Fast Fiction: Off The Pitch
You wouldn’t think that one woman could have such an effect on what was happening on the pitch. Richard Mallinson tells a story of violence in the dressing room.
We all knew who she was and the effect she was having on Vic and Ed. As captain, I told them to stay away from her.
'Could you?' they asked.
'Could I what?'
'Stay away from her.'
Just before our next match Vic and Ed fought in the dressing room. There was blood all over from their noses and lips.
The manager said, 'Bugger this, you're both out.'
'You can't be serious,' they said but he was.
Well, we lost that match 4-2 and the one after 5-1. Then Vic and Ed made up and we began to win again.
As for the woman, she went away but I traced her to Utchester and she said she'd visit me in London.
I waited, yearning, at the station. And went on waiting.
After that, each time I rang her she put the phone down. Then she wrote saying she'd taken up with two of the Utchester players.
'What the hell's wrong with you?' the manager yelled after I'd played like a prat. I told him.
'She's a fackin recividist,’ he said.
'A what?'
'I'll tell you what, son, give me her number and I'll talk to her for you.'
I gave him the number. And waited. (Always bloody waiting.)
'Well, boss,' I said at last, 'is there any - ?'
To begin with, he didn't answer.
Then, 'No, son, not for you there isn't' and the smirk on his fat stupid face made me want to kick him in the balls, which I very nearly did.
