KEVIN Blackwell insists United can take a leaf out of Olympic gold medal sailing hopeful Paul Goodison's book after teaming up with the Blades fan at last weekend's JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island Race.
Goodison, who heads to the Beijing Games in just under a month's time, invited Blackwell aboard the 52-foot TP52 as a record 1,875 entrants tackled the 55-mile Isle of Wight course.
And Blackwell revealed he has learnt a lot watching Goodison at close quarters.
"It is great to see other elite sportsmen operate," he said. "It is intriguing for me in terms of sports psychology.
"I feel I have taken a huge amount out of the weekend and a lot of things I can use at the club.
"He does everything single-handedly so the discipline and mental toughness is something a lot of footballers could benefit from.
"We do a lot of team-building, but I thought it would be terrific to put together six or eight lads on each boat and say now you have to work together.
"I was not aware he was a Blades fan. Since meeting him, I realise how great an achievement it is to come from the centre of England and become a top-class yachtsman.
"A mutual contact put us in touch. It is great to give him support before he goes off to the Olympics.
"He has been really nagging me for gossip since I got here and I promised him ten minutes later."
Click on the green Play icon above to see more pictures of Kevin Blackwell messing around with boats!What do you think? Post your comments below. READ MORE Football headlinesMore BladesMore OwlsMore SpireitesMore RoversMore RedsMore MillersMore Ice HockeyMore rugby leagueMore rugby unionMore boxingSports columnistsAll sport categoriesThe full article contains 329 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
