Danny Graham

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/watch-moment-boozy-danny-graham-26714981

Poor punishment for him to avoid prison time. Drink driving isn't taken seriously enough. Seems to be more and more Football players lately finding trouble.

 

I'm not defending his behaviour in the slightest, and agree that his punishment is quite light considering, however the FA/EFL have to take some responsibility here.

It isn't normal behaviour for someone to just get behind the wheel after 10 pints, particularly for someone like Danny Graham who doesn't appear to have any previous.

Not enough is done for ex footballers after they retire. Many retire suddenly, with no qualifications and no income, making it far too easy to turn to booze/drugs/gambling etc. I get that players can make the effort themselves, but when you look at the number of former players who do go into coaching or punditry, it's easy to think you'll be handed it on a plate, when it reality, it isn't like that.

 

Considering that thankfully nobody was injured, he's shown remorse and by all accounts the incident was completely out of character, the punishment would seem reasonable to me for a first offence. Most of us have done some pretty stupid things while intoxicated, possibly endangering ourselves or others. It doesn't mean that we need a custodial sentence.

 

He should be punished for driving a gas-guzzling 4x4 (designed for farmers) in an urban setting if you ask me.

 

If we start that stuff F1 and motor racing would seize to exist!

 

His reading was 230mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood. For that level of reading the recommended sentencing range is something between a high level and a low level community order, with the recommended starting point a medium level community order. Custody is not recommended until the reading in blood reaches 276 mg. His disqualification (24 months) is within the guideline, with a three month reduction available if he completes a drink drive rehabilitation course. So the overall sentence is bang on the guideline. An appeal would be likely to have succeeded he had received anything in excess of the guideline without good reason.

 

I guess you're right. The only point I'll make is, he was lucky nobody else was injured. Under the exact same circumstances, he could have very easily have killed someone. I'm not one for making examples, particularly given my previous point of supporting ex footballers, I just hope that the punishment he has been given is a wake up call.

 

I also wonder whether Danny still has an agent? Or whether that particular agreement came to an end once he stopped earning money. Someone else who you could argue has a duty of care in this instance.

 

Unless they come through a top Premier League academy and make it at a top six Premier League club. The career of a footballer is mainly a downward spiral apart from a possible career purple patch that earns a player a decent financial package. The rest fall by the wayside. It's no wonder they turn to drink, gambling and drugs.

Footballers need more education on how to make hay while the sun shines. That would aid with mental health and boredom once they're forced to retire. I haven't much sympathy if I'm being honest because even the crap pro's earn more money than I'll ever have.

They can be a jobbing League 1 and 2 player and still retire made for life.

 

I agree, and it's ridiculous when fans talk about loyalty. If I had a maximum career span of about 18 years with the risk of it all ending with an injury at any point I'd be incredibly mercenary.

I disagree that a jobbing league 1/2 player is set for life though. I can't imagine an average league 2 player earning more than £2k a week and 15 years on that (probably less at the beginning and end of the career) won't set them up for life.

 

I can think of a certain League One player not far from here who must certainly be set up for life!

 

I can't remember who it was - might have been Owen Hargreaves but I could be very wrong - who publicly admitted to paying himself £5k per week or month while on many times that. The rest was put away for his retirement, but many of them just spend millions on drink, drugs and women - and waste the rest...

 

The advice is there nowadays regarding pensions, career choices after football etc. Like anything in life, some will take advantage some wont.

 

Also, don’t the Academy players do a ‘Scholarship’ nowadays. As far as I know they cover a variety of subjects that give them formal qualifications. Also, Things like press and media coverage,how to handle interviews etc. Every other football presenter/ pundit male and female seems to be an ex player. I acknowledge this doesn’t cover all players but it has to be have an effect

 

There's the other case in the news that's worse than that, OK he's not a footballer, but the guy off his tits on Coke, ploughed into the car of mother and daughter , who subsequently burned to death (a hideous way to go) got FIVE years!
At least he tried to get them out, but what kind of deterrant is that!

 

That sounds about right for Owen Hargreaves, and I honestly don't understand why they don't all follow that model. I know I certainly would if I was in that position.

I kinda do that now, but on a much smaller scale. When my wage goes in, whatever I've earned above what I used to in my previous job goes straight into a savings account. I can live off my old wage reasonably comfortably, and the rest is there just in case. It's only a couple of hundred quid a month, but it helps when my car insurance or whatever is due.

 

Fantastic idea, we'd all get a bit of peace and quiet on a sunday then.

 

Stays with them for loyalty even though he's easily championship quality. Nothing to do with the fact that nobody at that level would match his wages he's earning in division 3.

 

Just goes to show that you can never trust anyone with two first names

 

Monty Dom?