Leeds United's Patrick Bamford using his privilege for good and refusing to 'stick to football'

The 26-year-old in recent weeks has used his social media accounts to post messages about racism and white privilege.

He responded to a tweet about white supremacy by author Dwayne Reed with the words ‘time for change’ and, as anyone in the sports world who makes their feelings clear on almost any issue, evidently rubbed some up the wrong way.

Having been told by a Leeds fan in a private message he shouldn’t be discussing issues like race, the striker made it clear he will continue to speak his mind.

Rounding on ‘mindless idiots’ the Whites top goalscorer posted screengrabs of an exchange of private messages in which he was told: “Sick to death of hearing about it.

“Footballers shouldn’t get involved on social media regarding such things.”

The supporter in question also accused Bamford of forcing his opinions on people and dubbed him a ‘far left liberal’.

Of all the tags and insults and nicknames thrown Bamford’s way during his career, that might be a new one.

A distant relative of the Bamfords of JCB fame, he was educated at the independent fee-paying Nottingham High School, where he excelled academically, musically and on the rugby field.

Football was his chosen profession, however, and he came through the ranks at Nottingham Forest before joining Chelsea. Loan moves defined his early career, one of which took him to Burnley and into the managerial care of Sean Dyche, from whom Bamford says he came in for some stick over his upbringing.

“There were a few comments at Burnley,” he told a national newspaper in 2017.

“It was: ‘You’ve been brought up nicely, had everything handed to you’.

“Is that what people think just because I went to private school and played instruments?”

In a recent question-and-answer session broadcast by Leeds United, Bamford was discussing a parody account on Twitter that paints him as decidedly upper-class.

“I’m not sure why people have this image of me being really posh, but it’s funny nonetheless,” he said, grinning.

Perhaps it is the accent with which he speaks and his upbringing that have led to assumptions over his political leanings and they, in turn, have made him one of the more surprising spokesmen for change when it comes to racial discrimination.

Maybe it has nothing to do with politics and everything to do with a human being expressing empathy.

His decision to use the megaphone his high-profile career has put in his hand to try and help others is to be applauded and his refusal to be silenced is admirable, particularly in light of the inevitable flak that will come his way.

The path of least resistance would be to say nothing, like many of his peers.

Expressing an opinion makes you an opponent, at best, and an enemy combatant in the social-media war zone at worst. It makes headlines, it attracts attention and criticism.

But Bamford is not just putting himself in the firing line, he is firing back.

“Mindless idiots like this are the people who need educating the most but is happy to ignore it as long as it doesn’t affect him. I wonder how he would act if the shoe were on the other foot,” he said of the fan who messaged him.

“We have a platform to try help force change and educate people.

“I’m not far left or anything close to interested in politics. I just think that if people like you were to open your mind and consider the struggles others go through then it would help solve the problem.

“Imagine you were constantly picked on because of a trait/characteristic you didn’t choose. I’m sure then you’d have a problem with it.”

The supporter replied: “Ok let’s leave it there. Just get us promoted. All Leeds aren’t we.”

Bamford didn’t leave it there, he used it as an example and made the conversation public.

And why not? Everyone is entitled to an opinion, including your favourite footballer.

The question for the ‘stick to football’ crowd is this – would you be so quick to try and silence a player if what they’re saying chimes with your thinking?

Bamford is using his privilege for good. Long may it continue.