Oliver Holt in the Mirror
‘I went back to my old primary school in Cheshire last week to have a look around. In the evening, I met up with one of my old friends, whose son now sits in the same classroom where we used to work. He showed me a handwritten note his boy had brought home the previous week. It was from Rio Ferdinand, who has been living in the village for a couple of years.
‘Ferdinand had gone to the school to do an unpaid coaching seminar and had written all the kids a note wishing them good luck. It was a massive thrill for all of them, even the ones whose dads are trying to turn them into Manchester City fans.
‘The defender deserved his share of brickbats for missing a drugs test 18 months ago but he deserves praise, too, for everything he puts back into the game.’