As the football season draws to a close, a monk from Ampleforth Abbey – a Benedictine abbey in North Yorkshire – has taken to social media to answer a burning question he is often asked: Can monks support a football club?
In a surprising revelation, the father admitted that indeed they do. “Yes we do [follow football] – we have one monk who supports Leeds, we have two who support Manchester United, one who supports Stoke, and one who died last year at 93 supporting Newcastle – so he just missed out on their triumph,” he disclosed on TikTok. “But I’m sure he’s rejoicing in heaven.”
The father also shared that the monks engage in their own unique sporting pastime, which involves a “strange form of squash” played in a stone “court” at the Abbey. This game, he said, was brought over from France by their community 200 years ago.
“We have sort of a flat, wooden paddle and a cork ball covered in leather,” he elaborated. “I don’t get much chance to play sports now – I’m one of three brothers so we used to play lots of sports at home and then at school and university, so I’ve always loved sport.”
The father likened being a football fan to a religious devotion, meanwhile, explaining, “You have to suffer with your team in order to rejoice with your team,” and mused on the spiritual parallels.
“And it’s like when they’re relegated, you rise again when they’re promoted. So I’ve always seen a kind of religious connotation – there’s a commitment people show in supporting a team.”
He confessed his own lack of such dedication, however, admitting to being “a bit promiscuous” in his sporting loyalties, citing “Spurs, Man City and Newcastle” as his fluctuating favourites.
Continuing to drawing parallels with monastic life, meanwhile, he reflected: “I think when it comes to understanding that sense of commitment, I think in the monastery as well, we try and support each other through difficulties and rejoice with those who are rejoicing, and weep with those who are weeping.”
The father concluded by revealing his fascination with the “slightly mesmerised by the soap opera of sports”, acknowledging its flaws but also its allure: “It’s the human drama, I’m sometimes horrified by the corruption and the shallowness of it, but I’m also entranced by the beauty of it – not just the individual skill, but a really good goal shows the teamwork of it. I think that’s really beautiful to watch.”
One TikTok user quipped in response to the video: “You’d think they’d support Southampton with them being the ‘Saints’!” Another person reminded the father: “Don’t forget Brother Walfrid founded Celtic.”
A third sympathised with a missed victory, commenting, “Such a shame that your Newcastle fan missed the win! I’m sure he saw it somehow.”
A fourth fan lamented the trials of their allegiance, saying: “Being a Spurs fan is quite the long suffering vocation. But hopefully like monastic life worth it – still waiting for that trophy though!”
Whilst a fifth also refelcted on the similarites in football and faith, noting: “I imagine the criticism you get for supporting your team despite change of owners, their actions and attendance etc. is like that of being criticised for following your religion.”