
shop: complete catalogue	world cup tees	peace love football	slogan tees & specials	teams / players	graphics	features	interviews	blogs	archive

Hammers, Horners and Raiders - The Peter Drury Interview Part 2

ITV commentator Peter Drury grew up a Hammer. Now living in Hertfordshire he and his three lads are Hornets but neither West Ham nor Watford results dominate the Drury household at the weekend – the only result of any meaning involves Berkhamstead Raiders. In part two of our interview with the commentator, Peter describes his involvement with Hertfordshire youth football . . .

As a football commentator Peter Drury sits in the best seats in the world’s most fashionable stadia watching the sports’ glamorous fixtures. Being paid to watch and talk about football day-in, day-out might drive a man to do anything but in his spare time. But the Drury household, including wife and three boys, spend their weekends watching and playing more football.

“There’d be a football match on a television somewhere in our house every minute of the day if it were allowed, which it isn’t! I grew up a West Ham man but I often take the boys to watch Watford and it’s the Hornets result that matters most for us. I’ve got a 16-year-old now who travels with his mates watching Watford at Championship grounds all around the country. Watford’s a lovely club to follow – they’re really nice people and it’s a lot of fun.

“I’m also involved in youth football at the weekends because my boys are involved. I’ve been the manager/coach of an age group for Berkhamstead Raiders for some years now. I started a group at Under 7 and we’ve just started our Under 10 season so this is my fourth season in charge.”

Do you enjoy the trials and tribulations of youth football or does it sometimes seem like a parental duty?

“It’s been very fulfilling. Far and away the most exciting football I get to see in all that I do, is Berkhamstead Raiders U8s 9s and 10s because there’s such a level of innocence and joy and, by the way, pain because they care if they lose. It’s lovely to see kids playing football for fun and that’s my ethos. I don’t want to paint myself as a saint but I’m a great one for sportsmanship and shaking hands and making sure everyone gets a turn.”

Would you say that’s the prevalent attitude in your football community or do you come across shall we say, the more competitive parent?

“One does come across competitive parents from time to time who can’t understand why we’re not going hell for leather until we rule the world but my view is that most, if not all, the kids I come across are unlikely to play for England, Manchester United or Watford or Torquay so the idea is to make sure that they all enjoy playing. So far that’s what it’s been like – three years of fun.”

Is it too much hope that by some sort of osmosis, you’ve picked up some useful coaching tips by watching and interviewing some of the game’s best players, coaches and managers?

“Obviously the professional game is such a different game . . . but what I think is important in youth football is where you think you have a genuine relationship with as many of the players as you possibly can so that your words of encouragement really matter to them. I can’t claim to be some brilliant coach but I suppose it comes back to the use of words - I like to feel that I can make them feel good about themselves. That’s what I aim to do, to make them feel important.

“It’s great to pull one of them aside and say something like ‘do you know what, you’re my man today’ and after you’ve finished encouraging him you watch him walk away six inches taller and really wanting to play football, to take up his role in the team. That gives me a great deal of satisfaction, just as it does to see one of my team’s boys who turned up for training two or three years ago hiding behind his mum’s skirt. He was a bit tearful and reluctant to join in but now I see him running round like a tiger and I think to myself if I had something to do with that and his increase in self-esteem and confidence, then that’ll do for me. I love that.”

This question has to be asked and we make no apologies for it. As you stand there watching your own kids team and there’s a really great move unfolding, are you not just the tiniest bit tempted to commentate under your breath?

“No, I honestly don’t. If I go to see a professional game with my kids, say a Watford game, then my kids do take the mickey out of me because I always have to have a programme. I feel uncomfortable unless I know the name of every player as he touches the ball so if I see Watford V Peterborough I need to know at least five minutes before the game how Peterborough are lining up but if I’m watching Berkhamstead Raiders versus Tring Athletic then no I don’t commentate. In fact I hardly even notice the opposition, I’ve only got eyes for my kids and encouraging them.”

Youth football can sometimes be a funny but alarming environment especially when you come across one or two fathers, because it’s nearly always the blokes, whom you suspect are fulfilling their football dreams vicariously through their sons.

“Yes it can be like that. I have to be careful not to be a little bit hypocritical here but there is an extent to which we’re all probably a little bit guilty of that in so far as we all ache for our children. If my child is not in the team or hasn’t had a good game then it’s hard for me, as a parent, not to feel his disappointment. And likewise if my child belts one into the top corner then it’s pretty hard for me not to believe he’s the next Ronaldo and we all do that to some extent.

“There are extremes and you do come across parents who can’t see past the fact that their child is going to be the next superhero of world football. The best thing I can do under those circumstances is to smile sweetly because they’re probably not going to be although maybe they will be, who knows?

“I don’t want to preach but I just think it is sensible of the footballers’ parents to have a reasonable expectation level. When I was young I was the classic second team player of whatever sport I played and I’ve always said to my children if they can derive the same pleasure out of sport that I got by bumbling along in a very ordinary way and just being capable enough to be part of a team and make friends through it, then that’ll do for me.

But I do understand that there are some parents who believe their child could be a genuinely good sportsman or woman and if they’re a little bit pushier that’s understandable but they have to do it within the context of a team and a club and an ethic so that’s what I try to demand at least from the parents of my boys.

“I still play cricket for Berkhamstead fourths and I just love turning up and being part of a team of some players who are better than me, some not so good, some who are 15 years old and some who are 60, lorry drivers and solicitors, that’s what the sport is for me. I also have to say that when I turn out for my local cricket team I’m in the same team as one of my sons – now that really is a father’s dream.”

Hammers, Horners and Raiders - The Peter Drury Interview Part 2

all shirts - world cup - peace love football - slogans and specials - teams and players - graphics - features - interviews - blogs - archive