FRENCH JOURNEY - PROGRAMME  2

MARSEILLE  - FOOTBALL

There's only one place to be on Sundays in Marseille, and it's not church!  David went to see a football match with big supporter and local story-teller, Tom Starr.

David:  What's your religion, Tom?

Tom Sarr:  I've got the green, yellow and red of Rasta.  But today my number one religion is sport.  And especially football.

David:  And which team?

Tom Sarr:  In Marseille, that's a silly question  You're in Marseille, my home town, and you're asking me my team?  Obviously it's Olympique de Marseille.

David:  How are Marseille doing at the moment?

Tom Sarr:  Doing well. Last week they played in the European Cup, they won.  Actually the other team were a bit easy.  But today, we'll see. It's Troyes.  They've just got into the first division.  I don't want to be too optimistic.  But we'll win, it's obvious.

David:  Keep your hands on the wheel…

Tom Sarr:   Yes!  I can do that.  You're frightened.  We've just turned into the Boulevard Michelet.  And this is where it starts - they're all crazy! That's the Vélodrôme.

David:  The Vélodrôme.   For cycling?  

Tom Sarr:   Once, a long time ago  They've completely changed it.  Now it's for ball games.  It's fantastic inside.

The city's team, Olympique de Marseille - or OM, as they're known - are the biggest and best-equipped football club in France - they've got 40 000 season-ticket holders.  Before going into the stadium, David asked Tom to help him find a little souvenir.

David:  Isn't that your size, Tom?

Tom Sarr:  My size?  You're joking.  It's too small

David:  Which are Marseille - in white?

Tom Sarr:  They're in white, all white.

David:  He should have been an actor.

Tom Sarr:  Yes, When there's an imbalance like that, there's no match.

OM is the most successful football team in France.  They've won the French Championship eight times, the French Cup ten times, and were the only ones in the country to win the European Cup and give six players to the victorious '98 World Cup
team.  

David:  Oh dear!  You're not laughing now.

David:  That was the best chance for OM.

Tom Sarr:  Yes it was. Not bad

But the team's had its highs and lows.  In 93, they saw their titles withdrawn and were relegated to second division following a corruption scandal.  Never mind, onwards and upwards.  Happily, OM has since recovered their standing. 

David:  Come on, Marseille!

The match is over, and leaving the tireless supporters to celebrate, Tom and David left for a drink - in a downpour of pelting rain. 

David:  We won! We won, Tom!

Copyright BBC 2000.