Legendary football presenter James Richardson may not have a copy of Gazetta dello Sport with him for every episode of BT Sport's European Football Show like he did back in the 'Football Italia' glory days, but that doesn't stop him from dropping some knowledge-bombs and tidbits on the show's viewers on a regular basis.
Those who watched the most recent episode of EFS will have seen Richardson include a nod to the GAA and the sport of Gaelic football while discussing the retirement of the much-loved Xabi Alonso.
While on these shores you can't mention the name of the former Liverpool and Real Madrid star without someone mentioning the fact that he played Gaelic football during his time here as a teenager learning English, and often the stories will vary from 'a yeah he kicked a ball around a bit, he was quite good apparently' to 'he won an all-Ireland at underage level'..
All we know is that he definitely did play the sport at some stage (and he didn't win an all-Ireland), and that Richardson knew about this fact and liked it enough to inform the journalists on the show and those watching at home.
Good man, James. Your pronunciation of Kells was grand as well, it's an easy one.
His time in Meath was once reflected on by the Meath Chronicle who found quotes from Alonso about his time on the island.
When I was 16, I went to Ireland for a month to learn to speak English. I didn't know back then that it would turn out to be so useful! But I had a nice summer.
I stayed with the O'Brien family and I remember there were the parents, and two boys and two girl," he added. "It was very different to go to Ireland from the north of Spain, because of the weather, for instance. The culture is totally different but it was nice to spend a month there.
I played Gaelic Football with some of the local boys. It was very fast, very tough. Maybe they should wear crash helmets.
A nice story that many Irish football fans like to bring up every now and then, once again a tip of the hat to James Richardson for knowing his stuff.
