HERE'S WHY MARCUS RASHFORD MBE SHOULD RUN FOR PRIME MINISTER
Photography By Rafael Pavarotti
Last year, had somebody asked me who Marcus Rashford was, I would’ve probably not said many nice things - I’m still burning from that brace he scored against Arsenal on his premier league debut.
If you ask me the same question today, my answer will be filled with adoration, respect and inspiration for a man who is the man many of us would love to be. It’s not about some of the fantastic goals he scores on the pitch. It’s not about tireless work he puts in to save the mediocre (yes, I said it) club he plays for week in week out. It’s about what we at Gauchoworld believe is - more than the glitz, glamour and goals - really worth talking about, and celebrating.
There’s an intense amount of pressure on the footballers of today, to perform on the pitch and then do nothing else. With their every move scrutinised, it cannot be easy for footballers to extend beyond that title. Marcus Rashford is the prime example of what it means to be more than just a footballer.
We love a sportsperson who is able to express their inner self beyond their day job. Whether it’s an interest in fashion, a serious obsession with all things musical, or any other weird and wonderful hobby, we take interest in those that add a dimension to the person we know beyond the sport they excel in.
Marcus Rashford however, in his letter to his 10 year old self, encapsulates what is most important to him. In a collaboration with UK fashion house Burberry, he reaffirms his support for the future of this country, by providing assistance to youth centres.
His relentless pressure on Boris and Co. in the houses of parliament have renewed faith in a time where it was certainly lacking. There are not enough adjectives to describe the humility Marcus Rashford has shown, utilising his influence as England’s frontman to ensure that kids in the UK do not go hungry.
Not once, but twice now, has Marcus Rashford’s - a man who certainly doesn’t have to worry about where his next meal will come from - persistence led to a governmental u-turn on child food poverty, by promising a £170m grant to ensure that the ever increasing amount of vulnerable families will still be able to feed their children during a winter that is set to be even tougher than those before. Prime Minister Boris Johnson called Rashford personally to share this news.
His commendable leadership skills have meant that, even though not elected, the country were more than willing to get behind him and ensure that parents were able to fill the stomachs of their kids, regardless of hardship, utilising multiple community initiatives, funded by the goodness of hearts, due to a lack of empathy by those who were actually voted into power.
The line that struck me most in his letter:
‘The noise your stomach has been making, will one day be replaced with the noise of crowds chanting your name’
So whilst we cannot fill up stadiums, or bars to watch the game we love together, there is no doubt we are singing the praises of Marcus Rashford, regardless of the club we support.
At just 23 years of age, and just 5 years into a blossoming football career, there is no doubt that Marcus Rashford has already left a legacy.