Harry Redknapp, 57, went to Sir Humphrey Gilbert School in Stepney, East London. He was a professional footballer and now manages Premier League Portsmouth.
He loved his schooldays but described the secondary modern as 'an absolute madhouse.' Redknapp said: 'It was the worst school in the East End, without a doubt. I failed the 11-plus badly and I ended up there.'
Saved by the ball
Sport proved to be his salvation. He began training with Tottenham at the age of 11 and was delighted when a new sports master started up a football team at school. He said: 'I played for East London Boys district side. It has always been a strong side. All 11 in my time went to professional clubs.'
He said sport didn't interfere with school work because they didn't do any: 'Student teachers used to come to our school and run out screaming after the first day and we didn't see them again.'
Creating a balance
Redknapp, who went on to play for West Ham United, admitted he was not academic at all but now realises the value of school. 'Education is important. I would have loved to have had an education but it depends where you were born and where you grow up.'
'My advice is to balance both sport and education but in lots of cases where a kid knows he wants to be a footballer and he knows he has the ability, it is hard to force him to study because he will get single-minded about his sport.'
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