A True Story From My Years In Football
'Meeting Lee Bowyer & Lee Sharpe
As some of you may know, i used to work & coach at the Leeds United Community Office at Elland Road around a decade ago. I felt very fortunate to have the chance to actually coach & spend time inside & out of our famous stadium during the seasons 1996 through to 1998. It offered the chance to be nearer my heroes on an almost daily basis, whilst learning the coaching ropes at the same time! George Graham was the manager at the time, with David O'Leary operating as his right hand man. I was attending the my home town & supported club 6 days a week at times, so obviously i got into a lot of free home games & came into contact with the first team squad players quite often. I felt in dreamland almost every day of my 22 month stay. Almost like dying & going to heaven! We had a real good crop of youngsters with us back then. Harry Kewell, Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Sharpe, Bruno Ribeiro, Alfie Haaland, Rod Wallace, Nigel Martyn, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink & Ian Harte to name but a few. And i have to say that we all got on like a house on fire & with plenty of good natured banter along the way! Ribeiro & Sharpe were the worst culprits though. Bruno would take every chance to wind up another player, perhaps as he packed onto the team bus as the lads headed to yet another away game. Once that same player thought it might be fun to bombard me with grape seeds, as he healthily munched away on the team bus. I was their to collect autographs for a one of the clubs soccer camps & we sort of knew each other from being around the club. He just kept eating & flicking them at me, with this huge grin on his face. Then he'd hide & pretend that it was someone else! I think he saw himself as the team comedian at that time. But i didnt find this so funny after the 4th time! On another day I passed Lee Bowyer at the club reception doors. He was coming in & i was on my way out. Lee reached the door handle first, then stood there motioning me to come out first. I'm thinking 'Hang on a minute Lee, this is your home, not mine!' But he waited & waited, insisting that i come out first. I felt quite suprised when he looked me in the eye & said 'After you mate' Then adding 'Didnt i see you in Majestyks last week?' I laughed nervously & winked back. From that day on me & Lee always seemed to pass mutual smiles & waves around the stadium. I really miss him even after all this time too. A top bloke & a top player who in my opinion is without a single ounce of racism in his body. So lay off Lee please! He does like to get stuck in a bit though!
