the anthem factor

There's been a rush of opinion in the media this week regarding the news that MPs will be voting on whether England should have a national anthem separate to 'God save the Queen' recognised as the anthem for the United Kingdom.

Well I've been banging on this bandwagon for aeons, in fact every time I watch a national sporting event you can hear me berating the fact that there is no mention of England (at least in the couple of verses heard around various stadiums) so how are teams expected to be fired up to play at their best for a posh lady in a crown? Some might say that a national anthem shouldn't/really affect your prowess on the pitch but come on... I challenge you to sing the Irish sporting anthem without feeling a surge of pride and the desire to pound your opponents into the ground - even though your only contact with the Emerald Isle is via Craggy Island in the 1990s! 

A national anthem at sporting events is important. Athletes are out there representing their country and it allows the loyal, paying supporters to bond with their team; for that one moment they are one. However, before I start waving flags, England's national anthem issue is an ancient problem that needs resolving. Look at the other home nations: Scotland have their flower as they proudly fight for hill and glen; Wales stand brave and true for their land; Ireland's modern anthem written to encompass players from both sides of the border may not appease political persuasions but at least the effort was made to raise sporting spirits as one nation. The symbolism here of strong athletes marching forwards together is not lost in all three anthems.

Can the same be said of all three anthems that seem to be in rotation for English squads. Firstly God Save the Queen; patriotic yes but singing to make a monarch 'happy and glorious' amidst the throes of submission as she 'reigns over us' will hardly bring about the drive to beat down the All Blacks after the Haka will it? 

Cricket has long since favoured Blake's Jerusalem which does refer to England's green and pleasant land and has the rousing line of 'I will not cease from mental fight' but has a tune reminiscent of church hymns which inspires images of quaint village greens, cucumber sandwiches, vicars and straw boaters; jarring with the rivers of mud heaving with rucks and mauls. 

Then there's Land of Hope and Glory. The flag waving anthem concluding the Last Night of the Proms seems to be a front runner in many polls as the favourite replacement anthem at sporting events. But as a child of the 80s I can't help but be reminded of the sitcom It ain't half hot mum which ended with it being sung in a 'comedy' Indian accent and clearly the reference to Empire with 'wider and wider' bounds being set, I'm not the ancestors of slaves would agree that we should be extolling any 'Mother of the Free'. Free being an oxymoron on so many levels.

So is it just a song to be rolled out at the ceremonial entrance and exit of international sporting events? With a contrast of anthem choices between rugby union, cricket,rugby league, and even the men and women's lacrosse teams differ, I would say no, it's more than that. But I would argue against the daft suggestions of modern pop songs from the likes of Blur, The Beatles or Kate Bush but do agree that if you're representing England then one song should suffice.

This post can also be found on my rugby rookies page

girl on fire

I'm ashamed to say I did no exercise or fund raising for Sport Relief last week. These days dragging my unemployed ass to the gym takes all the effort I can muster. So as I'm chopping crisps and watching Davina, John Bishop and a gaggle of other celebrities sweating for cash, I thought back to the days when I could run miles in my sleep.

Yes, this lumpy mama used to be a svelte middle distance runner with her sights set on Olympic glory.  I refer to myself in the third person because there is little of her left in the wheezy, uncoordinated woman that bumbles through Zumba on a Tuesday morning.

 Ushered on by FantasticoDad I pursued a youthful athletic career spanning about 6 years at school, club, county and country level. The first time I saw my name up in lights at Crystal Palace - albeit misspelt - I knew what I wanted to do. Also I figured that if I continued to run the 400 metres, I might grow up to marry Roger Black, coz you know he ran the same event n 'all. Oh the naivety of teenage dreams!  Athletics was my life - training, race meets, cross country seasons, injuries - I lived a breathed spikes and personal bests.
 But I took a wrong turn just before things could have started to get serious and opted out.  Looking back, I must have broken FantasticoDad's heart.  He had planned a future for me going to a sporting university and making the time for distances that were under-represented in Britain. And then I just let it all go.

I get the pain, annoyance and disappointment FantasticoDad must have felt, although he never voiced - well maybe he did but I didn't her. And I get it because I'm now on the other side.  Urged on by GeordieLad, BigL has been playing rugby for about 3 years now.  It started well, but being only one of two girls in her team I think she found it hard. And getting up to run around a wet, freezing field on a Sunday morning is no-ones idea of fun, especially if your younger siblings are dancing to Justin's House on CBeebies as you head out the door. As we entered this season, there was a definite lull in her enthusiasm; they are now playing touch rugby, not tag.  For the uninitiated of you, they are no longer pulling strips of plastic stuck onto their backs, they are pulling strips out of each other. Yeah, she's a girl but she's strong and she's quick.  Yet she was lacking in that drive and fight that the boys seemed to throw around the pitch with ease.

Not ever wanting to be a TigerMom or PushyParents, we suggested that she saw the season through and if she wasn't enjoying herself then she could give it up. This choice was heavily disguised in the opportunities and benefits of playing a team sport. February half term rolls around and GeordieLad surprises us by announcing that BigL has won a competition to be the sole mascot to run out at Twickenham with the England Rugby Women's squad against Ireland in the 6nations.

Well...

After watching the England men beat the Irish team with her daddy, our (little) BigL was dropped off by a very proud GeordieLad to meet all the ladies from the squad.  Without her mother by her side, she then ran out with Captain Katy Mclean (who's a primary school teacher donchaknow) in front of a noisy Twickenham crowd and sang every word of the National Anthem.  She has been on cloud nine since that day.  Thanks to an amazing bunch of people at England Women's rugby, including the players, BigL has been given a much needed boost of confidence and a renewed love of this wonderful game.  In a season which we thought started with her about to finish her short lived rugby career, has ended with her telling me that she wants to be a teacher like her mummy, and play rugby for England. 

So thank you to the England Women's team for sparking a light in my daughter (and her mum), and well done GeordieLad for entering her into the competition in the first place (even though I'm sure it was just for the free tickets to the men's game!!).

Oh yeah, and well done BigL. You were smashing.

Goodnight London, wherever you are.