Ian's Life Story "I was born in Chelsea in London in 1965. I was just 18 months old when we came to Australia. When I first started playing football I used to go out and play with my next door neighbour. My dad used to actually think I was out playing soccer. Then I started coming home with bumps and lots of bruises and he started to wonder what was going on. He came out to see us play one game - and he got the shock of his life! He's only missed one game since. "When we first arrived in Australia we stayed at a hostel at Matraville. We were there for about 12 months and then we moved into a place in Maroubra. We lived there for six years then went to Coogee. The family then moved to Botany - but I've since moved out and I live at Coogee now in a townhouse. "I've got two sisters and a brother. My younger sister is Kylie who's 21, there's Paul who's 28 and married and Julie who's 30 and married with two young daughters. "I really only ever started to play football because everyone else used to do it. I started playing with my next door neighbour when he went off to play. I played a bit at school - but we played mostly Union. I started playing Matthew Shield when I was 13. Then there was S.G. Ball when I was 15. Followed by the Jersey and Flag and then President's Cup. I played President's Cup for two years. "I was graded with Souths at the end of 1985. I played seven Reserve grade games that year then George Piggins took over at Souths. At the start of '86 he asked me if I wanted to have a run with the firsts team. I was a bit hesitant but it turned out well and that's when I started to play first grade. "In the 86/87 English season I went over to to the UK and played for Wigan. It was here that I met Graham Lowe and felt privileged to be coached by him. They've got five different cups over there - The Lancashire Cup, The John Player Special, The Challenge Cup (Wembley) and the main premiership. We won four of the five cups - it was a terrific start! "In 1987 I had a good year with Souths and won the Dally M Prop of the Year. In 1988 we just missed out on the finals. I had a fair year. 1989 was a good and a bad year. The first half of the season was fantastic - probably I was playing the best I've ever played. But then I was struck down with a groin injury and I missed out most of the year. I did a stupid thing when I came back and played in a semi- final against Balmain. At the time there was a lot of controversy about me signing with Manly for the year and people were claiming I wasn't playing because I was saving myself for Manly. So I probably took the field for the wrong reasons. I played, aggravated my injury and ended up back in hospital. I only lasted half the game - I tore the muscles in my left groin. During that year I must have seen at least half a dozen doctors, naturopaths etc and tried all their methods. Nothing seemed to work for me. "I finally found the right doctor and I had to travel to Tasmania for an operation. After this I was able to play for Manly. 1990 was one of my best years. I played all the Sydney games, State Of Origin and for Australia against New Zealand. Then in the 1990 semi-final against Brisbane I injured the other side of my groin. Because of that I missed out on the Kangaroo Tour. "During my football career I've always played front row prop. But at Manly it's been second row. For Australia I played second row, and in the State of Origin I played prop for NSW. "The second groin operation was a complete success and the problem is completely cured." Back to Total Energy