Calling all grassroots footballers, every club and every community has its grassroots

goat.

You know, the players who are out at 7 a.m. putting the nets up whatever the weather.

The coaches who dedicate their spare time to teaching kids the beautiful game, the managers

that deal with last minute dropouts and the people washing the kit.

The Athletic recognises these unsung football heroes and we want to hear about them.

Create a free account at theathletic.com slash goat, give us some details about your

football club sport community's grassroots goat and our award-winning journalist

may just tell that story on theathletic.

Find out more at theathletic.com slash goat.

Would you ask pop that question?

Scrubbing each item piece by piece.

In honor of Black History, my black history revolves.

I stand before you on the shoulders of my ancestors.

Even my great-great-on, Perlene, who I spoke with when she was 103 years old at the time

my daughter Amina was born.

I will never forget what she said to me.

I'm happy you had a girl.

And I inquired, why is that?

On Perl said a girl would grow up and give you grandkids and a boy would only disappoint.

On Perl, I'm in the hall of fame.

I fell in love with basketball the first time I made a basket.

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