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Neil Sullivan reflects on the unforgettable antics inside the Wimbledon dressing room that made breaking into the first team a challenging experience for a newcomer.

Starting any new chapter—whether at a job, school, or university—can be intimidating as you learn to navigate hierarchies while establishing your value.

Now imagine doing that with Wimbledon's notorious Crazy Gang, a group widely regarded as one of the most boisterous and mischievous teams in the history of British football.

For former goalkeeper Neil Sullivan, who earned his first-team place at Wimbledon in 1986 during the Crazy Gang’s most chaotic period, it was an experience that left a lasting impression.

“It was tough,” recalled Sullivan, speaking exclusively to FourFourTwo ahead of the World Cup via PayPal casinos UK. “I had just come out of school on the YTS in 1986, which was just before the FA Cup win. There were players like Fash and Vinny around then.”

“It was difficult, but also really good. It was a fantastic education in football—making the jump from school into the real world. You had to put in the effort, fit into the squad, and take care of your teammates. So yeah, it was tough, but also great fun.”

When asked if the kind of dressing room jokes from those days would be acceptable in the modern era, Sullivan didn’t hesitate.

“God no, not in a million years,” laughed the former Scotland international, who earned 28 caps and remained at Wimbledon until 2000. “There were pranks happening just about every day. There was always something going on.”

“I think the stories people have already heard are just the ones that can be told publicly, but there was always something happening daily. You’d come in and someone would have pulled a stunt.”

“You’d get into your car at the end of the day only to find someone had taken your keys and done something to it, or you’d be getting dressed and find your clothes had been cut up. You never came to work in your best outfit, that’s for sure.”