Indeed, your eyes are not deceiving you.
While professional soccer players frequently mingle with high-profile celebrities, these relationships typically develop following their rise to stardom on the field.
For Dion Dublin, however, the ex-Aston Villa forward shared a connection with a future Hollywood star during his teenage years as an aspiring academy player.
Dion Dublin reflects on his past friendship with Jason Statham
Speaking to FourFourTwo, the ‘Homes Under The Hammer‘ presenter shared: “Jason Statham was extremely close with my brother, who worked as a DJ in Great Yarmouth during my early days at Norwich City, which led to us sharing a flat. Jason was on the drums, and my brother played bass, meaning they were actually bandmates.
“As a seventeen-year-old, I’d attend their gigs and later accompany Jason to watch my brother spin records, after which the two of us would head out on the town. We had a great, incredibly relaxed time together.”
Over the last quarter-century, Statham has built a major reputation as a tough guy in cinema, famous for his performances in films like Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, Snatch, The Transporter, and Mean Machine.
According to Dublin, however, his former housemate wasn’t always the rugged figure he portrays on screen.
“It’s been years since we last spoke, but the Jason I remember from those days was an incredibly friendly, lighthearted person. He was also a competitive high diver representing Great Britain; there was a major leisure center along the Great Yarmouth coast where he would regularly go to train on the high platforms.
“His father was a vocalist, and his brother Lee earned a living at the local markets. Jason used to assist him there, showing he’s really done a bit of everything. He completely deserves all the success that has come his way.”
Although Dublin—who is two years younger than Statham—ventured to Cambridge United in 1988 and secured a move to Manchester United in the Premier League shortly after, it took another decade for Statham’s Hollywood journey to gain momentum and lead him to America.
“Would I ever consider relocating to Los Angeles to replicate Jason’s path?” Dublin laughed. “The real estate over there is far too costly!
“Still, I’d jump at the chance to try my hand at it. Just picture it: Dion Dublin, the next action star! Seeing as I’ve dabbled in almost everything else, why not? I’d absolutely give it a shot if an opportunity came up.”
Dublin shared these memories with FourFourTwo in association with Reviant.
