‘I played a Premier League game with a STEAK in my boot – it was almost cooked by half-time because I was sweating’
FORMER Premier League star James Collins has revealed that he once played a match with a STEAK in his boot. The ex-centre back suffered a broken foot during his time with Aston Villa but refused to sit on the sidelines. PA:Press AssociationJames Collins has revealed he once played a match with a steak in his boot[/caption] X @PeterCrouchPodCollins revealed he was told to use the steak after suffering a broken foot[/caption] Instead, he started the following match – but used a steak to cushion the area surrounding the injury. Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast this week, Collins admitted: “I’m not sure you’re going to believe it but it 100 per cent happened. “So I was at Villa and I basically broke the top of my foot. But I was one of those players, you know, you want to play on, I was fine. “On the Friday before this particular game, I forgot who we were playing, I got the broken foot. “Our doctor at the time said: ‘Right, you’re going to think I’m mad but we’re going to get some cling film and put a steak at the top of your foot to take the pressure, or whatever, away from the broken bone.’ “So I played a Premier League game with like a 10oz sirloin at the top of my foot! “It couldn’t be a fillet, I wouldn’t get my boot on! “Honestly, a game with a lump of steak cling filmed to the top of my foot. It did f*** all! CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Who are these famous footballers? I was West Ham captain but I almost went to jail over bankruptcy I’m a former Man Utd star and I once stole a girl from Ronaldo I’m an ex-Man Utd star – now I own a dog-themed B&B I was Thierry Henry’s toughest opponent but quit to become a pastor I’m a former Wolves striker but I left football behind to become a vicar “But it was almost cooked by half-time because I was sweating!” Collins left Aston Villa in 2012 to re-join West Ham. He made 214 appearances for the Hammers before joining Ipswich Town. The Welshman called time on his playing career in 2020. Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.
![‘I played a Premier League game with a STEAK in my boot – it was almost cooked by half-time because I was sweating’](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/HB-OFF-PLATFORM-SIDWELL-CROUCH.jpg?strip=all&quality=100&w=1920&h=1080&crop=1)
FORMER Premier League star James Collins has revealed that he once played a match with a STEAK in his boot.
The ex-centre back suffered a broken foot during his time with Aston Villa but refused to sit on the sidelines.
Instead, he started the following match – but used a steak to cushion the area surrounding the injury.
Speaking on That Peter Crouch Podcast this week, Collins admitted: “I’m not sure you’re going to believe it but it 100 per cent happened.
“So I was at Villa and I basically broke the top of my foot. But I was one of those players, you know, you want to play on, I was fine.
“On the Friday before this particular game, I forgot who we were playing, I got the broken foot.
“Our doctor at the time said: ‘Right, you’re going to think I’m mad but we’re going to get some cling film and put a steak at the top of your foot to take the pressure, or whatever, away from the broken bone.’
“So I played a Premier League game with like a 10oz sirloin at the top of my foot!
“It couldn’t be a fillet, I wouldn’t get my boot on!
“Honestly, a game with a lump of steak cling filmed to the top of my foot. It did f*** all!
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
Who are these famous footballers?
![](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/newspress-collage-fwviay5jb-1701000670946.webp?strip=all&&w=620&&h=413&&crop=1)
- I was West Ham captain but I almost went to jail over bankruptcy
- I’m a former Man Utd star and I once stole a girl from Ronaldo
- I’m an ex-Man Utd star – now I own a dog-themed B&B
- I was Thierry Henry’s toughest opponent but quit to become a pastor
- I’m a former Wolves striker but I left football behind to become a vicar
“But it was almost cooked by half-time because I was sweating!”
Collins left Aston Villa in 2012 to re-join West Ham.
He made 214 appearances for the Hammers before joining Ipswich Town.
The Welshman called time on his playing career in 2020.
Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme – Sun Club.