Les Ferdinand

Les Ferdinand was a graceful yet powerful centre-forward idolised at every club where he took his shooting boots: Hayes, Queen’s Park Rangers, Brentford, Besiktas (Turkey), Newcastle United, Tottenham, West Ham, Leicester City, Bolton and Reading. Paddington-born Les scored 184 League goals on his have-boots-will-travel journey, and netted five goals in 17 England appearances. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Sir’ Les, he was made an MBE in the Queen’s 2005 Birthday Honours List.

A qualified helicopter pilot, Les had a memorable partnership at Newcastle with Alan Shearer and only a succession of injuries stopped him making a bigger impact in the Premier League. These days he is an important member of Harry Redknapp’s coaching staff at White Hart Lane, working closely with the Tottenham strikers.

He is a fine raconteur with lots of amazing stories to share. Les is the cousin of Premier League players Rio and Anton Ferdinand.