If you listened to Freddie Flintoff in his role as talkSPORT’s Breakfast show co-host earlier this year, you’ll know he has a bit of a reputation for being a tight git.
Laura Woods and co. teased the England cricket legend about stories of him haggling over the price of fish and chips, and a pint at his Preston local – but his tale about Steve Bruce took it to a whole new level of stinginess.
Let’s set the scene – Woods, Flintoff and former England striker Darren Bent were discussing the reports Newcastle boss Bruce could be replaced if the club’s £300million takeover went through – it didn’t.
Former Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino was even linked to the St James’ Park hotseat, when their prospective new Saudi Arabian owners were set to make the Magpies one of the wealthiest clubs in the Premier League.
Freddie wanted Brucey to keep his job, though, 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 my 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.”
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.”