Keegan used fun race nights to make us feel part of team

WHEN I was with England, gambling was nothing more than a race night focused on fun. Especially in the days under Kevin Keegan. The emphasis was not on winning or losing vast sums of money. In fact, it was the most enjoyable time I ever had with the national team. I never saw the type of figures my former team-mate Kieron Dyer refers to in his book. Under Keegan, it was done in a very open, social way — not behind closed doors. Keegan would hold race nights and run a book. Some players were prepared to bet piles of money, but the fact that the gaffer was in charge meant there was always a limit. A sealed videotape would be unwrapped with horseracing footage on it. I would often sit with Gareth Southgate and we would only bet £10 or £20. Of course, we got stick from some of the others but that did not stop me from enjoying the evenings. I have never been a gambler but the race nights were great fun. One evening, Keegan’s horse won. As it crossed the line, he jumped up on to a kitman’s laundry skip as if he was riding a horse, and our coach Arthur Cox pushed him across the room. It all helped us to feel at ease in his company. To our generation of players, Keegan was a superstar. Growing up, he was my hero. It was not all about gambling, it was about easing the tension and filling the time in a creative way. As well as race nights there were film nights, and he took us to play golf two days running to help us prepare for the Euro 2000 qualifying play-off against Scotland. We didn’t end up working on our team shape until the Thursday before the match and won 2-0. Don’t forget, players are away for a long while and there is time to fill. Keegan was a master at breaking the monotony of those nights in hotels.