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The demise of the works team

Metropolitan Police are playing in the FA Cup today, but none of the team are police officers. It's three years since the last police officer stopped playing as he couldn't get enough time off. Time off to represent the Met in sport was being denied by Scotland Yard 15 years ago and the police force is now more stretched than ever, particularly in London.

Four Four Two did run a profile of the club some time back, but I have been unable to track it down online. At that time the support seemed to consist of equivalents of Sid and Doris Bonkers, the legendary supporters of Neasden FC in Private Eye. Apparently the usual crowd these days is around 90.

It is seen as a brand and players are expected to behave in a police-like manner. Talking back to the referee is not tolerated.

The broader issue here is the virtual disappearance of the works team, once quite common in non-league football. My father, as a former non-league player, had a particular dislike for them. Employers would give promising players a decent job with time off to train and hence bond as a team. I remember one Christmas going to see Falmouth Town playing Westland Yeovil. Falmouth were then dominating the Rothmans Western League but, as my father predicted, the visitors did a job on them and the match ended in a rare home draw.

Works teams belonged to an era of paternalistic British employers who felt they had a responsibility for the 'welfare' of their workers. A successful team could also enhance the reputation of their business and publicise their product. For example, Lovell's Athletic represented a sweets manufacturer and won the championship of the Southern League and the Welsh League six times. The confectionery business no longer exists and the ground is now a housing estate called Turnstiles: Not so sweet

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