Thank you again for taking your time to speak to me today. Would you mind telling our readers a little more about yourself and your work?
I am an associate producer at Sky Sports, my job entitles booking all the football guests on the show. Writing all the interviews and doing on-screen interviews with footballers basically. Also once in a while I’ll bring back the rap game and rap for a bit of laugh. I’ve supported Chelsea since I literally popped out of my mother, the first picture of me was with Stamford the Lion! So a massive Chelsea fan as well.
How did Soccer AM come around, was it something you always wanted to do?
Not really, because believe it or not I am actually quite shy. I did work experience when I was 15 and never left. Made cups of tea, Lovejoy loved the cups of tea. Worked in the Sky Sports library for a couple of years, then moved over to Soccer AM.
Did you expect it to be as successful as it has been?
Soccer AM, wow. I used to watch it back in the day. When I was doing work experience, a women called Pippa said you’re with the Soccer AM team this week. Now that’s when no one really knew what it was like. So I have been part of the progression of the show really. It was always quality so I am not surprised no, it’s a great show.
How would you say the show and media, in general, has changed over the years you have been on the show?
The show has changed, we could get away with a lot more back in the day. You know, the innuendos and stuff. Now with Ofcom and stuff like that we can’t. I am not saying it’s a good or a bad thing, but it’s changed and I think it has got a bit more professional as well. You can’t get away with some things that used to be well funny, but that’s just the way it is.
The show itself has given you so many fantastic opportunities. We see every week you have interviewed some great people, has there been a favourite interview?
It depends if we’re talking about semi-serious ones or just the stupid ones. The rap one was probably the best, with Denzel Washington. Because he played along so well and he was giving it back to me. Have a watch if you haven’t seen it, it’s madness. But also, I have done two half an hour programmes with JT and Frank Lampard. So it’s got to be those two.
Here’s the interview Tubes was talking about:
That leads me on perfectly to my next question, being a Chelsea fan yourself, it must have been amazing to speak to John Terry near the end of the season?
I spoke to John at the start of the season, because I was going to interview Eden Hazard. I asked him have you got anything you can tell me, nothing bad, just something I should know about him that people wouldn’t know. He went: “Not really mate, he’s just world class and such a down to earth bloke. I’m definitely doing something with you this year,” which I said was amazing.
So I kept texting he kept going ‘yeah after that game, after that game’. I thought I am just getting bummed off here, he doesn’t want to do it. Then I saw him, I drove past Waitrose car park and he was stood there. He came up to me and said: “Mate, I’ve got a massive apology to say to you, I’ve got a superstition, every time we win I don’t want to do interviews. Because if we lose, I feel it’s my fault because I did media. Unless I’m contracted to do it, I don’t do it. That’s why I haven’t got back to you. But I promise you, 100% next Friday morning, at the training ground.”
So when he turned up and I was stood there and we had a little celebration that I was there. It was probably the best time to do it as well because it was before we lifted the trophy.
You said you interviewed Frank Lampard, which was the week leading up the Chelsea vs Manchester City game wasn’t it?
That’s right yeah, luckily I was the only bloke allowed to speak to him. Massive honour, and what a guy he is. Pure class on and off the pitch.
There was quite a big thing made out of it. Why was it just you?
Basically, Jody Morris is best mates with Frank. Jody came to one of the Christmas shows. I’m quite good mates with Jody Morris, so we went out for a couple of light refreshments as you say, to celebrate the festive period.
I said, I want to interview Frank and he said he’ll do it with you. So he text him there and then and he said: “Course I’ll do it with Tubes, yeah no problem”. We exchanged numbers and I said can we do it before the Man City game? And then he went, “Absolutely, it would be great, I can talk about Chelsea, returning to the bridge.”
The fact it was just you that got to do that, shows how far the show has come, doesn’t it?
Personally, for me, it was amazing, for the show it was even better.
You said you have been a Chelsea fan for a while, was it a family thing?
Oh, I had no choice! My Mum and Dad were the first people in the world to have their wedding reception on Stamford Bridge. Sadly my Dad has passed away. When my Dad died, on the day of the funeral, we were all distraught. I got this massive long text on my phone. I looked it at and it was an unknown number. It said: “Morning Tubes, obviously it’s a sad day for you and your family.” It was a bloody essay! “All the boys here are thinking of you and if you ever need anything.” I got to the end of the message and it said: ‘JT’. I was like, ‘how nice is that?’ He’s got my number off someone because he heard about it, and done that.
I said previously you have interviewed a lot of people, is there anyone out of the current Chelsea team would you love to interview in the future that you haven’t had the chance yet?
Jose Mourinho. He’s on my hit list. I’ve done Frank and JT this year, I just need to get him to complete it. I need Gianfranco Zola as well, obviously he’s not current. Then with Jose Mourinho, I’ll be a happy man.
How did you rate the season that’s just finished overall?
Well, double winners mate, can’t complain. We were by far the best team in the Premier League, it was nice to beat Spurs in the Capital One Cup final. A bit gutted about the Champions League, but I am not one of those Chelsea fans that goes ‘Oh we should be winning it all’. That’s unrealistic.
I think the way we went out against PSG, we were poor. I think every Chelsea fans knows that we were below par. I’m not complaining, we’ve won the Premier League. For me, that’s the one I want us to win every year.
Anything you’re hoping to see next season?
Champions League.
