Growing up as a footballer’s daughter, Part 2
Sorry, it's been a few days since writing - I've been in the Maldives with work (sorry, not sorry) and on the way back in the bunks but can't sleep (I never sleep in the bunks and choose these moments to question my life decisions) so thought what better time than now to write part 2!
Ok, so we'll go back to the match-fixing days. Luckily when it all happened, and the police came to arrest my dad, my brother and I remained asleep, which my mother has said she is always thankful for. They were pretty aggressive, apparently, and it was all such a shock. The press was outside our door for several days after, and school was difficult then. Not everyone cared what the truth was; they believed everything the papers said and taunted us to a degree (can this be a lesson, please not to believe everything that you read - even I know the Daily Mail is mostly trash). Anyway, kids can be mean, and they gave me and my brother a bit of shit, but what to do? It can only make you stronger, and I honestly tried to look after my little brother - he moved schools soon after that, and once my dad was cleared, this period of our life died down, thankfully. There was very dodgy footage of a goal-passing dad's net, but we all have stinker days. I think you'll agree.
In my school years, I was like my dad and sporty; I had to be the best and fastest at everything. I was a netballer at heart, and when basketball was introduced to me at my new school (we moved again) - I was good but played like a netballer and didn't make the starting 5. My dad offered to watch me a few times, but I always declined as I was embarrassed that I wasn't in the starting 5 (don't you just want to hug me right now). If any of you have that mentality take it from me; you don't always need to be a winner; otherwise, you'll lose at something. However, in all seriousness, I was ok at school and was primarily middle top in every subject. My report card always said she has so much potential, but she can't be bothered (the story of my life unless I genuinely love something).
I owe my touch typing skills to AOL chat. Who remembers spending hours there (it took about an hour to connect the dial-up in those days) and then asking randoms ASL? My god, I was obsessed when I came from school at 14 and would log straight on. I even lied about my age, and I mean talk about CATFISHING these days with a subtle filter.. those days, I didn't even send a picture of the real me.
I met a guy online who I had been speaking to for weeks, and finally sent a real picture of me. (No filter in those days) he surprisingly still wanted to meet up with me, and I remember that I wasn't allowed by Mum to meet strangers off the internet (too right to). This particular day I was meeting him, I told my Mum I was going with Arienne to the cinema; I asked her to do my make-up (she didn't even do it well - my eyeshadow looked like a rainbow), which obviously caused suspicion but I wasn't clever enough to think of that at the time (we didn't have mobiles at that time - god I feel old right now) I told Arienne to cover for me and not answer her house phone if Mum called. Well, as soon as I was supposed to be at Arienne's for 10 mins - my Mum obviously called her, and what did Arienne do? She picks up, and instead of saying I'm at the shop or on the toilet to buy me time, she blurts out that I've gone to meet a man from the internet in Luton!! (Cheers, Arie, haha) I still managed to have my first blind date, though.
Anyway, my parents can be strict, and as you can imagine, I was in big trouble and grounded (nearly killed). I refused to let them stop me from seeing him, so they eventually agreed. I was way too young for him, and after being my boyfriend for about two years, he left me for someone else(his age, lol). I saw him on the tube a few years ago, and he had aged quite a bit (sorry, that seems harsh, but he did break my heart and all that), and he looked straight through me… didn't recognise me at all. He messaged me a few months ago on Facebook, saying how cool it was that I was with Simon. He's right; it is very bloody cool :)
So there you have a bit of my childhood and rebellious teenage years. I have way more, but I had to stop somewhere on this post. Next time I'll bug my Mum for her life as a wag or continue with the rebellious years… xBx
P.S. Do not bid for Maldives if you get less than two days there. The flight is not worth it! Everybody is on their honeymoon 🥂 🍷 🍹