Girls literally throwing themselves at footballers to become their object

It’s football season again and there’s a new breed of women who’ll use the dirtiest tactics to pull a player...

By Laura Millar & Claire Coleman, 12/09/2010

The time is 11pm on a Saturday night, and outside a swanky London club favoured by footballers, a group of some of the most skilful and cold-blooded players in the country is currently gathering.

Admittedly, as Fabulous watches them queue in teetering stilettos and skimpy outfits, they don't exactly look like a force to be reckoned with. But you underestimate them at your peril. This is one team who'll do anything to achieve their goal.

These are the Wagabees - the wannabe WAGs who'll stop at nothing in their ruthless pursuit of the ultimate prize: a footballer to call their own. When it comes to playing dirty, forget bad tackles and diving, some of these girls think nothing of spiking a rival's drink to take her out of the game, or using sexual favours to buy their way into a VIP area.

With a recent survey of 13 to 19-year-old girls finding that more than 50 per cent would rather be a footballer's wife than a charity campaigner or an MP, there are going to be more and more women chasing players to achieve their WAG dreams. And, judging by the crowd tonight, things are getting nastier and more competitive than ever.

In pursuit of Teddy Sheringham...

Outside the club, French-manicured talons tap impatiently on Swarovski-encrusted mobile phones as the covens of mini-skirted girls wait for updates from friends inside about exactly which footballers are out on the town.

But the slicker operators, like Lucy Jackson, 22, a beauty therapist from Essex, leave nothing to chance. With military precision, she's already done the necessary reconnaissance and knows exactly which of her targets lie within.

"I'm a member of a private WAG Wannabe Group on Facebook," she explains. "Club and bar owners post details saying when players will be in and we plan our nights out accordingly. Having sexy, scantily-clad women around the venue is good for business, so everyone's a winner."

Like any professional team, the Wagabees have their regulation kit. Hair extensions and a Lycra micro-mini that exposes as much fake-tanned flesh as possible are pretty much standard issue. As we check out the crowd hovering around the dance floor, it seems that fake boobs are an optional, and popular, extra.

...and on Ashley Cole's stag do

Tonight, the girls are hunting in packs of three or more and, while some head straight to the bar, others take their mission more seriously and remain resolutely sober.

"Sometimes you only get one opportunity to get into the VIP area," one confides. "I don't want to blow my chances because I'm too drunk."

Not that they're all averse to making sure others are too drunk, as Lucy explains: "Four months ago, I was out at a London nightclub with some friends. We spotted a 'rival' group of girls immediately. One girl in little more than her underwear was trying to flirt with Ashley Cole. I wasn't having that.

"There was a bottle of vodka on the table and so every single time her back was turned, I poured another couple of shots into her glass. An hour or so later she was slumped in a corner, slurring. Needless to say, she didn't get anywhere with Ashley." Lucy didn't either.

Tonight, the club's packed by midnight. "You have to have your wits about you," Lucy says. "Girls are always making snide comments, trying to destroy each other's confidence, but they're very careful to keep all this out of the footballers' sight."

She's not wrong. The toilets are full of women who 30 seconds ago were smiling angelically on the dance floor, but who are now spitting venom.

"That bitch is getting too close," rants one girl to her friends. "We've got to get rid of her. I'll slap her if I have to."

Back on the dance floor, all eyes are on the VIP section, which is closely guarded by burly bouncers.

One step closer to Cristiano Ronaldo

These men might not be rich or attractive, but the power they wield means they're frequently objects of some Wagabees' affections. "I've tried joining the Wannabe WAG Facebook group, but it's an elite group and they haven't accepted me, so I do anything I can to get what I want," says Amy*, 24, a secretary from Kent. "I use bouncers and barmen who can get me closer to the players. I've often had to pull them in order to get into the VIP room."

...but Jermain Defoe's not that interested

While we may be out in London, similar scenes are happening in nightclubs across the country. Because from Glasgow to Portsmouth, wherever there's a football team, there are Wagabees aplenty.

Katy*, 22, is one of them. During the week she lives with her parents in a wealthy suburb of Manchester, working as a temp. But at weekends, she has another 'job'.

"I dedicate my life to trying to pull a footballer," she says.

With 'ordinary' girls like Coleen McLoughlin and Alex Curran marrying footballing heroes Wayne Rooney and Steven Gerrard respectively, it gives the wannabes of this world - mostly girls next door like Katy and co - hope.

Feminist sociologist Dr Maddy Coy, from London Metropolitan University, believes there's been a shift in society, which has propelled this desire for fast fame and fortune. "Young women these days seem to value their bodies more than their brains," she says. "We see images of scantily-clad women everywhere - in music videos, in adverts - and it becomes normal. As a result, women value themselves as an object, something that looks good and will make a good accessory for someone like a footballer."

And the fact that the objects of their attention are local makes them all the more appealing.

"While you're very unlikely to get within a mile of any Hollywood star, you could potentially bump into a Premiership player in a bar you can actually get in to," explains sports journalist Alison Kervin, who has written a series of novels about WAGs.

But make no mistake, these girls are out for money and fame. "One of my friends got the number of a footballer after pulling him in a Manchester nightclub," says Katy. "She sent him a naked picture of herself, then they started 'sexting' and she had him trapped."

"He paid her £5,000 not to tell anyone what he'd been up to - she bought a car with the money. Of course I'd like a footballer as a boyfriend but, either way, there's money to be made from just being with them."

Katy makes it sound simple but, as any wise Wagabee knows, you don't just have to snare one man, you have to get his friends on side and be prepared to be, well, generous.

"I thought I'd hit the jackpot a few weeks ago," Katy says, explaining that a dark-haired, Armani-clad man had beckoned her over to his table. "My friends recognised him as a second-division footballer, so I was really excited. But as I walked over, the two male friends he was sat with shook their heads. They'd rejected me. It was so humiliating."

"When it comes to choosing a girl, it's a joint decision," Katy adds. "The whole group has to approve, as they'll probably be sharing her anyway. That's just the way things work."

Because the stakes are so high in this particular game, the depths to which some girls will sink know no bounds.

It's something Lucy's also aware of - and she's not ashamed to exploit it. "A couple of years ago I went out with a player in one of the Premiership's junior teams," she says. "We've kept in touch and I'll occasionally text him pictures of me in my lingerie. I know he'll share them with other players. I look at it as leaving my calling card - maybe one of them will ask for my number."

Back in the London club, it's 3am. Excitement levels reach fever pitch when a man dressed as Spiderman is somehow wheeled into the VIP room on a table.

"I bet that's a player," one girl gasps, as the Wagabees speculate that he's using the outfit to escape the paparazzi outside. But as he disappears into the night, still unidentified, it's clear none of the girls are going to score with him tonight.

But is all this actually worth it? Is life as a footballer's wife or girlfriend as glam as it's made out to be? After John Terry and Peter Crouch had their dirty dalliances made public, Toni Terry and Abbey Clancy would probably be the first ones to tell you that being a WAG isn't all hearts and designer handbags.

"Living with a footballer can actually be really hard," says Lizzie Cundy, 38, who's married to former Chelsea player Jason Cundy. "It's all about them. If they get injured or they're not playing, you have to deal with that."

Not to mention the fact that you'll be elbowed aside by wannabes trying to get what you've got.

"I've lost count of the number of times women have shoved their numbers in my husband's pocket or jumped in my seat the minute I went to the loo," says Lizzie.

Alison Kervin agrees. "It can be a lonely life. Often, you have to move to different cities or countries, leaving friends and family behind. Yes, you get the car, the house and the clothes, but often not much else."

But this doesn't deter Amy and her ilk. "As long as I had a ring on my finger, I'd take him to the cleaners. And if we weren't married, I'd turn a blind eye until we were."

But, despite her best efforts, she's going home tonight without even a phone number. She's disappointed, but she'll be back again next week. "I'm sure I'll pull a footballer soon enough," she says. "It's a waiting game, but I'm willing to play for as long as it takes."

This article has 8 comments

Is this what I have to look forward to when I move to London next week? I'm not interested in a footballer because well, as an American, I ain't interested in soccer or the players! lol

By Noria.. Posted September 13 2010 at 11:01 PM.

Stupid man :L he left cheryl for that mess LOL! Silly silly man.

By Maya.. Posted September 12 2010 at 9:39 PM.

Yuck! I feel violated after reading that! These "women" are nothing but vile filth.. How can they even have their faces in the mag and have no shame? Yuck.. They deserve all of the abuse they will no doubt get.. Just pure gutter trash!

By kendra.. Posted September 12 2010 at 7:54 PM.

This is appalling! if this is what we call 21st century of 'women empowerment' and 'gender equality'...i'd rather go back to 50's where women are more valued and respected in the society. This is my generation where i should be proud and think that we are more liberal, civilized and we are not less or more than men...unfortunately we are the opposite...its just a new level of prostitution, in the name of glamorous lifestyle!!

By candy.. Posted September 12 2010 at 1:13 PM.

this is absolutely pathetic.desperados. girls literally throwing themselves at footballers to become their object. no wonder these footballers who get paid ridiculous amounts of money think they can cheat lie and upset everyone else as long as they get their own way. i went out with a footballer (quite well known one) for around 2 years and its the worst thing i have ever done in my life. wouldn't even brush shoulders with a footballer ever again and i certainly wasn't looking for one.

By jen.. Posted September 12 2010 at 9:39 AM.

If you tolerate this then your children will be next. 

By hugh cares.. Posted September 12 2010 at 9:28 AM.

A slight amendmendment to Mr Martins comment on behalf of the female species.

"MATERialist - Latin root is Mater "Woman", SOME women have always been like this".

I feel like having a blast at men but I'm not hormonal enough... go and have a lay down with a nice hot water bottle Mr Martin, you might feel better.

By Nikola.. Posted September 12 2010 at 7:51 AM.

Women are just gold diggers, try working hard and saving for your families like men are expected to do. Women look for short cut to get a man's wealth and power , these women are just immoral, same as prostitutes

MATERialist - Latin root is Mater "Woman", wwomen have ALWAYS been like this. 

Michael Owen pays £4,000 to buy lover boob implants

Owen's new
strikers

By Paul Kennedy

REAL has been something of a disappointment for Michael Owen ...and his girlfriend felt the same way.

So the striker forked out £4,000 for a pair of big bouncy fake boobs for bride-to-be Louise Bonsall.

A pal revealed: "She has never been on the large side and she's always been quite self-conscious about the size of her breasts.

"With so many stars coming to their wedding in the summer she really wanted to make an impression—and she'll certainly do that now."

Louise, who plans to marry Michael at their country mansion in north Wales, had the operation last November.

The mum-of-one told pals she had wanted bigger boobs for "many years".

And after she plucked up the courage, and Michael picked up his cheque book, she sought the help of top surgeon Douglas McGeorge at the Grosvenor Nuffield Hospital in Chester.

A pal of Real Madrid star Michael added: "I'm sure he'll be enjoying them just as much as Louise, maybe more so.

"It's something she's always wanted...and Michael wasn't going to stand in her way."

Alex Ferguson: I'll wield axe

United grind out
single goal victory

From James Fletcher at Old Trafford

ANGRY Alex Ferguson went on the warpath last night and promised to axe some of his star players unless they pull their socks up.

Manchester United chief Fergie was furious after watching his side almost throw away victory.

Only the woodwork and several stunning saves from keeper Tim Howard preserved the slender lead handed to them by Cristiano Ronaldo's first-half goal.

And Fergie issued a warning that he is now willing to break hearts when he names his FA Cup semi-final team to face Newcastle next month.

He fumed: "We have players like John O'Shea and Alan Smith who are fresh and maybe they will come in for that game.

"That is the challenge I am throwing down to the players. If the level of performance does not improve by the semi-final, there will be changes.

"It's down to them because performances matter at this club.

"Fulham had two fantastic chances towards the end and we should have won the game a lot earlier than we did. It was disappointing.

Changes

"It should have been comfortable but we made it so difficult for ourselves.

"If things do not match up to what I want to see, I will make changes. I have to think about it. Ronaldo's goal was fantastic and he was the only player who kept his level of performance up all day."

Fulham boss Chris Coleman admitted he ordered his team to sit back before launching themselves at the Reds in the final 20 minutes.

That plan paid off in December when Papa Bouba Diop secured a late point against United at Craven Cottage. And, yesterday, it very nearly worked again.

First, Lee Clark shot from the edge of the area only for the right-hand upright to intervene. Howard then stopped Carlos Bocanegra's volleyed rebound, before the Fulham defender smashed another effort against team-mate Steed Malbranque.

To make matters worse, former United hero Andy Cole fired an effort through Howard's legs in injury-time but it flew across goal and out for a corner.

Coleman said: "If you have a go at United from the start, all you will end up with is a cricket score because they have some of the best players in the country and Europe.

Cautious

"Let's not forget who we were up against. If you try and go at them all the time it is asking for trouble, so we had a cautious approach.

"At half-time, we had the belief that, the longer the game went on, we had a chance to get a goal back."

Even Fergie confessed: "I was just relieved at the end after two fantastic saves from Tim Howard.

"In that situation it draws comparisons to the game at Fulham. When you think we have only scored two goals in those games and you look at the opportunities we have had, it becomes almost farcical."

He added: "Second place is still important for us, this club should be looking at automatic qualification for the Champions League — that is what I am attempting to do here."

Quite how Fulham got within sniffing distance of an equaliser still remains a mystery as they refused to make this game a contest until the dying moments. Pity.

Had they shown a bit of belief, who knows what might have happened — especially given West Brom's magnificent win at Charlton.

At times, this game had more of a testimonial feel to it with Chelsea holding an 11-point Premiership lead.

Fulham seemed intent merely to keep the score down as United were allowed time and space on the ball. With little pressure, they played in a relaxed manner and could have led after just seven minutes through Wayne Rooney.

Ruud van Nistelrooy found Ronaldo on the left, he raced into the box and crossed but his ball was behind the England striker who failed to get a proper connection eight yards out.

Fizzed

Roy Keane then cut infield from the right and unleashed a low shot which fizzed towards Edwin van der Sar's goal, only for Zat Knight to deflect it behind for a corner.

Quinton Fortune crossed from the left for Paul Scholes to head just wide, then Gabriel Heinze lashed a left-footed volley just over the bar. It was too easy.

Fulham thought they had a penalty claim after Mikael Silvestre shouldered Cole to the floor but ref Andy D'Urso rightly waved play on.

Ronaldo finally made the breakthrough after 21 minutes with a breathtaking piece of skill.

Keane robbed Diop in midfield to feed Ronaldo on the left, he danced along the touchline, cut inside Liam Rosenior and then curled the ball around Van Der Sar from the edge of the area. Sublime. He could have added a second moments later after controlling a 40-yard ball from Silvestre first time with his chest and volleying at goal.

This time, his execution was tame and Van Der Sar saved.

Fulham lost heart and United's superstars were allowed to practise their passing game without needing to use second gear.

Casual

United's casual approach was perhaps understandable but, why oh why, didn't Fulham give it more of a go — especially given their precarious position in the league.

Rooney tested Van Der Sar from distance with a shot along the ground, then Ronaldo could have wrapped it up with a drilled shot which flew past the upright.

With the game seemingly won, United switched off and gave Fulham three genuine chances to equalise.

Fergie's men hung on but they could so easily have blown it.

which flashed past the upright.

Fulham coach Cole, whose side grabbed a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage earlier in the season, said: "If you have a go at United from the start all you will end up with is a cricket score because they have some of the best players in the country and Europe. Lets not forget who we were up against.

"If you try and go at them all the time it is asking for trouble so we had a cautious approach.

"At half-time when we went in at 1-0 we came out with the belief that, the longer the game went on, we had a chance to get a goal back. We were playing Manchester United today and you have to understand what we were up against.

"We are looking over our shoulder and we are far from out of trouble. I need to see a high level of performance against Portsmouth."

City boss keeps lid on elbow uproar

Stu's not boiling

From Martin Samuel at White Hart Lane

THEY didn't call him Psycho for nothing. First day in the job, his player gets an elbow straight in the face in the build-up to the winning goal, blood everywhere, pandemonium on the bench, all hell let loose, Stuart Pearce says… nothing.

Well, not exactly nothing. He admits he saw the incident, but chooses not to make a fuss about it.

He offers no excuses, doesn't blame the referee, the offending player or the opposition manager. He'll never last in this game.

Truly, we can only wish Pearce and Manchester City well from here.

A lot of managers would have hidden behind the elbow incident involving Thimothee Atouba and Joey Barton. Many would have talked it up to disguise a defensive lapse that cost three points. Not Psycho.

"I worked with Mr Clough and never heard him criticise a referee," said Pearce, "so I do not intend starting now.

"Nor am I in the business of criticising Tottenham or their players. I know Martin Jol and I will leave what happens next up to him.

"Joey Barton feels Atouba elbowed him. I saw what happened and I can't condone it. But do I blame it for their goal? No.

Faults

"It was a part of what went wrong, but I would put three or four other faults ahead of it — not closing down Fredi Kanoute, not getting tighter in the area.

"I don't want to make a big issue of it. All I can do is make sure my team conducts itself in the right manner and leave Tottenham to look after their players."

If, by that, he expects Tottenham to discipline Atouba, he may be disappointed.

Manager Jol — a former team-mate of Pearce's at Coventry — did not seem in the mood to administer punishments after a result he feels may turn his season.

"I have had an explanation from Thimothee over what happened, and it was a positive one," he said.

"He did not say nothing went on. There was a bit of niggling — but an elbow? No, I did not see it, and neither did the linesman or the fourth official, who were standing by me.

"I have known Thimothee and worked with him for eight months, and have never seen him booked, let alone accused of something like this.

"But Stuart is an old-fashioned left-back and an honest man — if he says something happened, I would not complain about that."

Too nice by half, the lot of them. In the end, it will be left to the FA to decide, with the help of video evidence. Even if a three-match ban for Atouba is the outcome, it is hard to feel the usual sympathy for victim Barton — and not just in the light of previous misdemeanours, involving Christmas parties and cigars.

Pearce, a man of the football world, knows the score.

Atouba and Barton had been niggling at each other in the build-up to the gory blow, a tap here, a pull there, and at one time a full-blooded dig in the stomach from the City man.

It was only after this that Atouba lashed out with his elbow, a swipe that had a catastrophic effect on Barton's face — and also, sadly, on Pearce's first match in charge.

While City were distracted, and their destroyer out of the game, Spurs scored a winner that was barely deserved.

Reality

City had been at least equal to the task of winning and, in the second half looked likelier to score.

But the reality for Pearce is that the defeat had as much to do with his goalkeeper as any nefarious activity by Tottenham.

David James, perhaps under the strain of measuring up to his England rival Paul Robinson a week before an international, had a poor game.

He was at fault for Tottenham's first goal after 15 minutes. And he was left flailing to little effect for their controversial second, scored by substitute Robbie Keane with seven minutes remaining.

The first James as good as created. A poor throw intended for Nedum Onuoha went instead to Andy Reid. His cross was missed by Jermain Defoe, struck by Simon Davies and then turned into the net by Defoe's head at the far post.

As for the second, all that could be said in James' defence was that the deflection from Davies' shot caught him out, and he had already gone to ground when the ball fell to Keane.

At worst, it was a final unconvincing moment in a thoroughly unfortunate afternoon — the sole bright spot being a fine one-handed save from Reid in the second half.

Not that Robinson did much better. He hardly inspired confidence before England's World Cup qualifier against Northern Ireland.

At least he was not responsible for City's equaliser, though. The goal of the match, it was scored by its most enterprising player, Claudio Reyna, two minutes before half-time.

It was a lovely move. A clearance by Richard Dunne was controlled by Barton and fed to Robbie Fowler, whose exquisite flick was met on the volley by Reyna.

It was the highlight of a game from which City deserved more.

Pearce deserves the chance to submit his CV in the summer to keep the City job. If honesty counts for anything, he should be halfway home.

Robin the rich as Persie makes up for his moment of madness

Van-tasy football

From David Harrison at Ewood Park

ROBIN VAN PERSIE found himself back in Arsene Wenger's good books — even if the Arsenal boss hasn't completely forgiven him for a moment of madness.

Dutch striker Van Persie was drafted into the line-up only half an hour before the kick-off, when Swedish ace Freddie Ljungberg aggravated an ankle injury during the warm-up.

It was Van Persie's first appearance since he was sent off against Southampton a month ago — an incident which earned him a scathing rebuke from his manager.

But he redressed the balance with the winning goal and a match-

winning display against Blackburn and admitted he had learned a brutally tough lesson.

Van Persie said: "It was a hard time for me after the Southampton game. I got a red card and it was stupid.

"That was all a month ago and it has been a hard month for me.

"I had to train hard and keep quiet and today I am happy again.

"The one thing I learned from the Southampton match was not to do tricks with the ball in midfield.

"I had a chat with the boss about it and I know that next time I will get rid of it quicker.

Blood

"I had to get ready mentally for this game very quickly because I thought I would be sitting on the bench.

"But in situations like that you have to be strong mentally — and I think I was."

Highbury boss Wenger was happy that Van Persie had learnt his lesson after his rush of blood against the Saints and believes he can still become a key figure in his first-team plans.

Wenger said: "It doesn't make up for his sending off at Southampton. It's not that I don't forgive him but you have to accept with young players they will make mistakes.

"But it cost us two points at Southampton and they are still lost. It's part of his rehabilitation and he was able to show another part of his talent. He gave a team-orientated performance, not a selfish one.

"He has the talent and there is still more to come out.

"There is something special in there.

"He was not due to start the match but it shows you that — sometimes in football — there are strange coincidences.

"He took his chance well but he still has to show that on 10, 15 or 20 occasions."

A very young Arsenal line-up, lacking SEVEN regular first-teamers, struggled to make any impact in the opening half hour.

But they were easily able to soak up the pressure presented by a lethargic Blackburn side.

And once they had taken the lead through Van Persie's 43rd-minute goal they rarely looked in danger of surrendering it.

The striker turned neatly between Andy Todd and Ryan Nelson before walking the ball round keeper Brad Friedel and into the empty net with tremendous composure.

Arsenal tightened their grip after the break and the hard-working Jose Reyes showed his commitment to the cause despite persistent rumours that he is homesick and wants to return to Spain.

He linked up superbly with Van Persie and almost added a second goal in the 46th minute when Yank Friedel superbly saved his close-range effort.

Then Reyes set up a chance for Van Persie only for the Dutchman to shoot against the crossbar.

Arsenal adopted a smothering tactic as the game wore on but almost threw victory away when Steven Reid broke away during injury-time only to shoot wide of the target with keeper Jens Lehmann to beat.

Rovers boss Mark Hughes believed his players had run out of steam after their recent efforts to claw their way clear of the relegation zone.

But he insists they will regroup and be ready again both to secure survival in the Premiership and to tackle the Gunners in the FA Cup semi-final in three weeks' time.

Hughes said: "Today we paid for the efforts of recent weeks when we have made a fantastic bid to climb the table. It caught up with us.

"It was also the first day of any warm weather for some time and I think that sapped some of our energy.

Examination

"I thought the game was allowed to be too fragmented towards the end. It was stop-start stuff.

"But Arsenal are good at taking the sting out of the game and they will view it as a very professional performance.

"But we know we are in a situation were we will have to regroup and come again — and we will do.

"We had a number of players who are not at the level they need to be.

"We need a high ratio of players to be playing at their best level — because we cannot afford to carry too many."

Wenger still has his sights set on the runners-up spot and to close the gap on the run-away leaders Chelsea.

He was delighted that so many youngsters came through a thorough examination and said: "We were a young side before the game and we were even younger when we lost Freddie Ljungberg just before the kick-off.

"It became almost an under-21 team.

"They went into a game which was physical on a pitch which wasn't the best for our football and I think we can take a lot of positives from it."

Dogging

Dogging

By Matthew Acton & Sarah White
HE'S a computer company rep. She's an insurance broker. Together they earn more than £70,000 a year and live in a luxury £250,000 flat.

But after a tough day at the office, Duane Martin and Colette Fairbrother, both 30, like nothing more than having passionate sex — in a remote car park in front of total strangers.

Nothing beats the thrill of knowing they're being watched...except when their audience joins in.

"The last time we did it I was in the car making love to Colette while a man fondled her," said Duane. "It was crazy. I have no idea who he was but Colette seemed to enjoy it."

Incredibly, Duane and Collette—a former Sunday school teacher who studied art at Manchester University—talk of their sordid encounter as if it were nothing more than a stroll in the park.

Sneak

Which in many ways it is. For they are part of a seedy outdoor sex craze sweeping the nation.

Those immersed in this shadowy sub-culture call it dogging—because taking the dog for a walk is a good excuse to get out of the house.

They sneak out under cover of darkness to converge on beauty spots and parks which only hours earlier were filled with families.

Some doggers, like Duane and Colette, have sex in their cars.

Most are men who just stand and watch to satisfy their sick perversion. Amazingly, some women drive to these isolated spots on their own, to perform sex acts for the crowd.

Duane and Colette, of Manchester, had their bizarre threesome at a notorious meeting place called Scammonden Dam in West Yorks.

Just off the M62 near Huddersfield, it's a favourite with tourists by day...and doggers by night.

"There were about ten cars parked there," said Duane.

"We'd heard about blokes joining in so we were a bit apprehensive. But they only get involved if you want them to. You just flash the interior light to show it's OK to join in. Once we flashed the light a bloke was there within seconds."

The couple say they indulge in the practice because they are so highly sexed. They insist it's the only way they can satisfy their desire. They began by making love in daylight on the balcony of their Manchester flat—and then looked for bigger thrills.

IT expert Duane said: "We're hooked on sex, sex and more sex. The riskier the better. Getting down to it with an audience is a bigger kick because there's more danger."

Colette, a former Girl Guides leader added: "I have a healthy sexual appetite and what we choose to do is up to us.

"We are not hurting anyone and no one is doing anything they don't want to do. I certainly don't feel exploited because I'm not. I'm always in charge. What Duane and I have is quite special.

"We fancy the pants off each other and make sure we satisfy each other. All we are doing is exploring our own boundaries.

"What we do is just a natural extension of a healthy sex life. It makes our relationship stronger.

"The good thing about dogging is that it's so anonymous.

"Whereas, say at a swingers' party, you might develop a bond with someone, dogging is in the dark and you can barely make out the faces of the people involved— which could be a good thing.

Exploring

"But it's not about looks—it's about excitement. The buzz I get is pleasuring Duane while people watch and admire us.

"I'll be honest and say that if I was single there'd be no way I'd entertain even talking to many of the doggers. I'm just using them for an extra kick to my sex life.

"We don't meet these people socially and wouldn't want to."

The couple got into dogging after a friend told Duane about it and he researched it on the internet.

The craze hit the headlines last month when doctors warned it has led to an alarming rise in sexually transmitted diseases.

But Duane added: "It's just about having fun and exploring our own sexual identities.

"It's consensual and a great way to get kicks. We're not hurting anyone. I don't see what the fuss is about."

You're a lucky man Glenn

 

A VERY lucky man, West Ham chairman Terence Brown. Just as the first cries of "sack the board" echoed around Deepdale, David Connolly popped up with a winner.

OK, so the Hammers' summer signing cost only £285,000 from Wimbledon and he was rated only good enough to start the game on the bench.

But he does possess 36 caps for the Republic of Ireland and a First Division pedigree. And at West Ham these days, that is as good as the fans are going to get.

Sadly, how much longer they will have him is now very much open to debate. Within an hour of scoring, the hero of the day had launched a searing attack on manager Glenn Roeder for giving his place to loan signing Neil Mellor.

Connolly (pictured right scoring), apparently an equally angry man at the team hotel on the eve of the match, suggested he would now be looking for another club.

So the claret and blue circus continues.

The West Ham fans returned south blissfully unaware that Connolly intended saying ‘hello' and waving ‘goodbye' on the same afternoon.

Brown probably thinks the muted response to his conniving summer sale of Joe Cole and Glen Johnson to Chelsea means he got away with it.

Meanwhile, Roeder stumbles on with three points, still insisting he is the man for the job despite all evidence to the contrary.

His relationship with key individuals deteriorates by the day and he had to call security to remove defender Sebastien Schemmel from the training ground last week after another row.

As the song says: "There may be trouble ahead."

This week brings two home games and ‘Brown Out' protests are scheduled for both. The fall-out from this win will do little to placate fans who also blame Roeder and Brown for relegation.

And if Manchester United are successful in prising away Jermain Defoe before the Premier League season starts, Upton Park will be in uproar.

Connolly got the winner but Defoe left nobody in any doubt that his presence will be vital to West Ham's promotion challenge this season.

True, this was a useful win in a pressure situation. But a squad as threadbare as West Ham's will not have it their own way for long.

In all likelihood, they did not beat one of the better teams in the division at Deepdale — yet they still required large slices of luck to do so.

Preston had a dead cert penalty turned down, another that looked worth a shout — and most referees would have ruled West Ham's winner offside.

It wasn't. But it took a fair few television replays to prove that — and the majority left Deepdale believing Craig Brown's side had been hard done by.

A point certainly would not have flattered them after taking the lead and monstering West Ham's back four for almost an hour.

In that time, Ricardo Fuller took apart Tomas Repka, while Anton Ferdinand felt the full force of the decision to flog right-back Johnson.

Promoted beyond his ability and experience, he was at fault for the first goal after two minutes. He will get better — but he may pay a heavy price first.

The same can be said of Mellor, who Connolly claimed had trained with the team for an hour before being given his start.

It looked that way, too, though Roeder would counter that as Connolly came on and scored the winner his judgment was correct.

Behind the happy campers upfront, however, West Ham's central midfield is old and tired and the work-shy Don Hutchison's gall in throwing his shirt to the fans at the end takes some beating.

For the lucky recipient at least, there was one consolation: it is unlikely to have needed washing.

David James kept his usual foot in the twin camps of ability and calamity.

He twice charged towards the ball at inappropriate moments and was fortunate not to have been humiliated.

As for the rest, they were a little bit ho, a little bit hum.

This was apparent as early as the second minute when a Graham Alexander cross for Eddie Lewis found Ferdinand in repose, giving the young American a free header and a goal.

But Preston's lead lasted all of two minutes before Defoe pounced on a Hutchison pass like a youthful Romario to slip the ball past keeper Jonathan Gould.

West Ham were level and from there it should have been plain sailing.

To Preston's credit, it was not. Hutchison looked to have fouled Richard Cresswell in the penalty area in the 22nd minute and Repka certainly took Fuller out in the 34th.

Perhaps, that is why it seemed such rank injustice to the home fans when sub Connolly timed his run to seize a ball from Matthew Etherington after 69 minutes for the winner.

Manager Brown and the crowd howled in protest, Connolly's finish stood. For the visitors, at least, all's well that ends well. Except at West Ham these days, it never does.