IT happens to the best of us. You leave a match, get back to the warmth of your car and then it hits you – we’ve left something behind.
You wrestle with your better judgement before deciding if it’s worth returning with a red face to collect your lonely umbrella, or the matchday programme you plonked in a perfect spot at the back of the stand.
But unless you’ve forgotten a family member in the excitement of a thrilling late finish, you will struggle to understand Hall Road Rangers‘ mishap last weekend.
The Northern Counties East League side were on a real high after securing a ninth success on the road, beating Hallam 1-0.
While you would have forgiven them for leaving a few stray footballs or a pair of the players’ boots behind, Hall Road somehow managed to leave their manager at Sandygate instead!
The squad were on their way back to Humberside when the problem was discovered. Boss Dave Ricardo wasn’t best pleased as he left the ground to find the driver had left… and nobody was answering their phones.
He had to make his own way back with the team already over halfway home – but he eventually saw the funny side.
The stranded manager said: “We were really pleased with the result but it went downhill from there! After we had our post-match chat I went to see a few people as I like to do after a game.
“The next thing I know I’ve come out and they’ve gone. I think the driver may have been in on the whole thing! The lads had a really good laugh at my expense.
“They’re a good bunch of players but I didn’t get home until 9pm! I could have thought of better ways to spend my Saturday night if I’m being honest but at least we won so I didn’t have that long journey back with a defeat to think about.”
The manager is yet to get it confirmed if it was a prank or an innocent accident, but with team spirit at an all-time high, he is happy to have some laughs along the way if it means promotion to the Premier.
“They are working really hard and we’re happy with the season we’ve had so I can’t be too mad,” Ricardo added.