Malcolm's Football Scoops

[The Peepmaster]

I just found Malc's tip about the young 9 year old footballer, on today's BBC website!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/gossip_and_transfers/6927202.stm
Scroll down to the very last item.

Is there a mole in our midst?

[Roger Kettle]

There's a big article about Rhain in The Sun today as well. You heard it here first!

[Malc]

I have been doing media all day, my dears, I'm quite pooped.

I was on the field tonight training my team and the club secretary came across with her mobile phone.
"can you deal with this"? says she.
"with what?" says I.

"It's the BBC", they want to talk to someone who has coached Rhain.

I got my boys organised with a game of soccer tennis (football equivalent of a creche) and left them to it. I spent the next hour wandering around the fields talking to North West Tonight, Granada TV, the Beeb radio and two other radio stations. I can't believe the thing has taken off like it has. I even got phoned at home.

I was asked by the Beeb to supply a photo of myself. I couldn't be bothered scanning an up to date pic of my fizzog so I sent one from 1999. I have aged a LOT since then, but the Beeb don't need to know.

They asked me to supply the numbers of Rhain's mum and dad but of course I had to check with them first.
Lea (mum) did NOT want to talk about it any more, and I don't blame her. The Sun didn't get the story from her but from the Courier Mail, Rupert Murdoch's paper here in Queensland.

I was with her when the Sun phoned her on her mobile (it was after that game I mentioned where we were supposed to get skooshed but didn't).
She said "He is only NINE and just enjoys his football, I don't know what all the fuss is about, go away!!"

I am now in charge of all media for the family.

I just got a phone call from a friend in Manchester who saw me on North West Tonight, literally five MINUTES after I emailed them the picture of me.

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

It's gone 5am in Brisbane, so I suspect Malc may be sleeping, but they're discussing Rhain on Talksport Radio as I type. If you are awake, Malc, you can listen live online at http://www1.talksport.net/index.asp

It appears the lad is dividing the country!

[Roger Kettle]

I think it's disgusting the way people are jumping on young Rhain's bandwagon. Any chance you could get him to wear a Beau Peep t-shirt for his next interview?

[Tarquin Thunderthighs lll]

The lad is being exploited.

You have to ask yourself the question; cast your mind back to when you were 9 years old - would you want to be flown halfway across the world to be thrust into the world's media spotlight by being publicly hailed as the most talented soccer-playing kid on the planet, and in doing so, have your future linked to the most famous football club in the world, which gladly paid for the whole experience and treated you like a prince among boys?


DUH-UH!!!


"What did you do in the school holidays, Tarquin?"
"Fished for frog spawn, Miss."