Ex-Smiths crooner Morrissey has revealed that he has a sporting relative - Ireland international striker Robbie Keane.
And the pair get on sufficiently well that Morrissey not only went to watch Keane's club LA Galaxy play a match against Tijuana - but he went into the dressing room after the match.
The occasion inspired the 53-year-old so deeply that he put pen to paper on a paean in honour of his 32-year-old distant cousin:
It was a joyous head-storm to attend LA Galaxy -v- Club Tijuana last night and to see captain Robbie Keane score in the fourth minute. Why, exactly?
Well, family tree aficionados will be aware that Robbie and I share the same Irish blood; his late grandfather (Thomas Nolan) being my own father’s cousin. In filial terms the Irish blood, English heart genetic between Robbie and I is evident – his chin is my chin, my chin is his. Robbie was raised on Captains Road (as was my mother) in Crumlin (Dublin), before he was shipped out to Tallaght. He is a gentleman of the highest caliber (or, if you must, calibre), and to watch him on the pitch – pacing like a lion, as weightless as an astronaut, is pure therapy. Robbie, the pleasure, the privilege is mine.
