350 members of various Arsenal supporters' organisations and shareholders will attend a Q&A evening with the club's CEO Ivan Gazidis in the north end of the stadium's Club Level next Wednesday evening, after Coldplay have packed up and moved on to their next venue. At this time of year, since before the move to the new stadium, such an event has been organised by the Arsenal Supporters Trust for their members.

PPL Park - USWNT vs China 05/27/2012Chester, PA - Sunday evening VA Soccer News was at PPL Park in Chester, PA along with Southwestern Youth Association (SYA) who took a contingent of the youth clubs girls players up to Philadelphia to watch the U.S. Women's National Team compete against China in a pre-olympic international friendly.

Ben Mann over at Adidas PR asked me to post something up on HTIOT to help spread the word in the Chicago Soccer Community about the opportunity to meet members of the Mexican National team. The even is scheduled for tomorrow, May 29th from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM CST. The team will be on hand to sign autographs and meet fans.

My abiding memory of Chris Eagles came from an otherwise long forgotten episode of ITV's Football League highlights hosted by Matt Smith dating back about five years or so now. In that favourite director's technique, players were seen alighting from the team bus and amid the friendly smiles and poised pens for autographs, Eagles stepped down coolly, in possession of headphones the size of which would have shamed the participants of the Live Aid video.

My abiding memory of Chris Eagles came from an otherwise long forgotten episode of ITV's Football League highlights hosted by Matt Smith dating back about five years or so now. In that favourite director's technique, players were seen alighting from the team bus and amid the friendly smiles and poised pens for autographs, Eagles stepped down coolly, in possession of headphones the size of which would have shamed the participants of the Live Aid video.

After the Danny Califf trade went down, fans quickly realized that they wouldn't be seeing him anytime soon since the Union don't play Chivas at home this year. Interestingly enough, Chivas were set to play the Pink Cows in Harrison, NJ shortly after the trade. A group of fans (including myself) made the decision to head up the Turnpike and go undercover into the Bedpan to show support for the Union's former captain.

The Danny Califf trade saga is finally complete.

The Union's captain is going to Chivas USA with Michael Lahoud and allocation money coming the other way.

Photo via AP

Lahoud was drafted #9 overall by Chivas in 2009. He notched 1 goal and 3 assists in 23 games (17 starts) last season.

Will there ever be a ballplayer who doesn't want the money and the fame?
What if there was a 19 year-old talent who played with the same reckless abandon as Bryce Harper, but gave all his money away to charity? He decides to only keep enough money for the bare necessities.
He doesn't accept endorsement offers, give interviews to the press or provide autographs for anyone.

One of the classiest footballers to ever wear a Juventus shirt (or any shirt) got the send-off he deserved at his final home match. Juve finished off their undefeated season -- the first in a 38-match Serie A season, according to Paolo Bandini -- with a 3-1 win over Atalanta in which Del Piero scored Juve's second goal.

It is some time since the final day's matches have carried such import. So may permutations, so much angst one thing is certain today, there will be tears.

This being Big Raddy's final pre-match of the season it should be stated that I have an agenda today; not to muster the troops nor review the possibilities and permutations - there are other sites who can do all that for the reader No, this post will be a paean to the 44 (some say 48 he joined as an apprentice in 1964) years of Pat Rice.

It is some time since the final day's matches have carried such import. So may permutations, so much angst one thing is certain today, there will be tears.

This being Big Raddy's final pre-match of the season it should be stated that I have an agenda today; not to muster the troops nor review the possibilities and permutations - there are other sites who can do all that for the reader No, this post will be a paean to the 44 (some say 48 he joined as an apprentice in 1964) years of Pat Rice.

It is some time since the final day's matches have carried such import. So may permutations, so much angst one thing is certain today, there will be tears.

This being Big Raddy's final pre-match of the season it should be stated that I have an agenda today; not to muster the troops nor review the possibilities and permutations - there are other sites who can do all that for the reader No, this post will be a paean to the 44 (some say 48 he joined as an apprentice in 1964) years of Pat Rice.

By Chris Wright

Still reeling in the wake of Piermario Morosini's fatal heart attack while playing for Livorno a weekend ago, the subject of heart monitoring and pitchside resuscitation has understandably been at the forefront of Italian football's collective mind for the last ten days.

Following the death of Italian footballer Piermario Morosini during a Serie B match less than two weeks ago, there have been increased calls to have defibrillators on standby at matches across all levels of the sport. And though it will take time to bring about widespread changes, individuals like 19-year-old Milan striker Stephan El Sharaawy are doing what they can to help on a smaller scale.

Newcastle's new hero Papiss Cisse attracted a 200-strong crowd when he went for a haircut at a Tyneside barbers. The Senegal international already a fan favourite after an explosive start to his Magpies career was mobbed at The Barber Shop in Gateshead. Cisse popped in for a £6 cut, but soon found he [.

Limited to signing autographs for now

FA Cup semifinal today but it doesn't involves The Arsenal. There's a couple of Premier League matches, none of which involves us as well. Our game against Wigan will only be on Monday night and that give the players plenty of time to recover from the midweek exertions at Molineux.

Limited to signing autographs for now

FA Cup semifinal today but it doesn't involves The Arsenal. There's a couple of Premier League matches, none of which involves us as well. Our game against Wigan will only be on Monday night and that give the players plenty of time to recover from the midweek exertions at Molineux.

As Cristiano Ronaldo signed autographs (for journalists?) at the Santiago Bernabeu after Real Madrid finished off APOEL to advance to the Champions League semifinals, one fan held out a monsterish caricature for him to sign. For someone as concerned with his physical appearance as Ronaldo is, this was quite the shock.

Gareth Bale hugs one of his London-based rivals (wrapped arms, above). He's not to be confused with the gracious birthday girl in question. Image: REUTERS/Dylan Martinez.

We come in peace with happy monetary news on this Tuesday morning, dear readers. During a meal in London last week, Arsenal's Wojciech Szczesny was recognised by a dozen or so guests under 10 who were sitting nearby at a children's party.

By Alan Duffy

The likes of John Terry, Nile Ranger and well, many many more eejits haven't done much for the image of the professional footballer in recent months. However, Arsenal's Polish goalkeeper, Wojciech Szczeny, showed a rather better side of his profession recently in a north London restaurant.

Newly named U-23 captain Freddy Adu joined Studio 90 at Official U.S. Soccer Bar 12South Taproom to spend time with the fans in Nashville ahead of the start of Olympic Qualifying.
Adu took questions and signed autographs for more than an hour, talking about the state of the team heading into the tournament as well as touching on his personal journey.

So, you've probably seen the Iniesta-Casillas commercial. The two of them pretend to be fans of random strangers and ask for autographs and photographs. On a basic level, it's a tongue & cheek look at the roles we as fans play as compared to players. In following the academic trend of "gutchecks," the immediate emotional response is a wry smile and perhaps a laugh.

By Chris Wright

While compatriot Pepe Reina is busying himself by starring in insurance commercials of questionable taste and virtue, Spain duo Iker Casillas and Andres Iniesta have starred in an altogether more wholesome advert campaign for La Liga BBVA which sees the pair taking to the streets and act their arses off with a bit of starry-eyed role reversal asking stunned members of the public for autographs, hugs and photographs.

Iker Casillas and Andrés Iniesta go around asking for autographs

Courtesy of fairly convincing acting skills, Iker and Andrés were able to strike sheer bewilderment into those walking down a typical street en España. Instead of being exposed to hundreds of fans begging for an autograph, the two Spain legends were the ones asking for autographs of the men and women they met in the latest Liga BBVA advest.

The new ad for La Liga puts Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas and Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta on the street and has them surprise the random strangers they come across by treating them like they're the world-famous athletes. The funny setup is complicated, however, when the people of all ages they ask for autographs, hugs and pictures complicated the situation by trying to ask Casillas and Iniesta for autographs, hugs and pictures themselves.

Stopping to sign autographs for a group of fans in Malaga as Spain prepare to play a friendly against Venezuela, Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas was presented with the shirt of Real Madrid's German midfielder Mesut Ozil and he signed it.

Of course, this was simply the polite thing to do, but it appears even the kid holding the shirt is stupefied by the fact that a man renown for his Barca DNA would sign the Real Madrid shirt of a German player.

As has become customary in camps, the team went out out for a stroll in the city. And Genoa is certainly worth a look...
Out for about an hour, the sights included the oldest bank in Italy (Banco or Ufficio di San Giorgio, founded in 1407), an old church (Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, seen above), and a pirate ship built in the 17th century (Il Galeone Neptune).

Today the Rapids had a fan event on the 16th St. Mall to announce their new initiative and club slogan. The new slogan is 'One Club' and to celebrate it they announced that anyone who buys season tickets for the 2012 season by March 1st will have their name printed on the authentic home player jerseys in 2013 and 2014 (example above).

It's been less than 24 hours since the team arrived in Panama City, and already there's been a lot of activity.
The journey started at 6:45 a.m. MT in Phoenix and ended at 8 p.m. ET in Panama City. In between there was a stop in Houston, where guys got their last American food for a couple days, got a few extra bucks (Did you know the currency of Panama is the U.

Maradona may have been right when he questioned Leonardo's role at Paris Saint-Germain on French TV earlier this week. It seems he is now the club's Official Photographer! é uma piada, esses brasileiros! (it's a joke.. these Brazilians!)

The Original Ronaldo 'O Fenômeno' (without ego and all that guapo swag) visited the PSG training ground and facilities yesterday, where he was enthusiastically welcomed and embraced.

By Jimmy LaRoue

NORFOLK–Standing in the stadium concourse signing autographs after another difficult loss Sunday, Norfolk SharX coach Jon Hall had a rhetorical question when asked whether he's seen improvement in the first-year MISL team:

"What do you think?

They may be gearing up for one of the busiest periods of the campaign, but Liverpool's first-team players and staff took time out of their preparations for the Festive season to bring some Christmas cheer to Alder Hey children's hospital on Monday.
The Reds took on the role of Santa Claus for one very special afternoon to make their annual visit to the local hospital and spend time with youngsters who are facing up to the prospect of remaining on the wards for Christmas and beyond.

Real Salt Lake and MNT Goalkeeper Nick Rimando will be hanging out at the Winter Showcase
U.S. Men's National Team goalkeeper will be on-site at the Development Academy Winter Showcase and NIKE International Friendlies on Sunday, December 4 from 3:00 to 7:30. Nick will be signing autographs and taking pictures at AT&T's interactive area at the Athletes Lounge, playing soccer tennis, participating in a Q & A during pre-game and halftime of the U.

The volume of the screams of the U.S. fans have gotten a bit louder since the Women's World Cup, although of course the fan base for the U.S. women has always been young, energetic and tremendously supportive. That hasn't changed in Arizona, where the USA has gotten another great reception.
LONG LINE: No, Abby didn't sign every one of these autographs, but most of them


Alex Morgan signs for the next generation

This young lady came prepared.

What's this a magic show?! Nicht, just some candid shots from Germany's Euro 2012 jersey presentation session in Hamburg yesterday. Clearly, Lukas Podolski and Thomas Mueller aren't used to signing autographs on the 10-feet wall they have at home.

The Philly Soccer Page " The Camden Youth Soccer Club
BE: We have been in touch with the Union several times, but not yet the Independence (next on my to-do list). In the past, we have had some footballs donated to us from the Union, and Shea Salinas visited us last year. Wee actually had Roger Torres come out on Saturday to visit, and just go around talking to the kids, and then sign autographs at the end.

There was a really good interview yesterday with Leon Best, with Evening Chronicle reporter Lee Ryder doing the interviewing. Leon Best Yohan is such a lovely lad Leon answered questions from Lee as he signed autographs for the fans, and he was complimentary of what Mike Ashley was doing in giving season ticket holders additional season [.

Germany WMT's Nadine Angerer signed autographs for her fans at the team's training session yesterday... gotta love it! / via Bongarts

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If there's one thing every national team should learn from Brasil... it's precisely THIS! The sense of camaraderie and loucura
during training, except they'll need to work harder during the match itself. Não se preocupe, there's a chance to do that against Mexico tonight!

Bem-vindo a Brazilian Bootcamp! So the Selecao are due to face Costa Rica in a few hours, which means Matchday is already here! Of course, since many of the players are match-fit anyway, all they needed to do was a bit of stretching.