Growing Up: A Love for Football and a Memorable Father’s Day Match
One of the things we delved into on the radio show was my childhood and the role football played in shaping my early years. For as long as I can remember, football was my life. I played for my school teams at Horsell Middle School and Horsell Secondary School, and for my Cub Scout pack, Brownsea. My best successes came with Brownsea, where I mainly played in goal. I recall one standout season where we won everything—the league, the Webb Challenge Cup, and the 6-a-side tournament held at Woking Leisure Centre. But among all these triumphs, there’s one memory that stands out vividly: the Father’s Day match.
The Father’s Day Match: A Moment of Glory
The atmosphere was electric that day. My dad, Richard Burdett, stepped onto the pitch as a striker. With his dark, flowing hair, he reminded me of some of the iconic Argentinian players from the 1970s and 80s like Norberto Alonso or Ricardo Villa.
Now, his memory of the goal he scored that day is not quite the same as mine, I really don’t know how much of this is down to me embellishing the whole thing in my mind, or how much is down to his bad memory. To be honest, I don’t really care, to me it is a truly wonderful memory and such a proud moment.
As the game progressed, I watched in awe from the sideline. The ball came to “Burdettini” not far from the halfway line, and in that instant, it was clear—he had one intention. With the field wide open before him, he made his move. The opposition’s goalkeeper, sensing the danger, advanced to cut down the angle, but Burdettini was undeterred.
What happened next was a sight to behold, reminiscent of the finest moments in football history. As if channelling the spirit of Glenn Hoddle, known for his sublime long-range strikes and long passing skills, my dad glanced down at the ball, then back up at the goal. Time seemed to slow down; the world quieted. I could feel my heart pounding in anticipation, matching the rhythm of Burdettini’s steps. He unleashed a ferocious shot that seemed to defy physics. The ball soared over the advancing keeper, dipping gracefully into the top corner of the net, almost tearing through the mesh in its path to glory.
In that moment, Burdettini became a hero in my eyes. He threw his arms up in celebration, and I couldn’t contain my excitement. It felt like we had just won the World Cup, not merely a friendly match among the fathers of Cub Scouts. The crowd’s reaction, mostly families and fellow Cubs, paled in comparison to my own jubilation. I was jumping and shouting, declaring to the world that my dad, Burdettini, had scored a goal worthy of a legend. It was a moment that transcended the game itself, a moment of pure pride and joy that I’ll cherish forever. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t a professional match or even a competitive one; what mattered was the sheer brilliance and beauty of that goal.
Stay tuned for more! And a huge thank you again to Nell Op De Beeck and Radio Woking for this amazing opportunity to share my story with all of you.
The full interview can be listened to here: https://www.mixcloud.com/radiowoking/the-voice-of-business-with-nell-op-de-beeck-30-jul-2024/