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EDITORIAL EDITOR’S WAnT
LETTER MORE?
Tel 020 8267 5848 Fax 020 8267 5725
Email [email protected] – or to contact an @FourFourTwoEd FInD US
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of my study fax,
Editor Hitesh Ratna @FOURFOURTWO
Art editor Anthony Moore a school diary we
Deputy art editor Tom Chase @FOURFOURTWOUK
Features editor James Maw were given to keep
Staff writer Andrew Murray FACEBOOK.COM/
Staff writer Chris Flanagan track of homework FOURFOURTWO
Chief sub editor Gregg Davies
Junior picture editor Tom Clazie Flynn assignments. Like most kids in my school, mine FOURFOURTWO
Head of video Ben Welch
Performance writer Alec Fenn was full of random notes (“do a pencil drawing
FourFourTwo videographer Jalal Ali
Global digital editor Gary Parkinson of noodle spaghetti for art class”) and even more
UK digital editor Joe Brewin
Digital features editor Alex Reid random ’90s footballers. Step forward Wimbledon
Social media editor Harriet Drudge
Social media apprentice Hunter Godson midfielder Peter Fear and his German Shepherd.
Editorial secretary Cathy Wythe
Thanks to Haymarket Pre-Press (Repro), Steve Latter, So when we first discussed the idea of doing
Ben Walsh, Ulisses Neto, Arthur Renard, Stephen Duffy,
Mads Frederiksen, Anthony Marshall, Tristan O’Carroll, a ’90s-themed issue, it was simply meant to be
Megan Pollard, Joe Nicholson, Barney Lane
a celebration of all the things we loved about
Pictures PA, Getty, Shutterstock, Twitter, Alamy, Offside,
Instagram, Reuters, A Love Supreme, When Saturday the decade, a chance to revel in the nostalgia
Comes, BXR, Kevin Cummins, Jeremy Clay
of Mitre footballs and Sensible Soccer. It also
Global brand director Andy Jackson
Global editor-in-chief David Hall gave us an opportunity to speak to ’90s icons
Business director Claire Griffiths
Brand executive Ben Clark like Matt Le Tissier and watch and review a load
Senior direct marketing executive Faith Wardle
Global partnerships director Ian Porter of football VHS tapes.
Deputy production manager Suzanne Wiseman
But what we had almost forgotten was just how much football
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English football went through a radical transformation on and off
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Senior account manager Emma Blick you would be hard pressed to make the case that things aren’t
Team leader Ben Hardy
Key account manager Sam Evanson better now than in 1989. And it is in
Account manager Keiron Batchelor
Account manager Lindsey Dobson this spirit that we bring you this ’90s
Account manager Joshua McGonigle
special: a collection of the best bits Hitesh Ratna
INTERNATIONAL from the decade and a reminder of Editor
International business director Jamie Wilson how different things could have been…
Global account director Jason Brown
Global account manager Nicola Darkin PLAYED A BLInDER

Circulation enquiries Frontline Ltd, Midgate House, Midgate, PE1 1TN Gary Parkinson: Our cover feature Anthony Moore: The Geordie Tom Clazie Flynn: Stockpiling ’90s
Tel: 01733 555161 Repro by Haymarket Pre-Press writer has been a FFT staffer since genius that is our Art Editor spent photos proved troublesome for our
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fanzine editor says the ’90s were the up his season ticket at Newcastle agape at each question I asked. I’m
FFT is published by Haymarket Media, Bridge House, 69 London Road, making of him and of football, and to attend university and live with still not sure if Southend really played
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FFT cannot accept any responsibility for unsolicited contributions, and no a strongly-worded pager message. Those type of wounds never heal. confident so I’m going along with it.”
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FourFourTwo.com February 2018 5

12 UPFRONT FEATURES

12 One-on-One: Chris Sutton 34 90 things we loved in the ’90s
18 Around the world in 12 stories From John Barnes’ rap to the rise
20 Robbie Fowler: Goals galore of ‘Goldenballs’, FFT recalls the
21 Gazza and Wrighty on song players, games and dodgy strips
23 Your Sliding Doors decade that made it a decade to cherish
24 Quiz: Name the overseas star
25 Don’t mess with Wolfie 52 Ajax rule the world (again)
26 Martin ‘AGUEROOOOO!’ Tyler After Johan Cruyff’s ’70s vintage,
27 Talentspotter: Phil Foden how another golden generation
28 Gabriel revived at Valencia came through to conquer Europe
29 Owen’s France 98 stunner
30 Matthaus on that 1999 final 58 Between The Lines: Jimmy Glass
31 Your letters and tweets The keeper whose 94th-minute
goal kept Carlisle in the League
remembers his defining moment

78
THE LOB,
THE LEGEND

92
82

64 46

WHO’S
THE BOSS?

FEATURES ACTION REPLAY 52

64 Making of the super gaffers 95 Keegan’s shaggy dog story

FFT looks back at the formative 96 Tractor Boys sign Soviet star

years and playing careers of four 98 Ace Bristol City programmes

top Premier League managers 99 The record low top-flight crowd

70 Goals, gaffes & dubious gags 100 Fight Club: Cyril vs Zampa

We press rewind to bring you PERFORMANCE
some VHS ‘classics’ salvaged

from lofts and car boot sales.

Er, has anybody got a VCR...? 102 Yohan Cabaye masterclass

77 Icons that made the ’90s great 104 Players’ training pics analysed

Ravanelli, Hagi, Le Tissier: you all 105 FFT tests some anti-slip socks

have your heroes, and we have 106 Petr Cech’s ping-pong show

hunted down a few of our own 107 How to brush off your marker

70

GLASS CUE
HALF-FULL VIDEOTAPE

THE BEaUTIFUL GAME

THIS. IS. FOOTBALL.

There were worries before the USA hosted the World Cup
in 1994. Would Americans take to proper football? Would
anyone care England weren’t there stinking the place out?
Could Diana Ross score an open goal? Well: yes, not really,
definitely not. The pre-final closing ceremony at the Rose
Bowl in Pasadena – the most iconic stadium in American
Football – was a celebration of how much the Yanks had
embraced the beautiful game, and featured smiling pop
royalty Whitney Houston. Just as well it didn’t rain, eh?

Picture Tony Marshall/EMPICS/PA

THE BEaUTIFUL GAME

“On ME nOSE, SOn!”

There are many ways to celebrate winning the FA Cup. You
could go for the prosaic smacker on silverware option or
the ‘crazy’ trophy-as-hat alternative, but these have been
repeated countless times before. After all, you want to be
unique. Ignoring the cup entirely, Liverpool keeper Bruce
Grobbelaar came up with his own entry. Invoking his inner
seal, the Zimbabwean balanced a comedy cap-umbrella
on his hooter after the Reds beat Sunderland 2-0 to claim
the ’92 edition of the world’s oldest cup competition. Arf!

Picture Ross Kinnaird/EMPICS/PA



UUPPFFRROOnnTT THAT’S THE SPIRIT Model Nanna Chara has got a plan to date Neymar:
“I wrote his name on my foot. If I meet him, I will stamp my foot three
>< times, shout, ‘You are mine by the power of good spirits’ and he’ll agree”

Games that chan ow Sliding Doors decade t’s hard hats on at
life: Robbie Fowler ay have panned out p23 he Riverside p27

OnE-On-OnE go and watch him playing for them, and chairman. We all liked to play this game
even at such a young age I could see he with coins, and if you lost you had to do
CHRIS SUTTOn was a really good player. I actually got a forfeit. The pig was one of the forfeits.
rejected by Norwich when I was 12, but There were some other forfeits that were
Interview Chris Flanagan Photography Richard Cannon I had another opportunity there at 16. a lot worse than that, but I’m not going
to tell you what they were! It was good
DOES HE REGRET SnUBBInG EnGLAnD? Chris, what do you think about the that there were no camera phones back
WHO WAS BETTER: SHEARER OR LARSSOn? pedestrianisation of Norwich city in those days, as I was running around
WHY DID HE HIDE In A TOILET AT HIGHBURY? centre, because I’m dead against it. a pig pen in the middle of Norfolk, diving
Gregg Patterson, Middlesbrough around trying to catch this pig. With my
Upfront editor Chris Flanagan Chris Sutton is midway through his FFT know I’m happily miserable…” he jokes. [Laughs] I love Norwich, and I love the lack of pace, you know what happened!
photo shoot at the BT Sport studios in Indeed, the Premier League title-winner pedestrianisation of the city centre, too.  
Stratford, when Robbie Savage bursts is in a positively good mood when he sits Norwich is never going to be able to get Norwich were eight points clear at the
through the door. down to answer your questions – though away from Alan Partridge, though that’s top of the Premier League just before
rest assured, he’s still got some opinions what I like about it. I like Alan Partridge. Christmas of the 1992-93 season, but
“What on earth are you doing popping to get off his chest… finished 12 points behind Manchester
emoji balloons? Pathetic, pathetic man!” You played as both a centre-forward United. Should you have won the title?
Savage shouts, laughing, before exiting Your father Mike played for Norwich. and centre-half in your career. How’d Graham Notman, Derby
as quickly as he’d arrived. Was it your dream to play for them? that happen and which did you prefer? Should have, could have... but you know
Kevin Mann, Cromer Tom Rosenhammer, Richmond, US what? We never really believed that we
Chris resists the temptation to respond My dad was the biggest influence on my I sometimes played midfield as well – it could win it because we were Norwich:
to his fellow pundit, briefly smiling before career. He’d played for Norwich, Carlisle probably came about as the managers a club who had historically gone to and
the stern look returns, and he gets back and Chester, but packed it in pretty early thought I wasn’t quite good enough in fro between the top two divisions. We
in character to mercilessly destroy some at 28, went to Loughborough University, one position so they’d try me in another! had a decent team, but we were happy
more balloons. got a degree and then went to teach at I was always a centre-forward, but there to be there. Although we were aware of
a school in Norwich. We moved back and was once an injury at centre-half in the the position we were in, I don’t think at
It’s clear from meeting Sutton that his he played for Great Yarmouth Town. I’d Norwich youth team and they told me: any point did I sense we really felt like
hard-faced television persona is partly ‘You’re quite tall, get back in there’, and we were going to win the league. I think
that – a persona. “I’m perceived as being I could read the game pretty well. When we were just hoping that we would do it.
miserable, but the people who know me I broke into the Norwich first team I was
playing in both positions. I came on as United won the title that year and we
a substitute as a striker to start off with had to play them over Easter at Carrow
but played most of my early matches in Road. I was at centre-half and we were
the First Division at centre-half instead. 3-0 down after the opening 30 minutes.
We finished that season with a negative
You attempted to kiss a pig in a field goal difference and that was probably
during your Norwich days – er, why? down to me having to play centre-half
Stephen Cross, Hunstanton so often! We had some decent players at
[Laughs] I’d knock around with Ruel Fox the club and on our day we were good
and Lee Power, who’s now the Swindon enough to beat anybody. We just didn’t
quite have that reliability defensively.

12 February 20186 FourFourTwo.com

“WHEN THE MATCH FINISHED,
I PEGGED IT DOWN THE TUNNEL
AND ALL THE ARSENAL PLAYERS
CHASED AFTER ME, SO I THOUGHT:
‘SOD THIS’ AND GOT IN THE TOILET”

CLUBS
1991-94 Norwich
1994-99 Blackburn
1999-2000 Chelsea

2000-06 Celtic
2006 Birmingham
2006-07 Aston Villa

COUNTRY
1997 England

MANAGER
2009-10 Lincoln

UPFROnT

Alan McInally claimed Bayern Munich What did you make of Robert Chase – Right Sutton kicked off his
would beat Norwich by about 10 goals the chairman at Norwich until 1996? career at Norwich, where
in the 1993-94 UEFA Cup. How much Ian Stuart Michael, Norwich dad Mike had also played
did his comments motivate the team? He split opinion at the club but I think he Below Savouring a shock
Eddie Brown, Wymondham did a good job there. He was a wily old UEFA Cup win over Bayern
We probably thought the same thing to chairman and very slippery. In 1993-94 next to Jeremy Goss, Rob
be honest with you. But beating Bayern I had a good season and some big clubs Newman and Daryl Sutch
[2-1 in Germany and 3-2 on aggregate] came in for me. Manchester United and
summed us up – under Mike Walker we Liverpool were interested, Blackburn and
had a way of playing, and at Bayern we Arsenal both agreed a fee and I decided
actually played with three centre-backs to sign for Blackburn. But the chairman
and a sweeper too! We had some issues told me not to say anything about it, as
defensively but had decent pace on the not long before that he’d said if he sold
break and trust in each other. Although me before the start of the new season,
the result was a huge surprise to many, he’d leave the club. He must have been
because it was Bayern Munich, it wasn’t thinking: ‘How do I get out of this one?’
a great surprise to us that, in a game of
football over 90 minutes, we beat them. So he held a press conference, we sat
there and he said that if Chris Sutton is
Jeremy Goss scored early and although sold for a British record fee, which was
Bryan Gunn had to make a terrific save, £5 million at the time, he’d have to let
we deserved it. Afterwards, you realise me go. And I’m just sitting there, sworn
the enormity of it all. It was an amazing to secrecy. I’m looking at the press and
result – I don’t think many British teams thinking: ‘But what if someone asks me?’
have gone away to Bayern Munich and I would have lied – it was an incredible
won on their turf, and that’s the match situation. There’s a picture of me sat in
people still talk about today. What was the room where I’m thinking: ‘What are
probably more impressive was the fact you on about? You’re talking bollocks!’
we also held them off in the second leg  
back at Carrow Road [1-1]. How did they Is it true that you ended up in jail the
react to being knocked out? They were night before you signed for Blackburn?
ungracious, as you might expect. Lothar Tony Barnes, Accrington
Matthaus had the right hump – he was Yes, my playing career was littered with
particularly aggravated, which was nice. mistakes and that was one of them.

“WHO WAS THE BETTER SAS?
S WELL, SUAREZ AND STURRIDGE

NEVER WON A PREMIER LEAGUE
TITLE, SO THERE’S THE ANSWER”

UPFROnT

I’d gone out for a drink with Bryan Gunn games to go and we almost blew it. It

and a few of the other lads, and ended would have been unthinkable to not win

up diving into this convertible car. I bent that title, and that’s all I thought about

the indicator of it a bit and got arrested immediately after. I shouldn’t have been

– banged up. I was worrying about the thinking that, because we’d just won it.

move collapsing, about Kenny Dalglish Everyone thought Liverpool were going

pulling the plug on the deal. Worse than to chuck it against us because of their

that, though, I was thinking: ‘My dad is rivalry with Man United. But they beat us

going to go mad…’ And he did! [Laughs] and, whatever anybody says, in the end

  United had it in their own hands against

There were suggestions that you and West Ham and they blew it – although

Alan Shearer didn’t see eye to eye at we nearly blew it as well. It must have

Blackburn – was been great to watch,

that really true? but it wasn’t that

Ian Lainton, Bolton great to play in…

There have been HIgHS & LOWS  
suggestions over Blackburn were

the years – I got a relatively small

on fine with Alan. club compared to

Top and bottom Chris was Football dressing HIGH: 1993 other contenders
a British-record £5m buy rooms are funny Helps Norwich win at Bayern – at the time – do
for Blackburn in 1994 and places. Alan was you think Rovers’
went on to net 47 league best mates with nets 28 goals that season triumph was as
goals Left But he scored Mike Newell, and LOW: 1994 good as Leicester
just the three for Chelsea essentially I had winning the title
after an ill-fated switch to gone to take his Part of Blackburn side upset two seasons ago?
London, the first of which place upfront. So by Trelleborg in UEFA Cup Sean Stevens,
was a Champions League that was slightly HIGH: 1995 via Facebook
strike against Skonto Riga uncomfortable to If I’m being totally
start with. I never Wins Premier League – 49-goal honest, Blackburn
had any issues, partnership with Alan Shearer were among the
though. It’s not favourites in that
that we were big LOW: 1998 season after Man
drinking buddies Controversially decides to pull United. So I don’t
off the pitch, but think it was such
we always got on out of the England B squad a great shock that
and the chance HIGH: 1998 we won the title,
to play with Alan albeit it had been
was a big reason Shares Premier League Golden 81 years since the
why I decided to Boot with Michael Owen and last time they had
go to Blackburn. done it. But with
Dion Dublin after 18 goals Leicester nobody
Who was the LOW: 1999 saw it coming, so

Joins Chelsea after Blackburn’s
relegation but fails to impress

HIGH: 2004
Named SPFA Players’ Player of
the Year after winning third of
four league titles with Celtic

better SAS: you I’d say Leicester’s

and Alan Shearer, achievement was

or Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge? better than Blackburn’s. Some thought

Sarah Preston, Bristol that Rovers bought the title, which was

Well, Suarez and Sturridge never won the deeply unfair. A lot of money has been

Premier League, so there’s the answer… spent in the Premier League in the last

[Smiles] Myself and Alan would get most 20 years or so, and success hasn’t been

of the headlines at Blackburn but people bought. Jack Walker was a hometown

forget we were a really good team. We man and what he did was he backed his

had very good wingers, Stuart Ripley and football club. In that respect, Blackburn’s

Jason Wilcox, putting balls into the box success was an incredible achievement.

for us and we had a way of playing that  

was effective. We certainly weren’t the Why did you lock yourself in a toilet

prettiest team ever to win the Premier after a match at Highbury in 1997?

League title but we were an extremely Greg Taylor, Barnet

well organised side with Kenny Dalglish [Laughs] Well that was Martin Keown…

in charge – we played to our strengths. Blackburn were struggling in the league

  that season and were losing 1-0 going

Describe what it felt like to lift the into the 90th minute. Back in those days,

Premier League trophy on the final if an opponent kicked the ball out for an

day of the season away at Anfield? injury, you would give it them back. But

Susan Doyle, Blackburn Patrick Vieira was just sitting down on

The best thing about it was we won the the pitch and when they kicked the ball

title. The worst thing about it was that out, we thought: ‘They’re time-wasting

we were nine points clear with only six here’. I don’t know if I’m trying to make

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 15

UPFROnT

“IT WAS 0-0 AGAINST RANGERS
IN INJURY TIME AND I CHIPPED
STEFAN KLOS FROM 25 YARDS.
IT WAS ONE OF THE ONLY GOOD
GOALS I SCORED – GOOGLE IT!”

a case for myself? When we gave them more England caps? I don’t really know. that era I think you’d get pretty close to I went there for big money and this isn’t
the ball back we said: ‘Send it over Nigel [FFT: Are you on good terms with Hoddle double figures of top-quality strikers, like an excuse, but I had been suffering from
Winterburn’s head and then we’ll chase – you both work for BT Sport?] Yeah, I get Alan Shearer, Teddy Sheringham, Robbie injuries for probably about six months at
it’, which wasn’t quite the done thing. on well with him nowadays. When you Fowler, Les Ferdinand, Ian Wright, Andy Blackburn and hadn’t played regularly.
I closed Nigel down, he put it out for finish playing, you have to move on, you Cole, Michael Owen, Stan Collymore and But going into that new environment at
a corner and then it all kicked off. In can’t bear grudges. A player doesn’t Chelsea with the team-mates that I was
came the corner, Garry Flitcroft scored have the right to do what I did and Dion Dublin. I’ve probably missed playing with, I should have done much,
a cracking goal and all hell broke loose. Glenn was 100 per cent spot on. someone out. There was a lot of much better. I didn’t start very well, lost
All sorts of threats were being made so I was wrong again. Can we do competition upfront. I think the a bit of confidence and hesitated – you
I played the last minute and a half out some questions where I was reality is, in this day and age I’d can’t hesitate at that level, especially if
on the left wing near the tunnel! When proven right now? [Laughs] have won a lot more caps, which you’re a striker. I had a tough time, but
the final whistle went, I pegged it down   is a sad indication of where we’re I don’t blame anybody else or the style
the tunnel and they’re all coming after England are not of play there. It was purely down to me.
me, so I went back in the dressing room, blessed with as at these days in terms of the  
thought: ‘Sod this’ and got in the toilet. many top-class quality of English strikers. Is it true that Leeds tried to sign you
That was the safest place for me! I got strikers these   only a month after you’d joined the
the blame for Arsenal not qualifying for days. You only Why do you think Blues, and were you tempted to go?
the Champions League that season, but picked up one your £10m switch Steve Wallingham, Leeds
they still had another three games after cap – how many to Chelsea in 1999 Yes, they did, and in hindsight perhaps
us and dropped points against Coventry do you think you didn’t work out as I should have gone to Leeds! But no, I’d
and Newcastle, too. Maybe they should would have if you everyone had hoped? committed to Chelsea and nothing was
all have taken a little bit more personal were a player now? Roman Taylor, about to derail me from that. I was really
responsibility – or defended the corner James Pickup, Harrogate via Facebook looking forward to a long and illustrious
better – rather than just blaming me... Good question. Of course career at Stamford Bridge, but it didn’t
  it’s all speculative, but in I blame myself. I don’t blame last very long in the end, unfortunately.
You were sent off in October 1998 for anyone else for what happened
a two-footed tackle on Patrick Vieira at Chelsea. I think I lost a bit of
at Ewood Park. What was that about? confidence, if I’m being honest.
Alan Grennan, Finsbury Park
He was a great player but he’d elbowed
me at a corner and broke my nose. I was
left on all fours, my eyes were watering.
I looked up at him and he was grinning
back at me. I thought: ‘I’m going to do
you’. When I tried to tackle him around
his knees five minutes later I missed him
but was shown a straight red before I’d
even got back on my feet. Then, as I was
getting up, Emmanuel Petit pushed me
over and I landed face first on the pitch.
 
Do you regret withdrawing from the
England B game against Chile ahead
of the 1998 World Cup? Paul Merson
played in that match and ended up
forcing his way into the final squad.
Stuart Steelyard, Doncaster
Yes, it is a big regret. I was really angry
about how that all came about, because
I thought I deserved a place in the main
squad. But I didn’t have any right to do
what I did by phoning up Glenn Hoddle,
and he was quite right to put me away
in the way he did and not pick me ever
again. I could be impulsive sometimes.
I didn’t do the right thing and it proved
to be a big mistake, though if I’m being
totally honest, would I have got many

16 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com

UPFROnT

Who was your better strike partner: Far left Going toe-to-toe of the only good goals I scored during You had one crack at being a manager
Alan Shearer or Henrik Larsson? with Ronaldinho in a 2004 my whole career. Google it if you want! but didn’t bother again. What was it
Richard Caldwell, Cumbernauld tussle against Barcelona   that put you off forever after Lincoln?
Henrik Larsson. He was the best player Above left The striker won Why didn’t things work out for you at Joseph Bruton, Peterborough
I ever played with, full stop. Shearer was four league titles at Celtic Celtic when Gordon Strachan arrived? How do you know I’m put off managing
a brilliant player, a ruthless No.9 and the after swapping Chelsea for Stuart Macrie, Dumfries forever? You’re assuming! [Laughs] To be
greatest Premier League striker in terms Scotland Above right He Er, this one might take about an hour… honest, I won’t rule anything out. I had
of goals – absolutely phenomenal. But finished his playing career [Laughs] He was the type of manager to a year at Lincoln and enjoyed coaching
Henrik [above, celebrating with Sutton] with spells at Birmingham come in and change things around, and the players. I moved on, but would I go
could do it all. Henrik could play as the and their arch rivals Villa that’s absolutely fine. Let’s just say we back? I enjoy what I’m doing now, but
No.9, he could play from wide, he could had a disagreement about my contract you never know further down the line.
play in a No.10 role, he could see a pass of green and white shirts heading to the situation, which had been agreed under  
and he could slide a through-ball, like he stadium ahead of the game – so it was the previous manager, and I ended up Do you think the current Celtic team
did in the 2006 Champions League Final. extremely sad to not win for all of them. leaving Celtic. I didn’t want to leave the could still beat Rangers blindfolded?
They were both phenomenal footballers club. In fact, I was really sad to go after Alan Fyvie, Glasgow
but Henrik had more strings to his bow. You played in 20 Old Firm derbies – five and a half seasons. But to be fair to When I made that remark I was talking
  which was your favourite moment? him, Gordon did a good job with Celtic. about a cup semi-final a couple of years
How do you reflect on the 2003 UEFA Craig Storer, Glasgow   ago, so you need to put that into context.
Cup Final defeat to Jose Mourinho’s The most memorable game of my entire What reception did you get from the I think Celtic beat Rangers 2-0 on a cow
Porto? Do you think you were beaten career was my first ever Old Firm derby, Aston Villa fans when you arrived in field that day and I was absolutely spot
by a better side in Seville or was it an just in terms of where Celtic and Rangers 2006 from Birmingham, after netting on. Would they beat them blindfolded
avoidable loss after levelling twice? were at. Rangers had won the league by for the Blues in a Second City Derby? now? I believe Celtic at the moment can
David Aneurin Shearan, Hebburn 21 points the season before, but Martin Junior Leoes, via Facebook play any system and still beat Rangers.
Now I don’t want to sound too sour but O’Neill had become Celtic manager, and You probably shouldn’t make that move, In a one-off game, you never know. But
were we beaten by a better side? Porto before that Old Firm game we’d won all Birmingham to Aston Villa, should you? Celtic are by far the strongest team. The
were a very good side, but I wouldn’t say our games and they’d won all of theirs. But I don’t think anybody really noticed! big thing now is will Celtic go for the 10
they were better than us. They were on We didn’t know what to expect from the   league titles in a row? What I would say
the day, but that was because of other game but I scored inside a minute and How frightening was it to lose some is that Rangers have a far better chance
circumstances – lots of their play-acting we won 6-2. That game was the turning of your eyesight while at Aston Villa? now they have got rid of Pedro Caixinha,
was unsavoury, to say the least. It was point for Celtic and a period where the Shaun Marston, Birmingham as his entire reign was a joke. I made an
an incredible occasion – 60-70,000 Celtic club dominated a reall stron Ran ers. Some people might suggest that I lost early call on him, as most of what came
fans on the streets of Seville and a sea my eyesight long before that! I finished out of his mouth was nonsense. I’m not
My m playing because I had damaged my eye. sure how he got the job in the first place.
goal wa I damaged it playing for Celtic initially, in  
we beat Gordon Strachan’s first game in charge. Has a Rangers fan ever confronted you
game. Neil Lennon put a knee through my face about some of the things you’ve said?
0-0 in t a ainst Artmedia [where Celtic lost 5-0 Brian Whittaker, Falkirk
I held of Yes, I had someone try to run me over,
and chi eague]. I fractured but these things happen… it was good
from ab r places and when and light-hearted! [Laughs] What I like
That wa on me they went about Glasgow is that people will tell you
goal, be e side of the head. what they think. It’s not always what you
I meant d vision after that. want to hear but they’re forthright and
It was o itself, but my last upfront. I get a bit of stick from Rangers
gainst Manchester fans, but most of them end up agreeing
nja Vidic elbowed with me – like over Mark Warburton and
liberately, it’s part Pedro, although they’ll never admit it…
of the game – and  
hat I soon realised You’ve become a bit of a pantomime
ad to call it a day. villain as a pundit. What do you think
of the image you portray on TV now?
Kristian Bruce, Chertsey
I just say what I see. I’ve got no agenda.
I respect what other people say, but you
have to form your own opinion and then
back them up. My opinions aren’t always
the right ones, although they are most
of the time… But I’m a bit of a hypocrite,
though, because I once told Neil Lennon
and John Hartson that if they ever saw
me write a column or appear on the TV,
they could hit me round the head with
a shovel. More faces than Big Ben, me!
 
You can see BT Sport Score on BT Sport 1,
BT Sport Showcase and live on Twitter,
every Saturday from 2.30pm. For more
information, head to www.bt.com/sport

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 17

UUPPFFRROOnnTT ERBIE RIDES AGAIN An under-18 fixture in
he UAE was held up briefly because a joyrider
>< rove a VW Beetle across the pitch mid-match

AROUnD 5 MICKEY MOUSE CLUB? 9 “WHO’S NEXT TO KISS THE CUP?”
THE WORLD France Paris Norway Lillestrom
In 12 STORIES
Ahead of their Real Madrid showdown, Lillestrom lifted the Norwegian Cup for
PSG have called on Mickey and Minnie a sixth time recently, but it’s the joyous
Mouse for tactical advice. celebrations that’ll be remembered the
most: defender Aleksander Melgavis
Sadly Neymar wasn’t able to make it, stripped naked up on stage at a public
but Kylian Mbappe, Edinson Cavani and event and slipped his manhood inside
team-mates went to greet the cartoon the trophy. It’s probably a good idea to
characters at Disneyland. Mickey is in get a new cup ordered now: no team
favour of implementing zonal marking will want to win that trophy ever again.
and a diamond to outnumber Madrid
in midfield, but Minnie prefers keeping 1 0 NICKLAS BENDTNER: DOG-
it simple: just bait Sergio Ramos until CATCHER EXTRAORDINAIRE
he boots someone and gets sent off... Macedonia Skopje

6 “AND THEN HE JUST PUNCHED Macedonia’s attempts to train animals
IT INTO THE NET!” to deliver the matchball have had little
Russia Moscow success: in hindsight, using a duck-billed
platypus was too ambitious.
Donald Trump joins Leicester City, Japan introduce The World Cup draw brought Pele face
a matchball monkey and Nicklas Bendtner fails to to face with a renowned villain – and as However, what they do have is a good
catch a dog – 2017 ended in frankly bizarre fashion well as Diego Maradona, Vladimir Putin old-fashioned dog on the pitch, and the
was there too. Maradona was pictured pooch even laid down for a tickle on the
1 “NURSE, I’M HALLUCINATING 3 POLES APART raising his hand – a force of habit during belly from Vardar’s goalkeeper during
ABOUT LEV YASHIN AGAIN!” China Handan World Cup events – while Pele produced a Europa League clash with Rosenborg,
Russia Moscow his phone, perhaps to show Vladimir the before stewards approached and it all
The Chinese province of Hebei has been Hand of God goal in its full infamy. went a bit Benny Hill. Nicklas Bendtner
FFT knew Lev Yashin was great, but home to Ezequiel Lavezzi, Gervinho and was playing for Rosenborg and is said
we’ve gained a whole new respect for Manuel Pellegrini in recent times, as the The president was probably making to have insisted on being known as the
him after seeing FIFA’s official poster mighty Hebei China Fortune came fourth mental notes. “Can we get that ref for world’s greatest dog-catcher, despite
for the 2018 World Cup: showing that in the Chinese Super League. Russia’s opening game?” failing to catch the canine.
footballs were the size of huge great
wrecking balls back in the USSR. The province is also home to a bunch 7 BEHOLD, A MATCHBALL MONKEY 1 1 “ALRIGHTY THEN, SQUAD!”
of pole dancers, who randomly turned Japan Osaka Ukraine Kharkiv
Confusingly, the pitch is tiny and up at a football stadium and showed off
circular – it’s almost as if they were their skills in the middle of the pitch. The The J-League can usually be relied upon Shakhtar Donetsk boss Paulo Fonseca
depicting what a match would look dancing even included balancing some to produce something bizarre, and they promised to dress up as Zorro if his side
like if viewed while on some sort of footballs for extra difficulty – it wasn’t have really delivered this month. reached the last 16 of the Champions
drugs. Write your own punchline... like this back in Manchester, eh Manuel? League. After beating Manchester City
Before a recent Cerezo Osaka match, 2-1 in Kharkiv, he only went and did it:
2 WHEN TRUMP MET LIAM 4 “BLIMEY, THIS BLIZZARD’S a monkey in full kit appeared pitchside, striding into the press conference after
Sweden Stockholm GETTING WORSE!” picked up the matchball, waltzed onto the game in hat, mask and cape.
Germany Cologne the playing surface and handed it over
From Stan Collymore letting off a fire to the ref, before toddling off. We’ll be Here’s hoping the trend of managers
extinguisher in La Manga back in the With three points from their opening honest, we’ve watched the video about dressing up as film characters catches
day, to the events of Thailand 2015: 16 Bundesliga matches, things haven’t 250 times – it is the weirdest thing we on – FFT would love to see Rafa Benitez
squad trips abroad have not always been going well for FC Köln - and even have ever seen. Only in Japan. as Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.
gone well for Leicester City. the groundsman has fallen victim to
their slapstick season. 8 GLORY, GLORY 1 2 GIFS THAT KEEP ON GIVING
Thankfully it was more peaceful this ‘TOTTENHAM HOTSPURS’ England Bristol
time: players jetted to Stockholm and As he fired up his trusty snow-shifting Kenya Machakos
dressed up as Yoda, Spiderman and device after a blizzard had engulfed the Bristol City have won the internet. The
Donald Trump. Danny Simpson was RheinEnergieStadion before their clash Victor Wanyama may have been injured Robins have been busy producing the
Buzz Lightyear, while Marc Albrighton with Freiburg, he appeared to send the recently, but Spurs’ Kenyan fan club are greatest goal gifs ever, with each tweet
came as Liam Gallagher. Apparently snow directly into his own face. trying to keep his spirits up. featuring a recorded clip of the scorer.
the winger spent most of the time
bemoaning the lack of ‘sunshiiiiiiine’. The match started well, though: Köln The lads clubbed together and printed The highlights include Jamie Paterson
went 3-0 up… then lost 4-3. a big ‘Wanyama Get Well Soon’ banner having an egg smashed over his head
(which helpfully included the added bit and Bobby Reid pouring milk on himself
SIX OF THE BEST FIXTURES of explanation ‘Defensive midfielder – to imitate WWE wrestler ‘Stone Cold’
Tottenham Hotspurs’) before marching Steve Austin. It’s almost worth staying
through Machakos. Surprisingly, no one at home on a Saturday afternoon, just
brought a ‘Wenger Out’ sign along with to see what they do next...
them – a missed opportunity.

i Arsenal vs Chelsea January 3 i Liverpool vs Everton January 5 i Sheff Utd vs Sheff Wed January 12
Last term’s Emirates defeat was a turning point Klopp vs Big Sam, FA Cup grudge match: stay The Blades won at Hillsborough in September
for the Blues – should they lose 3-0 once again? tuned for those comedy post-match interviews – Friday night at Bramall Lane could be feisty

18 February 20186 FourFourTwo.com

26 NARROW DEFEAT Venus Bucharest lost 26-1 to Academia UPFROnT
Rapid in Romania’s fourth tier. “If they hadn’t scored the first
10 goals, I think we could have won it,” said the goalkeeper

02 03

04
01

05 08
06 07

09 10 11 12

i Inter vs Roma January 21 i Valencia vs Real Madrid January 28 i Tottenham vs Man United January 31
Luciano Spalletti has guided Inter into Scudetto Real have trailed Los Che all season in La Liga Midweek Premier League action: United have
contention: will his old club derail their hopes? – they will want three points at the Mestalla won each of their last six games at Wembley

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 19

UUPPFFRROOnnTT

><

Interview Joe Brewin GAMES Liverpool 5-0 Fulham
THAT
CHAnGED October 5, 1993 League Cup
MY LIFE
ROBBIE “This was my first match at Anfield and
FOWLER I was so nervous. I was a snotty-nosed,
skinny kid – to get the call that I would
“I SCORED A GREAT GOAL AND NETTED IN THE SHOOTOUT. IT be playing, and then to score five goals,
WAS THE FIRST TROPHY OF WHAT TURNED INTO A TREBLE” was tremendous. I think only about four
or five players in the history of Liverpool
20 February 20186 FourFourTwo.com have ever managed it. But I didn’t go out
and celebrate straight after the match.
I just went home and had a Chinese...”

Liverpool 3-0 Arsenal

August 28, 1994 Premier League

“It was the biggest game that changed
my life. I was up against David Seaman,
Nigel Winterburn, Tony Adams, Lee Dixon
and Martin Keown – all England players
– so to score three goals against them
was unbelievable: words can’t describe
that. To do it in four minutes 33 seconds
was unreal. It seemed longer than that.
Did time stand still for me? I’m not sure.”

Spain 0-0 England (2-4p)

June 22, 1996 European Championship

“Not a lot of people know that I was in
the Euro 96 squad. I came on during the
Holland thrashing and the quarter-final
against Spain, and was due to take the
fifth penalty in the shootout – Seaman
didn’t do me any favours by saving their
fourth pen! I was devastated, as it could
have been me placing a big mark on my
international career, but it wasn’t to be.”

L’pool 1-1 Birmingham (5-4p)

February 25, 2001 League Cup

“That was the first time I had captained
the club in a major cup final. I didn’t play
as many matches as I would have liked
that year, but scored a great goal to put
us 1-0 up and netted in the shootout. It
was the first trophy of what turned out
to be a treble in an incredible season.”

REBUTTAL Defensor Sporting assistant Alejandro Acevedo UPFROnT
hit back after pretending to be nutted by the fourth official.
“I collapsed because I felt my glasses falling off,” he said

T H E F O O T B A L L G R I D The ’90s did give us Three Lions and World in Motion
– but not every football song was a chart-topper...

FAn Song FOG ON THE DANCE WITH DO THE LET’S DANCE OUTSTANDING
TYNE THE LION RIGHT THING (1997) (1999)
VS (1990) (1991)
(1993)
PLAYER
Starring... A rapping Gazza Cameroon’s Ian Wright, Bryan Robson, Andy/Andrew/
CHELSEA (and Lindisfarne) Roger Milla Wright, Juninho, Craig Andy Cole
Wright Hignett, Phil
Richard
McCormack mp...

Sales rep, 41 The context Geordie group Milla becomes Wrighty Bob Striker remakes
sing about river world’s leading co-writes ortimer 1982 funk hit
Craig Burley Any good? mist, capitalising house tune orks Chris
on Gascoigne’s corner flag Pet Shop Boys’ ea song when after Man
’90s midfielder, 46 Worst lyric Italia 90 fame dancer, decides Chris Lowe Boro reach United win
FA Cup final the Treble
Q: Who was Chelsea’s Weirdest to release He’s not a bad
first manager in the moment an album singer - his The song at Cole raps to
hat choice is least makes specially written
Premier League? Did it By objective Of course, it’s it beyond 42 football lyrics –
RM: I’ll go with Ian chart? standards, Roger Milla another matter seconds – they’re far from
Porterfield – it may his rapping singing! Plus, unlike cup
is terrible – ving up, final hopes outstanding...
be Dave Webb. no match for cameo from a sy to do,
PJ & Duncan female n work is “We’re caught “7.5-mil record
CB: I think it was ing, and in a world full breaker, rapping
John you can’t get on the mic, I’m
Ian Porterfield. through” of tears” – a record maker”
“It’s black “Come a reference
1-1 and white, this Come to imminent
Geordie boy’s relegation?
Q: Chelsea reached the gonna do alright” Lion!”
1994 FA Cup Final –
which team did they Gascoigne Random lion Wrighty sings in Video includes Cole turns up
attempting to roars halfway a centre circle blacked-up Boro at nightclub,
beat in the semi-final? play his own fan with a giant starts playing
RM: Can’t forget that. leg as a guitar through – while bloke table football
scary stuff brandishes Emerson wig.
We beat Luton 2-0. yellow card Er, OK then...
CB: Luton Town! at camera

Fan vs Player interviews Richard Edwards 2-2 Soared to Sadly not: the Yes, but at Only reached 44 At 68, behind
No.2, pipped British public 43. Mr Vain – it was a song Mi Chico Latino
Q: From which club did by Unch was No.1 – saluting them
Chelsea sign Gianfranco Melody (n sing ironic, some scraping past and Livin’ La
Zola in November 1996? Robson .. Canadian singer Chesterfield in the Vida Loca.
Jerome might suggest semis, to be fair What a time
RM: Definitely Parma. to be alive...
versio
An absolute steal.
CB: It was Parma.

3-3

Q: What was Chelsea’s
highest Premier League
finish during the ’90s?

RM: I might be being
overly optimistic here,

but I reckon third?
CB: No idea. Fifth?

4-3
Fan wins

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 21



READ IT AND WEEP TSV Oldenburg’s boss Boris UPFROnT
Ekmescic saw he’d been fired in a match report:
“I’m glad I read it or I’d have gone into training”

IT’S PHOTOCOPYInG, AnD IT’S LIVE!

The ’90s had their fair share of Sliding Doors moments – FFT investigates how the universe could have turned out…

ALEX FERGUSON GETS THE SACK a “Jimmy jazzy jumper jackass”, the Wegerle and Alexi Lalas, the Motown SEPP BLATTER LOSES Words Nick Moore
spheres roll clumsily through his tiny deity ditches her heels for the Umbro
Just one week into the new decade and fingers and his wig falls off, making Specialis and strides out for the World The good suits of FIFA see through
a beleaguered Ferguson heads to Forest him an international laughing stock. Cup opening ceremony. She chips in the bluster of slippery Swiss snake-oil
in the FA Cup Third Round: Mark Robins Hopes of going into politics one day a panenka so exquisite that America salesman Sepp and instead choose
spoons a chance foolishly over the bar, at an end, Donald’s forced to become instantly falls in love with soccer and to vote in the steady Swede Lennart
Forest triumph and the gaffer’s sacked. a YouTuber, doing degrading stunts abandons NFL for good. Italy win the Johansson. The result? A boring old
He returns to Aberdeen, who dominate like dressing up as an oversized baby, 1994 tournament with Roberto Baggio football administration, totally free
Scottish football for 25 years and scoop and staring directly into an eclipse. scoring the winning penalty, inspired from ethics committees, “financial
the Champions League... twice. United by Ross – but the United States quickly mismanagement” and people with
are then managed by Brian Kidd, Bryan THE PREMIER LEAGUE DOESN’T HAPPEN evolve into a footballing dream team. Trump Tower apartment blocks just
Robson, Brian Little, Brian Horton, Brian Kobe Bryant slam-dunks 43 goals past for their cats. England bag World Cup
McDermott and eventually Brian Laws, After sounding out the top clubs with France in the 2018 World Cup Final. 2018 and Australia get 2022. Qatar
who lobs a chicken wing toward Leeds’ a view to pumping untold riches into are left with a load of cash they don’t
five-time league champ, Eric Cantona. their coffers, ITV and BSkyB come to JEAN-MARC BOSMAN DECIDES know what to do with, so add it on
the decision that wrestling’s probably DUNKERQUE IS A TOILET to Neymar’s PSG pay packet, putting
GAZZA DOESN’T GET BOOKED a safer bet. Clubs go bust, Giggs and the Brazilian on £367 billion a week.
Becks join Serie A clubs and Richard The bog-standard Belgian midfielder
Gazza puts in a robust challenge on Keys goes into the photocopier repair was getting itchy feet with RFC Liege, RONALDO FEELS GREAT ON
Thomas Berthold during the Italia 90 trade. Meanwhile, 250,000 pack into but after seeing Dunkerque’s rickety WORLD CUP FINAL DAY
semi-final with Germany – Berthold is the Wembley GrappleDome to watch Stade Marcel-Tribut facilities, decides
booked for diving, Gascoigne sheds Giant Haystacks face The Undertaker to stay put and play for the reserves O Fenomeno gets up feeling absolutely
a tear of laughter before scoring an in a billion-dollar Premier League of instead. What’s the point in making phenomenal on the morning of July 12,
extra-time winner. In the showpiece, Wrestling slamdown. Break his back! a fuss, he shrugs, boring old EU illegal 1998, and enjoys a seizure-free day of
his talent blossoms with a hat-trick parameter system. Edgar Davids and carb-loading, soap operas and napping.
past Argentina, and the whole team DIANA ROSS ACTUALLY SCORES Steve McManaman settle for notably At the Stade de France that evening, the
are knighted, going on to win Euro 96. THAT PENALTY smaller mansions, while Sol Campbell hosts catch merry hell: the world’s best
Gazza wins the Ballon d’Or four times, snubs Arsenal and links up with Gary player runs amok, Zidane starts nutting
but melts them all down in a prank After being hothoused Doherty, Helder Postiga and Goran anyone in yellow, Emmanuel Petit loses
with best bud Jimmy Five Bellies. in the special art of Bunjevcevic in helping Tottenham to his lovely mane due to stress and Thierry
the penalty kick by become the Invincibles in 2003-04. Henry is diagnosed with crippling
DONALD TRUMP MESSES UP John Harkes, Roy insecurity..
THE RUMBELOWS CUP DRAW

The brusque Yankee business
mogul thought it’d be fun,
pulling balls out of a velvet
sack live on the telly. But
after being caught off
camera calling Saint
a “stumpy porridge
swiller” and
Greavsie

“DIANA ROSS CHIPS HOME A
PANENKA SO EXQUISITE THAT
AMERICA FALLS IN LOVE WITH
SOCCER AND ABANDONS NFL”

UUPPFFRROOnnTT OINT MADE Former Brasov owner Ioan Neculaie was jailed
fter reacting to a flat tyre by ‘taking out a gun and shooting
>< he other tyres too’ – he was ‘making a point to his chauffeur’

REQUIRED OnE QUESTIOn QUIZ
READInG
WHO’S THE 90S OVERSEAS STAR?

All these players, from 20 different nations, featured in the Premier League in the 1990s

1 23 4

Review Chris FlanaganFever Pitch5 67 8
Answers 1) Florin Raducioiu; 2) Arnar Gunnlaugsson; 3) Daniel Amokachi; 4) John Jensen; 5) Nayim; 6) Bryan Roy; 7) Ronny Rosenthal; 8) Cobi Jones; 9) Robbie Slater; 10) Karel Poborsky;Nick Hornby910 11 12
11) Uwe Rosler; 12) Branco; 13) Gunnar Halle; 14) Lionel Perez; 15) Roberto Di Matteo; 16) Lucas Radebe; 17) Temuri Ketsbaia; 18) Sasa Curcic; 19) Paulo Wanchope; 20) Martin Dahlin(Gollancz, £5.99)1314 15 16
17 18 19 20
OOOOO

When the ’90s began,
fans were perceived
by many as dimwits
and hooligans: Fever
Pitch illustrated that
the reality was quite
a lot different.

Published in 1992,
the autobiographical
tome explained what
it was actually like to
be a football fan in
a way that no book
had done before.

It also showed that
supporters could be
intelligent, civilised,
normal people, albeit
with an all-consuming
obsession that takes
over your daily life –
in Hornby’s case this
involves moving next
door to Highbury and
daydreaming about
Lee Dixon penalties.

That it culminated
in the drama of the
Gunners’ 1989 title
triumph at Anfield
just added to the
allure of a book that
pretty much every
fan could relate to.

Best chapter title?
‘Saddam Hussein
and Warren Barton’.

Later made into
a film starring Colin
Firth, it catapulted
Nick’s writing career
and remains one of
the greatest football
books of all time.

24 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com

QUOTE OF THE MONTH A Sunderland fan insists he didn’t UPFROnT
defecate in his seat mid-match: “The lad next to me said
I didn’t have a s**t. He said, ‘I can confirm he had a piss’”

SEAn DYCHE: WOLFIE KEVIn KEEGAn’S
PUB 90S In MUSIC
The Wolves mascot may be happily
LAnDLORD? married, but he’ll punch a pushy pig Fergivicious
A$AP Ferg
Gruff centre-halves W olfie loves nothing more than spending Wolves’ First Division clash at Bristol City, when Wolfie
during the ’90s were a relaxing morning with wife Wendy, found himself face to face with sworn enemies The What Are We
supposed to run pubs but be warned: he has a violent streak. Three Pigs, who had been hired for the day by one of Fighting For
after retiring – not Never was that better displayed than the home side’s sponsors.
have a boozer named in the 1998-99 campaign, when Wolves’ mascot was Live
after them. involved in not one, but three altercations. There was Tensions increased when the mascots took part in
a fracas with a photographer, then he was reported to a particularly tetchy penalty shootout, before trouble This
Many ex-stoppers the Football Association by West Bromwich Albion fans erupted on the halfway line as the pigs squared up to Lisa Loeb
aren’t in with a real because of “crowd incitement and bringing the game Wolfie, who responded by hitting one of them in the
chance of leading into disrepute”, after kicking Baggie Bird to the turf on face. Stewards swiftly intervened, and the mascots Title
unfancied Burnley derby day. Even worse, Throstles fans complained he were removed. Meghan Trainor
into Europe, though. “goaded us with a wave”. The devil. However, all of
If Sean Dyche does that paled into insignificance compared to events at He has calmed down a bit these days, often riding Tell Him
just that, the local around the pitch on a motorbike. But the message is The Exciters
pub has promised clear: don’t mess with Wolfie.
to change its name: I Will
Dyche words Si Hawkins from The Princess nAGOYA GRAMPUS EIGHT Radiohead
Royal to The Dyche.
When Gary Lineker moved to Japan in 1992, Love
Originally it’d only nothing inspired him more than the badge – John Lennon
offered the Clarets’ an angry killer whale jumping for a header.
manager free shandy. Sadly Nagoya Grampus Eight have changed IT
“He said he preferred their badge, and even their name, to simply Original
a pint but he has not Nagoya Grampus. The whale will be livid... Motion Picture
been in, so I came up Soundtrack
with this,” landlady
Justine Lorriman tells If
FFT. To start off with, Janet Jackson
the pledge had been
a quirky message on Oui
an advertising board, Jeremih
but a TV crew “asked
him about it”, Justine Beat
says. “He joked that Ricky Dillon
if his face was above
our door, it’d stop Them
underage drinking.” Them

The pub is clearly
the place to be after
the match. It went
viral last year when
a fan rode a horse
in the bar following
victory over Everton.

“I think The Dyche
would be very good
for business,” Justine
adds, optimistically.

No doubt Princess
Anne is sticking pins
in her voodoo doll
of Jeff Hendrick as
we speak...

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 25

UPFROnT

ASK A SILLY QUESTIOn

MARTIn ‘LITTERBUG’ TYLER

The Sky commentator never bins anything: he might need that team-sheet from 1973 any day now

Hello Martin. One of your most famous Interview Nick Moore Illustration Bill McConkey before they played England in World Cup
moments was the excellent shouting qualifying. They can be tricky. I will write
of “AGUEROOOOO!” How close did you them all out phonetically, so I don’t get
come to screaming out “MOTHER OF caught out. It’s all part of globalisation,
CHRIST!”, “BIG KICK IN THE NET!” or and it is a courtesy to try to get it right.
something else that was much worse? Your name is an anagram of Mr Tiny
Hi. I think you’ve hit the nail on the head Alert, Mr Early Tint and Mr Nay Litter.
– I could have really messed it up. It was If you had to be renamed one of the
Aguero’s moment, and I was just lucky three, which option would you go for?
enough that I’d been sent to cover that Oh… I think it would have to be Mr Nay
match. So the nice thing about it is that Litter. I try to be tidy, although I’m not.
I got the right goalscorer and felt history My office is littered with notes. Very few
being made in front of our eyes. Luckily, commentators throw them away – we
30 years of experience helped me, and always think we might need something.
when I said it, it was purely instinctive. ‘Look, here’s a 1973 Sheffield Wednesday
Do you ever creep up behind members team-sheet!’ I know I’ll need it one day.
of your family, or pensioners, and then How do you think litterbugs should be
bellow “AGUEROOOOO!” in their ear? punished, Mr Nay Litter? Should they
Ha. It’s the absolute opposite of that, to be forced to eat whatever they discard
be honest. I get a lot of requests to say on the floor in a disgusting baguette?
it, particularly at the Etihad, because it I think they should be made to pick up
was epic – the 20th season, the last kick litter for a day or two and learn about
of all the games. But I don’t really want cleanliness. But I wish I could practise
to. I’ll tell them: ‘If you want it for your what I’m preaching here, to be honest.
ringtone, it’s still available to listen to.’ Former referee Howard Webb recently
I’d do it every day. “AGUEROOOOO!” confessed to committing some petty
after squeezing into a really difficult thefts in these pages. Have you ever
parking space, or “AGUEROOOOO!” nicked toilet rolls from hotels, Martin?
after finishing off a lovely cup of tea. Never. Although as a young Woking fan,
Unless Sergio can go out there and do it I did get involved in a pitch invasion. We
again, I’m not going to do it. It’s one of won the Amateur Cup at Wembley back
those things about football – it can take in 1958. I was about 10 and there were
you to a place as a commentator where 70,000 people there. It wasn’t a crime
you can find something, a moment, that then, but it would be a crime these days.
I wouldn’t be able to repeat right now. When did you last climb up a ladder?
Fair enough. Were you thinking, “Oh, Quite recently, actually. I’m a coach at
for Pete’s sake” when Everton signed Hampton & Richmond Borough FC and
the midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov? we kick balls up on the roof sometimes.
It’s tough. Some people like to anglicise We love the way that you can switch
names, others don’t. Antoine Griezmann almost any subject back to football…
pronounces his surname Gree-ezz-man. Ha, that is true. I just love football with
We always want to do it right, but I can’t a ridiculous passion, really.
imagine that one will get across the line. Good man. Now, finally, what is your
Do you ever warm up by saying “Dejan top tip when making a jacket potato?
Lovren’s 11 benevolent elephants?” Do it in the microwave, then finish it off
Not really, although I’ll certainly practise. with some grated cheese.
I was practising some Lithuanian names Tasty! And no football mentioned this
time. Thanks chatting to us, Martin...
“I GET A LOT OF REQUESTS TO SAY IT. A pleasure.
I’LL TELL PEOPLE: ‘IF YOU WANT IT FOR
YOUR RINGTONE, IT’S STILL AVAILABLE’” Sky Sports is the home of football, with
126 Premier League games and 127 Sky
Bet EFL matches shown exclusively live
over the course of the 2017-18 season.

26 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com

UPFROnT

TALEnTSPOTTER

“WORST. CLUB MANCHESTER CITY POSITION MIDFIELDER THEY SAID: “You are the lucky guys
CAFE. who saw the first game,” said Pep
EVER.” VALUE FOOT HEIGHT NATION AGE Guardiola after Foden’s first senior
appearance in July, a pre-season
When Ciro Immobile £20m L 1.71m ENG 17 game against city rivals Manchester
was sent off against United. “It’s a long time since I’ve
Talentspotter words Andrew Murray Torino in December, WOULD MIDDLESBROUGH HARD HAT seen something like this, because
Lazio’s fans vented YOU BUY his performance was another level.”
their frustration by It’s a problem we’ve all faced: you’re pretending to be Jim THE STORY SO FAR: Born in 2000,
bombarding a cafe THIS? Nail in the third series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, but when y in Stockport, Foden is a City fan who
250 miles away with prepare to dismantle the Middlesbrough Transporter Brid has been with the Blues since he was
terrible reviews on you can’t find a hard hat anywhere. Solution? Nip down to eight. A playmaker with a wand for
TripAdvisor. Riverside Stadium and grab an official Boro hard hat. One a left foot and an eye for a pass, he
fits all and it’s just £35. Crocodile shoes are sadly not avail shot to fame last in October as the
Cafe Rossetti in
Trieste was hit by linchpin of England’s Under-17
a sudden spike in World Cup triumph, scoring
reviews branding it twice in the final against
a “nightmare”, urging Spain and named player
diners to “stay far of the tournament. He’s
away”. The reason? played in two Champions
The cafe was owned League group games this
by Piero Giacomelli, term, being deployed at left
the referee who’d
given Immobile his wing-back at Shakhtar Donetsk.
marching orders. HE SAID: “My Man City debut meant
everything – I’ve waited so long for
“The chef decided this opportunity and it finally came.
to send out a meal It’s brilliant to be around players like
which was difficult David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne
to choke down,” one and learn from them every day.”
review complained. IDOLISED: Silva. Small, technically
“Despite numerous excellent and a brilliant dribbler, it
complaints from me is easy to see why. Has since been
and my friends, the dubbed the English Andres Iniesta.
chef decided to send SOCIAL MEDIA: Prolific retweeter.
us away while still Foden excitedly shares the City and
making us pay the England squads that he is selected
large bill. Everything in. Basically, he is living the dream.
was spoiled by the LINKED WITH: A loan switch to
person unfit to do Celtic, among others, but City are
this job.” keen to keep hold of their prodigy.

None of it actually FourFourTwo.com February 2018 27
happened though,
and TripAdvisor
swiftly removed the
bad reviews “due to
a recent event that
has attracted media
attention”. Cafe staff
were left bemused
by the whole thing:
Giacomelli doesn’t
own the place these
days anyway.

UPFROnT

INTERVIEW

GABRIEL
PAULISTA

The Valencia defender has put
his Arsenal frustrations behind
him. Now bring on Diego Costa

You joined Valencia in August after 18 months D TO
at Arsenal – how did the move come about? FIGHT COSTA, BUT A FEW DAYS
When you’re at a club like Arsenal, it
isn’t easy to make the decision to LATER WE WERE SPEAKING
move on. But Marcelino was my LIKE THE BEST OF FRIENDS”
coach at Villarreal and I learned
Interview Marcus Alves a great deal from him. He helped
me get to Arsenal and accomplish
my dream of playing in the Premier
League. When he joined Valencia in
the summer, he called and asked if
I was interested in working with him
again. Arsenal didn’t really want to sell
me, but Marcelino fought hard for a deal.

What was the deciding factor?
I was suffering with a knee problem, and I realised
I’d have no chance to play in London. I’d have lost
out on the start of the season, been left behind in
the competition for a place and been miserable, so
I decided to return to Spain. Now I am super happy
– not only because Valencia are winning games, but
also because my family were not happy in England.

Be honest – did you expect to be competing with
Barcelona at the top of the table during 2017-18?
Honestly? No way, especially because Valencia went
through a rough moment last year and had to fight
to avoid being relegated. Initially, that did give me
some doubts about signing for them, but I couldn’t

3 Route to Europe Top Gunners Cup hero
CAREER Moves to Villarreal from Brazil His only goal for Arsenal is the Produces an excellent display as
HIGHLIGHTS in 2013, and in his first season opener in a 2-0 victory at home Arsenal claim a shock win over
he helps the Yellow Submarine to Bournemouth, which sends Man City in the 2016-17 FA Cup
return to European competition the Gunners top of the Premier semi-final at Wembley – injury
following a three-season absence. League table in December 2015. stops him playing in the final.

28 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com

5 HANDS OFF In Greece, goalkeeper Nikos Papadopoulos got UPFROnT
a five-match ban for celebrating a goal by hugging the ref.
“I didn’t know it was him,” he pleaded. “I just hugged him”

be happier with my decision – we have GREAT
had a good start and I’m playing more. GOALS
RETOLD
What do you see as Valencia’s main
target this season? A top-four finish? Michael Owen
Every match we’ve won, we’ve begun
to dream higher and higher. We have vs Argentina, 1998 World Cup
an amazing set of players and a really
good manager, so we will definitely be Interview Chris Flanagan; Illustration German Aczel It is one of the most iconic England goals of all “I had pushed the ball to the side of him but then
aiming for a Champions League place. time, and Michael Owen still remembers every spotted Scholesy in the corner of my eye trying to
split-second of it. “It’s etched in my brain,” the come in and steal it! I nipped in ahead of him and
Why weren’t your family settled in former frontman laughs. thought: ‘The goalkeeper’s spreading himself – I’ll
England when you were at Arsenal? need to clip-finish it’. I was quite far out, so height
My wife struggled to speak the English Owen was only 18 when he collected the ball was the best wa to o. When it flew into the top
language – in order to do something, on halfway in Saint-Etienne and ut n land
she always needed help from people. ahead in the most dramatic ria.”
It annoyed her. The weather was also Beckham passed me the ba at down to watch
a problem, but now she can take our facing my own goal, so I ha e doesn’t exactly
son to school – she can do everything. what was in the opponents’
the BT Sport pundit explains s him the historic
Did you get frustrated with all of the “I took a touch on the outsi be and say, ‘This
injuries that stopped you playing as foot, wriggled free from my ave to reluctantly
often as you’d have liked at Arsenal? and just remember lifting m uckles. “The goal
The injuries definitely didn’t help, but up and seeing the next Arge to the rest of the
I think I deserved more opportunities player – he seemed miles a e met the likes of
at Arsenal. I felt down as the only way o’ve mentioned it.
I played was if my team-mates were “A few minutes before tha y was the goal of
injured. I didn’t feel OK with that at all. I had run at them and won e.”
a penalty, so they’d droppe
Was last season’s FA Cup semi-final off. I built up a head of stea ake BT Sport your
victory against Manchester City the and it was only at that point me of the Premier
highlight of your time with Arsenal? did I think, ‘I’ve got a great ague, Champions
I played one of my best games against chance of scoring here’. The
City that day and was very happy, but defender had a standing st League, Europa
then came the derby game with Spurs and when someone is runni League and the
and I gave away a penalty, and didn’t you like that, you’ve got no FA Cup. Head to
play again. I wasn’t happy but I’m not www.btsport.com
mad. I’ll always be grateful to Arsenal.

What did you make of last season’s
fan protests against Arsene Wenger?
The fans are always asking for him to
leave, but he’s very nice and he always
had his door open while I was with the
club. When I was not happy, I went to
see him and explained how I felt – he
understood and gave me his opinion.

You know Alexis Sanchez and Mesut
Özil well – will they stay or move on?
The team would lose a lot if they left.
I would bet at least one of them stays.
Don’t ask me which, though! [Laughs]

You’ve had some battles with Diego
Costa – are you looking forward to
facing him against Atletico Madrid?
My Villarreal home debut was against
Atletico Madrid and I had a good fight
with Diego that day – a very good one!
[Laughs] Then there was the match at
Chelsea when I was sent off. I became
‘blind’ and wanted to fight him – but
a few days later we were speaking like
the best of friends. People think Diego
is a bad person, but he has a big heart.

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 29

UUPPFFRROOnnTT

><

DER KOLUMnIST

LOTHAR MATTHAUS

The ’90s began with World Cup glory for the FFT columnist, but they ended with the biggest low
of his career – injury-time defeat to Manchester United in the 1999 Champions League Final

W e were winning 1-0 against But maybe we didn’t lose only quality
Man United in the Champions with that substitution. Maybe we lost
League final when president personality. Maybe it was a wake-up
Franz Beckenbauer went into call to Manchester United to say: ‘Hey,

the elevator at the Camp Nou. Lothar Matthaus isn’t on the field any

A minute later, when he got out of the more, so now we can attack more as

lift and arrived down at pitchside, the they’re missing a personality in their

scoreboard said 2-1 to Man United. He defence – their captain’.

said to the security guy there: ‘What is We went too defensive. Maybe we

this? Is it a joke? It was 1-0 to Bayern were too sure that we would win. We

Munich. It’s a mistake.’ gave the ball away far too easily and

The security guy told him United had gave them corner-kicks. Maybe they

scored two goals. Franz said: ‘No, I don’t wouldn’t have got those two corners

believe this! They didn’t score any goals.’ if I was still on the pitch. Maybe they

Soon he realised that, yes, Man United wouldn’t have scored those two goals.

had scored two goals – they had scored But nobody knows.

them in the one minute that he was in For United to score twice in injury

the elevator. time was unbelievable. We’d also led

I never had a worse feeling in football in my only other European Cup final,

than that night in 1999. I lost a couple “WE WEnT TO GET OUR RUnnERS-UP against Porto in Vienna in ’87, when
of titles in my career: you can lose and we lost 2-1. But back then, Bayern

it is never nice. But the way we lost that MEDALS BUT I TOOK IT OFF STRAIGHT dominated only the first 45 minutes
Champions League final was a lot worse. and the right team won. Against Man
That was what made me angry. United we dominated 90 minutes, and

We respected Man United a lot. They AWAY. I WAS TOO UPSET – WHAT for that reason it felt much worse.
had great players and a great coach. After the final whistle, everyone was
I had played as a sweeper that season
upset. The players didn’t understand,

– we had played with three defenders, COULD I DO WITH SECOnD PLACE?” the fans didn’t understand – United’s
with me in the middle of Samuel Kuffour fans were celebrating and ours were

and Thomas Linke. But for the final we crying. We all went up to receive our

made a tactical change. David Beckham runners-up medals but I took mine off

was playing in the centre of midfield for straight away. I was too upset – what

United rather than out on the right wing, could I do with second place?

because Roy Keane and Paul Scholes were both suspended. Our manager, Ottmar That was my final chance to win the Champions League. I still had a contract at

Hitzfeld, asked me to play in midfield against Beckham. Bayern until 2001, but a few months after that match I wasn’t ready to play in the

Mario Basler put us in front, and we dominated the 90 minutes. United’s attack Bundesliga any more and I moved to the USA to join the MetroStars.

didn’t exist for those 90 minutes. They never had any shots on goal. I never won the European Cup and fans do talk about that. For me, my life doesn’t

Illustration David Mahoney I was 38 then, and after 75 minutes I told the coach I was feeling tired. I’d been change with that title. I wouldn’t have a different life today with the Champions

making different runs in midfield than when I’d played sweeper, where I didn’t League or without it. I had a long career and I am very happy. It is nice when you

have to run as much. I didn’t tell the coach that he had to take me off – only that can win everything, but sometimes that is not possible. That night it was possible,

I was tired and if he did want to substitute me, I would agree. I had a really good but we – the team and myself – were too stupid to do it.

relationship with Ottmar and I think I had to tell him that. Then it was down to him. We had to congratulate Man United. It was the other side of the game. Football is

With 10 minutes left, he brought me off. Looking back, maybe it was a mistake a beautiful sport when the better team is winning. However, it is also a sport where it

– but if we’d won 1-0, it would have been correct. It always depends on the result. is possible to have a game like that one in 1999.

30 February 20186 FourFourTwo.com

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WE
THE 90S

W Words Huw Davies, Chris Flanagan,
AB U James Maw, Andrew Murray, Gary Parkinson

From John Barnes rapping
to avian mascots scrapping,
FFT recalls some of the
players, teams, goals,
matches, merchandise,
moments and ayhem
that made foot
the

WE 08
THE 90S
SHEVCHEnKO AnD
01 ROBBIE FOWLER’S REBROV AT DYnAMO
EASY-BREATHE PLASTER
In supposedly opening up Dynamo Kiev began the ’90s by edging
his airwaves for easier inhalation, out CSKA Moscow to become league
Fowler’s nose plaster became an champions of the USSR, but it is the
unwitting prop for his ‘cocaine Andriy Shevchenko-inspired side of
snorting’ goal celebration in the ’99 who are remembered most fondly.
Merseyside Derby of April 1999.
They successfully adapted to life in the
02 TINY PLAYERS WEARING newly-formed Ukrainian Premier League
MASSIVE SHIRTS after the break-up of the Soviet Union,
The 1970s had V-necks; winning nine successive league titles.
the ’80s had short shorts; the ’90s
had elfin players drowning in tents. Valeri Lobanovsky’s return as boss,
Juninho never left Middlesbrough coinciding with the emergence of
between his three spells; he went Shevchenko and strike partner Sergei
missing in his shirt every so often. Rebrov, helped them flourish in Europe.

03 RENFORD REJECTS In 1998-99, Rebrov’s goal thwarted
The objectively brilliant kids’ Arsenal at Wembley, before the north
television show had loveable Londoners were soundly beaten in
underdogs, a Manic Street Preachers Ukraine. Dynamo went on to reach
theme tune and big cameos from the Champions League semi-finals.
the likes of Gianfranco Zola and Ian
Rush. It was an underrated classic. FOOTBALL ITALIA

04 ALAN CORK’S BEARD While television production company Chrysalis were filming Paul Gascoigne’s
Alan, father of tragically recuperation from a knee injury, the Geordie scamp noted it was a shame that
unbearded Burnley pass nobody in Britain would see him play for Lazio. A lightbulb popped, Chrysalis
master Jack, brought The Simpsons’ bought the rights to Serie A, then sold them to Channel 4. The original plan was
Jasper to ‘life’ with a majestic beard for the coverage to be hosted by Gazza, but that was quietly shelved when they
during Sheffield United’s 1992-93 realised quite what a loose cannon he was.
campaign. What a time to be alive... Chrysalis instead promoted researcher James Richardson, and he was soon to
be seen sipping cappuccinos outside an Italian cafe, gesticulating at a mysterious
0 5 THE LIFE OF RILEY ON pink newspaper. Regular Sunday afternoon servings of Baggio, Batistuta and the
MATCH OF THE DAY like meant Football Italia quickly had more than three million viewers – many of
When BBC producers chose whom were yet to bite the bullet and sign up to Sky Sports.
to accompany Goal of the Month
with the Lightning Seeds’ 1992
mini-hit (it reached No.28 in the
charts), they soundtracked a decade
of football highlights. Utterly joyful.

06 BARRY DAVIES
Davies stood out during the
’90s for knowing when not
to speak. “Oh no!” was all that he
could muster as Gareth Southgate’s
penalty miss at Euro 96 killed English
dreams. Nothing more was needed.

07 KITS WITH BUTTONED
OR LACE-UP COLLARS
While buttoned collars were
popular, lace-ups had retro
chic. One quick tug on the
drawstring of Aston Villa’s
1992-93 shirt and Dean
Saunders’ head would
have popped clean off.

WE
THE 90S

10 CROATIA 11 PARMA 12 TEMURI KETSBAIA’S
ANGRY ‘CELEBRATION’
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? “I’m upset that people only
No, it’s Davor Suker wearing remember me for this,” the Georgian
has moaned. Unfortunately, seeing
a wild-eyed skeleton kicking advert
hoardings to celebrate a last-minute
winner does stick in the mind a bit.

13 SHAMPOO ADS WITH
GINOLA AND… McATEER?
“I’m worth it,” purred Ginola
as the first male face of L’Oreal.
McAteer, though, fronted Wash & Go,
FIFA 96 and Carlsberg, and played in
two World Cups. Have that, Dav-eed.

a natty tablecloth. Whether Any parent will tell you it is tricky to choose between their children. So
how do Parma fans manage to decide which ’90s vintage they prefer?
lobbing Peter Schmeichel at Do you go for the early-90s UEFA and Cup Winners’ Cup-winning team
of Asprilla, Zola and Brolin, or the late-90s Serie A runners-up and UEFA
Euro 96 or scoring six goals Cup winners, which featured Buffon, Cannavaro and Crespo?

at France 98, the striker’s goals put Croatia The former eschewed Serie A’s stereotypical catenaccio pragmatism
for thrilling attacking verve and brio under manager Nevio Scala. Tino
firmly on the map.

Built on playmaker Robert Prosinecki’s

1 4 MADCAP PLAY-OFF FINALS
The past five Championship
finals brought seven goals. In
1993, Swindon and Leicester did that
in 45 minutes. Then came Bolton 4-3
Reading and Charlton 4-4 Sunderland.

15 THE ANGLO-ITALIAN CUP
Serie B vs English randoms
sounds awful, but Gheorghe
Hagi vs Notts County and Gabriel
Batistuta vs Southend works for us.

16 WEMBLEY FA CUP SEMIS
BEING A NOVELTY
Old Wembley rarely hosting
semis helped Sheffield and London
derby showdowns. Construction debt
means new Wembley hosts them all.

17 FRED DAVIES
Who? Shrewsbury’s aquatic
ball boy. Gay Meadow’s spot
on the River Severn caused so many
lost balls, the club hired Davies and
his coracle to fish them back out.

18 CHESTERFIELD AND
STOCKPORT’S CUP RUNS
Stockport beat third-tier rivals
Chesterfield en route to the League
Cup semis in ’97, before the Spireites
got to the FA Cup semis. Both lost to
Middlesbrough, who lost both finals.

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 37

19 20 DEPORTIVO LA CORUnA 21 ONE TEAM IN TALLINN
With Estonia sulking over
BULGARIA There was always something of the underdog about Deportivo. floodlights, Scotland kicked
On May 14, 1994, they were a 90th-minute penalty away from off unopposed in front of their
As Bulgaria’s players caught a flight from travelling support. Three seconds
Dallas to Chicago after defeat to Nigeria at winning La Liga. Defender Miroslav Djukic would take it. Regular later, the match was abandoned.
the 1994 World Cup, the Lions’ finals record spot-kick-taker Donato had been hauled off and striker Bebeto had Scotland fans would probably still
read: P16, W0, D6, L10. Halfway through it, a heart the size of a pea. Barely able to stand under the pressure, take that result right now, right...?
star striker Hristo Stoichkov stood up. Djukic’s tame effort was saved and the title was Barcelona’s. “It
was the worst moment of my life,” Djukic later admitted. “I had 22 RENE HIGUITA
“We are going to give the Greeks a real to stop thinking about it because I nearly drove myself mad.” Five years before his scorpion
hiding,” barked the Barcelona striker. The kick at Wembley, Colombia’s
talisman was right, too. Five minutes into Underpinned by defensive-midfield machines Mauro Silva and 5ft 9in keeper conceded in a World
the game, The Dagger scored and Bulgaria Donato, plus one-club left-midfielder Fran, Depor recovered to Cup knockout tie after being tackled
were on their way to a first World Cup win, lift the Copa del Rey in 1995.
triumphing 4-0. More victories followed, halfway to the centre circle by
against Argentina, Mexico and, incredibly, Hitherto solid, the signing of squat Brazil playmaker Djalminha Roger Milla. El Loco indeed.
defending champions Germany. added the creative spark in 1997, scoring 26 league goals in 87
appearances in his first three La Liga seasons. Watching Spanish 23 LUCOZADE
Trailing to a Lothar Matthaus penalty as football on Sky Sports, Djalminha’s was an otherworldly talent. WATER BOTTLES
the clock struck 74 minutes, the unfancied Their part in Gazza’s
Bulgarians – a team full of never-say-die In a bonkers 1999-00 season – in which Real Madrid lost eight ‘dentist chair’ celebration
journeymen plus the quality of Stoichkov times to finish outside the top four for the first time in 22 years –
and Emil Kostadinov – fought back. The Javier Irureta’s squad of castaways, young tyros and experienced at Euro 96 made up for
former, on his daughter’s birthday, curled heads won the title that had eluded them six years before. Lucozade bottles (often
home a glorious free-kick, before a bullet blue and huge) turning
header by follicly-challenged Hamburg
midfielder Yordan Letchkov. fresh water into more
of a plasticky sewage.
Throw in ‘Bulgarian Wolf’ Trifon Ivanov’s
magnificent mullet and this was a team 24 GENUINELY EXOTIC
to love, as much as Stoichkov’s arrogance. SIGNINGS
Pre-internet, Swiss defender
“No Bulgarian player will ever match my Marc Hottiger could join Newcastle
achievements,” the ’94 Ballon d’Or winner without armchair football scouts
later said. He’s probably right. pontificating about his YouTube
highlights to befuddled fans. In
many ways, it was a better time.

25 BLOND DYE JOBS
Leicester’s Riyad Mahrez
must be a bit too young to
remember how bleach looked on
Robbie Fowler, Paul Gascoigne and
Romania’s 1998 World Cup squad,
or he wouldn’t be spearheading
its alarming resurgence this term.

26 JASON LEE’S PINEAPPLE
Fans singing, “He’s got
a pineapple on his head”
meant that the Nottingham Forest
striker’s drastic tactic had worked:
he’d successfully drawn attention
away from his appalling goatee.

27 CURTAINS
The Merlin Premier League
sticker books are ’90s time
capsules – and wall-to-wall curtains.
Warren Barton led
the charge, while
Ian Walker’s
forehead
acted as
a kind of
buffer zone
between two
lunatic fringes.

38 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com

28 MITRE FOOTBALLS 35 FERnAnDO WE
Pep Guardiola may detest REDOnDO THE 90S
the Football League sphere,
but it was a top-flight staple until Let’s get the elephant in the room out of 36 ROBERTO
Nike took over from Mitre in 2000. the way. Yes, the thing you most associate BAGGIO
with Fernando Redondo took place in April
29 CANS OF COKE 2000. No, that doesn’t matter. No player better defines ’90s football
It can’t have taken a lot than Roberto Baggio. A playmaker of
of thought, but sponsors The Real Madrid defensive midfielder’s rare technique for Fiorentina, Juventus
Coca-Cola deciding to produce backheel nutmeg of helpless Manchester and both Milan clubs (among others),
club-themed cans for League United defender Henning Berg was the tip Baggio could also be a pure goalscorer.
Cup finals went down a treat. of an iceberg of moments so enormous
it would have scuppered the Titanic in five When Carlo Ancelotti passed up the
30 FIFA’S INDOOR MODE seconds flat, instead of leaving Leonardo chance to sign him for Parma in 1997
Criminally, EA dropped the DiCaprio’s curtains freezing in the water because he couldn’t play in a front two,
six-a-side mode from FIFA for more than half an hour. he went on to score a career-best 22
99 onwards. Nearly 20 years later, league goals for Bologna.
FFT still isn’t over it. You can’t leg it Redondo’s own flowing locks got him
from the referee to avoid picking into nearly as much difficulty, with the “The angels sing in his legs,” former
up bookings any more, either. Boo. authoritarian Argentina manager Daniel Fiorentina manager Aldo Agroppi once
Passarella brutally axeing him from his commented.
31 LEAGUE LADDERS Celeste squad post-USA 94.
Magnetic or paper, printed He only secured four major honours as
team names or shirt outlines “He wanted me to have my hair cut,” a player and many choose to remember
in club colours, DIY league ladders Redondo, who completed a law degree the horrid penalty miss that cost Italy
were fun and useful: you could even during his playing career, later revealed. the 1994 World Cup, but to question the
feed your team’s rivals to the dog. “I didn’t see what that had to do with contents of Baggio’s trophy cabinet is to
football, so I said no.” dismiss Vincent van Gogh as he sold only
32 SENSIBLE WORLD one painting in his lifetime.
OF SOCCER Blessed with exceptional vision – and
Ultimate Teams be damned – technique to match – it mattered little “I have never told anyone this before,
Sensi, that masterpiece of top-down that the two-time Champions League but I still feel bad about that penalty,”
pixellated beauty, is still the pinnacle winner was about as speedy as coastal the 1993 Ballon d’Or winner told FFT
of mankind’s achievements and we’ll erosion and not that strong. earlier this year. “It was the day football
fight anyone who dares to disagree. broke my heart.” And millions more all
“What’s he got in his boots?” Alex around the world, Roberto.
33 THE MUSIC IN Ferguson asked after that backheel. FourFourTwo.com February 2018 39
PREMIER MANAGER ’97 “A magnet?” He was only half-joking.
Featuring an original techno
soundtrack – sort of Leftfield meets
The Human League – meant the best
part of this management sim was
having a rave to the menu screens.

34 ZAMORANO’S 1+8 SHIRT
When Roberto ‘big-time’
Baggio joined Inter from
Bologna and demanded Ronaldo’s
No.10 shirt, O Fenomeno took No.9
from Ivan Zamorano. The Chilean’s
response was wonderfully childish.

WE A GLUT OF 39 THE CUP WINNERS’ CUP
THE 90S A decade of European glory
PLAYER-MAnAGERS for Manchester United (1991),
38 TOnY Arsenal (1994) and Chelsea (1998)
YEBOAH Kenny Dalglish’s success as Liverpool’s and then the untimely death of the
player-manager in the late-80s inspired competition in 1999. Thursday nights
“NO NET IS SAFE FROM THE MAN WHO a splurge in pitch-dwelling gaffers over just haven’t been the same since.
SHOOTS TO KILL!” bellowed the words the next decade. In 1990 Peter Reid was
on the back of the video released in named player-boss of Manchester City. 40 JACK CHARLTON’S
Tony Yeboah’s honour in the mid-90s. He started well, playing regularly as the IRELAND
The Ghanaian had only been at Leeds Sky Blues twice finished fifth, but a sharp Big Jack’s stint in charge was
United for a year, but he had already decline saw him sacked in 1993. the golden era for the Boys in Green.
sent a wrecking ball crashing through They beat England 1-0 at Euro 88,
the Premier League. A year later, Bryan Robson took charge reached the quarter-finals of their
at Middlesbrough, where he guided the first World Cup in 1990 and famously
Yeboah had impressed at Eintracht Teessiders into the Premier League and beat Italy at USA 94. The highlight?
Frankfurt, twice becoming Bundesliga signed the likes of Juninho and Fabrizio Jack and John Aldridge losing their
top scorer, but a fallout with manager Ravanelli. His team famously combined s**t with a dithering fourth official.
Jupp Heynckes saw him join Leeds for reaching two cup finals with relegation
£3.4 million in January 1995. in 1996-97, at which point Robson opted 4 1 CHILAVERT’S FREE-KICKS
to hang up his boots. Long, long before the days of
Yeboah would net 12 Premier League YouTube, stories were told of
goals by the end of that campaign, and But the undisputed home of 1990s a heroic (and bonkers) goalkeeper
then added eight more in the opening player-managers was Stamford Bridge. from a previously unheralded land
two months of 1995-96. First, Glenn Hoddle arrived, pissed off smashing in some belting free-kicks.
Tony Cascarino by being a show-off in The mystery that surrounded the
Two of those goals earned the striker training, signed Ruud Gullit, then left. Paraguayan icon Jose Luis Chilavert
back-to-back Goal of the Month awards Gullit took up the baton, brought in was a significant part of his appeal.
– his ferocious volley against Liverpool, Gianluca Vialli, won the 1997 FA Cup,
the club he’d supported as a youngster, then left. Next it was Vialli’s turn. He 42 CLUBCALL
and then a thunderbolt finish against won the FA Cup, but was sadly unable There was little to rival the
Wimbledon. Both were walloped in off to sign a player capable of managing. excitement of flicking over
the underside of the bar: Yeboah knew to Teletext and seeing the headline
how to make his goals look spectacular. “Brazilian superstar linked”. A long
premium-rate phone call later, and
George Graham’s arrival resulted in you’d know your club were actually
Yeboah’s exit to Hamburg in 1997, but going to appoint a chef from Rio de
he remains a cult hero at Elland Road. Janeiro to the catering staff. Great...
40 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com
43 THE OLD FIRM
HAVING BIG STARS
With the greatest of respect
to Graham Dorrans and Leigh Griffiths,
they aren’t quite in the same league
as Paul Gascoigne, Brian Laudrup,
Henrik Larsson and Mark Viduka.

44 GEORGI KINKLADZE
A star at Man City when,
frankly, they were crap.
The Georgian schemer’s most
memorable m
when he walt
the Southamp
before dinking
over sprawlin
keeper Dave
Beasant.

45 STEVE
BULL
Earned
caps for Engla
despite havin
played in the
Also scored ov
goals for Wolv
whom he sho
unwavering lo

46 GREAT WORLD C 52
THEME TUNES
Nessun Dorma at I GEORGE WEAH
90 was the BBC’s high-wa
mark, with Auntie going v It was from a Verona corner back in ’96
classical again eight years that Weah produced the moment which
later with Faure’s Pavane. defined his career. Defending at the far
post, George collected the stray corner
47 STRUGGLING eight yards from his own goal-line, and
COMMENTATOR just started running. He beat two men
These days, moder on halfway, then a third, and kept going
mic men are more or less until he reached the penalty area and
unanimous with their fired in one of the most incredible solo
pronunciations, but it goals of the decade.
wasn’t always that way.
There were arguments Weah helped Milan secure two Serie A
over Gus Poyet (Poy-et or titles during his time at the San Siro and
Poy-ay), Espen Baardsen was the first non-European to claim the
(Bard-son or Bord-son), Ballon d’Or – he remains the only African
and of course, Peter Ndlov to receive both that honour and FIFA’s
(Und-love and Und-lo-vu) World Player of the Year prize.

48 AYLESBURY TOW Previously impressing under Arsene
DUCK CELEBRAT Wenger at Monaco, and then for PSG,
The Buckinghamsh the forward would move to England in
is home to its own breed o 2000 with Chelsea and later Man City.
and the Isthmian League A Liberia international, Weah is one of
waddling waterfowl-inspi the greatest footballers never to have
celebrations in reaching the FA Cup played at the World Cup.
Third Round in ’94 made headlines.
They must have been quackers... 5 PLAYERS WITH
TRADEMARK
49 CUAUHTEMOC CELEBRATIOnS
BLANCO’S BUNNY HOP
Unleashed in Mexico’s 3-1 Quiz question: how many games did
win against South Korea at France Roger Milla start at the 1990 World
98, the hefty forward’s two-footed Cup? The striker became the face of
bounce helped to launch a political Cameroon’s run to the quarter-finals,
and acting career that has included but the answer’s none. He was a super
playing a randy fireman in a popular sub throughout. Thankfully, that did
South American soap opera. Ole! not stop the 38-year-old scoring four
times and dancing by the corner flag
50 FRANK LAMPARD JNR on each occasion – one of the most
Lamps’ old man was still the iconic goal celebrations ev
alpha footballer in the family,
hence the future Chelsea legend was Not that it was the only f
suffixed ‘Junior’. Son aped father’s celebration during the ’90s
17-year-old corner flag celebration Shearer’s simple hand in th
at Elland Road in November 1997, Sharpe using the corner fla
but West Ham ended up losing 3-1. it into a microphone stand

51 WORLD IN MOTION However, Jurgen Klinsma
Still the best football song ever stole the show in the Prem
made, New Order somehow League with his diving rout
turned a John Barnes rap – written lampooning his own antics
by his Liverpool team-mate Craig Italia 90. Who said Germa
Johnstone on a scrap of paper – don’t have a good sense o
into something really cool. We’re humour, eh?
singing for England – Eng-er-land!

WE
THE 90S

54 SO-SO SPONSORS MODErn SUPERCLUBS
From local car dealerships BEInG BOBBInS
(Dagenham Motors) to
household DIY (Draper Tools) and Many enjoyed the novelty of David Moyes transforming The decade also witnessed Bayern Munich’s worst season
recently launched radio stations Manchester United into a mid-table side, but in the ’90s, in recent memory, as FC Hollywood came a disastrous 10th
(Classic FM), the Premier League’s today’s elite clubs regularly stunk out the place. in the Bundesliga in 1991-92, also crashing out of the UEFA
early kit sponsors were a superb Cup and German Cup early on.
ragtag bunch. Anyone have any Chelsea were outside the top 10 in six straight seasons
idea what Dimplex actually made? from 1991 to 1996, while Tottenham had a particularly A pre-cash Paris Saint-Germain finished eighth in 1998,
forgettable decade, finishing in the bottom half four times and ninth the following campaign. Atletico Madrid were
55 MAN OF THE MATCH (and enduring Alan Sugar in the boardroom), while Man relegated in 1999-00, having steadily regressed since they
VOTING IN SKY GAMES City were famously relegated from the Premier League in won La Liga in 1995-96, when city neighbours Real Madrid
Forget Strictly or X-Factor, 1996 and from the second tier in 1998. finished a now-unthinkable sixth.
this is where the democratisation
of public voting truly flowered. You 61 ALESSAnDRO
haven’t lived until you have spent DEL PIERO
£3 on a premium-rate phone line
to vote for Stuart Nethercott as If Alessandro Del Piero had listened to his mother,
man of the match against Bolton. the history of Juventus would be vastly different.
Worried that her youngest son would get injured
56 THE CHAOS CAUSED BY playing outfield, she insisted little Alex would play
THE FOREIGNER RULE in goal, believing that sweating less would be good
Alex Ferguson could only for his health.
pick three ‘foreigners’ from Peter
Schmeichel, Denis Irwin, Andrei Elder brother Stefano intervened and Del Piero
Kanchelskis and Roy Keane at the went on to score 290 goals in 705 matches for
Camp Nou in November 1994. Gary
Walsh started instead of the great the Turin giants – including a hat-trick on his
Dane in goal. Man United lost 4-0. full debut – in a 19-season, 17-trophy career
with the Old Lady.
57 “COLLYMORE The definition of the Italian trequartista,
CLOSING IN…” so successful was Del Piero at cutting inside
Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle – from the left edge of the penalty area to curl
a seesawing game so pivotal to the
1995-96 title race, Toon boss Kevin perfect shots into the top corner throughout Juve’s
Keegan’s soul died on an advertising 1995-96 Champions League-winning season, that
hoarding. Stan Collymore’s camera- such strikes are now regarded in Italy as a ‘Gol alla
shaking late winner came to define Del Piero’.
Sky Sports’ tragi-drama output.
“When I arrived at Juventus and was introduced
58 RYAN GIGGS vs ARSENAL to Alex,” said former Juve and Fiorentina forward
Picking up the ball inside his Ruben Oliveira, “it was like touching the heavens
own half during extra time of with my finger.”
the FA Cup semi-final replay at Villa
Park, Man United’s wing wizard beat Many a wide-eyed teenager grew up marvelling
five Gunners defenders (including at Pinturicchio’s silky skills during ITV Champions
Lee Dixon twice) to keep their Treble League nights, and frequently against Manchester
hopes, and chest-rug lovers, alive. United, too.

59 DIANA ROSS PENALTY
Belting out 1980 hit I’m
Coming Out, the former
Supreme steadied herself to take
a 10-yarder at the USA 94 opening
ceremony. She’d got the world to
show She missed And the goal

WE
THE 90S

BECKS SCORInG
FROM THE
HALFWAY LInE

g bed Alex Ferguson by the arm. “Trust him,” commented 64 ‘SIR’ LES FERDINAND
consigliere to capo as Fergie prepared to unleash the hairdryer at David These days very few players
Beckham for shooting from the halfway line against Wimbledon on are universally respected,
August 17, 1996. but the London-born frontman was
seemingly loved wherever he went.
“You’ve seen the Goal of the Season already,” claimed Ferguson at So much so that nobody has really
full-time. “I have never seen it done before. Pele is the only one who questioned his fictional knighthood.
came close to doing the same. Nayim? That was a miskick.”
65 CORINTHIAN FIGURES
Yet three words from Beckham’s captain, and idol, meant more than FFT can neither confirm nor
anything his manager said. “Good goal, David,” said Eric Cantona. He deny reports that a staff
was still smiling a week later. member hurled a tiny plastic David
Seaman out of a first-floor window
At the time this was a promising 21-year-old who was nowhere near in the aftermath of England’s France
England’s Euro 96 squad. A central midfielder in the Man United youth 98 defeat by Romania in Toulouse.
team, Ferguson had eased Beckham into the first team on the right,
taking advantage of the ball striking and crossing that would become 66 FOOTIX
his trademark. After USA 94’s half-arsed
doggy mascot Striker, and
He wasn’t even wearing his own boots. Look closely and you will see Italia 90’s unnerving stick man Ciao,
the word ‘Charlie’ stitched into his Adidas Predators. David had asked it was crucial France 98 had a decent
to try some, and the only size eights they currently had available were figurehead. Footix did not disappoint.
a custom-made pair for Rangers’ Charlie Miller.
67 MATERAZZI AT EVERTON
“That moment was the start of it: the attention, the press coverage, Look, it’s just amusing that
the fame,” he penned in his autobiography, My Side. “When my foot the player who got himself
struck that ball, it kicked open the door to the rest of my life.” sent off three times in a nightmare
season at Goodison Park would later
He wasn’t wrong. Ferguson prevented Beckham from doing Match win the 2006 World Cup with Italy
of the Day interviews in a vain attempt to shelter the youngster as he and the 2009-10 Treble with Inter.
had with Ryan Giggs. King Canute had an easier job.
68 KEVIN PRESSMAN’S
Within 12 months Becks had signed lucrative contracts with United, POWERFUL PENALTY
Brylcreem and Adidas, become a Three Lions regular and met a Spice The decade’s most famous
Girl. Goals change games, but this goal changed a life. goal by a keeper was by Jimmy Glass
in 1999 (see p58), but the Sheffield
63 BRILLIAnTLY Wednesday custodian’s shootout
CRAP AWAY KITS cannonball against Wolves almost
blasted the goal out of the ground.
Some things are so bad, they’re good, and away kits
in the ’90s were often gloriously dreadful. The most 69 BONKERS KEEPER KITS
infamous was the ‘invisible’ Man United change strip Jorge Campos (see p80)
of 1995-96 that Alex Ferguson insisted was to blame may have been the king of
for a poor first-half showing at Southampton. United the retina-blitzing keeper kits, but
trailed 3-0 at the interval, changed to blue and white, even he would be proud to wear
then won the second half 1-0. So Fergie was right – Newcastle’s keeper top from ’96-97.
until his side lost 6-3 at The Dell in blue and white It featured a silhouette of the Toon
six months later. skyline backdropped by a delightful
sunset. Then there was England’s
Other top-flight classics include Chelsea’s Euro 96 atrocity and Tottenham’s
‘charcoal and tangerine’ monstrosity of floral ‘Magic Eye’ shirt. Pure class.
1994-96, Tottenham’s ‘yellow with a hint
of birds**t’ (which somehow lasted from 7 PREMIER LEAGUE
1991 to 1995) and the Liverpool ‘ecru’ FOOTBALL STICKERS
number of 1996-97 (a colour so obscure, Nothing the 21st century
the Reds’ use of it actually warrants a mention has thrown up can possibly rival
on its Wikipedia page). the pain of forking over 25 of your
hardest earned pennies, only to
There were some belters further down the league find yourself with a packet full of
ladder, too. Bristol City’s purple and lime eyesore Stig Inge Bjornebye. Got. Got. Got.
earned such a cult following, the club brought the
colour scheme back in recent seasons. Although we
reckon Peterborough are unlikely to do the same with
their 1993-94 strip of red and, well, every other colour.

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 43

WE

7 8THE 90S

71 SOCCER AM PLAYERS HUMILIATInG
It’s hard to imagine an age THEMSELVES In PHOTO SHOOTS
when watching Tim Lovejoy
lark about on a weekend morning These days Premier League players hire
wasn’t a sign you’d lost your mind, publicity teams to manage their public
but ‘back in the day’, Soccer AM image, but back in the ’90s things were
was both amusing and original. a little more relaxed. So much so that
when some cheeky little scamp asked
72 BREAKFAST CEREAL Sheffield Wednesday’s Carlton Palmer
The good people at Kellogg’s to don a Sonic the Hedgehog costume,
really missed a trick when he thought nothing of it.
they released a Premier League-
branded breakfast cereal – Strike! – Years later, Wednesday’s Italian duo
and it didn’t come in the form of of Benito Carbone and Paolo Di Canio
tiny wheaty footballs. Tasty, though. gamely tucked into an uncooked pizza,
while down in London, Gianfranco Zola
73 BUZAGLO’S HAT-TRICK dressed up as Robin Hood, inexplicably.
Trailing West Brom 1-0 at the
halfway stage of their FA Cup On the tellybox, Gareth Southgate was
Third Round tie in 1991, non-league only too happy to laugh off (and cash in
Woking needed a hero. Enter estate on) his Euro 96 penalty miss by flogging
agent Tim Buzaglo, who netted three pizzas alongside Chris Waddle and Stuart
goals to inspire a 4-2 Hawthorns win. Pearce, while the self-depreciation level
cranked up another notch during Peter
74 SKY’S PLAYERCAM Schmeichel’s accordion-tooting promo
This short-lived feature gave for bacon, not to mention Ian Wright’s
the viewer a chance to focus Chicken Tonight ditty. But the daddy of
on a single player for 15 minutes at them all? Kevin Keegan teaming up with
a time – it was joyously pointless. the Honey Monster to finally put an end
to Newcastle’s trophy drought.
75 THE ORIGINAL
SUPER SUNDAY INTRO 79 ADVERTS THAT WERE BETTER THAn MOVIES
“Heeeeeeere we gooooooo,
heeeeeeere we goooo; here we go, Football truly embraced the power of TV
here we go, here we go, here we go; advertising, which actually treated fans
THIS IS IT!” Great, great lyrics. as grown-ups. Reebok had Jarvis Cocker,
Robbie Williams, Vic and Bob, Jimmy Hill
76 EMILE HESKEY’S KIT and George Best dreaming they were in
MODIFICATIONS Ryan Giggs’s boots.
Even fresh out of Leicester’s
academy, Emile was a unit. So much Sky Sports went upmarket and hired
so that in 1996-97, he had to make professional Yorkshireman Sean Bean
a little slit in his shirt collar in order to to kick off the 1996-97 season, talking
accommodate his muscle-clad neck. about all the “ecstasy, anguish, joy and
despair”. “Football,” said Major Richard
77 DREAM TEAM Sharpe, “we know how you feel about it.
Sky’s soap was originally Because we feel the same.”
about the youth
team of fictional Nike were the market leaders, though.
Harchester United, Whether it was David Seaman, Robbie
but later campaigns Fowler and Ian Wright playing Sunday
focused on the first League on Hackney Marshes, the Brazil
team, match-fixing squad having a kickabout in an airport
and a coach lounge or Eric Cantona and Luis Figo in
crash... gladiatorial combat, the ads repeatedly
oozed playground cool.

80 THE ORIGInAL AnD 81 The team behind brilliant
BEST ROnALDO ’90s football podcast
MILAn BEInG RIDICULOUSLY GOOD
Imagine O Fenomeno’s Real Madrid and Quickly Kevin, Will He Score?
Portugal namesake crossed with Lionel It kicked off with jockeys and swans, and Franco Baresi was the background share some memories
Messi, and you are getting close to just concluded with kings and Zorro and for success, Milan could attack like no from the decade
how good peak Ronaldo was in scoring counted on both Il Capitano and Billy other Serie A side.
47 goals in 49 games in his sole season throughout. W
at Barcelona in 1996-97. Starting with Arrigo Sacchi’s European “Sacchi changed Italian football,”
Cup-defending vintage, no side could Alex Ferguson claimed. “The Italian 82 DES LYNAM READING ‘IF’
“He’s the most spectacular player I’ve combine such consistent success with mentality was to attack with caution. The Rolls-Royce of football
ever seen,” team-mate Luis Enrique later misty-eyed affection as the Rossoneri Then all of a sudden there was no broadcasting silkily delivers
told FFT. “He was strong – a beast. We’re in the ’90s. more catenaccio, but a four-man Kipling’s If to close France 98. Never
now used to seeing Messi dribbling past defence, with a side that attacked, has the inevitable ignominy of an
six players, but not then.” Dubbed Signor Nessuno (Mr Nobody) rather than wait to counter-attack.” England defeat seemed so poetic.
by a sceptical Italian media because
No goal proves Enrique’s point more of his lower-league playing career – So good was the system – “they 83 CENTRE-FORWARDS
than the third Barça got in a 5-1 victory famously responding, “I never knew were tactically perfect,” said striker OR CENTRE-HALVES?
at Compostela in October 1996. His that to be a jockey you had to be Gianluca Vialli – that when assistant Dion Dublin, Paul Warhurst,
shins whacked throughout, the Brazilian a horse first” – Sacchi’s system-first Fabio Capello replaced Sacchi in ’91, Chris Sutton – the ’90s was the last
beat six defenders from inside his own and high-press approach paid huge he won three Serie A titles in a row – bastion of this rarest of rare breeds,
half to score an impossible solo effort. dividends, despite a squad including a streak that included a 58-match who could switch between elbow-
Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard and the unbeaten record. wielding centre-back to elbow-
Coach Bobby Robson, after more than ‘Swan of Utrecht’ Marco van Basten. wielding centre-forward with ease.
five decades in football, put his hands to They even beat an overconfident
his head in disbelief, utterly unable to “It wasn’t just the Dutch,” Sacchi Barcelona 4-0 in the ’94 Champions 84 LE TOURNOI
comprehend what he’d just seen. told FFT. “The system was ultimately League Final thanks to Il Genio Dejan France 98’s warm-up event
the leader out on the pitch – it never Savicevic’s playmaking genius, Zorro was notable for two things:
“Pele returns,” read the front page in got injured. It wasn’t the players who Zvonimir Boban’s industry and the 1) England winning, and 2) A Roberto
the following day’s AS. won all those big games. It was the dynamism of Marcel Desailly. Carlos free-kick that defied physics.
way we played.”
Ronaldo was now box office, and he As the decade neared its end, there 85 KEVIN KEEGAN
turned down a not insignificant sum of Though the aggressive offside line was still time for another Rossoneri Newcastle’s manager would
money to appear in a photo shoot with expertly deployed by Capitano Paolo vintage, King George Weah leading love it, LOVE IT if he made it
Cindy Crawford because “they should Maldini, Alessandro ‘Billy’ Costacurta Alberto Zaccheroni’s side to a ’98-99 onto this list. If you pause the clip of
have asked her to pose with me”. title in Milan’s centenary campaign. his TV rant you can see in his eyes the
exact moment the title slipped away.
“It’s awe-inspiring how good he is,”
Robson told FFT in 1997. “But you just 86 VILLA’S BEVERAGES
don’t know what’s going to happen to For reasons unknown, Aston
people, do you?” Villa captured their players
awkwardly naming their favourite
Robson was right. After blazing a trail beverages. Paul McGrath admits to
in Serie A following a world-record move enjoying Guinness; Dwight Yorke
to Inter, France 98 was supposed to be and Nigel Spink disagree on Ribena.
Ronaldo’s consecration as the world’s
best player. 87 THE MILTON ROAD STAND
In the ’90s, stadiums may not
The seizure that he suffered on the all have had working toilets,
morning of the World Cup final is now but boy did they have character. Best
interwoven into ’90s football lore. He of all was the wonky stand at The Dell.

m-sheet, but then 88 THE IMPOSSIBLE JOB
clearly a shadow Imagine being so confident of
3-0 defeat. World Cup qualification that
you invite a film crew over to capture
he suffered robbed your moment of glory. Then imagine
so he remodelled your central midfield consists of Geoff
Thomas and Carlton Palmer. Oh dear.
poacher. Still, Graham Taylor comes across well.
at all, regardless of
easure of the man. 89 FERGIE TIME
al. Saturday April 10, 1993. Steve
Bruce crashes in a trademark
header deep, deep, deep into injury
time for victory at home to Sheffield
Wednesday. Fergie Time was born...

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 45

90 WHEn FOOTBALL
BECAME COOL AGAIn

In the ’80s, football was at an all-time low – but Gazza’s tears helped to usher in
an era that saw the game return to its place at the heart of British popular culture

Words Gary Parkinson

WE
THE 90S

istory’s rarely neat, but the great dividing point seems To the amazement of amateur sociologists, it turned out a generous Top In the 1980s, fans
clearer in football than elsewhere. Old Football gave proportion of the ‘hooligans’ were simply bored middle-class blokes were herded like cattle
way to Modern Football in the summer of 1992, with emasculated by their office jobs. Strange how they never mentioned to crumbling terraces,
the simultaneous inauguration of the Premier League, it at cocktail parties... hemmed in by fences
rebranding of the Champions League and prohibition Opposite John Barnes
of the backpass. Meanwhile, a small but still influential number of supporters on the became a rapper with
The accelerated changes since then haven’t all been terraces were having their brain chemistry changed by a popular new New Order ahead of
for the better, however. Although only an obstreperous street drug: it’s difficult to kick off a riot when you’re mellowed out by Italia 90; which ended
few would argue that the world’s finest players should Ecstasy. Following the Second Summer of Love in 1988 and the rise of in tears for Gascoigne
not earn well during their short career, the trickle-down Madchester in 1989, New Order had wanted to call England’s official (below) and England
economics of post-Bosman wage structures have meant Italia 90 single E for England. The FA were not that naive, but World in
that football now devours a vast amount of money from Motion – widely lauded as the best football single ever – still contained
its fans, via tickets, merchandise or pay TV. some none-too-subtle references in “one on one”, while the words in
Alongside the resentment is an understandable distaste for the idea the chorus (“Love’s got the world in motion and I know what we can
that records began in 1992, a data-driven selective memory which at do”) were hardly the stuff of Chopper Harris and Norman Hunter.
the same time legitimises the questionable founding motives of the
Premier League and eradicates all that went before. While it would be patent nonsense to claim every fan was suddenly
These and other problems lead to the catch-all complaint known as necking MDMA like Smarties, the drug’s growing popularity certainly
#AgainstModernFootball, an umbrella for the usual variety of worried helped to chill the vibe. Trouble had been widely expected at Italia 90,
citizens, reactionaries and young fogeys. In several cases, they’ve got especially when England were drawn to play the Netherlands, Ireland
a point. But as usual, the case is overstated when oversimplified and and Egypt on the island of Sardinia. Thatcher’s Government had even
transmuted into its natural corollary: If Now Is Bad, Then Must Have considered withdrawing the England team from the tournament. But
Been Better. As New York Times writer Carl Wilson puts it, “Nostalgia instead of testosterone, the headline-making display of male emotion
tends to neuter critique”. Thus we find the 1990s reductively blamed came when the team’s young star, Paul Gascoigne, cried on the pitch
for everything wrong with the modern world, by digital natives who during the semi-final against West Germany, after an overenthusiastic
were not around to witness what went before. challenge brought a yellow card that would rule him out of the final.
Nobody who attended games in the 1980s could sanely wish to turn It broke millions of English fans’ hearts, just as surely as the pen lt
back the clock and regularly experience it all again. Yes, the changes shootout defeat that soon followed.
wrought by the ’90s were commercial but they were also cultural and
social, while creating big advances in communication, entertainment, As the final credits rolled, the BBC’s theme music – Luciano Pav
quality, availability, accountability and choice. singing Nessun Dorma – suddenly seemed entirely fitting for wha
What follows, then, is not a denigration of what went wrong, rather immediately gone before: a properly operatic tragedy, with the h
a celebration, and an explanation of how and why the ’90s made the demise stemming from a fatal character flaw. In such circumst
game we love so much better than it used to be. And for that, we need the aria’s thrice-repeated climactic word “Vincero” – “I will win” –
to go back to the late-80s to see how bad it had become. heightened the emotion.

UNACCEPTABLE IN THE ’80S Whatever their knowledge of Italian, the wider English public f
Gazza, and by extension for football. For Gary Lineker, it was a se
You are scum. You are assumed to be a criminal, if not in deed then in moment. “Lots of different kinds of people got interested in footb
intent. You are herded, like cattle to the slaughter, from heavily policed all different classes of people,” he said. “It had a significant effe
railway stations to crumbling, uncovered terraces or ancient stands in on the growth of football.” We were no longer scum.
which you are hemmed in by lethal fences.
HERE COMES JOHNNY FOREIGNER
In 1985 – the year of Heysel, the Bradford disaster, the Luton-Millwall
riot, of English teams being banned from European competition – The The ways in which the ’90s dragged football up from its nadir are
Times described the game as “a slum sport played in slum stadiums many and various, but let’s start in the middle of everything: on
and increasingly watched by slum people”. And this wasn’t an unusual pitch. Anyone who thinks English football did not improve in the
opinion; many would merely alter “slum” to “scum”. decade of the last millennium needs their bumps felt.

As the economic hardships of the ’80s continued to bite, the football Again, the comparison is with the late-80s. Banned from Europ
fan became a lightning rod for societal ills. 1985 was also the year of shunned by most compatriots, English football became insular
riots away from football stadiums – in Brixton, Toxteth, Peckham and Division clubs winning six consecutive European Cups around the
Broadwater Farm. But somehow it was all football’s fault. When Prime of the decade hadn’t helped to dispel the notion that the denize
Minister Margaret Thatcher hauled various dignitaries to a No.10 crisis Albion had nothing to learn from across the water.
summit after Heysel, she asked what football was going to do about
its hooligans. Football Association chief Ted Croker dared to challenge As a result, overseas footballers – excluding the Irish – continu
the Iron Lady: “These people are society’s problems – we don’t want be a rare species. Those who had been here were sporadic and e
your hooligans in our sport, Prime Minister.” Croker became the first FA
secretary in a century not to be knighted.

The assumption that football supporters were hooligans-in-waiting
became ingrained. The Thatcher government’s attempts to introduce
compulsory ID cards were only shelved after the outcry following the
1989 Hillsborough disaster.

The resultant Taylor Report ended the medieval conditions inside the
grounds but, just as importantly, British society acknowledged it had
been treating a subculture as an underclass. Having had its ultimate
low, it was time for football to start looking up.

Around the same time, incidences of hooliganism waned sharply –
particularly at matches. Those in search of combat thrills might still
meet up for a tear-up, but it tended to happen away from the ground
and away from the public gaze, which was just fine by the real fans.

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 47

WE
THE 90S

FOOTBALL WAS COMInG HOME. THE
FLAGS FLEW AnD EnGLAnD PLAYED
A BLInDER – BEFORE REPRISInG
THEIR ‘HEROIC LOSERS’ ROUTInE

Top England peaked outliers like Newcastle’s Chilean siblings, “George” and “Ted” Robledo, of fiscal solidarity. Designed to wrestle control away from the Football
at Euro 96 when they broken-necked Bert Trautmann, Ossie and Ricky at White Hart Lane or League, the Blueprint was quickly approved by the bigger outfits who
hammered the Dutch erratic Villa winger Didier Six. The idea appeared to be that foreigners had helped to guide it, knowing they could guarantee a greater share
Below Boro’s Juninho weren’t to be trusted to make their way through a muddy winter: the of the earnings.
was one of many stars Wet Wednesday Night in Stoke is not a new concept.
from foreign shores to Nor did Sky ignore the rump of the Football League. As early as 1995,
add glitz and glamour There were some imports in the English game as the ’90s dawned, Sky outbid ITV for the rights to what was then the Endsleigh League,
to the Premier League though they were few and far between. As an indicative example, the and they also picked up the pieces when the March 2002 collapse of
Far right New mags Arsenal 1989-90 squad contained just the one player born outside the ITV Digital threatened to bankrupt many lower-league clubs.
fed the intelligent fan; British Isles – Icelandic bit-parter Siggi Jonsson, who’d spent five years
Baddiel and Skinner at Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday before moving to Highbury. Few That wouldn’t have been necessary had the Football League chosen
did the jokes; Britpop Gooners were complaining: George Graham’s well-drilled yeomen had to accept a 1995 offer from the Premier League to grant the 72 clubs
added the soundtrack won the 1989 title in rather exciting fashion. But fewer still pined for between 20 and 25 per cent of any future joint TV deal in perpetuity.
those times after a decade of Arsene Wenger, Dennis Bergkamp and Instead the Football League opted to go it alone with a much weaker
Thierry Henry. It was, safe to say, a bit better. hand. The most recent live deal – Sky again – is worth £180m a season;
20-25 per cent of the Premier League contract would have been worth
It wasn’t only Arsenal who benefited: just about every team decided more like £428m.
that maybe we could learn something from Johnny Foreigner, and he
was largely welcomed. Even the most zealous of xenophobes couldn’t What Sky did for English football was to make it rich. This attracted
carp when his side was immeasurably improved by a Gianfranco Zola, far better participants, and eventually the cream of the global market.
Georgi Kinkladze, Eric Cantona or Juninho. By the midway point of the These players enriched the product, in turn making it more desirable
decade, Champions League-winning strikers were joining clubs such and sellable. Besides, while largely footing the wage bill, Sky serviced
as Middlesbrough (see page 78), which is a bit like Watford bringing you, the football consumer. Before Sky, apart from on the morning of
in Karim Benzema from Real Madrid. the FA Cup final, there was no in-depth coverage: a weekly episode of
Football Focus was as good as it got.
Increasingly, these brothers from another culture encouraged our
previously closed-minded coaches to adopt new tactics: split strikers, Even live games were pitifully bookended by minimal analysis. Check
trequartistas, ball-playing central defenders and formations outside out YouTube for the clash between Manchester United and Liverpool
the traditional 4-4-2. The beautiful game was starting to evolve before on New Year’s Day ’89, televised live on The Match. The chucklesome
our very eyes, especially with the backpass abolition making the game intro graphics make way to reveal the two teams coming out onto the
much more free-flowing. pitch, leaving less than four minutes before kick-off.

y voices raised against the new arrivals. Perhaps wary of dedicating too much time from their schedules, the
e was met with Little Englander disdain terrestrial TV channels were notorious for short-changing supporters.
hes, writing in the Daily Mirror, said that Sheffield Wednesday’s fanzine War of the Monster Trucks was named
foreigner” and a “panic buy”, who could after the programme for which Yorkshire TV curtailed coverage of the
ething this season, or cost him his job”. Owls’ 1991 League Cup Final celebrations.
fair few things, including his first four
oming the world, the English top flight By contrast, Sky had time and space to give each live game plenty of
coming the globe’s preeminent league. build-up (two hours!) and analysis. Moreover, they quickly did it better
than anyone else in the business, while always displaying a willingness
use Sky speculated. The story of Rupert to improve the ‘product’.
ble – popularising his bin-lid TV start-up
coverage of Premier League football in As a specialist channel, Sky could also allow for a much higher level
stratospheric £304 million (the previous of assumed knowledge. To hit a mass audience on ITV, explains Clive
had cost ITV just £44m) – is well-known. Tyldesley, a commentator “must communicate with the back row of
ce is also both divisive and intrusive: ask the class”; a sports channel can expect a little more savvy. In its own
o’s schlepped to and from a rearranged way, this helped to grow the intelligence of the audience: we were no
r watched his or her lower-league side’s longer being ‘dumbed down to’.
f-decent player get plucked away to rot
club’s reserves. Sky Sports managing director Vic Wakeling briefed commentary duo
s worth going over a few of the benefits Martin Tyler (himself a former forward for non-league side Corinthian
ruling out a few half-truths that appear Casuals) and Andy Gray to “tell me the things I don’t know that only
ave hardened into dogma. First, Sky did a player would”. This subtle advice raised the bar for in-game analysis,
split” football. The FA did that thanks to while the passionate Gray and smooth Tyler proved the perfect pairing
91 Blueprint for the Future of Football – for the big games.
a breakaway league following a century
Soccer AM first aired in 1995, afternoon-filler Soccer Saturday and the
hangover remedy Goals on Sunday both arrived in 1996, and in 1998
along came Sky Sports News with its hours and hours of rolling reports,
interviews, speculation and (eventually) Deadline Day correspondents
being assailed with giant purple sex toys. It’s all a long way from the
days of Elton Welsby...

WE
THE 90S

BANTS AND BRITPOP Gibbons in When Football Came Home: England, the English and Euro
96. “But a generation that had emerged from the rubble of the 1980s
As the decade progressed and football became more popular, it found in Britain helped to send an undeniable wave of optimism through the
other niches in the television schedule. From 1991 to 1994 BBC Two’s country. For a short while, anything seemed possible.”
‘yoof’ producer, Janet Street-Porter, sanctioned four series of Standing
Room Only – an entertaining attempt to make a TV fanzine. Touring the Lobbing disdain from a distance, some pour scorn on the Britpop era
country’s grounds, its Supporterloo mobile studio gave fans a chance – there’s a limit to anyone’s taste for inter-Gallagher squabbling and
to vent opinions to camera. Guardian cartoonist Steve Bell produced lager-vomit. The denser end of lad culture tarnished the whole with an
a comic strip, Rory Bremner added voices, and David Baddiel and Rob ever-lower common denominator: boobs, booze and bants. It wasn’t
Newman contributed comedy. always thus. Founding Loaded editor James Brown often highlights the
fact that early cover stars included Gary Oldman, Airplane! star Leslie
Chelsea supporter Baddiel then joined up with West Brom fan Frank Nielsen and a young ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed.
Skinner for Fantasy Football League. Perfectly timed to surf across the
mid-decade zeitgeist of Britpop, Loaded and laddism, the show oozed “I never thought Loaded was sexist at all,” stated one contemporary
affectionate self-mockery – did anybody really care which manager’s magazine editor, who happens to be a woman. “The writing was great,
fantasy team won? – while providing perfect post-pub entertainment. it was inventive and crazy.” The woman was Karen Buchanan, and the
mag she launched was called FourFourTwo.
In time for Euro 96, the hosts wrote and recorded vocals for a joint
single with The Lightning Seeds. In contrast to every previous ‘football AN ALTERNATIVE VOICE
song’, the lyrics to Three Lions managed to strike the perfect balance
between head-hung despair and misty-eyed optimism that generally The mighty organ you hold in your hands was first unleashed in 1994.
characterises the fans’ experience. No wonder it went to No.1, and did Modesty prevents a full solo on the bugle of self-promotion, but FFT
so again two years later ahead of the 1998 World Cup, with updated was always designed to appeal to intelligent, thoughtful football fans.
lyrics reflecting England’s latest near-miss.
Newsstand options for the savvy supporter had been limited during
Euro 96 was peak ’90s. Soundtracked by Britpop and a sociologically the ’80s, but from October 1990, with Gazza’s tears barely dry on his
neat foreshadow of the impending New Labour revolution – high hopes cheeks, you could enjoy 90 Minutes, set up in a Blackheath bedroom by
of happier times, and eventual ennui or anger at things ending up the Dan Goldstein and Paul Hawksbee. The affordable weekly’s irreverent
same as they always do. And with Scotland drawn in the same group, nature was somewhat akin to Harry Hill’s TV Burp, in which Hawksbee
it also prompted England fans to start waving the George Cross rather was also involved.
than the Union Jack, a faltering first step along the road to a separate
English identity and, arguably, the UK’s dissolution. Tony Blair’s 1997 As the decade wore on, other magazines appeared and disappeared:
manifesto included pledged referendums on a Scottish Parliament and Goal lasted from 1995 to ’98, Total Football from ’95 to 2001, Match of
Welsh Assembly, and the 1999 Good Friday Agreement created several the Day from ’96 to 2001, while 90 Minutes bit the dust in 1997. That
institutions bridging the north and south of Ireland. left just three monthly magazines remaining on the newsstand: this
one, World Soccer and When Saturday Comes.
Back on the pitch, though, football was coming home. Redeveloped
stadiums were buffed and polished, the flags fluttered expectantly and Established in the mid-80s, WSC had adopted the punk movement’s
England played a blinder by demolishing the Dutch and battling past use of fanzines: self-published mags and used as a platform for views
Spain, with Stuart Pearce enjoying the personal exorcism of his penalty unmediated by the journalism industry, frequently hyper-local in focus.
Fans leapt upon the idea, and fanzines flooded in to fill the gap in the
demons at Italia 90 before reprising the ‘heroic losers’ market: in-depth coverage of single teams, not all of it positive.
routine from six years earlier.
Previously, the only writing about many small teams had come from
In truth it was not the greatest of tournaments – the trite match programmes or local press coverage neutered by the need
attendances were iffy everywhere but Wembley and the to nurture good relationships with the club. Now, fans could read – and
goal rate was low – but Euro 96 felt like a football party write – honest opinions about their favourite bunch of idiots. As Peter
with Britpop banging on the stereo. It might sound trite, Hooton – later the lead singer of The Farm, but before that the editor
but it’s rather fun to stage an international tournament of influential Scouse fanzine The End – says: “Fanzines gave people an
– it’s probably a sign of just how much the FA is despised outlet which they didn’t have at that time. Nowadays everyone has a
voice on Twitter.”
he world that despite the Premier League riches
helping to build arguably the finest collection The increasing depth and breadth of fanzines could be determined
of stadiums on the planet, England have only monthly by one of the movement’s forebearers, WSC. Its circulation
peaked at around 40,000 in the early-90s, though it played a vital role
been allowed to host one major tournament in in the cross-pollination of ideas by the simple but crucial provision of
half a century. a fanzine directory. In the back of every issue it printed a nationwide
list of titles and addresses. That list then expanded from 22 in 1988 to
ngland’s semi-final exit from Euro 96 didn’t stop a double-page spread, and as fanzines multiplied – by some estimates,
he momentum of what became known as Cool 600 titles came and (largely) went – the list became so big that it was
tannia, though as is the way with fads, it quickly split over three consecutive issues. Visiting supporters could now hunt
voked a backlash. For a minute there, everything down the home side’s latest issue, or order via the postal service. An

looked tremendously exciting. “Hindsight often nderground networ was later established, with echoes of the
dges the era unfavourably,” writes Michael indeed, issues were often available
s.
nence in the 1980s and dwindled as
st-millennial spread of the internet,
1990s thanks to the proliferation of
ams such as PageMaker. Previously,
ooked like the amateur productions
often annotated typewritten pages
d on photocopiers, having been put
r using a process in which “cut and
te” meant using scissors and glue.
y contrast, the affordable availability
of slick computer software, and the

FourFourTwo.com February 2018 49

WE
THE 90S

improving processing power of home PCs, meant fans could produce crucially, empathy. Not bad for a book that Davies had only started Top to bottom Pete
content to match, or even better, official output. This democratisation researching as an explainer for the American market, in an attempt Davies had access all
of the means of production allowed thousands of frustrated creatives to get a publisher to pay his way around USA 94. “The biggest sport areas for his book on
to excel – for Sunderland fans, A Love Supreme was leagues better than on earth was a complete and utter mystery to them – I thought, Italia 90; Arsenal fan
the official programme. ‘Let’s explain it to them’.” Nick Hornby took the
game from the pub to
Even after the advent of DTP, many fanzine aficionados (readers and That desire to elucidate the reasons for fandom drove the book, the coffee table; Danny
editors alike) preferred the rough-and-ready look, but this just created which in turn turbo-boosted football’s crossover into acceptable Baker was the pioneer
more choice. Clubs now produced more than one fanzine: an enviably coffee-table conversation. Nick Hornby’s Fever Pitch was a pivotal of the rabble-rousing
glossy mag like The Gooner alongside a typewriter-and-Tippex affair reference for the non-believers, a book that took the game from football phone-in 606
like The Arsenal Echo Echo. And whatever the end product, the editors the pub to the coffee table and helped millions to understand
were grounded in the full gamut of production: writing, commissioning, how we fans function.
editing, illustrating, typesetting (of some sort or other), design (ditto),
reproduction, sales, distribution and planning. Fanzines created a new Fever Pitch sold a quarter of a million copies within three years.
generation of journalists, including this writer. John Gaustad, the New Zealand-born owner of the Sportspages
bookshop in London’s Charing Cross Road, says: “It transformed
The 2001 launch of the Rivals.net platform – which was swiftly aped the game and persuaded a lot of publishers, who’d previously
by Footymad.net and FansFC.com among others – allowed fanzines to not been convinced, there was a market for an intelligently
move online en masse, supported by centralised advertising revenue. written book on football.”
Not long afterwards, Blogger and Wordpress arrived to assist anyone
with a keyboard and a viewpoint. The golden age of print fanzines was In fact, the market already existed before Hornby or Davies. In 1983
over, but from now on fans would never be silenced. Simon Inglis managed to convince a publisher into a 4,000 print run
of stadium-architecture investigation The Football Grounds of England
‘FEVER PITCH’ FLINGS OPEN THE DOORS and Wales. Four years later, it was updated with Scottish additions as
The Football Grounds of Great Britain. The two versions sold more than
If the ’90s witnessed football writing spreading ever further across the 120,000 copies – not bad for a fairly academic study published at the
breakfast table, it also made the huge leap to the coffee table and the nadir of attendances: back in 1985-86, the average crowd among the
bookshelf. Before 1990, most football books were just pulp nonsense: 92 Football League clubs was 8,130 – a little over a third of the post-war
quick-buck memoirs or Christmas cash-ins. Notably, of FourFourTwo’s peak of 22,333 in 1948-49.
50 Best Books (available online, folks), five pre-date the ’90s.
But the crossover success of Fever Pitch flung open the doors, and as
Among the literati and book publishers alike, football fans were not publishers scrambled from looking down their noses to looking at the
expected to read much. In reviewing Bill Buford’s Among the Thugs for possibilities, they found writers who were capable of contextualising
The Independent on Sunday in 1991, Martin Amis described them as football in everything from intelligent sociology (Simon Kuper, Football
“a solid mass of swearing, sweating, retching, belching sub-humanity” Against The Enemy, 1994) to vibrant local humour (Harry Pearson, The
who “all had the complexion and body-scent of a cheese-and-onion Far Corner, 1994).
crisp, and the eyes of pitbulls.”
Publishers could repackage the heritage works of supremely talented
Amis’ hateful tirade was an unarguably prevalent public view. When writers such as Hugh McIlvanney (McIlvanney on Football, 1994) and
Saturday Comes writer Ed Horton labelled the review “class snobbery” Eduardo Galeano (Football in Sun and Shadow, 1997). They could also
and “a poisonous display of ignorance and bigotry aimed at the scum commission new takes at legendary tales (The Robin Friday Story, 199
of the earth – you or I, the football fan”. He was correct, but the Amis and they could confidently distribute some niche works, such as Jo
rant – published in a new Sunday paper that was aimed squarely at the McGinniss’ The Miracle of Castel di Sangro (1999). Come the end of th
educated middle class – showed how acceptable it was to demonise decade, they could even pay Alex Ferguson a seven-figure sum for h
football fans, and how low opinions of them had sunk. autobiography. As usual, not everything they pushed to market prove
to be gold or even good, but at least we crisp-faced, swearing, belchin
“Prior to Italia 90, football in England was perceived as a squalid and sub-humanity had the choice.
hooligan-ridden embarrassing sump of gormless violence,” says Pete
Davies. “You did not talk about it over dinner. Whereas now it’s hard to The Observer said that Fever Pitch caused “the emergence of a ne
go anywhere without people talking about it. It simply wasn’t a polite class of soccer fan – cultured and discerning”, but that’s a somewh
topic of conversation, as it was an embarrassment. Therefore nobody arrogant dismissal of the fans who went before. Kuper was an Oxford
ever wrote about it – there was no such thing as a good football book alumnus roughly a decade after Hornby had attended Cambridge.
back in 1989.” Football had never been simply for the thicko plebs. It had always
attracted followers of all intelligences and backgrounds – it just
Davies knows whereof he speaks, as nobody did more to effect that ceased to be a dinner-party bete noire.
change. His seminal book All Played Out covered a 1990 tournament
at which he’d been granted a level of backstage access unprecedented As Kuper puts it: “Hornby didn’t get the middle classes involved
before or since. Although he wrote it in 56 frantic days in order to hit in foo
the Christmas market, this was no rush job: Davies had spent the year
before the finals speaking to the players and manager.

He had quickly earned Bobby Robson’s trust when the talkative boss
blurted out that he was possibly going to drop Gary Lineker. This was
tabloid gold (”You could get fifty grand for that”, Robson told Davies)
but the author’s silence earned him the trust to gain all the access he
wanted: pre-match, post-match, at hotels and training camps.

The players, too, trusted him enough to openly discuss the need for
Robson to change his tactics. He also mixed with the press pack and
their alter-egos, the hooligans. Lesser hands would have mixed those
ingredients into a shock exposé, but Davies had higher ideals in mind.

“I wanted football to have a proper place in popular culture. I thought
someone should say, ‘Not all of us are lunatics. We’ve got legitimate
reasons for watching this game, which is incredibly important culturally
and matters to everyone in the world.’”

Albeit helped by circumstance – Gazza’s tears, England’s heartbreak
and Robson’s dignity – he succeeded brilliantly through his ability and,

50 February 2018 FourFourTwo.com