Have Good People Around You

I was back working for the PFA on Sunday. They held their under 9's tournament for the first tme this year. It was a great introduction to the professional clubs, the tournament was well managed (as always), the PFA had plenty of staff on hand to talk to the parents about this new world that they were suddenly in. There were fun elements to, when a few of the club mascots held a race.

The football was a great standard, you could already see that they were thnking about the game, about their next move, about their positioning. There were a couple of the lads that stood out, and played well beyond their years. All of them were amazing, It's incredible to think how good these lads are going to be in 10 years time. Our National teams in the future are looking great.

Although a fantastic achievement already to be accepted into a premiership acadamy, the road ahead is long and tiring, the commitment is your everything, and can be heartbreaking.The PFA provide support staff for both the children and the parents, to ensure that they keep it real, that the children keep up their education, and that they do have something else to fall back on. In realstic terms, becoming a top flight  footballer is a status only so many will achieve, though millions play at glass roots, and thousands are taken on by acadamies, only a few hundred actually sign that hallowed piece of paper called a contract.

Good People - Football is a relatively small world. Once your within the football bubble you do keep meeting the same people around. As with every trade anyone can be a colleague, but a true friend, someone you can trust, and someone who you are just comfortable around will always make that difference. This year at PFA has been great because someone who I absolutley trust and just have a great laugh with is Alan Keegan - the voice of Manchester United. He has been the announcer at all the PFA tournaments. I've known Alan since I was around 9 years old as I played football with his Daughter Hannah, and we are still great friends.

Below are two photos 6 years apart. the first is Alan interviewing me on the Old Trafford pitch during a premiership game, the second was this Sunday, posing with the premiership trophy;

Blimey - Calm Down

Well the season is well under way. The pressure is on, whether it is Premiership or Grassroots. I'm not just talking about the pressure of playing, though that can get hot under the collar;

I referee'd at weekend. Two teams renowned for being overly enthusiastic!!! Though pleasantly suprised that they concentrated on the job at hand. They played really well, and their teamwork was excellent. On team had only 10 men for the first 30 minutes, and did so well to keep the opposition to 1-1.

As opposed to that. Last week I ran the line. 8 cautions, 3 reds and a rather heated fight later, I was knackered. What's all that about - Calm Down.I am competitive, but I know when far is too far. It's a game, get over the 'Football Rage'. I sometimes look at the Footballers in question, and wonder what they would say to their own Children if they acted the same?

Like I said - The pressure is on!!!

People watch a match, they cheer or they jeer, then they go home. They forget that it isn't just the players on the pitch that are under pressure - no matter what league. In fact the grassroots I would say are under immense pressure, in fact I think that even some of the players walk away not realising what people are doing on their behalf in the background;

Financially they are down to the bone. they have to fulfill FA rules and regulations, they need to pay for grounds,lights,food, kit wash, officials, programs etc. That money has to come from somewhere, whether sponsorship, charity matches, football cards or quiz nights. Of course there are things that can be done, maybe a website with advertisement etc, but someone has to give up their time to do this.

I've been watching 'Class of 92, out of their league'. I think it's great for showing those local Salford heroes who give up there time, who support their club through sun, rain and snow. Who are passionate  about giving the footballers the best facilities, the best support, and the best club.

Those back office helpers are at every club. They need our support and our thanks for doing a fantastic job. The Salford Heroes may now be the pin-ups for those people, and your own people may still be very much invisible to you, but the Salford Guy's have at least now heightened the awareness that the club cannot function without them