Les is lost for words

Les Chapman with his award

FOOTBALL: FOR once, dressing room favourite Les Chapman was temporarily lost for words when he was given the special award for outstanding contribution at Manchester City’s end-of-season ceremony.

The ex-Latics star, now kit manager at Eastlands, is renowned for lifting the spirits of everyone he comes across, from promising youth team players to multi-millionaire internationals.

But the last thing he expected was for chief executive Garry Cook to cap off the evening with the prestigious honour.

Chapman, a Delph resident of 31 years, said: “It was getting towards the end of the event, as far as I was aware all the awards had been handed out.

“Then Garry started reading a speech about this person who had made an important contribution to City, and it didn’t twig for ages that he was referring to me.

“I was taken aback but absolutely delighted.”

Chapman, who had two spells at Boundary Park over a nine-year period, joined City as Peter Reid’s reserve team boss in 1992.

He left in 1996 to spend a year running Huddersfield Town’s youth side before returning as kit manager under Joe Royle in 1998.

With so much at stake every week in the high-pressured premiership, Chapman tries to lighten the mood at any given opportunity.

He added: “With all the expectation, money and targets in this division, I think it’s important to inject a bit of fun.

“You need to have a laugh, it makes the day go quicker and can bring a group closer together.

“Foreign players join the club and sometimes don’t understand the sense of humour but it soon clicks, most of the time!”

Chapman still has a great affinity with Oldham and looks out for the Athletic results.

He said: “They were my first professional club, so I will always have a soft spot for them.”