BB FANS

Published in Whitehaven News
Thursday, August 11th 2005
By Helen Graham

BIG Brother favourite Anthony Hutton is no stranger to West Cumbria – after playing football here over the past couple of seasons.

The north east-based professional seventies dancer, who is one of the favourites to win the Channel 4 reality show, plies his football trade in the Wearside League, alongside local teams Whitehaven Amateurs, Windscale and Cleator Moor Celtic.

Hutton, one of the last remaining housemates, plays for Annfield Plain and members of the Whitehaven Amateurs squad can remember him playing at the County Ground.

Spokesman, Bill Robson, added: “He has played against us home and away over the last couple of season.

“The lads recognised him on the television right away.”

The new Wearside League season starts this Saturday and Hutton’s Annfield Plain boss, is hoping that his midfield maestro will be back in training as soon as possible to rejoin his squad for the season.

Bernie Allaker, who manages Annfield Plain, has backed his player to win Big Brother and it looks as though it might be a safe bet, with only Eugene rivalling him in the winning stakes.

The final of the hit show takes place tomorrow.

Cleator Moor Celtic will be the first local team to play Annfield Plain this year when they clash on August 27 in the north east.

Tom Wilkinson
manchesteronline

BIG Brother contestant Anthony Hutton is too fat to play non-league football when he comes out of the house, his team manager said today.

The 23-year-old striker is on the books of Annfield Plain FC, who play in Division One of the tough Wearside League.

After nearly three months in the Big Brother house, the dancer has got out of shape and will not feature in tomorrow's season opener against Birtley Town after missing pre-season training.

Manager Bernie Allaker said today: "I think he's put a bit of weight on and he won't get in the first 11 like that. He'll have to do a canny few sit-ups and some 10-mile runs when he gets out."

Mr Allaker said the entire club was backing Anthony to win the £50,000 top prize tonight - not least because it needs a new sponsor to pay for a new roof for the changing rooms.

The boss said Anthony would only play midweek games for the club, which was founded in 1890, because he worked as a dancer at weekends.

And the Consett, Co Durham, lad's flamboyant style would often wind up the opposition. "He always had a tan, was well-dressed on the field and the opposition used to go berserk to get him," the manager laughed.

"He can handle himself - he used to get up and give them some back. He also had dreadlocks so he was a target straight away. They used to pull his hair."

Mr Allaker said Anthony was well-liked at the club.

"He is a great lad, and so is his family," he said. "His family is lovely. His grandmother, his mum and Uncle David followed him at every game."