Playing Politics: Politics in Sport



Back in June I was delighted to take part in Playing Politics: Politics in Sport festival at the People’s History Museum in Manchester. 




Having not visited the Museum before, I found it a really inspiring place. Documenting the history of working people in Britain, it was so refreshing to wander through the exhibits, seeing the achievements of real, working people celebrated. In an era where the political and economic elite persist in demonizing the working class, using the age-old (but finely-tuned) techniques of divide and rule to drive a wedge between public and private sector workers; the unemployed and the working poor; economic migrants and more established communities it was incredible to see the progress that can be made if we put aside the crap the elite feed us and work together. Of course, hysterical stories about migrants and refugees, stealing ‘our’ jobs and bringing the country to its knees is just Daily Mail hyperbole designed to protect those really looting the nation for all it is worth – big business and the bankers. We live in a time where wages are suppressed to record lows, yet corporate profits and shareholders dividends continue to grow. They really don’t want us to work that out. Owen Jones pretty much nails it here.



The trade union banners were a particular highlight. I especially loved the Country Standard banner, embroidered with the legend: ‘Peace and Socialism in the Countryside’ – stick that in your pipe and smoke it Countryside Alliance!


After an enjoyable wander around the museum, it was time to attend the talks. I was on near the end, which gave me plenty of time to feel nervous, but also to listen to some other really interesting presentations. I enjoyed learning about the ‘Tennis Radicals’ Arthur Ashe and Billie Jean King along with the story of Dick, Kerr Ladies FC – a factory team – who back in1921 played to over 900,000 fans. Both papers were presented eloquently by Peter Marsden.

Of obvious interest to me was Michael Lavalette’s presentation on the Green Brigade, there being so many close links between the Green Brigade and Ultra Sankt Pauli. We also managed a nice book swap, which saw me bag a copy of the excellent Capitalism and Sport.

My talk went ok, with my overview of the fan scene at St. Pauli turning into its usual recruitment drive, trying to persuade people to visit the Millerntor!

It was a pleasure to discuss sport and politics with so many distinguished speakers and a well-informed audience. It was even nicer to discover that a place like the People’s History Museum exists. It’s about time our story was told and celebrated. People not profit.

 

Blog about the Museum and FCSP v SV Sandhausen


Here's my latest blog, which looks at the F*ck You, Freudenhaus! Das Millerntor  exhibition and St. Pauli's 2-1 win over Sandhausen.

Gallery – Photo round-up of events, reviews & promotions


New York times – Book launch and conference debut, blogged

East River Bar

Still playing catch up here... Back in April, I was fortunate enough to be invited to New York to speak about FC St. Pauli at Hofstra University's conference: Soccer as the Beautiful Game – Football’s Artistry, Identity and Politics. I was also lucky enough to combine this with visiting the East River Pirates, New York's wondeful St. Pauli fanclub. Read about it, in quite some detail, here.


Millerntor Exhibition (until 30.08.2014)



The 1910 e.V. Museum project has opened its first exhibition in the space it hopes to occupy permanently on the Gegengerade. The provocatively (with tongue placed firmly in cheek)  titled exhibition "F*ck You, House of Pleasure" Millerntor Stadium, occupies over 600sqm and puts the Millerntor itself, centre-stage. 





I was asked to do a few Skype interviews with St. Pauli fans from around the world and I'm looking forward to seeing the results (and the rest of the exhibition in August), reports and pictures to follow.


One of the highlights of the exhibition is the scale model of the Millerntor, that has been lovingly recreated. I'm also looking forward to seeing the model of the 'Freakwave' stand that was one of the options for a rebuilt Gegengerade.

The people behind the Museum project deserve a lot of praise, they give up an awful lot of free-time to make events like this happen. It's is great to be connected with them via the book.


Find out more about the exhibition here: http://www.millerntor-ausstellung.de/

8th ANTIRA SANKT PAULI Weekend



It's long overdue, but here is a report on my trip to the 8th ANTIRA Sankt Pauli tournament and the Millerntor Gallery #4. It was a hell of a weekend and another reminder of what makes St. Pauli great. 

Übersteiger articles


Here's a scan of an article about the Lampedusa march in October 2013,
translated into German and published in
Übersteiger 113.


 And below is a scan of Übersteiger's review of
Pirates, Punks &Politics from issue 114.