Ava took Barton flak in her stride
Graham praises Thistle teen’s maturity
PARTICK THISTLE women’s coach Brian Graham insists Joey Barton’s online criticism of teenage Jags keeper Ava Easdon was ‘out of order’.
Former Premier League midfielder Barton has drawn condemnation for social media comments running down the standard of women’s football.
Critical of 17-year-old Easdon’s display in Partick Thistle’s 4-1 defeat to Rangers women in the Sky Sports Cup final, the keeper’s father Lex accused the exManchester City and Newcastle player of ‘bullying’ his daughter.
Veteran Thistle striker Graham praised the response of Easdon — shortlisted for the PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year award — to the storm and branded Barton ‘irrelevant’.
‘She’s 17 years of age and she’s up for Young Player of the Year,’ said Graham. ‘She took it in her stride, she didn’t let it distract her and she has carried on training well and working hard.
‘She’s a fantastic talent and there is no point even mentioning his name, you just put him in the bottom of the bin because he’s irrelevant in this situation.
‘We’ll look after the young girl and she’ll look after herself. She has a good family behind her too.
‘She has a long future in the game and I am delighted she has signed her first professional contract with Glasgow City off the back of this season. It shows you how well she has done.
‘People will make comments, it doesn’t matter if it’s the male game or the female game. You’re in the spotlight and young players need to deal with that.
‘It’s water off a duck’s back. But his comments were out of order.’
Barton is facing legal action by Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine after he branded the broadcaster a ‘bike nonce’. Football pundit Eniola Aluko is also pursuing a defamation action after the 41-year-old likened her and an ITV broadcaster to serial killers Fred and Rose West.
Commenting on X after the Partick teenager was caught out of position for the opening Rangers goal, Barton attracted strongly worded criticism of his remarks from former club Rangers — the Ibrox outfit rounding on ‘discriminatory and misogynistic comments’.
Calling on social media companies to take responsibility for cleaning up the bile appearing on their platforms, Graham added: ‘People talk about mental health — that’s why so many people are having issues because every time they look at their phone they are doing something bad.
‘There are so many people criticising them. It’s over the top at times and I believe these companies could do something about it and they don’t.
‘You can’t tell people to stay off it. Everyone has a phone. My wee boy is asking me for a phone, he’s nine. No chance.
‘I look about the school playground and they all have phones, there’s no hiding away from it.
‘The big companies need to do something for this generation because if they don’t, there will be a lot of mental health cases these next few years.’
Praising Easdon for overcoming a social media pile-on to secure recognition on the Young Player of the Year shortlist, Graham praised the youngster’s maturity.
‘She’s placid, so quiet at times you wouldn’t know she’s in the room,’ he said. ‘But on the pitch, you don’t get many 17-year-olds barking orders and she’ll do it at her experienced captain in front of her. And she’ll develop and get even better the next couple of years. Fingers crossed she can be Scotland’s No 1 one day.’ Nominated for Women’s Manager of the Year on the PFA Scotland shortlist, Thistle striker Graham lost out to Jo Potter of Rangers — but did lift the prize for Championship Player of the Year after 24 goals in all competitions.
The Jags host Airdrie in the second leg of the Championship play-offs tonight, with the sides tied at 2-2.
‘I’m over the moon to win the award,’ he added, ‘especially at 36 years of age.
‘A lot of people might not have tipped me to do so. But to finish top goalscorer in the division as well, it has been a special moment in my career.
‘We’re finding our form at the right end of the season and we take that into the play-offs now.’