Today we feature a much delayed final part of the exclusive interview for the Foxes Trust of Richard Gamble who provides his insight into his first 12 months as Chaplain of Leicester City.
By day, you are a successful local businessman. More and more now, we hear and read about the business side of the game. Do you think this in any way detracts from fans enjoyment of watching football which, at one time, was considered to be just a sport?
Business and sport are inextricably linked and can never be separated. There are some things which business has brought to football which has massively improved the enjoyment and accessibility to the game. However, the Bible says that ‘the love of money is the root of all evil.’ I don’t have a problem with money being in the game but when the love of it and the greed for more, influences the game, I believe our beautiful sport then becomes tainted.
You believe in justice and fairness across society. In football, all the wealth and success appears to go to a handful of Clubs at the top of the Premier League, whereas success to the vast majority of Football League Clubs is merely survival. How do you view this inequality in the game today?
The picture is very similar to some issues we have in the wider world. There is enough food for everyone and yet some people are starving. Likewise, in the League, there is enough money for all Clubs to survive. We have seen this year what can only be described as financial meltdown in the football world and I believe that some of the larger Clubs in the Premier League need to accept the weight of responsibility which is on them to change the system, thus enabling all Clubs to flourish……
What have you learned most about the past 12 months, your first year as Club Chaplain?
Behind the scenes has really opened my eyes as to how committed you have to be in order to succeed and just how ruthless the game of football can be. We get fed a lot of comments from the media about how spoilt players are today. However, the reality is that the successful ones have to make huge sacrifices in order to succeed in the game and yet they can do all that but in a moment of madness a rash challenge can end their career.
How do you see your role as Chaplain of Leicester City Football Club developing over the next 12 months?
Many are the plans of a man’s heart but the will of the Lord prevails. I have learned over the years to go out and do what God tells me to do. The key for me is listening to him and making sure that I am available for the opportunities and circumstances that will take place in the coming year. Football is such a volatile game that you can never confidently plan what is going to happen in the season ahead.
The Foxes Trust board would like to thank Rich for agreeing to this interview and looks forward to catching up with him at games throughout next season.