FWA Q&A: Warren Haughton
We talk to talkSPORT producer Warren Haughton about the 1999 Champions League final, spare batteries and scoring in the FA Cup.
Your first ever newspaper?The first ever newspapers I wrote for were The Sun and Daily Star when I was working for Hayters on a work experience basis.
Have you ever worked in a profession other than journalism?
I used to be a professional footballer with Leicester City and played a good standard of non-league for Woking, Tamworth and Havant & Waterloovile
What was your finest achievement playing football?
Scoring FA Cup 1st round goals for Tamworth and Havant & Waterlooville or playing for Woking in the Conference, something I didn’t think would happen.
Most memorable match covered?
Dagenham were the first team I covered for a season and it was a pleasure to see them beat Aldershot 2-1 at home to clinch promotion to the Football League back in 2007.
The one moment in football you would put on a DVD?
Solksjaer’s winner against Bayern Munich in Champions League Final in 1999
Best stadium?
For work The Emirates is great.
...and the worst?
Rothwell Town
Your best ever scoop?
So far it’s Gervinho to Lille and PSG’s Taraabt bid last summer
Your personal new-tech disaster?
Assuming Griffin Park, Brentford, had Wifi when I covered my first ever Football League game
Biggest mistake?
Not having spare batteries for Luton Town post-match managers’ press conference and having to run out of stadium to local shop.
Have you ever been mistaken for anyone else?
Some would say I’ve been mixed up with someone who actually played football.
Most media friendly manager?
Apart from Harry Redknapp it has to be Martin Allen, now Notts County
Best ever player?
Maradona but Messi is not far behind.
Best ever teams (club and international)?
Barcelona 2011 and loved the Brazil 1982 World Cup team
Best pre-match grub?
The Emirates
Best meal had on your travels?
The Emirates
...and the worst?
Spurs is the worst of a good bunch
Favourite football writer?
I’m a big Observer fan so I’ll go for Paul Wilson
Favourite radio/TV commentator?
Radio: talkSPORT’s Sam Matterface and Stan Collymore; TV: Martin Tyler
If you could introduce one change to improve PR between football clubs and football writers what would it be?
I don’t think you can introduce any hard or fast rules, just a softening of the approach to each other from both sides
One sporting event outside football you would love to experience?
London 2012 Olympics 100m final
Last book read?
Football – Bloody Hell by Patrick Barclay
Favourite current TV programme?
Dexter
Your most prized football memorabilia?
A Bronze predator boot presented to me by Kenny Dalglish in 2000 for being one half of the best strike force in non-league football that season.
Tags: talkSPORT, Warren Houghton
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