In terms of polarising figures and transfer saga’s, the name Peter Odemwingie is synonymous with both. Instead of me adding to the endless words that have been used to explain, dissect and discuss the topic, I am merely going to share the experience of a fellow Albion fan who sent an open letter to the player himself following last January’s madness.
Below is a look at the situation from a fans eye view written just prior to Odemwingie leaving the club for the final time.
So the day has finally arrived when it’s time for Albion fans to say goodbye to Peter Odemwingie, and him to us.
We all knew this day was coming, perhaps like a decree absolute in a divorce case. All parties know permanent separation is for the best and are relieved it’s over, but at the same time, when that letter drops on the doormat can’t help taking a moment to contemplate the good times and what might have been.
It seems a long time ago Peter signed for Albion in August 2010. The vast majority of Baggies had never even heard of him at the time, myself included. When Peter scored on his debut against Sunderland, fans were fawning over their new hero on local radio, but most still couldn’t even pronounce his name. One post match radio caller proclaiming “I’m not even gonna try and say it. I’ll just be calling him Pete!”
Well just under three years later we all know exactly what his name is. In fact I doubt there’s many people in England who don’t. What an incredible three years it has been.
Albion fans love affair with Peter and it’s demise is well documented. Nobody needs or wants a sanctimonious monologue about how great he was and then how it all went wrong for him as a West Bromwich Albion footballer. I suspect by now most people have made up their own minds.
This is about my personal experience of Peter the person. Not the footballer.
After the notorious incident against Wigan at The Hawthorns towards the end of last season in which he was verbally abused whilst warming up, I wrote an open letter to Peter explaining how my boys and I felt about what had degenerated into a very sorry situation. Though I’ve a relatively insignificant Twitter presence one post on the social media platform snowballed into hundreds of retweets and over ten thousand views of the letter in just three days. Those who follow me know I tweet and blog rather prolifically. Admittedly rather tediously and mainly for self gratification rather than anyone else’s benefit as I find writing thoroughly enjoyable, and it helps keep me out of other trouble.
So the reaction to this letter astonished me. But nothing was more staggering than receiving a tweeted reply from Peter himself just three hours after posting the letter. It read:
“Hey Dave, I blocked you before. I’m sure you know why! Good letter. I will write you one back ok?”
Peter had blocked me on Twitter around the time of his ill fated drive to QPR. Understandably so too. I, like many Albion fans had been rather rude to him. I’ve blocked people for far less, so to berate him for it would be grossly hypocritical.
I’m not proud to say I’ve also fallen out with people for a very long time for being nowhere near as unpleasant to me as I was to him over the situation. I’m sure I’m not alone here either.
So, to first unblock me, then respond to my tweet promising a proper reply back was something I found particularly impressive.
Forgiving complete strangers who’ve been unkind to you is not a trait usually associated with most people, let alone so called shallow and selfish professional footballers.
Within a couple of hours of re following Peter I received a stream of Direct Messages comprehensively replying to my open letter.
One of the most poignant passages expressed how he’d concluded from the tweeted responses to my letter (and yes, he does read his mentions) that the majority of Albion fans felt sad about the situation rather than angry, and that he shared this sentiment of sadness above any other emotion.
As I said from the onset, this piece is not really intended to be a tribute to Peter Odemwingie the footballer. Neither is it about apportioning blame to either him, the club or the fans.
Of course some of the initial messages I received from Peter understandably expressed and partially explained his issues with the club. But they were respectfully worded and in no way personal, vindictive or nasty.
The classiest part came at the end. Peter signed off by saying ‘I would like you and your boys to come and visit me for a game of football at my home so I can show them I am not a bad man.’
I didn’t know whether he meant it or if this was a joke! Admittedly I thought the latter was far more likely. But, true to his word Peter followed through and made arrangements for us to visit.
I also asked him if he’d like me to make this gesture public and suggested to him a bit of good publicity wouldn’t do him any harm. But Peter said he’d prefer me to keep both the contents of his reply and the visit quiet, at least until it had happened. For me this is confirmation he asked us round for the right reasons. No hidden agenda or ulterior motive. Just pure kind hearted niceness and trying to do the right thing in 1. Acknowledging my letter. And 2. Making two little boys very happy.
The day came when it was time to visit. Not surprisingly Peter lives in a house and area befitting of his status. We approached the iron gates and buzzed the intercom. We knew we’d got the right place because sitting peacefully behind the electronic gates was the infamous black Range Rover, safely out of harms way on the drive. Nobody spoke through the intercom but smoothly the gates gradually began to separate and move back. We slowly drove in and parked our comparatively tiny car next to the majestic 4×4. I once saw the car from Knight Rider ‘Kit’ whilst on holiday as a kid. For those old enough to remember the show, the car had a mind of it’s own. The mischievous black Range Rover brought back memories.
The front door of the house opened and out scampered two hyperactive small dogs to investigate. Yapping and nipping at our ankles. Think Mulumbu and Yacob in Chiauau form.
We looked up and there was Peter on the door step, beaming smile on his face, flip flops on his feet. He walked over to greet us.
I guess as football fans none of us ever truly grow up. Yet many an elder and intellectually superior being than I have been taken in by the romance and magic of football, hook line and sinker. So I make no apology and feel no embarrassment for having felt like a starstruck kid in a sweet shop.
As a child I adored Charlie and The Chocolate Factory. I always wondered how Charlie Bucket must have felt when he visited Mr Wonka’s factory. I’m not ashamed to admit thinking this is the closest I’ll ever get to experiencing something like that. My two boys, Jake 7 and Toby 6 even more so. That’s the best way I can describe it.
Peter showed us into the lounge and asked us to sit down. He took a deep breath, leaned forward and launched into a passionate and detailed account of his time at the Albion from the first day through to today (It was the eve of the Man United match).
Out of respect to Peter the vast majority of the content of our conversation will always remain private. But I left in no doubt it takes two to tango.
I suggested to Peter ‘It’s not like you did what Lee Hughes did is it?’ To which he replied ‘Who’s that?’ I was initially gob smacked that our modern day hero didn’t know of his equivalent from ten years ago or anything about him or his plight whatsoever. Then I thought, why the hell would he?
I struggle to give a clearer example of how football clubs and players have become detached from supporters.
Would it make sense for all clubs to educate incoming players on a clubs history, dynamics, complexities, rivalries? Maybe a club should almost have a moral duty to help players feel as though ‘they belong’ rather than fan the flames of their mercenary, nomadic tendencies. It’s easy to call players greedy and disloyal. But it’s a two way street. If they’re treated like nothing more than a financial commodity, surely they’ll behave like one. That’s human nature.
Remember Paul Scharner and how he went about/goes about endearing himself to fans and communities. Well Scharner is almost unique because he does it off his own back. Imagine if more or even most footballers were like this. Sadly it won’t happen because football is a business, run by business people and corporations. On the whole, they just don’t get it. Never will.
Peter Odemwingie is an icon in not just the country he represented at football, but also on a whole continent. Top, Premier League footballers are revered in Africa. He has almost 200,000 followers on twitter. The vast majority are not Albion fans. By contrast West Bromwich Albion’s official twitter account has less than 100,000 followers. I’m not suggesting any player is bigger than any club. We all know the polar opposite is true. But whether it’s Rooney, Suarez, Bale or Odemwingie, it’s not difficult to see where players egos and sense of self worth is harvested. Football is a global game now with global players. Fans views of their clubs can be introspective and somewhat insular. Understandably so, they’re our clubs and we love them. But like it or not, rightly or wrongly, apart from the elite most clubs are a vehicle for the modern player not vice versa.
Some of these players need an arm around their shoulder and to feel wanted and appreciated. They have egos and need them massaged. Others respond to being put in isolation and being given big fines. Knowing which stick to use to put employees in line is the art of man management its self.
Two hours later our conversation drew to an end we moved towards the hallway from the lounge, and past a piano. On top of the piano was a framed picture of our host scoring the equalising goal against Villa in January. If you hated your employer, would you have a picture of yourself at work, in your uniform in your lounge?
We drifted towards the kitchen where Peter presented my boys with a signed, worn Albion away shirt and signed Nike Nigeria boots. Their little faces were a picture. Wide eyed and open mouthed, they both looked like Christmas had arrived early this year.
In return we presented him with a four pack of Guinness. He found this amusing and laughed out loud. In fact he sent me a message later which read ‘One down! ;-)’.
Granted being a name dropper is not a very attractive personality trait. But when you’re sat watching Britain’s Got Talent on a Saturday evening and your phone vibrates with a direct message from Peter Odemwingie telling you he’s drinking the Guinness you bought him, well it’s a surreal anecdote which is quite difficult to keep to one’s self.
My eldest asked if we could see the Hat Trick ball. Peter hesitated and said ‘Sorry no, you can’t have that!’ He thought Jake wanted to keep it! We explained it was just for a photo. He obliged by reaching for a top kitchen cupboard and pulled the yellow ball out from amongst some everyday kitchen utensils. Rather flat and signed by the Albion team of that momentous day at Molineux, I gave it a kiss and we all had our photos taken together with the ball.
Sadly the game of football didn’t happen this time. Whilst the rest of the first team squad were preparing for the final game of the season, Peter had been summoned to train on his own at 4pm Saturday. Regardless of your pay packet and what had happened over the previous six months, if you’ve made a contribution like he has that’s got to hurt.
It was time to go. For us home. For Peter training. In isolation prior to going on holiday that evening and missing out on any involvement in the next day’s match against Manchester United.
We followed his Range Rover for a little while, then off it went into the distance. Peter still keeps in touch via twitter and asks after the boys from time to time. He doesn’t need to, he’s nothing to gain from doing so. He’s just a normal, decent family man and like most good people, he loves children.
And he didn’t do too bad for the Albion either. 30 Premier League goals and three EPL player of the month awards. Which incidentally is more than both Ryan Giggs and a certain Nicolas Anelka who’ve both won it twice.
All the best at your new club Peter. And thank you for the memories on the pitch. Time will be the judge of your West Bromwich Albion legacy, not a few mad moments around transfer deadline day.
Ultimately football fans will always side with their club when push comes to shove. Our club is like an extension of our family and our devotion to it is unconditional. We sometimes turn a blind eye to poor or unacceptable behaviour from family members because blood is thicker than water and we love them. But that’s not to say they are always right and shouldn’t be questioned.
West Bromwich Albion is a slick, well oiled PR machine. It knows what it’s family want to hear and what they don’t. One man with a Twitter account and an axe to grind was never going to win against the lawyers and the suits. Neither was a small town club ever going to boss around a single minded maverick of world football.
The result of which has been like the transfer window equivalent of Vietnam. Nobody has won. Everybody is hurt. Only in this case it’s just football and we can all move on.
Peter has asked if we’ll come and see him play for his new club as his guests and signed shirts will also be sent to my children Jake and Toby.
They say you should never meet your heroes. You’ll only be disappointed. In the case of Peter Odemwingie they couldn’t be more wrong.
Thank you for reading.
You can follow Dave Homer on Twitter @CoachDave_
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