Thought For The Day – Wednesday 4^th June 2025

“There is always a little more time than you think. A red number 7 blinks across the pitch from the fourth official’s board. Seven minutes of injury time: it’s a lot. Against Barcelona, it’s an age. Against this Barcelona, in this heat, in this game, it may as well be all of eternity. But you push through. You pace yourself… Arsenal have planned this game to the very last detail, rehearsed every last contingency, mapped out every possible scenario… Most days, nothing changes. The games and the sessions and the seasons all blur into one eventually. But then there are the days that will be remembered in perfect clarity, forever: days when a plan comes together, days when the wheel of history is stopped in its tracks. Together, Little and Williamson clasp the trophy, raise it aloft. The music plays. The confetti flies. When it lands, nothing will be the same again.” (Jonathan Liew, “The Guardian”, reporting on the match detailed below, Saturday 24^th May 2025).

In many ways, and to a certain extent, so far, 2025 has been “the year of the underdog”, especially in sports.  Tales of the unexpected have been, and are being, told.

Can we at T.B.S.H.S. be inspired and educated by this?

Absolutely. From its early beginnings, development and progress at London Road, to the dream becoming reality at Beaumont Avenue, T.B.S.H.S. has also been such a story.

Very much one of those narratives in 2025 has been the brilliant achievement of Arsenal Women in becoming the Champions of Europe in women’s football for the second time in their history.  They had to play a large number of matches this season on their journey.

The team, and club, have always led the way in women’s football.

One of the initial founders, supporters and visionaries of the Arsenal Women’s Team was David Dein M.B.E. who has visited the School a number of times. The captain of Arsenal then,  Champions of Europe in 2007, was Alex Scott M.B.E., now a broadcaster and author.

For our studies, and perhaps our lives, much can be learnt from Arsenal’s 2025 victory in the Final against the iconic school of footballing science that is always F.C. Barcelona.  When a team play Barcelona, they play a city, a culture and a beautiful way of life.

Reflecting on the game, the importance of detailed, humble and intricate preparation was stressed by the Arsenal management, staff, players, supporters and observers.  A match planed before in miniscule detail.  Against Barça, it had to be.  Interestingly enough, in the week the game plan was modified in dialogue between management, coaches and players. Staff and students working together and with, and for, one another. Those late adjustments often make the critical difference.  Proofread the plan.  Go to the last second. 

Second, the total discipline of the putting into practice of the gameplan with the whole team playing their part in defending and in creating and taking chances. No member of the team losing their discipline or playing their individual game.  Staff and players talked about the importance of resilience prior to, and after, the game, being prepared to go through difficulty and challenge to win the prize.  They knew it would be very difficult. Nothing ever comes easy.

In all this, there was a total connection between management, coaches, players and supporters.

For Arsenal defender and England captain Leah Williamson O.B.E. the moment was very poignant. Leah, aged ten,  was a mascot when Arsenal last won the trophy in 2007. See the pictures above and on the right of the page. Leah also came back after a very challenging and serious injury last season.

The journey to the big moments starts today.  Dream the dream. And take the appropriate action.

In striving to achieve, we must also be prepared to believe,  plan, listen, be disciplined, work hard and indeed go through challenge and difficulty to win the, and our, prize.