Let Us Play 2!

Kent FA launch new #LetUsPlay video to reinforce the power of being positive in youth football

Following the success of our previous #LetUsPlay video which had over 3.4 million timeline deliveries, we spoke to professional footballer, Andrew Crofts, to find out how important positivity was to him when he was playing football as a young player.

We also sat down with his parents, Larry and Dawn, to find out more about their experience of raising someone who went on to represent their country and play in the Premier League.

We wanted to get an insight into what helped Andrew become the best he could be. Was it pressure from his parents or positivity? We wanted to know what he remembers most about his parents support, and how things could have been different had they have behaved with a lack of respect on the touchline.

Taking Andrew and his parents’ back to the field where he first played football, we relived his journey through his time at various grassroots club in Kent, into the Chelsea academy where he stayed until he was 16. He made his professional debut at 16 for Gillingham FC, before becoming somewhat of a legend and representing his home town 174 times, being dubbed ‘Mr Gillingham’ by then-manager Ronnie Jepson.

Andrew broke the record for the most international caps ever received by a Gillingham player, playing 29 times for his country, and established himself as a regular member of the Welsh squad during the UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying tournament.

Domestically, he captained Brighton & Hove Albion under manager Gus Poyet before signing a 3 year deal with Norwich in 2010. Andrew scored on his debut and gained promotion to the Premier League with the Canaries in his first season at the club and made 68 appearances, many of which were in the Premier League.