By Elliott West
Introduction
David Ike has in recent years been described as a controversial figure, spouting bizarre theories regarding reptilians or Archons taking over the earth, manifesting themselves in the forms of British Prime Ministers and American Presidents, denying Coronavirus exists and even claiming on a Wogan show that he was the son of god. However before what most would call, a fantasist stage of his life, Ike was a serious sports’ journalist, reporting on football and snooker for the BBC’s Grandstand programme and previously playing as a goalkeeper for Coventry City and Hereford United.
Early Life
Born in 1952, Leicester, David was the son of Beric and Barbara, living in a terraced house on Lead Street in Leicester, moving to the Goodwood estate, a post-war Labour government development when he was three. His childhood was tinged with poverty, having to hide when the councilman came round for the rent. Ike, at the time, was young and oblivious to the reason but was just told by his mother to hide in the nearest place. A ghost that still haunts him to this day when someone knocks on the door.
David was not academic at school and instead decided to channel his energy into sport, joining the school football team, a feat that he later described as his route out of poverty. Playing in goal, David chose this position as he felt that he was a loner and this role suited him.
Career
After failing his 11 plus, Ike was sent to Crown Hills Secondary Modern and was given a trial for the Leicester Boys Under-14 team. Leaving school at the age of 15, he went on to be talent-spotted by Coventry City and was signed up for their youth team in 1967. He went on to play for Oxford United’s reserve team and Northampton Town, on loan from Coventry. However rheumatoid arthritis in his right knee, ankles, elbows, wrists and hands, stopped his football career short and he had to retire after a short spell at Hereford United in 1973 after being on the princely sum of £33 per week.
Ike decided to make a career change and branched out into journalism, making his debut at the Leicester Advertiser and later worked for BBC Radio Leicester as a football reporter. He went to work for the Leicester Mercury and BRMB Radio in Birmingham. After a brief spell in a coaching role in Saudi Arabia, David moved back to the UK and worked out of the Pebble Mill Studios in Birmingham on the programme, Midlands Today and later in 1981 as a sports reporter for Newsnight.
Ike worked on Breakfast Time and then Grandstand for several years and continued to work for the BBC in a sporting capacity until 1990, with a stint on bowls coverage and a long spell presenting BBC snooker transmissions. Ike’s career at the BBC came to an end in 1990 when he refused to pay his Community Charge, threatening to go to prison rather than pay it, a threat that was later retracted but was too late as he had already breached BBC guidelines. David now lives with his family on the Isle of Wight and has since written several books on various subjects, often controversial.
