Updated at 09.53
1. Jack Charlton got stranded in Denver Airport at the ’94 World Cup
Thinking that they could face them in the last 16 of the ’94 World Cup, Jack Charlton travels to see Belgium play, only to get stranded at the airport: “Jack’s trip to see Belgium play turns out to be a waste of time because we draw Holland in the last sixteen. His mood isn’t helped by a flight cancellation that forces him to spend a night on a bench at Denver Airport. As usual, Jack has no money and only for a British tourist spotting him, he wouldn’t have a got a cup of tea or a fag.”
2. Roy Keane is more of a Neil Diamond than a Take That fan
The Irish team go to a Take That concert in the run up to the ’94 World Cup but Roy Keane is unimpressed: “The only other youngster is the Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane, but he’s not one of us. He made it clear from day one that this isn’t his scene. He wouldn’t be caught dead near a Take That concert — he likes Neil Diamond apparently — and he has absolutely no interest in becoming the Fourth Amigo. He makes sure we know exactly where we stand with him, and good luck to him. I decide early on that I wouldn’t want to cross him.”
3. He turned down advances from England and Northern Ireland to play for Ireland
“England want me to play for them, even if it’s their B team, but I’ve never really wanted to play for England. I loved watching Ireland at the 1990 World Cup, like all of Liverpool, and that’s the one that really interests me if truth be told, even though I have never got further than about a hundred feet across the Irish Sea.”
4. He’s not a fan of Graeme Souness
McAteer and Souness don’t see eye to eye during their time together at Blackburn. The final straw is when Souness pressurises him to play an FA Cup match against Chester while his mum’s partner is dying in hospital: “I’ve no choice here. I have to go to work. I have to do what Graeme Souness tells me. I really don’t think he’s grasped the enormity of the problem, or maybe it’s a misunderstanding. I leave the hospital, even though my mum’s partner is deteriorating by the minute. The doctors say there is little they can do to stop the poison in her blood. My partner and her family are in bits and I’m leaving them to play a bloody football match.”
5. Alan Stubbs is an incredibly sound person
While McAteer is at Bolton, then-Blackburn manager Kenny Dalglish makes a joint bid for the Ireland international and Alan Stubbs. Dalglish insists that either both of them join or neither do. McAteer gets wind of interest from his boyhood club Liverpool, and despite it meaning he will remain at Bolton, Stubbs encourages McAteer to follow his dream: “I know this is killing him, but it’s Liverpool. Alan doesn’t even think about it. He tells me I have to walk away from Kenny Dalglish and talk to Liverpool. I remind him that if I do that it will kill his Blackburn move. To his eternal credit, he is not for turning. He tells me that he knows better than I do what Liverpool means to me. If Everton came in for him, he’d do exactly the same thing, and I’d be just as supportive. He insists I have to be selfish. He’ll be fine either way. He won’t stand between me and Liverpool. It’s an incredible gesture and tells you everything about Alan.”
Blood, Sweat and McAteer: A Footballer’s Story by Jason McAteer is published by Hachette Books Ireland. More info here.
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Plays the nice guy card but we can see through him, arrogant man, no time for him after the barney episode….. No need for it
W@anker!!!
Exactly played the I’m so genuinely sorry card after his petulant display after Match V Barney just so crowd wouldn’t be on his back & I might retire Sh*te, conniving piece of shit.
True
Did you have time for him after this?
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42543/Darts-champion-fined-indecent-assaults.html
Had a chuckle at the spectators singin “stand up if you love the darts”. They’re at the world final…I’m pretty sure it’s a given that they love darts! And was one of the Ladbrokes tarts yer wan from Tallafornia?
Say what you like about him but what a player!
Don’t forget that begrudgery is the Irish national pastime ;-)
Very true god forbid i might win the lotto
If Taylor was Irish everyone would be saying it was passion or the heat of the moment or the fighting Irish get over yourselves
Agree, super darts player….
Heard he was lobbying for darts to be an olympic sport….
Some athlete!!!
great player but a rude wnaker … no need for it especially after winning …
This lad is the greatest athlete the world has ever seen. He’s in the gym 7 days a week working harder than everyone else and it showed tonight. Phenomenal physical specimen.
7 hours a day. 7 days a week. He may not be putting those hours in in the gym but it’s still incredible commitment and dedication…
Incredible demonstration of determination – He looked dead and buried at 2-0 and 4-2…
What an amazing match and hats of to phil what a champion and what an athelete to keep performing at the highest level at 52 …….ultimate sports man…….and MVG is some player ………
Ultimate sportsman? I’d hardly call his behaviour the other night with Barney sports manly. Arrogant sack of sh1t would be more fitting.
Gamma I guess rugby players trying to gouge out eyes, footballers diving, tennis players breaking their rackets and throwing their toys out of the pram to name a few are perfect sportsmen. Up there on stage under the lights and the heat there is nowhere to hide so he got a bit hot and bothered under the pressure of a semi final for which he apologised for. I don’t see what you and a lot of people are getting so worked up about you must all run perfect lives and never get annoyed with other people so fair play to you and all the other Taylor detractors
Tony rugby teams provide each other with a guard of honour after the game, tennis players shake hands after a match. Frustration is part of every game but the point I made is that his actions were not the actions of an “ultimate sportsman” while were on it, breaking a tennis racket earns a fine, diving in football earns a yellow card and eye gouging in rugby gets you sin binned. What was Taylor’s punishment?
Gamma in response Taylor’s punishment is everyone jumping on him for one human error, for which he said sorry for. Then if you see the footage he shakes hands then I pulled back while walking away that’s when he aired his annoyance then Barney gave him a sly little shove in the back as he was walking back towards the board. That’s when Taylor got really annoyed he has said sorry however Barney has not done so in public yet so IMO opinion Taylor has done nothing wrong to be punished for so get off your moral high horse and enjoy watching the best darts player you are ever likely to see
I met the bloke once in a hotel in london.One of my mates asked him for a foto. No bother!!…He chatted with us for about twenty mins and then was on his way. He is one sound bloke and He is also the greatest dart player ever.Good luck to him.
About 5 or 6 years ago he was doing autographs in Lifestyle Sports just off of O’Connell St. It was supposed to be a kind of thing where you buy a Taylor-endorsed dartboard and get an autograph. Anyway, I already had the dartboard at home but one of the people working there wouldn’t let me get an autograph. Phil told her it was alright and let me through. I thought he was a great fella, but his antics with Van Barneveld make me question that.
My comment about Taylors past has been deleted despite him being found guilty in court
Why, what was his past? Twitter me if u can
About him beating up females?
Just looked it up, that’s mad, never even heard that b4… The power phil Taylor eh, lol
I won’t post it as it was deleted when I mentioned earlier, check his wiki page and that will lead you to reports from BBC, Daily Mail etc…..
Or maybe he just had a fondle with them!
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-42543/Darts-champion-fined-indecent-assaults.html
Not many people do know about it, conveniently glossed over by the sporting media
Grrrrrrr hate Taylor!
Such a boring game in general !
Why wud u read an article about it then u idiot?
He felt Barney pulled him about after taking his time to shake hands. Heat of the moment stuff! But like Cody and Cunningham at the end of the All Ireland.
Hate the man he rewrote the book on dirty tricks from bristow while keeping the crowd on his side. Would never cheer for the man but I tip my hat to his talents
He is the best dart player of his generation .. And still can turn it on at 52 …. Ya the barney thing was wrong, but everyone has slip ups. Tell me 1 world champion that’s not cocky and confident !!!!!
Silly game for drunk men.
I love darts, but this old sketch always reminds me of Taylor (not a nice man):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHnBppccI0o
Still the best darts player ever.
A fitting tribune to Sid Waddell naming the trophy after him. One of the most comical yet genuine commentators ever and one that really brought darts to the mainstream audience.
“The atmosphere is so tense, if Elvis walked in ,with a portion of chips….. you could hear the vinegar sizzle on them”
RIP Sid
Agreed. Sids commentary is what breathed new life in to a dying sport, I tuned in just for him. Now darts are more popular than ever while its snooker that’s on the way out.
Horrible arrogant man. Greats darts player, horrible human being.
Brilliant dart player and so talented. To become the best he did everything that was asked of him including diets gym work and practice, practice and then some more practice. I admire him as we will never see another champion like him. I don’t judge him on his personal life as I don’t know him but not too many sportsmen or women have managed to keep their position over such a long period. Congrats Phil.
Even though he is an arrogant man you have to admire him for his success.
no class
he only goes tere for the vending machine
Great fight by Phil. Hes a genius. but MVG will learn from this and will get better and better. I’ll say he will equal Phil’s records in 15 to 20 years. MVG=Machine
If it wasn’t for Taylor, darts would still be in the dark ages like the bbc. He made darts the sport it is and continues to dominate and because of that others are getting better and better like MVG and Lewis… Fair play phil, still the greatest
Great talent and is cocky but after 16 world champs wins I think your entitled to puff out your chest a little. He is no angel but neither is anyone
he is either a good actor or a good guy. every press conference I’ve seen him in I’ve warned to him. lady night’s victory was his 90th over all title (or something like that) I do agree darts players need a bit of fitness in their routene… but, Taylor is one of the worlds best and most decorated sports personalities ever!
jammy gig was fined 2grand for trying to sort a 3some in his caravan…. stay classy Phil!
His public persona is an act, don’t fall for it buddy
Not denying he is a super dart player
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/1306433.stm
This is the ling to the report of the incident on the BBC news website . He’s not as squeaky clean as he would like us to believe. Personally I think he’s a bit too sweet to be wholesome. But he is some darts player and always great to watch.
I agree with Barry, MVG is one to watch for the future.
* link!