Twitter Talk edition 1 - Matt Holland.

Social networking in sport has grown exponentially over the last year. At first, sports men and women joined sites like Facebook and Twitter to keep in touch with supporters and give fans an insight into their lives, and this is still the case for the vast majority. Twitter, in particular, gives us, as fans, the opportunity to peak into the lives of our favourite footballers, Olympians, golfers and hundreds more in a way that would have been impossible before. 


However, with this growth has come an unsavoury side. Recently, we have seen Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong fined for comments made on Twitter directed towards a Tottenham fan, in which the young Ghanain made (what he claimed was an inadvertent) religious slur. Similarly, Rio Ferdinand faces an FA charge for a racially-motivated comment he made on Twitter towards fellow England-international Ashley Cole. Most ashamedly of all, however, is the recent development that young British diver Tom Daley faced sick abuse on the social networking site from a Twitter 'troll' who made comments about the Olympian's deceased father. 


In this series, I will catch up with some famous 'Tweeters' from the football world - journalists, ex-pros, podcasters, famous fans and TV presenters, in order to gather their opinions on the role Twitter plays in modern football. My first interviewee is retired-Republic of Ireland international captain Matt Holland - a man who made over 500 club appearances and earned 49 caps in a distinguished career. Matt now hosts 'Late Kick Off' on the BBC:

1.     Do modern journalists have to be on Twitter? Would your job be more difficult without?

 I think so because you can provide instant news for your followers. If other journalists are on and providing news and you are not, then i think you can lose some credibility

2 There have been a few spats between journalists and players in recent months, what is your opinion about this phenomenon?

 Spats arise particularly when things that have been said in private are made public or when criticism maybe goes a little over the top. Most sportsmen realise that being criticised goes with the job but don't like it when a confidence is broken.

3. How big a role do you think Twitter plays in modern football, what with the amount of players who tweet?

I think it is good that so many players tweet. Often players are said to be distant from fans and this is a way for the fans to feel closer to their heroes

4.     Footballers are now viewed as role models for younger people, do you think Twitter helps them in this role or makes it more difficult?

I think as long as players are responsible with their tweets and realise it is not a text message to one person then it can be a useful tool, especially considering that, as you say, players really are role models now.

5. Is it right for managers to ‘ban’ twitter, as has happened at some clubs?

Banning twitter is up to the individual clubs/managers. I understand some banning it because certain information should stay within the club, but if can work with clear guidelines for players on the do's and don'ts of what to tweet.

6. How many tweets do you receive on a normal day? How much of this is positive/negative?

I have something like 22,500 followers and would say I get tweeted about 50 times a day. Sometimes more and sometimes less. Probably 99% is positive. Put it this way, I haven't felt the need to block anyone. The best thing to do is ignore the bad stuff!!

7. What’s the funniest tweet you’ve ever received?

 I can't think of anything off hand to be honest but a lot of what i get makes me laugh!!

8. What football figure would you love to see on Twitter?

 I would to pick the brains of Sir Alex Ferguson. I would be sending him questions all the time!!