Hammered

by Mark Ward

  Later that afternoon, I had my photo taken with Mark and his friends beside a replica of the FA Cup. It brought back memories of how gutted I’d felt at seeing my team, Everton, lose to Chelsea in the final at Wembley the previous May. I watched the game with the Tobyns in The Sun pub in Romford but after Louis Saha put us in front with the fastest goal in FA Cup final history, Chelsea went on to win 2-1.

  I’ve enjoyed appearing in public on stage, answering questions about my football career and the less happy periods of my life. I won’t duck any issues and will always give an honest answer to a straight question. You know me, I always tell it like it is and the audiences I’ve appeared in front of seem to have gone home happy with their night’s entertainment. I’ve regained my self-confidence and without wishing to appear cocky, I know I have something to offer.

  But it’s a sign of the times that I counted 12 – yes, a dozen – shows that I was booked to appear in that were subsequently cancelled by the organisers due to a lack of ticket sales. Hopefully, as the economy improves, so too will work opportunities.

  * * * *

  In taking the positives from my story and without wishing to sound pretentious, I hope this book will in some way help others in the future. It could inspire youngsters to overcome obstacles, such as height and weight issues, and go on to become a professional footballer against all odds.

  I’d like it to serve as a warning to vulnerable people of the dangers of getting involved with drugs and other criminal activity. They should learn from my mistakes.

  For those who do fall foul of the law and end up in prison, perhaps reading this will help them to show the strength and character to cope with their sentences and do their time in the best way possible – and I don’t mean tips about how to hide SIM cards and mobile phones in places where no screws care to look! By the way, they were the only two prison rules I broke.

  I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my story. I’ve been as honest as possible within the libel laws – my publishers did have to chop some bits out! – and hopefully that comes across throughout these pages. I’ve really enjoyed the writing process – it helped keep me sane throughout my time in prison.

  Thanks to the love and support of my family and friends, I have been given this chance to rebuild my life and I’m determined not to waste it. My family are there for me and I know how lucky I am to be able to count on their love and support, as well as that of many friends.

  We all make mistakes in life and it’s how you respond to them that matters.

  On the morning of Monday 11 May, 2009, I left behind my prison identity of NM6982 and reverted to being Mark Ward. I’ll never forget my prison number - it’s ingrained on my brain – but I couldn’t wait to walk through those gates at HMP Kirkham for the last time.

  I’ve been to hell. And I’m never going back.

  Copyright

  Published by John Blake Publishing Ltd,

  3 Bramber Court, 2 Bramber Road,

  London W14 9PB, England

  www.johnblakepublishing.co.uk

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  This eBook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those may be liable in law accordingly.

  ePub ISBN 978 1 85782 901 3

  Mobi ISBN 978 1 85782 902 0

  PDF ISBN 978 1 85782 903 7

  First published in paperback in 2010

  ISBN: 978 1 84358 272 4

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent publisher.

  British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data:

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  Design by www.envydesign.co.uk

  Printed in Great Britain by CPI Bookmarque Ltd, Croydon

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  © Text copyright Mark Ward 2010

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