Tommy Widdrington is bidding to quickstep to FA Cup glory with the help of his sons - Strictly dancer Kai and midfielder Theo.
The Geordie boss, who joined Southampton as a schoolboy with Alan Shearer, has revived National League North outfit Kings Lynn since taking charge 11 months ago. After defeating League Two Doncaster in the first round, the non-leaguers now face Stevenage on Saturday in front of up to 4,000 fans.
Popular BBC Strictly Come Dancing pro star Kai will be on the touchline cheering on his dad in the dug-out, and brother Theo, 23, will be bossing the midfield. It will be a proud family day for Widdrington, veteran of 375 games over 15 years as a player with Saints, Grimsby, Port Vale, Hartlepool and Salisbury.
He managed at Salisbury, Eastbourne, led recruitment at Coventry and Bristol Rovers at director level. Back on the grass he’s given lads like Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, brother of Liverpool ’s Alex, Ollie Scott, son of ex Sunderland’s star Martin a “platform” to shine.
On his family affair, Widdrington said: “Theo has been pivotal. He brought a skill set others didn’t have. He is better technically than I was but has a bit of devil. He has seven goals from midfield and has been a highlight along with others.”
So did Strictly’s Kai not fancy being a player too? Well, there’s a tale there too involving England’s World Cup left back Luke Shaw. Tommy said: “Kai has no regrets about football. He is Premier League in terms of what he is doing.
"He was world champion at 14 in latin american dancing. He could have signed for Saints when we moved to the South. The bloke who was left back at the time was Luke Shaw!
“I remember them saying to me when he went on trial: 'I am not sure he is better than the one we have got (Shaw) but we will keep him.' Kai said: 'I’d rather do the dancing and be the main one of the stage all dressed up and I get to choose which girl I go out with!' I said fair enough! He has been round the world a couple of times on cruise ships, Burn the Floor tours.
"He got involved with Brendan Cole and his tour and Dancing with Stars in Ireland. Strictly came knocking. I phone in and vote for him! His debut season with AJ last year it was a dream come true. Him and Nadia, have their own tour next year.”
Widdrington has followed his childhood team Newcastle from afar and knows Eddie Howe and Jason Tindale, “a warrior”, who he signed as a player. He added: “I saw a stat the other day, points accrued in the calendar year. The BBC said has anyone done better than Newcastle? Well we have, obviously at a different level!
"We got 28 points at the end of last season in 17 games, then 35 so far this season. We are right up there. The day I walked in December 10 last year, my first game there was 400-odd in the crowd. We have sold 3,000 tickets so far and will be nearer 4,000.”
As a player Widdrington did a tour of Britain. He explained: “I was an honest player! You knew me as a kid so can vouch for that. I was a mouthy little sh*t as a little lad! I knew what I was good at and stuck to it. My heart, effort and background took me far, while others who might have been better footballers didn’t have the drive or whatever. I went to the four quarters of Britain, Southampton, Grimsby, Oxford, Port Vale, up to Hartlepool and Salisbury.
"I have never been one season since leaving school at 16, 3 days after my last exam, been involved. It has been my living man and boy. It is part of me. Coming from Newcastle you are submerged in it. Jack Hickson sent me and Alan (Shearer) down to Southampton. We were shunned by Newcastle, not the right type for them.
“At Kings Lynn I am massive on giving players a platform. I have half a dozen lads whose dads played football and that shadow is difficult. Lads who deserved an opportunity and were not given it. Probably because the manager in situ needed results, and didn’t have a plan for the club. I am not in it for that. I am enjoying being back on the grass. It has reawakened it. I have been involved since the day I walked out of school, playing, coaching, managing, then a director at Bristol Rovers.
“I have enjoyed the 11 months here. You do what you do in football for days like Saturday. Everyone thought our day in the sun was Doncaster in the first round, but we brought our A-game and we can do it again this weekend.”
