Why did I put myself through that Downing Street ordeal? Grassroots football has to have a voice

FOOTBALL needs a voice, even in the traumatic times of a pandemic, and I was proud to make a stand on behalf of the game’s grassroots at the daily Downing Street briefing.

Since I put Health Secretary Matt Hancock on the spot about one-toone coaching for under-18s being outlawed under the rules of lockdown (right and below), the response from within the game has been incredible.

Premier League managers, academy coaches, grassroots coaches, ex-internationals, pundits and players have been in touch to thank me for giving football a presence in the corridors of power.

Despite what a minority seem to think, I didn’t do it for personal glory or self-interest.

Through my role as a Daily Mirror columnist, I was qualified to ask a Cabinet minister and the Chief Medical Officer questions affecting tens of thousands of boys, girls and their parents.

Was I surprised to be selected? Well, with the exception of watching one of my boys in a semi-final penalty shoot-out, I have never been more nervous.

Waiting in the ‘queue’ to ask why youngsters who play golf, tennis, cricket and athletics can receive one-to-one coaching under social distancing and safeguarding rules but junior footballers can’t, my palms were sweating and my heart thumping.

I’ve been on the radio and TV numerous times, but you don’t want to fluff your lines at a Downing Street media briefing.

Here I was, a boy from Wrexham, about to put a Government minister on the spot. It was a privilege. So why did I do it? This is Mental Health Awareness week and since it was the Health Secretary who was receiving my question, it seemed like a perfect fit.

My father died from Pick’s disease, a form of Alzheimer’s, and I am passionate about nourishing the sport’s grassroots, so it was a chance to combine two subjects I care about: Football and mental health.

I did it for the army of volunteers – mums, dads, grandparents, of whom I am just one – who give up their time, put up with animated parents on touchlines and stand in all weathers to help boys and girls play the game they love. I wanted to give a voice to grass roots because too many levels of football had their records expunged last month – and hundreds of clubs insist they were given no say.

Like I said: Football needs a voice – in the last few years, we have seen the likes of Clarke Carlisle and Joey Barton on TV’S Question Time, so why not Savage of Wrexham on the 5pm Downing Street briefing?

Let me make one thing clear: I understand that safeguarding is paramount. But there are ways and means of coaches and young footballers having individual sessions in a public park or open space and observing social distancing, with one parent or carer watching from a finite and socially-distanced vantage point.

How about the Government and the FA get their heads together and come up with a shortterm solution where safeguarding remains paramount?

One former England international, whose opinions I respect, says he understands my logic – but that until the Government gets its act together, football should stick to the letter of the FA’S safeguarding rules.

And he said there are online coaching tools to help kids learn their skills remotely working with a parent or an adult from the same household.

Yes, but single parents with limited finances, for example, may not be able to devote as much time to helping their kids complete training drills.

I still feel there is a compromise solution which would meet everyone’s criteria without breaking any rules. But there are thousands of teenagers up and down the country whose mental health is suffering because they cannot go out and kick a ball with anyone outside their household.

It’s leading to arguments, shouting matches and stress. As a father, I know that one of my sons has been adversely affected by lockdown.

It has been harder to motivate him and he has found it difficult to maintain his progress as a footballer.

And I know that if one of my boys is suffering, lockdown will be hurting loads of others across the country.

That is why I was keen to ask a question at the Downing Street briefing.

Although I did not really get a clear answer to my follow-up question about a pathway to junior and park-level football resuming, I am grateful to Matt Hancock for the courtesy of entertaining it.

And he did give me a glimmer of hope by saying he wanted to see grassroots football back – as safely as possible.

For thousands of kids, volunteers and the grassroots community, it can’t come soon enough.

It seemed like the perfect fit.. the chance to combine two subjects that I care about: Football and mental health