The restoration of the beautiful game.

By Admin
June 19 2005

The beautiful game. The spitting, the swearing, the abuse for the ref. The hatred from the crowd and the intrusive glare of the British media. Don't you just love it.

Well, that's the impression that we're giving the footballing authorities. Add to this the offield activates of misbehaving footballers, tapping up stories , hostile corporate take overs and the ever increasing need for the Clubs to rip off their own fans and it's clear to see that this is far from being the beautiful game.

What has happened to the traditional English footballing values? They're dieing - they're almost gone. The diseased nature of Premiership Football has seeped through the Footballing pyramid and found it's way to our parks pitches. Watch any Sunday League game and you'll see an abundance of players ready to  dive, cheat and con the Referee. 

It's the World Cup next season and what will our players minds be on. The chance to immortalise themselves through footballing glory? What kind of win bonuses they'll be on? How much money they'll get for that money spinning sportswear add? Will  they be asked to star in the latest fizzy pop advert . Or, perhaps - most probably - If I have a good tournament I bet I  can squeeze an extra 10k out of my club or earn a money spinning transfer elsewhere. 

This isn't the football I love. What's brought all this home is the recent Euro 2005 tournament  The England team wasn't the most technically gifted team in the tournament - but it played for all the right reasons. They weren't playing to put them selves in the shop window, they were playing to win a 90 minutes football match. During the tournament we've had 100% football. That England side has helped restore dieing pride of English Football . They've displayed the characteristics that make me proud to be a fan of English Football. 

They competed with honour, integrity and a massive slice of pride. The English Newspapers weren't there rocking the boat and stirring up all kinds of unsettling stories ! There was a distinct lack of washed up has-beens and  axed squad players waiting to take potshots at the England coach. 

I'd hazard a bet that the combined wages and bonuses of that whole England Squad won't make up what Wayne Rooney will take home after next summers World Cup. That's the beautiful game for you...

For 7 days i managed to get back to what English Football is all about. Now it's all over and it's clear to see what's wrong with our game. Can they clean it up? Is it possible to get back to footballing basics? When will the focus of the game be on the 90 minute game that takes place? 

Call me idealistic and call me old fashioned, but whatever happens next season, I'll always remember this summer as the one when a group of English women restored the beauty of a beautiful game.