Ferdinand Reveals playing in the PL while drunk
Manchester United former defender Rio Ferdinand revealed he played while drunk for West Ham against Arsenal when he was just 17.
The former defender wasn’t originally a part of The Hammers’ matchday squad for a trip to Highbury in 1996.
However, a slot opened up in the squad after Paulo Future refused to play because he had not been handed the No 10 shirt as promised. As such,
Ferdinand
was drafted in as a last-minute replacement.
“I was at West Ham and I was in the squad and did not get changed, so went up to the bar and had three brandy and cokes,”
Ferdinand told The Mo Gilligan Podcast. “T
hen the kit man came and said ‘you’ve got to get changed’... as I had a brandy and coke in my hand.
“So I was like, oh. I put it down and have had three brandy and cokes and need to go play at Highbury. What’s going on?
“My first appearance at Highbury; I was 17, 18. So I went downstairs and was asked, ‘Are you alright?’ - I was like, ‘Yeah, I’m fine’ and I was right, I’m buzzing!
“Next thing, Paulo Futre walked out as he left because he wasn’t No.10. He looked at the numbers saw he wasn’t No.10 and walked out.
“[West Ham manager] Harry Redknapp was like, ‘we'll sort it out next week, Paulo, we’ll change it, we’ll sort it.’
“Paulo just got in a taxi and went home. He left Highbury before a ball had been kicked.
"So I was brought down into the squad and then I came on. I was on the bench thinking please don’t bring me on. Three brandy and cokes, I can’t come on this pitch. I can’t come on and make an example of myself.
“So I went on for about 15 minutes.”
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