There’s a quote by the French philosopher Albert Camus that I find myself thinking of from time to time when I’m watching football.
“Everything I know about morality and the obligations of men,” declared Camus, who himself played in goal for a time, as part of a Racing Universitaire d’Alger team that won both the North African’s Champions Cup and the North African Cup twice in the 1930s, “I owe it to football…”
Last weekend, watching the fury that’s come to define modern British society spill out from terrace to pitch, first at Edinburgh’s Easter Road ground, then in Birmingham at St. Andrews, where a City supporter entered the playing area and poleaxed Aston Villa captain Jack Grealish – subsequently landing a fourteen-week prison sentence – then at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium, Camus’ quote was far from my mind. Come to think of it, I haven’t thought about said quote for a long time. Right now, The Beautiful Game feels very ugly indeed.
The National Game came can show the best society has to offer too,
As the National Game, the health of football is a great vessel to observe the health of society. And yet, you might not know it, such is the volume of the top flights’ Sky Sports-amplified roar, but what happened this weekend really doesn’t reveal the full story about where football finds itself in 2019. The further down the football pyramid you go, from stadium to ground, ground to pitch, ending up at clubs who are fighting to retain a connection with that very word and the role they can play within the communities they represent, you’ll find a grassroots revolution happening. It’s one staffed by fans and volunteers,determined to show The National Game came can show the best society has to offer too.
Since 1991, London’s Stonewall FC have gone on to be the world’s most prominent LGBT football team. They formed after founder Aslie Pitter – since 2011, an MBE – placed an advert in Time Out magazine asking if any other gay players fancied a kick-about at weekends. He was overwhelmed with the response. Pitter knew from personal experience the need for such an outlet. He’dpreviously been in the first-team at Clapham Old Boys. Upon learning of his sexuality he was demoted to the fourth team. Thanks to his and many others efforts, Stonewall have now provided a safe space for gay players to thrive and flourish for twenty-eight years.