Life moves pretty fast

Football is a big part of my life. It always has been. I have attended many 100s of games.

I was taken to watch then 5^th tier Enfield FC at their old Southbury Road ground as a small boy, as the fourth generation of my family to support the “hometown” club. I saw them at Wembley in 1988 in the final of the FA Trophy. I have followed Enfield and their successors, Enfield Town, ever since. I am one of the fan owners of the Town, the first fan owned club in England, and am very proud of what they do within Enfield for inclusive football.

I also come from a family of Arsenal fans. I remember watching “Champagne” Charlie Nicholas scoring the goals in the 1987 League Cup Final on TV with my dad when I was 6 and I have been hooked ever since. I first went to Highbury in September 1993 for my 13^th birthday to see a 4-0 win over Ipswich Town. I have seen Arsenal home and away, at both the old and new Wembley’s and I am now in my second season of being a season ticket holder after many years of waiting.

And just in case, I haven’t made my football life clear, I have also seen England at Wembley many times!

Thus, as you can imagine, for me a World Cup kicking off, as it does tonight in Qatar, is an exciting time. It is no coincidence that my sabbatical starting happens to align with the opportunity to sit and watch and extraordinary number of games! I shall likely see or listen to all 64 matches. It has been an exciting time for England football. The men have been in a Semi-Final and Final in the last two tournaments and the Lionesses had their fantastic win at the Euros in the summer which was awesome! The new version of the Three Lions song by Baddiel and Skinner again hits the mark for me.

I am an advocate for the valuable nature of sport. Beyond the obvious health benefits, it creates opportunities to bring together people from different backgrounds greater than any other part of human experience in my opinion. I think football, as the most watched and participated sport in the world, is at the forefront of this.

In addition, on a personal level, the camaraderie I have found at football since Jen passed, has been an essential part of my healing process and continues to this day. I once championed to my bereavement counsellor about the virtues of the emotional release of a goal being scored or shouting at a referee whilst sat amid like-minded people. It might not be classic therapeutic help, but it definitely works!

In all this context I, like many football fans, find myself feeling very mixed in many ways about the tournament that begins today. Despite what has been claimed by the organisers amongst others, this doesn’t come from some form of innate racism towards the middle east and a want for western hegemony over football. This, and many arguments around it, are the most extreme forms of “whataboutery”.  

What I am saddened by is the beautiful game that is very important to me, being mired in corruption scandals, human rights infringements, prohibitions on fans, sportswashing and worst of all, the deaths of construction and other workers – the loss of a single life to bring about this tournament is a tragedy let alone the thousands that have been reported. This sadness applies as much to the English and European game, particularly the corruption and sportswashing, as it does to the tournament in Qatar.

So, what do I do? How, as a football fan, can I respond to all this? I am the tiniest fish in this huge pond. Well, it seems to me that there are a few things to do.

Firstly, support the fantastic journalists who investigate and surface these issues. Listen to their podcasts, read their articles, and make sure that I am well informed.

Secondly, remember that football is nothing without fans. The power of the fan, of all those little fish working together, is so important at all levels of football. This was seen with the response to the European Super League, and I see the great work done at Enfield Town and through supporter’s clubs and fan groups throughout the world. Anything we can do to support these groups is important.

Finally, talk about these things, with anyone and everyone. It is only through education and knowledge that we move forward as people. It never ceases to amaze me how many times I have had fantastic football conversations with non-football fans because in the end this is all about how we move through life and what makes us passionate. Nothing exists in isolation. It is all connected.

I will enjoy watching the World Cup. I haven’t gone with the sticker album this time and of course, I have no idea how England will do! We have a good squad, but are in a difficult group, and anything is possible. I think all I can do is hope that everyone, players and fans, are safe and that maybe, just maybe, some good changes in the world will be connected to this tournament.

And, of course, that it comes home!