Main content
Ian Botham: Graham Taylor told me to stick to cricket
Sir Ian Botham has revealed it was Graham Taylor who told him to stick to cricket, rather than pursue a career in football.
Former England cricket captain Botham played 11 Football League games at centre-half for Scunthorpe United - Taylor's hometown.
And Botham admits that Taylor, who died on Thursday at the age of 72, was a major influence in his decision to stick to the cricket field.
"He told me I was a better cricketer than a footballer - with a wry smile on his face," he told Eleanor Oldroyd on 5 live Sport.
"The only two people that said that to me convincingly were he and my father, so there you go."
This clip is from 5 live Sport on Thursday 12 January 2017.
Duration:
This clip is from
More clips from 5 Live In Short
![]()
How a football and a bin revolutionised lunchtimes
Duration: 00:54
![]()
‘I struggled to get my shoes on and get dressed’
Duration: 01:05
![]()
PM: 'Nigel Farage and Reform are just the politics of grievance'
Duration: 00:41





