Why Chelsea Mowerman Sam Bethell Mows With United’s Evra
RAINDROPS on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favourite things…
Not if you’re Sam Bethell, they’re not. And neither are cream-coloured ponies and crisp apple streudels, let alone doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles.
No. When the dog bite, when the bee stings, when he’s feeling sad, Sam simply remembers nights on the beer and tear-ups on the terraces.
The Sun says that the 23-year-old Millwall supporter “lists drinking and books about hooliganism among his favourite things”.
All very informative. But who is Sam Bethall? He’s a supporter of “the best team in London, no, the best team of all” (as Millwall’s club song would have it). But that doesn’t stop him selling his soul every day by working on the ground staff at Stamford Bridge, home of the Lions’ arch-enemies Chelsea.
Not that the “tattooed mowerman” seems unduly bothered. “I sit on a mower watching some of the world’s greatest players play football,” he brags. And he is entitled to feel proud. This, let us not forget, at a ground where large numbers of fans hold “mowermen” in such high esteem that they sing “One Man Went To Mow” for hours on end.
So why is Sam Bethall in the news? Because he was involved in a fracas with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra after the match on Saturday.
As a consequence, there is speculation that the young Surrey mower will be leaving the world’s most horrible football club. Sam, however, is bullish.
“I’ve not lost my job,” he says. “It was handbags really. It was not as bad as it appeared. I’ve been told not to say anything about what actually happened.”
The Star is less reticent. It quotes United’s Carlos Tevez as saying that “Patrice received a grave insult”.
Given that Evra is routinely described as both “French” and a “United defender”, that’s quite a claim.
The Star lobs a metaphorical grenade: “DID RACE JIBE SPARK THE BRAWL AT BRIDGE?”
Or did Sam simply catch Patrice looking at his mower. (That’s fighting talk down Surrey way.)
Both Chelsea and Manchester United are remaining shtum. Draw your own conclusions.
Posted: 28th, April 2008 | In: Back pages, Tabloids Comments (12) | TrackBack | Permalink
