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The interview
took place in the 'Left Bank' French restaurant in Penny Lane. A
nicer place you'd be hard pushed to find. For the anoraks out there,
Richard had Seabream and I had the Trout, we both drank water. I
can't believe it, me drinking water, it's the only time I've ever
been out and not had a pint. But I had to keep my wits about me
for the sake of Bluekipper.
A big thanks
to the staff, who put us away from the rest of the customers in
a nice quiet spot. Romance was in the air. I was in love, I don't
know about Richard.
Richard Gough
came over as a genuine fella. Honest, loyal, all the things you
would expect from an Everton captain. When I first met him I was
a bit nervous, but by the end of the night it was like talking footy
with one of the lads. A big thanks to all the Bluekipper surfers,
who e-mailed me with questions, hopefully they were all answered.
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Richard
looking cool holding
the Blue Kipper card
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BK:
Are you fit for Sunday?
RG: No, It'll be another 4 weeks or so until I'm fit.
BK: You went to London to see a specialist. How did that go?
RG: I saw a top surgeon, John Browett, who dealt with
Paul Gascoigne when he had that serious knee injury. He reassured me that
cruciate ligaments were only partially torn, and not completely ruptured.
He actually said my knee was up to playing another 3 or 4 years if I wanted
to.
BK:What has been your
fitness programme since the injury?
RG:I had a couple of weeks resting, letting the injury
settle down, and then the manager let me return to the USA to stay with
my wife and kids. While over there I went to the gym everyday to keep up
my general fitness. Since I've been back, I've been training daily, and
I can now run freely, but can't twist or turn. When I run around the pitch
and come to the corners, I can still feel the knee. So, yes, about 4 weeks
and I'll be fit again.
BK: Is this the most serious injury you've had?
RG: Yes. I've been lucky. Touch wood! I've fractured
my cheek bone. I was out a couple of months with that. I've had 100's of
stiches, but at least you can play on with them.
BK:Do you do Yoga?
RG: Me, Do Yoga? no
BK:The reason I ask, is my wife came to watch
a pre-season game against Blackburn, and was well impressed with your warm-up
exercises. Especially number 69 out of the Karma Sutra. She said that it
probably stops you missing your wife too much.
RG:Oh yer, I know what you mean(we both snigger) It
was when I had a problem with my back, and it was one of the stretching
exercises I was advised to do.
BK:What do you attribute your fitness to?
RG:I think the stretching before training and the
match, has helped me. As well as being sensible with my eating and drinking.
BK:Who is the fittest player you've played with?
RG:Gary Sevens while at Rangers. We had a great side
then, with myself 26, Gary 26, Trevor Steven 25 and then we had Terry Butcher,
and Ray Wilkins. Gary and me used to push up on the half way line, and say
go on then knock a ball over us, and we'd chase back. It was a great time.
As an athlete, Gary was tremendous.
BK:What about the laziest player?
RG:Oh, I don't know
BK:Go on, who's the laziest at Everton?
RG:Well, You watch them every week, it's probably
the one who looks the laziest on the pitch. Who do you think?
BK;It could be any of half a dozen. Come on
who do you think?
RG:Maybe Sparky. He just does enough. But he's been
around. He knows just how much training he needs.
BK:Will you be staying on at Everton at the
end of your contract?
RG:The contract I signed was just for a year, with
an option for another year. If the club don't want me, or if I don't want
to carry on, that's it. Ray Wilkins told me to continue playing as long
as I can, so if I'm fit enough and I'm still playing well, and the fans
will know whether I am or not, I'd like to carry on at Everton. I don't
think I'd go to another club.
BK:How did it come about that you signed for
Everton?
RG:Well, I'd played for Notts Forrest for 7 games
and I'd played well against top Premier teams, so I knew I could still play
at the highest level. I got a call from Harry Redknap, and he asked me to
come to West Ham. He wanted me to play with Rio Ferdinand, and guide him
along. They made me a good offer, so I said OK. I phoned Walter Smith and
told him. He said "but of course you're not going to West Ham, you're
going back to the US" I said "No, I've said Yes" Walter said
"well come and play at Everton" I said that I didn't think that
was a good idea, because they already had Dave Watson, who was the same
age, and Captain. So I just didn't fancy it. But he told me to sleep on
it, saying "You'll be better off at Everton, as it's a football city
like Glasgow." So the next day I phoned him up. I still wasn't convinced,
but after talking to Walter again, I decided to come to Everton. I phoned
Harry back and told him I'd decided to join Everton. Harry said "I
knew this would happen"
In
the wars again for
San Jose Clash
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BK:How
have you settled in?
RG:Fine, the people are great, the fans know
their football, you can't kid them. My wife said a funny thing, she
would go out in the car and drive around the city, to find her way
about, and when she came home, she said "How come there are more
Evertonians than Liverpudlians in the city?" I said "What
do you mean?" She said I've seen more Everton shirts than Liverpool
shirts" I said "well they say that there are more Evertonians
from the city, and that Liverpool supporters come from Dublin and
all around the country."
BK:When you finally stop playing at Everton
would you return to the US?
RG:Yes, my family are there now. The kids are
in school. I'm actually going through the 'Green Card' thing. We live
in Silicone Valley, California. I always thought it would be nice
to live in a place with the sun on my back. I get that from living
in South Africa from 3 up until I was 16. I was once thinking about
Australia, but when I went to places in the US major soccer league,
as they call it out there. We decided it would be nice to live there.
BK:Do you have any plans to go back to
South Africa?
RG:I go back there nearly every year to visit
my parents in the summer
BK:You were born in Stockholm, Sweden,
and not Singapore like some sites report
RG:Yes, I don't understand where they get that
from. My Mother is Swedish and my Father is Scottish, he played for
Charlton in the 1960's and was in the Army, he captained the British
forces team. We then moved to S.A. because a lot of players did that
at the time. I remember seeing Alan Whittle play over there. |
BK:You
started playing in Scotland for Dundee United?
RG:Yes actually, I played as a 17 year old with
Walter Smith, who must have been about 32. So I've known Walter for 21
years. Dundee United had a very good team, with players like Paul Sturruck,
Maurice Malpas, Paul Hegarty and we won the Scottish 1st Division as it
was then. Then I went to Tottenham, and played with some good players
such as Glen Hoddle, Gary Mabbutt, Ossie Ardilles. Your Look - A - Likes
page has me as Sean Bean, while I was playing for Tottenham, a friend
of mine asked me to open a sports bar in London, and the media were there.
This fella started interviewing me, thinking I was Sean Bean. He was saying
"How's the new film coming along?" But the cameraman behind
him was shaking his head saying "No, that's Richard Gough" So
your Look - A - Likes are quite good, but apparently Sean Bean is a midget.
BK: Tell me a bit about playing for Rangers. You won 18 medals (9 league,
3 cup, & 6 league cup)
RG:Yes it was very successful.
BK:Did it become easy with all those wins?
RG:No, you look at the Premiership now, and Man
U. now have won something like 5 out of 7, and could have had some more,
so it's not that different down here.
BK: I read that you were very emotional when you collected the Championship
trophy for the "9 in a row season" at Rangers?
RG:Yes, even my wife commented on it, when I got
home, she said "I saw you on the TV and you had tears in your eyes
when you received the trophy. You never even cried when I had the kids"
Celtic had won 8 in a row, so when we won 4 then 5 Championships, the
fans thought we could do it. One fan came up to me and said when we had
won 8, "You know if you don't win the 9th the last 8 don't mean a
thing." So this was what kept us going. I was injured with about
6 games to go, but we were playing Celtic, so I said to the manager (Walter
Smith) I'd play, because if we beat them, then we'd win the league. So
we won, and thought that was it. But we lost the next 3 games, and then
had to win 1 of our last 2 games, so Walter said I'd play in the final
game, even if I had'nt recovered from my calf injury. But I wasn't needed.
When I picked up the cup, it was a culmination of 9 years, and I'm very
proud to be the only Rangers player to receive 9 medals.
BK:You won 61 Scotland Caps, who was the best International player you've
played against?
RG:I've come across such a lot. Rudi Voller, was
a handful, he played for Werder Brennen when I played for Dundee Utd.
Klinsman was good for Germany. I played well in Euro 92, we won 3 - 0
against Russia, lost 2 - 0 to Germany and lost 1 - 0 to Holland. A certain
young Duncan Ferguson came on as sub for Brain Mclair in that game. They
had Marco Van Basten, who I had watched on the TV, and thought he was
good. He looked slim, but I didn't realise he was so tall. He was about
2 inches taller than me. He was playing with a dodgy ankle. But he was
still top class, and I think he was the best I've played against.
BK:What about the best player you've played with?
RG:Along side in my position?
BK:Well, yes go on.
RG:David Nearey was a fine player, and Terry Butcher,
the fans loved him and he loved Rangers.
BK:That surprises me a Scottish Captain and English Captain. Was there
no rivalry?
RG:No!, we were a good partnership, but I think
my time with Gary Mabbut at Spurs was the best partnership although I
only played there for a season. He was a very good player.
BK:Who was the best player you've played with?
RG:There were a few Ardilles, Hoddle, Gazza, but
I think Laudrup was the most skillful. The thing about him was, he was
the fastest I ever saw over a couple of yards. He was the only player,
I'd keep away from in training. The game in the world cup when Denmark
got beat 3 - 2 by Brazil, he was unbelievable. No doubt the best man on
the pitch. He was at my testimonial game at Rangers, we played Arsenal
and they had a strong team, but we beat them 3 - 0. Laudrup was fantastic.
At one time he stood on the ball, actually jumped up on the ball with
two feet, stayed there for a few seconds, then carried on playing. As
a professional, I don't really like that sort of thing, but him and Gazza
kept flicking the ball about, back heels, the lot. David Platt who was
the Arsenal Captain, came up to me and said that the Arsenal players were
after him, and to warn Laudrup. I said "You'll have to fuckin catch
him first!" They couldn't, but I shouted to Walter to get him off,
so he substituted him. Laudrup got a standing ovation, and it was my testimonial.
BK:You have obviously had a good relationship with Walter Smith, has he
changed over the years?
RG:As a player?
BK:Good one, no as a manager and person?
RG:We have known each other for over 20 years. He
has helped me through my career. I trust him and he trusts me. He knows
what I can do. He's very loyal. I don't think he's changed much. He is
very calm and quietly spoken, but he has a temper.
BK: Blue Kipper has
had lots of messages about playing 4,4,2. or wing backs. Where do you
stand on this one?
RG: I think we had some success with 5 at the back
last season. For instance, when we won 3-0 at West Ham. But I think the
players prefer 4 at the back. I think the midfield players know were they
are with 4 at the back. Again it depends on who is fit, and at Everton
this season there has been a lot of injuries.
BK:Do you have a say in tactics or who plays?
RG:Not so much at Everton, at Rangers he would confide
in me from time to time. I was the Captain then and an experienced international.
At Everton, I just wanted to come in and concentrate on my football. He
did confide in me about signing Gazza though. Walter said he would be
great for the dressing room, and if he got himself fit, he would still
be a great player. I agreed that he would be good for the dressing room,
as it was a quiet one until Abel Xavier and then Gazza came along.
BK:How good is Gazza?
RG:Gazza has got more skill in his big toe, than
most other players put together. In the 4 years he was at Rangers, he
was fantastic. There was one goal, you must have seen it on TV when he
got the ball in our half, and went on a run right through, and bent the
ball into the net. I was right behind it. It was a great goal.
BK:Did you have anything to do with the signing of Joe-Max Moore?
RG:Well I had recommended Walter to look at a player
called Eddie Lewis, who now plays for Fulham, and a couple of other players,
but he asked me about Joe-Max, and I said "Yeah, I've played against
him, he's a good player" He was another on a free transfer. So yeah,
it's a good buy for the club.
BK:What do you think of him as a player?
RG:Joe played well last season, when he came into
the team, and scored a few goals. He's a confidence player, but hasn't
been in the side much this season. I think that's because he has to go
to the States a couple of times a season to play for the National side,
it doesn't help him. He needs to get in the side,string a few games together,score
some goals and the confidence will come.
BK:About the team now at Everton, what did you think about Richard Dunne
leaving?
RG:'The Dunney Monster' as you call him on Bluekipper.
Well I was sorry to see him go. He's only 21 and he's a big man, so imagine
what he's going to be like when he's 25/26? Last season we played a couple
of games together, when Davie Weir was injured, and I thought we played
very well, but then he played right back for most of the time, when Davie
was fit again. He also played in a back 3, so he has had to fill in a
few positions, which doesn't help.
BK:You played a few games at full back early in your career at Rangers
RG:Yeah, I'd have played anywhere, but I'm a centre
half now. You see the likes of Ehiogu going for £8m and you think
that's a lot of money, but then again, maybe the club thought £3.5m
was good business for Dunne. There is a lot of things to weigh up when
a transfer happens and money is a big factor.
BK;Do
you think the laughing on the coach incident after the Bristol Rovers
game with Michael Ball contributed to the transfer.
RG:I don't know, I was in the US when that happened
so I don't know.
BK:Do you think that because young players at the club are earning
so much they become complacent and think they have it all?
RG:I think it's different now. I look at the
car park and myself and Dave Watson come in with our old cars, and
these young lads come in with their new Porches I think that society
has changed, there seems to be a lack of respect nowadays. When I
was at Dundee Utd. as a young lad, I had to knock on the 1st team
dressing room door before I went in. So things have changed. I think
it's at all the clubs though. You hear about incidents all the time
at different clubs, with young players.
BK:Do you ever give advice to the young players?
RG:If they ask for it. When I was a young player,
I would look at players and think he does this well, and try and pick
up good points from them, or he conducts himself well I'll pick up
on that. |
Celebrating
after scoring against Southampton, making my missus £40
better off
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Gough
in action against Villa
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BK;There
is a rumour circulating that Alex Nyarko is unsettled and looking
to get away. Is it true?
RG:I haven't heard anything about this, no!
BK:I don't think the goalkeepers we have are top class, and until
we get one I think we'll struggle to get into the top six. What do
you think?
RG:I think Evertonians have been spoilt with
having a great goalkeeper in Neville Southall, and you compare with
him. Thomas Myhre played well for us last season, but he was unlucky
when he let a few goals in, one hit his shoulder and he fumbled another.
He is still a good keeper. With Gezza (Paul Gerrard) when he came
in for Southall , a couple of seasons ago, apparently he had a bad
game and that knocked his confidence, but this season, he has improved.
He is a great shot stopper, I've said to him when Davie Weir and myself
are playing together only come for the ball when you are 100% of getting
it, because we're not bad in the air and can deal with most things.
Again it's a confidence thing. |
BK:Are there any up and coming Richard Goughs in the youth teams?
RG:I saw our u19s last week, and there are a
few good players, but nobody stands out amongst them. I was talking
to the youth coaches about this. I think a lot of players from the
USA could come to the premiership. They started there with a blank
piece of paper, and have got it right. They have more kids playing
Soccer, as they call it over there, than any other sport, but the
major league soccer, will find it hard to compete with the likes of
American Football, Basketball and Baseball. The USA have recently
done well in the Olympics and the Youth World Cup. So I think there
will be some good young players available in the future, and not too
expensive which is important to the club.
BK:What was said with the fisticuffs with Don Hutchinson last season?
RG:He was having a go at Davie Weir for a mistake,
but he was shouting and swearing, and I didn't think that as he was
captain at the time, he shouldn't have been sorting it out that way.
I told him so, but he kept on, and then we had a pushing match, but
he realised he was wrong as did the fans, who were booing him, and
he apologised after the game, and was OK with me after that.
BK:Did you have a meal with him to make up?
RG:No, but I'm looking forward to playing against
Sunderland later in the season.
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A
painting of Richard Gough to commemorate his 50th Scottish cap
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BK:Tell me about meeting
Walter Smith in Florida in the closed season, when he told you about the
three loyal Everton players leaving
RG:I was on a family holiday in Naples, Florida,
a lovely place by the way, and Walter was on holiday with Phil Boersma
and their families. They found out were I was and phoned me up and we
got together, and during a meal,we were just chatting and I asked Walter
"how's things back at Everton?" He said "It's chaos"
he told me that Barmby and John Collins had asked to leave, as well as
Hutchinson. I knew Hutchinson was going, as did the fans, but it was a
shock about the other two. Walter was very disappointed in both players,
he had helped both players, and was hurt. I think they were tapped up
by agents. It's a common thing nowadays. A couple of years ago there would
have been a big fuss, but now it seems everyone has an agent, even some
of the clubs.
BK:Have we missed any of those players?
RG:Barmby had a decent season, but wasn't consistent
all season. When I heard that Man Utd. were putting a bid in for him.
I immediately thought that's the work of two old Scottish mates. No doubt,
and it worked, to get £6m for him was fantastic business for the
club. I think the hardest to replace has been Johnny Collins. He was great
to play with. You could always rely on him to be available for a short
pass, allowing you time to clear a ball. He would never give the ball
away.
BK:Do you think loyalty is a thing of the past?
RG:To some players maybe, but not me, I had 10 years
at Rangers and I think I'm a loyal person. I don't think I would go to
another premiership club other than Everton.
BK:When Walter Smith changed Abel Xavier's number to 28 did you think
that was the end for him?
RG:Everton had received a big bid for Abel from
a big European club, so knowing Abel's history, he's a big of a gypsy,
he's played in a lot of Countries, and speaks 5 languages. I thought he
must be moving on. Then he got the ban at Euro 2000, when he came back,
he told me he wanted to stay at Everton, he likes the city and the people.
So I told him to go and see the manager and tell him. He did and although
he has been injured this season, I saw the Newcastle game last week at
Goodison, and he had a great game. He is also great in the dressing room.
All the players like him.
BK:Do you have CyberSex with your wife?
RG:What's that? I've had a few nice photos from
her.
BK:Did Gazza piss on you at Rangers?
RG:No, people say he's daft, but he's not daft enough
to do that to me. We were doing shuttles in training, and he pissed on
a player called Bo Hansen He was a nice timid type, and did nothing about
it.
BK:What do your weekdays consist of?
RG:We train in the mornings, and then I go home
and rest or sleep, and usually I go for a meal with Abel of a night, as
we're the two with no family here, so we tend to hang around together.
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BK:So
if he continues to play well, you won't get your place back will you?
RG:Yes, I told him just to keep playing well
until I'm back.
BK:Do any of the players go on the net?
RG:A few, I know Thomas (Myhre) has his own
webpage.
BK:What sites do you visit?
RG:I go on the official Everton one, but I do
like the Bluekipper match reports. I think you get a true picture,
and it's like what I'd say if I was at a match.
BK:When you do finally finish playing do you envisage going into management?
RG:Not at this moment. A lot of players say
they would like to go on to be a manager,I haven't, but if the opportunity
came about, I'd think about it. But it would have to be at a top level.
Walter said he can see me having a go, because I've got an opinion
on everything, so I should go into management.
That
was the interview. It was an honour and a privilege to talk for
2 hours with him and I could have stayed talking all night. Once
again, a big Thank You to the Everton Captain from Blue Kipper for
giving up his time. Maybe we will be granted another interview after
we win the F.A. Cup.
Call Y'self an Evertonian?
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