Author: martin

Like his father before him, Clive Allen played in a great Tottenham Hotspur side, and in part two this prolific scorer shares memories of what it was like being fed by the marvellous Chris Waddle.

There’s also chat about Julian Dicks and getting West Ham promoted to the top flight, starring in the early days of Soccer Saturday alongside George Best and Alan Brazil, and Clive’s affinity for Harry Kane, a player he helped to shape. Oh, and did you know that after he retired from soccer Clive played NFL, for the London Monarchs?

Clive also reflects on the recent sacking of Mauricio Pochettino, and how he had what could almost be described as a premonition that the Special One would one day manage Spurs.

Enjoy

Graham

Clive Allen’s autobiography Up Front reveals a man who fell head over heels in love with football at an early age. It is little wonder, because he hails from a family of true London footballing royalty, and in part one of this frankly special Big Interview he describes watching his father Les play for Queens Park Rangers in the 1960s. Clive gives us an insight into what the London grounds felt like in those days, the sheer thrill of attending a match.

Clive followed in his father’s footsteps and turned out for QPR where he came across the legendary Stan Bowles. He gives us a sense of how the pitches back then forced you to hone your skills, and how the game wasn’t for the fainthearted.

Clive describes his England debut in a famous defeat of Brazil in the Maracana during which he should have scored with his first touch, what it was like at Chelsea under controversial owner Ken Bates, and why he never regretted taking a punt at playing abroad for Bordeaux, and how the experience transformed him into a wine connoisseur.

Utterly brilliant stuff. I just know you will love it.

Graham

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with John Collins from season two.
What adjectives encapsulate John the footballer? Talented, graceful, classy, intelligent… and a whole lot more. He was a key component of the Scotland national team during its last proud era, and his fine club career was marked by a bold move to leave Celtic for Monaco. It was while playing in the principality that he perfected his footballing philosophy, but he already had a passion for excellence, and I believe that it would be a scandalous waste for Scottish football – in fact football in general – not to listen to what he says about how we should develop young talent.
We hear about how an early knock-back galvanised him so that before long he found himself playing alongside George Best in a friendly for Hibernian. About being teammates with the young Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. And about the real meaning of that wink to the TV camera when Scotland lined up before the opener of France ’98 against Brazil.
Enjoy.

 

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Pat Nevin. For the first time, here’s the full episode.
In part two Pat explains what is stopping Eden Hazard becoming the best player in the world and how Johan Cruyff was the greatest-ever influence on the beautiful game. Pat also waxes lyrical about his beloved friend, the late great John Peel, the radio DJ who taught him, and a million others, that it’s okay to be different.
If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Pat Nevin. For the first time, here’s the full episode.
Pat was as intelligent a footballer, most notably at Chelsea, as he is a human being.

In part one, he tells how he honed his natural talent by copying the greats of the game – such as Celtic-era King Kenny Dalglish, how meeting the charismatic John Terry taught him a lesson about never prejudging people, and how he just loves being considered one of life’s ‘weirdos’.

If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter