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James Bailey Investigates the Football Freestyle Scene - 
Pain. Pressure. Panic. Legs aching. Studio lights beaming. Numerous cameras projecting images across the globe. Nerves jangling. A loss of concentration and the ball drops. Having lost control of the football twice during his ninety seconds, football freestyler, Jeremy Lynch was voted off ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent in the live semi final. His self-confidence, image and dazzling tricks illustrated how freestyle football has become much more than a park-players game. No longer are flicks, tricks and “keepie-uppies” confined to entertaining mates, with the backing of international brands the interest in freestyle football has rocketed over the last few years. The art of juggling a football using the feet, knees, chest, shoulders and head has been around for ages. Gradually creative moves have been added to the routine. For years this game has been played by millions trying to beat each others records, trying to impress one another. Today these tricks can be earning you money as seen with professional freestyler Billy Wingrove. Like many others Wingrove began performing kick up’s in the local park and revelled in learning extravagant moves and showing them off to friends and family. Wingrove was part of a footballing family; his father having played for Tottenham Hotspur and his cousin for North London rivals Arsenal. Whilst Wingrove played for local semi-professional sides, his real skill was as an individual in football freestyle.  Part of the young London freestyle scene, Wingrove entered competitions and was quickly employed by Tottenham, with his friend Fidan Morina, who became the first professional football freestylers to be signed by a professional club. During the past few years, Wingrove has worked for Tottenham’s coaching in the community schemes as well as providing entertainment on the pitch at White Hart Lane. Wingrove has also appeared in television advertisements and has demonstrated his ability on live TV. The emergence of pro-freestylers such as Wingrove is largely down to 21st century technology. Global advertising schemes, most notably Nike’s “Joga Bonito” campaign has drawn attention and helped start this freestyle craze. Furthermore with digital media sharing and websites such as You Tube, it has never been easier to show off skills to the world. The You Tube effect has given rise to previously unheard of footballers and a simple Google search will bring up video compilations of amateur freestylers all around the world.
Freestyle football has also hit both the small screen and cinema screen recently. Former Arsenal trainee Jeremy Lynch wowed viewers of Britain’s Got Talent and also starred in the 2007 documentary “In the Hands of the Gods.” The film follows Jeremy and four fellow football freestylers (Sami Hall, Danny Robinson, Paul Wood, Mikey Fisher) around the America’s on their quest to meet icon Diego Maradona who they believe was the founder of football freestyle. With no money for food, travel or accommodation, their journey tests them both mentally and physically. Once again the growing popularity of freestyle football was shown as Lionsgate released the film in over 60 screens in the opening weekend making it the widest released documentary ever in the UK.  However if you are getting ideas about becoming a freestyler or starring on TV then you should realise it requires a lot of practice.
British freestyle footballer and MTV’s Freestyle King Abbas Farid told TF90M he likes to “put in at least 3 hours a day, it can go more, but it depends on the situation during the day.” Similar to Wingrove, Farid has performed in stadiums worldwide such as Stamford Bridge, Stade de France and the San Siro; as well as featuring in music videos. In the Nike Freestyle Competition in 2003 Wingrove made the semis but it was Farid who beat off 6000 competitors to win. He states the success “got me large recognition and from there on it kick started my freestyling career.” Having invented his own moves such as the “Abbas around the world”, many would presume Farid would be wanted by Europe’s top teams; however he says “as freestyle being my profession, it's suicidal to risk yourself in injury. Although there are moments I can't resist my temptations in playing!” A less risky game is that of Futsal, similar to five-a-side and very common in South America. The main difference being the court is delimited by lines not walls and the ball is smaller with less bounce. With the emphasis being placed on creativity, the game has harnessed such stars as Robinho and Farid comments, “I'm very confident in Futsal and I hope to go pro in that someday.” Whilst it was the Argentine legend Maradona that inspired the boys from “In the Hands of the Gods” Farid would select the Brazilian maestro Ronaldinho to freestyle with, “there are many (players) I’d like to freestyle with, but for the time being I would still say Ronaldinho.” Football freestyle has witnessed a clear surge in popularity and there is nothing to say the scene can’t continue to rise. So go fetch a football, tie up your laces and get over to the park. Now there is even more at stake then merely impressing your friends. And if you are currently more like Peter Kay from the John Smith beer advert rather than Romario in the famous Nike airport commercial, just remember practice makes perfect. By James Bailey I would like to thank Abbas Farid for his interview with TF90M and urge all of you wannabe football freestylers to check out his site: http://abbasfarid.com/
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