Free the Manchester United One by Graham Sharpe

Author:Graham Sharpe
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781910232156
Publisher: Pavilion Books
Published: 2014-11-24T16:00:00+00:00

8

Did It Happen Like This?

So, just what was said in the Dog and Partridge on that fateful night? Sheldon must have arranged to meet West in the pub, together with a couple of his team-mates. The meeting may have been arranged to tell them that Liverpool – or, the section of it that he had ‘squared’ – intended to come to Old Trafford to lose and/or that a joint effort from both sides could enrich all of them with minimum risk.

Perhaps the Liverpool lads had already decided to throw the game and clean up with local bookmakers, but were aware that they would win much more by betting on – and pre-arranging – a specific score. The odds available for a simple Manchester United win would have been around 6–4 at best. But by opting for a specific final scoreline the odds could be increased to up to 8–1. Sheldon and Co could ensure that they lost, assuming there were enough of them in on the scam, without the United players even being in on the plan. But, given that he had been a Manchester United player himself, not that long before, Sheldon must have believed that it would be pretty easy to involve a few of the boys from the other side.

Sheldon probably assumed that the infamously stroppy West would be a willing participant in the scam. But why, in fact, should he go along with it? What would have been in it for him? Enoch would be well aware that he had a considerable amount to lose. He was, after all, due a benefit match from which he might reasonably expect to pocket £500 at the very least – and very probably double that figure. Therefore, he must have demanded of Sheldon, ‘How am I supposed to make that sort of brass from this match? To do that I’d need to get over £100 on the correct score with the bookies – that would be bloody difficult, if not downright impossible.

‘No, there’s too much at stake for me here. The other lads can get their few pounds on and win themselves a couple of weeks’ wages extra each – good luck to them, but it’s just too risky for me. I’m not going to do it. I won’t stop you. I might even tell some friends to cash in and help themselves. I could probably get my mate Lol Cook to put your bets on for you, but you can count me out of any direct involvement.’

How would Sheldon have reacted to that? He would no doubt have been happy that he could rely on Knocker to spread the word to those of his team-mates he felt were trustworthy and to advise those who were against the scheme to stay quiet. After all, the relegation-threatened United players would be relieved just to get two guaranteed points. That would go a long way towards keeping them in the First Division – albeit that there was no way of knowing when the League would resume, given the war situation at that time.

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