the season. In the meantime, Ronnie Whelan became a centre
midfield player and basically took my position because I was out.
Afterwards, I think it was lucky I was versatile and could play
in several positions, that probably helped me in that situation,
but I never quite got back into centre midfield alongside Steve
McMahon but that’s life I guess.
Who were your favourite team mates at LFC?
I have to say that during my time at Liverpool, I pretty much got
on with everybody. I shared a room with Ian Rush for several years
and was quite friendly with Ronnie Whelan and Steve McMahon
and of course John Barnes who lives on the Wirral and is also a
very good friend. We mixed a lot with the Everton players back
in the day and I had a lot of time for Kevin Ratcliffe as well as
Graeme Sharp and Ian Snodin – I guess the rivalry in those days
was slightly different!
Would you have liked to operate behind LFC’s current front
line?
Of course! I don’t think there’s many people who wouldn’t! It
would have been a dream for someone who likes to pass the ball
so it's absolutely a big yes!
Who was the best player you have ever played with?
I have been blessed to play with so many great players. One of
the best Danish players was Michael Laudrup. Many people would
say the best Liverpool player was Kenny Dalglish, but I feel the
best I played with was John Barnes. Overall, even if it was only for
12 months, Johan Cruyff was on a different level. There are a few
players that are just that bit better than everyone else, and Cruyff
is one of those.
Who is the best player of all time?
Ooh that’s very difficult. I think a lot of players who have retired
tend to think of players from their own era. So, I would say Diego
Maradona.
You never shirked responsibilities on the field, penalties etc,
was this natural confidence in your own abilities inspired by
anyone?
Yes, I did take a lot of penalties and free kicks during my time,
but I don’t think I was inspired by anyone, I think it’s just in your
make up. I still see many penalty takers in the modern game who
I don’t believe are penalty takers. I think I was a penalty taker and
I enjoyed the responsibility. It was similar with free kicks although
the pressure of free kicks is obviously different. Often, great free
kick takers have to do with technique and power whereas penalties
are something entirely different.
20 wirrallife.com
If there was one thing you could change in your football career
what would it be?
There isn’t really, thinking of the injury in 1987 which was a minor
setback and then rupturing my Achilles in the early 1990s which
was a major setback or not going to Barcelona. It’s important not
to be greedy. I had 12 years at Liverpool, I was two years at Ajax
and a full international. I was very blessed to play with some of the
best players in the world and picked up some trophies along the
way so I’m quite happy with the way things turned out.
It is often said that the 1986 season was your finest hour FA
cup/league, what fond memories do you have?
My dream when I came to Liverpool in 1984 was to play at
Wembley and I achieved that in 1986 with that great Merseyside
FA Cup final and that is my favourite Liverpool moment. It was
the reason I came. The fact that you were in the cup final and you
had a bit of input into the win as well. The day was as good as I’d
always dreamt it would be.
Unlike a lot of similar high profile sportsmen, you spend a huge
amount of time raising money for worthy charities/causes,
what triggered this?
I don’t know what triggered it. We just heard so many stories
and one day thought that maybe we could do more than we had
been doing. Every charity is worthy I mean they all pull at your
heartstrings. It started about 10 years ago and we were amazed
at the interest from our friends who wanted to buy tickets for the
events from us and wanted to donate raffle and auction prizes. It’s
really been mind-blowing how much it has grown. We have two
big events where we sell 700 tickets in 24 hours which just shows
how popular it is. We really enjoy it.
Did you have a favourite manager during your career?
I think if I had to pick one it would be Kenny. Joe Fagan bought
me, but he didn’t see in me what Kenny saw. All managers see
different things in you and with Kenny being player/manager that
helped me.
What’s your favourite food/restaurant?
I’m a very plain eater but I do like a good steak! Locally I would
go to Nova in Heswall and Red Fox in Thornton Hough, they are
my favourites.
If you could have anyone to dinner, dead or alive, who would
it be?
Ooh I’m on the spot! I would invite Winston Churchill,
Muhammad Ali and Jurgen Klopp. I’m sure we would have a great
time, and there would be some really intelligent conversation!