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I'm not even going to come up with an ironic justification for posting my favourite things I've written this year. It's been a terrible 12 months! It's a form of professional validation! I'm not even sorry!
First up, The Ritual: Arsenal. I was enjoying writing these so much, gutted to have to pause the series. Every time I go to a game without fans I think about how empty football is without their routines. @alexingramphoto captures them brilliantly. https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgqam7/arsenal-game-what-to-do-emirates
I've had a few bits in @WSC_magazine this year and it's always great being in the mag, but this piece on the goalkeepers' union was a personal highlight. https://www.theguardian.com/football/when-saturday-comes-blog/2020/jan/17/goalkeepers-union-keepers-stick-up-for-each-other
In February, I got to interview the people who make Charlton's academy tick. Even during a tumultuous time for the club, it has been one of the most productive youth set-ups in the country. https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/football-league/charlton-athletic-academy-joe-gomez-liverpool-latest-news-a9318816.html
Writing about fanzines taught me a huge amount about the politics of football, its history and its culture. Without matchday sales, a lot of fanzine editors have struggled to keep going this year. When fans are allowed back, we need to support them. https://www.huckmag.com/outdoor/sport-outdoor/the-beautiful-anarchy-of-footballs-fanzine-movement/
This piece on concept kits took quite a while to put together, with loads of interviews and research involved. It also got the @Dan_Draws treatment and his illustration was class, as ever. https://www.vice.com/en/article/akzg84/concept-football-kits-settpace-xztals
Speaking to non-league players during the first national lockdown, it became apparent that the cancellation of the season had taken a heavy toll on their wellbeing. It hasn't got much easier for them in the interim, really.
https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14327-non-league-players-feel-strain-of-financial-woes-and-frustrated-ambitions
https://www.wsc.co.uk/stories/14327-non-league-players-feel-strain-of-financial-woes-and-frustrated-ambitions
Covering the crisis at Charlton was a grim reminder of the lack of effective oversight and regulation in football, but also testament to fan power and the strength of the local community. The main lesson here is: don't mess with Charlton supporters. https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/charlton-athletic-takeover-protest-esi-thomas-sandgaard-owner-600859
Seeing the solidarity between Charlton and Wigan fans was another moment which made me think: "You know what, football might not be totally fucked after all." https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7qvxw/wigan-athletic-charlton-athletic-football-crowdfunders
Speaking to non-league chairmen, volunteers and fans in September, it became apparent how difficult this season was going to be for them. A lot of their fears have already been realised and, without more support, there could be severe consequences. https://www.vice.com/en/article/wxqa45/national-league-english-football-coronavirus
I enjoyed previewing Shamrock Rovers' ghost game against AC Milan during the Europa League qualifiers. Very few people will be able to say they saw Zlatan score a goal in Tallaght, which is a shame. https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/shamrock-rovers-ac-milan-europa-league-648483
The same goes for previewing Leeds' first home game back in the Premier League. They waited 16 years only to have to come to terms with the fact that none of them would be there. "We say: 'That's Leeds, that.'" https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/leeds-united-premier-league-fulham-elland-road-653236
Writing this piece was a privilege and further testament to what football fans can do when they pull together and fight for their communities. https://tribunemag.co.uk/2020/11/how-football-fans-organised-to-fight-hunger
I thought I knew a fair bit about Hamburg's Kult club, but reviewing 'St Pauli: Another Football Is Possible' made me realise that I hadn't even scratched the surface. https://www.huckmag.com/perspectives/activism-2/st-pauli-are-still-fighting-fascism-with-football/
Thanks to all the Wrexham fans who gave me the inside story of their Hollywood takeover. Researching this piece also led to me reading @SHAG23997980, which has been an education. https://www.vice.com/en/article/xgzyaq/wrexham-afc-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney
Lastly, I was really proud to feature in the latest issue of The Blizzard with a piece that I've been wanting to write for years about miners' welfare football clubs. It's not online, but you can pick up a copy here: https://theblizzard.co.uk/shop/issues/issue-thirty-nine/
It's hardly the worst thing to happen this year, but sports journalism has been decimated and I know many freelancers, myself included, have considered jacking it in. If 2020 is my last year writing about football, it featured some of my favourite work. HNY, cheers for reading.
