My sporting life My sporting life


Glenn Short is a 31-year- old PE teacher and the Premier League Primary Stars Coordinator for Leicester City in the Community.


Premier League Primary Stars is a national primary school programme in over 80% of primary schools in England and Wales.


It uses the appeal of the Premier League and professional football clubs to inspire children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.


What school(s) did you go to?


I went to Two Gates Community Primary School in Tamworth, Staffordshire, and then to Queen Elizabeth’s Mercian School in Tamworth.


What’s your earliest sporting memory?


When I was seven years old, I went to my first ever football session. I met a coach called Matthew who would go on to coach me until I was 18. He was a very inspirational coach and role model in my life and always gave me the belief that I was good enough to play. I came away from that first session loving football and I haven’t changed since.


Who were your sporting heroes growing up?


I always looked up to central midfield football players. Steven Gerrard was my sporting hero growing up. He was so young and successful and he had such commitment to his club.


What is your best sporting memory of school?


My best one is from when I was at secondary school. I remember that I was captain of the football team and we won a national cup. The reception we received when we


got back to school was incredible.


What is your worst sporting memory of school?


My worst memory is being in the playground at lunchtime in primary school and there not being enough balls for us to play with. There must have been 20 or 30 of us wanting to play and only one ball. We were like a herd of sheep just following the ball, unable to touch it.


Can you recall a memorable sporting teacher?


When I was young, I was very reserved and quiet in lessons at school and I used sport and PE to help me bring out my personality. Mr Thomas was that one constant teacher who wanted to know how I played at the weekend and hear my reflections on my performance.


What sports do you play these days?


I play six-a-side football on a Sunday evening with friends.


In what other ways do you stay healthy?


I always make sure that I eat healthily so that pupils can see that it’s important to eat a good, balanced diet. I go for long walks with my wife and our dog each day.


What is your favourite sporting memory?


I remember in 1998 watching the World Cup and Michael Owen getting the ball against Argentina. He dribbled past players and scored. It had a big impact on me because it was so impressive and he was so young.


What’s been your most embarrassing sporting moment?


I think the most embarrassing moment in my sporting life was when I got introduced to my first


ever football game when I was seven. I had the opportunity to play in my brother’s team in a friendly. All of my family were there ready to see me play. The manager said: ‘Next time the ball goes out of play, you will be going on Glenn!’ My heart started to pound and my mind went into overdrive. The ball went out and I was asked to enter the field of play. I did no more than run ten steps onto the pitch and then sprinted in to my mother’s arms crying and shouting ‘I can’t do it.’


What’s your biggest sporting bugbear?


I don’t like people shouting from the sidelines. It’s really important to let people know that it’s fine to make a mistake as that allows them to bounce back and try again. When people criticise from off the pitch, it really annoys me.


When was the last time you cried at a sporting event?


When I was 15 years old, I was playing U16s and my team and another team were joint top of the league with the same goal difference. We played a match to decide which team would win the league. The match went to extra time and eventually to penalties. Unfortunately, we lost, but I was very proud of what we had achieved that season and I remember thinking that we would bounce back the next season.


Which three sports people would you like to have around for dinner and why?


I’d invite Sir Alex Ferguson because whatever team he managed, he got the best out of them and I’d like to know how. I’d also invite Dame Jess Ennis-Hill because she’s an inspirational role model to young people and I’d also invite Steven Gerrard because I’d ask him about what made him stay at the same club and how he achieved such


If you would like to feature in My sporting life please email us at info@schoolsportmag.co.uk 50 SCHOOL SPORT Issue No.81 January/February/March 2021


Glenn Short


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