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It is now over 75 years since Dixie Dean scored the opening goal in the 1933 F.A Cup Final - his celebration? A gentlemanly handshake with the player in closest proximity before jogging back to the halfway line to await the restart.

Fast forward to the 21^st century where current superstar of the modern generation Wayne Rooney, completes a brilliant hat-trick as his team march relentlessly towards the title. But there was no handshake to commemorate the clinching goal.

Rooney instead chose to express his adulation in a far more ‘’emotive’’ manner.

Snarling into the closest HD camera he swiftly delivered a series of swear words that would have had parents across the land grappling for the remote control as they press down forcefully on the mute button. http://tinyurl.com/44c6p69 (Rooney’s Celebration)

Times have changed it would appear. Using footballers as role models is as much consigned to history as the battle of Hastings. But Rooney should not shoulder the blame alone.

There are a plethora of stars applying their trade in English football with tarnished images. The England’s captains role once considered a position occupied by an upstanding and respected member of the squad is now adorned by John Terry.

Terry 29, had previously lost the role following allegations he had indulged in an extra marital affair with his best friend’s wife. These allegations proved to be true. http://tinyurl.com/3w398lm (John Terry story)

Young fans can also watch any topflight game of football and look on in horror as the players surround the referee, showing a blatant disregard for the respect campaign launched to curb such behaviour. http://tinyurl.com/3kmhkks (Respect Campaign)

Youth team coach for Under 11s side Woolton Rovers Mick Rodgers, believes the actions of the supposed superstars is having a damaging effect upon the children he manages.

‘’How can I tell the children in my team to respect the referee when they see their idols such as Wayne Rooney swearing at the officials in every single game. These people are supposed to be role models and it’s about time they took some responsibility for their actions’’.

Head teacher of SFX School in Woolton Les Rippon also agrees with this assertion.

‘’Every own clothes day it is guaranteed the majority of pupils will turn up in football shirts with the name of their favourite footballing superstar on the back. Footballers simply must realise how their actions on and off the pitch impact upon the younger generation. Like it or not, they are role models and need to act like such’’.

Unfortunately for parents and those involved with children across the country it seems unlikely these millionaire footballers will undergo a behavioural transformation any time soon.

 Given that recent studies have shown young boys look up to footballers more than their fathers the antics of Wayne Rooney et al become even more alarming. http://tinyurl.com/3mboam6 (Link to Study)

Many will pose the question; why should these sportsmen care about their behaviour; after all they’re paid to play football and nothing else.

 But surely given the obscene amounts footballers do receive it is time they acted with a little more decorum and allowed youngsters across the country to have role models they can truly look up to.

In the meantime children could do a lot worse than access internet video archives to bask in the gentleman conduct of Bobby Moore, Dixie Dean and others; true role models of the game. http://tinyurl.com/3ft2mrx  (Bobby Moore video)

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