The Good Stuff - Vol. III
A winter holiday newsletter edition
As we wrap up 2023 and try to figure out what day of the week it is, I thought it would be a good idea to keep it chill and bring an edition of The Good Stuff as the last newsletter of the year.
Enjoy this list of favorite things that made me believe in The Good Football - or just enjoy the little good things of the beautiful game - in 2023:
🏟️ When women and children pretty much packed Athletico Paranaense's (aka the best team in the world) stadium and showed everyone how it's done.
🥰 When I got to watch Marcus Rashford score at the Camp Nou and celebrate right in front of me.
🧸 When Besiktas' fans donated thousands of toys to the children affected by earthquakes in the region.
🦁 The Lionesses’ demands being met by the UK government, which pledged equal access to PE to boys and girls.
👏 When an online racist abuser was banned from every single stadium in England.
👕 The Ted Lasso x Nike collab that forced me to buy an AFC Richmond jersey.
🎯 This powerful Ted Lasso scene where Sam vents about love and hate from fans.
🇺🇸 When the cast of Ted Lasso spoke about mental health at the White House.
💪 Rebecca's speech on S3 E10 of Ted Lasso.
🤯 PEP GUARDIOLA on Ted Lasso!!!!!!!
🌷 When Dani Rojas saw a tulip. (What can I say, 2023 was Ted Lassos’ year.)
🇧🇷 When Richarlison showed up to support the Brazilian Women’s National Team at the Finalíssima, and brought this poster (it says “If Brazil plays, I go").
🏴 All things Wrexham A.F.C. (Seriously, go watch the show if you haven't yet.)
📔 When 'Pelé’ became an official word in the Portuguese dictionary.
✊🏿 This video of Lukaku talking about racism.
😲 The streets of Naples after Napoli won Serie A.
⭐ Seeing Vini Jr. refuse to be quiet and rise as a leader in the fight against racism.
⚫ When Brazil wore a black kit for the first time in support of Vini Jr. as a part of an anti-racism campaign - and I got to be there to see it.
🙌 All the fits worn by Jackson Irvine.
🏆 The record-breaking jaw-dropping numbers of the FIFA Women's World Cup.
📺 The David Beckham doc series.
👌 Athens Kallithea FC's aesthetics.
😎 This photo of Diego Forlan.
🫂 Norwich City FC's World Mental Health Day campaign.
🥇 Everything Aitana Bonmatí did this year.
💯 The Mascots Minute of Silence Twitter account.
📸 The story of Hy Money, UK's first female football photographer.
✨ This photo of Endrick.
🥺 And, to close the year and the list, this video of Klopp meeting Dáire, who is most likely Liverpool's best fan. If you click on any of these links, make it this one.
Without a doubt, creating The Good Football Newsletter was one of the biggest highlights of my 2023. What started as a channel to express all the good things I believe football can be and create in the world soon became a platform to connect with a community that shares the same ideals.
While 2023 was one of the most challenging years for me to believe in the above things (you can read more about that here), it has also served as a driving force to dive deeper into this world and work for the changes and the impact I envision. Vini Jr., Jenni Hermoso, Aitana, Ted Lasso, and you were good companions and inspirations in this walk these past months.
Thank you for reading, sharing, connecting, and making this journey what it was always meant to be. We can only create meaningful and lasting change together.
Here is to more Good in football in 2024! 🥂
this was an amazing 2023 recap 💜 loved it