January 2009 was a mixed month for me.I survived a serious car accident on my way home after commentating on the final of the PDC world darts championship but,at the end of the month,I was privileged to compere an Evening with Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford. Our interview lasted around 45 minutes and,as you can see,we had loads of laughs. There were more serious moments,too.
When Manny Pacquiao came to Manchester for the launce of their big fight in Las Vegas,he took on Ricky Hatton on the dartboard in The Hitman's local pub and I had the pleasure of being the host. Here is the weigh-in of their arrows.As you can see, it was a bundle of fun! Ricky just about won the darts but Manny won the main event in Vegas eight weeks later.
Ricky, a fellow Manchester City fan and a big darts fan (he’s a good player on the log-end Manchester board), and I share a moment of fun here. We were working at a dinner at Lancashire County Cricket Club. I didn’t quite knock the smile from his face!
Sir Garfield Sobers and Sir Richard Hadlee were also guests at a dinner at Lancashire’s Old Trafford. There are three ex-cricketers in this picture – the one in the middle’s claim to fame is a hat-trick for Denton West’s 2nd XI !!
Over at the other Old Trafford, I did a Manchester County FA dinner with Sir Alex Ferguson. When I asked if I could have my photo taken with him and the FA Barclaycard Premier League trophy he willingly obliged. Just before the picture was taken, however, Sir Alex turned to me and said, “You’re a Blue!” “Yes, but if I wait til we win it, it’ll be rusty”, I retorted. He’s a nice guy, Sir Alex, and one has to admire the fantastic achievements that he has brought about.
The Cabaret Club in Nottingham’s Lace Market area has, sadly, closed down. For three years I travelled to and fro to host some really good “Audience with” nights. Stuart Pearce, Nigel Benn, Henry Cooper, Nasser Hussain, plus double-acts Gordon Banks and Peter Shilton and Eric Bristow and John Lowe. So, too, the pre-2006 World Cup Show with England 1966 heroes Jack Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst. Nice to have your tie straightened by big Jack! Geoff Hurst originates from Denton, in Manchester, where I live. He was six when his parents moved to Chelmsford.
Another Geoff – a good pal and a great after-dinner speaker – is “Dusty” Miller. A former Derbyshire, Essex and England all-rounder (well, he did a bit of both!!). He’s now the man in charge of the England Selection committee. Geoff Miller and I worked at the City of Manchester Stadium where I’ve done a few functions. The largely football audience really took to Geoff and his highly amusing cricket stories.
Back in 2003, I was asked to compere a Liver Foundation Charity Dinner at which George Best and Michael Parkinson were the special guests. What a thrill!! It went really well and, worth every bit of my fee was Parky’s complimentary comment and handshake at the end of the night. "You've made the night go really well and I have been impressed with your skills on the mike",he said before leaving. I felt eight feet tall!
