Yesterday, I watched from my computer some of the BBC coverage of the English men’s FA Cup final played between Crystal Palace and Manchester City but, before sharing my thoughts on the game, I want to give a brief account of the history of my life time love affair with the beautiful game that most of the world refer to as football.

I grew up on a newly built council estate where lived lots of kids around my age. We played countless hours of football, in the road, in the local park, wherever. It was also the main game played during my junior and senior schooling. I was never all that good but I was enthusiastic. I continued to play, usually friendly kick abouts with my peers, during my college years and in my working life. I recall as a student studying in London, going along with friends, watching the likes of Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham (who I had a soft spot for) play but never Crystal Palace. When I later got involved helping in youth activities, I organised games and even became a qualified referee (later on, I often got to referee games when one was needed).

For a long time, I followed football at the higher levels and loved seeing the best playing the best, at their best, e.g. in the World Cup. From the time I was a boy going along to games with my dad (something I could not persuade my son to do) up to the present day, I have supported my own local, Southend United, club, and recall a few highs like beating Manchester United in the League Cup and going top of their divisions, along with many lows. Right now I anxiously await the outcomes of the play-offs which, if SUFC win, will mean them rejoining the Football League. I have long followed top flight football, including the FA Cup (which I can recall, as a youngster, had a magical appeal, because it was open to all clubs, including minnows, and always there were upsets because it was knockout. Advancement depended on who was the better team on the day, evidenced by the fact Crystal Palace are now champions).

I can go back to the first FA Cup Final which I watched in 1961 when I was in my junior school, and being delighted that Spurs beat Leicester. I even had a fight in the school playground with my friend (we were punished as a result) because he supported Leicester and I supported Spurs. Childhood heroes included Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Charlton and the greatest, Pele. In recent years, my enthusiasm as a spectator of top flight football waned, as much due to seeing the Corinthian spirit that I imagined had once existed being increasingly overtaken by commercial interests and entitled players. I do so while aware there is a large cohort of folk who I know that loyally support their favourite teams and often this gives rise to friendly banter.

One of my more recent achievements, in which I took a degree of pride, was as an organiser of community events and managing to get teams of youngsters from different communities, e.g. Jewish and Muslim and kids living on what were labelled as deprived estates, playing against each other (as well as tournaments for girls teams) and as a dad helping facilitate local lads playing in my nearby park.

Despite my later in life antipathy toward top flight football, I decided to watch yesterday’s final (at least some of it). While knowing a little about the Manchester City team, for they have dominated the Premier League in recent years, after all, I knew hardly anything about Crystal Palace, currently and modestly placed twelfth in that league this year. It was a game that Crystal Palace won (1-0), and deservedly so, outsmarting superior opposition, being the underdogs. Moreover, it meant they won their first ever major trophy since the club began in 1861. I end by sharing three images and saying something about each one of them. While I doubt that I will ever regain the enthusiasm that I once had for top flight football, this win might explain why I could do so once again.

Stories I love are when well known, highly paid players forego fame and fortune and live modestly, without ostentation, preferring to do things along the lines of helping the under-privileged. As I say, I know almost zilch about Crystal Palace, but I love this attitude coming from their manager, Oliver Glasner, that giving something back to the local community was an important priority.  Digging deeper, I found reading some of his story (see here) heart warming. I also loved listening to his post match press conference (see here). I believe that he has helped to create the sort of wholesome culture to be found in the club that once drew me to this beautiful game.

I love it when players have interests outside football, especially if they are ones that I share – in this case chess, e.g. an article titled: “‘He can do it all’ – Palace’s Eze wins chess tournament” (see here): “Just days after helping Crystal Palace reach the FA Cup final, Eberechi Eze celebrated another victory – triumphing in an online chess tournament”. I learned this about his history: “His journey has been far from easy, faced so many rejections at such a young age but he kept on going. Never give up“. He scored the goal! And it gets better – Eze helps in the building of a homeless shelter (see here) and is supported in doing so by team mates and others.

I love it when players honour God. The blurb accompanying this photo reads: Joel Ward had the bible verse Ephesians 3:20 written on his wrist during the FA Cup final: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” We also learn: “Ward is currently involved with helping and supporting local charity Faith and Football, which was set up by former Pompey defender … and kneels down on the pitch to pray before each match“. And it gets even better – not just Ward and Ezi, but the captain on the day of the final, Marcus Guehi, who said “I’ve grown up loving God“, is also someone who takes practicing his Christian faith seriously.