Sandra Redknapp
The name of Redkanpp has become synonymous with English football as Harry and Jamie both finding success on the pitch as well as in the dug out as a manager.
But they say that behind every man is a strong woman and Sandra Redknapp is just that as she has supported her son as he developed his career from an early age.
Now she is getting behind the Littlewoods.com campaign to uncover the Football Mum of the Year. I caught up her to talk about the campaign as well being a football mum herself.
- Littlewoods.com are running a campaign to find the 'Football Mum of the Year' so how did you get involved with the campaign?
I’ve been there and got the t-shirt! With my two sons Jamie and Mark playing professional football, as well as my husband Harry, football has certainly played a huge part in my family life over the years.
- And why have you supported this campaign.
I know that there are thousands of mums up and down the country who really go the extra mile to ensure their family can enjoy their football, even if it means making sacrifices along the way.
As a young mum with two football mad boys, I’ve stood in the pouring rain, dragged suitcases full of muddy shorts and dirty trainers around and scrubbed their kits for the next match.
But it was always worth it. The Littlewoods.com Football Mum of the Year search celebrates the extra effort we all make for the kids we love.
- This is something that really can associate with as you have been there and done it yourself with your son Jamie so how big a role did you play in his development?
I think that like any parent, it was all about support. I would always be there to put an arm around his shoulder when he had been beaten, and to offer him encouragement and confidence to help him succeed.
Sometimes maybe Jamie and Harry would disagree on a matter, and I’d have to step in and mediate! But really, it was just about making sure I was there for Jamie when he needed me.
- Your husband is a successful footballer and manager so how much of the onus of supporting your son was placed on you?
Well he didn’t need any football advice from me, that’s for sure! Again, my role was to make sure that he had all the emotional support off the pitch, as well as the professional advice on it.
- I suppose with teammates and coaches and managers the support of mothers is sometime forgotten so how important do you think that support is?
It’s hugely important. When things aren’t going so well on the pitch, a mother is someone for you to talk to without embarrassment, and who offers you unconditional love.
However at the same time occasionally you have to say it how it is with some constructive criticism, and they’ll listen to you because you are their mum.
- Both your son, husband and nephew have both found huge success in their playing and managing careers - how are your nerves?
I get incredibly nervous! I rarely am able to go and watch Tottenham and support Harry, because I get myself into such a state watching and willing him to do well.
I’m much better off staying at home so I can listen to the game on the radio, that way I can keep myself occupied and distracted.
However I hardly missed a match when Jamie was playing, we would go all over the country to watch him and I’d be kicking every ball from the stands!
- I suppose Jamie followed in his father's footsteps was obvious from and early age that he was going to find success?
It was actually, from the day he could walk he was trying to kick everything he could touch, even apples and oranges! It really was all he ever wanted to do, and he certainly stood out from an early age, playing for his county team.
- Both Jamie and Frank have played for England that must be a very proud moment?
Oh it was yes, a hugely proud moment. I remember thinking at the time how proud that their grandparents were at that time, watching them play for their country.
There was one match away to Scotland, when they actually played together in the same team. As you can imagine it was a fantastic moment for us as a family.
- And over the years your husband has managed a lot of different clubs all over the country so how difficult has that been?
It can be a little bit of a change, but actually I have been quite lucky that Harry has always managed teams in the south of England, so we’ve never had to stray away from our home in Dorset. It must be difficult for the wives who have to move all over the country all the time.
- Over the years the role of wife/girlfriend has very much changed so what do you think of the WAG culture in football today?
It’s very different now, although sometimes I feel the press make a bit too much of it. When Harry was playing he very much kept his work separate, and I didn’t go along and watch him very much. He said it was his job, and that he’d rather I wasn’t there to put him off!
It suited me well, as it meant I would work as a hairdresser on Saturdays. The whole public profile of wives and girlfriends has changed now. It certainly wouldn’t have been right for me, I like to keep a low profile.
- And with success comes fame how have you and your family coped with that?
We’ve just worked hard to keep our feet on the ground. We’ve been enormously fortunate and highly privileged over the years, and you just have to be humble and realise you are no better than anyone else.
- You are surrounded by football but are you a football fan?
Well if Harry isn’t at home then I probably wouldn’t watch it, unless it is a really important match for Tottenham or England, I’m happier watching my soaps! However it was really different when Jamie was still playing football, I’d travel everywhere and do everything I could to watch him play.
- The world cup is around the corner who is your pick to win the tournament - can England win?
I really hope we can do it, it would be really exciting for the country. Harry and Jamie both say that Spain and Argentina will be very good, but I’m still hoping for England.
- Finally what's next for you?
Looking forward to getting away on holiday with Harry for a little while, and enjoying a few quiet months before the football season starts again!
"Sandra Redknapp is launching the search for the Littlewoods.com Football Mum of the Year, celebrating & championing the unsung heroes of football this summer."
The name of Redkanpp has become synonymous with English football as Harry and Jamie both finding success on the pitch as well as in the dug out as a manager.
But they say that behind every man is a strong woman and Sandra Redknapp is just that as she has supported her son as he developed his career from an early age.
Now she is getting behind the Littlewoods.com campaign to uncover the Football Mum of the Year. I caught up her to talk about the campaign as well being a football mum herself.
- Littlewoods.com are running a campaign to find the 'Football Mum of the Year' so how did you get involved with the campaign?
I’ve been there and got the t-shirt! With my two sons Jamie and Mark playing professional football, as well as my husband Harry, football has certainly played a huge part in my family life over the years.
- And why have you supported this campaign.
I know that there are thousands of mums up and down the country who really go the extra mile to ensure their family can enjoy their football, even if it means making sacrifices along the way.
As a young mum with two football mad boys, I’ve stood in the pouring rain, dragged suitcases full of muddy shorts and dirty trainers around and scrubbed their kits for the next match.
But it was always worth it. The Littlewoods.com Football Mum of the Year search celebrates the extra effort we all make for the kids we love.
- This is something that really can associate with as you have been there and done it yourself with your son Jamie so how big a role did you play in his development?
I think that like any parent, it was all about support. I would always be there to put an arm around his shoulder when he had been beaten, and to offer him encouragement and confidence to help him succeed.
Sometimes maybe Jamie and Harry would disagree on a matter, and I’d have to step in and mediate! But really, it was just about making sure I was there for Jamie when he needed me.
- Your husband is a successful footballer and manager so how much of the onus of supporting your son was placed on you?
Well he didn’t need any football advice from me, that’s for sure! Again, my role was to make sure that he had all the emotional support off the pitch, as well as the professional advice on it.
- I suppose with teammates and coaches and managers the support of mothers is sometime forgotten so how important do you think that support is?
It’s hugely important. When things aren’t going so well on the pitch, a mother is someone for you to talk to without embarrassment, and who offers you unconditional love.
However at the same time occasionally you have to say it how it is with some constructive criticism, and they’ll listen to you because you are their mum.
- Both your son, husband and nephew have both found huge success in their playing and managing careers - how are your nerves?
I get incredibly nervous! I rarely am able to go and watch Tottenham and support Harry, because I get myself into such a state watching and willing him to do well.
I’m much better off staying at home so I can listen to the game on the radio, that way I can keep myself occupied and distracted.
However I hardly missed a match when Jamie was playing, we would go all over the country to watch him and I’d be kicking every ball from the stands!
- I suppose Jamie followed in his father's footsteps was obvious from and early age that he was going to find success?
It was actually, from the day he could walk he was trying to kick everything he could touch, even apples and oranges! It really was all he ever wanted to do, and he certainly stood out from an early age, playing for his county team.
- Both Jamie and Frank have played for England that must be a very proud moment?