The Art of Football

Football is ‘the beautiful game’.  To control a ball while running flat out, to be aware of the movement of team-mates and opponents, to decide in a split second where to pass the ball and to be able to execute the decision perfectly, is exceptionally difficult.  The talent of the world’s greatest players is to make this look simple.  This is art. 

Football fans wait for moments of balletic skill, when a player exhibits such speed and power, ball-control and balance that spectators catch their breath.  Sometimes, in football, it is a feat of individual genius which inspires the fan: mesmerising dribbling skills, a deft back-heel, an acrobatic shot, a sweetly timed tackle or interception.  But what makes most fans purr with greatest satisfaction is the intricacy of slick teamwork: individuals working together, acting in concert, as if responding to a common impulse, somehow synchronised, creating a shared work of art.

This art can be delicate.  Some of football’s finest players have been blessed with incredible finesse.  But speed and power and acute spatial awareness are integral to the art of football.  The anthropologist Desmond Morris reckons these qualities reveal the tribal origins of the game.  Football is, he says, a celebration of the arts of hunting and of battle.  The growth of women’s professional football in Britain, and the increasing attempts by clubs to market themselves to families cannot be ignored; but it is still hard to escape the fact that the beauty offered on the football pitch is savoured most by men.  The caricature of the male football ‘fan’ is the hooligan: destructive, violent and abusive.  But for most fans who are men, football is one way they are able to express their appreciation of beauty. 

The Drama of Football

It’s amazing how often (in almost any sport) the outcome of a match or a tournament feels scripted.  Occasionally a football match is literally ‘fixed’, usually by an international betting syndicate.  But mostly, the drama in football is innocent.  Matches which are subject to nobody’s control (not even the referee’s), unfold in ways that leave spectators enthralled at the apparent scripted-ness.  Plot lines are familiar, and biblical: there’s ‘David and Goliath’ (in which a weaker team defeats a stronger one, especially in cup football, in an act of ‘giant-killing’); ‘the coming of the Messiah’ (in which a hero signs for a new club, or returns from injury, makes an immediate impact on the team and leads it to success); ‘Judas returns’ (in which a hated betrayer, player or manager, comes back to torment a former club, consigning them to humiliating defeat); and ‘the Resurrection’ (in which a team snatches improbable victory from the jaws of defeat).  When Liverpool beat AC Milan in the Champions League final of 2005, to win on penalties after being 3-0 down at half time, newspaper match reports asked ‘Who wrote the script?’.  It’s a common question in the mind of the football fan. 

Like every kind of drama, football draws in its spectators and moves them.  But the reverse is true as well.  In football the fans also move the players.  One reason why sport makes especially good theatre (apart from the fact that the performance is sheer improvisation within limited rules), is that its fans are partisan.  There are two opposing sets of supporters, each with the capacity to contribute not just to the fortunes of a club, but even to outcome of a match.

In our society, football moves many people (again, especially men) more effectively than anything else.  When I was a vicar in Gateshead, I found it sobering to see the same men who sat so impassively in the back pews in church at baptisms and funerals, then singing, embracing and weeping on the terraces of Newcastle United.  They may not easily ‘get in touch with their emotions’ at home, at work or in church; but they did it at the match.  And when those football fans wept tears of joy or sorrow, I wondered if the immediate cause was just a catalyst to release emotions relating to all life’s joys and sorrows. 

The Religion of Football as Religion

If a person’s ‘god’ is the thing that gives meaning to their life, from which they get a sense of identity, which shapes their behaviour and around which their life revolves, then a ‘religion’ is a corporate, institutional expression of that thing.  In these terms, football – or football-supporting – is for many fans a religious activity.      

Besides, the word ‘religion’ comes from a Latin root meaning ‘to bind together’: and since for many fans their club is their primary community, football must be their religion.  It is their team which gives them their sense of belonging. 

Fans identify themselves with a club and keep up this allegiance for years: it becomes part of who they are, not only on match days, not only during the football season, but at all times and in all places.  When Sir Bobby Robson finally achieved his lifelong ambition to manage Newcastle United, he told the press (with a reference to the team’s playing colours), ‘If you cut me, I bleed black and white’.  It’s a belonging expressed in the wearing of replica kits not just to games, but about town or on holiday abroad. 

But the belonging is also expressed more spontaneously and fleetingly on match days and in extreme moments of exhilaration or despair.  In such moments, fans testify to a mystical oneness with their companions.  Honest!  Many football fans know the experience, carried away by the ecstasy or agony of a particular moment, of hugging a complete stranger.  That moment of ecstatic ‘connectedness’, of complete mutual recognition and understanding, amounts to a spiritual experience. 

Of course, football has its dark side.  The amount of money in the game, and in the pockets of elite players, is obscene.  There are still tribal hatreds dividing fans at all levels.  Hooliganism remains a social problem associated particularly with football.  While football has had some success addressing racism in the game, the same cannot be said of sexism and homophobia.  Football players are often poor role models on and off the pitch. 

But for all that, in its art, its drama and its spirituality, football is not just a game.  It could even be said to offer glimpses of the glory of God.

Pete Wilcox, Lichfield Cathedral, June 2010

During the weekend of 22/23 May, Speakers’ Corner saw 20 hours of music, sun and fun, with dozens of buskers entertaining large crowds.

Saturday saw a varied programme of performers, including traditional one-man-and-a guitar buskers, bands, belly dancers and the Boys’ Brigade band.

Also wowing the audience were a circus performer, musical families, a tuba-playing minister, a folk quartet and even Michael Fabricant MP!

Sunday was the turn of Bruford Low (a.k.a. BUSKATHON organiser Dave Simcox) who busked at the piano for 10 hours, ably assisted by a host of singers who joined in with gusto!

Both days were concluded with a singalong round the Joanna; Speakers’ Corner resounding to Beatles numbers and other popular songs.

Lichfield Arts volunteers rattled buckets and handed out hundreds of leaflets publicising FUSE, which takes place in Beacon Park on 9/10/11 July (www.fuselichfield.org.uk)

Dave Simcox and friends in song

Dave Simcox was tired but ecstatic by the end of BUSKATHON. “I had set myself a target of £1,000, so to double that is truly amazing. As well as raising much-needed funds, we have also raised the profile of FUSE, and also Speakers’ Corner as a public space for the whole community. My heartfelt thanks to all of those who contributed, either by performing, collecting or just turning up and giving money. We finished the event with the song “Perfect Day” and for me, that sums it up.”

Set to take place at Speakers’ Corner on Dam Street on 22 & 23 May, a Buskathon led by Dave Simcox, will be raising funds for Lichfield’s Fuse Festival.

On May 22 buskers from all genres will play from 9am to 7pm, with the following day seeing Dave Simcox (aka Bruford Low) busking for 10 hours.

Fuse Festival Director Tim Perks said: “This is a great offer from Dave Simcox – aka Bruford Low – and will be a great boost to fundraising effort for Fuse, an event which costs over £30,000.”

For further details of how you can help or to book a spot, call 01543 262223 or e-mail dave.simcox@mac.com.

Hundreds of people came along to take part in the celebrations. Over 2o speakers took part, ranging from the youngest ever speaker at to speak at Lichfield’s Speakers Corner (just 5 years old!), through to students, politicians, and artists.

The Lichfield Blog (thanks to Nick and the team!) attended and took lots of great photos.

Find out more on the Lichfield blog 

See photos on the Lichfield Blog’s Flikr site. 

Thanks to everyone who came along to celebrate Lichfield’s heart of public debate – Lichfield’s very own Speakers’ Corner!

Three prospective parliamentary candidates who were able to be present:  Stephen Hyden, the Labour candidate; Ian Jackson, the Liberal Democrat candidate; and Karen Maunder, the UKIP candidate — the fourth candidate, Michael Fabricant, Conservative, had a prior engagement and was not able to attend)

The candidates fielded questions on the environment, education, defence, health, the local economy and law and order.  

Audience participation was vigorous, but never abusive — grassroots democracy in action! 

Here’s what’s happening:

11.00am:  Town Crier & Welcome from Pete Wilcox, Chair of Speakers Corner Committee, and compere Lesley Bovington!

11.15am: Talks from students from local secondary schools

11.30am: Talk from Peter Walker, local artist and launch of talking sculpture

11.45am: Great cake giveaway and cake cutting

12.00 noon: Cllr David S. Smith, Leader of Lichfield District Council will bring the proceedings to a close.

A series of three lectures is to be delivered by Professor Michael Wheeler, Visiting Professor at Southampton University.  The programme is as follows:

10.00 am       Lecture 1:      The Making of the King James Bible  

11.00 am       Break (coffee available)

 11.30  am      Lecture 2:     The Literary Heritage of the King James Bible

12.30 pm       Lunch (bring sandwiches)

 1.30 pm         Lecture 3:     The Artistic Heritage of the King James Bible

Organised by the Speakers’ Corner Lichfield Committee, the event will see local people raise important questions on a number of local and national issues  and then give the political hopefuls their chance to respond. There will also be an opportunity for questions from the audience, as a prelude to the established Hustings organised by Churches Together in Lichfield, which will take place at Emmanuel Christian Centre, Netherstowe, on Thursday 29th April at 7.30pm. 

 The Revd Dr Pete Wilcox, Canon Chancellor at Lichfield Cathedral and Chair of the Speakers’ Corner Lichfield Committee, commented: “A hustings is a great way to work out who you want to vote for, by hearing first hand from the candidates themselves. And this year’s Speakers’ Corner event is set to be even more revealing. Candidates will hear from local people about important local issues, and will be challenged to give their views and solutions.”

 John Brough, Member of the Speakers’ Corner Committee, and event organiser commented: “Come to Speakers’ Corner in Lichfield on Saturday 24 April and find out more about some of the people who want to represent your views in Parliament.  By being there , we’re confident you’ll feel more informed when it comes to casting your vote on 6 May.”

 Stephen Hyden (the Labour candidate), Ian Jackson (the Liberal Democrat candidate) and Karen Maunder (the UKIP candidate),  all plan to take part in the event. Michael Fabricant MP, the current Conservative MP for Lichfield, will unfortunately not be able to appear, as he has a previous commitment.

The debate will take place on the site of Speakers’ Corner, on the corner of Dam Street  and Minster Pool, on Saturday 24 April at 12noon.

Saxon Gold: Finding the Hoard

Doors open at 6.30pm, film starts at 7.30pm.
Tickets £10, with all proceeds going to the Staffordshire Hoard Campaign

Tickets are kindly being sold by the Lichfield Garrick. Call 01543 412121 or buy online at www.lichfieldgarrick.com

The film, produced by the National Geographic Channel, will be aired nationally on the National Geographic Channel on 28 March 2010 and on Channel 4 in early April. The film runs for approximately 50 minutes.