What is an Angel With a Dirty Face?

Angel: A ministering spirit or divine messenger; a being superior to man in power and intelligence Dirty: Soiled with dirt, foul, unclean Face: The front part of the head, external appearance

Definitions from the Collins English Dictionary

A Famous Angel - Gabriel. Great down the wing. ahem...

When the Angels With Dirty Faces football/netball/quiz/karaoke  team take to their respective playing fields, there are often several questions asked. Examples include: Why do you have two captains? Are you guys as shit as the league position shows? Why are you called Angels With Dirty Faces?

The Sugababes. Not strictly Angels

From the definitions above, one could assume that we are superior beings bringing a message from God, though we appear to have soiled or fouled, the front parts of our heads. Hmmm, superior beings - quite possibly. Dirty faces - after the Weeds Utd match. But still, not quite hitting the nail on the head.

In response to these questions, the answers are as follows. As of the end of the 2001-2002 season, when Chris Thomas retired, he left the team in the control of Sam Marrs and Nick Yarrow. This was then followed at the Angels Awards Evening in Dundee with the election of Pete Hutchison and Neil Wilkie as joint captains for 2003-2004. So, in short, why do we have two captains? Because we do. As for the league table, well as we know before Christmas, the Angels were pretty poor to put it lightly, but yes, the table lied as the form from February to April showed. However, to the pertinent question. Why are we callled Angels With Dirty Faces?

When the team was founded in 2001, Chris was an extraordinary film buff and respected all things old and all things Italian. Hence the Kappa shirts. In the 1930s, James Cagney starred in the multi Oscar nominated film called Angels With Dirty Faces, of which Chris seemed to be a fan. So, is the team so named as a tribute to this film? Well, partly.

So, we have established that we are messengers sent from God to bring a message to go and watch a 1938 film and, 64 years later, buy an album by a group of plucky girls trying to make it big in the music industry. Well, there is one more link behind the team's name. Also from the early 20th Century, there was a group of particularly violent Argentinian footballers, who somehow mainly seemed to get away with it. It is fair to say that, despite our incredible singing credentials displayed in the Union many Thursday nights, this is closest to the truth, something surely embodied by Yarrow in the two seasons so far, and few doubt that this mantle will be picked up by Tonkin in the seasons to come...

James Cagney and co. - More Angels With Dirty Faces

Thus, as we say/sing/shout, we are the Angels With Dirty Faces. However, as well as making you happy, we are bringing a message from God. It would appear, that our claim, it's not just a football club, it's a way of life is closer to the truth than we could ever have imagined.

Some Other Angels Include:

The Anaheim Angels Baseball Team, World Series Winners 2002

Hell's Angels - Scary, Bearded, Fat Men. Not Santa Claus

The Sugababes Angels With Dirty Faces CD

Two Little Angels

A Mighty Angel

Charlie's Angels - Nice