As the nation spends April 23 celebrating all things English, many will be enjoying the day at football stadiums up and down the country. As one of our country’s greatest passions, here are a few reasons to consider English football on this day.
First things first- It’s our game: The art of kicking an inflated pig’s bladder is believed to have originated on our shores in the 14th century, however, fast-forward 500 years and in 1863, a group of our nation’s finest folk decided to form the Football Association. Almost a century and a half later, we take pride in quite possibly the greatest invention the planet has ever known. It brings justification to excessive beer consumption; it allows boys to live out their childhood dream under the gaze of a worldwide audience, with untold wealth and fame; a game which unites nations yet divides cities, and it was our idea.
Football at Christmas: Christmas has several highlights. Those close to us give us presents, we decorate our houses in colourful finery, work social functions end in drunken liaisons between colleagues, before the feast that is Christmas dinner. But as we look to Boxing Day, we find another unique feature of the beautiful game in our beautiful country. While many nations use this time to rest their finest talents in a winter break, the English power through, allowing thousands of people to spend the festive season enjoying their greatest passion. While many claim scrapping the festive programme would be beneficial to the national side, the drama of the hectic Christmas schedule is another feature of England’s footballing identity.
Stay on your feet: Never have truer, more excessively repeated words ever been spoken, than they were by former England international, Ray Wilkins. While the theatrics of players has crept into the game across the world, including upon our own shores, supporters up and down the country continue to make it quite clear that such behaviour is not welcome in our game. While attitudes vary across the globe, call it cunning, call it intelligent, call it opportunistic. We call it cheating.
The Premier League: Our nation’s top flight is widely considered the best league in the world. With some of the game’s greatest ever talents having passed through our league, it’s hard to disagree. While other leagues boast their own footballing superpowers, the Premier League is surely in a class of its own. While many elite leagues are dominated by two or three superior clubs, the quality throughout the division eclipses those around Europe. As pundits look to upcoming clashes between leading clubs and mid-table sides, phrases like “potential banana skin” and “not an easy trip” are commonly used. While on the continent, many of the top sides conceding so much as a corner to any team outside of their elite bracket send shockwaves through the entire game. Our energetic brand of physicality, pace and passion is unrivalled around the world.
The FA Cup: The oldest cup competition in the world, and its ours. Beginning in 1871, the Football Association Challenge Cup has brought us a series of national traditions. From giant-killings, to midweek replays, to the arrival of the big guns on a crisp, January afternoon, to the showpiece final at Wembley Stadium, the FA Cup final is still one of the world’s biggest football matches, attracting audiences the world over. Unlike most countries on the continent, the passion for the FA Cup is shared by fans and players alike, and commonly acknowledged as the greatest domestic knockout tournament in the world.
As we celebrate St. George’s day, wherever you enjoy your football across the weekend, take a moment to remember that the game you watch originated on our shores. While football celebrates the influence of various cultures to create the global spectacle that is worldwide competition, the invention of the sport by the people of our nation is a real reason to be proud. Thank-you, football. Thank-you, England.
Daniel Clarke twitter.com/DanClarke26