"Image source, Getty Images Dozens of phones buzzed across the globe. Rio Ferdinand, Mark Viduka, Jason Wilcox, even former manager David O'Leary were among those alerted to new messages in their Leeds United WhatsApp group last month. It was David Batty's 57th birthday. Only no-one who shared a dressing room with the ex-midfielder had the slightest idea where he was."
"To say Batty has kept a low profile since retiring in 2004 would be an understatement. A series of amusing rumours have spread over the years as a result, amid claims Batty has become a superbike champion under a fake name, trained to be a master butcher and gone off grid to live in a caravan. The reality is a little different, but this was someone who was never going to stay involved with the game. Batty's agent, Hayden Evans, knew that better than most."
Dozens of former teammates received WhatsApp birthday messages for David Batty, but none knew his whereabouts. Batty celebrated his 57th birthday out of contact with the Leeds United group. He has kept an intensely low public profile since retiring in 2004. Rumours have pictured him as a superbike champion, a master butcher, or living off-grid in a caravan. He consistently declined involvement with football after retirement and refused coaching roles. His agent Hayden Evans confirmed that Batty intended to sever ties with the football industry. Former teammates and organisers have repeatedly failed to locate him for reunions.
Read at www.bbc.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]