Lay Off Raheem Sterling!

Since the end of May, I have played numerous engagements but one recent event particularly stuck in my mind as I drove home because I was persistently asked the same question, and gave the same response; "Where are you from?" "Duston!" "No! Where are you ACTUALLY from?" "OK! I was born over there (indicating Northampton General Hospital) so I should say the Barratt Maternity Hospital!" But the question always persists. Of course I understand the narrative being pursued here because I have faced the same question frequently for every year I have spent on this earth, and these days thoroughly enjoy pleading ignorance much to the annoyance of my inquisitors! Eventually I relent, smile and state; "The answer to the question I think you're trying to ask is, my parents met in St James, Northampton, but my mother is from Barbados and my father is from Grenada in the West Indies!" What usually follows is a predictable account of how they once visited Jamaica even though I have no allegiance to the place and patiently I listen to their enthuasistic account of an Afro-Caribbean friend who I remind them of. I always michievously ask if their friend also keenly studied the Piano and I get a blank response! And then we move on...in these moments at present I think of one person; footballer Raheem Sterling. You see I get that intensity of cross-examination just for playing the piano well and I was born here, eat beans on toast, have always lived in the smartest areas, know the words to Jerusalem and am on first name terms with most of the movers and shakers of my home town, Northampton. Raheem Sterling, the saviour of the England football team during the Euros, was born in Jamaica and came here as a child. I shudder to think how his polite little interactions really go with the well-heeled ladies and gentlemen from the upper eschellons of British life. OK, before anyone gets hot under the collar, I am going to lay my cards on the table; why is Sterling not celebrated more for his achievements? I watched as he opened the scoring for England on Thursday and then the monkey noises started and a barrage of drinks were thrown at him, but he took it in his stride calmly. Watching the match at home, I was fuming, I could see what was playing out and so did every person of colour. Why is the poor guy "on trial" everytime he pulls on an England shirt? Before writing this blog, I watched the way he conducted himself calmly and eloquently at his press conference for England back in June following his Man of the Match performance and winning goal against Croatia, and many of the journalists were obsessed with whether he deserved his place in the team. HE was resolute and measured in his responses and yet Harry Kane was a rusty as a nail in the same match and no-one doubted his place in that line-up! If, England experience any success in the Qater World Cup, he deserves a knighthood. The business of Sterling's Britishness or Englishness should no longer be an argument; it should be buried right now, and never revisited. He is a proud Brent boy who grew up yards from Wembley Stadium, and acknowledges hia roots in the area. More importantly, he should be lauded for recognising the power of his achievements on the pitch being a catalyst for other youngsters residing in the same humble surroundings to believe and pursue dreams of greatness in any walk of life. So, let's celebrate the boy as well as his team-mates who have first time in my lifetime given many Englishmen a genuine reason to believe that we can make a credible challenge with great players, support staff, and a brilliant leader in Gareth Southgate. Those lads have an unbreakable spirit so let's give Sterling plenty of love so the next time he plays and scores, the opponents he has are wearinmg the opposition shirts; starting with Andorra later today... Come On England!