FOOTBALL has become a part of my life in a way I never expected it to and not just because of the road closures in Cardiff city centre when the UEFA Champions League Finals were on.

I remember my Granda listening to football on the radio; I vaguely recall ‘Saint & Greavsie’ being on the television; I cried when Gazza cried in Italia ’90 and had a crush on Gary Lineker, feelings that were then transferred to Ryan Giggs for a time circa. 1995. I went with my Dad to see a couple of matches but in spite of all of this, I really wouldn’t say that I was a football fan. I didn’t play it, I didn’t follow it and I certainly didn’t have a clue about the rules, offside or otherwise.

Fast-forward many years and I am now a Mum to two very keen little ball kickers who each play for different teams. This is never more apparent than on training night, which happens to fall on the same night and I go through the – drop one off, drive to next village to drop the other off, return to first village to collect, return to second village to collect, drive home, feed and get tired children tucked up. It is hectic and like many parents I drive all over South Wales sometimes to get them to matches. I stand in rain and wind; I’ve bought thermals and forgo weekend lie-ins.

So why do it? To put simply, they love it and I am beginning to. They are keeping fit but crucially, learning about team-work, commitment, discipline, respect, the joy of winning and resilience in defeat. For my daughter, I think football is a way of young girls realising that their worth is not about what they look like or what they’re wearing, but about their courage, determination and spirit. For my son it is about him learning that life isn’t always about him picking up the ball, megging the opposition, doing a Cruyff turn and scoring from a bicycle kick (I am astounded to state, I now know what all of those terms mean), but is sometimes about sharing, communicating with and listening to others. Also, through their football, I’m chuffed to say that both they and I are making lovely new friends.

In a recent F.A.W football festival, my daughter curled the ball and scored in the top corner of the net. The parents cheered, she smiled modestly before being enveloped by her team and her coaches’ voice rang out above them all. My daughter has three coaches and my son’s team has four. All are supportive, dedicated. All give their time freely. All are incredibly committed and hard-working. All are a big reason I now love this football lark because through their encouragement, my children are growing in confidence and self-belief and whether they play for team, school, or when they’re older, University, Wales or their local pub, I hope they carry this with them always.