isporty launch match report

Launch Pictures- It was like the tide coming in; the celebs, the sports stars, the magazine editors, the lovely ladies and the lolly-gaggers who got lost on their way to the toilets on the next floor down; they all converged on one place and one place only last Thursday night. And I'm not talking about London Fashion Week which, you would be right to point out, is another place that some people went to instead. But anyone with any sense and a firm grasp of what it means to have a corking night out, came out in force for the isporty.com launch party. Remorselessly they devoured the half-time oranges; like there was no tomorrow they knocked back the free post-match pints; and with unstinting commitment did they endeavour to have the hooha of all hoohas. Team isporty were there in force, working the room like a pack of blood thirsty media tarts, making sure the guests hadn't fallen over, ensuring that the prawn sandwiches weren't curling at the edges and that the crispiness of the crisps remained at crisp-factor1. Founders Chris Ward and Russ Fraser lorded it around the place with the look of men on a mission; internet Publishing Overlord David Maher Roberts checked his stats and looked satisfied; presenters Rebecca Lowe, and Jo Ankier (who's also the UK's tops 3,000 metre steeplechase runner)swanned about like a couple of ladies of the sporting realm and that funny looking bloke in glasses who writes stuff down and calls it 'journalism', Tim Southwell, pointed important people in the direction of the isporty camera man. Every man jack of the team wore i-sporty branded t-shirts with their names on their backs so people knew who the hell they were. Uniformed up, they proceeded to prowl the arena with gusto, talking cleverly to journalists, regaling the crowd with made up sporting achievements and generally looking like a bunch of cats who'd been kidnapped and taken to the help-yourself cream emporium.

The guest list was like a Wardour St version of the Oscars: It wouldn't be right to mention them all here as some of them are actually quite bashful, but suffice to say that, as isporty investor Terry Venables gave a half-time interview to our own Rebecca Lowe, the onlooking crowd looked like a who's who of media moguls and sporting types. Men's Health Editor, Morgan Rees tucked into the half-time oranges like there was no tomorrow and said: "It's enough to make you take up sport", while Esquire Art Editor Declan Fahey was heard shouting "I love rock climbing!" whilst simultaneously playing both Subbuteo and a Wi version of NASCAR 2007. Chemmy Alcott, Britain's finest skier, declared: "I'll need one of my trademark post-training ice baths after this!" And GolfPunk Associate Editor Iestyn George said excitedly that the whole isporty thing: "Looks like a great idea". Too right, old son. Too bloody right.

And then it was all supposed to be over but no one wanted to leave. They were having too much fun. Not even putting the Newcastle game on TV could dampen our spirits as we went off into the Soho night in search of a post, post-match party pint. I'm not entirely certain but I think we may have found more than one because things were pretty quiet the next morning.

We're up and running people! isporty would like to thank the wonderful people at Heineken for the beer, Red Bull for the energy and OVS for the lovely Chamarre wine. God bless you, everyone!!