Sir Alex Ferguson and co should be made to learn a lesson from Cottage Farm Rangers
One of the Birmingham Mail's longest-running campaigns is 'Respect the Ref', where we highlight improper behaviour by grassroots players and officials and print the results of all disciplinary hearings.
As a result, I insist on proper behaviour at any match involving my eledest son's team, Boldmere Boys, of which I am secretary. In the last season, this has seen the banning of one of our team's parents for swearing from the touchline. No-one else's action here... this was we as a club not accepting innappropriate language.
Anyway, that's the background. It was this weekend that made me think of Sir Alex and co and the grassroots lesson they need to learn.
It was at my middle son's match, Whitehouse Wanderers v Cottage Farm Rangers, in Div 2 of the Under 11s Tamworth Junior Football League. It had been a close-fought, top end of the table clash match and Whitehouse eventually won 3-1.
During the after-match chat with the Whitehouse players, the Cottage Farm Rangers manager came trotting over with a clear intent to say something and I remember thinking: "here we go," and half planning how to defuse a situation in front of the boys.
But then came his words: "Can I just say to your team that today they were a credit to themsleves, a credit to their manager and a credit to their parents. Great game, you played well and deserved to win. Well done."
What an example! I would dearly have loved the like of Sir Alex and other arrogant Premiership managers to have been there...
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Steve Dyson
Blog from the Editor on recent issues and events.
What's wrong with a bit of argy bargy at football? Take that away and you take the passion away. I agree we shouldn't kill eachother, but the odd heated row and chest-to-chest stand off is surely good for the game?? As for the refs, who is the ba**ard in the black!!!?
I take it your comment was tongue in cheek...! There's nothing wrong with healthy competitiveness, Colin, but the way Sir Alex and others encourage arrogance in youth fotball by acting it in the Premiership against referees is outrageous. I'd fine them!
Quite agree with the boss...well I would wouldn't I?
There's no place in junior football for the kind of behaviour we see every week in the Premiership.
I was at an under-13s game two weeks ago where a really big, strong, skilful lad did a triple salko in the box with no defender anywhere near him.
He failed to get the penalty he was after and at the end I wandered over to his manager and said "he doesn't need to do that, he's a good player".
The manager shrugged and said "I know, but what can you do eh?".
The following week one of our lads did it and swore when the ref waved play on. I had him subbed and off the pitch before he could make a bigger fool of himself.
Their manager came over and congratulated me at the end...but I wonder if he'd have done the same.
Some things are far more important than winning...I should know - I support Brentford.
've always encouraged by two lads to