDF format in the near future, available for download and distribution.

For anymore questions, please contact Roger Grooms through the contact section on the site.

Posted by Roger at 06/02/2008 | Permalink

MLB Roadshow hits the Euros

June 1st - Announcement Number One of Classic June.

Thanks to sponsorship from MLB, the MLB Roadshow will be hitting the Euros each day to offer kids and adults alike an introduction in a fun and friendly environment to both softball and baseball. Tied in with the Kids development work happening in conjunction with the Euros, every day will see Primary school and Secondary school children from the Southampton area attending, watching, learning and playing the game of softball. The Roadshow gives these kids yet another opportunity to have more fun and hopefully a desire to take up any format of the sport.

The MLB Roadshow is a dynamic travelling, interactive ‘Introduction to Baseball’, run by MLB trained coaches that teaches basic baseball skills. It is guaranteed to inject a large dose of enthusiasm to any public or company event and also presents a great sponsorship opportunity. The Roadshow consists of an inflatable batting cage, and pitching tunnel where people of all ages can learn about and experience the sport of baseball. The batting cage gives participants the chance to learn how to hit a baseball, while the pitching tunnel presents the opportunity to measure how fast you can throw a baseball.

The MLB Roadshow is an attractive addition to any festival or corporate outing, bringing the emerging sport of baseball to everyone in attendance. The Roadshow offers an excellent opportunity for promotion and partnership with Major League Baseball.

For more information on the Roadshow or on the Euros, please contact myself on the contact pages on this site.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 06/01/2008 | Permalink

Classic June

With less than six weeks to go before the start of the European Championships, a new article or story will be posted on here each and every day as the build up begins.

So pop over to this website regularly, read the articles and see whats happening. Check out our sponsors pages and see whats making the Euros this year, such a great event.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 05/31/2008 | Permalink

Schedule Now Online

The ESF has released the schedule for this year's European Championships, and it can now be found in the fixtures section on this website.

Jersey will open up the tournament with a clash against the Czech team whilst a mouth watering prospect which is sure to attract a number of fans will take place when the GB team take on Ireland following the opening ceremony.

The final of the European Championships will be at 5.30pm on Saturday, when the club competition will have finished and hundreds of supporters will be lining the field to watch the televised final of the biggest competition of the year.

Posted by Roger at 05/07/2008 | Permalink

Under 90 Days to go

It can be referred to as the calm before the storm, the quiet lull period when you think most things are in place but their not actually, and just when you want to relax - you cannot.

There are now less than three months before Britains most expensive softball tournament begins. With television coverage agreed, numerous sponsors on board (and more to come) and many exciting offerings agreed upon - the Euros will be upon us before we know it.

Will GB retain their title, can Ireland or the Czechs push over that final hurdle that they have been on the verge of for years or can the dark horses of Slovenia or Jersey cause a surprise?

The tournament with its double round robin stage, followed by the finals day will be the tournament of the summer. Coupled with the Euroball - the finals day promises to be a fantastic spectacle with over 500 people watching the final.

Keep tuned for more updates.

Posted by Roger at 04/15/2008 | Permalink

Major Sponsor Close

Negotiations with a major sponsor are virtually close to completion and will be released on here very soon. I anticipate this announcement being made at the beginning of next week.

Securing a major sponsor who will be making a significant investment into the tournament will be a first for any softball event in this country. Whilst sadly we have lost some teams from participating, the legacy of this tournament as slowpitch softball continues to grow in Europe is vital. Presenting a professional event, recognised by sponsors is essential and will hopefully convince more countries to participate in two years time.

Check in here early next week to find out who it is.

Posted by Roger at 04/02/2008 | Permalink

Mayor Confirmed for Final

The Mayor and Mayoress of Eastleigh (The grounds fall within Eastleigh Council, not Southampton) have confirmed their attendance at the finals day. They will watch the final and then participate in the closing ceremony and awards presentations.

A further well known celebrity is currently being pursued and when/if a commitment is made, this will be announced on here.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 04/02/2008 | Permalink

Hotel Accommodation Booking for Visitors

During the recent trip made to Southampton on the 28th February, Roger Grooms, the lead organiser for the Euros visited the hotel where it is hoped the teams will choose to stay for the Euros.

The group booking currently made on this hotel has been increased from 50 to 70 (although one team has already provisionally booked ten rooms, and the BSF will be booking close to 20 for officials and volunteers), so remaining teams will need to act quickly. This hotel normally has full occupancy each night (total 124 rooms) so to guarnatee your booking, the teams should contact now.

If you are a spectator to the event for a week, following a team or just following the softball in general, a room can be booked here. Please go through myself to make this booking as we may be able to make other provisional arrangements for you should you want them. Please contact the tournament organsier on roger.grooms@softballeuros08.com

Posted by Roger at 02/29/2008 | Permalink

ESF Inspection Undertaken

The ESF conducted its inspection of the venue on Thursday 28th February as preparation for the European Championships continue. The inspection was performed by Mike Jennings, the current ESF President.

An inspection involves a number of different factors including the following:

- Looking at the ground areas to check their suitability for softball
- Visiting the facilities on offer such as toilets, changing rooms, catering options and parking
- Ensuring there is plenty of practice space available (Which there is definitely no shrotage of in Southampton)
- Visiting the premises of accommodation for the officials and ensuring that there will not be too much 'forced interaction' between players and officials

Subject to a number of areas being ratified, the ESF inspection has approved the venue and hotel where the officials will be staying.

Posted by Roger at 02/29/2008 | Permalink

France Enter!

France have now become the eight team to enter the European Championships this summer. This is great news for the development of this tournament and bodes very well for the future.

Anymore teams wishing to enter, it is not too late to submit an entry form as we have been advised that entries up until the ESF congress can be received.

Posted by Roger at 02/25/2008 | Permalink

8th Team to Enter Euros?

The tournament organiser, Roger Grooms is very close to securing an 8th team to enter the European Championships this summer. This development, post January 1st is certainly encouraging and exciting and once confirmed, will give the Euros clearly its biggest participation since the tournament was established in 1998.

Although there was hope that four other countries, Austria, Switzerland, Slovakia and Holland would enter, but unfortunately could not, an entry of 8 shows the sport to be developing across Europe and bodes well for the next European Championships in two years. The GB coach Mark Saunders is undertaking a clinic in Belgium in the next few weeks where slowpitch softball is just getting of the ground. This places slowpitch softball in at least 13 countries across Europe and creates for an exciting future.

When the 8th team has officially entered the tournament, an announcement will be made on here.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 02/18/2008 | Permalink

Information Pack to be Distributed to All Teams This Week

An information update will be sent to all countries competing in the European Championships this summer by the end of week commencing 18th February. This pack will inform teams on some of the developments that have been made by the organising committee since Christmas and will pass on some important dates and information requests to the competing teams.

I will endeavour to put this pack onto the website as a download format by the 25th February.

Roger

Posted by Roger at 02/18/2008 | Permalink

Block Booking on Accommodation Made

A block booking on a hotel in the centre of Southampton has been made on behalf of all teams entering the European Championships this summer. At a price of £32 per night, each room can sleep three people (double and Single). The Euro's organisers hope that all teams will stay in this hotel as it will help with the logistics of getting teams to the venue each day.

Teams can begin booking rooms at this hotel directly from the end of February onwards. For further details on how to do this, please contact the tournament organiser, Roger Grooms. (Details in the contact session)

Posted by Roger at 02/12/2008 | Permalink

TV Coverage

Agreement with Sport Nation for Television Coverage Very Close

An agreement with Tilling Productions to broadcast a highlights package of the finals day on their sports programme called Sport Nation has been verbally agreed following a meeting between the Euro's event organiser Roger Grooms and Ed Swatman, producer for Tilling Productions. A 22-24 highlights package, with filming taking place throughout the day and footage of all the games with predominance on the final will produce the coverage for one of the episodes of their programme to go out towards the end of August.

Sport Nation covers the smaller grass roots sports within the UK and this highlights package of the final will produce an excellent advertisement of softball in general. As part of the deal the British Softball Federation will have joint copyright ownership allowing for the future possibilities of DVD's of the finals day. There will be commentary of the final and the Euro's committee hope a big crowd will make this a pulsating event.

For any questions on this agreement, please contact Roger Grooms.