Footballers’ Lives: Celebrity Culture in Britain

 

 

'Pictures of the Day' Daily Mirror, September 30, 1905

Image Missing. 

(image can be found via ukpressonline.co.uk searching for the date of issue (above))*

Caption Reads: 'That the game of football is not all fun, as so many people think, may be learned from the photographs. They depict—(1) Mr. Tait, the captain of the ‘Spurs, who takes his benefit on October 21.; (2) golf, a Scot’s relaxation; (3) a fast fifty yards for the wind; (4) skipping, another footballers’ exercise; (5, 6, and 7) keeping the eye in form on the hail; and (8) after the day's training, pleasure at the billiards table.'

When I came across an article entitled ‘Pictures of the Day’ from September 1905 which showed several snap-shots of a day in the life of a footballer it was difficult not to be intrigued. At that time The Daily Mirror in 1905 was one of a growing number of popular illustrated newspapers, enabling the increasingly vast British newspaper readership to view previously unseen elements of the wider world. This photograph based article evidently sought to emphasise the hard work and training that goes on in the daily lives of footballers paid to ply their trade, in discount a myth that the life of a professional footballer is all play, and no work.

‘Sandy’ or ‘Terrible’ Alexander Tait (So known for his ferocious tackling – though apparently he was never booked (pictured here)) was a prime example of a Scottish footballing ‘mercenary’, common in his time. He was a professional, a master of defensive destruction, who performed in front of crowds of thousands over the whole of his lengthy career. His was a story of rags to ‘riches’ elevating himself from working-class origins to a lengthy career as a sportsman, captaining an FA Cup winning side in 1900. He even coached the famous Brazilian team Corinthians. Clearly, for Tait, football had provided a long career of regular employment and relative comfort. However, in spite of the vast popularity of football in the Edwardian period, the wealth and celebrity experienced by footballers today is barely comparable. I can imagine that the hard-man Tait wouldn’t have much time for the actions and behaviour of today’s footballing prima donnas. 

Indeed, Mario Balotelli’s actions as philanthropist/playboy/bad boy/moron might have provoked one or two hay-makers from ‘Terrible Tait’, were the two players to have met competitively. Balotelli is perhaps the ultimate example of the unprecedented wealth of today’s footballers. His blasé attitude to cash has earned him both adulation and ignominy in the past year. In a way, Balotelli seems to appreciate the ludicrousness of footballing wealth better than any other. Nevertheless, many have been led to question the moral ethics of such vast sums of money ploughed into football clubs today. The Premier League is a prime example of the rising admiration of ‘get rich quick’ success stories which dominates a chunk of British popular culture. Football, a game which involves a great deal of hard work, training and years of commitment, provides by no means a bad model for youngsters to aspire to. However, at the top end, footballers, their celebrity friends and partners do little to provide role models or examples to new generations of British children. 

Similarly, the last few years have also seen the rise of pseudo-reality dramas such as ‘The Only Way is Essex’ and ‘Made In Chelsea’. These dramas document the daily lives of ‘ordinary’ people. They are not famous for their expertise, or work in film/television/music/modelling. They live a life of luxury and comfort whilst seemingly doing little or no work of worth. Though many viewers are able to make the distinction between myth and reality, it seems that the idea of wealth without industry is one that has increasing purchase in our society. This is no new phenomena, but perhaps is the ultimate expression of a long-trend. ‘Celebrities’ such as Katie Price, Jodie Marsh, Kerry Katona, Big Brother candidates A-Z and ‘WAGs’ have dominated headlines for over a decade, not only in trash ‘mags’, but also mainstream news media and satire.

However, in true form, this phenomenon of celebrity obsession is not completely unique. Although it may be special in its bloated opulence and political apathy, the popularity and press obsession with a group of privileged, moneyed, non-working celebrities with questionable moral values has been seen before.  

At the end of the 19^th century and the early 20^th century two major celebrities dominated the headlines of Britain’s new tabloid newspapers: The Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror, The Daily Sketch etc. etc. They were of course Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany and later King Edward VII of Britain. Wilhelm was a press favourite. A nationalist fanatic and proponent of expansionist imperialism, Wilhelm was prone to horrendous gaffes (e.g. Daily Telegraph Affair) and outrageous statements (e.g. the Hunnenrede, the Krüger Telegram). His regular visits to Britain attracted large crowds where he was both adored and hated in equal portions.[1] Interest in his life and behaviour provided the press with constant material throughout his turbulent thirty year reign. Similarly, Edward VII, son of Queen Victoria, was a character who was much scrutinised by the popular press. He led a life of debauched luxury, gambled heavily, ate unbelievable amounts of food, smoked profusely and was a womaniser – much of which attracted interest and disgust in equal amount. He was nevertheless famed and admired for his diplomatic abilities, often attributed to his great personal gravitas and likeability. Though their popularity was subject to peaks and troughs, Edward VII and Wilhelm II remained a constant interest for the press in Britain and abroad throughout their lives. They provided drama, spectacle, distaste, awe and humour – who could say no to that?!

Although there are a great many differences between our current celebrity culture and that of the 1890s and 1900s it is clear that inquisitiveness and spectacle are consistent to human nature through the ages. As recently popularised in films such as ‘The Queen’ (2006) and ‘King’s Speech’ (2011) royalty has always played a central role in the national imagination as a focus for popular interest and debate – whether we like it or not. Although society has changed hugely, royalty still attracts its own special popularity. Prince William’s marriage to Kate Middleton, and the upcoming jubilee show a continued fascination with the royal family. This curiosity, I would argue, derives from the same human impulse that motivates the general public to read OK! and Heat articles documenting the latest extravagance of footballers like Balotelli or Z-list celebrities like ‘Joey Essex’. ‘Exposing’ the life of a footballer in 1905, though marked by many different social expectations, derives from that same British gossip-loving ‘nosiness’. 

It is unlikely that this historical comparison will provide any comfort the next time a footballer crashes his Bentley or a TOWIE character is booked into rehab. Things do change, not always for the better, and humans will always delight in hearing the extravagances and disasters of the rich and famous. But remember this: at least today’s crazy celebrity idiots don’t have the power to start a global bloodbath….not yet anyway.

Patrick Longson

(edited by Jamie Perry)

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* N.B. (Sadly, due to the Daily Mirror's copyrighting policy I was unable to provide the actual image - if anyone wishes to donate £50 to the blog in order to see the real thing I'll post it up here...otherwise - see my fun image description above. Somehow an image not seen by anyone since 1905 is still apparently worth that amount....)

[1] “The Kaiser’s Journey. Royal Farewells at Sandringham. Parting Incidents. ‘A Gentleman Who is Always Smiling.’,” Daily Express, November 17, 1902.