WHAT’S
ON YOUR
PHO NE
o you have any phobias?
Being burgled when I’m
in the house. I’ve heard
some brilliant stories
recently of people being
there but if that was me I’d be screaming!
I’m such a deep sleeper, it’s the thought
of waking up and someone’s face
being almost on top of mine.
Other than that, snakes and spiders
don’t do anything for me.
What annoys you? Alex Lozowski – it’s
like having a little brother, so juvenile.
Also, laziness and lack of ambition.
What’s been your best fancy-dress
outfi t? The Joker from Batman. I kept it
quiet ahead of last year’s end-of-season
do and a friend did all my make-up, so
it was a massive surprise for people.
The details were bang-on.
When we went to St Anton (in Austria),
Duncan Taylor and I were the WetBandits, Marv and Harry (from Home
Alone). That’s another of my favourites
because of the attention to detail. I
spent a long time going around charity
shops to fi nd the right jacket, then
superglued feathers on it and rubbed
coff ee into it to get the right look.
Full kit has become a bit of a tradition
after European fi nals. I did it in Lyon and
again this year. It wasn’t the shirt I wore
in the match and sweated in,
but it was an exact replica as
we had a second shirt I could
have put on at half-time.
Fancy dress is a bit
stressful now as I have
to keep raising the bar!
Who are the jokers at
Saracens? There are quite
a few funny lads at the club.
The most ruthless is Mako
Vunipola. He loves gettinginto the boys for not training. Richard
Barrington is the gift that keeps on
giving as you can’t stop laughing at
him. Duncan Taylor is quite funny when
he’s awake – he’s a space cadet! He
likes to jump out and scare people.
Do you have any superstitions? I’d say
no, but I’ve realised I do certain things
as I’m running out, like I have to be last.
A couple of young guys, like Ben Earl,
have wanted to be at the
back but as I’ve been here
longest they can’t argue.
Embarrassing moment?
I’ve got two. The fi rst was
when I was 11, playing for
my local club in Cambridge.
My mum used to struggle
to get grass stains out of
my shorts while the other
kids had impeccable white
ones, so she decided toInterview Sarah Mockford // Pictures Getty ImagesFACT FILE
Age 31 (5 May 1988)
Born Cambridge
Position Full-back
Club Saracens
Height 5ft 11in
Weight 13st 5lb
England caps 21 (1T, 1P)
Twitter @Alex_goodeDOWNTIME WITH... ALEX GOODE
“During the fi rst
tackle my shorts
disintegrated”
The European Player of the Year talks fancy dress, funny men and fears
Front Row
D
Most important
person in phone
My mother. We
speak every
few daysLast person
you phoned
Mike Ellery. We
wanted to tell our
stories of what he
did after the fi nal!Last photo
taken
My electric meter!Last person
texted
A schoolmate with
a football trivia
question