I was sad to learn about the death of the broadcaster and writer Danny Kelly. I learned so much about music from his writing for the NME, which he went on to edit, and then at the monthly music magazine Q. Later, he created the football website Football 365 and became a decent broadcaster, first on the BBC, sometimes with his friend Danny Baker, later on talkSPORT, where sadly I never once heard him because of my refusal to have anything to do with anything to do with Rupert Murdoch. But he was knowledgeable and very funny. In 1993, I got to know him for a short while.
It was the early years of Fantasy Football and the burgeoning BBC Radio Five Live had its own Sunday morning show based on it, hosted by GamesMaster’s Dominik Diamond. The idea of the concept was, and remains, ‘managers’ choosing their Premier League squad at the beginning of the season and managing their teams in a ‘fantasy’ league, where you gained points for goals and lost them when conceding goals. 5 Live had a league of celebrities, but they also had ‘ordinary fans’ as managers, two of them. In the summer of 1993, as an avid listener I applied to become a manager and to my surprise I was accepted.
I found myself invited to Broadcasting House in London for the auction, where the ‘managers’ spend their budget on putting their squads together. I arrived early, as I always do and gradually some well-known faces arrived, including Altered Images’ Clare Grogan who I had been in love with since I saw Gregory’s Girl, the comedian Nick Hancock and footballer Pat Nevin. I suppose I was slightly starstruck, but I was also confident in my ability to select a decent squad and manage it well, as I was already participating in a fantasy league at work. I put together a formidable squad, including Alan Shearer and Eric Cantona.
Everyone was very friendly and afterwards I got chatting to a few of my fellow managers, one of whom was Danny Kelly. He was just like he was on the radio, witty, smart and likeable, but when I suggested we go out for a post auction pint, he said he couldn’t because he was off for a Guinness with Pat Nevin. Outclassed again. I made a few visits to London during the 1993/94 season and while the highlight was always Clare Grogan saying “Hello, Rick”, I always enjoyed talking to – or was it listening to? – Danny Kelly. After one show, the host Dominik Diamond offered to take me for a pint which I happily accepted, after Kelly had once again disappeared with Nevin.
We entered the bar and the first voice I heard was Danny Baker, who was holding court with his many acolytes, who sat obediently as the great man gave forth his views on everything, never once interrupting, just laughing at the right time. Diamond looked at me said: “Let’s go somewhere else.” We did and after a few happy pints, the host dropped me off from his taxi at Paddington Station, giving me some gifts for our as yet unborn first son. I had mentioned my partner’s pregnancy some weeks before. I was amazed, but very happy, that he remembered.
At the end of the season, I finished second in the league to Nick Hancock, despite him having two Ipswich Town players in his back four. Shearer and Cantona had scored freely that year but I was just pipped at the post. But it was a lot of fun.
The last time I visited London to appear on the show, we all said goodbye to each other. I had not exactly made friends but it was rather nice meeting people, some of whom were extremely famous. And my footballing genius meant that I beat everyone in the league, except a Stoke City supporting comedian. Danny Kelly couldn’t have been nicer, congratulating me on my honourable runners-up spot and saying how much he had enjoyed doing the show. I almost found myself suggesting we stay in touch, but common sense prevailed. As my train surged out of London, I had enjoyed much more than 15 minutes of fame and – to my amazement – got paid £70 every time I appeared on the show, plus expenses, for which I had to show my train tickets.
Every time I see or hear anyone from the Fantasy Football League show from 1993/94, I am taken back to happy days. The following year, the show went to television and was hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel and was a huge success. Non-celebrity managers were no longer required and I returned to well-deserved obscurity.
Rest in peace, Danny. You came across as a nice fella and we had some nice chats about music and football. I was fortunate to meet, and beat, you in the show. And I’ll never forget it.
