The Sports Trader can exclusively reveal that the entire Liverpool squad have been relaxing in the build up to tonight's Champions League final with one of our own - non other than The Smiling Assassin aka Philip Wilson.
I have copied an extract from today's Belfast Telegraph for you to read and enjoy. It is also good to hear that The Smiling Assassin blog will soon be up and running again after a break of a few months.
Our new pals ... the Reds squad
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
An Ulsterman will be cheering on his new pals in tonight's Champions League football final.
That's because Philip Wilson has just spent five days in the sun with the Liverpool squad who take on AC Milan in the showdown in Athens.
Belfast man Philip (35), his wife Gillian (34) and their six- month-old daughter Eva went to the exclusive Spanish resort La Manga for a break as Gillian's maternity leave drew to a close.
Instead, they found themselves sharing a hotel with Rafael Benitez and his men who were acclimatising for the big game.
Philip, a computer trader, has always been a Reds' fan, but he says his wife - who has never watched his team play - will also be glued to the screen tonight, now that she knows the players.
"I met all of the players," he said. "It was brilliant. I have been an absolutely diehard fan since I was seven and I literally got to spend five days with the team.
"I thought I would have been starstruck, but I just found that I had a thousand questions to ask (them) about football tactics."
Peter Crouch, Jamie Carragher, Robbie Fowler and Xabi Alonso were among the big guns hanging with the Wilsons - as well as Philip's hero, Reds' captain, Steven Gerrard.
"There only seemed to be two or three other couples apart from us and we were allowed to sit and chat to the players," said Philip.
"When I met Gerrard, he seemed to have a lot on his mind. Crouch, Carragher and Fowler were great craic though. They went out of their way to sign autographs for people."
The Liverpool lads also charmed primary school teacher Gillian.
"My wife thought some of them were very attractive," Philip admitted. "She doesn't like football at all, but she was very impressed at just how nice some of the players were.
"A lot of the guys have children of their own and Daniel Agger and Mark Gonzalez even spent time teaching Eva how to swim."
"I will never forget that holiday the rest of my life."
With his feet now back in Ulster, Philip, who plays rugby for Belfast Harlequins, will support his side from the sofa tonight.
"I would absolutely love to have gone to the Olympic Stadium, but the prices are exorbitant," he said.
"But we'll be watching the match - and I think they're going to win."
Nice One Ray.
And Good Luck to The Smiling Assasin and family. :-).
Posted by: The Gambler. | 05/23/2007 at 10:31 PM
Cheers John,
It was good to hear from Phil again. He has been doing very well on the trading front this last few weeks and has also been very busy with his internet training business.
Ray
Posted by: Ray | 05/23/2007 at 11:08 PM
as Arnie says -
I'll be Back
Smiled The Assassin
Posted by: Phil | 05/24/2007 at 07:07 PM