LoyaltyandSymbolisminTheClub

March 7, 2012 by Phillip Dimitriadis 12 Comments

ByPhilDimitriadis
TheClubbyDavidWilliamsonexaminesthepoliticalmachinationsofafailingfootballclub
andthepowerplaysofitstraditionalandemergingstakeholders.Theplaychallengesthe
heromythandteamworkethicthatseemsprevalentinthecelebratorypublications.Itisa
play about relationships and their vulnerability as the club seeks to examine its lack of
successandlookfortheappropriatescapegoats.
TheClub isalsoaboutthebreakdownofethicalboundariesinbusiness,sportpoliticsand
personalhumanrelationships.Theinflexibilityandsanctityoftraditioniscounteredbythe
needtoseeknewsolutions,keepupwiththetimesandchasesuccessatalmostanycost.As
Gerry the new breed administrator says when questioned about the inhuman nature of
tradingplayerslikelivestock:thefactremainsthatthereisamarketmechanismoperating,
thereisapriceoneveryplayer(Act1,p.36).
Loyaltybecomesananachronisminthistypeofenvironment,butnotinasymbolicsense.
Loyaltyisvaluedbecauseitsymbolizesaveneerofconformity,ofworkingthroughand
trustingthatsuccesswillensueiftheworldviewofthecommitteeorboardisappropriated.
Theegoisthreatenedinsomeindividualsunderthesecircumstancesandopposingforces
defiantlydefendtheirterritory.TheyoungrecruitGeoffHaywardandtheageingcaptain
DannyRoweexhibittheshadowsideofthefootballersarchetypethatisdedicatedtoteam
success,hasaselflessworkethicandmodestlyplaysdownhisownabilities.Thecharacters
ofGeoffandDannywantsomepowertoo.Theywanttobevalidatedaspeoplewhose
opinionsarevaluedandwhentheyarenottheyrebel.Geoffistornbetweenthedesiretofeel
likeAchilleschasingthegoldenorb(Act1,p.43)andthedemandsofhavingareal
perspectiveontheruthlessnessandcompetitivenatureoffootball.Hesays:
Itsallalotofmachocompetitivebullshit.Youchasealumpofpigskinaroundamuddy
groundasifyourbloodylifedependedonitandwhenyougetityoukickittobuggeryand
gochasingitagain.Footballshitsme.(Act1,p.39).
Nowonderthecoachoftenneedsthepowerofaskilledalchemisttoblendateamof40or
moreindividualsintoateamfocusedonsimilargoals.Footballisonlyagametomanybutit
isalsoacomplexnetworkofrelationships,whicharefuelledbythesymbolicrhetoric,
politicalaspirationsandeconomicdependencyoftheindividualswholivetheirliveswithin
theprofessionalandhistoricalparadigmofaclub.
DannyRowehashisownreasonsforrebelling.Heistheproudclubcaptainclosinginonthe
coveted282gamesrecordheldbyJock,explayerformercoach,currentvicepresidentand
ubiquitoustroublemaker.Dannywantstostrike,asymbolicassertionofsolidarityexpressed
onbehalfoftheplayinggrouptodemonstratethatitthosewhoplaythegamethatensurethat
itbecomesmorethanagameoffthefield.ThebattleforrecognitionbyRoweissymbolic
oftheplayersrealizationthattheyneedtorespectedandpaidwellfortheirprofessional
gifts.Heargues:IfImoutthereriskingafracturedskullorarupturedspleenforapackof
overweightdrunksinthegrandstandbarthenIwanttogetpaidforit(Act1,p.22).
Rowesvitriolicdefiancebringsustothequestionofhowtheplayersrelatetofans
expectations.Thefansaresometimesseenaspassivespectatorswhoseemotionsebband
flowwiththeirteamssuccessandtheperformanceoftheplayers.Toanextentthisseems
prevalentinmostsports,asfanstuneinorattendagame,thinkaboutitreadabout,talkabout

itandthengetontodealingwithlifesothervagaries.Fansaremoreintelligentandaware
thantheyareoftengivencreditfor.Theyunderstandthattherelationshipwiththeplayerscan
belikeakindofsimulatedfriendshiporplatonicloveexperiencedatvaryingdistances.The
membersthatpourmoneyintoaclubcanfeelthattheyareentitledtoseetheirinvestment
accountedforinonfieldperformance.Theyarethereforemorelikelytotakeamoreactively
handsoncritical/celebratoryroleinthefortuneoftheirteam.
Mostfansintheterracesorgrandstandsrealizethatthereareillusionsatplay,dramathatis
temporal,symbolicandunlikelytolastforlong.Thedilemmaliesinthefactthatsupporters
haveanemotional,tribalandreligiousdevotiontoaclub.Thismeansthattheplayersmustat
leastpretendthattheyareplayingforthedreamsoftheirfansandfortheloveoftheclub,its
colorsanditshistory.JournalistGregBauminterpretsthedilemmathus:
Allareknowingcoconspiratorsinagranddeceit,thattheplayersfortheirpartfeelforthe
clubassuchasthefansdo,andthefansfortheirpartthattheycaninfluencetheclubs
fortunesassurelyastheplayerscan.Playerandfanareasone,andyetirreconcilable.The
onlycertaintyisthatforatime,theywearthesamecolors.(Baum,05/06/2003,TheAge).
Supportersidolizetheplayersandmanyyoungkidsandadultsunashamedlywearthenumber
oftheirfavoriteplayeronthebackoftheirreplicaguernsey.However,playershavebeen
disloyaltoclubsandviceversa.Therefore,thesupportersfocusonthecurrentteamtobring
forththeglorythatthepsychesoagonizinglycravessoitmayfeelpartofahighermore
purposefulgood.DannyRowesfrustrationispalpablyunderstandabletotheobjective
observer.However,hisoutburstwouldvergeonsacrilegetothefansoftheclubbecauseheis
subvertinganimaginaryinnocencethatdrivesthereligiousfervourofthefans.Theyknow
deepdownthatRoweisnotandneverwillbethemessiah,butitdoesntstopthemfrom
hopingthathiscaptaincy,loyaltyandskillmayjusthelpdelivertheholygrailafternineteen
barrenyears.Inasense,Roweandarchetypeslikehimaretheknowingconspiratorsthat
Baumrefersto,butlikethefans,playershavedoubtsaboutwhattheirpurposeisinthis
drama.