The film producer and talkSPORT host couldn’t halt John Burridge’s Corfu sit-ups
JONNY OWEN MERTHYR TOWN/WALES
What was the first game that you ever attended?
It was Merthyr against Chesham in the FA Cup in 1979. We parked near my grandfather’s house, walked down the hill to the ground and heard a cheer. My father said, “We must have scored.” By the time we got in it was 1-1. We lost 3-1, but that didn’t put me off.
Who was your childhood hero and did you ever meet them?
Merthyr were one of the best teams in non-league and had a glorious trip into Europe after winning the Welsh Cup in 1987. One of the great players was Kevin Rogers, who went to my school, then played for Aston Villa, Birmingham and Wrexham. He came back to his home town, playing way below his level, and scored in our 2-1 European Cup’ Winners Cup win over Atalanta – one of the biggest upsets in European football. I later got to know Kevin very well and he still texts me.
What was your best moment as a player?
I played until my mid-30s for a pub called The Red Lion in Merthyr. It was a six-a-side league – we were OK in the first two seasons, then in the third season we took it really seriously and won the league. I scored to help us win it, which was a fitting way to go out. That was my last game of football.
How has watching football changed for you since you were a kid?
The terraces. I remember being on them for big Wales games, and I’ve also been on the Kop, the Stretford End and the Holte End. There was an electricity in the atmosphere that’s hard to replicate, that feeling when you score a goal and you find yourself 20 yards from your mates. Unique.
What’s your favourite goal you’ve ever seen live?
Wales’ third goal against Belgium at Euro 2016. We were 2-1 up against one of the tournament favourites – they had Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku, and the game was in Lille, which is basically in Belgium. Chris Gunter crossed for Sam Vokes to head the third [below]. It was the 86th minute and so wonderful to know we’d won, that we were in the semifinals of the Euros.
Who has the hardest shot you’ve ever seen?
Gareth Bale by a country mile – his left foot is a cannon, his legs are about 4ft wide! Mark Hughes had an incredible shot, but in the modern era it’s Bale.
Where’s the best place you’ve ever watched a game?
Our first group game of Euro 2016, against Slovakia in Bordeaux, was great because at that point there was no expectation. We played in o
