Simply Red, U2, Elton John. When footballers have been asked to choose their musical favourites for a national institution they have often embarrassed themselves.

In 1982, with Desert Island Discs more than 40 years old, Trevor Brooking became only the third footballer to appear on the show. At first glance it appeared the West Ham man had impeccable taste. Few music aficionados could grumble at the selection of The Tracks of My Tears by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, Jackie Wilson’s Higher and Higher, or How Sweet It Is by Junior Walker and the Allstars, and Brooking was the only football figure to choose the Beatles. But then he went and spoilt everything by picking What Kind of Fool by Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb – as his castaway’s favourite, no less…

Read the full story in the October 2011 issue of When Saturday Comes.

Football When Saturday Comes