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Michael Doughty, co-founder of sustainable sportswear brand, and ex-footballer, has urged players not to be afraid to discuss climate change advocacy.
Patrick Bamford, an ambassador for Hylo by Doughty’s brand, is a proud voice advocating for environmental issues. Indeed, This fight is the reason why the Leeds United striker’s lightningbolt goal celebration was created.
However, the topic has been discussed publicly by few Premier League stars other than the England international.
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Doughty, a former player in the Premier League for Queens Park Rangers thinks so. If they are near-perfect ambassadors, like Greta Thunberg who is an environmental activist world-wide, footballers may fear being shot down.
“It is difficult to create a movement against climate changes, which is a slow and painful death.” Doughty said to GOAL.
“If I were going to say 50-60 years in the future that you’re going to be in trouble it would be hard to galvanise around this, but the fact is that climate changes are already affecting football.
Increased rainfall has led to more rain cancellations than ever before. You can make it more relevant today.
It can also feel scientific and technical. It’s about how I explain that in a simple way that resonates. We all need to do better at explaining the core issues.
“We must also make it less polarized. Greta Thunberg is a shining light for the entire world. You may feel inadequate if you see her as the pillar for conversation.
“You might take a lot of flights to matches, or use the wrong products. This is where footballers get criticized for not putting their heads above the parapet. They should be allowed incrementally to discuss it.
“I am not perfect, no product is perfect, we can’t have unattainable standards.”
Footballers are more willing to speak out on controversial or political issues, and Bamford is among those, along with Megan Rapinoe and Raheem Sterling.
Doughty recalls that when I was a football media trainer, it was all about saying the minimum amount. “People want players to be more opinionated and authentic since the pandemic.
It is inspiring, and Patrick Bamford supporting us is brilliant. Because he believes what is being said and thinks about what it means.
“When we talk racism, we know that it is bad. But climate change is difficult to understand. With that in mind, we shouldn’t shoot people down when they talk about it.”
Launching Hylo was as important to Doughty as his football career. He retired at 29 after being one of the highest-paid players for League One side Swindon Town.
After passing through Chelsea’s Cobham school as a schoolboy he joined QPR where he would play for the top two divisions.
It is always a remarkable decision when you leave football to pursue a different job.
“I could have played big clubs like Sunderland or Derby County, and Ipswich if I had stayed. Doughty says that he had more years in him and had a great contract.
“It was during the pandemic that I decided to quit. I had the opportunity to work with Hylo and there wouldn’t have been enough people. This project was something I was passionate about and wanted to do.
“I also realized that I could possibly become a lower-level Championship footballer. But I didn’t want to be like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I never thought I would be that. I can reach the heights of Ronaldo or Messi in this business.
Doughty was trained at QPR alongside Raheem sterling, an early sign of his high standards: “I played with Raheem even though he’s a lot older than me.”
“He was 12, 13 years old, and he played in many age groups. It was obvious from the first day that he was going be a star.
“Raheem went to be that, but I was not that.” To become a professional, I had to fight. You must be among the top three youth players if you want pro football.
“For me at QPR I was never that until I turned 17 and I started scoring goals from midfield for the youth team.”
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Fashion and sportswear share a similarity to football in that it is fiercely competitive.
It is creative and lucrative. Hylo is a market in which brands like Nike and Adidas sign thousands of athletes in multiple sports.
Doughty does not want to replace or disrespect any of the big brands. However, he wants Hylo’s ethos and to influence sport in general.
“There’s a tribalism in a dressing room based on what you endorse,” he continues. “If you’re wearing a Nike tshirt and shorts with adidas shorts, it’s easy to get laughed out of the room.”
“There’s a sense of identity in choosing a brand. It isn’t about choosing Hylo but it is if it aligns with who you are and what you believe.
“We can all achieve more and collaborate. It isn’t about shooting down other brands, it is about allowing athletes to perform amazingly but not negatively impact the world. If all brands do this, the outcome will be much better.
“Hylo is only a small brand, if the bigger brands want to ask us questions or want to help us then that’s better. I don’t want to own sustainability or sportswear, I am just passionate about having a positive impact.
“In the end this is an existential crise that affects everyone.”
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