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Icons FA Cup Final Special!

by Al 3. May 2012 05:51

This Saturday Chelsea and Liverpool clash at Wembley in the 131st FA Cup final. To celebrate this fantastic footballing occasion, Icons are offering special discounts on personally signed boots from star strikers Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez.

Fernando Torres has endured a difficult time at Chelsea since his £50m transfer from Liverpool in January 2011, but his dramatic solo goal in the dying minutes of Chelsea's Champions League semi-final against Barcelona at Camp Nou has proved a turning point. Playing with newly-found confidence and conviction, Torres smashed a superb hat-trick in the following game against QPR. He is now making a strong case for inclusion in Vicente del Bosque's Spain squad for Euro 2012. Check out his personally signed Nike Total 90 boot here and grab yourself a fantastic £75 OFF while the offer lasts.

The day before Torres' hat-trick against QPR, Liverpool's Luis Suarez completed one of the finest trebles in Premier League history in a 3-0 defeat of Norwich. The fiery Uruguayan has been a figure of controversy this season, but his performance against Norwich was a reminder of the dazzling skill and ability that has made him one of Europe's most in-demand strikers. Now is your chance to make the most of a fantastic £75 REDUCTION and pick up an Adidas F50 boot personally signed by Suarez himself. Take a look here.

Cup competitions have provided welcome relief for both Chelsea and Liverpool this season. While Kenny Dalglish’s Liverpool have already secured the Carling Cup trophy, Chelsea have the Champions League final against Bayern Munich to look forward to on 25 May. With a historic cup double on the cards for both sides, Saturday’s match promises to be a fiercely contested affair.

So who will you be backing, Liverpool or Chelsea? Suarez or Torres? Grab your discounted signed boot now, and let us know your FA Cup final predictions on Twitter @icons_football.

Buy the Suarez boot HERE

Buy the Torres boot HERE

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Forward Friday: The King, Denis Law

by Al 14. October 2011 07:17

"The boy's a freak. Never did I see a less likely football prospect - weak, puny and bespectacled."

- Andy Beattie, Huddersfield Town manager 1952-56

Beattie's assessment of a 16-year-old Denis Law may have been slightly harsh, but when he first showed up at Huddersfield in 1955 few could have predicted that he would go on to illuminate British football.

Between 1962 and 1973 Denis Law (pictured right) formed part of Manchester United's 'Holy Trinity' with George Best and Bobby Charlton (left). They were the heartbeat of United's finest ever team. Tenacious, skillful and prolific; with 237 goals in 404 games Law was a true United legend. He remains the second-highest scorer in their history behind Charlton, but the road to Old Trafford was long and winding for the Aberdeen-born striker.

After four years at Huddersfield Town, Law moved to United's bitter rivals Manchester City for a British record transfer fee of £55,000 in 1960. United manager Matt Busby had previously had a £10,000 offer rejected, while Bill Shankly, Law's manager at Huddersfiled from 1957-59, had also failed in a bid to take him to Liverpool.

City had only narrowly escaped relegation from the First Division in the season prior to Law's signing, and after a single season at the club, Law, who made his Scotland debut as an 18-year-old in 1958, resolved to move to a more successful club. He signed for Italian side Torino in the summer of 1961. Law failed to settle in Italy, however, as his playing style clashed with the ultra-defensive Italian approach, and in 1962 he finally moved to United for £115,000, breaking the British transfer record once again.

Law was an instant success at Old Trafford, scoring just seven minutes into his debut against West Bromwich Albion. United were still recovering from the devastating effects of the 1958 Munich air crash, however, and it wasn't until 1963 that he won his first piece of silverware, the FA Cup. Law had scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against his old club Huddersfiled, and he scored again in the final as United upset favourites Leicester City with a 3-1 victory.

Law top scored with 28 league goals the following season and was named European Footballer of the Year as United secured the First Division title for the first time since Munich. More success was to follow, as United won the league again in 1967 and the European Cup the following year, albeit without the injured Law for the semi-final or final.

When Matt Busby resigned in 1969, United's strength began to wane. Law continued to be a prolific presence for the Red Devils, but was unable to add any more silverware to his collection and he moved back to City (pictured below) for one final season before retiring in 1974. 

Law scored 30 times for Scotland in 55 appearances, making him their joint-highest top scorer together with Kenny Dalglish. It is at Old Trafford, however, that he is most treasured. His statue stands on the concourse of Old Trafford's Stretford End, and is a fitting tribute to one of the finest players ever to pull on a Manchester United shirt.

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Take a look at Icons signed Denis Law Manchester United shirt here.

Icons Legend of the Week #11: Billy Bonds

by Al 20. September 2011 09:35

Icons Legend of the Week #11 is West Ham United hero Billy Bonds.

Billy Bonds made an incredible 793 first-team appearances for West Ham United over 21 seasons. The Hammers legend was a passionate and tough-takling leader and an inspiration to his teammates. When Bobby Moore departed for Fulham in 1974, Bonds was an obvious choice to replace him as captain. He held on to the position for a full decade, during which he led West Ham to two FA Cup triumphs.

In 1988, at the age of 41 years and 255 days, Bonds reluctantly hung up his boots as a knee injury finally got the better of him. His legacy lives on at West Ham, but it was at Charlton Athletic that he started his career. He left school at 15, and having joined the groudstaff at Charlton, he worked his way through youth and reserve teams to become a part of the first-team squad just before he turned 18. After 95 league appearances for the Addicks, West Ham boss Ron Greenwood parted with £50,000 to take him across the Thames to the Boleyn Ground in 1967.  

Bonds started life at West Ham as a right-back, before he was switched to midfield to partner Trevor Brooking in 1970. He was at his peak in the early seventies, and in the 1973/74 season he was West Ham's top scorer with 13 league goals, including a hat-trick against London rivals Chelsea. Bonds was known for his combative, tireless style of play, but he coupled his physical and mental attributes with a fine footballing brain and intelligent use of the ball.

In his first season as captain Bonds led West Ham to FA Cup glory with victory over Fulham. In 1976 he was the inspiration behind West Ham's European Cup Winners' Cup run, which saw them finish runners-up after defeat to Belgian side Anderlecht in the final. West Ham were enjoying the most glorious era of their history. At international level, however, Bonds was overlooked. He appeared for England under-23s twice, but the closest he got to a full international cap was as an unused substitute in a World Cup qualifier against Italy in 1977.

West Ham were relegated from the top flight in 1978, but they still managed to win the 1980 FA Cup as a second division side, beating first division Arsenal 1-0 thanks to a Trevor Brooking goal. Bonds, playing at centre-back since 1977, captained the East Londoners as they made their return to the top flight the following season, and played out the remaining years of his career with West Ham in the top flight.

In over two decades at West Ham, Bonds firmly established himself as a club legend. He won 'Hammer of the Year' in 1971, 1974, 1975 and 1987, and was appointed MBE in 1988. He even returned to West Ham in 1990 for a four-year stint as manager, leading them to a comfortable mid-table finish in the Premier League before choosing to resign. Undoubtedly, however, Bonds finest achievements at West Ham came as a player, when he guided them through on of the most glorious eras in their history.

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To view Icons complete range of Billy Bonds signed photos click here.

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Icons Legend of the Week #9: Ian Rush

by Al 6. September 2011 06:38

With an incredible 346 goals in 660 appearances, Ian Rush's achievements as a Liverpool striker may well never be matched. A predatory finisher and tireless worker with an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time, no man has sparked delirium at Anfield with quite the same regularity as Icons Legend of the Week #9.

With a penchant for scoring crucial goals, Rush spearheaded the Liverpool side that dominated the game during the 1980s. Over the course of 15 seasons at Anfield, Liverpool's all-time record goalscorer won five league titles, five League Cups and three FA Cups, not to mention the greatest club accolade of all, the European Cup. His languid and ungainly demeanor did not initially inspire confidence at Liverpool, but when he made his scoring breakthrough in 1981 he soon proved that looks can be deceptive. Forming a lethal strike partnership with fellow Anfield legend Kenny Dalglish (above, left), Rush netted 30 times in 49 appearances during the 1981/82 season - his first as a first-team regular - propelling the Reds to a league and cup double.

1982/83 was another double-winning campaign for Liverpool, but it was the following season that would be remembered as Rush's zenith. Liverpool completed a historic treble that season when they famously defeated AS Roma 4-2 on penalties in the European Cup final, with Rush among Liverpool's successful penalty-takers. With a remarkable total of 47 goals in 65 games, the Welshman scooped the European Golden Boot and PFA Player of the Year award. In only his fourth season on Merseyside, Rush's name was already carved into Liverpool folklore.

But how different his story could have been. Not long after becoming Britain's most expensive teenager when he was signed from Chester City for £300,000 in 1980, Rush - frustrated with a lack of first-team opportunities - confronted Liverpool manager Bob Paisley with a transfer request. Paisley's refusal to sanction the Welshman's proposed move to Crystal Palace would prove one of the best decisions he ever made.

More success followed, and in 1986 Rush fired the Reds to yet another double which included his first FA Cup win, a 3-1 triumph over Merseyside rivals Everton which saw him put in a goal scoring, man-of-the-match performance. His emphatic scoring record was not going unnoticed across the continent and in July 1986, with a host of top European clubs hovering, Rush signed for Italian giants Juventus for a British record £3m. He spent the first year of his Juventus contract on loan with Liverpool before moving to Italy in 1987. Rush's season in Turin was a difficult one as he managed just seven goals in 29 Serie A appearances, and after failing to settle in his new surroundings, he was welcomed back to Anfield with open arms in the summer of 1988.

On his return to Merseyside, Rush found himself in competition with new Liverpool strikers John Aldridge and Peter Beardsley. The goals continued to flow at a steady rate for the Welshman though, and he picked up two FA Cups, a League Cup and a First Division title in the eight seasons before his eventual departure from Liverpool in 1996.

Rush is Wales' record goalscorer with 28 goals from 73 appearances. But despite his excellent return, Wales were never able to qualify for a major tournament during his career, meaning he joins the likes of George Best and Ryan Giggs as a legend who never appeared at the highest level of international football.

Rush remains one of the most decorated players in Anfield history, and an inspiration to Liverpool supporters young and old. The likes of Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll have one hell of a task on their hands if they are to get close to that goal scoring record. 

You're never going to believe this... they're going to win the cup

by Dan 20. April 2009 12:22

The 128th FA Cup Final will be contested on May 30 at Wembley between Chelsea and Everton. That was confirmed over the weekend with respective victories over Arsenal and Manchester United.

Frank Lampard was instrumental in the Stamford Bridge side's progress on Saturday, setting up goals for Florent Malouda and Didier Drogba. Meanwhile, with Sir Alex Ferguson putting out a second-string side on Sunday, Everton progressed thanks to a penalty shootout after a dull 0-0 draw.

Sadly there was nothing to match the drama of Man Utd v Arsenal in 1999 when Ryan Giggs scored probably the greatest FA Cup goal of all time, or Gazza's free-kick for Spurs against Arsenal.

Cup finals are always special occasions, and over the years have thrown up a variety of heroes. Ricky Villa scoring the best ever Wembley FA Cup final goal against Manchester City, Charlie George's winning celebration against Liverpool in 1971, Trevor Brooking's diving header against Arsenal in 1980... the list goes on.

Icons has plenty of great FA Cup memorabilia in store, just check out the following:

Ossie Ardiles And Ricky Villa Signed Tottenham Hotspur 1981 FA Cup Final Shirt
Eric Cantona Signed Manchester United 1996 FA Cup Winners Shirt
Bobby Charlton Signed Manchester United 1963 FA Cup Final Shirt
Allan Clarke Signed Leeds United 1972 FA Cup Final Shirt
Steven Gerrard Signed Print - Gerrard's Final
Glenn Hoddle Signed Tottenham 1982 FA Cup Winners Shirt

Is Ronaldo the best free-kick taker of all-time?

by Dan 23. February 2009 12:10

Cristiano Ronaldo sent Manchester United well on their way to a third successive Premiership title with another phenomenal free-kick at the weekend.

His trademark delivery in the 60th minute at Old Trafford left Blackburn Rovers goalkeeper Paul Robinson helpless, and with Liverpool only drawing, leaves Utd seven points clear at the top.

It was yet another unstoppable free-kick and you have to ask - is he the greatest free-kick specialist of all time?

Here is our list of top takers:

5. Roberto Carlos. Never seemed to score, apart from that screamer against France in Le Tournoi 1997, but was always fun to watch.

4. Paul Gascoigne.Who can forget that free-kick against Arsenal in the FA Cup?

3. Alessandro del Piero. Better scoring percentage than Ronaldo, (and Beckham) so maybe unlucky to miss out on second spot.

2. Cristiano Ronaldo. The way they dip and swerve they're unstoppable; he's even created his own technique adapted to the modern ball. Genius.

1. Diego Maradona. The greatest of all time. Just watch this. No argument.

OK, so no David Beckham. We all remember that winner against Greece but how many remember the dozens he ballooned over the bar earlier in the game when a chip to the big fella at the back stick would have done the job?

We'd love to hear what you think below...

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Welcome to the icons blog, we'll be regularly posting here about what's going on with our star signings and what new products have arrived

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