Good looks don’t lead to national selection for Perry
Roar Guru By Joe Frost, 31 May 2012 Joe Frost is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Ellyse Perry, football, Southern Stars, W-League
A dirty undertone has started to play a part in Ellyse Perry’s seemingly inevitable decision to leave Canberra United following their ultimatum that she must decide whether she wants to be a full time football or cricket player.
As the debate over professionalism in Australian women’s sport has been healthily brought to the fore, so too has the grubby argument it seems to inevitably bring with it – that certain women only excel in sport because of their good looks.
Perry’s teammate in the Matildas, Lisa De Vanna, made a veiled reference to the issue when she posted on Twitter that results and ability should be what matters, not image.
One would have to assume Perry has only ever been selected on results and ability, having scored a goal on debut for the Matildas at age 16. She hadn’t played international cricket at that stage, so to suggest she was picked for any reason other than ability is off the mark.
It is fair, also, to assume she’s subsequently been picked on results or, at worst, reputation based on past performance (see Darius Boyd in a maroon jumper compared to a blue and red one: selection for reputation ain’t a crime).
In a follow-up Tweet De Vanna said she felt like the Bold and the Beautiful, to which some 140-character wielding wit wrote “u r bold and Ellyse Perry is the beautiful.”
De Vanna responded with “beautiful doesnt win games, it only destroys a team when it become more important then professionalism (sic).”
Though it is easy to take tweets and retorts out of context, the fact that De Vanna not only brought image but the idea that beauty destroys teams (in the beautiful game no less) needlessly introduced issues in to a debate which was supposed to be about professionalism and commitment.
So here’s the elephant in the room in all of this. Ellyse Perry is a good sort.
I mentioned this on The Roar the other day, when I wrote Perry, “doesn’t look half bad in an evening gown”. However this was a line designed to emphasise the fact she is a PR dream for any team she is a part of – not only is she so talented that she she represents her country in two sports, she’s also a very attractive young woman.
However the PR dream doesn’t work if she’s not actually any good. Steph Rice got plenty of publicity for her golden smile but the gold medals complementing it got her a million dollar TV deal.
Meanwhile Lauryn Eagle is supposed to be competing for a world title in boxing in July. So what was her latest piece of publicity? A story about her suffering an eating disorder following the death of her father.
Eagle started boxing five minutes ago and has a record of two wins, two losses and a draw. She struggles for publicity for her boxing talent because it would seem she has none. But, as a former beauty queen, she can talk eating disorders. Hey, if it gets her in the paper, good luck to her.
Plenty of people have made mention of Perry’s looks when making comment on her current plight and there has been a level of backlash from other commenters.
But let’s be honest – many women are fans of AFL over rugby league for the simple reason the blokes wear shorter shorts and guernseys which show off their arms.
There’s nothing wrong with noticing Ellyse Perry is good looking. And if it helps her make some money to supplement the meagre pay she receives for actually playing the sports, she should milk it for all it’s worth.
But while her looks might get her a deal to promote clothes, shoes or beauty products, they’re not going to get her another W-League contract.
She’ll get that from her results and copious ability, not her image.
- Explore:
- Ellyse Perry, football, Southern Stars, W-League
May 31st 2012 @ 10:25am
Australian Rules said | May 31st 2012 @ 10:25am | Report comment
What’s the deal with our female athletes this week?
Perry’s teammates getting snicky about her looks..?
Our rowers having ANOTHER embarrassing and dramatic Olympic fallout..?
The dinkydi little Aussie Anastasia Rodionova getting booed out of Roland Garros for terrible behaviour..?
May 31st 2012 @ 10:57am
Rabbitz said | May 31st 2012 @ 10:57am | Report comment
The fall out between Olympic archers…
May 31st 2012 @ 11:18am
simulate said | May 31st 2012 @ 11:18am | Report comment
if canberra want her to commit to them and them only then they need to pay her accordingly. they want the professionalism of the athletes without having to cough up the bread. all players in the w-league are only semi-professional and have to supplement playing football with overseas contracts and part time jobs.
May 31st 2012 @ 11:34am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 11:34am | Report comment
What’s it got to do with remuneration? Even my local football club had rules- e.g. if you don’t train you don’t get picked.
Ric Charlesworth, who was coach of the AUS women’s hockey team when they won 2 x Olympic gold medals & numerous other World Titles, said he placed enormous demands on his players, including insisting they move to the team’s training base in Perth.
I don’t recall any media interference with Charlesworth’s call for professionalism – notwithstanding the lack of remuneration received by players for 100% commitment.
May 31st 2012 @ 11:38am
simulate said | May 31st 2012 @ 11:38am | Report comment
“What’s it got to do with remuneration?”…
if you don’t understand the difference between professional and amateur i’m afraid there is no point continuing on this discussion.
May 31st 2012 @ 11:45am
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 11:45am | Report comment
Did you read Ric Charlesworth’s comments about what he demanded of the Olympic Hockey team? Are they professionals?
Do you think any of our serious Olympic Athletes commit less than 100% to their chosen sport – even though they get paid nothing?
May 31st 2012 @ 11:54am
Griffo said | May 31st 2012 @ 11:54am | Report comment
I think the term ‘professionalism’ is used interchangeably between ‘professionally paid’ and ‘professional attitude’.
Canberra United I think is asking for a more ‘professional attitude’ in committment to the team; the W-League doesn’t have the same funds as the A-League to pay their players a higher wage. Perhaps a larger media deal will allow the FFA to give more funds to the ‘professional’ women’s league.
I think the problem for Ellyse will be that she won’t be able to give 100% to both sports at the same time, and the environment that allows her to try is starting to disappear.
May 31st 2012 @ 1:54pm
Jerome said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:54pm | Report comment
She must have known this day was coming.
One sport will have to miss out (most likely football) but it will be for the best. Were she to concentrate on just one sport, she may well excell beyond her wildest dreams.
June 1st 2012 @ 12:19am
apaway said | June 1st 2012 @ 12:19am | Report comment
It’s an interesting point, Fussball, but he didn’t stop Nova Perris from representing Australia in two different sports, which is what Canberra United tried to do with Ellyse.
May 31st 2012 @ 12:11pm
Aka said | May 31st 2012 @ 12:11pm | Report comment
It’s not that clear cut simulate. When you say ‘pay her accordingly’ How much would be enough to demand commitment? Enough to live off? As much as say the A-league players get? As much as a factory worker gets for 40 hours a week? Can A-league clubs demand as much commitment as overseas clubs even though they can’t pay accordingly.
Canberra presumably have other players that are willing to make more of a commitment than Perry. That’s what her commitment is being measured against. Not money.
May 31st 2012 @ 11:42am
Griffo said | May 31st 2012 @ 11:42am | Report comment
I think the whole debate about Ellyse Perry is about the rising professionalism in football (and cricket?) for women and how the amateur dream of being multi-talented and capable of playing more than one sport as a teen is becoming less feasible in the adult woman’s sporting world.
I think Lisa’s point and focus is about professionalism not beauty but as always is easily forgotten for women once looks come into debate – usually brought in by men not treating the game on merits and romanticising about the fairer sex.
Ellyse coming late into training camps and still doing enough to be picked says a lot about talent but, as she is getting older, is not going down well with team-mates. Football at the moment has a lot of teenagers pushing for selection and Ellyse at 21 is becoming a more senior member of the team.
Unfortunately for her I believe she has a couple of more years at best before she will have to commit to one sport.
May 31st 2012 @ 12:43pm
Big Ramifications said | May 31st 2012 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
This whole teeth gnashing session was brought about by a jealous female team mate, and yet you still want to remind us of your theory that it’s “usually men” who are at fault. Love your work, Griffo!
And since she’s decided to focus on looks, can I have it on record that Lisa De Vanna looks like Nicko McBrain. NTTAWWT.
May 31st 2012 @ 1:08pm
Griffo said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Lisa only mentioned it in response to another tweet, prior to that it was about professionlism and committment…from what I have seen and read of Lisa, she is all about committment not looks on and off the pitch. I would say the same about Ellyse as well.
Funny, other players have been commenting on committment, too…
‘Usually’ doesn’t mean ‘always’.
May 31st 2012 @ 1:23pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:23pm | Report comment
Lisa de Vanna is the most technically-gifted female AUS footballer I’ve seen.
Lisa is so good that she is paid to play football for Linköpings FC in the Damallsvenskan, which is the highest league in Sweden & considered to be the best women’s football league in the world.
Perhaps, if Ellyse Perry committed herself fully to football one day she, too, will be paid to play football and achieve similar success to Lisa de Vanna.
May 31st 2012 @ 1:33pm
Aljay said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:33pm | Report comment
De Vanna is undoubtedly talented, but given she is equally known for petulant, emotional outbursts and me-first behaviour, her call for increased professionalism is the height of hypocrisy.
May 31st 2012 @ 1:51pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
I’ve only heard of De Vanna being sanctioned for non-football issues. Is there some on-field matter that I’ve missed where de Vanna has behaved selfishly?
Some of the best footballers in history have had flaws off the park: Georgie Best, Maradonna, Garrincha, Gascoigne, Jimmy Greaves, etc. – they were still the ultimate professionals on the park.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:02pm
Big Ramifications said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:02pm | Report comment
“Non-football issues” such as, I dunno, tweeting that good looking colleagues are DESTROYING her team?
It’s like if Georgie Best complained that his team mates should lay off the turps. That’s Aljay’s point.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:10pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
That’s not what Lisa said.
Either you haven’t taken the time to read the original Tweets & follow the conversation from last night; or, you’re being deliberately obtuse to create mischief.
I find it fascinating that people, who (most likely) have ZERO interest in women’s football are very vocal on this topic.
If there’s one huge positive emerging with this issue, it’s that Women’s Football is suddenly water-cooler conversation … times are changing in AUS. Remember, this is the OFF-SEASON for women’s football & the middle of the most important AFL, NRL & Rugby competitions in the world!
May 31st 2012 @ 2:53pm
BennO said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:53pm | Report comment
I’m impressed you managed to bring Nicko into this! That’s gotta be his first appearance on The Roar.
May 31st 2012 @ 12:30pm
Michael said | May 31st 2012 @ 12:30pm | Report comment
Good looks has nothing to do with it….thats in the eye of the beholder anyway….and im not seeing that angle anyway….probably more about the notority and her ability…..”team” doesnt seem to be big in womens sport….nor professionalism….administration is always to blame…except when they pick you to go ?????
May 31st 2012 @ 12:32pm
Michael said | May 31st 2012 @ 12:32pm | Report comment
and you wonder why nobody watches or goes to womens’ events
May 31st 2012 @ 1:17pm
KNACKERS said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Lets be blunt -the likes of Ms Perry are a cultural challenge to the Australian soccer community . She is just too darned privileged and doesn’t fit in
Interestingly it can be the other way around in posh sports such as rowing -girls like Lay Down Sally and this current case of the girl sent home are too state school for their private school “team mates ”
The female game attracts a different demographic than the male game . Look at Team USA womens Soccer Team (their term -they speak English over there ) 90% white middle class college educated . Doesn’t seem to have done them any harm
May 31st 2012 @ 1:27pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
Knackers
Let me be blunt …
How many women’s football matches – either W-League or other leagues – have you attended, to form your conclusions about the socio-economic, cultural & academic background of women footballers in Australia?
May 31st 2012 @ 2:22pm
Lucan said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:22pm | Report comment
With the FTA coverage, I’ve seen infinitely more W-League on television than HAL.
That’s one great thing about that league.
May 31st 2012 @ 3:09pm
THE CHAMP said | May 31st 2012 @ 3:09pm | Report comment
Which State school did Sally Robbins attend?
And im not talking about a primary school.
May 31st 2012 @ 1:26pm
Ian said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:26pm | Report comment
I think that the fact she has been asked to make a commitment in one direction or the other is nothing more than the unfortunate negative that all elite sports men and women have to deal with eventually. She has done remarkably well to maintain a position in both teams at this high level. It’s hardly even newsworthy these days that the “next big thing” being drafted into the AFL or going to the Australian academy has had to decide which sport he is going to commit exclusively too. Women’s sports is moving into the professional era and these inevitable conflicts will become more common. It’s a price of professional sports. If only I was that talented to be put in that position!
May 31st 2012 @ 1:51pm
Big Ramifications said | May 31st 2012 @ 1:51pm | Report comment
Ian, that’s what I thought until this grubby little episode came along. From what I can gather as an outsider:
Perry’s been told to make a decision between sports. Her soccer team is not going to cut her any more slack. De Vanna appears to be whining that Perry is being cut too much slack. Because of her looks. The fah? Complete opposite arguments. It’s like De Vanna is still butt-hurt about something that happened years ago.
Destroying a team?!! I hope it was a drunken tweet, a la Stephanie Rice regarding the rugby.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:10pm
Lucan said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:10pm | Report comment
DeVanna can be a twit sometimes, and she is the one making this issue personal. Must be a lovely character to have around the rooms, tour bus, hotel.
CU are clearly within their rights to make decisions like this. All power to them. I hope Perry finds a team that is a fit for her other commitments, but if she doesn’t she seems level headed enough to take it in stride.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:24pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:24pm | Report comment
I follow Lisa de Vanna & a few other AUS women footballers on Twitter so I was fully engaged with this conversation last night. Not one team mate had anything negative to say about anything Lisa said.
In fact, Lauren Colthorpe replied to one attack on Lisa by some anonymous Twit: “To the next person who wants to disregard Lisa’s comments based on her own behaviour you can talk to me.”
Every single footballer that I’ve read, has thrown her full support behind Canberra United & the coach, Jitka Klimkova, for wanting to take the Women’s Game to the next level in this country. I get the feeling the women would like to see Jitka’s professionalism adopted by the AUS National Team Coach.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:43pm
Lucan said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:43pm | Report comment
Is great to aspire to full professionalism. No arguments. Still, I’m not going to whack a kid for wanting to be the best at everything.
WHY is there such a need for the players to circle the wagons around CU? Canberra are completely in the right to let Perry go if she doesn’t fit their requirements. Their stance doesn’t need defending.
May 31st 2012 @ 8:11pm
neos osmos said | May 31st 2012 @ 8:11pm | Report comment
still the smartest one on this site Lucan. I don’t suppose you saw Angela pippos’s comment on CU. The only time she’s made a comment about the W :League was to bag sokkah.
May 31st 2012 @ 9:22pm
Big Ramifications said | May 31st 2012 @ 9:22pm | Report comment
It’s two different arguments, sizzlechest.
The first one, though unfortunate, is that her soccer club wasn’t going to cut her any more slack. She was given an ultimatum. I reckon nearly everyone here reckons this is a tough but fair ask. No wagon-circling required.
The second argument is that she is being cut too much slack waaghgarble beauty! Waaghgarble destruction! Waaghgarble professional. Bold and the Beautiful!
“WHY is there such a need for the players to circle the wagons around” De Vanna?
May 31st 2012 @ 9:03pm
Big Ramifications said | May 31st 2012 @ 9:03pm | Report comment
***I follow Lisa de Vanna & a few other AUS women footballers on Twitter so I was fully engaged with this conversation last night. Not one team mate had anything negative to say about anything Lisa said.***
Not one of her team mates called her to task when she got personal? When she started spouting crazy woman stuff? Crikey!
And you are implying up there that “nothing negative to say” equals “agrees with,” let’s not be coy about this.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:35pm
Mark Young said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:35pm | Report comment
There was always the feeling with Ellyse that the first sport who asked her to choose would be the one that loses out.
I hope she keeps playing both sports, she is great at cricket and her world cup goal was one of the best I have every seen an Aussie score.
If what Fussball is saying is true, and the team doesn’t want her anymore, then that blows.
May 31st 2012 @ 3:22pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 3:22pm | Report comment
Mark
From what I interpret, the team wants ANYONE & EVERYONE who is 100% committed to football & is hell-bent on getting AUS women to win the FIFA World Cup.
I think this “100% commitment or out” attitude gained momentum after the AUS women got a reality check when they didn’t qualify for the Olympics. These ladies know they are good enough – physically, technically & tactically – to compete with the very best in the world.
The final piece of the puzzle is 100% mental commitment.
PS: I don’t know anything about Women’s International Cricket. How many countries are serious competitors for AUS in Women’s cricket. It seems there are only 8 competitive cricket nations for men, so I assume the number is less for women?
June 1st 2012 @ 12:37am
apaway said | June 1st 2012 @ 12:37am | Report comment
Fussball
One of the things we all seem to be missing here is that this was an ultimatum from a club side not from a national side. Tom Sermani nor anyone within the FFA have told Ellyse that she has to give up her cricketing career. Yes, Canberra missed the services of Ellyse at times last season due to national cricket selection, but there have also been plenty of occasions where she has chosen football over cricket.
The only time to my knowledge that Ellyse was unable to play for the Matildas in a significant tournament because of cricket commitments was the 2010 Asian Cup, when she was selected first for the Australian women’s cricket team to play in the Twenty-20 World Cup in the West Indies. She had not been selected in the Matildas at that stage and even though it was technically possible to have appeared in both tournaments (though incredibly unlikely), she went with the cricket team.
The thing that bugs me a little about the whole debate is that the issue of Ellyse’s looks have now been bandied around and it is ludicrous to suggest that looks have been the reason for Ellyse’s selection in anything. I think it’s sad that a sportsperson so unique and so talented may have that unique aspect taken away. I have never seen Ellyse give anything other than 100% commitment for the Matildas, and the same can be said for her cricketing prowess.
June 1st 2012 @ 10:23am
Fussball ist unser leben said | June 1st 2012 @ 10:23am | Report comment
apaway
Maybe I’m reading too much into this but, from the conversation that I’ve been following on Twitter, I get the feeling the women in the AUS NT think it’s time Tom Sermani toughens up & instils the commitment and professionalism into the AUS NT like Jitka Klimková wants to instil at Canberra Utd.
I reckon, what Jitka Klimková did at Canberra Utd last year has been an eye-opener for the women’s game. Suddenly, women footballers, who’ve had little exposure to European-style professionalism, have seen how improved commitment & professionalism immediately translates to consistent results on the park.
Then, when the Women’s NT didn’t qualify for the London Olympics the leaders in the team have decided “enough is enough”. Either we get serious about football, or we don’t.
I’d be surprised if Ellyse Perry gets picked for any AUS NT until she makes herself available to training & playing as every other member of the AUS NT.
But, these are all just my opinions based on what I’ve been reading from members of the AUS Women’s NT.
June 1st 2012 @ 10:45am
apaway said | June 1st 2012 @ 10:45am | Report comment
There’s nothing wrong with that attitude at all, Fuss. The thing is, Ellyse displays that attitude in spades, and she does it across two international sporting careers.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:39pm
Johnno said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:39pm | Report comment
- Elyse perry is preety talented, good looking,.
Reailty is talented people, it’s lonely at the top.
May 31st 2012 @ 2:52pm
The Cattery said | May 31st 2012 @ 2:52pm | Report comment
Perry is the one witih the talent – she’s the one who should be calling the shots.
She is basically being stymied by others who have zero talent – such is often the way of sports administrators, when they start thinking they’re more important than the talented players.
May 31st 2012 @ 3:00pm
Lucan said | May 31st 2012 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
TBH, in this instance it is the coach calling the shots not the front office.
One thing to be addressed is that this has become personal because silly players have jumped onto social media to pass judgement on their peer. If DeVanna truly wants professionalism, she could start by refraining from casting comment and opinion that can be construed as a dig at a fellow Matilda.
May 31st 2012 @ 3:11pm
The Cattery said | May 31st 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Heather Reid was very, very supportive of the coach’s call.
May 31st 2012 @ 3:11pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 3:11pm | Report comment
Jitka Klimková is the one calling the shots and Jitka is a highly respected former player & coach – it’s little wonder Canberra Utd didn’t lose a game last season … even when Perry was out playing cricket.
I reckon there are lots of technical deficiencies with Perry’s game and she has a long long way to go before she’s considered one of AUS best players.
In fact, I don’t think Ellyse would be in the match day squad for the AUS Women’s NT.
From memory, Perry played only a few minutes during the Group stage of the 2011 FIFA WC and, when she finally started a match (QF: AUS v SWE) she was totally exposed by the SWE left wing and Perry’s poor tracking back was a major factor in AUS conceding 2 early goals
For sure, Perry’s goal was stunning – world class – but she was eventually subbed off with 30 minutes remaining b/c she was being constantly exposed playing at right back.
May 31st 2012 @ 4:36pm
Griffo said | May 31st 2012 @ 4:36pm | Report comment
From memory it was Caroll who had a hand in both later goals, although Ellyse combined with Caroll to allow the second; the first goal for Sweden was from general play…
May 31st 2012 @ 4:53pm
Fussball ist unser leben said | May 31st 2012 @ 4:53pm | Report comment
Just reviewed the video and, in my opinion, the blame is firmly on Ellyse for very very poor defending.
Goal 1, Perry allows the SWE player to dance past her after putting in a half-hearted tackle & the SWE player cuts back the ball to an unmarked striker & it’s 1-0.
Goal 2, Perry is is so slow to react when the ball floats over her that a SWE player, who is 5m further away reaches the ball 1st & again she wrong foots Perry, puts a perfect cross into the box & it’s 2-0.
Both times, the SWE player who got past Ellyse created the goal. Perhaps, the CDs could have done better but those you expect your full-backs to provide some protection.
Ellyse is No. 6 for AUS in the video. As i said, Ellyse’s goal is world class – maybe she was just over-awed & nervous at the start of the game.
May 31st 2012 @ 5:28pm
Australian Rules said | May 31st 2012 @ 5:28pm | Report comment
Classy stuff.
Fussball picking apart the technical deficiencies of Australia’s best female athlete (aged 20).
And seemingly, because she has the galling front to play cricket for her country as well.
May 31st 2012 @ 6:39pm
Lover of the game said | May 31st 2012 @ 6:39pm | Report comment
Okay, lets be a little bit real here.
No-one at Canberra has said Ellyse can’t play football ever again. They have just said that “our club, these are the rules to play for us”. That’s their perogative. Unfortunately for Ellyse she can’t make that commitment that and thus will not be playing for Canberra in Season Five. I say good on Canberra and Jitka for asking for “professionalism” (read “professional attitude”) from her players. She is a high level quality coach who has raised the level of all her players.
As Lauren Colthorpe tweeted, if the Matidas’ attitudes were on par on with what they were paid, then we wouldnt have won an Asian Cup and be ranked in the World Top 10.
Secondly, De Vanna has every right to say that Perry’s inclusion has at times affected team harmony. You can see that it has. All those who are saying she is talented in football so it is not her fault. You are right, to a point. She is a good w-league player.
But if you are all to be completely honest, in the right back position, Perry is NOT in the Top 3 in Australia. Caitlin Foord (who played there against Marta and maybe even just shaded her), Servet Uzunlar (who has moved to RB) and Brisbane’s Vedrana Popovic are ahead of her. I would say her selection at times is partly due to the headlines she garners. Again not her fault, but maybe now with players speaking out, what was whispered will be openly addressed.
Ellyse Perry is a very, very good cricketer but her development has been stifled because of cricket. I don’t she should have been at the World Cup and Fussball ist unser leben’s analysis of her only start in the tournament was spot on. Women’s football is changing so fast that being a “part timer” means you are missing important tactical developments.
I don’t think those who love women’s football bear any ill will but the time for her to choose a sport is now before she gets even more left behind in football.
May 31st 2012 @ 3:31pm
JJ said | May 31st 2012 @ 3:31pm | Report comment
Get away with it for as long as you can Ellyse, just have fun girl and try and ignore the cat calls from fellow “team mates” who are jealous as hell of your talent and good looks, that’s their problem, not yours. I hope there are plenty of other clubs that will bend over backwards to have you play for them.