Today we feature the second part of the exclusive interview for the Foxes Trust of Richard Gamble who continues his insight into his first 12 months as Chaplain of Leicester City.
Do you find that you spend more time with one particular group at the Club, more so than with any other group, for example, The Academy, or do you try to share your time equally across all areas of the Club ?
I share my time equally with all areas of the Club. It doesn’t matter if someone is a player or performs another role at the Club. In God’s eyes, they are all equal and, as such, all equally important as each other.
When you sit in the Stand on a Saturday afternoon, do you view the game any differently now than before you became Club Chaplain, or do you still enjoy the game in the same way as you did before your appointment ?
My attitude has definitely changed. Before, just simply as a fan, it seemed at times that the players were not ordinary human beings. When you listen to the reaction of some supporters , they just don’t appreciate at times that the players are in fact just that, ordinary human beings. Like the rest of us, players have good days and bad days. They have times when things are going well at home and then other times, they have bad days at home as well. This can and does affect their performance…..
As a fan, I didn’t appreciate what an impact encouragement, or discouragement, has on a player. Fans really can make a difference. Even now, there are some players at the Club who seem to be on the supporters’ hit list and they are berated for the smallest mistake. Not so long ago, some fans were on Jack Hobbs’s back and yet he is arguably now one of the Club’s best players.
Do you have any involvement with Supporters and/or the Community side of the Club?
I am sometimes approached by fans at away games and I always make myself available and I am happy to help them at any time. Perhaps most of my involvement with fans is with families at times of bereavement and with the Remembrance Garden. I do believe that the Garden has been a fantastic initiative from The Birch and Leicester City Football Club. I know a lot of families have found great comfort, knowing that their loved ones are remembered in this way by the Club who they adored.
What is the attitude of the Living Rock Church to you being Chaplain of a Football Club?
The attitude of the Church has been fantastic and they have given me their full support. As a Church, we want to be involved and be able to contribute in all areas of life. Clearly, Leicester City is a big part of the lives of many people in Leicestershire.
What is your view of Sunday football? Does this interfere in any way with your role as Church Pastor?
The Bible teaches that it is good to have a day of rest but it does not specify which day that should be. Traditionally, in this country, that used to be a Sunday but that is now no longer the case. On the one hand, games on a Sunday don’t bother me but I am concerned about people having to work 7 days a week, in order to make ends meet. My most prominent role as Church Pastor at Living Rock is the Chaplaincy itself, so in that sense Sunday football creates no interference.
In the past, in recognition of people and/or events, football fans would show their respect with a minute’s silence. However, more and more now this is being replaced by a moment of applause. What is your view on this?
The two do different things. Interestingly, at the end of season Memorial Service, we do both as all of the relatives’ names are read out. For me, a minute’s silence is a time to reflect. A moment’s applause is a time to celebrate. I think it is the right of the families involved to choose whichever they feel is appropriate.
Look out for the final part in the series which will include Rich’s views on the equality of wealth in football and what he has learnt about the game during the last year