“Diego Maradona was incredible. Again the privilege of just watching him with the ball at his feet. So, yes, there are footballers who are artists.” – Damian Lewis
photography by Greg Williams
And now, with another World Cup on the horizon, Argentina heading into it as defending champions, and Damian recently reminiscing about playing alongside Maradona during the very first Soccer Aid with Authentic Hollywood, this suddenly feels like the perfect time to revisit the post I wrote six years ago when Diego Maradona passed away. Hope you like it.
Damian Lewis loves football. He regularly plays for Anvil FC, an amateur football team in King’s Cross, and has taken part in several charity football matches including the celebrated Soccer Aid. Our guy shares in a recent interview with The Evening Standard he sees the sport as a form of therapy:
“I enjoy the total absorption in a white ball and 10 other guys and the focus, and the way it releases everything else from your mind. It’s brilliant, it’s the best occupational therapy I can think of. You run around and get fit and it releases any anger or tension that you have. I used to play at 7.30 on Thursday mornings in New York. I’d haul myself out of bed, even if I’d had a night shoot that finished at 2am and go and play. I love it.”
Well, I cannot agree with him more because I feel the same about running and swimming, particularly the “it releases any anger or tension you have” part. And we cannot be happier Damian will be playing the game he loves for a wonderful cause this weekend: Game for Grenfell is a charity football match organized by former football stars Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand “to raise funds and inspire hope for those affected” in the devastating Grenfell Tower fire that caused at least 80 deaths and over 70 injuries. Continue reading “Bend it Like Damian Lewis, Part I *UPDATED*”
