BLEACHERS BREW EST. MAY 2006

Someone asked me how my blog and newspaper column came to be titled "Bleachers Brew". It's like this, it's an amalgam of sorts of two things: The bleachers area in the stadium/arena where I used to sit when I would watch baseball, football, and basketball games and Miles Davis' great jazz album Bitches Brew. That's how it got culled together. I originally planned on calling it "The View from the Big Chair" that is a nod to Tears For Fear's second album, Songs from the Big Chair. So there.

Monday, March 10, 2014

Manchester United legends Paul Scholes & Andy Cole to play in the Clear Dream Match III


This appears in philstar.com

Manchester United legends Paul Scholes & Andy Cole to play in the Clear Dream Match III
by rick olivares

Historic and memorable things come in threes. There was Ali-Frazier fight trilogy. There was the pair of three-peats of the Chicago Bulls in the 1990s. And now there’s the Clear Dream Match III where brothers James and Phil Younghusband face off once more in the rubber match of the biggest football All-Star Game in the country on June 7.

In the first ever Clear Dream Match, Phil Younghusband triumphed over his older brother as his team inflicted a 5-1 beating. The following year, James Younghusband exacted his revenge, defeating Team Phil 4-1.

The Clear Dream Match III promises to be epic for not only will 32 of the best United Football League players take sides in this footballing rivalry but two world-class English football legends will cast their lot in this fray as well.

Manchester United legends Paul Scholes and Andy Cole, winners both, are no stranger to rivalries while donning the iconic Red Devils and England jerseys. Like former Italy captain and World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro and Chelsea midfielder Dennis Weiss before them, the two will find themselves on either side of the field; one with Team James and the other wearing the colors of Team Phil.

United, 20-time English league champions, has partnered with Clear, the number one anti-dandruff shampoo for men, to take on the challenge of helping grow the sport of football in the Philippines.

Clear Brand Manager Drew Copuyoc expressed excitement not only about the all-star game but the partnerships with MUFC and the UFL. “This is going to be the most competitive game yet as only the best in the country will participate in it,” underscored Copuyoc who also noted the participation of former World Cup champion Fabio Cannavaro and Chelsea player Dennis Weiss in the second installment of the all-star game.

Andrew Alexander “Andy” Cole only suited up for United from 1995-2001 but he helped the club to five Premier League titles, two FA Cups, two FA Charity Shields, and an UEFA Champions League trophy. The striker, who is the second highest goal scorer in Premier League history with a total of 187 goals also earned 15 caps for England. He hung up his boots following the 2007-08 season.

Paul Scholes on the other hand played his entire 19-year career with Manchester United. The 5’6” midfielder made over 499 appearances for the Red Devils while scoring 107 goals. He also has 66 caps to his name while scoring 14 international goals. He last suited up for United during the 2012-13 season after briefly retiring during the previous year.

Scholes played a key part in the club's Treble-winning success during the 1998-99 season and was a part of 11 Premier League, three FA Cup and two UEFA Champions League winners.

As it was in the previous two Clear Dream matches, fans can go to ClearDreammatch.com.ph to help decide which of the top 32 players of the United Football League will join the Clear Dream Match on June 7.

Voting will commence on March 10 and end on May 6.

The top 32 players will be drafted by the Younghusband brothers for their respective teams on May 10. The sides for which Cole and Scholes will suit up will be determined during their press conference upon their arrival.

Up to six football amateurs from the age 17-and-above can also participate in the Clear Dream Match III by joining the nationwide try-outs handled by the UFL at Iloilo, Davao, Cebu and Metro Manila.

Aside from determining the participating players, fans can also earn points by showing their support online. The fan with the most points will win a trip to Manchester, England and get the chance to watch a MUFC match live.




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