DANNY MURPHY: My cousin Ben Futcher is a chip off the old block of his famous father Paul – he would be so proud of his son’s debut in charge of England’s under-21s tonight
It’ll be a super-proud moment when my cousin Ben Futcher manages England under-21s for the first time on Friday, and poignant too with his dad Paul sadly no longer here to see it.
I come from a large family. My mum was one of nine and gatherings at my Nan’s house in Chester could be chaotic. There were always an extra buzz when my twin uncles, professional footballers Paul and Ron Futcher, were there.
Paul’s England under-21 caps were in my Nan’s cabinet and felt like precious treasure to me. I told him as a kid I’d play for the full England team and got a little pat on the head, as if to say ‘Oh, really!’
How thrilled Paul would be of his lad stepping up from being in charge of the under-20s to replace Lee Carsley on an interim basis.
Distance and a four-year age gap meant Ben and myself didn’t see that much of each other growing up – they lived in Yorkshire – but we shared that dream and ambition to follow his Dad’s example and make a career in football.
Ben Futcher – Danny Murphy’s cousin – will take charge of his first match as England under-21 head coach
Futcher is stepping into Lee Carsley shoes’, who now serves as the senior squad’s interim boss
Previously the manager was at the helm of the under-20 side – but will now step up for this round of international ties
I lost my father when I was 30 so Ben having this opportunity resonates with me. I know what it feels like not to have your dad there to share the good moments.
Hopefully uncle Paul, who passed away in 2016, is looking down and smiling. I know his mum Collette is ecstatic for her son.
Over in America, uncle Ron – who played for Luton and Manchester City like his brother – will be taking an close interest in Friday night’s game away to Northern Ireland intently. And again on Monday when England face Austria at Kenilworth Road, the ground where the twins first became well-known. It’s a lovely story.
Ben had a good playing career in the lower leagues but I didn’t know too much about his coaching ambitions. That must have come from his Dad, who became England’s most expensive defender in the late 1970s when he moved to City from Luton.
Certainly, Ben is a chip off the old block; a commanding centre-half who loves his football as we all do in our family. He’s a great lad, I called him at the weekend and sensed his excitement for this challenge.
The under-21s have proved a pathway for Gareth Southgate and other managers but he’s aware it’s an interim role at the minute and he needs results.
Futcher’s dad Paul (right) passed away in 2016 but he would no doubt be ecstatic for his son
To be honest, we also chatted about golf. We both play though I’ll brag that I’m better!
It’s fantastic for Ben’s development as a coach to be working with the best young players in the country.
For those players too, under-21s football can give you wisdom and confidence. From the different tactics you might encounter to travelling to different countries. I’d never been abroad until I represented England at under-15s level.
That’s why I think Unai Emery’s comments questioning what his Aston Villa player Morgan Rogers would gain out of an under-21s camp are wrong.
Short-sighted too. Broadening his experience will help Morgan at his club who are in the Champions League of course.
To learn how to deal with different situations and having the pressure of wearing the Three Lions is beneficial. To want to take that opportunity away from a player to supposedly protect them is misguided.
In a perfect world, a player would go away with the full blessing of his club manger, but Ben won’t judge Morgan any differently because of what Emery said. It just sounded like a manager who was frustrated.
Futcher’s appointment will see him work with a raft of young talents including Morgan Rogers
Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery was wrong to question the importance of his player’s place in the development side
Funnily enough, my strongest personal memory of the under-21s was a bad one, but proved out to be one of the most valuable lessons learned in my career.
I was in the squad with Frank Lampard, Jamie Carragher and Rio Ferdinand that beat Italy 1-0.
A group of us decided to go out and get drunk afterwards and as a result, we were stopped from watching Glenn Hoddle’s senior team qualify for the World Cup the following night.
Instead of being in the Stadio Olimpico soaking it all up, me and a few team-mates had to wait at Rome airport under armed guard until the match was finished and everyone flew back together.
My career after hanging up by boots has seen me end up talking and writing about the game rather than coaching or managing. I feel a real sense of pride in what Ben has achieved. Our family still has a lot to offer!
