July 2017

[El Gordo]

I spotted this excellent news in the Graun the other day, and immediately sensed that @sweder's Twitter feed would be throbbing and jabbering like the crowd around the water cooler at Momentum HQ on June 9th.

I've been following the European Cup with enjoyment. For many years I was part of that miserable crowd who made fun of the women's game, but no more. Two things happened. One was the realisation that it's a mistake to constantly compare the sport itself to the professional men's game. In the same way, I can enjoy women's tennis without bemoaning the lack of 140 mph serves. Second thing was the excellent experience of being Ash's guest at Lewes Ladies one Sunday afternoon. I became much more aware of the energy and commitment, and best of all, twigged that there is virtually no gameswomanship -- diving, cheating, mobbing the referee... oh, what a breath of fresh air that is. (I've seen one or two slightly naughty things at the current Euro Championship but nothing serious.)

Dan makes an interesting point about relative levels but it's academic to me. Having the two main teams at the same club being paid the same seems more important than where they are in their evolution.

Well done Lewes. The Rosa Parks of football. One for the record books. Perhaps one day there'll be coachloads of reverent schoolgirls arriving at the Dripping Pan for guided tours from an 89-year-old Sweder.