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Malta Trip for "Man of the Match" David James
It seems Portsmouth football player David James is enjoying the fruits of his team's latest sponsorship agreement. James was named "Man of the Match" after the Premiership League's first home game. The running contest is just one promotional gimmick born out of Air Malta's sponsorship of Portsmouth.
The deal was officially struck in July 2008 between the airline and Portsmouth management. The agreement shows the airline as the official air travel provider for the Pompey. The deal will see the two companies working together on joint marketing projects over the next two years.
The "Man of the Match" is one of those marketing campaigns. The contest rewards one player per game according to a ruling of judges. The winner, or "Man of the Match," receives two airline tickets to Malta and a luxury hotel stay.
David James' win aptly coincided with his birthday month. James is one of the league's older players at age 38. Born in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, England, James played for a number of other football clubs since he began his career in 1989. He's bounced from team to team in the ensuing time. The Portsmouth Pompey is his sixth team.
James takes his game very seriously. He was mentored and trained by football great Daniel Jones. It is clear that his tutelage paid off. James' proficiency at goalkeeping is well known in the league. He takes his position so seriously in fact that he spends time studying sports psychology as a means to improve his game. He is regularly referred to by players, coaches, trainers and sportscasters as one of the most skilled goalkeepers in recent history.
His move to Portsmouth turned out to be a sound decision for team management. James managed to maintain clean sheets in his first five games with the club. James holds the current record for Premiership clean sheets. He beat the previous record of 141 games in the spring of 2007, knocking David Seaman out of history.
The Portsmouth move proved beneficial to James too. He became part of history again in May, 2008 when Portsmouth won the FA Cup. The win was David James' first trophy in 13 years. His first and only other championship claim to fame was in Liverpool with the 1995 League Cup.
What has David James, "Man of the Match" done with his big win? The details of his trip to the Republic of Malta have been kept under wraps. Undoubtedly James will enjoy many of the same sites and activities that every visitor to Malta experiences. The archipelago of three islands is known for its balmy Mediterranean climate, abundant sunshine and friendly people.
Malta is appealing for more than just its beaches, though they are one of the country's biggest tourist draws. Malta is rich with ancient history. First settled in 5200 BCE by Sicilian farmers, it boasts some of the world's oldest stone structures, mainly temples. Visitors can spend days exploring the islands' ancient ruins.
David James might do well to spend his winnings in early autumn. October is an ideal month for tourists traveling to Malta. The islands are coming out of their hottest seasons, but the weather still remains warm and desirable for outdoor activity.
No doubt the island will benefit from the exposure that David James and future "Man of the Match" winners will bring it. The venture between the Portsmouth football club and Air Malta may help put the Republic on the world tourism map.
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