The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

David Cameron: England’s number one fan

So you thought David Cameron was just faking being a football fan . . .

By Duncan Robinson Published 01 December 2010 18:04

David Cameron has a difficult relationship with football. Heading rallies with Kevin Keegan, à la Blair? Not for him. He purports to be an Aston Villa fan, but judging by his awkward demeanour while watching the football this summer with Angela Merkel he doesn't seem that comfortable with the national sport.

Or perhaps Cameron is so much of an England fan that he was just doing his best to stop himself from screaming "TWO WORLD WARS AND ONE WORLD CUP, DOO-DAH" in the German chancellor's face, followed by a few swift verses of "Ten German Bombers".

Further proof of Cameron's hardcore support for the national team can be found in this video.

(OK, so it's not really Cameron, and it's not even a hooligan, but it does look really like him . . . )

PS: If you've got a bit of spare cash, stick some money on a Cameron accumulator. It includes Manchester United losing to Blackpool and a 6-0 victory by Aston Villa over Liverpool. Confident. He also said he'd been impressed by Wigan this season. That would be Wigan who are currently 18th.

UPDATE: Turns out it might actually be Cameron in the second video.

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40 comments

Wed, 2010-12-01 18:19 — John (not verified)

Football - The Opium of the Masses.

Politicians know this, Bliar the liar, Broon, and now Cameron, they know it well.

Thu, 2010-12-02 15:00 — Will Pimm (not verified)

There is a difference between criticism and abuse. Right and left wing blogs contain many examples of the latter, together with many tricks of argument such as exaggerating the position of your opponent to one that is easier to criticise, arguing against a proposition that your opponent has not made but one you pretend was made and is easier to defeat.

I have never voted Labour or Tory but have voted Lib Dem but can't see myself doing so in the future. future.

Wed, 2010-12-01 18:49 — Chris b (not verified)

He is a villa fan. The great nephew of William dugdale the villa chairman in the 70s

Sun, 2010-12-05 07:55 — CrISpY DuCk

Cameron is no Tony Blair is he.Made a total arse of himself in Zurich.

Wed, 2010-12-01 19:11 — Adam Blane Richards (not verified)

Fives maybe, but football?

Wed, 2010-12-01 19:17 — swatantra

Croquet polo and real tennis maybe? but soccer?

Wed, 2010-12-01 20:04 — Will Pimm (not verified)

Yes Fives, maybe - but it would have to be Eton variety rather than Rugby Fives which is played by Oiks.

Fri, 2010-12-03 11:02 — Villan (not verified)

Cameron got a good kippering from Putin and now knows a lot more about the reality of world politics than he knew before.Please let's not descend into the old 'it was a fix' whine. After all, we got the Olympics didn't we?

Thu, 2010-12-02 15:43 — frankie (not verified)

'looks like cameron to me. what exactly are you getting at duncan? another haplessly, dishonest lefty smear perhaps? or just another tory-hating conspiracy theory from your fevered imagination'

Are you just not a knob but an utter twat too, Jules?

(OK, so it's not really Cameron, and it's not even a hooligan, but it does look really like him . . . )

I think you are.

Wed, 2010-12-01 22:23 — jeremiah

C'mon Russia! I don't want the bloody English ramming it down our throats for the next EIGHT years!

Auch aye the noo!

Sun, 2010-12-05 13:23 — jie4v7i14

Crispy Duck- can't believe Dave actually got a first in Oxford. Bought?

He's a numbnuts, through and through.

Thu, 2010-12-02 17:03 — ang (not verified)

Wills' looked embarrassed, Cameron and Beckham nowhere to be seen.
The '3 lions' made fools of themselves.
Putin did the right thing by leaving it up to the judges. The people of Russia will have their street party after the result and not before.
This is a wonderful opportunity for Russian people, they deserve it.
Just because you're royal or famous doesn't mean you get what you want.
Cameron probably really pissed them off with his arrogance.

Thu, 2010-12-02 03:47 — jie4v7i14

What was Dave wearing on his suit lapel yesterday in PMQ's? He looked like a sixth form trotskyite with it on. Quite childish. Anything to do with this World Cup business?

Thu, 2010-12-02 03:51 — jie4v7i14

Will Pimms - the classic Eton game/sport, is using that wall of theirs. Bizarre game - a cross between rugby and nutting your head against a stone wall constantly, if nutting your head againt the wall is a sport in some part of the known world. Or is that Harrow....

Thu, 2010-12-02 03:57 — jie4v7i14

FOUND. Yes, it is Eton - the bunch of nutters - yah, toast, yah, my fag makes fine toast, yah...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eton_wall_game

Thu, 2010-12-02 04:10 — jie4v7i14

Lindsay Anderson's movie "If" has a lot to answer for - giving us peasants a peek into the inner-world of lost young aristocracy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsDIyewuw2I

Thu, 2010-12-02 04:22 — jie4v7i14

re. Dave's lapel badge - here it is again, if someone missed it, but that is if the beeb don't change the link url in the meantime. Looks like one of those tie a yellow ribbon round the old oak tree populist charity nonsense, but it is in St. George's Cross red.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_9242000/9...

Thu, 2010-12-02 19:18 — Hugh Markey (not verified)

'Stiff upper lip, Chaps!' Why ever did Dave take Jammy 'Hari Kari' Hunt with him to Zurich as a persuader. Another public school boy who, in the days of his gilded youth, never kicked a spherical ball in anger. And dragging the Royal Family into these shabby dealings was a pretty poor show.
Not to mention that bunch of soccer has-beens who have made a nice little earner out of the game, not on the pitch, but in a studio of some sort.
Of course, if the bid had been successful, Eton, Charterhouse, Harrow etc would have had to introduce that contemptible ball game played by 11plus failures.

Offside!

Thu, 2010-12-02 07:36 — jie4v7i14

Might help on the mafiosa front - might give them feelings of world respect so might give them motivation to sort out any problems of the new hobby of capitalism.

I don't think Russia is that bad, maybe 1870 US post civil-war wild west maybe, in a capitalist type of way, maybe, but I am sure they will get on the same pane as the rest of us, with capitalist patience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC7bs8E1SB0

As I say again. 2018 World Cup - Russia.

That would be best for World peace, rather some strange old european western enclave that has not been overrun by anything for many centuries, like a set up of some hidden away nursery children.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OKMuS9xGZg

And by the way, Russia should have the World Cup

Yes, Russia it should be. Boris doesn't deserve to come in his pants with the Olympics AND the World Cup final coming to his manor.

2022 England? With Scotland? Your old Tudor/Stewart friends?

Thu, 2010-12-02 08:08 — jie4v7i14

Well, it sadly won't be England/Scotland 2022 when Russia deservedly get it today for their common plain people, non-mafiosa.

England/Scotland will get it in five continents time, if that is how it works...

Us brits, having problems with mafiosa people - Pretty Car - "Mr Bridger will drive all the ice cream sellers into the sea...",
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p58PxiVVJ1k

Thu, 2010-12-02 08:11 — jie4v7i14

forgot the Michael Caine comma, I apologise, "Mr Bridger, will drive all the ice cream sellers.. into the sea...",

Thu, 2010-12-02 08:17 — jie4v7i14

Anyway, since Wils great great something or other uncle got basically murdered by communist russia, this might be a chance to say ah well, history - you have it.

Anyway Wills, you have got to say mate, they have been through more than us lot, yah?

Thu, 2010-12-02 08:19 — jie4v7i14

In recent decades and all that, maybe further, and all that, Wills.

Russia for 2018 - plain as day to me.

Thu, 2010-12-02 08:29 — jie4v7i14

"there are quarter of a million chelsea players, in stamford bridge, and mr bridger, will drive them to become watford.."

Thu, 2010-12-02 08:31 — jie4v7i14

More football humour, "...and England is, that way. Good Morning"

Thu, 2010-12-02 09:57 — swatantra (not verified)

On serious note, I don't agree with PMs Presidents and Royalty getting involved in promoting football or business contracts or tourism for that matter. Leave it to the professional teams the sports squads the business community and the holiday camps. To wheel out Cameron Pr William and Beckham is a nonsense and smacks of arm twisting poorer and easily influenced countries. Its unfair. Beckham could have done it on his own in the same way that SebCo could have got the Olympics contract.

Thu, 2010-12-02 10:16 — jie4v7i14

You don't say swatantra, Cameron should have been at home looking after us.

As Michael Caine would say, YES, AS MICHAEL CAINE WOULD SAY, SO HE SHOULD, HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN HOME LOOKING AFTER US ALL, THE AIR MILES SEARCHER.

But now, let's calm down and think about this sensibly. YES THINK ABOUT THIS SENSIBLY... as... Michael Caine... once... said..

Thu, 2010-12-02 10:21 — ang (not verified)

Cameron can't keep his nose out of anything and with this he's just after the glory.
Part of me is wishing we don't get it, just to see the look on Camerons' face.
They reckon that the world cup would boost the economy by £3bn, probably about how much it is costing to jet Cameron back and forth and to accomodate a Prince and several footy stars in top class hotels and such.

Thu, 2010-12-02 10:31 — jie4v7i14

The BBC, and The Trip, making fun of me, yes, MAKING FUN OF ME. Coogan and Brydon will get a visit from Mr Bridgers close associates, oh yes, CLOSE ASSOCIATES, oh yes,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFIQIpC5_wY

Thu, 2010-12-02 11:35 — guido

Busted again for making it up - that is Dave and former Tory treasurer Jonathan Marland at the match.

http://order-order.com/2010/12/02/guy-news-dave-at-the-footie/

Thu, 2010-12-02 11:39 — concrete pump (not verified)

@ Ehtch Tee
You are a sad twat....!

Thu, 2010-12-02 11:49 — Will Pimm (not verified)

Catching a ride on the World Cup euphoria is probably better publicity than attending the Cancun conference, where we would be reminded that having talked the talk and been photographed with huskies before the election but he then dropped any serious green agenda after winning the election.

Fri, 2010-12-03 22:53 — matthew fox (not verified)

I didnt know DC10 was a fan of Association Football.

He probably send the butler to get his pie and bovril at half time.

Thu, 2010-12-02 12:00 — Rikko (not verified)

Why do so many Labour blogs just make it up.

Thu, 2010-12-02 12:11 — Jules Wright (not verified)

looks like cameron to me. what exactly are you getting at duncan? another haplessly, dishonest lefty smear perhaps? or just another tory-hating conspiracy theory from your fevered imagination.

one thing to say to you: jackie milburn as tony blair's "teenage hero." blair was four when milburn played his last game for the toons. pot. kettle. wanker.