Pics – Jo Ginger
WE'VE all done crazy things for the one we love – our most loyal friend of all, the fantastic game that is football.
But Sam Freeman, the goalkeeper at Combined Counties Division One side Bedfont & Feltham, may have taken it a bit far last weekend.
As you can see, the Yellows' number one took a call – from his girlfriend – whilst between the posts. But that doesn't even begin to tell the story.
In fact, it's probably best Freeman puts into his own words just why he needed to interrupt the club's friendly with London All Nation Football Academy last weekend.
Overdue
“She wasn't happy, it's fair to say,” he told me. “Her family still aren't in the best of moods but what can you do?
“I take their point but I honestly thought it would be fine and I knew I would be able to make it back in time.”
Confused? Let's simplify things. Freeman left girlfriend Rosie at home in Sutton – the best part of an hour away – to play, essentially, a meaningless match Bedfont & Feltham eventually won 9-1, a game only deemed worthy of a place on the club's next door training pitch.
Hardly crime of the century. Except poor pregnant Rosie was a day overdue, and she told him before he set off for the match that she was heading to the hospital just in case.
It's not the first time football has got in the way. In November 2013 Eastleigh's Craig McAllister missed the birth of his child to play for the Spitfires in the FA Trophy tie with Bury Town. But this was a friendly!
Freeman added: “Looking back, it probably wasn't worth the risk but, in my defence, she said I could go. I do feel bad but all's well that ends well. I needed the game time and she said she was only going to make sure everything was alright. I didn't expect her to drop!
“I got the call during the game. The coaches screamed at me that my phone was ringing and it was Rosie telling me her waters had broken. The match was going on but I had to take the call, I don't think the referee noticed. I legged it off straight away but, would you believe it, the changing room was locked.”
After finally making his exit, the tale had a happy ending. Winning his battle with Heathrow's tricky traffic, he made it back to Sutton Hospital with time to spare. Baby boy London was born soon after his arrival with daddy looking on in his shorts and socks.
Proud brother Mason, two, is already besotted but Sam was rightly told in no uncertain terms he wouldn't be allowed out to play on Wednesday against Hampton & Richmond.
“What if I can't get my place back?” Freeman, the ex-Cove and Farnborough keeper, joked. “She's my girlfriend but if you could perhaps refer to Rosie as my future wife in the paper that may help the situation!”
He'll be lucky. Rosie may need some convincing of this glove affair!
