The Left Winger

Football vs Politics

At 12, Pedro was a regular boy, maybe a little quiet, sometimes a bit shy. He played for his school football team in Year 8, and was a winger for his local Sunday team, The Panthers. He loved football and from the moment he first saw a match at his old school, he was smitten. 

Something inside him changed. He knew that he’d found the key to his happiness. Pedro was desperate to get on the pitch and play the sport himself. At the age of six he was involved in his first game. Whilst watching some of the older boys playing a match at lunchtime, one of the players twisted his ankle. The older boys looked at Pedro and said, “You! (Pedro made eye contact) Yeah you. Come over here. Stand there and try not to let anyone past.” His time had come and his belly was full of butterflies.

Pedro got approximately four touches of the ball the whole game. Mainly whacking the ball out for a throw in. His teammates shouted at him throughout the game, telling him where to stand and what to do. When the final whistle sounded, Pedro was included in the celebrations, he was high-fived and hugged, it was amazing. The whole experience blew his tiny, excited mind. 

Was it the sport itself or the camaraderie, the bonding, the exhaustion, the physical challenge or just the beautiful game? 

Pedro didn’t care; all he knew was that he loved everything about the sport.

During the next few years football took priority over everything for Pedro. He was a mediocre student, and football was his first, second and the last thing he thought of before he fell asleep. He was totally obsessed, he was like a moth to a flame.

As Pedro became a teenager, he noticed a few things changing at school. There were Pride flags hanging up around the corridors, there was an influx of new teachers and there were students who were transitioning, it was like a breeding ground for the liberals. There were even a group of girls who became Furries, they would act like cats and dogs and had tails hanging from their waist bands. 

His new teachers was called Ms Minke, in her first lesson she explained about minorities, black people, gay people and women. Pedro looked at his friends and mouthed “Women? “Since when were 50% of the population a minority?”

The boys laughed it off, but unfortunately, it was just the start of the brainwashing. Another teacher told them on numerous occasions that Donald Trump was the worst person on the planet. He was the President of the United States at the time and on the brink of winning the Noble Peace Prize for his efforts in the Middle East. Pedro didn’t really care, he was young and it didn’t have any effect on his life. None of it was about football, so it wasn’t important in Pedro’s eyes. He was more interested in the World Cup rather than world politics.

The brain washing continued and the teachers affirmed a transgender girl which made some of the needier pupils question their own pronouns, as they too wanted the attention and plaudits rained upon them. Pedro deep down knew it wasn’t quite right; it was always the vulnerable children the teachers targeted. Pedro joked with his friends that the school slogan should change to, “Making the abnormal, normal.”

The atmosphere and the division within the school was becoming tense, it was like a north London derby. However, Pedro and his footballing buddies tried to stay out of it. Pedro was playing really well and was picked for the regional team, he was told if he worked hard he had a chance of making it into an academy. Unfortunately, though, his grades were slipping like a fish from a proud fisherman. His parents were disappointed, and Pedro tried to explain to his father about the liberal teachers changing the culture of the school and the division it was causing.

Little did Pedro know that his parents were in conversation with other worried parents. They had a WhatsApp group and would share stories and concerns about the situation going on in the school.

Were they a group of right-wing radicals or concerned parents worried about their children’s grades and the leftist agenda being pumped into their heads?

A whistleblowing teacher also joined the WhatsApp group; they called the group “The Whispers.” They discussed the issues within the school and the group-built momentum, before they knew it there was around one hundred parents swapping stories.

Some adults would get ridiculously angry and crowbar in some startling tactics that caused a stir. Some wanted to boycott the school, march upon it, and make an impact that would show their solidarity and dismay at what was happening.

Others wanted to target the new teachers and scare them away. They wanted to damage their cars, follow them home, leave threatening notes and harass them out of their jobs.

It was a hotbed of hate and anger that was getting out of control, the WhatsApp group split into two. The more conservative and patient were against the more radical and violent. They had created a subculture between themselves showing that there would never be harmony.

Pedro continued unaware of the unrest and the fractious nature of what was happening with his parents and their peers. He continued to make progress with his football, and his studies had improved. He was offered a trial at his local League One club, it wasn’t a Premier League club he had hoped for, but he was still excited. It was professional football. If he got accepted and played well for the team, a huge team could come in to buy him and one day he might play for England, it was his dream.

His parents were excited but were not able to take him due to work. His PE teacher, Mr Green jumped in and said he would take him. Mr Green was a huge football fan and loved the idea of one of his students playing professionally.

Pedro was so nervous and excited on the big day, and Mr Green reassured him that he would be fine and that his ability would see him through the trial. The trial was at 5pm, and after school, anxious Pedro met with Mr Green. They got into his car and started the engine.

Suddenly, they heard a huge bang and looked over at the school entrance. Someone had driven a car through the main entrance doors and into the reception area. The driver ran out and got onto an awaiting motorbike and escaped. The vehicle was daubed in graffiti with messages of hate and anger. It was aimed towards the new teachers. Fortunately, no one was injured, however many staff members were shaken and in shock. The police, ambulance and fire service were on the scene within minutes, it was chaotic and petrifying. “The Whispers” had made their move. An over the top, dangerous and terrifying move which eventually led to many arrests and prison sentences. It was awful and impacted a nation, there were copycat attacks throughout the UK.

Pedro never did make it to his trial. He just wanted to play football, he looked at Mr Green and just said one word, “Why”?

The End