John Gall's Biog

Football knowledge:

"If there's something worth knowing about soccerball, I'll know it!" Gall, just before singing the national anthem at the 1993 Cup Final.

Gall was born the year than legendary Dixie Dean died. Brian Clough once famously said that "the spirit of Dixie was clearly evident when Gall did his first 'big-knee' to win the Abbey Road Field Headers & Volleys Championship back in that golden year of 1990". Since that glorious moment, realising that he had reached the pinnacle of the game, Gall vowed never to touch a ball again (though this was broken when he was hit on the head by stray sphere like object when walking though Hampstead Heath).

Instead, Gall turned to supporting one of the big four English teams, Darlington FC. It was through his support of Darlington where Gall became known as the guy who would know everything about soccerball. It was Gall who was the first to predict that Tino Asprilla, on the verge of signing for Darlington would defect to Hartlepool after seeing them practicing in the field over the road. It was Gall who envisaged that dodgy pie being flung at the chief Darlington security steward from the tin shed. It was Gall that said years in advance “Who’s going to relate to a Quaker kid mascot”.

However, it was through his football predation column for The Northern Echo which earned Gall much of his plaudits today and his award winning column ‘GallBalls – let Gall call the balls (not to be confused with Johnny Ball reveals all)’. Many pundits also note that since going into the future to retrieve Gray’s Sports Almanac, Gall can’t loose.

Gall relaxes from predicting duties by spending time at Marco Gabbiadini's beautifully restored York Guest House (which recently won Guest House of the Year in the York Tourism Awards!)

Three Predictions for the Season

“If there’s three predictions for the soccerball season worth knowing, I’ll know it!” Gall, UniBond (Northern) League Awards After Dinner Speech.

Gall’s predictions really show his knowledge of the game is a tight as a camel’s arse in a sandstorm.

Galls three predictions were unveiled in a high-profile interview with Sir Pele at a recent Escape to Victory reunion party:

Sir Pele: Who do you think will win the premiership this season?

Gall: That’s a difficult question, Sir Pele. I see it being a 12 horse race. The winner, without a doubt, will be Hibernian. What an easy question.

Sir Pele: Gall, in your expert opinion who do you think will be top scorer?

Gall: I think Marco Gabbiadini's come-back will be exhilarating…I mean, the guy’s a winner…just look at the beautifully restored Victorian Guest House inYork. He’ll win with 540 runs, at least!

Sir Pele: What is your final prediction?

Gall: That I am not going to make a final prediction on the soccerball season! (Laughter from audience). Only joking! On a serious note I think Steve Ogrizovic is a player to watch out for, coming through the ranks at Coventry.

Biggest threat

“If there’s someone to be threatened by, I’ll be threatened by them” Gall while relaxing on the terrace of Marco Gabbiadini's beautifully restored York Guest House, 2007.

Gall sees his biggest threat as being Marco Gabbiadini's twin-brother, Timothy Rudin as the biggest threat. Gall is on record saying “Rudin’s the biggest threat. Threats don’t come any bigger..execpt for Robb, Mayes, Edmondson, Gray, Attwood and that Alastair chap.”