Hello, I'm Kirstie Young and this is a podcast from the Desert Island Discs Archive for

rights reasons we've had to shorten the music.

The program was originally broadcast in 1990 and the presenter was Sue Lawley.

My cast away this week is a sportsman. Born nearly 30 years ago, the son of a

fruit and veg merchant, his life might have been unremarkable, but for one

outstanding ability. He could play football. Apprentice to Leicester City at the age

of 16, he turned professional at 18 and went on to play for England. In 1985 he

was bought by Everton for £800,000. One year and 40 girls later by Barcelona for

more than £2 million. Admired for his good behaviour, he's never once been

booked and his outstanding skill, he was the top scorer in the 86 World Cup, he is

one of the best ambassadors of our national game. He is of course the captain of

England, Gary Linnaker. 12 years on the professional football field Gary and

never been booked. Now what do you put that down to? Is it niceness, skill? Well I

think I haven't got a temper which helps because I do get my fair share of

mystic and of bad treatment, but I'm a very placid person, pretty easy going.

What even on the football field? Well yeah, especially so, I mean I like to enjoy the

game, sometimes it's difficult when you're getting kicked a bit, but I've never

been one to retaliate, it's just something that's, it's not in me, it's the way I'm

made. Plus the fact I've been a bit lucky at times, I don't argue with referees

because I think it's a waste of time. I talked to them a little bit and I tell

them if I think they're wrong, but I try and do it in a nice way. I think it helps

because perhaps that way sometimes you might get a bit of an advantage later on

...