Super Sub by Alan Gibbons

Author:Alan Gibbons
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Barrington Stoke Ltd
Published: 2022-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

More subs, please

In the 1967–68 season, the rule was changed to allow substitutions for tactical reasons as well as for injury. In 1987–88, two substitutes were allowed, which rose to three in the 1990s. During the COVID pandemic in 2020, a temporary rule was introduced to allow the use of five substitutes.

Chapter 4

Part of the game

Somebody was missing at training the week after our match with North Bank.

“Has anybody seen Bengo?” Dan asked.

Everybody shrugged.

“What about you, Smithy?” Dan asked hopefully. “Have you heard from him?”

“Not a word,” I said.

I didn’t tell him I’d been messaging Bengo every day. He hadn’t replied.

“Well, if you hear from him, let me know,” Dan said.

I nodded. I couldn’t stop thinking about Bengo for the whole of the training session. How could somebody as good as he was give up like this? I needed to do something about it. While Dan was putting the balls away, I asked if anybody knew Bengo’s address.

“Yes, he lives on Stone Street,” Sam said.

“What number?” I asked him.

Sam didn’t know.

“But you can’t miss it,” Sam said. “It’s the second house as you turn off Broadway. It’s got a red door.”

Ameer was banging his boots against the wall to get the mud off. “Are you going to see him?” he asked.

I nodded. “Somebody needs to talk to him,” I said.

So off I went. Sam’s directions were spot on. I saw the house with the red door right away and knocked.

Bengo came to the door and frowned. “Did Dan send you?” he asked.

“No,” I told him. “It was all my idea. I’ve been messaging you.”

Bengo nodded. “Yes, I saw the messages. Look, I’m not sure I want to go on playing for the team.”

“You can’t just give up,” I said. “You’re the best winger I’ve ever seen.”

Bengo stopped me. “I’m the best player you’ve ever seen,” he said.

It was hard to argue.

“OK,” I said. “So you’re the best player I’ve ever seen. You could get on the books of a professional team. Why throw it all away? Nobody wants to get injured, but it’s part of the game.”

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