It’s probably a sign that you are thinking about The Clash Blog too often when you find yourself in the shower singing ‘Guns of Brixton’. That in and of itself isn’t such a bad thing until I tell you it was the excerpted version from Sandinista! as sung by the child. So there I was singing the kid’s version out of key and at the wrong speed looking for that perfect match – the acoustics of our bathroom lending credence to my poor poor effort. Easy money trivia question for you – who sings this version on the album and who are they (in relation to the band). Off topic from The Clash but football is relevant to some of us, based on this story where do you think this situation is going to end? My area of expertise if I have one was apparently economic and based on that information something is going to give quite soon and I fear it might be the whole house of cards.

So where did the Clash stand when it came to football (soccer to one small percentage of the planet)? I know that the beautiful game was seen as the ideal team building exercise during the rehearsals for and recording of London Calling in the Summer of 1979. By all accounts Mick was the closest the band had to a natural player with a fair amount of flair to his game but perhaps lacking in physique to take much punishment in a midfield role. I think Joe was a very casual player and there’s little account of him being terribly ‘sporty’. Paul loved art and I don’t think had much time for football, also worth noting that football in England in 1976 was nothing like today, a very white and British streak ran through 98% of teams as players from elsewhere were a luxury (or novelty) depending on your point of view. Prior to 1979 there were but a handful of players in the league who were back much to the discredit of the game. Thankfully that is no longer the case, the game is completely integrated and racism on the terraces is greatly diminished and in most circumstances essentially eliminated (I should add an asterisk for Spain). I can’t imagine Simonon relating to a very brutal game and segregated scene as it was in that era. Topper? I’ve no idea….perhaps his autobiography will reveal more.

Mick is by all accounts a pretty loyal Queens Park Rangers fan who does attend games, the once fashionable yet small West London club had their

Stan Bowles in action for QPR in 1975

best spell in the mid-late 1970′s (sounds like The Clash?) and over the last two decades have been away from the top flight and out of the public eye. For a few short years Q.P.R. were not only playing some great stuff but also attracting some of the more flamboyant players in the league, this was in the day when mixing booze, gambling, women and long hair was all in good standing so long as you did the business on a Saturday afternoon. Rangers home stadium is a long goal kick away from Shepherd’s Bush and the Westway making it a natural club for all things Clash related.

As for Joe despite naming a song Tony Adams (if you have to ask who he is I’ll be insulted…so try google) he wasn’t an Arsenal fan although Johnny Rotten most certainly is. Strummer showed a moderate interest in the fortunes of Chelsea, who occupy the rich and famed end of West London. It wasn’t always so in the 1970′s and 80′s Chelsea were the third biggest side in London rarely rising above average and nothing like the current bankrolled team. I used to always worry that if I ever met Joe Strummer would I be able to keep my dislike for Chelsea to myself? Being a football fan is the most annoying heritage sometimes if you meet someone and you know who they support. Twice in my life I met musical legends (to me anyway) and both times I put my foot in my mouth about football almost before saying how much I loved their musical talent. So thanks to Billy Bragg (West Ham) and Damon Albarn (Chelsea) for humouring me and especially Damon who wrote 1-0 Chelsea repeatedly on my arm and anything else nearby worth signing when I met him in Chicago many years ago.

I’ll explore the Clash/football aspects further for the blog – if you’ve anything to add the usual way to contact me applies!

Cheers