I went into the National Football Centre at St George’s Park armed with, what I thought, was a red-hot scoop.
One of my best and most secret sources within the FA had tipped me off that the Southgate family love a pantomime. I was primed and ready for the big question.
“Gareth, what’s your favourite pantomime?” The England manager looked back at me, bemused.
I needed a quick follow-up: “I’ve been told that you and your family love a pantomime?”
It was a cool response. “I mean, when I was younger, yes, my dad’s company often had a thing to the Pantomime. But no, it would be quite a while since we’ve been.
“I’m no Widow Twankey!”
Tempted to shout, “Oh, yes he is!” I instead retreated.
Full credit to Southgate for trying to play along. But in truth, the subject had gone down as well as a cheap Christmas cracker with no banger. Like a…
