I wasn’t around when Gareth Southgate faced reporters shortly after some last century mishap on the football pitch. From commentors lamentations, it appears the world had indeed ceased its rotation, thus preventing the sun from rising the next day and suggesting Santa wouldn’t be able to harness the reindeer that Christmas.

As you may discern, I know nothing about football.

What impressed me about Southgate on hearing that archive audio was the grace and courage with which he handled himself in what, at that moment, was clearly a woeful situation.

Seems to me, how we do something is how we do everything. If such composure and integrity is anything to go by, wouldn’t it be marvellous if English football were lifted by that kind of inspiring leadership and offered the potential to beautify the game?