Pat Nevin has revealed the 'absolutely mental' Christmas parties that used to take place at former clubs Everton and Tranmere Rovers during his time as a footballer.
The player-turned-pundit claims that the festive bashes on Merseyside were something akin to lavish parties that took place during "Roman times" in an interview with BBC Radio 5Live (via the Liverpool Echo).
Nevin's revelation comes a day after Tranmere's player James Norwood was criticised for his less-than-appropriate fancy dress costume at the club's Christmas party.
Tranmere striker James Norwood 'blacks up' for Christmas party https://t.co/jtTHMeqb87
Nevin said: The Tranmere Rovers Christmas Party was like something out of Roman times.
They were mental, absolutely mental. They started priming for the Christmas Party in January, that's when you started saving up for it and planning it. They were legendary and the Everton ones weren't much different and neither were the Liverpool ones, so I hear.�
Christmas parties have become a tradition among football clubs across the UK, with many sides allowing their players to enjoy the festivities ahead of an action-packed fixture schedule throughout the holiday season.
'The Tranmere Christmas party was like something out of Roman times'
Pat Nevin, go on... https://t.co/IbxOn1Erox
Nevin, whose 20-year career took in spells at six different clubs, also revealed the extent with which some stars went to prevent themselves from getting too intoxicated during the infamous parties - including taking along a relative to ensure that the players remained on their best behaviour!
He added: "They had it organised so that the Echo and the Post in Liverpool, all the local guys, they were invited along as well.
You always brought a mate along and I always made sure I brought my brother-in-law along, so I was never going to misbehave anyway, I certainly wasn't going to with my brother-in-law sat next to me!
But the big trick was they had them in this nightclub called ˜The Conti', Club Continental' which was free entry for everyone ... unless you were a guy, and then it was like £200 to get in.�
Current Tranmere star Norwood was heavily condoned for 'blacking up' as a street vendor during the non-league side's Christmas bash on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old posted an image of himself in the costume on his Twitter and instagram accounts, but deleted it after being criticised for the insensitive nature of his ensemble, and will now have to attend a diversity workshop over the incident.
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