Southampton legend Mick Channon on why he will be ‘too busy’ with his horses to bother going to Wembley for EFL Cup final
If Saints can repeat the triumph of 41 years ago then Channon will be happy to turn his back on football for good
MICK CHANNON doesn’t do the windmill any more.
In fact, he is sick to the back teeth of the game he used to love.
One of the heroes of Southampton’s greatest hour — the 1976 FA Cup Final victory over Manchester United — Channon is now “too busy” with his second career as a racehorse trainer to even bother going to Wembley tomorrow.
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And if his Saints can repeat the triumph of Lawrie McMenemy’s men 41 years ago, then Channon will be happy to turn his back on football for good.
Now 68 and operating out of the Berkshire yard run by Dick Hern until 1999, the former England striker flew back in to Heathrow from Dubai on Thursday to be confronted with everything he hates about the modern game.
He said: “I’m totally disillusioned with football — there’s no values or loyalty any more.
“When I got off the plane at Heathrow I saw the news about Leicester I thought ‘that does me – I’m not interested in football’.
“I’m interested on Sunday but after that they can do what they want about it.
“They’re trying to ruin the game. And they’re making a bloody good job of it.”
Channon was famed for his trademark goal celebration and won the League Cup with Norwich in 1985.
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He added: “Football was my life — it’s a big part of me. I do enjoy football, my family enjoy it and my friends enjoy it. It’s a bit of a crack.
“Make no mistake — the clubs don’t belong to the d***heads that own them, they belong to the supporters.
“I just think what they’re doing to the game — playing reserve teams in League Cup and FA Cup and things like that — it’s taken the fun out of it. It used to be great when the underdog could beat the big team.”
Non-league Sutton sacking reserve keeper Wayne Shaw this week summed up why Channon’s love has been worn away.
He added: “All that rubbish about that fella eating a pie. That’s a bit of fun.
“When you see what Sepp Blatter did to Fifa and that lad’s got the sack for eating a meat pie. It doesn’t make sense.”
Instead of being at Wembley, Channon will be making his final preparations for next month’s Dubai World Cup.
He will head back to the Middle East on Monday to supervise star filly Opal Tiara.
He explained: “I don’t think I’ll be able to go, I’ve got too much on with the horses.
“Opal Tiara is a decent filly, a Group Two winner and pretty consistent. She will probably go for the £4million race on Dubai World Cup night.
“All my family are going to Wembley, though. I think there’s about 15 going up. My kids, grandchildren, nieces, nephews have all got tickets. It’s going to be great fun. I go four or five times a season. I’ve got lots of friends down there and we’ve got our own season tickets.
“It’s usually night games as I can’t really do the Saturday games much.
“It just happens to be a busy time so I’ll watch it on the telly.
“I’ve just got back from Dubai. I wasn’t going to come back and I’ve got to go back on Monday so I doubt I’ll make it. But Southampton have got a better chance than a lot of people think. They’ve been written off in lots of ways.
“I know United are playing well and the big centre-forward is a bit special. But I’m very hopeful.
“They’re a solid outfit if they can get everyone fit on the day. The problem we’ve got is we haven’t got the strength in depth.”
As for himself, Channon has no regrets, no complaints, no envy of the millions being earned by players who will never match his tally of 227 goals in 607 Saints games and 21 goals in 46 England caps.
He said: “I’ve been very lucky. Don’t get me wrong I’m one of the fortunate ones.
“A lot of lads have really struggled after football — a lot of very good players.
“We need to look at ourselves and just remember how fortunate we are. I’m pushing 70 and I’ve done two things I’ve absolutely loved. It’s all about living your life and being fair with people.
“People will tell you I’m a grumpy old bugger — I moan and groan. I want things done right and I want to be competitive.
“But I would like to think we treat people decently — not like what’s happened at Leicester.”