If you’ve been listening to talkSPORT’s new co-host Freddie Flintoff on the Breakfast show, you’ll know he has a bit of a reputation for being a tight git.
Laura Woods and co. have been teasing the England cricket legend about stories of him haggling over the price of fish and chips, and a pint at his Preston local – but this hilarious story takes it to a whole new level of stinginess.
Let’s set the scene – on Wednesday’s Breakfast show, Woods, Flintoff and former England striker Darren Bent were discussing the reports Steve Bruce could be replaced as Newcastle United manager if the club’s £300million takeover goes through.
Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino has even been linked to the St James’ Park hotseat, with their prospective new Saudi Arabian owners set to make the Magpies one of the wealthiest clubs in the Premier League.
Bent, who played under Bruce at Sunderland, insisted his former boss should at least be given time by the new owners.
Freddie also wants Brucey to keep his job… but for slightly different reasons – as the Magpies boss once bailed him out of paying a large bill at a pricey restaurant!
“I love Steve Bruce – he got me out of a pickle once in Dubai,” said the Ashes winner.
“I was in Dubai on holiday and I was in a restaurant, the Buddha Bar, and I’d spent beyond me means and my credit card bounced, I’d maxed it out.
“It’s the kind of place that’s far too flash for me, I don’t know why Steve Bruce was in there to be honest, in his tracksuit.
“I’d taken my mate and missus out and I’d paid for everything, I’d paid all the bills, and my mate said he’d pay for this meal and I knew he didn’t have enough money on him.
“So my card had bounced and I was looking round the restaurant, I was panicking, and I saw Steve Bruce having dinner, so I sidled over and had a chat with Steve.
“Then I had to say to him: ‘Steve, do us a favour mate? My credit card has bounced, can you lend me a few quid to pay my bill?’
“Bless him, he paid it and I took him out the following night.
“Absolute legend of a man, a lovely guy, he’s amazing.”
Freddie Flintoff’s hilarious story about taking Steve Bruce to a party in Dubai and the Newcastle boss telling off Jamie Oliver!
However, later in the show Freddie admitted how he ‘paid’ the Newcastle boss back – by taking him out to a dinner he didn’t even have to pay for.
And it turns out Brucey isn’t a fan of blue language, especially in front of the ladies, as dinner host Jamie Oliver soon found out.
Asked where he took him, Freddie said: “Well… it’s a bit embarrassing really, I took him out for a freebie.
“There was this big launch of Jamie Oliver’s restaurant chain going out there, so there was a bit of a party.
“So we’re sat around having a can of beer and a nice glass of… something… free and Jamie Oliver came over to chat to people.
“He started chatting, and he’s a lovely fella, Jamie, but he swore, he swore in front of Steve Bruce.
“So Steve has turned round and said [here, Fred puts on a poor attempt at a Geordie accent]: ‘You mind not swearing in front of the women, please!’
“But Jamie Oliver swore again and Steve turned around and said: ‘I told you once, now can you go?’
“I’m thinking, it’s his function and Steve Bruce had sent him off!
“Jamie was looking around like, is he joking? But he wasn’t joking, Steve. Don’t swear in front of women.
“So yeah, I still owe him a few quid for dinner.”
