Taking One For The Team 1

When I was 16, the Young Seven ladies soccer team got cut. For the most of us, this meant less time training, and more time with their friends. For me it was the end of everything. Having moved to the city just 8 months beforehand, the soccer team had given me back what I’d left behind, and taken my mind off my assshole father who I’d caught balls deep in his secretary, the whore.
I was good at soccer. I was my talent, the way some girls were dancers, some girls were sluts (but they got all the hot guys). I was a player. I needed football, and I came damn close to slapping Beck when he announced it to us. Being the captain of the team, I could demand why.
“Funding, Ali” he drawled, smoking a cigarette outside afterwards.
“No-one wants to sponser a girls team”
“That’s bullshit”
He turned around, and threw the stub to the ground.
“Play nice Ali. I pulled a few strings with Mick Pierce. He needs a goalie, and he’s willing to give you a try-out, if you’ll stop the bitch act for enough time to flash him your pearlies and twiddle a few balls.”
Seeing my expression he added hastily
“Footballs Ali. Footballs.”

Four days later I sat in Pierce’s office, in our clubhouse. He offered me a seat, which I declined. I was antsy, I needed this playspot more than ever.
He smiled at me when he looked up, over a pile of player registrations.
“Stop looking so nervous Allison. Your try-out was exceptional, and after re-checking the league rules, I’m satisfied that you fit the bill”
He stood up, and offered me his hand.
“Welcome to the Cobras”
——–

A week later, I went to the first training session in the Carlisle Grounds, where the clubhouse was. On the field in front of me there were ten players, running drills, responding to the screams of Mick Pierce, and scratching themselves openly.
Maybe this is a good time to mention that the Cobras was a BOYS team.
Leagues rules have probles with guys being on girls teams, but none with girls being on guys teams – they see it as a setback.
I looked at their loose shirts, and at my tight, boob-hugging shirt, and lost all confidence.
Pierce whistled, and the team jogged in, looks of curiosity flitting from person to person.
“Lads, this is Allison. She’s our new goalie. Any stick, and you’ll answer directly to me. Next game’s in a week, and we have to be ready. Two laps. Reid, stay here.”
A tall blonde guy lingered while the rest of the ream jogged away, whispers loud to my ears. I stood there awkwardly while Pierce gave a quick intro.
” Reid, this is Allison Morris. She’s a transfer from the girls. Allison, Dave Reid, our star and captain. Join the others. Three laps for both of you.”
I did my best not to look peeved. Reid had already jogged away, and I felt I should keep up. The last thing I needed was a soft image. If I was going to be catapulted into their world, I was arriving with style.

* * * * * * * * * *

Things got better. After a week of intensive training, I started to fit in with the lads. I learnt what my place was in line up, and who was who. Dave was the Alpha. He got his own changing room, and was the quiet, hostile type. In two weeks the only words he said to me were:
“Pierce’s waiting”
There were also Beckett, Jamieson, Thompson, Davey, Dawes, Tucker, Taylor and Shaughnessy. Decent guys, all of them, but a little love-starved, and too used to all-guy company. They took nervously to me at first, but after learning that I could take a joke (and several t-shirt soakings), they let me fit in comfortably. Except for Reid, who kept his distance…….. that is, until the first match, when he didn’t have much choice…..
Match day came. I had been kitted out in the Cobras’ finest, and I was feeling shit-nervous. 30 mins before kick-off we congregated in the first changing room.
Pierce stood in the centre.
“Lads, get ready. This will be – epic”
A buzz filled the room. I was ready to vomit. It wasn’t the most important, or the hardest match I would ever play, but I had never been so nervous. Mick left, to let us change, but suddenly I saw a huge problem, and I mean a HUGE problem. There was no way that I was changing in front of these guys, much as they’d probably enjoy it. I imagined the tiny underwear I had stupidly chosen, the sports bra that pushed up instead of back….. Much as I liked the lads I had no interest in stripping for them.
Pierce shook his head when I explained the situation.
“Right. Go down to Reids changing room and turf him out.