The Brits play football everywhere they go! (I say "football" but for Americans, it is always referred to as "soccer".) Of course, it is not just the Brits, it is played all around the world. However, it is a story of the BRITS in this area that I want to tell you about! If you have been reading my blog for any length of time, you will know my love for Stone Mountain, Arabia Mountain and Panola Mountain...I have been telling you about them for years! Arabia Mountain...I have always thought it had to be called that by the men from Scotland and Wales who worked in the quarries there! "Hotter than Arabia", I can just imagine them saying this. Okay then, what is it that I just found out about them? Why, it is just amazing to learn this... they had arrived from Scotland and Wales and were playing football in Dekalb County (which is where the aforementioned mountains are located) in the 1880's! This is just astounding to me! I found this out on the Arabia Mountain website and I have the link for you just here.
By the way, I cannot imagine the men working on quarrying the stone from these "mountains" in such extreme heat and then, playing their football after they finished in the evenings! But that is the love of the game for you!
There is more that I want to tell you about Arabia Mountain's history but that will have to wait for another post!
If you are ever at Stone Mountain, please visit the Quarry Exhibit that they have there. I have a video for you above!
The thing that surprises me about the world cup is the typically low scores for the whole game. Much makes everything tense when two lucky plays can easily turn the tide
ReplyDeleteI am surprised that they score any points at all, it is not that easy to get the ball into the net with all the defenders and the goalie! Amazing how much running they do and how little rest they get during the match.
DeleteAmazing indeed that they would still be playing football after a day of hard physical work at the quarry! But, as you say, it is played all over the world, no matter the climatic and geographic conditions :-)
ReplyDeleteI think I have read that the temperature on the rock is at least 30 degrees higher than the recorded temp for the area. So, that would make it like 120 degrees for them if they were quarrying today! (On this July date.)
DeleteSomeone told me we are all either mountain people or valley people. I think you are definitely a mountain girl, and I totally understand you love of your mountains as I am one too. That is why we always live on hills :)
ReplyDeleteGreetings to my fellow mountain gal! Don't put us in that valley so low.
DeleteAs a rugby football follower I usually refer to football as soccer as did my Dad before me.
ReplyDeleteI saw that same thing when I looked this up but I have only ever heard people in that small part of England that I have visited to say either "football" or "rugby". They laughed at me when I said "soccer"! P.S. I once worked with a girl from Rugby!
DeleteI cannot imagine anyone wanting to do anything much at all after working all day in the heat, but then all work and no play is never a good thing at all. I guess they had the right idea!
ReplyDeleteOur heat is so intense! Still, when you are young, you can do so much more!
DeleteAn interesting piece of history there.
ReplyDeleteThey bred 'em tough in those days! :)
I think they must have been a very tough breed of men! To work on the quarry and then, to run around kicking a ball around afterwards!
DeleteThey were probably pretty young as well as pretty tough, those quarry workers!
ReplyDeleteLove all you post about your three wonderful mountains.
I know, when you are young, it is amazing at much you can do and how it doesn't bother you!
DeleteThanks, you know I love all of these mountains!
Hi Kay - soccer is a great game ... good for camaraderie and your mountain sounds lovely - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHi Hilary! It is amazing to visit all these places I told you about, the trees and the wildflowers are beautiful, I never tire of them.
DeleteSports lovers allow very little to interrupt their pastime.
ReplyDeleteHa, that is so true! There is always time for the things that we love.
DeleteCondolences on England's loss in the World Cup. Who are you cheering for in the final now? France or Croatia?
ReplyDeleteSee reply below!☺
DeleteFrance! Last week when they played against...oh dang can't remember who they played...but France won it of course and they were so good! Also, I can sing their National Anthem and you know I will!
ReplyDeleteInteresting video. Wonder if any of the Scots had experience of building Aberdeen, The Granite City, as that would fit into that same time period. Not easy material to work with.
ReplyDeleteAccording to the link that I gave you, the soccer league that they formed fell apart when all the Brits went back to the United Kingdom due to the start of World War I. It is sad to think of that the men who worked at Arabia Mountain and played soccer here might have died in that "war to end all wars".
DeleteThanks for your comment!
My granddaughter and grandson play soccer here in Hawaii, and recently they went to a soccer tournament in Denver, Colorado, where the Hawaii team lost in the quarterfinals. But, what fun it was.
ReplyDeleteOh! I am sorry that they lost but happy that they got to compete and in beautiful Colorado! :-)
DeleteMy son Jordan loves prof. soccer. He didn't like to play soccer when he was little but he follows it religiously now and Manchester is his team. Your video was very interesting but the gentleman doing the narrating had a voice that reminded me of Al Pacino's voice in the Godfather! Ha! I'm weird, I know! Hope you have a great week!
ReplyDeleteTee hee, Richard said that he felt bad because he couldn't get over the man's voice, that he sounded like a gangster!
DeleteStill, it was the best video that I found about the quarry and that is why I gave it to you here! :-)