BBC: “What was your screen time?”
Student: “Nine hours.”
BBC: “You’re gong to have a lot more time to fill. What will you do?”
Student: “Stare at a wall.”
To any young kid reading this…
I’ve doubted myself in every league I’ve ever played in.
Ryman Prem.
Conference South.
League Two.
League One.
Championship…
And even right before my first Premier League start last night.
That’s not weakness.
That’s being human.
That’s being alive.
When I was growing up, I thought Premier League players were superhuman.
Like they never felt doubt.
Like they never felt nerves.
The truth is…. it’s often the opposite.
Social media won’t tell you that sometimes you step out there with no confidence. That’s normal. That’s ok!
You now have to then step out there with courage.
Confidence feels good.
Courage doesn’t.
But you do it anyway. Show courage enough times…. You build confidence.
Here’s the mindset that’s carried me for 31 years.
When it goes well:
I worked for it.
I earned it.
Well done.
Watch it back.
Get better.
When it doesn’t:
I know I prepared the best I could.
It didn’t go exactly to plan. That’s football.
But Well done.
Watch it back.
Get better.
That simple recipe gave me a special moment last night.
Leading the team out.
Playing alongside a group that fights for every ball.
Celebrates tackles.
Gives everything for the city of Sunderland.
And sharing it with supporters who never gave up, even after four tough seasons in League One.
So if you’re a young player feeling doubt…
Low confidence…
Or like you don’t believe in yourself…
You’re not alone.
Every player feels it.
Confidence isn’t something you’re given.
It’s something you build.
Bit by bit.
Day by day.
With courage.
With work.
With learning.
Anything worth building takes time.
But that’s what makes it so worthwhile!
Thank you @SunderlandAFC ❤️🤍
My First Home in Liverpool 🔴
After 18 years, I’ve finally cleaned up all the banking drama and the wild tenant stories that came with my very first property. The time has come to pass it on to its next lucky owner.
This house holds so many memories…it was the first place I moved into after leaving my parents’ home, full of excitement, mistakes, and lessons. When I left Liverpool, I rented it out to a few tenants… one of them being my good old Dutch teammate Royston Drenthe. Let’s just say he gave “tenant from hell” a new meaning 😂…he somehow forgot to pay rent during his Everton days and even decided to build a nightclub inside my house without permission. You can’t make this stuff up!
Still, I’ve always been proud to own this place…it’s in a prime spot, filled with memories, laughter, and a bit of chaos. The only reason I’m selling now is because of that interest-only adjustable-rate mortgage I was talked into back when I knew absolutely nothing about real estate. Lesson learned the hard way!
Whoever ends up with this house next…I hope it brings you just as much joy (and maybe fewer surprises) as it did me. ❤️🏠