I suspect many people reading this will disapprove of me feeling as if I always needed to perform at my best, given that football and other sports are meant to be fun, especially when played at a young age. I agree up to a point. Remember, I have two brothers who went through the same process. Not making it as footballers didn't scar them and Dad is as proud of them as he is of me. What matters most to my parents is that their kids are happy and decent people. Dad would never raise his voice, I can't recall him ever shouting at me throughout my childhood. Neither did he ever punish me for playing poorly. I simply knew how much me playing well meant to him, and I didn't ever want to disappoint.