Sam Allardyce – BIG Sam Allardyce – stood up straight like a collossus, straightened his 70′s moustache and fixed me with a steely stare.

Then I heard it; the line that launched a thousand punch-ups:

“Did you spill my pint?”

There was no escaping it.

Gulp. Yes, I did.

The tackles had been flying in to grab a photo with the giant centre half at the Preston North End promotion party 1987 and amid the flailing elbows mine had clumsily sent our veteran defender’s beverage over the bar.

Thankfully, Sam was not bitter and a quick liquid replacement later (I don’t think I’ve ever moved faster to get served) he was happily chatting away to us about, well, anything and everything.

Almost twenty years on and little it seems has changed as he opened up to the Express & Star about his Black Country childhood and his affection for the area he grew up in.

ÊThis open nature (which could possibly face a test after tonight’s Panorama) is one of the many reasons why many football fans admire Big Sam so much.

While he has embraced new technology and attracted star names to a far flung corner of Greater Manchester he has never lost touch with his roots.

“I’m a Black Country lad,” says with pride, “Whenever people ask me whether I’m from Birmingham, I always correct them and tell them I’m from Dudley.”

He remains humble and when he was being touted for the England job earlier this year, he made no bones about his love for the nation and the passion and pride he would inject into the role; qualities sadly lacking in the previous incumbent.

On hearing yesterday’s news about Bryan Robson, Allardyce’s first reaction was to offer a commiserating phone call.

Up in Bolton, his side may not paint a pretty canvas but they are always effective, backing up the theory that teams often mirror their manager’s personality.

Tonight he returns to the Black Country for a cup clash with Walsall and is well aware of the passion the fans have. “We’ll need to work hard and produce our skill to quieten the crowd at Bescot,” he admitted.

Afterwards he’ll sign autographs and may just partake in a post-match pint. But if you see him in the bar my advice is this; for God’s sake watch where you put your elbows . . .

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