Still having the best of times

Despite years of media excitement centred on his drinking, the women he dated, and his, the tabloids assured us, imminent burnout, at 37 he is far from a sad and destitute figure.

He has carved out a successful career as a television and radio sporting pundit as well as being a bar and nightclub owner.

Historically, he had the kind of touch with the ball usually only seen in South American teams, certainly not in Scotland. He was voted Young Player of the Year aged 19 and proclaimed a sporting genius. He went on to become Scotland's leading goalscorer and, to his astonishment, found himself shoulder to shoulder with his one-time hero, Kenny Dalglish, in the Scottish international team. At 21, Champagne Charlie was seen as the most promising prospect in British football. Add to this his regular photographic shoots bare-chested, surrounded by blondes, and modelling suede trousers and blouson jackets and a media celebrity was born.

Meeting the man himself at his Cafe Cini in Glasgow city centre, images of Charlie propping up the bar and generally being the life and soul are dashed. He is in a quiet corner sipping mineral water. He still sports the familiar slicked back dark hair and ear-ring but lunchtime diners seem oblivious to his presence. So what happened to the champagne? He smiles and sighs and leans back in his chair. ''Oh, I still enjoy a night out with the lads but I was never the wild man I was painted. If I went out clubbing three times in a week I'd open a newspaper or magazine and it was suddenly six nights I'd been seen on the trot. It was fun in some ways, but even at 21 I knew there would be a life after football and took a lot of the madness with a pinch of salt.''

Happily married to wife Claire for 10 years and having two young daughters Nadine and Sophie, he winces when asked of former high profile girlfriends including Olympic gymnast-turned-television presenter Suzanne Dando. ''It was a long time ago. I dated people but I was a young unattached man at the time - don't print too much, my wife will kill me.''

He laughs now at the memory of, in his days at Arsenal, being taken to a Tory party fundraiser and shaking hands with Margaret Thatcher. ''I was raised in Maryhill and a Labour supporter - I still am - I just remember being at yet

another London do and suddenly realising that Kenny Everett and other celebrities were all clapping and cheering the Tories. It was a surreal experience to hear that Mrs Thatcher wanted to meet me. I stood looking at this woman thinking, 'My God, what the hell am I doing here?' ''

He recalls a London journalist following him from his flat to football training and back, solidly for three days. ''I think he was disappointed that I didn't get up to anything. I waved at him on the Underground a few times and he waved back. I felt quite sorry for him.''

He agrees the star-studded parties he attended were ''good fun'' but says most of the people there had no idea who he was or what he did. ''They just saw the latest face around town and latched on. Some people make a profession of it. I know now I was used a few times but nothing serious, nothing that would leave any scars.'' He adds: ''If I had any regrets about my time in the 1980s it would have been me doing so much PR. I should have steered clear of other people's causes.''

With people like Frank McAvennie, another ex-Celtic superstar, very much fallen on hard times, Charlie says he knows how easy it would have been to lose everything. ''I know Frank well,'' he says. ''He is a very open and generous guy. He lives for the day rather than planning ahead. If he had #100 in his pocket he'd spend it. I used to see him out and about years ago and he was usually surrounded by hangers-on. I guess I was lucky to be born with a good dose of cynicism. I made some good, loyal friends who are still there for me today. It is difficult, especially when you are so young, but you have to see through the fantasy stuff and make your own decisions.''

He adds: ''It was frightening always being compared to George Best. He in my eyes was a real superstar - they called him the fifth Beatle in his heyday. When I met him I was surprised to find that he's actually quite a reserved, quiet man. I'm probably more confident in myself.''

As for current footballing superstars like David Beckham and Michael Owen he disagrees that life under the spotlight in today's footballing world is harder than ever. ''I can imaging the tabloids picking over everything David Beckham and his wife do must be irritating for them, but let's face it, he can get in a private jet and head off to Paris for a break. It is a pleasant burden to have. These guys make more money than we ever did, but having agents, accountants, and advisors is a huge help.''

He says there are still pitfalls, however. ''The Arsenal player Tony Adams is a decent, down-to-earth guy. Suddenly Caprice is wanting to date him and her pictures are all over the papers - again. Then she says it's over. I don't want to sound cynical but it smacks of a publicity stunt.''

Further shattering the illusions of his wild past, he reveals he did a management business course while playing for Arsenal. ''The club was pretty far ahead for its time in the way it looked after the players,'' he says. ''When I left Celtic in 1983 you got a wage packet and went out and did whatever you fancied with it. Arsenal paid your wages into a bank account. There were people to give you money advice and if the young players wanted to do a course in computing then they were helped with that. I studied two nights a week. It wasn't anything in depth but it gave me a good grounding.''

He laughs at the incredulous expression of his interviewer. ''I know the thought of me doing courses clashes a bit with my image back then, but I was a fit youngster and could do the partying and serious things quite easily.''

Charlie Nicholas left Arsenal and went to Aberdeen in the late 1980s where he met his wife Claire. ''Her dad and three brothers were all Celtic fans but she wasn't particularly impressed by my fame or interested in football. We'd go to watch a match and she'd chat to me for 90 minutes.''

Meanwhile, the business side of his life was taking off. He and old friend Jim Milligan had in the mid-eighties put #15,000 each into Dexy's Bar in Glasgow city centre. Jim had experience in bar work and the venture took off.

''I know other footballers have opened bars which haven't worked. I had the advantage of having a partner I could trust and who had plenty of experience behind him. This was important as I was still living in London at the time.''

He says there was only one instance of him working behind the bar. ''It was a cup final night and I decided I was going to help the bar staff. I was so bad they actually threw me out.''

He moved onwards and upwards, and the current venture, Cafe Cini, was bought by the two friends and opened just over 11 years ago. This Friday after a year of planning Club Cini is launched in Greenock's Cathcart Street to a curious public. It has a cafe bar upstairs, and Charlie admits that the multi-coloured interior is miles away from what local residents are used to.

''Greenock was a challenge to us but we know the clientele out there are very loyal if they like a place and we are sure it will do well,'' he says. ''We have followed the basic principals which have made Glasgow's Cafe Cini so popular in a tough market. Friendly service and good food seems to be the key.''

It seems the footballer turned club owner is none too impressed by the influx of chain pubs and bars to Scotland. ''These huge cavernous places are soulless,'' he says. ''They are all about profit, cheap drink, and getting people in and out as fast as possible. I think Scots like a sociable night out and I think once the novelty of these places wears off you'll see them return to where the bar staff will have a chat and know your name.''

Recent violence in Glasgow's city centre, he adds, is a worry to everyone in the city. ''It may be linked to the number of under-age discos in town. They don't serve alcohol, but it seems the young ones are getting hold of it and suddenly you have lots of hyped-up kids roaming around with nowhere to go. We need activities for them in their own areas so they are with groups they know and are closer to home.''

When it comes to sectarian clashes he believes it is a problem Glasgow may have too deeply ingrained to conquer.

''I have had the usual stick from Rangers fans as my friend Ally McCoist has had from the Celtic supporters. On the whole it is good-natured banter and nothing more. Sadly, there are people who have real aggression in them. I don't know of another country where there's more passion about two sides than here.

''I still find that kind of violence a shock. These people don't do our city any favours and at the end of the day it's not about football to them but something they have become twisted over. I wish I could see a solution to it.''

As for his own future there are plans for more Cafe Cini ventures and a continuation of his television work. ''I have been very lucky,'' he says. I have good people round me and I'm content with my life. Jim and I are ambitious and we have plenty of business ideas to be working on.''

Don't expect to see him dancing on tables in the near future, however. ''Claire and I have friends over for drinks and our kids all muck in and play together - that is exactly how I like it.''