John Bishop: ‘Sam Allardyce can thank me for England job!’

Sam Allardyce has spent years performing miracles at clubs like West Ham United, Sunderland, Newcastle United and Bolton Wanderers, but comedian John Bishop has revealed it was his success with the England Soccer Aid squad that finally convinced FA bosses he was the man for the job. 

Speaking to Jason Manford on his Absolute Radio podcast, Bishop even said he’d spoken to the new national boss about his availability for the team – and received a reply telling him to be ready for a call up.

“We played in Soccer Aid, which obviously, we won,” said Bishop.

“And the FA have looked at it and thought, ‘We’ll give that manager the job.’

“That’s how Sam Allardyce got the England job – purely on the back of us. If he can make us play AND win….”

But Big Sam hasn’t forgotten the squad who helped catapult him into international management, as he still has a WhatsApp group with Bishop, Mark Wright, Paddy McGuinness and their Soccer Aid team mates.

Bishop said: “We’ve ended up with this WhatsApp group and I sent a message this morning, saying, ‘Sam, my phone’s been playing up, but if you want to get hold of me before any announcements this afternoon, you can use this group. Cheers boss.’

“And Sam Allardyce replied! ‘I’m picking the squad at 7pm. If we’ve got a lot of injuries over the weekend matches, stay by your phone, lads. I might need you.’

“So now, all across the country, you’ve got all of these overweight celebs waiting by their phone, thinking there’s a chance!

Ex-Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers, West Ham United and Sunderland boss Allardyce was appointed England manager on July 22 – Photo: Simon Stacpoole / Offside.

“Me and Paddy are those people imagining that maybe Sam is gonna go, ‘I’m going to do something different!

“I think what we’ve been doing wrong with the England squad us picking the best players. Let’s just try and put people in who just want to give it a go.’”

Allardyce takes charge of the Three Lions for the first time this Sunday as England travel to Slovakia to begin their 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.