FERNANDO TORRES’ iconic goal for Chelsea against Barcelona in the 2012 Champions League semi-final has become synonymous with the cry of Gary Neville.
The legendary England and Manchester United full-back’s “goalgasm” as Torres rounded Victor Valdes before tapping into an empty net to produce the most dramatic of wins for the Blues has become a defining moment of Neville’s media career and the Spanish striker‘s career.
The commentator on that night, Alan Parry, also hoped to have a potentially career-defining game.
But his would-be moment of glory was accompanied by the incredible noise produced by Neville on that fateful evening.
Speaking to The Times, Parry recalled how his words, “This could be the most dramatic story of the season. It’s Torres to give Chelsea a place in the Champions League Final… the headline has been written,” were drowned out.
He said: “I’ve been commentating on radio and TV for probably 50-odd years.
“And I’ve always thought, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have an iconic moment?
“Like the great Kenneth Wolstenholme’s ‘They think it’s all over. It is now.’ I would never be able to match that. That will always remain the best line of commentary ever.
“I got close once, it was the World Cup in 1990 and Roberto Baggio gets the ball and starts a run. He beats the first man and I went, ‘Oh, yes.’ And then he beats the second man and I go, ‘Oh, yes.’
“And then he puts it in the net. ‘Oh yes.’ And some TV critic said it sounded like that scene from When Harry Met Sally.
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“But I don’t want to be remembered for faking an orgasm. So I thought, well, maybe, with Torres, this was my moment.
“And Gary bloody Neville spoilt my moment of fame.”
Parry, now 77 and possibly retired, remembers joking with Neville, 50, when they first met.
Liverpudlian Parry tried to break the ice by joking about the inherent antipathy between himself and his Mancunian co-commentator.
He recalled: “I said, ‘Gary, I’m Alan Parry. I know you hate Scousers. I’m not fond of the Mancs either. But we’ve got to work together, so shake hands.’
“And then he goes and ruins my moment of fame. It’s like he was getting strangled.
“He knows his stuff, of course he does. But I think he forgets that he’s got the microphone in his hand.
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“And if you’re going to express some emotion, just lift the microphone away from you. It was such an unnatural sound, wasn’t it?”
Parry revealed how he is obsessed with playing walking football four or fives times a week.
He started out his career writing football bulletins for BBC Radio Merseyside, where he was asked by the football commentator at the time to cover any away games he didn’t fancy – a chance Parry jumped at to watch his beloved football.
A move to BBC Radio Sport London followed in 1972 and two years later, aged just 25, he was covering the World Cup final in 1974.
Former head of BBC radio sport, Cliff Morgan took a shine to Parry and suggested he try out for Match of the Day, which led to his big break in TV.
And his distinguished career led to him working for all the main UK broadcasters – the BBC, BT Sport, ITV and Sky TV.
But now he is semi-retired and admits he “cannot remember” his last game.
Joking about the potential to commentate on the Crufts dog show, he added: “As long as I haven’t got Gary Neville beside me, that’ll be fine.”
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