Gambler, womaniser, drinker and brawler. So that's why John Terry has been made captain of England

 

By DAVID WILKES

Last updated at 22:31 10 August 2006

 

 

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For millions of children, the England football captain is the ultimate role model.

So one might have expected when manager Steve McClaren chose his new skipper he would opt for a player with an unblemished reputation.

 

Instead, John Terry - the defender with a reputation for gambling, drinking and womanising - was appointed as the nation's ambassador on the pitch.

And while McClaren hailed the 25-year-old successor to David Beckham for having "all the attributes an international captain needs", a discreet veil was drawn over the less savoury side to Terry's character.

For the £100,000-a-week Chelsea star has a chequered off-field history which makes him something of a hostage to fortune.

Despite his undoubted prowess on the pitch, the increased media scrutiny to which he will inevitably be subjected means his new role - which he earned above the squeaky-clean Steven Gerrard - could prove to be something of a banana skin.

Raised on the same estate in Barking, Essex, where his hero Bobby Moore grew up, forklift truck driver's son Terry made his debut for Chelsea aged 17.

But as his reputation on the field and his earnings grew, it was not long before he gained the unwelcome tag as a member of the Premier League's 'Shame United First XI'.

In the immediate aftermath of September 11, 2001, he and Chelsea team-mates Frank Lampard, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Jody Morris were accused of drunkenly mocking American tourists at Heathrow, stripping naked, laughing and vomiting.

'I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry'

Having paid his share of the £130,000 fines imposed by Chelsea, Terry was then involved in a 1.30am fracas at London's Wellington nightclub in 2002 in which a doorman was injured.

He was arrested, spent a night in the cells but was later cleared of charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, unlawful wounding, possessing a bottle as an offensive weapon and affray.

In 2004, Terry's passion for gambling emerged. He was reportedly one of three Chelsea stars, along with Wayne Bridge and Scott Parker, said to have risked £40,000 a week between them on horse and dog races.

One day, Terry and Bridge were said to have blown £13,000 in three hours as they clutched rolls of £50 notes and enjoyed the 'buzz' at Coral's betting shop in Cobham, Surrey.

Earlier this year, Terry was reported to be one of the England players believed to have allegedly used Steve Smith as a betting agent.

Michael Owen introduced Smith, a business partner of his, to Wayne Rooney who then ran up a £700,000 gambling debt, causing a rift between the two strikers and throwing England's World Cup preparations into turmoil. Meanwhile, Terry's love life has been no less colourful. He is engaged to beautician Toni Poole, 24, and in their first seven years together is said to have strayed at least eight times, but has always been forgiven.

Last September, he said: "I really regret what I've done to Toni. I'm not going to cheat on her ever again and want to marry her more than anything in the world."

But two months later lurid revelations were made in The Sun about how Terry enjoyed a passionate clinch in his £100,000 Bentley with a busty teenager who had asked for his autograph and then sent her lewd text messages suggesting a threesome with one of her friends.

In an interview with the Daily Mail's soccer correspondent Matt Lawton last year, Terry said he had cleaned up his act after the nightclub bouncer incident and liked to spend his spare time fishing. "I had to learn from my experiences, and I like to think I've grown into a good bloke," he said.

He added: "I had to sort myself out really. I wasn't as bad as some people tried to make out."

The new boss McClaren said: "I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry. I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had."

For his part, Terry said: "I am very proud to be given this great opportunity."

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-400034/Gambler-womaniser-drinker-brawler-So-thats-John-Terry-captain-England.html#ixzz0gnHSelLc

 

 

I'm really gutted he's given up his England place. I agree, it seems like he's punishing himself. I hope that in the coming weeks/months when things have died down and he's had some time to think, he'll change his mind. He shouldn't have to miss out on such an experience because of a personal issue.

I hate the fact that sky sports, match of the day etc keep making such a big deal out of everything. It's hardly going to help Bridge (and everyone involved) move on with things. They're loving the drama!

On the other hand... :sneaky: as a City fan, today's match was quality. I know it's nothing to do with me, but I can't help but dislike Terry. As a player he annoyed me anyway with his stroppy temper and bullying ways etc. Loved seeing Tevez stand up to him and celebrate with Bridge after the goal, he's been really loyal to him throughout the whole thing.

I suppose I can't really slag off the news stations to be honest. ;)

 

See. The Mail had it right back in 2006, even when Terry was given the captaincy. Yet another wrong move by McClaren. What a useless manager he was. If Capello had been in charge back then, I very much doubt Terry would have been made captain in the first place.:dozey:

Wayne Bridge REFUSES to shake John Terry's hand... then has last laugh as his team thrash Chelsea 4-2

 

 

By James Tapper and Rachel Quigley

Last updated at 10:41 AM on 28th February 2010

 

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It was meant to be a handshake to signal ‘fair play’. Instead, Wayne Bridge signalled yesterday that there was nothing he considered to be fair about John Terry.

Bridge snubbed the England defender when they met on a football field for the first time since Terry tried to cover up his affair with Bridge’s ex-partner Vanessa Perroncel.

Manchester City full-back Bridge, 29, walked straight past the outstretched palm of the Chelsea captain, barely glancing at him, before the match at Stamford Bridge - then shared high-fives and warm welcomes from his former team-mates in the Chelsea side, where he played until he joined City last year.

 

 

To make matters worse for the disgraced England star, Terry's wife Toni was in the stands with her family to watch the dramatic scene on the pitch.

 

Scroll to the bottom for YouTube video of the snub

 

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No thanks: Bridge walks past the man who had an affair with his former partner

 

 

 

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Referee Mike Dean, right, pays close attention to whether Bridge will shake the Chelsea captain's hand

 

 

 

 

The ritual was introduced by the Premier League two seasons ago as part of the Get On With The Game campaign to encourage acceptable behaviour.

 

Such was the interest in the interaction between Terry and Bridge that Sky Sports viewers were able to see the crucial moments before kick-off.

 

Usually, the broadcaster would screen adverts during the routine and return to the pitch for the main action.

 

 

More...

 

 

• England football fans warned of fake World Cup tickets being sold on internet sites
  

 

The build-up to the match appeared to unsettle Chelsea, who suffered a 4-2 drubbing – their first defeat at home in the Premier League this season.

Bridge had focused attention on the game when he announced last week that he was withdrawing from the England side.

He has said his position was ‘untenable and potentially divisive’ – the unspoken reason being that he refused to play with Terry, whom he considers to have betrayed his trust by sleeping with the mother of his three-year-old son.

But in claims by the News of the World, Bridge decided to turn his back on the national team for the sake of his son, Jaydon.

Bridge told a friend: ' I've had to make this decision for Jaydon's sake. In ten years' time, how could I look him in the eye and say 'Yes, that man tried to ruin our lives... but I still played in the same team as him'?

'I would rather be remembered as a good dad than somebody who played in a World Cup.

'People expect me to be able to just shrug this off but it is not just about me. It's about Jaydon and what I can tell him when he is old enough to understand.'

 

 

Shake-up: John Terry looks down as Wayne Bridge ignores his invitation to shake hands... everyone else is watching as well

 

Terry, 29, had attempted to keep the affair secret with a so-called ‘super-injunction’ which was overturned in the High Court.

There had even been talk of the other City players refusing to shake Terry’s hand, in solidarity with their team-mate – but he was spared that ignominy.

It appeared Terry, who lost his captaincy of England over the affair, was affected by public criticism of his behaviour.

He played poorly, while Bridge, a former favourite of the Chelsea fans, reacted calmly to abuse from them. Bridge was substituted after 78 minutes, to avoid any chance of a confrontation with Terry at the end.

Afterwards, City’s Craig Bellamy showed his loyalties lay with Bridge, saying: ‘I know what JT’s like and nothing surprises me about him.

'I think everyone in football knows what the guy’s like – but that’s off the pitch.’

 

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Support: Terry's wife Toni Poole turned up at the match to cheer on her husband

 

 

 

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John Terry's wife Toni and their family watch the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge

 

Body language expert Judi James said Terry appeared defiant at the start, but displayed signs of anxiety – and that the reaction of his team-mates to Bridge may have unsettled him.

‘As Bridge shook hands with Terry’s team, the greetings got warmer and warmer until he was getting a raft of high-fives, pats and congratulatory hugs,’ she said.

‘This looked like a clear act of loyalty to Bridge – I wonder what went through Terry’s mind as he watched his players appear to side with his rival.’

The Premier League introduced the ‘Fair Play’ handshake in 2004 to improve the game’s image.

The fans of both teams had mixed views of the snub.

Chelsea fan John Dobson, 52, from Middlesex, said: ‘Wayne Bridge should not take his personal life on to the pitch. It was very childish.’

But fellow Blues fan Charlie Driver, 48, from Kent, said: ‘Bridge has done nothing wrong. Terry’s the villain – he is costing us the league title.’

Manchester City fan Paul Barry, 34, from Warrington, was angry that Chelsea fans had booed Bridge.

 

He said: ‘It was pathetic – as if he has done something wrong. Bridge should have knocked Terry out.’

And Peter Glinka, 46, from Manchester, added: ‘Wayne is just sticking to his principles – anyone would have done the same thing.’

 

Before the game, Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti said he did not expect the atmosphere to affect his captain.

He said: 'John Terry is professional and doesn't have a problem in staying focused on the match.

 

'He has been doing good performances. He is in focus and has a good mentality.

 

'He has had a fantastic season and will do the same until the end of the season.'

 

City manager Roberto Mancini urged defender Bridge to concentrate on the match, which came just 48 hours after he withdrew from England's World Cup plans.

 

 

Happier times: Cheryl Cole and Vanessa Perroncel during a break in the south of France in June 2009

 

He said: 'He is a strong character, who has a strong mentality.'

 

And yesterday sources close to Terry claimed that Bridge was known as a 'bottler' in the Chelsea dressing room.

Bridge made his decision after it became clear that Terry was not showing any remorse for his affair with French model Perroncell.

 

Bridge claimed his presence within the national squad was 'untenable and potentially divisive'

 

 

 

 

 

Terry was stripped of the national team captaincy after lurid allegations were published and it remains to be seen how both players will react when the two players meet for the first time.

 

Bridge's decision will fuel criticism that modern footballers — as well as being overpaid — lack the passion and professionalism of former players – although many observers will no doubt feel sympathy for him.

Bridge, 29, was likely to be selected after his fellow defender Ashley Cole was ruled out for three months with a broken ankle.

But he spurned the chance, saying: ‘It has always been an honour to play for England.

 

However, after careful thought I believe my position in the squad is now untenable and potentially divisive.

‘Sadly therefore I feel for the sake of the team and to avoid what will be inevitable distractions I have decided not to put myself forward for selection. I wish the team the very best in South Africa.’

Bridge did not rule out a return to international football if Terry were to be dropped.

The married father-of-two has already been stripped of the England captaincy over his affair with Bridge’s ex-girlfriend, French lingerie model Vanessa Perroncel.

England manager Fabio Capello and players’ union chief Gordon Taylor attempted to reconcile the two men.

Today Perroncell told the Sun that she that she thought Bridge had made a 'big mistake' in giving up his place on the England squad.

Perroncell's publicist Max Clifford said: ‘Vanessa is very upset at what Wayne has said and that he has made this decision. She believes it’s the wrong one.’

He added: ‘I’d have assumed that Wayne Bridge and John Terry would have sorted out their differences man-to-man.

‘Can you imagine if we miss out or lose the World Cup because of having someone at left back who isn’t up to it?’

 

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1254205/High-noon-Stamford-Bridge-John-Terry-comes-face-face-man-betrayed-shake-hands.html#ixzz0gpxJ17jE

Actually, I reckon England have far more competent central defenders than left-backs, therefore maybe it would be better to sacrifice Terry for Bridge if it comes to the crunch.;)

Whatever, New Zealand's gonna win anyway.

Whatever, New Zealand's gonna win anyway.

 

I think you're getting confused. This is the football world cup, not the rugby one!:P

Gambler, womaniser, drinker and brawler. So that's why John Terry has been made captain of England

 

 

 

See. The Mail had it right back in 2006, even when Terry was given the captaincy. Yet another wrong move by McClaren. What a useless manager he was. If Capello had been in charge back then, I very much doubt Terry would have been made captain in the first place.:dozey:

 

 

Yeah right and Rio Ferdinand is a great role model

Yeah right and Rio Ferdinand is a great role model

 

Maybe he's now a reformed character. Who knows?:rolleyes:

You'll just say anything to back yourself up.

Maybe he's now a reformed character. Who knows?:rolleyes:

 

Maybe John Terry has changed too, who knows.

Nah, I'm prepared to give Rio the benefit of the doubt for the time being, and see what happens.

I'm sure Capello will keep him in line, anyway.

No, John Terry has to hang his head in shame for the rest of his life for his betrayal and terrible actions blah de blah blah blah...

Maybe John Terry has changed too, who knows.

 

Since his affair? Well as that was only a few weeks ago, it's far too early to say.;)

You and the Daily Mail brigade should start a petition to hang him.

You and the Daily Mail brigade should start a petition to hang him.

 

That kind of thing only happens in countries like Saudi Arabia, as you well know.................. :rolleyes:

Too bad eh?