<D 1960>[First pub. Longmans,this ed. Allen Lane 5th imp.1974]
<A D. STOREY>
<T This Sporting Life>
<S I>
<C i>
<P 1>
I had my head to Mellor's backside, waiting for the ball to
come between his legs.
@He was too slow. I was moving away when the leather
shot back into my hands and, before I could pass, a shoulder
came up to my jaw. It rammed my teeth together wih a force
that stunned me to blackness.
@The first thing I see is Mellor's vaguely apologetic face
alongside that of Dai -- the trainer -- who's bending down with
the sponge, whipping water at me.
@"Come off for a bit,' he says. "You've cut your mouth.'
@I stand up with his hands knotted in my armpits. I call
Mellor a few things; the players watch unconcernedly, re+
lieved at the interlude. I walk off with Dai shoving an
ammonia phial up my nose.
@I sit on the bench till he's finished shouting some advice on
to the field, then he presses his fingers round my mouth and
his thumbs roll back my lips. "Christ, man,' he says. "You've . . .
