There’s an Awful Lot of Bubbly in Brazil

To most people Alan Brazil is the no-nonsense broadcaster, the affable co-presenter of talkSPORT’s award-winning weekday show 'The Sports Breakfast'. However, growing up in the back-streets of Glasgow, it was football that came first. He rose from being a fanatical fan on the terraces of Parkhead to leading Scotland’s World Cup attack in 1982 with Kenny Dalglish. The burning flame of Brazil’s schoolboy ambition to pull on the green-and-white hooped shirt of Celtic was extinguished when he was sexually assaulted by a youth-team coach. It was only due to the bravery of the then Celtic Boys Club forward that his abuser was brought to justice and sent to jail. At the age of 15 he was signed by Ipswich. Under Sir Bobby Robson, Brazil and his teammates conquered Europe, winning the UEFA Cup in 1981. Tragically his career ended prematurely at the age of 27 due to a crippling back injury. A new career was to follow in the media where his genial sense of humour took him to the heights as a football presenter and commentator on TV and as the star of talkSPORT radio’s breakfast show. A keen gambler and follower of horseracing, Alan’s champagne lifestyle finally caught up with him during the 2004 Cheltenham Festival. Through a series of mishaps, Alan missed the Friday show back in London and was sacked. However, he was quickly reinstated after a huge uproar from his listeners. Extremely funny and highly controversial by turns, 'There’s An Awful Lot of Bubbly in Brazil' will entertain and amuse all followers of football as well as the multitude of fans of his radio show.