Born to Play Football

By David C. Garland

From the age of five Benny Gardner was destined to play football. His father once played Premier League football for three different clubs. This determined the path Benny would take on a journey from the time he once played football in his backyard until joining a professional football club in his late teens. The journey sees him and his girlfriend Susie taking a plane to Italy where he plays football for a professional Italian team.
The story revolves around his love of football and his love of living in England. Benny and Susie marry and a boy is born. Will he be Born to Play football? The answer is in the book.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AG Books
• Release date: Jun 13, 2019
• ISBN: 9781785389986

Book preview

Chapter One

Benny Gardner was playing football in the secluded back yard of his home in South London where a small goal has been erected. The backyard was ideally situated for four year old Benny to kick a ball around without having neighbours constantly complaining.

His Dad Alan, a former professional footballer who once played for three Premier League Clubs, encouraged Benny to play football because he knew, from his own experience, that it offered the opportunity of riches beyond belief.

Benny’s mother Sheila didn’t encourage Benny’s innate talent to play football. She was looking forward to the future when her son will go to school and be with other children of his own age playing children’s games. This created arguments between Benny’s parents who were usually in agreement over their only child’s future.

‘You shouldn’t be encouraging our son to play football,’ argued Sheila. ‘There are other games he’ll play at school with children of his own age. I know you love football but you shouldn’t let him think the way you think about it.’

Alan, never one to cause arguments, disagreed. ‘It’s in his blood,’ he said. ‘He has ability beyond his years and it will increase year by year. When he starts school let’s see what happens and then we can decide where Benny is best off. Don’t forget Sheila, the money I earned playing pro football was what we used to buy our home.’

‘I know and I’ll be forever grateful for that,’ replied Sheila, ‘But Benny’s future may not follow the same path as the one you took. Hopefully he’ll go to a school where the teachers include subjects that help him pass his A-levels and, after that, going to college or university. We mustn’t try to shape his future without knowing which direction he’ll want to take.’

It was the month of September. Benny Gardner was now five years old and about to go to school for the first time. His mother Sheila was holding his hand as they walked past tall black iron gates which were opened wide to allow children and parents to enter the playground which faced a tall, imposing building. He was smartly dressed in school uniform, white shirt and school tie, grey coat down to his waist, grey trousers teasing his knees and a school cap with the red school logo on its front.

‘Here we are Benny,’ said Sheila looking pensively upwards at the five storey high, grey, granite building. ‘I am sure you will settle in very quickly once you have met the other pupils in your class.’

Sheila saw a young woman approaching, a smile lighting her pretty face. ‘Good morning,’ she said. ‘Welcome to Lansdowne School.’

The woman bent from the waist and looked at Benny. ‘What a smartly dressed boy you are,’ she said. ‘What is your name?’

Benny looked at his mother who gently squeezed his hand before speaking.

‘Tell the teacher your name please.’

Benny, his voice shaking, answered. ‘Benny Gardner, my name’s Benny Gardner.’

‘That’s a very nice name,’ replied the teacher. ‘My name is Miss Roberts and I am your form teacher.’

Benny looked at his mother, silver tears appearing in his eyes. ‘Can you stay with me mum until I see my classroom?’

‘Of course I can,’ she answered, looking at Miss Roberts. ‘Will that be okay?’

A smile and a nod from Miss Roberts answered the question.

The classroom was on the first floor. Several children were already seated. All were quiet except for one girl who was obviously annoyed about something. She wanted to sit at a desk in the front row but they were all taken.

‘Will you move to another desk please?’ she said, pointing at a curly-haired girl named Janet. ‘I want to take your place.’

Miss Roberts, Benny and his mother entered the classroom as Janet rose to her feet.

‘You cannot have my seat,’ she said. ’I was here before you and, if you don’t watch it, I’ll tell my mum who’s in the corridor looking through the window.’

Miss Roberts shook her head. ‘Now, now children,’ she said, raising a hand. ‘You must be on good behaviour because a new boy is about to join our class.’

She paused and looked towards Benny. ‘Let me introduce you to Benny Gardner. Today is his first day at school and I am sure we want him to settle in quickly. He will sit next to Janet who is used to caring for new pupils.’

Miss Roberts smiled at Benny’s mother. ‘There that’s settled,’ she said smiling. ‘And don’t worry, Benny will be happy, mark my words.’

Chapter Two

Benny was now ten years old. He has grown into a confident young lad with the ability to cope with any challenges that confront him. Lansdowne School never ceased to surprise him. Every time he went back to the school, he saw something that he hadn’t seen before.

At the back of the school was a large, neatly mowed, field. Girls and boys were running around a quarter-mile long circuit. They were dressed in vests, shorts and running shoes. The sports teacher was standing at the finishing post constantly glancing at his watch. ‘Well done,’ he shouted as the first runner, a girl, passed the post. She slumped down on the track, arms around her knees, exhausted. She was followed by a succession of equally exhausted boys and girls who were sprawled on the hard surface of the track, panting, attempting to gather their breath.

The sports teacher was delighted. He clapped his hands and then blew his whistle.

‘Well done, everyone,’ he shouted. ‘Before going to lunch you must take a shower.’

Benny was standing beside the school’s pavilion that was situated at the entrance to the playing field. He was watching the girls and boys leaving the playing field, when a familiar sight caught his eye. Goal posts! White goal posts with a net hanging from hooks on the cross bar.

‘Wow,’ he muttered to himself. ‘They’re real goal posts, not like the ones in my back yard at home. This means the school has got a football team or maybe several teams! I bet they play against other schools in the area.’

He drummed two fingers on his lips while he thought about the situation

‘I’ll talk to the sports teacher; it’s his job so he’ll know what goes on.’

He set off for the school’s dining room. Lunch was