Ged Tarpey

Hi Lexi, hope you're well! I come on the spirit of our sport. 4 years ago we chatted in California and you're one of the most engaging people I've interviewed, so my respect is genuine. Let's park capitalism, profit and loss for a minute and strip things back to the basics. You and I both played football and were lucky enough to make it our living. I could play competitive, organised junior football for almost no cost ( I didn't even realise there was a cost to junior football elsewhere becaise I presumed it was free everywhere!) because my Football Association ploughs big sponsorship money directly into grassroots football. So every boy and girl can access our sport. A good thing, right? If we're serious about spreading the gospel of a sport which joins millions across the world, creates friendships for life, teaches us discipline, fitness, winning and losing amongst many things. So I'd hope that you, as a big voice in your country would advocate for every child having access to our sport? But how can they when we insert ultra capitalist business practice to something that is way more important than simply making money (the things I set out above)? I'm a capitalist, not ultra, but I live and breathe in that system without (except when others are harmed, which is unfortunately growing globally) push back, but capitalism at the level you acknowledge isn't just hampering poor kids from enjoying the life lessons football teaches, but to effectively punish children and low income parents from participating in organised sport is morally wrong? I'm not here to lecture, I'm an imperfect human living on an imperfect planet. But at times we have opportunities do do something that includes, not excludes. In England, that comes in the form of almost free access to organised football, for all, from 6 to 66. There is no downside to this. The 66 year olds often have, for free, started teams giving their time for free to all kids. Trevor Cooper, a man from my home town, in his 30's started a team, Longford Boys( 11 to 15 age group teams, all coached by volunteer parents). Without him I wouldn't have been exposed to the sport, friends who are my besties to this day, a pro career or following my country, in yours, at a World Cup. One man gifted me that, for free. Sometimes in life, romantic that it seems on a planet taught "me me me, money money money ", the most joyous experiences and lessons come without cost. Football is proven to be one. Let's fleece sponsors and corporations to pay big bucks to sponsor our pro teams, stadiums, national teams. I'm all in on that. With that money, like in England, it gets put into grassroots football to allow anyone and everyone the gift of football. Charging $4000 or $15000 a season for a child to play organised football is morally wrong, Alexi. It just is. Campaign for grassroots football in the USA to be properly funded by the US FA. You'll have more support than you could imagine and people will follow you. Your gift to the country you love and game you love. Association Football, the world's greatest sport because it's affordable, inclusive, spellbinding, life affirming and joyous. I was the beneficiary aged 11 of Mr Cooper offering a free team to play for, coached for free, a league organised by the local and national association, lifelong friendshops, health and fitness discipline and a passion I'll take to the grave. Free can work in the USA. Fleece the sponsors, not the parents. They can pay for your free football. Yours in sport. Stan Collymore. 🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿