The Cup Tie: Chapter 3

The next thing I remembered was being bundled to the floor and a number of players sitting on me. Remember, having just showered I was clean while the other players were caked in mud. I was rolled on to my back and someone sat on my face. Then I remember one of my wrists being grabbed and a handcuff being fitted on it. Some players pulled at my handcuffed arm while others pulled my other arm. The handcuff was fitted to that one too. Then the players stood back. From them entering the dressing room to having me secured must have taken 30 seconds at the most. There I was laying naked on the floor with my arms either side of one of supports on which the benches, that ran round the dressing room, rested and, of course, being handcuffed. It was, needless to say, a position that made me feel vulnerable. Although Alan and Simon seemed to want nothing to do with this they did nothing to stop it. Rob, the other central defender sat on the bench above me and removed his boots in order to put on another pair to play the second half in. Alan, meanwhile, wanted to give everyone their half time talk and called all the players to order. I then asked to be released and, in response to my request, Rob placed his foot in my face and curtly told me to “shut up”. this was followed by a threat of him putting his foot in my face with his boot on if I spoke again. Alan gave his half time talk and Simon added his thoughts. Being a cup match and down to ten men it was important to win in normal time. The extra man the opponents would have in extra time would really count. In order not to have tired players on the pitch they were told to expect all the substitutes to be used. The bell sounded and all the players trooped back outside again. As he left, Rob made the comment, “We’ll deal with you after the match”.

It was a long second half. Alan and Simon’s reluctance to go along with what was happening and Rob’s parting words made me fear the worse

I tried several times all in vain to free myself but all I seemed to do was make it worse with the handcuffs digging into my wrists. It must have been about 25 minutes into the second half when Lee and Steve entered the dressing room. They had just been substituted. Their comments gave me no comfort when Lee, with a smirk on his face, said to me, “Wait ‘til you see what they’ve got planned for you”. I asked what it was that was but they both ignored me as they stripped off for a shower. As they dried themselves off and got dressed I again tried to strike up a conversation, but was told, “No one’s talking to you”. Having got dressed into their club track suits, Lee and Steve left me on my own again but it was not for long. Simon was the next player to be substituted but in this case it was for an injury he had sustained. Simon at least had the decency to tell me that the opposition were down to ten men too. I thought that if the team won despite my sending off I would not be treated so bad. Then I heard an all to familiar cheer. Simon, who was about to strip off ran out instead to see what it was all about. With three minutes to go we had taken the lead. Though Simon added “Don’t think that if we win you’re off the hook”.

Soon I heard the half time whistle and the players came back in. They were all in a good mood but still no one was prepared to talk to me. As they stripped off to shower several players took the opportunity to wipe their muddy and sweaty socks and shorts in my face. Some just dropped them on my face but I was able to shake those off. Then Rob dropped the boxer shorts he wore beneath his football shorts on my face and I was threatened with being jumped on if I didn’t keep them in place. I couldn’t see much but I felt a number of players stepping on, rather than over, me as they walked around the dressing room. Fortunately, having just come out of the shower they were just wearing flip flops. Minute by minute the room got quieter as the players got dressed and made their way to the clubhouse bar. Rob picked his boxer shorts off my face and I could see he was the only one left. He put his shorts in his bag and made his way to the door. I made a plea of, “Please don’t leave me”, but dressing room lights were switched off and Rob left. I could then hear the door being locked.