Couldn’t Stop Moving
My name is Jake Miller and I grew up in Brixton, South London. It’s a loud, colourful, brilliant place — always has been. When I was about six years old, my dad gave me a football for my birthday. Not a new one — it was old, a bit flat, and had a tear on one side. I didn’t care. I took it outside and I didn’t come back in until dark.
Back then, I used to play football every single day after school. We had a patch of grass near our flat — we called it «the pitch» even though it was basically just mud and broken glass. My friends and I played there for hours. We didn’t have any coaching, any kits, or any goalposts. We used our jumpers. It was perfect.
I joined my first proper football club when I was nine. The coach’s name was Mr Okafor, and he was strict but fair. He told me I was fast but I needed to learn to use both feet. I didn’t listen at first — I was stubborn, like all kids are. But slowly, I started to understand what he meant.
School was fine, but honestly? I used to spend half my lessons thinking about football. My teachers always said the same thing in my reports: «Jake has great potential, but he needs to focus.» They weren’t wrong. My focus just happened to be on a different kind of field.
By the time I was fourteen, I was playing five times a week. Football, basketball on the outdoor courts with my mates, swimming at the local leisure centre. I couldn’t stop. I still can’t. Some things don’t change.
| Form | How it works | Jake’s example |
|---|---|---|
| Past Simple ✓ affirmative |
verb + -ed (regular) or irregular form |
«I took it outside.» «He told me I was fast.» |
| Past Simple ✗ negative |
didn’t + base form | «I didn’t have any coaching.» «I didn’t listen at first.» |
| Past Simple ? question |
Did + subject + base form? | «Did you play as a child?» |
| used to | past habit or state, no longer true now |
«I used to play every day.» «I used to spend half my lessons thinking about football.» |
| used to ✗ negative |
didn’t use to + base form | «He didn’t use to like running.» |