by Rob Childs
Matthew heard her voice and it spurred him on even more. He tackled the uphill sections with great spirit and energy, overtaking anyone who was beginning to flag. He’d already left Westgate’s other best runners, Joe and Anil, well behind.
“You can do it, Matt!” cried Josh as the leaders splashed through a muddy patch. “Keep it up!”
Matthew flashed him a mud-stained grin and was gone.
In the end, despite a lung-bursting sprint towards the finishing-line, he wasn’t quite able to catch the front two, but Matthew was good enough to claim third place and earn his mother’s congratulations.
“Well done, boy!” she praised him when he showed his medal to her after the presentation ceremony. “I’m real proud of you!”
County Cup
“Great save, Joe!” cried Brad, the new Westgate captain. “Magic!”
The goalkeeper was new too. Joe picked himself up and grinned. His performances in the cross country had given him more confidence, which had been boosted further by his selection for the County Cup tournament.
Rajesh had decided not to play for the school any more. The loss of the captaincy was a big blow to his self-esteem and his reputation, making him even more surly.
“You won’t stand a chance without me in goal,” he told the other footballers. “I was the star at Divali.”
“Yeah, till Josh turned up,” Anil retorted.
“Huh! It was only my saves that kept us in it.”
Rajesh had wanted Anil to desert the school team, too, and play just for their Sunday League club, but Anil had refused, much to Rajesh’s fury. It seemed that he could not even tell members of his old gang what to do now.
The former captain had not travelled with them into the city to the County Ground to watch the Sevens, much to everyone else’s relief. They were not missing him. Joe had been outstanding in their group games, one of the main reasons that they had qualified for the semi-finals.
Another star of the team was Leela, who had scored in every match. She had not managed to do so yet in this one, but went close in their next attack. Her shot eluded the keeper’s dive, but the ball bobbled just wide of the target.
“Bad luck!” called out Brad from his position in the middle of the defence, clapping his hands in encouragement. “So close!”
“Next one will go in,” shouted Brad’s father in support. “You’ll see.”
He was right – and wrong. Unfortunately, the ball went in their own net instead, with Joe beaten for only the second time that morning.
“Oh, dear!” sighed Mr Blyton. “We’re in trouble now.”
The players’ parents were equally worried. There was a big crowd for this important occasion – including one man on the touchline that not even his own son would have recognized.
“What the hell are you doing here?” demanded Matthew’s mother.
Her ex-husband whirled round at the sound of her voice.
“Might ask you the same question,” he said with a smirk. “You were never a sports fan.”
“I am now – of my son’s sports,” she retorted.
“Well, that’s why I’m here too,” he told her. “I saw his name and picture in the paper after the cross-country, rang up the school and found out about this tournament.
“They had no right to tell you.”
“Maybe not, but I’m glad they did,” he grinned. “Didn’t know Matt was so talented.”
“Well that just proves he don’t take after you, then!” she snapped and stalked off round the pitch to stand well way from him.
The half-time whistle had blown for drinks of water and to allow the teachers a chance to give their players a few words of encouragement.
“It’s only one-nil,” said Mr Blyton. “No need to panic. Just keep playing the way you have all morning and we can still win this game.”
Although Josh seemed his usual self and had scored even more goals than Leela, the teacher kept checking to make sure the boy was in no pain.
“How’s the ankle, Joshua?”
He received the same simple answer as before.
“OK.”
Mr Blyton smiled. He knew that the next thing he said would have a far more enthusiastic response. “Good – because someone has just arrived who I’m sure would love to see you at your best.”
“Who’s that?”
“Ossie Williams!”
“Uncle Ossie!” Josh cried. “Where?”
The teacher pointed towards the changing rooms where the tables were already set up for the later presentation of the trophy and medals. Josh saw his dad first and then spotted Uncle Ossie surrounded by a group of autograph hunters.
“Da! Uncle!” he shouted in excitement.
They both waved back to him, but there was no time to talk. The referee was waiting to get the second half underway.
Inspired by their presence, Josh turned on some of that ‘Ossie Magic’, just as Mr Blyton hoped. He demanded the ball at every opportunity to show off all his skills.
“That’s the way, Joshie-Boy!” cried Ossie, who was now on the touch-line.
The star’s presence seemed to affect the other team, too. Whenever Josh had the ball, they seemed to freeze, unsure what to do, allowing him as much time and space as he needed.
He set up the equalizer by cleverly back-heeling the ball to the unmarked Anil, who had moved upfield to support an attack, and the defender lashed in his first goal of the season.
Matthew was the next to benefit from Josh’s skills. The striker sprinted past his marker to receive his friend’s perfectly weighted pass, taking it in his stride and shooting firmly past a helpless goalkeeper to put Westgate 2-1 ahead.
“Good goal, Matthew!” cried his mother.
“That’s my boy!” shouted his father, shaking his fists in the air in delight.
Josh ran up to Matthew and ruffled his hair. “Who’s that guy over there, doing his nut?”
Matthew glanced across to the touch-line and then shook his head. “No idea. Never seen him b..before.”
“Well he seems to know you all right.”
Matthew gave a shrug. “Let’s just get on with the game.”
The result was no longer in doubt. Time soon ran out and the referee blew his whistle to confirm Westgate’s victory.
“Put your coats on and keep warm,” Mr Blyton told his players. “There will be a bit of time to wait yet before the Final, but don’t go wandering off.”
Josh ran over to greet his dad and uncle. “I didn’t even know you’d be here,” he grinned.
“Sure glad we made it in time,” said Da. “We got lost!”
Ossie laughed. “You were the one readin’ the map, man. Nearly missed seein’ Joshie-Boy run rings round all them other kids!”
“What about United?”
“Oh, we’re not playin’ till tomorrow, Joshie-Boy. Boss gave us the day off.”
“Ossie’s already been nabbed,” Da chuckled.
“How d’you mean?” asked Josh.
“Soon as we turned up, he got asked if he’d present the cup,” Da told him. “You’ll have to win it now so he can give it to you!”
“I’m not the skipper, Da,” Josh reminded him.
“Yeah, well, you and Ossie can still have your picture took with the cup for the papers.”
Matthew was also having his own family reunion, but this one wasn’t so pleasant.
“Well played, son,” said the man who had come up to him near the pitch.
“Thanks,” he replied and made to move away.
“You don’t recognise me, do you?”
Matthew looked at him. “Should I?”
“Hasn’t your mother showed you any pictures of me?”
“Sorry, I don’t talk to strangers,” he said, a little puzzled by the question.
“Quite right too – but I’m your dad!”
Matthew was stunned. “Dad?”
His identity was confirmed when Matthew’s mother came running across th
e pitch to reach them.
“What d’yer think you’re doing?” she cried.
“Just speaking to our son. What’s wrong with that?”
“Plenty! You’ve got no right to...”
“Course I have, woman. He’s my son too.”
“And a fat lot of interest you’ve shown in him all these years.”
Their argument raged around Matthew, leaving him quite bewildered. “Stop it, b..both of you,” he pleaded. “I just want to p..play footb..ball.
Dad stared at him. “Have you got a stutter?”
“See!” she exclaimed. “You didn’t even know that, did you?”
Matthew left them to it and escaped to the safety of the changing area where Brad was sitting on one of the benches near a radiator.
“What’s up, Matt? You look like you’ve just seen a ghost.”
Matthew nodded, white-faced. “I have,” he muttered, still shaking with the shock. “I’ve just m..met m..my dad.”
“What’s so bad about that?” he asked and then remembered that Matthew only lived with his mother. “Oh, yeah, right. Was it bad?”
Matthew pulled a face. “Not good.”
“Right, come on back outside with me,” the captain told him, standing up. “I know the best way to put that kind of stuff out of your mind. Let’s go and kick a ball about and get ready for the Final.”
Ups and Downs
The County Cup Final between Westgate and Kingston High School kicked off in front of the biggest crowd that the players had ever experienced. Besides families and friends, some of the other teams had also stayed to see who won the competition.
“Up the Kings!” cried a supporter. “Show this lot how to play football.”
The Kings had every right to feel confident. They had won all their games that morning and scored lots of goals in the process. They passed the ball around so quickly and accurately, hardly allowing Westgate a kick, that Mr Blyton even counted the red shirts to check that both teams were playing seven-a-side.
“C’mon, the Magpies!” Ossie called out. “Get stuck in!”
“Magpies?” queried his brother. “Where’s that name come from?”
“Their black and white kit, man,” Ossie told him. “Good choice. You see – black and white can work real well together.”
His nephew was the first ‘Magpie’ to respond. Josh won the ball with a crunching tackle in midfield and then swept it out to Matthew on the left wing. Sadly, for once, they did not seem to be on the same wavelength. Matthew wasn’t expecting the pass and let the ball run under his boot and out of play.
“Oh, Matthew!” cried his mother. “Why did you go and do a silly thing like that?”
Matthew looked away, pretending that he hadn’t heard.
“Are you Matthew’s ma?” asked a woman standing next to her.
“What if I am?” she retorted. “Who are you?”
“Josh’s ma. He’s always talkin’ ’bout your Matt. They’re such good pals. Might be nice if we got to know each other too. We seem to have one thing in common at least.”
“What’s that?”
“An ex-hubbie poppin’ up again out the blue,” said Mrs Williams and then smiled. “Sure we could both do without that.”
Ms Jones smiled back at her. “I didn’t mean to make a scene in front of people. I was just so mad.”
“Don’t worry ’bout it. I know how you feel.”
They were so busy talking, neither of them saw the first goal. It was even doubtful whether Joe saw much of it. He hardly made a move as the ball sped by him and buried itself in the bottom corner of the net.
Brad was furious. The captain blamed himself for allowing the Kings’ striker such a clear sight of goal.
“Should’ve got across to block the shot,” he moaned. “I gave him far too much room.”
“Not your fault,” Anil admitted. “I’m the one supposed to be marking him.”
“Never mind,” shouted Mr Blyton. “It can’t be helped. Let’s go and look for that equalizer.”
Josh almost found one too. Receiving the ball on the halfway line, he beat two opponents on a weaving, solo run towards goal before firing in a shot that grazed the top of the crossbar.
“That’s the way, Joshie-Boy,” cried Ossie. “You show’em.”
It was a rare moment of danger for the Kings. Leela found herself up against the best defender she had ever faced and was barely able to get a touch of the ball. As for Matthew, his mind was in so much of a mess, still brooding over his father’s sudden appearance, that the match seemed to be passing him by.
“Wake up, Matt!” bellowed his dad when Matthew was easily robbed of the ball again. “Fight for it!”
Matthew shook his head, trying to clear it, but it was no use. He just wasn’t in the mood for playing football.
Right on half-time, Joe had to repeat the job that all goalkeepers hate – fishing the ball out of his own net. He had made a valiant effort to save this shot, diving full-length to get his fingertips to the low,skidding ball, but he only managed to deflect it against the inside of the post on its way into the goal.
“Two-nil,” Brad muttered as he trudged towards Mr Blyton for the brief break. “Don’t look like I’m gonna get my hands on that cup now.”
“Well at least we got to the Final,” said Panna.
“Not enough,” grunted the captain. “I wanted to win.”
“There’s still time to get back into this match,” Mr Blyton told them, trying to sound more optimistic than he felt. “If we can score an early goal second half, you never know what might happen.”
The teacher just had to hope for the best. There was little he could do to change things now. He already had his best players on the pitch, even if some of them were under-performing.
“C’mon, team, we can still do it,” Josh urged as they took up their positions for the second half. “Goals win games!”
“That’s m’boy!” Da laughed, grinning at his younger brother. “That’s what I’ve kept tellin’ both of you.”
“Dead right too,” Ossie grinned back. “Trouble is, man, sometimes the other lot go and score more goals than us!”
Josh also went up to Matthew to have a quiet word with him. “You OK?”
“Not really.”
“Thought not. What’s wrong?”
“Everything. M..my dad’s here for a start.”
“Sorry, Matt,” Josh said, realising now why he was upset. “Must’ve been a bit of a shock, like.”
Matthew nodded. “Sure was. I thought he was dead.”
There was no chance to say anything else. The whistle blew, the Kings went straight on to the attack again and Josh chased after the ball to help out in defence. He was too late to do anything, but fortunately Joe had not been caught cold. The goalkeeper was alert to the danger and had the shot well covered, getting his body right behind the ball to gather it safely up into his arms.
Joe’s long clearance was well controlled by Leela, who had the luxury of more space than she’d been allowed all match. She knew why that was, too. Her previous marker had been replaced by a substitute.
Must think they’ve got the match won already, she realised, moving forward with the ball at her feet.Well, they can think again.
Leela made the most of her newfound freedom. She took on and beat the substitute, pushing the ball through his legs, then her shot forced the Kings’ goalie into making his first save of the game to concede a corner.
“Mark up!” cried the goalie, as Leela went over to take the kick.
The defenders failed to do their jobs properly. Leela’s low cross somehow squeezed through a tangle of legs to reach Josh, standing unmarked on the far side of the area. He needed only two touches. One to control the ball and the second to steer it wide of the goalie into the net.
“Goal!” whooped Uncle Ossie. “Magic, Joshie-Boy!”
Westgate were now only 2-1 behind. But the Kings were good enough to weather the storm of the next
few attacks – albeit with the help of a large slice of luck when a long-range effort from Brad thumped against the crossbar – and then claim their crown with a third strike of their own.
It was a cruel blow. Joe seemed to have the shot covered until the ball took a late deflection to veer away into the opposite side of the goal.
That was it. Try as they might, Westgate could not score again and the Kings were soon celebrating their deserved victory.
The Kings’ captain led his team-mates forward to claim the cup and their medals from Ossie Williams, who would much rather have handed them over to Westgate School.
Uncle Ossie enjoyed his next duty far more.
He also presented an individual award, a silver statuette of a footballer, to his own nephew, who had been judged the Player of the Tournament. “Well done, Joshie-Boy! Hold it up high and smile for the cameras.”
“Well done, everybody!” called out Mr Blyton over the applause as each member of the squad went up in turn to receive their runners-up medal.
As a disappointed Matthew stuffed his medal into a coat pocket without even looking at it, he felt a tap on his shoulder.
“Hard luck, son,” said his dad. “Not your day in the end, I’m afraid.”
Matthew shook his head. “No, it wasn’t,” he agreed.
“But at least one good thing’s come out of it,” Dad said. “We’ve found each other again. Let’s make sure we keep in touch in future.”
Matthew made no reply. He was still too confused to know what to say.
He was rescued by Josh. “C’mon, Matt!” he cried, dragging him away by the arm. “Uncle Ossie’s gonna treat us both to monster burgers.”
Matthew hesitated. “Er..I’ll have to check with M..mam first.”
“Da’s already done that,” Josh told him. “It’s OK so long as they bring us straight home after.”
The two mothers had their own plans for lunch. “Why don’t you come back to my place?” suggested Josh’s mother. “We can have a bite to eat and a coffee.”
“Thanks – I’d like that,” Matthew’s mother said with a smile. “Let’s slip away while nobody’s looking.”
