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The Kevin Lawrence Q&A Interview
Exclusive to talkSPORT1089.co.uk

Kevin Lawerence is a reporter on talkSPORT's Football First and Evening Kick-Off
reporting on Premiership and Championship matches in the East of England.

He is also Programme Controller and Breakfast Show presenter on Lite 106.8 FM in
Peteborough and has also worked for a number of local commercial radio stations around
the country in Ipswich and Portsmouth for Broadland Radio and Ocean FM respectively.

As a massive Norwich City supporter Kevin has been paid to watch his side for a number of
different employers over the years including a 7 year stint on Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports,
the official Norwich City FC matchday radio station and now for talkSPORT on Football First.

You are the Programme Controller of Lite FM in Peterborough as well as the station’s
Breakfast Show presenter. How did you adapt to the role and did you find the addition
of more responsibility to be a hurdle for you at all?
It wasn't really a hurdle but a challenge. I adapted to the role pretty easily as I have worked in
radio for a total of twenty years now, so I have a fair bit of experience to draw on.

There is a feeling from certain sections of the industry that local commercial radio has become devoid of personality, originality and localness. As Programme Controller of Lite FM, are you aware of these feelings and what sort of radio station do you personally strive for?
I strive for a radio station that is very local with warm friendly presenters that do have a personality, and a radio station that also plays great music which is what I believe we do at Lite FM.

When did you start out your career in radio broadcasting, and what radio stations have you worked for and what were your roles at those stations?
In 1988, I started working at Radio Broadland in Norwich doing various shows including The Saturday Afternoon Sports Show. I also worked on Orwell FM in Ipswich, which is now SGR, for a while doing their mid-morning show. Then in 1992, I spent three years in Portsmouth doing the Breakfast Show on Ocean FM. I then took a year out when I worked for Norwich City Football Club running their matchday station. Then in 1996, I joined Hereward FM in Peterborough doing Breakfast until the end of 2001. In February 2002, I joined Lite FM where I am still doing the Breakfast Show and Programme Controller.

In the last couple of years you have been a reporter on talkSPORT’s Football First at Premiership and Championship matches in East Anglia. When did you join the station and how does if feel to be part of one of the best teams of football reporters on radio?
I started working for talkSPORT around 2 years ago after doing similar work reporting for Soccer Saturday on Sky Sports for the previous 7 years. As for being at talkSPORT, it feels great to be on the team.

What have been your favourite moments and highlights whilst reporting for talkSPORT in the last couple of years since you joined the station?
I can't really think of any moment that is a particular favourite. I get a great buzz when I'm reporting a cracking 3-3 game full of incident, but you have to work much harder when doing a dull 0-0, but still needed for regular reports. On Sky Sports, we were only needed for goal flashes, but at least on talkSPORT you get on the air regularly throughout the game so you need to be on your toes.

You host the Saturday Breakfast Show on Lite FM between 7:00am-10:00am and work for talkSPORT in the afternoon on Football First. What sort of preparations do you make to make the day go as smoothly as possible so you are not late for your reporting role?
Basically, I have an early night on the Friday and do as much preparation as possible also on the Friday so that I am no late arriving for whatever match I am sent to on the Saturday afternoon.

During your career you have been a music presenter as well as a football reporter. In your opinion, which is the best position to be in and why?
They are both equally enjoyable, but very different and in truth I cannot say which I like the best. They actually compliment each other and give me variety in my broadcasting career.

You are a supporter of Norwich City. What are your thoughts regarding your performances this season and do you think Nigel Worthington is the right man to lead the club forward into the future?
This season has been poor. The squad they had was more than good enough to win promotion back to the Premiership in what is an average league. Had they been in toe top two, I believe they would have held onto Dean Ashton. As it is, inconsistant performances, a lack of motivation and leadership and some pretty unfortuate injuries have led to a very average league position in the Championship. And with the loss of their best player to West Ham, they have almost no chance of getting promotion.

What has been your proudest moment as a Norwich City supporter to date?
It would have to be the 1985 Milk Cup Final win at Wembley, plus the early 1990's when Mike Walker was giving us a few remarkable years including that win against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup.

Following the recent revelations regarding Sven Goran Eriksson, do you think he is the right man to lead England to World Cup glory, and how do you think we'll fare overall?
I do believe he is the right man and believe we will get to the semi-finals of the World Cup and lose on penalties. After Germany, I think Charlton's Alan Curbishly should be given to job after Sven has left.

What is the best sporting moment you have been at and why?
I was at the 2002 Ryder Cup at the Belfry. The buzz around the course was amazing and to win it in the style and manner as the Europeans did was incredible.

Who were your idols as a child?
My idols as a child were Kevin Keegan, Keith Bertchin and my Dad.

Who is the most famous person you have in your mobile phone or address book?
I have lots of famous people's phone numbers, but am not prepared to say who.

What was the last CD you bought, and which CD's are in your car?
At the moment, Eminem's Greatest Hits is still in the car. The last CD I bought was the new album from Richard Ashcroft called Keys to the World and it has the new Break the Night with Colour single on it.

What was the last film you saw at the cinema and what did you yhink of it?
The last film I saw was The Producers and I love it.

What books are you currently reading, and are there any that you have recently read that you would like to recommend to listeners?
I love all sports biographies. Recently, I read Robbie Fowler's which was good. The best I have ever read are Roy Keane's and Nial Quinn's. Quinn's is simply brilliant.

Finally, where do you see yourself in 10 years time in your career and as a Norwich City supporter?
Probably still doing the same job at Lite FM and talkSPORT as I love doing them both. And Norwich will still be yo-yoing between the Premiership and the Championship.

Thanks to Kevin Lawrence for the chance to interview him. You can hear Kevin on Football First every Saturday with Adrian Durham, Alvin Martin and Gary Stevens between 12:00pm-5:00pm on talkSPORT and every Monday to Saturday on Lite 106.8 FM's Breakfast Show from 6:00am-10:00am.

The Kevin Lawrence Q&A Interview
East Anglian Football Reporter
January 2006