Freddie bowled us and boys over
MAIL TV critic Christopher Stevens was rather harsh on the BBC1 series Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams. Freddie was a superb cricketer and is a genuine action man who has also not been afraid to talk about the depression and mental health problems he has experienced. He regularly takes on hair-raising tasks and stunts, and has trained with the SAS and as a professional boxer. If those teenagers in Preston, his home town, needed a male role model, who better than Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff? He is brilliant with the boys and not condescending. I am a former state school teacher and qualified MCC coach who has also worked with disaffected teenage boys with serious attitude problems. I can assure Mr Stevens it is b **** y hard. Following episodes of the series will show how much the boys develop their skills. There is a lot to be learned in cricket and far worse programmes on TV than Field Of Dreams, so please give Freddie a break. He has made a great start.
ROB BRADFORD, Thatcham, Berks.
I AM not a cricket fan but I found the first episode of Freddie Flintoff’s Field Of Dreams down-to-earth and heartwarming. Most of the present England team are privately educated but he took cricket to underprivileged boys, encouraging them to play ‘what to them is an alien game’. I’m hooked.
D.M. DEAMER, York.
I WAS saddened to read Christopher Stevens’s review last week. Freddie and the team were patient, kind and non-judgmental in dealing with a tough situation. And at least they are trying to help, so good luck to them.
SUE KENNEDY, Twickenham, SW London.