by Robert Mann
No one on the Redbourne team or management wanted extra time. Up in the hospitality box some of the office staff couldn't watch. Deborah did but her heart was in her mouth as Richard Walker stepped up to put the scores equal with what would now likely be the last kick of the regulation ninety minutes. His penalty was struck true and hard to the keeper's left. Francis guessed right though pulling off a superb save with his fingertips pushing the ball round the post. There was no time to celebrate the save with yet another corner to defend but as the ball was floated in yet again high towards the back post the referee blew for full time. Francis was the hero for Redbourne Rovers and the whole team came tearing over to congratulate him before going to applaud their fans. Up in the hospitality box area all the office staff were out in the seated area still joining in the celebrations as the stadium quickly emptied of home fans.
Terrance and Steve exited the playing area quickly with a wave to the Redbourne fans leaving their players to enjoy their well-deserved applause. On the team’s return to the away dressing room he expressed his delight in no uncertain terms about their hard earned victory and as he was still talking Miles popped his head round the changing room door.
"Tel lad. Can I have a word with the players please?"
Terrance grimaced inside, that nickname again but nodded and smiled!
"Great performance tonight every one of you lads. You must be tired after these last two games; I am, after just watching you!"
There was a genuine chuckle from the players. Despite his eccentricities the players liked him and he was a very generous employer!
"This competition now gets serious. I would love to see some silverware in our trophy cabinet this season, so here is a little incentive for you. Win the final at The Millennium Stadium on the 1st April and I will pay for a holiday for the whole squad, families included to Barbados at the end of the season. Oh and there's a couple of crates of lager on the coach for the return journey tonight. Great season so far, keep it up lads”
Miles walked out smiling to himself leaving a somewhat dumbstruck dressing room, manager included behind him! This rather large incentive had been one that not even Terrance had been aware of.
14
A Tough Old November!
Jock was not used to having time off during the season. In his time as a professional footballer he had been remarkably lucky with injuries and had prided himself on his personal fitness, which had seen him clock up a club record of 125 consecutive appearances for the first team. He was gutted now to be missing out for three games especially considering the nature of the sending off which had kicked the suspension into place. Sitting down on the Monday morning with Terrance in his temporary office they reviewed the coming month and discussed who should be captain in his absence. Jock would miss league games against Mansfield at home who had already knocked them out of the Carling Cup earlier in the season, Lincoln away which especially worried Terrance, Sincil Bank being a tough enough place to go even with your captain in the team and then the 1st Round of the FA Cup where they had just been drawn to play away to the conference side Exeter City. Jock would then be back for the area quarter final of The Johnstone's Paint Trophy at the end of the month, which was live on Sky away at Bournemouth.
Terrance and Jock were both strong characters and that was part of the reason that they gelled so well together and gave Redbourne such a strong team spirit. However on this particular Monday morning before Jock went off on a week's holiday with his family they had a spectacular falling out over who should be captain in his absence. Dave Francis their goalkeeper who had figured so prominently in their last two games was always first in line during games should Jock be subbed or be silly enough or unfortunate enough to be sent off. Terrance was adamant that Dave should take over the captain's armband during his absence but Jock felt the armband should go to Terry Pauls. The heated discussion went on for over an hour with Jock's Scottish accent getting more and more pronounced the more stressed he got. Terrance wanted to go with the experience Dave Francis had attained over his long playing career. Jock wanted to go with the drive and commitment of Terry Pauls who had quickly won over the whole team with his footballing skill and passion for The Countrymen. At the end of the hour Jock gave up. A lot of his anger that he had displayed was at himself for the daft sending off that he had incurred, he looked at his manager and smiled as he conceded defeat
"I hope you are right Terrance but I still believe we need a leader on the pitch not in goal. Time will tell heh!"
Terrance smiled back at Jock and held out his hand
"No hard feeling I hope Jock. Terry's time will come I assure you. If I'm wrong I will be the first to hold my hands up. Have a great holiday with the family and see you in a week"
The temporary Captain for the coming three games was announced at training the following day. Dave Francis was delighted but Terrance could see the disappointment etched on the face of Terry Pauls. As training started he could see Terry put even more effort in to his work and he pulled him out of the 5 aside games going on for a quiet word.
"Terry I know you are gutted for not getting the captain's armband but you have nothing to prove where I am concerned. I gave it to Dave because of his greater experience only. Your time will come I assure you, and take it easy lad, don’t over do it in training, I need you fit"
Terry flashed him a grateful smile as he went back into the training game.
The first game without Jock at home to Mansfield was an unmitigated disaster for the team. They went into it sitting in 4th place in touching distance of the long time leaders Hartlepool. They were expected to easily beat a Mansfield team languishing towards the bottom of the table and who were having a very mediocre season but Redbourne did not do a thing right all afternoon despite the initial Herculean efforts of Terry Pauls to get them going. Dave Francis in goal looked overawed by the responsibility given to him and the vibrancy and self-belief so apparent in previous games was gone. Just before half time Giles Coke playing in midfield for the Stags put them ahead from a corner when the Countrymen’s marking went totally wrong much to the delight of the several hundred fans that had travelled from the east midlands area.
At half time Terrance sensed this was a game that there would be no stirring Countrymen come back from. Still, he tried his best, as did Steve and Dave Francis. Heads were down and players looked lifeless. Halfway through the second half with Terry now struggling to impose himself in midfield so Terrance subbed him. The home crowd inside Whaddon Road didn't like this one little bit with a chorus of boos and jeers and Terry showed his disgust by running straight down the tunnel ignoring the Redbourne management team to the dressing rooms! Worse was still to come and Mansfield added a second goal to add insult to injury after a mistake from Francis at a corner allowed Richie Barker to poke home from close range. Redbourne fans began leaving with ten minutes left and by the final whistle the stadium was half empty. A visibly furious Terrance Fletcher stormed towards the changing rooms at the final whistle, grim faced with anger.
On holiday in Cyprus Jock listened to the results on the world service and shook his head in genuine frustration and disappointment before going back to enjoy the remainder of his holiday with his family. Despite his understanding of Terry's reaction on being subbed Terrance was not prepared to put up with it. He fined Terry a week's wages regardless of the fact that he had apologised to him straight after the final whistle and issued a press release to explain why he had taken this action.
Jock reported back for training on the Tuesday after the Mansfield game. Obviously he was not able to play on the coming Saturday but tanned and refreshed from his holiday he wanted to help get Redbourne back on a winning groove. Terrance was pleased to see a lifting of spirits in training later that day. Jock took Terry Pauls aside and had a long chat with him. Upon returning to the main training session he was pleased to see that the youngster now approaching his nineteenth birthday seemed to have some of his normal sparkle and zest back Jo
ck knew that he would need it with the trip to Sincil Bank coming up, and potentially being a real banana skin in Redbourne's promotion push. The defeat at home to Mansfield had dropped The Countrymen down to 6th and they couldn't really afford to drop any further off the pace. Lincoln were renowned for the height of their team and liked to play the no nonsense aerial approach launching the ball high into the penalty area at all opportunities. Hence at home games when they had a corner a mock air raid siren would go off! Just to add spice some of their supporters had almost as bad a reputation as The Country Firm.
Redbourne had travelled across country to Lincoln on "The Beast" on the Friday afternoon Jock had decided not to travel with them feeling that he would disrupt the final preparations by being there and not being able to play. As Terrance gave his final team talk he sensed an iron determination from his players to get something out of the game. Outside on the terraces the fans that had travelled from Redbourne that numbered about four hundred were not at all confident after the abysmal showing at home to Mansfield the previous Saturday. Amongst their numbers were Deborah and Oliver. Much to her relief The Country Firm had stopped their hooligan activities since the arrests at Michael Wood but she sensed it was a temporary stop in their fighting to lull the police into a sense of false security. It was the first time that Oliver had been to a game for the sole purpose of supporting Redbourne and he was finding it quite a unique experience having taken Deborah for a romantic weekend away around the football match! As they came into the ground a police spotter from Inspector Morrison's undercover team had spotted him and the sighting had been flashed to the police control room at Sincil Bank. Unbeknown to Oliver as the game kicked off he was being watched on close circuit television-he was a marked man!
It was obvious that the Lincoln boss John Schofield had done his homework on Redbourne from the start. Lincoln were doing their best to pressurize their defence from the start with very little football being played on the ground. At times the ball was going so high it was coming down with the proverbial ice on it! The Redbourne midfield was being forced further and further back forcing the attackers to become increasingly isolated! The supporters in the away end were giving great support to the Redbourne team but they could hardly get out of their own half - such was the weight of the pressure from Lincoln. Despite the pressure somehow the home side went in at half time not having scored with the game goalless!
At half time Terrance wished that he could had Jock Mcleish there. It was the kind of situation his captain relished in. His team was running on adrenaline and he needed another half of the same from them and more to avoid another defeat. The second half started a lot more sedately than the first had finished, with The Imps looking like they had run out of steam. Deborah watching with avid hope and devotion from the away end just began to hope that they could get a result for a little while. Redbourne even forced a couple of corners with Terry Pauls forcing a fine save out of the Lincoln keeper. With fifteen minutes to play Lincoln played their joker card bringing on Jamie Forrester their star striker who was returning from a niggling groin strain. He was the difference between the two teams scoring two fine goals the second a thunderbolt from all of thirty yards which had Dave Francis clutching at thin air! The defeat dropped Redbourne down to 8th nine points off the leaders Hartlepool who had won again.
Redbourne fans were not used to this sort of form. They had been spoilt now for over a year with their Conference winning season having seen only three defeats all season in what had been a record breaking points total for the division! Now with the FA Cup 1st Round coming up they were in the rather bizarre situation of not being the underdogs anymore! Exeter City had had a long and proud league existence until their form dropped off badly seeing them relegated at the end of the 2002-2003 season. Terrance knew that everyone of Exeter’s players would be giving 150%, desperate to prove they could still compete against a league team. Saturday was not going to be easy especially in the form Redbourne were in at the moment!
By the Friday afternoon when Redbourne travelled down the M5 yet again the weather which had remained surprisingly warm so far for late autumn had really taken a turn for the worse. A bitter easterly wind had set in and as the “Beast” made its way out onto the motorway all traffic had it’s headlights on and snow was falling steadily under leaden skies. Miles had even taken the precaution of phoning his counterpart at Exeter before they set off to check how their pitch was standing up to this very inclement weather. The answer he was given was that it was playable although very heavy and that it had been covered for the last twenty four hours as a precautionary step.
Saturday morning though saw the hills outside of Exeter covered in a thick blanket of snow. Nearer the city where Redbourne Rovers were sitting down to breakfast at The Devon Motel on the outer ring road there was just a dusting but the ground was absolutely sodden after forty eight hours of continuous rain and snow. A phone call to his opposite number Paul Tisdale at Exeter by Terrance confirmed his fears; pitch conditions were far worse than The Grecians had anticipated. A pitch inspection would take place by the match referee at midday to see if the game could go ahead. Terrance confirmed that he would be at the ground for to see the state of the pitch for himself.
By midday ten supporters coaches had left Redbourne and were well on their way down the M5. Despite the poor form, the magic of the FA Cup had attracted a decent turn out, Redbourne had easily sold their allocation of just over 1900 tickets, which would see their fans situated in the ancient old narrow open aired terrace that backed onto St James Road and half the main grandstand which ran on the far side of the pitch. Mr. Stoning who ran The Countrymen’s Travel Club was not with the supporters coaches today due to flu and Deborah had stepped in at short notice infuriating Oliver who was not bothering to go today and wanted her to do other things!
Come midday all ten coaches had pulled over at Sedgemoor Services which was just over an hour’s travelling distance to Exeter. It seemed pointless to go any further until the result of the pitch inspection was known. The weather was abysmal again with heavy snow falling and settling on the surrounding fields. Everyone awaited the result on Deborah’s mobile. Fifty or so miles further south the rain and snow had stopped as Terrance, Paul Tisdale and the match referee walked out onto the playing surface at St James Park. They were accompanied by an anxious looking groundsman. The surface water that had been lying earlier had been forked away. After ten minutes of probing the surface and looking at a few muddier spots the referee spoke to both managers
“Well I’m happy gents. Either of you got any concerns?”
Neither had and the message was quickly relayed through to the supporter’s coaches waiting patiently up the motorway and numerous radio and television outlets - the game is on!
As kick off time neared quite an atmosphere had built up inside St James Park. The lucky Redbourne fans who had paid extra sat in the grandstand contributing to a real buzz that was running around the ground. On the away terrace it was albeit impossible to generate an atmosphere, with it being open to the elements. The Countrymen fans there shivered under an array of brightly covered umbrellas as light snow starting falling as the teams took to the field.
Exeter won the toss electing to kick towards the away end. Both teams wanted to play football but the pitch was so bad it was well nigh impossible. Redbourne were unable to play their normal style of free flowing football and thus this handed the initiative to the Grecians. It was a bit like the first half at Lincoln a week ago thought a half frozen Deborah as she wiped snow flakes out of her eyes as a superb sliding tackle by Terry Pauls stopped Jon Challinor when it seemed he must score. Half time saw the match goalless with Redbourne yet to trouble the Exeter goal as an army of ground staff armed with forks began trying to get rid of the surface water that had began to reflect in the light of the flood lights that were now fully on. The match referee was so concerned he came back out for another look before allowing the game to continue. Terrance by now wanted
it called off-he had had enough of the debacle and let the ref know his feeling in no uncertain terms. The ref looked him in the eyes and said
“Sorry Mr. Fletcher we play on. It’s the same for both teams and although its desperate conditions it is safe.”
A seething Terrance stormed back to the dugouts as the teams took the field for the second half to a huge cheer from the near capacity crowd!
Redbourne actually started the second half far better trying to play Exeter at their own game hitting long balls into the area for their front men Dwight Edwards and Angelo Mizuel. Their pressure paid off and twenty minutes into the second half they won a penalty for handball. With Jock Mcleish being suspended young Terry Pauls had been nominated to take the penalties over these three games. He stepped up in front of his own fans snow blowing into his face and placed the ball on the penalty spot. The whole ground was hushed as he ran up. The shot was hard and true to the right with Rice in the Exeter goal guessing wrong, sadly though for Redbourne the ball hit the combination of post and crossbar and rebounded it out! The home fans were going mad. Deborah in the away end could not believe the run of bad luck that seemed to be afflicting The Countrymen. The missed penalty seemed to turn the game and again Exeter started to take control. With time running out and the pitch cutting up even more the Grecians piled men forward in search of the win as they attacked the recently renamed Cliff Bastin Stand.
In the dugout Jock Mcleish in his tracksuit watched frustrated as The Countrymen were pushed further and further back. Dwight Edwards was sacrificed for Dillon Rodgers a towering reserve team defender in a desperate attempt to keep Exeter out. With but a minute left on the clock and the Redbourne fans whistling frantically for the final whistle and the pitch by now unplayable disaster struck. A deep cross by Lee Phillips found Jon Challinor on the far post for once unmarked. His shot beat Francis in the Redbourne goal bounced off the cross bar and down onto the line or over it before in a desperate mud splattered clearance the ball was hoofed clear by Terry Pauls. The home crowd went up for the goal and the Exeter players looked at the referee not sure if the ball had crossed the line or not. For Miles Grimley in the warmth of the director’s box, Terrance Fletcher in the dugout and by now a frozen Deborah in the away end the referee’s jog over to consult his lineman on the far side took an age. The decision was a nightmare-goal. Most of the ground erupted in joy. Jock and Terrance were both on the pitch sprouting expletives at the referee as the final whistle went but the goal stood Redbourne were out of the FA Cup!