An ode to Les Gones

Football fandom is often dictated by family tradition or geographical convenience. My decision to support Lyon, however, falls under neither of these categories.

Lying a considerable 750 miles south of my hometown in middle England, Lyon can often feel even further away. With no meaningful link to the city or its people, my connection exists simply by virtue of a badge and the players that defend it.

Explaining the origins of my affiliation to the team from the Rhone Valley is a mystery even to myself. I can’t point to a specific game, year or squad of players that captured my attention, yet the affinity and admiration is still there. Football is a game that exists purely for the people, known all around the world — yet there are elements that still feel uniquely yours. Your team, your players, your club. Often what makes sense to you, makes no sense to others.

Despite the pressures involved at the highest level of European football, solace can be found in the approach adopted by Lyon. Money is spent, of course, but not in a way that puts the future success of the club in jeopardy. When players are sold, a regular occurrence at Lyon, the club will always look to promote from within — a burgeoning sense of meritocracy that doesn’t quite exist at other clubs. I guess there is some poetic justice in supporting a club team, from a country different to my own, that principally relies on produce developed within its own city limits.

Traces of Lyon and its footballing philosophy can be found in many top sides across Europe. Talents such as Karim Benzema, Samuel Umtiti, Alexandre Lacazette and Anthony Martial have all graduated from Lyon’s fabled academy. For some teams, losing such players would prove catastrophic. Its testament to their ethos, so deeply embedded, that these events often prove catalysts for improvement. I think this is what resonates with me most — a perpetual sense of self-sufficiency. Success may be sporadic, but the culture and identity of the club remains constant.

In a world so intrinsically connected, yet further away than ever before, the champions league has always provided an escape. Tickets are booked each Tuesday and Wednesday evening for a virtual tour of Europe with no need to leave the comfort of your home. I, for one, am thankful.