“You’ve seen Noel Gallagher and Ballotelli – well this is Jon McClure and Chrissy Waddle!”

And with those words, the greatest singer of his generation (and Jon McClure) nail their colours to the mast. Meeting in a top secret location just outside Sheffield, this is a summit between two of the city’s musical and footical heroes. But as well as earning 62 England caps and the eternal devotion of Tottenham, Newcastle and Sheffield Wednesday fans, Waddle’s musical credentials are better than Ballo wailer’s – alongside legendary midfield magician Glenn Hoddle, Waddle was one half of pop duo Glenn & Chris, whose single Diamond Lights soundtracked a thousand juve romances.

We found out the story behind the 80’s classic, plus a selection of Chris's footie minigames and a great story involving gazza and a trumpet in our an exclusive chat - all marshalled by midfield general McClure. Watchout for the stepover…

JM: There’s something in that musicians and footballers thing isn’t there?

CW: I think they both wanna swap jobs.

EX: Well you’ve been a pop star Chris, but Jon did you have aspirations to be footballer?

JM: I played for Crosspool. We used to play round the corner from here actually. 

EX: Tell us about how you got started in the game Chris…

CW: The first thing was me Dad took us to the races at Newcastle when I was about three. Somebody had a ball. I just started kicking it against a wall and it kept coming back.

Where we lived on council estate we backed onto some council pitches. So basically straight after school all the lads from the estate would go out there and we’d have 24-a-side. There was no bibs and cones then. It was jumpers for goalposts and if you didn’t shout for the ball you didn’t get it. But it was a great way to learn.

We used to kick about a ball on the street, under the lamps. Wherever you could play, we played. And if it got dark you played Kerbs; throw the ball across the road and if it hit the kerb it was a goal. We used to play on the street corners with a little bit of grass and a tree and a jumper down.

JM: I think your rant at the World Cup summed up how a lot of people felt about the game.

CW: Well I’m a great believer that natural talent gets coached out of footballers.

JM: We went on me Mum’s street the other week and when we was kids there’d have been kids out playing. I’m not sure kids wanna play out anymore…  

CW: Well people are maybe more wary about where their kids are. We used to wander across six or seven estates, five, six, seven miles away. You might get chased, you might get a kick around. You’d just ask if there was any chance of a game. We used to play Crossbars  - hit the bar and it’s a goal. There’s so many games you can invent.  

JM: But you’re one of only geezers to play it in a world cup semi-final! [Laughter]

CW: Hey, me and Gazza did it at Wembley. They had a big band going across the pitch, back and forwards. And Gazza says “Lets see if we can kick the ball across the crossbar. I’ll go on this half and you go on that half.” This was just before an international, you know?

So the band’s playing and we’re kicking the ball back and forwards. Then we started to kick it low, just above their heads. And unfortunately I pulled one and it hit one of the band! All you could hear was this ‘Scr-EAK’ when his trumpet went off synch! I was at the tunnel end so legged it and Gazza come in the changing room. He thought it was hilarious. Next thing this guy’s dragged in, put on the physio bed. Gazza went “What happened to you?” And he goes “I don’t know. I was playing a note. Next thing I know the trumpet’s down the back of me throat!”

Reverend and The Maker's album Reverend_Makers is released 18th June, the same day as Croatia v Spain. Score. Chris Waddle is part of the commentary team for BBC Radio 5 Live's coverage of Euro 2012.

Keep it here for Part two on Monday for more Gazza, Chris's run down of his favourite players and more. 

Interview by Rob Barker. Photography by Shane Rounce.

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