Newcastle’s popular executive director shows his sensitive side

The latest extract in our ongoing serialisation of Dennis Wise’s popular 1999 autobiography, The Autobiography sees the former Chelsea midfielder reflecting on the time he visited Eileen Drewery.

The meeting occurred when then Chelsea manager Glenn Hoddle pointed Wise in the direction of his faith-healing friend after he had suffered a thigh injury that ruled him out for six weeks at a point where he needed football to take his mind of an upcoming court case.

Arguably, Wise’s decision to go against the grain and defend the controversial Drewery should be commended but The Spoiler can’t help feeling that his mother wouldn’t have been too flattered by the comparison:

As far as I can see, Eileen Drewery is a genuinely caring woman who doesn’t mean any harm to anyone. I don’t know if she can heal people but I know she wants to. Her treatment didn’t work for me but that’s not to say it’s the same for everyone. I felt for her during all the fuss about her involvement with the England players. From my experience she is one of the most genuine and honest people I have met. She cares about people and there is nothing wrong with that. If she can help, she will. The way she has been made to look like some crank just isn’t right and it isn’t fair. I thought she was really nice. In fact she reminded me of my mum.