Football can be unforgivingly unpredictable, but there is still room for some unexpected successes.
When a trial match was arranged in a small Egyptian village for the scouts to get a good look at an unstoppable local kid named Sherif, they went home impressed. However, there was another name on everyone's lips that day; Mohamed Salah.
Like the accidental discovery of LiverpoolHis mascot hitman Tom Grennan never intended to produce the biggest hit of his career when he agreed to be the voice of Gillette's new ad campaign in 2023. “And now,” Grennan admitted. 90 min with a sage tone in his voice, “the Gillette song has become my biggest hit.”
The Coventry City fan revealed that his reimagined version of 'The Best a Man Can Get' would never be released on its own merits. After nearly two years of runaway success, being ingrained in the brains of anyone who comes across the Gillette ad that is so often played before and at halftime of televised football games, the song has taken on a new life of its own.
Gillette and Grennan have collaborated with Art of Football, a well-known clothing brand that specializes in producing designs inspired by the beautiful game, to release a football shirt inspired by the Gillette song.
All profits raised from the sale of this great design – which is available now for an RRP of £60 – will go directly to Football Beyond Borders (FBB). This esteemed charitable foundation supports youth from socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. These individuals are passionate about soccer but disengaged in school, so FBB's fleet of talented employees help them complete their studies with the skills and grades to make a successful transition to adulthood.
Grennan is a self-confessed football fanatic – coming off a childhood spent rooting Manchester United to support his local club, Coventry – and spent time at various professional academies in his youth.
“I'm a failed footballer,” shrugged the hugely popular musician.
“The real honest truth is that I wasn't good enough, unfortunately. I was a realist from an early age. And I knew that and I had to choose a different path and a different journey. And I'm happy that I chose the right trip”.
That journey has led to a career as a multi-platinum selling artist, and Grennan now aims to use his vast platform to help those less fortunate.
“I met the two guys who are involved with FBB and just to see and hear their stories and see how well they're doing and, and just to know what their charities are doing for young boys and girls around football and communities, they're making a difference,” he said. “And now joining Gillette, I know how important that is to Gillette and to me, and that's what this shirt will hopefully do.” .