Sorted Magazine

Author: Val Fraser

Sport: Who has the most valuable World Cup squad?

Brazil might be the bookie’s favourites to win the World Cup but based on squad value, England will be bringing football home for the first time since 1966. Experts at marketing firm Motive have published an online World Cup Team Value Index which highlights and compares the value of each of the 32 squads competing in Qatar. Researchers looked at every squad’s market value on Transfermarkt and calculated how the tournament would pan out based on squad values alone.

England’s squad is worth an eye-watering £1102.9m making them the only team competing for the trophy to have a value of more than one billion pounds. Brazil are tipped to be runners up with a squad value of £995.2m, while Portugal, with a value of £807.9m are forecast to take third place by overcoming Argentina, valued at £620.8m.

Despite having a squad value of £933.1m, France have been tipped to go no further than the quarterfinals where they are predicted to lose to the eventual champions, England. Researchers also ranked the teams taking part in the tournament based on squad value and compared that value with the official FIFA rankings. At the bottom end of the table are Costa Rica with a squad valued at just £16.1m and hosts Qatar, whose entire squad could be bought for £16.2m.

The England players are worth more than the entire squads of 12 nations taking part in the tournament – Canada, Wales, South Korea, Ecuador, Cameroon, Japan, Iran, Tunisia, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Costa Rica. The teams from those 12 nations have a collective value of £1043.6m, that’s £59.3m less than the England squad.

Steve McComish from researchers Motive said: “If success on the football pitch were based solely on the value of the players taking part then we would see Harry Kane lifting the World Cup for England on December 18th after England defeated Brazil in the final. Looking at our World Cup Team Value Index every England fan can dream of Qatar glory and picture a triumphant team parading the trophy through Trafalgar Square in the days before Christmas. What an incredible start to the Christmas season that would be, to see England win their first major trophy since 1966.

“But sadly success on the pitch doesn’t always correlate to the value of the players involved and, as every England fan already knows all too well, dreams can quickly turn into nightmares. Even with the most expensive squad in the history of world football only the most dedicated England fan would feel entirely confident of Qatar glory.”

To read more about the World Cup Team Value Index and to look up the value of every squad competing in Qatar, please visit: www.motivepr.co.uk/blog/world-cup-team-value-index

November 21, 2022
Birdwatching goes high tech

John and Natalie White are co-founders of the new birdwatching app and social media platform, Birda. They told Sorted Magazine: “The popularity of birdwatching has grown exponentially across the country. RSPB’s annual garden survey revealed that the number of people reporting which birds they could see in their gardens rose by 85%. Currently around six million people in the UK are regularly engaged in birdwatching and it has also overtaken fishing as the number one hobby.”

Birda turns your phone into a tool for logging the birds you spot and the app is free to download. The interface is user friendly for casual and serious birdwatchers alike. Birds can be logged one at a time or several birds can be logged as part of a longer birding session. Progress can be tracked and lists built.

The app features home lists, curated lists, badges, goal setting, offline mode, and a Birda community functions, offline mode.

Natalie enthused: “Birda is great for teams, brand building, and community outreach. It encourages connection and competition between colleagues or companies. In Birda, you can earn individual badges for specific goals and species, compete with your followers to see who can stay at the top of the leader board, and participate in local and national birdwatching challenges. All the while, you’ll be helping conservationists protect a myriad of bird species. Anonymous combined logs from the app can be used by scientists and environmental protection organisations to create a picture of species movement. This will help to put the proper measures in place to support and safeguard them. You’ll also find local conservation activities to join and projects to donate to through the app.”

November 19, 2022
Style tips: How to layer up this winter

Winter is fast approaching and with 339.9M views on tiktok #winterstyle is at the forefront of our minds. Lennie Law, style expert at custom fit menswear brand Spoke London shared the following five tips for creating a winter wardrobe that is both functional and stylish.

Opt for quality fabrics

There are certain fabrics you should lean towards in the winter months; merino wool and

cashmere are both luxurious to wear and practical, providing extra warmth. Investing in higher quality fabrics will mean they will last longer, becoming investment pieces you can wear for years.

Add contrast with accessories

An easy way to elevate your winter look is by adding accessories in bold colours; think gloves, hats and scarves. These can provide the much needed warmth throughout the winter months while also allowing you to show your personality. Try contrasting colours like a bright orange with a navy or black coat, or opt for neutral shades for a classic tonal look.

Layer your favourite pieces with thermals underneath

Wearing your favourite pieces all year round is good for the soul, while also being more sustainably conscious. Try adding a thermal vest under your favourite t-shirt or layering a thermal roll neck under your favourite jumper for a stylish, yet practical look.

Layering pieces can add additional interest to an outfit. It allows you to wear what is already in your wardrobe in several different ways. One of the most stylish ways to layer is to add different textures, think soft wool fabric layers with more structured cotton or leather pieces.

Add a gilet

A super on trend way to add that little bit of extra warmth without compromising on style is to add a gilet. You can opt for more sporty styles, such as a padded gilet for a casual look, or choose leather and denim styles for something more fashion forward.

Reach for textured fabrics

Brushed fabrics have raised fibres which trap air particles in between them, creating good insulation and making them a much warmer choice in the winter months.

Cord trousers offer both style and substance, as the grooves will keep you toasty warm. They can be dressed down with a casual jumper or dressed up with a shirt, making them perfect for winter and the festive season.

November 18, 2022
Dream car or dream partner? Survey reveals findings

A new survey has revealed that 24% of motorists would opt for their dream car over their dream partner if given a choice. The survey was undertaken by price comparison platform Quotezone.co.uk. Founder, Greg Wilson, said: “We may not be out and about in our cars as much as we used to, given hybrid working life post-pandemic and the cost of fuel, but our enduring love affair with our vehicles appears stronger than ever. Despite Covid impacting how frequently we drive to work and the cost-of-living crisis squeezing our budgets, more than a quarter of us love our cars more than we ever have before. The time we get to spend in our cars is often time alone away from our busy everyday lives when we get to clear our minds and just focus on the road ahead. This may be just one of the reasons why the special relationship we have with our cars has not only endured but is blossoming during challenging times.”

Despite the rising cost of fuel, more than a quarter of drivers (26%) said their love affair with the car had blossomed over the past 12 months and they loved their vehicle more now than they did this time last year. Almost half of those surveyed (49%) said they still liked their cars while a further 40% described their relationship with their vehicle as a love affair. Only 13% of drivers said their feelings towards their vehicle had cooled over the past year despite the rising costs associated with being behind the wheel.

Gregg explained: “Our love affair with our cars doesn’t look like it will end any time soon either, with half of us saying we would only change our current car when we absolutely have to. Interestingly though, when we do eventually change our car, one in three of us plans to get a hybrid vehicle with the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles now only seven years away.”

November 17, 2022
Book Review: You’re Not Listening: What You’re Missing and Why it Matters by Kate Murphy

Author and journalist Kate Murphy describes herself as someone who “listens for a living”. In this thoroughly researched non-fiction tome she gathers up the experience and ideas of others who also “listen for a living”. She speaks to a range of priests, therapists, hairdressers, bartenders and researchers. Well, that’s not entirely accurate. True to her message, Murphy hardly speaks to them at all, what she actually does is “listen” to these folks. She gleans information, understands where they’re coming from and formulates their thinking into an overall case for the benefit of true listening.

The chapter which explains the neuroscience of listening is meaty yet uses clear, everyday language. I subscribe to that shocking school of thought which says it’s totally acceptable to underline the best bits of a book provided you’ve paid for it with your own money. I found myself underlining much of Murphy’s writing. Including her daring claim that “listening, more than other activity, plugs you into life.” More than any other activity? What? That’s a pretty big emphasis isn’t it? But Murphy knows her stuff, makes a compelling argument and delivers plenty of evidence to substantiate her bold claim.

It would sound so corny to say that this book changed my life, but I’m gonna say it anyway. This book changed my life, for the better and in so many ways. Murphy describes not listening as withholding “the gift that the people who love you, or could love you, most desire”. It’s what they “most” desire? Really? There’s she goes selling that big emphasis again. And I’m inclined to buy into it.

You’re Not Listening is a seminal work from Kate Murphy which has empowered and encouraged me to give the gift of listening to more and more of the people who love me.

Main photo credit: Saeed Karimi via Unsplash

November 16, 2022
Interview: From shaky and shy to confident communicator
Diana Robertson helps people gain confidence through her work as a Communication Skills Trainer with Toastmasters International, but she was a shy teenager and has learned her techniques through the school of hard knocks. She was often crushed by her own lack of confidence and revealed to Sorted Magazine: “I used to be extremely bad at speaking in public. In fact, on the occasion of my first presentation, I ended up totally forgetting my script despite spending three days memorising it. I felt so terrible, that my hands started to shake, which made my job even harder; not only did I forget what to say but I could not even read it from my script due to all the shaking! As you can imagine, this experience absolutely shattered my confidence. But after a couple of days, instead of focusing on how bad I was overall, I chose to focus only on how poor my skill of speaking in front of the public was. Separating myself from my skill was crucial because it gave me clarity on what I could do about it. The next thing I did was to join one of Toastmasters’ public speaking clubs where I received the help and support I needed to become a confident presenter.”

Diana shares four actionable ways she has used to effectively build confidence:

1. Cash in on current confidence

The first and most important step towards building confidence is to be aware of what you have already been successfully doing in your life. Diana has this advice: “All of us feel confident about particular aspects we know we are good at. Equally, each and every one of us struggles with a specific area that needs improvement. And yet, when we face our pain points, instead of offering constructive solutions, our minds may find that there is something wrong with our whole being. This is a trap because each of us is a completely whole being with numerous qualities. Once you start working on developing a new skill, your confidence will grow with it. Thus, you track what you’re good at and don’t let yourself identify your overall confidence with the areas you feel least certain about.”

2. Change your negative thoughts with positive statements

Use positive affirmations. When Diana was learning to speak in front of a crowd she found that saying, “I’m excited to be called out onto the stage” worked like magic. She repeated it to herself as her turn approached. She enthused: “After six presentations I started to get genuinely excited about my turn instead of being terrified.”

3. Challenge your negative thoughts

Diana invites you to ask the questions below. She said: “You will find out the fears that are hidden behind your lack of confidence and learn how to transform your destructive thought patterns into constructive ones.”
- How can I describe the exact negative thoughts on this particular subject in only one sentence?
- Is this thought 100% true? Is it a fact or is it my assumption?
- What proves that this negative thought is completely or partially false?
- If the event that I most fear happened, how would it truly affect my life? What would I do (realistically and without exaggeration)?
- If my best friend had this exact thought, what would I tell them?
4. Celebrate small achievements

“Sometimes, when we take on difficult projects they don’t go according to plan. In such situations, it’s easy to forget that one unsuccessful event means little, and that true success is achieved by taking small but consistent steps towards the goal. So, if you’ve just failed at something, remember; the key to becoming better at anything is to shift your focus onto your progress over longer periods rather than holding on to the setbacks along the way.”

Find out more about Diana Robertson’s work with Toastmasters International here
November 15, 2022
Free garlic bread for Peter Kay fans

Pub goers can bag themselves a free portion of garlic bread this weekend to mark Peter Kay’s return to the UK comedy scene. To celebrate the renowned comedian’s first UK tour in 12 years, pub chain Flaming Grill is offering free garlic bread in a selection of pubs located near to the Peter Kay tour circuit.

Customers will have to give their best rendition of Kay’s infamous catchphrase when they order and ask for “garlic bread” in their very best outraged Lancashire accent. The limited time offer will run on Saturday November 12th when tickets go on sale. The giveaway is limited to one free portion of garlic bread per customer.

Although famous for many one liners and catchphrases across his career, Peter Kay’s delivery of “garlic bread” remains a fan favourite, resulting in a 17% spike in searches for garlic bread back in 2010 when he announced his last tour.

Andrew Gallagher, marketing director at Greene King’s Flaming Grill said: “Even though it’s been years since Peter Kay last took to the stage, his iconic one liners are still such a huge part of popular culture. What better way to celebrate the return of one of the UK’s best comedians than with a slice of free garlic bread at Flaming Grill?”

*only valid at these participating sites; Bent Brook (Urmston), Lutley Oak (West Midlands), Jolly Miller (West Derby), Angel Inn (West Yorkshire), Ridgeway Arms (South Yorkshire), Cardiff Bay Tavern (Cardiff), Bowman (Hucknall), Shovels (Blackpool), Yarrow Bridge (Chorley). T&Cs at Greene King Pubs | Peter Kay Giveaway | Greene King Pubs (greeneking-pubs.co.uk)

November 11, 2022
Education: Stress levels soar as mock exams loom
A new poll commissioned by the Early Intervention Foundation (EIF) found that more than two-thirds of London teachers reported increased stress among secondary school pupils over the last two months, at a higher rate than other parts of the country. This may be fuelled by the higher average attainment levels, pressure from parents, and students feeling the brunt of the cost-of-living crisis.

The poll revealed:
- 43% of parents agree their child’s self-esteem is linked to the grades they achieved at school and university.
- 59% of parents agree that since the Covid pandemic their child has fallen out of a routine with regards to their education and their motivation to work has declined.
- 68% of parents agree that their child benefits from one-to-one learning environments, alongside the classroom experience.
- 47% of students said they enjoy learning from a Tutor they can relate to (age, interests, personal experiences, communication styles, etc).
- 49% of students said they learn better from people who share a similar life experience to them.
In light of these findings, MyTutor has launched free online courses to help ease student stress in the run up to mock exams. MyTutor Squads runs group tutoring sessions throughout the autumn term. Sessions will cover core topics such as Maths and Coding relevant to GCSE Computer Science. Additional ‘Study Squad’ sessions teach a series of techniques to help with learning, remembering and revising. Sign up here.

Main photo credit: Yogendra Sing via Unsplash
November 11, 2022
News: UK charities fight slavery and injustice

The World Cup in Qatar is marred with controversy: reports of migrant workers exploited, injured or killed, working in terrible conditions to build stadiums, hotels and infrastructure for the tournament. Sadly, these issues aren’t limited to this football tournament: exploitation and slavery is happening everywhere; it’s rife in the supply chains of the smartphone we check the latest score on, and in the clothing we wear.

An estimated 28 million people are in forced labour slavery globally, three million more than five years ago. Three charities, Compassion, IJM, and Tearfund have joined forces to take a stand against the injustices that force people into slavery around the world. They had this message for Sorted readers: “With your support we will help families through the global food crisis and empower communities to lift themselves out of poverty so that they are less vulnerable to traffickers; and we will bring victims of slavery and violence around the world to safety and see perpetrators brought to justice so that they can’t harm others. We believe in a God who calls us to seek justice, and that when churches and charities unite, miraculous change becomes possible.”

Desmond Tutu famously said: “There comes a point where we need to stop just pulling people out of the river. We need to go upstream and find out why they’re falling in.”

Find out how you can get involved at: Justice United

November 10, 2022
Comment: By any other name

My name is not Sylvia. And yet a former superior insisted on calling me Sylvia, while knowing full well that my name was not, in actual fact, Sylvia. He appeared to be friendly enough but his smile was more of a smirk, like that of a little boy who was getting away with something naughty. I staged a mild protest. But he grinned all the more while delivering this inaccurate salutation, seeming pleased to have drawn a rise out of me. Soon others, those ranked beneath him, began addressing me as Sylvia too. They seemed confused. I protested further. But the mis-naming continued and, if I wanted to hang on to my bottom-of-the-pile job, there didn’t seem to be a right lot I could do about it.

My name is not Maureen. In a different work place, a person I was answerable to insisted on calling me Maureen, while knowing full well that my name was not, in actual fact, Maureen. He was joking around and laughing at his own ‘brilliant’ sense of humour. At first I laughed too, but after a while I couldn’t keep up the pretence. It felt too much like an adult version of the bored school boy who pulled my pig tails and I started to wonder what the actual heck was wrong with these people.

Names matter. Especially people’s names. There’s a kind of passive aggressive power play going on when we decide to use a name that someone doesn’t like or want. I’ve seen this sort of jokey, mild bullying tactic happen to others, and I’ve been on the receiving end of it too. It’s galling. But isn’t it lovely when someone, usually a professional, takes the trouble to ask what name you prefer to be addressed by? It’s a gesture of kindness, courtesy and respect. Claiming your preferred name is liberating. Re-naming yourself is an important autonomous act. Children sometimes do this when they reach their teenage years; we ignore their decision at our peril. For many, taking on the surname of another at the point of marriage also represents a major shift in identity.

Positive name giving, and re-naming, are viewed by some (mostly me) as a divine act. By this I mean that it’s not something to be done lightly. Back in my Sunday school days I noticed that in stories about the Almighty He was big on giving names to people and places. Re-naming seemed high on His agenda too. It’s akin to the gift of a fresh start, a new identity, a new role, a promotion, new purpose or fresh function.

It’s in this spirit of renewal that I’ve become a self-appointed nano name giver. I’m currently writing a book about some long forgotten places, parts of them have no formal name at all. I can see no reason why I can’t make up an appropriate new name for a tiny part of a place, especially when that part is nameless. Naming something gives it credence. A made up name can stick because just one person started using it, and if you really think about it every name for every place had to be made up by someone. So why not me? I’m hopeful it will catch on.

As a journalist the names of people, and especially places, hold a fascination for me. At some point in time every person and every place was nameless. Somewhere along the way, by accident or design, a name was chosen by one person. Someone was the very first person to utter the words Borsdane Woods or Rivington Pike or Blackpool or Leeds or Fred’s Field. And it caught on, just like with the Sylvia thing.

November 9, 2022