DOWN the years my media work, albeit a hobby, has presented some situations that will live long in my memory banks.
Monday night was one such evening with the annual dinner, at the Dorchester Hotel, of the Boxing Writers Club, an organisation I have had the privilege of being a member for six years.
I not only met Olympic gold medallist James DeGale, me and my
old mate Rocky Ayres had pictures holding one of the, if not the highest sporting accolade, an Olympic gold medal.
To comprehend that, young James had followed in the footsteps, to name but a few, of Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was then, George Foreman, Sugar Ray Leonard, Lennox Lewis, and Tefoil Stevenson is truly a monumental sporting achievement.
The medal itself was just how I imagined, having first seen one around Mark Spitz's neck on television in 1972. It's thick and wouldn't look out of place around Mr T's neck.
There's no way of dressing it up. All my party were gobsmacked at the time but special mention must go to William Attwood, there along with grandad Reg and dad Pete, who was standing next to James who, when asked to sign an autograph, asked Will to hold it for him.
Words cannot really do the look on his face justice . . .
I also had a long chat with former Arsenal and Tottenham manager George Graham but supporters of Ferring under 14s do not fear, I will not be playing five at the back and one up front this weekend.
- Also on Monday evening, I had a long chat with Adrian Bevington of the FA about their ongoing Respect Initiative.
I hadn't realised until I saw it on an advertising hoarding at the recent England game that 7,000 referees quit the sport last season. And if the matter is not addressed, the future is bleak.
Then again, things won't change overnight. But, as a youth manager, I have to say that I believe we are already seeing the 'green shoots' of recovery.
One feature of the campaign adopted at the highest level, is the pre-match walk past/handshake, which I believe should be implemented at every match from under-7 upwards.
It starts the game on a positive note as the players all make contact, and in a pleasant way, before a ball has been kicked and while it is not compulsory, I would hope that it catches on at youth level locally.
On the subject of youth football, and returning to a theme I have touched on before, with every team now getting well and truly into the swing of the season, perhaps now is the time for some of the parents to be asking 'can I do more to help?'
I was promoted to touch on this after speaking at the weekend to a friend who helps run a team. Unfortunately this week, his son was laid up in bed with the flu, yet my associate still bothered to turn up and help run the side, and ended up, yet again, running the line as other fathers looked on.
I've made no secret of the fact that over the years I have been very lucky with the parents of the boys I have had in my respective teams at Worthing United and Ferring. But I would just ask all parents reading this, whose boys or girls are playing at the weekend, to just take a moment and think about offering to do more.
Helping to put goals up, running the line or, unfortunately, in the case of some of our pitches in the town, clearing the dog mess.
Managers run teams because they enjoy doing it and, like everyone connected with the sport, they love football. But I can testify that it's all the more satisfying and easier with a little bit of help from the parents.
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