The true power of the game

There can be times in this day and age of the game when we can all become somewhat jaded and fed up with seemingly everything. Whether because of match-fixing scandals, overpaid players having a laugh in the tunnel despite having just seen their teams relegated, or a certain player losing his mind once again and biting an unsuspecting opponent, our collective patience can be tried over and over again. Maybe in light of these moments we even begin to wonder why we love this game in the first place.

Thankfully in recent days, the actions taken by a few clubs and their players have served to remind us once again of what is indeed still good about the world's game, and it is these fantastic gestures that deserve far more attention than some of the more unsavory headlines that could be written otherwise.



In Portland, young fan Atticus Lane-Dupre, who has been battling cancer, saw his dreams realized in grand fashion when his beloved Portland Timbers took on his Green Machine youth team in a match before 3,000 fans at Jeld-Wen Field. As seen in the videos from Atticus' special day, it's very evident that the occasion meant the world to Atticus, and the chance to meet and play with his favorite players will make each coming day easier as he fights his way back to being 100% healthy.

Thousands of miles away in Blackburn, local boy Joseph Rimmer also had a chance to enjoy a day out with his favorite team, as Rovers invited him to take in a training session, meet the players, take a few shots on goal, and listen in on Gary Bowyer's pre-game press conference. Joseph, who at the young age of 14 serves as the primary caregiver for his multiple sclerosis stricken mother, was over the moon to have been such a special guest of the club, and such a day out is just what such a brave boy as Joseph deserves.

In neighboring Burnley, a simple yet phenomenal gesture by Burnley's Danny Ings rightfully garnered plenty of attention worldwide when Ings reached out to a young disabled fan after their game against Ipswich by giving him his boots and a kiss on the forehead. It was a simple, spontaneous and heartfelt moment that the young boy will surely not forget anytime soon, and it also served to show that many of these players we see for 90 minutes at a time have another side to them that extends well beyond the pitch.

If there is any one common thread to be taken from the recent events in Portland, Blackburn and Burnley, it is that clubs, even in this modern age of the game that can be so defined by money and sensational headlines, still can play such a vital role in being the very lifeblood of their communities, however large or small. Hopefully stories like this will continue to emerge, clubs will continue to play their part in bringing joy to their fans who, in some cases, so desperately need it, and we will be reminded perpetually of just how powerful this game can truly be for us all.