Right line
As Team Yangzhou hosted its formidable rival Team Nantong during a recent match of the Jiangsu Football City League, or Suchao, a heartwarming moment unfolded when woodworker Yan Feixiang and his 9-year-old daughter invited 100 soccer fans to sign on a unique football amid the stands.
Yan Feixiang's daughter holds a football for a spectator to sign. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
The football was crafted from ordinary ebony, beech, and black walnut. These wood materials were cut into 32 blocks, which were then carved, chiseled, and polished into pentagonal and hexagonal components. Assembled using traditional mortise-and-tenon joinery, the structure relies entirely on interlocking joints, requiring no nails or glue.
The mortise-and-tenon football is covered in signatures by Suchao fans. [Photo/WeChat account: yzs_lyj]
Later, when the father-daughter duo luckily got Suchao tickets, they upgraded the wooden creation. With a wish to share it as a keepsake with the on-site audience, they transformed it into a Suchao-themed music box piggy bank.
In addition to collecting signatures, they also prepared a lucky coin for each participating fan and asked them to put it into the football. Yan smiled and said, "I hope this small gesture can bring good luck to everyone. Football is not just a sport; it's also a bond that connects hearts."
The carpenter dad redefined paternal love by merging traditional craft with modern sports, turning a fierce match into a touching moment.
