Samsung launches football website

In my first 'swanning about with footballers' experience since the Junior Cherries Christmas do when I was five, I met three ex-pros last night thanks to an invite to the launch of Samsung's new football website.

As a Villa fan, meeting Paul Merson and Alan McInally (and Chris Kamara, who I didn't speak to at all) was a real pleasure. The launch took the form of a table football tournament in which Merson was sick-makingly successful, but I managed to briefly grab a word and a photo opportunity (that's it above). Merse was one of the most naturally gifted footballers I've ever seen in the flesh, so it was an honour.

But I had a good long chat with Big Al and his eyes lit up when I told him I was a Villa fan. Talking about the club closest to my heart with a player I wish I'd seen more of was a brilliant way to pass a few minutes and he even gave me a quick rendition of the (cleaner parts of) a still popular Villa chant which bears his name.

Samsung was launching Samsung Football, its new footy website. It's a pretty cool idea, which centres on an interactive Google Map which lets users find out where the local football pubs are and how to find out if they're showing a certain game.

There's also a very comprehensive TV guide for those of us who can't be bothered to get off our arses.

My thanks to Samsung for a cracking evening.