Summary
Overview
This episode features Chelsea legend Pat Nevin, one of the coolest footballers of the 90s era. Known for his friendship with John Peel, his eclectic music taste, and fighting racism on terraces, Nevin shares fascinating stories about his career including contract negotiations with Ken Bates, playing with legends at Tranmere, meeting Saddam Hussein, and his unique approach to the game. The conversation covers his time at Chelsea, Everton, Scotland, and his memorable friendship with Morrissey.
Pat Nevin's Introduction and Early Chelsea Days
Pat Nevin joins the show and discusses his early days at Chelsea, including shirt sponsors throughout his career. He reveals a remarkable story about a promotional trip to Baghdad with Chelsea where they met Saddam Hussein after a match against the Iraqi national team. The surreal encounter included waiting an hour for Saddam to arrive before the match could begin, and the Iraqi press later reported their team won despite the 1-1 draw.
- First Chelsea shirt sponsor was GoFair, which led to a promotional trip to Baghdad where the team met Saddam Hussein
- The match against Iraq's national team was delayed an hour because they had to wait for Saddam Hussein to arrive
- Despite drawing 1-1, Iraqi newspapers reported that their team won and received a much larger trophy
" We ended up meeting Saddam afterwards. You met Saddam Hussein? "
" In the next day's papers they want to one. I really did. "
Contract Negotiations with Ken Bates
Nevin shares an extraordinary story about negotiating his first proper contract with Chelsea owner Ken Bates. When Bates rejected his initial demands by throwing the paper in the bin and driving off, Nevin rifled through Bates' desk drawers, found every player's contract, calculated the mean average, and came back with that exact figure. Bates was so impressed by the audacity that he immediately agreed to the deal, establishing a mutual respect between them.
- Nevin was on £180 per week with rent of £100, leaving barely any money for food unless the team won
- Ken Bates walked out and drove away in his Rolls Royce after rejecting Nevin's initial contract demands
- While Bates was gone, Nevin rifled through his drawers and found every player's contract
- Nevin calculated the average salary and asked for exactly £517.50, which Bates accepted immediately
" He forgot I came from the east end of Glasgow so I did what everyone from the east end of Glasgow would do - I rifled through his drawers "
" I said, that is amazing. Brilliant. It's yours. Give me it. "
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