Sky Sports Presenter Gary Newbon is one of Britain’s premier sports broadcasters having been ‘on the air’ for forty years with ITV and Sky.
With seven World Cup finals and over 10.000 TV shows to his name.
With seven World Cup finals and over 10.000 TV shows to his name.
LTID: You were born in Cambridge & went to Culford School near Bury St Edmunds, so how did you become a Leicester City fan?
GN: My grandfather moved in the second world war to 139 Narborough Road,Leicester.Its just past the traffic lights where if you came in from the M1 you would turn right at those lights for the ground.His name was John Cooklin and he had five daughters of which my late mother Preeva was the second eldest.My late father Jack flew 40 operations in Hampdens to Germany etc in Hampden bombers during the war.He was based at North Luffenham and Market Harborough.He met my mother at the Grand Hotel dance and they were married and moved to my father's home city of Cambridge where I was born as the first grandson.My grandfather was football mad and so I was taken to Filbert Street for the first time in 1951 when I was 6...I am older than I look!Norman Bullock was manager but I don't remember much before Dave Halliday's time in charge.The early players I recall,..goalkeeper John Anderson,defender Jack Froggatt,centre-forward Johnny Morris and my favourite Arthur Rowley. I recall Gordon Fincham being carried off...I think it was Easter 1955..and he did not play again.I saw Gordon Banks make his home debut....The Leicester war-time manager Tom Bromilow was my parent's best man.I don't know why.My dad wasn't into football until the 1966 World Cup.I I think Tom knew my grandfather.
GN: My grandfather moved in the second world war to 139 Narborough Road,Leicester.Its just past the traffic lights where if you came in from the M1 you would turn right at those lights for the ground.His name was John Cooklin and he had five daughters of which my late mother Preeva was the second eldest.My late father Jack flew 40 operations in Hampdens to Germany etc in Hampden bombers during the war.He was based at North Luffenham and Market Harborough.He met my mother at the Grand Hotel dance and they were married and moved to my father's home city of Cambridge where I was born as the first grandson.My grandfather was football mad and so I was taken to Filbert Street for the first time in 1951 when I was 6...I am older than I look!Norman Bullock was manager but I don't remember much before Dave Halliday's time in charge.The early players I recall,..goalkeeper John Anderson,defender Jack Froggatt,centre-forward Johnny Morris and my favourite Arthur Rowley. I recall Gordon Fincham being carried off...I think it was Easter 1955..and he did not play again.I saw Gordon Banks make his home debut....The Leicester war-time manager Tom Bromilow was my parent's best man.I don't know why.My dad wasn't into football until the 1966 World Cup.I I think Tom knew my grandfather.
LTID: Over the years you have held many jobs in broadcasting covering many sports. If you couldn’t cover football which sport would you want to cover & why?
GN: Other sports:Boxing..I was presenter/interviewer on many great fights home and abroad for ITV;greyhound racing which I presented for ITV on World of Sport from 1975-85 and currently do for Sky Sports since October 2004;Horse-racing ( I produced a film on the Queen Mother and her interest in National Hunt Racing which was shown in the ITV network the night before the 1987 Grand National) and Baseball from the USA.
GN: Other sports:Boxing..I was presenter/interviewer on many great fights home and abroad for ITV;greyhound racing which I presented for ITV on World of Sport from 1975-85 and currently do for Sky Sports since October 2004;Horse-racing ( I produced a film on the Queen Mother and her interest in National Hunt Racing which was shown in the ITV network the night before the 1987 Grand National) and Baseball from the USA.
LTID: You have also worked for both Radio & Television, which medium do you prefer to work on & why?
GN: Television.I still love it after nearly 43 years of presenting.Did my first show in September 1968.I like radio very much.I presented on Talksport as well for 10 years and I hope to return to radio after my TV days are over.
GN: Television.I still love it after nearly 43 years of presenting.Did my first show in September 1968.I like radio very much.I presented on Talksport as well for 10 years and I hope to return to radio after my TV days are over.
LTID: You have conducted many interviews over the years including a memorable one with Brian Clough after Nottingham Forest lost to Everton 4-0. When you asked about Forest’s lack of commitment he replied “Because they’re just like you and me, Gary – a bunch of pansies” after which he kissed you on the cheek & walked off. Did you enjoy your interviews with Brain Clough & what are your memories.
GN: I have too many great memories and stories about Brian Clough to mention here...some of which anyway I use in my after dinner speech and I get paid for those!I owe Cloughie so much and it was a great honour when his widow Barbara Clough asked me to publicly compere the unveiling of his statue in the Nottingham Market Square in front of thousands and the national media.When I was seriously ill in 2002 the first letter I received when I returned home from hospital was from Brian.I still have it: "Get better soon.We love you.Brian and Barbara Clough"..I will always treasure that and many other letters and messages I had sent to me..
GN: I have too many great memories and stories about Brian Clough to mention here...some of which anyway I use in my after dinner speech and I get paid for those!I owe Cloughie so much and it was a great honour when his widow Barbara Clough asked me to publicly compere the unveiling of his statue in the Nottingham Market Square in front of thousands and the national media.When I was seriously ill in 2002 the first letter I received when I returned home from hospital was from Brian.I still have it: "Get better soon.We love you.Brian and Barbara Clough"..I will always treasure that and many other letters and messages I had sent to me..
LTID: Who has been the best person that you have had to interview?
GN: No contest, Brian Clough.I owe much to Sir Alex Ferguson and Chris Eubank but Cloughie was the best and I have been lucky enough to interview many of sport's greatest such as Muhammad Ali ( 3 times) and Pele(7 times at World Cups) and so on.....
GN: No contest, Brian Clough.I owe much to Sir Alex Ferguson and Chris Eubank but Cloughie was the best and I have been lucky enough to interview many of sport's greatest such as Muhammad Ali ( 3 times) and Pele(7 times at World Cups) and so on.....
LTID: On the other hand, who has been the worse ?
GN: Willie Johnston of West Bromwich Albion.....37 questions in 3 minutes of live studio interview at ATV when none of my questions asked "yes or no" but I still got them.Daley Thompson never gave me an interview at three Olympics and Diego Maradona wouldn't/couldn't speak English when I snatched pitch interview(to FIFA's anger!) in Mexico during 1986 World Cup.....
GN: Willie Johnston of West Bromwich Albion.....37 questions in 3 minutes of live studio interview at ATV when none of my questions asked "yes or no" but I still got them.Daley Thompson never gave me an interview at three Olympics and Diego Maradona wouldn't/couldn't speak English when I snatched pitch interview(to FIFA's anger!) in Mexico during 1986 World Cup.....
LTID: You have seen many managers come and go over the years, who would you say was the best manager LCFC have ever had & why.
GN: Best Leicester managers:Matt Gillies(2 FA Cup finals and won League Cup);Martin O'Neill (won League Cup twice) and Jimmy Bloomfield whose Leicester sides did not win trophies but he signed exciting players who played wonderful football which I enjoyed so much.
GN: Best Leicester managers:Matt Gillies(2 FA Cup finals and won League Cup);Martin O'Neill (won League Cup twice) and Jimmy Bloomfield whose Leicester sides did not win trophies but he signed exciting players who played wonderful football which I enjoyed so much.
LTID: By comparison, who has been the worst you can remember & why.
GN: Worst...not nice to name but I will...Frank McLintock,,Martin Allen and Paulo Sousa(but only at Leicester)
GN: Worst...not nice to name but I will...Frank McLintock,,Martin Allen and Paulo Sousa(but only at Leicester)
LTID: People who remember the Bloomfield years remember them as being the years when we played our best football, although we didn’t win anything. Would you agree with this?
GN: I agree about the Jimmy Bloomfield days.
GN: I agree about the Jimmy Bloomfield days.
LTID: We cannot forget the dark years when the club went into administration. Most fans lay the blame at Peter Taylor’s door citing if we’d stayed up it wouldn’t have happened. Who do you blame?
GN: Don't really want to blame people for administration.Worst days together with being relegated to League One for the only time in Leicester's history when chairman Milan Mandaric promised Premier League football at the start of that season!
GN: Don't really want to blame people for administration.Worst days together with being relegated to League One for the only time in Leicester's history when chairman Milan Mandaric promised Premier League football at the start of that season!
LTID: Did you ever hold aspirations to play football?
GN: Yes and I got my rocks off in the 70's and 80's with my ATV All Stars (charity team) which was a mixture of TV personalities,showbiz,rock stars and ex-fotballers.Some of the squad...Robert Plant( rock super-star) Bev Bevan( ELO) Dave Hill ( Slade) Trevor Oakes( Showaddywaddy),Jasper Carrott,Don Maclean,Ron Atkkinson, Rony Wylie( ex Birmingham and Aston Villa captain),Charlie Aitken and Bruce Rioch(both Villa),the late John Osborne( Albion's 1969 FA Cup goallie),Jim Smith,Trevor East,Nick Owen and myself plus others......(Jimmy Greaves played in one match)
GN: Yes and I got my rocks off in the 70's and 80's with my ATV All Stars (charity team) which was a mixture of TV personalities,showbiz,rock stars and ex-fotballers.Some of the squad...Robert Plant( rock super-star) Bev Bevan( ELO) Dave Hill ( Slade) Trevor Oakes( Showaddywaddy),Jasper Carrott,Don Maclean,Ron Atkkinson, Rony Wylie( ex Birmingham and Aston Villa captain),Charlie Aitken and Bruce Rioch(both Villa),the late John Osborne( Albion's 1969 FA Cup goallie),Jim Smith,Trevor East,Nick Owen and myself plus others......(Jimmy Greaves played in one match)
LTID: Who are your footballing heroes?
GN: My heroes....Arthur Rowley,Johnny Newman( who is still a good friend) and Billy Wright(my ex-boss who brought me to ATV).
GN: My heroes....Arthur Rowley,Johnny Newman( who is still a good friend) and Billy Wright(my ex-boss who brought me to ATV).
LTID: Who are your non football sporting heroes?
GN: Non sporting heroes......my father,mother,grandfather,Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
GN: Non sporting heroes......my father,mother,grandfather,Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher.
LTID
aulo Sousa was one of the first management casualties of the season & looking at results since it seems that the Club were vindicated in that decision, Despite this do you believe football managers are given enough time these days to make their mark on a new club?
GN: The sacking of football managers is the downfall of many clubs...both off and on the field.You need time just as some new players do.Milan Mandaric is the most impatient chairman I have known.David Sullivan is a great example of how to do it.Apart from his arrival at both Birmingham and West Ham( Terry Cooper and Gianfranco Zola respectively) Sullivan keeps managers because he says you have to pay off them and all their management staff.The new manager wants his own people and new players because they often say the existing players are not good enough.It costs fortunes.At Birmingham Barry Fry,Trevor Francis and Steve Bruce all had six years before in the case of Fry and Francis they were sacked.Where would Manchester United be if they had,as they nearly did,sacked Sir Alex Ferguson in his early days at Old Trafford?Look at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.Still nearly winning trophies...Everton with no money survive under David Moyes....Alan Curbishley kept Charlton in the big time or thereabouts and so on.If you sack the manager there is absolutely no guarantee things will improve...
aulo Sousa was one of the first management casualties of the season & looking at results since it seems that the Club were vindicated in that decision, Despite this do you believe football managers are given enough time these days to make their mark on a new club?GN: The sacking of football managers is the downfall of many clubs...both off and on the field.You need time just as some new players do.Milan Mandaric is the most impatient chairman I have known.David Sullivan is a great example of how to do it.Apart from his arrival at both Birmingham and West Ham( Terry Cooper and Gianfranco Zola respectively) Sullivan keeps managers because he says you have to pay off them and all their management staff.The new manager wants his own people and new players because they often say the existing players are not good enough.It costs fortunes.At Birmingham Barry Fry,Trevor Francis and Steve Bruce all had six years before in the case of Fry and Francis they were sacked.Where would Manchester United be if they had,as they nearly did,sacked Sir Alex Ferguson in his early days at Old Trafford?Look at Arsenal under Arsene Wenger.Still nearly winning trophies...Everton with no money survive under David Moyes....Alan Curbishley kept Charlton in the big time or thereabouts and so on.If you sack the manager there is absolutely no guarantee things will improve...
LTID: The arrival of Sven at Leicester City has caused quite a stir but he has turned the season right around and we now look good for a possible play of berth at least. Do you think Leicester could finish top 6 & if we go up, with the backing of the new owners, do you think we could stay up?
GN: If Sven and the Thai owners had been at Leicester in the summer then the Foxes would be in the promotion spots.I just think there is too much to do and too few matches left.Next season,yes!
GN: If Sven and the Thai owners had been at Leicester in the summer then the Foxes would be in the promotion spots.I just think there is too much to do and too few matches left.Next season,yes!
LTID: Talking of Sven, money was obviously a big factor in him coming to what was then a bottom of the table Championship side. Do you think Sven is with Leicester for the journey & will stay with us till th job is done, or do you believe, like some fans, that he will leave if a bigger club (i.e. Blackburn who are currently in the Prem) come calling?
GN: I believe Sven will stay with Leicester for some time.He is happpy here and the owners seem to be giving him total support with what he wants on the field.
GN: I believe Sven will stay with Leicester for some time.He is happpy here and the owners seem to be giving him total support with what he wants on the field.
LTID: Leicester City’s ex Chairman, Milan Mandaric, had a reputation for sacking managers. He has already dismissed Alan Irving with a month of arriving at Hillsborough. He is obviously the saviour of these two clubs, as he was at Portsmouth before. Are people like Mandarich, Abramovich & the new owners at Liverpool & Manchester City good for the game?
GN: I think Milan gave Leicester much needed guidance and money.He appointed a top manager and great owners so the supporters and the club should be grateful for all that.Rich owners are great for clubs as long as they inject the money and back the managers.
GN: I think Milan gave Leicester much needed guidance and money.He appointed a top manager and great owners so the supporters and the club should be grateful for all that.Rich owners are great for clubs as long as they inject the money and back the managers.
LTID: We all accept (begrudgingly sometimes) that Referee’s have a hard job and sometimes get it wrong. Where do you stand on the use of technology in the game, but after England’s ‘non’ goal v Germany and why?
GN: I am 100per cent behind technology in football for the clubs that can afford it.It is brilliant in all the other sports that use it.All football and FIFA's excuses are weak.If the grass roots,for instance,cannot afford it why is that a reason for those who can having to use it?Why does it take "too much time" when players hold up the game protesting to officials,when injured players have to leave the field ( give them a yellow if they are feig ning it which is why it first was introduced).And it would give the fourth official a proper job instead of listening to the pathetic complaints of managers and coaches.TV pundits and managers have access to replays.Its a no-brainer to bring it in.
GN: I am 100per cent behind technology in football for the clubs that can afford it.It is brilliant in all the other sports that use it.All football and FIFA's excuses are weak.If the grass roots,for instance,cannot afford it why is that a reason for those who can having to use it?Why does it take "too much time" when players hold up the game protesting to officials,when injured players have to leave the field ( give them a yellow if they are feig ning it which is why it first was introduced).And it would give the fourth official a proper job instead of listening to the pathetic complaints of managers and coaches.TV pundits and managers have access to replays.Its a no-brainer to bring it in.
LTID: In the 1980’s The Italians limited the number of foreign players per team stating it was affecting the national team. Are there too many foreign players in the English game these days & is it affecting the English National team?
GN: I want to see the best players in the English game but yes it does affect the English national team.We still have some very good English players but hey we have an Italian coach who has struggled with speaking English.Harry Redknapp is a no=brainer for the England job....so by the way was Brian Clough with Peter Taylor and more recently Martin O'Neill.Lets get it right.I am an England fan apart from friendlies which are usually boring and meaningless with some many changes in deals with top clubs.Our domestic programme is week in and week out and what really excites the supporters on a regular basis.If we had no foreign players there is still no guarantee that England would win the World Cup or that the FA would appoint the right manager.Our game is too fast and physical.It needsa a mi-season break in major tournament seasons but when actually.The UK is all unpredictable weather and no climate!
GN: I want to see the best players in the English game but yes it does affect the English national team.We still have some very good English players but hey we have an Italian coach who has struggled with speaking English.Harry Redknapp is a no=brainer for the England job....so by the way was Brian Clough with Peter Taylor and more recently Martin O'Neill.Lets get it right.I am an England fan apart from friendlies which are usually boring and meaningless with some many changes in deals with top clubs.Our domestic programme is week in and week out and what really excites the supporters on a regular basis.If we had no foreign players there is still no guarantee that England would win the World Cup or that the FA would appoint the right manager.Our game is too fast and physical.It needsa a mi-season break in major tournament seasons but when actually.The UK is all unpredictable weather and no climate!
LTID: We all remember how badly the England players performed at the 2010 World Cup. We could have believed accepted it more had they been more accepting of how badly they played. Do you think top players are becoming distanced from reality & the fans who pay good money to watch them play?
GN: Premier League players and Internationals are more distant from supporters than they used to be because of three main reasons...money so they no longer live in the communities or use public transport,because the national media track their every social behaviour( particularly the tabloid press) and because a few supporters use their mobile phones to take off guard pictures.Life has changed.I am not passing judgement;just explaining it.
GN: Premier League players and Internationals are more distant from supporters than they used to be because of three main reasons...money so they no longer live in the communities or use public transport,because the national media track their every social behaviour( particularly the tabloid press) and because a few supporters use their mobile phones to take off guard pictures.Life has changed.I am not passing judgement;just explaining it.
LTID: Finally it is one of the tightest Championship’s for years and two wins moves you up the table with two losses dragging you close to the relegation zone. Who are the team you predict will finish top two & your four for the play off’s.
GN: Top two difficult to predict with the charges hanging over leaders QPR.They were certs plus I fancy Norwich and not just because they won 3-2 at the Walkers recently.Paul Lambert,like Neil Warnock(QPR) is the best manager.I think ,Swansea,Cardiff,Leeds and Forest,will stay in those top spots.
GN: Top two difficult to predict with the charges hanging over leaders QPR.They were certs plus I fancy Norwich and not just because they won 3-2 at the Walkers recently.Paul Lambert,like Neil Warnock(QPR) is the best manager.I think ,Swansea,Cardiff,Leeds and Forest,will stay in those top spots.
copyright Leicester 'till I Die 2011
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