Page 421 - Tài Liệu Ôn Thi THPT Quốc Gia Môn Tiếng Anh

I’d stuck up for did a deal with the police: he agreed to give evidenco against
me in return for being Ict off. I went on the run for six wecks, hiding out at
my sister’s. It wasn’t fair on her and when you’re in hiding the only way of
earning is to commit more crimc.

3..................

While I was on remand, my mother came over from ơamaica. She visited
me and said, “Son, why are you doing this to me?” Shc began to cry, which
made me cry as well - the only time I cried through all of this.

At the trial, I was sentenced to four years for robbery with violence. Even
at this stagc, I kncw I could make it as a ĩootballer and on Boxing Day 1993,
I played for the prison against a scmi-professional team, Cowes Sports. I
scored two goals and their manager asked the prison governor if I could play
for them.
5..................

I took it from there. For the íĩrst month or so I played against teams on
the island and bccame a bit of a local celebrity. I continued playing well and
professional clubs started to watch me. This was my big opportunity, but I
was never nervous. Nervous, for me, is standing in a courtroom waiting to be
sentenced. I was releascd in 1993 aftcr twenty-six months inside. I went up
to Sunderland for a trial and managed to do well enough to be offered a one-
year contract. The following Tuesday, I played in front of cighteen thousand
people. When I came OÍT, I received a standing ovation.
6....................

Now, ten years later, I’ve appeared in more than 250 matches, won the
Littlewoods Cup with Leiccster, and have thirtcen caps for ơamaica. If it
were not for prison, I would never have made it as a prolessional footballer.
7..................

When my football career is over, I’d like to work in the community with
young people. I’d like to use my experience to show them that if you get into
trouble as a young pcrson, your life is not neccssarily over. You can always
ííght back and make something of your life.

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