Cheam’s world 110m hurdles bronze medallist and European champion Andy Turner talks about his culinary skills, giving his mum a fright and his love for Nottingham Forest.
First car: I had an Escort Eclipse with big alloys and a massive exhaust. I wrote it off doing 90 on the motorway. I got the exact same car again so I could put my wheels and exhaust back on.
Lads’ holiday: Newquay when I was 17 I think (but let’s say 18) as I was absolutely smashed for three days solid. Because of the athletics, I didn’t have a lads’ holiday again until I went to Ibiza last year, and it was very messy.
Sporting idols: Stuart Pearce and Nigel Clough. Both played for Nottingham Forest when I was a kid and I absolutely worshipped them.
Medal: It was for football when I was seven years old. I got manager’s player of the season for my local team – we were called Hucknall Sports – and I still remember how proud I was.
FA Cup final: My first memory is from 1991 when Forest played Spurs and we lost 2-1 due to an own goal by Des Walker, I was gutted. I am not sure I can ever fully forgive or forget him for that. My friend lives near him in Nottingham and I’m still tempted to egg his house.
Unforgivable: Des Walker puts through his own net during Nottingham Forest's 2-1 FA Cup final defeat to Tottenham Hotspure in 1991
Cooked for a woman: Haha. It was probably when I was 21. I told my missus at the time I’d cooked everything from scratch when actually half of it was takeaway and the other half from a tin. I actually quite enjoy cooking now.
Pet: I had a hamster called Hammy (original, eh?) when I was six. When he died I got a garter snake called Henry. He escaped in my house and my mum found him two days later under a matt, she got rid of him after that. I hate snakes so god knows how I liked them as a kid.
Pin up: Pamela Anderson. I think every lad had her boobs on his wall at some point. She’s still pretty decent now 20 years on.
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