Japanese lessons for English football ?

European and English football football seems to be taking a turn for the worse

with racism, allegations of racism and bad behaviour rearing their ugly heads.

The landscape, with some exceptions, seems dominated by huge entities bloated on TV money and debt and below there is more debt and often a struggle to survive.

In England it is estimated that, outside the pro-leagues more than 1,600 teams have folded and most professional clubs have debts and tight or troubled finances.

Before the bloated top detaches into a mash-up of US-style franchises for the global highest bidders, with the devil taking the rest, is there anything to learn from Japan?

There we went to see Cerezo Osaka – known as The Flaming Pinks who were hovering just above the relegation zone in the J-League (Japan’s top tier).

They have a reputation for all-out attack – and a tendency to crash and burn with surges towards the top punctuated by relegation and eventually promotion.

Manchester United’s Shinji Kagawa is probably the best known former Pink in the

UK. Before moving to Old Trafford he was a steal at 300,000 Euros for Borussia Dortmund. He came through the ranks and helped Cerezo back up from J-League 2

The Pinks played Shimisu Pulse in one of their two home grounds – fortunately

not The Nagai Stadium – an athletic stadium – used during the World Cup in

Japan/Korea. It hosted the 0-0 draw between England and Nigeria.

Their 22,000 capacity ground, in a park – a bit like Aldershot’s ground but much bigger – had a 15,603 crowd with enthusiastic home and away

singing, chanting and flag-waving fans behind the goals.

Before the game we met up with Spurs and Osaka fan Trevor and his wife Yuu before buying dumplings with octopus inside them from a takeaway to eat with a couple of beers in the park before the match.

This and a visit to his mate’s football shop (excellent quality scarf purchased – much better than the thin ones in England) teed us up for a game which did not disappoint.

A significant difference was being handed a single teamsheet – the Match Day Program – taken up with a big picture of player Takuma Edamura on the front and pictures of the Osaka staff and players with their squad numbers on the back.

The rest of the back was taken up with the sponsors logos, graphics on ground safety and property advertising. It was a bit of a throwback to some of the pre-war programmes in the UK and a far cry from the mini-books for sale at £3 and more at English league grounds.

Osaka missed a an early sitter, went behind to penalty and hit the post twice before equalising with a diving header. Another tucked away before half-time was cancelled out by a second half goal from a well taken free kick.

Osaka won it five minutes before time, after having another effort disallowed

for offside. The flag waving, singing and chanting came over as slightly more choreographed than in England – although most UK league teams have their goal celebration tunes pumped out over their sound system for fans to join in.

In fact an uncharacteristic early goal storm at Port Vale has had fans in danger of repetitive strain injury singing along to the Dave Clark Five’s Glad All Over.

What was refreshing was the lack of any sense of imminent violence/abuse and the

refreshment. As we could at American Football, we got cold beers from our seats by holding up fingers to indicate how many we wanted and sent the cash hand-to-hand along our row of seats to the beer sellers going up and down the stand aisles.

The change and beers came back by the same route.

At half-time noodles with pork and ginger went down well. Eaten with hashi (chopsticks but shorter than Chinese ones) it was a tasty alternative to pies, pasties, sausage rolls, hamburgers and hotdogs.

Chopsticks and noodles might be a step too far for English fans but perhaps Liverpool and Everton could offer cups of Scouse, West Brom and Wolves grey paes

and bacon and Stoke and Port Vale hot filled oatcakes and lobby.

It could be a chance to link to local food – which seems to be getting as rare as

hens teeth in cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars in England.

Politeness, friendliness and respect for others might be too much of an ask in

the fevered tribalism of many English crowds but it would be a nice change from the

knuckle-dragging vileness that often passes for relations between English fans.

We blended in as best we could with the Flaming Pinks in out pink Port Vale

third choice strip but were in the seats – not up close and personal with the

singing, chanting and flag-waving fans in the standing areas fans behind the goals.

It all seemed very persuasive for those supporting the return of standing/cheering areas in England. On the other hand it was an exciting game which ended up 3-2 to Osaka with a goal late on for the home fans to go home happy.

Perhaps they were even happier after their team went to each side of the pitch

to line up and bow to the fans and receive an enthusiastic reception back. Too much of a culture shock for England but it might be a bit better than the desultory shuffling about and waving that sometimes passes as after-match thanks to fans in England.

Afterwards home and away fans seemed to have no problems leaving the stadium

together and exchanging pleasantries and a quick beer in a bar was followed by a meal at which you grilled your own food on a fire set in the middle of the table.

We aren’t all starry-eyed about Japanese football. Ultra-nationalists have been known to wave the Japanese military flag and to antagonise fans of other Asian countries with memories of Japanese military occupation at internationals.

However, reports of trouble at J-League games are hard to find although fans of Cerezo’s Osaka rivals, Gamba, had a clash with Urawara Reds fans some time ago

involving water balloons, water bottles and overturned barriers.

Aston Villa are the first Premier League club to support bringing back safe standing areas on a trial basis and offering Villa Park to try it – despite opposition from the football authorities and families of the Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough.

The neat, considered, passing style we saw in the J-League was replicated when we watched the Japanese Olympic women’s football team lose 2-1 to the United States in the final at Wembley watched by 80,203 – a record for an Olympics women’s game.

The US women, top dogs since the competition started in 1996, went two goals ahead in the first half but Japan hit the bar twice in the half and then pulled a goal back.

There was some pretty tough tackling and a couple of accidental kicks in the

face for Japanese defenders – but no rolling around on the floor or surrounding

the referee to demand a sending off or a booking.

Perhaps some of the overpaid Europeans could learn a few things from the women. The TV exposure and crowds of 70,000 and 80,000, with an average of about 25,000, may have given a boost to the women’s game but that remains to be seen.

Inside Wembley the atmosphere was pleasant with Japanese and US fans taking joint photos of each other and the ‘neutrals’ appreciating the football and joining in the chants. The Japanese, as underdogs on the night, probably got most ‘neutral’ support.

Perhaps overseas fans mixing with English fans, for once without any ‘tribal’ traditions to uphold, and wodges of middle class families dampened down the passion and upped the good behaviour.

The only aggro was in the queues at half-time as a couple of blokes had a verbal

spat of alleged queue-jumping to get at the fizzy lager. It soon blew over.

On a hot night the only small food items on offer at the main franchises seemed

to be chocolate, crisps or donuts. Boiled sweets might have been nice.

At Old Trafford we saw the Blue Samurai – the Japanese men – beat an Egyptian side 3-0. Egypt ended up with only nine men left after injuries and a sending off.

Nice cheese and potato pies (very Lancashire/Manchester) for £2.70 and great

view with the other astronauts in the North Stand Tier 3. No yobs swearing or threatening and nice atmosphere in a 70,000 crowd.

Being neutral for most Olympic matches took away the tension of watching

your own lot mess up – and full-blooded support through most of a crowd.

It is a different way of watching. Not totally involved but, on the other hand,

no need to up the blood pressure medication.

Black Country building brought back to life dramatically

The former antiques market, Salop Street, Wolverhampton

A bank and council have helped a theatre group bring a Black Country building back to life again as a theatrical resource for the whole West Midlands region is being relaunched.

Wolverhampton’s Central Youth Theatre (CYT) has moved more than 10,000 theatrical costumes into the city’s former antiques market in Salop Street.

Now, with the help of Lloyds Banking Group (Birmingham Midshires) volunteering team, the building is being renovated to help provide a costume hire facility for schools, colleges, community, voluntary and theatrical groups throughout the region as well as for CYT.

CYT director Jane Ward said: “For the last five years we housed our costumes in an empty wing of Northwood Park Primary School, Bushbury.

“However, this summer, the school needed to take the classrooms back to meet the demand for more places at the school.

“Thanks to Wolverhampton Council we were able to rent the empty antiques market building.

“We moved the costumes in a huge operation involving members, past members, Trustees and volunteers but shortly afterwards flash-flooding hit the building and we needed a big clean-up.

Some of the costumes after the move to the antiques market

“Now we want to get the building in tip-top shape and the Lloyds (Birmingham Midshires) volunteering team, based at Pendeford, Wolverhampton, who have painting, cleaning and DIY experience, very kindly came in to help us out on Tuesday 30th and Wednesday  31^st October.

“This will help to provide a space for costumes which will be a resource for the whole region.”

“It has some great features – especially the dressing room which dates back to the 1960s when the venue was The Woolpack Civic Restaurant and was packed as it hosted dancing and live bands such as the N’Betweens, Californians and Montanas.

“Drummer Don Powell, lead guitarist Dave Hill, Jimmy Lea and Noddy Holder transformed the N’Betweens into Slade (http://youtu.be/A0NpJ7mcfPo) and went on to huge success – as did Robert Plant, who also performed there, when he went on to become a key part of the Led Zeppelin supergroup.

“Glenn Hughes played there with Trapeze and he went on to join Deep Purple.

Poster for Trapeze at The Woolpack Restaurant

“In a way I suppose we are restoring the link with entertainment the building had.

“We will continue to develop the building but the costume hire side has now been relaunched and anyone who wants to take advantage of the amazing range of costumes should contact us by calling 08450511167 or emailing info@theactorswardrobe.co.uk”

Not turning Japanese now …although there’s always the J League

The crowd welcome the 2012 Olympics women’s football final to Wembley

The Olympic women’s football competition ended on a high note at Wembley as the United States became champions yet again in front a crowd of 80,203 – a world record for an Olympics women’s football match.

In an exciting game the US women, who have dominated the Olympic football competition since it started in 1996, went two goals ahead in the first half through Cari Lloyd and saw a misplaced defensive header hit Japan’s post.

The Japanese also hit the bar twice in the half and then pulled a goal back through Yuki Ogimi late on as they cranked up the pressure on the US defence.

There was some pretty tough tackling and a couple of accidental kicks in the face for Japanese defenders  – but no rolling around on the floor or surrounding the referee to demand a sending off or a booking.

Perhaps some of the overpaid players from the Premiership and below could learn a few things from the women.

The TV exposure and crowds of 70,000 and 80,000, with an average of about 25,000, may have given a boost to the women’s game but that remains to be seen.

Will there be enough clubs ready and willing to take girls and women interested in taking up the game?

Hopefully yes but we will have to see when the feelgood element fades after the Olympics.

Despite some disruption on the rail network the journey from Wolverhampton to Wembley was smooth with the train ahead of time at Wolverhampton and an easy switch from Watford Junction to Wembley Central on the overground line.

A very pleasant Greek meal near the stadium was followed by a stroll past the few concession stands outside but no purchases (£20 for a pretty bog-standard scarves).

Security was polite, efficient and the quickest we had encountered at all the games (no big plastic bags to fill with all your possessions before going through the pat-down and turnstiles).

The stadium looked a lot better than it did the last time we were there in March 1996 when Port Vale took on Genoa in the Anglo-Italian cup final.

We know it cost getting on for £800 million and it would have been  cheaper and more sensible to build it near Birmingham airport and the motorway network. Just saying it is an improvement on the cold, damp, dingy and dismal place it used to be.

Inside the atmosphere was pleasant with Japanese and US fans taking joint photos and the ‘neutrals’ appreciating the football and joining in the chants.

Sun streams through the roof before the 2012 Olympics women’s football final at Wembley

The Japanese, as underdogs in Olympic competition, probably got the most ‘neutral’ support.

The pre-match Mexican waves did not spill over into periods of active play too much and, again, not much evidence of fighty-sweary people.

Perhaps the presence of overseas fans without those traditions and wodges of middle class families dampened down the passion and upped the good behaviour.

The only aggro was in the queues at half-time as a couple of blokes had a verbal spat of alleged queue-jumping to get at the fizzy lager.It soon blew over.

The fish and chips actually looked edible – pity we weren’t hungry.The arguments over catering have probably been done to death but the lack of choice was alarming (probably not much more alarming than that at most grounds though).

On a hot night the only small food items on offer at the main franchises seemed to be chocolate, crisps or donuts. Boiled sweets might have been nice.

Afterwards the walk to Wembley Central was well directed by stewards and volunteers and the northbound and southbound passengers split efficiently between entrances to ensure no crowd problems.

Our Olympics adventure ended on a thoroughly positive note.Yes we know that the costs, forecast by Sky Sports to be anything between £12billion- £24bn versus an original figure of £2.37bn at the time of the 2005 bid , will be coming out of the woodwork for months.

But having been committed to the games we thought we might as well enjoy them – after all we were paying for them.

On Saturday we had watched the Japanese men see off an Egyptian side 3-0 with only nine men left on the pitch after injuries and having a defender sent off for taking out a Japanese defender on the edge of the box.

He was the last defender apart from the keeper. Earlier Japan scored after the Egyptian keeper and collided.

Astronauts’ view of Japan v Egypt Olympics men’s football at Old Trafford, Manchester, August 2012

The Japanese striker caught a late tackle as he netted and, after coming back on after being stretchered off, he had to be substituted.
Egypt made a decent game of it with ten men, getting their passing together but not really testing the keeper.

Late on the Japanese finished the off with a slightly selected shot and a fine header.
Nice cheese and potato pies for £2.70 and great view with the other astronauts in the North Stand Tier 3.
No yobs swearing or threatening and nice atmosphere in a 70,000 crowd.
More scared of going shopping in the Trafford Centre but wriggled out of that by sitting on the car park updating the ramblings.
Limited damage to visiting the Nespresso shop for better half to replenish her supplies and recycle capsules.
Earlier used park and ride and shuttle buses and they worked fine again.Security and volunteers polite, friendly, helpful and knowledgable.

On Friday night Olympics Women’s Football at Coventry was a step too far for Team GB as they stumbled before a much stronger, well-organised and confident Canadian side in their quarter final at the City of Coventry Stadium.

There were high hopes after the a 1-0 win over Brazil at Wembley on Tuesday thanks to a Stephanie Houghton goal in front of a 70,000-plus crowd but the 28,000-plus (about 4,000 shy of capacity – probably due to missing ‘Olympic family’, corporates and no-shows) at Coventry were disappointed.

Canada, with Christine Sinclair always looking more menacing than anything Team GB had up front, tucked away two first half goals and GB failed to get back in the game.

They tried hard but it was the kind of huffing and puffing that was seen off by the Canucks and some very dodgy decisions by the referee and lines women.
A stonewall penalty denied was probably the worst if the night.

But take nothing away from Canada. They did not treat the ball like a hot potato, were quicker to it – and knocked it about more assuredly.

Japan and Canada’s football teams line up before the start of their Olympics group match at the City of Coventry stadium

We saw the Canucks lose 2-1 to Japan at the City of Coventry Stadium (Ricoh Arena) on Wednesday 25th July but even then they came back strongly and might have thought themselves unlucky not to level.

Once again the shuttle buses worked fine, security was polite and reasonably speedy and the crowd was a delight compared to the kind of swivel-eyed vileness, racism and edge of violence sense that you still often get at bloke’s games in this country (and elsewhere in Europe).

The kids, a fair smattering of black and Asian people (a lot with kids), created a pleasant atmosphere with the only swearwords I picked up being in my own head as I was frustrated by the Team GB performance.

Perhaps we could have fewer ‘compulsory’ Mexican waves and US-style pumping up of the crowd by the guy on the mike but on the whole it has been a good experience.

Being a neutral for most of the games takes away the tension of watching your own lot mess up and takes away the full-blooded support which can be felt through most of a crowd.

It is a different way of watching. Not totally involved but, on the other hand, no need to up the blood pressure medication.

Thoroughly entertaining football from the women in the earlier games included
Sweden beating South Africa 4-1 at Coventry and Japan beating Canada.

The stadium was a bit of a change from Coventry’s old Highfield Road ground – but I think there were 29,000 there when Port Vale were there in 1964 and Coventry topped the table in the old Third Division.

A 1-1 draw resulted the day after the same score at Vale Park – those were the days when Easter games, like the Christmas games back in the 1950s, were played back to back as reverse fixtures.

The official attendance built up from 14,000 for the first match to 18,000 for the second on Wednesday night.

Neat passing by Japan led to a cracking top corner goal by Nahomi Kawasumi on 32 minutes before a great saving tackle kept the Canucks out and Aya Miyama

looped in a header on stroke of half-time for Japan.

Canada escaped with a goaline clearance and pulled one back with a run down the right and a steer-in by Melissa Tancredi.

We had been delayed by the need for treatment to insect bite to the better half’s foot, a suicide on the rail system and overhead line problems around Brum.

Our minimalist clothing and carry-in objects (suncream, cash, keys, phone, hat) got us through security swiftly making up for the Russian Roulette of platform switching at New Street and a Coventry train which stopped everywhere.

We wondered what the odds on missing the kick-off Port Vale-style were but the shuttle bus was prompt and fine and security polite and efficient.

Pity the poor programme sellers trying to sell straight after people had had their purses and wallets bagged and sealed by security before going to be searched and through the turnstiles.

Got the water bottle filled for free OK at one of the franchise stalls inside and our seats at the City of Coventry Stadium (don’t say Ricoh) were in the shade as well.

The catering side saw them run out of hot pies and slices (£3 each) in the West Stand after the first match finished but they put a fresh batch in and they were ready before the next game started.

The healthy snacks franchise sandwiches (£3) seemed to be running low and they ran out of salad in the North Stand but why the sweet sugary drinks approved for sale by the sponsors got onto the healthy snacks bit I will not understand.

Sweden were far too powerful for South Africa and hit the bar twice and the post once as well as scoring three goals in the first half.

It was great to South Africa get one with a shot from just over the halfway line beating the keeper who flailed at it a bit like Stuart Tomlinson did for Port Vale at Oxford United last season.

Sweden went back up the other end and knocked another one in to finish South Africa off at 4-1 but both matches were thoroughly entertaining, played in the right spirit (no rolling around on the ground after injury to try and get someone booked) and with good support from the Japanese, Canadians and Swedes.

The South African fans were smaller in number but more than made up for it with their constant enthusiasm despite their team always chasing the game.

Plenty of youngsters their who seemed to really get stuck into the Mexican wave late on – especially in the South and North stands.

Shuttle buses after the match whisked us back to the station. Only glitch there was one of the West Midlands finest directing us the wrong way to the buses and the bus driver not being able to turn the heating off the National Express double decker on the way to the station.

Now the question is what to do next. The Japanese way of playing football looks worth a bit more investigation – this time at club level. Perhaps we might be taking in a J League match or two soon.