Another in my occasional series of posts about football. Spurs not even mentioned once.

Careless of Sunderland to miss that fascist thing during the interview process for their new manager. Guess Di Canio omitted it from his C.V. The club seem genuinely surprised that it’s cropped up and unprepared for the almighty stench it’s caused.

Yesterday on twitter, the consensus among journalists after the press conference was that their media/PR people had managed it poorly, therefore it would not now go away. I’m not entirely sure about this: how exactly can fascism be airbrushed out of existence? Public relations seems an odd world at the best of times but even a sceptic such as myself would take my hat off to any PR rep who could convince me that there is an alternative, anodyne interpretation of this photo. An audition for the next Right Guard campaign just won’t cut it. A fan behaving in this way would be banned and rightly so. I could not conceive of any defence in mitigation.

Di Canio’s appointment is part of a wider and disturbing trend where football clubs actively insulate themselves from what’s going on around them in society. They do so at their peril.

Like any complex individual, Di Canio has many sides to his personality. An intelligent, driven man, his passion for the game in general and for English football is particular is wholly authentic. Alongside this are his fascist convictions. You can’t have one without the other. Yet the chairmen of first Swindon Town and now Sunderland wish to indulge in a personality pick ‘n mix. In order to justify their dubious employment policies, they are attempting to redefine the political frame of reference with a new creation, the fascist who is not a racist. There is no evidence of Di Canio discriminating against individual black people, for example, why, some are even team-mates and friends. Therefore we have the likeable, friendly and personable fascist. He works hard, he is an effective leader, he treats all the players on their merits. Forget the salutes, the Mussolini tattoo, his own words describing himself as a fascist which he has failed to retract or qualify despite being given ample opportunity to do so. Good old Paolo, the nicest fascist you could ever wish to meet.

In passing, the same things were said about Mussolini, Hitler and Franco, where many in their respective countries said that while they did not agree with the extreme politics, their leaders had the interests of the people at heart. It’s what fascist leaders do.

However, it’s expedient for Sunderland to take one part of Di Canio without the other. It suits them to ignore abhorrent political beliefs because they need a guy who can kick tuchas. Staying in the Premier League is all that matters.

There are other examples of this trend, the most notable being Chelsea’s apparent inability to confront allegations of racism against their captain John Terry, condoned by Roy Hodgson’s willingness to just get on with football irrespective of other considerations.  Part of the game’s enduring appeal is its escapism. For ninety minutes, the game is our world with its own rules and customs. We shout, sometimes abuse, we sing, we’re tribal and are uplifted by the experience, only to scuttle away at the final whistle to the humdrum ordinariness of our lives. But that’s no excuse for going too far, for fans or for clubs.

Football mirrors society however much it wishes it could escape. Like society, the game is grappling with racism on and off the pitch. In my view, in Britain we have moved forward significantly in my lifetime but there is much still to do and absolutely no room for complacency. Sunderland, Swindon and Chelsea are holding us back. Kick It Out except when we need the points and profits.

At this point, I should add that I have no axe to grind against Sunderland. Because this is on a blog about another football team, that’s what many people will believe but it is not true. On the contrary, I admire their loyalty and envy the passion of their fans in a one club city, unlike me as a wandering Londoner. They don’t deserve this.

Clubs are becoming increasingly alienated from their fans, especially in the Premier League. We are worried about where the money goes in the recession, they put the prices up when their income from TV is at stratospheric levels. We devote our time and energy to the team, they treat us as if we are extras to provide context and atmosphere. The board do not appear to have consulted anyone about the implications of this appointment, least of all their supporters. The apparent bewilderment and unpreparedness of the Sunderland hierarchy is another instance of how distant they are, their response shows that to them, this distance simply does not matter and in that respect they are no different from most Premier League clubs.

Like I say, football is part of society. For us, the ordinary, the employed, we transgress and there are consequences. I am a really nice person but if I mentioned at work that I was a fascist, or indeed bullied and assaulted a staff member as that nice Mr Di Canio did at Swindon, I would be out on my ear with little chance of another job in my profession. However, it seems that these days others face fewer consequences. Politicians are disgraced, lie low for a bit and back they come. Post Leveson, Brooks leaves the NOTW with a pay-off rumoured to be £7m, although of course she has not been found guilty of any criminal offence. Morgan sacked at the Mirror, now a celebrity interviewer. There’s a worrying trend that for some there are no consequences. Perhaps after all football understands that it is part of society all too well.

In his entertaining and perceptive book about Spurs, Topspurs maestro Jim Duggan nails the highs and lows of being a Spurs fan. It’s all there, from eleven umissable terrace moments and ’17 goals and a miss that define the Tottenham way’ through to ’22 ignominious defeats’. There’s a delight to be found on every page but flicking through it during the international break, I kept coming back to page 186: ‘Ten Spring Collapses’.

In grotesque detail, a catastrophic comedy of failure. Hopes raised, hopes dashed. It goes back further than you might think – even the Double side tripped up in the two seasons that followed their triumph. The one I recall most bitterly isn’t listed, when in 1982 we had a chance in four competitions, including a League Cup Final and Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final, then had to play eight matches in the first 17 days of May as preparation for a cup final five days later. Key players in a thin squad were injured, others were out on their feet. Sound familiar? At least we won the cup that year.

History exerts its pull, sinister dark matter lurking everywhere, unseen and unknown but the most powerful force in the universe. Yet I refuse to accept that fate dictates the outcome of human endeavours. We hold our future in our own hands. Evidence trumps destiny every time. Victory against Ars***l was sweet in itself but it meant more than just three points and bragging rights. It demonstrated how far Tottenham had come in a few short months, a determined, able team responding to pressure with the best performance of the season.

Inter was one thing, Fulham was jaw-droppingly impossible. Was Ars***l really as good as it would get? Two weeks to ponder, the I told you so smug derision of our rivals’ fans had the ominous ring of truth. So as the whistle blew in west Wales, I looked hard for evidence. Leave the stats, look into their eyes, the bounce, the organisation, the purpose. Internationals provide little physical respite but could refresh the mind.

Within five minutes I was reassured. Better than I expected, to be honest. Our Andre had pulled them all together. Lennon’s reassuring presence on the right made a big difference. He had a quiet game but he’s essential to the shape and balance of this side. A spring in our step, we pressed and pressured. Everyone knew what they were supposed to be doing and went about their work willingly.

In the end, not our finest hour but that’s not the point. Sometimes after a bad game it’s better to plough on without time to think. That was Fulham, and it showed physically and mentally they were shot. Instead, the break gave them a sense of perspective, time to reflect on what was important and what they might have if they got it together again. I like to think they returned to Enfield and said, yep, this is allright, we’ve got a little something going for us, this football nerd with a beard, the shouty German and the other two, no one knows what their names are, them – this is where I want to be and we’re not going to let this slip without a fight.

Who knows? They got it together, most of the time, and that’s enough for me, for now. They settled quickly and did not allow Swansea to establish a rhythm. And from that base, we have stars who can make the ball sing and dance to their tune. Two goals to relish but note both emerged from the simple effort of being mentally alert, first to a loose ball, then let it rip.

Vertonghen, a class footballer who chooses to demonstrate his skill at the back, moved into a gap, to Bale, a spellbinding chip hanging, hanging in the air, gravity under his spell as it fell only when the Belgian was ready. For he kept going. Bale saw him, the defenders were mesmerised. Left foot to nudge it into his stride, left again and into the net.

Then Vertonghen again – Swansea had not plugged that hole in midfield. He shaped to repeat the feat but instead angled the ball into Bale’s feet. One touch and stroked past the keeper from twenty yards. It was not just the accuracy that left him rooted to the spot but the quickness of foot and mind. I’ve watched it over and over again, of course I have, and each time it takes me by surprise. How did he do that?

Two stunning pieces of top class football. I don’t mind a stat or two, they have their place. Replays can shed light on events on the pitch. But what I want from the game cannot be written down or counted. I want to gasp and wonder. I want to say, how did he do that?

So I’m as high as a kite, then history and fate give me a not so gentle nudge in the ribs. Spurs are two up, on top, this is the time to get really worried. We coasted for a while then Swansea came back into the game for the last 15 minutes of the half. It’s natural that a team as able as they are will have good spells but they missed a glorious chance that made us look better than we were as the half ended.

Over the years of this blog (TOMM – The Redknapp Years?), I’ve commented on one aspect of our tactics so much, I even bore myself with it but I’m sorry, here it is again – we have to protect the full-backs, especially away from home. In the second half, Swansea had far too much space on both flanks but particularly on our left where Naughton did well enough but too frequently was left on his own to deal with two players.

We kept our shape, and indeed changed it for the last twenty minutes with Bale dropping wide left, but we sat back too much and did not press the ball. Hence the stream of crosses into the box that kept us under pressure for the last quarter. Michu played further forward than he did at the Lane where by dropping deep he was seldom a threat. Here, he craftily sought the space between our two centre halves and was always dangerous. However, we should have stopped the chances at source.

Dawson and Vertonghen both played well. Dawson snaked out a long left leg on three occasions to make timely tackles. However, he lost Michu badly for the goal, a header from a corner. No excuse.

Parker had his best game for a while because he limited his horizons. In defence he tucked himself into the back four, often at the near post which cut out several crosses and he did not venture forward very often. Little creativity and a couple of poor passes at important moments but his header to deny Swansea on the break was significant, as well as earning a few bruises as Michu ploughed in.

Siggy looks like a good player who is playing out of position, except he’s played in several positions. Andre’s ploy of playing Adebayor into form failed again. His timid finish from a one on one with the keeper told its own story and once again his failure to hold the ball up offered no respite when we needed it in the second half.

Swansea missed a few but then so did we. Three points will do nicely. Not convincing entirely but I go for evidence – we have the best away record in the league apart from Man U, apparently. perhaps I should stop worrying, but let’s be honest, that’s never

Despite their reputation as money-grabbing, self-centred primadonnas, many Premier League footballers contribute their time and energy to charity work. It’s rare however to see a player actively involved with a small local project that genuinely makes a difference for vulnerable young people. Jermain Defoe’s work with E18ghteen deserves a great deal of respect.

The project helps young people who used to be in care to live independently in the community. As well as advice about housing, employment, benefits and training, it provides mentoring and personal support. It’s part of the work of the Tottenham Hotspur Foundation, funded by the club and whose mission is to reach out into the community and put something back.

What is particularly fascinating about Defoe’s involvement is that it’s no vanity project. Support for care leavers is desperately needed but it’s not sexy. Celebrities often attach themselves to fundraising for national charities or headline-grabbing events like Sport Relief. Once a year football backs the NSPCC’s Full Stop To Child Abuse campaign. Wearing a t-shirt during the warm-up may raise awareness temporarily but establishing a local project leaves a real legacy for the individuals concerned even if it seldom reaches the papers.

This is what I do for a living. Children and young people in care are amongst the most vulnerable in our society. All experience disruption and poor care at some point in their childhood, some much worse. Many walk a rocky road through the care system. For these young people, adulthood comes very suddenly. At 18 they leave care and whilst they are entitled to ongoing support and advice, because of severe local authority budgets cuts, the actual provision varies from the patchy to the virtually non-existent.

Many find themselves in trouble with the law. In November the chair of the Youth Justice Select Committee Sir Alan Beith highlighted the lack of services for young people: “We were shocked by evidence we heard that vulnerable children across the UK are effectively being abandoned by children’s and social services.”

Before Christmas I attended the launch of the Care Leavers’ Charter , an initiative begun by care leavers themselves and taken up by the Department For Education to ensure services are in place. It’s sobering to hear young people’s stories of rejection and isolation. We wouldn’t kick out our own children at 18 but the state often sees fit to do so. The speakers asked for very little. This was not about material goods or income, rather, they wanted security and safety, respect and guidance. Someone to turn to, someone to be there for them when times got tough.

Defoe is personally involved in E18ghteen, offering mentoring to young people as well as being the public figurehead. After the death of his brother in a fight, he approached the Foundation. Speaking in the Guardian last year, Defoe explained: “There were quite a few moments that made me think I need to put something back in the community. Watching the news and seeing all the gun crime in London. Young kids were dying, getting stabbed outside schools. Then what happened to my brother Gavin was a big thing for me. And one of my cousins was actually in care but is now in prison. I thought I’d love to do something to try and help the kids and try and stop this from happening.”

I work for a charity. We say – come back to us if you want to and whenever you want to. That simple gesture is the first step. No barriers or eligibility thresholds. Talk and we’ll help if we can. You can have all the resources you want but there is no substitute for being there. E18ghteen provides mentors to reach out and enable young people’s full potential to emerge. It’s a model piece of community work. Defoe does his best work in the area but this piece of thinking outside the box has been a huge success.

Photo from the official site. If you want to see what JD’s up to at the moment, here’s his video diary in the England camp: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HinKMHMfxD0&feature=youtu.be updated daily.

If you are interested in these issues, Conscience, a film by a care leaver, carries a simple and powerful message.