“Go then,” he shrugged dismissively. “But I’m telling you now: f**k up once more and we’ll tear up your scholarship. Pay your own way then, and play your football in some dumb bloke’s back yard.”
In punishment I was left on the bench again that Saturday, which was just as well. After lying awake all night hogtied and struggling, and then spending an hour or more frantically beating my meat in my lonely dorm room, I’d only managed to grab a quick nap before it was time to dress, confront the coach and board the bus.
That day’s game was away from home, and even though I managed to nap a little more on the two-hour ride to our opponent’s pitch I was still dog-tired, stiff and sore by the time we arrived. I probably would have only humiliated myself again.
Luckily we won without me, thrashi
