We're in a world apart from Clark

SOMEONE asked me how I knew the late John Clark had, like me, lost his father when he was just 10 years old and had to step up as the oldest child in the family.

- LISBON LION

The answer to that is there was a time when journalists had unobstructed access to players.

Back then they showed a bit of interest in who you were rather than seeing the press as people to be kept at arm's length.

John and I had discovered, over the course of talking, that we had suffered exactly the same trauma.

Two policemen arriving at the door. Your mother being taken into another room to be given devastating news while you looked after younger siblings.

The anguish that followed.