Daley Thompson was in the North-East recently to support Steve Cram’s charity. Nick Loughlin was granted an exclusive interview

“It’s not even my car, I’m sick of saying it!’’ he insists of the chrome gold McLaren 12C.

Photos in the bag, he’s heading back to the Spa building and a gym member walks past.

“Someone said Daley Thompson was here today, but I’ve not seen him yet,’’ she says. But she says it, straight faced, to Thompson, one of the most iconic and instantly recognisable sportsmen of all time.

The hair may be shorter, a bit grey now, but he’s still got the smile, the charisma, the moustache and the body shape which made him double Olympic decathlon gold medallist in the 80s.

“Oh really,’’ he smiles. “Maybe he’s around somewhere. Have you had a good gym session? Enjoy your day.’’

Thompson was at the venue to carry out a couple of fitness classes, his time donated to help Steve Cram’s well-established charity.

He said: “If I have any kind of skill as a personal trainer, it’s being able to find the level most people are at. A group of ten who I’ve never met before and probably within ten minutes I can tell who is the fittest, who is close to the edge, and try and get them to the edge without pushing them over – five press ups for one, 50 for another.

“Let’s enjoy it, have a bit of fun. They are there to enjoy it, meet me and have something to tell friends about.’’

Cram and Thompson were part of a fine era for Great Britain athletics in the 80s. Thompson conquered all in his event, Cram battling with Seb Coe and Steve Ovett for middle distance supremacy. In 1982 Cram was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year, Thompson followed a year later.

After his Ramside Hall classes, Thompson was at Slaley Hall for Cram’s annual COCO (Comrades of Children Overseas) golf day. 

“Me and Steve go back a long way. It’s good to spend time with Steve and Allison (Curbishley) who are good friends of mine,’’ he mused.

“We were in junior teams together in the 70s – we go back a long way – and then we both competed for Great Britain in the Olympics, Commonwealths, Worlds, Europeans.

“We hit it off straight away. We both are fairly outgoing characters and he is very opinionated, so we got on like a house of fire.

“He is in London a lot, we always manage to find time and I’m up here a few times a year – mostly for him!

“I don’t play golf, but I go around in a buggy and harass people on the course. There’s two reasons – and I don’t mind the sport actually – why I never played golf: who has five hours to play a round and I can’t find anyone who wants to spend that amount of time with me!

“Steve’s charity is a big, big thing. What I like about Steve and Allison that they will give their time, energy and money to their charity and the very least I can do is give them my time. I admire people who do that.

“It’s more than a full-time job, a serious commitment on top of everything else.

“It’s nice to put something back. Growing up, everyone said that’s what you should do – put something back. But I don’t believe that, not everybody should. It’s a personal choice.

“For me, I enjoy helping my friends out and Steve is a good friend.’’

Thompson on the North-East

“I love the North-East. There’s some beautiful places here that never get a mention. Some great fishing, Steve has organised trips for me and my boys and they loved it. The people are fun, really fun and hospitable.

“I had friends over from France the other week for the European Cup rugby in Newcastle. They had never been north of Watford and they found it and incredible place.

“This area is a big sporting area and everyone loves it, you lot all love it.

“There’s a huge sporting pedigree here – Brendan Foster, Mick McLeod were at the top of their game with Steve.

“This is a real vibrant hub and I love the fact that these days you get international rugby, cricket, football up here – real events. The North-East deserves it. It’s a long old trek for people to get to where most events are held, so why not have them here?

“At the moment, Richard Kilty is the North-East’s top sprinter. Indoor he was untouchable and like us all we all have expiry dates. I expect, although he hopes not, that his best days could be behind him. But he’s done pretty damn good. I don’t think many people at the start would have predicted him to have the success he has.’’

On making it as a footballer…

“It was so good, almost like going back to the beginning. At the start there was no money in athletics, it was for the glory. Playing for Mansfield, the highest wage was £350 and they did it for fun.

“I was Olympic champion and all that and been working before Mansfield as strength and conditioning coach at Wimbledon. We went to Vegas and done all that at the end of the season. At Mansfield we went to Blackpool.

“We stayed in a b&b, a pink one with bunkbeds. It was fantastic. I went from the top of the world to that. One of the best times for me.’’

On recently turning 60

“I’ve not reached my peak yet! It’s not anything to be concerned about. It was news at the time – Daley Thompson turns 60 – but it is what you make of it.

“If you think you are old then you are old. But I believe, talking for myself here, we aren’t like the 60 of our parents. When my parents were 60 they were old.

“It’s about making the most of things. I’ve thought a lot about getting involved in over-50s health and wellness. Start in your 50s with the view that in 30 years time you won’t be uncomfortable moving around.

“Start young enough, get into the habits and do the simple things we never think about in our younger years.

“I’ve done pop up gyms, I’ve got my own gym. It’s about getting people into the habit that exercise helps, even if it’s not for everyone.

“Walk around a bit more – I have friends who will take the car to the shops 200 meters away, break the habit….”

On today’s athletes

“It’s a different world now and everyone looks and says it was better then. We didn’t know as much then as we do now, but we trained harder and were mentally tougher.

“It was old school. Speak to Steve and ask him - he still coaches now and his take would be interesting.

“Improvements in sports science are great, but sometimes it’s too far. They take too much care – go there and see what pain is like. A physio says you feel tight so you rest. Really? Get out there and do it.’’

On today’s society and London 2012

“The PlayStation is easier to master – you can be world champion on there in an hour or two. Come to sport and it takes years. There’s instant gratification on a console.

“They need to work out how to teach resilience. Kids come in to be personal trainers in my gym, apprentices, and they don’t quite burst into tears, but they don’t take it well when you tell them they’ve done something wrong.

“It’s how it is now unfortunately.

“Youth clubs, sports clubs, are dwindling. In the South East we have a lot of gangs, one of the things we are missing is a youth club. That used to be your gang and you played football, climbed ropes, table tennis and it gave you a sense of belonging and membership. Kids want that and now find it in a different way, the wrong way.

“Establish the clubs again. They are so useful in pointing kids in the right direction for kids who need direction.

“We had London 2012, but what is the legacy? I don’t know. What I do know is that for a month or so Britain, London, England, was the centre of the universe and we were the happiest place int eh world.

“There’s ways to make it happen. Everyone was so happy – we won loads, put on the best show and it percolated to everyone. Whatever the cost, you can’t buy it. That feeling alone made it worth five times the cost.

“The World Cup last year and England do well and everyone is happy. Those things make you feel better, sharing the same experience. Why don’t we do more of it? We know the results and what it can do.

“It might only be a few weeks of heaven, but it’s better than no heaven. A lot of it is down to politics, but surely everyone enjoys the harmony is brings. It’s politics on a lot of fronts. It’s the ruling class. We want it to happen, but others don’t. Look at Brexit – who knows? And they are supposed to be looking after us ….’’

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