Experienced journalist JOHN WRAGG recalls meeting a teenage footballer who has gone on to carve out an incredible career…

JOHN WRAGG

All-smiles: With Arsene Wenger

THE Villa manager, John Gregory, set it up. The first interview Gareth Barry had ever done
He was 17 years old and had just signed his first professional contract.
“There you are Johnny boy,” said JG. “This is Gareth Barry. He’s going to be a player. And he’s a millionaire at 17.”
Barry was shy. It was hard to get a few successive words out of him. He was a lad from Hastings, East Sus...