Harry Redknapp pulled a West Ham fan out of the crowd and forced him to play a match after he abused footballers on the pitch – and he scored
HARRY Redknapp made an abusive fan who reckoned he could perform better than his West Ham superstars come onto the pitch and play - then celebrated when he scored.
The I'm A Celeb favourite hauled die-hard Hammers fan Steve Davies out of the stands, where he was smoking a cigarette and yelling criticism, and into the realms of football folklore.
Launching into his now-famous anecdote mode, Harry explained: "There’s a guy next to the dug-out and he’s got West Ham tattooed all over his arms and neck, he’s got the earrings. After two minutes, he started on me.”
Talking to journalist Jeff Maysh, the 71-year-old added that the man was yelling: "We ain’t got that Lee Chapman up front do we? I ain’t coming every week if he’s playing."
So at half time, Harry took star striker Chapman off - and ordered mouthy Steve onto the pitch against Oxford City instead, asking him: "Oi, can you play as good as you talk?"
As Steve explained: "I couldn’t believe it. Inside the dressing room, the players were sat down resting at half-time. Then Harry and says: ‘Lee you’re off, Steve you’re on.’”
Out on the pitch Steve, who had been smoking and drinking moments earlier, said he was just trying to "stay calm".
"After the first five minutes, my legs were shaking - I was playing for West Ham. After that it was just ‘get on with the game’ kind of thing."
Then, Steve explains, a miracle happened. “I hit it like nothing else," he said. "I belted it.”
The ball whistled past the Oxford goalkeeper, and thudded into the bottom corner of the goal, helping the team to a 4-0 victory over their lower-division rivals.
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And while the 1994 pre-season friendly game was a dream for Steve, it worked out well for Harry too, with the club promoting him from assistant manager to manager.
Loveable Harry went on huge success at West Ham, taking them to fifth place in the Premiership - as the top tier was then known - and bagging them a spot playing in Europe.
He also signed his nephew Frank Lampard amid controversy, launching him into a glittering football career that saw him go on to captain England.
And the famous family man even managed to sign son Jamie for his Bournemouth side too.
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Harry has gained an army of enthusiastic fans on I'm A Celeb for his cheerful nature, dad jokes and tales about his beloved wife Sandra.
Last night he opened up about his relationship to moist-eyed youngsters Fleur East and Sair Khan.
Fans took to social media in their droves to confess that Harry is their new crush - while apologising to his wife Sandra of course.
He is now the 2/1 favourite to win the show with many bookmakers.
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