Goals, dodgy burgers and a very proud Dad

Today wasn’t about Westminster, X, Instagram, Keir Starmer, pub closures or some crackpot policy, it was about something far more important.. my daughter Winnie and her football tournament, a reminder of what life is really about.

She’s 11 years old and she absolutely smashed it today, scoring three goals and two assists. That’s five key moments where she made the difference, and I was there on the sidelines, watching every second, no phone in my hand, no distractions, just a proud dad watching his girl light up the pitch.

I sat there for hours, eating everything from the morning bacon roll to an afternoon cheeseburger, several cups of bad tea and even a 99 with a flake and I couldn’t have cared less, because I was watching her shine, fighting for every ball, linking up with teammates and chasing every pass like it mattered more than anything else in the world, and to her, it did.

I get so caught up in the chaos these days, whether it is Politics, the pub, work, or the news cycle that seems to never stop being depressing..sitting there on my £20 amazon special fold up chair on the grass, I remembered what actually matters, just being there, turning up, showing your kid that doing something they love, makes you very happy.

There were no cameras, no headlines, just a great bunch of kids, running around with hearts bigger than the stadiums some of the professionals play in, my Winnie played with fire in her belly, confidence in every touch, and a smile that stayed with me long after that final whistle.

It reminded me that these are the moments we live for, not the ones with noise and drama, but the quiet ones filled with meaning. Watching your child score a goal and seeing their face light up, that’s it.. that’s the real stuff.

So here’s to my little princess Winnie, you made Daddy very proud today and you reminded me that nothing beats being a dad on the sidelines, watching your kid chase their dreams in a pair of football boots.

Oh.. and there was a football boot stall over there too, daddy’s wallet got well and truly fleeced for some new ones, but who cares?.. definitely not me today.

Adam Brooks