![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31055118.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_Arsenal-FC-Iconic-Archive.jpg\")
<\/p>\nA former Premier League boss who ran marathons for charity received a donation of just 25 quid from one of the most famous bosses in the game.<\/p>\n
John Gregory ran his first marathon back in 2000, when he was in charge at Aston Villa, to raise money for an Alzheimer\u2019s charity after seeing his mother-in-law pass away following a battle with the disease. To drum up support, he wrote to his fellow top-flight bosses to highlight the cause and ask if they would be interested in sponsoring him. <\/p>\n
Most managers were incredibly generous, with Manchester United\u2019s Alex Ferguson stumping up \u00a31,000. However, Ferguson\u2019s arch-rival at the time, Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger, donated a paltry sum. <\/p>\n
READ MORE: Matt Le Tissier blames 'arrogant' referees with 'terrible attitude' for VAR cock-ups <\/b><\/p>\n
READ MORE: John Terry mocks James Maddison after tequila-fuelled Chelsea vs Spurs celebration <\/b><\/p>\n
\u201cOut of 20 managers, 19 replied and they sent cheques through,\u201d explained Gregory on the Under The Cosh podcast. "Over the months leading up to the marathon, cheques started to arrive from the Premier League managers. <\/p>\n
"I\u2019d come in the office one day and my PA would say that Sir Alex [Ferguson] had sent a cheque and I\u2019d immediately want to know how much it was. She said he\u2019d sent \u00a31,000. I was like \u2018oh, that\u2019s fantastic\u2019. <\/p>\n
What do you think about Wenger's pathetic donation? Tell us in the comments section below<\/i> <\/b><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cVarious other managers sent \u00a31,000, \u00a31,500, \u00a3500. Then one day I walked in the office and my PA, Debbie, says \u2018we\u2019ve had a cheque come in from Mr Arsene Wenger\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said \u2018how much is it?\u2019. She said \u2018er, it\u2019s 25 quid\u2019. I said \u2018how much? He\u2019s missed a couple of noughts off here\u2019. So Arsene had really splashed out!\u201d<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/i2-prod.dailystar.co.uk\/incoming\/article31393508.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_JS316301577.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Gregory ran the London Marathon shortly after leading Villa to the FA Cup final, where they would meet Chelsea, managed at the by Gianluca Vialli, who was also taking part in the marathon. Early in the race, Gregory spotted the Italian, who sadly died at the start of this year, and tried to catch him. <\/p>\n
\u201cMy thought process was \u2018if I don\u2019t catch him, we\u2019re not going to win the final\u2019,\u201d recalled Gregory. \u201cAnd I never did catch him. I tried and tried and tried, but I couldn\u2019t catch him, then they beat us 1-0 in the final.\u201d<\/p>\n