To Cap It All. Kenny Sansom
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This book is dedicated to Elaine, Natalie, Katie, Harry, Mum and Lucky.
CONTENTS
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Terry Venables
Introduction: KNOWING ME, KNOWING KENNY
Chapter One: BORN TO BE LUCKY
Chapter Two: KIDS ON THE BLOCK
Chapter Three: ELAINE, FAMILY LINKS AND LOVE
Chapter Four: THE EAGLES
Chapter Five: LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY
Chapter Six: A BAD NIGHT IN BASLE
Chapter Seven: JOINING ARSENAL
Chapter Eight: INHABITING AN EMOTIONAL WASTELAND
Chapter Nine: 1982 WORLD CUP, SPAIN
Chapter Ten: ENGLAND MATCHES
Chapter Eleven: MEXICAN HEARTBREAK
Chapter Twelve: ENTER GEORGE ‘THE STROLLER’ GRAHAM
Chapter Thirteen: THE END FOR ME AT ARSENAL AND ENGLAND
Chapter Fourteen: MY STORIES OFF THE PITCH
Chapter Fifteen: SAMANTHA FOX OR FATIMA WHITBREAD – YOU CHOOSE
Chapter Sixteen: GOING NORTH OF WATFORD
Chapter Seventeen: ALL OVER THE PLACE
Chapter Eighteen: GLENN ROEDER – A STRANGEDEFEATIST ATTITUDE
Chapter Nineteen: TONY ADAMS – A SPORTING CHANCE
Chapter Twenty: REHAB, AND ‘WHO THE HELL IS KENNY SANSOM?’
Chapter Twenty-One: GOING HOME
Chapter Twenty-Two: CHINA AND THE SOCCER PRINCE
Appendix A: MY CAPS
Appendix B: INFORMATION FOR ADDICTS
Appendix C: IN PRAISE OF KENNY
Copyright
First, going back to my terrific days at Crystal Palace, I’d like to thank the following: Peter Taylor for teaching me how to impersonate Norman Wisdom – there was so much laughter, so many jokes and wind-ups; Malcolm Allison for telling me I’d never make a left-back – you are pure class, Malcolm; Arnie Warren for spotting me – weren’t you the lucky one, Arnie? Terry Venables – the main man.
Moving on to my Highbury days, I must give Don Howe a special mention – the man who followed me everywhere. Thanks for pushing me to run, run, run – seriously, you kept me going for a while.
Thanks, Terry Neill, you were brave to do that swap with Clive Allen; or was there more to it? George Graham – thank you for all your help, for teaching me so much, and I’m just sorry I didn’t listen to you. I still remember the time when we were in Scotland for a pre-season match and after the first half you turned to Nigel Winterburn and said, ‘That’s how you play left-back.’
During my long England career I was managed by two of the best. I’d like to thank Ron Greenwood for welcoming me into the England squad and giving me my debut against Wales at Wembley when we drew 0–0. Bobby Robson – thanks for remembering my name sometimes, Bobby. Not all the time though – I was Charlie on more than one occasion. They were great times and I visited so many wonderful places with you and England.
But it all began back in south London when Joe Wilson, my very first manager, put so much work, time and dedication into us young lads. For me this was the start of something special.
I will be eternally grateful for all the PFA have done for me (and remain to do) over the years. They are a fantastic organisation.
To all my family – yes, all. We are a big family with lots of uncles, aunts, cousins and all of their children. My brothers and sisters Maureen, Midge, Peter and David and their partners. To Elaine’s family – Alice and the late Bill. Sister Sheila and brother-in-law Gordon.
As for friends – they say if you have a handful of true friends you are lucky. Well, I am lucky. They know who they are: Kevin Carlier, Brian Wells, Ray Radmore, David Mendes, Tom Watt, Eamond, James Chitty, Duncan Jelley, Carmine, Linda, Alex Amuro, John Laws, Paul Weston, Perry Groves, Karl Howman, Steve Matthews, Tony Wilkins, Tony Hoskins, Danny and the staff at Thai Pan Chinese restaurant, Ray and Pat, Ray and Lyn from Barnett, Ron and Jackie, John and Jackie Leach (Harry’s godparents), and Ian and Sophia Lasslett.
I can’t leave out Tony De Silva at the Montechoro Hotel in Portugal as he has always looked after Elaine and I so well.
And finally – well not quite, not yet anyway – Sporting Chance Clinic and all involved in this unique setup, including Tony Adams, Peter Kay, James West and Julian. Thanks, you guys.
I’d like to thank Hy Money for the excellent personal photos she has taken of me and my family over the years – they are very special. Finally, a big thanks to the co-author of my life story, psychotherapist Rita Wright. As well as being my ghost writer she has been able to help me gain a clearer understanding of myself through these difficult times.
Just like the legendary England left-back, Kenny Sansom, I love a song – and the one that comes to mind when I think of Kenny is, ‘Thanks for the Memory’. That might sound a bit like an obituary, but I can assure you that one of the best left-backs the world has ever seen is still very much alive and kicking.
My first impression of young Kenny Sansom was, ‘You might not be very tall, son, but you’ve got the body of a middleweight boxer with determination and guts to match.’ He was 16 years old, short and stocky with tremendous upper-body power. But it was his lightning pace that made him one of the best left-backs of all time.
The combination of his natural talent and hard work ethic ensured his success; he was quite simply magnificent. It took only nine years for him to notch up an amazing eighty-six caps for England, and I make him one of the top three left-backs ever to grace this country – the other two being Kenny’s successor, Stuart Pearce, and the terrific Ray Wilson.
I am very proud to have worked with Kenny. Thinking back to the seventies when I coached and managed him brings a smile to my face. He was warm and funny – a real character and joker. He took this easy manner onto the training ground where he added determination and hard work to his repertoire. Add a touch of genius and we have the package that has made him a football legend.
Kenny and I spent hours and hours practising skills and tactical moves – he opposite me, with us moving step for step as he copied my footwork. It was like looking in the mirror. Magical.
For almost a decade nobody could go by him. Passing Kenny Sansom was impossible. He created terrible problems for the opposition as he nicked the ball and made off with it down the left wing. Although a defender, he also loved to attack the game.
Those days at Crystal Place in the late seventies and early eighties were brilliant. Kenny is a true family man and therefore fitted in well with the ‘family ethic’ at Selhurst Park. I had just taken over from Malcolm Allison and we were floundering in the Third Division. I sensed the boys in the team were special and we were about to go to the top. I was proved right.
By the 1979–80 season, we were flying high in the First Division – today’s Premiership; and we were widely referred to as ‘the Team of the Eighties’
In the summer of