Last Updated: 10th June 2012
ASHLEY YOUNG was only 11 when he was first racially abused on a football pitch.
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But he did not walk off, throw a punch or break down in tears.
He did react, though — and devastatingly so.
Young went on to score two goals in that Sunday league game to deliver the perfect response to his abuser.
Sadly, Young is now 26 and the bigotry and hatred still exists.
Remember how he and England team-mates Theo Walcott and Ashley Cole were targeted by racists during the Euro 2012 qualifying win against Bulgaria in Sofia last September?
And now, as he prepares to kick-off England’s finals campaign against France tomorrow, a sickening cloud of racism hovers over the tournament here in Poland and Ukraine.
Young remains calm, insisting he will rise above the mindless morons if he is singled out again.
But it clearly saddens the Manchester United star that the problem still exists.
He said: “It's one of those things we shouldn’t be sat here talking about in this day and age.
“It should not happen but, unfortunately, it does. Hopefully we won’t hear it in this tournament.
“UEFA, now, have taken it into their hands and said they'll deal with the matter.”
Yes they have. UEFA president Michel Platini has stunned the football world by announcing any player who walks off the pitch because of abuse will be cautioned.
This is the same organisation that fined the Bulgarian FA just £34,000 for their fans’ vile chanting last year.
Young certainly remembers it only too well.
He recalled: “In that game the abuse was disappointing.
“I can’t speak for other players but I didn’t let it affect me. I had to block it out in that game and get on with it.
“UEFA dealt with it after the game and Bulgaria were fined.”
When asked if the punishment fitted the crime, Young diplomatically added: “The fines aren’t up to me. It’s down to UEFA and how they deal with it.
“That was the matter left. Hopefully it doesn’t happen in this tournament but, if it does, I’m sure UEFA will deal with it.”
But in 15 years UEFA have seemingly done very little to halt the abuse in an effort to change hearts and minds.
Which leads us back to that Sunday league game when Young first understood how it felt to be singled out for the colour of the skin.
Young says it was the worst experience he has ever suffered, revealing: “I was 11 years old and was racially abused on the pitch.
“It was another player, I’m not too sure what happened to him.
“But I was just a youngster. It was obviously so disappointing to hear it at such a young age.
“You don’t expect to hear it at any age, but when you’re a youngster even more so.
“But I just turned around, got on with the game and managed to score two goals.
“That’s me. I just want to go out there and play football.
“I’ve done that ever since I was young. I love playing football and that’s all I’m going to do.”
Five goals in England’s last seven games show Young is doing that rather well.
And he is excited by the prospect of delivering more of the same here.
Young added: “Every other tournament has been nice to watch but I was sat there watching the opening games on Friday and felt the adrenalin run through my entire body.
“Anybody who actually knows me can tell the excitement I’m feeling about Monday's game.
“It’s a chance to establish myself even further in the team.
“Over the last however many games, I’ve been scoring and getting assists.
“I’m full of confidence and just excited about getting to Monday.
“I’m used to the pressure, I’m used to the expectation.
“When you play for Manchester United, you have that every week.
“Everyone wants to beat United, the biggest team in the world, so when it comes to playing with pressure I thrive on that.
“I know we have a very difficult game against France. They are a great team and it will be very tough but we are going there to win, we want the three points.”
Yes, Young is sure England shall overcome on Monday — just like he has since he was a kid.
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