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By
Mark Urso-Cale
This
week saw the start of The Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival
and this year included its first ever sports event.
The
Oxford Union hosted guests, and best friends, Gareth Southgate and
Andy Woodman.
Now,
most of you will know Gareth as the guy who missed the penalty against
Germany in Euro '96. Those of you more familiar with football in
general, will recognise him as one of the Premier Leagues' most
consistent defenders. Most people outside of Oxford United and the
Third Division however, will probably not recognise Andy Woodman.
And, I, admittedly, was one of them.
How
did it come about then, that a mellow, quiet and articulate England
central defender wrote a book with an outgoing, loud, fun-loving
lower league goalkeeper?
They
proceed to tell us throughout the book, and the evening, of how
they came together when they were apprentices at Crystal Palace
and events that have shaped their paths to date.
The
two gentleman's lives, personalities, careers and most probably
futures, couldn't possibly be any more at different ends of the
scale. Their story is one of survival, not only of the professional
life of a footballer, but one of a friendship as well. They tell
us that theirs is based on the same as anyone else's. Trust. Without
that, what have you got?
With
Andy spending his developing years as the substitute goalkeeper
at Palace as an understudy to Nigel Martyn, Gareth was playing regular
football and generating interest from larger clubs.
Gareth
signed for Aston Villa for 拢2.5m, whilst Andy was given a
free transfer and ended up at Exeter. That was of course only after
he had written to all 92 League clubs to see if they needed a goalkeeper,
from which he got 92 replies all saying, 'Thank you. We'll put you
file'.
The
two kept in touch and whilst Gareth was having his kit washed and
food made for him at Villa, Andy was washing his own and having
to fend for himself, away from family and friends. In their own
words they have tried to explain that the impression of a professional
footballer's lifestyle isn't as glamorous as it appears and have
given an honest opinion on the game and how they see it. Reality
is a long way from the lifestyle of Beckham, and is more the worry
of new contracts, managers, players and injuries.
People
who have read the book will tell you that the friendship element
is very strong and this couldn't have been more evident seeing them.
Both looking very relaxed, their opposite personalities complimenting
each others style and ease in which the conversation flows.
They
are still both at different ends of the professional scale, but
both agree that what's meant to be, is what's meant to be and although
Gareth may earn in a week what Andy may earn in a year, a friendship
such as theirs is so uncommon in football nowadays, because of the
gulf between leagues, it should be one that lasts forever.
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