Hammers Fan Buys Rights To Play-off Game

In what must be a world first, a fan has acquired the exclusive TV rights for a soccer match to be broadcast. West Ham fan David Lewis has bought the Australian rights to the West Ham and Crystal Palace Division One Play-off final on Saturday night.

In what must be a world first, a fan has acquired the exclusive TV rights for a soccer match to be broadcast. West Ham fan David Lewis has bought the Australian rights to the West Ham and Crystal Palace Division One Play-off final on Saturday night.

The match will feature Qantas Socceroo star Tony Popovic (pictured right), who plays for Palace.

Lewis, took the drastic action, when it became apparent he would not be able to get over to Cardiff-s Millennium Stadium to watch the game and subsequently found out there would be no broadcast live into Australia.

"As a life-long West Ham United fan, I was terribly disappointed last week to find that the semi-finals of the first division playoff were not being broadcast in Australia - indeed, this season, we have seen nothing of West Ham at all," Lewis groans.

"I was even more dismayed when I realised that none of the free-to-air, nor cable, nor satellite TV services would cover the West Ham Palace final on May 29th. 

"I have agreed to underwrite and sponsor the event at personal cost," he admits, "so that all Australian West Ham - and Palace - fans may watch a game worth well in excess of £25m to both sides.

"I simply wanted to see the match, and this is the only option."

The game will now definitely be on LIVE (midnight AEST) at several pubs and clubs throughout Australia, courtesy solely of David who, we assume, will not have to buy a drink in any of them.   A small entrance fee per head will be charged at each location to reduce - not eliminate - his expenses. At this stage David expect the venues will be two in Sydney and one in each of Brisbane, Cairns, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.

Viewing will be restricted to specific venues, namely:

Sydney: The Sydney Aussie Rules Social Club, 28 Darlinghurst Rd Kings Cross 2011 (capacity 400). Cost $25. Scruffy Murphy's, 43 -49 Goulburn St (Cnr of George St) Sydney 2000 (capacity 170)

Perth: Sluggers Bar (Function room) at the Windsor Hotel, 112 Mill Point Rd South Perth 6151. (capacity 500)

Melbourne: The Celtic Club, 316 -320 Queen St Melbourne 3000 (capacity 350)

Brisbane: The Pig 'N' Whistle (Riverside), Shop 20 Riverside Centre, 123 Eagle St Brisbane 4001 (capacity 400)

Cairns: To be confirmed

Adelaide: To be confirmed