Respect for players from previous generations

The news of Jack Charlton's passing, and that of Norman Hunter, Trevor Cherry recently, and the depth of feeling and respect shown by the majority of folk, has had me thinking about how, in the years to come, current footballers will be thought of when they pass away in future years? Indeed, is it different with modern sportsmen and sportswomen generally?

Is the modern player looked at differently to those from previous generations or has time softened peoples opinions of them?

Obviously social media and financial rewards are the most significant change in the last 20 years of sport, but is there more to it? Social disconnect, attitude to the everyday punter, for example?

Curious as to how people see it, especially those who have know footballers over several decades and seen the changes over that longer period. I certainly have less warmth in general to the modern sportsperson, although I'd like to think I can recognise excellence in their sport on merit.

 

Think loyalty was more prevalent then ... clubs had real heroes.

 

Indeed. I almost posted a quote earlier that Jack Charlton spent his entire 21-year playing career at Leeds.

 

They were a lot closer to the local community in the good old days when there wasn't much money around. You could have a chat with players in your local boozer. Mick McCarthy around Worsbrough. Gary Pierce, Tommy Graham, Alistair Millar, Derek Bell, Les Lea, Ronnie Glavin, John Macdonald all lived up Ardsley and went in the Pheasant for a pint. Arjan De Zeeuw at Darfield. I doubt whether any of the current crop live locally.

 

Clubs also had a greater hold on their players, though. If a club decided you were staying with them, that was it. You stayed.
For me, especially with our club, we rarely see that many players staying beyond 2 years these days. With our head coaches, it's even less!

 

This was something I didn't realise until I read it today as part of the news stories about his death. 773 appearances for one club, that he stayed with his entire career. That is quite remarkable and is never likely to be repeated. That record will probably stand forever.

 

Thanks for the thoughts and replies.

I think for me it's the distance between them and the local support that really stands out for me. I think our club do well in terms of community involvement but it's more that when I first started supporting Barnsley, 1979/80ish, the players were visible in the community every day because most of them lived amongst it, as some have said, drank in your local pub, house in a normal street or estate, kids at your local school and so on. They're very much hidden away now.

I went to school with Mike Lester's son until he left BFC, saw Ronnie Glavin regularly around Royston when I was at my Aunt's, Mick Clarke lived in digs in Brierley where I grew up and used to chat regularly with him and our newsagent who was a Huddersfield fan. Even as recently as our Premier League era, players lived in the surrounding villages quite openly, Lars Leese and his wife/partner were really sociable around Royston.

All that said, the loyalty and longevity with your local club has gone, so perhaps the time to settle into a local area has gone too?

I also think players in general, at the highest level of the game, aren't "loved" as much either. Partly due to financial excess rewarding mediocrity but also I feel there is an increased divide between them and the traditional support. Maybe I'm being too harsh there though?

 

I met him 21 years ago. Was doing an after dinner speaking gig where i worked at the time.

Made sure we were all in tip top health when he turned up. Before most of the guests. Had a chat with anyone within range.

Left a kitty for us all to have a beer on him. Cant fault him.