It baffles me that no leader in Britain has ever made a big deal about football. If someone promised within the opening pages of their manifesto to invest in the creation and maintenance of local football pitches – ones that didn’t slide down hill, have craters and were mowed more than twice a year – or offered an incentive to encourage more people to qualify as coaches, or made it so fans had an effective say in any new ownership, it would be hugely popular. People like me me would forgive all sorts of other policies
Perhaps that last sentence explains why it’s the Orbans and Berlusconis who make the most of the pro-football posturing and now I’m considering the possibility that my irrational love of the game could be used to bring about the demise of my country . . .
Que sera sera. Forza Brittania!
It’s hard to think of any UK leaders who were natural football fans.
Maybe Gordon Brown, but he was appointed rather than elected.
Alex Salmond, (a Jambo) but not Nicola Sturgeon.
I think you’re right, I can’t think of anyone. David Cameron was simultaneously a Villa and West Ham fan if I remember rightly. Corbyn pretends to be an Arsenal fan, and I suppose that kind of makes sense – I can see why he admires the type of football that emphasises the importance of his players retaining possession over them ever actually outscoring the opponent
Budum-chi
Be careful what you ask for. In Portugal, almost everyone is a supporter of a football side. Several MPs do football commentary on tv and have columns in Sport newspapers. Football is actually more divisive than politics if you believe that. Saying that I’m a fanatic when it comes to my football side would be an understatement. Don’t take the red pill. It’s not a path to happiness. PS: I don’t give a damn about our national side but “we” are playing Hungary today. I hope they win.
It would baffle me if any national politician made such a promise. Providing public sports facilities is a local matter for local politicians.
Yes, local govt needs more money, but that shouldn’t be from the national purse. Schools, housing, planning – and yes, public amenities – should be decided and funded locally. What national politicians need to do is allow local govt to raise its own taxes for that purpose – whether it’s through business, property, or local income taxes.
Zaph Mann
2 years ago
Great Article by Mr. Wilson, whose Guardian offerings plummeted in quality in recent times. Regarding Paul Sorrenti’s comment – Harold wilson was an unfashionable Huddersfield supporter, whereas not only Corbyn but also Starmer are pseudo Arsenal fans, good grief! How can they hope to connect with the traditional base.
It baffles me that no leader in Britain has ever made a big deal about football. If someone promised within the opening pages of their manifesto to invest in the creation and maintenance of local football pitches – ones that didn’t slide down hill, have craters and were mowed more than twice a year – or offered an incentive to encourage more people to qualify as coaches, or made it so fans had an effective say in any new ownership, it would be hugely popular. People like me me would forgive all sorts of other policies
Perhaps that last sentence explains why it’s the Orbans and Berlusconis who make the most of the pro-football posturing and now I’m considering the possibility that my irrational love of the game could be used to bring about the demise of my country . . .
Que sera sera. Forza Brittania!
It’s hard to think of any UK leaders who were natural football fans.
Maybe Gordon Brown, but he was appointed rather than elected.
Alex Salmond, (a Jambo) but not Nicola Sturgeon.
I think you’re right, I can’t think of anyone. David Cameron was simultaneously a Villa and West Ham fan if I remember rightly. Corbyn pretends to be an Arsenal fan, and I suppose that kind of makes sense – I can see why he admires the type of football that emphasises the importance of his players retaining possession over them ever actually outscoring the opponent
Budum-chi
Be careful what you ask for. In Portugal, almost everyone is a supporter of a football side. Several MPs do football commentary on tv and have columns in Sport newspapers. Football is actually more divisive than politics if you believe that. Saying that I’m a fanatic when it comes to my football side would be an understatement. Don’t take the red pill. It’s not a path to happiness. PS: I don’t give a damn about our national side but “we” are playing Hungary today. I hope they win.
It would baffle me if any national politician made such a promise. Providing public sports facilities is a local matter for local politicians.
Yes, local govt needs more money, but that shouldn’t be from the national purse. Schools, housing, planning – and yes, public amenities – should be decided and funded locally. What national politicians need to do is allow local govt to raise its own taxes for that purpose – whether it’s through business, property, or local income taxes.
Great Article by Mr. Wilson, whose Guardian offerings plummeted in quality in recent times. Regarding Paul Sorrenti’s comment – Harold wilson was an unfashionable Huddersfield supporter, whereas not only Corbyn but also Starmer are pseudo Arsenal fans, good grief! How can they hope to connect with the traditional base.