NORTHERN PLANNER

I rarely post about my children.

Let's be honest, I rarely post these days at all.

Anyway, since the last World Cup, my nine year old has developed an obsession with football.

This is a good thing, despite the fact football has never been one of my favourite sports.

Suddenly, when I get home from work at a reasonable hour, we're getting the nets out into the street and having a kick about.

We're watching Match of the Day and discussing teams and players.

And while this is going on, we're chatting about other things, I'm finding more about what's going at school (they rarely tell anything, let alone everything).

Our relationship isn't built on football, but football is enriching our relationship, because of what we talk about thanks to football. 

It's the same with cycling. In the warmer months, we go out on a ride and it's amazing what we start talking about. 

Men in general seem to be much better having relationships side by side rather than face on. I'm sure you know this.

But that's also true of parents and kids and they get older. It's so important to keep the communications channels open, despite the fact they begin to clam up and become more independent, very very quickly.

I don't see much of this communicated through sports brands. Maybe they're missing a trick.

Anyway.