Why Football Matters to Me | Monday Morning Musing #21

Last weekend, I was back in Durham City, a place that still feels like home with such a unique setting that it takes my breath away each time visit the older grow. I played football with a group of old friends I haven't shared a pitch with in over 25 years. And something about that game really hit me.

It made me think about how much football has shaped how I see life, business, and people.

I grew up a die hard Newcastle United fan from the age of 7. I loved playing the game, watching it, obsessing over it. I wasn’t just glued to computer games such as Sensible Soccer, FIFA, or Pro Evo (if you know, you know), I was a proper Championship Manager nerd. No graphics, just spreadsheets, stats, and strategy. Some mates would join in, others would mock it. I didn’t care… I was hooked. I think I’ve had the last laugh as spreadsheets are now an everyday part of my life and in a much more useful way.

And then, for about 10 years, I just stopped. Between 2010 and 2020, I didn’t watch a match, not even the World Cup. I played briefly in 2014, broke a scaphoid, and thought I was “done with it.” I’d grown up. Football felt disconnected, watching 18 to 30 year old millionaires (who I had previously idolised) while the world was in an economic crisis just didn’t sit right.

Then Newcastle got taken over by the Saudis, and everything changed. The club that shaped my youth suddenly had a future again. Around the same time, I found a group near me playing five a side every Wednesday and Friday. That love for the game came roaring back.

And it’s funny, because when you step back, it’s ridiculous, adults chasing a ball around. But it’s also everything.

The camaraderie. The competition. The commitment. The thrill of influencing a win or owning a loss. It teaches you what it means to be part of something bigger. You learn how to turn up. How to dig deep. How to take knocks and still play the next game.

I was never the best on the pitch. I’m left footed and my right side might as well not exist. But football taught me something that stuck, talent alone isn’t enough. You need to graft. You need to think ahead. You need to read the room, trust your team, and know when to strike. It’s all about being able to think 5 steps ahead, being in the right place at the right time, awareness, and getting the basics right. That applies in business, in property, in finance and in life.

While I was up in Durham, I visited the Merryoaks estate, the place that gave this business its name. It reminded me that what we do isn’t just finance. It’s not spreadsheets and funding structures. It’s about people. Relationships. Communication. Passion. Long term trust. The kind of stuff that can’t be bought, or faked. Just like in football.

And yes, Newcastle United have just lifted their first championship title in over 70 years. A small thing in the grand scheme of life… but also not. That’s the thing with football. It’s trivial. And important. At the same time.

Merryoaks Property Finance is growing and it's because what we’re building matters. To me, and to the people we serve. This is about more than just numbers. It’s about solving the affordable housing crisis, creating places for people to work, rest, and play, and doing it in a way that lasts.

I recorded a few videos while I was up there with clients, friends, and a little walk around the estate I grew up on. I’ll be sharing those soon. Keep an eye out.

But yeah… football, friends, Durham, and deals, it’s all connected, somehow.