This weekend the English Premier League takes a break as the oldest federation competition in the world takes centre stage. The FA Cup never fails to deliver excitement and controversy as well as the frequent ‘giant killings’. As the FA Cup Third Round kicks off this weekend we take a look at Umbro’s new Hi Vis Neo Pro ball.

Bookmakers William Hill have agreed a two-and-a-half year deal with The Football Association to become an ‘Official Supporter’ of the England football team, and ‘Official Supporter’ and ‘Official Betting Partner’ of the FA Cup.

Apple is interested in bidding for the UK TV rights to the Premier League, says a report in The Daily Mail.

The Premier League’s live UK rights for 2010-13 raised £1.782bn when they were sold to Sky Sports and ESPN UK during the summer of 2009.

Virgin Money stamped its new North-East credentials on the region last night with its name replacing Northern Rock on the front of Newcastle United’s shirts.

The Anzhi striker and suspended Indomitable Lions captain has inaugurated a new mobile telephone company in his native country due to be activated in late January

Introducing the adidas ‘Comoequa‘, the Official Match Ball for the 2012 Orange African Cup of Nations.

Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has become a global ambassador for Save the Children.

According to Populus, nearly 50% more members of the black and ethnic minority community attend Premier League matches than are a proportion of the overall population.

2011 has seen the FC Barcelona reigning in Europe again, winning the Champions League over Manchester United.

It has also been an exciting year from a marketing perspective, with the coverage and promotion of international competitions (Champions League, Copa America, Women’s World Cup), the development of social media strategies, and the quest of the asian market.