Sir Keir said he was buzzing to be back playing 8-a-side
(Picture: Twitter)Sir Keir Starmer joked about being drafted into the England national team setup as he turned out for his local eight-a-side football team to celebrate lockdown measures easing.
The Labour leader joked: “Finally back in training! Still got a few months before Gareth Southgate announces the squad for the Euros...”
The Arsenal season ticket holder said that he had played football every week since his youth.
He said: “I’ve been looking forward to this moment for months. It was a real buzz to be back on the pitch.
“Gareth Southgate won’t be picking his Euros squad for a few weeks, so there’s still time to get up to match fitness.
“Whatever your game, the benefit of sport to our nation’s mental and physical health is profound. I encourage everyone who can to get out and get active over the coming weeks.”
Every week before lockdown he played 8-a-side football at Talacre Community Sports Centre, he told The Ham & High.
Finally back in training! Still got a few months before Gareth Southgate announces the squad for the Euros... pic.twitter.com/gxirATXReV
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) March 29, 2021
“I’d like to describe myself as a midfield general,” he says. “But when I do that in the company of those that I actually play with, I think they would disagree.
“They might say ‘well once upon a time’... But in my head I’m a midfield general.”
Appearing The BBC’s Desert Island Discs to choose Three Lions by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner and the Lightning Seeds, he said: “In order to really appreciate this song you had to be in Wembley in the crowd – I was in the upper tier – for the semi-final of Euro 96 when we’re playing Germany and for the whole stadium to be jumping up and down, rocking to this.”
Sir Keir was among thousands of Londoners flocking to return to their favourite outdoor activities as the weather improved and lockdown measures eased as part of the Government’s roadmap.
People across England can now meet outdoors in a group of up to six people from separate households, under what’s been dubbed the “rule of six”.
More than six people can meet up as long as they’re from only two households.
Some swimmers queued up outside Brockwell Lido in south London first thing in the morning while others opted for aerobic classes at the Hampton open air pool.
Golf courses, swimming, basketball and tennis courts have all been reopened in a major milestone in the country’s road map out of lockdown.
