Can’t think of what to get for the sports-mad member of your family this Christmas? Here are five suggestions that won’t break the bank.
Under Armour Long Sleeve Base Gear
When first released, long sleeve tops that you could wear under your sports jersey were often seen as the preserve of the flashier types or the shapers that couldn’t wear enough accessories on the pitch, but their worth soon became clear for all to see.
Particularly valuable on days when rain, hail and snow cause numbing sensations all over your body, they are flexible, they don’t hinder your movements and react to your body temperature so that you don’t get too flushed and overheated when the sun eventually comes out.
Available from Elverys Sports for €50.
ESPN 30 for 30 box set
It might be a bit late to get this one delivered for Christmas, but it should be no deterrent to picking it up, even if it’s for yourself. Especially if it’s for yourself. It’s a series of ESPN documentaries, many of which are tailored towards the American market, but it will still hold massive appeal for anyone with more than a passing interest in sport.
Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson and deceased former Colombian footballer Andres Escobar are among the personalities chronicled in this highly acclaimed series which attracted massive viewing figures and led to numerous awards for various individual episodes.
There’s well over 30 hours of footage in here over two box sets, but hey, it’s far superior than some of the other sh*te that will be on our screens this Christmas.
Parts one and two are available from ESPN for €37.50 each. Not including shipping fees.
FIFA 12
The FIFA series once paled in comparison to Konami’s Pro Evolution Soccer, but it is now the king of football games. Lionel Messi has just agreed a deal to transfer over from being the face of Pro Evo to the face of FIFA, so that tells you all you need to know about who’s boss.
After reviewing the game, our man Emmet had some time on his hands
The latest version is the most comprehensive yet and features a new ‘tactical defending’ system that gamers will at first struggle with but eventually come to appreciate, while the online options are better than ever before. Our own notoriously hard to please games reviewer Emmet Purcell gave this one a four and a half star rating out of five, so it must be good.
Available on PS3 and Xbox 360 from GameStop for just shy of €50.
Adidas World Cup Football Boots
They might not be the flashiest or fanciest boots on the market, but they have been consistently used by professional footballers and particularly GAA players over the last 20 years and with good reason.
They’re light, they’re flexible, they’re durable and unlike some of the more flimsy alternatives, they won’t crack up at the mere sight of a stud heading in their direction.
Unfortunately, because they are so reliable, their price has rarely lowered over the years but they’re well worth it.
Available generally for around €75.
Golf lessons at Carton House
Heading out for 18 holes isn’t always an option over the Christmas period given the obstacles provided by the changeable weather and lack of light, but a couple of hours fine-tuning your game on the range and on the practise greens could prove valuable down the road.
There’s few better places to improve your game in Ireland than in Carton House, which has two of the finest courses in the land as well as top class training facilities. An hour with the head pro in Carton House costs €100, while there is a cheaper €60 option for a one on one lesson with the assistant pro.
There are also group options available as well as specific short game and demonstration clinics.
For more information, click here.
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