T.J. and the Penalty (13 page)

‘Yeah, but you might not get in the team,’ laughed TJ. Then he saw the look on Leroy’s face. ‘I’m kidding,’ he said. ‘Of course you would. You were brilliant today.’

The Meadow Green striker came over to Tommy. ‘Are you OK?’ he asked. ‘It was a great tackle. That linesman needs glasses.’

‘Right,’ said Rodrigo. ‘Ref needs a glass!’

‘He’s from Portugal,’ said Tulsi.

Tommy grinned. ‘It didn’t matter in the end,’ he said. ‘Thanks to Jamie.’

Jamie was completely surrounded by excited Parkview supporters who were all moving towards the table where the trophies and medals were arranged. ‘It was a magnificent final,’ said a white-haired man who was in charge. ‘Two evenly matched teams, and a fair result in the end. We have a very special guest today, so I’m going to ask Marshall Jones to present the medals. First of all, the runners-up. Meadow Green School.’

There was a huge cheer from the crowd and loud applause for every Meadow Green player. Then it was Parkview’s turn. One at a time they went forward to receive their medals, and there was an especially big cheer for Jamie. Marshall handed the trophy to Rodrigo and he lifted it high in the air to the biggest cheer of all.

TJ could see his family, and Jamie’s and Tulsi’s. There was Rob and his dad, and all the teachers and dinner ladies and cooks. It was everything he’d ever dreamed of. Even Danny was there, TJ realized with surprise, catching sight of his pale face through a gap in the crowd.

When the presentations were over, the Parkview team and their supporters gathered together under the trees.

‘Phil would like a word with you, TJ,’ said Mr Wood with a smile. ‘And you too, Jamie. And your mums and dads.’

‘Well done today, lads,’ Phil said. ‘How would you feel about coming along to our Player Development Centre on Wednesday nights? I’ve had my eye on you, TJ. But Jamie, you were a big surprise. I think you could be a great goalkeeper one day. What do you think? Will you come?’

TJ couldn’t speak. ‘Of course he will,’
said
his mum.

Jamie just looked stunned. ‘But . . . but . . . I’m not really a goalkeeper,’ he stammered. ‘I mean, do you really mean it? Me?’

‘Trust me, Jamie,’ said Phil. ‘It’s my job to watch out for talent, and you have it, believe me.’

‘Well, thanks,’ Jamie said. He scratched his head and his face broke into the biggest smile TJ had ever seen. ‘I’d rather be a great goalkeeper than a dodgy defender any day. When do we start?’

Suddenly everyone was talking at once. TJ and Jamie just stared at each other and smiled stupidly. It was great to be picked out by Phil, thought TJ, but it was just fantastic that his friend had been chosen too.

‘Now wait a minute,’ said Mrs Hubbard, the school cook, pushing her way through the crowd with an enormous box in her
arms
. ‘I had a feeling that young Jamie was going to save the day, and I knew we’d win. So I made a little something to celebrate.’

She put the box down on the grass and lifted out a gigantic cake in the shape of a football. She cut a huge slice. ‘Here you are, Jamie love,’ she said. ‘You must be starving after all that diving around. Tuck in! You deserve it.’

At the back of the crowd someone started chanting, ‘JAMIE! JAMIE!’

Everyone laughed and began to join in. ‘Go on, Jamie,’ said TJ. ‘You can do it!’

Jamie lifted the cake to his lips. It was oozing with sticky icing and jam and cream. He took a giant mouthful, closed his eyes and smiled.

‘Mmmmmm!’ he said. ‘I’ll go in goal for ever if I can have cake like that after every match.’

A
N
OTE FROM
T
HEO

Not everyone knows their best position, and lots of players can start out like Jamie in this story – not sure which position to go for.

Others – like a mate of mine at school – just want to play everywhere! This friend would run all over the pitch to get at the ball and he’d always bring a ball with him to school. In the end, we just used to expect him to provide a ball. If he was off sick, or hadn’t brought it in for some reason, none of us could play footie at break time! If you like playing, I bet you know someone just like him.

Keep playing and practising. Why not have a go in another position too? You might surprise everyone!

Theo Walcott

A special thanks to Caroline McAteer and Pippa Hancock from The Sports PR Company and Jonathan Harris from Luxton Harris Ltd

About the Author

T
HEO
W
ALCOTT
was born on 16th March 1989 and grew up near Newbury. After joining the youth scheme at Southampton, he became the Saints’ youngest ever player, before joining Arsenal in January 2006.

Following Theo’s surprise selection in Sven-Göran Eriksson’s World Cup squad, Theo set another record in making his England debut at the age of just 17 years and 75 days, and was named the BBC’s Young Sports Personality of the Year in 2006.

Theo is now a star player for both Arsenal and England and in September 2008 became the youngest player to score a hat-trick for England.

Also by Theo Walcott

T.J. AND THE HAT-TRICK

T.J. AND THE CUP RUN

T.J. AND THE WINNING GOAL

T.J. AND THE PENALTY
AN RHCP DIGITAL EBOOK 978 1 407 07799 4

Published in Great Britain by RHCP Digital,
an imprint of Random House Children’s Publishers UK
A Random House Group Company

This ebook edition published 2012

Copyright © Theo Walcott, 2010
Illustrations copyright © Jerry Paris, 2010

First Published in Great Britain

Corgi Childrens 9780552562461 2010

The right of Theo Walcott to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

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