Tony Cottee was a cult hero everywhere he went. His football career spanned across 20 years, beginning at West Ham in the early 80’s. He spoke about his best moments and some of the current situations of his former sides as we enter a new premier league season.
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00:00In terms of your career highlights, I mean, you seem to be a bit of a cult hero wherever
00:05you went, obviously, you know, you are before my generation, I've done my...
00:09You're too young to remember me, Sam!
00:13But I mean, in terms of your football career, quite a long time as well, was there a sort
00:19of favourite period of your career where, you know, you really sort of enjoyed it and
00:23you really were happy with how things were going?
00:27Yeah, I think, I mean, I was very fortunate to play for three, you know, big Premier League
00:31clubs, West Ham, Everton and Leicester as well, amongst other clubs, you know, that
00:36I played for, I played for my country, etc.
00:38You know, so you're right, I had a wonderful career, 20 years spanning, and, you know,
00:44I think it's only when you've retired, really, that you can sort of take stock and look back
00:49and sort of reminisce, really, on, you know, where the good times were and that, and, you
00:53know, although I enjoyed playing at all my clubs, I think my best spell, really, as a
00:57player was probably my first spell at West Ham.
01:00I was only a teenager playing with Trevor Brookings and Billy Bonds and Frank Lampard
01:05Senior and, you know, some wonderful players at the football club and I don't think you
01:09quite appreciate it at the time, but it probably was my best spell.
01:13Yeah, and getting the England call-up, do you sort of recall, you know, getting the
01:18news and how was that for you at that time in your career?
01:22You know, such a massive achievement.
01:24I mean, you know, sometimes you look at squads that players get into an England call-up and
01:29you're lucky to get one appearance.
01:31I mean, you got seven.
01:32It was a fantastic time for you.
01:34What was that sort of like for you at that time?
01:36Well, I just missed the Mexico World Cup, which was 86, which was the famous Diego Maradona
01:42handball World Cup and, you know, England had done really well.
01:44So, for me to get in the squad, you know, there was a lot of good players around.
01:49The likes of Lineker and Beardsley, Clive Allen, Mark Haitley, Kerry Dixon, Mick Harford,
01:54good centre forward.
01:55So, it was really hard to get Steve Ball and no one at walls.
01:58You know, there was good players there and for me to get in the squad, I remember I got
02:02an official letter.
02:03No mobiles in those days, no emails.
02:06It was just an old school letter and I remember John Lowe, the West Ham manager, calling me
02:09in and saying congratulations.
02:11But in terms of a player, who do you sort of think could be a standout in terms of the
02:16top flight this year?
02:17Well, I'm always a big champion for the English and British players, Charles.
02:21So, yeah, Phil Foden is someone I'm looking forward to seeing this season.
02:24And the other one for me is Cole Palmer because I think he was sensational at the Euros.
02:29I couldn't believe that he didn't get a starting place in that team because he'd been so good
02:33for Chelsea last year.
02:34And I'm looking forward to seeing Cole have another good season.
02:38And, you know, ultimately, we want over the next couple of years, we need Cole Palmer,
02:42we need Phil Foden and all the other good youngsters that are coming through, Kobe Maynard,
02:47you know, we all love the Premier League and I'm looking forward to seeing him.
02:50I'll mention Jarrod Bowen as well as the West Ham boy, you know, another Englishman.
02:53I want to see how well Jarrod does after a fantastic season last year.
02:57It'd be nice to see him get another 20 goals.