Christmas shopping for the soccer enthusiast young and old just couldn't get any easier. Whatever it is you want, it's out there. How about a Leeds United duvet cover? A Liverpool lampshade? Or how about some Arsenal bubble bath?
Of course you won't find any of these in the Manchester United superstore, the obvious destination for red devil worshippers. Proudly fronting Dublin's Westmoreland Street, one isn't just hit by the range of choice there, one is assaulted.
From schoolbags to pillow cases, dressing gowns to slippers, it's all red and it's all here. The red devil mascot comes in every size but if you can't make up your mind, then you may have to settle for a replica shirt (a mere £45).
A more traditional soccer gift might be Subbuteo, but there is always the danger that it will come across as horribly out-dated in the age of computer games. Too bad, because the Premier League version (£30) is sure to provide hours of real fun.
A more practical idea would be the Kick Off Soccer trainer (£5.99), with ball and belt fixed by heavy duty elastic for skill practice. There is also a range of mini goalposts and target ranges to set your youngster on the road to fame and fortune.
Scalextrix is still a real treat for any Formula One fan. The top of the range F1 set (£129) contains Jordan and Williams cars and a track length of nearly 10 metres. The new Beetle Cup edition (£79.99) is another option, as is the Rally Challenge (£64.99)
More mid-priced is the Hot Wheels electric racing, with the Formula World Tour edition (£48.99) featuring six famous track layouts. There is also an X-Treme Moto version (£79.00) for motorbike fans.
There's no lack of F1 memorabilia out there, from hats and scarves to ties. But the true enthusiast would certainly appreciate the team approved model of Heinz-Harald Frentzen's Jordan (£39.99) - complete with rubber tyres, opening fuel cap and functioning steering. There is no better present for the Gaelic Games fan than the county jersey (usually £32.00). The Irish International Rules shirt - made all the more famous by Big Brother - is also a good choice.
Rugby fans would obviously prefer the Irish rugby jersey (£23.00) while the Republic of Ireland soccer shirt is a little more pricey (£40.00). But, of course, so too are the players that wear them.
Basketball is now one of the most popular school sports and a simple ball and net is sure to provide hours of fun (especially in the summertime). Basic sets are available for around £20 but if you really want to splash out then there is the Spalding Portable System (£199) which can be set up anywhere.
Imagine the delight on Christmas morning to find a dart board under the tree. It's never too early to get your youngster involved in this most glamorous of sports and the range available should suit every pocket. The basic Winmau board starts at £16.99, with the improved version going for £24.99. Just don't let the granny near it. If it's only the darts you're after, the Harrows `Eric Bristow Craft Cockney' set is a good choice (£11.99).
A more flamboyant choice would be a snooker table. But don't let the sound of that put you off. A decent 6ft by 3ft table is available for under £100, while around £270 will get you the Pot Black Contender Deluxe, which has everything you need to set you on the way to the Crucible.
Another good indoor choice is table tennis - perfect for the quick but non-athletic sporting types. A full-sized table costs around £200. For the streetwise kid, there is no cooler gift than a skateboard - soon to be an Olympic sport (or so we're told). There are enough colours to suit all tastes - starting at around £20 - but it's a good idea to throw in knee-pads as well (£10).
Step inside any golf shop and it's clear that there's an abundance of gift choices for the person who likes to hit the small ball. A more imaginative gift might be the Pro-Action Golf Ball personaliser kit (£9.99), where you can personalise your golf balls with up to three initials and thus prevent any fairway confusion. The Leisurewise Putting machine (£9.99) is also ideal for indoor or outdoor putting practice, and automatically returns your ball if the putt is accurate. Just make sure you place it away from a the window.
Straight to the top of the video charts this Christmas is Beyond the Promised Land: The Official Manchester United Movie (£15.99). This is billed as an in-depth and revealing lookback on the 1999/ 2000 season, starting off with the post-treble celebrations of the previous season.
Of course, it promises to go where no camera has gone before. Especially interesting are the scenes from Brazil, where United were convincingly dumped out of the World Club championship.
There is also a range of personal videos on the likes of David Beckham and Dwight Yorke etc. As if we didn't get enough of them on TV.
Also new for the season is Liverpool FC: The Top 10 Strikers. Michael Owen and Ian Rush make the cut, but who else? All will be revealed. Arsenal supporters should go for Highbury Highs (£15.99) which has all the skills, goals and glories of the last three years under Arsene Wenger.
Leeds United: Ten out of Ten (£14.99) records the run of 10 consecutive victories which provided the high point for David O'Leary's team last season. It also includes goals from the Premiership, UEFA and League Cup. Remember Vijay Singh? His memorable story is told in the Official Film of The Masters 2000 (£14.99). There is no better time to re-visit Augusta than in the depths of winter and this video has it all, right up to when Singh accepts the green jacket from Jose Maria Olazabal.
Among other popular choices in the sporting chart is Eddie Irvine: Life in the Fast Lane (£14.99), an intimate review of his 1999 season. Still disappearing from the shelves is Lennox Lewis: The Undisputed Truth (£14.99) which includes everything you need to know about his controversial fights with Evander Holyfield last year.
Also flying high in the charts is (wait for it) Judgement Day 2000, from those friendly WWF people. It includes the return of the Undertaker, but be warned, it carries an 18 cert.
The GAA have released the official highlights of the football and championship seasons, which can be ordered at www.gaa.ie. Not just for Kerry and Kilkenny fans, the videos (£9.99 each) can be sent anywhere in the world for the £1.50 P&P charge.
Now improved and expanded, PlayStation's FIFA 2001 continues to lead the way in football computer games. It's hard to imagine how they could have made the previous version any better, but they have.
The tackles, legal and illegal, have been perfected. Replay camera angles have also been expanded. And there is the choice of 15 domestic leagues, including the Premiership and the Spanish league. All this for £34.99.
If you were lucky enough to get your hands on PlayStation 2, the FIFA 2001 version for that console (£54.99) also includes over 50 international teams. Computer games don't get much better than this.
Back to the traditional version, the Champions League (£19.99) allows you to battle it out with all the teams in the current competition. It's also possible to stay on the sideline with Alex Fergusion's Player Manager 2001, an in-depth experience with all the managerial responsibilities from transfers to sackings.
F1 2000 (£34.99) is the only choice for Formula One fanatics. It includes all last season's Grands Prix, including the US event at Indianapolis. This one's stunningly realistic.
If you fancy a game with the pace slowed down a little, a good choice would be Brian Lara Cricket, complete with commentary from Geoff Boycott. You can also choose from basketball titles (NBA Live), tennis (Actua Tennis) and golf (the Links LS series being the best).
For the PC user, there is no lack of CD roms. F1 Manager (£19.99) allows you to build your own dream Formula One team. With Links 2001 (£34.99), you can build your own dream golf course. And with Nasser Hussain's International Cricket Captain 2000 (£19.99) you can just daydream.
Sega Sports has created the Virtua Athlete 2K, an interesting way to experience the thrills and spills of track and field from the comfort of your armchair. You can play seven events from the 100 metres to the high jump in exhibition, training or tournament mode. The idea here is to get higher, faster and stronger.
(Note: All prices are approximate).
