Yeah mine wasn’t a football thing, it was a hourglass/marshmellow man thing; totally different to yours; however, the answer is in your griping technique.
When stretching, it is important to be mind full of how you are holding the cock. Try not to place too much pressure on too little a section of shaft.
You can stretch with two hands, and manoeuvre around till you feel your putting even pressure, on all parts of the shaft (to the best that you can), without compromising the stretch. A good way to stretch is BTT- fixed up my problem- which was basically what your saying.