Old Garchonians F.C show they are more than just a football club

In amongst recent stories of millionaire footballers complaining about Manchester because it’s cold, and volatile fans evoking memories of the dark days in the recent north London derby, the heart-warming tale of Old Garchonians F.C has emerged; a Sunday league football club set up with the aim of commemorating the life and loss of football mad 22 year old Freddie Garcha.

Old Garchonians club badge commemorating Freddie Garcha

Only recently formed by a group of Freddie’s closest friends and family, the club has it’s own home ground, Burton Hole in Mill Hill, and now boasts two full squads, both teams playing friendly matches in the Southern Amateur League for the season. The continuation of a run of good performances, and an even better attitude, should lead to the reward of a place in the league proper next year. No mean feat on its own, considering some clubs have had to wait fifteen years before they are considered ready for the division, Old Garchonians is also being carried by a group of young men and recent university graduates, who are struggling to combine keeping that elusive first job with the day to day administrative tasks needed to successfully run a football club. From booking a referee to arranging a regular training pitch, the founders have been taken aback by quite how much time and effort is required to make the club successful. However, with Freddie always at the forefront of everyone’s minds, there is a steely determination to make this more than just a club. From talking to Luke Tripp, the vice-club captain, it is evident that this is about creating a legacy; a life-long, material memorial dedicated to the life and passion of their friend.

The Old Garchonians first team celebrate a goal after another flowing team move

As well as constant administrative pressures there is of course a footballing side to things, and without a coach in sight the boys have managed to amicably, and successfully, create two teams. Each has fostered its own team spirit and style of play, but there remains a club ethos which shines through; both teams stay to watch and support the other, and the financial burden of starting up the team has been shared by every member of the club, helping make Old Garchonians an institution all involved feel a part of.

There is an unspoken acceptance that everyone is doing their best to ensure people are playing in the right team. The players seem content - ask Alex Ferguson, this is no easy task - and this is a glowing testament to the hard work and commitment of those in charge of running the club, and the patience and attitude of the club’s thirty plus players. Having recently won a local tournament the club is looking strong both on and off the pitch, and barely six months old, Old Garchonians have good reason to believe they can go from strength to strength.

First team captain Tom Lytton-Dickie lifts Old Garchonians' first piece of silverware 

Seeing this level of community and camaraderie in a group of young men who are making nothing from their endeavours is a beacon of light in a footballing world increasingly darkened by the greed and attitude of those at the top of the game. And more significantly, it is an impressive and worthy tribute to the memory of Freddie Garcha.

Handling of the Blanc debacle means an opportunity has been missed

Let me start by making it clear that this is not an attempt to defend the indefensible; regardless of the views of French football’s most successful player, Zinedine Zidane, and their most successful coach, Arsene Wenger, Laurent Blanc’s comments were both ignorant and racist. However, Blanc’s remarks were also indicative of the views held by key members of the French Football Federation and a large proportion of French society. Nationalism has played a central role within the dominant political discourse of French progressivism since the French Revolution in 1789, and the fact that Blanc was having a serious discussion about a quota to limit the number of black and African players in French youth football during a meeting with the head of the FFF, and has since been cleared of any wrong doing by the same association, epitomises how deeply this patriotic narrative runs within the upper echelons of French society, and how smoothly it tips over into the realm of discrimination. Blanc may have been recorded and published in a manner akin to Richard Keys and Andy Gray’s career-costing musings on women in English football, but his comments were not off-the-cuff remarks made with friends in a boulangerie.

It is therefore important to focus on the question at the heart of the latest episode to tarnish the footballing reputation of a nation that was, only a decade ago, celebrating a World and European double based on the performances of players from a multitude of backgrounds: would sacking Blanc have solved anything?

The easy answer is yes; it sends a clear message out that racism is not acceptable and everyone at the FFF can pat themselves on the back, pleased that they appear to be taking a firm stance against discrimination in football. However in reality it would have solved little. Firstly, history has taught us that the sacking of those involved in the meeting is a conclusion that belongs in the world of fantasy. The fact Luis Aragones was cleared of any racist wrongdoing in 2007, despite being recorded calling Thierry Henry a ‘black shit’, epitomises the naivety of those who have called for the upper echelons of French football embroiled in the scandal to quit and hang their heads in shame. We do not live in an ideal world and France, like Spain before them, would rather defend a coach enjoying success with the national team than hang him from the rafters.

Blanc has been acquitted of racist remarks by the French Sports Ministry

The FFF’s decision to acquit Blanc of all wrongdoing epitomises the typically, excuse the terminology, black and white reaction from governing bodies to this kind of incident; if Blanc is guilty of racism he has to be fired, so therefore the FFF have to support him if they want to him to stay. There needs to be an in-between, and a far more realistic and beneficial conclusion would have been for Blanc to admit he was wrong and explain not only why, but also what he was going to do in his role as national team manager to broaden his perceptions and reform his opinions.

Rather than sacking Blanc the focus should have been on educating him, not only on why what he said represents the outdated views of a backward post-colonial society, but also on how incorrect his views actually are. Through doing so Blanc could have been used as a tool to reform members of both the FFF and society that nodded their approval at his comments. Maybe a meeting with World Cup winners Patrick Vieira and Lilian Thuram could have helped Blanc reassess his view that young black powerful players are the problem with French football. Or better still he could have sat down to watch a video of the diminutive and technically gifted Makelele in his pomp, a player so intelligent in his positional play that his name has become synonymous with the holding midfield role.

Sacking Blanc would simply have brushed the issue under the carpet, and drawn to a close an incident that needs to be talked about out in the open. Through clearing Blanc of any wrongdoing the FFF have weakened what was actually a very strong position, but they did not need to fire him to capitalise. Racism in football cannot be eradicated by means of the knee jerk firing of managers, and banning of clubs and players, because such conclusions provoke anger amongst supporters, which in turn serve to reinforce ignorant views and create a sequence of reoccurring prejudice. No matter what role an individual holds within society, they are never too old to be educated, and the more significant their position the greater the sphere of influence a reform of their views would have. The Laurent Blanc debacle was the perfect opportunity to start a new period of reflection in both French football and society.

A day in the life of... Andy Carroll

7 am I’m really enjoying living with the Nolan's so far, we all seem to be getting on so well. I think Mrs Nolan was a bit miffed when those lads torched my Land Rover outside, but she does still wash my kit.

12 pm I think Kev’s got another day out planned... our last trip to Glasgow to watch Celtic Rangers was so exciting, especially when it all kicked off in the crowd in the second half! I really hope we’re off to Alton Towers today, I just love them teacup rides.

7 pm The Nolan's were supposed to be going for a quiet dinner tonight. Kev said their relationship had been under some strain recently and they needed to relax. I told them though, that in my experience the best way to relax was with a good FIFA tournament on the xbox so we’ve decided to do that instead. Mrs Nolan really needs to improve - she’s on her third letter of apology to me ma after I beat her 7-0 again!

A day in the life of... Tiger Woods

7 am Woke up and had toast for breakfast. My councillor has banned me from having my usual fried eggs though, something to do with their sexual connotations.


12 pm I had a great practice round at pebble beach this morning, only on the xbox unfortunately. I would have gone out the house and had a few proper rounds but I couldn't get the car off the drive.


9 pm Out for a few beers with the rest of the ryder cup squad tonight. Should be a good laugh, the last club I saw was the one swung at my head by the missus.

A day in the life of... Arsene Wenger

9 am I’ve got the boys working on their passing again this morning. Pat Rice and I came up with a new drill where you need to get to 723 passes with every player having a touch before starting all over again.

12 am A quick lunch and then I’m off to the opticians. It’s the second time this season that Roger Burden and the guys at the FA have booked me an appointment.

9 pm Taking Manuel and Lukas out for dinner again tonight, they’ve been so down the last few weeks. Hopefully we won’t have a repeat of last time. It was really embarrassing when Manny knocked his glass of wine all over that nice waitress.