The striker caught the ball full on, twenty yards outside the box, it went straight towards the goal keeper. David Potts had no trouble in catching it and immediately threw it  accurately at the feet of one of his team mates.

Who very quickly attempted to kick it up the field, but it was blocked and  passed  to one of the apposing team players as he came running down the left wing where he volleyed it across the goal mouth, the ball sailed high in the air, where a very tall lad neatly headed it, despite David’s  acrobatic skills, into the back of the net. At the same time the Ref.’s whistle screeched it’s message to all and sundry that the game was over!

Unfortunately for the team of the ‘Red Rover’s,’  it was not the first time  they had been beaten 5–0, only on this occasion it was more of an humiliation because the team that had just walloped them was only one above them in their league the “Red Rover”s. were firmly on the bottom!

The boy’s football team had been formed from scratch  about ten years previously, gradually building a reputation of being a winning side. They had enjoyed  gathering quite a few trophies during that time. But with the influx of new members coupled with the recent loss of their long – time coach, the team had gone from bad to worse in a matter of just one season.

One of the boys father’s agreed to take over the position as Coach, the trouble was he turned out to be an alcoholic,  so was unable to give the team the help and guidance they so desperately needed to try and get back the motivation and skill  they had lost.

David  Potts had been the Goal keeper for the last two seasons, but now he, like the rest of the team, had become completely disillusioned and had  lost their enthusiasm for the game. The Coach was waiting for them in the dressing room, he had been drinking as usual, ‘don’t worry lads’, he slurred, ‘you’ll do better next time– you’ll shee.’ The team ignored him, showered,  dressed  and left without further ado.

David was on his way home on his bike when through lack of concentration the front wheel touched the kerb and he lost control of his steering, the bike swerved to the right and then left which sent him spinning into the air, he done a complete somersault and landed on his feet. The front wheel of the bike still  turning as it skidded to a halt beside him.

A croaky old sounding voice made him look behind him . ‘Are you all right son’? The voice had a soothing effect on David, it made him feel happy and at the same time  quite excited. ‘Yes I‘m o.k. thanks’ he answered as he brushed himself down and stood his bike upright,’i was thinking about something else, so it was my own fault’.

The old man bent forward towards David, ‘well I like your honesty my boy, and what would it be your thinking about other than riding your bike’? The old man’s pure white hair kept falling over his eyes as he spoke. David found himself staring at him and for some inexplicable reason felt extremely calm and secure. Without any prompting he started to pour out all his thoughts regarding his teams history.

The man listened intently without interruption, and then surprised David, when he replied.

‘Well don’t worry about it any more my son– because I’m going to get you and your team back on winning form again! I used to be a football coach —-among other things, what do you say, would you like my help’?  he straightened up to his full height and swept his hair from his eyes as he put the question, David looked the old boy straight in his eyes, he saw a depth of kindness and a wealth of wisdom he had never seen before in his short life, he instantly knew it was  right to except the offer.

When he informed the rest of the team about the encounter with the old man they were all very pleased and excited. They met the following week for their training session and sure enough, the old man was true to his word, he was already there waiting for them.

He spoke with a gentle, but at the same time, commanding voice. ‘Now lads’ he started, ‘gather in a circle around me, introduce yourselves and tell me what positions you currently play in the team’? All the boy’s complied with the request, already there was evidence of a new wave of enthusiasm rippling through the team. The new coach then told them to run round the perimeter of the field as fast as they could while he studied them carefully. When they arrived back puffing and blowing, he proceeded to allocate them to new positions, with David as the up front striker and captain!

Over the next few months the team met three times a week for training where the coach put them through a rigorous programme of both technical and physical exercises. No complaints came from the team members, no one missed a session. it soon became obvious that they were gaining confidence every week. And whats more they had won their last two matches.

The coach had breathed new energy into the team and subsequently they had all become more positive in their approach to life in general. Since winning their first match all they thought about was how many goals they were going to win their next match by!

During this period there was just one thing slightly concerning some of the boys. They had noticed the Coach was always at the grounds well before them and no one ever saw him leave no matter where they were playing!

Despite that, over the next few weeks the team won their next six games and were also through to the semi-finals of the league cup. The team they were due to play against in the semi’s were one of the league’s top teams so were going to be hard to beat.

The day of the match arrived, the Coach was the first to get there as usual. He gathered the boy’s around him which  by now had become a familiar routine approach. He spoke in a clear voice, Now lads, I just want to say I am very proud and honoured to have been your coach over these past few months, I have tried to teach you the best way to win at the game of football, but there is something else that is far more important, you have all learnt from the things I have taught you about life—- where your priorities lie—– and remember you always give your all to win—– but if you have done everything in your power to achieve the result you aimed for and fail to achieve that result. Hold your head up high and feel proud, because you are still winners!

You have delivered every thing I have asked of you. You have yourselves to thank for reaching heights that you never thought possible when starting on this journey together, but the potential was already there. All I have done is show you, not only how to train your bodies but also bring your mind to work in a positive manner that will help to give you the desire to be on the winning side to-day!

The ‘Red Rovers’ ran on to the pitch with the words of the Coach still ringing in their ears.

The game was only twenty minutes from kick off, when the first goal went into the net, The ‘Red Rover’s’ goalie touched the spinning ball but it then rebounded off the post

At half time the team were loosing three two, but it was a hard fought game and they trooped back into the tunnel knowing they had done their best but also holding a determination to change gear and step it up a notch.

The Coach was already in the dressing room and they all gathered round him, expecting him to ask why they were loosing, but all he said was ‘ good game boy’s, keep up what you are doing and you will leave the field to-day winners’! Iv’e said all I need to say except good luck and goodbye. With that he tuned on his heel and walked out of the room closing the door behind him.

Five minutes into the second half the ‘Red Rover’s’ goalie kicked the ball up the field. it was a powerful kick, David was halfway up the pitch and watched the ball above him, it seemed to hang in the air  as in slow motion, David started to run, keeping his eye on the ball trying his best to keep it above him, it started it’s decent and David was about twenty yards out from their opponents net, at fifteen yards the ball landed at his feet, it bounced once then he had it under control. out the corner of his eye he saw a big defender running fast towards him, he was still forty feet away but he decided to have a go, catching the ball on the run with left his foot, the ball flew towards it’s target, the goalie watched it hit the back of his net, and now the score was three all.

There were five minutes left on the clock, including injury time. when one of David’s player’s was about to drive the ball towards an open goal  one foot inside the box when he was unceremoniously chopped down from behind. The Ref’s whistle sounded far and wide and immediately awarded a penalty and waved the red card at the culprit.

Who slumped off knowing he was guilty. David decided to take it himself and placed the ball on the turf, he stepped back a couple of paces and glanced up at the goalie, his arms were spread wide as he stared at David. there was thirty seconds left of playing time, David new he couldn’t miss, he looked down at the ball then at the net and struck with his left foot, The goalie dived to the left but the ball sailed into the right top corner and hit the back of the net! As the whistle sounded time.

The boy’s ran to the middle of the field and embraced each other, they looked towards the old wooden stands and saw the Coach standing there with his long white hair hanging down over his shoulders. his arms were held out in front of him with both thumbs held upright.

Then with a wave of his hand and a smile on his face he disappeared. right in front of their eyes. when they got back to the dressing room they found a short note written in beautiful hand writing, it read—–To the Red Rover’s football team,

Remember all I have taught you, carry it with you all your life and pass on to others. My time is finished with you now,take the desire and the positive attitude with you on the day of the final and there will only be one result.

In the local football club shared by several teams in the town, there now stands in pride of place in the trophy cabinet the league winners cup!. with the name of the ‘Red Rovers’, engraved on it

Just above the cabinet there’s an old black and white photograph of an old man with long white hair, entitled—— THE COACH 1865.