Sam didn’t want to look at his team-mates. It was so unfair. He knew he’d been one of Celtic’s best players over the season. Jordan was a big mouth. He was always shouting for the ball, but he wasn’t half as good as he thought he was. He lost possession most of the time and wasted chances. He always took the free kicks and penalties, but he missed them way too often. How does he get away with it? Sam thought.

Jordan planted the ball on the centre spot and clapped his hands. 5

“We’re only one goal down,” he told the rest of the team. “Concentrate.”

Sam knew what was coming next. Jordan turned to Sam and tapped his own forehead. “That means you, idiot.”

That was too much for Jack Rigby, their manager.

“Knock it off, Jordan,” he shouted. “Show the other boys some respect. You’re not helping.”

Jordan scowled. He didn’t like getting told off.

*

Celtic played better for the rest of the half, but they were still 2–1 down and heading for their third defeat in a row. 6

“Well, at least you didn’t give another goal away,” Jordan said softly, so that Jack couldn’t hear.

That made Sam angry.

“Say that again and I’ll thump you,” he warned. “We should stick up for each other. You missed a pen last week and I didn’t say a word about it.”

Jordan didn’t like Sam talking about his missed penalty.

“That’s because you wouldn’t dare,” Jordan sneered. “You’re a coward.”

Sam shoved Jordan in the chest. Then Jordan pushed him back. They had hold of each other’s shirts, ready to fight.

“Stop right there!” Jack said, and stood between them. “Who started this?” 7

Jordan pointed at Sam.

“He did. He attacked me for nothing. He’s off his head,” Jordan said.

“Did anyone else see what happened?” Jack asked.

Another boy, Kai, stepped up. 8

“Sam started it,” Kai said.

“OK, Sam,” Jack said. “I’m subbing you.”

Sam couldn’t believe it.

“That’s not fair,” he shouted. “Jordan was winding me up.”

“Then you need to get better at taking the banter,” Jack said. “You’re always going to get insults. It’s part of being a footballer.”

Sam dropped onto the grass and watched the rest of the team jog back onto the pitch. That’s when he remembered the boy by the fence. Sam turned round to see if he was still there. The boy was in goal now, but he saw Sam looking. When his game finished, the boy came over to talk.

“The manager was wrong to take you off,” he said to Sam. “You didn’t start the fight.” He pointed at Jordan. “He did.” 9

Sam nodded. “I know. Jordan’s crafty like that. You’re not from round here, are you?”

“I am,” the boy said. “I live in the flats over there.”