Independent Rs Messageboard

[Steve Russell]

SR: Jeff, I worked with a chap who used to be at the BBC years ago & he told me that he remembers you
as a ‘warm-up’ comic there. He then bumped into you again a few years ago on a holiday cruise and you spoke
about the Rangers.

Jeff: Hi Steve, it’s always a pleasure to talk about Rangers, so thanks for asking me. I still work as a warm up comic
at the BBC & you can guarantee that at least 3 or 4 of the chaps who work on the shows are Rangers supporters.

In fact, I can remember a couple of the guys disappearing on a week night and popping round to Loftus Rd just to
watch half hour of the game during the show! We used to phone the ground during games for an update as well.

My dad was & still is a Rangers fan & it’s down to him that I have been a Rangers supporter for over 40 years.

SR: When did you start going to Loftus Road and do you still manage to get down there very much?

Jeff: I was born in Hammersmith Hospital & we lived in a flat in Bulwer St, just off the Bush Green, moved to Perivale
where my parents still live. My dad would take me to the games when I was 3 years of age. We used to stand up the
School End where the back of the Stand was slanted if I remember right and open to the elements.

If I was a bit restless he would take me home and leave me with my mum at ht & still be back in time for the 2nd half.
Yes I still go as often as I can. A few years ago when we were in the Premiership & got relegated, I had a season ticket
in the SA Rd Stand. I had a lovely seat & it was great as I sat with a great bunch of supporters.

Now, I tend to sit in the Paddock as my 8 year old son Harvey loves to be near the pitch.

SR: Who would be your favourite all-time players?

Jeff: For any supporters my age, it would have to be Rodney & Stanley. I personally think Rodney Marsh was the best player
we ever had followed closely by Stan Bowles. I remember as a kid standing in the SA Road terrace watching Stan score some
unbelievable goals. I also think we had some great players come to us in the final years of their careers like Frank McLintock,
Ray Wilkins & Terry Venables.

SR: Following the R’s over the years has always been a roller-coaster ride. What are your favourite memories ?
Jeff: I always remember we played Chelsea in the 70’s in a Cup replay. It was a midweek game that had to be played in the
daylight as there were the power cuts & the 3 day week.

I was a pupil at Faraday School in East Acton. A few of us bunked off from school to go to Rangers. We were standing in the
corner by the School End & the Paddock. Who was standing behind us? Our teacher he said :”I won’t tell anyone if you don’t!”

I don’t remember much about the League Cup Final in 1967. Watching the ManU game on New Year’s day when we beat them
was a great memory. I watched the game in Bernard Cribbins dressing room, we also kept the audience updated of the score,
oh yes we did!!

Also, I listened to the Sheffield Wed game on my laptop, mid Atlantic on the QM2. I found it really emotional
as I felt a million miles away from where I wanted to be.

SR: You commented on the Indy R’s site after the tribute to the late, great Jim Langley. He really was a great character &
a gentleman wasn’t he.
Jeff: He certainly was, if only there were more like Jim Langley around now.

SR: There used to be a lot of comedians at Rangers. I remember the SA Rd Terrace having its fair share of characters &
comedians by the half-way line in the 60’s. Can you recall any funny moments.

Jeff: I can remember the bloke with the drum & I can remember Charlton’s keeper, Charlie Wright coming down to Loftus Rd
& he would tell jokes & laugh with the supporters behind the goal.

One funny moment I remember was when we were on a
really bad run. I shouted out to Lee Harper as he came off at ht “Sort yourself out Lee” he looked up and told me to go forth
& multiply much to the amusement of my mates.

SR: I see that you’ve been on tour with the Shadows, did you get to speak to Bruce Welch about the R’s?
Jeff: Yes and I also bumped into Bruce a few times when he used to sit in the South Africa Road Stand.

SR: Apart from Bruce, have you come across any R’s fans in the business.

Jeff: Yes, there are a few musicians mostly in the SA Rd Stand. John Huckridge (RIP) is a very well known session musician &
I used to see him at the games. There is also a panto producer John Spillers who I see at the games. Of course there is also radio
presenter Robert Elms who is a big QPR supporter.

That’s what’s great about football, we all have something in common especially us R's fans.

SR: You’ve also toured with Tom Jones & done Summer Seasons in Blackpool & Great Yarmouth with comics such as Russ Abbot
& Freddie Starr. That must of been eventful!

Jeff: I toured with Tom & didn’t even meet him, that’s show business! Russ Abbott was a gentlemen & a pleasure to work
with. My 4 years with Freddie was eventful but I am alright now!

SR: At the age of 14 you appeared in the Film Musical, ‘Bugsy Malone’…how did that come about & how did you start
off in the business?

Jeff: I left Faraday school in 1974 & went to the Barbara Speake Stage School in East Acton. We all auditioned for Bugsy & I was
lucky enough to make Alan Parker laugh at the audition. I left stage school & started working as a comic & actor & have
never done a proper days work since. I am very lucky.

SR: Directed & written by Alan Parker of course, it was regarded as innovative & certainly a brave film to make at the time.
Jodie Foster and Scott Baio must of been around the same age as you. What do you remember about them?

Jeff: Alan was a great guy to work for, a decent, normal, down to earth guy. Jodie was nice to work with but we had never
heard of her so it didn’t mean that much to us British kids in the film. Scott was a pleasure to work with. we were all kids,
it was like a summer camp.

SR: I bet firing those custard pies from splurge guns got a bit out of hand at times !!!
Jeff: They didn’t get the mixture right and for the first few days we were all suffering with sore eyes.

SR: I remember seeing you appearing as the comic at Rodney’s Stag-Do in ‘Only Fools..’. You must of enjoyed doing that.
Did you appear in any other episodes?

Jeff: I loved working on ‘Fools’, I was also one of the regular warm up comics on the show so I got to know the entire cast.
I played PC Parker in the Christmas day special ‘To Hull & Back’.

SR: Jeff, You’ve also been to places like the Falklands & Bosnia entertaining British troops. Any interesting experiences
performing overseas?

Jeff: Every trip to entertain the troops is a humbling experience. We don’t realise how brave our troops are. I did a tour i
n Belfast during the troubles with this young comic who used to stand there sweating his cobblers off talking to soldiers who
didn’t have a clue what he was talking about. I wonder what ever happened to Lee Evans!

SR: Do you write your own material & do you give the R’s a mention from time to time?

Jeff: Yes I write my own material now more than I did years ag, Yes I also mention the R’s but we don’t get the laughs
we used to get before the money boys came in.

SR: I’m a big fan of Arthur Haynes who happened to be from Hammersmith and also a Rangers fan. Do you have any
comedy heroes or are there any that have influenced you ?

Jeff: Arthur Haynes? How bloody old do you think I am? My comedy heroes are Bob Monkhouse, Jimmy Tarbuck & an
American comic called Alan King. My only comedy hero who played for the R’s is Ian Holloway. I thought he was very
funny & a hero.

SR: Many thanks for taking the time to do this interview for the Indy R’s. Good luck & best wishes for the future Jeff.

Jeff: It’s a pleasure Steve, let’s hope we can go on a run now and get in to the play-offs.

Steve Russell.