David Plat, The Next Pre?

don't know anything about him; but those are great times for a 16 year old.

Gail, Sarah, and Jason should pitch in and buy him a used MG.

i have been hearing good things about this kid for sometime now. i also heard that he is a bit of a loose cannon. this adds to his character i think. i wonder what event he will choose to do at the champs, he has the potential to win whichever he enters.

STOP PLATT!

This kids a wanker. Hes destroying his life, he may make it in athletics but he needs to get and education.

p.s I did not murder that man.

Platt's success is mainly down to his teacher and (life) coach Kenny Barlow. I don't think Kenny ever urinated on any of his athletes, but he's been an icon up here since the 60's. How many wives is it now Kenny 4 or 5? Just think of all the talent he has schooled:

Stan (The Man) Ogden - or QuickfootOggie to his mates - never was there anyone as good on ladder drills as Oggie.

Curly Watts - or Norman to anyone who dared call him that. Perhaps Kenny's star pupil. If you want an idea of what Curly looked like picture Sydney Wooderson without the muscles. He was never the same after his wife left him and gave up the sport.

Eddie (The Binman) Yeats - up at 5 every morning to do a swift 10 before working the bins. 'Crap working with crap' was Ed's catchphrase. A kind of scouse Pre without the tache especially when he's had a few jars. Always the first in the bar and the last to leave. Ed always said it was a poor night if he wasn't carried out of the pub - was always up at 5 for his run though. We called him Twiggy because he maintained that he'd bedded a famous model.

Let's hope David can sort his head out and join Kenny's list of legends.

this kid has what it takes, he has it mentally. he is a winner.

Couldn’t agree more, Kenny Barlow is a legend of a man. His methods of training have sometimes been questioned, similar to the great Frank Horwill, but he definitely knows what he’s doing and David is in good hands. Another great talent from that area is the young Chesney Battersby, this 13 year old made a big break through when running 2:07 and is part of the same training group as David Platt. If these to continue to work together expect big things in the future!

"Stop Platt" x

I think one of the things that motivated David to start running was the death of Mike Baldwin. Mike him self was a top runner in his day (63 Half Marathon) before he took up the drink. It was a sad loss to the street and I know from personal experience that David took the death of mike very badly. Let’s hope he can make it in athletics for the memory of him.

R.I.P Mike

I don’t think David’s got it, he’s sort of gone of the rails in the year or so. After the murder of Charlie Stubbs rumour had it that David slept with the killer, a Mrs Tracy Barlow? (Whether that’s true or not I’m not the man to say) but the lad needs to pull his compression socks if he wants to make it.

Mike was never the same after he split up with the great former long jumper, Alma, she jumped 6.34 back in the 70s. Then, after Alma saldy passed away Mike turned his back on the sport and gave up his role of Team Manager at Sale Harriers and as a result of their mentor's retirement a lot of promising athletes left the sport, including 47 second 400m runner Kevin Webster.

But now Platt is on the scene it looks as though the glory days are back!!

STOP PLATT!

Yeh your right Mike was never the same. Him and Ken have had their differences over the years. They both got to competitive wit who’s athlete was better (pathetic I know) but thankfully they over came these differences and Ken was there for Mike during his death.

David raced my athlete Simon at a local schools race recently and Simon won by nearly 10 seconds. So think again if you believe David will make it, Simon is the future.

I take it your athletes simon horsefield "neeee!"?

ay a tell ya another one of Mikes athletes, my beautiful tyrone. Tyrone is a big powerful lad who ran 21.16 for 200 last year, not bad for a white boy. Me and Jack are so proud of him.

Gail,Sarah and Jason wrote:

Couldn’t agree more, Kenny Barlow is a legend of a man. His methods of training have sometimes been questioned, similar to the great Frank Horwill, but he definitely knows what he’s doing and David is in good hands. Another great talent from that area is the young Chesney Battersby, this 13 year old made a big break through when running 2:07 and is part of the same training group as David Platt. If these to continue to work together expect big things in the future!

"Stop Platt" x

Dont forget Kenny also coached Fred Elliott - Britains number 1 in the pre-Capester era. Fred always told me they called him the Chucker or something that sounded like that. I remember him having to retire when he pulled his hammy. Prior to his untimely death Fred kept a buchers shop which I believe his son now runs. Fred always claimed his sausages were the biggest and tastiest in the borough. Often I would go in Fred's and he'd slap his meat on the counter and with that glint in his eye whisper 'Pork'. I remember David coming into the shop once and asking Fred if he had a pigs head and Fred replied no I always look like this. Great days - I hope David can bring them back.

Correct! Fred Elliott was a great man, a real charmer, liked by all and also a fantastic runner. His shop is still very successful and yes is run by his son, Ashley who he him self is a brilliant squash player. I remember a time I visited Fred at his shop, just for a chat but with a little bit of charm he got be to buy 1 Pack of Beef Sausage, 1 Pack of Beef Bacon, 4lb of Ground beef and 4 cut up chickens. As I was leaving he said "If ever when waiting for the bus and someone asks, "Has the bus come yet?". Always reply "if the bus came would I be standing here?"

R.I.P Big man.

What a story, what a great man.

plat sounds like a dumbass

I wudnt say Dumass id say more of a Jackass (hay thie lad ;o) no but he is a great athlete just needs to get his head right.