Footballers at zoos

sooty mangabey

sooty mangabey

Well-Known Member
In an interview in this morning's Observer, Manchester City's "troubled" Italian striker Mario Balotelli reveals that visiting Knowsley Safari Park is one of his favourite activities (along with throwing darts at youth team players, winding up opponents, and racking up parking fines equal to the annual salary of a white-collar worker).

I once had the exciting experience of walking into the rhino house at Whipsnade to see Anders Limpar, Arsenal and Sweden winger, admiring the beasts within. I've kicked myself ever since for failing to make the obvious comparison between the lumbering pachyderms and Limpar's teammate Tony Adams.

More recently, at Marwell, I came across Portsmouth's Tal Ben Haim in the 'Into Africa' house. He was banging on the glass, trying to attract the attention of the Diana monkeys - another reason to hate him, alongside the fact that he is a mediocre player, being paid a fortune by my team despite the fact that something fishy is going on and he never plays.

Have other Zoochatters come across a pleasing juxtaposition of zoos and football, I wonder? Has Stewart Downing of Aston Villa been spotted in Dudley Zoo's reptile house? Has Rotherham's star striker Adam Le Fondre been a regular visitor to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park? Is Stoke City's Asmir Begovic frequently found doing some macaque-watching at Trentham Monkey Forest? I think we should be told....
 
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I was at Chester Zoo on the day Michael Owen visited, but I didn't see him. I can't comment on Mr Begovic being a regular visitor to Monkey Forest, but I'm sure a macaque would have prevented the goal he let in at Villa Park.
 
When I saw this thread I thought some enterprising zoo has opened a new exhibit :O)

Personally I'd help the majority of the Liverpool first team into the Tiger enclosure of any zoo - but only after smearing them with marmite and staplegunning one of their feet to the ground :O)

I worry myself sometimes!!!

In an effort to answer the original question though I did once meet John Barnes coming out of the Old Orang House at Chester Zoo with his Missus and one of his now many children - we had a brief chat about the exhibits and he seemed genuinely keen. Shame he spoilt it by playing for the wrong teams for his entire career!!
 
Kevin Keegan back in the 80,s while at Southampton used to visit Marwell, and more recently, Chris Powell Charlton and Endland defender along with orther footballers from South London clubs where regular visiters to Horton Park Farm Nr. Epsom, Surrey, when i was animal manager there.
 
There's a brilliant archive picture in one of the Marwell news' of Matt Le Tissier posing with Marwell's baby tapir in the 90's... must see if I can dig it out. :D
 
I once spotted Everton (at the time) left-back Andy Hinchcliffe coming out of the tropical house at Chester Zoo
 
I could tell you a story about David and Victoria Beckham at Chester... but it'd get me into trouble. ;)
 
SMR said:
I could tell you a story about David and Victoria Beckham at Chester... but it'd get me into trouble. ;)
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Spoil sport if i ask very nicely will you tell it!!But then i`m thinking I know the story if its the one we were told,the day we got blown out for a second rate singer called Russell Watson!!!
 
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Not really on topic but I once sat next to John Sillett (Chelsea, Coventry and Plymouth player, Hereford and Coventry manager) on a train. He was very interesting and made no attept to hide his dislike of Leeds United!

Stan Steele (Port Vale and West Bromwich Albion) used to live in my street.
 
bongorob said:
I once sat next to John Sillett on a train. He was very interesting and made no attept to hide his dislike of Leeds United!
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...but did 'Snozzer' share his opinion on the decline of Twycross Zoo, or the dearth of bear exhibits in the UK, with you? If not, I'm not sure he belongs on this thread....
 
I don't recall meeting any footballers in a zoo, but I did once walk into Graham Gooch at London as he was walking into the Giraffe House and I was walking out. It's not every day that you get your toes trodden on by your boyhood idol in a building that you first saw at the age of two...
 
Not footballers either, but I once saw Nick Faldo coming out of the Reptile House at Regent's Park (he immediately put on some sunglasses) and I saw Richard Blakey at Chester.
 
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