Karl Power
Encyclopedia
Karl Power is a prankster from Droylsden
, Manchester
, known for appearing uninvited at sporting events. Most notoriously he appeared in the Manchester United team photo before a UEFA Champions League
match against Bayern Munich.
After the stunt, there was a nationwide manhunt in the United Kingdom for Power with tabloid newspapers asking their readers to write in and give them information. He was unmasked to BBC Sport by men's magazine Front
. The magazine revealed that Power had entered the stadium pretending to be with a TV crew to gain access to the pitch and simply walked back to the stands again afterwards to watch the game.
He is a long-term friend of Manchester band Happy Mondays
. The hit single "Fat Neck" by their follow-up band, Black Grape
, is a tribute to him. He also appeared in Puressence
's pop video, "Walking Dead", with Happy Mondays dancer Bez.
. Although he was noticed by other players, he managed to remain in place for the team photo.
at Headingley, Power walked out to bat with the team. Moments after entering the field, he removed his helmet and was immediately recognised. As he left the pitch he was applauded by fans, security and police.
to the winners' podium at the British Grand Prix
.
for the England national rugby union team
as they walked onto the pitch in Rome
although his performance at the side of the pitch went unnoticed by the crowd and the whole incident only came to light when it was later reported in the media.
at Wimbledon
and play a short game before a Tim Henman
match.
against Liverpool at Anfield
earlier that season. This stunt saw Power banned for life by Manchester United.
Droylsden
Droylsden is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It is to the east of Manchester city centre, and west-southwest of Ashton-under-Lyne, it has a population of 23,172....
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, known for appearing uninvited at sporting events. Most notoriously he appeared in the Manchester United team photo before a UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
match against Bayern Munich.
After the stunt, there was a nationwide manhunt in the United Kingdom for Power with tabloid newspapers asking their readers to write in and give them information. He was unmasked to BBC Sport by men's magazine Front
Front (magazine)
Front was first published by Cabal Communications in 1998, it was created to rival IPC's publication Loaded, catering to a demographic of 16- to 25-year-old males. It began as part of the British "lads' mag" genre of magazines though the covers rejects this description with the statement "Front is...
. The magazine revealed that Power had entered the stadium pretending to be with a TV crew to gain access to the pitch and simply walked back to the stands again afterwards to watch the game.
He is a long-term friend of Manchester band Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays
Happy Mondays are an English alternative rock band from Salford, Greater Manchester. Formed in 1980, the band's original line-up was Shaun Ryder on lead vocals, his brother Paul Ryder on bass, lead guitarist Mark Day, keyboardist Paul Davis, and drummer Gary Whelan...
. The hit single "Fat Neck" by their follow-up band, Black Grape
Black Grape
Black Grape were a 1990s rock band from England, featuring former members of Happy Mondays. The group's music was funky and eclectic, using varied instrumentation and samples.-History:...
, is a tribute to him. He also appeared in Puressence
Puressence
Puressence are a British rock band from Failsworth, Greater Manchester, England, formed in May 1992.-Band membership:The band currently consists of:*James Mudriczki: Vocals*Lowell Killen: Guitar*Kevin Matthews: Bass guitar...
's pop video, "Walking Dead", with Happy Mondays dancer Bez.
Manchester United team photos
On 18 April 2001, before Manchester United's Champions League match against Bayern Munich, Power walked onto the pitch in team colours, and took up a position next to player Andy ColeAndy Cole
Andrew Alexander Cole is a retired English footballer. He is most well known by the name Andy Cole , but in 2000, he reputedly asked to be known as Andrew Cole...
. Although he was noticed by other players, he managed to remain in place for the team photo.
England national cricket team
When the England cricket team played against AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
at Headingley, Power walked out to bat with the team. Moments after entering the field, he removed his helmet and was immediately recognised. As he left the pitch he was applauded by fans, security and police.
British Grand Prix at Silverstone
In 2002, he beat Michael SchumacherMichael Schumacher
Michael Schumacher is a German Formula One racing driver for the Mercedes GP team. Famous for his eleven-year spell with Ferrari, Schumacher is a seven-time World Champion and is widely regarded as the greatest F1 driver of all time...
to the winners' podium at the British Grand Prix
British Grand Prix
The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. It is currently held at the Silverstone Circuit near the village of Silverstone in Northamptonshire...
.
English rugby team
Power danced the HakaHaka
Haka is a traditional ancestral war cry, dance or challenge from the Māori people of New Zealand. It is a posture dance performed by a group, with vigorous movements and stamping of the feet with rhythmically shouted accompaniment...
for the England national rugby union team
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
as they walked onto the pitch in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
although his performance at the side of the pitch went unnoticed by the crowd and the whole incident only came to light when it was later reported in the media.
Wimbledon
Power managed to get onto Centre CourtCentre Court
Centre Court is the main court at the Wimbledon Championship, the 3rd annual Grand Slam event of the tennis calendar. It is situated adjacent to Aorangi Terrace and is home to the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. Its only regular use is for the two weeks a year that the Championships take...
at Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon
The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors...
and play a short game before a Tim Henman
Tim Henman
Timothy Henry "Tim" Henman OBE is a retired English professional tennis player and former British Number One. Henman played a serve-and-volley style of tennis that suited the grass courts of Wimbledon. He was the first player from the United Kingdom since Roger Taylor in the 1970s to reach the...
match.
Re-enactment of Diego Forlán goal
On 5 April 2003, Power and several accomplices invaded the Old Trafford pitch prior to Manchester United's game with Liverpool. Dressed in full United kit, Power and company re-enacted a goal scored by Diego ForlánDiego Forlán
Diego Forlán Corazo is an Uruguayan footballer who plays as a striker for Internazionale and the Uruguayan national team. He is a two-time winner of both the Pichichi Trophy and the European Golden Shoe, and also received the Golden Ball as the best player at the 2010 World Cup.Forlán was born...
against Liverpool at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
earlier that season. This stunt saw Power banned for life by Manchester United.