Women in Football - Mentoring

Well, I've spoken about my affiliation with the 'Women in Football' before. It's a fantastic organisation, and an absolute must for any female's wishing to enter the world of football - on any level.

We were hosted by 'The Premier League', in their wonderful office just off 'Marble Arch'. The street a plush line of Georgian white washed buildings, with a couple of 5 star hotels thrown in for good measure. After smiling nicely at the camera on the front door, we entered a very modern building with iconic images and memorabilia on the wall. After signing in we were taken to a lobby area downstairs to await our meeting. A very nice greeting of aperitifs allowed us to to meet and greet others attending and have a chat before the event started.

We were then ushered into the presentation suite where Shelley opened the event and introduced the speakers. This evening was all about mentors / mentoring. Women in Football are so progressive in their thinking, and as an organisation are prepared to 'give it go', give things a chance and go outside the box. They introduced a trial mentoring scheme last year - for fifteen personnel from different areas within football;

The Mentee's were at various stages within their chosen career, ranging from top coaches, to management within a premiership club. The Mentors however were all from outside football, and in top tier companies such as Deloitte. Initially I thought wow, how is that going to work - however, listening to the ladies that were on the trial, and the people who providing the mentoring, it absolutely worked. The mentors had no pre-concieved idea's about either football, or women in football. The mentors had nothing to do with football, so treated the women as though a business in their own right;

• How were they going to progress
• What were their skills
• What made them different
• What was currently holding them back

All the women found the scheme a success, some had progressed within their area, others had changed their outlook, their styles their confidence. one had realised that she was in the wrong area and had changed her job role completely. Everyone of them was so happy with their involvement, and in fact every Mentor had also benefited immensely and was looking forward to mentoring again. 

I am going to apply for the scheme this year. The possibility of a top company executive, with so much expertise and knowledge allowing me to meet with them on a 'one to one' basis, to advise me and help me progress - No Brainer!!!! 

I want to be successful, but know that I need to have advise to help me through the mine-field of progression. I am a total advocate of 'Women in FOOTBALL', and would advise others to have a look at the organisation.

Back to Normal Jogging

Well, after injuring myself Christmas week, it's finally back to normal!

I've taken 6 weeks off refereeing and playing, but during that time I needed to really think about my body, my injury and my positivity. It's easy to let something be an excuse to not do anything, to take a pain killer, take the sickness from work, and not progress. It was about having goals, planning my next stage, and keeping my attitude on point.

The first week was very sore, and I was still wandering around on my crutches. It was also Christmas week, which also put a stop on my planned partying - Although I still managed the evening events, but couldn't go to town. I guess that at least kept my nutrition  in a better state, and allowed me to get in my beauty sleep.

I only stayed on crutches for a week - For a start it's hideous on the hands. I tended to really lean into the crutch, which caused blisters. So the crutches were relegated to 'Under the Stairs'. That second week I started going to the swimming pool, not for a swim but to do rehabilitation exercises; The swimming pool is a great place to start after an injury - the weightlessness really eases the soreness of movement, and the freedom you have in the pool allows you to do stretches and exercises that are proving somewhat difficult on dry land.

The other Gem in those first couple of weeks was 'Pilates'. I've never been a fan of Pilates, Yoga, body balance etc - they always seemed such slow classes; in my mind I would be thinking 'Blimey, I could have run 8 miles by now, whilst tapping my hands annoyingly'. Well, although not my first choice still, the classes are a god-send and absolutely allow you to really stretch those muscles, and build up your core.

About three weeks ago I started getting out and about running. I started with a 2 mile jog for a few days, and built it up to doing an 8 mile run in the week before doing my first game. I'm doing a month of running the line before going back in the middle in March. I've also only played twenty minutes of a proper game, but again, I should be back to playing the full 90 by March

Where there's a will, there's a way!!!

Chasing the Money - worth it, or not????

Well, one of the current talking points is China at the moment. The offers being made to Footballers, and Referee's alike. Offers that to be fair, are quite irresistible. You couldn't really blame someone for going, I'm sure that they have worked out that they could chase the money for a couple of years, and then they would be sorted for life. I guess that a lot of people would do the same if they were offered similar within their industry.

The question is 'What is important to them'?

It's an upheaval, a total upheaval. Leaving your extended family, leaving home, moving possibly to somewhere where you don't understand the language, or culture.

On the other hand (or foot!). It might be the best experience ever. To live somewhere different to home, to learn a new language, to enjoy a new climate. How wonderful.

We are all different, what is good for one, isn't good for another.

Don't mock anyone's decision, because 'It's their decision, about their life', Nothing to do with anyone else.

My Grandad was talking about a time when he spoke with Charlie Mitten, ex Manchester United player. My Grandad was visiting his Uncle in hospital, who was an extremely popular man. There were several people already visiting, and his Uncle said 'do me a favour and go an speak with the chap in the bed across the ward'. My Grandad turned to his Uncle and said 'what am I going to talk about'. His Uncle said 'he is Charlie Mitten, ex Manchester United, who moved oversea's, he rarely has any visitors, he will love your company'. My Grandad went over and spent a wonderful afternoon with him

So, who was Charlie Mitten;

Born in 1921, he went through the junior ranks of Manchester United, however due to the outbreak of war, he didn't get his first professional match until 1946. During the War, he did however guest appear for the nearest football to him at the time. He didn't let anything get in the way of him actually playing. Back at Manchester United, he played during the early days of Matt Busby, well before the Busby Babes - In fact he was one of the 'Famous Five of Old Trafford', a formidable group of players made up of;

• Jimmy Delaney
• Stan Pearson
• Jack Rowley
• Johnny Morris
• And of course Charlie.

In 1950 Man United toured the USA, to sell out stadiums. The footballers suddenly realised their worth and questioned the £12 per week maximum wage allowed by FIFA. A few players were approached by external leagues, and Charlie was no different, being approached by the Columbians. Charlie went to Independiente Santa Fe, during a period they called El Dorado. Charlie received £5000 signing on, and £40 per week - The footballers and fans back home nicknamed him 'The Bogota Bandit'. 

Charlie didn't look to the future. The following year Columbia joined FIFA. Charlie was still a Man United player and therefore couldn't play for Independiente anymore. He returned to the UK. Because of his running away to Columbia, on his return he was immediately placed on a 6 month ban, and to top it all Busby sold him, such was his upset. He was approached to play for Real Madrid, but in his upset and confusion he turned the offer down, which he regretted.

Charlie was the fore-runner of today's footballers. He paved the way for them to be able to move around quite freely, chasing the money, or chasing experience. As with anything, someone has to be the first and they generally have the rough ride, so that people after have the smooth.

My Grandad had a nice chat with him, and he was great-full for someone to talk to. It would be nice if today's footballers were aware of the Guy who paved the way.

When It's Just Brilliant

Well when it goes well, it goes well - Doesn't it?

Football is a funny old game, one week walking out of the stadium shaking your head in disbelief, the next week jumping for joy;

Stockport County had a great first leg of a cup match last week. They went 0-1 down and although they played their socks off that equaliser wasn't happening. Well fast forward to the last kick of the game, which was a corner. Who does a short corner when you know it's going to be the last action of the 90 minutes. As soon as they took that short kick I admit that I shook my head. The ball was then shot towards the Net, and the Goalie didn't stand a chance, 

This is the picture of my Grandad when that goal happened, the wonderful expression of sheer joy. This is what football is about, and this is what should make footballers get up in a morning.