Last year at one of South Dorset Spurs Legends Evenings I had the honour to meet the great Osvaldo Ardiles & Ricardo Villa. Two of my all time Spurs heroes and many of the reasons why I and many starting supporting the club as a child.
Hosting the evening was a Gentleman who many of us follow via Social Media. His quick wit and one liners posted on Twitter have brought a smile to many a fan and firmly cemented his position as a legend in his own right.
We welcome – Mr Richard ‘Crackers’ Cracknell
enjoy……
The Warm Up
I’m Richard Cracknell aka Crackers
I’m 49 and retired
I went to my first Spurs game in 1976, so I’ve seen some ups and downs. Literally the downs, as my first season was the relegation year!!
I, along with Kayv Ant Costa and Adam Smith host the monthly podcast ‘ohh when the Spurs’ which is anything but monthly!!!
I also host football Q&A evenings around the UK and Ireland. These are great fun to do and I’ve got to meet and become friends with many retired footballers.
As a youngster, who was your Spurs hero?
Glenn Hoddle and Graham Roberts
Glenn could do things with a football that literally defied physics. If he was in his pomp today, he would be a £150m + player (just trying to relate his ability to today’s football world)
Graham Roberts was absolute nails. But he was so much more than that and was a very clever cultured defender that could play too. Always loved players that went out and would literally spill blood for the team.
Who is your favorite player from the current Squad?
Spurs in modern times, have always been a team with a sprinkling of one or two great players amongst a team of good to ok players. This current squad is very different. The collective spirit makes us what we are, and no one player makes us. So I’m gonna go a little off piste here and pick Mauricio Pochettino as my star man of this team. He is the absolute glue that makes us. These are great times at Spurs, cherish them.
From World football, who would you most like to see in a Spurs shirt?
He’s not been too long retired so I’m gonna sneak him in and say Ronaldinho. Knowing how we’ve always been suckers for one of those players that get you off your seat ala Paul Gascoigne, David Ginola then Ronaldinho would have been an absolute icon at Spurs.
What is your favorite piece of Spurs memorabilia?
I’m really not one for memorabilia. I do have some bits and pieces that I’ve given to my two sons for their bedrooms. My memories of meeting and interviews with some of Spurs greatest players are the things I cherish.
Where in the world have you watched Spurs live other than UK?
Germany Italy Spain Belgium Portugal France Holland
.. Probably some more that I’ve forgotten!!
Which former player would you love to see in the current squad?
Glenn Hoddle every day of the week and twice on a Sunday.
Most memorable Spurs moment?
Wow… That’s so tough to pick. Watching football is so much more than just going to watching football. The last day of the Lane and walking down the High Road and going through the turnstiles with my Dad one last time was pretty special, bringing 40 years of going to White Hart Lane together, to an end. I came out the lane afterwards in floods of tears and my dad being my dad said “glad to see the back of it, seen some right old shit in there down the years” Lol lol lol
Also loved the night we beat Inter Milan at the lane when Bale wasn’t just great, he was terrifying. The atmosphere just before kick off could have powered a city for a month.
Who was your most disappointing Spurs signing?
I’ve never answered this when asked, and not changing that now. I don’t think any player ever sets out to be terrible or not try. Sometimes we buy square peg players that are asked to play round hole roles, or they just don’t settle at the club
Which Spurs players (3) would you chose to join you if you were on Come Dine With Me?
I’ve been massively privileged to sit and have dinner with loads of Spurs players from our past, so I’ll go with three who I think would be good company.
Peter Crouch, as I’d imagine he’d be a good laugh
Mauricio Pochettino, he seems to be cut from a different cloth to the usual football man
Jermaine Jenas..again, he seems to have something about him as a person that would be good company at dinner.
Who would be in you all time Spurs XI (4,4,2 formation)?
Not massively balanced but hey, they’re not gonna actually play!!!
Jennings GK
Perryman RB
Knowles LB
King and Roberts CB
Hoddle Gascoigne Blanchflower Ardiles MF
Greaves and Kane FW
Sorry Rasiak… You’ve only made the bench!!!!!
