Roy of the Rovers Total Football

Part 4

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Sat side by in the directors box of Mel Park were two former great Melchester
Rovers players; The King Roy Race and his son-in-law Declan McKaffree. Race
was smarting at Seegruns stubborn approach to his youngest daughters
husband, in his educated opinion, Decs performances since re-signing from
Glenrath Celtic were worthy of a generous new contract. However the Dutch
manager had withdrawn the two year deal planned by Roy, instead offering just
one year at a reduced wage. Quite rightly Declan had not signed the deal, he
was not short of offers, but at this stage of his career money was not the biggest
issue, it was security and location that mattered most.
Despite the opening day defeat at the hands of new promoted Castleton, scores
of fans surrounded the box to worship their heroes of past and present. After
signing dozens of autographs and posing for selfie after selfie, Roy and Declan
went straight back to the Race mansion to spend some time with Mel and her
son little Roy. Dec had some big news that he knew would break the young
childs heart. Mel still did not allow her son to attend football matches, secretly
she hoped he would fall out of love with the game as she had done. But so far
the youngest Roy Race was infatuated with Melchester Rovers and in particular
his Uncle Dec, who he insisted was Rovers best player, ever.
Roy had called the family meeting especially to support his grandson, the others
already knew what the announcement was, but the kid was fragile and very
emotional. As the men arrived young Roy raced out in full Rovers kit to greet
them in the driveway. Dec picked him up and swung him around, placing the boy
carefully back on his feet. The Irishman, as always, gave his biggest fan a match
programme. He flicked straight to the centre page, where Marco De Loon was
this weeks poster boy, Its signed by De Loon! Look Mum! Look! De Loon he
signed it! The boy charged around the front garden as the sun set. Come inside
little man, Ive got to tell you something.
The family gathered in the comfortable sitting room around the coffee table. Roy
turned the TV onto Orbital Sports to catch the days goals, but Mel grabbed the
remote and swiftly switched it to mute. Diana held Decs hand, the footballer was
shaking a little, he was dreading telling his nephew that he was no longer a
Melchester Rovers player. In fact he could not get the words out. So his wife took
over, Roy, Uncle Dec and I, were moving, the boy did not react, Were moving
to London, still nothing, Uncle Dec is going to play for Walford. Young Roy
quivered and looked around, Walford? Grandad played for Walford, I know that
and now youre going to play for them! He took off his Melchester shirt and
folded it neatly, then his shorts and socks. Standing in his pants, in front of his
bewildered family, the boy spoke, Im going to support Walford then! If Uncle
Dec plays for Walford then I dont like Melchester anymore!
The group broke into fits of laughter, they could never have predicted such a
reaction. It was comedy gold and although changing the team you support was
not considered a traditional part of football in the Race family, it was for a good
reason. While drinks were poured, young Roy disappeared, when he emerged he
was clad in full England kit, Race 9, on his back. Relief filled the room, London
at last, Diana! Mel said freely, I know, its going to be amazing, Ive already got
my eye on a little shop off the Kings Road. Ill have two shops then; Ill keep the
one here, but have the headquarters in London. Dianas passion for fashion had
already coast Declan hundreds of thousands of pounds, but he could afford it and
it made her so happy. After years of misery in Scotland he owed her a lifetime of
happiness, at least thats what she would say.

Now able to discuss the move without any fear of upsetting young Roy, old Roy
was interested in Decs choice of club, F.A. Cup holders, Europa League football,
Walford are certainly on the up. Whats the manager like? Kenny Davenport, the
former Scotland striker had played for Walford in the late 80s and early 90s, he
had a reputation as a tough, no nonsense character, He talks a good game. His
sides play good, attacking football. Roy still wanted some answers, He plays 35-2, well he did for most of last season, where do you fit into that system, I
thought your days as a centre-forward were behind you? It was a good point,
one of the reasons Seegrun saw McKaffree as disposable was his inability to play
as a wing-back. Davenport is changing style a bit. Hes let Jorge Caceres go, he
wants me to be the link between Nicky Morris up front and Ross Warren in
midfield. Caceres was the target man, the boss believes that to keep progressing
they need to evolve in style and play a more adaptive game. Im sure youd
agree with that!
Roy did and he was impressed; Morris and Warren were both regulars in the
England squad, young too, with Declan to guild them Walford could really push
on. Please, Roy, can you make sure that the nipper gets to come up to London
to watch us? Im going to miss him loads. I know Mel wont bring him, but youre
always welcome at Walford, they still love you. Some of the fans Ive met are
expecting me to do what you did there. Ill give it a crack, but Im no Roy Race!
Dont sell yourself short. If I was still in charge here, youd be in the first-team
every week. To be honest Im not impressed with Johan at all. His ideas may
sound modern and progressive in English football, but in world football theyre
dated. If an English manager tried to force Melchester Rovers to play the way we
did in the mid-70s theyd be sectioned. Were still so far behind the best teams in
Europe, even with so many foreign managers and players; we still rely on huff
and puff. Youve never been about that, youve always had skill and technical
skills beyond most men, even when you were a kid!
Roy glanced quickly at the television set, Wow! A couple of shock results today,
look at those scores! Kelburn trashed at Melborough, Tynecaster beaten easily at
North Vale! Our little blip at home to Castleton wont even register with those
results! Its a funny old game!

***
Salares seemed even quieter than usual as John Rogers walked home from the
small Coviran store, the only shop in the village. It may have been the
tremendous sense of relief that he felt after the events of the previous week, or
that the temperatures of thirty-seven degrees were keeping residents off the
streets. But Rogers, in spite of his limp, almost skipped up the hill that led to his
house, opening a can of San Miguel as he strode. John had spent the past seven
days checking social media, his name had not come up at all. He was certain
that the Melchester Rovers fans who had spotted him had not revealed their
discovery. After a week and not even a single mention on Twitter, he was
determined to celebrate. The fact that he had no friends, other than his three
cats, was of no concern, he would enjoy a bottle of cava all the same.
John had brushed aside the bloody details of the previous weekends accident.
The village had been swamped with British media after the tragedy, albeit for
only two days. The revelations that both drivers had been significantly over the
drink drive limit sapped the British publics sympathy. Miraculously all the
children had survived, orphaned, but alive. This pleased John.
He followed the story closely, on television and on the internet, choosing to stay
indoors to prevent any chance of being recognised. As the public reaction back in
the UK turned from grief to rage, the reporters and news teams dispersed. An
event that began the week as Britains top story was quickly hidden. The
irresponsible holiday drinking of British parents had led to a tragic loss of life.
Such stories did not sell newspapers, they painted the whole country in an ugly
colour. But Johns plan had worked perfectly, his guilt had already passed. This
would worry any normal man, but Rogers had set off on this path many years
ago, what seemed horrific to Joe Bloggs was run of the mill for John Rogers. So
life went on.

John thought this would be a good time to continue with the decoration of his
living room. He pulled a sealed cardboard box in from the wood shed in the back
yard, it contained his football memorabilia. He thumbed through looking for the
folder a friend had given him before he left England. He lifted out an England
shirt, 1990 West Germany World Cup shirt, signed by Karl Bruckner and an
Alkhoven shirt from the late 70s. There it was, a red plastic folder, with John
Rogers scrawled in biro on a sticky label on the front. In it was an article from
John Rogers only international appearance, a European Championship match
against Denmark in 1983.

ENGLAND SAVAGED BY GREAT

DANES
Further progress in Europe now unlikely
This was without doubt Englands worst-ever performance at Wembley.
Defeat by these now talented Danes is no longer in itself an insult, but Englands lack of pride and
spirit brought shame upon the nation that invented the game.
Apart, possibly, from the 1950 World Cup defeat at the hands of the U.S.A., this was Englands most
inept display in 111 years of international conflict.
Even though the tie was decided by a penalty and a very doubtful one at that I heard not a single
word of complaint against the referees decision from the 82,050 spectators.
Denmark, like England, had only one shot on target all night apart from the penalty but at least
they stirred the imagination with several delightful individual performances and a few flashed on
scintillating team work.
Olaf Olsen, who snatched Denmarks late equaliser in the first game in Copenhagen, probed and
teased with some magical moments of pure footballing skills.
And Peter Hansen may now be an ageing star, but some of his passing took the crowds breath away.
For the past five years or so, we have watched in admiration how Denmark have been developing
their attacking prowess.
But until this night, their defence had usually been suspect to the point where we had felt that even if
they did score two or three goals, England with the skills of players like Steve Marks, Geoff Giles
and Kevin Taylor could always bank upon scoring at least one more.
Not any more! And it was the excellent defensive play of the Danish side that probably shocked
England and hypnotised the side into almost complete surrender.
Denmark should have taken the lead within the first minute, when the much vaunted Olsen was clean
through with only Andy Watson to beat. A snap shot would have done the trick.
But, once the wily old Watson had been given seconds to compose himself, he forced the Danish
forward out to his left and his eventual shot hit the side-net.

That miss seemed to inspire Olsen, who had a sparkling game.

Denmark had the game well in control by the time the penalty incident occurred, John Rogers, being
challenged closely by Ericksen, was falling as he tried to clear the ball, which appeared accidently to
hit his hand.
But the referee was excellently placed to judge, and he had no hesitation in awarding the spot-kick.
The great Olsen was thus given the opportunity to seal a famous win for Denmark.
ENGLAND Watson 7, Churchill 6, Dexter 6, Thompson 6, Duke 6; Hunt 5, Giles
6, Martin 5 (Shields); Marks 6, Taylor 5, Rogers 3 (Johnson). Subs not used:
Knight, Baxter, Barret.
This was one of the kinder reports published in the press the day after the
defeat. Other journalists had slaughtered Rogers performance; perhaps such a
reaction had influenced Bobby Robson, who never picked him again. John Rogers
was a one-cap wonder and often appeared in lists of worst ever England
players. It was slightly unfair, Rogers had earned his call-up, his partnership with
Raich Williams had won Eastgate promotion back to the First Division in 1981/82
and both managed twenty plus goals in the 1982/83 season as Eastgate finished
fifth. Maybe if Williams had not withdrawn from the England squad with injury
they could have replicated their success against Denmark.
The folder contained many other articles on the career of John Rogers, most
detailed hat-tricks or key moments in the history of Eastgate. It was the perfect
summary of the footballers career. John placed the article back inside its plastic
protection. Hed re-read the others later. Now it was time for the cava, John
popped the top, allowing the cork to fly off into the ceiling. He took a long swig
from the frothy bottle, before filling a champagne flute. To John Rogers, England
international and Eastgate legend! he said aloud, draining the glass, Whats on
Storky Knight
the box?
NEXT Decs Walford debut and Seegrun aims for
improvement