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.
