Chaplaincy thoughts for the week: 05 July

Sport can encourage young people to develop important values such as loyalty, perseverance, friendship, sharing and solidarity. 

- St John Paul II 

Only a matter of weeks ago a huge majority of our country who are football fans looked forward to Euro 2024 and the possibility of England finally ending 58 years of hurt without a major tournament win. We even went into the campaign as favourites, something that never happens. Fast forward three weeks and the mood of the nation is lacking in optimism, there are very few St George’s crosses draped from houses, or flapping in the window of passing cars. Previously popular tunes like ‘Three Lions’, ‘Sweet Caroline’ or the Southgate amended ‘Whole Again’ from Atomic Kitten are all missing from the airways. The country craves a performance against Switzerland and the ignition of passion.

Ever since I was a child football was the most exciting part of life for me. I still recall the moment free tickets were handed out in my primary school for a Preston North End game. It was actually a reserve game against Everton. Reserve games were somewhat hollow in atmosphere, with such low attendances and lacking the pace of a first team game. This game finished 1-0 to Everton. But I was hooked. A week later I was sat in the stands for a first team game with its immense atmosphere and tangible sense of excitement. From then on Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evenings became the markers that punctuated my week. Everything about a matchday brought the experience together: the football, the smell of coffee mixed with stale beer and pies, the taste of a Meat & Potato Pie drizzled in gravy and with a dollop of mushy peas in the centre, wearing my replica shirt over a jumper with no coat, as well as the result. Whether win, lose or draw I always loved live football at Deepdale, it was my real home. Why? Became of one special thing – the unity and communion.

At home and in school I was the epitome of an introvert, when I went to watch my beloved Preston North End I was able to express every emotion alongside people I felt knew how I was feeling. You see, sport creates community, it unites people in common goals, it unites belief and knowledge, it brings together people of all ages, sex and race as one body. There’s no denying many sports have their problems and attract the more extreme or violent element of society, but there is an overarching fellowship associated with sport. Social media has shown some incredible examples of camaraderie out in Germany, as well as the coming together of people for singing, dancing and new friendships.

The power of sport cannot be underestimated, something the late Pope St John Paul II knew all too well and used as an evangelism tool throughout his papacy. He was a huge advocate of sport as a uniting force for good. An incredibly forward thinking Pope who found ways to connect with the marginalised, other faith communities and with young people. In an address in the year 2000 at a Jubilee of Sports gathering he spoke the following words:

"Playing sports has become important today, since it can encourage young people to develop important values such as loyalty, perseverance, friendship, sharing and solidarity…Sports have spread to every corner of the world, transcending difference between cultures and nations. The educational and spiritual potential of sport must make believers and people of good united and determined in challenging every distorted aspect that can intrude, recognising it as a phenomenon opposed to the full development of the individual and to his enjoyment of life. Every care must be taken to protect the human body from any attack on its integrity, from any exploitation and from any idolatry”

- St John Paul II 

He then continued with this next passage:

“Sport…is an opportunity to find new creative and motivating zeal, so that sport, without losing its true nature, can answer the needs of our time: sport that protects the weak and excludes no one, that frees young people from the snares of apathy and indifference, and arouses a healthy sense of competition in them; sport that is a factor of emancipation for poorer countries to the love of life, teaches sacrifice, respect and responsibility, leading to the full development of every human person.”

So, whilst many countries with people of faith may have the same thought and understand the above significance, we pray that God is secretly an England fan!

Mr Robinson

Lay Chaplain