David Dein, one of the great trailblazers of English football, has helped write another lovely football fairytale.
Dein told a moving story in his autobiography, Calling The Shots, about how former Arsenal striker Charlie Nicholas had visited a fan who had been in a coma after being involved in an accident riding his moped.
Arsenal fan Russell Brown’s mother had written to Dein asking whether ex-Scotland star Nicholas could visit her son in Homerton Hospital as she desperately tried to help him recover. Dein described it as a “modern miracle” because Nicholas went, spoke to the fan and the pair of them saw his eyes flicker - and Brown woke the next day.
Former Arsenal vice-chairman Dein recalled in his book: “Another side to Charlie was his warm character. I told Charlie and he said: ‘When can we go?’
“We went to see this kid Russell and what I witnessed seemed a modern miracle. Russell was lying in his bed, in a coma, and the consultant explained that if he didn’t come out of his coma soon his chances would be slim.
“Charlie immediately started shaking Russell’s shoulders and said in quite a loud voice, ‘Wake up, wake up, we’re playing Spurs on Sunday. Wake up, Russell. Wake up, Russell.’ Amazingly, as we’re looking at the boy, I could see his eyelids flickering open and then close fully again. It was a very poignant moment. The following day, I received a call from Homerton Hospital. They told me Russell opened his eyes again.”
Nicholas, who was Arsenal’s biggest star in the mid-80s, went on to become one of the biggest names on Sky Sports and, incredibly, all these years later he has been reunited with Brown whose life he helped save.
Former Arsenal vice-chairman Dein got a card every Christmas from Brown with the words “Thank You” written inside and made another plea for him to get in touch in his book.
Sure enough, Dein helped reunite the pair all these years later and Nicholas and Brown went together to Arsenal’s win over Everton at the Emirates last week.
Darwin's dash
Darwin Nunez faces a 13,000 mile round trip ahead of Liverpool ’s crunch showdown at Manchester City on Saturday, April 1.
Uruguay have set up high-profile friendlies with Japan on March 24 and South Korea four days later which means an exhausting schedule for Nunez during the international break.
It also means that Nunez faces a mad dash back to England for the City game which, typically, kicks off at 12.30pm Saturday lunchtime.
The March international break - which sees England face Italy and Ukraine - is bound to push players to the limit amid a congested fixture list.
But England boss Gareth Southgate is not expecting any excuses or sick notes from players because it does represent for them the start of the Euro 2024 qualifying campaign.
Highly-rated Harry
Rangers coach Harry Watling is gaining admiring glances from EFL clubs.
Watling, 33, who is Michael Beale’s first team coach at Ibrox, is regarded as one of England’s brightest young coaching prospects. Several clubs are watching his progress with interest as the managerial merry-go-round begins in the Championship and League One.
Charlton boss Dean Holden has been linked with Oxford after Karl Robinson’s departure and the sack race has started in the EFL.
Former Chelsea academy coach Watling earned his UEFA B licence aged just 18, got his A licence at just 26 and joined Beale at QPR last summer.
Watling followed Beale to Ibrox and is potentially seen as having the same qualities as the Rangers boss as an outstanding young coach able to follow a smilier career path.
England fans' trip to Naples
England begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign with an unwelcome trip to Naples for their clash with Italy.
But, despite the security and safety worries, 5,000 England fans registered an interest in tickets and the 2,500 allocation was sold out instantly.
That says much about the loyalty of England fans, many of whom are doing day trips to Italy as Naples has been an unwelcoming city for English fans in recent times because of Napoli’s notorious ultras targeting rival supporters.
Why the Italian FA chose to play in Naples is anyone’s guess as they are not particularly passionate about the national team, other than to make it a difficult atmosphere for England.
But the Italian FA have not classified the game as the highest risk like whenever Napoli play English opponents. Because the local ultras do not really follow the national team, it is a lower category and major trouble is not expected.
