It’s clearly a quiet news week, as the papers have been full of disgust at a young footballer rolling around drunk on holiday.
Jack Grealish has emerged from nowhere to national prominence during the last the season. He’s played in a struggling team, so his good, consistent form has been all the more commendable. Following an FA Cup final appearance, facing another season in the PL ahead of him and with Roy Hodgson courting his services, he was more than entitled for a celebratory holiday.
The fact that he went to Tenerife and got absolutely hammered is neither a surprise or something to be condemned outright. I think back to when I was that age. I went on the mandatory lad’s holidays to the Med and had a fantastic time. How I survived 14 consecutive boozy nights, out partying until the early hours is something I can’t get my head around now. But I did it, and though the memory of the holiday is very hazy, they were great times. Jack is young, loaded, talented and had a fantastic season. If anyone deserves a good holiday, then it’s him. If the boozing continued into the season, then it would be a different issue and I would expect the club to take action.
All the talk of him needing to be a good role model is nonsense. Parents and teachers are role models, footballers are are there to entertain and thrill during 90 minutes of escapism for fans.
I’ve actually believed for a long time now, that far from being a bunch of ill-disciplined, rowdy delinquents, I’m astounded at how young footballers are generally so well-behaved. These days when everyone has access to a camera on the their mobile phone, it’s little wonder, footballers have been photographed after over indulging. I have no problem with Jack Wilshire occasionally having a blow-out, along with a crafty fag.
Yes, we don’t see the likes of Messi or Ronaldo falling out of nightclubs in the early hours but are we expecting all footballers to demonstrate the discipline to be in bed every evening by 9pm and live the lives of monks? We like our idols to reveal their imperfections and shortcomings; it makes their achievements even more admirable. Like it or not, I sense many Arsenal fans over the years shared a closer kinship towards the likes of Merson and Adams, than the ultra professionalism exhibited by Campbell or Overmars.