Should footballers sacrifice boozy nights out for their careers?

By John Cross

Published 23:01 21/10/09

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Harry Redknapp always seems to make good common sense for the average football fan.

Earlier this year, Redknapp spoke out against the "nightclub reputation" surrounding Tottenham and urged his players to stay away and stop being pictured falling out of clubs in the wee small hours.

Redknapp said: "The nightclub reputation that was around this club when I arrived is something we've had to get rid of. It's hard but I've given them all a warning. I've told them I don't want to see them in nightclubs or pubs. I don't think there is any need for it.

"These boys are highly-paid athletes. I've said go and have a glass of wine with the wife or partner in a nice restaurant on a Saturday night after a game. That's not a problem. But I've told them I don't want to see them rolling out of nightclubs at three in the morning.

"There's no need for it. If you can't dedicate your life to something for nine months of the year when you're earning 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 grand a week, there's got to be a problem. These lads have to make sure they are in great condition."

Sadly, that was a warning that now, on the face of it, looks to be at odds with Peter Crouch and Jonathan Woodgate enjoying a night out at London's Movida nightclub on the weekend.

But Crouch and Woodgate both insist they were not drinking heavily, were out with their other halves and didn't have big nights.

In fact, there are few more dedicated, determined and intelligent footballers out there than Crouch. When he says something, I believe him. That's why when he says it wasn't a big night, I believe him.

And that's why, on this occasion, I feel sympathy for Crouch and Woodgate. In the days of camera phones you can always be snapped.

In one picture, Crouch appears to be dancing wildly. When pictured leaving the club, he looks completely with it and definitely not the worse for wear. I don't think he had a big night.

I applaud players who are tee-total. Theo Walcott doesn't drink, is very dedicated and avoids nightclub.

It's a short career, they earn great money and there's plenty of time for revelry when you finish playing. That's the argument, but not everyone is cut from the same cloth.

For me, it's all about getting the balance right. Maybe if Ledley King had not got himself pictured in a row with a doorman then the pictures of Crouch and Woodgate would have been dismissed as two players out enjoying a party after beating Portsmouth on Saturday.

But, as it is, previous misdemeanours make it so that the current players have to watch themselves more than ever.

On this occasion and on this issue, I am really interested to hear what fans of any club think about players and nights out. Do pictures of your team on a night out only bother you when you've lost?

Should they sacrifice everything for the sake of their careers? After all, they are highly paid and it's a short career. Be disciplined. And tee-total. I'd love to think I'd be this sort of footballer. But in reality...

Or is it wrong to win a game, celebrate with a few drinks (but not that many) after a big win? Just as long as you win the next game a few days later. Come on, after all, we all like a good night out. But then we're not professional highly-paid athletes.

The heart of the matter is somewhere in the middle.

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