WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT GEOFF CAPES: AN URGENT REQUEST FROM BBC NEWSNIGHT

In 1976, as a twelve-year-old boy, I went on a school trip to see the Olympic Trials at Crystal Palace, London. It was to be a very exciting trip. My classmates and I were thrilled about the prospect of seeing national heroes such as Alan Pascoe, Yvonne Murray, Roger Jenkins, and of course, the great shot putter, Geoff Capes.

Everything was going wonderfully in the packed stadium. Great endeavour and records being broken. Geoff putted well, but appeared to be disappointed with himself; he obviously thought that he should be doing much better. My school friend at the time, Lee March and I went down to trackside after his last putt and asked for Geoff’s autograph. Geoff’s response to us was to say, “Fuck Off kids!’ This was in the full earshot of legendry BBC athletic commentator, Ron Pickering.

Over thirty-five years has passed and that horrifying day still rankles. In fact, I believe that the awful moment of Geoff’s anger has played a big part in my current middle-aged malaise and lack of self-confidence. I don’t know how my old friend Lee has coped. We did not speak again after that fateful day. Apparently, according to his Mother, Leslie March, Lee has suffered from depression for many years and now lives in Oslo, where he makes a meagre living as a gardener.

BBC Newsnight are keen to do a story on minor sporting celebrity’s of the 1970’s, and their possible damaging affect on young children. The title of the report will be called. ‘We Need To Talk About Geoff Capes.’

Now, were you at the stadium that day? If so, did you suffer a similar experience at the hands of Geoff, or indeed any other athlete? If this is the case, please contact the Newsnight team as soon as possible.

I feel its time to tell my story, and maybe yours too.

weneedtotalkaboutgeoffcapes@bbcnewsnight.co.uk

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Capes