Footballer's Grandpa Turned Chairs Into Stadium Stands

A Portuguese grandfather's fishing nets and a living room full of chairs helped create a Premier League star.

Joao Palhinha, now playing for Tottenham, remembers when football started in his family's backyard in Portugal. His grandfather crafted makeshift goals using fishing nets so young Joao could play against his brother and cousin.

The real magic happened after dinner. The kids would arrange all the household chairs in rows, transforming their yard into a proper stadium so parents and grandparents could watch their evening matches like spectators at a real game.

"We put all the chairs at home like a stand so the family could watch," Palhinha recalled. "During the day we were training against each other and after dinner we put the chairs out waiting for our family to come watch like it was a proper game."

That family support carried him from those backyard battles to professional football. At 17, Palhinha signed his first professional contract with Sporting Lisbon after a standout performance caught a coach's attention.

Why This Inspires

Palhinha's story shows how family creativity and encouragement can fuel big dreams. His relatives didn't need expensive equipment or fancy facilities. They just needed to show up, sit in those chairs, and make a child feel like his passion mattered.

The 30-year-old midfielder has since represented Portugal internationally and recently celebrated winning the Nations League in 2025. He credits coaches like Marco Silva at Fulham for helping him grow, but those fishing net goals came first.

Now playing in front of actual stadium stands filled with thousands, Palhinha hasn't forgotten where it started. Sometimes the most important fans are the ones willing to pull up a chair and believe in you from the very beginning.