HARRY'S FULL ENGLISH

I enjoyed Harry's Heroes, although the football seemed a bit staged; do you think the German "Historic" side were instructed to lose the game 4-2? Having dominated the game early on, they looked fitter than Harry's mob and appeared to surrender in the second half.

The point of the exercise was to gather a few local heroes from the 1990s, to get them fit using as many gimmicks as possible and then play their German equivalents in a match at Leyton Orient FC.

We had two major story lines; Razor Ruddock (50 years old) with a lardy body, who could barely move and who split shorts doing a "stretch" and Paul Merson (50) who admitted in the film that he was struggling to lose his old habits; a touching moment.

The point being made often was that the professionals had very bad habits when they were at the top of their game.

There were others of course, some of whom were barely mentioned and indeed I'm still not sure what the complete England squad was. Steve Howey floated past at times.......and another bloke-can't remember who it was...

Before the real test they played an U14 boys' side and the Crystal Palace Ladies, both officially inappropriate if you read the FA rulings carefully!

The Germans wearing their away strip of green were fitter. Harry's side carried a few injuries and several heroes very much out of shape-even if their wives were in very good shape! Here's a young Harry.

There were 13 involved (see photo) with John Barnes, who recently applied to coach the Rwandan International side squad very much a passenger and assistant coach to Harry, the 72 year old former England manager and TV multi-star; everyone's favourite uncle.
David Seaman at 55 was good value and laughed a lot and fished too.  He's ice skating now!
Defenders were definitely Ruddock, whose last TV appearance was probably "I'm a Celebrity" and Mark Wright (55) who helps with Foster Care Associates.
Robert Lee at 55, a defender? but I couldn't see another one? played for Wycombe Wanderers past his 40th birthday, making him one of the oldest FLeague players to achieve this.
Mark Chamberline at 57, didn't last long-injured, although he is presently coaching at Portsmouth, so should be fit.
Matt Le Tissier, a youngster at 50 was good value and Lee Sharpe (47) last played for Garforth Town having been at Grimdavik in Iceland prior. (I'm going to Penistone Church FC dinner in April and Lee is the main attraction).
Robbie Fowler (43), Paul Merson (50), Chris Waddle (58) and Ray Parlour (46), the "Romford Pele" had a few games at Wembley in his old age....that is Wembley FC in an FA Cup run.

The lads combined to form a midfield and strike force, somehow. Give it to Fowler!
If you looked carefully, the manager imported a couple of "ringers" who did not get a mention on the day. Steve Howey....??