It wouldn't be ruffling too many feathers to suggest that our footballers don't often make it easy for themselves. Whether it is accusations of affairs with glamour models, super-injunctions to cover murky pasts or an alleged refusal to take to the field of play, such unsavoury incidents leave the sourest of tastes in the mouths of the paying public.
Much of this resentment comes down to the status of modern footballers. In doing a job that we would crave to do for free - and being paid handsomely to do so - it is inevitable that when a player steps out of line, the bitterness will turn to anger. We are told that they have let down their club, the fans and the children who look up to them. Easily forgetting the avoidable misdemeanours made in our own lives, we have an assumed negativity about footballers' behaviour, and every wrong is worth more than a few rights. But is this automatic assumption of idiocy and thoughtlessness not unfair? Surely our supposition of the greedy and selfish footballer cannot be wholly accurate?
You may be aware that last week a boy named Jack Marshall passed away. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour at four years old, and was aged just six at the time of his death. Whilst this is indeed a sorry tale, Jack was able to live his life to the fullest through the actions of some of the Premier League's biggest stars - none more so than Jack Wilshere. As well as spending time with Jack and his family, including an impromptu kickabout with Jack's brother Josh in a local park, the awareness raised by the actions of Wilshere and others is astonishing. He wore wristbands bearing his young friend's name and regularly tweeted support for Jack's charity to his 900,000 followers.
However impressive the conduct of Wilshere, he is certainly not alone. Didier Drogba, often a figure of hate from opposition fans, was appointed in 2007 as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, and has worked tirelessly to use his status to bring peace to his native Ivory Coast. Preferring for his work to remain private unless publicity is necessary, Drogba donated all of the money received for a £3million advertising deal to fund a hospital in Abidjan. After retiring, Drogba has pledged to continue to develop his charity - the Didier Drogba Foundation.
Craig Bellamy is another recipient of tireless terrace abuse. In 2008, Bellamy assisted in the building of a foundation in Sierra Leone for children disadvantaged through war, a programme which aims to provide football as an escape from poverty and conflict.
What is of greater importance than the examples raised is that they form a minute percentage, the tip of the iceberg in deeds done by our heroes. From Aston Villa's relationship with children's charity Acorns to Bob Wilson's bike rides for cancer charities via Jason Roberts, Rory Delap and Rob Green (amongst many others), the efforts are wide and far-reaching. Simon Morgan, Head of Community at the Premier League, estimates that clubs (not including efforts from individuals) have invested £111.7million into charitable projects in the last three years. We could all do and give more to charity, and none of us are selfless, but that figure indicates a genuine desire to help that goes beyond advice from PAs to be seen to be making an effort.
Our players are not angels. In fact some of them are immature and at times immoral. This means that they may not always be treated as role models for our children, but parents should ensure that, not players. And who is an angel, anyway? Sure, we don't all pay for sex with prostitutes or cheat on our wives (though many do), but that may be partly due to the fact that we are or were not paid £100,000 per week aged 24 without having to demonstrate a semblance of intelligence.
If we are right to criticise these stars when they cross the line, we have a duty to also cherish their generosity. The family of Jack Marshall certainly will.
Much of this resentment comes down to the status of modern footballers. In doing a job that we would crave to do for free - and being paid handsomely to do so - it is inevitable that when a player steps out of line, the bitterness will turn to anger. We are told that they have let down their club, the fans and the children who look up to them. Easily forgetting the avoidable misdemeanours made in our own lives, we have an assumed negativity about footballers' behaviour, and every wrong is worth more than a few rights. But is this automatic assumption of idiocy and thoughtlessness not unfair? Surely our supposition of the greedy and selfish footballer cannot be wholly accurate?
You may be aware that last week a boy named Jack Marshall passed away. He had been diagnosed with a brain tumour at four years old, and was aged just six at the time of his death. Whilst this is indeed a sorry tale, Jack was able to live his life to the fullest through the actions of some of the Premier League's biggest stars - none more so than Jack Wilshere. As well as spending time with Jack and his family, including an impromptu kickabout with Jack's brother Josh in a local park, the awareness raised by the actions of Wilshere and others is astonishing. He wore wristbands bearing his young friend's name and regularly tweeted support for Jack's charity to his 900,000 followers.
However impressive the conduct of Wilshere, he is certainly not alone. Didier Drogba, often a figure of hate from opposition fans, was appointed in 2007 as a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador, and has worked tirelessly to use his status to bring peace to his native Ivory Coast. Preferring for his work to remain private unless publicity is necessary, Drogba donated all of the money received for a £3million advertising deal to fund a hospital in Abidjan. After retiring, Drogba has pledged to continue to develop his charity - the Didier Drogba Foundation.
Craig Bellamy is another recipient of tireless terrace abuse. In 2008, Bellamy assisted in the building of a foundation in Sierra Leone for children disadvantaged through war, a programme which aims to provide football as an escape from poverty and conflict.
What is of greater importance than the examples raised is that they form a minute percentage, the tip of the iceberg in deeds done by our heroes. From Aston Villa's relationship with children's charity Acorns to Bob Wilson's bike rides for cancer charities via Jason Roberts, Rory Delap and Rob Green (amongst many others), the efforts are wide and far-reaching. Simon Morgan, Head of Community at the Premier League, estimates that clubs (not including efforts from individuals) have invested £111.7million into charitable projects in the last three years. We could all do and give more to charity, and none of us are selfless, but that figure indicates a genuine desire to help that goes beyond advice from PAs to be seen to be making an effort.
Our players are not angels. In fact some of them are immature and at times immoral. This means that they may not always be treated as role models for our children, but parents should ensure that, not players. And who is an angel, anyway? Sure, we don't all pay for sex with prostitutes or cheat on our wives (though many do), but that may be partly due to the fact that we are or were not paid £100,000 per week aged 24 without having to demonstrate a semblance of intelligence.
If we are right to criticise these stars when they cross the line, we have a duty to also cherish their generosity. The family of Jack Marshall certainly will.
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