Dwight Yorke and Gabrielle Richens (foto: Uradni FB/TW/IG profil igralca)
Dwight Yorke, a key player in Manchester United’s legendary 1999 Treble-winning team, recently recounted one of the most memorable experiences from that celebratory summer.
The Trinidad & Tobago striker, who played a pivotal role in United’s successes, scoring 29 goals in 51 appearances alongside Andy Cole, shared details of a "spectacular" night spent with Playboy model Gabby Richens, famously known as 'the Pleasure Machine'.
Yorke, now 52, described the Red Devils’ pre-season tour in Australia as "one of the greatest I’ve ever undertaken,” during which the team played exhibition matches at venues like the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Sydney's Stadium Australia, ahead of the 2000 Olympics. With Sir Alex Ferguson absent due to his knighthood, some players pushed the limits of curfews set by assistant manager Steve McClaren.
The ex-striker admitted he was captivated when he first laid eyes on Richens, who had gained fame in Australia after appearing in a sultry airline advertisement and was known for her relationships with high-profile athletes. "The trip to Australia in 1999 remains one of the greatest I’ve ever undertaken,” Yorke told FourFourTwo in 2011. "And it was made extra special for me by meeting the most extraordinarily beautiful girl it has ever been my pleasure to know."
Yorke’s determination led him to approach Richens, and their encounter quickly turned into a night he would never forget. He recounted how he managed to bring her to his hotel, even bribing a security guard with $100 to ensure entry, humorously recalling the guard’s shocked reaction when he mentioned Richens’ nickname. “I gave him a hundred US dollars but I would have parted with a year’s win bonuses if necessary,” Yorke said. The night ended at 6am when Richens left, marking a cherished chapter in Yorke's eventful post-Treble summer.
Originally from Kent, Richens became a prominent figure in Australia after appearing in the March 1999 edition of Australian Playboy and posing for Australian Black+White magazine. Yorke’s lighthearted reminiscence of that time adds a personal touch to the celebrations following United’s historic achievements.