England winger, Marseille favourite, and one of the most gifted footballers of his generation
FootballIf you want an argument about the most naturally talented English footballer of the 1980s, start with Chris Waddle.
Discovered at Tow Law Town after leaving a sausage seasoning factory in the North East, Waddle joined Newcastle United in 1980 and quickly became one of the most watchable wingers in the country. He moved to Tottenham in 1985, to Marseille in 1989 for a then British record fee, and won three consecutive French titles under Bernard Tapie. At his peak he was genuinely world class, a languid, loose-limbed dribbler who could beat a full back without appearing to break into a jog.
For England he won 62 caps and scored six goals, and remains best known for one of the most painful moments in English football history, the missed penalty in the 1990 World Cup semi-final against West Germany. He has spoken about it with grace and good humour ever since, which says more about him than the miss ever did.
Back in England he played for Sheffield Wednesday, reached two domestic cup finals in 1993, and was voted FWA Footballer of the Year that season. Since retiring he has been a regular on BBC Radio 5 Live and across regional coverage in the North East, where he is still treated as royalty.
At Steam Wine Bar, Waddle brings the wit, the stories, and the unmistakable Geordie voice that has kept him on the airwaves for more than 30 years.
Two decades of world class speakers in the basement at EC3. Want to book Chris Waddle or someone like them? Tell us what you need and we will come back with a plan.
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