IAN HOLLOWAY
MATTHEW DUNN talks to the 56-year-old manager about Winston Churchill, Stevie Wonder and being a metal detectorist. But given the huge Bill Shankly admirer is living in his hero’s shadow as boss of Grimsby Town, it is only right to begin with the biggest question of all…
Q IS FOOTBALL MORE IMPORTANT THAN LIFE AND DEATH?
A It was to Bill Shankly, and he made people believe that. But to me, life, death and especially people are all more important than football.
I get what he meant though, and I am not knocking him. He made people feel like giants and believe anything is possible.
His words really helped me to get over the devastating loss of my father when I was only 24.
I used to look up his speeches and philosophies and I found the way he spoke was inspiring because he sounded just like my dad.
“The socialism I believe in is everybody working for each other and everybody sharing the rewards,” he once said. “It’s the way I see football and the way I see life.”
Unfortunately, when I did do something like that at Blackpool only a couple of people benefited – and that was the Oystons!
Dad was a milkman and would run his rounds, so when he dropped dead at 59 it was a total shock to everyone.
Q IT IS YOUR 57TH BIRTHDAY NEXT MONTH – IS THE COMPARISON A CONCERN?
A It doesn’t worry me at all. Dad used to eat tripe and stuff like that – his diet wasn’t the best. I’m careful to look after myself.
But he always used to tell me, ‘If today is your last day make sure it’s the best day you’ve ever had, son’. I like to think I have a good few years left in me. Too many managers get to a certain age and are told they can’t do it any more... their experience counts for nothing.
Stevie Wonder has been at the top of his game for 60 years and he’s blind!
One thousand games is the milestone. I feel I’ve worked hard enough to achieve that. It shows you’ve stood the test of time. I’m already beyond 950.
Q ARE YOU SETTLING IN QUICKLY SINCE TAKING OVER AT GRIMSBY IN DECEMBER?
A I’ve got rented accommodation up here with room for my four dogs and my wife Kim. Grimsby has taught me, too, about community. I asked in a shop two miles from home the other day if they sold logs, but they didn’t.
A farmer in the shop overheard and knows where I live because he’s mates with the fella I rent the house from. By the time I got home there was a huge bag of logs being dragged up my driveway.
Q IS IT RIGHT THAT AT YOUR GRIMSBY INTERVIEW YOU ASKED FOR ACCESS TO LAND SO KIM COULD GO METAL DETECTING?
A It was mentioned. And we have got some lovely permissions from people up here to use their land, and it’s absolutely brilliant. I also have a go – but I have not got the patience. I found one cartwheel penny once from around the turn of the 18th century and now I want to know why I am not automatically finding another one each time I go out.
Q ARE YOU STILL A KEEN HISTORIAN?
A It is all about battles and understanding what generals did to win them. When I was at Crystal Palace I rented a house next door to Winston Churchill’s home, Chartwell, and was allowed to walk my dogs on the estate. I used to rest in the hollows made by bombs from when the Germans tried to get him.
We were miles under and then he came up with, “Never in the field of human conflict...”
When should you give up? Never. When things hit the fan in our country we come fighting back with our resilience. And that’s what I love about Grimsby.