Terms

  1. The competition is to find the best aspiring football writer and is open to residents of the UK aged between 16 and 30 (and therefore meet the criteria of aspiring football journalist) excluding agents or any other person(s) materially connected with the administration of the Barclays Aspiring Football Writer Competition (including judges, members of the Football Writers’ Association and third party promotional partners). They should not be employed as a professional sports writer or broadcaster i.e. they should not make their living from writing or broadcasting about sport.
  2. The winners and runners-up will be selected by a panel of judges from all valid entries received on or before 11.59pm (GMT) on 5th March 2012 (“the Closing Day”). First prize will be awarded to the entrant who is deemed to have produced the best-written entry as determined by the judging panel. They will be judged by the clarity of their writing, understanding of Barclays Premier League football, the ability to bring to life their subject in a creative way and to stick to the word count and subject matter which is a 500 word article (or less) on the Barclays Premier League (this could be a match report or general article etc).
  3. The first prize is:A trip for the winner and a partner to shadow an FWA journalist at a Barclays Premier League match at Manchester City’s Etihad Stadium, to discuss football writing and gain an insight into the working life of a football reporter. Barclays will offer a choice of Manchester City home games for the Winner to select one match from March, April or May 2012.

    The Winner and a partner will receive tickets for the fixture. The Winner and partner will also get first class rail travel to Manchester, one night’s half board stay in a twin/double room at a four star (or equivalent) hotel and transfers to and from the designated match.

    The Winner will also be given the option of one week’s (Monday to Friday) work experience with the competition media partner, MailOnline. Travel and accommodation expenses are not included.

    Three runners-up will an hour-long meeting with an FWA football journalist in London to gain an insight into what it takes to succeed as a top football writer. Rail travel expenses are included.

  4. Eligible persons can enter the competition by logging on to www.barclaysfootballwriter.com and submitting their own written entry of no more than 500 words to the designated competition email address. Written entries should take the form of either a match report or an article about the Barclays Premier League. Full instructions on how to enter are available on the website www.barclaysfootballwriter.com
  5. Multiple entries per person may be submitted or accepted, which will become the property of Barclays and will not be returned. Barclays has the right to use the copy from all entries for its own purposes. Entrants must own the copyright in, or have permission to use, any materials submitted for the competition. Barclays will not be responsible for breach of any copyright or other third party rights by the entrants.
  6. All entries must be received on or before the Closing Date and any entries received afterwards will not be considered. Barclays will not accept responsibility for any late submissions, any entries that are not received (despite proof of posting) or any entries or files that are corrupt, damaged, lost or inaccessible.
  7. Entries that do not comply with the terms of the competition will be disqualified. Any entries that are illegible or incomplete or contain offensive, fraudulent or unlawful content will be disqualified. All entrants accept and agree to comply with the terms of this competition and reasonable instructions from Barclays and/or the Football Writers Association. Barclays reserves the right to exclude entrants, withhold or request return of prizes for violation of any of these terms and conditions.
  8. The winners are responsible for ensuring they are able to accept prizes as set out in these conditions and this includes, for example, arranging their own insurance, providing valid and up to date contact details and complying with these conditions and / or reasonable instructions from Barclays and if the first person chosen as the Winner is unable to accept or receive a prize, Barclays may offer the prize to the next best entry as deemed by the judging panel and so on until the prize has been won and if the first prize winner is under the age of eighteen they will be expected to travel with a parent or guardian.
  9. Barclays will not charge for entry into the competition but entrants may incur charges for internet access, postage and other charges imposed by third parties.
  10. Judging will take place on a date specified by Barclays and will be conducted by judges appointed by Barclays who have no connection with the administration of the competition. The judges’ decisions are final and no correspondence will be entered into.
  11. The Winners and runners-up will be notified within 28 days after the Closing Date via email or telephone. All reasonable endeavours will be made to contact them during this time. If the winners cannot be contacted after all reasonable efforts Barclays will select the next best entry as the winners.
  12. Barclays will not be liable for any loss or damage arising out of organising or holding this competition, except in the case of death or personal physical injury caused by the acts or omissions of Barclays or its employees.
  13. There is no cash or other alternative to any prize stated and the prize is not transferable and no part or parts of the prize may be substituted for other benefits, items or additions. However, Barclays may at any time cancel, modify or supersede the prizes (including altering prizes) if it considers that the competition is no longer capable of being conducted as specified. Barclays can also substitute prizes of equal value if this is unavoidable due to circumstances beyond Barclays’ reasonable control. If Barclays has reasonable cause to believe that the competition has been compromised in any way, it reserves the right to cancel the prizes outright, or declare individual entries invalid.
  14. By entering, any subsequent prize winners agree to allow, and consent to, Barclays and/or Football Writers’ Association and/or Daily MailOnline use of, and right to publish, their names, photographs, images, all personal and other information (including general locations) submitted by an entrant and in relation to this competition, for purposes of Barclays and Football Writers’ Association publicity, promotional and news purposes (including use in printed publications, editorial and PR activities, on websites). Any such use shall be entirely within Barclays’ discretion and Barclays shall be under no obligation to use the aforementioned.
  15. Winners will be required to submit valid identification before receiving their prizes. Winners will need to make and be responsible for their own travel insurance arrangements to cover the prize trips.
  16. The names of the winners and runners-up will be available to anyone emailing nparmenter@lexispr.com after 28 days of the Closing Date.
  17. The Promoter of the Barclays FWA Aspiring Journalist Competition is Barclays Bank PLC (“Barclays”). The competition is governed by the laws of England, where the competition is hosted.
  18. Barclays reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions. Any amendments will be published on www.barclaysfootballwriter.com