ACTING AND SIMULATION

Yes, I did see Freddie Flintoff in Fat Friends, a musical following on from the successful TV series. The well known all rounder danced a bit, stood around keeping on script, ad libbing a bit and singing...yes singing about his pleasantly tubby girlfriend who was determined to lose a few pounds to fit into her favoured wedding dress. Well done Freddie!

I got to thinking about famous footballers who have been on stage (or in film). Sir Charles Aubrey Smith was born in July 1863, the year the Football Association was formed. He went to Charterhouse and then St John's College, Cambridge, where he played cricket for the university and then to Sussex CCC from 1882-92. He captained an England cricket tour to South Africa 1888-9 and then became a prolific Hollywood film star appearing in 76 films between 1911 and 1948. Some of his classics were "Prisoner of Zenda", Tarzan the Apeman" and The Lives of the Bengal Lancer. As a footballer he played left wing for the Old Carthusians, famously against Preston North End in the 1887 FA Cup Round 6 tie, a 1-2 defeat, the last genuine attempt by the true amateurs in what was becoming a professional world. Here he is with Cecil Maude....who?
Cantona and Lineker have been on stage recently, (for one reason and another- lager and crisps). I'm not going to go into all the others, but this link will take you to Pele, Ian Wright and few other stars.
http://www.dnaindia.com/fifa-world-cup-2014/report-9-footballers-turned-actors-from-david-beckham-to-vinnie-jones-2000341