Keepie-uppie king: Tina turner is my secret weapon!

Oct 20 2008 by Paul Behan, Paisley Daily Express

graeme lightbody

KING of keepie-uppie Graeme Lightbody last night revealed how Tina Turner, Jethro Tull and Phil Collins helped him smash his unofficial world record and become the talk of the ‘Toon’ in Newcastle.

Lightbody zoned out with an MP3 player of his favourite musical artists as he juggled the ball for an amazing six and a half hours and set a new personal best record of 61,100 keepie- uppies.

The 46-year-old from Johnstone took on his marathon challenge at Complete Football Events Inc, a corporate facility near Newcastle racecourse and surpassed his pervious best by 4,000.

And the football fanatic says he’s now ready to crack the official world title next year at the Almondvale Shopping Centre in Livingston and have it recognised in the famous Guinness Book of World Records.

Graeme said: “Everything went brilliantly and I’m dead chuffed to have beaten my record. It’s a dry run for next year when I’ll go for the official world title in Livingston.

“It was a psychological battle because I started the attempt at 9.30am and went on until 4pm, so it was a long day but I had my music to keep me company and Tina Turner, Jethro Tull and Phil Collins helped me get through it.

“I’ve obviously got a few aches and pains but I’m always up for the challenge.”

On hand to cheer on Graeme in front of a packed football crowd was England goalkeeping legend Peter Shilton, along with coaches from Premiership club Newcastle United.

Graeme said: “Everyone was brilliant and all I needed was for someone to tell me when it was noon so I could juggle the ball on my head and take in some fluids. It went perfectly.

“After 3pm I knew I was getting close to my record so I just kept my headphones on and kept myself focussed and the rest is history.

“But now I know I can beat the official record and that’s what I’ll be working towards.”

Graeme already holds the unofficial world record for keepie-uppies after doing more than 57,100 of them during a big event at Debenhams department store in Glasgow.

But since it wasn’t recognised officially, it wasn’t entered in the highly respected Guinness Book of World Records.

Last year at the Debenhams department store in Glasgow’s Argyle Street, Graeme accomplished his keepie-uppie feat after a staggering six hours and one minute to surpass the record of Milene Domingues, the ex-wife of Brazil international Ronaldo.

The record set by Domingues, 55,178, stood for 10 years– until Graeme came along.

And since his marathon keepie-uppie bid last year, Graeme has been in constant demand and has been invited to dazzle the crowds during half-time intervals at senior grounds all over the country.

During the summer he performed his amazing ball juggling skills in Edinburgh ahead of Hibs’ pre-season game with Barcelona.

And even more recently Graeme performed at the Rangers FC AGM at Ibrox, where he rubbed shoulders with club captain Barry Ferguson, tricky winger Chris Burke and, of course, manager Walter Smith.