BEST PLACE TO LEARN THE TRADE
Alan Pardew is a member of the LMA (League Manager’s Association) who are proud partners of Prostate Cancer UK
NON-LEAGUE football was a massive part of what I am and what I represent because I didn’t come through a professional club. I came from a world where you were expected to deliver a performance on the back of working all day and certainly no quarter given. I learnt how to win and how to draw and how to cope with the situations that you don’t encounter professionally.
When you come into the professional game it makes you very conscious of how fortunate players are who don’t go through that route and are lucky enough to be a footballer all their lives.
The Non-League scene is a terrific breeding ground for footballers and if I had my way I would loan some of my junior players to Non-League clubs because it’s a great place to learn the trade.
The access to become a professional club is increased now too. If you’ve got momentum you can go through those leagues.
The fundamentals you have at Non-League are exactly the same at professional. It’s just the quality and technical levels improve as you go along.
Engrossed
I’ve heard all about the upcoming Non-League Day (October 7). I think it’s important to support football at every level so any agenda where NonLeague is being promoted is a good thing. The level puts disciplines in people how to behave, how to control themselves on a football pitch and take that into their lives.
Some kids who are from really, really rough backgrounds, learnt some terrific traits going to Non-League football and learning how to behave and conduct themselves in society.
I hope, when it is Non-League Day, that football fans who go to professional clubs go and support them as well. It’s all one big Pyramid. We all feed into each other. I’M sure a lot of people who watch football know of Prostate Cancer UK’s Man of Men badge and what it represents. It’s just underlining the issue that for men it’s about their health and hopefully when people see this badge it reminds them to keep an eye on the situation which is a big, obviously, problem with British men.
I’ve had three members of my family affected by prostate cancer in various ways. One was caught early, which was very good. The treatment of that happened and he’s clear now. The second one had to have a little bit more treatment and found it difficult and they’re still suffering a little bit. And the third one, unfortunately, it’s spread to other areas. That is proving much more difficult and is quite upsetting for all the family.
Do managers neglect their health? Absolutely. Because you’re so engrossed in your job that you kind of start to ignore your health.
When you’re busy it’s natural to think ‘Oh, I’ve got a slight problem there, I’ll put it off to the next day and start thinking about something else’. With the symptoms of prostate and the problems that can occur, it’s important you don’t ignore it, particularly for men over a certain age.
To get a Prostate Cancer UK ‘Man of Men’ pin badge to wear with pride, text BADGE to 70004 to donate £5* and help stop prostate cancer being a killer. For information about the badge and the charity’s work in football, visit prostatecanceruk.org/whostheman. Texts cost £5 plus network charge. Prostate Cancer UK receives 100% of your donation. Obtain bill payer’s permission. Customer care: 0800 082 1616. Charity No. 1005541.