{"id":298602,"date":"2023-12-19T18:39:09","date_gmt":"2023-12-19T18:39:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/?p=298602"},"modified":"2023-12-19T18:39:09","modified_gmt":"2023-12-19T18:39:09","slug":"ex-england-star-never-gambled-but-spent-his-money-on-wrestling-figures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportstoft.com\/soccer\/ex-england-star-never-gambled-but-spent-his-money-on-wrestling-figures\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-England star ‘never gambled but spent his money on wrestling figures’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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    Iconic football maverick George Best once famously said: "I spent a lot of money on booze, birds, and fast cars. The rest I just squandered."<\/p>\n

    While there are many who graced the beautiful game who can probably relate, ex-Premier League defender David Wheater preferred to invest his hard-earned cash elsewhere – wrestling figures. Formerly of Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers, among others, Wheater carved out an admirable professional career including several years in the English top-flight, for which he will no doubt have been rewarded for handsomely.<\/p>\n

    Yet the now-retired defender – who, having featured for England at youth level, received one call-up to the senior squad, though never made the field – admits he's forked out a good portion of his wages down the years on buying wrestling toys after becoming "hooked" on the sport as a youngster. Asked on the Under The Cosh podcast whether he was as addicted to wrestling as the hosts had been made to believe, Wheater replied: "Oh yeah, since '94 I think was the first one. <\/p>\n

    READ MORE: Football club generated more money selling beer than selling players over past 12 months <\/b><\/p>\n

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    "We never had Sky, my dad worked offshore and had Sky and he brought WrestleMania 10 back from '94 and I was hooked ever since. Bret Hart and that. I think [Ultimate Warrior] had left by then, but I'd get tapes of Ultimate Warrior and Hulk Hogan. I just started buying tapes, loved it, still love it now."<\/p>\n

    Wheater, 36, who hung up his boots in September after a second spell with Darlington, revealed he still buys wrestling figures now in a so far unsuccessful bid to "get my kids into it", while his passion for the toys is an issue that has already been brought up by his wife.<\/p>\n

    "We're just renting a little place now as we're building our house and she's like, 'where are you putting these?'" Wheater revealed. "I said, 'I'll build a room for them'. 'You're not.'"<\/p>\n

    HAVE YOUR SAY: If you were a footballer, what would be the first extravagant thing you'd buy? Let us know in the comments below. <\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n

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    Asked if he had a wrestling ring to use with his figures, he said: "Oh yeah, but I don't like them because when you wrestle with them they slip out. The ring is slippy so I just do it on the carpet. I do all the moves.<\/p>\n

    "I never got into gambling, but I spend all my money on wrestling figures. I don't know what she'd rather me do to be honest: win a bit or spend it all on wrestlers."<\/p>\n

    Asked whether he had a favourite wrestler, Wheater plumped for fan-favourite 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin. "I get the little feet and do [Austin's finishing move] the Stunner with them," he added. "She's filmed me a few times, whipped the camera round and I'm sat on the floor in my pants or whatever, just wrestling, with my figures. It's relaxing. This is not a lie either, this is all true.<\/p>\n

    Footage of his interview then cuts to a clip of Wheater sitting on the floor at home playing with his wrestlers, saying: "What move do you want? Give me a move." Boys and their toys, eh…<\/p>\n