Demand is growing -- it's snowballed! Kit manager Paul McAndrew was my
first victim, although it was he that approached me about giving him a hair
cut. Paul's renowned for being a bit tight and I think he thought if he got me
to cut his hair it would save him a few bob. I couldn't have done too bad a
job because he's been back a number of times since.
Once the ball got rolling, others started asking me to tidy their locks up. I
invested in a pair of electric clippers. I wore my first pair out, and my wife
recently bought a Nicky Clarke designer clipping set for me.
Much
was written about David Beckham's £300 number two cut, the City players have
been getting similar hairstyle for nothing for the past year. I suppose when
you look at how much Beckham paid for his number two I could have made a few
quid from my hair cuts by now.
Some of the players do offer me money but I never take it, I just enjoy
doing it. I didn't have any previous experience of cutting hair and I believe
anybody could do it. I definitely have no plans to open a salon because I'm
happy with the clientele I've got.
Tim Flowers was sporting a new Bob Walls style during his magnificent
performance at Anfield and when asked about it by journalists after the game
joked that he'd got more hair on his chin. But Tim's hair is not short -- it's
only a number four. If you want to see short hair take a look at Matt Elliott,
Gerry Taggart and Muzzy Izzet when they run out this afternoon - they all have
a number one.
Matt's hairstyle, if you can call it that, has become quite famous and a lot
of people think it's some great creation. They're wrong it's a creation of 10
minutes with me and my clippers. Gerry's severe haircut is a pretty recent
thing.
He had quite a short cut prior to our UEFA Cup match is Vienna and not long
after went away on international duty with Northern Ireland at which point
what was left on the top of his head got dyed blond.
After a little bit of reflection Gerry thought that his blond thatch could
bring into question his hard-man image so he asked me to remove it. The only
problem is that after I'd done that there was next to nothing left.
Muzzy started off with a number four but has got shorter and shorter until now
he's down to a number one. I think he looks pretty good but obviously the
ones who will really decide will be his thousands of female fans. Muzzy and
the other lads have all made comments about the comfort of short hair when
playing the all-action football that is required today from top professional
players.
To play with flowing locks like David Ginola and Patrik Berger must be
uncomfortable, all that hair must keep the heat in and make the player sweat
more.
Short hair seems to be the fashion these days although if you think back to
the 1970s and 80s that's not always been the case. My skills always seem to be
in great demand when we travel to away games.
The players will ask me for a haircut on the evening before the game or on the
morning of the matchday. Among my new clients this season are Gary Rowett who
has a number three and Simon Royce who recently asked for a number two.
I think it gives them something to fill their time with in the build up to a
match, I can't for a minute think it's because they want to look their best as
they run out on the pitch. One of my longstanding customers is Neil Lennon.
"I think anybody who's supported Leicester City since Neil arrived at
Filbert Street knows that he's been through a number of different hairstyles
and colours.
I'm usually the one responsible for the cut but I've not graduated to applying
the colours just yet. Neil has been down to a number two but his hair is not
that short at the moment and it has returned to something like its original
colour.
Bob may not have moved on to applying hair colours but he has been asked to
use his talents on other parts of the body. Reserve team coach Garry Parker
pops in from time to time and asks me to shave his chest.He doesn't trust me
to cut his hair but he has no problem with this request. He
reckons he needs his chest shaving because it hurts when his young daughter
pulls his chest hair.
My confidence with the clippers is growing, and I'm setting my sights at the
very top. I've got two main ambitions. Obviously I'd like to get my clippers
round the famous Savage locks but he stays well away from me when the others
are having a cut.
And I think now would be a good time to tidy the gaffer up being as he's got
this high profile new job. He'll need to be looking at his best when the
world's media are watching his every move with the England team. I'd actually
like to shave his chest, it could do with a trim, but I somehow think I've got
little chance of that at the moment.
 |
 |
|
