■ I PLAYED

in a five-a-side tournament at the Alderley Edge May Fair in Cheshire on Friday. There were only four teams and it may not surprise you to learn that mine was not the best of them. Even in the pouring rain and on an uneven pitch sandwiched between the waltzers and the railway line, amid a few industrial challenges, the composure and ability of one player stood out. I had a chat with him after one of the games. His name was George Abbey and he had played for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2004 with Jay-Jay Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu. He was still a lovely player and an even better bloke. Football brings you beautiful surprises sometimes.