FWA Q&A: JEREMY CROSS
JEREMY CROSS of the Daily Star on why Oakwell is flipping awful...a £40 mousse...and happy to have Pele put the boot inHave you ever worked in a profession other than football?
Yes. I was a postman for a summer after completing my A levels. The 3am starts put me off for life!
Most memorable match?
Manchester City scoring in extra time to beat QPR and pip Manchester United to the 2012 league title. Remarkable finish to a remarkable season.
The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Liverpool coming from 3-0 down to beat AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul.
Best stadium?
The Santiago Bernabeu, Madrid. Great facilities and even better atmosphere.
...and the worst?
Blundell Park, home of Grimsby Town. The roof of the stand where the press sit has sunk, which means you can't see the action if the ball goes above shoulder height, which tends to happen quite a lot there.
Your personal new-tech disaster?
Flipping the desk over at Oakwell once and smashing my laptop on the floor five minutes before kick-off.
Biggest mistake?
Getting Jon Parkin and Ben Burgess mixed up during a match report for a game at Hull City once. Thankfully no-one realised.
Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Yes. Paul Robinson, the Blackburn and ex-England goalkeeper.
Most media friendly manager?
Phil Brown during his time in charge at Hull City, or Roberto Martinez at Wigan.
Best ever player?
Zinedine Zidane.
Best ever teams (club and international)?
Barcelona (present team) and Brazil (1970).
Best pre-match grub?
Manchester City (by a country mile).
Best meal had on your travels?
Steak and fish bonanza during a pre-season tour to Cape Town with Manchester United. Fine wine too, all for a reasonable price.
...and the worst?
Once ordered what I thought was steak in a place in Stockholm costing £40 and when it arrived it was fish mousse!!
Worst hotel stayed in?
Holiday Inn, SoHo, New York. Felt like sleeping in a lift.
Favourite football writer?
Martin Samuel (Daily Mail).
Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Ian Dennis (BBC Five Live).
If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
More contact with the players and more respect shown from managers to reporters.
One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
The Masters, Augusta.
Last book read?
Paul Scholes's autobiography.
Favourite current TV programme?
The Inbetweeners.
Your most prized football memorabilia?
A pair of football boots belonging to and signed by Pele.
Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Be determined and prepared to accept you won't make friends all the time. Have a thick skin and don't worry about having to write something that might upset someone.
Tags: Bernabeu, Blundell Park, Champions League Final, Daily Star, Ian Dennis, Jeremy Cross, manchester city, Manchester United, Martin Samuel, Oakwell, Phil Brown, The Inbetweeners, The Masters, Zidane
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