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Tony Adams

Kirsty Young's castaway is the former England and Arsenal football captain Tony Adams.

Kirsty Young's castaway is the footballer Tony Adams.

He's one of the few people who know at first hand the pressures and joys of captaining the England team. And, after signing as a schoolboy for Arsenal, he is the only man ever to have led a championship winning team across three decades.

The drama and successes of his life have been as remarkable off the pitch as on it. He found sporting glory despite being an alcoholic and even served time in prison for drink-driving. But his journey of recovery has been a remarkable one. He went back to studying, developed a love of literature and the arts and put his own money into a charity to support other sports men and women recovering from addiction. It's a transformation that his former team-mates have described as 'heroic'. Now, he is heading to Azerbaijan to become a manager, he is planning, he says, to build the Tony Adams team.

Record: Monty Python's Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
Book: The book of Alcoholics Anonymous
Luxury: Football.

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 2 Jul 2010 09:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Earth, Wind & Fire

    Let's Groove

    • Boogie Wonderland: The Very Best of Earth Wind and Fire.
    • Telstar.

  • Neil Diamond

    Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed so Good)

    • 20 Golden Hits.
    • MCA.

  • The Jam

    Boy About Town

    • Sound Affects.
    • Polydor.

  • Central Line

    Walking into Sunshine

    • Music of the Year 1982.
    • Spectrum.

  • Arsenal 1971 Squad

    Good Old Arsenal

    • Good Old Arsenal.
    • Richmond.

  • Squeeze

    Black Coffee in Bed

    • Squeeze: Greatest Hits.
    • A & M.

  • Chet Baker

    I've Never Been In Love Before

    • Chet Baker Sings.
    • Pacific Jazz.

  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Monty Python

      Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life

      • The Best Comedy Album in the World …Ever.
      • Virgin.

  • Book Choice

    • The book of Alcoholics Anonymous

  • Luxury Choice

    • Football

Credits

Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Tony Adams

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Jun 2010 10:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 LW
  • Sun 27 Jun 2010 11:15
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
  • Fri 2 Jul 2010 09:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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