Anybody watching South of the River?

[WeDontTalkAboutBrunoNoNoNo]

Documentary about young black footballers from South London on ITV. Fascinating watch so far!

I missed it. Will have a look on catch up tonight. Good to hear that it's interesting. Any girl footballers in it?

I'm watching it now, it is an excellent programme. And girls too. Ten per cent of Premier League players from that area? Is it supreme talent or are other inner cities way behind? Hmmm

I'm from South so I'm biased in my judgement that it is supreme 🤣

I think there's a girl featured in tonight's episode, will be interesting to see her story

It was difficult to watch in parts. You just want everything to be OK when you see young people talk honestly like that. I was a bit teary on occasion. Looking forward to the next one.

@blackandgreen

It was difficult to watch in parts. You just want everything to be OK when you see young people talk honestly like that. I was a bit teary on occasion. Looking forward to the next one.

I felt the same, especially the young man who talked about coming to terms with his brothers death being harder as for older because he gained more of an understanding of the circumstances, heartbreaking 😔

I remember vividly when major cuts came into force and local community initiatives really suffered. When I hear of rising crime rates in London, I'm not even the tiniest bit surprised. Everything was cut to the bone, the impact of that was bound to be evident somewhere

The young man talking about his brothers death was so sad to listen to.

I was talking to my friend the other day about some difficulties she had been through. She said I'm tired of having to keep fighting for things over and over again. I feel like this about these young people, there were the older men, yet again in my lifetime, talking about needing initiatives, needing funding, to give these young people value.

And I'm not London, but big inner city born. I've seen these young people look to sports as the only way out of the poverty. It does make me cry sort of angry tears to see it happen again and again. And these were decent articulate young people too. God love them.

I wondered if the likes of Howard Gayle was watching this, and what he thought.

My father's generation had boxing clubs all around, with the older men again doing the training, teaching them discipline, giving them dignity. The same thing, to be good enough to box your way out of poverty.