Memories Made on the Touchline: Why Showing Up Matters

But here’s the thing…

If you’ve been there week after week, watching them grow, cheering them on, sharing those moments, they still look over. It might not be as obvious, but they’re still checking. Still wanting that quiet acknowledgement. A smile. A wink. A simple “well done”.

Football shouldn’t be something you drop your child off to while you squeeze in errands or scroll on your phone. It’s an opportunity to be present. To watch them learn. To see them struggle, improve, and eventually succeed. To share moments that you don’t get back if you miss them. And it’s not just a feeling. Research shows that simply being there, watching and supporting from the sidelines, plays a huge role in a child’s confidence, enjoyment, and willingness to keep playing sport.

I’ve seen this first-hand through my own children.

Being there for the journey

There were moments when confidence was tested and belief was fragile. Cellan was playing at a high-level academy and going through a tough spell. We were driving up to Ipswich in the early hours of the morning for a game, tired but hopeful. He started that match and played unbelievably well, helping the team to a 6–2 win over Ipswich’s academy. From that day on, something shifted. He knew he was good enough. And being there to see that moment, to share it with him, is something I’ll never forget.

Caiden’s journey was different, but just as important. He’d played rugby up until the age of 11 before deciding football was where his heart really was. Changing sports at that age isn’t easy, and at first he struggled, as anyone would. Week after week we worked on it together, building confidence, understanding the game, and finding his place. When he was moved into midfield, everything clicked. And just like when he was younger, he’d still look over whenever something went well, searching for that familiar reassurance. That quiet “well done” meant more than any shout ever could.

My own experience

And then I think back to my own time playing football. When I was younger, my dad was always there. He drove me all over London for matches, often after working nights or long six-day weeks. He must have been exhausted, but you’d never know it. He stood on the side of the pitch every time, quietly watching me and my brother, smiling, taking it all in.

At the time, I probably didn’t fully appreciate just how much effort that took. But looking back now, those moments mean everything to me. They’re memories that stay with you forever, long after the boots are hung up and the games are finished.

So this is just a reminder

Be there. Watch them. Cheer them on. Share the moments, the good ones and the tough ones. Celebrate the small wins and stand beside them when things don’t go their way. Be present in the quiet moments as much as the loud ones, because they all matter.

Football doesn’t last forever. Seasons end, boots get outgrown, and routines change. But the time you spend on the sidelines stays with them. Those shared moments help shape confidence, belief, and resilience, and they become memories that last long after the final whistle.