Barnsley striker defends fellow professionals’ unheralded charity work

Those who frequently use social media cannot fail to have noticed the amount of stick that footballers have been receiving of late – and, for once, it is nothing to do with action on the pitch.

It is everything to do with the perceived stereotypical view of footballers being greedy and self-interested, with the comments of health secretary Matt Hancock that all Premier League players should take a pay cut and ‘play their part’ given the sacrifices being made by many workers having the effect of adding considerable fuel to the fire.

That fact that many footballers have actively supported and been patrons of many charities and noble causes over the years – without the desire for fanfare – has been conveniently glossed over, while many footballers are currently doing their bit in lockdown to raise funds for the NHS.

Canvass the feelings of most players and there is a feeling that they are being unfairly maligned.

Speaking for many, Barnsley top-scorer Cauley Woodrow commented: “I think the reason that has happened is that it is an emotional time for everyone, really.

“When things become emotional, it is easy to point fingers at people.

“Footballers do an awful lot for the community and go to schools and hospitals.

“Every month, players make appearances. It is easy to point fingers when people earn a lot of money.

“But at the same time, people have to realise we do a lot for the community.

“I know players who are in with charities and you wouldn’t even know about it.

“They do not put it in the press. It is something that lots of players do behind the scenes at clubs.”

Like all footballers, Woodrow is counting down the days to when he can get back to something resembling the day job, with the Reds top-scorer ploughing a lone furrow in terms of his training regime as he and his team-mates train remotely and follow individual fitness programmes issued by the club.

The forward has tried to structure his working day in the best way he can. But as someone who is naturally active and continually on the go, he admits that he finds the lockdown restrictions testing.

He said: “I get up in the morning and normally go for a run before breakfast and do some fitness and then chill out.

“I try and get my fitness work out of the way in the morning, so I can do whatever I need to do for the rest of the season.

“I do find it hard to rest. I probably wouldn’t find it so hard if I was sat on holiday somewhere. At the moment, it is a lot harder being stuck indoors as we are bored.

“So you think: ‘I just need to go out for a run or go on my bike and do something.’ In the summer, I am normally a bit more relaxed. My mum keeps on at me saying: ‘you need to chill out a little’ just in case it is going to be a long time and the seasons roll on.

“Between this season and next, we might not have a rest and now could be our rest time.”

Alongside countless other footballers, Woodrow has been busy devouring box sets during his leisure time, while he got more than he bargained for when he turned his hand to a touch of household maintenance.

He added:“I bought a jet-wash and was going to jet-wash the patio. But I took a bit of the cement out and it was a bit too powerful.”

Best sticking to the football, then, Cauley.

Editor’s note: First and foremost - and rarely have I written down these words with more sincerity - I hope this finds you well.

Almost certainly you are here because you value the quality and the integrity of the journalism produced by The Yorkshire Post’s journalists - almost all of which live alongside you in Yorkshire, spending the wages they earn with Yorkshire businesses - who last year took this title to the industry watchdog’s Most Trusted Newspaper in Britain accolade.

And that is why I must make an urgent request of you: as advertising revenue declines, your support becomes evermore crucial to the maintenance of the journalistic standards expected of The Yorkshire Post. If you can, safely, please buy a paper or take up a subscription. We want to continue to make you proud of Yorkshire’s National Newspaper but we are going to need your help.

Postal subscription copies can be ordered by calling 0330 4030066 or by emailing [email protected]. Vouchers, to be exchanged at retail sales outlets - our newsagents need you, too - can be subscribed to by contacting subscriptions on 0330 1235950 or by visiting www.localsubsplus.co.uk where you should select The Yorkshire Post from the list of titles available.

If you want to help right now, download our tablet app from the App / Play Stores. Every contribution you make helps to provide this county with the best regional journalism in the country.

Sincerely. Thank you. James Mitchinson, Editor