England | Leon Mann

March 9, 2015March 10, 2015 by Leon Mann

Getting To Know The Real Andrew Cole

GOAL-KING COLE! On set with Andrew Cole after our ITV Sports Life Story interview

Andrew Cole has been called many things in his life. Andy, finisher, poacher, winner and goal king are up there. But so are moody, difficult, arrogant and problematic.

The Manchester United legend didn’t do much media as a player, so away from the pitch we have never got to know him. Like others, such as United teammate Paul Scholes, he decided he would do his talking on the pitch.

And if that was all he was judged on – playing football – he would be regarded as highly as Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry, Ian Wright and Dennis Bergkamp. But he isn’t – which doesn’t make much sense when you break down the facts.

Andrew Cole is the second highest goalscorer in the history of the Premier League, behind Shearer. But Cole’s goals-per-Premier League-games ratio is actually higher. Cole didn’t take penalties, Shearer did – slotting away 56.

So when I was offered the chance to interview Cole, as part of the ITV Sports Life Stories series, I had so much to put to him.

He did not disappoint.

WATCH THE ANDY COLE SPORTS LIFE STORIES TRAILER

Cole was open about all aspects of his career – taking on the most sensitive talking points of his playing days. A lack of recognition as one of the Premier League’s greatest strikers, his beef with Teddy Sheringham, why he never got more of a chance with England, Andrew or Andy, why he failed to get on with a number of his managers… No stone was left unturned.

I was just as keen to get beyond the footie chat and see if I could truly get to know Andrew and understand why he decided not to engage with the media like others did – and benefitted as a result.

I had the privilege of speaking with his mum, dad, brother, wife and two children. They broke down his enigmatic personality in a way only family can.

The Andrew Cole story triggered lots of questions in my mind about how highly players value and understand the media. Can footballers ignore the media and still gain proper recognition? Do players understand, or care, that the public’s perception of them can impact on their career? Why can’t sportspeople be themselves – as inconvenient as that may be for the media at times – and be left alone?

Take a butchers. Andrew is ready to talk.

– Andy Cole, Sports Life Stories, on ITV 4 at 10pm tonight (10th March 2015)

TEAM WORK: Cole with myself and the production team from Hey Buddy TV – Producer, Shurwin Beckford and Director, Laurence Koe

in Uncategorized 0 comments

June 19, 2014July 17, 2014 by Leon Mann

Jamaica, Lawn Bowls and Loyalties

This month I will realise a dream. I will pull on a Jamaican jersey at an international tournament. The sport? Lawn bowls.

Yep, you read it correctly. I will be playing lawn bowls for Jamaica at a test event for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

It all came about when Jamaica’s best lawn bowls player, Andrew Newell, reached out to me on twitter. He wanted to raise awareness about the sport and make it accessible for all communities. But the big plan was to see a Jamaican lawn bowls team at the next Commonwealth Games in Queensland, Australia.

It’s a wildly ambitious target, but I loved the idea. So did former WBC, European, British, and Commonwealth light welterweight champion, Junior Witter! He’s also signed up for the first ever team.

I cannot wait to get out on the green and represent Jamaica, and where better to prepare than the back “home”. Yes, I’m back on the island this week filming for BBC Sport. Keep an eye on the BBC’s Commonwealth Games coverage to see these features.

I’m also looking forward to exploring how modern day Jamaica feels about the Commonwealth. Does it mean anything anymore?

This question, and England football manager, Roy Hodgson’s recent demand that all his players sing the national anthem got me thinking about identity, and question if people understand how it has evolved.

As a kid I supported England at football and the West Indies in Cricket. When neither were involved I’d adopt Ireland as my team, because of my Irish grandmother. I used to get all sorts of stick for doing this from mates, who saw me as unpatriotic to the country of my birth.

But my feelings now are as strong as they were in the playground – why should I divide any so-called loyalties? It is entirely possible to feel a connection with many different countries and cultures.

However, I still struggle with anthems. The British one in particular. Coming from a family of Jamaican and Irish heritage, that may be unsurprising. I just feel some of the themes involved remind me of past we should never forget, but equally feel uncomfortable blindly celebrating. Google the subject. It makes for fascinating reading.

Yet despite the anthem, I’ll still be cheering on England – but with a Jamaican jersey on, while stood on a bowling green.

in The Voice Newspaper 0 comments