Lucy Manning put some questions to the comedian about his upcoming show in Notts County changing rooms...
What prompted the career change from football reporter to stand-up comedian?
I have no idea really - I just wanted to try writing different things. I’d always had an interest in comedy and fancied giving it a go. I tried it and seemed to be quite good at it, so kept going. I kept the day job going for quite a few years, until it became impossible to combine the two. Nowadays I just watch football games in random towns and cities as a neutral and I absolutely love it.
What is it about football that’s got you so hooked?
I think just what a great spectacle it is, it’s pure theatre. I’ve been lucky enough to watch games in magnificent stadiums such as Wembley and it’s surreal, just the sheer vastness of it all. But similarly, you can go and watch a non-league game and watch the exact same sport and be so close that you feel a part of it. It’s such a simple sport to watch - no complex rules or point scoring - I watch a lot of sport but it has to be the easiest just to pick up immediately.
The FA Cup tour you completed with your friend Mark saw you catch 19 games. Which was the most memorable?
There were so many that were memorable for different reasons. West Auckland had a terrific run and very nearly made the first round of the competition, which would have been huge. They had some brilliant wins along the way. We also drove to Crawley, a six hour drive, only to see the game abandoned with ten minutes left. That was probably memorable for the wrong reasons!
Are you and Mark still friends?
Just about, but we genuinely had a big falling out during the process, which nearly came to fisticuffs. Even now it’s a little bit embarrassing, but thankfully we’re on speaking terms again.
Did the tour jeopardize the comedy career at all?
Absolutely. I was offered the chance to do some tour support in the middle of the cup run. I was given my tour itinerary and was having to tell people “Oh I can’t get there for that time, I’m at Hednesford vs West Auckland that day”. I sort of forgot that I was the least important person there, yet was making ridiculous demands because of it. Shamefully, I also had to cancel a couple of gigs. It definitely became an obsession.
Tell us what we can expect from the show…
Essentially, most of what I’ve told you so far, but with some jokes thrown in as well. It’s an hour long show, but there’ll be a little support slot first, just to relax everyone and make sure there’s a nice atmosphere. Then it’ll basically be me going through the entire story over 60 minutes, in what is easily the weirdest place I’ll have ever performed a comedy show. It’ll be a great laugh, but then, that’s a given for a comedy show, isn’t it?
Why are you doing this set inside the Notts County dressing room?
Why wouldn’t you?! We’d originally planned to do the show just inside a random function room inside the stadium, but this seems way more fun. I’m a real football anorak, so when the chance came up to perform inside the home dressing room I jumped at it. It should make the show really unique, as well as letting people see a little bit behind the scenes at Meadow Lane. Even if you don’t like the idea of the show, the chance to sit inside the Notts County dressing room for a couple of hours should be pretty appealing.
Will the show be accessible for the non-football fans among us?
Absolutely. I previewed the show in a few smaller venues before touring it, and chatting to people afterwards a lot of them told me they weren’t too interested in football, but they’d actually really enjoyed it. It’s essentially a story about two friends on a ridiculous road trip, it just so happens that the road trip is visiting various football matches.
Any thoughts on the recent surge in profile of the women's game?
It’s pretty exciting really. I remember reporting on women’s football years ago, before it had anywhere near the sort of popularity it enjoys now, so I’m absolutely delighted. And as a Sunderland fan, there’s a decent percentage of the England squad that started their careers on Wearside, such as Steph Houghton and Jill Scott. So I think there’s also an element of pride in seeing local girls go on to become household names. And we’ll only get better in future years as participation grows.
Do you know much about Nottingham City of Football? What are your thoughts on it as a project?
I think any project that encourages people to exercise should be applauded. Personally, I lost almost six stone last year, so fitness and health is something that’s huge to me, and football is such a fun way to do it. We need to get away from a culture of sitting on our backsides watching TV, so I love anything that involves people to get out and about and exercising. In fact, if anyone needs a player on the 28th January, give me a shout on my Twitter (@andyfury) and I’ll happily pop down a bit early and help out…
Andy Fury website
Website design and development by Leftlion Extended
