Football passions: A personal view

Abstract

The first ever conference that brought together psychotherapists, academics, footballers and football fans, took place on Sunday 24 May at Chelsea Football Club. Organized by the Freud Museum and the University of East London, it at first may seem an unlikely combination of interests. However, for many years I have been boring colleagues with insights on therapy based on a love of football. ‘Why not write about it?’ people have said, usually to shut me up. Then it occurred to me that a report of the conference would be an ideal way finally to put pen to paper on the relationship between football and psychotherapy.