Thursday, September 07, 2006
'Jules, you've got 2 minutes to warm up. I'm gonna take Giggsy off and you're swapping flanks with Ronnie,' the gaffer instructed me.
74 minutes had gone and the Red of Manchester were down 1-2 to the other blue half. At the Theatre of Dreams. Losing a derby match was not on the gaffer's mind, nor the rival manager's too.
I stood up nervously and quickly walked out of the box.
'ok lets do some running back and forth, a few stretches and...' i thought to myself but...
'JULES! Santa aint waiting for you, and he aint gonna give you a present if you dont change out of your kit in a sec!,' the assistant manager blasted away.
Right, so 1 minute had passed that fast. I didnt even know it, heck, didnt even THINK that this moment would come.
The 4th official called me to get ready as he keyed in the numbers on the subs board. I stretched my hips one last time before the announcer began the announcement.
'Substitution for Manchester United. No.11, Ryan Giggs coming off for No.17, J.low'.
It was met by a mix reception of cheers and jeers. A section of the Stretford End had come to see me play in the Reserves and to some, 'the kid's a hot one for the future'. But I would have guessed majority of the Old Trafford faithful hadnt even heard of my name.
Giggsy quickly ran half the pitch as I stood there with my hand raised out to 'tag' with the captain.
'Pass it to Scholesy. And do us proud,' he said a few words of encouragement as he tossed me the captain's armband.
here goes nothing....
i broke into a slow jog as I headed towards a ginger-haired player who was catching his breath. I gave him the band and was about to call Ronnie when Scholesy stopped me.
'Ji's gonna take the left. You're partnering me.'
I stared at him bewildered. Partner him? But didnt the gaffer just....
'for 2 minutes. If we dont get the goal soon, you'll swap with Ji alright lad? Now eyes up!' he patted me on my back as he retreated back into our half. Do as the captain says I guess as I followed suit.
Up on the other end, the City keeper took the goal kick. The ball sailed through the air as it looked to be either Rio or Corradi. But Rio, strong as he was, headed it away to Ronnie on the right. Jeers followed....
'Here!', Scholesy shouted out. Ronnie obeyed and squared it to him. Immediately, 2 City players closed in on him...
...but Scholesy flicked the ball over his head and over his markers, onto my path. A moment of brillance which was widely applauded all around the stadium.
My eyes locked on the ball, I moved it forward as I began to quicken my pace. Park was running into space and dragging a defender together with him. Up ahead, I spied Saha taking up his positon while Wazza was calling for the ball. and he also seemed to be saying something...
..'MAN ON!' my ears caught wind of his cry that my marker was coming in for the tackle. At the last moment, I shifted the ball away from his legs. Cheers followed as I moved towards a central position. 25 yards out from the goal. Perfect for shooting. I got ready to execute a piledriver...
...when at the corner of my eye, Ronnie was speeding in from the right.
Unmarked.
The 2 centre-backs prepared to block my shot as my striking leg prepared to shoot the ball. Instead, I chipped it at the last minute over them...
..onto the path of Ronnie. The Stretford end stood up with much anticipation, one thing on their minds.
Ronnie took the ball down with his left foot and then with a quick shift of his feet, he powered in the ball from his right. The keeper stood no chance as the ball buried itself into the bottom right corner.
'YEAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH' was the cry from the entire stadium. Wazza and Ji immediately raced to Ronnie who had gone to the corner flag to celebrate. For a moment, I didnt realise it until I saw the scoreboard.
2-2.
Smiling, I knew the match wasnt over.
game on.
