Category Archives: FWA Q&A

FWA Q&A: THE SECRET FOOTBALL WRITER

Posted on by
Reply

THE SECRET FOOTBALL WRITER on ZZ tops…an offal meal in Bordeaux…and expensive Russian wives

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
Stacking shelves at Sainsbury’s helped to pay my way through school and university – a remarkably unremarkable job only made bearable by the freely available freshly squeezed orange juice in the chillers out the back which got many of us through the 7am Saturday/Sunday starts. Ownership of the reduction labels for soon to be out of date produce also provided family and friends with some amazing bargains.

Most memorable match?
The European Cup Final in 1999 was an unbelievable ending to what was an unbelievable season. Time will tell if the feat Manchester United achieved that year will be equalled, but the preceding months built up to the ultimate occasion. What the 90 minutes lacked in excitement it made up for in extra-time and particularly added time, providing some of the most memorable images and commentary of all time. There have been comebacks and last minute excitement since, but this was the original and still remains the best.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
An unusual one perhaps given the virtually infinite choices, but Zinedine Zidane’s volley in the 2002 European Cup Final against Leverkusen was sensational.  Given the nature of the game – club football’s most important – to execute such a sublime piece of skill on such on occasion is truly memorable.  The  ball was dropping from the skies, he was outside the area, had to adjust his position, but the grace of his movement and the sweetness of the strike saw the ball arc into the top corner past a bewildered Hans-Jorg Butt.  A goal that befitted the occasion and one I could happily watch on repeat all evening.

Best stadium?
While not as modern as some of the outstanding newer grounds, Bayern’s Allianz Arena and the surprisingly excellent Bucharest National Arena in particular, but Barcelona’s Camp Nou has a magical feel to the place, the size, scale and history, the open bowl effect and is still my favourite stadium in the world even if in the press box you can shake hands with the man in the moon.

…and the worst?
There have been many over the years.  Kenilworth Road, Fratton Park, Ninian Park spring to mind in the UK and further afield Porto’s decrepit Estadio do Dragao was as bad as their new one is good.  My vote for the worst goes to Chesterfield’s old Saltergate stadium, an ageing stadium lacking in the most basic modern facilities. Fortunately it has since been replaced, as have a good number of the worst grounds in the country…whether that is entirely a good thing is another matter, with character-filled old grounds being replaced with identikit stadia rather than upgraded to maintain their historic feel.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
I pride myself as being on the leading edge of technology, always acquiring the latest and greatest gadgets.  Fortunately I have never had a copy-related disaster, but I did manage to erase all of my painstakingly assembled electronic address book when I was a little gung-ho with my approach.  The lesson learned after the event was to take a copy of important things on a regular basis.

Biggest mistake?
Deciding to go for a stroll in Vienna during the afternoon of a Partizan Belgrade vs Rapid Vienna UEFA Cup tie.  The 1,000 or so Belgrade fans on the trip appeared to have made spending time in prison and enjoying fighting pre-requisites to attendance and I found myself in the middle of a pitched battle between them and several hundred riot police.  Fortunately I managed to avoid the many missiles being hurled, windows being smashed and the subsequent police charges and beat a hasty retreat to my hotel.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Sadly not, although I am convinced I keep seeing Brad Pitt in the mirror…[That would be the Daily Mirror – Ed].

Most media friendly manager?
Arsene Wenger has consistently been graceful and open with the press and while he may not be as box office as a Mourinho or a Ferguson, his dealings with the media are a different class.

Best ever player?
The impossible question when trying to consider players over the generations.  We are fortunate to have two of the best players of all time playing at their peaks right now in Messi and Ronaldo, but for a combination of ability and success, albeit combined with less attractive traits, Diego Maradona gets my vote.  A player who almost single handedly won a World Cup for his country, he played at the highest club and international level seeing success of varying degrees wherever he went.  There is plenty to dislike about Maradona off the pitch, and some on it (especially in 1986) but with the ball at his feet he was a genius who rarely failed to entertain.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
There are the same challenges trying to compare teams across eras as there is players.  The current Spanish side took football to places it hadn’t been before, with possession and guile; however for sheer expression of football as an art, the Brazil side of 1970 are my favourite international side of all time.  They created so many moments of breathtaking skill, footballing history and set a benchmark that will perhaps never be beaten given the changing nature of the game.  The Carlos Alberto goal, and the Pele dummy (almost made better by the fact he didn’t score) are still footballing moments talked about over 40 years on and as ruthlessly efficient with possession the current Spanish side are, I prefer the openness and innocence of the 1970 Brazlians.

There are many club candidates over the years, Real Madrid in the 50/60’s, the pioneering Celtic and Manchester United sides of the 60’s, Liverpool’s dominance in the 80’s, the Italian sides in the 90’s before the explosion into the Champions League.  For all the strengths of these sides, my favourite of all is the 1970’s Ajax team.  They took the lead from Brazil but their Total Football with Johan Cryuff, Johan Neeskens, Gerrie Muhren and Johnny Rep among others took club football to a new level of dominance both at home and in Europe and their hat-trick of European Cups were emphatic.  As with the Brazlians, modern football isn’t and probably can’t be played in the same way but this side left their mark on history.

Best pre-match grub?
There is something old school about picking up pie & mash on the way to the Boleyn Ground.

Best meal had on your travels?
Lunch at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai – the hotel is a shrine to opulence – overlooking the Palm takes some beating.  As will the eye-watering cost of the meal, which as a result was washed down by a bottle of Libya’s finest rose.  At £50 a bottle it wasn’t cheap, nor would it qualify for any fine wine awards, but it was by far and away the cheapest bottle in the 200-page wine list and provided for a somewhat ridiculous dichotomy of fine food and terrible wine.

…and the worst?
I like to sample the local food wherever we find ourselves and this tactic has brought both great success and horrific failure.  My worst meal is a surprising one given the location – Bordeaux.  We found what we thought was a nice rustic local French bistro, and were enjoying some not unpleasant vin de table while we surveyed the entirely French menu.  We had enough French between us to translate the gist of what was being ordered and asked for a number of specials to be shared around.  What arrived was both unexpected, and for me at least, horrendous.  Fish soup with what looked like very rotten fish-heads, but the piece de resistance was a huge salad platter, covered with uncooked slices of assorted offal, tripe, kidney, liver, and other entrails we couldn’t recognise.  After eating several baskets of bread, and finishing the carafes of wine, we paid the bill and left rather sheepishly…and hungry!

Best hotel stayed in?
The wonderfully named Hotel F**k in Leverkusen.  It was not 5-star accommodation, nor was it especially convenient for a very busy Leverkusen in Champions League week, but as a conversation piece it was fabulous.  The owner was a hugely friendly German man who spoke better English than any native, and loved the obvious humour associated with the name of his hotel.  He happily handed out Hotel F**k branded pens, notepads and postcards and encouraged us to recommend him to everyone we knew.  Which we duly did.

…and the worst?
A combination of the Champions League and the Oktoberfest is a match made in heaven for many fans, but it is not for those wanting to secure reasonable hotel accommodation.  With just three weeks between the draw and Matchday 1, it was a case of the sports desk/travel agent securing whichever hotel was available and in my case it turned out to be a run down glorified guest house not far from the train station, with shared bathroom facilities that made the toilet in Trainspotting look clean.  Suffice to say I resorted to using the facilities in a colleague’s hotel on the second morning.

The Hotel Rus in Kiev also deserves a mention for the dedicated Russian Wives department in the basement, and its policy of encouraging ladies of the night to frequent the hotel bar looking to relieve you of several hundred dollars for an evening’s entertainment.  I appreciate this may not been seen as a negative by all parties.

Do you have a hobby?
I try to spoil a good walk whenever I get the chance and have been fortunate enough to play a number of England’s premier golf courses.  Generally quite badly.

Favourite football writer?
I always enjoy reading Paul Hayward, insightful and thoughtful journalism.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Jonathan Pearce’s infectious and obvious enthusiasm adds to his deep understanding of the game.  Gary Neville has set new standards with first class analysis and balanced comment based on 15 years playing at the very top level.  Monday Night Football has become a must-watch.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
There’s no magic answer, but breaking the cloak of mistrust would lay the groundwork for everything – football writers are not looking to stitch up players and managers, quite the opposite more often than not.  Providing better access would enable the fans and public to feel closer to the people they currently perceive to be off-limits.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
I would love to attend Augusta and the Masters, not purely for the golf but also for the history and intrigue that surrounds the venue.

Favourite non-football sportsman/sports woman?
I have always admired Roger Federer – a player who dominated his sport for a sustained period, and did so with grace both on and off the court.  For such a high profile sports superstar, he is never in the news for the wrong reasons, has a settled family life and has been humble in both victory and defeat.  His star has been waning in recent years with the emergence of Djokovic and Nadal but he led his field for many years and will rightly be regarded as one of if not the greatest player in history despite his early Wimbledon exit this year.

Last book read?
A Life Too Short which was an incredibly powerful and eye-opening account of depression.

Favourite current TV programme?
I enjoyed The Fall with Gillian Anderson recently and am looking forward to the next season to see what happens.

TV show you always switch off?
I have never been much of a soaps fan, aside from a brief dalliance with Eastenders, and always turn off Corrie, Emmerdale and the like.

If you could bring one TV series back which would it be?
I can’t split Lost or the Sopranos and while both series ended brilliantly, I would love to see either of them reprised for different reasons.  The recent passing of James Gandolfini was very sad news indeed, Tony Soprano being one of the greatest TV characters ever created.

Favourite comedian?
I am a big fan of Ross Noble for his totally off the wall brand of humour, and Tim Minchin for his very incisive musical comedy.

Favourite singer/group?
I’m a guitar / indie rock man and have loved the recent comeback of the Stone Roses who have proved as good live as their albums were good on vinyl (which shows my age a little).

What really, really annoys you?
People who appear completely surprised to be asked for money to pay for something when they have just stood in a queue to buy said item.  You’ve just stood and queued in Sainsbury’s for 10 minutes, you’ve watched someone scan your items and put them in a bag, they tell you how much it costs…why do they then have to spend two minutes hunting around in their bag or wallet to find a means to pay for everything?!

Your most prized football memorabilia?
I have a full collection of Manchester United’s 1968 European Cup-winning side along with an original programme and ticket.  As some of that side are no longer with us, it is a prized possession.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Work hard, build your network and treat everyone else as you’d wish to be treated yourself.  You might not always be treated how you’d like, but hard work and manners cost nothing and go a long way.

The Secret Football Writer is a well known football journalist who appears regularly on television and radio. On this occasion he preferred to keep his identity secret. He will return during the forthcoming season.

FWA Q&A: GRAHAM NICKLESS

Posted on by
Reply

GRAHAM NICKLESS on why he likes Friday…not being hot stuff in Dijon…and getting shirty about numbers

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
My first full-time job after school was working in London as an insurance clerk.

Most memorable match?
Watching England beat West Germany 4-2 at Wembley to win the World Cup on my family’s black-and-white TV alongside my late dad, Fred, in 1966.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Reading’s Robin Friday plucked a pass out of the air with his back towards goal before he turned and smashed it into Tranmere’s net from 35 yards at Elm Park in 1976 – and the striker celebrated by kissing a policeman. Hollywood are making a film of Friday.

Best stadium?
White Hart Lane.

…and the worst?
Selhurst Park.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
Trying to report a match at Brighton’s Amex Stadium with no wifi connection for laptop and no signal for mobile phone in the press box.

Biggest mistake?
Reporting in the Daily Star that Britain’s F1 star Derek Warwick had finished 12th in the French Grand Prix at Dijon having missed the driver being stretchered away from his Renault car after a crash during the race.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
One-time Italian international Fabrizio Ravenelli, Hollywood actor George Clooney, former US President Bill Clinton and Father Christmas!

Most media friendly manager?
Yeovil’s Gary Johnson.

Best ever player?
Pele.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
Bill Nicholson’s “Glory, Gory” Spurs and Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winners.

Best pre-match grub?
Wife’s bacon sandwiches before leaving for work. (Why don’t you eat your own? – Ed?)

Best meal had on your travels.
An Italian in Dusseldorf with my old “Beastie Boy” mates Nigel Clarke and the late Brian Woolnough after England were eliminated from the 1988 European Championship.

…and the worst?
Eating stale sandwiches in the car on the way back from covering Reading games for the local Evening Post.

Best hotel stayed in?
Naples Beach Golf and Country Club, Florida.

…and the worst?
“Nico Towers” in Bournemouth run by “Sybil” Nickless.

Do you have a hobby?
Listening to techno and chill-out music and playing with my wonderful grandson Ethan.

Favourite football writer?
The late Peter Batt who was a real Fleet Street legend.

Favourite radio/TV commentator
The late Bill McLaren who was The Voice of Rugby for the BBC for 50 years.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Make all clubs have clearly visible numbers on the back of their shirts.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
The US Masters.

Favourite non-football sportsman/sports woman?
Nigel Mansell.

Last book read?
Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks.

Favourite current TV programme?
Homeland.

TV show you always switch off?
Soaps.

If you could bring one TV series back which would it be?
Fawlty Towers.

Favourite comedian?
John Cleese.

Favourite singer/group?
Marvin Gaye/Underworld.

What really, really annoys you?
TV/radio and print media using the word “disappointed” in their questions.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
Booked signed by my hero Jimmy Greaves.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Be prepared to work unsociable hours, never reveal your sources, keep all your old contact numbers and don’t take yourself too seriously.

Graham worked as a staff writer for the Daily Star and Sunday Mirror for the best part of a decade. His weekly Football League gossip column “Nico’s News” appears in The Sun. This year Graham launched a new on-line football game called Goalden Goals alongside former Southampton and England striker and Sky Sports pundit Matthew Le Tissier.

FWA Q&A: JOHN LEY

Posted on by
Reply

JOHN LEY of the Daily Telegraph on a numb right arm..a Faroe time eating puffin….and missing out on the world’s largest brandy

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
No, apart from a paper round. I started in the profession at 15, while still at school, working part-time for the Hayters Sports Reporting Agency, plugging in telephones (the ones that weren’t mobile) and reading copy over for journalists to copy-takers. Although now as a production journalist at the Telegraph, I handle all sports.

Most memorable match?
Played in or watched? I once took part in a game between Speedway Writers and Speedway Riders at Oxford United’s old Manor Ground, when I was a sports reporter on the Oxford Mail. A lot of the top riders were on show that day and I remember I had a one-on-one with their goalkeeper, the former world champion Ole Olsen. I was just about to shoot and another top rider, Simon Wigg, pulled my shorts down in front of around 3,000 fans. Mind you, I did win the ‘Knobbliest Knees’ competition at half-time.

As for game covered, I have two. Covering the Milk Cup Final, between Oxford and QPR was special because ‘little’ Oxford were punching so above their weight at the time it was incredible. To win 3-0 at the old Wembley was just a remarkable achievement and for me to be covering it for the Oxford Mail was very special.

Another game that really sticks in the memory was the World Cup tie between Argentina and Serbia & Montenegro in 2006 in Gelsenkirchen. Diego Maradona was working as a radio pundit just behind me and we watched in awe as they took the Serbs apart, winning 6-0. I described in my Telegraph report as ‘a gift to the world wrapped in blue’. I remember being particularly impressed by one of the goalscorers, an 18-year-old called Lionel Messi.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
The moment James Corden, he of Gavin & Stacey and A League Of Their Own, approached a group of journalists waiting for an England press conference at The Grove in Watford. He touched my arm, said ever-so politely, ‘excuse me sir’ then went up to one of my colleagues, Henry Winter, and said, ‘Excuse me Mr Winter, but I just wanted to say how much I admire your writing.’ Henry just smiled as Henry does and the rest turned away for fear of exploding. A classic moment.

Best stadium?
I love the Amsterdam ArenA but while so many great stadiums are being built, the charm has gone. I used to enjoy going to Deepdale, Preston’s ground. I don’t know why.

…and the worst?
At least most grounds are modern now. I can remember some real old dives, like Wigan’s old Springfield Park when the winds blew panes of glass out of the side of the main stand. Today Health & Safety may have had a word, but they just swept up the bits of glass and played on.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
I turned up at a game without my lap-top so, with the day of the copy-taker long gone, I had to write a 600-word report on my Blackberry. My right thumb has never recovered.

Biggest mistake?
Not accepting an offer to join a web site in the very early days, when I was offered the chance to go in at the bottom creating football stats. The website was bought out for millions and all those involved are, I believe, still on a beach in Barbados with the world’s largest brandy.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
When I was covering Oxford, I travelled with the team and so I was forever asked for my autograph. More recently, somebody thought I was Kenny Sansom. Not, I should add, the Kenny of old who was Arsenal’s greatest left-back, but the Kenny of now who, like us all, has put on a little poundage.

Most media friendly manager?
So many good managers over the years, particularly in the days when there was a far greater bond and trust between football types and the media. Harry Redknapp has always been very good to me, but I have to say Sir Bobby Robson.

He once threatened to put me in a skip and have me taken back to Ipswich when I went into the team’s dressing room at a reserve game before the FA Cup final in 1978. His reserve manager Bobby Ferguson said I could go in to interview Trevor Whymark, but then said he thought I was a ‘friend!’

Robson gave me both barrels, asking me if I’d pay the player’s wages if he was fined for talking to me. He then winked at this very scared 18-year-old reporter, patted me on the back and always spoke to me after that.

And I cannot forget John Lyall. I was still at school when I interviewed him for the school magazine; he went to the same school – Ilford County High – as me and granted an interview the day before a game. He said then he would always ‘open doors’ as even at 15 I was sure I wanted to be a reporter – and he kept to his word right up until he passed away.

Best ever player?
Denis Law. A genius and a gentleman. Simple as that.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
From a personal note, the Arsenal double-winning side of 1971. Not the most skilful, but a great achievement on a very impressionable 11-year-old.

And I have not seen a better performance than Argentina in 2006.

Best pre-match grub?
Luton Town when they were in the old First Division. Long before good food – or any for that matter – was expected, Luton pushed the boat out and the choice was stunning. I remember nibbling on prawns bigger than the press box.

Best meal had on your travels?
Puffin and chips in the main hotel in Torshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands. Daft choice but it was stunning. Those with me swear they saw a small bird kept flying past the window crying, ‘mummy, where’s my mummy..?’

…and the worst?
A Chicken Kiev in Kiev. It wasn’t chicken – and I had to check I was still in Kiev. Something actually moved on the plate.

Best hotel stayed in?
For pure history, the National in Moscow. I was in room 106 and outside 107 was a plaque claiming Lenin had stayed there [there should be a John Lenin gag there somewhere – Ed]. Incredibly ornate and old charm. Great memories.

…and the worst?
Can’t remember the name, but it was in Kishishev (or Chisinau depending on where you’re from), the capital of Moldova. Wales were playing a World Cup qualifier and we were put in the ‘second best’ hotel. The water in the shower was brown (when it wasn’t grey), the bed had blood stains, the food was non existent and each floor had a people watcher. When you went to your room you got a phone call asking if you required any ‘company’.

On hearing about the lack of food, the Wales management invited us to their hotel for a meal. They had taken their own chefs, who were granted use of the kitchens. We arrived late and just as we ordered four soldiers with machine guns marched, literarily, into the kitchens and turned off the gas. I went hungry.

Do you have a hobby?
I am fascinated by history so like delving into my family tree when I can. I have also taken up bowls (the lawn green variety). But football stats are what I live for.

Favourite football writer?
There are few as good and consistent as Henry Winter, but Martin Samuel is outstanding and Patrick Barclay is still one of the best.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Peter Drury, to me, is the ultimate professional. But I still miss Bryon Butler, whose dulcet tones could make a shopping list sound sexy.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Be more trusting and realise that we are all in this together.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
The Augusta Masters. It just looks stunning and the atmosphere is remarkable.

Favourite non-football sportsman/sports woman?
Muhammad Ali. The Greatest.

Last book read?
Newton and the Counterfeiter by Thomas Levenson. Fascinating tale about Sir Isaac and his battle to protect the Royal Mint.

Favourite current TV programme?
Anything on the History Channel.

TV show you always switch off?
Any Soap. They all look the same.

If you could bring one TV series back which would it be?
Frasier. Comedy writing at its very best. There were 264 episodes. I would kill for a 265th.

Favourite comedian?
Tommy Cooper. Glass, bottle; bottle glass.

Favourite singer/group?
Ian Dury and the Blockheads. Saw the Blockheads perform before Christmas. Made an old man very happy.

What really, really annoys you?
People emailing me asking me to fill in a Q&A.  And lorry drivers.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
Two: One is a pair of signed boots from Ryan Giggs. I was working on behalf of a charity at the hospital, St Mary’s in London, where my daughter had been looked after. I asked Ryan to sign a Manchester United shirt and when I told him what it was for he offered me a pair of his signed boots. At the subsequent auction I attempted to boost the bidding my joining in. I ended up with a very large hole in my bank account – but I do have his boots.

The other is the programme from the night Arsenal won the old First Division at White Hart Lane in 1971. It is special not only because I was there, as an 11-year-old, but that the great Eusebio was sitting behind me and I have his autograph on it.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Don’t ask me, I’m an old hack.

Seriously, I do get asked many times about how to get into the business, and I also lecture occasionally at Harlow College, home to the oldest journalism course in the country.

My advice is simple: show incredible enthusiasm. Too many people I speak to talk a good game, but when it comes to it, they don’t really have their heart in it.

FWA Q&A: Jacqui Oatley

Posted on by
Reply

JACQUI OATLEY of BBC Radio 5 Live on when she made Wenger lose the will to live…laughing at a guest’s name…and cold cabbage in Donetsk

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
Yes, I accidentally fell into intellectual property. I did a German degree before travelling round the world for a year, expecting to know what I wanted to do by the end of it. But I still had no idea. I didn’t realise that a career in football was a realistic option. I moved to London and, via a language agency, became sales and marketing manager for an intellectual property software company, later becoming key account manager protecting clients’ brands on the internet. But when I dislocated my knee cap and ruptured the ligaments playing football, I was told I could never play again. During my 10 months on crutches the football fires burnt inside me, so I researched the prospect of working in sports journalism. I started doing hospital radio, took evening courses in print journalism and radio production, followed by several months of full-time unpaid work experience (I’d given up my flat and job and was sleeping on friends’ floors) before moving up to Sheffield to do a one-year postgrad in broadcast journalism and freelancing as a non-league reporter for BBC Radio Leeds. I loved every minute of it.

Most memorable match?
I’m lucky to have been to so many top football matches, including major tournaments around the world. It’s incredibly difficult to pick out one match but commentating for BBC Radio 5 Live at the World Cup in South Africa was a real career highlight. I had to pinch myself that I was there to work, especially as it was in the country of my mother’s birth and I’d been there several times to visit family. My first match was England’s Group C rivals Algeria v Slovenia in Polokwane – a fantastic experience – and I followed it up with several more commentaries in different cities around South Africa, including the beautiful Cape Town. Another highlight was the 2012 Olympics and Team GB women’s victory over Brazil at Wembley in front of 70,000 people, demonstrating how far the game had developed both on and off the pitch.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
So many to choose from but I’ll go for Gazza’s wonderful goal for England against Scotland at Euro 96, but I’d start watching a couple of minutes earlier when Gary McAllister’s penalty was saved by David Seaman (justice was done as Tony Adams had won the ball cleanly from Gordon Durie). Cue wild celebrations all over the country.

Best stadium?
I loved both the Allianz Arena in Munich and the Donbass Arena in Donetsk, the latter because it looks like a spaceship at night. For old school charm you can’t beat Craven Cottage by the Thames. Their fans by the press box are always up for a friendly chat.

…and the worst?
That has to be Amstetten in Austria where England’s women played a World Cup qualifier in 2005. The venue was more of a community ground than a football stadium and my ISDN line, which I needed to report for 5 Live, was in the main building’s office about 50 yards away from the edge of the stadium. I could barely see any of the action, let alone the four goals England scored. The England women have had to play in some dreadful grounds over the years…

Your personal new-tech disaster?
The only real nightmare I’ve had, touch wood, was a lovely interview Arsene Wenger gave me for 5 Live before Arsenal’s final match at Highbury. This was in the days when he did separate interviews for radio, TV, written press, etc. A Capital Radio reporter and I had plenty of time with a relaxed, friendly Wenger as he waxed lyrical about the history of the famous old ground and the magical feeling he had when he walked into the Marble Halls to see the bust of Herbert Chapman. To my horror, I discovered afterwards that there had been a technical problem with the equipment and it hadn’t recorded properly. To compound matters, the Capital Radio lad had a hiss on his recording so neither was usable. Around 45 minutes later, after he’d completed several further rounds of interviews on the same subject, I persuaded a tired Arsene to give me a couple more minutes. It was a generous gesture from one of my favourite interviewees, but of course he was losing the will to live by that point and the interview was very different. A stressful day.

Biggest mistake?
Being unable to contain my laughter when I was presenting a non-league segment on BBC Radio Leeds in my early days of broadcasting. My telephone guest had an unusual name which still makes me laugh to this day. I was paranoid that I’d laugh when I introduced him and that’s precisely what happened. I was in bits while trying to sound normal and had to pretend we’d lost the line and move on. Embarrassingly unprofessional in hindsight, I just lost it.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
The tea lady in the Old Trafford press room. I’ve been mistaken for Juliette Ferrington a few times and she’s had the same, seeing as we’re the only regular female football reporters on 5 Live. Outside of football, I’ve been mistaken for both Anthea Turner and her sister, Wendy, but not for a few years.

Most media friendly manager?
As I mentioned, Arsene Wenger is great to interview. He’ll hardly ever snap at a reporter or refuse to answer a question and gives fully considered answers. Although I was at the pre-Bayern Munich press conference last season which shocked a few of us. He was angry about a newspaper headline that day. Roberto Martinez is a gem – such a nice, calm, friendly man who treats reporters with respect.

Best ever player?
Difficult to tell as I didn’t see enough of Pele, and tragically nobody got to see enough of Duncan Edwards, but Maradona was the greatest when I was little and remains so. Messi may well become the greatest ever but not before he’s won the World Cup, or at least come close.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
This would be easier to answer if I were 100 years old. Barcelona around 2011 were phenomenal, although it’s impossible to say they were the best as football has evolved so much in different ways since Manchester United in the 60s, Ajax in the 70s and AC Milan in the 80s. Then there’s the United side which won the treble in 99, they weren’t too bad. In terms of international teams, I’ve seen videos of the Brazil 1970 team and the likes of Pele, Jairzinho and Tostao could play a bit. Wow. Although so too can Xavi and Iniesta and they’ve won three major trophies in a row.

Best pre-match grub?
It’s between Arsenal and Chelsea…..I’ll go for Chelsea because of the variety on offer. Salad, hot food, sandwiches, etc.

Best meal had on your travels?
A restaurant in Shanghai, China, at the Women’s World Cup in 2007 with other media folk. I remember being starving for the entire tournament as we were travelling and filming so much between matches, plus I was working for radio too, so was always on the go. We could never just find something quick and easy to eat so often went without.

…and the worst?
My hotel breakfast in Donetsk after a Spurs match the night before. It was more of a youth hostel than a hotel. I slept on a mattress on the floor and there were no windows, no power sockets and the shower didn’t work so you could imagine the standard of breakfast. I was famished as I couldn’t get late dinner the night before and found there was cold cabbage and other similarly unappetising offerings for breakfast. Again, I went without.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
I’ve always wanted to go to the Masters golf at Augusta. That course always looks stunning so to see a British winner there, preferably Justin Rose or Luke Donald, would be perfect. I’d also love to see England win an Ashes Test at the MCG in Melbourne. I’ve seen an Aussie Rules match there and I’ve watched England beat the Aussies at Lord’s, but an Ashes victory at “the G” would be lovely, thanks.

Last book read?
“Footballer” by Kelly Smith, England’s greatest ever female player. It was frustrating to read about the struggles of such a richly talented footballer growing up in an era when women’s football wasn’t respected in England. She had to go to America to become a full-time professional where her talent was recognised, although she suffered with several injuries as well as alcoholism. A very good read.

Favourite current TV programme?
In terms of football it would be Football Focus. I don’t get much time to watch non-sport programmes but I do like Location, Location, Location, usually while hanging up the washing and entertaining my toddler at the same time. Have I Got News For You is another long-standing favourite. I love satire.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
Not one item in particular apart from signed shirts from my own club. I also have signed Fulham and Blackburn shirts from my first ever Match of the Day commentary which evoke mixed memories.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Work extremely hard and treat people well. It’s a very tough profession to make a living out of so when you’re starting out you can’t afford to pick and choose which days you fancy working around social commitments. You have to be prepared to travel to where the work is, maybe move to another part of the country or beyond and work all the anti-social hours going. Oh, and you may have to do it for very little pay, if any, initially. Those with an aptitude for the job and the confidence to make contacts and ask for phone numbers will progress, those who don’t fancy working too many Saturdays and moan about their lot won’t get very far. Also, a sense of humour definitely helps in this business.

FWA Q&A: BOB “the Cat” BEVAN MBE

Posted on by
Reply

BOB “the Cat” BEVAN MBE on a Shorthorn…fun with the Fire Brigade in Mauritius…and Duncan Edwards’ autograph

Have you ever worked in a profession other than after dinner speaking?
Trainee rep in a builder’s merchants in Shoreditch, East London, then sub-editor on Lloyd’s List and Shipping Gazette (world’s oldest daily newspaper) rising to Asst Chief Reporter by age 20, sold Kleen-e-zee Brushes round the doors part-time while at the List as we worked afternoons and evenings, Head of PR for Shorthorn Society and produced six editions of the Dairy Shorthorn Jounal (which I’ll show you if you’re not careful), Deputy Editor, Travel Trade Monthly, Head of PR, European Ferries Plc and Chairman Bevan PR Ltd. Now also do stand-up, interviewing, presenting, script and speech writing including poems.

Most memorable match?
Torn between 1966 World Cup Final, Palace 4 Liverpool 3 FA Cup Semi 1990, and (before I went in goal) Unilever 2 Old Wilsonians 4th XI 8 (Bevan 6 and missed pen).

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Playing in goal at Wembley for Old Burnley v Old Wolves before the Sherpa Van Trophy Final with Bobby Moore and Nobby Stiles. Won 2-0. A rare clean sheet. TVam lost the tape!

Best stadium?
Old Wembley and old Dulwich Hamlet for romance, new Brighton stadium for atmosphere and facilities (that from a Palace supporter).

…and the worst?
Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, the first World Cup Final venue which has been preserved in its original form. Penarol play there with nil cover for the fans in a rainy city. Great history and museum though.  Also saw a game at Boca Juniors, Buenos Aires, about three years ago. Stadium, largely uncovered, like stepping back 50 years but fantastic atmosphere

Your personal new-tech disaster?
My mate Brian Robinson (who I write with) and I did a spoof on the Archers in a script for a Whitbread promotion and I tapped it into the word processor as we went. Somehow I managed to wipe it and had to spend the evening trying to remember it and tap it in again. Didn’t tell him ‘til I’d done it but he couldn’t think of anything I had forgotten. Promotion eventually got cancelled but we did get the money.

Biggest mistake?
On my first overseas press trip at the age of 19, being unfamiliar with airports, I didn’t realise you had to go through to a departure lounge and I missed the flight to Gothenburg where we were due to board a new car ferry on its maiden voyage to England. Upside was I was sharp enough to get on another flight via Copenhagen and walked up the ship’s gangway about 10 minutes before it sailed to much stick from fellow shipping journos

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Playing cricket for the Lord’s Taverners with such celebs as David Frost I was the one person who didn’t get asked for autographs much to the amusement of the rest of the team. At a game in Kent I said to Willie Rushton: “I will get a few down here because I’m on local TV.” As we walked round the ground a woman pushed past Willie and thrust a book into my hand. As I was nudging Willie and signing the book the woman said: “I am right? You are the weatherman?” I looked round. Willie was heading for the dressing room.

Most media friendly manager?
Lots of them because I meet them in good circumstances and we normally have a laugh. Probably have to be Sir Bobby Robson but I also had a special lunch event interviewing and teasing Sir Alex Ferguson and Harry Redknapp and they were great. My mate Lennie Lawrence is also excellent. A natural.

Best ever player?
Jimmy Greaves

Best ever teams (club and international)?
England 1966 World Cup team and Crystal Palace 1991 team under Geoff Thomas who came third in the old Div 1. Wright, Bright, Andy Thorn, Eric Young, Nigel Martyn etc

Best pre-match grub?
Brighton although Palace has improved enormously under the new owners

Best meal had on your travels?
Brighton before the second leg of the Championship play-off Semi this May

…and the worst?
Perhaps in the Kent CCC Committee Tent at Tunbridge Wells 2012. A pork pie and a lump of cheese dumped on one plate. Shouldn’t admit this as I am the 2013 KCCC President. It’s vastly better this year.

Best hotel stayed in?
Le St Geran, Mauritius, and the manager arranged for me to go to an African Club Champions Cup match. I think the home team were called Fire Brigade but sadly I couldn’t get a programme. They lost to a Zambian side.

…and the worst?
The Gate Hotel, Canterbury, this year. Real Fawlty Towers. No telephone in my room and when I tried to book a cab at reception they did not have a telephone that they could ring out on. There were many other faults, the main one being that the manager didn’t care.

Do you have a hobby?
Collecting football programmes, but almost exclusively games I have attended, football and cricket literature and memorabilia and watching football, closely followed by cricket, especially Test Matches

Favourite football writer?
The late Ian Wooldridge even though he had fallen out of love with football and I didn’t always agree with him. Today probably Henry Winter.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Alan Parry.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Football gets so much free publicity it annoys me when clubs ban journos from the ground or refuse to talk to a section of the press. ie Sir Alex and the BBC. It is disrespectful to the fans. Maybe the FWA should set up a Complaints Panel, recognised by clubs and media companies, to rule on disputes? It could include, among others, a member from the FWA, the LMA, the FA, a fan with PR/media experience and a member of the legal profession as chair*.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
Played football at Wembley, cricket at Lord’s and would love to play tennis on the Centre Court at Wimbledon

Favourite non-football sportsman/sportswoman?
Seb Coe.

Last book read?
The Litigators by John Grisham

Favourite current TV programme?
Have I Got News for You

TV show you always switch off?
Anything with Lorraine Kelly

If you could bring one TV series back which would it be?
Morecambe and Wise Show.

Favourite comedian?
Tommy Cooper.

Favourite singer/group?
Rod Stewart (I spoke at his Dad’s 80th birthday party and gave him a copy of my LP! It was one of football gags) I told him “you must have a lot of rubbish LPs in your house, Mr Stewart. Here’s one you’ll enjoy.” Rod took it quite well.

What really, really annoys you in life?
1. Rudeness to waiters.

2. Bad language in songs and chants at football matches. Clubs should try to change the fashion and use players in that campaign.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
Programme of British Army 1 French Army 3 at Dulwich Hamlet 1956 (Brit team inc. Alan Hodgkinson, Jimmy Armfield, Graham Shaw, Eddie Colman, Bill Foulkes, Duncan Edwards, got his autograph). French Army inc. Just Fontaine – 13 goals in 1958 World Cup Finals and 2 pens in this game.

Advice to anyone coming into the after dinner speaking world?
First time I spoke with Frank McLintock he told jokes about as well as I could play at centre-half. When he asked for advice on the train home I said he should dwell on football stories and his experiences as a famous player, which was what the audience wanted to hear, and leave the gags to the comics. He has since become an excellent after dinner speaker. Not sure whether that was due to my advice though! So the advice is remember why you’ve been asked and talk about that. Ray Parlour does great original and funny stuff about Wenger and doesn’t try to tell gags.

*This is something the FWA have spoken to English football’s stakeholders about.

FWA Q&A: Paul Lennon

Posted on by
Reply

Paul Lennon of the Irish Daily Star on a smelly Stafa…taking the Pierce…and why Jack is all right

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
In weekly newspapers, The Drogheda Local News and Meath Weekender in Navan, I covered news, features, music and many sports. While football featured prominently, so too did gaelic football and, to a lesser extent, hurling. When I began to work in Dublin, I initially combined football with the two gaelic codes.

Most memorable match?
That’s a tough one. For sheer drama on the big occasion, it’s hard to surpass Manchester United’s 2-1 Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in 1999. Considering that Alex Ferguson selected a lob-sided midfield, was without the suspended Roy Keane and Paul Scholes and that United were outplayed for lengthy spells, the last gasp double was truly extraordinary.

From an Irish perspective, I was amongst the Green Army behind Peter Shilton’s goal in the Neckarstadion in Stuttgart in June, 1988 when my Irish Daily Star columnist colleague Ray Houghton headed the ball into the English net. Ireland’s first ever appearance at a major tournament celebrated by a win over the auld enemy in the opening game.  ‘Razor’ repeated the feat against Italy in Ireland’s opening match of the 1994 World Cup finals in Giants Stadium. By now, I was amongst the press corps so a degree of decorum was called for – but not too much – when the final whistle sounded.

As in politics, all football is local so when my home town club Drogheda United won its first ever FAI Cup crown in 2005 and then a first league championship two years later, being present each time  meant everything to me.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Should it be Diego Maradona’s wonderful solo goal against England (no, not that one) in the 1986 World Cup finals? Maybe Marco van Basten’s volleyed goal for the Netherlands in the Euro 88 final? Or Don Givens’ hat-trick for Ireland against the USSR at a heaving Dalymount Park in a Euro ‘76 qualifier in 1974 (I know, that’s three but they had an inspirational effect on an 11-year-old listening to the late Philip Greene’s commentary on RTE Radio)?

Best stadium?
Borussia Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion lives up to its awesome reputation with its four towering stands – that creep almost up to the side of the pitch – rising into the heavens and must make the vast arena really intimidating to any visiting player of a nervous disposition.  PSV’s industrial sized electric heaters on the underside of the roof make the Phillips Stadium the finest on the globe on a freezing Dutch night.

…and the worst?
Tirana’s Qemal Stafa stands out for its filthy and smelly state but it’s only right to point out that in 1993 Albania was just emerging from its laugh-a-minute decades of life under Enver Hoxha’s particularly punishing brand of Communism. Cleanliness of sports’ arenas probably wasn’t too high on anybody’s agenda.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
The advent of WIFI and broadband have improved our lot on the road and relieved the pressure to a large degree. But when these two modes of connection and your fall back GPS system decide to collectively mount an imaginary picket on your laptop then you’re in trouble as happened in November, 2011 when Ireland had beaten Estonia 4-0 in Tallinn in their first leg of the Euro 2012 play-off.

With a tight deadline and Giovanni Trapattoni’s post-match press conference running late, the perfect storm was starting to rage. But as always happens on such occasions, a colleague rides to the rescue with Neil O’Riordan of The Irish Sun the knight in shining armour with a working WIFI link.

Biggest mistake?
In my early days, sitting on a story to secure complete proof it was true instead of trusting my instinct and running with it. It happened a few times.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Robert Redford, Pierce Brosnan………Actually, snooker wizard Steve Davis.

Most media friendly manager?
Jack Charlton could have his spats with hacks covering the Ireland team, could be coy enough on the record about team and injury news but he was amazingly frank and open with journalists off the record over a pint or cup of tea.  Big Jack trusted you not to break his confidence when he revealed key information on players and tactics and you respected that when you wrote about the team.

Best ever player?
Lionel Messi gets the vote because his consistency of performance despite the defensive strategies in today’s game, the fitness levels of opponents and his refusal to be cowed by thuggish treatment at the hands of some players. And that’s before we consider his goals, passing, dribbling, work-rate…

Best ever teams (club and international)?
The current Spain team whose three consecutive tournament wins between 2008 and 2012 will probably never be equalled. Brazil (1970, 1982 and 2002), Netherlands (1974), France (1982, 1986 and 1998-2000) and Argentina (1978) weren’t bad either. Barcelona of recent seasons are hard to beat but Liverpool of the late seventies and early eighties, Ajax of the early 1970’s, Celtic in 1967 and Juventus of the seventies go close.

Best pre-match grub?
Ireland sponsors 3 serve up a very tasty and welcome meal at Dublin’s Dylan Hotel prior to home international games at the Aviva Stadium.

Best meal had on your travels?
During France 98, colleagues Peter Byrne, George Hamilton and Billy George directed Philip Quinn and I to a fine restaurant Le Petit Canard in Paris that lived up to their Irish patrons’ recommendations.

…and the worst?
The long suffering citizens of the states behind the Iron Curtain had, not surprisingly, little interest or the financial ability to serve up top nosh n the early 1990’s following independence from the USSR so Mars bars and bottles of Coke featured highly on more than a few journos’ menus during those days.

Best hotel stayed in?
Due to a mix-up by a travel agent – who had failed to book the hotel designated – I had to be upgraded on arrival at Euro 2008 in Zurich to the Alden Hotel. For a few days, football never felt so good.

…and the worst?
The one in Skopje, Macedonia in 1997 when Mick McCarthy’s 3-5-2 formation made its last ever appearance, Jason McAteer was sent-off for his Bruce Lee kung-fu kick and Ireland lost 3-2 in a World Cup qualifier. The aging kip brought minimalism to extreme, not bothering with curtains in the room and serving coffee and bread but nothing else for breakfast. When I started travelling to cover international and club matches in the early 1990’s eastern Europe was still emerging from the yoke of Communism so the food in various establishments in Bucharest, Sofia and Vilnius was fairly hideous. But as with Skopje, we were probably getting superior grub than most of the locals could afford.

Favourite football writer?
Love the rhythm of the words of Hugh McIlvanney, Patrick Collins, Peter Byrne, James Lawton and the late Con Houlihan.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
The depth of verbal and online abuse of TV and radio commentators from some fans never ceases to amaze me. It’s a tough job when it’s done correctly and that’s the case in the overwhelming majority of cases in Ireland and Britain. George Hamilton, Martin Tyler, John Motson, Alan Green, Gabriel Egan and Greg Allen are all top class. There are very few who are not.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Relations between Irish clubs and the media are quite good.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
NBA play-off final.

Last book read?
‘Boomerang’ by Michael Lewis.

Favourite current TV programme?
‘Match of the Day’ must be the all-timer while ‘Father Ted’ and ‘Fawlty Towers’ almost deliver even if I know every line at this stage.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
The match tickets and programmes from various World Cup finals I have covered are the physical treasures but it’s the memories of goals, games, players and colleagues’ company that are cherished most.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Work hard, listen to older colleagues’ advice, never refuse a marking and never be afraid to ask a question no matter how hard it may be with some managers and players taking great delight in trying to belittle a new kid on the block.

FWA Q&A: RAPHAEL HONIGSTEIN

Posted on by
Reply

RAPHAEL HONIGSTEIN on being tipped by old ladies…problems with the Gents in Munich…and a cell in Istanbul

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
I used to write about music and fashion before. I met and interviewed a few cool people, but the overriding memory from those days is a 10-hour wait in a New York recording studio while Timbaland was having his hair cut. At school, I used to pack bags at Munich’s premier delicatessen store – Käfer. It was very badly paid, about 5DM an hour, but old ladies would sometimes tip nicely.

Most memorable match?
Tough one. 1999 in Barcelona and 2005 in Istanbul are hard to beat.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Patrik Andersson’s last-minute goal [for Bayern] against Hamburger SV in 2001. I’d happily watch it again and again for 90 minutes.

Best stadium?
I love San Siro. I went to see the Milan derby in 1996 in the stands and it was just an incredible experience.

…and the worst?
The old Olympic stadium in Munich was probably the worst venue for football, starting with the Gents.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
I’ve always been lucky to file somehow, but I had a few very close shaves. I recall running into a newsagent outside Upton Park and asking whether I could plug my laptop into their phone socket – the press room didn’t have one. And I once spent three hours at Moscow airport without an internet connection, begging the ladies at reception in vain to let me into one of the lounges. In the end, I was saved by an English-speaking sales assistant from a mobile shop who sold me a local sim card and set up tethering for me.

Biggest mistake?
Probably taking a bus full of  well-lubricated England fans from Geneva station to the stadium for a friendly against Argentina. They were singing the German bomber songs and similar ditties and I felt as if everyone was staring at me. One lad tried to start a conversation with. Desperate to keep my cover, I put on the strongest English accent I could muster – a weird Cockney-by way of-Mersey  concoction. He looked really confused and left me alone after that.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
I often get confused with Guillem Balague. I guess it’s the [occasional] beard.

Most media friendly manager?
I have to say Wenger. Always professional. Never dodges a question.

Best ever player?
Probably Messi. But when I grew up, watching Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in his pomp was an awe-inspiring experience.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
Sacchi’s Milan and 1972’s West Germany.

Best pre-match grub?
Chelsea is always a delight, Arsenal used to brilliant before they phased out fish & chips (a crime in my book).

Best meal had on your travels?
Spatenhaus in Munich, San Carlo in Manchester,  Butchery and Wine in Warsaw, Txistu in Madrid and Reina in Istanbul  are all great, but best ever was Da Bolognese in Rome.

…and the worst?
A toss-up between something from a Portuguese service station at 4am and Sushi in Warsaw – food poisoning for three days.

Best hotel stayed in?
The Semiramis in Athens was pretty spectacular, even though “my stay” was a night on the floor of Gabriele Marcotti’s room.

…and the worst?
No idea of the name, but I once booked a room in Istanbul via expedia that turned out to be a windowless cell in a garage. They gave me the money back.

Favourite football writer?
Henry Winter, Sid Lowe, Barney Ronay and Paul Hayward are all brilliant in different ways. I also enjoy Daniel Taylor and Martin Samuel.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Martin Tyler. He’s also one of the nicest, most genuine people in the business.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Too many press officers in the PL are not aware that the players work for the clubs, not the other way round.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
Honestly? Nothing else compares.

Last book read?
Absolute Beginners, Colin MacInnes.

Favourite current TV programme?
Mad Men. Best thing I’ve ever seen on television, apart from Captain Future (80s Japanese cartoon series)

Your most prized football memorabilia?
I have a mid-80s shirt worn by “cult hero” Reinhold Mathy in a European Cup game for Bayern.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Only do it if you really like football. Because the hours are long and the money’s not that great.

*Raphael Honigstein, a native of Bavaria, can re read in The Guardian and is a regular contributor to talkSPORT.

FWA Q&A: DEAN JONES

Posted on by
Reply

DEAN JONES of the Sunday People on an illegal approach by Dominos…the scoop he didn’t believe…and Spurs’ best signing since Gareth Bale

Your first ever newspaper?

The Sportsman, a sports news and betting paper that hit the streets in 2006. It sounded like a good idea … until it was launched. I jumped ship before everyone was made redundant, which was about six months after the first edition.

Have you ever worked in a profession other than journalism?

Pizza delivery boy. I started with Tops Pizza … but left after being tapped up by Dominos. The drop money was better, and I took home a Pepperoni Passion at the end of every shift.

What was your finest achievement playing football?

Played for Wimbledon and then Fulham as a teenager, and made a few outings in the Ryman League for the mighty Leatherhead … before hanging up my boots at the grand old age of 20.

Most memorable match covered?

My first one. I was only 16, but Gerry Cox of Hayters gave me the nod to cover an FA Cup match between Basingstoke and Bournemouth. My grandad had to take me to the game and pick me up afterwards. Mark Stein scored the winner after the keeper smashed a clearance against him.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?

Dave Kidd’s left footed strike in 5-a-side last year. ‘Swing and hope’ I think they call it. But the ball flew into the top corner, and Kiddo has not stopped talking about it since.

Best stadium?

Craven Cottage. An old-fashioned feel, for all the right reasons.

…and the worst?

Kenilworth Road. An old-fashioned feel, for all the wrong reasons.

Your best ever scoop?

Gerard Houllier to become Aston Villa boss. It seemed so unlikely, even I wasn’t convinced when I pressed send.

Your personal new-tech disaster?

Covered a game at Old Trafford – and realised when I got back to London that my laptop was still on the desk in the Press room. I still owe Steve Bates a pint for collecting it, actually [Steve said that with interest it’s now a barrel – Ed].

Biggest mistake?

Playing rugby. I’m not very well built for the sport, but just presumed I’d be able to run past everyone. It worked for about half hour, but then some huge kid tackled me, I went flying through the air and broke my arm. Never played again.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?

A few people congratulated me when Dan Jones started writing a column in the Evening Standard.

Most media friendly manager?

Chris Coleman. When I started to report full-time Cookie was in charge of Fulham, and really helped me out at times. He came out with some great lines in interviews too. His presser when he stated Louis Saha would be leaving ‘over my dead body’ was a classic.

Best ever player?

Eric Cantona.

Best ever teams (club and international)?

Club… Manchester United 1999
International… France 2000.

Best pre-match grub?

Tottenham have raised their game this season with new caterers. Best signing since Gareth Bale.

Best meal had on your travels?

California Pizza Kitchen, LA. Not a big food lover so decent pizza always does the job.

…and the worst?

I did manage to find bad pizza once. It was in Bangkok.

Best hotel stayed in?

Vidago Palace in Portugal.

…and the worst?

I can’t remember what it was called but on my first ever foreign trip I was sent to Paris for Hayters to get an interview with Patrick Vieira. I stayed in a smelly, run down place near Gare du Nord, and it can not have cost more than 30 quid for the night. The walls were annoyingly thin, the bed sheets had holes in, and the fire alarm batteries needed changing so it beeped all night.

Favourite football writer?

Don’t have one, but I like story-getters. Neil Ashton, Neil Moxley and John Cross are very good.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?

Would have to be BBC Radio 5 Live’s Mike Ingham.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?

Access is getting worse and worse, so all I would ask is to let us speak to the players more often. How can we report properly on the game otherwise?

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?

NBA Playoffs

Last book read?

A Long Way Down. It’s a novel by Nick Hornby, not a non-fiction title detailing the next four years of QPR’s history.

Favourite current TV programme?

New Girl for comedy. Chicago Fire for drama.

Your most prized football memorabilia?

The Dimitar Berbatov signed shirt that I’m sure Fulham’s press office will be sending me as soon as the season is over…

Advice to any would-be football writer?

Make as many contacts as you can, and then get in touch with me if you get any good stories.

 

*And the bonus ball today is a wonderful anecdote from Dave Allard about the late, great Ian Willard and a manager who made every football writer’s job so pleasant:

The dear old Duke. The pint, the pipe and stories galore.

Trips to the Midlands with Ipswich were enhanced by his presence.

He once said to Bobby Robson after he was late for a press gathering at Villa Park following a defeat: “Stop behaving like a twat Bob.”

Robbo said: “Ahh Ian, you’re probably right.”

Priceless.

FWA Q&A: Ian Ladyman

Posted on by
1

IAN LADYMAN of the Daily Mail on a love letter to the sports editor…breakfast with a tiger (no, really)…and trouble with a pony tail in the USA

Have you ever worked in a profession other than football?
I was a news reporter for the Stoke Sentinel for three fantastic years. It’s a cliche but news is a great grounding. Being shouted at by Sir Alex Ferguson (not that it’s ever happened) is not so scary when you have had to knock on someone’s door and ask them if they will talk about the death of their son/daughter etc. The Sentinel was a great paper, too. Five editions, all of which we worked on live between 7am and 1pm. That meant my great exclusives about cats stuck up trees always got in that day. How exciting. That apart, I once worked nights stacking shelves at Morrisons. I hated it and it hated me. The supervisor took against me because he caught me reading a book on my break. Either that or he took offence at my pony tail. My comrades were okay, though. On my first night one asked me if I was married. I said I wasn’t and he asked if I was divorced. I was 18.

Most memorable match?
World Cup 2002. South Korea versus Poland, Busan. We all know what the co-hosts went on to achieve that summer but they went in to the tournament having never won a World Cup match and with coach Guus Hiddink nicknamed ‘Mr Nil Five’ as that was his team’s most common scoreline. That night, though, they swept Poland off the park 2-0 on the back of the most fanatical home support I have witnessed before or since. Everyone in the stadium wore red and before long everyone in the country did too. Including Neil Custis who watched their quarter-final on the TV in the Seoul main square wearing a bandana and face paint. No, he really did.

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
In Gelsenkirchen 2006, I saw Argentina beat Serbia 6-0 and score one of the best goals I have ever seen. Esteban Cambiasso actually scored but it was the 20-odd passes that preceded it that made it so memorable. If you put that on DVD and mailed it to every under-12s football coach in the country then we may win the World Cup again sometime in the next 100 years.

Best stadium?
When I was a kid I loved the old northern grounds at places like Bolton, Blackburn and Burnley. Or maybe my memory is playing tricks. My dad used to ask me each Saturday where I wanted to go and we would head off and pay at the turnstile. A trip to somewhere like Old Trafford or Anfield was a once a season treat. I was so excited about one of those trips that I was sick in the car. These days, in terms of opulence and splendour I would choose the Donbass Arena in Donetsk. Just a shame you have to go to Donetsk to see it. In terms of old-fashioned atmosphere, it’s hard to beat Anfield when the home team have their blood up. About once every three seasons, these days.

…and the worst?
SoccerCity in Jo’Burg. Ugly, charmless and in the middle of nowhere. And every single World Cup Final they have had there has been rubbish.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
Back in the days of filing via mobile phone/lap-top connection, I lost my phone down a hole in my desk at Benfica on a Champions League night. I spent a frantic half an hour literally tearing the wooden desk apart while stewards and Portuguese journalists just stared at me. By full-time, there were splinters, nails, screws and bits of plastic strewn all over the press box. A little dramatic, perhaps, given that I was only doing the ratings.

On a personal note, I once wrote a charming, loving and frankly hilarious e-mail to a new girlfriend and sent it to my sports editor Colin Gibson by mistake. Thankfully, I didn’t know her well enough to be suggestive but the e-mail did contain a description of how me and my dad once killed my pet mouse in a bucket of water. Me and the girl didn’t stay together long. Gibson sent the email to every sports desk in Fleet Street and I don’t blame him.

Biggest mistake?
Does the above not count?

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
I once worked on a summer camp in America and some of the kids thought I was a girl. It was that pony tail thing again. Apart from that, at school they said I looked like Steve Hampson, a Wigan Rugby League player. Needless to say, he has a big nose and enormous ears but carries it off rather well.

Most media friendly manager?
Sam Allardyce threatened to come round to my house and kick my door down when he was manager of Notts County and I was the local lad on the Evening Post. Happily he never did it and a professional relationship that began then still endures to this day. He answers the phone when you call his number and that, these days, is all you can ask for.

Best ever player?
Kenny Dalglish.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
The Liverpool team of Barnes, Beardsley and Aldridge was sublime. Football at its telepathic, expansive best. One of my biggest regrets was choosing not to go to Anfield the night they beat Forest 5-0 in Division One in 1988. They would have beaten anyone that night.

Best pre-match grub?
I always love dining at Old Trafford as it’s great fun trying to guess exactly what it is you are actually eating. It also gives you something to do while nobody from the coaching or playing staff will come and talk to you.

Best meal had on your travels?
Once had a 12-course banquet in a private dining room in Moscow when I was on Wales duty. Great food and even Janine [Self] had to stop talking to eat it. The squid and garlic wrapped in spinach leaves I had with [Jim] Holden, [Phil] Shaw and [Sam] Wallace at 7am at Busan fish market was pretty memorable too.

…and the worst?
Still with Wales, watching John Ley eat his third mixed grill of the day in a Cardiff curry house was something I won’t forget. Beef, chicken, lamb and god knows what else smothered in curry. Not a dish you will find in Calcutta that often.

Best hotel stayed in?
I stayed in a cracker in Seoul during the 2002 World Cup but only because the room belonged to Charlie Sale and he was somewhere else for a night. The suite had a view of the five rings of the old Olympic Stadium, an adjoining boardroom (complete with table and six chairs) and a hydraulic bed. I will leave you to guess which of these Charlie had specifically requested. Also on that trip my base was the Lotte Hotel in Busan. An enormous place with its own driving range on the roof and a live tiger in the breakfast room. Yes, really. It had been a gift from a former president. I came down on my first day and had a straight choice between a seat next to the tiger or a table with Paul Stretford on it. You know the punchline.

…and the worst?
Another World Cup and my base in Dortmund in 2006 was pretty rotten. Matt Lawton stayed in it the night he jocked me off the semi-final and made the mistake of bringing his girlfriend. “My balcony in Baden-Baden was bigger than this whole room,” Lawton sniffed. Mind you, he had nicked his Baden-Baden room off Steven Howard so I could believe it. On club duty, I stayed in a hotel in 2000 in Donetsk with Arsenal that was so bad we were advised by the travel company to bring our own bedding and food. Brian Woolnough complained to reception that his bath water was brown. They told him not to drink it.

Favourite football writer?
I loved working with Danny Taylor when he was still a Manchester man as it had always been my ambition to see my stories appear in a broadsheet. Outside those on the Mail, I will always read [Dave] Kidd, [George] Caulkin and [Paul] Hayward and be slightly nervous of Custis jnr, [Simon] Mullock and [Mark] Ogden. At my own place, Alex Kay will be my sports editor one day so I had better mention him, too.  Finally, [Ian] Herbert writes wonderfully and has a forensic mind and a love of proper journalism. I just wish he would HURRY UP!!!! [Me too – I am still waiting for his Q&A – Ed]

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
John Murray always makes me feel like I want to leave the radio on. Alan Green sometimes makes me want to turn it off but that doesn’t mean he can’t be terrific value; he can. On TV I was always a Barry Davies fan. In terms of pundits, ITV’s decision to ditch David Pleat was ridiculous. He remains a superb analyst for Radio Five Live and makes some of the younger ex-pros look as lightweight as they undoubtedly are. Gary Neville has raised the bar in terms of studio work. But then somebody had to. Graeme Souness is also terrific.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
Judge the individual and not the perception of the industry. It’s not hard. Some people (big love here for Kloss at City, Tyrrell at Everton and McCann at Liverpool) already do that and it’s appreciated. Others (can’t name them all) do not.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
I am lucky enough to have seen England win an Ashes Test away from home and have seen Wigan Warriors win the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup. (That’s rugby league, by the way). I guess I would very much like to travel to the US Masters. I hope Lee Clayton is reading this.

Last book read?
‘Mud Sweat and Tears’ by Moire O’Sullivan. It’s about the experiences of a mountain runner in Ireland. I am, as you can tell, having a mid-life crisis. The sports car is next and then a divorce. Although I would have to get married first. Let’s not rush in to things.

Favourite current TV programme?
I am currently watching the box set of the Danish cop drama ‘The Killing’. I am getting a bit deaf so appreciate the excuse for sub-titles.

Your most prized football memorabilia?
I have one wonderful item but won’t describe it here as I don’t want the burglars to come round again. The signed photo of Willo Flood (14 man City appearances, one goal) is certainly the most ridiculous. I also have an article written by the great John Roberts in the Independent the day after Kenny Dalglish resigned from Liverpool in 1991. It’s only being held together by the frame these days but the way it was written resonated with me at the time and it still does. I met him once (Roberts, not Dalglish) but never mentioned the piece to him. I should have.

Advice to anyone coming into the football media world?
Take the job seriously but not yourself. We aren’t saving lives here.

(PS Thanks for omitting the ‘Best Exclusive’ category. It would have been embarrassing to leave it blank.)

FWA Q&A: JAMES NURSEY

Posted on by
Reply

JAMES NURSEY of the Daily Mirror on a bad gag at Peterborough…the hairdryer from Bruce and O’Neill…and being on the bleach in Bulgaria

Your first ever newspaper?
The Argus in Sussex in 2001. I had a job covering Non-League football for the paper and various other sports.

Have you ever worked in a profession other than journalism?
No, apart from the odd student or holiday job working behind the bar as a teenager.

What was your finest achievement playing football?
Err, rather limited, probably captaining Loddon Grasshoppers U-12s B team to a 5-a-side youth football tournament trophy presented by then Norwich striker Robert Rosario.

Most memorable match covered?
As a new sports reporter at The Birmingham Post in March 2003, attending Aston Villa 0-2 Birmingham in the Premier League was a definite eye-opener. The match was a feisty affair as Dion Dublin got red carded for head-butting a certain Robbie Savage and Joey Gudjonsson was also sent-off. But the red-hot atmosphere in the stands was what I remember just as much and it served as a real education as to the Second City rivalry. I recall the press were told to stay in the ground long after the match as the streets outside were so dangerous!

The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
I’ve had the hairdryer off Steve Bruce and Martin O’Neill. That would be worth watching but would have to be an 18-certificate!

Best stadium?
Wembley. It was late and very expensive to build but at least we have ended up with a world-class stadium once more now they have sorted the grass out.

…and the worst?
Peterborough’s London Road, visiting the antiquated toilet facilities there are enough to make you gag.

Your best ever scoop?
Being invited around Carson Yeung’s house near Wimbledon a few years ago for his first interview when he was buying BCFC. I remember at the time being told he paid for the property in cash, which on reflection says a lot.

Your personal new-tech disaster?
Dropping and breaking my Blackberry was pretty expensive and stressful. I hated being unreachable for the office and potential stories. Thankfully the Daily Mirror kindly replaced it quickly.

Biggest mistake?
Err, a few to chose from. Mixing up twins Dean and David Holdsworth a few years ago certainly cracked a few journalists up. I’ve also had my share of bans but none are still outstanding or in force.

Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
A few journos have said I look like Thomas Sorensen.

Most media friendly manager?
I really rate Chris Hughton who, while not controversial, is a very likeable, decent person – not to mention fine coach. But for box office value you cannot beat Jose Mourinho, who continued to fascinate and entertain on his recent UK appearance for United v Real.

Best ever player?
Cristiano Ronaldo was always exhilarating to watch when he was at Manchester United. Most people, especially the press, have missed Ronaldo since he went to Spain.

Best ever teams (club and international)?
Club…The Arsenal Invincibles were literally unstoppable in the Barclays Premier League. A fantastic achievement by Arsene Wenger who I admire greatly but his halo has slipped considerably since. Perhaps he should step aside soon with his pride and dignity relatively intact? International….I am enjoying watching the current Spain side a lot. It is great to see a side prevail simply by passing the opposition off the park – and is definitely preferable to the Germans winning.

Best pre-match grub?
I enjoy the mussels and prawns at Stamford Bridge on the odd occasion I am sent.

Best meal had on your travels?
I remember eating at a restaurant called the Cafe de Paris which was very classy and buzzing…even though it was in Hamburg

…and the worst?
I find increasingly stale sandwiches and dodgy pies wheeled out for the press, the lower down the leagues you go. But the friendliness and player access usually makes up for it and is a refreshing antidote to the sometimes sanitised world of the Barclays Premier League.

Best hotel stayed in?
The Radisson in Frankfurt before Germany v Wales in 2007 was very good. It had a relaxing indoor pool on the top floor. But I gave decided against the sauna when I opened the door and a couple of people were letting everything hang out.

…and the worst?
An Eastern-Bloc style place in Bulgaria ahead of Litex Lovech v Villa in the Uefa Cup in 2008. All the rooms stank of strongest detergent imaginable.

Favourite football writer?
Mike Walters of the Daily Mirror. Mike has a unique perspective on the game and personalities which always informs and entertain. His witty style is also very original.

Favourite radio/TV commentator?
I enjoy listening to John Murray’s football and golf commentaries. He gives a good perspective on what is going on with plenty of colour on the surroundings too.

If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs…
Urge football clubs/managers to be more honest and not to lie to the press and dismiss stories which turn out to be true.

One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
As a golf fan, The Masters.

Last book read?
All Hell Let Loose by Max Hastings. The world at war 1939-1945

Favourite current TV programme?
Sherlock

Your most prized football memorabilia?
Still have my programmes from Norwich’s UEFA Cup games against Bayern Munich and Inter Milan which were great times to experience as a fan.

Advice to any would-be football writer?
Don’t give up. Take any rejections or criticism on the chin and get up again.