Soccer and Song (Part One)

 


Footballer Sir Bobby Charlton was not only a magnificent athlete, he was by all accounts a decent human being -  to the max


His funeral recently took place at Manchester Cathedral.

The choice of music was terrific -  more about that tomorrow.

For now I'll talk about the greatly loved (and sometimes derided) "Abide With Me, fast falls the eventide"


'Twas not chosen by accident.  Back in the days when English/Welsh football teams did not have fancy and rich owners, and the players were not Beckham like celebrities  ...

back in those days as well as regular league games there was a knock out competition  for for the F.A. Cup.  There still is but it's become show-biz like.

The F.A. Cup Final used to have a unique feature.  Before the match started the crowd would sing the first verse of Abide with Me. 'Twas known by all people in culturally Christian England and Wales.

The custom has been discontinued.   But I like to think that the Charlton family choice of Abide with Me hearkened back (for good or for will) to a England and Wales which had a veneer of  Christianity.


From St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Philadelphia

https://youtu.be/l38HVvhpAjc?list=RDGMEM8h-ASY4B42jYeBhBnqb3-w


More about the other music tomorrow



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