In a league of their own

Kicking off the new English Premier League

Story by Chris Blake

OK, David Beckham is gone, but a whole new group of super soccer stars are putting on a show in this season's English Premier League.

Ruud and Thierry are still scoring goals like machines. The old man Alan Shearer is proving he can keep up with the young guns. And the red revolution continues as Chelsea's billionaire owner tries to see how many superstars he can put on one team.

All and all, Beckham or not, the Premier League looks set for another amazing season.

Since we know what big soccer fans you guys are, we decided to give you the low-down on who's who is the Premier League.

Take a look at our team profiles and find out where on the island your favourite team will be lacing up its boots each weekend. Also, have a look at this year's newcomers and see if you think they can compete with last year's top clubs.

Or just, tear out the pages and give them a look the next time your have trouble telling your Saints from your Villans.  

Arsenal

Nickname: The Gunners
Founded: 1886
Stadium/ground: Arsenal Stadium, Highbury, London, N5 1BU
Stadium capacity: 38,500
Uniform colours:
Home: Red shirts with white sleeves, white shorts and white socks
Away: Yellow shirts with black collar and black shorts and socks

Manager: Arsene Wenger

Last season: Second

Aston Villa

Nickname: The Villans
Founded: 1874
Stadium/ground: Villa Park, Trinity Road, Birmingham, B6 6HE
Stadium capacity: 39,217
Uniform colours:
Home: Claret and blue shirts, blue shorts and claret and blue socks
Away: Yellow shirts with black trim and black shorts and socks

Manager: David O'Leary

Last season: Sixteenth

Birmingham City

Nickname: The Blues
Founded: 1875
Stadium/ground: St Andrews, Birmingham, B9 4NH
Stadium capacity: 30,009
Uniform colours:
Home: Blue shirts, blue shorts and white socks
Away: Yellow shirts with blue collar, blues shorts and yellow socks

Manager: Steve Bruce

Last season: Thirteenth

Blackburn Rovers

Nickname: Rovers
Founded: 1875
Stadium/ground: Ewood Park, Blackburn, Lancashire, BB2 4JF
Stadium capacity: 31,367
Uniform colours:
Home: Blue and white shirts, white shorts and blue socks
Away: Yellow shirts, black shorts and black and yellow socks

Manager: Graeme Souness

Last season: Sixth

Bolton Wanderers

Nickname: The Trotters
Founded: 1874
Stadium/ground: Reebok Stadium, Burnden Way, Lostock, Bolton, BL6 6JW
Stadium capacity: 27,879
Uniform colours:
Home: All white
Away: Red shirts with black sleeves, black shorts and red socks

Manager: Sam Allardyce

Last season: Seventeenth

Charlton Athletic

Nickname: The Addicks
Founded: 1905
Stadium/ground: The Valley, Floyd Road, Charlton, London, SE7 8BL
Stadium capacity: 26,875
Uniform colours:
Home: Red shirts, white shorts and red socks
Away: All yellow with black trim

Manager: Alan Curbishley

Last season: Twelfth

Chelsea

Nickname: The Blues
Founded: 1905
Stadium/ground: Stamford Bridge, London, SW6 1HS
Stadium capacity: 42,449
Uniform colours:
Home: All royal blue with white trim
Away: White shirts with a black/blue stripe down the centre, white shorts and blue socks

Manager: Claudio Ranieri

Last season: Fourth

Everton

Nickname: The Toffees
Founded: 1878
Stadium/ground: Goodison Park, Liverpool, L4 4EL
Stadium capacity: 40,170
Uniform colours:
Home: Royal blue and white shirts, white shorts and royal blue socks
Away: Yellow shirts, blue shorts and yellow socks

Manager: David Moyes

Last season: Seventh

Fulham

Nickname: The Cottagers
Founded: 1879
Stadium/ground: Currently playing at Loftus Road, South Africa Road, London W12 7PA.
Stadium capacity: 19,148
Uniform colours:
Home: White shirts with black trim and one black sleeve, black shorts and white and black socks
Away: Black shirts with red panels, black shorts and red and black socks

Manager: Chris Coleman

Last season: Fourteenth

Leeds United

Nickname: The Lillywhites or United
Founded: 1919
Stadium/ground: Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0ES
Stadium capacity: 40,296
Uniform colours:
Home: All white
Away: All yellow or all navy blue with white pin-stripes

Manager: Peter Reid

Last season: Fifteenth

Leicester City

Nickname: The Foxes
Founded: 1884
Stadium/ground: Walkers Stadium, Filbert Way, Leicester, LE2 7FL
Stadium capacity: 32,500
Uniform colours:
Home: Blue shirts with white trim, white shorts and blue socks
Away: Black shirts with sky blue flash, black shorts and socks

Manager: Micky Adams

Last season: Promoted

Liverpool

Nickname: The Reds or The Pool
Founded: 1892
Stadium/ground: Anfield, Anfield Road, Liverpool, L4 0TH
Stadium capacity: 45,362
Uniform colours:
Home: All red with white trim
Away: All white with black trim

Manager: Gerard Houllier

Last season: Fifth

Manchester City

Nickname: The Blues
Founded: 1887 as Ardwick FC, 1894 as Manchester City
Stadium/ground: The City of Manchester Stadium, Sportcity, Manchester M11 3FF
Stadium capacity: 48,000
Uniform colours:
Home: Blue shirts with white trim, white shorts and violet socks
Away: Black and red striped shirts and black shorts and socks

Manager: Kevin Keegan

Last season: Ninth

Manchester United

Nickname: The Red Devils
Founded: 1878
Stadium/ground: Old Trafford, Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester, M16 0RA
Stadium capacity: 67,000
Uniform colours:
Home: Red shirts, white shorts and black socks
Away: Black shirts, black shorts and black and white socks

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

Last season: First

Middlesbrough

Nickname: The Boro
Founded: 1876
Stadium/ground: Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, Cleveland, TS3 6RS
Stadium capacity: 35,049
Uniform colours:
Home: All red
Away: White shirts and shorts and black socks

Manager: Steve McClaren

Last season: Eleventh

Newcastle United

Nickname: The Magpies
Founded: 1881
Stadium/ground: St James' Park, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 4ST
Stadium capacity: 52,193 
Uniform colours:
Home: Black and white striped shirts and black shorts and socks
Away: All black with grey trim.

Manager: Sir Bobby Robson

Last season: Third

Portsmouth

Nickname: Pompey
Founded: 1898
Stadium/ground: Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, P04 8RA
Stadium capacity: 19,179
Uniform colours:
Home: Blues shirts, white shorts and blue socks
Away: All gold with black trim

Manager: Harry Redknapp

Last season: Promoted

Southampton

Nickname: The Saints
Founded: 1885
Stadium/ground: Friends Provident St Mary's Stadium, Britannia Road, Southampton, Hampshire. SO14 5FP
Stadium capacity: 32,551
Uniform colours:
Home: Red and white striped shirts, black shorts, White socks with red and black trim
Away: White shirts, red shorts and red socks

Manager: Gordon Strachan

Last season: Eighth

Tottenham Hotspur

Nickname: Spurs
Founded: 1882
Stadium/ground: White, Hart Lane, 748 High Road, Tottenham, London, N17 0AP
Stadium capacity: 36,236
Uniform colours:
Home: White shirts, navy blue shorts and white socks with navy trim
Away: All sky blue

Manager: Glenn Hoddle

Last season: Tenth

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Nickname: Wolves
Founded: 1877
Stadium/ground: Molineux Ground, Wolverhampton, WV1 4QR
Stadium capacity: 28,525
Uniform colours:
Home: Gold shirts, black shorts and gold socks
Away: Black shirts, black shorts and black socks

Manager: Dave Jones

Last season: Promoted