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Simon Squibb has me thinking!
Simon Squibb is someone I have great respect for. Simon is a serial entrepreneur helping millions of people live out their dreams. A few weeks back, Simon wrote a post about hating football. To quote Simon directly, he stated, “If your team wins or loses, your life is still hard, and nothing gets done about it”. “It’s designed to distract, make money out of fans and make you feel a sense of community”. As a football fan, I have reflected on the role of Sport in my life in general. I asked myself if the consumption of Sports has ever hurt me. For the most part, no, I see Sport for what it is: entertainment. However, this topic got me thinking about the role of sports from a teacher’s perspective. In this blog, I will share my thoughts about the role of Sports from a teacher’s perspective.

Breaking barriers
On my first day as a trainee teacher, I remember vividly meeting two assistant headteachers. One was a gentleman, and it was a short introduction. The other was with a woman called Liz. I came to learn and experience that Liz was a formidable woman. Although that was the case, she significantly impacted me in my first few years of teaching. Liz walked me around the school and introduced me to Rachel (my mentor) and Danielle. I was told I would be teaching some of Danielle’s classes. Danielle’s class was doing some workshops – to my knowledge, it was with the Tottenham Football Club. Danielle introduced me to some class members, including Sam. Sam was one of the most popular students in his year, let alone the class. I knew he was a character from the first time I met him.
When we were introduced, Sam did what most confident students do. He was trying to work me out. Sam’s first two questions to me were, “Do you like football?” and “Which team do you support?” to which my replies were “Yes” and “Tottenham”. Sam responded positively, mainly because he supported the Spurs (nickname for Tottenham). The powerful thing about sports is that they unite people and create a commonality. The fact Sam and I supported the same football team automatically gave me a level of respect that some other teachers would not receive. I am not saying this is right; however, this is the way of the world. Respect is sometimes based on commonalities you have with people. That school, in particular, had a lot of Spurs due to the catchment area it was in. Many students would talk to me because we supported the same team. It carried into the classroom where, typically, students who misbehave would give me no problems. Again, I am not condoning this behaviour; however, it shows just how powerful Sport can be. However, another angle must be discussed, which aligns with what Simon was trying to communicate.

Distraction
Sport can be a significant distraction for us all. In some cases, it changes our priorities. I have known people to avoid doing anything socially at specific times and dates due to important football matches being on. The time spent watching and discussing football can be a lot. For example, whether Tottenham wins or loses, I send voice notes to at least two of my friends who are also Spurs fans. I could be actively talking to them for at least half an hour. Then, I may go to YouTube to watch content related to Tottenham. This can take another hour or two. Some are even more extreme. For example, during university, I had a friend who would stay up in the early morning hours watching football worldwide. This type of behaviour is why Simon strongly believes in football.

Addiction to football
The problem with football, like any sport, is that it can become addictive. It is not something many can switch on and off. This is a part of life that is taken very seriously. The UK is absolutely crazy for football. The UK is one of the best examples of how it can have such a hold on people. Families spend hundreds of pounds yearly to keep up with the latest kits. For some, they buy season tickets worth thousands of pounds a year. Others ensure that they have every channel that is showing football. Sky Sports, TNT, and Amazon Prime are the three main channels in the UK. Each of them has separate subscription prices.
All of this to follow men running around the pitch, not knowing who you are and being so invested. The powers that be are aware of the power of football; hence, the World Cup increases the number of teams, and the Champions League increases in teams. The sheer amount of money and time spent could be traded for something more meaningful. Instead, you spend the whole day focusing on football. Around 11am, there will be a pre-show before the typically 12:30pm early kick-off. Then you have people who can watch 3pm matches on a Saturday, then will watch the game after at 17:30pm. After that, someone from another league could tune in to another match. Easily 10 hours spent watching football content. This is only for one day. For a business owner like Simon, he must be saying to himself, imagine somebody putting the same amount of time into a business or a new skill. The primary benefit is that they are developing themselves, which has a precise value. Imagine a young person who wants to become a content creator spending even 90 minutes on their craft. 90 minutes spent on their craft frequently could change their lives. Some young people have hidden talent but spend so much time on football.

Value in watching football?
Many adults do not know how to start a business; therefore, it is unfair to suggest that they replace football time with learning new skills or anything business-related. Alternative hobbies, such as reading, are beneficial for people to get something. Depending on the genre, one may become a better human being if one goes down the self-development route. Others might want to read as many fictional books as possible as they have a creative brain. Whatever the activity, I think Simon believes that, with football, there is no real value gained apart from celebrating a team’s win. Still, you receive nothing from it, whereas at least when you read, it might motivate you to do something. Despite this, Sport is mighty, especially in bringing people together, I will explain.

Football brings us together!
We have many problems in society, from questions around multiculturalism, racism, transgenderism and so on. It can be easily observed that the general population’s solidarity level increases when a major international football tournament comes around. Everyone became British at school, and although this was a temporary feeling, it was a great experience. Watching England at the World Cup against Brazil in 2002 was an exciting buildup in school. Brazil had a star-studded lineup that included Roberto Carlos, Cafu, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho. However, leading up to the match day was a great school feeling. Anyone and everyone had a say on how the match was going to end. Even those who were not necessarily football fans were getting involved in the festivities. It does not fix problems in our society, but there is definitely a feel-good factor that brings people together. That time when people who do not typically interact with each other speak with one another can break down barriers and build relationships.

Final thoughts!
In conclusion, I understand Simon Squibb’s view on the role of Sport in society. It can be time-consuming when many people waste their time watching endless football content. Individuals could find other tasks that could benefit their lives, such as starting a business, learning a new skill or reading. However, football can bring people together. It may not bring much utility to an individual’s life; however, the power of Sport and how it brings people together should be considered. I, like Simon, want new entrepreneurs to be born, but they can be done alongside watching some football.