Schmeichel, Flynnie and My Mum!

Picture courtesy of the Shropshire Reds

Gary Bennett

The Big Interview: Dean Domerecki, Matthew Kelly, Jenny Cantwell, Emma Pritchard and Peter Davies meet a legend

Background: Gary Bennett. No introductions necessary.

Setting: The Queen Hotel, Chester, close to the main railway station.

Tell us about some of your teammates while you were at Wrexham. Connolly, for example…

'Scruffy Scouser with big ears. But brilliantly gifted. He supplied so many passes and crosses to me - a great lad to play with. He was pretty quiet though. He probably said five words to me in three years. We definitely gelled on the park - he was a good foil for me. Stevie Watkin was also a great partner; he held the ball up for me a lot.'

Marriott?

'I liked him - a fantastic keeper. Against Ipswich in the Cup he made one of the best saves I've ever seen - right in the dying minutes. Remember? That header he tipped onto the bar? Amazing. Andy wasn't a typical footballer - he was a bit different.'

Wardy?

'I never really knew him that well. He was there during my second spell, but I didn't play a lot with him. He was obviously a good player and I had a lot of respect for him as a bloke.'

And Flynn?

'Flynnie? He was great with me. He just let me get on with it and do things my own way. I was a nuisance, but he didn't mind so long as I was scoring goals. By my own admission I was the worst trainer in the world - but it didn't bother him at all. I remember one day we had a practice match all set up at Colliers Park. I was late and I was scared Flynnie would be really angry. So I stopped this taxi in town and told the driver to take me to Colliers Park. So, this taxi arrived at the training ground and dropped me on the halfway line. I just got out - dead cool. You should have seen Flynnie's face!'

How do you feel about being on the front cover of the WFC Who's Who, The Racecourse Robins?

'I didn't know I was! Are my teeth looking OK? Have I get my old or new set in? Seriously though, what can I say? I'm over the moon. I just had a tremendous time at Wrexham.'

Tell us about the Manchester United FA Cup tie…

'It was a great fun day. It was 5-2 but we were ahead for 10 minutes at Old Trafford - and that's good enough for me! I think we were the first team that season to score twice at United's ground, so that was something. I've still got vivid memories of the day as a whole. The Schmeichel business as well. He had a go at me during the game so I snubbed him at the end.'

Why did it click for you at Wrexham?

'I think it was just a combination of factors. I felt comfortable and at home the day I walked in the place. I always felt part of it - and now I love going back there. The style of football the team played also suited me. I just blended in and Karl's service was first rate. I remember that I was booed for the first three weeks - all the CHESTER REJECT! stuff - but I knew a few goals would win people over.'

How did you feel when you heard the Kop singing your name?

'It used to make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I knew I'd arrived when I heard fans singing my name.'

What do you say to people who said you were pretty selfish on the pitch?

'I think I'd agree with them. I wasn't the best team player in the world; I think I was selfish in the best possible way. In some situations I really should have passed the ball - but I didn't.'

What about your second spell?

'Well, people say you should never go back - but the Chesterfield quarter-final game was on the horizon and things just fell into place. I also had an offer from Chesterfield themselves, but there was no way I could play against Wrexham in such a big match.'

What about that outrageous dive you took in the penalty box during that Chesterfield game?

'I got touched and I've always fallen easily. I'm very unsteady on my feet and I just got a touch of the Franny Lees…'

What do you make of the side now?

'Faulconbridge isn't a bad player - and I'm sure he'll learn a lot. I saw a bit of myself in Watkin and Neil Roberts - the way they worked hard and sniffed around - but I can understand people who say that my goals were never really replaced when I left.'

Tell us about your terrible illness…

'It was January '99 and I just felt a few pains in my stomach. I was in Chester and I rang my brother to say I felt awful. I went to hospital thinking it was something like my appendix. They filled me with morphine and were a bit secretive about what the problem actually was. I had all kinds of horrible thoughts about what it might have been but in the end I was diagnosed as having a twisted bowel. It basically ended my career, but I'm glad they discovered what the problem was.'

And your Evening Leader column?

'I had one during my first spell. David Lovett just suggested doing another a couple of years back and we called it ON THE REBOUND. People in Wrexham like honest opinions - and I just enjoyed being honest on a range of football topics.'

You've now got a pub…

'Yes, I was in negotiations for quite a long time. I went into the business with my sister. I quite like the idea of standing at the end of the bar and telling old football stories…'

Thanks a lot Gary - cheers! ¯ RP

gary bennett: top trivia

Favourite footballers? Ian Rush, Bob Latchford
Favourite drink? Lager
Least favourite drink? Whisky 
Favourite food? Indian
Least favourite food? Anything with mayonnaise
Favourite music? I'm a bit of an '80s man, so Bryan Ferry and Phil Collins
Least favourite music? Rave
Ideal woman? My Mum
Favourite holiday resort? Magaluf/Benidorm
Favourite Wrexham player? Connolly
Best defender you ever played against? Noel Blake
Favourite newspaper? Daily Star
Favourite Premiership footballer? Michael Owen
Favourite career highlight? Scoring 47 goals in one season for Wrexham