Reporting Sports in a refreshing style

Youth goalkeeper forced into retirement by social media

 

Describe the social media as a mixture of the good the bad and the ugly and you will be absolutely correct.  While it has favoured some it has also become a source of pain for others.

Former England youth goalkeeper Ted Smith has announced his retirement from football at the age of 24.

Smith, who represented the Three Lions, at U18, U19 and U20 has called time on his career after falling out of love with the game and having to deal with criticism on social media.

The talented goalkeeper came through the ranks at Southend United and went on to make 30 appearances for the Shrimpers but a serious injury saw him on the sidelines for 18 months.

Former England junior international Ted Smith forced into retirement by social media bashing

“Ever since I can remember game day was never the most exciting part of the week, which I think it should be,” said Smith.

“I loved and still do love the training side of the game.

“I’d sit watching training back and videos of different goalkeepers most nights trying to work out how to improve.

“I think when I had my injury I had to time to think while in the treatment room about the whole scenario

“Essentially all the work I was putting in was to be able to perform well on a matchday and that was something I struggled with.

“The social media side is something that comes with playing the game professionally at senior level,” added Smith.“But I’ll always remember Bolton away.

“It was my first League game that season and I messed up for the goal in a game we should have won but ended up drawing 1-1. “Everybody in the changing room was brilliant.

“They understood I was young and that I was gutted about what had happened but on social media things are seen very much black and white.

Read AlsoRonaldo blocks Transfermarkt on social media for valuing him same as Lukaku

“I remember reading the abuse after the game and during the next week knowing that I had to go out there and play the next Saturday.

“I ended up deleting both my Twitter and Instagram accounts as I felt that it was what I needed to do in order to stop reading the comments.”

 

 

 

You might also like

Leave A Reply

Your email address will not be published.