Mark Mason 9551

Football and Me Football and Me

By Mark MasonBy Mark Mason

What is FootballWhat is Football

Football is a very popular cultural Football is a very popular cultural practice amongst the majority of the practice amongst the majority of the British population. It is a sport British population. It is a sport which is played and observed by which is played and observed by thousands of people in the UK alone. thousands of people in the UK alone.

It is encouraged in schools and is a It is encouraged in schools and is a major part of children’s lives as major part of children’s lives as parent’s want their youngsters to live parent’s want their youngsters to live a healthy and active lifestyle. a healthy and active lifestyle.

The beautiful gameThe beautiful game

Association football, more commonly Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, can be known as football or soccer, can be traced to as far back as the Medieval traced to as far back as the Medieval period in Britain, although similar period in Britain, although similar games have also existed in the past in games have also existed in the past in Asia, particularly China. The modern Asia, particularly China. The modern game of association football game of association football originates from the formation of the originates from the formation of the ‘The Football Association’ in London, ‘The Football Association’ in London, England in 1863 based on multiple England in 1863 based on multiple efforts to standardise the varying efforts to standardise the varying forms of the game forms of the game

Has football lost Has football lost it’s soulit’s soul

There is, of course, a lot There is, of course, a lot wrong with football at the wrong with football at the moment. The wages paid to moment. The wages paid to players are astronomical – players are astronomical – Derby Chief Executive Tom Derby Chief Executive Tom Glick Glick

Has football lost Has football lost it’s Soul (2)it’s Soul (2)It is not the game I knew 10 years It is not the game I knew 10 years ago. It's changing and it's sad. ago. It's changing and it's sad. There are lots of things like kick-There are lots of things like kick-off times, small things that make a off times, small things that make a difference. Clubs are being sold and difference. Clubs are being sold and fans are complaining about prices. fans are complaining about prices. "Football is a tough, physical game, "Football is a tough, physical game, but you see players rolling around but you see players rolling around and players trying to get other and players trying to get other players booked," said Roy Keaneplayers booked," said Roy Keane

Players wages Players wages (opinion)(opinion)

I strongly believe that I strongly believe that players wages are extremely players wages are extremely high and that wages these high and that wages these high should be paid to real high should be paid to real heroes like members of the heroes like members of the British armed forcesBritish armed forces

Footballers and Footballers and stereotypingstereotyping

When people think of When people think of footballers, they footballers, they immediately think of players immediately think of players like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano like Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi and many other big named and many other big named stars.stars.

Aaron MokoenaAaron Mokoena

Aaron Mokoena is a very influential Aaron Mokoena is a very influential football player who is the captain football player who is the captain of both Portsmouth and his national of both Portsmouth and his national side, South Africa.side, South Africa.Mokoena has been inspired to create Mokoena has been inspired to create his own footballing foundation and his own footballing foundation and he is inspiring young people in he is inspiring young people in South Africa to get involved with South Africa to get involved with football to provide a better football to provide a better lifestyle and to mix contrasting lifestyle and to mix contrasting communities together.communities together.

"I launched my Foundation with the aspiration of making a real sustainable difference for young people

in South Africa using the power of football"

StereotypingStereotyping

These players are seen to be stuck These players are seen to be stuck up players with astronomical wages up players with astronomical wages and are assumed to be uneducated, and are assumed to be uneducated, vain and only think about vain and only think about themselves.themselves.

But these players overshadow the But these players overshadow the lesser players that are educated lesser players that are educated and are trying their hardest to and are trying their hardest to help others needs rather then help others needs rather then their own required needs.their own required needs.

CharacteristicsCharacteristics

Football is a team game and I Football is a team game and I think it is a form of text think it is a form of text that promotes an individuals that promotes an individuals set characteristics. This can set characteristics. This can be shown as the majority of be shown as the majority of players are very good players are very good communicators and that they communicators and that they are willing to learn from are willing to learn from their peers around them.their peers around them.

What it means to be a What it means to be a football fanfootball fanAs time went on, watching my team push As time went on, watching my team push hard for that equaliser or winning goal hard for that equaliser or winning goal and come head-to-head with hated rival and come head-to-head with hated rival teams like Liverpool, imbued me with teams like Liverpool, imbued me with something: emotion. something: emotion. To be a fan means to stick with your team To be a fan means to stick with your team through thick and thin, and not abandoning through thick and thin, and not abandoning them at the first sign of trouble. And them at the first sign of trouble. And last but not least, to be a fan means you last but not least, to be a fan means you dismiss all their obvious strengths and dismiss all their obvious strengths and admire their supposed differences. For admire their supposed differences. For that is what makes them unique and worth that is what makes them unique and worth supporting supporting

http://www.soloz.net/?p=275http://www.soloz.net/?p=275

Football in societyFootball in society

Football is a major part Football is a major part "When we asked supporters what they "When we asked supporters what they valued about their clubs, it was valued about their clubs, it was not their success on the field, nor not their success on the field, nor the value of the club's shares, or the value of the club's shares, or whether it was in profit or not, whether it was in profit or not, but their importance within their but their importance within their family, social and community life family, social and community life that was paramount," explains Adam that was paramount," explains Adam Brown, Brown,

NVC in footballNVC in football

Non verbal communication is Non verbal communication is important in footballimportant in football

An example of it would be a An example of it would be a manager making hand gestures manager making hand gestures to his player to communicateto his player to communicate

Fans show their appreciation Fans show their appreciation by applauding effortsby applauding efforts

NVC to MeNVC to Me

Non verbal communication is Non verbal communication is effective in my life especially effective in my life especially during a football match.during a football match.

I can use non-verbal communication I can use non-verbal communication to either show my appreciation or to either show my appreciation or dissatisfaction during the game.dissatisfaction during the game.

It can also help put meaning to some It can also help put meaning to some of the verbal communication I use of the verbal communication I use especially if the message isn’t especially if the message isn’t fully received.fully received.

Football and group Football and group identityidentityGroup identity in football is important as Group identity in football is important as fans from one side combine to provide vital fans from one side combine to provide vital support for their club. Each individual support for their club. Each individual football fan realise that their support and football fan realise that their support and banter urges the team on and fans often banter urges the team on and fans often portray themselves as the twelfth man. This portray themselves as the twelfth man. This means they are almost another player to the means they are almost another player to the team and they are almost giving an team and they are almost giving an advantage to the team they support.advantage to the team they support.Also the stereotyping of a set individual Also the stereotyping of a set individual is made by the public as a large group of is made by the public as a large group of football fans often communicates the football fans often communicates the message of trouble to any observers.message of trouble to any observers.

Group Identity Group Identity (hooliganism)(hooliganism) Group identity has escalated so Group identity has escalated so much in football over the years. much in football over the years. Thus leading to more football Thus leading to more football related crimes and fights. Fellow related crimes and fights. Fellow fans come together in what are fans come together in what are known as ‘firms’ to participate known as ‘firms’ to participate in fights against opposition in fights against opposition clubs, in order to enhance their clubs, in order to enhance their club’s group identity and club’s group identity and reputation.reputation.

Football and my Football and my identityidentity

Football is a key aspect of my Football is a key aspect of my identity. This is because identity. This is because football is a major part of my football is a major part of my life and culturally fills up life and culturally fills up plenty of my free time. Football plenty of my free time. Football plays a key role in my identity plays a key role in my identity as it is a hobby as the clothes as it is a hobby as the clothes I wear and some of the topics I I wear and some of the topics I talk about are football related. talk about are football related.

Why is football Why is football important to meimportant to meWhat football means to me What football means to me introduction:introduction:Football is a major part of my life as I Football is a major part of my life as I see it as a way to keep fit and active. see it as a way to keep fit and active. I also believe that it is a good way to I also believe that it is a good way to relieve any pressures of myself and take relieve any pressures of myself and take my mind of emotional circumstances in my my mind of emotional circumstances in my life. I visualise football as an escape life. I visualise football as an escape from the world and I’m a completely from the world and I’m a completely different person when I am out playing a different person when I am out playing a competitive match.competitive match.

Football daysFootball days

Football is a cultural practice Football is a cultural practice which is involved in my weekly which is involved in my weekly routine. I am a fond supporter routine. I am a fond supporter of Wolverhampton Wanderers and I of Wolverhampton Wanderers and I play for a Sunday league club play for a Sunday league club called Danesmore Casuals.called Danesmore Casuals.

Football and ValueFootball and Value

Football is a much adored Football is a much adored and valued cultural practice and valued cultural practice all over the worldall over the world

Wolves MatchesWolves Matches

The Wolves are a huge part of my The Wolves are a huge part of my life and as a season ticket life and as a season ticket holder I feel like it is my duty holder I feel like it is my duty to attend their home matches and to attend their home matches and support the boys to some support the boys to some emphatic results. emphatic results.

I feel that my attitude on a I feel that my attitude on a match day is a lot different to match day is a lot different to that on a school day.that on a school day.

LanguageLanguage

When I am within the terraces When I am within the terraces and around them my language and around them my language changes a significant amount changes a significant amount as it because more abusive as it because more abusive and aggressiveand aggressive

Language and TheoryLanguage and Theory

I think the use of supportive and I think the use of supportive and abusive language can be used in abusive language can be used in association with ‘Dimbleby and Burton’association with ‘Dimbleby and Burton’

This is because this use of language This is because this use of language that I use associated with the game is that I use associated with the game is to build relationships with my fellow to build relationships with my fellow supporterssupporters

This theory relates to the reactions, This theory relates to the reactions, comparisons and the identity within a comparisons and the identity within a group.group.

Football and My Ideal Football and My Ideal selfself Football is a very physical game Football is a very physical game and is a great source of exercise.and is a great source of exercise.

I believe football relates to my I believe football relates to my ideal self as I think the exercise ideal self as I think the exercise helps with my fitness, health and helps with my fitness, health and the size and shape of my body.the size and shape of my body.

If I am unhappy with my fitness, I If I am unhappy with my fitness, I automatically enhance my work-rate automatically enhance my work-rate during matches and training during matches and training sessions.sessions.

SummarySummary

Overall I believe football is a Overall I believe football is a key aspect of society, culture key aspect of society, culture and identity. It especially can and identity. It especially can be linked with my identity. be linked with my identity. Football allows people to Football allows people to categorise and relate to me and categorise and relate to me and having peers know I’m heavily having peers know I’m heavily associated with football it associated with football it makes it easier for them to makes it easier for them to communicate with me.communicate with me.