Dear Noel,

We’re into our first county final for over 40 years on Sunday week. Have you any tips as to how we might prepare for such a big occasion
It’s an U10 final, and we’d all like to get behind the lads.

I was chairman back in 1967 when we got to our last final, but society has changed so much since, I might be out of touch. I’d appreciate any help you can give me Noel. This is a big occasion for me and the club.

     - Criostoir, club chairman, West Limerick.

Noel replies:
Don’t put up a single flag in your town, Criostoir. Aauthorize the purchase of 1000 yards of material in the colours of the team you’re playing. Tomorrow night, send a team of your most trusted lieutenants over to their town in the dead of night, and festoon their town square and principal streets with their colours.
Put up signs wishing their team well, highlighting the names of their best players. Go wild. Roof the place with buntings. A few big hoardings with “Come on boys, bring home the bacon” on all approach roads to the town would be a good idea too.
Send in requests for them to the local radio telling them they’re true local heroes. Write a ballad if you’re unfortunate enough to have a balladeer as a close friend.
Under-10s are every bit as soft in the head as adults. By Friday, at least half their team will believe the hype. They’ll be gone from the wire.
Keep your own young men low-key, send them out in the right frame of mind, and look forward to making a rousing speech off the curtainside trailer next Sunday night.

Noel embodies a bit of flash, and a lot of substance. Get him on your side on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; www.knowledgeablenoel.com; Skype (knowledgeable.noel); and Facebook (Knowledgeable Noel.)  

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