This is a press release for The Philosophers Football Match.
NOTE: It is strictly embargoed until 24 February
FORMER ENGLAND MANAGER APPOINTED MANAGER OF 'SOCRATES
WANDERERS'!
24 February 2010, London – Special educational service provider The
Philosophy Shop is delighted to announce that former England manager Graham
Taylor will be managing the 'Socrates Wanderers' First XI side for its 2010 restaging of the classic Monty Python 'Philosophers' Football' clash of 'Greeks'
versus 'Germans'. Taylor's appointment nicely balances, of course, the positioning
of professional Philosopher AC Grayling, a man who cheerfully admits to never
even managing the kids in his playground side, as his deadly rival on the
opposing 'Nietzsche Albion’ team.
Taylor brings to his new 'role' a formidable CV as both player for Grimsby Town
and Lincoln City as well as coach of Lincoln, Aston Villa, Wolverhampton
Wanderers and Watford, as well as the highest job in English football itself,
managing England (1990-1993). Speaking from the touchline as he put his squad
through a strenuous regime of calisthenics and anti-Sophist argumentation, he
comments: “As the sole genuine footballer in the Greek team, I’m definitely a
surprise appointment. I’m well versed in tactical worries, but need to hone my
approach to metaphysical concerns, clearly.”
Meanwhile, AC Grayling, his opponent, claims he is 'not worried' at the
appointment of the famous England Manager. “The German squad have
experienced team problems but I’m not worried,” he reports from his study, kneedeep in unwashed kit and copies of Also Sprach Zarathustra. “Having already
beaten England's famous midfield trio, Bentham, Locke and Hobbes, I feel
confident in their forthcoming performance. We Moderns expect to give those
Ancients a good kicking – Taylor at the helm or no.”
With the appointment of these footballing and philosophical giants for organising
tactics for this grudge match, 'Socrates Wanderers' versus 'Nietzsche Albion,'
scheduled to take place on Sunday, 9th May 2010 at Wingate & Finchley’s Harry
Abrahams Stadium in North London, is now ready for the ref's whistle and kickoff! Inspired by the famous 1972 Monty Python sketch, and with the full backing
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of the surviving Pythons, this tribute/replay will bring together a range of wellknown UK intellectuals, comedians, broadcasters, writers and journalists in aid of
the theme of 'More reasoning and creative thinking for our children'.
The Philosophy Shop, the group behind the Match, helps Philosophy graduates
conduct practical Philosophy sessions for primary school children (ages 5 to 11)
as part of a drive to boost their critical reasoning skills from a very early age. This
is in order to better support young people’s learning and development and also
enable kids from all backgrounds to enjoy the intellectual excitement that comes
from doing Philosophy.
“It’s going to be a fantastic sporting and Monty Python-influenced event and we
are delighted with the news of the dual appointments,” says Peter Worley, its
Director. “With such sporting and philosophical prowess, it’s a true meeting of
minds and feet!”
So far the teamsheet includes comedians Mark Steel, Tony Hawks, Arthur Smith,
Andy Hamilton and Ariane Sherine, as well as assorted footballers, sorry,
philosophers! Julian Baggini, Nigel Warburton, Simon Glendinning, Dr Stephen
Law, Angie Hobbs and Mark Vernon. Our supporters on the touchlines include
sociologist and Radio 4 Thinking Allowed presenter Laurie Taylor, the BBC’s John
Humphrys, footballing legend Gary Lineker and educationalist and author Anthony
Seldon.
For more information about The Philosophers Football Match 2010, visit
http://www.philosophersfootball.com/.
Former England manager Graham Taylor is available for interview about
the upcoming Philosophy Match. For further information and for
interviews, please contact Amanda Jane PR:
Email – info@amandajanepr.com
Tel: 020 7241 1390 / 07920 052 160
– ENDS –
NOTES TO EDITORS:
SUPPORTER'S MESSAGES JUST IN
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"A great footballer achieves that status as much through his ability to think on his
feet and read a game as it does from training or innate ability. How could anyone
not agree that teaching children to think about everything in their lives wouldn't
be just as useful?" - Gary Lineker, Broadcaster, English Football Hall Of
Fame Inductee. Reported to be planning move to top Brazilian team. Top
Brazilian team as yet unaware of this.
“I didn’t think I would ever be managing the Socrates Wanderers. But the project
is an important one, as well as being a fun event.” - Former Watford, Aston
Villa And England Gaffer Graham Taylor. Manager.
"Children are philosophers by nature and should be given every opportunity to
think and enquire and become little Socrates in their own rights." – Philosopher
AC Grayling. Manager. Reported To Be Banned From The Touchline For
Barracking The Fourth Official For Crass Determinism.
About The Philosophy Shop
The Philosophy Shop is a social enterprise and a member of Social Enterprise
London, operating on a not-for-profit basis. Any operating surplus is reinvested in
providing educational services or promoting Philosophy in the community. All
money raised in connection with 'The Philosophers' Football Match 2010' will be
used for increasing awareness of the 'Four Rs' campaign and for these purposes.
The Philosophy Shop will be using 'The Philosophers' Football Match 2010' as a
springboard for increasing awareness of its 'Four Rs' campaign, centred on
flagging the importance of the four, not three, Rs: Reading, (W)riting,
(A)rithmetic AND Reasoning.
http://www.thephilosophyshop.co.uk/
Philosophers' Football Match Sponsors
2000 AD is one of the best known brands in the global comic business, a title that
combines award-winning sci-fi, horror and fantasy infused with a mean streak of
irony and black humour in the shape of characters like Judge Dredd, Halo Jones,
Rogue Trooper and Tank Girl. 2000 AD has been employing the finest graphic
novel writers and artists since it burst on the scene in 1977, a heritage firmly
being upheld by owners Rebellion, who acquired the title in July 2000. Rebellion's
commitment to innovation and entertainment make it an ideal creative sponsor of
The Philosophers Football Match.
http://www.rebellion.co.uk/
London-based Media design consultancy on-IDLE was founded by Ané Mari du Toit
and Marc Peter in 1999; Marc and Ané met while taking Masters degrees in
Interactive Media at the London College of Communication under acclaimed
filmmaker and founder of Imagine design bureaux Alan Sekers. The company
mixes leading technology with design, publishing and media consultancy across a
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variety of platforms, cultures, languages and markets while its work in the
education and non-profit sectors gives The Philosophers Football Match a great
basis for design success.
http://www.on-idle.com/
Performance Ticket Printers was formed in 1987, offering full colour tickets,
posters and flyers. PTP provide tickets for theatres, cinemas, choral societies,
orchestras, choirs, drama groups, operatic societies and many festivals.
Customers include the BBC, John Lewis Partnership, National Trust, English
Heritage, Royal Academy of Music, Westminster Abbey and the BBC Symphony
Orchestra.
http://www.ticketprinters.co.uk/
Founded in 1997, TPM - The Philosophers’ Magazine is an independent quarterly,
devoted to presenting top-class philosophy in an accessible and entertaining
format. It regularly includes interviews with leading philosophers as diverse as
Simon Blackburn, Daniel Dennett, Michael Dummett, Luce Irigaray, Hilary
Putnam, T.M. Scanlon, John Searle, Peter Singer and Slavoj Žižek.
http://www.philosophersnet.com
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