Ataturk and Turkish Football
I was reading about the Turkish Derby between Fenerbahce and Galatasary last night and, although I tend to have more sympathies for the Cim Bom than the yellow cananriesI was again interested to read that Ataturk was a Fenerbahce fan and it reminded me of a Fenerbahce badge I bought in Istanbul a few years ago with a portrait of Ataturk on it. on the 10th August 1928 after Fenerbahce's 3-3 draw with Galatasary, Ataturk is supposed to have said to 3 Galatasary fans and 2 Fenerbahce fans 'We are 3 and 3 here because I am too a supporter of Fenerbahce' . He also wrote in the guest book at Fenerbahce previously in 1918 that ' I was informed of the admirable activities of the club Fenerbahce and I was doing my duty to visit and congratulate the club. The visit has been made on this day and I can save my honour and congratulations' It has also been noted that when Fenerbahce's club building burnt down on 5th June 1932 Ataturk was the first to donate towards its rebu...