"AFTER THAT MISS AGAINST FRANCE.I NEVER TRIED TO CHIP A KEEPER IN MY CAREER AGAIN"
FourFourTwo UK|October 2023
The tireless midfielder talks FA Cup heartbreak and finds common ground between himself and Pele (er, sort of)
Brian Beard
"AFTER THAT MISS AGAINST FRANCE.I NEVER TRIED TO CHIP A KEEPER IN MY CAREER AGAIN"

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.

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