After Dinner Speakers: Harry Redknapp, Hanson, Jamie Baulch

Harry Redknapp joined Portsmouth as Director of Football in June 2001 and has transformed the team into a near certainty for promotion to the premiership. Under the Captaincy of Paul Merson, Redknapps blues are tantalisingly close to the pinnacle of their careers. Harry was born in London’s East End in 1947 and started his footballing career with West Ham United in 1965. He then moved to Bournemouth in 1972 and finished off his playing career at Brentford. He then moved into management with Bournemouth in 1983. In 1992, he returned to West Ham United as assistant manager with Billy Bonds, before taking over in 1994 where he maintained mid table respectability every year in charge. A forthright yet diplomatic person, Harry Redknapp has much to say about the good and not so good in top-flight professional football.