IF SOMEONE HAD said the name ‘Neville Southall’ to you around 6 months ago, you might not have known who they were talking about.
The former Everton and Welsh international was a hero for club and country in the midst of his playing days between 1981-1998. But more recently he’s earned a name for himself on Twitter and become a hero to a lot of people.
Affectionately referred to as ‘Big Nev’ (which is a nickname from his playing days), Southall has become an icon for many people for the simple reason that he is asking questions and trying to learn more about the world around him which no doubt has changed a lot in his 59 years.
@judeinlondon2 can you explain cis to me please @BertLoch says your great at doing it thanks
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 11, 2017
So is that male or female then I am a bit thick why is it not called that
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 11, 2017
Shit no wonder so many people get this stuff wrong
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 11, 2017
Bit confusing for a knob like me but clearer now thanks
You might wonder why it’s important that a 59 year old former footballer is asking the difference between cis and trans. Well it’s simple really, Southall is trying to understand more about the world so he can help more people.
I work in School so I could really harm a kid if I don’t know
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 11, 2017
It’s a bit of mine field though
That interaction was 6 months ago and Big Nev hasn’t stopped there. He’s become an ambassador for LGBTQ+ rights for both his former club Everton and charity. He’s got his own column too. Most people love him for his brutal honesty and for the fact that he refuses to disappear up his own arse.
If your gay straight trans or anything else you should be able to be what u want
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 12, 2017
Not live a lie
Without discrimination or prejudice
Don’t get carried away with the ambassadors stuff I know my place I am still a knob
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) November 3, 2017
Lesbian,gay,bi,trans skeletons sat on a cloud
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 14, 2017
No one gives a fuck
Heaven
Pity not same on earth
Also Big Nev is sort of obsessed with skeletons and it’s just really funny.
I love the thought of recycled skeletons
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 3, 2017
Imagine walking down your street and all you dead relatives were lampposts
Brilliant
Like really obsessed with skeletons.
Lesbian,gay,bi,trans skeletons sat on a cloud
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 14, 2017
No one gives a fuck
Heaven
Pity not same on earth
But all his tweets just sort of make sense. He’s got a following of over 132,000 people and he’s just using his platform to give marginalized people in society such as sex workers a voice.
He’s exposing a lot of people to these issues which they might not have had to confront before. And he’s doing it with humour and kindness which is above all, the best thing.
Sex workers
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) April 16, 2018
They laugh
They smile
They bleed
They die
Who gives a fuck
Well should support them to help change their rights
Tonight 7-9pm on here@SexWorkHive
Listen to them they need to be heard
♥️♥️♥️
He’s coming at all these important issues from a unique aspect, a place of genuinely wanting to learn about topics that he might not have come across growing up in Wales in the 1960s and 70s.
He’s a man in his late 50s asking questions about difficult topics and trying to better himself all the time. He’s not trying to speak for groups but instead tries to amplify the voices that too often are shouted over.
Big Nev is the greatest feminist thinker of the 21st century and I'll accept no quibbles with this.
— ~Ciara~ (@Ciaraioch) April 9, 2018
Some people laugh at that and dismiss him which baffles a lot of people. Why dismiss someone who is trying to learn about the issues? We so often hear about straight white older men who don’t want to check their privilege or learn about anything and yet here is a man who is doing exactly what you want him to do and you laugh at him?
Not on my watch. I will defend Big Nev to the death.
I'm actually crying reading this @NevilleSouthall is so brilliant and thoughtful https://t.co/sOXbJ1NIG2
— Ellen (torrented version) (@incogellen) February 1, 2018
He regularly gives his Twitter over to people to tweet about different issues and gets people to think about or confront issues that they might not think about normally such as drug addiction or the rights of sex workers.
He also regularly takes on the abuse that he gets and handles it with such grace and good humour. His offhand way of tweeting seems to endear everyone to him and the fact he’s calling it as he sees it with regards to the Tories being in power only enforces that.
Funny people say I was
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) April 12, 2018
Gay because I support LGBT’s
Slept. With trans women
Slept with sex workers
No wonder I retired from football
I had no time to fit it in between all other stuff
Tories why don't you kill all the poor people off
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) October 5, 2017
Oh you've started already
Mays Britain
And if you think it’s just me that loves Big Nev then I’m afraid you’re very wrong. Big Nev is as popular on Irish Twitter as he is anywhere else.
It's like Big Nev knows when we need a lift ♥️♥️♥️ https://t.co/6No4ANGBZ8
— Lin Diesel 🔪🦀 (@Bubblenoma) March 30, 2018
What did we do to deserve Big Nev https://t.co/KkEqPlC676
— ~Ciara~ (@Ciaraioch) January 14, 2018
Neville Southall is the golden God of wholesome Twitter
— Conor Duffy 🌐 (@conorduffy_7) April 15, 2018
If we could all could be a bit more like Big Nev then the world would be a much better place. So if you want to learn some things and laugh along the way then I suggest you get over to Twitter and give Big Nev a follow. God knows we could do with more like him.
Just while I am upsetting people
— Neville Southall (@NevilleSouthall) April 10, 2018
I think LGBT people are great
I support labour
I support NHS
Want sex workers to get what they want to keep them safe
I hate racism
Hate domestic violence
Hate the fact we have any homeless
Hate mental health cuts
