Calacus Weekly Hit & Miss – Marcus Rashford and Rick Parry
Every Monday we look at the best and worst communicators in the sports world from the previous week.
HIT – MARCUS RASHFORD
When he is not scoring goals for Manchester United and England, Marcus Rashford has become something of a pioneer with his campaigns to end child hunger.
Rashford has opened up about the struggles his family endured, relying on free school meals, breakfast and after-school clubs, food banks and vouchers to ensure he could eat.
He addressed the issue of children missing out on a free school meal during the UK’s coronavirus lockdown, which saw the government make a U-turn and make the vouchers available.
He then partnered with Fareshare to ensure food that would otherwise be wasted was redistributed to good causes and in early September, Rashford went even further, creating the Child Poverty Task Force with the food industry to shed light on the issue of child food poverty in the UK.
So it was no surprise when Rashford was awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list.
That he went on to score for England against world number one-ranked nation Belgium underlines the fact that his activism is not affecting his on-field activities.
And it was typical of him that instead of resting on his laurels, he used his ‘thank you’ message on social media to continue the focus on the campaign and bring his followers and the wider society along with him.
He said: “Thank you for all the kind msgs. We still have a long way to go but the more of us who stand together and say it is unacceptable that in 2020 children in the UK are going to bed hungry the louder our voice will be heard. Stay tuned, I’m going to need your help ♥️”
MISS – RICK PARRY
When Sam Wallace of the Daily Telegraph broke the story of plans to change the structure of the Premier League, it sent shockwaves throughout the game.
Rick Parry, who oversaw the development of the Premier League before moving to Liverpool as CEO, is now Chairman of the English Football League (EFL) overseeing the governance of teams below the top flight.
His Telegraph interview outlined “Project Big Picture” which would see more top flight income being shared with the EFL and thus preserving the status of clubs whose existence has been further threatened by the lack of fans during lockdown.
The proposals will also see the Premier League reduced to 18 teams, with nine clubs given 'special voting rights' on certain issues, based on their extended runs in the Premier League.
In subsequent interviews, Parry described the proposals as “bold… visionary…we actually need some vision and leadership.”
But leadership requires consensus and support or it turns democracy into dictatorship, and the decision to reveal the plans before all Premier League clubs had been given a chance to review them, is a communications disaster class.
No wonder that the government, supporters’ groups and the Premier League were quick to criticise the proposals.
“In the Premier League's view, a number of the individual proposals in the plan published today could have a damaging impact on the whole game and we are disappointed to see that Rick Parry, chair of the EFL, has given his on-the-record support,” said a Premier League statement.
“To maintain this position, it is important that we all work together. Both the Premier League and the FA support a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the game, including its competition structures, calendar and overall financing particularly in light of the effects of Covid-19.
“Football has many stakeholders, therefore this work should be carried out through the proper channels enabling all clubs and stakeholders the opportunity to contribute.”
It is hard not to see these proposals as a way of concentrating power in the hands of a small number of clubs and Parry’s position as EFL Chairman may become untenable if the majority of Premier League clubs reject the plans and undermine his relationship between them and the EFL.