THE ONE thing I remember was the smell, not booze at that time in the morning, but manure. Two of the squad, Mike Channon and Brian O’Neill, had on wellington boots covered in horse dung.
I was to realise in time that Mike had interests other than football, the biggest being race horses.
One of the stories between Mike and myself is often repeated but I can’t put a place or a time to it. The story goes that well into my term as manager I was having a go at the team at half-time. I am supposed to be having a blast at Mike when he cut me dead by saying: “Gaffer, what you have got to understand is that this is just my f****** hobby.”
Mike went on to be one of the country’s leading racehorse trainers and there is no doubt he was obsessed by that when he played, but I never felt he was ever less than fully committed for me, Southampton and England.
Ted’s final sentence, referring to pre-season training and the need to train twice a day, was: “Can you make an effort please not to come back in the afternoon with alcohol on your breath.”
New card. “This is Lawrie McMenemy, the new manager. Over to you Lawrie.”
At that he stepped back.
My first words were: “Good joke that about the drink Ted.” But it didn’t get many laughs. The reason it didn’t was because it was no joke.
Lawrie McMenemy A Lifetime's Obsession My Autobiography, RRP £18.99, Trinity Mirror Sport Media. On sale now from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1910335282/ref=s9_simh_gw_g14_i1_r?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=desktop-2&pf_rd_r=0DT7RNDBE69NKVHSYE14&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=867551807&pf_rd_i=desktop
Meet Lawrie McMenemy at St Mary's Megastore on Saturday (9 April) at 11.30am signing his new book.
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