Enter the Pitbull
Luke Young
Former England star Teddy Sheringham is unlikely to be invited back to Hong Kong's Soccer Sevens after a night of revelry that brought back memories of the infamous dentist's chair escapade of 1996.
Party animal Sheringham, along with ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger Darren Anderton and former Leeds United striker Ian Baird, angered teammates and sponsors by failing to show up for an early-morning match on Sunday.
A source close to the team said the trio had been on a drinking binge, with Anderton and Baird leaving around 4am, while 47-year-old Sheringham partied on.
The trio did not show up for the 8am match, leaving their CLA Discovery Bay team, which also included former England star Peter Beardsley, with "six-and-a-half players" because one of them was already injured.
The source said they had abused everyone's goodwill, especially the sponsors and organisers of the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens who stretched budgets to bring them to the event.
"They have angered a lot of people," he said. "They are paid money to come here and should give some of it back." The package included flights, accommodation and a daily allowance.
Sheringham said he injured his calf during a game on Saturday and was doubtful for Sunday.
One Discovery Bay player, former Hong Kong international Tim Bredbury, said he got a call yesterday from Beardsley, thanking him and other teammates for their efforts.
"I think he was slightly embarrassed," Bredbury said.
A Professional Footballers' Association official was at the tournament and apologised for their behaviour, Bredbury said.
Sheringham is well-known for his nights of debauchery, the most infamous being when he, Paul Gascoigne and England teammates poured spirits down their throats in a dentist's chair at the now-defunct China Jump bar in Causeway Bay before the 1996 European Championships.
Party animal Sheringham, along with ex-Tottenham Hotspur winger Darren Anderton and former Leeds United striker Ian Baird, angered teammates and sponsors by failing to show up for an early-morning match on Sunday.
A source close to the team said the trio had been on a drinking binge, with Anderton and Baird leaving around 4am, while 47-year-old Sheringham partied on.
The trio did not show up for the 8am match, leaving their CLA Discovery Bay team, which also included former England star Peter Beardsley, with "six-and-a-half players" because one of them was already injured.
The source said they had abused everyone's goodwill, especially the sponsors and organisers of the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens who stretched budgets to bring them to the event.
"They have angered a lot of people," he said. "They are paid money to come here and should give some of it back." The package included flights, accommodation and a daily allowance.
Sheringham said he injured his calf during a game on Saturday and was doubtful for Sunday.
One Discovery Bay player, former Hong Kong international Tim Bredbury, said he got a call yesterday from Beardsley, thanking him and other teammates for their efforts.
"I think he was slightly embarrassed," Bredbury said.
A Professional Footballers' Association official was at the tournament and apologised for their behaviour, Bredbury said.
Sheringham is well-known for his nights of debauchery, the most infamous being when he, Paul Gascoigne and England teammates poured spirits down their throats in a dentist's chair at the now-defunct China Jump bar in Causeway Bay before the 1996 European Championships.
