FOOTBALL AROUND THE WORLD

PIERRE-ALEXANDER ON HOW STADE DE REIMS HAVE RISEN AFTER 35 YEARS

You might have recently heard of managerial phenomenon Will Still, head coach Reims FC in France, a team who have gone under the radar for so long since being a renowned and highly successful European club. You may have even seen his fascinating team talk, in which he remarkably switches from French to English with each sentence during his passionate address. Still’s rise to the top is inspiring and seen as a saviour by the Reims faithful. I spoke to Pierre-Alexandre, French teacher from the Boys’ School and ardent Reims supporter himself, who discusses his love-hate relationship with the club, predictions for the season (for both Reims and Watford who he has taken a liking to), and an insight into his interesting experiences playing football both in France and now for Old Habs:

What was your experience with football growing up?

‘I started to like football when I was about eight or nine, during the 2006 World Cup I really started to watch it, with the stars like Zidane and Henry, but for some reason goalkeeping has always been my thing, so I considered Fabien Barthez up there with the best as well. The moment I saw him play was the one I found my passion. He’s pretty much the reason I got into it.’

How come goalkeeping?

‘I realised from a young age that I had really good reflexes and sharp reactions but watching my roll models helped to put these to good use! As I say, Barthez certainly played a big role, but of course there were others like Iker Casillas and Buffon and Hugo Lloris slightly later as well. I’ve been told the way I play is quite similar to Lloris - the typical French way!

I play like I lot of French keepers in that we don’t love too much contact! We tend to play very high away from our goalline, but it’s something from personal experience that is hard to perfect and that I sometimes struggle with as well as injuries! These were the main guys who I looked to, but also Manuel Neuer in the way he stays so far off of his line’ It is clear that the modern goalkeeper has evolved drastically in the past 20 or so years, as Pierre describes how Neuer plays so differently to the conventional keeper from before the 90s, who wouldn’t dare to leave his goal line. Back then you could be terrible with your feet, but you could get away with it. But now, if you can’t pass well or your touch isn’t perfect you will get found out. ‘The modern goalkeeper requires much more than just shot stopping, you have to have more skills to your game.’

Who did you play for in France?

‘I’ve never played for a huge team, more just local and regional teams, similar to amateur football. I played for huge teams like Isles-sur-Suippe! And Witryles-Reims !- so really teams that no one knows about, however the last team that I played for a year at ‘Reims SainteAnne’ was actually the youth team that Robert Pires played for, which was a really great experience at effectively U19 regional level, similar to national league in England. we even managed to get promoted. I do think if I had been more committed then going semi pro or even pro wouldn’t have been out of the question!’

‘I never really wanted to do so full- time, but if I had the opportunity in the future even for a couple of months I would snatch it up, however what I really want is to enjoy my football, as it’s when I can relax and calm my mind, and if I lose that factor from doing what I love, I don’t really see the point in giving 100% of my effort. What really annoys me is how a decision which seems logical to me will be shouted at by my back line who don’t understand just how hard it is to be a keeper. Football really can just be a sociable game to play with friends.’

How does football in France compare to England?

‘Well it’s slightly different in France as you only have two professional leagues, whereas in England you have four, but the role football plays in the culture is very similar, when you think about Henry and Zidane, these players managed to hype up a whole country. The love for football is basically the same from my experience, but of course it’s two different cultures and worlds, in different ways they are very passionate. In terms of how they play, again both countries have very physical leagues (maybe even more physical in England!) The first game I played in goal for OH I was expecting the ref to blow for a foul after I was clattered by their striker! I thought it was clear but more challenges are seen as 50/50 here!’

Play or watch?

‘Of course I love to play, but since I moved here I’ve been to quite a lot of Watford ganes, at St Mary’s, the Etihad, Old Trafford, and even Turf Moor! It was really nice to see how different clubs and atmospheres differ around the country, and I feel like I appreciate it more, maybe because it’s so different from where I am from in Reims, whereas in Marseille and Nantes you have crazy fans, but it Reims they are all boring! Even though it’s quite a well known team we only fill half of the stadium! Following an English team really shows you just what football can be at its best (and at its worst!) it’s nice to have experienced both leagues’.

How have Stade de Reims fared recently?

‘Well, at the beginning of the season they played terribly under the former coach Óscar García, but since then they look much better under Will Still! They are unbeaten in 13 and 10th in the league. Historically we were a very famous club, especially back in the 1950s’. It’s clear that Reims enjoyed their most succesful years a long while ago when they attracted world-renowned international stars of the time .‘Just Fontaine and Raymond Kopa helped the club achieve lots of success, being the first French team to play in a European cup final, also winning 3 league titles and even the double that decade’. But In the 1960s disaster struck, with the club being relegated to league deux. After a yo-yo 8 year period, in which they bounced back twice, they found themselves back in the second tier after failing to consolidate their place in League 1. After another few spells in the top flight, they were relegated yet again, however this time ‘they didn’t manage to go back up until 2012’. It took them 57 years to regain a spot in a European competition, and In this 33 year dry period, it seems as though the club lost some of its old magic. ‘I don’t really enjoy the atmosphere because most of the time the stadium is half full, you don’t really have the same passion as with other teams’. Though there have certainly been some enjoyable times in the past few decades, ‘I remember when Reims played in the national level (3rd tier), they were not a great team by any means and even struggled in national but it has been amazing to see them rise again through the divisions.’

Will Watford get promoted this year?

‘They will reach the play-offs for sure, but I’m not too sure about promotion. The problem, like last year, is inconsistency. Sometimes they play like a solid premier league team, sometimes it seems as though they have forgotten the basics!’