 Charlie Oatway said he had to cheat when signing autographs |
A Brighton footballer who could not read his own fan mail until he was in his 30s has spoken about the experience of learning to read and write. Brighton and Hove Albion captain Charlie Oatway used to have to cheat.
He said: "In the job I do, when people ask me to sign best wishes to a certain name. I normally got a friend to write and I would just sign my name."
The Seagulls are one of 10 football clubs backing a government adult learning initiative.
The midfielder said: "It wasn't the general public I was worried about.
"It was the football world itself. I'm on the pitch with 11 other players and it gets a little bit niggly at times, so it's something I didn't want thrown up in my face."
"I'm 32 years of age and I'm going back to do it," he said.
"People may be in their early 20s, it doesn't matter, or their 30s, or 40s.
"Whatever age, you can still go back and do it, and if you want to achieve something in life you've got to always have goals."
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