Andy Cole hits back at ‘arrogant’ reputation and opens up on bullying growing up

ANDY COLE says FA academy footballers suffered beatings at a boarding school – with him “one of the worst” bullies.

The Manchester United legend described initiation ceremonies targeting the weakest youngsters as they developed their careers away from their clubs.

Andy Cole, who bagged 73 goals in 187 Prem games and won 15 England caps, says he was misunderstood as a person after a strict upbringingCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Ex-Newcastle, Man Utd and England striker Andy Cole has brought out an autobiography, covering before, during and after his playing career

But former Newcastle and England striker Cole also hit back at his “arrogant” reputation and told the Mail on Sunday: “We were young kids having to start at the bottom and in those days it was part of growing up.

“I’m not going to lie: the ones who didn’t make it, we always said couldn’t hack it. 

“In the first week the older boys come down and they pick on who they think is the weakest. 

“Every now and then you have to dig one of the older boys to show the rest of the older boys it’s not happening. That’s how we grew up. There was no calling mum and dad.  

“A year after, the younger boys come in and we’ll do the same thing. And I’ll be brutally honest, I was one of the worst.”

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There is no suggestion the bullying was connected to the FA’s Lilleshall academy, where the starlets trained.

And Cole added: “The school we went to, we actually all looked after each other. It wasn’t like we bullied each other every day.

“It was initiation and after that we’re all 32 boys living together, trying to do the right thing.”

Cole’s new autobiography Fast Forward lays bare his personal and playing career, including his physical and emotional battles since kidney failure in 2015 and a transplant two years later.

And the 49-year-old also insists the perception of him as arrogant during his playing days was a misunderstanding based on his strict, “tough love” upbringing of only speaking when you were spoken to.

Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke, seen celebrating Champions League final glory in 1999 for Man Utd, were one of the Prem’s all-time great strike duosCredit: Getty Images – Getty

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk