Jude, his shirt and why it isnt small time
What the Bellinghams have done and it isnt just Jude its his parents, makes me very emotional, its a belief that not everyone is greedy, its a belief that people care.
I like to think the owners of our club, and i dislike them with a passion by the way, havent retired his shirt for what he has done on the pitch but what he has done as a man, something that as far as i am aware of no player has ever done. A month ago he could have walked away and we would have had nothing, but he and his family have given something back, something that is quite unique and remarkable.
As some one said earlier football is littered with kids signing for big clubs without the slightest thought for the club they are leaving.
Raheem Sterling left Qpr for liverpool without much thought for Qpr, that lad left Albion for Barcelona for nothing, the lad at West ham is moving and west ham will recieve pittance ( tough luck Mr Sulluvan),the list is endless.
So retiring the number 22 is a gesture of thanks, in the bigger scheme of things its pointless, it doesnt help us move forward, its just a gesture.
Its doesnt make us look small, running on the pitch hitting players makes us look small.
Your kids will know why we dont use number 22, but when your kids kids ask their dads " why do we go from 21 to 23" the legend of what the Bellinghams did will be past on, hopefully inspiring one or two to do something similar.
As far as i am concerned they could have named the ground after the Bellinghams, not just retired a effing shirt. They should even rename the Cov rd Bellingham way.
I wish people would appreciate what he/they have done.