A little while ago I was asked to join a Great Britain Writers Football Team but I’m wondering if there is any appetite and interest out there for a Wales Writers Football Team?
There’s an English and Scottish equivalent and teams throughout the world but it would be great if there was a Wales side to fly the flag.
As I say, I was asked to be part of a GB football team to play in a Euro tournament – that didn’t come off but because of it I had made email contact with a few of the Scottish writers. To cut a long story short they invited me to be a guest player for them in a match against England in London (they knew there was no Welsh team and had obviously heard my uncle is Scottish!) England won 5-0, being much the better side on a very wet Chelsea Pensioners’ pitch – an apt venue. I kept in touch with the Scottish lads and have been invited to play in their next tour match against Austria in Vienna.
Can we get enough players together to form a Welsh team?
This, of course, isn’t just about football; all games between writers’ teams are usually accompanied by literary events, readings etc, and form part of a cultural exchange – what better way of meeting writers from a different country than kicking a ball around a park and then going to the pub for drinks and a literary event?
The games are played in a competitive but sporting manner. The only qualification is that you are a writer of some sort – the Scotland and England team being made up of novelists, playwrights, non-fiction writers and poets. Above all the football and the cultural event are what’s important (I played for Scotland, there was another Welshman – Joe Dunthorne – playing for England as well as two Scots who started playing for England a few years ago and have stuck with them even though Scotland have now formed their own team!).
There is, of course, a lot of organising – around the game and cultural event itself and also things like trying to get sponsorship for shirts etc. Players tend to pay their own expenses.
Here’s a bit of info about the English and Scottish teams:
http://scotlandwritersfc.wordpress.com/
So, I just wondered if there are any other writers out there who fancy pulling on the Welsh shirt and giving it a go?
Also, are there any other forums people can think of that would reach Welsh writers?
You can get in touch with me here or via email:
Very best, Alan
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I thought I saw you leaping around the roof at Chapter. There's always a spot on the left wing if you ever change your mind Gary... best, Al
Sorry love, think it will clash with my free running training sessions. All the best with it tho'. gx.
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