‘Drop ten, turn and Face.’ Quilty’s Football Yarns 1. Hackney Marshes and all that.

‘Drop ten, turn and Face.’ Quilty’s Football Yarns 1.

Hackney Marshes and all that.

In the process of writing some football memory stuff from the past fifty odd years.....

Everyone found their standard on the Marshes. One side I played for was the Duke of Devonshire Pub team. We won some and lost some but kept turning up. We enjoyed it but It was unpleasant when someone tried to bully people on the field. On this particular morning we were playing against one of the better sides Star Athletic. One player, who would have been late twenties, was over six foot tall and had muscles on his spit. We to a man were skinny teenagers apart from one bloke Davie Hutchison who was wider than he was tall. There we all were, desperately trying to avoid the aggressive bully when somehow I turned into him knocking him over onto his arse! Frozen with fear I stood over him waiting for the worst when the referee thankfully gave a free kick against me and insisted I retreat 10 yards. Still on the warpath the bully raged and threatened all and sundry. Then one of the funniest things I ever saw on a football pitch occurred. Just as the free kick was about to be taken the bully came and stood in front of our wall. Just as the kick was taken, Davie Hutchison ran two yards forward from the wall and kicked the bully right up the arse 

 the toe of his boot! Somehow time stood still as Goliath fell to the ground. Then the most pain filled scream I’d ever heard filled that place. Players and supporters from pitches all around stopped to see what had happened. Fearful we were but Davie Hutchison walked coolly up to the player sprawled on the turf and said “You fucking arsehole bully. Touch one of our players and you’ll be wearing your balls as earrings!” With that, the bully subbed himself off and wasn’t seen again.