- RSW 02 Page 6 -
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In an almost unheard of initiative, a Sunday football club in Bristol organised an international amateur football tournament at the end of July 1998. After a year or so of planning the "Alternative World Cup" was born kicking and screaming in the sleepy village of Thorncombe in Dorset. The 4 day festival of football, music and debauchery was attended by over 500 people and attracted 20 11-a-side teams from England, Germany, Poland, Norway, Ireland, France, Belgium and South Africa.
The idea for the tournament came from a series of smaller European events held in Stuttgart, Bad Muskau (Polish/German border) and Antwerp over the last 7 years. This was the fourth international tournament hosted by the Easton Cowboys F.C. in England and by far the largest. The basis for the creation of these European links was the fusion of the thrash/punk music scene, anti-fascism, the love of the great game and a healthy attitude to drinking (i.e. as much as possible). Since the Cowboys travelled to Stuttgart in 1993 (according to their players the point where the team really took off as a socialising machine), the alternative European football scene has really blossomed, with new teams being involved every year.
This first "World Cup" was won by the team from South Africa. The Diepkloof Eleven Experience as they like to be known, hail from one of the townships in SOWETO and lit up the tournament with their electric football. Star player Benedict Vilakazi was top scorer over the 3 days of group and knockout games, scoring the winning goal in the last minute of the final against the German team ICE Neckerstrasse from Stuttgart. Diepkloof have a considerable pedigree having several players signed up for Kaiser Chiefs and the brother of Lucas Radebe (of Leeds Utd.) playing in goal. Their manager is confident that at least one of their players will represent his country, and if not, the team itself could make it as a professional male voice choir, their rendition of ANC victory songs was as superb as their football.
Semi-final losers included LKS Leknica from Poland (finishing third) and the aptly named Lunatics from Antwerp, whose dance of joy after losing in the semi-final will be remembered for a long time. The English teams didn't fare so well (where have we heard this before) the exceptions being Republica Highland (Leeds) and the l in 12 Club (Bradford) who notched up good results both in the bar and on the pitch.
The event itself was not just about football, in fact the, music, socialising and sex being more important (and so they should be!.. -ed) despite what the "new lad" culture might be trying to engineer. All the European tournaments are treated as a place for everybody to have a laugh, supporters, children, local residents, pets (yes, there was a dog show) with the football being a pleasant diversion during the afternoon. These attempts to make the great game an opportunity for all of us to have a good day (and night) out are a refreshing change from the macho boredom of much of amateur football. As one excited festival goer shouted "Football is the new punk".
On the international level the "Alternative World Cup" was a brilliant example of co-operation across continents, outside of any control by "official" government/council/F.A. bodies. Clubs dealt directly with each other and teams and their Communities (Bristol, Leeds, Bradford, Stuttgart and Bad Muskau) raised over £9000 to help fund teams from the less wealthy countries to attend. This commitment to real "hands across the water" organisation makes the current F.A. initiatives look pathetic and still stuck in the "Little England" mentality which plagues this country in its attitudes to Europe. It should be added that none of the teams involved in the co-ordination of the events have received any money from government/council bodies in their history, achieving everything through their own initiative and local organisation. This had has its drawbacks financially, but has allowed them to remain in total control and not get bogged down in local bureaucracies. After all grants from local councils etc. should be there to benefit initiatives such as this, but often involve constantly proving you are in line with the latest politically correct fashion, endless form filling, concessions to bureaucrats and massaging the ego's of would be local councillors. One notable exception was the trade union UNISON who made a donation to the cause at short notice to help the South African team travel to the event.
All in all, the last 6 years has taught the Easton Cowboys that some dreams can be realised and just about anyone can do it if they have the vision, commitment to Internationalism and drive to push it through. After all we started with nothing and now we have a linked community, sharing similar ideas, which stretches across Europe and Africa. We are nothing special, anybody can do this.
For a world without nations, footballers of the world unite, you have nothing to lose but your livers!
- RSW 02 Page 6 -
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