Away from the normal Spurs stuff, I found this fascinating account of Indian football on the FIFA website http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1692684.html
Even more fascinating...this! [video=youtube;gwALivViwPg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwALivViwPg[/video]
Barefoot on the Park An exceptional group of footballers arrived in East Dulwich in September 1949, to take on the Isthmian League champions. The Hamlet’s match against the Nigerian FA’s touring side (their thigh and calf muscles clearly on display) turned out to be one of the most memorable matches Green took part in. Indeed, it is without a doubt that many in the 18,000 crowd turned up for the sheer uniqueness of the occasion. It was still very uncommon to find one black man on an English football field, so to have a whole team of black men aroused much curiosity. Green wore his trusty shooting boots, but most of the Nigerian team played in bare feet; a couple wore bumpers and ankle straps. Dulwich won the match 1-0.
Cheers for the replies. I think the Indian football story is quite an eye-opener, not just for the barefoot appearance, but also the fact that the country hosts the fourth oldest competition in the world, (Durand Cup, founded 1888) behind the English Scottish and Welsh FA Cup, and many other interesting facts beside.
Mens 5-a-side Blind Football today at the Paralympics. http://www.london2012.com/paralympics/football-5-a-side/ Keep an eye out for Wheelchair Rugby! there was a bit on the news about its, not for the faint-hearted, the chairs have what looks like a rollcage for the legs (for those that have legs of course. )
Much as this stuff about para Olympics might fascinate people, I wish people would stick to the topic I put up. If you want to discuss blind football or whatever, fine, but can't you start your own thread for that? I was hoping to have a discussion about Indian football its rise and fall and current rise again as part of the modern game. I erred with the headline in retrospect, so I take the blame for that If I can alter it I will. EDIT - seems like I can't ah well - I live in hope the actual topic of the original FIFA article is discussed. I wonder how many of the contributors to the thread have actually read it?
er no, if people want to talk about blind football, let them start their own thread, not hijack mine. I'm not happy about this at all.
I thought a thread on unusual forms of football was a good idea, others may have come in with more, which may have been interesting to read about. As you say its your thread, good luck with your search for fellow 1948 Indian barefoot football fans that are still alive.
I take your point NSS. As I say, the article's not just about 1948, but Indian football in general, but I agree it was a bad headline for me to choose, hence I'm not complaining, too much .
