How far will you go to be the best? Georgie Goode was a soccer legend and is faced with a life-changing decision. He tells his story to Maria, a café owner. She finds out about his difficult childhood, his rise to stardom in the world of soccer, and the event that changed his life forever. This book is great for young (and not so young) soccer fans everywhere.
Excerpt from Fair Play
The old man sat in the corner of my café. He had beautiful blue eyes. But they were sad eyes. He probably didn’t have a home. Every day he comes in to my café at about half past seven. He drinks one cup of tea and eats a chocolate biscuit. He leaves when I close the café at nine o’ clock.
But who is he? Why is he sad? I was sure he had a story. So one day, at nine o’clock, I went to his table. I sat down next to him. “Do I have to go?” he asked.
“No, no, do you want some more tea?”
“I don’t have any more money.”
“That’s okay. I’ll buy this one for you.” I got up and made two cups of tea. Then I returned to his table. “Here we are, two cups of lovely tea.”
He smiled – for the first time. I was happy about that. I don’t like to see sad people. Then I looked at him again. His face: I knew it. From a long time ago – perhaps thirty years ago, when I was a young girl. “What’s your name?” I asked.
“Me?” He was surprised by my question.
“Yes, you.” I smiled. We were alone in the café.
“Georgie,” said Georgie.
Georgie? Wait a minute, I knew that name from somewhere. “You’re not Georgie Goode, are you?”
“That’s me,” said Georgie, and drank some tea.
I didn’t believe it. Georgie Goode, the Georgie Goode, was in my café. Georgie Goode, the football legend! Georgie Goode, popular with every woman in England. He was a lot older now. He had long grey hair. But his eyes – his eyes were the same beautiful blue.
I had a million questions for Georgie. What? How? Why? When? He was once the best football player in the world. Now – a poor old man.
“I can see you have a lot of questions,” he said.
“Well, yes, I’m interested. What happened?”
“It’s a long story.”
“I like long stories.”
“Are you sure?”
My husband left me last year. I have no children. “Yes, I’m sure.”
“Okay, nobody knows my full story. This is the first time.”
“I really want to hear it, Georgie. Can I call you Georgie?”
“Sure. And what can I call you?”
“Maria.”
“Maria, that’s a lovely name.”
He smiled at me. Georgie Goode smiled at me. I am sure my face was red. He was about fifty five but he looked ten years older. I am thirty five. I understood why many women loved Georgie – his smile, his eyes…
“So, do you want to hear my story?”
“Oh, sorry, yes. I’ll close the café and make some more tea.”
Two minutes later, I sat down again next to Georgie. “Okay, I’m ready.”
Do you want to hear Georgie’s story?
The book can be bought from Wayzgoose Press as either a paperback or as an e-book.