Ramsay explains football career errors

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Gordon Ramsay - football career questions

Ramsay spoke out following allegations that he lied about signing for Rangers football club and playing in its first team.

The News of the World newspaper reported that Ramsay misrepresented his career both in his autobiography Humble Pie, in interviews and on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs in March 2002.

He reportedly told presenter Sue Lawley that he was spotted by a Rangers scout while playing for Oxford United's youth team.

Ramsay, 42, said that he started going to Glasgow during school and summer holidays, eventually signing.

The TV chef said that he went on to play three first team games with the Glasgow club before his career was cut short by injury.

In May 2002 he told The Observer newspaper that he played two first-team games, for Rangers against St Johnstone and Morton.

It is understood Ramsay only played as a trialist in a testimonial game at the club in the mid-1980s and didn't make a first team appearance.

Robert McElroy, a Rangers historian, told the News of the World: "He was never a signed player for us and certainly didn't play any first team games and wasn't offered any sort of contract - it's all complete and utter nonsense."

The Gordon Ramsay Holdings website states: "Gordon's first career break came whilst playing football for Oxford United where he was spotted by a Glasgow Rangers scout in a F.A. youth club match. After completing trials he was signed by the Scottish champions at the age of 15.

"Three years later he had given up professional football and gone back to college to complete an HND course in Hotel Management."

In a statement issued today, Gordon Ramsay Holdings said: "Gordon has always down-played his footballing past and been clear about the fact that he never made it to be a professional.

"As detailed in Gordon's autobiography, Humble Pie, Gordon was a promising school boy who was monitored by Rangers over a three year period during his school holidays when he attended their Youth Policy. During this time he played a couple of non-league matches as a trialist.

"A knee injury put paid to any further hopes of being signed by Rangers. Any inaccuracies regarding the details of this period can be explained by the fact that all this occurred nearly 25 years ago."

Rangers Football Club said they had no comment.