Welcome to the forum chilledphill
As you admit you are after all a newbie, ok so firstly this is a self help forum, all the information is already on the forum but you have to read it. As you are concerned with sport I suggest you jump to the sport forum by clicking on the drop down window on the bottom of the page and read what is there.
Secondly in the rules which of course you read didn't you? under general etiquette it states
* Please do not post in CAPS/UPPER CASE, it is considered to be shouting and is difficult to read
I suspect that is the reason you have had no replies so far
For equipment use one of the forum sponsors on this link
http://www.satellites.co.uk/index.php?page=sponsors