Ian Wright recalls Arsenal star's brutal joke that saw his England career ended

15 November 2023 , 11:34

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Glenn Hoddle's methods as England boss divided opinion

Ian Wright admits that Ray Parlour saw his England hopes ended after he mocked Glenn Hoddle's faith healer, Eileen Drewery.

The former Three Lions boss, who led the Nation at the World Cup in 1998, was known for his belief in faith healing, which he bought into the England squad. Parlour at that point was part of an Arsenal side who were beginning to become a force under Arsene Wenger.

However the man known as the Romford Pele rubbed the England manager up the wrong way after mocking with faith healer, who players were often urged to go and see. Parlour's tongue-in-cheek joke would end up costing him England caps and he didn't make his debut until Hoddle was dismissed.

Wright revealed on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet : “[On England team faith healer, Eileen Drewery] The boss [Glenn Hoddle] got very spiritual and irate if you weren’t up for it [seeing the faith healer]. I remember Ray Parlour got blown out by him because he never takes anything seriously, and when you go in [to see the faith dealer] your sat there and she comes behind you and hovers her hand over you, and Ray Parlour said, ‘short back and sides please’ – she told Glen Hoddle and Ray was out [the squad].”

Hoddle would eventually be shown the door after making controversial comments about how the disabled were paying for sins in a former life. The ex-England boss though has said that he has no regrets over bringing in Drewery, who he saw as part of the medical staff.

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He previously told The Sun : “I first saw Eileen when I was 17 and she helped me with an injury. I had seen what she had done with other players. And I thought what we did for my father was incredible. Within 20 minutes she healed the bad back of his that he had for blooming donkey’s years. In a way I looked on her as an extension of the new medical staff.”

Ray Parlour's international career didn't begin until Glenn Hoddle's departure

Wright, despite being prolific during the 1990s for Arsenal, never made it to a major tournament. He was overlooked for the 1998 World Cup due to injury and is still left wondering how he never made the cut for the Three Lions at the crucial time.

He said: “I missed 1996 and then in 1998, Glenn Hoddle told me that I was going and we had the game against Morocco, where I was playing the first half and then Michael Owen was going to play the second, but I did my hamstring in the 35th minute and missed the whole tournament. I missed all the tournaments from 1990-1998, I couldn’t believe I wasn’t good enough to be in the squad.

Samuel Meade