Good article here about Jay's son at our academy. Love the line about Jay missing with the header against Man City... http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepag...on-was-signed-up-at-QPR-before-I-arrived.html
Jay: My son was signed up at QPR before I arrived JAY BOTHROYD has negotiated a new goal bonus at QPR. Not for himself — but for his eight-year-old son Mace. Bothroyd followed in his boy's footsteps by joining Rangers in the summer. The England striker signed for the Hoops just a few weeks after his lad was snapped up by the West London club. He said: "He joined the Academy shortly before I came to the club. "He was really pleased when I signed for QPR as well. FAMILY AFFAIR ... Jay 'n Mace "He's enjoying his football and learning fast. He came up to me last week and said he wanted a goal bonus. So I agreed to give him £1 for every goal he scored. "Then he went out the following week and scored a hat-trick!" Islington-born Bothroyd, 29, snubbed a new deal at Cardiff to return to London. He said: "My son is here and he is at an age where I want to spend a lot of time with him. I want to do the things other dads do and really be there for him." That means standing on the touchline watching him play in defence or midfield for Rangers' Under-9s. He said: "While some of the other parents are shouting encouragement and instructions at their kids, I just stand quietly. "As a player, I know there is no point me putting pressure on him when he is so young. "I just want him to enjoy his football and progress slowly. "I might occasionally give him some advice after training and matches and point out where he could have done better. But I certainly don't moan at him and put it across that way. He doesn't need that kind of pressure. "But he criticises me. He said to me after the Manchester City game, 'You should have scored that header — I would've scored it'. "But he's a good boy. He's enjoying his football and that's the main thing. As a dad, you don't want to push your son into something he doesn't want to do. "He has to find his own way. I'm glad he likes football and I give him advice. I don't want him to make the same mistakes I made." Bothroyd was kicked out of Arsenal as a teen, throwing his shirt at Don Howe after being substituted in a youth cup final. He was sold to Coventry for £1million and also had spells with Perugia, Charlton and Wolves as well as loan stints at Blackburn and Stoke. He said: "Everyone knows about the mistake I made at Arsenal. "It was 11 years ago but people still ask me about it all the time. I still don't know if I'll ever be allowed to forget it. It was a big mistake but you have to learn from your mistakes. I was just a boy. It was a moment of madness. I shouldn't have done it and maybe they should have handled it in a different way. I think even Arsene Wenger has said that since. "He also said I was one of the most talented youngsters he has worked with and was very happy when I got an England call-up. "That compliment meant a lot to me because he's one of the best managers in the world and produces lots of good players." So what would he do if Mace reacted the same way to being taken off? The doting dad admitted: "I would be really angry with him." But right now Bothroyd Snr is Daddy Cool after having a PlayStation installed in the back of his £60,000 Range Rover. The star, who has been playing EA's new game Need For Speed: The Run, said: "My son and his friends play on it all the time — they think I'm the coolest dad in town." Bothroyd will be looking to score for the third match running when he leads the newly-promoted R's attack at Stoke today. He said: "Tony Pulis was one of the managers I spoke with in the summer. He is a really nice guy and has assembled a very good squad. "They lost 5-0 to Bolton in their last game which was highly unexpected and probably the last thing we wanted. "We know it's going to be a tough game but we have to go there and work hard and play as a team. "The only way for us is up. We just want to keep improving."
Great story and a very good feelgood factor that adds to the overall team spirit. I have always rated JB and think that his already is his home
