Double take: Allan Mullins (right) keeps
getting mistaken for Sir Alex Ferguson (left)
When he's not winning Premier League titles, Sir Alex
Ferguson assumes his alter ego - the milkman. Or so they believe in
the Valleys. When people spot father of two Allan Mullins, they do
double takes, ask for autographs, snap away with cameras, plead to
have their pictures taken with him and surprise him with drinks
mistaking him for Manchester United's famous manager. And to make
it worse - Allan's a staunch Tottenham fan!
"It tends to happen more when I'm abroad on holiday," said grandad
Allan, 58, of Merthyr Tydfil. "Perhaps people just see Alex
Ferguson briefly on TV and then mistake me for him. "They often
come on to me and ask 'Can we have a photo taken with you?'
"The first few times it was a little bit embarrassing but as it has
gone on, I've come to accept it. "And it's quite hilarious at
times, we've had some good laughs." But for some people there's no
convincing them otherwise even a Scotsman failed to be persuaded
that Allan wasn't the famous Scottish soccer boss.
Allan recalled: "In Tenerife two years ago, there was this Scots
guy. He came to talk to me three or four times.
"Sir Alex Ferguson" assumes his alter ego - the
milkman.
: Allan Mullins is just a milkman not a knight of the
realm.
"The first time, he said he'd supported me when I played for
Rangers and that I was one of his favourites. Well, Castle Rangers
in Merthyr maybe! "On the Tuesday we were due to leave, he said:
'Where are you off today then?' "I told him we were going home and
straight away he said: 'Oh, of course, you're playing in Europe on
Thursday'. "Every time he spoke to me nothing could convince him I
wasn't Alex Ferguson."
And wife Monica has grown used to her hubby being mistaken for
Fergie wherever they go. "Every time we go away it happens. It's
been the same in Tenerife, Benidorm and Majorca this year," Monica
told the South Wales Echo. "Allan does look a bit like Alex
Ferguson in photos we have and especially when he's got his glasses
on."
Allan added: "I get people in Merthyr ribbing me lightheartedly and
calling me Sir Alex. "But abroad is the place I get mistaken for
Fergie on practically every holiday." Allan says his children
Nicola, 33, and Anthony, 36, have a good laugh and their dad's
lookalike antics. "Nicola tells me: 'Dad, you want to pack in being
a milkman and work as a Fergie lookalike?'"
Allan and Sir Alex share a working class background, passion for
football, work ethic and dedication. At 16, Allan was on Coventry
City's books for a season, returned to play for Merthyr Town before
signing for Plymouth Argyle. After six seasons, he was back with
the Martyrs, then played for Brecon Corries before becoming their
manager.
