"Football is a whole skill to itself. A whole world. A whole universe to itself. Me love it because you have to be skilful to play it!
"Freedom! Football is freedom." (Bob Marley - 1979)

To say Bob Marley loved football would be a huge understatement. His passion for the game developed at an early age, when he could often be spied kicking various spherical objects around in Nine Miles, and stayed with him right through his rise to super stardom in the 1970's.

56 Hope Road would often be the venue for a kick about with asssorted brethren and visitors, and Bob's talent "on the pitch" was evident to anyone who saw him play. A skilful master of the ball, it has often been said that Marley could quite easily have turned professional, had he not dedicated his life to chanting down Babylon.

Despite his commitment to music, Marley still put aside time to take part in his favourite sport. When on the road, it became common practice to take part in friendly challenge matches, often against an assortment of music journalists or record label teams.

It was while playing in one such match that Bob injured his toe, and cancer was subsequently discovered in the wound. Danny Baker, a well known English football pundit and TV and radio presenter, has often stated that he trod on Marley's foot in a game at Battersea Park in 1977, leading to the disease in Marley's body, and his subsequent death.

Like many of the tales told about Bob's passing, this is complete nonsenese. When Marley injured his toe, the cancer was already present in his body. This anecdote can be safely filed away with the claims of Bob being injected with cancer by those who would benefit from his death, or the claims that he was "assasinated" by American intelligence forces (who bombarded him with radiation etc.) , under the heading "Complete Fantasy"

It should be noted, Baker always tells the story in his inimitable, humorous manner. He also says that the Wailers team were the best he has ever seen!

During the Kaya tour of 1978, Bob would often plan his schedule around the World Cup tournament, so that he could watch as many games as possible. That year the trophy was lifted by Argentina, and Bob was a big fan of the Latin game, even delaying interviews so as to see all the action.

That same year, diminutive Argentinian Ossie Ardiles transfered to North London side Tottenham Hotspur, along with another Argentine World Cup winner, Ricardo Villa. Marley was a big fan of Ardiles, and as a gift, Island Records press officer Rob Partridge sent Bob a Tottenham football shirt.

During the final world tour of 1980, Bob actually refrained from many interviews to take part in football matches. According to Rob Partridge, while on the English leg of the tour, a succesion of matches were played at an indoor stadium next to Fulham football ground.

Considering Bob's deep love for the game, it seems quite fitting that his biggest ever concert should have been held at the San Siro Stadium in Milan, Italy. 100,000 people reportedly saw that magical show, and Bob and the Wailers turned in a performance that any Italian team would love to mirror on the field on a Sunday afternoon.

Football also gave Marley comfort during his long battle against the cancer that eventually claimed his life. Although far to weak to take part in the sport, Bob and his friends would spend time sitting watching videos of their favourite teams.

On February 6th 1981, Marley's 36th birthday, Bob, Junior Marvin, Seeco and Tyrone Downie sat in the Ringberg Clininc, where Bob was receiving treatment, and watched a TV show about the great Brazilian player Pele.

Marley's prowess as a soccer player was celebrated in the very first issue of Total Football magazine, published in the UK in September 1995. The article, titled The Boy Would've Done Great If...He Hadn't Been A Reggae Superstar, featured a picture of Bob with Brazilian international Paulo Cesar, taken in 1978 when Bob flew down to South America. Here's the full article:

What, THE Bob Marley?
Yep, tall geezer with dreadlocks. The Honorable Robert Nesta Marley (OM), born 6.2.45, died 11.5.81.

Who'd he actually play for then?
Well, nobody famous ACTUALLY. He was too busy singing about Jah and rolling huge spliffs, but Marley was a brilliantly gifted footballer who would have been assured of a professional contract in Jamaica.

When did he get time to play?
Whenever The Wailers toured, they played against local teams and celebrity outfits. On a tour of Brazil in the late 70s the local team included several members of the Brazilian national squad.

Bet he was centre forward
No, midfield playmaker. Rob Partridge, a press officer with Marley's label Island Records, organised many of the games, and remembers Marley as " A creative midfield player. Bob had very good technique and was an excellent one touch player."

What about the rest of the Wailers?
Yeah, some played, but the ace in the Wailers pack was Alan 'Skilly' Cole, a Jamaican international, widely regarded as the best ever West Indian footballer.

Marley kept himself fit then?
Went out jogging with Skilly every morning. In fact, it was while Marley was running with Cole, in New York's Central Park South, that he collapsed and was diagnosed as suffering from a brain tumour.

Is that what killed him?
When he went in for checks on the brain tumour the doctors found he was riddled with cancer.

Wasn't there something about his toe?
Aha, the toe story. Marley gashed his toe playing football in Jamaica. The injury was aggravated when he played against a celebrity side in Battersea Park in 1977. It is often said that this is how the cancer started, although the medical jury is still out on this one.

What bastard stepped on his toe? Rob Partridge says: "Danny Baker swears to this day that he stepped on Bob's toe in the Battersea game."

Who did he support?
Marley loved South American football. He was also a great admirer of Ossie Ardiles of Spurs.

Bet he didn't watch Match Of The Day
Funny you should ask. When he was being treated for his cancer in a Bavarian clinic, Marley asked Rob Partridge to video Match Of The Day and send him the tapes. Rob also sent him a Spurs shirt.

Any famous football quotes?
Well, Marley did say: "I love music before I love football. If I love football first, maybe that a bit dangerous, because the football very violent. If a man tackle you hard, it brings feelings o' war!"