News and Events

There's Only Five John Terrys

5 March 2007

John Terry, John Terry, Alan Shearer, John Terry and John Terry! (Our John Terry second from right)

A BU student with a famous footballing name has beome one of the first people to play on the pitch at the new Wembley Stadium.

John Terry – the hospitality management student – took to the turf with three others who share the name of the current England football captain.

The team of ‘Terrys’ were joined by former England captain Alan Shearer to help launch the Football Association’s UMBRO Fives tournament.

The real John Terry was sidelined due to injury but the student John Terry was thrilled to be involved.

"I applied after getting an email from a friend who said the FA were looking for people called John Terry,” said the 21-year-old student - pictured second from right, above - who is in his final year at BU.

“I thought it was a wind-up at first but I got selected and we played a couple of friendly five-a-sides against two teams made up of people who had won competitions in the Metro newspapers.

"It was just amazing to play at Wembley,” John added.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime occasion to tread the famous turf and a pleasure to play alongside Alan Shearer.

"The stadium is going to be terrific.”

John, originally from Kent, just happens to be a Chelsea season ticket holder. He has followed the ‘real’ John terry for some time.

"I noticed his name when he was in the youth team,” said student John. "He just kept getting better and better until he eventually made it.

It's just a co-incidence that we share the same name and I never imagined he would be the captain of England."

The FA UMBRO Fives is the country's biggest five-a-side tournament and provides the opportunity for amateur players to play their way onto the pitch at the new Wembley.