Football

During BBC1’s pre-match coverage of the World Cup final in Johannesburg, Alan Hansen commented on football’s ability to bring people together. It’s an oft-used image - people of all walks of life united behind their team – but I can’t deny that there is truth in it.

Before every World Cup, there’s a surge of national pride as everyone suddenly discovers (or rediscovers) an inclination towards football. In my lifetime, at least, it has always been misplaced, but it seems that past history and present form have no effect whatsoever on the optimism of the English. There’s a reason behind that, which has almost nothing to do with football. It’s an undeniable fact that the majority of people like to feel included in some way or other. Where inter-club football may divide and breed competition, an international game gathers everyone under the same banner. It doesn’t matter if England win or lose, only that they are there to be cheered for.

On a larger scale, look at all of Africa during this great footballing event. Where Europe or Asia or South America has a host nation, the 2010 World Cup has had a host continent. It was frequently said that Ghana were not just playing for themselves: they represented all of African football. This is a continent that has been ravaged by famine, poverty, crime and oppression, any one of which would be an excuse for bitterness and division. The all-embracing attitude of the Africans during this championship is to be admired, and is a credit both to them and to the inclusive nature of football as a game.

So far, though, this only talks of countries and peoples as a whole. However, I can say from personal experience that the principle still applies down to the smallest level. A week ago, a couple of us were at the tennis courts in the park, attempting (and failing) to emulate the stars of Wimbledon. Fortunately, we had prepared for our lack of ability by bringing along a football as well. In the net-less court nearby were four young lads, well over five years our junior. We went over and asked, as has been asked for generations, the question: “Joo wanna game?” And that was it – from that point we were playing football together. I never found out any of those boys’ names, and may well never see them again in my life. The fact was, and is: football brings people together.

If any further proof is needed, one only needs to look at one of my favourite historical stories – the Christmas Truce of 1914. This is, of course, the story of the British and German front line soldiers in the First World War coming out of their trenches to play a game of football in no-man’s-land at Christmas. I love the image of these two embattled sides coming together for a kick-about, and coming to realise that the enemy are, in fact, people just like them.

Football has long been associated with thuggery and insensitivity in public opinion. I would argue, though, that many cases, the football ranks alongside the dove and the olive branch as a symbol of peace.