The blanchy family are a football (soccer for the American friends) dynasty in these parts. The Uncles were very good ballers and my father was decent as well. Left wingers. I dont want to brag but I wasn't the worse myself and still play twice a week. So this Sunday was a big day in the blanchy household as blanchy junior who turned 5 years old is now eligible to join the local football club which is decorated in family photos and has formed the background. The only problem is that it begins at 10am so no more lazy Sunday mornings for me anymore as I navigate the murky world of kids football.
Over the last few years every sport is on the table for youngsters to take up. Football , rugby and GAA which is Gaelic Games . Now back in my day the GAA had control of the sports in schools so young people like myself could not play soccer which really hindered our development. The GAA were against foreign sports coming into Ireland such as soccer and rugby and did everything in their power to stop kids joining up such as giving them an ultimatum. Pick either or but not both. But my father stuck two fingers up at the GAA and himself and a few football people purchased a football field for 60,000 pound in the early 90s and the club never looked back. You wouldn't buy the land for €2 million now. Now the club has an under 7s all the way up a junior football and also have a ladies team and ladies underage team as well. The club won the FAI cup in 1994 which is the best junior team in Ireland and it was my fathers proudest moment as he was the chairman. Before that he was the manager and before that he played.
Now us blanchys are famous for our left foot and there were times I have only ever witnessed the little man play with his right foot so there were murmurs the child was not mine but lone behold we went to his first training session there and the left leg started being used. Better than any DNA test.
I asked one of the other parents should he be wearing boots at the start and I got a yes so there was a big panic yesterday bringing him down to get boots in his size and ended up dropping €80 on boots , socks , shorts and a training top but in fairness he looked the part going off this morning.
The little guy is always quite good mixing with other kids. He just starts by hanging around the outskirts of a gang and he then circles into the centre. I have to say it is impressive.
Anyway I stood around for an hour with some of the other parents have the chats which was great and the hour flew by. There is something about getting up early on a Sunday. The days of getting wrecked on Saturday nights are well and truly and over the last few years I quite this Sunday morning malarky that I never witnessed in my 20s.
So the little lad had a great time and he said he wants to do it every week. Thats great because I want to hear what Angela is going to do about her troublesome neighbours nd how Jimmy gets on with his new 6 berth motorhome. I shall not made the same mistake again and grab a coffee next time around. I was an amateur parent for the first time.
I see some parents shouting and roaring on the side lines putting their kids under pressure. I remember seeing Messi and Suarez sitting in the stands at their own kids football training just having the chats leaving it to the coaches who were probably under pressure with the best player to have ever played the game watching on. If the two best players in the world are sitting back relaxing then I'm gonna do the same. If he becomes a star then great once he enjoys himself. Thats the main thing. I remember training being a bit more cut throat back in my day so I was a bit nervous for my little guy but he wasn’t nervous at all. Now his mothers side of the family are all famous hurlers that come from Ballyhale in Kilkenny so there's a bit of steel in him as well so maybe he will the the chosen one. Hurling is the next sport on the list but he's too young to get a slap of a hurl yet because there is also more skill involved . Anyway this was my morning and who knows in a little while I think I might be training them as well but I will keep to the stands for the moment until I am asked.
When I am asked there is no doubt I will go all in and get my coaching badges and I will be discussing how best to defend against a 4-4-3 and stoping out who my Trequartista or Libero is going to be and I will start playing football. manager again. So that is my sublime Sunday. Hope you have a good one.
Good luck to the little man!
My youngest has just joined our local team. He's modeling himself on Cristian Romero. Loves a tackle but equally wants to stride forward and play the line splitting passes. He's also quite happy to engage in a bit of shithousery. They played a pre-season friendly on Saturday and an opposition player dragged a good chance wide of the post. My boy walked passed him and said 'nice miss'. The kid turned around and shoved him in the chest 😂
What would you do in that one as the parent?
a.) Do nothing
b.) Berate your kid and tell him to get on with the game
c.) Berate the other kid and risk a touchline argument with his folks
d.) Tell your kid that next time he should push him back
e.) Tell your kid that next time he should fall on the floor and roll around
When I suppose if he’s gonna give it out he has to be willing to take it so I’d do nothing if it was just a shove. He mightn’t say nice miss the next time 🤣🤣
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