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Neil Warnock Interview Nick Harper Portrait Stuart Wood

Neil Warnock Interview Nick Harper Portrait Stuart Wood

One-on-one Does he treat his players’ feet? Would he take the England job?

And is he ready for a war of I love soppy films. I don’t cry in cinemas, words with Jose and Sir Alex? but on my settee, I’ll Your questions answered by... let the tears flow Interview Nick Harper Portrait Stuart Wood

Neil Warnock stretches across a comfortable Who did you have the most run-ins with the people I worked under. I probably got sofa in one of ’s hospitality suites, during your playing days? Did anyone go most from Len Asher at Hartlepool. He had growling expletives in FourFourTwo’s out of their way to kick you, or vice versa? a bit of everything; good man-management, direction. Having posed patiently for a series Simon Bayles, West Yorks good tactical nous... But I’m very much my own of happy, smiling images to accompany this I had run-ins for about four or five years with man as a manager. You have to do it your way. interview, the FFT photographer has the a lad called John Peverell at Darlington. I was temerity to ask him if he can “do us a moody at Hartlepool at the time and he was a full-back When did you first consider management? face”. “Fuck off,” he snarls, slipping on my wing. He put me in hospital in a derby Were you always interested in the tactics, effortlessly into the pantomime villain role, once with a ruptured spleen and a hairline organisation and motivation sides of it? before breaking out into a broad smile. fracture of an ankle – that’s not the sort of Alan Stiles, via e-mail It’s late July, and Bramall Lane is gearing thing you forget, really. But that was how it When I was at Hartlepool and about 25, I started up for a return to the top flight after 12 years was when I played, the defenders were told managing an under-10s in Seaton Carew. Then away. The press box is being expanded to cope to soften the wingers up. He had no option when I came down to Barnsley in about 1975, with the demand, the stadium is being banged because I was so quick back then [laughs]. I started managing my local Sunday team in and hammered into shape, and Warnock had – Todwick. I liked managing, even been busy attempting to add new faces to his Which manager you worked under is when you had to collect the subs and wash squad and addressing the never-ending closest in style to you? the kit as well as decide the tactics. I started to requests for a few minutes of his time. “There Sarah Templeman, via e-mail do more and more on the management side just aren’t enough hours in the day,” he There wasn’t just one, I took something from and when I got my first break, at Gainsborough, complains, but he insists that he and the team all of them. I knew early on that I wasn’t going I did the same things I’d done at Todwick. will be ready by August 19. But for now, his to make the top-grade as a player, but I wanted time is being eaten up by your questions... to try and do it as a manager so I listened to Not many managers combine running the team with a job as a chiropodist. Do you Were you actually any good as a player? Open the treat your own players’ feet? My dad says that although you lacked pace, gate, it’s Tim Banks, London you certainly had your moments. Who in Warnock It started out because I had bad feet and wanted the modern game are you closest to in – the once to treat myself, so I started taking the basic terms of how you played? speedy qualifications and then decided to qualify Jim Coker, via e-mail winger properly, which took about four years. So I set Lacked pace?! My only asset was pace. I was up a surgery in Sheffield in 1980, working in very quick but I was brainless. At Rotherham the department stores, and I was going to do they used to shout “Open the gate!!” when it full-time, until I got the job at Scarborough. I was going down the wings, but I’d run out I tried to juggle both but it was impossible, of breath before I got there. I got my brains so I had to make a choice. I still do it from time as a player when I was about 31, but by that to time; in fact, I worked on Mikele Leigertwood’s s point my legs had gone... Who was I most ingrowing toe-nail today. I was always good

empic like? Ronaldinho, only without the skill. at ingrowing nails and Mikele’s got two!

16 September 2006 FourFourTwo One-on-one One-on-one

we would have given them a cracking game. But he missed and it all just drifted away. It was one of my most disappointing times.

With the disappointment of the 2004-05 campaign and “Warnock Out” chants on the final day, did you consider leaving? Jamie Hamilton, via e-mail Yeah, after Millwall at home and there was a lot of abuse, but I came out and faced them. I came closs, I must admit. I sat down with the chairman, Kevin McCabe, and we talked about investing in the club. I told him that if we could invest, I wanted him to support me and I’d stay on. If we couldn’t invest then I’d have left because I couldn’t have done any more at that point, keeping us up near the play-offs. Luckily Kevin said they were going to support me, that they wanted me to stay, and they gave me the money to bring Webber and in and we were able to take that next step up. s How come you were on your tractor while , empic

s your team clinched promotion? Shouldn’t you have been watching Leeds-Reading? Luke Sinclair, via e-mail Oh, I couldn’t have stood watching that

action image – I couldn’t even stand watching the build-

Which is better: reaching the Premiership reconsider the day after the Play-Off Final, Above (clockwise another house, and then I was just told that grade at . He was a super lad Still mad at that for that FA with Sheffield United or reaching the old but I’d already made up my mind. It was from left) At I wasn’t wanted. The chairman said to me: and his development made me proud. Of Cup semi-final in 2003? He did a superb Division One with Notts County in 1990-91? a personal thing that I don’t want to go Plymouth, his home “Well I didn’t want you to come, and I don’t those I’ve bought, ability-wise, I’d say the marking job on that day... If a ref’s done well, I’ll Gary Milton, via e-mail into, but I was a bit headstrong at the time from home; a rare want you to go”, but the board wanted Andy best is one of the current crop: Danny Nick Pateras, via e-mail I’ve got to say taking United up! County was and we laugh about it now whenever I go spot of ref berating; Ritchie in charge and it was cheaper to get Webber. I’ve not seen quicker feet than his. Graham’s the best referee in our country but tell him, but I don’t want a fantastic because there were so many big back. Had I already agreed to join a quick in and out rid of me. Leaving Bury was simply down to I wouldn’t like to say who the worst was, that day I thought he was wrong on a number teams up against us that year – West Ham, Plymouth? No. I had a few clubs interested at Boundary Park; the fact that Sheffield United offered me there’s nothing to be gained from that. Some of occasions. I thought he could have reputation for being nice Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham – but we in me, but I’d been to Plymouth during my commanding the this job, and I couldn’t turn that down. players come in and just don’t perform as stopped play when he fouled Tongey, when grafted and we got there and that was time at Notts County and I liked the area. total respect of the well as you’d hope for whatever reason, be he pulled him down; I thought he could’ve a tremendous achievement. But there’s Notts County squad Neil Warnock is a music agent for bands it injuries or just bad luck. stopped the build-up to what was Arsenal’s up to it on the television in the afternoon. something about managing the club that you As a northern lad, having managed only including Motörhead, Status Quo and winner. And I didn’t like him smiling at half- We’d gone straight down from Cardiff, watched as a boy and taking them up to the in the north, how much of a culture shock Deep Purple. Is this how you unwind As a qualified referee, are you more or time coming off, which I thought rubbed where we’d played the night before, to top. They can’t take that away from me. was Plymouth? Was it all clotted cream away from the pressures of football? less understanding of the mistakes refs salt into the wound. I was deeply hurt by Cornwall, and I’d got a few jobs to do on and rambling on Dartmoor? Nick Rogers, via e-mail make when they referee your games? the whole episode, the anger and the hurt my tractor, mainly chopping down weeds Why did you leave Huddersfield days Rob Findley, via e-mail [Smiles] I’d like to say yes, but sadly that’s Martin Boulton, via e-mail stayed with me for at least six months. and nettles to make it safer for the cattle. after taking us into Division One in 1995? [Smiles] No rambling on Dartmoor, but the not the case. That’s really not my kind of I’d say I’m more understanding. I realise Referees don’t know what it’s like to hurt The first I knew that the result had gone Had you been offered the Plymouth job? clotted creams are great. It was a breath of music, I’m more into Lionel Richie, Barbra it’s getting more difficult for referees but like that, but Graham does now. That World our way was when I came in late on and Michael Morgan, via e-mail fresh air because it’s such a fabulous place. Streisand, that kind of stuff. [FFT suggests I’m aware of mistakes that they make. It’s Cup game [Australia vs Croatia] will have Jeff Stelling announced there’d been I had a problem in the boardroom from I think the fans down there, in Devon and he must at least like Ace Of Spades...] I don’t only recently that I’ve started to understand hurt him more than he’s ever been hurt in a goal at Elland Road, and he started just after Christmas that season and it was Cornwall, are completely forgotten and know it. I don’t think I’ve ever heard it. and accept decisions that go against me. his life and that feeling will stay with him building it up by saying “Could this be affecting us all. I had to put that behind me I don’t think people realise what a passion Until about two years ago, I used to think for a long time. But I have every sympathy the goal that sends Sheffield United up, and concentrate on getting them up, but the they have for the game down there. But Who did you mean when you said that there was a vendetta against me, but I’ve for him because I know how it feels. could it be the goal that makes it go to board knew from February that I’d leave at their whole approach to life is very much some of your players were so technically realised they get it wrong for everyone. I next week’s game?” We were on tenterhooks, the end of the season. They asked me if I’d ‘mañana’. It’s much slower and the people poor that they “couldn’t pass water”? always tell them after the game how I think With hindsight, do you regret doing that desperate to know the result, and he spent are great. We’ve kept a house down that Joel, via e-mail they’ve done. I’ll tell them if they’ve been little war dance after beating Sheffield so long building it up that ‘1-1’ suddenly way and I’ll retire there. I I think it would be cruel to name names. bad, and if I think they’ve had a good game. Wednesday at Hillsborough last season? flashed up along the bottom of the screen. almost class myself as a Put it this way, I don’t think I just ask them not to tell anyone that I’ve Ryan Beasley, via e-mail We just jumped up and hugged one ‘Plymouthian’ now. would mind me saying he was one of them been pleasant about them; I don’t want to Not in the least! It was a lovely dance and Above Celebrating another, me and my wife Sharon, and then at the time. But it just shows you what you get a reputation for being nice [laughs]. I enjoyed every minute. All I did was jump promotion with a waited what seemed an eternity for the final Why were your stays can do with practice because he worked hard up and down, run on the spot for a bit and Motörhead number whistle to blow. at Bury (77 games) Below A nice drop and can now play it with either foot. And Have you ever apologised to a ref after then jump up and down again. I only wish Below A guinea pig, and Oldham (69) so of red is Warnock’s there were a lot like that – genuine lads realising he’d made the right decision I’d been able to throw in a handstand as possibly Warnock’s, You claimed that you force-feed your Taking Notts County short? Don’t you tipple of choice who technically weren’t gifted but were over something you’d criticised him for? well. Do I regret it? Do I hell. If I can’t be at Christmas time players jelly babies at half-time. Have up – in tight shorts like Lancashire or prepared to work very hard to make it. That’s Mick Baker, via e-mail happy after beating our local rivals then you ever tried Sherbet Dip Dabs? something? why the team spirit’s always been so good. A number of times. I’ve called and written there’s something wrong with the game. Carl Shemmings, via e-mail Tony Rosehill, to referees, but I’ve also had them ring me Well I’m open to suggestions [smiles], but You’ve gained a reputation for buying as and apologise for bad decisions. I recall a ref What happened in the 2003 Play-Off Final? I’ve never had a Sherbet Dip Dab so I don’t With Oldham it many strikers as possible. Which is the saying to me in one incident that my player Wolves weren’t 3-0 better than us! really know if it would work. I’d probably was financial. best you’ve managed? And the worst? had never been touched when he went down Jackie Smyth, via e-mail have to try one before I gave them to the I had no reason to Adam Hall, Huddersfield in the build-up to a goal. I was adamant that [Sighs] No they weren’t. Our back four just players, but I’d be surprised if they’re leave. We were There have been quite a few, yeah. I got the he’d been fouled, yet when I watched it on had a nightmare 30 minutes and Wolves took better than Jelly Babies. From what I’m expecting a baby most satisfaction from seeing Andy Booth TV he hadn’t. When that happens you just advantage. If Michael Brown had scored the told, they’re the best sweets you can give and were going to buy come through from being a kid to make the have to hold your hands up. penalty just after half-time to make it 3-1, them. I still do it.

18 September 2006 FourFourTwo FourFourTwo September 2006 19 One-on-one

How come got so good all You’ve had the odd altercation with other of a sudden? managers – , Stan Ternent, Matt C, via e-mail . Now you’re up against Because he plays for a good manager! seasoned top-flight performers such as Seriously, he’s improved his game; his Jose, Arsene and Sir Alex, are you going passing, his tackling, his awareness, and it’s to think twice before you pick a fight? all come with experience. He has a lot of the Carl Shemmings, via e-mail attributes you need at the top level and he Everybody knows my feelings towards the should be a top player for years to come. first two managers mentioned and they’ve never changed: I don’t like either of them Managing your boyhood club in the at all and I’m sure they don’t like me. Nigel Premiership means you’ve reached and I just had one fracas with last year but the Promised Land. Is this your last job? he wrote to me congratulating me at the Or would you accept the England role? end of the season so as far as I’m concerned Matthew Weigold, Sheffield there’s no problem at all. Well... I’ve got a job for life here of some I don’t envisage a problem with any of sort, or so I’m told, but who knows? the Premiership managers. People talk I wouldn’t want to rule out managing about my antics but I’m passionate, that’s somewhere else if I left here after this all. I like my players to be looked after but season. But I wouldn’t want to leave under we’re going to have better referees now, a cloud. I want to keep us up and then have better fourth officials, so I don’t expect as a couple of years in the Premiership before If I can’t be happy after many problems as we’ve had in the past. I pass it onto somebody else. One thing I do I’m looking forward to seeing Sir Alex know is that I’d definitely never manage beating our local rivals, the and Jose. They both wrote me nice letters England. The coverage the job gets? I’d never congratulating us on getting to the want that. [FFT asks if he could have done game’s gone wrong Premiership. [FFT: Nothing from Arsene?] a better job than Sven] No comment. No, but Arsene is not that outgoing, really. I don’t mean that as criticism. I have the Could you drink a “gallon of Magnet” and West Ham are the best two teams to go Above Doing his utmost respect for what he’s done for the without falling over, as the Blades’ take up for a long time. West Ham had the squad Hillsborough War game in this country. I don’t think anyone’s on Annie’s Song celebrates? numbers and Wigan had the money, support Dance: “ Do I regret done more to improve our game than him, Rich Fletcher, Sheffield and the best team ethic we’ve seen at second it? Do I hell!” given his approach to nutrition and fitness I can’t drink any beer, lager, Guinness – I’ve tier level for a few years, so I wasn’t surprised and the rest. never been able to. I don’t think my Dad at all. They were both far better than the drank it either, for whatever reason, so three teams that went up last season, so How well prepared are you for the maybe it passed down to me. I’m more of I think we’ve all got a job on our hands. Premiership? Will the team have to a wine man, red or white. How much do change its style much? I pay? Well I’ll pay £5 or £6 for a good One of your more unorthodox training Lewis Bartlett, via e-mail Shiraz in Tesco, or if it’s a special occasion methods was to throw your players into I don’t think we can change the style much, I’ll treat myself to a new St George’s, which the sea. Do you think such techniques I think it’s more important that we get one is about £15 a bottle. [FFT: Blue Nun?] will be suitable for a Premiership outfit? or two better players into the squad, that’s [Smiles] No, not anymore. As a kid, yeah, Rob Butler, via e-mail key. We’ve brought three or four in now but it’s a bit sweet for my taste nowadays. [Smiles] Well I won’t be changing. We’ll be and we need a couple before the season going to Scarborough at some stage during starts because the Premiership’s about What do promoted teams need to survive the season and unfortunately when we’re up power and pace and I think we need to be in the Premiership? Surely you couldn’t there, whoever loses the games we play on ready for that. We have to be tactically ready have predicted the varying achievements the beach has to go in the sea. I think last for every single game, every game will be of West Ham, Sunderland and Wigan… year it was Michael Tonge and . a massive challenge, but we’re up for it. Alex, Hornets [FFT: have they ever thrown you in?] No. Sunderland played us last pre-season and They know better than to try that [smiles]. Be honest now, your nickname ‘Colin Mick [McCarthy] was saying they were Wanker’ (an anagram of Neil Warnock) struggling to get the players in that he I’ve read that you cry at soppy films and is funny, right? wanted, so I knew they were enjoy poetry away from the game. This Chris Small, via e-mail a question mark. Wigan can’t be true... Next you’ll be telling us Well if the person it’s funny then so be it, you’re kind to small children and animals! I’m not against anything that makes people Stevie Finn, via e-mail laugh. I’m all for that. And I’ve certainly Yeah I do. I love soppy films. I don’t cry in been called a lot worse. Put that bit in will cinemas but if I’m on my settee I’ll let the you? I’ve been called far worse [laughs]. tears flow. The last one I cried at... Christ, what was it called? It had a bald man in it... FourFourTwo has made a donation to Neil Not Four Weddings, but something like that. Warnock’s chosen Multiple Sclerosis charity. Warnock: nice to And am I nice to animals and small children? small children I’ve always had dogs, I’ve got a guinea pig at the moment – and a tank full of fish. Want to grill the

Why didn’t you join last football legends? December? Be honest, did you think One-on-Ones coming up include s they were already down? and Thierry Henry. E-mail as many questions , empic

Paul Potter, via e-mail as you like to [email protected] with s No I didn’t think they were already the name of the star in the subject line – and down, but enough has been said keep an eye on the lovely new fourfourtwo.com about that really. I don’t want to for more forthcoming interviewees.

go into it again, it’s all gone now. action image Life A fter football

There may well be a softer side to go into the first-team dressing room,” he The fact that he scored 199 goals in the Channon, one probably reserved for family, remembers. “I would go in there and first of two stints at The Dell shows how close friends and loyal staff – of which it is they’d take the piss out of my accent. Did successful Channon was in his lone role said there are plenty – rather than visiting I feel intimidated? Too right I did. But it up front. “What he had would translate to journalists. But there is also a hard-nosed, was a great education – that’s what it was any era,” says former team-mate Joe no-nonsense element to his make-up, about. One of the best educations you ever Royle. “He had great pace, he knew where characteristic of most men who reach the had in those days. Certainly better than the goal was and he was single-minded. top in their chosen field. Where Channon a GCE!” He just knew what was good for him and differs from most men is in the fact that, A strapping six foot tall tyro with bags he wasn’t afraid to say, ‘I don’t want the having reached the top in one field, he then of pace and an eye for goal, Channon made ball there with my back to goal. You put it repeating the trick in another. a goalscoring debut as a 17-year-old in 1966 in behind and I’ll get it’.” (against Burnley) and within three seasons Channon’s contribution to the Saints’ The boy Born in Orcheston, Wiltshire in had established himself as a key man for the success caught the eye of England boss Sir November 1948, Michael Roger Channon club. Leading the line on his own, often in , who gave him his first cap joined Southampton Football Club when a one-man battle against opposition against Yugoslavia in 1972. He went on to he was 15 years old and had his eyes opened defences, the youngster was never afraid to score an impressive 21 times in 46 England to the real world. “You were frightened to get his hands dirty. appearances. Along the way he picked up “You tended to be a little bit isolated in an FA Cup winners’ medal in 1976 with the way we played,” he recalls somewhat Southampton – then a Second Division club philosophically. “You were left on your own – and later helped City win the to make what you could. A lot of my days League Cup in 1985. “That’s what it’s all at Southampton, it was about, ‘Get hold of about – winning,” he says, but he refuses to Once a bustling centre-forward with Southampton and England, is now more it, get it up there’, and I had to try and make dwell on his successes: “They were good done good something happen.” days and you move on, don’t you?” famous for his feats as a Flat Racing horse trainer. With over 1,000 winners, it’s little wonder Saints were labelled “ale-house brawlers” After one final season at Portsmouth, the by , but their direct style of 37-year-old called time on his playing days, Words Tony Rushmer Pictures Giles Park football did produce what was to become and then the hard work began. one of the finest and most often-aped goal Shortly after 7am on a chilly April Today, having reinvented himself as Main picture Mick his richly rustic tones precisely what he is celebrations of the 1970s – Channon’s morning, Mick Channon strides purposefully a racehorse trainer, Channon walks with Channon now trains and isn’t prepared to do for FourFourTwo’s ‘windmill’. “Because they knocked it forward into his West office and announces the authority of a man with more than 1,000 over 200 Flat Racing photographer, and this clearly isn’t debatable. and left me to get in behind people and his arrival to FourFourTwo and some of the winners under his belt. horses – many of Later, when Channon suggests that despite score, there’d be no one within about 50 40-plus people who currently call him A little bulkier and a tad balder than when them winners the façade, he’s nothing more than a big yards of me,” he smiles, “so I thought I’d ‘Boss’. “Morning everybody,” he barks, he was a player, the 57-year-old is one of softy, FourFourTwo can’t hide a splutter of better start celebrating on my own. “morning.” The lord-of-the-manor tone the sport’s most influential and respected surprise. “I am,” he repeats, straight-faced, “It still stands me in good stead, that and air of supreme confidence leave no trainers, counting the likes of Sheikh before emphatically drawing a line under windmill,” he adds. “I should have made doubt as to who is in control around here. Mohammed, the horse-mad ruler of Dubai, the conversation. “But I’m not going to a fortune out of it!” More than two decades have passed since among his clients. Spending a few hours in argue with you.” Channon hung up his football boots his company at his private gallops, formerly following a career of more than 900 games owned by the Queen, it’s easy to see why. and 46 England caps. Much has changed in Mick Channon commands respect. At the intervening years. one point during our visit he informs us in

“Why train horses not footballers? Horses don’t answer back!”

96 September 2006 FourFourTwo FourFourTwo September 2006 97 Mick Channon

Watching Channon work is intriguing. name, while in 2003 alone he sent out He’s in a covered ‘ride’, an oval-shaped track, a colossal 144 winners, the equine equivalent two hundred yards in circumference, and of any team breaking 100 points in a season. monitoring ‘first lot’ as they warm up before It’s hard to pinpoint exactly what has heading out on to the gallops at West Ilsley. made Channon such a fine racehorse As he takes up a viewing spot perched trainer. He mentions common sense, above the horses and begins to bark out something he claims is “very short on the orders – “We’ll have a lob up now, just ground in this day and age in every walk of a canter, single file, real steady” – it’s easy life”. It also helps that he has a seemingly to imagine him as a manager, roaring out insatiable appetite for both the job and instructions from the touch-line. Quiz him proper hard work – particularly on as to why he became a racehorse trainer a morning like this, when most sane people instead of a manager and he says with are still wrapped up in bed. a laugh, “Horses don’t answer back!” “You get up certain days and it’s pissing The truth, however, is that there were with rain and 500 degrees below freezing, a couple of possibilities. Oxford, under the but there are things everybody has got to stewardship of Robert Maxwell, got in touch do,” he says, matter-of-factly. “As a boss of in the early ’80s but Channon dismisses 50-plus people, it’s important that I’m their approach as “a publicity stunt”. He enthusiastic. If you want to be successful came far closer to joining Wolves. “I went you’ve got to do the mundane, bread-and- for a job as manager, they offered me the butter things.” head coach’s job. I asked, ‘Who’s the “Some days it’s freezing Just like his football days, Channon’s not manager?’ and they said they didn’t know. afraid to lead from the front, as Quinn dis- I said, ‘Well, I’m certainly not going to take covered when he went to work for him in that job.’ A manager wants his own crew, and p*ssing it down, but the mid-’90s. “There’s no letting up with so I didn’t think that was an option. him, no sloppiness,” smiles Quinn. “He’s “But not everyone who plays football can I’ve got to be enthusiastic” there every morning and he doesn’t miss be a manager or a coach,” he adds. “That’s a trick. He grafts as hard as anyone... he sets a lot of the problem with footballers. In our the standard.” day, we’d never planned for the future. You to have been nurtured by Channon, who And standards, says Channon, simply never think you’re going to get old. But has triumphed on racing’s grandest stages. have to be high if the success is to continue. sadly you do, as I found out.” The only honour currently missing from “It’s not a battle, this game, it’s a war,” he Along the way there was a bit of media his trainer’s CV is a domestic Classic victory says. “It’s endless. Whether you won or got work – including a stint as a TV panellist but many experts believe it’s a matter of when beat, you’ve just got to get up in the at Mexico 86, where Channon introduced not if he completes the full set. “He’s morning and get on with it. The show has the world to “Gary Loin-ay-ker” and coined reached the of trainers,” to go on – nothing is forever.” the phrase “Group of Death” – but it was says Quinn. “He’s made it in racing terms. As we walk back from the gallops to his never a long-term option. “I just didn’t like Although people still think back to football, state-of-the-art offices, Channon reflects sitting around,” he says. “I found it boring for me he’s more of a racehorse trainer, and on how far he’s come. “My car was the office – I always want to be doing things.” one operating at the very highest level.” when I started out,” he smiles. “But for What he really wanted to be doing was To emphasise just how successful Channon Top “He’s there every person who’s successful in life, there training horses. Having already owned has been, you only need to consider the every morning, he are thousands who bite the dust. Every now racehorses in the early-’70s, Channon’s extraordinary size of his string. He began doesn’t miss a trick” and again things come off... I was lucky.” interest in the sport ran deeper than his with 10 horses. At the start of the current Above Channon in Luck has clearly had no part to play, but team-mates, most of whom were content flat racing season, which began in March, his footballing pomp by now, FourFourTwo knows better than to to line bookmakers’ pockets. he had a team of some 200 horses to his for Southampton argue with Michael Roger Channon. “We played together for about seven months, that’s how I got to know him,” says Mick Quinn, Channon’s former Portsmouth team-mate, now a fellow trainer. “He was bog roll, boots & thuggery coming to the end of his career and was already breeding horses. He used to make Mick Channon isn’t the only ex-footballer with a second success story... me laugh, coming in every morning with horse shit all over his wellies and a Sporting Dave Whelan Life under his arm. He’d say, ‘Quinny, you Made his name as Injury ended the The barrel-chested know what fucks football up? Training every a Leeds utility player, Blackburn defender’s former Man City and day – it does my head in’.” playing in every position career in 1960. With England man made Quinn also recalls Channon telling Alan bar keeper. After his compensation, his serious money Ball, the Portsmouth boss, that football was retiring he opened a sports shop in Whelan bought a small grocery from toilet roll (hence his nickname his hobby, while racing was his profession. the city and worked in the family’s DIY business, sold it to Morrisons, then (‘The Bog Roll King’). Having got his That might have only been half the case at business, which was later sold for bought the sports store JJB. It’s now hands dirty, he sold the company, the time but by 1990 – after gaining the £27m. He’s now a property consultant. worth around £300m. FH Lee, for £8 million in 1984. necessary hands-on experience with trainers John Baker and Ken Cunningham- Kevin Moran Vinnie Jones Bruce Bannister Brown – Channon was granted a licence to The first player to be The former football Once a striker with train racehorses in his own name. sent off in an FA Cup hardman reinvented Bristol Rovers – Final, Moran retired himself as a Hollywood famously partnering s Sixteen years later, Channon sits high from playing in 1994 ‘star’, specialising in a Alan Warboys – and up on the gallops in his Land Rover. Among and formed Proactive Sports variety of thug roles in films such as Bradford City and now the brain the 30 or so horses that canter past him is Management, one of Europe’s Lock Stock And Two Smoking behind sportsshoes.com, Bannister

Flashy Wings, his stable star in 2005. leading football agencies. His biggest Barrels, Gone In 60 Seconds, Mean claims to run the largest retail outlet , action image s A fluent-moving chestnut filly, she is the client is . Machine and Swordfish. in the world.

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98 September 2006 FourFourTwo

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