Premier Lasses

Baby’s first Emirates game! I’ve seen Arsenal play but never inside the Emirates ground (thank you Orit! thank you Crispin who couldn’t take his usual spot!) - surprisingly a draw, late equaliser from Villa. I spent a lot of time creeping on because I live love laugh her and clocking her preferred warm ups. Once I get out of bed, I’ll do the same because I only have two ambitions in life - get the body of an England player, stop eating so many crisps.

When I see the St George’s flag and when we talk of English pride, the image of strapping up her own injury to continue play is the image that first comes to mind. This is quickly replaced by the racists who don’t really and truly want us feeling proud, but scared. Keir Starmer has become one of the biggest political disappointments and I can’t now believe there were people at the time of election peddling the ‘win at any cost’ for Starmer and Labour to then make change for the better. Starmers supposed love of Arsenal is at odds with his barely concealed dog whistles to the right wing who still, after adding to the deluge of division will not vote for him whilst parties like Reform are normalised. Such a ****, his Dad certainly was a tool maker.

Supporting men’s football is not as easy as supporting the women’s and I am especially aware of this after a major women’s tournament. Liverpools opener last night saw an understandably emotional team. The tributes to Diogo Jota and André Silva were powerful and I concluded, this is us at our best. Then later when Antoine Semenyo received racial abuse from a Liverpool fan I am reminded that football is also us at our very fu***ng worst. Solidarity with everyone who is empathetic, socially conscious and still finds the energy to get up in the morning.

I think more men should have podcasts don’t you? Would love to hear more scenarios based around the imaginary ‘Mrs’.

Thanks a lot Spain, you could have achieved the inevitable in 90 mins so I could watch Love Island and get an early night.

Spain 1 - Germany 0

WE ARE A THIRD OF THE WAY IN & ENGLAND HAVE JUST PLAYED A BLINDER 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Here for the LJ WC arse stamp redemption arc !!! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 4 🇳🇱 0 !!!

Starmer clutches his head, not over the mess he’s made of the Labour Party but for a missed penalty last Sunday. When I read the article (second slide), I almost threw my phone off the bridge into the water. How can you read something like this and not feel rage? As a woman of colour I’m finding it increasingly difficult to remain optimistic, to feel valued when the message is clear. Politicians know what they need to say to sway public vote and they’re doing it. I feel like I’m going insane. Happy Valentines to allies only 🌹

alm yourself down young missy’.

These are the condescending words spoken by PC Stephen Lovell to Sam Kerr prior to her racial aggravation. At the time Lovell felt nothing when confronted by Kerr because reverse racism isn’t a thing. Eleven months later, Lovell realised it could be.

Whatever, all I want for V Day is a signed by Sam Kerr genuine Julia Quenzler courtroom drama work of art.

P.O.C & friends - join our community. This page has always been about creating a safe space and the power of community. The attacks of the last few days have felt like a tipping point that many in power wanted to get to. It’s easy to feel despondent but there is power in peaceful protest and communication. Please dm your number if you are of South Asian heritage and we’ll start a discourse on how to remain open and move forward positively.

Please do share this messsge within your own communities, irrespective of football fandom.

Imagery
1. Artwork by the imitable
2. The Sun neglecting their role in the riots, instead opting to further stoke hatred by picking low hanging fruit - Megan Markle. A dog whistle to keep going
3. Nigel Farage presents himself as both problem and solution
4. a) Priti Patel co-opts the proletariat sport after spending the past 3 years mocking players taking the knee in solidarity for BLM

4. b) Priti Patel backtracking in a bid to absolve her part in this mess. I don’t think so
5. Image of devastation

Over the weekend, we celebrated James Baldwin’s birthday whilst riots broke out in Liverpool and elsewhere against immigration. The morning after, videos of white men attacking people of colour, fill my feed, images of libraries and food banks needlessly and recklessly burnt to the ground. I see a man online wearing an England shirt whilst performing acts of brutality, it validates my mixed emotions toward England during national tournaments. These bastards are the same people who will ask why I can’t just watch the football without thinking of immigration and question why race is brought into everything. The horror I’ve seen from the safety of my home will stay with me long after those places have been rebuilt.

‘𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘯𝘦’𝘴 𝘴𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦’

The way in which stories of white perpetrators inflicting harm onto people of colour are reported is by definition trauma. Endless headlines demonising non white people does not move through the psyche without leaving a stain.

Our DM’s are always open.

Artwork by

With the door firmly closed to Euro 2024, yesterday the successfully qualified for Euro 2025. Switzerland, Wiegman magic, Lucy Bronze and her impeccable abs, it’s all waiting for us.

My final piece on for the London Review of Books blog is live. On Southgate’s resignation Sarina Wiegman had this to say, ‘he’s such a nice person and a great coach. What he has done for England Football is really incredible’. I have nothing but love and respect for the man he is but I am less positive that this wasn’t the right thing to do. Time will tell but for now 🇨🇭🇨🇭🇨🇭

Hope Gareth pulls Sarina for a chat ahead of Sunday tbh