Explained: Why Cole Palmer Wears Saint Kitts Flag on His Football Boots?
The Premier League is a worldwide phenomenon. Cole Palmer, being one of the best players in the Premier League is without a doubt one of the most popular players in the world right now. His popularity stems from the fact that he has taken the Premier League by storm. Last season, he moved from a bench player at Manchester City to a starter at Chelsea. In his first season as a bonafide Premier League starter, he managed 22 goals and 11 assists. This season, at the time of writing, he already has 20 goal contributions. Given his performances, the hype around him, and his ‘cold’ celebration, there’s no wonder that he has accumulated quite the fanbase.
Given that he is English, most of his popularity is naturally from his home country. But interestingly, he has close ties to another small country – St Kitts & Nevis in the Caribbean. It is one of the smallest countries in the world, both by area and population. It is only 261 square kilometers (101 sq mi) of territory and roughly had 48,000 inhabitants. It was one of the very first Caribbean territories to be colonised by the British and the last to be left by them.
The Story Behind Cole Palmer’s Football Boots
Palmer’s ties to this island is very interesting. His grandfather Sterry was born there before he moved to Manchester in 1960. This is something that is of immense pride to the people of that nation. Football is a very popular sport in the country, especially among the young school going children. The population of the nation is in fact, smaller than the capacity of as many as 7 Premier League grounds.
This bond is very dear to the country’s people, who are currently 144th in FIFA rankings.
Palmer has not forgotten about his roots, however, despite his success. He has the flag of St Kitts and Nevis sewn into his boots – alongside the England flag – as a mark of respect to his dad’s side of the family. An overwhelming part of the population there have forgotten past loyalties – they all support Chelsea now.
“His story is an example of never forgetting where you come from,” says Dr Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis. “When Cole Palmer steps onto the pitch I’m pretty sure he can hear his grandfather’s voice in his head saying ‘my roots, your roots’.
“When he steps out we feel that, we connect with that. He is saying to the world, ‘This is who I am, I couldn’t be who I am without my roots.’ His roots are from a very small island in the Caribbean. His family migrated to the UK and he’s been able to elevate himself in the elite sport of football.”
Cole Palmer continues to shine and kids across St. Kitts & Nevis beam with pride as they replicate his celebration in playgrounds.
Also Read: Cole Palmer Biography: Net Worth, Salary, Family, Lifestyle and Career Stats