his appearance for clapton once sparked an article in the local newspaper after he had requested permission to leave work early to attend a game. previous requests had been declined, but this time, his request was granted following a vote. in the article, members of the west ham school board described football, and cricket, as being a waste of time. this denunciation of sport was supported by the local priest, father ring, who said that it was only a little less of a scandal than the drinking business.