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Saturday 6th December 2008 Just outside Prescot, Merseyside
The tall figure stepped down from the style that marked the crossing point from wood onto farmer’s field. He strode down the path that led, in a more-or-less straight line to the far corner of the field, the road, and the way home.
He whistled loudly and two Red Setters came bounding out of the trees and came bowling towards him, then off, racing past him as he turned and hurled the long stick he was carrying down towards the gate in the corner, their fierce draws of breath creating little puffs of rising steam in the cold December morning air. The dogs reached the stick at roughly the same time and were still wrestling each other playfully for ownership of the stick by the time the tall man had walked down to them. He put them each onto their leads, opened the gate, and turned out of the field towards home.
The walk along the lane towards his home took him past his local pub. He’d been in it quite a lot during his recent injury troubles and seeing as he wasn’t in the squad today, he might as well stop in for one now. The boss would expect him at the ground in time for kick off, but that was hours away. The dogs were used to this part of the routine and sat quietly whilst they were tied, loosely, to the wrought ironwork of one of the benches, popular in summer. The man entered the pub and made for the bar.
John Polson (Landlord, The Manor Farm Public House): “Hi Phil, Not playing today ?, The usual is it ?”
Phil Bolland: “Hi John, No just a half for me, please. I’m not in the squad today, but I am going to the match.”
John Polson: “But you are fit again now, aren’t you ?”
Phil Bolland: “Yes, I played a reserve team game, away at Leeds on Wednesday. Played the full game, no reaction at all.”
John Polson: “I guess the manager doesn’t want to risk you so soon I should imagine.”
Phil Bolland: “I doubt that. Graham Allen has been in the side the whole time I’ve been in, I doubt if I’ll be able to shift him any time soon. Nah, I’ve just got to wait my chance.”
11-14-2007, 01:10 AM
Don’t They Know It’s The End Of The World? Post #2
Saturday 6th December 2008 – A bit nearer to Prescot really. Phil’s Home/
The half pint drained Phil led the dogs home, as he crunched up the gravel drive his wife, Kelly, drove up in the Picasso. The kids were in the back, their mum having taken them to their usual Saturday morning Swimming lessons.
Kelly And the kids got out of the car, the kids bounded one way to their Dad, the dogs bounded the other to their ‘Mum’. The conversation that followed was brief.
Kelly Bolland : “You’re not going to the match are you ? That manager of yours just treats you like dirt.”
Phil Bolland: “Come on Kelly, it’s not as bad as that, Besides, I have to go, I am a senior professional.”
Kelly Bolland: “As if Alderton treats you like one.”
Phil had no come back to that. He got in his car, another Picasso, and drove off.
11-14-2007, 01:14 AM
Don’t They Know It’s The End Of The World? Post #4
Saturday 6th December 2008 – The Deva Stadium, Chester
Phil arrived at the ground in good time for the start of the match. Despite the opposition being the once great Nottingham Forest the crowd was fairly sparse and was probably a fair reflection based on what the local paper’s thought would be the likely result. After coming up through the playoffs the previous season Chester City were doing badly, they were languishing in 23rd spot in the league with an ever increasing margin to safety.
But the game started pretty well for Chester. They were bright, enthusiastic and it was hard to tell which is the struggling and which is the mid table side. It was no real surprise on the run of play when Chester took the lead as half time approaches with Simon Yeo converting through a crowded box from ten yards out. Chester then miss a good chance to make it two and go in at the half only the single goal to the good.
And as has so often been the case this season the promise of the first half is turned to dust as Forest come out like a scalded cat, and start playing some decent football. They score two in two minutes, Holt and Hodgkiss the scorers, the Chester defence badly absent for the second one. And from that point on there is only going to be one winner. To compound matters centre-back Graham Allen limps off five minutes from the end.
Final Score : Chester 1-2 Notts Forest
11-14-2007, 01:39 AM
Don’t They Know It’s The End Of The World? Post #5
Over the next couple of days training at the club seemed to go pretty well for Phil. There was obviously a place up for grabs as Graham Allen’s injury had turned out to be every bit as bad as it looked at the time. He was out for at least six weeks, and, as Phil well knew, that was plenty time enough to establish yourself back in the team. If the manager picked you that is.
And the news was ambiguous at best when the team for the midweek reserve team game came out. Phil was in it, but so was Kevin Roberts the other most likely candidate for the vacant centre half spot vacated by Graham Allen
11-14-2007, 12:12 PM
Don’t They Know It’s The End Of The World? Post #6
Thanks for the comments guys. Sherm, I never got on with FM2007 and story writing, but there's always room for one more. Especially one as short as this one's going to be
The reserve game was at Rushden & Diamonds’ ground in Irthlingborough, Northants. It was a nip and tuck affair with the Diamonds taking the lead twice only for Chester to peg them back with goals each time from livewire forward Jordan Barnes. One for the future definitely, as long as he can keep his eyes, and hands, of his dad’s dance partner. Both Phil and Kevin Roberts had fairly good games though Kevin was caught out for the first and Phil’s marking was a bit loose for the second of the home side’s goals. On the hour it was Kevin Roberts withdrawn from the action, almost certainly, in Phil’s mind at least, meaning that he was being saved for the weekend, and by the end of the game Phil was feeling most disconsolate.
11-15-2007, 12:00 AM
Don’t They Know It’s The End Of The World? Post #9
Fortunately for Phil, given the size of his hangover that Saturday morning he didn’t have to get up at 6am in order to get to the ground to catch the coach to Essex, so instead he walked the dogs (a good activity if you have a thick head) and watched the kids at their Swimming lessons, had a drink at the pub with his lunch and spent the afternoon going round Tesco with the wife.
The evening came round and Jordan Barnes’s dad was on Strictly Come Dancing again and Phil got to thinking, along with his glass of Montepulciano D’Abruzzo, of what a good day he’d had, and perhaps it was time to do more of this and less of the unrewarding slog that football had become.
Don’t They Know It’s The End Of The World? 
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