"It matters a great deal who is going to win, but not at all who won"
Off the ball
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David Rushworth Smith, Harper Collins, 1985 ISBN 978-0551011946
The book gives an interesting insight into the role of the football chaplain in the 1980s. The author refers to his early days and the challenge of identifying who he was serving – was it players, staff, or what about fans. He started by coming in on a Friday after training and then later added Monday. He sometimes seemed to travel with the team to away games on the coach.
He provides a helpful definition of the role: “A sports chaplain is a trained pastor who gives much of his time to the spiritual and emotional care of sportspeople and those who assist them in the furtherance of their sporting activities”.
He adds a practical note: “As I see it, it would be wrong for me to pray that a particular team might win. I can pray for the team to play well, to be good sportsmen, to remain cool and calm, to avoid clashes, to think clearly, to keep their eyes open and to maintain team spirit".
He also states that with hindsight he should have asked for a contract and payment in order to make the role more official.
The book states: “It is one of the clear rules of chaplaincy that there must be complete confidentiality all round. For this reason, the majority of the fascinating stories known to every chaplain cannot be published. If the rule is broken once, then there will be no hope for future chaplains in any sphere”. Wise words yet in the first two pages, the author refers to three players by name.
Sadly writing the book did irrevocable damage to his relationships within the club and ended his effective ministry in the club. This illustrates that for a chaplain to write a book about his work in a club is never a good idea.