There are 3.5 billion people around the world who call themselves fans of football. This number doesn’t even include the people who work in the industry such as players, referees and coaches. It’s a beautiful game, but one that can be seen in many different perspectives depending on your role.
Janie Frampton, one of the first female referees in professional football, offers a unique insight into this. Having played, coached, and refereed, she’s seen the game from all angles, and each perspective is vastly different. Whether you’re enforcing the laws as a referee, executing plays as a player, orchestrating strategy as a coach, or cheering from the stands as a spectator, football looks—and feels—completely different depending on where you stand. Let’s get into how each of these key figures views the game, revealing the many layers that make it such a compelling sport.
The Referee
Let’s begin with the referees, often unnoticed until they make a call against your team, yet absolutely vital to the game. Their job is to ensure the game runs smoothly, and unlike spectators, players, or coaches, they aren’t rooting for a side or executing strategies. Instead, their sole focus is enforcing the laws of the game with impartiality.
Referees don’t concern themselves with strategy or flashy plays. Their focus is on whether a move should be considered a foul, offside, misconduct, or another violation. Positioning is key, as they must be in the right place to make the best decision. Referees constantly think two steps ahead, anticipating the next move to set themselves up in the perfect position. As Janie Frampton, a former player, explains: “I know what some of the players are about to do… because I used to do it myself.”
Who wins or loses has no bearing on them, they are just there to make sure everyone plays by the rules. Their role is not to affect the game’s outcome, but to ensure its fairness.
The Player
The players—the lead singers, the frontmen, the main characters, the faces of football. For them, the game is dynamic and ever-changing. Unlike referees, players are deeply motivated to influence the outcome, and everything they do is driven by the instinct to win.
As part of a team, players are locked into their specific roles. Defenders focus on preventing the opposing team from scoring, while midfielders read the movements of both teammates and opponents, creating opportunities for strikers to find the back of the net. Their perspective is focused, immediate, and narrowed to their individual job and the next move.
Players also feel the intense pressure of the game. They experience all the immediate emotions—expectations from fans and coaches, the rush of a goal, and the disappointment of a loss. Their view of the game constantly shifts between personal performance and the broader team objectives.
The Coach
While not physically involved in the game, coaches are a constant presence felt throughout. They’re the first person the camera cuts to when a player makes a bad pass or misses a goal, capturing their disappointment, and the first to celebrate when their team scores. Coaches watch from the sideline, giving them a wider, more tactical view of the game.
For coaches, strategy is king, and they view the field like a chessboard. They’re constantly analysing what strategies are working, what needs adjusting, where their team’s weaknesses lie, and how they can exploit the opposition’s vulnerabilities. Unlike players, coaches are less focused on individual moments and more concerned with the team’s overall performance. They must always think several steps ahead, ready to make substitutions, change formations, or instruct their players to be more aggressive or defensive as the game unfolds.
Also unlike the players, coaches must maintain a level of emotional detachment as their focus is on long-term success and can’t get too caught up in the moment. Despite this, as seen from their often animated reactions, they feel the weight of each mistake and success. Every misstep is a reflection of the coach’s preparation and decisions, so their perspective carries the burden of responsibility.
The Spectator
Whether watching from the sofa or the stadium, spectators often experience the game with intense passion. They may not be directly involved, but their emotional connection to their team runs deep. Every goal is celebrated, and every missed opportunity is met with groans. They care greatly about the result of the game, often overlooking the brilliance of passes or strategic play—as long as their team wins.
Unlike the other roles, spectators have no responsibilities in the game, allowing their passion to fully shape their perception. A foul against their team appears harsher, while one committed by their team might seem forgivable. Without the pressures faced by players or coaches, spectators are prone to frustration when things don’t go their way. Their opinions are loud, even though they may not fully grasp the tactical adjustments or intricate positioning happening on the field.
A Game for Everyone
Football may be one game, but it’s experienced in vastly different ways depending on your role. These differing perspectives add layers of complexity and depth, making the game unique and fun to be apart of.
As Janie Frampton, who has seen football from nearly every angle, reminds us: “When you’ve been a player, you don’t just watch the game—you feel it.” Whether you’re watching from the stands or running up the pitch, football offers something for everyone, no matter your vantage point.
It was a privilege to have Janie on the latest episode of Greatest Minds. To listen to the full episode, see here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2uaG44Htdiq1YYQ8NJi9Ow?si=E_wZHkNeTuGM-bIZgbBP3Q
To listen to other Greatest Minds episode, see here: https://thepodcastguys.co.uk/greatest-minds/
