Towards the end of my first season as a youth football coach, I sent out the following email message to all the parents of the team's players. The message went out in the early hours of the morning on April 1st and the boys were all aged 10 or 11.

Despite the recent disappointing run of results, Ed and I both feel that the boys have done well this year, adapting swiftly to the standard of football and growing as individual players and as a team. I’m delighted to be able to announce that the club have agreed to reward them for a great first season together as West Moors.

We’ve noticed how proud the boys are of their West Moors kit, which got us thinking about ways build on this sense of pride. We have arranged for the whole team to get matching tattoos of the West Moors club badge, which I’m sure will help reinforce the excellent team spirit that already exists within the group, as well as giving them something to remember these early footballing years for the rest of their lives.

Renowned local tattoo artist Flo Paroli, winner of the prestigious Ingest Award, has agreed to create these permanent reminders, but in order to accommodate us into her busy schedule we need to confirm numbers immediately. I can’t imagine that anyone would be foolish enough to object, but if you would prefer your son not to receive the tattoo, please let me know by 12noon on Saturday at the very latest. Thanks. Placement of the tattoo is up to each individual, although shoulder, chest or covering the entire face have all been suggested as suitable locations. Think about it.