If you grew up in an urban setting take one step backward.
If your family had health insurance take one step forward.
If you feel good about how your identified culture is portrayed by the media take one step forward.
If you have been the victim of physical violence based on your gender, ethnicity, age or sexual orientation take one step backward.
If you have ever felt passed over for an employment position based on your gender, ethnicity, age or sexual orientation take one step backward.
If English is your first language take one step forward.
If you have been divorced or impacted by divorce take one step backward.
If you came from a supportive family environment take one step forward.
If you have completed high school take one step forward.
If you were able to complete college take one step forward.
If you took out loans for your education take one step backward.
If you attended private school take one step forward.
If you have ever felt unsafe walking alone at night take one step backward.
Some players ended up at the back of the room, while others were now right at the front. One player had taken so many steps forward, he was up against the wall. He had never realised how much privilege he had, compared to his team-mates. ‘It was such an interesting way of making us all aware of who we are,’ says Wahlén. ‘It was an intense session, but we were able to openly discuss why and how these issues had affected our lives.’
Wahlén admitted that she had preconceptions that footballers can only play football; she realised the players had the same assumptions of themselves. ‘They only see themselves as footballers, but they are not; they are sons, fathers, husbands; they are emotionally aware, socially responsible and confronting their own biases.’ They are also regularly having conversations that Wahlén never imagined. How does music move you? What makes dance, dance? What is the meaning of art? How does this photograph make you feel?
The players have started their own voluntary book group, and not a single sporting title has been chosen. Instead, more heavyweight subjects are being tackled, such as identity, race and love (Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adache18); the Vietnam War (The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien); friendship across generations (The One-in-a-Million Boy by Monica Wood); and our role in the world (Ishmael by Daniel Quinn).
The players tell Wahlén that they like to read a lot now because everyone else is. She hears them talking about books and finds their conversations more fascinating than those of the cultural elite she often works with in Stockholm. ‘The players don’t have any literary truths, so they interpret what they read with authentic openness,’ she says. ‘It’s much more interesting for me.’
The fans have picked up on the players’ behaviour. At a time when fan violence is not uncommon in Sweden, ÖFK supporters have responded to their club’s efforts and become socially responsible. At the last home game of the 2016 season, there was a Gay Pride flag in the stands to mark ÖFK’s certification as an LGBT supporter, the first of its kind in Swedish football.19 There is a closeness with the fans, who have taken a lead from the club and embraced their differences.
At the start of the 2016 season, Kindberg wrote an open letter to the fans. I have not seen a mission statement quite like it. ‘Together with you, we want to be role models!’ he wrote. ‘Östersunds Fotballklub, ÖFK, is a club with clear values. We go our own way. Our belief is that our players perform better both individually and as a team if they are offered an environment that is challenging and stimulating across many human levels … ÖFK stands for openness, diversity, and tolerance. We stand for sincerity and honesty. We will always be trustworthy and professional. We want to create a new kind of football culture. We want to be good role models. We propose that all ÖFK supporters endorse these five simple rules of conduct:
1 The stadium is a place for everyone. We behave in a way so every visitor, from a small child to a 100-year-old, feels safe and welcome.
2 We may have opinions about a player but we never use derogatory or offensive words.
3 The players and supporters of our opponents are our friends. We do not boo them when they come onto the pitch. We do not boo when they do something good. In general, we boo as little as possible.
4 We may have views about the referee, but we never use derogatory or offensive words.
5 We always stay away from violence.
We are ÖFK. We go our own way!’
In return, the fans are inventive with their banners, even making a special one for Potter’s wife Rachel. Behind the goal, in the pre-season friendly against Everton, the fans unfurled a giant red tifo, a banner with ‘RACHEL’ written on either side of giant white hearts. The head of the supporters’ group, the Falcons, also wrote a thank-you letter to Rachel. It included the lines: ‘I don’t know you and you don’t know me, but I just want to say thank you. I’m not sure if you realise how much you, indirectly, affect me (and many others) every single day. You need to know how much joy you’ve given us. And still do. Everyone in Östersunds is talking football nowadays. Everyone is proud of ÖFK … That wasn’t the case in 2011 but much has changed since you and your husband first arrived five years ago.’
‘I wanted the people of Östersunds to be proud of its football club,’ says Kindberg. ‘This city is warm, welcoming, safe and secure.20 The fans are also part of our team and they recognise these values that we have. We want to take a stand against society and use our role for good. That’s another product of the environment we have built. If it connects with the core values in the club, then fine. I believe that can give us an edge and help us win games.’
The project is not over yet. Kindberg told Potter when they first met that Europe was the target, and he was not just talking about going to Tenerife on a pre-season training camp. ‘We still see this as the start of our journey.’
Key to the journey is Potter, who was voted Swedish Manager of the Year after the team finished eighth in its debut top-flight campaign in 2016. ‘Graham is extra-extra-extra-extraordinary,’ says Kindberg. ‘He is one of most promising managers in Europe. I can stand up every day and argue that. He is open-minded, has values and fantastic leadership skills.’ And emotional intelligence? ‘Of course!’
Is Kindberg prepared for the day when Potter moves to another club? What will happen to ÖFK’s edge then? ‘I will be the proudest chairman on earth when a top-five club in the Premier League comes in for him, but they would have to pay a very big compensation. I will only talk to another club [about him] if it’s Barcelona who want him!’ Kindberg is smart and has already considered a succession plan – which sets him apart from most club chairmen I have encountered. He is convinced that ÖFK will one day win the Swedish title and compete in the Champions League. ‘We will be winners in a totally
