By Glen Leat
June 13 2003

One of the great things about sport is the many and varied quotes made by or about sports men and women. Some of these quotes are profound, others funny and some are just plain daft. In true ERE style we thought we would share with you some of the quotes we have enjoyed reading over the years.

Let's start off with a classic...

* Some people think football is a game of life and death. I don't like that attitude, I can assure them it is much more important than that! (Bill Shankley)

Spectators all know they are good players whilst they are watching...

* If you watch a game it's fun. If you play at it, it's recreation. If you work at it, it's golf! (Bob Hope)

Gentlemen versus Players...

* Show me a good loser in professional sports and I'll show you an idiot. Show me a good sportsman and I'll show you a player I'm looking to trade. (Leo Durocher, baseball manager)

For Michael Foley...

* It's a lot tougher to be a coach than a President. You've got four years as a President and they guard you. A coach doesn't have anyone to protect him when things go wrong. (Harry S Truman)

* Football - bloody 'ell!! (Alex Ferguson 1999) - Just about sums up sporting close shaves - Bath -v- Quins in 1992

* Dean Ryan's mentor says...

* The ball hitting the batsman's skull was music to my ears! (Jeff Thomson)

And the classic...

* It's amazing, the more I practice the luckier I get (Gary Player)

This could apply to the Old Farts who once inhabited every part of British sport...

* I may be the black sheep of athletics but I don't intend following England's flock if bungling officials are leading it to the slaughter (David Bedford)

It's an amazing art - downing the ale

* Skill is something I'll never lose, I'll have that when I am 100 years old (George Best) It's a shame the rubbish he writes in the Mail on Sunday can't go the way of his drinking - out the window!!

Knowing how lucky you are...

* Some folks tell me that professional players are slaves. Well if this is slavery give a life sentence! (Bobby Charlton) Wise words.

Talent is natural

* If you could teach football to a boy I'd park myself outside Oxford University all summer. I'd have Malcolm Muggeridge as my captain and I might even find a place for Enoch Powell too. (Bill Shankley)

What are your favourite quotes? Why not share them on the messageboard.

This first appeared in ERE Issue 45 many years ago.