Widening the lens

Performative it may be but vlogging captures the essence of football support

- Max Rushden

I received a wonderful message from Bob in Kent while hosting the afternoon show on TalkSport on New Year’s Eve. “Can’t believe you’re still employing Max Rushden,’ it read. “He’s so tedious. I still won’t listen while he’s on. If you rate him, put him on with Simon Jordan, then you'll see his intellect. Is he cheap? Is that it? Please explain to me, why? Bob, Kent.” Season’s greetings to you too, Bob.

I’ve had worse. Bob’s just curious. The truth is that not everything is for everyone, certainly I am not for Bob in Kent. The hope is that, as a broadcaster, you are at least bearable for a reasonable proportion of the audience, and ona good day even enjoyable to some.

And we are all Bob in Kent for some part of the ever-widening world of football broadcasting. And while very aware that this horse has bolted, the idea of filming every moment of every game on your phone feels totally anathema to my love of going to football. Don’t film the Toploader gig, just enjoy it.

All my seminal memories of the Newmarket Road End in the 1990s and early 2000s are just that; memories. The pre-mobile age, to lose yourself in the game - or more often be bored out of your mind. The lack of any footage of these moments has probably helped me curate such memories into a more exciting version of the truth. And it is also just the nostalgia talking - I probably would be a vlogger if I'd been born 20 years later.