Part 2 - Special Feature: Top ten wasted talents in football
Known more for his off-the-field actions than for his talent, Robin Friday was one of the most talented strikers that English football has ever produced. With calmness and authority in front of goal that rivalled the likes of Gary Lineker, Friday used to
play for Reading who then went on to play for Cardiff in England’s third division of league football.
The only thing that held Friday back form stardom were his outrageous off the field actions. He indulged in things like prostitution and drugs but one of his most publicized freak shows came about when he was irritated by Mark Lawrenson while playing for
Cardiff.
Friday made his move to Cardiff from Reading for a mere 30,000 pounds sterling in 1976 but even if you take into account the standards during those days, Cardiff apparently thought that they had gotten the better half of the deal with Reading.
However, all of that was about to change, in a game for Cardiff against Brighton and Hove Albion. Robin Friday got irritated by Mark Lawrenson in the opposing team. He therefore decided that the best way to get rid of his frustrations was to kick Lawrenson
in the face. Without putting much tought into the matter, Friday did just that. The referee duly brandished his red card and sent Robin off. Nonetheless, as if kicking Lawrenson in the face wasn’t enough, Robin then went on to go to the opposition’s dressing
room and actually defecated in Lawrenson’s kit bag.
It was one of the most bizarre incidents ever in club football history. Moreover, after this gesture, Robin was sold by Cardiff to lower league amateur club sides. Friday never played a professional football game ever again; Friday’s reason to fade away
from professional football was that he was just too tired of people telling him what to do with his personal or professional life.
In a famous exchange with the Reading manager, Maurice Evans, Friday was told by his manager that he should settle down for three or four years at a single club if he wanted to play international football for England. In response to this statement, Friday
asked Evans about the managers own age.
When Evans replied to him, Friday proceeded to tell him that, “I'm half your age and I've lived twice your life”. This quote just about sums up Friday’s life, who is also known as the best footballer people never got to see. At just 38 years of age, Robin
Friday died in his flat in the city of London on 22nd December, 1990.
Billy Kenny is another fabulous talent who got wasted thanks to his cocaine addiction. Those who actually witnessed his performances first hand, described Kenny to be as tough as a modern day Roy Keane but also as skilful as former French captain, Zinedine
Zidane. Therefore, it still remains a mystery as to why Billy’s coaches never tried hard to bring him down to the right path in his professional as well as private life. Kenny’s only glory days came for Everton but they were short lived as well.
From the year 1992 till 1994, Kenny only managed to make 17 league appearances for his home side. The man himself was quoted of saying that sometimes he got home at around four or five in the morning. Upon his arrival on the premises, he would take a couple
shots of cocaine. He would then sleep for an hour before going to training. No doubt, with this lifestyle, Kenny couldn’t uphold what potentially could have been a great career.
Billy Kenny retired from football at the age of 21 after playing his last four matches in professional football for Oldham. Maybe, it was a good thing as far as football fans are concerned, that Kenny’s career couldn’t take off properly. After all, no one
would savour the sight of a train wreck of a career due to drug addiction.
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