Every day 4000 young people try to call ChildLine for help. Only a small proportion of them are boys - it's okay to idolise footballers but calling a help line? It's just not what you do!
That's why it makes sense that the Gunners' have named ChildLine as their first ever 'charity of the season'. Given that the initiative is all about children and young people, it also makes sense that Children's Express and Loud 'n Clear were invited to the Arsenal training ground for an exclusive interview with Ashley Cole.
Like a lot of young people in Islington, we're both huge Arsenal fans so we were a bit nervous - it's not every day you get to meet, let alone interview one of your biggest heroes. But our nerves were quickly settled when Ashley popped his head around the corner after his training session to say he wouldn't be long.
We felt immediately at ease in his company, helped by the fact that there wasn't much difference in our heights. And coming face to face with him, we realised that he was a person from an ordinary background, just like us.
Ashley, who grew up in East London with his mum and younger brother, told us he was lucky enough to have never needed to call ChildLine in his childhood but would recommend it to anyone who was having a tough time at school or at home:
"If young boys see people like Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira supporting it, hopefully they will take more note of it and won't be too scared to call up if they have a problem."
As a child Ashley looked up to people like Martin Keown and recognises the need for young people to have role models. He now sees himself as one: "A lot of young people look up to footballers and want to be footballers, so you have to do things the right way, on and off the pitch. You have to be respectable."
Meeting Ashley Cole and spending a morning at the training ground where everywhere you turn there's a first team player, ranks as one of the best experiences we've had.
Not everyone will be as lucky as us, but thanks to this campaign maybe a young boy who wouldn't normally phone ChildLine will.
It could be what makes the difference between the dream and the reality of becoming what you want to be.
About this team
This article was written by Danyel, 17, and James, 16, and published in Loud 'n' Clear magazine.
