jonathan spittlehouse I may only be an old fart of 32 but I clearly remember my classmates' hats being ordered removed as they made their way into class
I simply asked for an explanation as to why removing your hat is respectful. I even said I know it's respectful, I just wanted to know why that is so. I remove mine when I go to church or someone's house etc, but I was not sure why we do it. I shouldn't have called it bullshit yes I apologise for that but did it warrant the insults? I did not insult anyone in the video, I was just saying how some traditions might seem silly and kind of pointless when you look at them objectively, I'm not calling for an end to them or anything. People talk about respect while showing none themselves.
This is an amazing expression of emotion as many here have pointed out. Two other this of note would be the covering of his face with his hat and the probably lesser noticed but I believe more impact of the huge breathe he takes as he sits before covering his face.
I love this. I just saw it for the first time yesterday and I think I’ve watched it a dozen times. I didn’t know who Ian was. I’m just humbled and moved by his reaction seeing his beloved teacher. How his voice breaks when he says that someone had told him Nr Pigdin was dead. How he takes his hat off. It’s really moving and beautiful.❤❤
@@roisindubh02 There's a moment just after 0:35 where Mr Pigden takes his hand and pulls him forward, up until that moment I don't think Ian could believe his eyes because he believed he was dead. You can hear him gasp and his mouth falls open. Not gonna lie that moment touched me.
@@bennewey5483 He talks in an interview made later that when he hugged him, because he was standing below Mr. Pigden it felt like he was back to being a small child again, being comforted. Beautiful and overwhelming moment for sure.
@@bradentaylor4256 those are the type of people that make the world go round, just like school bus drivers that stay at it their entire life. Just naturally good people who want to help others and nothing more
Ian said " someone said you was dead." Ian grieved this man. He mourned him. He probably wished he could see him again. Then he hears " Hello Ian." I can only imagine the disbelief he must have felt in that moment.
For those who dont know, the teacher Mr Pigden was one of the youngest fighter pilots in WW2, and said once he was more proud of Ian playing for England than Flying over buckingham palace at the end of the war
@@fallendevonish1869 He's referring to this second video of Ian Wright and Mr Pigden, but be warned - it'll get you even more emotional than this one. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a4VHhvnw3AI.html
I have never seen a human being snap back to his childhood self more vividly than this.. Better than any movie could script. Ian instantly became the young boy he was prior to the last meeting between these two. This reunion instantly erased the 30 years they left behind, and seemingly was nonexistent for a brief moment. As if their last conversation never ended, but they are now at the finish line.
I have grown men in their 30's still saying 'Hello Sir, how are you' when they see me on the street. Forget about the fact they left school nearly 20 years ago!
This gets me every damned time. The quizzical look. The amazement. The respect with the cap movement. The disbelief. The joy. The emotion. The fact that he’s there in front of him.
When I was diagnosed with cancer at 9 years old, my third grade teacher volunteered to homeschool me after class so I stayed in step with my classmates. We have kept in touch for almost 30 years now. Teachers are absolutely amazing and important figures in our lives.
God bless you; your fight is appreciated; admiring and inspiring; I may not know you but I want you to know your loved; continue to live life to the fullest
This video is just everything. Ian's instinctive whipping off his hat as a mark of respect. Crying into his teacher's chest and he became that lost kid again just looking for a strong male figure. And Mr Pigden"s "hello Ian, long time no see", you can feel the warmth and good humor in those 6 words. Gets me every time
How Ian calls him Mr Pigden and stood up straight, shows the level of respect he still has for him. I have a teacher from highschool who was just like that. A lot of people thought I was dumb and a troublemaker , but my teacher Mr Gleason showed me that I was capable of anything. As a troubled kid to growing up now, I have grown a lot and I owe it to that specific person in my life.
I can relate . I had a coach named Coach Oscar Cruz and if I can describe him in one word it would be intimidation. He was my Little League coach in 1995 and I was flabbergasted my first practice. I was one of the smallest players on Lee’s Florist playing with all tall, fast and solid players . I always knew that I was good but I was so in awe at how he took control of us and how everyone listened. He was like a Dad 2.0. I also wrestled and did very well, all of my great coaches couldn’t amount to Oscar, not even in college, even MMA/BJJ. I made the Hall of Fame for Kearny High School, NJ in 2019 and I bought him a ticket and invited him to the beautiful dinner. I went with my family and he met us there in the parking lot and I was so grateful to just say thank you . Furthermore , I received my award and he was waiting at the bottom of podium to greet me. He will always be the best coach and mentor 2nd to my Father. I can’t tell him thank you enough for molding me into the man that I am today. If he went to coach the Yankees right now I bet he would turn that whole shit around. He never babied me not once . He would kick parents out of practice and tell them that he was our Dad now and they all left. Oscar “The Kid” Cruz, the best coach and mentor in the history of life hands down. I bet your coach was awesome too man .
@@murkincl69 hey, follow NJ native here, I live so close to Kearny! Your couch sounds like one hell of a guy, your story truly touched me. Thanks for sharing!
For me, when he hugs his old teacher as he's standing a few steps down so he looks smaller, it just helps to emphasise how he feels about his teacher. In a way, we're all still kids, and those who has been there for us, giving us direction and advice, they will always give us a sense of comfort and safety, even if we've growed up
RIP Mr Pigden. He died on the 27/12/17. Wrighty wrote on Instagram Sad day. Said goodbye to the greatest ever influence on my life today my old school teacher . I know he will rest in peace because he deserves too. I love you Mr Pigden. X
I don't know who Mr. Pidgen was, but by what I saw in this story, I think he is part of what we call "the light" at the end of our lives. May he RIP indeed.
One touching thing for me is to witness a star player who, at the top of his fame, still maintains core human values in his heart, showing utmost respect to his former teacher who is clearly very dear to him.
From Wrighty's Wiki page: "Wright is of Jamaican descent. One of his grandfathers is half Syrian. His father left when he was 18 months old, and he saw him approximately once every ten years. His recollections are that his stepfather did not like him, and was a bully who was rough and callous to the children, recalling for example that he was forbidden to watch Match of the Day but forced to stare at the wall and just listen, in tears. He describes his mother as an abusive and distant alcoholic who repeatedly told him 'many are called, few are chosen', implying that he was wasting his time playing football and was not good enough. He had a very supportive teacher, Mr Pigden, whose patience enabled him to work through behavioural issues resulting from his troubled home life. The teacher also helped him when he was learning to play football, with encouragement, gentleness and patience. He recalls the importance of having a strong male role model in his life at this time." Legend.
drill father also, mr pigden tought ian how to read and write. mr pigden was ian's real father. we need more people like mr pigden, those people are the reason i still have hope for humanity.
never underestimate the impact we can have on the younger generations by showing them love, compassion, and guidance... this got me choked up... Ian Wright is such a class act.
That one moment, that ONE moment. The look upon Ian's face. God. He's living back all of his childhood memories in just that one moment. What a beautiful piece of clip.
Don't think that's what's happening. I mean, for him, his childhood teacher and mentor was dead, and yet, there he his. Imo he's trying to process it all and make sense out of it.
Honestly, mate, if you haven't watched the later video of Ian talking about Mr. Pigden, it's even more emotional than this one. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-a4VHhvnw3AI.html
My dad used to say something like that to me. "you never know how alienated someone's feeling, they could be having a bad year so giving them 5 minutes of your help might change how they feel for life, even if you never think of them again"
@@eire32mcireland75 So you are saying that players should play for your club then only you can decide if they are legend or not but you made an exception in case of Wright. Poor choice of words to answer. Anyways my point is being a fan of liverpool or any other club should not be a factor in ones opinion about a player So being from an opposition team or same team dosent matter cause thats not going to change how good player Ian Wright was. Us Arsenal fans dont expect only our clubs fans to appreciate him so no need to say what club you're from.
@@prototypeprototype8878 Ay it just shows sportsmanship between clubs because we can respect players from other clubs as well. Some people like that there's still that bond between football fans who can support one another despite supporting different clubs. Some people just love to shit on great players just because they play for other clubs and that just ruins the essence of football. There's no need to look for some hidden meaning in his message when all he meant was to show his support to arsenal fans like us.
Imagine thinking someone u deeply care about passed, only to have them stand in front of you after you’ve accomplished what you guys worked on together I would’ve been a mess.
Ian was in awe of his teacher. His response in seeing him again was real emotion. Ian's total respect for a man who changed his life is truly wonderful. Well done Ian and well done Mr Pigden.
I love the fact he took his cap off out of respect and manners when he saw him. What a gentleman and legend. Always wore his heart on his sleeve and had a love for the game.
@@DisconnectedRoamer are you fucking stupid shit im 14 and i know its respectfull to take your hat off when greeting somebody its common fucking decency its like making a cross when entering a church you take your hat off to show respect and shit it used to be if you dont take your hat off in doors or when greeting somebody your saying im above you its just disrespectful and to call it stupid is just fucking ignorant
Thomas Jackson - believe they’re stating it to show the gravitas of the person, in so much as they’re a club legend, but still fans from their fiercest rivals only (largely only) say nice things about them.
To anyone who isn't aware, taking his hat off is an ultimate sign of respect. Loved that touch. No matter how big a star Ian was at this moment, he didn't forget. Not sure if taking your hat off is just a cultural British thing or wether it's practiced worldwide, I like to do this when a hearse passes by too I believe its common courtesy.
This is what I still picture when I think of the English, kind and warm people. Honourable. And then I look at the state of the country now, the way people behave, no respect no dignity. It makes me sad
@@mrSam3ooo People have got to stop doing that, you're becoming part of the problem. The real difference between Mr. Pigden's generation and ours is they didn't run England down and constantly say negative things about it. If I said to you now _"London is the greatest city in the world."_ I guarantee you would respond by listing negatives instead of positives. People are loving this beautiful country again and we're back to being POSITIVE about it.
@@TonyEnglandUK i don't see that as the problem at all though, for me it's more to do with the fact that there's a certain class that has been lost in the people. And with that a certain warmth and kindness. Not really to do with how we talk about the country
And this is why Wrighty is liked by a lot of neutrals, little bit naughty, little bit crazy but man he loved the game and played it like every fan wished they could. Henry was class but for me this fella will always be number 1 where Arsenal players are concerned. Wolves fan
Wrighty's home life was far from perfect- hence his feelings about Mr Pigden, and he had to work really hard to get into professional football. Certainly didn't have it easy. A top bloke.
Hi Jo.Thanks for your comment but though that can, of course, works surely the ideal as practiced in The UK by 98% of Asiatic, Chinese and Jewish families is to have an equal input of love and emotional, practical, and financial help from the Female and Male perspectives. Naturally, someone can (and do) succeed and equally others from 2 Parent families may not but surely to give any child "the best possible chance" having both Parents at home affords that child that opportunity. In England 90% of The Teachers at Primary School from the ages between 5 and 11 are Female so if only the female (usually but not always) is at home the Boys, for example, are getting relatively little Male input which is equally as important as the Female input in their lives. My friend who I have seen over 1,000 times in London is one of 6 Babymothers from the same Guy and his Brother gas "14 or 15" progeny. Even if we assume good intentions from both Babyfathers then it's impossible on a practical basis alone for them to be there most of the time for each child. My friend is a loving mother but she has, metaphorically, wrapped in cotton wool and even at 16 years old still drives 3 miles to pick her up from school, for example. If the Woman has to practically bring up the child or children with the only occasional visit then most will have to work at least 1 maybe more Jobs so who is with the child if the absent Father is not there and on a practical level then it's much more difficult. I'm 67 now and seen endless examples of practical problems when only one Parent is around and the benefits of having 2 Parents so my friend takes his Daughter for Swimming lessons while The Mother takes the other Daughter to Dance and ballet classes in another part of Town etc....
@@Isleofskye So? He also adopted his girlfriend's son when he was about 19 so maybe mention that? Another point not addressed is he has children who are like 25 years apart so it would hardly prevent him being a good father figure
When I was in middle school I wasn’t the best at following rules always getting in trouble and getting detentions. They put me in a program with this teacher (female) the goal was to just talk and she would listen and teach me things. She did everything for me, taught me so many things that I didn’t know at the time. I was with her for 2 years learning everything she told me. When I graduated middle school she gave me this bracelet that said “you got this, never give up” I’m currently 27 and I still have that bracelet. Definitely wouldn’t be where I am without her guidance. Thank you Mrs. Esperanza.
i was just going to give a shoutout to teachers of young children recently. i remember a lot of when i was young but forget a lot from middle/high school.
Ian has the utmost respect for this man. From taking his hat off to calling him Mr Pigden as if he were still at school and then crying in his arms. Great to see how someone like a teacher can have such an impact on your life
Ian Wright is the most heart on his sleeve footballer I think that's ever existed. What a moment. So glad this was recorded because this was so genuine.
Ian Wright. A legend as a player, at Palace before Arsenal. Always got time for the fans, and his respect for Mr Pigden..well, very moving. Made me cry. Wrighty...legend! A lovely lad.
This will always be one of the best videos around. Even as a Liverpool supporter, the amount of respect I have for Ian Wright will always be bountiful. RIP Mr. Pigden
I have recently retired from teaching troubled lads in Liverpool. It was a privilege. I had the honour of being best man at one lad’s wedding but unfortunately stood at the funeral of one lad who was out of reach and took 8 bullets to the chest. Teaching is the best job in the world.
Andy Cameron Thanks very much, Andy, much appreciated. The lad’s an area manager now with a multi- national company. When he invited me to be his best man I was honoured but shocked and asked him whether he was sure he didn’t want someone of his own age. His reply? “I wouldn’t dream of it. You rescued me.” As I said, buddy, teaching is the best job in the world.
1:12 is the moment you get to see a full grown man hugging a mentor at the same height he probably was last time that happened. Such a great video. Not a soccer fan at all but the emotions that come from this video are incredible.
Even as a die hard spurs fan. The respect I have for Ian wright is immense. He is a credit to arsenal as a player and a footballer in general. Guy is a true gent and have masses of respect for him he done the gunners proud
The thing I admire so much about Ian Wright is his fearlessness in showing his emotions. He is such a strong person he doesn’t hide his emotions. He cries and he laughs and he shows his emotions for everybody to see regardless of judgement. I admire the fact he shows he is human every day and he openly displays whatever he feels without embarrassment or shame. I’m a Liverpool fan but some guys just command respect and admiration and he’s one of those men. An absolute gem of a man I can’t even put into words how much of a hero this man is
I'm a United supporter, but in no way am I afraid to say that this made me cry and feel extremely emotional. It's prove that all young men need to have an important father figure in their lives.
I'm not ashamed to say that the crack in Ian's voice when he says some one had told him that Mr Pigden was dead had me tearing up - that's raw emotion - just like when he takes his hat off as he would have done all those years ago when he was a schoolboy - that's raw emotion and a reflex to childhood -
Bro, everyone cried at this, I first watched it 9 months ago and balled, I watched it again today and cried again I hadn’t cried in 9 months, not once in 9 months and before that god knows when
Mr Pigdon was a true English gentleman. The type of man we should always respect. He instinctively knew there was something worth fighting for in Ian. And he was so right. Ian's now passing on to others the goodness he was shown. Love to both men. ⚽💕
This is Great Britain. A traditional proper teacher. Helping a student in his life. You do not see this respect anymore and it’s very sad. The love and respect he has for his teacher. I had with one of mine. I would go back in a heart bleat and do it all over again.
Old school Englishman meets Englishman from the Windrush generation, they shake hands and chat like old times...for a moment there is hope and light in the world.
i grew up in inner london in the 90s racism was 99% gone, everyone of all races used to go raving together and both working class blacks and whites had same cockney accents with some west indian slang phrases mixed in, everyone got along perfectly well and the youth created the raving/hardcore dance scene together with no differences in fashon, music or culture between different races of londons youth. but in 97 all that changed when labour came in, opened the floodgates to immigration, that bred division with black and white working class 16yos no longer getting the entry level unskilled labor jobs as they were all filled by older experienced eastern europeans. the division was instant, within just afew years the black parts of community started blaming the UK as being racist against them for youth unemployment and parts of the white community didnt blame any particular race but said the influx of immigration was too much to cope with and as such was also labelled racist just for mentioning immigration(growing up in the 90s it was perfectly normal to see a black guy on a building site, ive not seen any black guys on a building site in london for at least 10yrs) then in early 2000s another tragady plaqued londons black community, the labour government opened doors to thousands of african migrants from sierra leone, often with children that had seen truely shocking things, these damaged kids were used to extreme violence and their actions had the effect on all black youth in london, no longer was a tough black london born kid get status just by having fist fights when all the african immigrants were so used to seeing killing and thought nothing of stabbing someone over nothing. it will take 2 generations to fix and mend communities ripped apart by the actions of new labour blair governments!
RobinHoodUK spot on fella; Ian is the typical old school London boy and it’s sad but you don’t find many young black lads dress and act like him nowadays. Even in football firms which people thought were full of racists were many black lads loving the culture of it all; it’s sad what’s happened since the 2000s.
RobinHoodUK absolutely true. I’m a 90s kid. I was born bang on 1990. I’ve always said I felt people were more relaxed back then, certainly less political. My first friend growing up was black lad and he was treated with utter respect as was his family in our Mancunian suburb. No fake patoire accent and obsession with drugs or guns or knives, no criminal record. As I’ve grown older I hear lads from different parts of the countries but of certain ethnicity sound the same. Manc black lads sound like they are from London, Asians born in London sounding like they are from Sheffield. Each community shuffles away into its own enclave. Why can’t people see what a joke labour are? And why does every advert on tele essentially ram it down our throats that being proud to be English isn’t allowed unless it’s celebrating Islam or Afro-Caribbean. We have lost what it means to be British. There’s British and then there’s African, Muslim etc. It’s become a joke. And the funniest thing to me is that the most tolerant country in the history of mankind has become labelled the most racist, couldn’t make it up. History will look back on how our softness and letting minorities get away with murder because were scared to dole out justice let our country fail and our indigenous citizens suffer.
@@robinhooduk8255 Very insightful. It frustrates me how labour are always seen as the "good" guys, because they're supposedly tolerant of everything and everyone - but the reality is that, although superficially it may sound great, they create huge and long lasting damage to societies with their high immigration welfare-state policies. Thomas Sowell, a brilliant - and coincidentally black - American academic / economist highlights the errors of the left in his many books. Instead of recognising the not-so-obvious root causes of social issues and disparities, people just default to blaming the white man and this intangible notion of "deep rooted systemic racism". This explanation needs little effort, excuses personal failings, and provides a reason to be angry.
@@robinhooduk8255 it's the story of globalization. Name me one Western country that didnt open up during the nineties and have dramatic immigration. It was the way of the world. No use moaning about it. Human evolution is subject to flux.
You have to remember that every generation thinks that theirs was respectful and the modern one isn't. There's as much of this kind of respect around today, we're just getting old and looking back through rose-tinted glasses.
Wright says the teacher was "the one man in particular who helped me through those dark times" as a child who could barely read or write: "He changed my life." Mr Pigden taught him how to read and write, but also how to deal with his anger, how to have patience, be confident, communicate and take responsibility. "He was the first man who showed me any kind of love," said Wright. "When I played for England he called it the proudest moment of his life. Imagine that. This schoolteacher, who'd done stuff like been a pilot in the Second World War, who'd flown over Buckingham Palace… and he says his proudest moment was watching some kid who went to his school play football." Mr Pigden passed away last year at the age of 95.
I listened to the radio (or podcast, I can't remember) where Ian talked about it, and I was in tears when he couldn't get the words out, describing how the teacher told him that watching him scored a goal for England is the teacher's proudest moment despite him being flew over Buckingham Palace in a WWII Victory celebration.
Ian Wright's reaction when he turns round tells you everything you need to know about the man. The respect & care they have for each other, even after all of those years is still there. I love Wrighty, and this video & story never fails to move me to tears.
So chuffed to have seen this as I went to Turnham Juniors School as well and was taught football by Mr Pigden too. I played with another absolute legend in David ‘Rocky’ Rocastle who sadly passed away from Cancer. My good friend Danny Lunan, also played in the same school team with Mark Naiken, Barry Marshall and James Dewar - unfortunately none of us made it into football but what a great time we had at Beckenham Place Park playing for Mr Pigden - Gutted I never caught up with him before he died
This sums up what it means to be British, Syd fought the Nazis in his Spitfire, doing over a hundred missions, and he said the greatest thing he did was seeing Ian play for England. Salute! Shake Ian's hand.
Same with James Doohan who played Scotty on the original Star Trek...he was with the Canadians storming the beach on D-Day...he was injured and lost his middle finger I believe on his right hand...and ha says his greatest accomplishment is stopping 1 person from committing suicide
the moment Wrighty does the double take, the look in his eyes, when he says "Mr Picton?" he just transforms from being a top class ex-pro footballer, to being a schoolkid again...