A Very Public Private Man: A Great Tradition Enters Its 40th Year!

"The army is the most outstanding institution in every country, for it alone makes possible the existence of all civic institutions" - Field Marshal Helmuth von Moltke.

I have only played the Saturday morning game at the University of Kent for 4 years (on/off) but it has been going on for the past 40 years.

by Kudakwashe Kanhutu

I was surprised to learn, very recently, that the game I play every Saturday morning 0930 - 1100ish at the University of Kent Sports Pavilion, has been going on for the past 40 years at least. I had thought that, at most, it was about 10 years old. But I was wrong, people have come and gone, and this institution still stands. I, myself, only joined this game in my 3rd year at Kent Uni, then went away to Durham University for about 1 year and 6 months and have since been back for just over a year now (and about to leave again).

This game continues because of its simplicity. Anyone can play. You just pay your £3.00, pick your favourite colour of sports bib, wear it and become a player of one of the four teams playing against each other on the two half pitches. Usually 8 vs 8 (32 being the standard number of players who make it every morning). From 0930 - 1020 is the “first half,” the two winners in Game A and Game B face each other between 1025 - 1115ish, and the losers do the same in, what is effectively, the “second half.” The rules of the game are simple too; you can only score inside the blue line as we use the small goals without goalkeepers. You can, however, score from anywhere with a header. You should see the beautiful diving header I scored today (26. 12. 2015) from way outside the area! Of course the rules have evolved with time and necessity, I imagine if I stay on, they may ban scoring with headers from outside the area as this is very easy for me!

The attraction for me is that the game is on an artificial surface, so no more rolling in the mud like pigs as we did when we used to play the Sunday league game in winter on the grass in London and Luton not so long ago. The mud did not bother me then, but I am at that stage in my life when I must shed some of my rough tendencies (gradually). There are also hot showers at the Pavilion, so the £3.00 is not a waste at all.

What really struck me about the time this Saturday morning game has managed to last, is the dedication to it of everyone who is involved, as no one makes a penny from it. Of course, I know, order and economic prosperity allows informal (not for profit) institutions like these to flourish (and this further reinforces economic prosperity as active, healthy individuals tend to be productive). Playing on a Saturday morning like this, you can also hear an off the cuff remark like; “it’s my second edited book to be published.”

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