You often hear from those working within the public eye that it is never a good idea to get too high when things are going well, but also never get too low when things aren’t. That is certainly the case for John Sutton, the ex-Hearts, Motherwell and St Mirren striker who suggests that finding the right balance is key to consistent and sustained high-level performances.
‘I worked out throughout my career that it was probably a good thing to try stay as level as possible. I’m not saying that when you’re losing 4–0 you think to yourself oh that’s fine or when you have a penalty saved your heart doesn’t still sink, I just tried to mitigate it as much as I could.’
Think of how it would feel for a minute. You’ve just scored a hat-trick, thousands are singing your name and you already know that you’re going to get an 8 or 9 rating in the paper tomorrow. You walk off the pitch with a spring in your step, feeling untouchable all because of a bombardment of external validation. Fast forward to next week though, what happens when you’re not playing as good? Surely if you are hanging on the every word of those same people who a week ago were showering you with praise then you need to be just as invested when they are saying you’re not playing well? Many individuals, regardless of the industry, have fell into this hedonic path.
‘I think it’s especially difficult as a striker. I was never on social media because when you take on too many opinions that’s when you’ll find it mentally tough. People making snide remarks, it can be a really tough and hard position to play when you’re up there and you’ve gone a few games without a goal and people have an opinion on you. It’s about trying to keep focused on what is important and make sure you’re not snatching at chances and feeling sorry for yourself. Your head can’t be elsewhere.’
How though, for John, would he ensure that he remained as healthily balanced as possible?
‘I’d say after my Motherwell days I felt I was half decent at putting things in perspective. I didn’t read the papers and would watch the games on DVD, no commentary or anything like that even though some people might think that’s a bit weird. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good when it’s constructive and someone says you could have done this or ran here, but when it’s coming from people whose opinion you don’t necessarily value, it’s not a good thing.
‘For me it was trying to move on from the situation, but it has an effect. You can’t pretend it doesn’t have an effect. Once you’ve seen something or heard something, you can’t just unsee or hear it. You can have it the other way when people like getting adulation, but I was always of the mentality — whether it was right or wrong — if you score a goal the next week you try get two. If you win a game, win again next week. Don’t get too up or down. I can see the temptation, but to me I always try to kick on to something better.’
It would make a great deal of sense to believe that John’s strong mentality and ability to understand perspective was honed and moulded through the Sutton household growing up. An ex-footballing Dad and English Premier League winning brother, Chris, provided clear inspiration.
‘My Dad was a teacher but used to be a footballer before a bad injury ended his career. I’m the youngest of five and have two brothers. Chris, he’s the next youngest but he’s 10 years older than me.’
Chris, of course, is the striker previously of Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea and Celtic, who now, as a pundit, can be seen plastered over footballing TV shows across the U.K. Has hearing about and seeing his brother so much been something that has taken getting used to? Has it helped or hindered his career?
‘I’m pretty used to it. It’s who I am. Fortunately or unfortunately you can’t choose your family! I never made my career off of my brother, but it did help in some ways and hindered things in others — I don’t know if people had preconceived ideas of what I was like?’
‘People possibly thought that I should play the game like him. We’re similar in some ways, but different. In football there’s certain stories that go about almost like urban myths, some of them are true but some of them aren’t. It’s not necessarily people’s intentions to have preconceived ideas, but they think “aw his brother done that so he must be related to that incident in some way.” Even if it’s subconsciously.’
The perception that during every family meet-up Chris spends the whole time delivering a one-man monologue about his strengths as a striker, although a funny one, seems unlikely.
‘Football is funny, it’s a bit like a reality TV show. The perception from the outside is different than it actually is on the inside. When people try to rank things for example, life is so subjective but people try to make it objective — especially in football. I’ve got a couple of medals in the house somewhere, but in all honesty they don’t really mean that much to you. I’ve scored quite a few goals, but I couldn’t tell you how many. You move on pretty quickly. I think Chris will have scored more goals than me, but he played more games than me through mid-week, but I played in the league for a longer period of time. The internet loves to get wrapped up in things like that.’
As John suggested earlier in the interview ‘I always try to kick on to something better,’ it appears that this is certainly the attitude and mindset he is providing his new personal training business venture in his gym next to Kelvingrove Park.
‘I’ve been doing it since September the business. I’ve had a few different types of clients ranging from aspiring footballers, people looking to get back into shape and people slightly older trying to look after themselves. It’s been really good and and I’m really enjoying it. I think I was always fairly good at being dedicated, looking after myself right and training hard. That worked out well for me during my career and this is working out well for me too.’
If you are interested in receiving tailor-made personal training regardless of your age, level or occupation, you can contact John on instagram (@johnsuttonpt) or on Twitter (@johnsuttonpt1)
Quick Fire Q’s
Describe yourself in 3 words: Interested, curious and excitable.
How would your family and friends describe you in 3 words? Laid-back, chilled and adventurous.
Introverted or Extroverted? Introverted.
Best moment of your life? Got to be having my children.
Biggest personality strength? I like a challenge. It’s not the completing something that gives me the contentedness. I think it’s always been the happiness that has always came from a new challenge.
Biggest personality weakness? Probably dealing with the things you can’t control. As a striker you rely on service, if the service isn’t coming it’s very tricky. Your success, your wages can be reliant on it.
Most mentally challenging moment in career: Probably coming back from Australia to Scottish football and feeling a bit on the outside of things.
What motivated you more a fear of losing or love of winning? Love of winning.
Best piece of advice you could give? It links in with the last question I guess, find a way to love to win. Any time you play or do something, it doesn’t matter how good or bad you are, you should still go out and have confidence, take the front foot and take the challenge on.
