Non-league / Mike Norman / 30 March 2012 /

Sponsorship is a great source of revenue for football clubs and players these days which is why Betfair have agreed a one-off money-spinning shirt deal with Kettering Town. Here Mike Norman takes a look at some of the best and worst TV adverts from yesteryear.

The Worst

5. Scott Parker - McDonalds

If it wasn't for the line, "This commercial is dedicated to all those that know what practice makes", this advert would have gone very close to being in the number one slot. But because the young player is none other than the current England captain Scott Parker, it deserves a bit of credit. Having said that, any advert featuring a kid with a basin haircut doing a few volleys is a no-go for us. And how many kids do you know who say 'no' to a McDonalds?

4. Kevin Keegan - Brut

We already know that Kevin Keegan can't ride a bike, and judging by this Brut advert from the late 70s he can't skip, row or act either. But that's not the real reason this advert is bad. There's something just not right about two top sportsmen getting all hot and pally together in a shower room. It's the equivalent of Wayne Rooney sharing a hot tub with David Haye to discuss hair-replacement products. Poor Henry Cooper will be turning in his grave; Keegan's just glad we're not showing his Honey Monster advert!

3. Blackburn Rovers - Venky's

This has been described in many quarters as the worst football advert ever, but it's only bad because you just know the players didn't want to do it. The acting isn't that bad even if only because no-one speaks, and the food looks ok too. But why Ryan Nelsen was allowed to do that twirling of the chewing gum action remains a mystery. I've eaten chicken many times, and I've never once had to pull a bit from my front teeth afterwards. And yes, we're assuming Nelsen is removing chicken!

2. Ian Wright - Chicken Tonight

Oh Ian, what were you thinking? Ok, we all get desperate from time to time and do things we shouldn't, but it usually stops when we read a script that tells us to dance around a room like a chicken singing, "I feel like chicken tonight". The worst thing about this advert is that every time I was at a party everyone thought it would be a good idea to imitate the 'dance' whilst holding a bottle of lager. It wasn't a good idea, it wasn't funny, and unfortunately, I've still got the scars to prove it!

1. Gareth Southgate & Co - Pizza Hut

When England lost to West Germany on penalties in the 1990 World Cup, like Gazza, I was reduced to tears. Six years later we lost to the Germans on penalties again in the European Championship. I was devastated. So to see an advert featuring the three main culprits, taking the Michael out of our country's failures, doesn't sit well with me.

It's made worse by the fact that neither Gareth Southgate, Stuart Pearce or Chris Waddle can act one bit, and in Waddle's case, he can't even say penalty to this day (it's a pelanty to him), never mind take one. Oh, and whilst I'm at it, we didn't even have a Pizza Hut in our town back then!

The Best

5. Gary Lineker - Walkers Crisps

Ok, this would have gone in the 'corniest' advert category should we have had one, but there's no denying that the Walkers Crisps adverts have been a huge success starring Gary Lineker; he's been doing them for the best part of 17 years you know. There's been a lot of funny ones down the years too, but this is the one I like (sorry, associate) with most. Come on, we've all chosen a bag of crisps over a beautiful woman at some point haven't we? Ok, I'll get my coat.

4. The Sumo Match - Pepsi

Probably the best of the funny adverts is this excellent Pepsi advert featuring some pretty large sumo wrestlers taking on the likes of David Beckham, Roberto Carlos and Emmanuel Petit for the right to win an ice-cold drink. The skills themselves are breathtaking, the sumo goalkeeper is unbeatable, and the celebrations are hilarious. What more could you ask for? Oh, check the shirts worn by the winners as they leave the field of play, taunting Becks and Co as amateurs. Brilliant.

3. Brazil 98 World Cup Squad - Nike

The first of two Nike adverts comes courtesy of an elaborate game of 'pass and move' at Rio Airport with the 1998 Brazil World Cup squad. Drilling the ball through an X-ray machine, dummying bewildered members of the public, and avoiding frustrated security guards means the game is all going well...until Ronaldo fails to finish off the wonderful move when he hits the post of a makeshift goal. It's a great advert and all good fun, but it was certainly a sign of things to come for the great Ronaldo during the World Cup final that year.

2. Secret Tournament - Nike

This is brilliant, and it was so popular that the featured tune - the JXL remix of Elvis Presley's A Little Less Conversation - went to number one in more than 20 countries. Eric Cantona is genius as the Master of Ceremonies, hosting a three-a-side 'no rules' cage tournament on a giant ship, casting the losers into the ocean. Rumour has it that the original version was to feature Southgate, Pearce and Waddle as a team, but the three weeks filming time wouldn't have been long enough for any of them to score.

1. Pub Team - Carlsberg

Growing up watching football in the 80s meant that the likes of Peter Beardsley, Bryan Robson, Peter Shilton, Terry Butcher, Peter Reid, and of course, Pearce and Waddle, were every kid's heroes. So to see them all, managed by the late great Bobby Robson, and playing alongside some true English legends, was a good enough advert in itself. Add in the Sunday League football element that we can all associate with, the Mickey taking in the changing rooms, the dodgy pitches, and a few pints down the pub afterwards then you have the best football advert that's ever been made.

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: