- May 12, 2010
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So I walk across Ealing Common most evenings to get home from work, and during this welcome balmy weather there's a fair few games of footy going on there, mostly kids and lads having a boot about. There's one particular game between two teams of, I'd say, 15 year old lads going on that I have to walk straight past, so naturally I'm watching and jealously wishing I was 15 years younger and doing the same.
Anyhoo, this one lad gets the ball and charges at the goal, but gets tackled from a fairly hefty challenge, yet perfectly fine for park footy. But the lad crumbles to the floor about 5 seconds afterwards, clutching his ankle and lying motionless while his mates laughed at him. I found it difficult not to laugh too!
I mean, really? Diving and feigning in jury in the park? The only time I did that as a kid was when I caught the ball full in the mush from about a yard away.
Is this how kids playing footy see professional football these days and think that this is an acceptable part of the game, and sport in general? Is it breeding a generation of nancy's and cheats?
Discuss.
Anyhoo, this one lad gets the ball and charges at the goal, but gets tackled from a fairly hefty challenge, yet perfectly fine for park footy. But the lad crumbles to the floor about 5 seconds afterwards, clutching his ankle and lying motionless while his mates laughed at him. I found it difficult not to laugh too!
I mean, really? Diving and feigning in jury in the park? The only time I did that as a kid was when I caught the ball full in the mush from about a yard away.
Is this how kids playing footy see professional football these days and think that this is an acceptable part of the game, and sport in general? Is it breeding a generation of nancy's and cheats?
Discuss.