Is it true that you were forced to choose between football and life as an electrician?
It wasn't exactly a choice because I wasn't actually going to sign for Rochdale - it was intended to be a non-contract deal. I was an apprentice electrician at the time, and when I finished work I would turn up at Rochdale wearing overalls. I was often on the bench and think I only played a handful of games over the next two years. And no, I never had to fix any electrical appliances at Spotland! I wouldn't have been trusted anywhere near anything like that. I never fully qualified and it was in the final year of my apprenticeship that Crewe came knocking.
How did that Crewe move transpire?
It's quite funny: I scored against Crewe in an FA Cup match and was later told they were aware that I was a non-contract player. They then watched me for the next two or three games and maybe spotted something in me. Signing with Rochdale was never an option. I remember speaking to the manager at the time, Jimmy Greenhoff, and he admitted he was about to get sacked - and Les Chapman, who briefly took over, said I shouldn't sign for Dale. He said that Crewe was the best place to start my career. He was right, too.
You were part of a Crewe side that boasted David Platt, John Pemberton and a host of other players who went on to bigger and better things...
Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av FourFourTwo UK.
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Denne historien er fra October 2023-utgaven av FourFourTwo UK.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
NINE REASONS TO BE EXCITED FOR COPA AMERICA
Family feuds, Bielsa's return and an Icelandic dentist - it's all been going on ahead of South America's biggest tournament hosted by, er, the USA. Oh, and Messi's going to be there as well...
30 GREATEST PUNDITS EVER
FFT rates the finest opinion offerers in the history of UK television, via Del Boy, Space Jam and Donald Trump...
"TERRY VENABLES PUT HIS FAITH IN ME AT EURO 96 - I COULDN'T LET HIM DOWN"
Only Cristiano Ronaldo and Michel Platini have more goals at the Euros than Alan Shearer's seven - the forward hit five on home soil to secure the Golden Boot in 1996, and tells FFT why he found form at the perfect moment
HOW DID I FEEL AFTER SCORING NINE GOALS IN FIVE GAMES AT EURO 84? TIRED!
Forty years ago, Michel Platini's Euros-record tally propelled France to glory on home soil... and he wasn't even a forward. No player has ever had a finer European Championship - now, in his own words, he recalls it to FFT
WHY ENGLAND COULD TAKE THE HANDBRAKE OFF AT THE EUROS
Gareth Southgate has been labelled a cautious coach in recent major tournament near-misses - in Germany he might just be more adventurous, which brings risks but also potential reward
GEORGIA ON THEIR MIND
A Frenchman, an Englishman and a local genius walk into a Caucasus country to qualify for a first major tournament - is this a joke? Not for Georgia, who are dreaming big
SYIVINHO KING OF ALBANIA
The former Arsenal defender was an unexpected appointment last year, but he guided the Balkan nation to Euro 2024 - and now he tells FFT that he wants to spring another surprise...
CAPITAINE LEADER LEGENDE
Kylian Mbappe wrote his name into history at successive World Cups. Now France's captain and desperate to break his Euros goal drought, can he make it to the Berlin final and succeed where Zinedine Zidane failed 18 years ago?
JUDE AWAKENING
Three years ago, Jude Bellingham briefly became the European Championship's youngest ever player - now, after a superb debut season at Real Madrid, he's ready to make a greater impact
VIVA RONALDO
Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal career was as good as over when he was dropped at the last World Cup - instead, CR7 goes to Euro 2024 as their main man once more, aged 39. Will this be the end, and can he make one last pitch to be considered the greatest?