Why the Albion could be the answer to the challenges facing young people

As a parent of two young children, I do worry and find myself often mulling over how challenging life is for young people in modern times.

About them growing up and falling into a gang. Or the dark online world of extreme politics and conspiracy theories. Or God forbid, even becoming a Crystal Palace fan.

So, I would urge every concerned parent to follow my example and introduce their children to Brighton & Hove Albion fandom.

At the beginning of this season, I took my two young kids to the Seagulls Superstore at the Amex Stadium to get them an Albion shirt. Admittedly, my eyes were watering when we got to the checkout, but it was too late to go back by then.

It is in this context as an Albion-mad dad of two young kids that I view a lot of the recent discussions around the behavioural issues in modern society among young men, and how they can manifest in violent and threatening behaviour.

I find the modern world perplexing. The news seems to be full of constant stories of horror. Whilst journalists revel in telling us the times we live in are “unprecedented” and that many parts of our society are “broken” or “in crisis”.

But stay inside to keep away from all that and you are met with the horrors of the online world. Social media – as I have written about previously – is a place I have dabbled with in the past and found challenging and problematic.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg. The gateway drug of the internet. A drug more readily available than ever before because anyone can access the many wonders or horrors of the online world through their own pocket. Particularly for young people, it is near impossible to avoid embracing it.

Gone are the days where the pub, the church and the town square were the heart of our communities. And as society becomes less communal and more secular, we all become more detached from each other.

For younger people, friendships behind the veil of their smart phone is the closest relationships many of them have. And as the demise of many pubs and restaurants across the UK attests to, meeting in person is far less common and far less affordable. Again, particularly for young people.

The cost-of-living crisis combined with the rise of working from home means we are spending far more time at home than ever before. Making it easier to avoid social situations and easier to stay at home and watch the latest big Netflix series.

Since the 1980s, church going in England has halved. At the same time, the average attendances at football games have doubled.

There are few things in society today that get people out of their houses and communing with other people in person in the way that football does.

In a world where we seem to be becoming far more insular and far more divided, football brings people together like little else.

Many of you will have watched or at least heard about Sir Gareth Southgate’s recent speech on the subject for the bi-annual Richard Dimbleby lecture. An event that was yet another example of the ever-thoughtful and articulate views of the former England manager.

I know his popularity in recent years has waned. But I am an unashamed and unadulterated fan of Gareth Southgate and his tenure as England manager.

The memories he gave us English football fans and the renewal of genuine hope and pride in our men’s team was a joy after so many years of frustration.

I was lucky enough to be at the Euro 2021 final. Well I say lucky, the penalty shootout defeat coupled with the pre-match chaos that surrounded Wembley Stadium left me questioning my devotion to football for a short period.

That was until the new domestic season began and the Albion of course reminded me of why I had fallen in love with the beautiful game.

As Southgate himself pointed out, for such a prestigious speech to be given by the former England Men’s manager – particularly given the reputation men’s football has in this country – is quite something.

Previous speakers in recent years include vaccinologist Dame Sarah Gilbert – the co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZenica COVID-19 vaccination – and Sir Tim Berners Lee – the inventor of the World Wide Web.

Such is the place and prominence the England men’s football team manager has in our country that Southgate could be invited to speak in that sort of company.

That said, football’s reputation in this country amongst many observers falls far below that of its former England manager.

Men’s football in England and its association with anti-social behaviour has become such a truism over the years that people refuse to let go of it. Despite the inordinate cultural and behavioural progress made within football since the bad old days of the 1970s and 80s.

This bad reputation in modern times defies logic. English Football has such wide appeal across all areas of society and across the globe, to the extent the Premier League has regularly topped the British Icon Index as the UK’s most recognisable brand overseas.

Sit in the East Stand at the Amex and you are just as likely to be irritated by an annoying young child who cannot sit still as you are by an over-boisterous football fan.

And yet those of us who do go to football regularly will still recognise elements of its reputation for nastiness. Something that is often even apparent at the grassroots level of the game.

A location where some of the most devoted, but also some of the most eccentric characters of English football can be found.

Most people talking publicly about the subject of internet and social media use by young people are not in touch with the youth of today.

It can at times feel a little like the old tropes that “Rock ‘n’ Roll is the devil’s music” or “Television is poisoning our minds.”

The ever-changing nature of modern technology means our culture and society change so quickly. What do us older people really know about young people’s experiences today?

As such, it can be easy to fall into the same trap and for those tropes to repeat themselves. Nonetheless, it would be naïve to ignore the increasingly challenging environment that young people face today.

Football clubs – sometimes rightfully – get a bad name. Yet they have always played a key role during those difficult years of adolescence for many of us.

The game is not perfect by any means. Like the way it welcomes an influx of investors with questionable morals and intentions. Or the increasing reliance and prominence of gambling advertising across all levels of senior football.

But to allow issues like these to override your view on football would be disproportionate and ignore the far greater social benefit that our football clubs have on society.

Football clubs offer young people an alternative to some of the more damaging elements of modern society. They are a community, a cause to believe in and an alternative to some of the more concerning activities partaken by young people in their spare time.

Whilst football culture has its problems, it is simply a reflection of our society – and the male section of our society in particular – rather than the cause of these issues.

The days of overt racism and homophobia on the terraces may not be completely eradicated. But they have certainly been greatly diminished.

And if an incident does occur, it is almost certain to be met with widespread disgust and outrage across the football community.

After all, it was the Premier League and more prominently the England Men’s team that were at the forefront of the “taking-a-knee” protest in this country.

Something which irritated many of the individuals also accused of promoting some of the previously mentioned problematic elements of modern society that can be attractive to young people.

Watching Southgate’s speech, I found myself agreeing with him in many parts. But also thinking, so what? What can we do about it?

Is just trying to be better people enough? Sometimes we need some space from all the negativity to be able to escape from the pressures of everyday life.

Like many football fans, I am lucky enough to be able to watch a group of young men every week who inspire me. These men have worked hard and sacrificed many of the problematic modern vices of young people to get where they are today.

Young men like Kaoru Mitoma. Georginio Rutter. Jack Hinshelwood. These are the male role models our society needs right now.

After all, many of these young footballers are part of the generation who could otherwise have been “lost” to the issues Southgate spoke of in his speech.

“We have to show young men that character is more important than status. That how you treat others is more important than how much money you make,” said Southgate.

This was the type of character that was prominent in his England team. They may have been a bunch of overpaid and overpraised millionaires, detached from normal lives. But these young men were a group who for nearly a decade inspired and thrilled the nation.

Like many men in this country, most of my friendships were formed by a shared appreciation of football and/or music. The England football team is a shared interest for so many like little else.

And for me, for all his articulate and considered opinions, it is the way Southgate revitalised the men’s national team that is the key reason why he is now Sir Gareth. It is his biggest contribution to society.

Football – be it club or country – offers us a unique communal joy and escapism from the pressures and strains of normal life.

One where we can join a longstanding community and take pride and joy in supporting our team who represent that community. As football’s enduring popularity shows, that is a powerful thing.

Football often gets a bad name, but society could do a lot worse than embrace it more to help heal its wounds. As a means of finding proper role models in real life as opposed to falling into the online void.

If you want to feel part of a community, go support your local football club. Unless that football club is Palace. Not Palace. Anyone but Palace.

Phil