Footballers get a lot of stick at times. Over-paid Premier League divas giving the beautiful game a bad name, tales of wild nights, lives of vulgar excess, spoilt brats and their bling, ostentatiously showing off their spoils, led or leading astray, poles apart from the everyday working fan. But, much of this image is exaggerated…and unfair. Yes their salaries, bonuses and sponsorship deals often run into more millions than we can ever dream of, but the buck, or the pound doesn’t stop there. It’s not always about the money, money, money.
Many players donate silently and without fanfare, or have their own foundations and charity fundraisers. Lots of players give their money, and their time, to people in true need; they just don’t choose to constantly shout about it. At Christmas time, the annual visits to various hospitals and charitable organisations are a great way for players to not only give something back or raise awareness, but to actively and instantly make a difference to people’s lives. Of course the media are invited, the written journos, the radio reporters, the TV cameras, we’re all present to get our football news lines and the clubs get ‘good press’ so in a cynical world I guess we’re all there for our own ends. Except when you’re there, and you see the amazing effect it has on the children, or the parents, or anyone else in need of help, especially at this time of year, you understand completely how important it is.
When I tweeted about West Ham’s visit to the Richard House Hospice yesterday someone actually replied questioning the integrity of the players and whether they would actually go if the club hadn’t ‘forced’ them to. The short answer to that is yes! In actual fact Mark Noble is patron of Richard House. It was obvious that the people there and the tremendous work that they do are extremely important to him. He spoke to all the staff, greeted the families, introduced the other players and made a real effort to make everyone feel at ease. I didn’t ask him how much cash he gives away; after all does it really matter? As long as the kids are happy isn’t that all that counts?
It’s not just a photo op. The players don’t need the publicity. They didn’t just turn up and stand around. They got stuck in! Jaaskelainen, Cresswell, Amalfitano, Demel, Jenkinson, Carroll, Nobes. They played with the kids, held babies, posed for pictures, laughed and joked with the mums and dads, helped the children with their arts and crafts (which I think they enjoyed a lot more than they let on!) and just generally acted like normal human beings. But what really matters is when you see the real impact they have. The look on the children’s faces when they are face to face with their idols, excitedly unwrapping gifts with them, playing silly games, clasping huge West Ham carrier bags filled with goodies, eyes shining and lots of laughter. It is always so fantastic to see.
I don’t profess to understand what those parents go through all year round with a poorly kiddie, it’s impossible to truly know what they’re going through unless it happens to you. We have had severe disability in our family, my own beautiful cousin Charlotte passed away too young through illness and I don’t suppose a visit from a few footballers would have made everything alright again for my aunt and uncle. And yet, yesterday when one particular dad turned up top to toe in claret and blue and had a good old chin wag with the Hammers lads, when one of the mums took pictures of her baby in the arms of the big man AC, when they could see how happy their children were, you know that, just for maybe a moment, they feel good. It’s a moment of precious respite. And you can’t put a price on that.
As for the far less important matter of a game of football? We spoke about that too. I had a brilliant chat with Andy Carroll about his comeback, his frustration on the side-lines, how he feels about the new recruits, fighting his way back into the team, his hopes for West Ham’s future and much more! I won’t give too much away…you’ll have to watch Soccer Saturday for that. Suffice to say though that, he was honest, forthright, likeable, but crucially is keen to repay the faith in him shown by the manager and the fans. It’s about giving back and he wants to do that by doing what he does best on the pitch. He’s made a great start. Not only that, he’s a dab hand at making puppet elves!
Tune in this Saturday and in the meantime, I know it’s an expensive time of year for everybody, but if you have even a few pennies to spare, please visit the Richard House website and make a donation.
Thank you and…come on you Irons!!!
B x