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John has been lucky, because it is a good club. It makes sure that all the new young players — apprentice players, as they are called — keep up their schooling. Everyone knows that out often apprentices, perhaps only one will have a career in football. It is a hard day for John and the other apprentices. The day starts at the football ground at ten o'clock with a meeting, followed by an hour and a half's training. After lunch the apprentices clean football boots, sweep out the stadium, and wash out the changing-rooms. The young footballers are expected to be in peak physical condition which means, says John, no late nights, no drinking, and a rather limited social life. «Not all the girls understand this, but I know I have two years to try and make my mark. That means that the girls will have to wait. I watch football every evening I can — and dream of becoming a star!» John is supported 100% by his parents. His father is proud of him, and perhaps sees John fulfilling his own dream of becoming a football star. «For me it would be marvellous to have a Cleef playing for England,» he says with a smile, «even if it should mean that they beat Holland ten-nil!» №8 There are about 22,000 police officers in England. Out of these, 1,500 are women. Twenty years ago, a woman police-officer was an unusual sight. Then there were only 500 of them. Their job was mostly in the police stations doing the routine office work, or going out and doing what you could call social work. But today the picture is quite different. You meet female officers on the beat, controlling crowds, and directing traffic. «That's the way it should be,» says one policewoman. «We get the same pay as the men and we share the same conditions as they have. Of course, there are still some policemen who haven't quite accepted us yet. I must admit, too, that there are certain situations where we are not in the front line. For example if there is a very violent demonstration, then it is the male officers who keep the crowd back. We are given other jobs. We simply don't have the strength to do the job. On the other hand, there are also many situations where the men are very glad to let us take over. Often we are better than the men when there are problems with women — and specially children. If there is any resistance to women police-officers, it comes from the older policemen. They remember the «good old days» when a policeman was — a man! The younger officers are very glad to work with us. What is even more important, I think, is the reaction of the public. They are always very positive. Women are good at defusing dangerous situations. I mean, we are good at calming people down. There is still a lot of respect for women in general—for example, some people think it is all right to hit a policeman, but they wouldn't dream of hitting a woman. In violent situations we do not seem so aggressive as men, and this really helps. Mind you, if it comes to a fight, women police-officers are highly trained!» 189
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