Published: 27 October, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

ONE of the oldest amateur Sunday leagues in London was given a major boost this week when they agreed a new sponsorship deal with ESPN.

The Camden Sunday League has teamed-up with the worlds biggest sports network in a move that league officials are hoping will attract a host of new teams.

Chairman Nigel Copperwheat, who has been involved with the league for more than
25 years, was delighted with the deal, which runs at least until the end of the season.

“Simplistically it will bring the league more money and more publicity,” he said.

“To be associated with an international conglomerate can only be good for the image of the league.

“I think one or two more people will have heard of ESPN than the Camden Sunday League so hopefully it will help attract new clubs and increase our overall membership.”

In this weekend’s action quadruple winners Phoenix moved to the top of the Division One table on goal difference following their 6-0 victory over AFC Brasenose.

Gio Falzone opened the scoring with a glancing header to give the champions a 1-0 lead at the break.
A second-half goal blitz saw Jason Donion, whose first-half penalty was well-saved, bag a brace, and Dave Dawson and Charlie Kanaries both find the back of the net.

The Phoenix players were still full of confidence following their 9-2 victory over the Hoops in the opening round of the London Cup.

Once again top scorer Anthony Clarke led the way as he helped himself to four goals.

In the league Reddot are hot on the heels of Phoenix after coming from a goal down to beat title rivals Athletico Annies.

Michael Pattrick gave Annies a narrow half-time lead with a well-placed header, but a second-half double from Ashley Peterson and a goal from Steven Bruce saw the Dots turn the game around to secure a
3-1 win.

In Division Two, FC Bertoli put on a five-star performance against 10-man Boston Celtics to net their first win of the season. An own-goal got FC Bertoli up and running before the predatory Josh Weinburg doubled the lead.

Ali Godrich ended the game as a contest with a quick-fire double, while substitute Ben Hibberd came off the bench to add the finishing touches to a 5-0 mauling.

In Division Three, Chalk Scratchings were another side celebrating their first win of the season as they beat Camden Tigers in a five-goal thriller.

Strikers Miles Angell and Siva Van Vliet gave the Scratchings (pictured above) the perfect start as they both found the back of the net in the opening 20 minutes.

The game looked wrapped up at half-time as Angell struck again to put his side 3-0 up.

To their credit a battling Tigers’ side pulled two goals back in the second half to set up a nervy finish, but the Scratchings showed good resolve to hold on and grab a 3-2 victory.