- Karl Power
Karl Power (nicknamed "Fat Neck") from
Droylsden ,Manchester , is known for appearing, uninvited, at sporting events. Most notoriously he appeared in theManchester United team photo before aUEFA Champions League match againstBayern Munich .After the stunt, there was a nationwide manhunt in the United Kingdom for Karl with tabloid newspapers asking their readers to write in and give them information. He was unmasked to BBC sport by men's magazine 'Front'. The magazine revealed that Power had entered the stadium pretending to be with a TV crew to gain access to the pitch [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1287152.stm BBC SPORT | FOOTBALL | The biggest football sting in history] ] and simply walked back to the stands again afterwards to watch the game.
He is a long-term friend of
Manchester bandThe Happy Mondays . The hit single "Fat Neck" by their follow-up band,Black Grape , is a tribute to him. He also appeared inPuressence 's pop video, "Walking Dead", withHappy Mondays dancerBez .Manchester United team photo
On 18 April 2001, Power strolled onto the pitch, in team colours, and took up a position next to player
Andy Cole . [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1287152.stm BBC SPORT | FOOTBALL | The biggest football sting in history ] ] Without any complaint the team photo was taken before Manchester United's Champions League match against Bayern Munich. It was not noticed until after the match that there was an unknown "player" in the picture.England national cricket team
When the
England cricket team played againstAustralia at Headingley, Power walked out to bat with the team. Moments after entering the field, he removed his helmet and was immediately recognised. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/1499210.stm BBC SPORT | SPORTS TALK | Caption competition winner No 56 ] ] As he left the pitch he was applauded by fans, security and police.British Grand Prix at Silverstone
In 2002, he beat
Michael Schumacher to the winners podium at theBritish Grand Prix .English rugby team
Power was reported to have danced the
Haka for theEngland national rugby union team as they walked onto the pitch inRome .Wimbledon
Power managed to get onto
Centre Court at Wimbledon and play a short game before aTim Henman match.Re-enactment of Diego Forlán goal
On 5 April 2003, Power and several accomplices invaded the Old Trafford pitch prior to Manchester United's game with Liverpool. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/funny_old_game/2921817.stm BBC SPORT | Fun and Games | Power plays for laughs again ] ] Dressed in full United kit, Power and company re-enacted a goal scored by
Diego Forlán against Liverpool atAnfield earlier that season. This stunt saw Power banned for life by Manchester United. [ [http://www.rte.ie/sport/2003/0407/united.html RTÉ Sport: United prankster banned for life ] ]External links
* [http://sport.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,10488,756152,00.html 2002 interview with the Guardian newspaper]
* [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0480890/ Internet Movie Database- "Britain's Favourite Hoaxer" (Channel 4 documentary about Karl Power)]References
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