Closing the gap Success is always collective but greater leadership diversity is increasingly vital

On Thursday 22 October 1992, I attended an event in Crewe to hear Simon Armitage, a newly published poet, read his work.

- Jason Stockwood

I remember the date because I still have the ticket and poetry recitals were not a normal night out for those of us who grew up in the pubs and clubs of Grimsby in that era. It changed my life as I glimpsed a possible world that could coexist alongside the heavy-drinking, sometimes scrapping, football-loving culture and the constraints men set themselves back then.

Some constraints were self-imposed, others rooted in the ignorance and prejudice of the time. This was typified when, years later, my mum found out I liked the creative arts and her response was to ask if I was gay. A bizarre conclusion, but not unusual then.

Simon was one of the first poets I saw - a cool young Yorkshireman who wrote about relatable issues and spoke in an accent I recognised.

I reread Simon's version of Homer's The Odyssey on holiday in Corfu recently while Euro 2024 played out in the background. Odysseus embodies the archetype of the heroic leader through his physical courage, cleverness, bravery and charisma while contemporary figures such as Gareth Southgate represent a transformation in our view of what masculinity can be. Southgate is a quieter, caring and intellectually curious coach who, while comfortable leading, focuses on amplifying collective voices. This upgrade is recent but long overdue.