Topics:
Change and Turnaround Speakers
Great Value Speakers
Leadership Speakers
Sport Speakers
Teamwork Speakers
Graham Poll Biography
Graham Poll is the best known and most experienced English football referee of all time. Whilst his achievements are considerable, including the FA Cup Final at Wembley stadium in 2000 and the first referee to reach the milestone of refereeing 300 Premier League matches he will always be remembered for issuing one player with 3 yellow cards at a World Cup match during the 2006 final competition in Germany 2006. He is a proficient and experienced motivational and inspirational keynote and after dinner speaker.
Background - Life Outside the Game
Motivated to achieve at the earliest possible age, Poll left education to follow a highly successful sales career in the FMCG marketplace after learning the principles of selling in the business to business world of office equipment with Canon UK Ltd.
Career
An excellent communicator and presenter, he quickly progressed to first and then second line management and for 7 years oversaw a rapidly expanding direct sales force at Coty UK alongside his refereeing career. Forced to leave full time employment in 1999 due to his dedication to achieving world recognition in football, Poll started his own business with another ex- sales director from Hays and fellow International referee, Graham Barber. Together they developed an internet site which they negotiated the sale of for £1.5m in 2001 before becoming a full time professional referee.
After Dinner Speaker
Graham Poll is an excellent after dinner speaker combining his sporting experiences with his experiences of the sales world, producing a humorous and insightful view of the importance of motivation, teamwork and leadership.
Speaking Topics
Graham Poll is Famous for refereeing the last FA Cup Final at Wembley, being the first to adjudicate 300 Premiership matches and for issuing 3 yellow cards to the same player.
- Leadership
- Motivation & Teamwork
- Sport
For further information or to book Graham Poll, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Graham Poll News
A selection of relevant news related to Graham Poll, After Dinner Speakers and Motivational Speakers, Change and Turnaround Speakers, Great Value Speakers, Leadership Speakers, Sport Speakers and Teamwork Speakers stories. For more information on Graham Poll or details as to how to book Graham Poll for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Few Understand Howard Webb’s Situation Like Pierluigi Collina
13th July 2010
World Cup final referee Howard Webb has been greeted with both praise and controversy and few understand the pressures he has experienced like speaker Pierluigi Collina – widely regarded as the best referee in the world.
Mike Forde Links Business to Football
18th April 2013
Business speaker and one of the UK’s leading sports executives, Mike Forde has compared the ideas and practices used in professional football to those used in business environments.
Ronnie O’Sullivan Wins Fifth World Title
7th May 2013
Snooker player, Ronnie O’Sullivan beat Barry Hawkins to win the Betfair World Championships at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
Anna Watkins Announces She is Pregnant
25th March 2013
Olympic double skulls champion and motivational speaker, Anna Watkins, has announced that she is pregnant.
Steve Black Believes Jonny Wilkinson Has What It Takes
18th February 2013
Steve Black, keynote speaker and Jonny Wilkinson’s coach for 15 years, believes Wilkinson has what it takes to become a great coach.
Tanni Grey-Thompson Given Two New Appointments for 2013
10th December 2012
Tanni Grey-Thompson has been appointed to the Independent Commission investigating the Lance Armstrong scandal and to the Board of the London Legacy Development Corporation.
Andrew Strauss Must Not be Lost To Cricket
3rd October 2012
Steve James of The Telegraph hopes that the former England captain will continue to inspire UK cricket.
David Gower Saves His Jokes
1st October 2012
The charismatic English cricket legend David Gower talks to the Guardian about one of the defining moments in his career, and about why he keeps his funny one-liners close to his chest!
Mary Perkins Wins Director of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
2nd November 2011
Director Magazine has awarded Dame Mary Perkins, Specsavers queen, entrepreneur, and retail keynote speaker, the Director of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.
Entrepreneurs’ Forum Boasts Speakers Corner's Best
20th May 2011
The North East of England is the venue for the Entrepreneurs’ Forum, where a handful of Speakers Corner’s top talent take the stage to inspire business leaders and aspirational executives from all over the UK. Hamish McRae, Sarah Willingham, Tim Smit, James Timpson, James Cracknell, and Simon Calver are all on the programme, as are Kanya King, Douglas McWilliams, Karen Mattison, John Timpson and Richard Huntingford – all inspiration and charismatic public speakers.
Graham Poll Reviews
Graham Poll has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Graham Poll for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Graham Poll for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Grahams performance was excellent. He was very funny and was never inappropriate. He was very easy to deal with on the day and didn't even grumble when he was hounded for autographs.
Very entertaining speaker
Just to say how pleased we were with Graham Poll, who was our after dinner speaker. We had 150+ attendees at dinner - a combination of our members, who are independent electrical wholesalers and our suppliers of electrical equipment. Graham held the audience extremely well, despite the fact that the majority had had a fair few drinks by the time he came on. I have nothing but excellent comments about Graham and I would have no hesitation recommending him to others in the industry.
Talk was tailored specifically to our company's needs
The guests thoroughly enjoyed hhis speech and he went on to present the awards well. He was very charismatic and made sure his anecdotes related to the theme of the awards.
Graham was extremely accomodating and engaging - I was hooked and many of the attendees gave me very positive feedback throughou the rest of the evening.
Understood the brief, worked the audience very well, even with a fair amount of colorful language at breakfast time ! Excellent feedback from the audience
Very engaging with the mixed audience, with some great tales of his past.
Q & A with Graham Poll
Graham Poll answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book Graham Poll for your event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Speakers Corner: How did the corporate speaking start?
Graham Poll: After success in the after dinner speaking environment I decided to utilise that experience and also offer speeches with business messages from learnings in sport.
Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?
Graham Poll: It was a sporting lunch at Swindon Town.
Speakers Corner: And your last event?
Graham Poll: Sporting was at Halifax Town on Fridayand corporate was for Zurich financial services in Manchester.
Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?
Graham Poll: Caravan lunch for Speakers Corner was great fun. As well as speaking I ran the auction which raised a huge sum for the Charity.
Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?
Graham Poll: I really don’t mind – the more diverse the better.
Speakers Corner: Who would you most like to share a platform with?
Graham Poll: I really don’t mind.
Speakers Corner: On average, how many times a year do you speak at corporate events?
Graham Poll: 60 speaking engagements per year of which 10-15 are business related.
Speakers Corner: Do you use powerpoint?
Graham Poll: I have powerpoint presentations and use if appropriate.
Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?
Graham Poll: Yes, but have a preference for bigger audiences.
Speakers Corner: How do you like to be introduced?
Graham Poll: I don’t mind; it depends on the event. Either former International referee, Daily Mail columnist or bloody nice bloke!
Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?
Graham Poll: Yes, but have a preference for bigger audiences.
Speakers Corner: Do you always like to do a briefing call before the event?
Graham Poll: I think it is beneficial.
Speakers Corner: What are the most asked for topics?
Graham Poll: Decision making under pressure, strength from adversity and getting the best from a team.
Speakers Corner: Is your speech interactive with audience participation?
Graham Poll: It has not been yet but could be at some stage.
Speakers Corner: Do you have any funny/embarrassing speaking anecdotes you care to share?
Graham Poll: You’ll have to book me but they are funny involving Thierry Henry, Roy Keane, Patrick Vieira, Kevin Keegan, Sir Alex Ferguson, Vinnie Jones and lots more.
Speakers Corner: Your favourite film?
Graham Poll: The Shawshank Redemption
Speakers Corner: Favourite book?
Graham Poll: Da Vinci Code
Speakers Corner: Favourite holiday destination?
Graham Poll: Portugal
Speakers Corner: What’s your tipple?
Graham Poll: A glass of champagne, a couple of beers and some wine.
Speakers Corner: Country or townie?
Graham Poll: Country
For further information or to book Graham Poll, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
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